USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 65
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Dr. Huyck's first professional assignment was as assistant physician at the Westborough (Massa- chusetts) State Hospital for the Insane, where he was situated for several years. In 1907 he opened an office in West Brookfield for practice in his own name and since has become well and favorably established among a large and desirable following. When the United States entered the World War, he was given a captain's commission and assigned as a neuro-psychiatrist for general hospital work in the army camps. He is a member of the staff of Mary Lane Hospital in Ware. His professional organizations include the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, American Medical Association, Massachusetts State Medical Society, and Brookfield Medical Club. He is affiliated with the American Legion and the Masonic Fraternity.
Dr. Huyck married, November 10, 1898, Elea- nora Pangburn, of Palmyra, New York, and their children are : Freda E. and Margaret L.
JAMES ARTHUR BUELL-To the busi- ness and professional life of the city and county of Worcester, James Arthur Buell has freely con-
tributed, particularly in his position as chief engi- neer of the Morgan Construction Company, of this place.
Mr. Buell was born at Webster City, Iowa, on July 20, 1883, son of Chalker Emmons and Eliza Ann (Sparks) Buell, who were natives of Illinois. The Sparks family came originally from England to America, several members of the line having come to this Continent in their youth and making their home in Illinois. The Buells also came from England, landing at Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1630. They were with a colony of religious en- thusiasts, who established the town of Windsor, Connecticut. The descendants of the founder removed to Killingworth, Connecticut, thence to Newport, New Hampshire, to New York State, and finally to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Dubuque, Iowa. The father of the man whose name heads this review, Chalker Emmons Buell, settled in Webster City, Iowa. The Buells were all land- owners for generations.
James A. Buell, of the tenth generation in America and the ninth to be born here, early attended the public and high schools of Webster City, Iowa. Later he went to Iowa State Col- lege, where he was graduated in 1905 with the degree of Civil Engineer. Removing thence to Joliet, Illinois, he joined forces with the Illinois Steel Company, continuing his work with them for two years and then going to Canton, Ohio. For fifteen years he was chief engineer and general superintendent and manager of the United Alloy Steel Corporation, in Canton. In 1922 he went to Buffalo, New York, associating himself there with the Donner Steel Corporation, of which he was made general superintendent. So remaining until March, 1926, he then came to Worcester, Massa- chusetts, as assistant chief engineer, a post that he held for two years. At the end of that period, he was made chief engineer, with the Morgan Construction Company, and so continues today.
In addition to this work, Mr. Buell is active in a number of organizations. He belongs to the American Iron and Steel Institute. In the Free and Accepted Masons, he holds the thirty-second degree of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and is affiliated with both the Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Buell also holds memberships in the Worces- ter Club and the Worcester Country Club. While the World War was being waged, he took an active interest in war work, having had charge of about 6,000 men who were making war materials with the United Alloy Steel Corporation. Each of the groups with which he has associated him- self has benefited from his constructive labors and his application of intelligence and energy to their problems and programs.
James Arthur Buell, on April 3, 1907, married Harriet Sladden Nelson, of Chicago, Illinois. By this marriage there has been one child, Samuel Nelson Buell, who was born on March 4, 1912.
CHARLES BENSON CHICKERING -- Financial endeavor and political office are the mediums by which Charles Benson Chickering, of Lancaster, has come into prominence. He holds the position of assistant treasurer of the Clinton Savings Bank and that of selectman of his native town of Lancaster. In each of these offices he has
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advanced far in the good-will of those whom he serves.
Born in Lancaster, August 28, 1878, Mr. Chicker- ing is the son of Charles A. and Jeanette (Gor- don) Chickering, both now deceased. His parents were natives of New Hampshire and about 1865 came to Lancaster to reside, the father for many years having been an old-time traveling salesman for wholesale grocery houses. The education of the son, Charles Benson, was received in the pub- lic schools of Lancaster. At the age of eighteen he went to work for the New Haven Railroad Company, where he was employed for fifteen years, latterly as an accountant. His next connection was with the Clinton Wire Cloth Company's ac- counting department, where he was situated for seven years. His banking experience began in 1919, when he accepted the position of cashier at the Clinton First National Bank. When this insti- tution was changed to the Clinton Trust Company, he was made treasurer of the reorganized bank, continuing in this capacity until 1927, when he went to the Clinton Savings Bank as assistant treasurer, through which office he is an important factor in the sustained success of this fine, old institution.
