“Josiah Holbrook Ware, son of Dea. Joseph and Esther (Holbrook) Ware, was born, Aug. 17, 1797, in West Medway, Mass.  When quite young he learned the cabinet maker’s trade with Calvin Plimpton, in West Medway, and was one of the finest of workmen.  Soon after learning his trade he went to New Orleans, La., and worked for a number of years finishing off the interior of steamboats.  Then, making an extended tour through the States and Canada, he returned to Boston and entered the employ of William Marcelus Goodrich, proprietor of the first church-organ manufactory in the United States.  Being an expert worker in wood, he was enabled, under the instruction of Mr. Goodrich, to perfect himself in the art of organ-building, and, unassisted, could complete an organ, from the nicest carvings of the case to the most intricate parts of the internal mechanism of the wind-chest and pipes.

He married May 17, 1827, Huldah Gazetty Hale, of Boston, a sister of Mrs. Goodrich.

Very flattering inducements were offered Mr. Ware to associate himself in business with Mr. Goodrich, but being drawn by early associations of his native town, in 1831 he removed to East Medway and began the manufacture of church organs.  In 1837 he formed a partnership with his cousin, George H. Holbrook, and continued in business with him until the spring of 1854, when the firm was dissolved.  Mr. Ware, assisted his son, William G. Ware, continued the manufacture of church organs for a few years,  when he retied from the business.

He died May 16, 1883, aged eighty-five years and nine months.”

Source:  The History of Medway 1713-1885, by Ephriam Orcutt Jameson and George James LaCroix, Published by the Town, 1886, page 2