Worcester County, Massachusetts - Biographical sketches (5 of 9 so headed), 1889

Biographical sketches

Aaron Kimball was the son of Aaron and Silence (Bartlett) Kimball, and was born at North Brookfield, June 19, 1796. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin, came from Ipswich to Brookfield prior to 1755, and since that time the family name has been prominently associated with Brookfield and her interests.

He married Eliza Cooley of Long Meadow, by whom were the following children: Harriet Cooley, born, February 3, 1830, died February 6, 1860 ; Adeline Augusta, born October 1, 1832 d; Mary Ann, born November 15, 1834 - died, 1884 ; Franklin Olcott, born October 26, 1838 - died December 24, 1856.

Aaron Kimball began business at Brookfield as a country merchant, in 1821, with small capital, except force and perseverance. In 1830 he formed a partnership with J. P. Robinson, and commenced the manufacture of shoe^ at Brookfield. In 1851 they opened a shoe and leather store on Fulton Street, Boston, from whence they removed to the well-known warehouse on Hanover Street, opposite the American House.

During the financial storms of this period all their business engagements were met with great promptnets. The panic of 1837 especially tested Mr. Kimball's executive ability with great credit to 'niraself

He belonged to that school of men who did business on honor, and whose word wa^ considered as good as their bond. He possessed sterling integrity, great firmness, a pure character, and was considered the leading business man of his day at Brookfield.

John Paemelee Robinson

Rev. John Robinson, the supposed ancestor of the subject of this sketch, was the well-known pastor of the Pilgrim Church. He bfcame connected with that church at Scrooby soon after 1606 while it was under the ministration of Richard Clyfton. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1576, and entering Emanuel College in 1592 he took the degree of M.A. in 1600 and B.D. in 1607. He began his ministerial labors in Mendham, where on account of his puritan tendencies he was at length suspended from his functions. Retiring to Norwich, after preaching a short time to a small puritan congregation, he at last re- nounced all communion with the church. Robinson afterwards said " lhnt light broke in upon him by degrees, that he hesitated to outrun those of his puritan brethren who could still reconcile thems'lves to remain in the establishment." He was called even by an opponent of separatism " the most learned, polished and modest spirit ihat ever the sect enjoyed."

In 1G08 he went with the church to Amsterdam where it remained a year and to Leyden in 1G09. Mr. Clyfton having decided to remain at Amsterdam, Mr. Robinson was chosen pastor and at his house on Clock Alley in the rear of St. Peter's Church, in Leyden, his congregation probably met on the Sabbath. Here Robinson lived from the 5th of May, 1611, the date of the deed of the premises, until his death in 1625. The records of the church of St. Peter's show that he was buried under its pavement and that the sum of nine florins was paid for the right of burial. This sum, however, only secured a place of deposit for the term of seven years and it is therefore probable that at the end of that time either his coffin was removed to an unknown grave or his ashes were scattered in the burial of others.

Subsequent to the death of Mr. Robinson his widow and son Isaac came to New England and frrm this son the subject of this sketch was probably descended, the line of descent from John being Isaac, Thomas, David, David, Noah, Hezekiah and John Parmelee.

John Parmelee Robinson was the son of Hezekiah and Rebecca (Cooley) Robinson and was born in West Granville in the county Hampden, Massachusetts, April 24, 1809. Rebecca (Cooley) Robinson, his mother, was the daughter of Josiah Cooley, of Longmeadow, and descended through him and another Josiah and two Eliakims from Benjamin, who came from England about 1635 and not long after settled in Springfield. Benjamin Cooley is first mentioned in the history of Springfield as owning land at the "long meddowe" in 1645, a part of the town which was incorporated as a precinct in 1715 and a separate town in 1783. It is evident from the records that the Cooley family always retained their lands at the Longe Meddowe in Springfield and in Longmeadow after its incorporation. Mr. Cooley was one of the selectmen of Springfield as early as 1646, and occupied a position on the Board many years. At later dates he is called Ensign Benjamin Cooley and is spoken of as distinguishing himself'in the Indian Wars.

