Epitaphs from Graveyards in Wellesley, North Natick, and St. Mary’s Churchyard

Epitaphs from Graveyards in Wellesley, North Natick, and St. Mary's Churchyard

About 1860, Charles Curtis Greenwood, a local antiquarian of ability, began to copy the inscriptions in the old graveyard at Needham, and to prepare genealogical notes in reference to each person buried there. He devoted much time and correspondence to this work, and in 1890 began to publish the results of his labors in the Dedham Historical Register. At the time of his death 397 epitaphs had been published and 228 remained in manuscript, most of which were annotated. His widow conscripted George Kuhn Clark to publish the remaining inscriptions along with all of the published inscriptions in a single volume in 1898 called “Needham Epitaths.” Clark, relying on the original transcription of Charles, along with his own new transcription, re-walked all of the cemeteries, enumerating the gravestones once again. Includes genealogical notes of the people interred.

Biographical Sketch of James Elbert Cutler

James Elbert Cutler, born on January 24, 1876, in Princeville, Illinois, was a prominent university professor. He earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado in 1900 and completed his Ph.D. at Yale in 1903. He held various teaching positions, including at Yale and Wellesley College, before becoming a full professor at Western Reserve University. A noted scholar, Cutler authored “Lynch Law,” exploring the history of lynching in the U.S., and actively contributed to numerous academic and civic organizations. He married Carolena D. Sperry in 1903.

Biography of Alexander Montgomery

The Montgomery Company Incorporated, based in Hadley, Massachusetts, is a notable enterprise in the rose-growing industry, led by Alexander Montgomery and his sons, Alexander William and Robert James. The family boasts a rich lineage in farming and gardening, originally hailing from Scotland. Alexander Montgomery immigrated to the U.S. in 1872, managing various horticultural endeavors before establishing the Montgomery Company with his sons in 1910. The firm is renowned for its high-quality cut roses and has earned respect within the floristry community.