USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 67
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William Dudley, son of Samuel and Lydia (Wetherbee) Dudley, was born at Littleton, Mid- dlesex County, May 28, 1726. When he was seven- teen years old, he came with his father and other members of the family to Douglas, having lived before that at Sutton, Worcester County, from 1728 until 1745. Like his father he was very active in town affairs. For many years he served as town clerk and he also served as selectman from 1757 to 1770, as "Constable or Collector" in 1759, as district clerk from 1762 to 1770, and as assessor in 1764. He was also at one time sur- veyor of lumber and at different times a member of various important committees. He married Ann Shepard, of Stoughton, Norfolk County, who died January 22, 1799, aged sixty-seven years. William Dudley died September 8, 1786.
Major Paul Dudley, son of William and Ann (Shepard) Dudley and great-great-grandfather of the subject of this article, was born at Douglas, August 21, 1758, and died February 9, 1837, in his seventy-ninth year. He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, serving in Captain Samuel Bald- win's Company, Colonel Dike's Regiment, in 1776 and 1777; in Captain Job Knapp's Company, Colo- nel Nathan Tyler's Regiment, in 1780; in Captain Edward Seagrave's Company, Colonel Wade's Regiment, in the Rhode Island campaign in 1778; and as a corporal in Captain Ebenezer Everett's Company, Colonel McIntosh's Regiment, under General Lovell, later in 1778. He married, October 16, 1781, Dorothy Reed, of Taunton, Bristol County. The house now occupied by Walter John Hill Dudley was built by Major Paul Dudley in 1820.
John Dudley, son of Major Paul and Dorothy (Reed) Dudley, was born at Douglas, September
8, 1791, and lived all his life at Douglas. Here he owned and for many years operated the local hotel. He married, September 16, 1810, Submit Hill, daughter of Colonel Moses Hill, of Douglas. John and Submit (Hill) Dudley were the great- grandparents of Walter Hill Dudley.
James Hill Dudley, son of John and Submit (Hill) Dudley and paternal grandfather of Walter John Hill Dudley, was born at Douglas, Decem- ber 10, 1814. He received his education in the public schools of Douglas and at the academy in Dudley, Worcester County. As a youth, he went to Boston and for some years worked in the American Hotel. Later he worked in hotels at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, at Norwich, Connecticut, and elsewhere, in order to acquire a thorough knowlodge of hotel operation, so that he might eventually assist his father in the conduct of the hotel at Douglas. In 1844 he returned to his native town and took charge of his father's hotel. For the next fifty-five years he was the proprietor of this ancient and highly reputed inn, which was run by his ancestors and himself from 1750 until 1891. Many famous men were amongst its guests, many interesting incidents happened here, and the honorable story of this old tavern would easily fill a book by itself, crowded with historically interesting and valuable information. Finally Mr. Dudley retired and closed the hotel, after which he continued to live at Douglas until his death at a very advanced age. In politics he was a staunch supporter of the Republican party and he served the town of Douglas as tax collector and selectman. His religious affiliations were with the Congregational Church. He married, in 1836, Eliza Avery Prentiss, a daughter of Joseph Prentiss, a lawyer of Hampton, Connecticut.
Arthur James Dudley, son of James Hill and Eliza Avery (Prentiss) Dudley and father of Walter John Hill Dudley, was born at Douglas, May 7, 1839. He was educated in the public schools of Douglas and a private school at South Wind- ham, Connecticut. As a young man he went to work for his father in the hotel at Douglas and managed the Dudley farm, which had been in the possession of the family for many generations. He became a very prominent and successful farmer. Like his ancestors before him, he took a very active part in town affairs, serving as a selectman and, for several years, as postmaster. He was, in politics, a Republican and for many years was one of the recognized leaders of his party in Douglas and Worcester County. He, too, like many of his forebears, lived to a very advanced age. Arthur James Dudley married, November 12, 1861, Chris- tiania Sarah Hill, daughter of Aaron Hill. They were the parents of the following children: I. Walter John Hill, of whom further. 2. Guilford Chauncey, born March 5, 1864, who married (first), in 1886, Georgie Humes; (second) Annie Copp; and (third) Gladys L. Copp. He had one son by his first marriage, Raymond Hill Dudley, born June 24, 1887, who married, in 1917, Leontine E. deSloovere. 3. Robert Arthur, born in Providence, Rhode Island, February 23, 1867, who married Georgia Anna Solis and has lived in California since 1886. 4. Loiezer Eliza, born March 7, 1870, who married, October 16, 1915, Francis L. Under- wood, and they make their home in the old Dud- ley house at Douglas, which they share in oc- cupancy with their brother, Walter John Hill Dud- ley. 5. Ralph Edward, born April 20, 1876, who
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married, in 1903, Lola C. Holway, of Douglas. They became the parents of six children: i. Edith Christiania, born December 2, 1904; married Rus- sel Foskett Marsh. ii. Avis Louise, born February 21, 1906, died December 14, 1932; married, Sep- tember 7, 1926, Matthew W. Rinfrette, and left one son, Ralph François, born September 25, 1927. iii. Dorothy, born January 4, 1907. iv. Grace Fran- çois, born May 18, 1910. v. John Syril, born De- cember 20, 1911; married, in 1932, Florence Goyette. vi. Ralph Edward, Jr., born September 20, 1918.
