USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 45
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Mr. Wright was born on January 12, 1859, at Killingworth, Connecticut, son of John Burghardt and Rachel (Stannard) Wright. His father, a dis- tinguished son of Connecticut, was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to the office of collector of the port of Clinton, Connecticut, and was at the time of his death controller of the State of Connecticut. Burton H. Wright, of whom this is primarily a record, received his early education in the district school of Killingworth, Connecticut, his birthplace, later attending the Morgan High School in Clinton, Connecticut. His first employment was with the National Bank of Clinton, in which he was made clerk in 1878. In 1879 he came to Wor- cester, here entering the employ of the State Mu- tual Life Assurance Company. His association with this company extended over a period of many years, terminating only in his death. At the out- set he served as junior clerk, from which posi- tion he won promotion step by step. For many years he was cashier. He was then made superin- tendent of agencies. In January, 1908, he was elected secretary of the company, and in January, 1910, succeeded Colonel A. George Bullock as president. He resigned that position in 1927 to be- come chairman of the board of directors, and was so serving at the time of his passing. His whole career with this company covered fifty-four years of usefulness in many capacities, years that brought him to a position of leadership in financial affairs. Few men had a wider acquaintance than had he with either insurance or financial matters in New England. In the last two years of his life, the state of his health caused him to abandon much of his activity with the company, but he still attended to his duties whenever the condition of his health permitted.
Mr. Wright's political views were consistently those of the Republican party, though he never sought an elective office. His chief public service was his trusteeship of the City Hospital, of Wor- cester, which covered a six-year period. In addi- tion to his association with the State Mutual Life Assurance Company, he was a director of the Merchants' National Bank, the Morris Plan Bank, and the Norwich and Worcester Railroad Com- pany, and was also a trustee of the hospital. He was likewise a director of the State Mutual. He was also a member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Club, the Worcester Club, the Worcester Art Museum, the Worcester County Mechanics' Association, the Worcester County Re- publican Club, the Quinsigamond Boat Club, the Tatnuck Country Club, the Clinton Country Club, of Clinton, Connecticut, and Quinsigamond Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. His church was All Saints' Episcopal. Into each of these groups and the activities that it represented, he put his best energies, and his enthusiasm was responsible for the success of many a project that benefited Wor- cester.
Above all else he was devoted to home and fam- ily. Burton Henry Wright married, on October 18, 1892, Margaret McLeod Shepard, daughter of the Rev. Peter Lake and Mary Ann (Burr) Shep- ard, of Saybrook, Connecticut. She was educated in the private school conducted by her father in Saybrook. He later was a distinguished divine, was ordained deacon on June 3, 1855, at Christ Church, Middletown, Connecticut, and priest on July 13, 1856, at St. James Church, New London.
The Shepard family is an old one in New Eng- land, the immigrant ancestor, Edward Shepard, having been born in England and having settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as early as 1639; his wife, Violet, died January 9, 1648-49, and he died in 1674. From him the line of descent is through his son, John. The following three successive generations were named John. The fourth John's son, Abraham Ferris Shepard, was Mrs. Wright's grandfather, and his son, the Rev. Peter Lake Shepard, was Mrs. Wright's father. On the Wright side of the family, the immigrant ances- tor was Benjamin Wright, born in England, who settled early in Guilford, Connecticut, and later removed to Clinton. He died March 29, 1677. His son, James, carried on the line, which passed through the following generations to the man whose name heads this review-Benjamin, Josiah, Josiah, Martin, Martin, and John Burghardt Wright.
Burton Henry and Margaret McLeod ( Shepard) Wright became the parents of two children: I. Shepard, of Denver, Colorado. 2. John Burghardt Wright, of Madison, Connecticut, who attended Harvard University; during the World War he was in the United States Navy as chief mechanic; married, after the death of his first wife (second) Stella Beckman; they have one child, Burton Henry Wright, 2d.
The death of Burton Henry Wright, on April 6, 1933, was a cause of deep sorrow to his fellow- citizens. His contributions to the well-being of Worcester and its people and institutions had been numerous and generous and his position was one of leadership and standing. He will long be affec- tionately remembered not only by his intimate friends, but by all whose privilege it was to know him.
ROGER KINNICUTT, M. D .- Among the well-known members of the medical profession in Massachusetts is Dr. Roger Kinnicutt, of Worces- ter, who received his medical degree from Harvard University in 1905.
