Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 79

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933
Publication date: 1934
Publisher: New York, American historical Society
Number of Pages: 700

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Father Boyle remained until his death in 1916. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edmund J. Murphy, who remained until 1928. Father Murphy was a very active pastor. He built the present rectory and built up the parish in a remarkable way. Indeed its success even after his departure has been largely due to the efforts he put forth and to the magnitude of his accomplishments. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. John A. Fitzgerald, who had as his able assistant Father John F. Prender- gast, now assistant pastor at South Hadley Falls. Father Fitzgerald remained until 1931, when he was followed by the present pastor, the Rev. John W. Finnerty. Father Finnerty had as his first assistant the Rev. Raymond W. O'Brien, who was later succeeded by his present assistant, Father John R. Walohan.

This parish also has a mission, the Church of St. Theresa, which was organized at Harvard by Father Boyle in 1916. For a number of years services were held in the town hall there, but in 1926 the present handsome church edifice was be- gun and completed. St. Theresa's is a small church, seating about two hundred and fifty, but it is nevertheless very beautiful and is admired by all who see it. Those who worship in it are always conscious of a deep sense of reverence.

The mission of St. Theresa is also conducted by Father Finnerty and his assistant. Three masses are said each Sunday in these two churches and on every Holy Day mass is suitably celebrated. The members of the parish, including the mission, number about seven hundred souls. The people take much pride in their churches, and all church societies are also vigorous and active.

Father Finnerty has been a worthy successor of the early priests of the parish. He enjoys the confidence and affection of his parishioners and is held in the highest regard of his parishioners and neighbors, and under his able guidance the churches at Lancaster and Harvard have made consistent progress.

ARNOLD V. BROWN, president of the American-Marrow Fabric Company, of Worces- ter, is a native of Oswego, Illinois, born Novem- ber II, 1861, the son of Alexander and Mary (Chapman) Brown, the former of whom was born in Steuben County, New York, and for many years was employed as an expert machinist.

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Arnold V. Brown was educated in the public schools of Corning, New York, and Oswego, Illi- nois, and at the age of twenty left home to go to Delevan, Wisconsin, where he followed farming for three years. He then went to Aurora, Illinois, and became connected with the Chicago Corset Company, later known as the Kabo Corset Com- pany, and found the occupation which was to be his for an unusually long period. His start with the corporation was made in 1886, and he continued with it for thirty-six years, filling a wide variety of positions and gaining a knowledge of the busi- ness which was almost encyclopedic. During the years of this long connection Mr. Brown was the executive in charge of the purchasing and stock departments, the cost department and was in full control of their steel department. He was a sales- man on the road selling the products of the steel and supporter departments of which he had charge. There are probably few men in the United States who know more about this business than Mr. Brown.

In 1922 he resigned from the Kabo Company, to come to Worcester with Carl J. Hazleton, then president of the American-Marrow Fabric Com- pany, as vice-president. The business was sold in December, 1931, to the Ansonia O. and C. Com- pany, of Ansonia, Connecticut, a web manufac- turing concern, and Mr. Brown was at that time elected president of the Worcester concern. The plant, of which he is the head, under normal con- ditions employs about one hundred and twenty- five hands, and its chief product is hose supporters, being the makers of the well-known "Gripmor" hose supporter. Mr. Brown is also the vice-pres- ident of the Hazleton Associates, a holding com- pany.

On August 12, 1887, Arnold V. Brown married Flora E. Sperry, of Aurora, Illinois, and they are the parents of two daughters: I. Gladys, wife of Edwin P. Trible, of Bridgeport, Connecticut; they have four children. 2. Evelyn, who married Roy O. Miller, of Lombard, Illinois; they have three children.

REV. JOHN B. FARRELL-One of the Catholic parishes of Worcester County which has, from its inception, made remarkable headway in the furtherance of the doctrine and the teachings of the Church is that of St. Roch, in Oxford, of which the Rev. John B. Farrell has been pastor since 1926.