Walter John Hill Dudley, oldest son and child of Arthur James and Christiania Sarah (Hill) Dud- ley, was born August 23, 1862, at Douglas, in the house in which he now lives and in which six gen- erations of the family have lived. He was educated in the public schools. As a young man he served for five years as postmaster of Douglas, being succeeded in that office by his father. Early in life Mr. Dudley became interested in art, for which he showed decided talent. In June, 1888, he went to New York City to study interior decorating. He entered the office of H. Edwards-Ficken, architect, with whom he remained for eight years, studying at the same time at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences and at the Art Students League in New York City. At the end of this period he became associated with Joseph P. McHugh, one of the leading interior decorators of New York City, with whom he remained for twenty-five years as designer and decorator, having charge of all the special work of the firm. Upon the death of Mr. McHugh the firm was dissolved and the business discontinued. In 1924 Mr. Dudley retired and re- turned to Douglas, where he has since then made his home at the old family homestead, living there in the enjoyment of well-earned leisure, together with his only sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Francis L. Underwood. He is not married.
DOUGLAS J. HAYES-One of the most interesting developments of agriculture and par- ticularly of smaller animal husbandry, has been the growth of poultry and other fowl plants along industrial lines. The three-farm plant of Douglas J. Hayes, at Sterling, is a pertinent example and illustration of this movement. It is known as the Pine Crest Duck Farm and consists of about one hundred and twenty-five acres, no great acreage, if grain were the crop produced. Here, however, some 50,000 ducks are hatched, raised and mar- keted annually, under ideal sanitary conditions, with every modern mechanical appliance, that is worth the while, used.
Mr. Hayes was born at Clinton, June 8, 1889, son of James and Lena (Harriman) Hayes, sub- stantial citizens. He attended the grade and high schools of Lancaster and Clinton and at the age of eighteen went to Raynham, Massachusetts, to learn duck raising under the tutelage of R. L. Hutchinson. Later in that year came the entrance of the United States into the World War, and Douglas J. Hayes enlisted in the Marines, the great fighting corps of the navy, and was assigned to the Paris Island Camp, in South Carolina. Like many other patriotic sons of America, it was not his lot to be ordered to the great centers of the conflict, and in 1919 he was honorably discharged with many months gone from his life and his career no further advanced.
True to his ambition, on his return to civilian life, Mr. Hayes returned to Massachusetts and spent two years completing his knowledge and ex- perience in the duck business. Ready to go ahead on his own account, he removed to Sterling and rented an old poultry farm. This was the begin- ning of his present large establishment. He owns what he once rented, and two additional farms. Starting with the initial raising of less than 5,000 ducks in 1921, ten times that number is his pres- ent average. From several small incubators he has advanced to the place where he can set 18,000 duck eggs at a time. The care and marketing of 50,000 ducks is no small business, but Mr. Hayes has availed himself of every short-cut ap- pliance and wholesale method. His markets are chiefly in New England.
Douglas J. Hayes is primarily a business man or industrialist. This does not, however, prevent him from having a decided and active interest in many other features of a normal life. Public- spirited, he devotes time and energy to civic affairs. He has served as selectman of the town of Sterling, 1930-31, and was chosen chairman of the board of selectmen in the latter year. In 1930 1931 and 1932 he was president of the Massachusetts Duck Growers Association. He is also a member of the State Poultry Committee and received a certificate of merit from the State Department of Agricul- ture in 1931. He is a trustee of the Clinton Sav- ings Bank. Fraternally he is affiliated with Trinity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and he is a member of the American Legion. He is a student of his craft and of conditions in general, being rated as one of the best-informed men of the com- munity. To humanitarian and betterment projects he gives hearty support.
