History of Northborough, (Worcester County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

William Francis Allen, educator, was born at Northborough, Mass., Sept. 5, 1830. He was graduated at Harvard in 1851. He was a private tutor in New York city, 1851-'54, studied in Europe, 1854-'55, interesting himself in historical and antiquarian subjects, and taught in a private school in West Newton, Mass., 1855-'63. In 1863 he entered the employ of the Freedmen's and Sanitary commissions, and collected material for a book, "Slave Songs," published in 1867. After the war he taught a year each at Antioch college, Ohio, and at Perth Amboy, N.J. He was professor of ancient languages and history, 1867-'70, professor of Latin and history, 1870-'76, and professor of history, 1876-'81, in the University of Wisconsin. He wrote the annals of "Tacitus" and a "Short History of the Roman People." He died at Madison, Wis., Dec. 9, 1889.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Isaac Davis, statesman, was born in Northboro, Mass., June 2, 1799. He was graduated at Brown university in 1822, was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1825, and practised his profession in Worcester. He was state senator, 1843-54; member of the governor's council, 1851; state representative, 1852; delegate to the state constitutional convention, 1853; mayor of Worcester, 1856, 1859 and 1861; delegate to the successive Democratic national conventions, 1828-60; member of the Massachusetts state board of education, 1852-60; member of the board of visitors, U.S. military academy, 1832; president of the board of trustees of Worcester academy, 1843-83; trustee of Brown university, 1838-51, and fellow, 1851-79; trustee of Columbia college, 1847-72; of Waterville college, 1847-55; president of the Massachusetts Baptist convention, 1838-40; of the American Baptist convention, 1838-40; of the American Baptist home mission society, 1848-55; colonel of the 6th regiment, Massachusetts state militia, 1828-31; president of the Quinsigamond bank, 1836-45, 1854-78; of the Mechanics savings bank, 1851-55; director of the Providence & Worcester railroad, 1857-78, and of the Worcester & Nashua railroad, 1848-53, 1874-79. He received the degree of LL.D. from Columbian college, D.C., in 1846, and from Brown university in 1860. He died in Worcester, Mass., April 1, 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Davis, governor of Massachusetts, was born in Northboro, Mass., Jan. 13, 1787; son of Isaac and Anna (Brigham) Davis; grandson of Simon Davis of Rutland, Mass., and descended from Dolor Davis of the County of Kent, England, who emigrated in 1634. He was graduated at Yale in 1812, was admitted to the bar in 1815, and practised law at Worcester, Mass. He was a representative in the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22d and 23d congresses, serving from Dec. 5, 1825, to Jan. 1, 1834, when he resigned to assume the duties of governor of Massachusetts to which office he had been elected in November, 1833. He was elected to the U.S. senate by the legislature of Massachusetts in 1835 and served until Jan. 1, 1841, when he resigned to resume the duties of governor. In 1845 he was elected to the U.S. senate to fill the unexpired term of Isaac C. Bates, deceased, and in 1847 he was elected for the full senatorial term expiring March 3, 1853. In the senate he opposed the Clay compromise tariff bill of 1833, and the sub-treasury plan of 1840 and was a protectionist in all financial and commercial questions. He opposed the administrations of Jackson and Van Buren; was a constant and earnest protestant against war with Mexico, opposed the admission of slavery in the territories, supported the Wilmot proviso, and opposed the compromise acts of 1850. He became popularly known as "honest John Davis." He was married to Eliza, sister of George Bancroft, the historian, and had sons: John Chandler Bancroft, George Henry, Hasbrouck, Horace and Andrew McFarland. He was a fellow of the American academy of arts and sciences. He received from Yale the degree of A.M. in 1822 and from Harvard that of LL.D. in 1834. He died in Worcester, Mass., April 19, 1854.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor