Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 68

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 68

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Mr. Hawes had always been greatly interested in all worthy movements which made for the advance and prosperity of the municipality. He had been active in community and social affairs and was a popular figure in the club and cultural circles of the city. Along business lines, he was a director and a vice-president of the Dry Goods Alliance of New York, a buying syndicate com- posed of department store executives from all the large cities in the Nation. He was a member of the New England Dry Goods Association and the National Dry Goods Association of New York. Among his clubs were the Worcester, Common- wealth, Worcester Country, Tatassit Canoe and other clubs. For many years he was prominent in the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce of Wor- cester.

SPAULDING BARTLETT-For many years Spaulding Bartlett has occupied an important place in the business life of Webster, where the Bartlett name has been distinguished through several gen- erations. He is now president of the First Na- tional Bank of Webster.

Mr. Bartlett was born at Warehouse Point, Con- necticut, on January 10, 1869, a son of Amos and Emma (Spaulding) Bartlett, both natives of Webster. The Bartlett family settled in Webster in 1820. The Spauldings are of record in Oxford, Massachusetts, in very early times, and all the family for ten generations have lived and died within sixty miles of the city of Webster. Several of them served with honor in the Revolutionary War. Amos Bartlett, father of Spaulding Bart- lett, was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he commanded Company H, the famous Worcester Company, of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteers, serving with the rank of captain. In civil life he was associated with the Slater interests in Webster. For many years he was a selectman at Webster. He was a lifelong Democrat.

Spaulding Bartlett, of this record, received his early education in Webster public schools and sub- sequently entered Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, from which he was graduated on complet- ing his course of study in 1890. He began his active career in the Slater Woolen Mills at Web- ster, of which he was, successively, assistant super- intendent and superintendent. Later he was elected assistant treasurer of S. Slater and Sons, Inc., and

finally became treasurer of that concern, an office which he held until 1923. Mr. Bartlett was asso- ciated with the Slater interests for thirty-three years. He rose within the organization through the merit of his services and played an important part in the direction of its affairs until his virtual retirement from active business in 1923. Mean- while, however, he had been a director of the First National Bank of Webster for a number of years. As he relinquished his other interests he began to take a more active part in affairs of the bank, serving as vice-president until April 9, 1929, when he was elected president. For this office he is well qualified by reason of his long business and finan- cial experience, his capacity for the executive direc- tion of affairs and the proven qualities of his judg- ment and temperament. Mr. Bartlett has also served his community as chairman of the advisory commission of the town of Webster, and, for twenty-four consecutive years, 1896-1920, as a member of the school board, and has given his unhesitating support to every worthy movement in the public interest.

On January 1, 1896, he married Georgia Slater of Webster. Thy bcame the parents of five chil- dren, of whom four survive, as follows: I. Asa, associated with the Charles D. Cady Printing Company of Worcester. 2. Samuel S., headmaster of the South Kent School at South Kent, Connect- icut. 3. Henry Craigin, an insurance counsellor, representing the Aetna Life Insurance Company. 4. Mrs. George William Goddard of Boston. 5. George Hodges, now deceased. He was a master at Kent School, Kent, Connecticut, at the time of his tragically early death and had entered upon a career of great promise in the world of education.

WILLIAM A. BENNETT-The superin- tendent of the Goddard Works of the Wickwire- Spencer Steel Company at Worcester, William A. Bennett is noted for his varied abilities and keen interest in many spheres of activities. He is not only a successful industrial executive, but plays important rôles in civic and political affairs, is a remarkably fine public speaker, and is a popular figure in numerous clubs and organizations.

He is a native of Worcester, born March 7, 1887, a son of Charles L., and Lizzie U. (Woodward) Bennett, both of whom were members of old Mas- sachusetts families. Charles L. Bennett, now de- ceased, was a well-known contractor and builder, a highly esteemed friend, and of some prominence in local politics as a long-time member of the Republican Central Committee.