On October II, 1920, Douglas J. Hayes married Edith MacGowan, of Clinton, daughter of James E. and Jane (MacGowan) MacGowan, and they are the parents of three children: Edith, Marion, and Donald.
WESLEY E. MELLQUIST-A native of Worcester, Wesley E. Mellquist has made the city his home and the scene of his career as an attorney- at-law and public-minded citizen. He is the son of Andrew V. and Edith W. (Staff) Mellquist, both of whom were born in Sweden and came as children with their parents to America. The elder Mr. Mellquist was a trained and experienced mechanic and was the assistant superintendent of the Rice- Barton-Fales Company for some years. He is now retired from active business. Wesley E. Mellquist, after attending the grade schools, was graduated from the Classical High School in 1920 and entered Northeastern University, College of Law, from which he was graduated in 1924 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Upon his graduation he be- came associated with Rowland J. Hastings, an asso- ciation which has continued since that time. In January, 1926, Mr. Mellquist was admitted to the bar of Worcester County. He is a member of the Worcester County Bar Society and the Massachu- setts State Bar Association.
For a number of years Mr. Mellquist has had a keen interest in public affairs. He is a Republican in his party allegiance and a member of the Worcester County Republican Club and the Ward Two Republican Club of the city, and is also a
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member of the nominating committee of the Worces- ter County Republican Council. He is a mem- ber and a popular figure in the Lake View Civic Club, the Lake View Improvement Society and the Republican League of Massachusetts. His college fraternity is Pi Tau Kappa.
On October 8, 1931, Mr. Mellquist married Ethel K. Madden, of Worcester.
WALTER GRAVES IRVINE-Having en- tered the service of the concern in the capacity of an office boy, Walter G. Irvine has been ad- vanced to the office of secretary of the Claflin- Sumner Coal Company, one of the largest organ- izations of its kind in Worcester. The family of Irvine has been resident in Worcester many years. Mr. Irvine's father, George T. Irvine, a native of Conway, Franklin County, was a member of the Worcester Fire Department for twenty-eight years. He was the engineer of a steam fire engine and was killed in action by a falling wall at Bicknell's lumber yard in February, 1920. He married Anna Graves, who was also born in Conway.
Walter Graves Irvine was born in Worcester, October 15, 1891, and was graduated at the South High School in this city in 1909. He next enrolled in Northeastern University, where he completed his course and was graduated in the class of 1921 with the degree of Bachelor of Commercial Sci- ence. His business career began in 1910, when he joined the staff of the Claflin-Sumner Coal Com- pany. He worked days caring for the details usually assigned an office boy and attended night school to finish his education and college preparatory course. Having been promoted from time to time, he became secretary of the company in 1929.
He is president of the Worcester Advertising Club; a member and past president of the Ex- change Club of Worcester; also a member of the Burncoat Club, which he has served as chairman of the membership committee, and a member of the Boy Four Associates and the Runaway Brook Country Club. His religious fellowship is with the first Church of Christ (Scientist), which or- ganization he serves as treasurer. Gifted with a tenor voice of excellent quality, he formerly sang as a soloist in different churches. His services as a singer have also been sought by numerous socie- ties and other organizations.
Mr. Irvine married, May 30, 1914, Louise Col- well, of St. John, New Brunswick, and their chil- dren are: Kenneth C., Walter Graves, Jr., and Sibyl L. The Irvine family home is at No. 25 Rollinson Road, Worcester.
CLARENCE E. CLEVELAND-Besides fill- ing the offices of president and treasurer of the Intervale Mills, Inc., in Webster, the late Clar- ence E. Cleveland, one of the best known execu- tives in the textile industry in this section of Mas- sachusetts, served the municipality on various im- portant committees. He gave generously of both time and money for the promotion of the wel- fare of the town, of which he was regarded as one of its first citizens.
Born in Worcester, August 31, 1865, Clarence E. Cleveland was a son of Edwin C. and Eliza (God- dard) Cleveland and made his home in that city until 1887, in which year he removed to Webster. His education was received in the schools of Worcester, passing from the Classical High School
to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he was graduated in the class of 1886. After locating in Webster he was identified with the Chase Mills for a time and later was with the Slater Mill in South Village.
