Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 49

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 49

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Ephraim Hinds, grandfather of Albert W. Hinds, was a lawyer and also served as justice of the peace. He was the first of his family to be grad- uated from Harvard University, which his descend- ants later attended. Ephraim Hinds practiced the profession of law at Harvard, Massachusetts, and also for a time at Worcester.

Albert Hinds, the father, was born in Worces- ter County and settled in West Boylston about 1860. He served as a justice of the peace and was prominent in county life, writing deeds and settling many estates. At the time of the Civil War he was postmaster of West Boylston. Albert Hinds died at the early age of forty-four. His wife, Alona A. (Walker) Hinds, survived him many years, passing away at the age of ninety- one in 1921.

Albert W. Hinds, of this record, received his preliminary education in the public schools of West Boylston and prepared for college at Worcester Academy, from which he was graduated in 1883. In the fall of the same year he entered Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, and was there graduated on the completion of the required coursc in 1887, taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1888 he took the further degree of Mas- ter of Arts at Harvard University and in 1889 traveled through various parts of the United States, visiting points of interest. In 1890 he taught at a private school at Duluth, Minnesota, but at the end of a year returned to West Boylston, where he was elected a member of the school board in 1892. This office he resigned in 1894 to accept appointment as an instructor at Brown University. Mr. Hinds continued as an instructor at Brown and also carried on graduate work at that uni- versity until 1896. In 1897 he returned to West Boylston, but the succeeding three years he again spent largely in travel, both in the United States and abroad, accompanied by his mother. In 1901 he built the beautiful home in this town which he has since occupied.

Mr. Hinds has always sought to meet every obligation of good citizenship and during the past thirty years has rendered many valuable serviccs to his community. He was rcelected to the West Boylston School Board in 1897 and continued as a member thereof until 1932, when he declined re- election. Meanwhile, in 1900, he was elected town treasurer of West Boylston, a position for which he was well qualified and which he has filled by successive reëlections with efficiency and fidelity. Mr. Hinds has also served since 1900 as a mem- ber of the library board, and was president for about twenty years of the Mount Vernon Ceme- tery Association until it was dissolved in 1932 and taken over by the town. He is a Republican

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in politics and is a member of the honorary scholastic fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, carrying the key insignia of that order. For many years he has been a member of the Worcester Economic Club. He is one of the prudential committee of the First Baptist Church, West Boylston.

On October 6, 1925, Albert W. Hinds married Margaret L. Mason, of Worcester, daughter of Louis E. and Lucy (Allen) Mason, of Worcester. Her mother was a native of Barre, Worcester County. Mrs. Hinds' maternal grandfather was Dr. Charles G. Allen, of Barre, inventor of the "Yankee Horse Rake." Her father, a native of Worcester, was an organist and was for forty- five years a church organist. For sixteen years he was connected with Trinity Church, never missing a Sunday service.

LOUIS V. SMITH-As editor and business manager of the "Jewish Civic Leader," of Wor- cester, Louis V. Smith has filled an important position in the life of his county and State. The influence of his paper has been extensive and has been such as to redound to the good of his com- munity and its people and institutions.

Mr. Smith was born in Lithuania, on May 6, 1903, son of Morris and Eva (Kirle) Smith. He was only eight years of age when, in 1911, he came to the United States and settled in Worces- ter. The father came at that time to the New World to seek a livelihood, and the son received his first formal education in this country in the Ash Street School. He was graduated, in 1919, from the Millbury Street Preparatory School. Be- coming a student at the Classical High School, he was graduated from that institution in 1922 and in 1926 he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts from Clark University. For two and one-half years thereafter, Louis V. Smith served as assistant city editor of the Fall River "Daily Globe," of Fall River. It was in the early part of 1929 that he assumed charge of the "Jewish Civic Leader," becoming both editor and business manager of the paper. Since that time he has served faithfully and effectively in this joint capacity with his paper.

He began his journalistic labors in his school days, becoming correspondent for the "Telegram- Gazette" and the Worcester "Post," as well as for several Boston papers. The "Civic Leader," which he now heads, was founded in 1923, when it began publication on a small scale. Under Mr. Smith's management, it has grown steadily. It is the only Jewish newspaper in Worcester County. It cir- culates in ninety per cent. of all Jewish homes in this district and plays an important part in reflecting and guiding Jewish life in this part of New England.