William A. Bennett was educated in the public schools, being a graduate of South High School, Worcester. Comparatively early in life he started out to make livelihood, and his first employment of importance was with the Loring-Coes Company, machine and knife manufacturers, with whom he remained for thirteen years. He started in at the bottom of the industry, lacking influence or influen- tial friends. He worked his way up through all the various departments and rose to be foreman of the plant. In September, 1916, Mr. Bennett went with the Wickwire-Spencer Corporation, with whom he has continued ever since. He began as a foreman of one of the departments of this great company and, after serving in various executive positions, was made superintendent of the Goddard Works in September, 1926. Under average condi-

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tions he has a thousand men under his direction, and it is said of them that they work with him rather than for him. He is no office chair execu- tive, but not a taskmaker or a "boss" in the usual sense of the word. He can do himself what he requires of others and is ready always to give the worker the benefit of his experience.

Along with his activities in his business, Mr. Bennett is a leader in other fields of human inter- ests. For a number of years he has served on the Republican committee and has been a member of the city council during the years from 1921 to 1924 inclusive, representing Ward Seven. He was president of the common council in the years 1923 and 1924. In 1925 he was sent by the electorate to the State Legislature and was reelected in 1927. While a member of the House he served on the municipal, finance, labor, and industries commit- tees and initiated or sponsored some of the most constructive legislation of that period. At the present time he is vice-president of the Republican Council and is taking a prominent place in civic movements. Welfare and humanitarian enterprises have always found in him one ready to lend his support. In March, 1933, he was unanimously elected a trustee of Worcester City Hospital.

Mr. Bennett is a popular public speaker, both at political gatherings and at banquets, or on indus- trial topics. In 1930 he was invited to Cleveland, Ohio, and while there broadcast a number of indus- trial talks; later he did a like service in Connect- icut. Fraternally, Mr. Bennett is affiliated with Athelstan Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and Central Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of which he is a Past Noble Grand and a trustee. Among other organizations of which he is a member are: Commercial Travelers, Worces- ter County Republican Club, Thalia Club, and Canopy Club of Boston. He was elected an honor- ary life member of Post No. 10, Grand Army of the Republic. While little time remains to him to ride hobbies or enjoy recreations, he is well known as a flower lover and amateur gardener of skill and particularly enjoys the making of miniature playgrounds for children.

On June 28, 1910, Mr. Bennett married Nellie M. Bacon, of Worcester, and they are the parents of two children: I. Phyllis M., born April 6, 1920. 2. Gordon F., born September 2, 1921. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett reside at No. 122 Brookline Street, Worcester.

LOUIS MAURICE HANFF-A figure of importance in the life of Rutland, Worcester County, Louis Maurice Hanff has achieved a ca- reer notable for public service to the welfare of the section of the State in which he makes his home. He was born in Lowell, Wisconsin, August 17, 1858, a son of Maurice and Louise (Hinckel) Hanff, both of whom were natives of Germany. They migrated from the mother country about 1845 and celebrated their marriage in the old church on Salem Square, Worcester. Into the woods of Wisconsin went these two in 1857 and it was at this time that Louis Maurice was born. Later the family lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and then at Evansville, Indiana, where the son received the greater part of his education.

Louis Maurice Hanff, in the good old fashioned way, learned a trade, that of house and sign painting, which he followed until 1884, when he

arrived at Worcester. His stay here was just long enough to get a painting job on a new hotel then in the course of construction in Rutland. In 1895 he was elected town clerk, an office which he has held continuously since that time. He is also a notary public and justice of the peace. He con- tinued in the house and sign painting business up to 1916. In 1918 Mr. Hanff went with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad to assist in the policing of its lines during the World War period, stationed at South Worcester and continued until 1924. More recently, he has been interested in a canteen restaurant and store.

In addition to Mr. Hanff's service as town clerk, he was treasurer when Rutland was building a town hall, school building and water system. He has also been on the school committee for fifteen years, a deputy sheriff, and held other minor offices. Louis M. Hanff has been secretary of the County Town Clerk Association for more than thirty years. He is secretary and treasurer of the Charlton Home Farm Association, which is an organization of twenty-four towns for welfare purposes. Fraternally he is affiliated with Rufus Putnam Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Rut- land, and the Rutland Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry, and is a member of the Holden Trowel Club. He is a member of the executive committee of the Rufus Putnam Memorial Association.

