A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 3, Part 54

Author: Hutt, Frank Walcott, 1869- editor
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 528

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 3 > Part 54

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Reuben C. Small was born in Provincetown, Massachusetts, March 23, 1859, and there spent the first twelve years of his life, beginning his educa- tion in the local schools. In 1871 his parents re- moved to Syracuse, New York, but returned soon to Massachusetts, arriving at Fall River, February 28, 1872. The following April 9, he began working in the Durfee Mill No. 2, his first duty being as a back boy, his wages forty-eight cents daily. He passed through different positions in the Durfee Mill during the six years he was employed there, he next going to the Crescent Mill, where he was employed for about one year. The next four years were spent at the Merchants' Mill, he going thence in 1883 to the Borden Manufacturing Company as overseer of the cloth mill, an important position which he held for three years, until 1886, when he resigned to join his brother, Elisha H. Small, in financing and reorganizing the twine and cordage business which the brother had been running.

Reuben C. Small knew nothing about cordage manufacturing, but he trusted his brother's judg- ment and put in the amount of money necessary to secure an interest in the business. The brothers then used their credit to erect a new mill and re-

equip it properly, and soon were in successful op- eration and have so continued during the thirty- seven years which have since elapsed. In 1919 they incorporated as the Small Brothers Manufacturing Company, Elisha H. Small, president; Reuben C. Small, treasurer. This division of the responsibility has prevailed from the beginning, Reuben C. being the financial and Elisha H. the manufacturing head of the business. The new owners were soon firmly established in a successful business, and there has never been any cessation in the prosperity of the plant, which now occupies 60,000 square feet of floor space. A warehouse floorage of 100,000 square feet is also in use, the Small Brothers Manufactur- ing Company now owning almost the entire block on which the mill and warehouse are located.

Reuben C. Small is a member of the board of directors of the Charlton Mills; a director of the Parker Mills; the Fall River Trust Company; the Lafayette Co-operative Bank; the Walker Webbing Company of Providence, Rhode Island; is a cor- porator of the Citizens' National Bank; treasurer of the Fifty Associates Loan Company; and for the past twenty years has been a member of the Fall River Park Commission. Mr. Small is a member of the Masonic order, affiliating with Narragansett Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Fall River Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Fall River Council, Royal and Select Masters; Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery, Knights Templar; Fall River Lodge of Perfection; Samuel C. Lawrence Council, Princes of Jerusalem; Chapter of Rose Croix; Massachusetts Consistory, thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the . Mystic Shrine; Friendly Union Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Fall River Rotary Club; Fall River Historical Society; the Quequechan Club; and the board of trustees of Union Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1883 Mr. Small married Anna A. Standish, a descendant of Miles Standish, of "Mayflower" fame, a Pilgrim and a soldier, in the ninth generation. Mr. and Mrs. Small are the parents of two chil- dren: 1. Edith S. 2. Norman C., now assistant treasurer of the Small Brothers Manufacturing Com- pany. The family home is at No. 1766 Highland avenue, Fall River, Massachusetts.

ELISHA H. SMALL was born in Provincetown, Massachusetts, March 15, 1862. He spent the first nine years of his life in the town of his birth, Syracuse, New York, becoming the family home in 1871, but nine months later they returned to Massa- chusetts, settling at Fall River. Elisha H. Small at- tended the public schools until fourteen years of age, then began at a boy's work in a cotton mill, but even before that he had become familiar with mill work, having spent his school vocation in a cotton mill. He continued a cotton mill worker until reaching the age of twenty-one, when he secured a place with William H. Simmons, a manufacturer of twines and clothes lines, remaining with Mr. Simmons for two years. The business was

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not prosperous, there being serious leaks that were plain to Mr. Small, who suggested remedies to Mr. Simmons which were unheeded. When finally failure was inevitable Mr. Simmons sold his business to Mr. Small, who operated the plant for about a year, and then found a partner in his brother, Reu- ben C., who joined him in the enterprise. In addi- tion to acting as president of the Small Brothers Manufacturing Company of Fall River, Mr. Small is president of the Fifty Associates Loan Company.