Mr. Smith himself is widely known in New England. Self-educated and self-made in the high- est sense of those terms, he has made remarkable progress for his years, exerting a power for good that is seldom given to a man so young. He founded and formerly published the "Pythian News," organ of the Knights of Pythias, sub- sidized by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and circulated in the Domain of Massachusetts. Mr. Smith is himself a Pythian and a member of the Concord Lodge, of Fall River. He is also the Worcester County correspondent for the United Press and is an active member of the Men's Hebrew Association.

Louis V. Smith married, on November 25, 1927, Dorothy Jacobson, of Worcester. To this mar- riage there was born one son, Sidney Z. Smith, on September 29, 1928. The Smith family resi- dence is situated at No. 12 Stockton Street, Wor- cester.

MALCOLM C. MIDGLEY-A native son of the city of Worcester, Malcolm C. Midgley has served faithfully and well its people, being at the time of writing the city clerk. Both in private and public capacities, he has held positions of financial trust, and has handled his responsibilities effectively and efficiently.

Mr. Midgley was born on July 13, 1893, in Worcester, Massachusetts, son of Leonard C. and Clara E. (Holden) Midgley. His father, a native of England, came to the United States with his parents when he was only six years of age. The mother was born in Worcester. Leonard C. Midg- ley was a horticulturist, having been for some time the president of the Worcester Horticulturists' Society and previously for a number of years its secretary and a member of its finance committee ; he is now living retired from his active labors. The Holdens, of the maternal side of the house, were early settlers in Worcester.

It was in this city that Malcolm C. Midgley attended the public schools; and in IgII, he was graduated from the Classical High School. After attending Amherst College for one year, for two years he became associated with his father in busi- ness. He was then engaged for two years in the automobile tire business in Lancaster, Ohio. In 1917, he enlisted for World War service, joining the aviation section and training at Fort Slocum, San Antonio, Texas. He went overseas thereafter, and was for eighteen months in France, stationed at Issoudun, Ribeaucourt, and in the Ourcq-Toul sector. Returning home in March, 1919, he was sent to Mineola to carry on demobilization work, continuing there for six weeks, at the conclusion of which he was mustered out with the rank of sergeant.

Returning to Worcester, Mr. Midgley entered the employ of the Worcester Mechanics Savings Bank, with which he remained until 1920, when he took the position of teller in the city treasurer's office, thus beginning his career of public service. For five years he held that position, until, in 1925, he was elected clerk of committees, a position which he held until, in 1927, he was elected city clerk. In 1929 he was reelected to the last-named office ; and in 1932 he was again reelected, to serve a three-year term.

Mr. Midgley is also a member and clerk of the board of registrars and of the license board of the city ; and his affiliations with different groups here have rendered him a most useful citizen. In the Free and Accepted Masons, he is connected with Morning Star Lodge and Rose of Sharon Lodge, and with Stella Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; He is also a member of Aletheia Grotto and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the American Legion, in which he is a member of the General Devens Post ; the Sons of St. George; the Kiwanis Club; and the Runaway Brook Golf Club.

He has devoted considerable time to the study of music, and has a fine tenor voice and is fre-

John Gove

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quently called upon to entertain Worcester groups, and is especially valued in churches for his talent, and welcomed in local choirs." Into all his many interests, he has regularly put his best energies and his fullest measure of enthusiasm, with the result that he is esteemed and respected as are few members of this community.

Malcolm C. Midgley married, on September 5, 1922, Fanny Goodwin, of Worcester, Massachusetts. They have had two children: I. Malcolm C., Jr., born May 26, 1924. 2. Claire, born March 8, 1926. The family residence is situated at No. 76 David- son Road, this city.

JOSEPH SIDNEY WILCOX-In the man- ufacture of pyroloid products at his plants in Athol, Worcester County, and Toronto, Canada, Joseph S. Wilcox is conducting a business that has made his name and the output of these concerns widely known in this country and foreign lands. He is an aggressive leader in the commercial and civic life of Athol, where he has served on many committees.

