Biography of Moses B. Heywood
From Biographical review. : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts
(Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co., 1899)
MOSES B. HEYWOOD, chairman of the Board of Road Commissioners, Sterling, Mass., was born in Fitzwilliam, N.H., May 6, 1827, son of Rial and Betsey (Palmer) Heywood. Rial Heywood, who was a native of Winchendon, Mass., began industrial life there as a farmer, but subsequently removed to Fitzwilliam. In 1828 he came to Sterling, and purchased a farm three miles from the village, where he resided until his death. He built the house now standing. His wife, Betsey, was born in Sterling, daughter of Joseph Palmer, a successful farmer. Niine children were born to Rial and Betsey Heywood, but only four are now living; namely, Sophia, Moses B., Waldo, and Warren. The mother died at seventy-two years of age. Both parents were attendants of the Unitarian church. The father took an active interest in town affairs.
Moses B. Heywood passed his boyhood on the farm, and attended the sessions of the common school. At twenty he left home and went to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed as a journeyman for a short time, subsequently engaging in business on his own account. He built a number of houses in Lancaster and adjoining towns, and also erected the female college at Elmira, N.Y., which occupied him for three years. He followed carpentry as a contractor for about ten years, then came to Sterling and took up farming in connection with lumbering, which he continued for ten years. Since that time he has followed farming mainly, but also owns a blacksmith shop, which receives part of his attention.
In 1848 Mr. Heywood married Maria R. Nichols, daughter of Samuel H. and Nancy E. (Fletcher) Nichols. Her father was a carpenter. Of his five children, Mrs. Heywood is the only survivor. She is the mother of four children -- Josephine A., Hattie M., Emily G., and Frank F. Josephine A. Heywood married Walter A. Atwood, a broker in Fitchburg, Mass., and has one child, Harry H. Atwood. Hattie M. Heywood married George T. Gale, a merchant in Harvard, Mass., and has one child, Frank H. Gale. Emily G. Heywood married Arthur H. Turner, a farmer in Harvard, Mass., and has one son, Earle. Frank F. Heywood is a dyer in Fitchburg, Mass.
Mr. Heywood is independent in politics. In 1872 he was elected to the Board of Selectmen, and served four years, during three of which he was chairman. He has served two years as chairman of the Board of Assessors, was Overseer of the Poor 1872-76, chairman of the board, and in 1875-76 a member of the Massachusetts legislature. His record as a Road Commissioner covers a period of twenty years of faithful service. From 1877 to 1882 and from 1892 to 1897 he was chairman of the board. He is a member of the Farmers' Club which he has served as president and trustee; a member of the Worcester County Agricultural Fair; a member of Trinity Lodge, F. & A. M.; and of the Masonic Relief Association.