USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 3 > Part 24
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CHARLES PERRY DAVIS-The amount of milk consumed in Fall River is estimated to total about 40,000 quarts daily, and of this amount the Fall River Dairy Company, Charles P. Davis, presi- dent and general manager, supplies about 10,000 quarts, all of which is brought in by trucks from nearby sanitary dairies. Mr. Davis has been en- gaged in the milk business since the age of thir- teen, when he drove a milk wagon for his father, serving customers in Fall River. He started in business for himself in Fall River in 1896, and there has been continuously in the milk business as a dealer. That business is inherent in the Davis family, they having been sellers of milk in Fall River, Bristol county, for one hundred years, Charles P. Davis being of the fourth generation to so en- gage. He is the second born of the eight chil- dren of Jonathan and Hannah M. (Macomber) Davis, his father a dairyman and farmer, born in Westport, Massachusetts, in 1852, dying in 1917.
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his mother born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, yet living, 1924.
Charles P. Davis was born in North Westport, Massachusetts, August 9, 1873, and there attended public school. At the age of thirteen he began peddling milk in Fall River, at which time the family removed to Swansea, Massachusetts, where he continued the same line of business until the present time (1924). In 1902 he took his brother, Jonathan Davis, Jr., into partnership in the milk business as Davis Brothers. Five years later Davis Brothers consolidated with Walter E. Peckham and continued as the Peckham, Davis Company, milk dealers. Later that combination was dissolved and Charles P. Davis engaged in the milk business alone, continuing until 1919, when he was the leader in organizing the Fall River Dairy Com- pany, Incorporated, Charles P. Davis, president and general manager. A plant was erected at No. 840 Bedford street and there a very large and pros- perous business is conducted in all forms of dairy products. The company does its own pasteurizing, and has won public confidence through their strict adherence to all sanitary precautions and modern methods of safeguarding the purity of the milk they handle. Mr. Davis is a man of great energy and an untiring worker, his efforts being ably sec- onded by William Whitaker, treasurer; G. A. E. Gray, secretary; Jonathan Davis, Jr., Joe Dozois, J. R. Tickle, J. F. Banville, and E. Oulette, all di- rectors, all these being actively engaged in the business, as well as stockholders and officials of the company. Mr. Davis is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist Temple congregation. For a number of years he has been a member of the Milk Dealers' Association, is a member of Fall River Chamber of Commerce, and interested in all that pertains to the welfare of his city.
Mr. Davis married Mary E. Mason, born at Fall River, daughter of William and Maria Mason, her parents born in Swansea, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of two children; Wendell V. M., born October 2, 1903, now a stu- dent at New Hampshire University, class of 1926; and Barbara, born December 22, 1907, now a stu- dent at B. M. C. Durfee High School. The family home is at No. 44 Cottage street, Fall River.
WILFRED ELLSWORTH ROUNSEVILLE, B. S., M. D .- For the past twelve years Dr. Rounse- ville has been a leading medical practitioner of At- tleboro, Massachusetts, and with his excellent preparation for his profession and the natural ability which led him to choose the field of medicine for his career, he has won a high position in local pro- fessional circles, and is esteemed alike among his colleagues of the medical profession and the people generally. Dr. Rounseville is a native of Attle- boro, and a son of William A. and Caroline (Free- man) Rounseville, both natives of Attleboro, the father for many years active in the manufacture of jewelry. The mother died in February, 1917.
Wilfred Ellsworth Rounseville was born at Attle-
boro, Massachusetts, August 17, 1882. His educa- tion was begun in the local public schools, and following his graduation from high school, which occurred in the class of 1901, he entered Amherst College and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1905 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Then entering upon his professional preparations at Harvard University Medical School, he received his medical degree in the class of 1909. Dr. Rounseville then became an interne at the Hart- ford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, and 'served in that capacity for two years, after which he re- turned to Attleboro and entered upon the private practice of medicine. He has gone forward with constantly increasing success, winning high rank among the professional men of the day in this city, and is highly esteemed both as a physician and as a leading citizen of Attleboro. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Massa- chusetts Medical Society, is secretary of the staff of the Attleboro City Hospital, and also serves as city physician. His fraternal affiliations include membership in Ezekiel Bates Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; St. John's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Orient Lodge, No. 165, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Attleboro Lodge, No. 1014, Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Knights of Malta; the New England Order of Protection, and Lions Club. He has for a number of years been affiliated with the Young Men's Christian As- sociation as director, and by political faith is a Republican. He attends the Universalist church.
