USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108
The "Leominster Enterprise" has today a circula- tion of approximately 4,000. It is an eight-column daily, containing from eight to sixteen pages, inde- pendent Republican in politics and with national advertising furnished through the Julius Mathews Agency of Boston. The "Enterprise" is the only paper published in Leominster and is devoted largely to local interests. It is a clean, well- edited paper, maintaining the best traditions of the press and the fine standards which have marked the "Enterprise" through the sixty years of its existence.
WALTON OSCAR CAPEN-Following the tradition of an old American family, which played important rôles in the life of pioneer New England, Walton Oscar Capen, of Spencer, has contributed substantially to the development of the section which has been his lifelong home. He is a native of Spencer, born in May, 1890, son of William Edwin and Caroline (Charters) Capen.
The American progenitor of the Capen family was Bernard Capen, Englishman, who came to Massachusetts in 1630 and was a proprietor at Dedham in 1633. His only son, John, may have preceded his father in New England. Of more recent generations was William Capen, who, while the Indian still roamed the woods, carved from the forest about the present day Spencer the farm on which his son, William Edwin, and his grand- son, Walton Oscar Capen, were born. This farm is reputed to be one of the first developed in this section. Mrs. Caroline (Charters) Capen was born in St. Jean Chrysostôm, County of Chateauguay, Province of Quebec, Canada, on April 26, 1868. The subject of this review had a twin brother, Walter Edwin, who died in December, 1925, and a younger brother, Ralph, who died in January, 1894.
Walton Oscar Capen grew up on the old family farm, attended the district schools, and was a junior in the Spencer High School. For the time scholastic education was laid aside for work on the farm. In later years, as success came and with it leisure, he studied and read to become one of the best informed men of his community. Agricul- ture las always been his vocation, a farm of two hundred and sixty-two acres, to keep in a high state of cultivation, affording him ample oppor- tunity. Like other New England farmers, the dairy business has come to be an increasingly important phase of his business. His Guernsey herd of milch cows is one of the best in the region.
SAMUEL D. PERRY-As a banker, Samuel D. Perry has substantially contributed to the well- being of Southbridge, where he is cashier of the Southbridge National Bank. In both financial cir- cles and civic life, he has figured prominently, hav- ing lent his best energies to the development of
244
WORCESTER COUNTY
his community and State in whatever way pre- sented itself.
Mr. Perry was born in Southbridge, Massachu- setts, son of Samuel S. and Mary J. (Marsh) Perry, both natives of this Commonwealth. His father was at one time a merchant in Southbridge. In the public schools of this city, Samuel D. Perry. of this review, received his early education; and, upon leaving school, entered the employ of the Southbridge National Bank in the capacity of clerk. Thenceforward, until January 1, 1914, he filled numerous positions in the bank; but at the begin- ning of 1914, he was promoted to cashier, the post that he still holds, effectively and usefully dis- charging the duties pertaining to the office. His whole business career has been with this bank, though he has by no means confined his activities to banking.
For he early associated himself with projects of public importance, having been town auditor for two years, and for about fifteen years a member of the board of registrars of Southbridge. He is also a trustee and member of the board of invest- ment of the Southbridge Savings Bank, a direc- tor of the Southbridge Water Supply Company, and for more than a score of years a director and treasurer of the Southbridge Young Men's Chris- tian Association. An active Rotarian, Mr. Perry is treasurer and a director of the Southbridge chapter of the Rotary Club; and he belongs, like- wise, to the Southbridge Club, the Cohasset Coun- try Club, and Quinebaug Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons. In the Masonic Order, he is also affiliated with the Doric Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and with Worcester County Com- mandery of Knights Templar. He is at the same time a member of the Knights of Pythias. A leader in all affairs pertaining to the Republican party and its Worcester County organization, he belongs to the Southbridge Town Committee of the party, and does everything in his power to further its interests. In Southbridge, his own work in public office has been most useful, caus- ing him to be recognized as a valuable citizen. In the general activities of the banking profes- sion, he has figured prominently, having been par- ticularly active in the Massachusetts Cashiers' As- sociation, of which he was, in 1918, the president.
