USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 3 > Part 23
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This was the problem which Mr. Read faced and at a time when business was in the doldrums and mill shares generally were in very poor demand. It was necessary to sell more than a million dollars of preferred stock to furnish working capital for the re-organized corporation and it was necessary also to revamp the entire organization, to put it on an efficient basis, a tremendous task in itself. Mr. Read surmounted every obstacle and had the plant on a money-making basis at the time of his death.
Commenting on the Parker and Hargraves sit- uation in its financial review of Fall River cotton mills for the year 1922, Sanford & Kelly said:
To have two corporations of this size drop by the wayside and be scrapped, or have gone to outside interests for a song, would have been no small-sized calamity. In our opinion, this very nearly happened and would have happened bad it not been for the remarkable energy and persistence of Mr. Read in working out a tremendous number of intricate problems with the help of comparatively few business associates and bankers. It must be a great comfort to Mr. Read to look back on the past year and see what he has done for his fellow-citizens and the employment he has given, probably permanently, to so many textile operatives. Besides working out the business details, the volume of which cannot be realized by any but those who hove started up a plant of that size which has stood idle over a long period of time, Mr. Read had the financing of the proposition almost entirely on his own shoulders as well.
Mr. Read himself, speaking of the re-organization and the progress that had been made up to the latter part of 1922, said, with characteristic modesty: "I had some very good friends in the banking world, in the cotton goods market and among practical mill men. They have stood back of me as only real friends could, and, they, rather than I, have been responsible for what has been accom- plished. We are trying, of course, to prove worthy of this confidence, we have got to prove worthy of it, and we will." Mr. Read was also president
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of Allen, Slade Company, Inc., a director of the Metacomet National Bank; treasurer of the Kil- bourne-Lincoln Manufacturing Company; and a trustee of the B. M. C. Durfee Textile School of Fall River. He was a Republican in politics, and while keenly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen, never accepted political office. Hc attended the Central Congregational Church; and was a mem- ber of the New York Yacht Club, the Fall River Yacht Club, the Rhode Island Country Club, Fall River Country Club, the Quequechan Club of Fall River, and the Acoaxet Club.
Benjamin B. (2) Read married, on October 24, 1900, at Fall River, Clara Slade Cameron, born at Fall River, daughter of James H. and Susie L. M. (Slade) Cameron, and granddaughter of George W. Slade of Allen, Slade & Company, wholesale grocers of Fall River. To Mr. and Mrs. Read was born a son, George Slade Read, on July 25, 1910. Although deeply engrossed in business, Mr. Read was above all a devoted husband and father to whom his home meant everything. His town house was on Highland avenue and the family summer home at Westport Harbor, Massachusetts.
CHARLES CORNELIUS CAIN, JR .- In news- paper circles in New England, Charles Cornelius Cain, Jr., is known as editor of the Attleboro "Daily Sun" and vice-president of the corporation publish- ing this paper. Mr. Cain is a man of a most pro- gressive spirit, and has given to the advance of local affairs and interests the impetus of a highly organized temperament, applied in a constructive manner to the questions of the day in the daily publication of a thoroughly worthy and progressive newspaper.
Charles Cornelius Cain, Jr., was born at Med- ford, Massachusetts, June 9, 1887. The family re- moving to the city of Taunton during his childhood, he attended the public schools of that city and was graduated from the Taunton High School in the class of 1904. Always interested in the daily conduct of affairs of the city, State and Nation, and gifted with the ability to put on paper in a con- vincing and logical form his views and observances of life, Mr. Cain early chose journalism as his field of professional endeavor and became affiliated with some of the leading newspapers of Bristol county, as a reporter. Later purchasing an interest in the "Daily Sun" of Attleboro, he became vice-president of the corporation and is now editor of the paper. Mr. Cain's attitude toward all progress is reflected in his editorial writings and he wields a strong in- fluence that contributes to the daily progress and prosperity of the city of Attleboro and this vicinity. Mr. Cain has done much in a practical as well as an editorial way for the many movements and public enterprises of Bristol county, which have for their object the welfare of the people or the advance- ment of any cause. His editorial handling of the affairs of the commonwealth and the nation are in a marked degree closely parallel with those prin- ciples of patriotism and righteousness which have
made this country preeminent among the nations of the earth. His words are always constructive, his criticisms of wrong and injustice scathing and directed with the keen precision of the man who knows his premises and is fearless in his advocacy of right and justice.