On April 30, 1887, Louis Maurice Hanff married Frances I. Putnam, daughter of George A. and Philena E. (Fletcher) Putnam, and they are the parents of five children: I. David M., a merchant of Rutland, who served overseas in the Medical Corps during the World War. 2. Edward AtLee, electrical engineer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. Hazel, widow of Lewis F. Morris, of Rutland. 4. Malinda A., assistant postmaster of Rutland. 5. Ludovic F., service engineer with the New England Power Company at Providence, who served with the Students' Training Corps at Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania.

LESTER E. GAVITT-Founder and head of the corporation bearing his name, Lester E. Gavitt has been instrumental in building up a large busi- ness in the manufacture of insulated wire and special cables. The Gavitt Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he is treasurer and general man- ager, has its plant and offices in the town of Brook- field, whose commercial advance is promoted by this large and thriving industry. The concern draws its volume of trade from many parts of the United States and Canada and from some foreign countries.

Mr. Gavitt's father, Edward L. Gavitt, was born in Rhode Island, son of Captain Isaac P. Gavitt, with whom he was associated in the steamship business for a number of years, and is now assist- ant superintendent of the Gavitt Manufacturing Company. He married Alice L. Lillibridge, a na- tive of Connecticut.

Lester E. Gavitt was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, April 8, 1900, and received his college pre- paratory training in the schools of his native city. Entering Brown University, he took a special course there for three years. When the Armistice in the World War was signed, he had served three months in a naval corps of the United States forces. On leaving the university, he went to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he entered the

Lewellyn & Darum.

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employ of the Whitall Electric Company, having charge of the purchasing and merchandising depart- ments.

His first engagement in business on his own account had to do with the establishment of the first radio distribution organization in New Eng- land, just at the time when broadcasting was com- ing to be the vogue. He removed to West Brook- field, where he opened a plant for the manufac- ture of telephone cords, later adding the produc- tion of special cables for use in electrical automo- tive and radio manufacturers' products. The busi- ness took on larger proportions, and in 1923 it was chartered as the Gavitt Manufacturing Com- pany, Inc. The officers, besides Mr. Gavitt, treas- urer and general manager, are: Elizabeth T. Gavitt, president, and J. W. Holman, vice-president. To the domestic and Canadian business there is sup- plemented a gratifyingly large amount of export trade. More commodious and modern quarters for the manufacture of its products being required, the company moved to Brookfield in October, 1927, and occupied a four-story building having about 25,000 square feet of floor space. In normal times employment is furnished to about three hundred and fifty people. The size and success of the business are the result largely of Mr. Gavitt's personal efforts and application of time and energy. He is affiliated with Bay Path Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of West Brookfield, and Delta Phi Fra- etrnity. He is chairman of the Brookfield School Committee. His recreations are principally golf and boating.

Mr. Gavitt married, October 21, 1922, Elizabeth Tillinghast, a graduate of Smith College, class of 1922, and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Their children are: I. Richard Lester Gavitt, born January 28, 1924. 2. Elizabeth Ann, born July 13, 1925.

LLEWELLYN GRAY FARNUM-Not long after the "horseless age" became an established fact, Llewellyn G. Farnum obtained the agency for the Ford motor vehicles in the Uxbridge territory and became the first representative of this make of cars in this section of the country. Today he has one of the best-equipped automobile salesrooms and service stations in the county of Worcester.

Born in Uxbridge, December 5, 1884, Mr. Far- num is the son of Henry S. and Lillias M. (Macom- ber) Farnum, the former a hardware merchant in Uxbridge and for some time postmaster of the town. After attending the public schools of his native town, the son, Llewellyn G., entered Worces- ter Academy, where he completed his education. For a few years after leaving school he assisted his father in the management of the latter's hard- ware store. It was in 1910 that he was given the Ford agency in the so-called Uxbridge area, and he has since built up a very large business, hav- ing sold thousands of cars bearing the name of the famous Detroit manufacturer. In the two buildings of cement block construction, housing the Farnum business there is 24,000 square feet of floor space. The rear building is one hundred feet by forty-three feet in ground dimensions and two stories high.