Joseph Wilcox, father of Joseph Sidney, was the first to establish the pyroloid manufacturing business, having his original plant in Leominister, where he operated under the style of Joseph Wil- cox. In 1897 he removed to Worcester and was there until 1900, in which year the plant was de- stroyed by fire. He came to Athol in 1900 and in that year established a manufactory in this town. After having occupied several different lo- cations here, the concern moved into the present plant, which has 25,000 square feet of floor space and excellent manufacturing and shipping facilities. Joseph Wilcox married Jennie I. Mooney, and they lived in New York City until their removal to Massachusetts. She died in 1917, and Mr. Wilcox in 1925.

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, October 5, 1887, Joseph Sidney Wilcox prepared for advanced study by taking a course in the Athol High School and then entered Union College, where he was a special student. Immediately after leaving college he left Athol and was employed by several large companies as a draftsman and engineer until 1921. In that year he came to Athol and reorganized the business founded by his father, becoming the principal owner and changing the title to the Wil- cox Company. This concern produces large quant- ities in great variety of pyroloid for use in the forms of dresser sets, combs, clocks, and leather goods. In 1931 he established the Wilcox Cana- dian, Ltd., in Toronto for the manufacture of similar goods for the Canadian trade. He has been successful in building up a line of customers in these two countries and in some foreign countries, which has increased with the years. He is treas- urer and majority stockholder in both concerns.

He has been prominent in the political and offi- cial life of Athol and Worcester County, and has served as chairman of the Athol Advisory Board, president of the Worcester Northwest Agricultural Society, past president of the Athol Credit Union, past president of the Ellinwood Country Club, past president of the Athol Exchange Club, and pres- ident of Exchange Clubs of Massachusetts. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and holds affiliations with Phi Gamma Delta (college) Fraternity, Athol Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Athol Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Harris Council, Royal and Select Mas-

ters; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston. He is a member and director of the Athol Young Men's Christian Association. Extremely fond of avia- tion, he has owned an airplane and an autogiro plane and is a director of the local airport.

Mr. Wilcox married, October 31, 1923, at Keene, New Hampshire, Marguerite Hopkins, daughter of Harry D. and Maude (Pierce) Hopkins, of that city. Her father is a former member of the Gov- ernor's Council in New Hampshire, a former State Representative and a former State Senator. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox are: I. Maude Hopkins, born September 18, 1924. 2. Joseph Sid- ney, born January 12, 1926. 3. Harriet Pierce, born May 8, 1927. 4. Marion Marguerite, born June 9, 1929.

JOHN HENRY COES-A native of Spring- field, Hampden County, the late John Henry Coes achieved his record as a business leader in the capital city of Worcester County. For many years he was treasurer of the Coes Wrench Company, one of the important industries of his time in this county.

John Coes, who settled in Worcester prior to the Revolutionary War, is claimed by the present generation as the founder of the family of Coes in America. He died in Worcester, June 24, 1827. His wife was Rebecca. The line of descent is through their son, Daniel, and Roxana (Roxalany or Roxalana) Gates, his wife, and their son, Aury Gates.

Aury Gates Coes, born in Worcester, January 22, 1816, died December 2, 1875, was active in the manufacture of woolen machinery and in Repub- lican politics. He married (first) Nancy Maynard, who died December 1, 1842. He married (second) Anna S. Cutting, and had children. He married (third) Mrs. Lucy (Wyman) Gibson, a widow, and they had two daughters. He married (fourth) Abigail Winch. By his first marriage there was a son, John Henry, of whom further.

John Henry Coes, son of Aury Gates and Nancy (Maynard) Coes, was born in Springfield, Hamp- den County, September 25, 1840. In early life he removed with his parents to Worcester and in the public schools of this city he received his prelimi- nary education. He pursued higher studies in Leicester Academy and Wilbraham Academy. His first business connection was in an office position with the firm of L. and A. G. Coes, manufacturers of wrenches, in which the two principals were his father and an uncle. On the dissolution of this partnership, April 1, 1869, Aury Gates Coes or- ganized the firm of A. G. Coes and Company, John Henry, his son, being received as junior member. This concern continued to carry forward the man- ufacture of wrenches in Worcester. Upon the death of the senior member, Aury Gates Coes, De- cember 2, 1875, the business was conducted under the same style by the sons, John Henry and Fred- erick L. Coes. On April 1, 1888, the firm of A. G. Coes and Company and that of Loring Coes and Company were consolidated and the new organiza- tion, capitalized at $100,000, took the title of the Coes Wrench Company. The officers were: Pres- ident, Loring Coes ; treasurer, John H. Coes ; clerk, Frederick L. Coes. In 1902 the two brothers, John H. and Frederick L. Coes, disposed of their inter-

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est in the business to their uncle, Loring Coes, and withdrew from the company.