Still a resident of Taunton, Mr. Cain served for five years as chairman and is still a trustee of the Taunton State Hospital, and is also a trustee of the Taunton Public Library. He is now serving the eighth year in the Taunton Municipal Council and the fourth term as president of this body. His public activities have not been limited to local af- fairs, but in the years 1919-1921, inclusive, he served as aide on the military staff of Governor Coolidge, of Massachusetts. Mr. Cain is a member of Taun- ton Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is past exalted ruler; a member of Taunton Council, Knights of Columbus; and of the Boston Press Club. His religious affiliation is with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, and he is past president of the Holy Name Society of that church. He is well and favorably known as a public speaker.
Mr. Cain married, on April 20, 1910, at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Anna Louise Linnane, daugh- ter of P. C. and Anna (Finnan) Linnane, and they are the parents of four children: A. Louise; Mary; Charles Tertius; and Gertrude.
HON. ROLLIN H. BABBITT-A venerable and distinguished figure in agricultural circles in Berk- ley, Massachusetts, also in civic and religious ad- vance, the Hon. Rollin H. Babbitt is now in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and is still active in these various branches of human endeavor. Mr Babbitt is a son of Adoniram Babbitt, who died about 1890, and was by occupation a shipwright of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The mother, Em- meline (French) Babbitt, died two years previ- ously. She was born in Barnard, Vermont, but became a resident of Berkley, Massachusetts, after her marriage in 1834.
Rollin H. Babbitt was born in Berkley, Massa- chusetts, May 30, 1840. His education was begun in the public schools of his birthplace and he later spent one year and a half at Dighton Academy. Following the completion of his education, Mr. Babbitt entered the employ of the Washburn Hard- ware Company, of Taunton, Massachusetts, but he was active in that connection for only a compara- tively short time when hostilities broke out be- tween the North and South. Mr. Babbitt at once enlisted in Company D, 7th Regiment, Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served during the greater part of the war period. He was, however, wounded in the right arm and the right rib, which brought about his discharge about a year prior to the close of the war. He received his discharge with the rank of sergeant, and upon his return to his native State he became interested in farming. In 1873 Mr. Babbitt bought the fine farm upon which he has now resided for a full half-century.
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This consists of about thirty acres of cleared land, all rich, mellow soil. which can easily be worked with the plow, and about twenty acres of wood- land. Mr. Babbitt has conducted extensive farming operations on this property ever since taking it over and has won a reputation for being one of the most successful and progressive farmers in Bristol county. He has shared his prosperity, and the energy which has accomplished it, with the community in many ways and has served in public office repeatedly. For many years he has been active as a member. of the Board of Selectmen and has also been active in the office of assessor. The father of five children, he has taken a deep interest in educational advance and for many years served as a member of the local school board. Interested also in general culture, he has served as a trustee of the public library and has done much for the prosperity and growth of that institution. The people of the community gave him the honor of electing him as their representative to the Massa- chusetts State Legislature in the year 1888 and 1889. He has long been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is one of the few re- maining figures who still represent that phase in the history of this country. He is also a member of the Taunton Historical Society. In early life Mr. Babbitt identified himself with religious ad- vance and for forty-two years has been deacon of the Congregational church of Berkley, also, for a full quarter of a century, has been treasurer of this church.
Mr. Babbitt married, on November 25, 1870, in North Troy, Vermont, Floret A. Bailey, daughter of Charles F. Bailey, the first commissioned officer in the Vermont troops killed in the Civil War. The mother, Sarah Dillingham (Dean) Bailey, died in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Babbitt are the parents of the following children: Emmeline A., born in Sep- tember, 1871; Rollin H., Jr., born in April, 1874; Charles, born in January, 1876; Miriam, born in March, 1879; and Floret A., born in May, 1887.