Other business affiliations of Mr. Farnum are the Home Appliance Company, Inc., of Norfolk, Virginia, and the Rainbow Chemical Products, Inc., of Uxbridge. The former, of which he is pres-

ident and treasurer, controls distribution of the Lynn Range Oil Burner in Virginia, West Vir- ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mary- land. He is treasurer of the latter corporation, whose products are leather colors and fabric dyes, merchandized through leading wholesalers in the United States and by the Grant, McCrory, and Woolworth chain stores in the United States and Cuba.

Mr. Farnum has not, however, adopted the idea of a horseless age for himself entirely. He is a well-known racer and rider of horses. His pet trotter, "Lil's Express," has taken several purses. She won the "sweepstakes" at the Metropolitan Parkway in 1931, having been the first horse of the racing class to win a race in the dark. Mr. Farnum is a member of Milford Lodge, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Rotary Club of Uxbridge.

Mr. Farnum married, in 1912, Sarah Graham, of Sutton, Massachusetts, and their children are: Lillias M., Dorothy S., and Hildegard J.

FRANK H. NORTON-President and man- ager of the Hotel Pleasant, Inc., No. 66 Pleasant Street, Worcester, Mr. Norton was born in Spen- cer, March 14, 1883, son of Bartholomew and Bridget Norton, both natives of Ireland. His par- ents came early in life to the United States, set- tling in Spencer, where the father was employed in a boot and shoe factory.

Frank H. Norton received his early education in the public schools of Spencer, starting to work, while still very young, in a shoe factory. His first hotel experience was in the capacity of errand boy in the Massasoit Hotel, in Spencer, and after a time he became clerk. He came to Worcester in 1905 and was with the Bay State Hotel as clerk, later being associated with the Franklin Hotel. In August, 1919, he came to the Pleasant Hotel, which was incorporated in October, 1927, as the Pleasant Hotel, Inc., with Mr. Norton as its president ; John Fitzgerald, treasurer; and John H. Behan, clerk. The Pleasant is one of the popular hostelries of Worcester and is modern in its equipment and methods. It has sixty rooms with hot and cold running water, and its manager is highly esteemed and trusted by the people of Worcester and by those transient guests who find their way to this city.

In addition to his hotel work, which has been outstandingly valuable, Mr. Norton is active in civic, social and fraternal affairs. He is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and also belongs to the Fish and Game Club and the Hotel Greeters of America. He has a wide acquaintance and a host of friends.

Mr. Norton married, on June I, 1925, Margaret Hogan, of Worcester.

WILLIAM CASEY-Service to his commu- nity and State has brought William Casey into a place of leadership in Massachusetts, where he has served as Representative in the Legislature for the Third Worcester District, comprising the towns of North Brookfield, Paxton, Hardwick, Oakham, New Braintree and Spencer. A resident of Spen- cer, he is chairman of the board of selectmen and of the finance committee of his town. He has been known, through all his public career, as a fighter for the interests of labor.

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Mr. Casey was born on November 20, 1884, in Spencer, son of John and Maria (Hayden) Casey. His father, a native of Ireland, came to America when a boy, took up farming as an occupation, and settled in 1885 on the site on which his son, Wil- liam, now lives. He owned four hundred acres of land in Spencer, Charlton and East Brookfield, raised Ayrshire cattle, of which he had sixty head, and kept a large dairy. He died in 1928.

In the rural schools, William Casey, of this review, received his early education, attending the schools of Spencer, his birthplace. At an early age, he took over management of the home farm; and from small beginnings, by virtue of sound judgment and business ability, came to own and operate one of the largest farms in the Worcester district. He also became a breeder of Ayrshire cattle. Before politics absorbed so much of his time and attention, he became deeply interested in Grange work, serving early in life as Master of the Subordinate and Pomona Granges. He is today a member of the State and National Granges. He won commendation in the report of the State Grange's executive committee for his protection of agricultural and rural regions of Massachu- setts against unwise legislation. Many years of service caused him to be regarded as a leader of the legislative committee on agriculture in the State Legislature; and one of his outstanding works was that which he performed as member of a recess commission to draft a report for a uni- form milk inspection law to protect customers as well as producers against milk from outside sources. The bill that he framed was enacted into law. Mr. Casey has also served as president of the Dairymen's Association of Worcester County, comprising about seven hundred members, and as chairman of the Worcester County Farm Bureau's roads-to-market committee.