He became associated with the Intervale Mills at Quinebaug, Webster, in 1890. In 1909 he was elected treasurer of the corporation and in 1924 was advanced to president, holding both offices until his retirement, due to ill health, in 1928. More recently he was associated with James P. Bergin, town treasurer, and Edward Keegan in the Keegan Mill at Wilsonville and was a partner and active in the manufacturing department until the time of his death.
Mr. Cleveland never sought public office, but was always intensely interested in many civic enter- prises. Known as a fearless man, he was firm in his convictions on matters relating to the public, town government and the people's welfare. One of his great services to the town of Webster was as a member of the advisory board for four years and as its chairman for the last two years of his tenure. He gave much time and effort to the work of this group, always with the earnest desire of doing the very best for the town. He was also identified with many committees and boards named by the selectmen of Webster and headed a score and more of community enterprises. During the World War period he was leader of many of the important local committees and campaigns and served as chairman of the "Welcome Home" cele- bration for the returning soldiers. His most recent service was as a member of the committee, inves- tigating the group-insurance plan for town prop- erty.
He was affiliated with Webster Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Webster Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ; and the Worcester Poly- technic Institute Alumni Association.
Mr. Cleveland married Gertrude O. Stevens, of Intervale Manor, Quinebaug, daughter of Eben S. Stevens. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland follow : I. Eben S. (q. v.), of Webster, president of the Intervale Mills, Inc. 2. Edwin C., of Put- nam, Connecticut, treasurer of the Intervale Mills, Inc. 3. Mrs. Dorothy C. Heckman, of Newton Highlands, whose children are Gertrude, Philip, and Chester L. Heckman.
In the death of Clarence E. Cleveland on May 8, 1931, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Albert Wood, in Worcester, there was lost to the towns- people of Webster a citizen, who had performed unselfishly much constructive work in their behalf. He was one who never thought of seeking honors for himself, and few were held in higher esteem.
EBEN S. CLEVELAND-When Eben S. Cleveland succeeded his father, the late Clarence E. Cleveland, as president and treasurer of the Intervale Mills, Inc., at Quinebaug, he became the executive and financial head of one of the great industrial corporations in this part of the State. He is a graduate of a textile school, a veteran of the World War, and served as assistant treasurer of the Intervale corporation prior to assuming the more important duties. He has since relinquished the treasurership to his brother.
Born in Dudley, July 23, 1895, Eben S. Cleve- land is a son of Clarence E. and Gertrude O.
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(Stevens) Cleveland, both parents natives of Mas- sachusetts. A biography of the father accompanies this review of his son's career.
Eben S. Stevens, maternal grandfather of Eben S. Cleveland, settled in 1870 near the site now occupied by one of the mills of the Intervale cor- poration. He built the original mill and the dam in Quinebaug, and these have continued in opera- tion since. The company manufactures woolens for both men and women's wear, the cloth being shipped to garment makers in New York City. In normal times the company employs one hundred and seventy-five hands. Mr. Stevens was active in the affairs of this mill up to 1909, when he was elected chairman of the board and president of the company, filling these offices at the time of his death, which occurred in 1924.
After Eben S. Cleveland passed through the public schools of Webster, he entered Columbia University and was graduated there Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1919. On May 10, 1917, he enlisted in the army for the World War and was assigned to the quartermaster corps. He was trans- ferred to the motor transport service and, when honorably discharged, held the rating of first ser- geant. He entered the service of the Intervale Mills, Inc., in 1919 and worked in the plant until 1921. From 1921 to 1922 he studied in the Phila- delphia (Pennsylvania) Textile School and fami- liarized himself with the technique of manufacture. On his return to the company he was made assist- ant treasurer. He filled the position until his father resigned as treasurer in 1928 on account of ill health and he was chosen his successor. In 1930 his brother, Edwin C. Cleveland, returned from school and assumed the duties of treasurer in June of that year, and at the same time Eben S. Cleve- land was elected president. Mr. Cleveland is affil- iated with the American Legion, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Webster Lions Club. His principal recreations are golf and motoring.
Eben S. Cleveland married, September 15, 1919, Margaret D. Duram, of Chicago, Illinois, and they have three children: I. Margaret Alice, born De- cember 13, 1921. 2. Eben S., Jr., born November 12, 1924. 3. Richard Arthur, born December 30, 1926. Mr. Cleveland and his family have their home in Webster.