THOMAS DURFEE HARGRAVES-One of the foremost names in the younger group of business executives of Fall River, Massachusetts, Thomas Durfee Hargraves, cotton and cotton cloth broker of that city, has been interested in the cotton tex- tile industry from the viewpoint of the broker, from the time of his entering commercial life. Mr. Har- graves has a wealth of experience behind him, and his present activities count for marked advance in the industry for which he acts as a link in the chain of distribution.
The Hargraves family is one of distinction in Bristol county, where the name has been one of prominence in industrial life for generations. Cor- nelius Hargraves, great-grandfather of Thomas D. Hargraves, of this review, was the founder of the Hargraves Soap Works, one of the old industries of Bristol county, now out of business. Cornelius Hargraves began manufacturing soap and glue substitutes in 1841, and in 1861 the Hargraves
Manufacturing Company was organized to conduct the business, the company consisting of Cornelius Hargraves and his sons, Reuben and Thomas. About two years later, Cornelius Hargraves sold his in- terest to James S. Anthony, who continued the business four years, and then sold his interest to Reuben and Thomas Hargraves. Cornelius Har- graves was also a director in the Barnard Manu- facturing Company, formed in 1873. Reuben and Thomas Hargraves were succeeded by sons of Reuben; John W. and Stephen D., the latter the father of Thomas Durfee Hargraves. The land for the Hargraves Mill, incorporated in 1888, was bought from Reuben and Thomas Hargraves, Reuben being president of the mill. Reuben and Thomas Hargraves were directors of the Cornell Mills when formed, and John W. Hargraves, 'son of Reuben, was the mill's first treasurer.
Stephen Durfee Hargraves was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1856, son of Reuben Har- graves. Stephen D. Hargraves was a man of broad interests, a supporter of all good causes, all able executive, and in every relation of life thor- oughly representative of a high type of American citizenship. He died in 1918, his passing re- moving from the city of Fall River a man who will long be remembered by all whose privilege it was to know him. He married Margaret Gertrude Smith, who was born in Fall River, and died in 1913.
Thomas Durfee Hargraves, son of Stephen Dur- fee and Margaret Gertrude (Smith) Hargraves, was born at Fall River, Massachusetts, August 25, 1891. His education was begun in the public schools, and after three years of work in the B. M. C. Durfee High School, he pursued a two years' course at commercial school. He then be- came associated with Edward Borden, a leading cot- ton cloth broker, with whom he continued for a period of five years. In 1914 Mr. Hargraves became a cotton salesman for the firm of Ingersoll, Amory & Company (now Clark, Payson & Company) of Boston, and in 1916 he became associated with the cotton firm of Eugen C. Andres Company, of Bos- ton, as their Fall River representative, and in this connection he continued until the activities of the World War called him. When United States par- ticipation in the World War became a fact, Mr. Hargraves was admitted to the Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg, New York, in May, 1917, and in August, 1917, enlisted in the regular army, and was assigned to the 304th Regiment of Infantry on September 1st at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. He was transferred to the Officers' Training School at Camp Lee, Virginia, where he was commissioned second lieutenant, and attached to the 12th Di- vision, 35th Machine Gun Battalion, stationed at Camp Devens. Much to his disappointment, Lieu- tenant Hargraves was not sent overseas, but was retained at Camp Devens as an instructor until he was mustered out of the service in January, 1919. Upon his return to civilian life, he formed a part- nership with L. Lincoln, Jr., under the firm name,
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Lincoln & Hargraves, dealers in cotton and cotton cloth, a partnership which was dissolved in 1923. A Republican in politics, Mr. Hargraves has taken no active part in public affairs, but lends his influence and aid to all worthy effort. He is a member of the American Legion, the Quequechan Club, the Fall River Country Club, and the Reservation Coun- try Club of Mattapoisett, his recreations, those of the out-of-doors.
Thomas Durfee Hargraves married, at Albany, New York, on August 27, 1918, Ella May Snow, who was born in Fall River, and is a daughter of Everett M. and Ida Snow, her father born in East Freetown, Massachusetts, as was her mother.
WILLIAM DURFEE-A man of large property interests, including the Hotel Mohican, of Fall River, and connected with many business enterprises of his city, William Durfee adds another of the name of Durfee to the long list of men of that ancient and honorable family who in Fall River and else- where have become prominent in business, profes- sional or public life.
