USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 3 > Part 59
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L. Warren King was born at East Taunton, Massachusetts, April 22, 1876. Preparing for the responsibilities of life in the public schools of Taun- ton, Massachusetts, Mr. King was first employed in a grocery store in the capacity of clerk. This posi- tion he filled for six years, after which he was em- ployed in a shoe factory for about twelve years. Thereafter for seven years Mr. King followed vari- ous lines of commercial advance, gaining breadth of experience and constantly acquiring greater ef- ficiency in general business affairs. In 1921 he ac- cepted the appointment of postmaster of East Taun- ton, Massachusetts, in which capacity he has since served the people faithfully and well. A man of
genial spirit and genuine friendliness, Mr. King is popular among the people of East Taunton, and is considered one of the most thoroughly acceptable men who has ever filled this position in the local public service. A Republican by political affiliation, he has never accepted any other public office, but since attaining his majority has been a worker in the movements of the party. Fraternally Mr. King is affiliated with the Sabbatia Lodge, No. 225, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious connection is with the Congregational church.
Mr. King married Elsie M. Canedy of Lakeville, Massachusetts, and they have one daughter, Marion E., born in 1901.
WILLIAM J. DANA-When a young man Will- iam J. Dana came to the United States, settling in Boston, Massachusetts, later winning high position in the business world of Bristol county. He has built his success on his own energy and thrift, and while advancing his own interests has contributed in a very marked degree to the general well-being and progress. Gifted with business ability of a high order, Mr. Dana holds a place among the leading merchants of Taunton, and is one of the progressive and esteemed citizens of that city. He is a son of Jacob and Sophia (Sawyer) Dana, his father also engaging in mercantile pursuits through- out his lifetime, which closed in 1916.
William J. Dana was born in Russia, August 17, 1880, and there he spent the first fifteen years of his life. He attended public schools in Russia until 1895, when he came to the United States, landing in Boston, Massachusetts, where he opened an at- tractive store on Washington street for the sale of men's and women's clothing. In 1903 he opened a branch store in Taunton, and, carrying this in- terest forward for about twelve years, he then re- moved to his present location at No. 87 Main street. In 1907 Mr. Dana added to his former lines by opening a store at No. 56 Main street, Taun- ton, with a complete and attractive stock of house- hold and office furniture, also expanded his inter- ests in the clothing departments very materially. Shortly thereafter he entered an entirely different field, but still continued the interests above out- lined. He purchased the old Poole homestead and on this property built a handsome business block of ten stores. Later he bought two lots on Co- hannet street and there built twelve stores, and also erected a block of six stores on Weir street. This practical demonstration of faith in the future of the city and the enterprise of its people has been of great benefit to Taunton's commercial in- terests, and Mr. Dana's energy and ability have been commended and appreciated by the leading merchants of the city. Mr. Dana is now (1923) erecting a business block of nine stores at the cor- ner of Main and Cedar streets, Taunton, and he conducts a large and prosperous store in Boston In fraternal circles in Taunton Mr. Dana is also well known, being a member of John Hancock Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and Llewellyn Lodge,
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Boston. In 1910 Mr. Dana led the movement which resulted in the organization of the Congregation Agudatha- chim, of which he was chosen the first president. It was through his efforts that the congregation erected the beautiful house of worship on Win- throp street, and later he led in the movement to erect a school on the property adjoining the syna- gogue, where 125 children are now in attendance, Mr. Dana also being president of that school.
Mr. Dana married, in New York City, in 1906, Mary, daughter of Nathan Zuckerman, a prosperous merchant of that city, who died in 1921. Mr. and Mrs. Dana are the parents of five children: Lester H., born in 1908; Adelaide, born in 1911; Helen N., born in 1913; Dorothy, born in 1916; and Jacob B., born in 1919. The children are receiving excellent educations in the local schools of Taunton.
GEORGE A. WHITING-An interesting and thriving enterprise of North Attleboro, Massachu- setts, but national in the scope of its distribution, is the Sturtevant & Whiting Company, Inc., manu- facturers of carded jewelry, and one of the oldest firms in this line of industrial activity in Bristol County. George A. Whiting is a son of John F. Whiting, who was born at Dorchester, Massa- chusetts, and is a jeweler. He is one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil War, having served in Company I, 5th Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teer Infantry, with the rank of corporal. The mother, Sophia E. (Carpenter) Whiting, who was born at Cumberland, Rhode Island, is also still living, and both have reached an advanced age.