The following is the history of the Oxford parish. Father Meigneault, of Webster, said the first Mass in Oxford in 1855, though Oxford remained a part of the Webster parish until the formation of St. Roch's parish in 1856. The church of St. Roch was organized under Father Meigneault's supervision, and the first edifice, en- larged and renovated, still stands, though Father Quan removed it from its original position to its present site. The Rev. Charles J. Boylan was the first pastor. His successors added more modern improvements in keeping with their times, and so it was that the church and rectory today meet the demands of the thriving parish. The Rev. Martin Murphy succeeded Father Boylan, and labored for the salvation of the souls of his parishioners for two years. In 1895 the Rev. Patrick F. Hafey was selected by the Rt. Rev. Thomas D. Beaven, D. D., to continue the work as pastor. He became pastor of St. Roch's, Oxford; also St. Ann's,

North Oxford; and St. Aloysius', Rochdale. Father Hafey laid out the present cemetery, built a church and rectory in North Oxford, and from 1896 to 1926 labored for the advancement of the church in this community. He became a stalwart leader of the Catholic people of this community, whom he has served tirelessly and continuously. In 1926 Father Hafey accepted North Oxford as a sep- arate parish and in this year the Rt. Rev. Thomas M. O'Leary, D. D., appointed the Rev. John B. Farrell as pastor of St. Roch's.

On assuming charge of this parish, Father Far- rell at once increased the church devotions with the Holy Hour service, added another Sunday Mass, established the Holy Name Society for the men of the parish and the Ladies' Sodality for the women. The interior of the church was renovated with new Stations of the Cross, a new Sanctuary carpet, new statues, hardwood floors in the aisles, tinted walls, and large electric fixtures. The seat- ing capacity of the building is now three hundred and fifty, and the church edifice is a model of neat- ness and comfort. The new sidewalk in front of the church and the grading of the grounds have transformed the outward appearance of the church. The rectory likewise has been beautified with new shrubs and walks.

In 1929 Father Farrell celebrated the silver jubilee of his elevation to the priesthood with appropriate exercises of a religious and civic nature. The parish today is free from debt and has a sub- stantial sum of money in the bank, awaiting the opportune time at which to build possibly a new church. In the olden days when the church had two missions, St. Roch's had at times the follow- ing curates: Rev. Joseph J. Rice, now Rt. Rev. Bishop of Burlington; Rev. John P. McCaughan, Rev. Daniel J. Sheehan, Rev. Patrick J. Meehan, Rev. James B. Murphy, Rev. M. L. Boyne, and Joseph G. Daley.

Father Farrell is a native son of Southbridge, Massachusetts. Receiving a common school and high school education, he studied theology at the Grand Seminary, in Quebec, Canada. Here he remained until he was ordained a priest, on De- cember 16, 1904. His first charge was St. Mary's Church, in Jefferson, Massachusetts. After some time spent there he was assigned to St. Stephen's of Worcester. He was later assigned to the Holy Trinity Church in Greenfield, where he remained eighteen months. Then he went to St. Ann's in Worcester, continuing there twelve and a half years. After that he came to the Sacred Heart Church at Fitchburg, where he remained only a short time. He then came to his present church, St. Roch's, of Oxford, where he was installed as pastor on September 27, 1926. Here he remains today, carrying forward the work to which he has consecrated his life. In his parish he has 1,000 souls, and the church is one of the progressive parishes of this region of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Father Farrell's contribution to the parish of St. Roch's has been important along religious and social lines. As a result he is held high in the love of his fellow-citizens in the Oxford community and especially by members of his own parish. His guidance and direction of St. Roch's has been of great value, and his sincere work has been re- warded by the attainment of many of the ideals to which he had long aspired for his parish.

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WILLIAM FRANK HAYWARD, M. D .- Building up a large practice in medicine, by which he has become a well-known and successful phy- sician and surgeon, Dr. William F. Hayward has also served the town of East Brookfield in various public offices. He holds the position of town moderator, being the only one to have been elected to this office. His standing in medical organiza- tions is high, and he fills the posts of official phy- sician to the school board and the Boston and Albany Railroad Company for this district.

Dr. Hayward's father, William Alger Hayward, was born in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He was a shoemaker and prominent as a church mem- ber. He married Louisa Bartlett Holmes, a native of East Bridgewater.