GEORGE E. FULLER-In terms of years, George E. Fuller, commercial manager of the Worcester Electric Light Company, one of the old- est officials of this corporation has been associated with it more than three decades. During this period he has advanced from office boy to clerk, to book- keeper, to credit manager, to comptroller, to assist- ant treasurer, to vice-president, to commercial manager.
He was born in Canton, Massachusetts, March 26, 1880, the son of George B. and Sarah J. (Phipps) Fuller, natives of Massachusetts, the former a carpenter by trade. He had an excel- lent public school training, having graduated from the Worcester High School in 1897. After leav- ing school he worked for the Plunger Elevator Company for two and one-half years. It was in February, 1900, that he joined the office staff of the Worcester Electric Light Company in the ca- pacity of the "Boy." He won steady promotion until he was elected vice-president in 1925. When the old company was taken over by the New Eng- land Power Associates, in 1929, he was appointed
commercial manager. Up to the present writing he has been in the company's service for thirty- four years.
He is a member of the Economic Club and the Worcester Country Club. Among his fraternal affiliations are Quinsigamond Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Eureka Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Hiram Council, Royal and Select Masters ; and Worcester County Commandery, Knights Tem- plar.
Mr. Fuller married, June 6, 1906, Paulina War- den, of Worcester, and they have a daughter, Marion L. Mr. Fuller's chief recreation is golf, and he is often to be found in his leisure hours on the links of his favorite club. The official ad- dress of Mr. Fuller is No. II Foster Street, Wor- cester.
EPHRAIM M. NORWOOD-During almost a quarter of a century, Ephraim M. Norwood has been associated with the Worcester Electric Light Company and in that period has risen to his pres- ent office as assistant treasurer of the company. His long experience in utilities operations and specific knowledge of local conditions make his services extremely valuable to his organization.
Mr. Norwood was born at Spencer, October 25, 1888, a son of George Norwood, who was born in Maine, and of Flora (Ball) Norwood, a native of Massachusetts. His father, who is now living in retirement at Worcester at the age of eighty-four, was associated with the Prouty Shoe Company of Spencer for approximately forty years.
Ephraim M. Norwood was educated in the public schools of Spencer, completing the high school course in 1907. Subsequently he attended Post Business Institute at Worcester, from which he was graduated in 1909, and in the same year en- tered the employ of the Worcester Electric Light Company as a clerk. Since that time he has worked through the various departments of the company, winning promotion as he demonstrated his capacity to assume greater executive respon- sibility. In April, 1931, he was elected assistant treasurer of the company. Mr. Norwood's entire business career has been spent with the company of which he is now assistant treasurer. He is well known in utilities circles of the State and in addi- tion to his business connections has been active in the civic and club life of the city of Worcester. In 1933 he was elected president of the Civitan Club of this city. He is also secretary of the Wachusett Country Club, a director of the Credit Men's Association and a Past Noble Grand of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Although his life has been a busy one, he has found time to be interested in community projects and has always given his hearty support to all movements with whose aims he is in sym- pathy. Mr. Norwood is a member and trustee of Plymouth Congregational Church, in whose work both he and his wife are active.
He married, on June 14, 1915, Hazel Freeman, of Worcester, and they are the parents of three chil- dren: I. Olive Freeman, born July 26, 1917. 2. Jane Isabel, born April 29, 1923. 3. Nadine, born September II, 1927. The family residence is main- tained at No. 15 Eureka Terrace, Worcester.
LOUISE GALLOWAY-When Louise Gal- loway was seventeen years of age she started a stage career which eventually brought her into
Ephraim M. howard
245
WORCESTER COUNTY
important company and won her a place as a favorite of the theatre-going public. Many de- votees of the legitimate drama recall with pleas- ure her histrionic successes made possible by a natural and cultivated talent for acting, and her musicianly and vocal triumphs. Now she is hap- pily married and in quaint, quiet, old Brookfield is comfortably established as hostess of a tea house in her own right, and caters to a select follow- ing. She is doing much for the town also in the way of producing an occasional play for which she books well known artists from leading New York theatres.