The public service in which Mr. Chickering has distinguished himself in Lancaster had its incep- tion with his acceptance of the office of member of the board of road commissioners. For six years he worked with his colleagues for the im- provement of the community's highways. In 1928 he was appointed a member of the board of select- men, and so satisfactory was his service to the electors that they chose him in 1931 for the full term of three years.
Mr. Chickering married, October 5, 1904, Har- riet Palmer Tufts, of Lancaster, daughter of Charles F. and Ida A. (Hawkins) Tufts, both now deceased, the father a native of Somerville and the mother of Lancaster. Mr. and Mrs. Chickering have a daughter, Jeanette Gordon Chickering, born July 31, 1906, a graduate of the Madeira School at Washington, District of Columbia.
REV. JAMES A. DUNPHY-Wide experi- ence in the spiritual oversight of souls in parishes entrusted to his care was gained by Rev. James A. Dunphy prior to his arrival as pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church at Brookfield. Here he continues to upbuild the spiritual and physical values of the parish and to enlarge the scope of the church.
Born in Haydenville, Massachusetts, August 6, 1876, he is the son of John and Mary (Cody) Dunphy. His parents were natives of Ireland, came to this country in their youth and were married here. Their son, James A., attended the public schools of Haydenville and completed his academic course at St. Charles' College, Ellicott City, Mary- land, graduating in the class of 1896 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1900 he went to Paris, France, and spent a year in theological studies at St. Sulpice Seminary. Thence he went to Rome and pursued three years of additional theological study at the American College, and he was ordained to the priesthood there, June 6, 1903.
On his return to America, Rev. James A. Dun- phy was assigned to the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey, and was at St. Cecelia's Church, Kearney, New Jersey, until 1911, in which year he returned
to the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts. He served in succession appointments at St. Peter's in Worcester, Holy Trinity in Greenfield, St. Mary's in Milford, and St. Paul's at Blackstone. On Jan- uary 28, 1925, he was appointed pastor of St. Francis' Church, Belchertown. He was assigned as pastor of St. Mary's at Brookfield, July 25, 1928, and has since been resident in this commu- nity. In addition to his main pastoral duties in Brookfield, he has charge of a mission, St. John's Church in East Brookfield, and another mission, the Church of the Sacred Heart at West Brook- field. Reports concerning all these works indicate that they are thriving promisingly under his direc- tion.
WILLIAM COLET JOHNSON-William Colet Johnson is the vice-president and actuary of the Massachusetts Protective Association of Worcester and also is identified with the Massa- chusetts Protective Life Assurance Company and the Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, all of Worcester.
He was born at Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York, January 28, 1876, a son of Peter Roosevelt Johnson, M. D. and Mary Chamberlain (Hunt) Johnson. After completing his education, so far as the schools were concerned, Mr. Johnson was employed variously before he became interested in the insurance business. From 1901 to 1911 he was manager at New York of the Phoenix Life Insur- ance Company, resigning to become the vice-pres- ident and general manager of the Columbian Na- tional Life Insurance Company of Boston, continu- ing as such from 1911 to 1916. In the latter year he was made inspector of agencies of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, serv- ing as such for two years, then coming to Worces- ter in 1918, to accept the position of vice-president and actuary of the Massachusetts Protective Asso- ciation of that city, as which he has continued up to the present. Mr. Johnson is a director of the Massachusetts Protective Life Assurance Company and of the Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, both of Worcester. He is also a director, secretary and treasurer of Johnson Estate, Inc., of New York.
In the so-called Hughes investigation of insur- ance in New York State in 1905, William Colet Johnson represented the various underwriters' asso- ciations of the United States in the hearings, and he participated in the preparation of the reform insurance laws thereafter adopted. Mr. Johnson also introduced the use of the non-medical plan in the United States in connection with life insurance. This he did through the Massachusetts Protective Life Assurance Company of Worcester. He also introduced the non-cancellable health insurance into general use in this country, also through the Mas- sachusetts Protective Association. Mr. Johnson is a contributor to many of the technical periodicals and is a much sought lecturer on economic and insurance subjects.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the Worcester and the Worcester Country clubs, also of the Brae Burn Country and the Algonquin clubs of Boston, and the Knickerbocker Whist Club of New York City.