John Henry Coes was also actively identified with financial institutions and with fraternal and social organizations. He was a director of the Worcester Trust Company and a member of its executive committee, and president and a member of the finance committee of the Mechanics Savings Bank of Worcester. He was affiliated with Mon- tacute Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Wor- cester Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hiram Coun- cil, Royal and Select Masters; and Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar. In the right of his maternal ancestor, Simon Gates, he was a member of the Sons of the Revolution. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Club, Worcester Club, Tatnuck Country Club, and Mas- sachusetts Agricultural Club of Boston.

John Henry Coes married, February 5, 1874, Amie Brownell Hadwen, born in Worcester, No- vember 4, 1846, daughter of Obadiah B. Hadwen. Mr. and Mrs. Coes had a daughter, Mary May- nard, born March 14, 1876. The death of Mr. Coes occurred at the family home, No. 1058 Main Street, Worcester, February 18, 1922.

MARK N. SKERRETT -- One of the leading attorneys of Worcester, and the chairman of the city Planning Board, Mark N. Skerrett is a native of Worcester, born February 23, 1869, a son of James and Catherine E. (Sullivan) Skerrett, the first mentioned of whom was of English birth and the latter a native of Ireland. James Skerrett came to America in 1841, settled in Worcester, and there remaining to the time of his death in 1884.

Mark N. Skerrett attended the public schools and was graduated from the high school in 1888. He then matriculated at Holy Cross College, where he studied for three years. By the most strenuous efforts and great self-denial he worked his way through college, and later attended lectures and allied subjects in preparation for the legal pro- fession. He read law under the preceptorship of the law firm of Hagerty and Kane. In 1897 he was admitted to the bar of Worcester County, and at once engaged in the general practice of his profession. Mr. Skerrett has won for himself a high place in the esteem of his clientele and colleagues. He has both a comprehensive knowl- edge of the law and of human character, a com- bination which has made for success.

Politics have interested Mr. Skerrett from boy- hood, and he early allied himself with the Demo- cratic party as a voter. Soon he stood high in the councils and campaigns of the local organiza- tion. In 1901 he was honored with election to the State Legislature, serving from 1901 to 1905. In 1916 he was sent to the National Democratic Con- vention at St. Louis, Missouri, as a delegate. For some years Mr. Skerrett has been a member of the State Democratic Committee. Upon the organiza- tion of the City Planning Board of Worcester, in 1915, he was named as a member of that body. In 1922 Mr. Skerrett was elected chairman of the City Planning Board, an honor justly earned and truly deserved. He is a member of the Worcester County Bar Association and of the Massachusetts State and American Bar associations.

In 1911 Mark N. Skerrett married Josephine L. Morrissey, of Worcester, and they are the parents

of two children: I. Mark N., Jr., born April 12, 1912. 2. Alice C., born August 26, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Skerrett reside at No. 557 Grafton Street, Worcester.

HARRY COCAINE-In 1932 Harry Cocaine took over the entire operations of Lincoln Park, one of the best known amusement places in Wor- cester County. As proprietor of the Lincoln Amusement Garden at the park for some twenty years, he was thoroughly familiar with problems and conditions and has been able to conduct opera- tions of the larger property with much success.

Mr. Cocaine is a native of Greece, born on February 22, 1894, a son of George and Angelina (Karos) Cocaine. His parents never left their native land, and his father, until his death, was a trader and landowner there.