Dr. Rounseville married, May 16, 1911, in Massa- chusetts, Kathleen Robinson, daughter of William E. and Elizabeth (Field) Robinson, her father a druggist by trade in Auburn, Maine. Dr. and Mrs. Rounseville are the parents of four children: Rob- ert F., born in 1912; Ellsworth A., born in 1913; Wilfred V., born in 1918; and David R., born in 1922.
HENRY WILLIAM SHAY, A. M .- The pro- fessional career of Henry W. Shay, which began with his admission to the Massachusetts bar in 1916, has been continued during the seven years which have since intervened in the city of Fall River, where as a member of the law firm of Higgins & Shay he has compiled a record of cred- itable achievement. He is a veteran of the war with Germany, 1917-18, and bears the marks of injuries received during his term of service. His father served Fall River as a captain of the fire department, and his grandfather as a member of the police department until his death. The name is an honored one, and was brought from the Em- erald Isle in this branch by Patrick Shay, grand- father of Henry W. Shay of this review.
Patrick Shay, born in Ireland, came to the United States during the "forties" and settled at Fall River, Massachusetts. He was the first police- man appointed under the new city charter in 1857, and served under that appointment until his death.
William Francis Shay, son of Patrick Shay, the
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"founder," became a fireman of Fall River, attain- ing the rank of captain. He served the city for more than twenty-five years, and in 1921 was placed upon the retired list. He married Bridget Mc- Tighe, born in Worcester, died in Springfield, Massachusetts, and they were the parents of two children; Henry W., of further mention, and C. Edward, of Boston, Massachusetts, manager for the John C. Moore Corporation.
Henry William Shay, son of William Francis and Bridget (McTighe) Shay, was born in Spring- field, Massachusetts, February 3, 1887. He was brought to Fall River in childhood by his parents, and there attended the public schools, finishing with graduation from B. M. C. Durfee High School, class of 1905. He then entered Brown University, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Arts, class of 1909. He prepared for a professional career at Harvard Law School, attending that institution for two years. From 1911 until 1914 he was with the J. Reid Whipple Company, of Boston, hotel pro- prietors, and was connected with them in the White Mountains up to the fall of 1914.
He then attended the Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia, enter- ing on a Knights of Columbus scholarship, and pursued a course in constitutional law, receiving his master's degree in 1915. He also studied for the degree of Master of Philosophy, but before fin- ishing that course he passed an examination in Massachusetts, and on January 15, 1916, was ad- mitted to the bar of his native State. He left the University in March, 1916, and returned to Fall River, where he began the practice of law in the offices of ex-Mayor Thomas Higgins, with whom he remained until 1922, when he was admitted to a partnership under the firm name of Higgins & Shay. This association still continues (October, 1923), the partners standing high at the Bristol bar.
Mr. Shay is a member of the Fall River Bar As- sociation, the Sons of Brown University, the Ameri- can Legion, (past-commander), the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Kiwanis Club, The Most Holy Name Roman Catholic Church, and in politics is a Demo- crat. He has taken an active interest in the Ameri- can Legion, and at the National convention of the Legion held in Kansas City he represented Massa- chusetts, on the National Legislative Committee.
On May 1, 1918, Mr. Shay entered the United States Army at Fort Slocum, New York, was as- signed to the Ordnance Corps, and sent to Camp Hancock, Georgia, for training at the Ordnance Supply School. He completed the course, July 27, 1918, and was transferred to the Ordnance Detach- ment of the Officers Training School at Camp Lee, Virginia. From October 18, 1918, until March 5, 1919, he was confined to his bed in the base hos- pital by wounds received in an accidental explosion of giant powder during experimental work, two soldiers being killed at the same time he was in- jured. On March 5, 1919, he was discharged from
the hospital, and the same day received his hon- orable discharge from the army.
ALBERT BAILEY DRAKE, who is a repre- sentative of the sixth generation of the Drake family in America, and whose ancestors prior to the American emigrants were members of a promi- nent English family of great antiquity, was born in Bristol county, Massachusetts, in the year 1859, and since that time has been actively identified with Bristol county progress and advance. As a civil engineer he has behind him a worthy record of vast experience and great achievements. As a citi- zen his public, civic and county works are irre- fragable proofs of his sincerity, ability and innate patriotism.
William Drake, Esq., of Yardbury, Colyton, Eng- land, the first of the line herein followed, was buried in Temple Church, London, and his will, under the date of November 2, 1636, is still in ex- istence. His wife, Margaret (Westover) Drake, was the daughter and heiress of William Westover, of Colyton. She was married to William Drake, November 14, 1620, and was buried at Colyton, England, on April 16, 1653 (?).