Dr. Kinnicutt is a descendant of several old Colonial families. Francis Harrison Kinnicutt, his grandfather, was born in Seekonk, Rhode Island, April 27, 1812, son of Thomas and Amy (Wright- man) Kinnicutt, and died September 12, 1885. In 1828 he came to Worcester, where he spent the remainder of his life, and where he became one of the prominent business men of the city. Two years after coming to Worcester he entered the employ of George T. Rice as clerk in the hardware store at the corner of Main and Walnut streets. Soon afterward he was admitted to partnership and a few years later he and his brother Thomas pur- chased the interest of Mr. Rice, who then engaged in the manufacture of cloth. Eventually, Samuel Woodward succeeded Thomas Kinnicutt as a mem- ber of the firm, and in later years he took over the active management of the store, thus releasing Mr. Kinnicutt's time for attention to his numerous other responsibilities. These responsibilities were many and varied, for Mr. Kinnicutt was a member of the board of directors of the Citizens Bank of Worcester from 1842 on and its president from 1860 to the time of his death; a director of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad Company from 1855 and its president from 1866 to 1881, when he resigned; and for nearly a quarter of a century
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a member of the board of investment of the Wor- cester County Institution for Savings.
Francis Harrison Kinnicutt married Elizabeth Waldo Parker, who was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, May 9, 1817, and died in 1891, daughter of Hon. Leonard Moody Parker of Shir- ley, granddaughter of Levi Lincoln, Sr., and great- granddaughter of Daniel Waldo, Sr. Francis Har- rison and Elizabeth Waldo (Parker) Kinnicutt had six children: I. Rebecca Newton, born September 17, 1838; married Dr. George E. Francis. 2. Eliz- abeth Waldo, born August 18, 1840, died October 15, 1869; married Dr. William H. Draper, of New York City. 3. Julia Burling, born July 1, 1843; married John M. Barker, of Worcester. 4. Frank Parker, born July 13, 1846, became a prominent physician in New York City, and had two chil- dren: Frank Harrison and Gustave Herman Kin- nicutt. 5. Lincoln Newton, of whom further, father of Dr. Roger Kinnicutt. 6. Leonard Parker, born in Worcester, May 22, 1854, died there, February 6, IgII; was from 1886 to the time of his death professor of chemistry in the Worcester Polytech- nic Institute and from 1892 on director of the chemical department; married (first) Louisa Hoar Clarke, who died January 22, 1892, daughter of Dr. Henry Clarke; (second) Frances Ayres Clarke, daughter of Josiah H. Clarke.
Lincoln Newton Kinnicutt, father of Dr. Roger Kinnicutt, was born in Worcester, March 14, 1849, and received his education in the public schools of Worcester and in Europe. At the age of seven- teen he became a clerk in his father's hardware store, and when he became of age was admitted to partnership. In 1877 he entered the office of George T. Rice, banker, with whom he learned the banking business. Having gained the needed ex- perience, he formed, in 1884, a partnership with Alexander DeWitt, under the name of Kinnicutt and DeWitt, and for many years that firm con- ducted the largest banking and brokerage business of any private concern in the city. Eventually, the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Kinnicutt devoted his time to the many directorships and trusteeships which he held. He was a director of the Citizens National Bank, the Worcester Trust Company, the Worcester National Bank, and the Worcester Consolidated Street Railway Company ; and a trustee of the Worcester County Institution for Savings, the Worcester Art Museum, of which he was treasurer, and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which he served as treasurer. In addi- tion to these numerous business interests, Mr. Kin- nicutt was also identified with a very large number of historical and other societies, including the Mas- sachusetts Historical Society ; the American Anti- quarian Society ; the Colonial Society of Massachu- setts; the Worcester Society of Antiquity; and a large number of clubs formed for the furtherance of special interests. Among the latter may be mentioned the Natural History Society, the Club of Odd Volumes of Boston, and the Century Asso- ciation of New York. He was also a member of the Bohemian Club, Twentieth Century Club, Wor- cester Club, Economic Club, Bay Tree Club, Union Club of Boston, Tavern Club, St. Botolph Club, and Worcester Fire Society. With his many inter- ests, he found time to become the author of "In- dian Place Names of Worcester County," "Indian Places Names of Plymouth County," and "To Your Dog and My Dog." He also gave time and
effort to several philanthropic organizations, includ- ing the Children's Friend Society, the Worcester Employment Society, and the Home for Aged Men. His political choice was Republican, and his reli- gious affiliations with the Unitarian Church.
