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

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Biographies:

Waldo Irving Burnett, naturalist, was born in Southboro, Mass., July 12, 1828, son of Dr. Joel Burnett. His studies were directed by his father, who from earliest childhood fostered his interest in science. When sixteen years of age, he was thrown upon his own resources by the death of his father and he taught school and studied medicine. He was graduated at the Tremont medical school, Boston, in 1849, studied at the European universities, devoting especial attention to natural history and microscopy. Ill-health prevented him from accepting active positions on his return to America, and he devoted himself to literary work. He contributed to many scientific publications. His prize essay, The Cell, its Physiology, Pathology and Philosophy, as deduced from Original Observations; to which is added its History and Criticism (1852), was published by the American medical association, of which he was an honored member. His translation of Siebold's Anatomy of the Invertebrate passed through two editions, and at the time of his death he was engaged in translating the Comparative Anatomy of Siebold and Stannius. He died in Boston, Mass., July 1, 1854.

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

Francis Ball Fay, representative, was born in Southborough, Mass., June 12, 1793. He was a market man in Boston, 1812-17, and a merchant in Southborough, 1817-31. He served as postmaster and town treasurer of Southborough, 1817-21; was deputy sheriff of Worcester county, 1824-30; was a state representative, 1830-31, 1834-36 and 1840, and a state senator, 1843-45 and 1868. In 1831 he removed to Chelsea, where he bought the first ferry boats running between that place and Boston. In 1852 he was elected a Whig representative in the 32d congress to fill a vacancy, serving till March 3, 1853. He was the first mayor of Chelsea in 1857, declining re-election. In 1851 he endowed the Fay free library at Southborough, Mass., later was one of the founders of the State industrial school for girls at Lancaster, Mass., and was connected with the latter institution as commissioner, trustee and treasurer, 1854-64. In 1858 he removed to South Lancaster, Mass., where he died Oct. 6, 1876.

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