(1) Thomas Drake, the earliest American an- cestor of Albert B. Drake, was born in Colyton, Devonshire, England, September 13, 1635. After the death of his father and mother, he followed his relative, John Drake, of Taunton, Massachusetts, and Windsor, Connecticut, to America about 1653- 54. His sisters, Joane and Elizabeth, came with him. Joane Drake later was married to Thomas Randall, son of Robert Randall, of Weymouth; Elizabeth married Ezekiel Hamlin, of Boston, in the year 1654. Thomas Drake settled at Wey- mouth, Massachusetts, his name first appearing on the records of that town in a list of property own- ers in 1663. His name often appears on the land deeds and war records of that town, and shows that he took an active part in public affairs as well as in King Philips War. On June 24, 1676, he is listed as being a member of the garrison at Punckapouge, where he saw at least two months' service. His death occurred in Weymouth in the year 1691. He married (first) Jane Holbrook, daughter of Thomas and Jane Holbrook, of Wey- mouth. He married (second), March 9, 1691, Widow Millicent Carver, daughter of William Ford. Thomas Drake's children were: 1. Thomas, born about 1657. 2. John, born March 12, 1659. 3. William, born May 30, 1661. 4. Joseph, born October 28, 1663. 5. Amy, born February 3, 1666. 6. Elizabeth, born in Weymouth in 1670. 7. Benjamin, of whom fur- ther. 8. Experience, born in Weymouth in the year 1683.
(II) Benjamin Drake, seventh child of Thomas and Jane (Holbrook) Drake, was born in Wey- mouth, Massachusetts, January 15, 1677, in which town he died about the year 1759. In 1700 he bought in Taunton North Purchase fifty acres of land and a dwelling-house on what is now known as the Cynthia Drake road or Church street. In
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1719 he acquired fifty of the one hundred acres of land in Middleboro called "Twelve Men's Pur- chase," and on December 19 of the same year he purchased a large estate from his oldest brother Thomas. At the first town meeting held in Eas- ton (March 2, 1725-26) he was chosen first select- man, and was re-elected to this office seven suc- cessive times. In the year 1731 he held the office of town treasurer. Benjamin Drake was married in Weymouth, Massachusetts, to Sarah Pool, daugh- ter of Samuel Pool, of Weymouth. Sarah (Pool) Drake was born about the year 1678, and died in Easton, December 24, 1775. Benjamin and Sarah (Pool) Drake were the parents of nine children, as follows: 1. Benjamin, born December 1, 1700. 2. Sarah, born October 20, 1703. 3. Joseph, born April 1, 1706. 4. Thomas, born in March, 1709. 5. John, born December 13, 1711. 6. William, born in January, 1715. 7. Richard, born in March, 1717. 8. Elizabeth, born December 21, 1719. 9. Robert, of whom further.
(III) Robert Drake, ninth and last child of Benjamin and Sarah (Pool) Drake, was born in November, 1723, and died February 2, 1797. He resided in Easton. He was a member of the First Militia Company of Easton (April 7, 1757). During the Revolutionary War he served in Rhode Island as a corporal in Captain Randall's company, Col- onel George Williams' regiment. Later he was in the same company under the command of Colonel John Daggett. He married (first), April 15, 1746, Mary Fobes, born June 2, 1726, died April 12, 1774, a daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Hunt) Fobes. There were eight children by this marriage. He married (second), November 13, 1781, Widow Sus- annah (Chubbuck) Thorn, of Wareham, who was born in the year 1746, and who died October 9, 1828, at the age of eighty-two. There were six children by this second marriage. The fourteen children of Robert Drake were as follows: 1. Mar- tha, born February 22, 1747. 2. Mary, born June 18, 1749. 3. Robert, born April 27, 1752. 4. Susanna, born September 15, 1754. 5. Noah, born January 23, 1757. 6. Lot, born April 20, 1761. 7. Sylvia, born June 30, 1771. 8. Bethuel, born September 5, 1773. 9. Willard, born August 18, 1783. 10. Sally. 11. Jonathan, of whom further. 12. Ambrose, born October 8, 1788. 13. Linus, born in September, 1791. 14. Charles Chauncey.