Elisha H. Small is a member of the Masonic or- der, affiliated with King Philip Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Fall River Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; St. Lawrence Council, Royal and Select Masters; Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery, Knights Templar, and of Massachusetts Consistory, thirty- second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Mt. Hope Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Que- quechan Club; is a member of the official board of Union Methodist Church, and in politics is a Republican.

Mr. Small married, in February, 1882, Hannah Crowther, of Fall River, and they are the parents of three children: 1. Reuben T., engaged in the dairy and poultry business in Lehighton, Pennsyl- vania. 2. Ethelwyne M., married William B. Squire, superintendent of The Small Brothers Manufacturing Company. 3. Lillian H., married Dr. Roy F. Brown, a captain of the medical department of the United States Army, stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, Savan- nah, Georgia. The family home is at No. 878 Rock street, Fall River, Massachusetts.

GEORGE FRANKLIN WATERS-One of the newly organized and fast growing industrial enter- prises of Fall River, the Old Colony Thread Com- pany, owes its inception and present development to its able executive head, George F. Waters, Har- vard A. B., 1908, who is both president of the corporation and general manager. Mr. Waters has made his reputation in the business world entirely through his personal quality, his inherited tastes all being professional. His father, Rev. Thomas Franklin Waters, born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1851, died in 1919, was a minister of the gospel, serving the South Congregational Church, at Ipswich, Massachusetts, for thirty years. He was a graduate of Harvard, class of 1872, receiving from the university an honorary A. M. in 1909, in recog- nition of his "History of Ipswich in the Massachu- setts Bay Colony." Rev. Thomas Franklin Waters married Adaline Melville Orswell, born in Edgar- town, Massachusetts, in 1858, who survives him, a resident of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

George Franklin Waters, son of Rev. Thomas Franklin and Adaline Melville (Orswell) Waters, was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, February 15, 1887. His education began in Ipswich public schools and was continued in Salem High School, class of 1903, and at Harvard University, whence he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts,

class of 1908. He made his entrance into business life as a clerk in the Boston banking house, Lee, Higginson & Company, and for two years was in the employ of that well known firm. He then began his career as a textile manufacturer, spending two and one-half years in the Ipswich Mills, learning the business from the manufacturers' angle. In 1912 Mr. Waters located at Fall River, as agent for the Globe Yarn Mills, and in 1914 resigned to organize the French Manufacturing Company, of Warren, Rhode Island, a corporation that became prosperous as manufacturers of thread. In 1921 Mr. Waters returned to Fall River and organized the Old Col- ony Thread Company, of which he is president and manager. The company manufacturers cotton thread; their plant at No. 794 North Main street, Fall River.

In politics Mr. Waters is a Republican, and in religious faith a Congregationalist, affiliated with the First Church, at Fall River. He is a member of John T. Heard Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Ipswich; Theta Delta Chi fraternity, of Harvard; the Fetherdic Tennis Club; the Fall River Country Club; and the Harvard Club, of Fall River.

George Franklin Waters married, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, September 20, 1911, Rosalie Eggers Chase, born in Newburyport, daughter of Joshua L. and Anna (Eggers) Chase, her father born in New- buryport; her mother born in New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Waters are the parents of three children: Thomas Franklin, 2nd, born September 7, 1912; Merrill Chase, born March 26, 1914; and Janet, born November 25, 1917.

JOHN J. MANSFIELD-The manufacture of brick has for many years been a noteworthy in- dustry in the city of Taunton, and in this general line of endeavor John J. Mansfield holds large ex- ecutive responsibility, as general manager of the Stiles & Hart Brick Company, of Taunton. With a practical training for a business career and a life long experience in the field in which he is now en- gaged, Mr. Mansfield has given to the progress of this enterprise his full powers and has been a lead- ing figure in its development during the past decade. He is a son of Patrick H. Mansfield, of East Taun- ton, who is well known in this part of Bristol county as a carriage maker and blacksmith, and is a prominent and progressive citizen of that com- munity. The mother, Maria E. (Osborne) Mans- field, was born at Canton, Massachusetts, and is also still living.

