Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Biographical sketches (1 of 2 so headed), 1884

Biographical sketches

There is an inspiration to others in the history of self-made men; so we gather these fragments from the lives of these brothers, and place them as honored records among the names of those worthy to occupy a place in the "' History of Norfolk County." Energy is the corner-stone to their characters, the secret of their successful lives, - well-directed, steady, persistent energy. Joseph Ray, the father of these brothers, was born in West Wrentham, Mass., July 24,1791. He learned the stone-mason's trade, and followed that some years, building mills, mostly in the Blackstone Valley, whither he moved in 1813, making his residence South Mendon, now Kast Blackstone. In 1814 he married Lydia, daughter of James Paine, an iron-worker, then of Smithfield, R. I., but afterwards a resident of Mendon. Mr. Ray entered into partnership with Mr. Paine in 1821, the firm-name being " Paine & Ray." They engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woolen machinery. Mr. Ray had become thoroughly familiar with their mechanism, and applied himself not only The first to their construction but improvement. shop. The firm had two manufactories, one at South Mendon, with one hundred and fifty hands, the other In 1826 Mr. Ray purchased a cotton-mill of nine looms at Hillsboro', He conducted this successfully until 1839,

Rhode Island, involved him in their failure, and he was compelled to suspend payment. Receiving an extension on his notes for five years, he struggled faithfully during that period to restore his wrecked fortunes, but failed and retired died in 1847.

| Republican in politics; as such has been representatered a cotton-factory and remained one year stripping The next year (1837), in the midst of the greatest financial panic this country has ever known, a boy of seventeen, his entire wealth consisting of seven dollars, he started business on his own account by hiring two carding-machines and power to run them, and buying two hundred pounds of cotton waste with which to make cotton batting. This was the humble beginning of a most remarkable and successful business career. He ran his machine several months, then hiring a horse and wagon, peddled out his goods. Encouraged by his success, early the next season he purchased six carding-machines which he placed in a room in City Mills, Franklin, and continued the manufacture of batting until 1838, when he purchased a small " mule" and made cotton wicking during the winter. Notwithstanding his industry and care, by the depression of prices he found himself five hundred dollars in debt the next spring.

Hiring the new mill of Joseph Whiting, of Unionville, he moved thither in May, 1839, his father's family (now dependent on him) also moving there. Managing his affairs with sagacity and untiring energy unusual in so young a man, and making cotton batting, wicking, and cotton twine, by 1844 he had accumulated two thousand dollars. He was again at this time embarrassed by the failure of George Blackburn, of Boston, his commission merchant. last of the notes due in 1847. has been one of prosperity.

Receiving an extension of time, he paid the From this his career In 1844 his brother, Frank B., three years his junior, who had been employed by him from youth, became his partner, with firm-name of J. P. & F. B. Ray. the celebrated "' Makepeace Mill," and here 'and in the mill at Unionville manufactured batting, twine, wicking, and bagging until 1851, when Joseph G. was admitted partner, the firm becoming " Ray Brothers." bridge, and the Manual Labor School at Worcester, with such attention as to qualify him as a teacher at the age of fifteen, when he took charge of the district school at Northbridge, Mass., for one term. He then became a clerk in a store at Upton, Mass., but years. He is a leading member of the Universalist Far-seeing, bold, energetic, and persistent, he has deserved and attained success far beyond the hopes and ambitions of his early manhood. He has neither courted popularity nor feared censure. He gives generously where struction of the Milford, Franklin, and Providence Railroad, of which he is president, and its construction is due to his untiring efforts. He was incorporator, and is director of Franklin Rubber Company, president of Putnam Manufacturing Company, and of the manufacturing corporations at Woonsocket and City Mills.

JosepH G. Ray, youngest son of Joseph and Lydia (Paine) Ray, was born in South Mendon, now East Blackstone, Oct. 4, 1831. When but a lad of eight he began life's battle by working all his spare time morning and evening in his brother's mill at Unionville making twine. When twelve he attended school one year in Nashua, N. H. His vacations were passed in the mill, where he became expert in the methods of manufacture. money enough for his expenses, he attended school another year in Walpole, N. H. In 1850 he engaged with his brother Frank, receiving four hundred and fifty dollars yer year for his services, and during the year started the first ' rag-picker" and manufactured the first "shoddy" made in New England. In 1851, in connection with James, he formed the firm of Ray Brothers, and bought the property in South Mendon - then owned by Jenckes & Scott - where their father commenced the manufacture of cotton machinery. In 1854 he married Emily, daughter of Col. Joseph Rockwood, of Bellingham. Their children are Lydia P. and Annie R. (Mrs. Adelbert D. Thayer). From 1861 to 1871, Mr. Ray resided in Unionville; from thence removed to Franklin, where he still lives.