The other children of Hezekiah Robinson were Josiah C, of Longmeadow, and Noah H., of Elmira, New York, both deceased, and Henry A. of Springfield and Emeline and Harriet R., both unmarried. The subject of this sketch attended school at We.=t Granville and afterwards at the Westfield Seminary where a more thorough education was possible than the public schools of his native town could furnish.- After leaving school he was in 1828 and a part of

1829 employed as teacher in West Granville, and for a short time afterwards in Longmeadow, the old home of his mother. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Brookfield where with Aaron Kimball he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. With devoted labor and csreful management the business of Kimball & Robinson after a solid foundation had been laid assumed large proportions, soon requiring more attention to the sale of goods in Boston than visits to that city twice in a week could furnish. In 1852 Mr. Robinson removed to Boston and there took up his permanent residence. Up to that time the Bofton business had always been transacted by Mr. Robinson while Mr. Kimball gave his attention more particularly to the business of the factory. Mr. Robinson had occupied for the transaction of his business a part of the office of William C. Murdock in Fulton Street (that part of Boston then being the headquarters of the hhoe and leather trade), who did a commission business in boots and shoes. This business Kimball & Robinson bought out in 1852 and for several years they carried on a large and increasing business at the old stand. During Mr. Robinson's connection with Mr. Kimball and afterwards in other business connections, his house may be said to have been the largest in their line of business in Boston. They not only sold their own goods but those manufactured by others in Brookfield, Medway, Hudson, Massachusetts, and Dover, New Hampshire, the manufacture being carried on on joint account and Mr. Robinson always making the purchase of leather.

After remaining in Fulton Street a few years Kimball & Robinson removed to Hanover Street and occupied a store opposite the American House. While there two trusted employees of the house were taken into partnership and the firm-name became Kimball, Robinson & Co. It so remained until December 1, 1864, when the partnership expired by limitation, and Mr. Robinson formed a new firm, as-ociating with himself James Longley, Jr., under the name of Robinson & Longley. Mr. Longley had been brought up in the house and on the 24th of October, 1866, married Julia Frances, Mr. Robinson's daughter.

At the beginning of the War of the Rebellion Mr. Robinson's house, like other large boot and shoe concerns of that period, suffered heavily from losses at the South, but by shrewd management and persistent effort his firm not only successfully went through the financial storm, but asiisted many others, as in the -struggle of 1857. In 1865 Robinson & Longley removed to Pearl Street, where they continued in business until 1867, when they were succeeded by Loring & Reynolds, in whose concern Mr. Robinson and Mr. Longley were special partners. Mr. Kimball died in 1866, but Mr. Robinson continued his interest in the Brookfield factory until September, 1881, when he sold the property.

Mr. Robinson died at North Conway, N. H., August 5, 1882. He married, February 18, 1835, Eliza A., daughter of Stephen and Fanny (Paige) Rice, of Hardwiclc, and had four children, - Frances Eliza, Julia Frances, John Cooley and Anna Eliza, all of whom died young except Julia Frances, the wife, now living, of James Longley, of Boston, as has been already mentioned. Stephen Rice, of Hardwick, the father of Mrs. Robinson, was descended, through Stephen, of Westboro', who married Dorothy Woods, of Marlboro', Beriah Rice, of Westboro'. who married Mary Goodenow, of Marlboro'. Thomas Rice, of Marlboro', who married Anna Rice, his cousin, Thomas Rice, of Sudbury, who married a wife Mary, from Edward Rice, born in England about 1594, who came to New England before 1639, and settled in Sudbury in that year.

During the residence of Mr. Robinson in Brookfield he was a leading man in the town, prominent in every good work, Ijut, with the exception of the office of postni.Tster, which he held under the Whig administration inaugurated by the election of Zachary Taylor in 1848, he held no public office. Aside from hi'* interest in the Unitarian Society, of which he was an active and useful member, and his interest in the general welfare of the town and the comfort and happiness of its people, he devoted his time and energies to his business, and neither sought nor desired public station.

After he came to Boston, he first associated himself with the churclr at the corner of Beadi Street and Harrison Avenue, of which Rev. James I. T. Coolidge, then a Unitarian, was pastor, and later with that of Rev. Edward E. Hale, near his residence, which was at the corner of Washington Street and Chester Park. In the ministry at large, of which he was once an officer, he felt a special interest, and did much to sustain it and promote its usefulness.

Like other business men who, by the cultivation of all their powers, build up and maintain prosnerous enterprises in business, Mr. Robinson looked on his school instruction as only the beginning of knowledge, and continued through life to build on the foundation laid in his boyhood, and educate himself in wider fields of knowledge than the demands of his daily vocation required. Possessed of an exceedingly genial temperament, of good common sense, an unerring judgment, an unswerving integrity, a capacity for honest and thorough investigation, and tastes inclined as his mind developed to literary pursuits, it would have been difficult to find a station in public or private life which he could not have creditably filled. For many years he w.is a director in the Eliot Insurance Company, and afterwards one of the organizers and a director of the Eliot Bank and its successor, the Eliot National Bank, until his death ; and to his conservative prudence and sagacious insight these institutions owed a debt of gratitude which they were ever ready to acknowledge.