William Frank Hayward, son of William Alger and Louisa Bartlett (Holmes) Hayward, was born in East Bridgewater, May 14, 1873, and attended the public schools of that town. Being desirous of obtaining an advanced education, but not having the means to pay for it, he determined manfully to work his way. He next entered Fryeburg (Maine) Academy, which is the first and only school where the immortal Daniel Webster taught, and there completed his college preparatory course. At Bow- doin College Medical School he took his profes- sional training and was graduated with his degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1899, having paid his expenses by doing work as he was enabled. Direct from college he came to East Brookfield and has since been in practice in this town. He is a member of the Brookfield Medical Club and the Association of New York Central Railroad Sur- geons.

Dr. Hayward has been an important factor in the development and progress of East Brookfield. He has held many offices in the town govern- ment, in addition to that of moderator. A former chairman of the school committee, he now serves as chairman of the board of library trustees, chair- man of the board of water commissioners, and as a member of the town finance committee. He formerly held the chairmanship of the board of health and the chairmanship of the Republican town committee. He is still a strong and influential member of the local Republican party. One of his deepest interests is the East Brookfield Public Library, in the building up of which he has been instrumental. He is an ardent lover of nature and takes keen delight in the planting and care of shrubs and flowers. He is a member of the Con- gregational Church at East Bridgewater.

Dr. Hayward married, October 23, 1901, Ray Alice Cole, daughter of Samuel S. and Alice (Wheeler) Cole, of Crown Point, Indiana, and claiming direct descent from Stephen Hopkins, of the "Mayflower" Pilgrims. She is a granddaugh- ter of Colonel John Wheeler, who was killed in the battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War and to whose memory a monument has been erected on the famous battlefield. Mrs. Hayward is a mu- sician of quality and reputation and has taught music more than twenty years.

EARLE BROWN, a well-known lawyer of Worcester, has been active not only professionally but also in many other phases of community life. The Brown family is of "Mayflower" ancestry, and members of it have been prominent in national affairs since Colonial times. His grandfather,

Albert Brown, was a partner of Theophilus Brown of the famous tailoring firm of Brown and Brown. His father, Edwin Brown, was the treasurer of the American Cord Clothing Company, of Worces- ter. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having gone to the front with the 5Ist Massachusetts Volunteers. Edwin Brown died January 21, 1918, after a long and colorful life. His widow lives in Worcester.

Earle Brown was born at Worcester, August 15, 1873, son of Edwin and Marianna Mifflin (Earle) Brown, both members of Colonial ancestry prom- inent in the settlement of New England. Earle Brown was educated in the Belmont Street public school and prepared for college at Fish's private school. Matriculating at Harvard University, he was graduated in 1895 with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts. His first impulse was to enter busi- ness life, and he accepted a position with the Me- chanical Fabric Company of Providence, Rhode Island, manufacturers of elastic woven materials, tires, golf balls and similar products. It is an interesting side-light that pneumatic tires and rub- ber golf balls were decided novelties at that time. He was progressing rapidly when the United States became involved in the Spanish-American War. He enlisted in May, 1898, in the Ist Rhode Island Infantry, Company A. With the members of many other military organizations of that day, he found himself in a camp whose dangers from disease were greater than the battle line. After nine months' service, he returned home and entered the Harvard Law School. In 1902 Mr. Brown was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws and during that same year was admitted to the bar of Worces- ter County. He first became associated with the law firm of Smith, Gage and Dresser, in Worces- ter, but in 1905 established himself in practice alone and has thus continued. In 1907 he was admitted to practice in the United States Circuit Court and in 1912 he was appointed attorney for the Worces- ter, Home, and Equity, Cooperative Banks, a post he still holds. In addition to these positions he is a director of these three cooperative banks.

Mr. Brown has been active in the promotion of projects which make for the betterment of Worces- ter and the welfare of its people. He is particularly interested in the young, helping them to make the most of their ambitions. He was one of a group which formed the playground "commission" and introduced this modern feature into the commu- nity's activities. This soon became a municipal board, on which Mr. Brown served for a number of years as a member. He also served seven years as treasurer of the Tuberculosis Relief Associa- tion. He assisted in the organization of the Boy Scouts of America, of which he was the treasurer for many years. During the period when the United States was participating in the World War, Mr. Brown was appointed a member of local No. 2, of the United States Draft Board, and was Appeal Agent of Division No. 2 under the Selective Service Act of 1918.

