Harry Lincoln Woodman

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: The following autobiography was written by Harry L. Woodman in 1963 to provide information for a news article: Born November 24, 1880 at Lewiston, Maine in a Bates Corporation Tenement opposite the entrance to Bates Cotton Mill where my father was employed as a Carpenter. My Folks moved to West Warren, Mass. And from there to Mill Town, Maine. I was three years old when they came to Lowell. My father died when I was eleven years old and my Mother moved to South Loring St. in the Highlands. I was married in 1912 to Ruth Esther Ward of North Orange and we moved to Pine St. corner of Georgia Ave. My Mother died in 1943 and I moved to Chelmsford. I retired in 1945 and moved to North Orange, Mass where I now reside. I started my schooling in a primary school on High St., from there to the grammar school on the South East corner of the junction of High and East Merrimack St. (I forget the name of the school). When I moved to the Highlands I transferred to the Morey Grammar School. Mr. Morey was principal. I went to the High School in 1896 and graduated in 1899. John Jacob Rogers was President of the class. I went to the Old Lowell Textile School on Middle St. and graduated in 1902. I graduated from the Lowell Evening Drawing School on Broadway, finishing the three year course in two years. As a boy I worked as a runner boy in the Massachusetts Mills counting room. In Textile School I worked vacations in the Lowell Machine Shop. After graduating from Textile, I went back into the Lowell Machine Shop first on the Fly France erection floor then outside as a helper setting up machines in the mills. From there I went to the Massachusetts Mills as a Draftsman. During that time a new machine was invented to tie the last of an old wrap in the loom to a new beam of yarn. One of these machines was purchased by the Massachusetts Mill and I went into the mill as its first operator. The machine was built by the Barber Colman Co. Of Rockford, Ill. and sold for $5,000. It did the work of 50 girls in a day. I again went back to the drafting board. At the end of 3 ¼ years I went to work for the Barber Colman Co. Setting up machines in all the New England States except Vermont and also New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I went out to the Company Plant in Rockford, Ill. where I found out how to turn out machine parts in some cases with only ½ a thousandth clearance. A depression caused a lay-off and I worked for F. W. Bird and Son of Walpole as a draftsman. After a little over a month I was back with Barber Colman again for two years. I then went to work for Lamson Consolidated Store Service Co., making elevators and conveyors and finally as Inspector of all finished products. When the company moved to Syracuse, New York, I left and returned to the Lowell Machine Shop as a draftsman. I advanced the checker and took many trips both North and South to mills to check and report on results. I ended up finally in charge of erection of spool and warpers. Then I stepped on someones toes higher up, and while I was right and could prove it, I had to go. I next went to the Russell Co. Who ran the Merrimack Chemical Co. in North Woburn, again as a draftsman. At the end of five years I was Assistant to the Superintendent of Construction. Then the Monsanto Chemical Co. bought the concern and I was transferred to Everett again as a draftsman. I worked there for 16 years and retired in 1945. During that time I worked in the machine shop, had charge of the salvage department and during the Second World War, I traveled to all the junk yards in and around Boston anywhere I heard that I could purchase repair material. I spent one summer toward the end of my time as the Engineer in charge of Directing the building of a parking lot, laying out railroad track, and giving grade, grading operations, and building roads. I started my elective offices early in life. At about 14 I was Treasurer of the Y.P.S.C.E. in the First Baptist Church. I was President of the Men's Class, called the Baraca Class. I was President of the Men's Round Table, also Scout Master for a year. When our girls got old enough to go to church, My Wife thought the Baptist Church was too far to go, so we all joined the Highland Congregational Church. I applied and was accepted as a member of Kilwinning Lodge in 1911. I was raised by Wor. Charles E. Bartlett. I worked the lights until Wor. Harry L. Parkhurst appointed me Inside Sentinel. I taught the lecture to the incoming classes during my two years as Inside Sentinel. I went from Senior Steward to Junior Deacon. At some time during these four years, I, at special meetings, did the floor work of the office ahead of me. One meeting stands out in my memory when at a special meeting, the M. Wor. Aurthur D. Prince was Senior Warden and I was acting Senior Deacon. When elections came around again I skipped the Senior Deacon and was elected Junior Warden. I think I was the first man to be elected Junior Warden who had not given the Senior Deacon Second Degree lecture. I afterward gave it twice. I was the first Master of Kilwinning Lodge to hold a meeting in the new Temple. Since I became a Past Master, I have raised 8 candidates using the short form in 8 different Lodges North and South of Boston and in Athol and Orange. In all the elapsed time up to 1953 I have not had to refer to a ritual. I received my Veterans Medal in 1962. I am a charter member of the 3-5-7 club at Monsanto Chemical Co. in Everett. This club was formed about a year before I retired and I was the First Vice President. In 1939 because the group we went around with was broken up by the death of several members, my Wife and I joined the Chelmsford Grange. I was elected Lecturer before I had been in a year and the next year I became Master and served two years and was on the Executive Committee 3 years. I got a demit and joined North Orange Grange when I retired and a year later they elected my Master for two years. I served on the Executive Committee for several years also 3 years as Treasurer. My attendance to any kind of a meeting has been reduced to nil since I broke my leg in 1954. Speaking of Hobbies, I want to say that a man in good health who is looking forward to retiring must have a hobby. He won't last long if he has nothing to do. From the time I was eleven years old up to this year I have had a back yard garden. I started playing cribbage around 1900 and still play. Down through the years I have enjoyed many sports, Ice Skating, Tennis, Bowling, Pool, Billiards, Bridge Whist, Fishing and Hunting. I play cribbage right along now and collect stamps and small coins. I am a member of the Athol Rod and Gun Club, a past President and now on the Executive Committee. I am also a member of the Chesham Sportsman Club of Chesham, New Hampshire. Out of this mass of data, I hope you will be able to make the story you want. I thought this sort of thing was only used at the feast after the member had passed on. I will be 83 years old this month on the 24th. My Doctor says I am a tough old guy in very good health."
• Census: 1900, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He was recorded while living with his widowed Mother. He was a student in textile school.; : 19; Address:
  43 South Loring Street
• Occupation: 1908, Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine; Harry was a traveling salesman.
• Residence: 1908, Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine
• Census: 1910, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He was a traveling salesman and was living with his widowed mother.; : 29; Address:
  South Loring Street
• Miscellaneous: 9 Sep 1911, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He became a mason. He was Worshipful Master of the Kilwinning Lodge from 1928 to 1929.
• Draft Registration: 12 Sep 1918, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He registered for the draft.; : 37; Address:
  422 Pine Street
• Census: 1920, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; In the 1920 US Census he was recorded, age 39, living on 422 Pine Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. He was a draftsman in a machine shop.
• Census: 1930, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; In the 1930 US Census he was recorded, age 49, living on 422 Pine Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. He was an assistant superintendent at a construction works.
• Residence: Sep 1939, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; : 49; Address:
  422 Pine Street
• Census: 1940, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He is listed as a bank clerk.
• Draft Registration: 1942, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He registered for the draft.; : 61; Address:
  422 Pine Street
• Miscellaneous: 1953, Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire; He fractured his leg while getting into a boat.