The Durfee family in New England was one of the earliest in Southern Rhode Island, and while no intimate relationship has been established be- tween Thomas Durfee, the founder, and the Dur- fees of England, it seems likely that originally the family name was d'Urfe. A French Huguenot of that name fled from France to England prior to 1628, bringing with him a son. Thomas Durfee, the first of that name in New England of whom any record has been found, came to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, prior to 1664, as in October of that year he appeared at a session of the General Assembly. He was made a freeman of the town of Portsmouth, May 6, 1678, and held several offices, including that of deputy. For seven years after 1698 he and John Borden were engaged as managers on the Rhode Island side of the Bristol ferry. The name of his first wife, the mother of his sons, is unknown. He died in July, 1712, leaving five sons, including William, a name that has persisted in the family ever since, William Durfee, of this review, being a son, grandson and great-grandson of a William Durfee, and himself having a son William, who is the fifth William Durfee in direct line.
William Durfee, of this review, is a son of Will- iam and Caroline (Manchester) Durfee, who was well known in Fall River, the elder Mr. Durfee as the pioneer in the ice business, a line of activity in which he continued until his death on October 28, 1900. He married Caroline Manchester, who died January 22, 1901, surviving her husband but little over a year. That William Durfee was a son of Captain William Durfee, a sea captain, who was a mariner all his life, and finally sailed on a voy- age from which he never returned, being lost at sea. He was a man of strong character, and stood very high in the regard of the men "who went down to the sea in ships," or who had money in- vested in marine channels of business or trade. Captain William Durfee bought the lot at the cor-
ner of Main and Center streets, on which the Mo- hican Drug Store now stands, for $200, and to that added adjoining property, as did his son William, so at this time (1923) his grandson, Will- iam Durfee, owns, from the corner, 150 feet on Main street and 235 feet front on Central street (or avenue). After the death of Captain William Durfee, his son William was taken into the home of his grandfather, also William Durfee, a descend- ant of the founder, Thomas Durfee, of former men- tion, the family coming to Fall River from Rhode Island.
William Durfee, of this review, only son of William and Caroline (Manchester) Durfee, was born at Fall River, Massachusetts, July 3, 1868. He attended Fall River schools until leaving to become his father's assistant in the ice business, and so continued until the latter's death in 1900, when he became the actual owner of the business of which he had long been the virtual head. He sold the ice business that same year, and has since devoted himself entirely to the management of the real estate pertaining to the family estate. Upon the death of his mother, Mrs. Caroline (Manchester) Durfee, in 1901, William Durfee became possessor of the estate, and in 1912 he began the conversion of the property, located at the corner of Main and Central streets, into a hotel property. Out of this has grown the present Hotel Mohican, to which a large modern addition has been made the present year (1923). This addition, with the modern fea- tures, running ice water, hot and cold water, baths, vapor heating, and all innovations, will be ample for a time, but Mr. Durfee is planning another large addition to be erected in the near future.
The Hotel Mohican, under its present enlightened management, is by far the leading commercial house in Southeastern Massachusetts, and during the busy season, cannot meet the demands travelers make upon it, hence the large addition just completed, and another to follow. Mr. Durfee is also the owner of the Rialto Theatre, which is a part of the hotel property and a very popular playhouse. He has also installed on the property fine bowling alleys and fitted up a billiard parlor. With the completion of the addition, the hotel now has 250 guest rooms, with 150 baths, and clean and whole- some condition of every part and department being remarkable.
In spite of his business interests, Mr. Durfee takes lots of "time out" for recreation and sport. He is fond of hunting and fishing; is an expert trap shooter; holds membership in the Providence Gun Club, the American Indians; and is a well known sportsman. His clubs and societies are the Que- quechan Club of Fall River; King Philip Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Republican.