John J. Mansfield was born at Sharon, Massa- chusetts, October 25, 1884. His education was be- gun in the public schools of Taunton, to which city the family had removed in his childhood, and he later attended the parochial schools of this city. Preparing for his career at the Bristol County School of Business, Mr. Mansfield entered upon his business life in the employ of the Stiles & Hart Brick Company, with whom he has since been con- tinuously connected. His first position was that of office boy and he was steadily advanced through

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various desks, always to positions of higher respon- sibility, until following the death of Mr. Hart, which occurred in 1919, he became manager of the busi- ness. This is one of the old and important brick manufacturing plants in Bristol county and its his- tory is so closely interwoven with the growth and development of the city that it is incorporated into the industrial chapters of this work in an editorial way. As the managing head of this industry, Mr. Mansfield holds a leading position in the business world of Bristol county and he is also a director of the Bridgewater Brick Company and manager of that company as well.

In the public life of the city, Mr. Mansfield keeps in touch with the general advance, but beyond his loyal support of the Republican party in political affairs, he has never taken an active part. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Taunton Lodge, No. 150, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Mansfield is more widely known, however, as a leading breeder of dogs, specializing in fox hounds. He has taken many prizes in different parts of the country in leading shows and has won very high rank among dog fanciers. Mr. Mansfield has gained a national reputation as a judge and referee at bench shows throughout the United States, and is consid- ered a leading authority on this subject. He is president and one of the founders of the Old Colony Kennel Club, of Taunton, is a member and direc- tor of the Brunswick Foxhound Club, and also holds the same offices in the New England Fox- hound Club. Mr. Mansfield's leisure interests also include music and theatricals, and he has for some years been a leader on public occasions in these lines of interest. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Mr. Mansfield married, on September 22, 1920, Harriet E. Lewis, of Westerly, Rhode Island, daugh- ter of John W. and Mary (Cone) Lewis, her father a native of New London, Connecticut, and her mother a native of East Haddam, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield are the parents of one daugh- ter, Elizabeth, born September 17, 1921.

WILLIAM JOHN COLBERT, whose meteoric rise from the lowly position of chore boy to execu- tive manager of a large manufacturing plant and finally to that of owner and manufacturer himself, is a career but seldom paralleled in the textile busi- ness. Mr. Colbert, the possessor of two of the most important of all business attributes, energy and ability, gained his present high status in the industrial world by the consistent application of both of these prime adjuncts to good business to whatever work he found himself engaged in at the moment.

William John Colbert was born in County Water- ford, Ireland, on June 21, 1870, a son of John B. and Margaret (de La Garde) Colbert, respected residents of County Waterford. John B. Colbert was born in the year 1837, became an expert ma- chinist, removed to America with his wife and chil- dren, settled in Fall River, Massachusetts, and fol-

lowed his trade for twenty-five years in the employ of the American Linen Company, of Fall River. His death occurred in the city of his adoption, in 1913. His wife, Margaret de La Garde, was a member of a fine old French family of that name who had left their native country during the persecution of the Huguenots. She was born in 1837, and died at Fall River, in 1912, during her seventy-sixth year.

William John Colbert received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Dublin, Ireland. In 1882 he came with his parents to Fall River and attended the local grammar schools, subsequently entering the Bradford Durfee Textile School, hav- ing taken thorough courses in weaving, carding, and other branches relating to the textile industry. At an early age it became necessary for Mr. Colbert to aid in the maintenance of the family, and he found employment with the American Linen Com- pany as chore boy and weaver, remaining here for a period of seven years and being promoted to loomfixer. He severed his connection with the American Linen Company to accept the position of loomfixer with the Union Cotton Company, re- maining in the employ of the latter concern for one year. During the following seven years he was engaged as loomfixer and second hand in the Slade Mills, and later spent three months in the same capacity in the Mechanics Mill. He then returned to the American Linen Company as overseer of weaving, and was thus employed for a space of fifteen years, relinquishing his overseership to be- come the superintendent of the plant where, years before, he had started in as a chore boy. In 1919, after an incumbency of seven years, he resigned the superintendency owing to ill health. After three months' residence in the State of Florida, Mr. Colbert's health was so much improved that he re- turned to Fall River, and in 1920, was one of the organizers of the Grinnell Yarn Company. This venture has been very successful. Mr. Colbert fills the two positions of president and superintendent, and the company, from its factory on Grinnell street, manufactures quantities of cotton coarse yarn for the electrical trade. At the present time the Grinnell Yarn Company is in a very prosperous condition.

