USA > Massachusetts > Biographical history of Massachussetts; biographies and autobiographies of the leading men in the state, 1911, vol 9 > Part 10
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It may be remarked at this point that before Mr. Gulesian's parents had finally decided to withdraw their opposition, a great council of the family, relatives and elders of the church had been held, and the whole city of Marash had been stirred to its depths, as no other Armenian from there had ever ventured on such a journey except the man already alluded to, who had left twenty- five years before, and who was unknown to most of the people ex-
MOSES HADJI GULESIAN
cept by hearsay. In connection with the excitement aroused during the whole discussion, America was advertised to Marash as it never had been before, and within a year twenty-five other Armenians from Marash and its vicinity followed Mr. Gulesian. Among them were a minister and a poet, who at first had been especially vigorous in their opposition to young Gulesian's de- parture. This was practically the beginning of the exodus of Armenians from that part of Asia Minor, and up to the time of the massacre and deportations by the Turks and Germans in 1915, nearly 8,000 had found safety in America.
Mr. Gulesian's troubles by no means ended with the sailing of the ship, for his approach to the New World was under conditions about as unpromising as could well be imagined. He landed at Castle Garden in the late afternoon on May 4, 1883, without any friends except a few Italians whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage, and from whom he had learned enough Italian to make himself understood. He had only two Turkish pounds left, which of course could not be negotiated except at the office of a broker, but, with characteristic hopefulness, he supposed that at last the winter of his discontent was, to adapt a Shakesperian phrase, to be- come glorious summer, now that he had become a son of (New) York. He was soon to be undeceived.
He started to find the brother of an old chum, not having his address except New York, but thinking that almost any one could direct him to the place. His first experience was apparently re- assuring, for within two hundred feet of the gate of Castle Garden, he encountered two men who appeared to be friendly, and when Mr. Gulesian said " Iskyan? " to them, meaning could they tell where Mr. Iskyan lived, they nodded and at once proceeded ap- parently to guide him to the place, and went so far as to offer to carry his valise for him; but, as they seemed rather too eager, he concluded to keep the valise in his own possession. The two men conducted him on toward a dark place, when Mr. Gulesian, thinking that things did not look just right, turned suddenly, and ran back toward Castle Garden. On turning to look back, he saw the strangers making great haste in the opposite direction.
By good fortune, when he arrived at Castle Garden, the Italian friends, from whom he had parted about twenty minutes earlier, were still there. He told them his experience, and they kindly offered to assist him in getting located in the morning. All night he lay thinking how he had come all the way from Asia Minor alone and friendless and without knowing a word of any language but his own, except what he had picked up on his travels, and no one had interfered or tried to rob him until the very first hour of his landing on American soil. And he said to himself: "Is this the
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America of my ambition, ' the land of milk and honey,' 'the gate- way of opportunity '? Can it be so wicked? Can this be the country from which the missionaries came?" It was several years before that feeling of disappointment passed away, and it led in after years to his making arrangements for a very different kind of reception on behalf of strangers at the gate. Ever since he mas- tered the English language, he has strongly advocated the ap- pointment of commissioners - either by the state or federal government - to meet and befriend newly arrived emigrants and provide means for placing them where they can work to the best advantage.
The next morning he took his valise and started forth once more in quest of Mr. Iskyan, but it did not seem so easy a task to find his countryman in New York as he had anticipated. For two days he searched in vain, hungry and tired, nor could he find again his Italian friends, not having taken their address, as he thought he would easily find his countryman before the day was over. No less than one hundred policemen shook their heads when asked if they knew Mr. Iskyan. Whenever he showed his Turkish money in order to buy food, people shook their heads. Finally, being on the verge of starvation, he made up his mind to eat at the first place where he could find anything, before showing his money. He saw some bread in a bakeshop, and went inside and pointed to the bread. The woman gave him a loaf and a glass of milk and he ate voraciously. Then he offered his Turkish money. The woman took a second glance at it, opened the door and said: "Get out!" The only resting place he had for those two days was the benches on City Hall Common. In the afternoon of the second day he chanced to look into a basement on Canal Street, and saw something moving back and forth like a loom. He went down two or three steps for a closer scrutiny, and saw a man weaving. As weaving was a very common industry in Marash, it looked as though possibly some of his countrymen were operating the machine. But the entrance was very dark and forbidding, and he dared not venture in for fear of another experience like his first. He walked on a couple of blocks, but, thinking of another night of exposure, he concluded that, live or die, he must go back and go into that basement, as the long- sought Iskyan was a weaver, and this man might know something of him. He entered, and said: "Iskyan ?" That, with gestures, was the best he could do in English. The man nodded that he knew Iskyan, and motioned him to sit down, which he was very glad to do to rest his weary feet. After waiting half an hour, a man came in who proved to be the proprietor of the place. After con- siderable gesturing and many signs Mr. Gulesian made the proprietor understand that he would give him one-half of a Turkish pound to
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be conducted to Mr. Iskyan's place. This man beckoned him to follow, and led him a short distance to a building at No. 7 Bowery, which, in his condition, appeared to him like a second heaven. There to his great joy, he found three of his countrymen. They exchanged his Turkish pounds for United States coin, and he was able to pay his guide. About a week afterward he obtained work in the latter place, which was Mr. Iskyan's factory, at two dollars a week, with the privilege of sleeping in the building.