William Durfee married, in 1888, Bertha Elizabeth Monarch, of Rhode Island, daughter of John and Amy (Johnson) Monarch, of Rhode Island, her father born in Scotland, her mother, in New Eng- land. Mrs. Durfee was born in Canton, Massa-
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Graph W . French
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BIOGRAPHICAL
chusetts. To William and Bertha E. (Monarch) Durfee were born four children: 1. William, born at Fall River, in December, 1893, now manager of the business of the Clean Heat Oil Heating Com- pany, in Fall River. He married Florence Pitcher, and has two daughters, Florence and Bertha. 2. Charles H., born at Fall River, in 1894, manager of service for the Efficiency Trucking Corporation, of New York. 3. Frederick, born at Fall River in 1898, now manager of the Hotel Mohican. 4. Ber- tha A., now a student at Chamberlain Girls' School, in Boston.
JUDGE CHARLES CROCKER HAGERTY- A broadly noteworthy figure in legal circles in the State of Massachusetts is Judge Charles Crocker Hagerty, who for the past four years and more has served as justice of the Fourth District Court of Bristol county, Massachusetts. His long career at the bar, added to his natural ability as advocate and counselor, well fits him for the responsibilities of a judicial position. Judge Hagerty is a man of great breadth of spirit, profoundly familiar with the law, and keenly cognizant of the great responsi- bility which rests upon him as an administrator of justice. He is a son of Andrew and Emily H. (Lovell) Hagerty, his father a machinist by occu- pation, both parents now deceased.
Charles Crocker Hagerty was born at Mansfield, Massachusetts, June 30, 1864. His education was begun in the local public school, and following his course at the Mansfield High School, he entered Comer's Commercial College, at Boston, then took up the study of law in the offices of Bennett & Hall, in Taunton, Massachusetts, and was admitted to the bar of his native State in 1900 as an at- torney. After several years of activity in book- keeping and clerical work previous to studying law, Mr. Hagerty was active in practice in partner- ship with Judge Frederick S. Hall in Taunton, under the firm name of Hall & Hagerty. This partnership endured until May, 1919, when Judge Hagerty was appointed justice of the Fourth Dis- trict Court of Bristol county to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Fred B. Byran. His record thus far on the bench has been one of honor and distinction, and Judge Hagerty is con- sidered one of the outstanding figures in the profes- sion in Bristol county. He is affiliated with the First National Bank of Mansfield, and is a director and for a number of years has been active in local public affairs, having filled the office of town clerk and treasurer of the town of Mansfield for five years prior to his admission ot the bar. He has been a member of Mansfield Board of Trade since its organization, and bears a constructive part in all local advance. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Judge Hagerty married, on September 1, 1900, at Mansfield, Massachusetts, Alma M. Sawyer, daughter of Josiah and Phoebe Sawyer.
RALPH W. FRENCH, M. D., as a member of the surgical staff of the Truesdale Hospital, of Fall
River, holds a leading position among the surgeons of Bristol county. A native of this city and trained for the profession in one of the foremost institu- tions of America, Dr. French has given to his work not only the skill acquired by training and experience, but the love of his profession and the keen interest in it which counts for so much in the healing art. Dr. French is a son of Enoch J. French, who was born in Fall River, and is a noteworthy figure in the cotton textile industry in Massachusetts, and treasurer of the Weetamoe Mills, of Fall River. His mother, Ella (Winward) French, is also a native of Fall River.
Ralph W. French was born in Fall River, Massa- chusetts, October 4, 1883. First attending the public schools of his native city, he was graduated from the B. M. C. Durfee High School in the class of 1902. He spent the next year at the Stone School in Boston, and then entered upon the course in the liberal arts at Harvard University, with the class of 1907. He was a member of the Phoenix, Institute of 1770, and Hasty Pudding Clubs in college. Completing the four years' course in three years, he took up his professional work in the fall of 1906, when he entered Harvard University Med- ical School, from which he was graduated in 1910 as a cum laude man, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. French then served as an interne at the Massachusetts General Hospital during 1910 and 1911. In 1912 he located in Fall River as a surgeon on the staff of The Truesdale Hospital, and has now for twelve years ably filled this position. His marked success has contributed much to the prosperity and standing of the institution and has placed him among the leading surgeons of New England. Dr. French is a member of the Ameri- can Medical Association, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the New England Surgical Society, and the Massachusetts and Fall River Medical Societies. By political affiliation he is a Republican, and he attends the Baptist church. His residence is at No. 222 Belmont street, Fall River.
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