Notes:

Residence:
198 Turner Street

Harry married Ruth Esther Ward on 02 Oct 1912 in North Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts. Ruth (daughter of Everett Daniel Ward and Cora May Harding) was born on 9 Jul 1889 in Warwick, Franklin County, Massachusetts; died on 26 Dec 1980 in Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was buried on 31 Dec 1980 in Jones Cemetery, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They were married in a double ring ceremony performed by the Rev. Selden W. Cummings, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lowell.

1. Shirley Frances Woodman was born on 29 Oct 1917 in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died on 13 Apr 2016 in Cabot, Butler County, Pennsylvania; was buried in Jones Cemetery, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts.
2. Janice Mary Woodman was born on 6 Oct 1919 in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died on 23 Aug 2009 in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania; was buried on 27 Aug 2009 in Jones Cemetery, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine; He was recorded while living with his parents.; : 2
• Census: 1860, Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine; He was recorded while living with his parents.; : 12
• Census: 1870, Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine; He was recorded while living with his parents.; : 22
• Census: 1880, Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine; : 32; Address:
  45 Bartlette Street

Notes:

Birth:
Father: Greenwood H. Woodman
Mother: Doratha E. Dunham

Herbert married Mary E. Flanders on 18 Sep 1875 in Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mary was born on 14 Sep 1854 in Palmyra, Somerset County, Maine; died on 5 Feb 1941 in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; was buried in Lowell Cemetery, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1860, Palmyra, Somerset County, Maine; She was recorded while living with her parents.; : 5
• Married to: 18 Feb 1869; Henry Orison Parkman. He was born 18 April 1864 and died 8 December 1928 in Belgrade, Maine. They were divorced.
• Census: 1880, Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine; : 25; Address:
  45 Bartlette Street
• Residence: 1894, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
• Census: 1900, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; She was a widow.; : 45; Address:
  43 South Loring Street
• Census: 1910, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; She was a widow.; : 54; Address:
  South Loring Street
• Census: 1920, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; She was living with her son, Harry, and his family.; : 50; Address:
• Census: 1930, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; She was recorded living with her son, Harry, and his wife.; : 75; Address:
  422 Pine Street
• Census: 1940, Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; She was recorded, age 85, while living with her son, Harry. Her age is listed as 55 on the record, obviously an error.

Notes:

Birth:
Father: Frederick Flanders
Mother: Sarah A. Berry