Miss Galloway-she retains her maiden name for professional and business reasons-was born in Marshall, Michigan, and early gave evidence of the dramatic sense. She was in her middle 'teens when she made her stage début in "The Jugger- naut," supporting Mary Shaw and John Kellard. Her work won the approval of manager and patrons, and after a season with that company she came to New York as the Jennie of the "Music Master," in which David Warfield was adding to his fame, to which her acting contributed. Then she was the good old Grandma of Colonel Savage's production, "The Clinging Vine," and later was cast by David Belasco for "The Gold Diggers" and "Polly with a Past," having been seven years with these two last-named productions, in which she charmed packed houses. A discriminating pub- lic and usually phylegmatic critics aided her suc- cess by their presence and cordial comment. She subsequently appeared with Jed Harris in "Weak Sisters," in which she filled her rôle with her well-known ability.
Miss Galloway by no means detached herself from the theatrical world, when she arrived in the lovely New England village of Brookfield. She had earned her right to rest awhile in the midst of quietude and the restful scenes afforded so generously in this ancient Worcester County com- munity, replete with historic lore and pleasing asso- ciations. It was in 1912 that she gratified her fondness for the beauty to be found and developed in old-fashioned surroundings, purchasing a very old and much dilapidated building which she restored and remodeled in part, on its old lines, for the use of her business, known as a tea house. With appre- ciation of the niceties and the touch of the true artist, she appointed the interior in a most attrac- tive manner, which has effectively appealed to her patrons. Brookfield folk-and scores from neigh- bor towns and others more remote-sing loudly her praise as a hostess, for her success as a business woman is but another chapter in her record whose earlier section is devoted to her theatrical activ- ities. She follows closely the doings of stagedom -both the new and the old-and now and again regales her Brookfield neighbors and others of her numerous friends with some choice production fresh from a long run of success on Broadway. In a sense, she might well be called the official impres- sario of the town, since her finger is always on the pulse of the theatre public to determine what is the best play to bring to Brookfield as oppor- tunity and demand shall dictate. Her people are not unappreciative of her fine service in this respect.
Miss Galloway married, in 1914, Lindoff A. Bas- sett, of Brookfield, who is secretary of the Mc- Laurin Manufacturing Company. Like many an-
other woman who has made her name in one of the professions, she has not submerged her real self by choosing to enter the matrimonial state.
ANDREW P. NICHOLS-Holding the office of treasury representative of the New England Power Associates, Andrew P. Nichols, with head- quarters in Worcester, has risen to this important position from humble circumstances, his first em- ployment in the public utility line being in the capacity of bookkeeper.
Mr. Nichols comes of a seafaring family. His parents are Henry J. and Angeline (Berry) Nich- ols, natives of Searsport, Maine, his father, a sea captain, having followed the sea practically all of his life.
Born in Boston, August 13, 1888, Andrew P. Nichols completed his education at the Liversidge Institute in that city. His first step in a business career was taken as office boy for George E. Homer, jeweler, Winter Street, Boston, where he worked for two years. As bookkeeper for Lau- rence Minot and Philip Cabot, trustees in the care of estates, he was employed for seven years. Still in the capacity of bookkeeper, he was sent to Fall River and attached to the office of the Fall River Electric Light Company. He rose to treasurer of this company and in 1929, when the New England Power Associates took over the Fall River plant, he was retained in the service. It was in 1931 that he was transferred to Worcester and made treasury representative for the various public util- ities owned or managed by the New England Power Associates in Central Massachusetts.
He is affiliated with Fall River Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Fall River Lodge, No. 219, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a mem- ber of the Wachusett Country Club. He takes recreation chiefly in gardening, being fond of hor- ticulture.
Mr. Nichols married, June 22, 1915, Laura I. Picken, of Boston, and they have a daughter, Ruth, born December 25, 1916.
EMERSON A. LUDDEN, M. D .- Begin- ning life as a drug store clerk and later becoming a worker in a shoe factory, Dr. Emerson A. Lud- den, of North Brookfield, graduated into the prac- tice of medicine, in which he has achieved an excellent reputation as an all-round practitioner. He is also a leading factor in the financial and municipal activities of the town.
Born in Spencer, Worcester County, November 18, 1861, Dr. Emerson A. Ludden is the son of Manley G. and Caroline I. (Bemis) Ludden, the father a native of that town and the mother of Paxton in this county. On the paternal side the line is of Dutch (Holland) origin, and the more immediate ancestors were farmers. The first of three Luddens who came to America was a phy- sician, and a family of this name was among the first to settle what now is known as Spencer. On the maternal side Dr. Ludden's forebears came from England. Charles A. Bemis, formerly a shoe manufacturer in Spencer, had previously served in the Union Army in the Civil War.