Francis Howe

Francis Howe, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was descended from John Howe, the first American ancestor. John Howe came from England and first settled in Watertown whence he removed to Sudbury where he was living in 1639, and made a freeman in 1640. In 1642 he was a selectman in that town. He was one of the petitioners for the grant constituting the town of Marlboro', and in 1657 removed to that place. The petition for the grant was presented to the General Court in May, 1656, and besides Mr. Howe, the petitioners were: Edmund Rice, William Ward, Thomas King, John Woods, Thomas Goodnow, John Ruddocke, Henry Rice, .Tohn Bent, Sr., John Maynard, Peter Bent and Edward Rice. In compliance with the petition a plantation known by the Indian name Whipsuppenicke, was granted and laid out containing 29,419 acres.

It is said that John Howe was the first white man to take up his residence on the grant. He built a house and there lived until his death in 1687. By a wife, Mary, whose death occurred not far from the time of his own, he had eleven children - John, 1640; Samuel, 1642; Sarah, 1644; Mary, 1646; Isaac, 1648; Josiah, Mary again, 1654; Thomas, 1656; Daniel, 1658; Alexander, 1661; and Eleazur, 1662. Josiah, (me of the above sons, married March 18, 1671, Mary Haynes and had five children - Mary, 1672; Mary again, 1674; Josiah, 1678 ; Daniel, 1681 ; and Ruth, 1684. Josiah, one of thtse children, married June 14, 1706, Sarah Bigelow, and Novtmber 22, 1713, Mary Marble, and died September 20, 1766. His children were - Phinehas, 1707 ; Abraham, 1709 ; Rachel, 1710; Sarah, 1714; Mary, 1716; Josiah, 1720; Jacob, 1724. Abraham Howe, one of the above, settled in Brookfield, and married Martha Potter. His children were - Ephraim, born September 23,' 1733; Abraham, 1735; Abuer, 1736; Sarah, 1738; Rachel, 1741 ; Martha, 1744; Persis, 1749; Eli, 1752; and Abraham again, 1758. Ephraim, one of the children of Abraham, married in September, 1757, Sarah Gilbert of Brookfield, and had William born in 1759; Molly, 1761; Rachel, 1763; Sarah, 1706 ; Martha, 1768; Lucy, 1769; and Josiah, 1774. William Howe, one of the above children, born November 15, 1759, was a trader in Brookfield, and married November 2, 1780, Abigail, daughter of Jabcz Crosby of Brookfield, and had Sally, 1782 ; Nancy, 1784; JabezC, 1787; Otis, 1788; Otis again, 1790; William, 1792; George, 1795 ; Amos, 1797; Francis. 1799; Oliver, 1801; Charlotte Abigail, 1804; and Charlotte again, 1807. Jabez C. and George Howe were the late distinguished merchants of Boston, known as partners in the well-known house, of J. C. Howe and Co. Otis Howe was also a merchant in Boston, and the three daughters,! Sally, Nancy, and Charlotte Abigail, married Darius Hovey and Cyrus Dean, of Brookfield, and Samuel Johnson of Boston.

Francis Howe, the subject of this sketch, married in September, 1824, Maria A., daughter of Ephraira Richards, of Enfield, and had eight children, three of whom died young and five of whom survived him. A daughter, Abbie J., married S. R. Pattison, an attorney of London, England, who has acquired some distinction as an author and scientist, and also as a philanthropist. Lucretia P., another daughter, married Wm. J. Pingree, ofBoston, of the firm of Wm. J. Pingree & Brother, one of the leading dry goods commi^sion houses in that city. Among the living children there are two other brothers - William, for many yearsa planter in Mississippi, and Frederick A. Howe, an esteemed and prosperous commission merchant in Boston. Albert R. Howe, another son, born January 3, 1840, died in Chicago, June 1, 1884. He was major of the 5th Massachusetts cavalry in the War of the Rebellion, and after the war settled with his brother, William, in the South and engaged in the business of cotton planting. He was a member of the 43d Congress from Mississippi, and afterwards until his death was a merchant in Chicago.