Always cognizant of the needs and difficulties of the textile business and with an inventive turn of mind, Mr. Colbert has originated an ingenious ap- pliance to be utilized by the fancy cotton trade, a harness hook, which he is having patented under the name of the "Tite Lock Hook." Manufacture of this invention has begun and it will fill a long felt want in the mills of the country manufacturing fancy cloths. An appliance of this kind has long been needed and it is expected that it will revolu- tionize that phase of the textile industry for which it is intended.

Politically Mr. Colbert is an Independent, pre- ferring not to be hampered by the often too closely drawn party lines which are more than liable to obscure and detract from momentous issues and nationally important questions. Mr. Colbert's home

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is at No. 455 Middle street, Fall River, Massachu- setts. His religious affiliations are with the Roman Catholic church and he is active in the work of the church, in the local social life, and in any movement designed for the advancement and betterment of civie conditions and public welfare. As a pro- gressive manufacturer and astute business man, he exerts a not inconsiderable influence on the indus- trial life of Bristol county and the city of Fall River.

JAMES ARNOLD McLANE began his active career thirty-two years ago, in the Hargraves & ,Parker Mills, where he learned the cotton weaving business. Today, after fourteen years of service in other mills, he is superintendent of the mills in which he began as an apprentice, though the name has been changed from Hargraves & Parker to tlie Parker Mills. James McLane, father of Mr. Mc- Lane, served in the Navy throughout the period of the Civil War.

James Arnold McLane, son of James and Mary J. (Hurley) McLane, was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, August 12, 1874, and attended the public schools of his native city, including the high school. In 1891 he became associated with the Hargraves & Parker Mills, where he remained until 1902, rising to the position of overseer of the card- ing department. He was able and energetie, and in 1902 he left the Hargraves & Parker Mills to accept a position as superintendent of the Davis Mill. Eight years later he was appointed superintendent of the Hargraves & Parker Mills. After seven years of efficient service in that connection he again returned to the Davis Mill as superintendent. For six years more he gave careful attention to the interest of the Davis Mill, demonstrating executive ability of a high order, and achieving notable success in "get- ting things done." Though the proprietors of the .Davis Mill appreciated fully the value of his service to the concern, Mr. McLane decided to return to the Parker Mills in October, 1923, in the capacity of superintendent of their mills. Mr. McLane is well known in Fall River, having spent the entire period of his life in that community, and has a host of friends who esteem him highly, not only because of his ability, but also for his sterling qualities of character. He gives his support to the principles and candidates of the Republican party, but ha's never aspired to public office. He is prominent in Masonie cireles, being a member of the bodics of both the Seottish and York Rites, and holding the thirty-second degree in Massachusetts Consistory. He is also a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabie Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In elub activities too, he is well known, being a mem- ber of Quequechan Club, and of the Fall River Country Club. His religious interest is with the First Baptist Church, of which he is an attendant.

James Arnold McLane married in Fall River, Massachusetts, July, 1905, Addie B. Reynolds, who was born in Fall River, daughter of Charles and Addie B. (Tripp) Reynolds, both natives of Fall

River. Mr. and Mrs. McLane have one child, James Bradford, who was born in Fall River, April 4, 1906.

JOSEPH F. RIOUX-In the jewelry trade throughout the United States the name of Joseph F. Rioux is widely familiar as the manufacturer of the Surefit flexible wrist-watch straps which are now being distributed in all parts of the civilized world. Mr. Rioux has for the past six ycars been the owner of the Bliss Brothers Company and is car- rying it forwards to a large and ever increasing success. He is a son of Timothy and Adele (Mer- chant) Rioux, both natives of Canada, the father throughout his lifetime a farmer, formerly in the Province of Quebec.