His summer residence is the old homestead of Col. Rockwood, which Mr. Ray has taken much pains to make a model home. He has spared no expense in this, as the elegant building and elaborate surroundings clearly indicate.

and attention for several years, carrying the entire financial responsibility. To him more than to any other living. man are the people of Franklin and the Universalist society indebted for the completion of the beautiful church and Dean Academy. By his kindness of heart, unfailing courtesy, his known integrity, fine social qualities, skill in business and financial most unique features of this farm is its fish pond, well stocked with German carp, surrounded by a private race-course. Republican in politics, in 1859, of the trustees of the church, and the intimate friend, | confidant, and adviser of the late Dr. Dean in the | building of Dean Academy and the Universalist | dence of his fellow-citizens, and particularly of those who have been brought into intimate connection with him. He is treasurer of various manufacturing corporations, was an incorporator, and is director and treasurer of the Milford, Franklin and Providence Railroad Company. As a business man he has few if any superiors. Both James and Joseph have contributed largely to church advancement and support. They have been connected personally and financially with every important business undertaking begun in Franklin since the organization of the firm of Ray Brothers. In 1856 their mill at South Mendon was burned, and immediately rebuilt. In 1858 they sold a right to raise a dam for a new mill built by Edward Harris in the north part of Woonsocket. 'This caused the water to flow back and so injure their manufactory at South Mendon that they closed up business there, removing the machinery to Unionville. Frank B. retired from the firm of Ray Brothers in 1860, the business being continued by the two other members under firm-title of J. P. & J. G. Ray. This firm purchased the Bartlett mill at Woonsocket, where they manufactured cotton sheetings, and in 1873 they, with Oscar J. Rathburn, president of the Harris Woolen Company, formed the firm of Rays, Rathburn & Co., which now owns and operates Jenckesville Mills, of Woonsocket. In 1865, J. P. & J. G. Ray purchased the woolen-mill in North Bellingham, which was built in 1810 by their father, and of which he was part owner. Here they manufacture satinets as Ray Wovlen Company. and used in making "' shoddy."

Their first mill in Franklin was built in 1870, The firm of Rathburn & Mackenzie was formed in 1872 by James P. and Joseph G. Ray, Oscar J. Rathburn, and Charles J. Mackenzie, and built a mill for the manufacture of In 1874, J. P. & J. G. Ray purchased an interest in Franklin Felting Company, reorganizing it as Franklin Woolen Company. In 1877 they built a brick mill at Franklin in which to manufacture fancy cassimeres. In 1876 they purchased the original mill of the Putnam Manufacturing Company, at Putnam, which was built by Hosea Ballou, of Woonsocket, and also City Mills, in Franklin. Their business and finan- tries with the lower ae of work, they have havaneed step by step, making, in cottons, first batting, next | wicking, next twine, then seamless bags, and finally | finished cloths. In woolen, first shoddy, next satinets, then fancy cassimeres, on taking up another.

Epa@ar K. Ray, son of James P. and Susan (Knapp) Ray, was born in Franklin, Mass., July 17, 1844. tion, was fitted for business by his father and uncles, and has been associated with them since 1865, and in 1870 became a partner in both the firms of J. P. & J. G. Ray, and Ray, Rathburn & Mackenzie.

becoming also a student in the office and assisting in the practice of the celebrated Dr. Winslow Lewis. He made good use of the opportunities afforded him, and was graduated from Harvard in February, 1830. He soon commenced his long and successful medical practice by establishing himself at Marlboro', whence, after eighteen months' time, he removed to Bellingham, where he was located for several years. In 1836 or 1837 he changed his residence to Franklin,

Shadrach Atwood, M.D.

Shadrach Atwood, M.D., was born in Plymouth Co., Mass., May 17,1801. His parents were Francis and Elizabeth (Ward) Atwood. His Benjamin Ward, was a captain in the grandfather, colonial army of the Revolution, and his grandfather, William Atwood, was a lieutenant in the same service. in 1811 purchased a farm in Middleborough, and removed thither. he was twenty-one, having advantages of education the present. In 1878 he gave up active practice, and retired after a professional career of success and profit of nearly half a century. He built up a large practice, was active, energetic, and won many friends. His nature is positive, and from peculiar circumstances he was early thrown entirely on his own resources in his profession, and developed self-reliance, care, and close observation - almost minute - of all his cases. skill in marked results for some time. then began the when twenty-two years old he went to Amherst, and, after some preliminary academical study, entered Amherst College, where he remained ahout eighteen months. Here he made rapid progress, showing those qualities of determination and tenacity of purpose so strongly shown in his entire career, and which, when a mere child, caused his father to say, " I did not

About 1825 he began the study of medicine of Middleborough, few months went to Boston, and attended three courses of lectures at Harvard Medical School,