Harry Cocaine received his education in the schools of Greece, completing a course of study equivalent to our high school instruction. He came to the United States in 1908, establishing his home in Worcester. For the first year after his arrival he worked for Anderson and Patterson, confec- tioners, at Worcester, meanwhile studying English at night. He spent long hours poring over the dictionary and other volumes, but was rewarded by acquiring in a brief time an adequate knowl- edge of the language of his adopted country. In 1910, after approximately two years in Worces- ter, Mr. Cocaine took over the lease of Anderson and Patterson and thereafter continued their busi- ness, which included the Lincoln Amusement Gar- den. This project he has managed ever since. In 1932 he added to his interests by taking over the entire park which consists of several acres and includes amusements of all kinds. Among the features of the park may be mentioned: Refresh- ment booths and parlors of all kinds, a merry-go- round, bowling alleys, boating facilities and picnic grounds, skating, a shooting gallery, penny arcades and many games. The Lincoln Rowing Club is situated on the grounds, as is also an old historic theatre. Lincoln Park is located on Lake Quin- sigamond, bordering the town of Shrewsbury. It is the only amusement park in Worcester and, per- haps, the largest in the county, accommodating as many as 60,000 people a day who come to the park for amusement and recreation. Mr. Cocaine de- serves much credit for building up this fine amuse- ment park for Worcester. While he was qualified for the task by experience and native ability, his courage in assuming the large risks involved is to be commended and his success has brought much pleasure to the people of this community.

Mr. Cocaine is a member of the Lincoln Rowing Club, the Improved Order of Red Men, the United Commercial Travelers and of Ahepa Lodge, No. 80, a Greek organization. He has a very large circle of acquaintances in the Worcester section and is respected by all who know him.

On May 16, 1920, Harry Cocaine married Sophia Economy, who was born in Athens, Greece. They became the parents of the following children : George, Anna, Christo, Harold, Angelina, and an infant daughter. The residence of the family is situated at No. 132 Corbin Avenue, Worcester.

EDWARD L. MOORE-The well-known attorney-at-law, Edward L. Moore of Worcester, brought to the practice of his profession not only

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an unusually extensive training from institutions of higher education, but had the valuable experi- ence of some years at teaching. He was born at Worcester, February 24, 1883, a son of John M. and Mary A. (Dolan) Moore. His father, John M. Moore, was a resident of the city where he was engaged in mercantile business for many years.

Edward L. Moore attended the schools of the city, then entered Holy Cross College, from which he was graduated in 1904 with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts; four years later he received his Master's degree from this same institution. Dur- ing the year of 1905 he attended Boston Normal College. From 1906 to 1913, Mr. Moore was a teacher in the New York City public schools, and rose rapidly as an educator. His ambition, how- ever, was to become a lawyer, and during this period he was studying law in the Fordham Uni- versity Law School, New York City, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1912. That same year Mr. Moore was admitted to the bar of New York and also the Massachu- setts bar. Returning to Worcester he began the practice of law in 1913, and has so continued. He has won an enviable reputation as a lawyer and citizen.

Mr. Moore is a member of the Worcester County Bar Association and of the Massachusetts State and American Bar associations. He has been a member of the Park Commission of Worcester. In May, 1932, he had the high honor of being appointed a Master in Chancery for a five-year term. Mr. Moore gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus.

CHARLES J. CAMPBELL-A figure of dis- tinction in the public life of Rutland for many years, Charles J. Campbell represents the Second Worcester District in the State Legislature and is one of the business leaders of his section. He was born in Rutland, September 28, 1877, son of Thomas L. and Janet (Hamilton) Campbell, both natives of Scotland and both now deceased. His parents were brought to the United States as chil- dren and lived for some time in Lowell. In about 1862 or 1863 they removed to Rutland, and were thereafter identified with the life of that place. A machinist by trade, the elder Mr. Campbell fol- lowed agriculture in Rutland during the latter part of his life and until his death.

The gentleman whose name heads this review had the good fortune to be born on a farm and to grow up on it. He also eventually owned this property and retained it until 1920. His education was gained in the Rutland schools, and for some years he practiced agriculture in association with his father and by himself. In 1920 he sold the farm to become the manager of the Cheney Grain Store in Rutland, a branch of J. B. Garland and Son, grain dealers, of Worcester, continuing this association until 1933, when he retired and his son, Lloyd H., replaced him in the managership.

Charles J. Campbell was elected to the Massa- chusetts General Assembly in November, 1932, for the terms of 1933-34, another step forward in a career marked by public service. He has served on the Republican Town Committee since he was twenty-one years old, a period of thirty-five years, and has been its chairman for twenty-six years,

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 49

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