After passing through. the public schools of Brookfield, Dr. Ludden went to work in a drug store in that town. He was a mere boy at the time. Later he was employed in the shoe factory of Isaac Prouty and Company in Spencer and then
246
WORCESTER COUNTY
went to Brookfield, where he was similarly em- ployed. At the age of twenty-one he made choice of the medical profession for his life work and entered the Albany (New York) Medical College, a department of Union University. Here he was graduated with his degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1888, the exercises taking place dur- ing the memorable snowstorm of March 12 of that year. Establishing himself first in practice at Holbrook in this county, he remained there one year and returned to Brookfield, where he engaged in the drug business, which he conducted in 1901. In the latter year he opened an office for the prac- tice of medicine in North Brookfield and has since been building up a fine following of patients and increasing in the favor of the public generally. His home in the central section of the town is one of the architectural features of the community.
Dr. Ludden is active in various interests of con- structive value in the town. For fourteen years he has been school physician and he has been on the Republican Town Committee for a number of years. He is a trustee and auditor of the North Brookfield Savings Bank, a member of the Wor- cester District Medical Society and the Brookfield Medical Club. He aided in the institution of Fidelity Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Spencer, and was elected its first Chancellor Commander, being also chosen the first representative to the Grand Lodge. His religious affiliation is with the Congregational Church.
Dr. Ludden married, February 12, 1893, Ernes- tine L. Letourneau, who was born in Napierville, Canada.
JOSEPH ST. GEORGE-In the municipal affairs of the town of Warren, Joseph St. George continues to play a prominent part, being chairman of the board of selectmen, a former chairman of the board of health and a constable of this com- munity.
Born in Wellsboro, New York, May 3, 1861, Mr. St. George is the son of Ambrose and Mar- garet (Jengross) St. George, both of his parents natives of Canada, the father an iron and steel worker in his younger days and later conducting a farm in association with his son Joseph. He lived to the age of ninety-three years. Having received a limited education in the country schools, Mr. St. George was thirteen years old, when he went to live on a farm in Charlotte, Vermont. He next went to the Holbrook farm in Brimfield, in Hampton County, where he was employed for seventeen years. In return for wages and the care taken of Mr. Holbrook, the latter deeded the farm to Mr. St. George. He subsequently pur- chased the adjoining Lincoln farm and with the two tracts he owned about four hundred acres. In June, 1904, he sold the farm and went to Warren, where he purchased a livery stable. This business he conducted for eight years, or until the automo- bile began to compete to his disadvantage, when he disposed of the livery stable. He has since operated a farm and dairy enterprise, owning about eighty acres of woodland and five acres in the homestead piece.
He entered his political career in 1905, in which year he was elected a member of the board of health of the town of Warren and served nine terms or twenty-seven years. His occupancy of the chairmanship covered seventeen years. He was also commissioned a constable, in 1905, and during
his tenure of twenty years he held the record of having made a greater number of arrests than any officer in Warren. It was in 1927 that he was first elected to the board of selectmen, and his chairmanship of the town's chief governing body has already run into six years, having been re- elected every year. He is regarded as one of the best known public officials in this section of the State.
Mr. St. George married, December 31, 1882, Minnie Reynolds, a native of Schuyler Falls, New York. Their children are: I. Joseph Sumner, of Warren. 2. Mary A., a school teacher, resides at the family home. 3. William H., manager of the Milford Grain Company. 4. Daniel, a real estate broker at Belmont, California. 5. Mildred Ruth, married Jeremiah Scanly, of Monson. 6. Charles W., of Warren, an overseas veteran of the World War, who was wounded in Death Valley, France. 7. Minnie, now Sister Mary Delora, and residing in a convent. 8. Ethel, now Sister Mary of St. John, a resident of a convent in Worcester. 9. Napoleon N., manager of the Ware Grain and Coal Company. Three sons, Fred, Edward and Ronald, died in their youth. Mr. and Mrs. St. George celebrated their golden wedding on December 31, 1932.