Fraternally Mr. Brown is a member of Rose of Sharon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Among his clubs are the Rotary, Worcester, University, Economic, Harvard, and Tatnuck Country clubs. He was made judge of the Colonel E. R. Stein- way Camp and has held this office for many years. For two years he was department judge advocate of the Spanish-American War Veterans for Massa-

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chusetts. His professional societies are the Worces- ter County Bar, the Massachusetts State Bar and the American Bar associations.

Earle Brown, on September 21, 1907, married Mary Felton Sargent, the granddaughter of the prominent citizen of Worcester, Dr. Henry Sar- gent. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of three children: I. Edwin Sargent, born August 29, 1908. 2. Earle, Jr., born November 5, I9II. 3. Nancy Hacker, born March 6, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Earle Brown reside at No. 77 Elm Street, Worces- ter.

CHARLES WILLIAM PENDER- Real estate is the medium by which Charles W. Pender, of Worcester, has achieved the larger part of his business success. He is rated as one of the best experts in this field in Worcester County and serves as an appraiser for the municipality and a number of banks. He is president of the Worces- ter Real Estate Board and in this capacity has been enabled to advance the interests of the or- ganization.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Pender once owned and operated a woolen mill in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. His father, James Maxwell Pen- der, born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, as was his wife, Nancy Ann (Croft) Pender, worked as an overseer in this mill. He died in Worcester in 1921, and his wife predeceased him by a year.

Born in Pittsfield, February 9, 1874, Charles William Pender received his education in the public schools of that city and early gave his atten- tion to learning the textile trade. He advanced to boss finisher at Capron's mill in Uxbridge and then went to the Pondsville Woolen Mill Com- pany, where he was superintendent for three years. He was also engaged later with a number of other concerns in similar positions. After he had en- gaged in this industry for about twenty years, he abandoned it to enter the real estate business in Worcester in 1905. He has never regretted hav- ing taken this step, since it has led to positions of honor and influence, as he has gone forward in the service and confidence of his clients. His first office after coming to Worcester was in the old Burnside Building, and on the completion of the Slater Building he took quarters there and has been continuously in this location.

One of the organizers of the Fairview Improve- ment Society, he served it as president for three years and is now a member of the board of trus- tees. In connection with his real estate business, he also handles various lines of insurance, prin- cipally protection against all forms of loss and damage. So sound is his judgment regarded by the city of Worcester and various institutions that his services as expert and appraiser are in fre- quent demand. Among his clients in this line, in addition to the Worcester municipality, are the Merchants National Bank of Worcester, the Clin- ton Savings Bank, and the Worcester County In- stitute for Savings. It was in 1930 that his col- leagues in the associated interests of the business elected him president of the Worcester Real Estate Board. In this office he strives to maintain the ethics of the business at a high standard and to suppress those who are not desirous of serving their clients in a fair and just manner. He is vice- president of the Worcester Brass and Electro- Plating Company, which occupies the building of

which he is the owner. He is a director of the Worcester Cooperative Bank; a member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce; was one of the organizers and is a charter member of the Worces- ter Real Estate Exchange; builder of Commu- nity Hall, which with its land cost about $30,000, located in what is called New Worcester. His name in connection with real estate matters has gone favorably throughout the country. He is a member of the Exchange Club and Worcester Automobile Club, and an attendant at the First Baptist Church of Worcester.

Charles William Pender married, in November, 1898, at Uxbridge, Cora Estelle Lee, a native of that town. Their children are: I. William Wallace, associated with his father in the insurance business. 2. Anna Louise, married Golden Mar- shall, of Norfolk, Virginia. 3. Cora Mildred. 4. Robert R., who is connected with his father's real estate business. 5. Burton B., also an asso- ciate of his father in the real estate business; married Annie Schofield. 6. John J., educated at Clark College, class of 1933.

WILLIAM B. DAVIDSON, M. D .- As a specialist in diseases of the chest, Dr. William B. Davidson has been engaged in practice in Worces- ter since 1929. His offices are located at No. 36 Pleasant Street, Worcester. But before locating here he had a long and varied experience in his specialty and is thoroughly qualified in this branch of the medical profession.

