288 IIARWOOD. HARWOOD. the best in the State. He is president of the board of trustees of the public library, and a trustee of the VVestborough Savings Bank. In 1873 ne was appointed trustee of the state reform school by Governor Gaston, and re-appointed by Governor Washburn, serving six years ; was elected to the House of Representatives in 1884, and re- elected in 1885, serving on the committee of public charitable institutions, of which committee he was chairman during his second term. During his first year in the Legislature he introduced the free text-book bill, and it was mainly through his persistent efforts, in the face of great opposition, that the bill became a law. He has always taken an active part in politics, both local and state, and is favor- ably known throughout the Commonwealth. He was married in Concord, N. H., in i860, to Abby K., daughter of Eldad and Sarah E. (Fellows) Tenney. They have no children. HARWOOD, JOSEPH ALFRED, sun of Colonel Nahum and Sophia (Kimball) Harwood, was born in Littleton, Middle- sex county, March 26, 1827. He obtained his school training in the public schools of his native place, and in the academies of Westford, Exeter, N. H., and Groton. He began farming and stock-raising on the old homestead at the age of sixteen ; taught district schools, winters, from the age of seventeen to twenty-four. In 1 868 he went into partnership with his brother Nahum, under the firm name of J. A. & N. Harwood, for the manufac- ture of leather board, with factory at Leo- minster, and store in Boston. He follows the same business at present, having added the manufacture of chair-seats and chairs for public halls, etc., under the company title, " Harwood Manufacturing Co." He is still extensively engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising on the old homestead, which has been in his family more than 150 years, and under his management has grown to be one of the finest estates in the Commonwealth. Mr. Harwood was married in Littleton, February 1 1, 1852, to Lucy Maria, daughter of Hon. Jonathan and Elizabeth Briard (Walker) Hartwell. Of this union were two children : Herbert Joseph, who gradu- ated at Harvard College, 1877, and Edward Alfred Harwood, who died in infancy. Mr. Harwood has been a member of the school-board : postmaster of Littleton twenty-one years ; first president Farmers' Club of Littleton ; trustee of Middlesex County Agricultural Society ; was on the staff of Governor Washburn, also of act- ing-Governor Talbot ; senator in the Legislature of 1875 an d '76 ; executive councilor 1877, '78, '79, with Governors Rice and Talbot. He is at present trustee of the Westford Academy, and Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst ; president of the Live Stock Insurance Company, Boston ; and director in the New York Mutual Reserve Fund Insurance Company. He is a mem- ber of the Unitarian Club, the Middlesex Club, and the Home Market Club. JOSEPH A HARWOOD. He was influential in getting the United States cattle quarantine established at Littleton. When in the Senate, it was through his influence and efforts that the state prison was built at Concord. During Colonel Harwood's second term as senator occurred the celebrations of the Lexington and Concord centennials, and he was made chairman of the joint special committee of the Legislature which had the matter in hand, including the enter- tainment of General Grant and his cabinet. General Grant afterwards wrote him an autograph letter expressing his apprecia- tion of the manner in which he and his suite had been received.