On October 12, 1898, Mr. Johnson married Erma Mecklem, of East Orange, New Jersey, and they are the parents of four children: I. Winifred
Edward J. Fletcher.
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Channing Chrisman, of Worcester. 2. Stephen Roosevelt Johnson, of Worcester. 3. Erma Fisk, of Buffalo, New York. 4. William Colet Johnson, Jr., of Los Angeles, California.
FLORENCE A. EAMES-Those who have occasion to visit the office of the board of asses- sors in Worcester City Hall may have the privi- lege of meeting Miss Florence A. Eames, chief clerk of the board. This meeting is likely to impress the visitor with the fact that the chief clerk is both a pleasant person to interview and an official who is very much at home in her posi- tion. Having occupied her place for more than a dozen years, the department and the public have the benefit of her broad experience.
Miss Eames was born in Keene, New Hampshire, the daughter of Benjamin W. and Ellen M. (Whit- ney) Eames. She was three months old when she accompanied her parents to Worcester, where her father was identified with the shoe manufacturing business until he retired in the latter part of his life. She received her education in the public schools of Worcester and at Becker's Business Col- lege. It was in 1921 that she took the examina- tion for the position of chief clerk, and she has since been the principal official in this department, having given complete satisfaction with her work. She is a member of the Woman's Club and the Pied- mont Church Club. Her residence is the old Eames homestead at No. 4I Tirrell Street, Worcester.
JOHN HAPGOOD BROOKS, JR .- After a colorful experience which took him to various parts of the United States, John Hapgood Brooks, Jr., returned to the town in which he had been born, Worcester, and eventually became identified with municipal affairs. He is the well-known commis- sioner of the sewer department of the municipality. The son of John H. and Ella D. (Ball) Brooks, members of families long associated with the annals of Worcester County, he was born Feb- ruary II, 1878. His father is a retired farmer who now resides in the old homestead, in which his son was born.
After acquiring an education in the public schools -he is a graduate of Worcester High School- John Hapgood Brooks, Jr., entered Worcester Polytechnic Institute from which he was grad- uated with his degree in Civil Engineering. He at once entered the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad System, with which he remained for two and a half years. Resigning, he was connected with the engineering department of the Alaska Central Railway and also spent seven and a half years in California with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company. His first job after leaving college was as a section hand, from which he gradually worked his way up to the position of roadmaster and construction engineer. One of the pieces of work, with which he played an important rôle, was the construction of one hundred and seven miles of trackage through canyons and on moun- tain sides. It was a wild, hard life which tested his mettle and abilities. One of his closest friends and associates was Colonel B. O. Johnson, a for- mer classmate, now deceased, who became prom- inent in railroad work and military affairs.
In 1917 Mr. Brooks came to Worcester and went with the Norton Company. Almost imme- diately he enlisted in the United States Army for
service during the World War. He was commis- sioned a first lieutenant and assigned to the 70th Engineers, a railway unit. Like many another of his day, he was kept in this country performing tasks probably harder, and certainly less interest- ing, than those given to the men sent overseas. After the war Lieutenant Brooks received the rank of captain of the 413th Auxiliary Engineers' Bat- talion. Upon his return to civilian life he went again with the Norton Company, remaining with this firm until 1921. In that year he became asso- ciated with the engineer's department of Worces- ter City, later was transferred to the sewer depart- ment, and was engineer on the construction of the municipal sewage disposal works. In April, 1929, Mr. Brooks was elevated to the position of com- missioner of the sewer department, a post which he has held efficiently and well since that time. He has charge of the whole sewer system of Worcester.