Since 1920 Mr. Casey has been continuously engaged in public activities of growing importance. In that year he was elected to Spencer's board of selectmen and he has served uninterruptedly as a selectman since that time. He was first elected to the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1922, serving for two years. In 1926, 1928 and 1930 he was elected to this office. For eight years he was a member of the committee on agriculture, as noted above, and for four years, of the committee on towns. He also served for four years as a mem- ber of the committee on power and lights and in that capacity led the fight in the House to abolish the gas and electric meter charge, though his bill, which passed the House, was later defeated in the Senate.

In his milk inspection work, he fought vigorously in the winter of 1931-32, the practice of allowing 15,000 quarts of milk to be sold daily in Worces- ter from outside the State without the inspection required by law. Forcing the admission from the board of health that such was the case, he won praise in an editorial in the Worcester "Telegram." Another of Mr. Casey's consistent campaigns has been that which he has waged against spending money to increase the taxes on the already over- burdened taxpayer. Himself a large taxpayer, he knows taxpayers' problems. His wide experience makes him a very valuable man in the State Gov- ernment.

His party alignment has been with the Demo- cratic organization. For eleven years he has been

chairman of the town committee of his party. He was the first Democrat in the Worcester District, of which he is a member, to be elected to the State Legislature. In all his manifold activities, he has, moreover, proven his ability to lead the people of this district toward worth while things and has unselfishly given of his time and energies to the cause of civic betterment.

William Casey married, February II, 1907, Bessie E. Baker, of Charlton. By this marriage there were three children: I. Olive F., a student at Becker's College. 2. Doris E., a student at David Prouty High School, in Spencer. 3. Anna G., attending the Grove Street School.

CYRILLE LEBLANC-As principal guard- ian of the public peace in Gardner, Chief of Police Cyrille Leblanc has brought his force and equip- ment to a high state of efficiency, so that they constitute one of the best functioning police depart- ments in the State.

Benjamin Leblanc, Chief Leblanc's father, a na- tive of Canada, came to Massachusetts about 1885, lived first in Fitchburg, this county, later removing to Keene, New Hampshire, and for a number of years carried on his trade as a lumberman. He is now living, retired, at No. 81 Greenwood Street, Gardner. He married Jane Jaillet, who was also born in Canada, and they had their home in New Brunswick before coming to the United States. Their children are: I. Patrick, a missionary priest of Ste. Anne de Beaupré, Quebec, Canada. He car- ries on his labors in Canada and the United States, excepting the summer season, when he is stationed at the Shrine at St. Anne. 2. Mary, married Ar- thur Perrault. 3. Cyrille, of this review, see fur- ther. 4. Richard, a mechanic for the highway department and a member of the fire department in Gardner. 5. Mary Jane, married Donat Robich- aud, of Gardner. 6. Alice, married Aimé Leblanc. 7. Edgar, an automobile mechanic in Gardner.

Cyrille Leblanc was born in New Brunswick, Canada, January 23, 1896, and received his educa- tion in the public and parochial schools of Gard- ner. His first employment was with the Central Oil and Gas Company in Gardner, where he worked as a mechanic. He later went to Springfield, Hampden County, where he was employed by the Smith and Wesson Company, which then were among the largest manufacturers of revolvers in the world. On April II, 1917, he entered the World War, having been assigned to the coast artillery. He was transferred to the heavy artil- lery at Fort Anderson, Boston Harbor, and in August, 1917, went overseas, being stationed at Camp de Mailley from September, 1917, until Feb- ruary, 1918. He participated in the actions in the St. Mihiel and Argonne sectors. For the last six months of the war, until the signing of the Armis- tice, he was in action continuously with the excep- tion of two days. He was honorably mustered out of service February 13, 1919.

On his return to Gardner, he went to work at carriage-making at the plant of the Hayward- Wakefield Company and was there two years. His police career began with appointment to the Gard- ner force, June 14, 1921, as a reserve officer. On December 13, 1921, he was named to the regular department, of which he was appointed chief on July 30, 1928. Prior to this elevation he took a course in the Boston Police School, and from

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 68

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