MAWORCES-L Archives

From: (Marcia Payne)
Subject: [MAWORCES] Louis C. Thurston biography
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 19:02:02 -0500 (CDT)

"Worcester County" A Narrative History, Volume 3, by John Nelson

page 136


Owner of a well known Worcester insurance agency, Louis C. Thurston
has devoted almost all his active career to insurance work, and is well
qualified by experience and record to represent the many large companies
with which he is associated.
Mr. Thurston was born in Worcester on Nov. 1, 1874, a son of Fred J.
and Carrie W. (MacFarland) Thurston. His father, was also born in
Worcester on June 22, 1849, and died March 4, 1924. He was the son of
Daniel C. and Lois K. (Taft) Thurston, and in early life was occupied
successively as a machinist and hotel operator. In April 1889, however,
he entered the employ of the Farrar and Gates Real Estate and Fire
Insurance and was connected with this enterprise until October 1910,
when, with his son Louis C. Thurston, he purchased the agency from
Charles L. Gates who was then its sole owner.
Fred J. Thurston married on Sept. 12, 1872 to Carrie Ward, daughter
of Hosea and Sophia (Lackey) MacFarland. They became the parents of the
following children: #1 Louis C. #2 Robert J. #3 Carrie L. #4 Alice M. #5
Fred C. #6 Charles H.
Louis C. Thurston received his education in Worcester schools, and
following his graduation from the English High School in 1892 entered
the employ of the Whittall Carpet Mills. For 4 years he worked in the
designing room of that company, after which he removed to Hartford,
Conn., where he became associated with the Hartford Fire Insurance
Company as a clerk.
Gradually he advanced through various positions in several
departments of the company, learning all the details of insurance
operations. In this way he acquired the broad background of experience
and knowledge which has proved of such value to him as an insurance
underwriter.
In October 1910 Mr. Thurston joined with his father in purchasing
the Charles L. Gates Insurance Agency at Worcester and the firm of
Thurston & Thurston, insurance underwriters, was established. Since the
death of his father in 1924, Mr. Thurston has operated the agency alone.
He handles all classes of insurance, representing many of the
outstanding companies of the world, and is a well known figure in
insurance circles of the county.
Apart from his business connections, Mr. Thurston is a member of the
Commonwealth Club, the Worcester County Mechanics Assoc., and was
formerly a member of the Kiwanis Club. He is a Republican and in
religious faith a comunicant of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church.
On October 24, 1899, Louis C. Thurston married Jessie H. Young, born
in Worcester, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Stewart) Young. They have
4 children: Stuart, Judson, Barbara, Ann.

THE END

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• [MAWORCES] Louis C. Thurston biography by (Marcia Payne)