In_ politics, "Old Line Whig," departing from the Democratic principles of his fathers, but after the dissolution of the Whig party he affiliated with the Democratic party, and has since supported it and its candidates. In 1847 he was elected to represent the town of Franklin in the State Legislature by an unprecedented majority, and securing the charter for the Norfolk County Railroad (an extension of the railroad from Walpole to Blackwhich gave railroad facilities to Franklin, and marked a new era in its growth and prosperity. Of He was from his size Richard the Little. One of the sons of the last-named Richard was called John Richardson, taking his father's name with the addition of son for his surname. Richardson." It is now found in nearly every county of England, and during the past seven hundred years human life, civil, military, literary, and ecclesiastical. Of the numerous descendants of the old Norman settling in America in early colonial days, we find John Richardson, at Watertown, in 1636, perhaps in 1635. of him: " Feb. 28, 1836-37, he and 'all the towns- on the south.' owned in Watertown. It forbids the idea of his remaining there, and so we find him no more in that place. We find him, or another of the same name, in Exeter, in 1642, as a witness to a deed, and probably shall not err if we set him down as the ancestor of that large and eminently respectable family of Richardson who, from 1679, spread themselves out through Medfield, Medway, Wrentham, Franklin, Leominster, Barre, and many other towns." careful investigation to be son of the above, married in Medfield, Rebekah, daughter of Joseph and Alice Clark, early settlers in Medfield, then Dedham, and settled in East Medway, where he died May 29, 1697. (See "Richardson Memorial.) He had seven children, the oldest of whom, John (3), born Aug. 25, 1679, married Esther Breck, whose father house at East Medway. He was a cordwainer by trade, as was his father, but abandoned that for husbandry. He had a number of tracts of land, and died May 19, 1759.

_ was twenty-three years old his father purchased fifty- The origin of the family name of Richardson, | which is so numerously represented in this portion of | four acres of wild land for him, paying therefor £60. (This is now a part of the Stephen W. Richardson farm.) Mr. Richardson was an energetic, active, and capable man of business, and bought and sold much property. Both he and his wife were church members early in life. When the church in the West Precinct of Wrentham, now Franklin, was formed (Feb. 27, 1738), they were among the number dismissed from the Wrentham Church to constitute this. He died Nov. 5, 1767. His wife survived him, living till Dec. 26, They had seven children. John (5) was third child and second son. He was born July 2, 1735, While a young man he worked at his trade, house-carpentry. He 23% itioue Abigail, daughter of Deacon Moses and Hannah (Walker) Haven, and cousin of Rev. Elias Haven, the first minister of Franklin. For ten years he lived in Framingham, but after his father's death he returned to Franklin (Wrentham), and buying the homestead from his brothers, Elisha and Eli, resided there until his death. This deed was dated April 6, 1770, and, for £200, transfers eighty-five acres of land, with all buildings thereon.

" During nearly thirty years John Richardson was the nearest neighbor of his brother Elisha. They They were strongly attached to each other, and lived in great harmony, having farming implements and other things John, in particular, was a man of great amiableness and gentleness of character." - His will was made May 4, 1809, the day of his death. - In his will '* John Wilkes Richardson, laborer," is called '""my only beloved son." He gave him by deed, Sept. 16, 1796, one-half of the homestead farm, containing one hundred acres, and one-half of the dwellinghouse and other buildings thereon.

This Joun WitKeES RicHARDSON was the sixth in direct descent from John the emigrant, and was born in Franklin, Mass., Dec. 30,1774. He lived and died on the ancestral home owned in the family from 1724. and great worth. Franklin and adjacent towns for thirty-one successive of note that he was the first child with a middle name baptized in Franklin. He married Matilda Kingsbury, Nov. 3, 1796, and had three children, - Abigail, (married Noyes Payson Hawes), John Haven, and Stephen Wilkes. He died Sept. 15, 1843. STEPHEN WILKES RICHARDSON, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, is the seventh in direct descent from John Richardson the emigrant, the line

Wilkes', Stephen Wilkes'. He was born March 30, 1813, on the homestead mentioned above, which, in an improved condition, is now his home. He was educated at the common schools of Franklin, and at Day's Academy, Wrentham, and early became a teacher. after several terms he relinquished it for book-keep- was then called the Mercantile Journal. He married, first, May 6, 1835, Eliza, daughter of Amos and Abigail Bullard, of Hast Medway, who died Oct. 17, 1844 ; second, Feb. 6, 1845, Mary Bullard, sister of Eliza. She died April 30, 1883. His five children were all by his first wife, of whom two, John Warren and Henry Bullard, now are living. ardson has been chairman of the town board of assessors almost consecutively for twenty-five years; represented the towns of Franklin and Bellingham in the State Legislature in 1858; was assistant assessor of internal revenue for United States government from made by him. In all relations of official trust and private business Mr. Richardson has shown rare good judgment and sterling integrity. Quiet and unassuming in his manners, he is firm of principle and courageous in his convictions, and no man ever more fully enjoyed the esteem of the solid men and substantial citizens of his vicinity than he.

Henry Buniarp Ricnarpson (eighth generation), born May 21, 1844, prepared for college at Phillips (Exeter) Academy; was graduated from Amherst College in 1869; married, July 13, 1869, Mary E. Lincoln, of Amherst. They have three children, - Mary L., Carrie A., and Henry S. Mr. Richardson is now professor of German in Amherst College.