Lincoln Newton Kinnicutt married, in Worces- ter, October 10, 1878, Edith Perley, who was born in Concord, New Hampshire, April 9, 1856, daugh- ter of Hon. Ira Perley, who was born in 1799 and was chief justice of New Hampshire, and of Mary (Nelson) Perley, the latter a native of Haverhill, New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Newton Kinnicutt became the parents of one son, Roger, of further mention.
Dr. Roger Kinnicutt, son of Lincoln Newton and Edith (Perley) Kinnicutt, was born in Worcester, February 12, 1880. He received his early educa- tion in the Fisher and Delsalle private schools, Worcester, and Milton Academy, Milton, Massa- chusetts, and then entered Harvard College, from which he was graduated in 1902, receiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered Harvard Medical School, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1906. For several years prior to the entrance of the United States into the World War he was patholo- gist of Worcester Memorial Hospital, but soon after the entrance of the United States into that conflict he enlisted for service in the Medical Corps and was sent overseas, where he served in a United States Army hospital in France, ranking as cap- tain. Upon his return to this country he resumed his professional practice and since that time has made for himself a reputation as an able and skill- ful physician and a pathologist of rare ability. Dr. Kinnicutt is a member of the Worcester Club, the Tatnuck Country Club, and the Tavern and Somerset clubs of Boston.
Dr. Roger Kinnicutt married, in 1915, Margaret Struthers Moen, daughter of Philip W. Moen.
GRACE L. SWAN-The Worcester Mailing Company, largest enterprise of its kind in New England, was organized in 1907 by Grace L. Belk- nap (now Mrs. Grace L. Swan). Its first location was in the State Mutual Building in Worcester. Starting on a modest scale, it was soon necessary to secure larger quarters. At that time Mrs. Belk- nap, now Mrs. Swan, moved to the new Slater Building in Worcester, where she was one of the first tenants. The demands on the company's serv- ices continued to increase, and Mrs. Belknap pur- chased a monotype machine, which greatly facili- tated the printing scope of the business. In 1916 she moved from the Slater Building because of the noise which the operation of the new monotype machine would entail, taking up quarters at her present location, No. 31I Main Street, Worcester, where the offices are still located.
With passing years she has seen her judgment vindicated and enjoys the satisfaction of knowing that her faith in the future of the type of service rendered by her company was entirely justified. The business was incorporated in 1923 and has since continued its growth and development. In 1930 the company acquired photostatic and plano- graph printing equipment and seriously entered the field of off-set lithography. The highest standards of quality and service have always been maintained and the sound principles on which the company operates are reflected in its continued success.
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Present officers include Mrs. Swan as president and William J. Swan, her husband, vice-president and treasurer.
Mrs. Swan was born in Worcester, a daughter of George Alonzo Geer, now deceased, and Mary (Waite) Chapin Geer. Her father who died in IQII, was a dealer in hats and furnishings. Her family has been established in this section since 1640, and she herself has a large circle of per- sonal friends and acquaintances throughout the city and country. Mrs. Swan has two children, a son, Warren Hutchins Belknap, who makes his home in California and a daughter, Alice May (Belknap) Archibald, wife of Peter Smeaton Archibald, assistant manager of the Worcester branch of Paine, Webber and Company.
William J. Swan, to whom she was married, in 1919, was born in Liverpool, England, son of Joseph Swan, who was in the employ of the Liverpool dock commissioner, and of Sarah (Moody) Swan. William J. Swan was educated in public schools, later graduated from the Art Union in London, and during the World War enlisted for service with the Canadian troops, in which he held the rank of sergeant. Both Mr. and Mrs. Swan devote their entire attention to their business.
EDWARD HENRY TROWBRIDGE, M. D., F. A. C. S .- In medicine and surgery, Dr. Edward Henry Trowbridge occupies a place of prominence and high standing in the city and county of Worcester. His achievements have been numerous, well entitling him to the position of esteem that he holds.
Dr. Trowbridge was born at Portland, Maine, on October 1, 1856, son of William S. and Eliza- beth P. Trowbridge. In the public schools of Portland, his birthplace, and later at the Portland High School, he received his early formal training, being graduated from this school in 1875. In 1877 he entered Dartmouth College, where he was grad- uated in 1881 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. While a student there, he was elected to member- ship in the honorary fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa because of his scholastic attainments. He also is a member of Alpha Delta Phi.