ALFRED W. BROWN, M. D .- Professional experience in charge of the medical department of school athletics in another State and in hospital work in a South American city supplemented the technical education received by Dr. Alfred W. Brown and preceded his settling in his adopted town of Spencer. Here he is highly regarded for his ability and civic spirit. He is also the medical examiner for a number of insurance companies.
Born in Quincy, November 7, 1886, Alfred W. Brown is the son of Elijah Stone and Clara Sophia (Newcomb) Brown, the father a native of Maine and engaged as a contractor in Quincy, and the mother born in the State. After a preliminary education in the public schools and graduation from the Adams Academy in 1904, the son, Alfred W., studied at Tufts Medical School, where he received his degree and graduated in the class of 1913. His first professional appointment took him to Balti- more, Maryland, where he filled the position of medical supervisor of school athletics for the entire State. At the end of about three years he resigned and went to Barranquilla, Republic of Colombia, South America, and there conducted a private hos- pital. He was thus engaged for five years and, besides doing a vast amount of good for the people served by his institution, he acquired an invaluable fund of practical experience, which has stood him in excellent stead in these later years. In 1921 he came to Spencer, opened an office and has since been in general practice here.
His affiliations include the American Medical Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, Brook- field Medical Club, and Society of Physicians at Barranquilla, Colombia; Spencer Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Scottish Rite Consistory ; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine, Boston; Fraternal Order of Eagles ; and Improved Order of Red Men. His recrea- tions are hunting and fishing.
Dr. Brown married, September 26, 1913, Caro- line M. Merrill, of Amesbury, and they have two children : I. Ruth C., born July 14, 1914. 2. Alfred W., Jr., born September 10, 1916.
ST. BRIGID'S RECTORY MILLBURY, MASS.
247
WORCESTER COUNTY
JOHN E. DALTON, M. D .- In addition to caring for a large and desirable medical practice, Dr. John E. Dalton has served the town of War- ren in various official positions, as selectman, mem- ber of the school committee and member of the board of health. He is regarded as one of the most successful physicians and surgeons in this section of the State.
Dr. Dalton was born in Hadley, Hampshire County, April 7, 1874, a son of John and Honora (Walsh) Dalton. Both his parents were natives of Ireland, who came in their youth with their respective parents to this country. Here they were reared and educated and later married, settling in Hadley, where they were farmers. The then future physician attended the public schools of Hadley and Hopkins Academy, where he was graduated in 1891. He then took up the study of medicine, entered the Long Island Medical College and Hos- pital, Brooklyn, New York, graduating with his degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1894. As a resident physician he spent two years in the Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, New York.
He came to Warren and opened an office in January, 1907, and here he has continued to grow in favor with his patients and the people generally. His professional affiliations include the Massachu- setts State Medical Society and the Brookfield Medical Club. In the town's political service he filled the office of selectman for seven years, school committeeman for twenty-five years and member of the board of health for approximately ten years. He was a member of the special committee charged with the construction of the new East Street school building and is a member of the Library Associa- tion. He is the official medical examiner for the Citizens Military Training Camp.
Dr. Dalton married (first) Nellie Gleason, by whom he has a daughter, Helen, a teacher in the New Britain (Connecticut) High School. Mrs. Dalton died in 1905. Dr. Dalton married (second), in 1912, Katharine McEnelly, of Hopkinton, Middle- sex County, Massachusetts. Two daughters have been born to this union: I. Katharine, a student at Trinity College, Washington, District of Colum- bia. 2. Honora, graduated from the Warren High School in 1933, now a student at Columbia Uni- versity, New York City.
REV. JAMES M. BURKE, S. T. L .- St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church at Millbury, of which the Rev. James M. Burke, S. T. L., is now pastor, was erected in 1850-51. Previous to that time, Millbury was a mission of St. John's parish in Worcester. The first Catholic services in the town were held in 1834, when Father Fitton took up the care of the Catholic people of Worcester and occasionally said mass in Millbury, either in the old "Arcade" or in the home of James Camp- bell. Father Fitton's work in Millbury was con- tinued by Father Williamson, who in turn was succeeded, in April, 1845, by Father Gibson, who said mass regularly in the Millbury Town Hall. On some Sundays there were no services in Mill- bury, and it was then necessary for the Catholic people of the town to walk to the church on Tem- ple Street, Worcester, or to Holy Cross College, in Worcester, a distance of about seven miles.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.