George A. Whiting was born at North Attle- boro, Massachusetts, March 30, 1868. His educa- tion was begun in the local public schools and he prepared for a business career at the Bristol Academy, taking a special commercial course. His first experience in the world of men and affairs was in the employ of George W. Cheever, as a bookkeeper in a market of North Attleboro, and he was active in this connection for about one year. He then entered the employ of the S. E. Fisher Company, manufacturing jewelers, and has continued with this organization through the vari- ous changes which have taken place with the passing of the years, until the present time. This enterprise was founded in the early seventies by Demerest & Packard, and was started in the old Stephen Richardson building. Only a short time later the firm name was changed to S. E. Fisher & Company, in which form it continued until the year 1897, when it was reorganized with E. D. Sturtevant, W. A. Bigelow and George A. Whiting as partners. At that time the business was located on Chestnut street and this arrangement continued until the year 1906, when Mr. Bigelow retired and the firm name became Sturtevant & Whiting. In 1914 the business was incorporated with only suf- ficient change of name to indicate the incorpora- tion. No further change was made until 1922, when George A. Whiting disposed of his stock to
Lewis Knotz and George E. White. The concern occupies an entire floor in the Whiting building at No. 244 Broad street, and employs about thirty people, their output being distributed throughout the United States and Canada. Their jewelry is all prepared for the market on cards and is a very attractive and superior line. Mr. Whiting was a member of the Manufacturing Jewelers' Associa- tion, which he served as a director at several differ- ent times, was also a member of the New England Jewelers' and Silversmiths' Association. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men, but otherwise he has few interests outside of his business. He attends the Universalist church.
Mr. Whiting married, in 1892, Fannie Robinson Shepardson of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, daughter of Edwin and Annie (Freeman) Shepard- son, her father a jeweler of North Attleboro. Mr. and Mrs. Whiting have one daughter, Edith, now the wife of W. Charles Thompson.
MICHAEL T. HUDNER-Three-quarters of a century ago Thomas Hudner came to the United States, a young man of eighteen, and located his home at Fall River, Massachusetts. Here his after- life was spent, with the exception of two or three years spent in the quest of gold in California, for he came in 1847, just in time to be caught in the wild rush for the "golden sands" of the Pacific State. He married, in Fall River, Mary Tobin, and they were the parents of Michael T. Hudner, whose career as a business man of his native city, Fall River, is herein reviewed.
Thomas Hudner, son of Thomas and Honora (Drohan) Hudner, was born in Ireland, August 25, 1829. He came to Fall River in 1847, and there died, after an active and successful business life, February 25, 1910, in the eighty-first year of his life. His wife, Mary (Tobin) Hudner, died Febru- ary 12, 1871, aged thirty-six years and seven months. Thomas Hudner never remarried, but made his home with his son after the death of his only daughter to survive childhood, she dying at the age of twenty-four. He passed away at the home of his only son, Michael T. Hudner, at the corner of Highland and President avenues, a man highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends, and beloved by those whose privilege it was to know him well.
Michael T. Hudner, only son of Thomas and Mary (Tobin) Hudner to survive childhood, was born at Fall River, Massachusetts, November 19, 1862. He acquired his education in the public schools, and was variously employed until defi- nitely determining his life's occupation. In 1884 he opened a meat market in Fall River, on the corner of Second and Rodman streets. Here he has built up a wonderful business in wholesale and retail meats and provisions during the years that have since elapsed. He remained at the first loca- tion until 1887, when he removed to the then new Waterman block on Pleasant street, going thence to the Thomas Waring building on Main street, and
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in 1893 to No. 150 South Main street, at the corner of Borden street. There he continued the Boston Market, now a landmark, and the largest and best-equipped meat-market in the city. A wholesale department was added to the business, and as prosperity came branch stores were opened in the city. Later New Bedford was invaded, three Hudner markets being operated in that city, and five in Fall River, all of these branches furnishing the same quality of meats and service as the Bos- ton Market, which was the headquarters of the business.