Francis Howe was educated in the schools of his native town, and began business in Enfield. As his business grew and his capacity for its management developed he found the field in which he operated too narrow for the full satisfaction of his active spirit, and he removed to Boston, where, for some years, he was engaged in the West India business as a member of the well-known firm of Pope & Howe. With the competence which he had acquired as the result of his successful business career in Boston, he returned to his native town, whose inland air was more congenial to him than he had found the harsher airs from the sea. In Brookfield, after his return, he was associated for some time with Chester W. Chapin, of Springfield, and Frank Morgan, of Palmer, in the ownership of a stage-line between Worcester and Hartford, and at the same time carried on a large and successful country store. He always felt a deep interest in State and national politics, and was an active and influential leader of the democratic party of the town. As the candidate of that party he represented the town in the house of representatives in 1841-43, and represented Worcester County in the Senate in 1846. Subsequent to the Kansas outrages and in consequence of the attitude concerning them assumed by the party to which he had always been warmly attached he became a member and one of the founders of the Republican party, and to that organization and its success he lent his aid and energies.

As a member of the Orthodox Congregational Church, with which he became connected in 1867, he was always generous in his benefactions, and in private charities his hand was always found open and his heart warm. In all the varied fields of labor into which he had entered he carried with him a sound judgment, good common sense, a firm will, unswerving integrity, a generous spirit and a determination to win success. It was said, by one who knew him, "he will be long remembered as a gentleman of kind and generous feelings, courteous manners and uncompromising integrity. The church, society and the community have suffered a serious loss and his death will be severely felt by a large circle of friends and relatives." Mr. Howe died in Brookfield January 4, 1879, leaving, besides the children above mentioned, a widow, who is still a resident of that town.

Luther Stowell

Luther Stowell was the son of Luther and Lucy (Richardson) Stowell and was born at Sturbridge December 22, 1799. He came to Brookfield with his parents when young and spent his life here. Jlany of his winters when a young man were devoted to school teaching. May 11, 1827, he married Sophia Barret, of Brookfield. Mr. Stowell was a man who gave close attention to his own pursuits, which were principally .agricultural. He was esteemed a good citizen, represented his town as selectman and in 1840 and 1860 represented his district in the Legislature of the State. Mr. Stowell was a man of good judgment and in his business afiairs was successful. He died at Brookfield August 5, 1865.

William A. Banistee

William A. Banister was born at Brookfield, Mass., June 4th, 1807. He was the son of Seth and Dolly (Cutter) Banister, and belongs to the sixth generation bearing the name at Brookfield. His paternal grandfather, Seth, was a leading man in military afiairs. In 1777 had served in the Revolutionary army nineteen months, the highest average in the third precinct; commanded a company in the service and rose to the rank of colonel. He married Marcy Warriner, of Brimfield. Their children were William Bostwick, born November 8, 1773, a benefactor of Newburyport ; Liberty, born October 16, 1775 ; Seth, born January 4, 1778, was a captain in the War of 1812 and died at Brookfield September 7, 1857.

The issue of Seth and Dolly Banister was : Caroline C, died July 11, 1879 ; William A. the subject of this sketch ; Eliza Ann, died 1828 ; Sarah, died young; and Seth W., born January 15, 1811, and died October 5, 1861.

William A. Banister spent his boyhood at Brook- J field, and from there went to Boston. In 1831 he engaged himself at Charleston, S. C, as a salesman.

His close attention to his duties through three successive yellow fever seasons showed his devotion to business entrusted to him. Shortly afterwards the mercantile house of Banister & Ravenel was established for direct trade between Charleston and Europe, with Mr. Banister at its head. Mr. Meminger, after-

After this time Mr. Banister made annual business visits to Europe, and in 1838 was a passenger on the Great Western, the finest Atlantic vovage made by pairsenger steamer from America to England. He witnessed the demonstrations at the coronation of Queen Victoria in that year. In 1845 he moved to New- York city, and was associated with several large imjjorting and jobbing houses, taking rank with the first merchants of his day, and doing a business of several millions annually. He always showtd the courage, capacity and high honor which most become a merchant. He retired from active business in 1859.

In 1861 he was South on business, and witnessed the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the surrender of the same on the afternoon of April 13tli.

Mr. Banister has shown his interest in humanity by his works. He has assisted in educating his three nephews, sons of his brother, Seth W. ; has given several thousand dollars to the home for aged men at Newburyport, a beautiful gate-way to the cemetery at Brookfield, in conjunction with Otis Hayden, Esq., and donated ten thousand dollars for founding a public library at Brookfield.