In July, 1881, he began the study of medicine at Portland Medical School, Bowdoin College, where he was graduated in June, 1884, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. From then until July, 1885, he served as house surgeon of the Maine General Hospital. In the autumn of 1885 he came to Wor- cester and commenced the practice of his profes- sion, making surgery his specialty. In 1890 Dr. Trowbridge was appointed surgeon of the out- patient department of Worcester City Hospital and in 1896 one of its visiting surgeons. He resigned as visiting surgeon in 1917 and at that time was elected a consulting surgeon of the same hospital. In the summer of 1905 Dr. Trowbridge made a trip abroad and visited the leading hospitals of London and Paris, also taking a surgery course at Vienna. In 1907 he was elected a member of the Worcester school board for a term of three years and in 1908 he was appointed chairman of the board of health of the city of Worcester and held this position till 1933.
. Quite aside from his private practice and his hospital and civic work, Dr. Trowbridge stands high in the ranks of his profession. He is a mem- ber of the Worcester District Medical Society, the
Massachusetts State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has exten- sive affiliations with social groups, including the Dartmouth Club and the Worcester Club. Frater- nally, he is a member of Quinsigamond Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Portland, Maine, Lodge, No. I, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Also active in the Worcester Chamber of Com- merce, Dr. Trowbridge is prominent in civic af- fairs, helping to advance those causes and projects that he believes worth while and useful. He has, in all his work, both professional and civic, done much to promote the well-being of his fellow- citizens, who esteem him highly.
Dr. Trowbridge married, September 5, 1888, in Framingham, Massachusetts, Carrie Louise Parker, daughter of Charles Webster and Harriet ( Phill- brick) Parker. Mrs. Trowbridge is a member of the Colonel Timothy Bigelow Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as of the Worcester Women's Club. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Trowbridge are: I. Parker, a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he took the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1913; he is associated with Paine, Webber and Company, bankers, as manager of the Worcester office. He is a member of the Dartmouth Club, Psi Upsilon Fraternity, the Worcester Club, the Worcester Country Club, the Kiwanis Club, Quinsigamond Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, and other Worcester groups. 2. Gladys I., now Mrs. H. J. Coolidge, of Concord, Massachusetts. 3. Louise, like her sister a graduate of the Emma Willard School, of Troy, New York, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
CHARLES A. BARTON-One of the well- known bankers of Worcester County was Charles A. Barton of Worcester, late president of the Wor- cester Bank and Trust Company and president of the Worcester Safe Deposit Vaults, Inc. Mr. Barton was a native of Rhode Island, born at Wickford, Kingston County, October 1, 1874, son of Charles A. and Margaret M. (Seagrave) Bar- ton. Mr. Barton's father, a manufacturing jeweler, was born at Canton, Massachusetts, and died in 1877; his mother was a native of Northbridge, Massachusetts, and died in 1900.
Charles A. Barton, the son, after receiving a public school education, started early upon a busi- ness career. Almost from the first he was identi- fied with banking, taking a position with the Ux- bridge Savings Bank, in a humble capacity, and becoming treasurer in 1904. He resigned to go to the Blackstone National Bank, as vice-president, serving in that capacity until 1918. In that year Mr. Barton came to the Worcester Bank and Trust Company as a vice-president. Later he became the trust officer, and finally in June, 1933, president. His standing in the banking world was of the high- est. His knowledge and experience have been of great value in the building and maintenance of the various institutions with which he was connected. This was demonstrated in the fact that until his death he retained his connection with all of the banks in which he had been an official. In addi- tion to his position as president and director in the Worcester Bank and Trust Company, he was a director of the Blackstone National Bank, a trus- tee of the Uxbridge Savings Bank, president of
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the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Com- pany and of the Charles G. Allen Company, of Barre, Massachusetts, and a director in several other corporations.
Banking and finance absorbed but a part of Mr. Barton's energies. During the period of the United States' participation in the World War, he was foremost in most of the movements and drives of that time. He was county chairman of the Amer- ican Red Cross, a leader in all the Liberty Loan projects and as a private citizen enlisted all his powers to assist in a successful termination of the State's effort to aid in the conflict. Fraternally, Mr. Barton was affiliated with the Free and Ac- cepted Masons, a member of the Blue Lodge, Chap- ter, Council and Commandery, and a Past District Deputy Grand Master. Recreation played a prom- inent rôle in his life; he was a member of the Whitinsville Country Club, the Algonquin Club of Boston, the Worcester Club and the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, of which he was the treas- urer, and the Rotary Club, of which he was past president. His religious faith was that of the Unitarian Church.
