Individual Details

Joel E. Prouty, one of the founders of Prouty Wire Village, in the town of Spencer, son of Liberty and Emily (Bisco) Prouty, was born in Spencer, July 25, 1830. His grandfather, Eli Prouty, who was a soldier in the Revolution, was one of the early settlers of Spencer. Liberty Prouty, who was a native of this town, lived here throughout his life, acquiring considerable local celebrity as a musician. He started a wire manufactory here, and, after successfully conducting it for a number of years, he died in the fifties. His wife, Emily, was a native of Spencer. Of their children, Jonas R., Joel E., Mary E., and Henry W. are living.
Joel E. Prouty obtained his education in the common schools of Spencer, supplemented by one term at Leicester Academy. In his sixteenth year he left the school-room for his father's wire-mill, where he worked as an employee until he was twenty-one years of age. Then he became a partner in the business, under the firm name of L. & J. E. Prouty. Several years after, his brother, Jonas R. Prouty, was received into the firm. Subsequently the father disposed of his interest, and the firm became J.R. & J. E. Prouty. A successful business was carried on until 1876, when the plant was sold to the Spencer Wire Company. Since that time Joel E. Prouty has been engaged in farming and the raising of graded cattle.
On September 10, 1857, Mr. Prouty was married to Minerva J. Wilson, who was born in Spencer, October 24, 1837. She is a daughter of Horace and Martha (Draper) Wilson. Her father, who was a soldier in the Civil War, died in the service of typhoid fever. Mr. and Mrs. Prouty have lost one son, Joel L. Their living children are: Eddie W., Albert B., and Ida E. Ida is the wife of Frederick D. Woods, of Arlington, Mass. In politics Mr. Prouty is a Republican. He commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he associates, and is always glad to help any worthy cause.

Birth	25 Jul 1830	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Marriage	10 Sep 1857	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Minerva Jane Wilson
Census (family)	16 Jul 1860	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Minerva Jane Wilson
Census (family)	11 Aug 1870	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Minerva Jane Wilson

Spouse	Minerva Jane Wilson (1837 - 1908)
Child	Joel L. Prouty (1857 - 1860)
Child	Edward Warner "Eddy" Prouty (1860 - )
Child	Albert Burnside Prouty (1863 - 1919)
Child	Ida Evelyn Prouty (1865 - )

Father	Liberty Prouty (1799 - 1854)
Mother	Emily Bisco (1804 - 1857)
Sibling	Maria Adaline Prouty (1827 - 1853)
Sibling	Jonas Russell Prouty (1829 - )
Sibling	Augustus Bisco Prouty (1831 - 1899)
Sibling	Mary Eliza Prouty (1835 - 1899)
Sibling	Abigail Lavinia Prouty (1837 - 1841)
Sibling	Henry Waldo Prouty (1840 - 1899)
Sibling	Emily Augusta Prouty (1844 - )

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