The press of his work, no matter what it was or where done, never has prevented Mr. Brooks from taking a lively interest in civic, social and frater- nal affairs. He is a Past Commander of the Worces- ter Chapter of the Military Order of the World War and is president of the Society of Civil Engi- neers. He is also a member of the American Legion, president of the Worcester Reserve Offi- cers' Association and president of the Worcester Light Infantry Veterans' Association. Fraternally Mr. Brooks is affiliated with Westgate Lodge, No. 128, Free and Accepted Masons, Seattle, Washing- ton; Past High Priest of Worcester Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; California Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, San Francisco: and Islam Temple, San Francisco, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
On July 14, 1903, Mr. Brooks married Mary E. Jewett, of Worcester, and they are the parents of two children: I. John Hapgood Brooks, III, in 1932, a graduate student at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. 2. Marion Emily, a student at Massachusetts State College. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks reside at No. 7, Chester Street, Worcester.
EDWARD F. FLETCHER-The family of Fletcher, of which Edward F. Fletcher, former mayor of Worcester and retired manufacturer, is a member, had its origin in England. Representa- tives of the family came to America, some settling in Westford and others in Lowell, Massachusetts. Calvin Fletcher, a more immediate relative of the former mayor, was a selectman of Groton, Mas- sachusetts. Rufus B. Reed Fletcher, a native of this State, was engaged in the nursery business for many years. He married Sarah M. Whitney, who was Massachusetts born, and they were the parents of Edward F.
Born in Littleton, Massachusetts, June 17, 1854, Edward F. Fletcher received his education in the public schools and at Lawrence Academy in Groton. On leaving school he became associated with his father in the nursery business and so continued for several years. He next opened a retail shoe store in Ayer, Massachusetts, and, while doing business at that stand, his fertile mind worked out a device on which he obtained a patent on the cut of the shoe-with no rip-for misses and children, and the design became very popular. Having trans- ferred his interests to Worcester, he formed a part- nership with Gilbert C. Bemis for the manufac- ture of his patented shoe. The firm gave employ-
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ment to about two hundred persons, and after Mr. Fletcher had been active in the firm for about twelve years, the partnership, as a formal arrange- ment, was dissolved and he became a special part- ner in the business.
He then started a jobbing house, selling a full line of shoes for women, misses, men and boys. P. E. Bassett was received as a partner, and later George F. Leavitt, a former salesman, became one of the owners. The business was styled the Lin- coln Shoe Company. In 1903 Mr. Fletcher dis- posed of his interest and was elected a director of the Hough Porch Shade Company, at Jaynes- ville, Wisconsin, in which concern he is still a heavy stockholder. He later proposed the manu- facture of a new type of shade and formed the Raymond Porch Company, named for his son Raymond. He continues as president of this com- pany.
In 1902 he was elected mayor of Worcester and served two terms, at the end of which time his attention was directed to Jaynesville, Wisconsin, where he centered his manufacturing interests. He also served as a member of the Shrewsbury city government for a number of years. His civic activ- ities in Worcester and the county have been of great value. He was the founder of the Con- sumptives Home Association in the city and served as its first president. In 1916 he purchased his residence in Shrewsbury, his home being situated in a parked tract of eighteen acres, beautified with flowers and ornamental trees and shrubs. It is one of the showplaces of the countryside. Here he spends six months of the year, the other six months at his winter home at Lake Helen, Florida, where he owns considerable property. He is pres- ident of the Lake Helen Chamber of Commerce, president of the Tourist Club, and treasurer and a trustee of the Congregational Church. In his seventy-ninth year (1933) he is quite active for one of his age and drives his own car to Florida and back each year. He has traveled in every State of the Union. Among his affiliations are the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and the Economic Club.
Mr. Fletcher married, in 1902, Florence B. Bas- sett, and they have had two sons, both now deceased, Raymond and Earle.
WALTER E. HUBBARD-For almost half a century, Walter Erastus Hubbard has been en- gaged in newspaper work in the New England states. He is now owner, editor and publisher of the "Gardner Daily News," at Gardner, and pres- ident and treasurer of the Gardner News, Inc.
Mr. Hubbard was born at Guilford, Vermont, on June 6, 1869, a son of John E. and Mary L. (Smith) Hubbard and eighth in the direct line of descent from George Hubbard, who came from the south of England to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1633. Subsequently he was a pioneer settler at Wethersfield and Guilford, Connecticut.