Charles A. Barton, in 1912, married Elizabeth B. Eastman. By a former marriage there is a son, Charles S. Barton, a graduate of Brown Uni- versity and Harvard Law School and now 1934. a practicing attorney in Worcester.
GEORGE WINTHROP MACKINTIRE- Treasurer of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester and an important figure in the life of this city for many years, George Win- throp Mackintire is widely known throughout this section as a successful business man and a leader in civic affairs.
He was born in Boston, December 15, 1855, a son of George Eliab and Arabella W. (Barker) Mackintire. His father, who was also born in Bos- ton and who died in 19II, was a merchant and banker in that city, with offices for many years with Estabrook and Company at No. 15 State Street. George Winthrop Mackintire is the seventh in direct descent from the American progenitor of the family, Philip Mackintire (or McIntyre), who settled in Reading about 1651. According to fam- ily tradition, he was a son of Ebenezer Mackin- tire, of Argyle, in the Highlands of Scotland, and was one of the Scottish prisoners of war sent to the Colonies by Oliver Cromwell after the battles of Dunbarton (September 3, 1650,) and Worcester (September 3, 1651.) From him the line of descent is traced through Daniel, his son; Jonathan, his grandson ; and Joseph Mackintire, his great-grand- son, who settled in Burlington. Eliab Parker Mackintire was the son of Joseph Mackintire. He lived in Burlington and Charlestown and was the founder of the firm of Mackintire, Lawrie and Mr. Mackintire married, in 1884, Mary Louise Miles, daughter of Charles M. and Mary E. (Hol- den) Miles, of Rutland. She was born in Wor- cester on August 20, 1858, and is a direct descend- ant from John Miles, who came from England to Boston in 1638. Through her mother she is also descended from Richard Holden, who came to New England on the ship "Francis," sailing from Eng- land on April 30, 1634, and settled at Watertown. Her ancestors in later generations fought in the Company, commission merchants in linens and damasks, with branch offices in Dundee, Scotland. Eliab Parker Mackintire was the father of George Eliab Mackintire and grandfather of George Win- throp Mackintire of this record. Through most of his other lines of ancestry, Mr. Mackintire is also descended from the original English Colonial stock. His mother, Arabella Wood ( Barker) Mackintire, was born in New Brunswick, Canada, but she was of American descent and her mother was a mem- various wars of their country, including the Rev-
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ber of the Tufts family, one of the oldest families of Charlestown and one of the most distinguished in Massachusetts.
George Winthrop Mackintire was educated in the public schools of Newton, Massachusetts, where he lived during his boyhood, and at Worcester Poly- technic Institute, where he was a member of the class of 1875. Forced by ill health to withdraw from that institution some months before his grad- uation, he spent a brief period in his father's office at Boston. In 1874 he went on a sea voyage to India and for approximately eleven years was em- ployed by a Boston house doing a banking and shipping business in India. His firm had branches in Calcutta, Madras and Batavia, in each of which cities he lived for a time. In 1889, having returned to the United States and taken up his residence in Worcester, he was appointed assistant cashier of the Worcester National Bank. Ten years later he resigned that position to accept the office of treasurer of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester. Mr. Mackintire has since served as treasurer of the company. He has con- tributed much to its development and progress, and today is the dean of its executive corps, both in seniority and by right of esteem. The history of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company is con- tained in another section of this work.
Mr. Mackintire is also vice-president of the Worcester Five Cents Savings Bank. In both these offices he has proved himself a gifted administra- tor and a man of soundest judgment. In addition, however, he has been active in many municipal projects and, while he has had little interest in politics as such, he has never neglected the duties of good citizenship. For a number of years he has served as chairman of the sinking fund commis- sion, a position in which his knowledge of finance has been of great value to the city. Mr. Mackin- tire has been a member of the Congregational Church of Worcester for a number of decades and in past years was very active in the work of the church. More recently he has made it his policy to retire gradually from his numerous and varied connections, leaving the burden of leadership to a generation which needs the experience and which eventually will carry on the work alone. Ac- cordingly he has resigned his church offices and various other positions with city institutions. Of his former club and society memberships he retains only a few, including the University Club, the Commonwealth Club and one or two others. He spends much of his time today at his beautiful summer estate near Princeton, Massachusetts, where he entertains his many friends, both old and new. While he may look back with satisfaction upon his record of past accomplishments, he is in no sense inactive and still retains many of his former interests.
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