William B. Davidson, father of Dr. Davidson, was born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, and re- ceived his education in the schools of that city, after which he went to Scotland and remained until he returned to the United States at the age of twenty-one. He then learned the art of photog- raphy which profession he followed at Narragan- sett Pier, Rhode Island, to the time of his death in 1912. He married Lillian Brown, a native of Jamestown, Rhode Island, and they became the parents of two children: I. William B., of further mention. 2. Dorothy, who married Captain W. C. Brigham, of the United States Army. Since the death of her husband in 1912, Mrs. Davidson has attended the office of her son, Dr. William B. Davidson, and in that position her cheerful manner and pleasing personality are a decided asset, and a source of pleasure to Dr. Davidson's many patients.

Dr. William B. Davidson was born in Wake- field, Rhode Island, May 17, 1890, and received his early education in the public schools of South Attleboro, Massachusetts, attended the high school there and also schools in different cities. After completing his preparatory course, he entered the University of Maryland, from which he was grad- uated in 1917 with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. He had planned to begin practice after graduation, but the entrance of the United States into the World War interrupted his plans and he promptly enlisted for service. He was commis- sioned a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps and was at first stationed at the Army Medical School at Washington, District of Columbia. Later he was promoted to the rank of captain, and still later was commissioned a major. From Washington he was transferred to the United States Army Hos- pital No. 16 at New Haven, Connecticut. He

Charliethe Sender

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later entered the General Hospital No. 8 at Otis- ville, New York, and finally, came to Camp Dix, at Wrightstown, New Jersey, where, in 1919, he received his honorable discharge. Upon his return to civilian life he was appointed assistant super- intendent of the hospital at Rutland, Massachusetts, where he gave excellent service, adding valuable experience to his preparation for independent prac- tice. This hospital treats every form of diseases of the chest and provides accommodation for about four hundred patients. Here Dr. Davidson re- mained for ten years, until 1929, when he came to Worcester and opened his present office at No. 36 Pleasant Street, where he has since built up a very substantial practice. He is known as a skill- ful specialist in diseases of the chest, and each year brings to his office a larger number of patients. He is on the staff of Memorial Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, Holden Hospital, and Louis Pasteur Hospital and on the courtesy staff of Hahnemann Hospital, and also serves as an instruc- tor to nurses on tuberculosis at the City Hospital and the Memorial Hospital. He is a member of the Worcester District Medical Society, Mas- sachusetts Medical Society, Wachusett Medical Improvement Society, New England Roentgen Ray Society, National Tuberculosis Association, and the American Sanitarian Association. He is also a member of the Home and Trowel Club of Holden, Holden Rod and Gun Club, Rutland Sportsman's Club, Top Floor Gang, Rutland, and Army and Navy Club of Boston. Fraternally, he is iden- tified with the Free and Accepted Masons, Order of the Eastern Star, and Worcester Lodge, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Officers Reserve Association of the United States and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston. His religious interest is with the Protestant Episcopal Church of Worcester, of which he is an attendant.

Dr. William B. Davidson married, October 29, 1919, Doris Lane, who was born in Norton, Mas- sachusetts, daughter of Homer and Mary (Fales) Lane, the first mentioned of whom was for many years a resident of Norton, Massachusetts. Mrs. Davidson is a graduate of Smith College, class of 1918, and has charge of the laboratory of bac- teriology and chemistry at the Rutland Hospital, Rutland. Dr. and Mrs. Davidson have two chil- dren: 1. William B., Jr., born September 7, 1923. 2. Paul Lane, born August 20, 1929.

CHARLES E. ALLEN-In the great shoe manufacturing industry, the Allen-Squire Com- pany, of Spencer (Charles E. Allen, treasurer and general manager) has a national reputation by rea- son of its products being shipped to all parts of the country. Mr. Allen is concerned with move- ments and organizations for the advance of Spen- cer as a community, where manufacturers and social and civic advantages abound.

The Allen family is one of the oldest and most highly respected families in Worcester County. It originated in England. Israel Allen, the first of the name to settle in Spencer, was born in Shrews- bury, Massachusetts, and fought as a "Minute Man" in the Revolutionary War. On taking his residence in Spencer in 1780, he became a farmer and followed agriculture the rest of his life. Charles H. Allen, father of Charles E., the shoe manufacturer, was a manufacturer of boots in

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 79

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