Walter E. Hubbard was educated in Vermont schools. After his graduation from Brattleboro High School, he entered the office of the "Ver- mont Phoenix," a weekly newspaper published at Brattleboro. This was in 1885. For three months he served as printer's devil, the usual preliminary to a newspaper career in those days, but he soon began reportorial work and in 1888 became associate
editor of the paper. In 1895 he became editor, fill- ing that position until 1918. From 1910 to 1913 he was also president of the Vermont Phoenix Com- pany. For several years he was correspondent to the "Springfield Union." He served as district representative for the "Boston Herald" and was feature writer for that paper, for the "New York Herald" and for the "New York World." On March 1, 1913, he organized the Brattleboro, Ver- mont, Publishing Company and was president of this company and editor of the "Brattleboro Daily Reformer" until 1918.
In that year Mr. Hubbard sold his interest in the company in order to be free to volunteer in the World War. He was accepted as field sec- retary by the Young Men's Christian Association for service in France and received overseas orders four days before the Armistice was signed. After the war he became director of publicity for the Eastern States Exposition, Springfield, Massachu- setts, and Community Service, Boston, in 1919. From 1919 to 1921 he was president of the Beverly, Massachusetts, Times Corporation and editor and publisher of the "Beverly Daily Times." In ac- quiring the "Gardner Daily News" at Gardner, he became owner and editor of a paper founded in 1869 and since continued under several publishers. It has been a daily since 1896.
Apart from his newspaper connections, Mr. Hub- bard has had other interests and has filled various positions of responsibility in public life. At the age of twenty-three he was elected high bailiff of Windham County, Vermont. For several years he was secretary to the Republican conventions held in his State, congressional district and county, and was county leader of his party in the State con- ventions. In 1915 he was appointed State Library commissioner of Vermont by Governor Gates and in 1917 was appointed State Senator by Governor Graham to fill a vacancy. Mr. Hubbard served two years each as Chamber of Commerce director in Brattleboro, Vermont, Beverly, Massachusetts and Gardner, Massachusetts. He is a trustee of the Gardner Savings Bank, a director of the Gard- ner Airport Corporation and is senior past pres- ident of the Gardner Rotary Club. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he is a Past Master of his Blue Lodge, Past Prelate of two Commanderies of the Knights Templar, a member of all higher bodies of the Scottish Rite, including the thirty-second degree of the Consistory and a member of the Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and has delivered memorial and other addresses in several lodges of that order. Mr. Hubbard is fond of outdoor life and sports. He captained his high school baseball team, played on town and semi-professional teams and for many years participated in this and other branches of athletics. He won numerous prizes as a racer on the old high-wheeled bicycle and in later years in golf and bowling.
Walter E. Hubbard married (first) Linna Aileen Thwing of Putney, Vermont, known in many New England cities as a singer in concert, oratorio and opera. She died in 1915. In 1921, at Greenfield, Massachusetts, he married (second) Germaine Alice Labrosse, a nurse, of Montreal. There is one child of the first marriage, Dorothy Linna, now the wife of W. F. Gordon Bell of South Nor-
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walk, Connecticut, and the mother of two sons. Mrs. Bell is a graduate of the Connecticut College for Women, where she took the Bachelor of Sci- ence degree, of Miller Business Institute, New York City, and of the Presbyterian Hospital Train- ing School for Nurses, New York.
PHILIP M. MORGAN-Treasurer of the Morgan Construction Company of Worcester and an active figure in the city's life, Philip M. Mor- gan has been associated with this company for more than ten years, playing a major part in the direction of its work. He was born in Worcester, on April 13, 1896, a son of Paul B. and Lessie L. (Maynard) Morgan. He received his early education in private schools and at Worcester Academy, from which he was graduated in 1914. In the fall of the same year, he entered Harvard as a member of the class of 1918, but on July 2, 1917, he left college to serve in the army during the World War. He was a member of the Ist Field Artillery, Massachusetts National Guard, later the IOIst Field Artillery, United States Army, and went to France with the famous 26th or Yankee Division. With these troops he saw active service on the battlefields of the war, continuing at the front until he sustained severe burns during a mustard gas attack on July 16, 1918. From that time until March, 1919, he was confined to a base hospital for treatment.
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