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

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Biographies:

Nathan Allen, physician, was born in Princeton, Mass., April 25, 1813, son of Moses and Mehitable (Oliver) Allen, and a lineal descendant of Walter Allen, one of the original proprietors of Old Newbury, who died in Charles-town, Mass., in 1673. His boyhood was spent on a farm, and after acquiring an academical education he was graduated at Amherst college in 1836. He then devoted four years to the study of medicine at the Pennsylvania medical school, and was graduated in 1841, removing to Lowell, Mass. Aside from establishing a large practice, Dr. Allen devoted considerable time to physiological research, and his published papers attracted attention among physicians in both the old world and the new. In 1856 he was chosen by the legislature a trustee of Amherst college, and established in that institution the department of physical culture. Governor Andrew appointed him a member of the Massachusetts state board of charities in 1864, and he served in that body throughout its existence, a period of fifteen years. In 1872 he was sent by Governor Washburn as a delegate to the international congress which met in London to discuss prison and other reforms. In 1873 Amherst college conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. He was a member of the American medical association, the American academy of medicine, the American public health association, and the Massachusetts medical society. His published writings include: "An Essay on the Condition of Mental Philosophy with Medicine" (1841); "The Opium Trade" (1850); "The Law of Human increase; or Population Based on Physiology and Psychology" (1868); "Physical Culture in Amherst College" (1869); "The Intermarriage of Relations" (1869); "Physical Degeneracy" (1870); "The Physiological Laws of Human Increase" (1870); "Lessons on Population Suggested by Grecian and Roman History" (1871); "Important Medical Problems" (1874); "State Medicine, in Its Relatation to Insanity" (1875); "Normal Standard of Women for Propagation" (1876); "Claims of the Sick Poor" (1877); "The New England Family" (1882); and "Physical Development" (1888). He died in Lowell, Mass., Jan. 1, 1889.

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

Erastus Everett, educator, was born in Princeton, Mass., Aug. 3, 1813; son of Joshua 3d and Ruth (Wood) Everett; grandson of Lieut. Joshua Everett 2d; and a descendant of Richard Everett, who was born in England, immigrated to America about 1632 and settled in Dedham, Mass. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1836, and in the same year removed to Louisiana, where he was professor of English history at Jefferson college, St. James parish. In 1843 he assisted in the organization of the Orleans high school, New Orleans, and was connected with the school for twelve years. He was principal of the school, 1849-54, and when it was chartered as a college in 1854 he became its first president. In 1855 he removed to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he taught in select schools twenty years. He was then called to the chair of Greek and Latin in Rutgers female college, New York city, serving 1875-79. Dartmouth made him LL.D. in 1876. He wrote: System of English Versification (1848). He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., May 7, 1900.

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

Leonard Woods, theologian, was born in Princeton, Mass., June 19, 1774; son of Samuel Woods. He was graduated from Harvard, A.B., 1796, A.M., 1799; subsequently taught school and studied theology, and was pastor of the Congregational church in West Newbury, Mass., 1798-1808. He was Abbot professor of Christian theology and the leading spirit in directing the policy of Andover Theological seminary, 1808-46, and professor emeritus of the same, 1846-63. He was married to Abigail Wheeler. Of their children, Harriet Newell (Woods) Baker was a well-known writer of juvenile books, and Margarette married the Rev. Edward A. Lawrence. D.D., of Marblehead, Mass., whose "Modern Missions in the East," she edited (1895). She also wrote" Light on the Dark River" (1854); "The Tobacco Problem" (1885) and many articles on religious subjects. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred upon Professor Woods by the College of New Jersey (Princeton) and by Dartmouth in 1810. He was a founder of the American Tract, Temperance and Education societies and also of the A.B.C.F.M., serving as a member of its prudential committee twenty-five years, and was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the author of: Letters to Unitarians (1820); Lectures on the Inspiration of the Scriptures (1829); Memoirs of American Missionaries (1833); Examination of the Doctrine of Perfection (1841); Lectures on Church Government (1843); Lectures on Swedenborgianism (1846), and his collected works were published in 5 vols., 1849-50; also of contributions to the Panoplist (1805), and of a History of Andover Seminary, left in MS. Dr. Woods died in Andover, Mass., Aug. 24, 1854.

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

Calvin Edward Pratt, soldier and jurist, was born in Princeton, Mass., Jan. 23, 1828; son of Eben (or Edward) A. and Miriaime (Strutton) Pratt; grandson of Capt. Joshua Pratt of Shrewsbury, Mass., and of Samuel Strutton of Princeton, who settled in Plymouth, Mass., about 1622. He attended Wilbraham and Worcester academies; taught school in Uxbridge, Sutton and Worcester, Mass., studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He was married to Miss Ruggles of Rochester, Mass.; practised in Worcester, 1852-59, and in Brooklyn, N.Y., 1859-61, and studied forensic medicine. He was a member of the Massachusetts Democratic Central committee and a delegate from Massachusetts to the Democratic National convention at Cincinnati, June 2, 1856. He belonged to the Massachusetts infantry, and at the opening of the civil war organized the 31st N.Y. volunteers, led them in the battle of Bull Run and was promoted colonel. He was wounded in the face by a bullet at the battle of Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862; was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, Sept. 10, 1862; commanded a brigade at Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and resigned from service, July 1, 1863. He was a lawyer in Brooklyn, N.Y., 1859-61, 1863-69 and 1891-95: collector of internal revenue, 1865-66; judge of the supreme court of New York, 1869-91; associate judge of the appellate division of the supreme court. 1895-96. He died in Rochester, Mass., Aug. 3, 1896.

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