Quality is the store slogan, and system is Mr. Hudner's particular hobby, for with a business em- ploying over one hundred clerks, with fifteen de- livery wagons, serving thousands daily, without perfect system confusion would reign. In the Bos- ton Market all kinds of meat and game in season can be seen; and in the Hudner building, his storage warehouse, just across the street from the Boston Market, is located a refrigerating and electric light plant which furnishes both the warehouse and the Boston Market with refrigeration and light. For two years (1895-1897) Mr. Hudner operated a similar market at the corner of Washington and Bennett streets, Boston, but since 1897 he has con- fined his business to Fall River and New Bedford. His offices are in the Hudner building, which he erected on South Main street in 1897, a fine, mod- ernly-built and modernly-equipped business block. In 1899 he erected the three-story building at the corner of Second and Borden streets.
The demands of the Boston Market and its branches have held Mr. Hudner closely, but from 1892 until 1894 and again in 1897, he conducted the Mellen House, a leading Fall River Hotel in its day. For many years he was a director of the Union Bank, and when it became a part of the' merger, resulting in the Massasoit-Pocasset National Bank, he became a director. He is also a trustee of the Union Savings Bank and a director in the Flint Mills. He is one of the most capable com -. mercial men of his city and a good citizen, lend- ing a hand always to any movement for Fall River's . public schools system and for ten years has most good. Mr. Hudner is a member of the Quequechan Club, the Fall River Country Club, the Rotary Club, the Merchants' Association, and of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Hudner married, on October 21, 1889, Helena Kennedy, a teacher in the New Bedford schools and a daughter of Michael Kennedy. Five chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hudner: Mary, Thomas and Ethel, who are living, and Harold and Charles who died in infancy.
HECTOR LOUIS BELISLE, A. B .- Upon fin- ishing a classical course at Harvard, in 1896, Mr. Belisle embraced pedagogy as a profession, going to Lawrence, Massachusetts, where as teacher, prin- cipal and supervisor he remained until coming to Fall River in 1913, as superintendent of the city system of public schools. He has now been en- gaged in school work for more than a quarter of
a century, and in all departments of the work of teaching, both administrative and executive, he has won high reputation that has been fairly and honorably earned.
Alexander Belisle, born in the Province of Que- bec, Canada, in 1830, came to the United States in 1848, and settled in Western Massachusetts. Three years before his coming (1845), a Canadian girl, Marie Dorval, came to the United States with her parents, they settling at Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Alexander Belisle and Marie Dorval were married July 10, 1853, at Millbury, Massachusetts, and later settled in Worcester, Massachusetts, where their son, Hector Louis Belisle, was born. Alexander Be- lisle, a carriage-builder by trade, became a shoe factory operative, and in Worcester was a contract- ing foreman in the shoe manufacturing industry. He died March 14, 1903, his widow surviving him until January 28, 1905.
Hector Louis Belisle, son of Alexander and Marie (Dorval) Belisle, was born in Worcester, Massa- chusetts, October 18, 1874. He attended Worces- ter schools, finishing with graduation from the Worcester Classical School, class of 1892, then en- tered Harvard University, whence he was gradu- ated A. B., class of 1896. Four years, 1896-1900, were spent as a teacher of English and French at Lawrence (Massachusetts) High School, that period being followed by one as principal of the grammar school and supervisor of evening school of the same city, continuing until 1913. During that period he conducted a series of broad investigations into school conditions and methods in the cities of the East, many of which he visited personally. The winter of 1909 he spent in France on leave of absence, and in the cities of that country, varying in population from 60,000 up to the great city of Paris, he conducted his investigations of schools with particular reference to methods pursued in elementary and secondary schools, stressing also the manual and vocational training of youths from twelve to eighteen years of age. In 1913 Mr. Belisle came to Fall River as superintendent of the
ably filled that most important position. He has placed the schools of the city upon a high plane of efficiency and is applying to them the results of his own investigation and study with all that has proved desirable from the experiences of other educators and authorities.
Mr. Belisle is a member of The Massachusetts- School Masters Club and its president in 1916-17; was treasurer and councillor of the Essex County Teachers' Association, one year; president of the Bristol County Teachers' Association, 1914-1915; and during the period of war with Germany served on the local executive committee on Public Safety. During 1922 and 1923 he has served as secretary of the special commission appointed by the governor of Massachusetts to investigate and report upon the advisability of establishing a State University in Massachusetts. In politics Mr. Belisle is an inde- pendent Democrat, and in religious faith a Roman
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Catholic, a member of St. Matthew's Parish, Fall River.
Mr. Belisle married, June 28, 1905, Mildred Grace Potter of Boston, daughter of George M. and Anna M. (Cunningham) Potter, her father a well known hotel proprietor of Boston, who died in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Belisle are the parents of six children, one of whom is deceased. The others are Anna M., Alexander, Eugene L., Elizabeth, and Beatrice.