Edwin Rice

Edmund Rice, the American ancestor of the subject of this sketch, came from Barkhamstead,in the County of Hertfordshire, in England, and settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1638 or 1639. He was a Selectman in 1G44 and for some years afterwards, and deacon of the church in 1648. His son Thomas Rice also lived in Sudbury and by a wife Mary had thirteen children, one of whom was Peter, born October 24, 1658. Peter Rice, of Marlboro', married Rebecca, daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Ward) Howe, of Marlboro', and had eleven children, one of whom was Elisha, born December 2, 1690. Elisha Rice, of Brookfield, married Martha Rice October 6, 1720, and had seven children, one of whom was Elnathan. Elnathan Rice, of Brookfield, married Lucy Walker in October, 1754, and had six children, one of whom was Rufus, born February 7, 1764. Rufus Rice, of Brookfield, married Betsey Moore October 2, 1786, and had nine children, one of whom was Shepard, born September 20, 1790. Shepard Rice, of Brookfield, married Mahala Carf)enter April 22, 1810, and had Elsie (1812), who married John E. Ainsworth, of Brimfield ; Elliot (1814), who married Harriet Nickols; Edwin, April 11, 1817; Miriam, who married Sylvanus King, of Monson and Leprelet.

Edwin Rice, the son of Shepard, is the subject of this sketch. He received such an education as the schools of his native town were able to furnish supplemented by that which his native gifts fortunately enabled him to acquire. After leaving school, with the other boys in his neighborhood he naturally drifted into the shoe establishments of Brookfield, then extensive and flourishing, to learn the business of manufacturing shoes and to prepare himself for active life. He soon, however, found the field into which he had entered too narrow for his restless spirit and on the 20th of April, 1841, he went to Boston and engaged in the retail furniture business in partnership with David Walker. This enterprise proved unsuccessful and the end of six months found the concern insolvent. The creditors offered a settlement at a large discount on their indebtedness which Mr. Rice refused and after a year's hard work as SheritTs keeper and in other occupations he liquidated the entire liabilities of the concern and acquired a reputation for industry and integrity which he has retained through life.

In 1845 he was appointed constalde by Thomas A. Davis, the mayor of Boston, and held that officer's warrant not far from twenty-five years. His promptness in the despatch of business, his accurate and intelligent methods, and above all his thorough honesty in all his dealings made him a popular ofi!icer. Among the leading lawyers of Court Street, Sohier and Welch, Hubbard and Watts, Fiske and Rand, Whiting and Russell, Hutchins and Wheeler, Whitman and Davis, and other attorneys, too numerous to mention, entrusted him with their business, and his income from this source enabled him to make investments in real estate, in which he has found a profitable account. In 1851 he was commissioned by Governor Boutwell as coroner, and the business of that office, by no means insignificant, was added to his regular occupation as c(mstable. This office he held about ten years, and he has since devoted his full time to the management of his real estate and other properties of which he has become possessed.

When Mr. Rice came to Boston, in 1841, he settled in East Boston, and during the forty -seven years which have since elapsed he has lived within fifty feet of his prestnt residence in Saratoga Street. At that time the population of East Boston was about one thousand, and there are now living on the island only four families that were living there then.

Mr. Rice married March 5, 1838, Frances L. Muzzy, of Brookfield, by whom he had no children. His second wife was Abbie E. Brigham of Boston, daughter of Major Franklin Brigham, of Lancaster, whom he married August 13, 1878. He has an only child, Edwin Brigham Rice, who was born December 5, 1879.

Mr. Rice has never sought political preferment, and has declined all participation in the management of enterprises, in which he did not have a substantial interest. He is a large owner in the Quincy Mining Company, and as one of its directors makes an annual visit to its properties in Michigan. He is an enthusiastic Mason, an active member of Joseph Webb Lodge of Boston, and also a member of the National

Lancers. He is connected with the Unitarian Society of East Boston, having been brought up in a liberal faith. His father was active in the settlement of a Universalist churcli in Brookfiekl, and from Universalism to Unitariauism was an easy transition for the son.

Mr. Rice, at the age of seventy-one, is still active in mind and body, and with the enjoyment ofahandaome competence, acquired by his own skill and energy and of a liappy home, he has apparently many years yet before him of usefulness and content.