(IV) Jonathan Drake, eleventh child of Robert Drake and third child of Susannah (Chubbuck- Thorn) Drake, was born in December, 1787, and died June 23, 1867. He enlisted on August 10, 1814, from Easton, in Captain Noah Reed's com- pany of Bristol county, Fourth Regiment, Second Brigade, Fifth Division, under Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Lincoln, and served at New Bedford in the Coast Guard Service. He married, December 25, 1814, Hannah Pratt, born October 27, 1789, died January 18, 1883, aged ninety-three years, a daughter of Enoch and Salome (Packard) Pratt. The children of Jonathan and Hannah (Pratt) Drake are as follows: 1. Hannah, born February
18, 1816. 2. Susannah, born September 11, 1818. 3. Salome, born July 17, 1819. 4. Sally, born Janu- ary 16, 1821. 5. Abigail, born September 29, 1882. 6. Mary, born May 30, 1824. 7. Elizabeth Fuller, born October 15, 1825. 8. Jonathan Edwards, of whom further. 9. Linus Willard, born May 10, 1831. 10. William E., born June 25, 1833. 11. Phebe H., born September 11, 1836.
(V) Jonathan Edwards Drake, eighth child of Jonathan and Hannah (Pratt) Drake, was born at Easton, Massachusetts, July 7, 1829, and died at New Bedford, Massachusetts, October 15, 1878. He learned the trade of iron-moulder and followed that occupation in Springfield, Lowell and Easton, Massachusetts. From 1856 to 1866 he was in the woolen business at Mansfield, Massachusetts. He then resumed his vocation at Bridgewater (Keith's Station), Massachusetts, and at New Bedford, com- ing to the latter place in the year 1868. Jonathan Edwards Drake married, at Lowell, Massachusetts, May 16, 1853, Mary Eliza Bailey, a daughter of Joshua and Mary (Spring) Bailey, prominent and respected residents of Peterboro, New Hampshire. Mary Eliza (Bailey) Drake was born at Peterboro, September 26, 1826, and died at New Bedford, July 24, 1902, while in her seventy-sixth year. Jonathan Edwards and Mary Eliza (Bailey) Drake were the parents of six children, as follows: 1. Lewis Ed- wards, born April 8, 1854, in Easton. 2. Frederick Taylor, born September 11, 1855, died October 17, 1855, at Easton. 3. Harriet Ware, born January 24, 1857, in Mansfield, and died May 3, 1870, in New Bedford. 4. Albert Bailey, of whom further. 5. Flora Pratt, born January 3, 1863, in Mansfield, died in New Bedford, May 16, 1917. 6. Charles E., born December 30, 1864, in Mansfield, Massachusetts.
(VI) Albert Bailey Drake, the fourth child of Jonathan Edwards and Mary Eliza (Bailey) Drake, was born February 24, 1859, at Mansfield, Bristol county, Massachusetts. His early education was received in the public schools of his birthplace, fol- lowing which he attended the high school of New Bedford, Massachusetts, upon his parents' removal to that place. Upon the completion of his high school course, he entered the employ of the New Bedford (then the Acushnet) Waterworks as a clerk, draftsman, and assistant city land surveyor. He remained with the waterworks until January, 1881, when he accepted a position with the At- lantic & Pacific (now a part of the Santa Fe) Railroad Company on the line between Alber- querque, New Mexico, and "The Needles" at the Colorado river in Arizona. He served both as transitman in the location of a road across Arizona, and as division engineer in charge of construction, and in addition for a period of six months acted as assistant in charge of the field engineering work on the entire length of the road, a distance of 560 miles. Mr. Drake returned to New Bedford in May, 1884, was elected city land surveyor, and held that office until May, 1893. He also served his city as superintendent of the Board of Public Works from the time of the board's inception
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(1889) until 1895, and at the same time was both city forester and superintendent of parks. Mr. Drake has practiced his profession in New Bed- ford since May, 1884, and has been increasingly successful since that time, his ability and efficiency in his chosen vocation being par excellence and widely recognized.
Fraternally, Mr. Drake is affiliated with Acush- net Lodge, No. 41, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, which body he joined in the year 1885. He was one of the seven charter members of the Massa- chusetts Highway Association, and is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engi- neers, the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, and the New England Waterworks Association.
Albert Bailey Drake married, at New Bedford, Massachusetts, October 19, 1887, Minnie Elizabeth McAfee, daughter of John and Mary (Neely) Mc- Afee, both of whom are now deceased. Minnie Elizabeth (McAfee) Drake died on June 6, 1916. To Mr. and Mrs. Drake was born one son, Ed- ward.
(VII) Edward Drake, son of Albert Bailey and Minnie Elizabeth (McAfee) Drake, was born Sep- tember 8, 1888. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of New Bedford, his birthplace, following which he matriculated at Har- vard University, taking a two years' course. Since the year 1908 he has been a civil engineer, in busi- ness with his father in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is successful in the practice of his profession. He is a member of a number of technical societies.