ARTHUR C. HOMER-With practically a life experience in the textile industry, Arthur C. Homer has been a definite force in the development and progress of the Pilgrim Mills, in Fall River, Massa- chusetts, and now holds a responsible position as treasurer of this concern. Mr. Homer is a son of Arthur H. and Sarah F. (Vickery) Homer, both natives of Bristol county, the father born in New Bedford, and the mother in Fall River, both tracing their ancestry to the early history of Colonial days in America. The father was cut down in the flower of his manhood, passing away when only twenty- four years of age, but the mother survived him for a number of years, and died in 1885.
Arthur C. Homer was born at Fall River, De- cember 29, 1867. His education was received in the Fall River public schools, and for a time, in his early manhood, he was employed by the Board of Immigration, in their Boston office. In 1889 he became affiliated with the textile industry, securing a position as a clerk in the Durfee Mills, of Fall River. Here he remained a member of the office force until February, 1898, when he transferred his activities to the Pocasset Hat Company, where he served as bookkeeper. The failure of this firm about a year and a half later determined him upon re-entering the textile industry, and in March, 1900, he became connected with the Border City Mills, as an office clerk. In August of the same year he resigned from this position to accept a more re- sponsible one in the Globe Yarn Mills, of Fall River, and he was identified with the office force of this corporation for more than eleven years. In November of 1911, Mr. Homer accepted the posi- tion of bookkeeper with the newly-organized Pil- grim Mills and was placed in charge of the office, serving in this connection until February, 1912. He was then elected treasurer of the company, which office he filled until October, 1914. Thereafter, for nearly seven years, Mr. Homer acted as assistant to Henry F. Searles, who filled .the office of treasurer during that period, then in February, 1921, he was elected assistant treasurer of the mills. In Septem- ber, 1922, he was again elected treasurer of the company, in which important capacity he now ably serves. Coming into the organization as he did at its inception, Mr. Homer has done much to pro- mote its progress and carry the plant to its present importance, and in his position of treasurer in this corporation he holds rank with the leading textile executives of Bristol county. Mr. Homer is vice-presi- dent and director of the Jamison Textile and Com- mission Corporation, located at No. 320 Broadway,
New York City. He is a member of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce and Southern New England Textile Club, and supports the Republican party in political affairs, although his life has been so filled with other responsibilities that he has never ac- cepted public office. Fraternally he is affiliated with King Philip's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; is a member of the Azab Grotto; and is also a member of the Quequechan Club.
In 1891 Mr. Homer married Victoria Ouellette, a native of Green Island, St. Lawrence river, but from her girlhood a resident of Fall River. They are the parents of two children: Arthur B., engaged in the cotton brokerage business; and Sadie V., wife of Maurice A. Carlow, manager of the Jenness Bat- tery Shop, of Fall River.
DANIEL JOHN FENNELLY, M. D., is a native son of Fall River, and the professional success he has attained as a neurologist is most gratifying to the many friends in the city who have known him from boyhood. He began practice among his friends and neighbors a decade ago, but the war with Germany drew him into the service of his country and for two years at home and on foreign shores he bore his part in the great struggle. His success as a physician has been along a specialized line of practice, nervous diseases, and he divided his time between his practice in Fall River and his work on the staff of Boston City Hospital, prior to entering the army, but since his return he has only served on the staff of Union Hospital, Fall River, having also the care of his private practice.
Francis John Fennelly, father of Daniel J. Fen- nelly, was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, and died there in 1920. He was successfully engaged in the insurance business and was a prominent Democrat, representing his district in the Massa- chusetts House of Representatives during the entire period, 1900-1918. He married Julia V. Sullivan, also born in Fall River, who yet survives him (1923). Daniel J. Fennelly, son of Francis J. and Julia V. (Sullivan) Fennelly, was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, August 20, 1896, and there com- pleted public school study with graduation from B. M. C. Durfee High School, class of 1907. He then entered Tufts Medical College, whence he was graduated M. D. in 1911, his study being sup- plemented by eighteen months' service in the neu- rology wards of Boston City Hospital. After this preparation he came to Fall River in 1913 and es- tablished in practice as a specialist in nervous dis- eases, being on the staffs of Union Hospital, Fall River, and City Hospital, Boston, giving three days weekly to each institution. The arrangement con- tinued until Dr. Fennelly entered the service of his country in 1917, that service holding him until Feb- ruary, 1919. Upon his return from the army Dr. Fennelly again located in Fall River, Massachusetts, where he has gathered up the broken threads of his professional career and gone forward to even greater success as a specialist. He is assistant in the Neurological Department of Boston City Hos-
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pital, alienist to the Juvenile Court of Fall River, Massachusetts, and neurologist to Union Hospital. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, the Massachusetts Medical Society, Fall River Medical Society, American Neurological Society, and is secretary of the staff of Union Hospital. In politics he is a Republican, in religious faith Roman Catholic.