Joseph F. Rioux was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, on December 19, 1873. The family removed to Massachusetts during his boyhood and settled in North Attleboro, Mr. Rioux obtaining his education in the public schools of this place, laying a practical foundation for his career. He learned the trade of jeweler with George W. Cheever, of North Attleboro, and after working in this connection for about three ycars, hc was em- ployed successively by the following jewelers of this section: V. H. Blackinton, E. I. Franklin, S. O. Bigney, and A. A. Greene. With the last named jeweler Mr. Rioux remained for a period of nine- teen years, and during that time he was appointed to the position of superintendent, later becoming associated with the firm. In January, 1917, he struck out for himself by taking over the jewelry business of the Bliss Brothers Company, which he continued without changing the name. The Bliss Brothers Company was established in the year 1873, under the title of Bliss Brothers and Everett, and has been actively carried forward since without in- terruption. Plans are now being completed for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of this enter- prise, for although Mr. Rioux has been at the hcad for only a comparatively short time, he feels the deepest interest and pride in the long and hon- orable record of achievement of this concern. The enterprise has always been preeminent in the manu- facture of gold, silver and plated jewelry. During the period of his connection with this business, Mr. Rioux has developed the volume of production and enlarged the scope of operations until now the Bliss Brothers Company is ratcd second to none among the leading concerns of a similar nature throughout Bristol county. Mr. Rioux is a member of the New England Jewelers' and Silversmiths' Association, the Manufacturing Jewelers' Board of Trade, and the National Jewelers' Board of Trade of New York. He is also a member of the Attle- boro Chamber of Commerce, which he serves as a director.

In politics Mr. Rioux has never aspired to office- holding, owing to the pressure of his business duties. He is, however a loyal advocate and an interested worker in any worthy public or civie movement. Frateri:ally he is affiliated with the

Bristol-2-20

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Providence Lodge, No. 14, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; and his clubs include the Highland Club, the Lions Club, and the West Side Club, of Attleboro, of which latter organization he is the present incumbent of the president's chair. He is a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church.

Joseph F. Rioux married Miss Frances O'Donnell, of Attleboro, and they are the parents of three children: Raymond J., a graduate of the Rhode Island State College; Veronica A., and Frances H.

JOSEPH A. GLENN-One of the most . note- worthy figures in large construction work in Taun- ton, Massachusetts, is Joseph A. Glenn, who was a pioneer in reinforced concrete construction work in Bristol county, and has for the past five years been located in Taunton. Mr. Glenn is a son of Joseph Glenn, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to this country many years ago. He is a farmer by occupation and a man of the highest integrity. The mother, Elizabeth (Black) Glenn, who was also a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, died in 1918.

Joseph A. Glenn was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, April 28, 1882. His education was begun in the public schools of his native land, and after coming to America he took a special course in civil engineering in a business college in Boston. Eighteen years of age when he came to this country, Mr. Glenn settled first in the city of Bridgewater, Massa- chusetts, later removing to Middleboro. He was em- ployed by various people for the first few years, then learned the trade of carpenter at Chelsea, Massachusetts, and one of the first contracts on which he worked was the Harvard Stadium at Cambridge. He was later active as foreman for Norcross Brothers, large building contractors, also as superintendent for the Kearns Company. In the year 1911 Mr. Glenn established himself in an inde- pendent business interest under his own name at Fall River, Massachusetts, along the line of rein- forced concrete construction. Located at No. 909 High street, Fall River, he built the first house in that city, made entirely of concrete. After about seven years of activity in Fall River, during which he did much important work in this field, Mr. Glenn removed to Taunton, and, securing desirable head- quarters on Porter street, he has since continued in the same general line of endeavor. He has erect- ed many of the more important buildings construct- ed within the past five years in Taunton, among which may be mentioned the office and salesrooms of the Robertson Motor Company of Taunton. He has built three bridges for the city of Taunton, and the buildings which he has erected, most of which he has designed himself, are among the finest struc- tures in the city. As the sole owner of this pros- perous and steadily growing business, Mr. Glenn is a member of the Taunton Chamber of Commerce. By political affiliation he is a Republican, but takes only the interest of the progressive citizens in pub- lic life. Fraternally he is identified with Man-

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A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 3, Part 54

Author: Hutt, Frank Walcott, 1869- editor Publication date: 1924 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Lewis historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 528

Author: Hutt, Frank Walcott, 1869- editor
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 528