Edward Drake married, September 8, 1916, at New Bedford, Margaret Anthony, daughter of Ben- jamin H. and Harriet (Peirce) Anthony. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Drake are the parents of five chil- dren, as follows: 1. An infant son, born and died April 12, 1917. 2. Edward, Jr., born August 11, 1918. 3. Albert Bailey, II, born March 25, 1921. 4. Charles Peirce, born July 17, 1922. 5. Charlotte Peirce, born August 27, 1923.
Albert Bailey Drake and his son, Edward Drake, are active and interested in any worthy movement designed to promote interest in public welfare, or to better civic, municipal or county conditions, and to this end they give their moral, monetary and personal assistance.
ROBERT G. MUNROE -- For more than thirty- five years Robert G. Munroe has been engaged in the building and contracting business in North At- tleboro, Massachusetts, and many of the residents of the community are now living in residences which he built, sending their children to school buildings of his construction, and worshipping in a church edifice which he erected.
Mr. Munroe is a descendant of a long line of Scotch masons and builders, who for more than two hundred years have been engaged in building residences and public buildings. On his grand- mother's side he is descended from shoe manufac- turers by the name of Douglas, that came to Ply- mouth and settled generations ago.
Alexander Munroe; father of Robert G. Munroe, retired from business in 1888, and traveled through Canada and the United States, finally settling in Plainville, Massachusetts, where he died in 1914. The death of his wife, Marguerite (Murchey) Mun- roe, occurred in 1886.
Robert G. Munroe was born in Scotland, Janu- ary 1, 1867, after receiving the good, practical education afforded in the public schools of his native land, he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1887, when he was twenty years of age, he came to this country and settled, for a time, in Boston, Massachusetts, where he took up the mason part of the trade with his brother and cousin, who were established in Everett, Massachusetts. Soon, how- ever, he removed to North Attleboro, Massa- chusetts, and there he has remained during the more than three decades which have passed since that time. He at once engaged in business for himself as a contractor and builder, and his skill and excellent business methods immediately gained him the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. Well satisfied patrons soon brought to him others, who were anxious to engage the services of the young Scotchman, who built his foundations so strongly and so firmly and who built structures which passed the inspection of the oldest inhabi- tants, receiving nothing but commendation. Prob- ably no other one person in the township has built more places of residence or more public buildings in North Attleboro and vicinity than has Mr. Mun- roe. The construction of many school buildings, of several churches, and of many other public build- ings, including the huge bank building on North Washington street, North Attleboro, have been conducted under his supervision. Politically Mr. Munroe gives his support to the Republican party. He has many friends in North Attleboro who value him highly not only as an expert in his line of business activity, but also as a personal friend
In Plainville, Massachusetts, in 1896, Robert G. Munroe married Ida Dennis, daughter of Anson Dennis, a contractor of Providence, Rhode Island, and of Alice (Sutton) Dennis, of East Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. and Mrs. Munroe are the par- ents of two children: Ernest Everett, who was born in 1897, and is now engaged in the contracting business in association with his father, and Gladys Alice, who was born in 1904, now a student of Emerson College of Oratory. The family residence is located in Plainville, Massachusetts, which Mr. Munroe designed and erected in 1895.
BIRTWELL STAFFORD-Among the late citi- zens of Fall River, Massachusetts, and widely known in the real estate and insurance business, was John Foster Stafford, father of Birtwell Stafford. He purchased the concern which for many years had been operated by Messrs. Durfee & Chase, reor- ganized it under the name of the John F. Stafford Company, and built up one of the most progressive real estate, insurance and brokerage concerns in the city.
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John Foster Stafford was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, August 15, 1875, and this city had always been the seat of his many activities. He succeeded W. B. M. Chase in 1918, the firm having operated under the name of Chase & Stafford for four years previously. Prior to this (1914), the firm name was W. B. M. Chase & Company, and it had its inception in 1881, when it was founded by George N. Durfee and W. B. M. Chase under the name of Durfee & Chase. This he continued to conduct up to the time of his death in 1920. In September, 1920, the firm came under a trusteeship and has since been operated by Mr. Stafford's son and associates. John F. Stafford was prominent in many of the city's industrial, financial, fraternal and social affairs, among them being president of the Flint Mills; Cornell Mills; director of the Massa- soit-Pocasset National Bank; a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding the thirty-sec- ond degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of other organizations and clubs. He married Maude Birtwell, a native of Fall River, and they had two children: John F., Jr., who made the su- preme sacrifice in the service of the Royal Air Forces of the British Army during the World War; and Birtwell, of whom further.
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