Dr. Fennelly's military service began in 1917 with his commission as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States Army. He was as- signed to duty at Fort Harrison, Indiana, but three months later was sent to Camp Devens, Massa- chusetts. He was next sent to New York Neu- rological Institute for a special training, and two months later was ordered to Camp Dix. New Jer- sey, where he was commissioned captain. After three months at Camp Dix he was transferred to Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia, finally on July 8, 1918, sailing from Hoboken for France, landing at Brest, and at once going into active service as a member of that band of devoted specialists known as "The Shell Shock Team" with the 47th and 89th divisions of the American Expeditionary Forces. He was also for some time on duty at Beaune, a city of France, on the railway from Paris to Lyons, hav- ing a wonderful hospital, dating from 1443. There he was a member of Hospital Centre, Army Post Office 909. Dr. Fennelly continued in the service until honorably discharged in February, 1919, when he returned to Fall River.
On October 20, 1915, at Fall River, Dr. Fennelly married Marion E. Euwright, daughter of Thomas H. and Catherine (Daley) Euwright, her parents deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Fennelly are the parents of a son, Daniel John (2), born February 27, 1921.
CHATTERTON WARBURTON - Although a native son of the old Bay State, Mr. Warburton is of English-Scotch parentage, and since his boyhood has been a resident of Fall River. He began work- ing in the textile mills at nine years of age, but drifted away from that line of work and became interested in the growing of plants and flowers. He has specialized as a grower in roses and carnations and is a well known exhibitor and originator of new varieties of both these most popular of flowers. He has been very successful, and the firm James Warburton & Son continued in business until the death of the senior member, the son then succeed- ing to the sole ownership and management, his greenhouses at "Cress Brook" the largest in Bristol county.
James Warburton, born in Lancastershire, Eng- land, in 1830, died at Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1911. He came to the United States when a very young man and there the greater part of his life was spent as a worker in the granits mills. The last years of his life he traveled the world over and saw most of its great cities and natural won- ders. He married Sarah Charland, born in Glas- gow, Scotland, but was taken in babyhood to India by her father, an officer in the English Army, who was killed later, the child, Sarah, then being adopted
by Quartermaster Dorington, an attache of the hospital, and one of the men who laid out the great Napoleon for burial at St. Helena. Mrs. Warburton died at Fall River in 1885.
Chatterton Warburton, son of James and Sarah (Charland) Warburton, was born at Lawrence, Massachusetts, December 21, 1861, and seven years later was brought by his parents to Fall River. At the age of nine years he began as textile mill worker, one of his early employers being the Coates Mill at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a mill that took a medal at the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876, the lad, Chatterton Warburton, to make the tweed that won the coveted medal. Soon afterward he returned to Fall River, where( until 1886, he was employed in the granite mills. In 1886, with his father, he formed the firm James Warburton & Son and established in business as a florist, his original plant two small greenhouses. But his plant and business have grown with the years and at "Cress Brook," on New Boston road he has 100,000 square feet under glass, with a large show and salesroom at No. 33 North Main street. His business is very extensive and taxes his resources to the ut- most. In 1921 the firm name was changed to E. Warburton & Sons, the sons having been admitted to the business. Mr. Warburton is also widely known as an exhibitor and originator of new va- rieties. In 1901 he was awarded a certificate of merit by the American Carnation Society meeting in National Convention at Baltimore, Maryland, for one of his new carnations, "Cress Brook." In 1915 he won the William Randolph Hearst Rose Medal awarded by the National Rose Growers' Associa- tion which met at Grand Central Palace, New York City. In 1921 he brought out a new red carnation, the "Remington," which he named after a friend. It That carnation was awarded a certificate at the Hartford, Connecticut, Carnation Show. has long been a passion with Mr. Warburton to blend colors and to reproduce these colors in flowers. He is a true florist and loves his vocation.
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