NATHAN E. CRAIG-Among the strong financial men who lend their influence to the ad- vance of their community is Nathan E. Craig, pres- ident of the Spencer National Bank and actively interested in other financial institutions of the town of Spencer. By profession Mr. Craig is a civil engineer. He has served in the municipal govern- ment in several important capacities. He is also identified with one of the leading shoe manufactur- ing concerns of Spencer.
The Craig family of this connection is of Scot- tish origin and was represented among early settlers of Wrentham, Massachusetts. Robert Craig, great- great-grandfather of Nathan E. Craig, was born in Wrentham and was a farmer. He removed to Leicester, Massachusetts, and married Martha Green, daughter of Dr. Thomas Green, who gave the church and cemetery at Greenville to the con- gregation in that community. His son, Nathan Craig, held the commission of a lieutenant and fought as a Minute Man from Leicester in the
battle of Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War. His sword is a prized possession of Nathan E. Craig, of this review. He married Dulcena Hunt- ington. George A. Craig, father of Nathan E., was born in Leicester. He married Ellen A. Jones, a native of Bristol, Connecticut.
Nathan E. Craig, son of George A. and Ellen A. (Jones) Craig, was born in Spencer, May 16, 1864, and was graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the class of 1883. He was appointed town engineer of Spencer, where he has also held the offices of water commissioner, member of the sinking fund commission, and superintendent of the sewer de- partment. He also does conveyancing and settling of estates in connection with Probate Court busi- ness. In addition to the office of president of the Spencer National Bank, he has been a director of the Worcester County National Bank, a trustee and chairman of the board of investment of the Spencer Savings Bank, a member of the corpora- tion of the Worcester County Institution for Sav- ings, and secretary and a director of the Allen- Squire Company, shoe manufacturers of Spencer. He is affiliated with Spencer Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of which he is a Past Master and is a member of the Commonwealth Club.
Nathan E. Craig married (first), December 12, 1888, Luella J. Corser, who died February 18, 1912. He married (second) April 24, 1921, May B. Allen, who was born in Waterloo, New York, January 8, 1877, daughter of Alfred S. and Harriet (Berry) Allen and a descendant of John Hart of New Jersey, one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
FREDERICK ANTON HAWES-Num- bered among the business leaders who have played notable rôles in the commercial development of Worcester, was Frederick Anton Hawes, for many years the directing head and president of the Bar- nard, Sumner and Putnam Company, one of the leading department stores of the city.
He was a native of Oakdale, West Boylston, born January 17, 1859, son of Lafayette and Julia (Gilman) Hawes, and died April 12, 1933. Lafay- ette Hawes was born at Weld, Maine, February 12, 1826, and died at Oakdale, February 10, 1874. He was a "Forty-niner," sailing in the ship "Regu- lus" around Cape Horn and remaining in the gold fields three years. During most of his active life, however, he was a shoe manufacturer in Oakdale. He married there, January 1, 1852, Julia Gilman, who died in this city, October 7, 1905, aged seventy- one years, daughter of Samuel and Hannah ( Bick- ford) Gilman, both natives of New Hampshire, and descendants of early pioneers of New England. She was born at Phillips, Maine, August 13, 1830. Frederick A. Hawes had one brother, Arthur W., who died November 26, 1932.
Frederick A. Hawes, after completing his educa- tion at Howes Business College, entered the employ of the Denholm and Mckay Company, with whom he continued about a year. In 1881 he became associated with the mercantile house of Barnard, Sumner and Company, with which his whole busi- ness career was thereafter connected to the time of his retirement to enjoy the leisure and success so well earned. The Barnard, Sumner and Putnam Company is one of the pioneer concerns of its kind in Worcester, going back to an establishment of
Arathau & Craig
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John B. Wyman who sold his store to H. H. Chamberlain, who in turn was bought out by the three men whose names the company now bears. The original partners were young men, and it was their custom to induce young men to accept posts in the business with promotion, as their services warranted. Mr. Hawes began his connection with the company in a minor capacity and gradually worked his way through almost all of the depart- ments of the corporation. He became buyer after a few years and in 1903 was made the general manager. Two years later he was made the treas- urer and in 1911 was elected president of the con- cern, in which office he continued until he resigned to make way for another ambitious young man. It is well known that under the administration of Mr. Hawes the greatest period of expansion in the history of the company took place, and it established the importance and reputation which it holds among Massachusetts mercantile establish- ments.
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