Mr. Gulesian's occupation at first was that of winding bobbins. Soon after he learned to weave carpets, and made from six to eight dollars a week. During his apprenticeship he was expected to do extra work in sweeping and cleaning the floor of the factory in pay- ment for his lodging. This might not seem a very ambitious prop- osition, but it was the beginning of much larger things, and when Mr. Gulesian goes to New York, he occasionally visits No. 7 Bowery and the City Hall Park.
After working in New York for six months, he felt that he was not getting altogether what he had come to America for. He was not learning English fast enough, and was having very little op- portunity to mingle with Americans. He therefore decided to go to Worcester, Mass. Here he lived for four and a half years, doing various things as chance offered, often out of work, not knowing enough English to find out that his trade of coppersmith, learned in Armenia, would be useful in this country. When he had learned this important fact he at once looked up a coppersmith and applied for work. The proprietor asked: "How much do you want a week?" Mr. Gulesian replied: "I will come Mon- day morning, and work for you a week; then you can pay me whatever you think I am worth." When at the end of the week he opened his pay envelope and found fifteen dollars, he was nearly stunned with surprise. Then he said to himself: "Oh, if there had only been someone when I landed at Castle Garden to find out from me what trade I followed in the old country, I might have earned fifteen dollars the second week after I landed, instead of getting from two to nine dollars a week for the past five years." The first fifty dollars he saved in America he sent to his parents in Marash, in appreciation of their returning to him his money in Smyrna.
While in Worcester, realizing that he was not progressing rapidly enough in English, he attended the Worcester Academy for two terms. In order to pay his tuition, he went to school in the fore- noon and worked in the machine-shop in the afternoon, doing his studying at night. This proved too strenuous, and he had to give up school. After working in this place for six months, business became slack, and Mr. Gulesian, learning that there were a number
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of places in Boston where skilled coppersmiths readily found em- ployment, he moved to Boston, in July, 1887. He bought a daily paper at the station and, looking through the advertise- ments, found one asking for cornice-makers. He applied, and was told to come at once.
After working in Boston two years he started in business for himself not a stone's throw from where his six-story factory (12 to 16 Waltham St.) stands today, and in less than two months he was employing twenty-two men. His business grew rapidly, and in a few years he built his factory and moved there.
In 1891, he married Cora Frances Plummer, a woman of culture and refinement, daughter of Jonathan P. and Caroline (Vincent) Plummer. Mrs. Gulesian died October 10, 1916. Her father was one of Boston's oldest and most respected citizens. They have one daughter, Margaret Alice. Mr. Gulesian now lives in a beautiful home which he built seventeen years ago, at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Waban Hill Road, Chestnut Hill, overlooking the lovely waters of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
Aside from his regular business, from which he has now retired, Mr. Gulesian has dealt considerably in real estate for the past fourteen years, and his success in that direction has been remark- able. His shrewd observation and keen conception of the value of real estate have been recognized, so that some of the best known real estate investors and firms constantly seek his advice on such subjects. Among the many buildings which he has erected is the attractive St. James Theatre on Huntington Avenue, of which he is proprietor.
At the time of the Armenian massacres from 1894 to 1896, Mr. Gulesian spoke at a large number of meetings in different parts of the country with telling effect of the woes of his fellow countrymen, suffering under the barbarous rule of the Turk, rousing the interest of the American people and assisting in raising money for the starv- ing thousands in Armenia. He also helped the Red Cross Society.
In 1896, after the Constantinople massacre, Lady Henry Somer- set and Miss Frances E. Willard sent a large number of refugees to America by way of Marseilles. Two hundred refugees were sent to Boston. Mr. Gulesian offered to shelter them, and gave up a part of his factory for the purpose. With the aid of these ladies and many prominent Bostonians who were interested, he soon had established a systematic and well-kept home. A tem- porary kitchen was built and classes formed, and American ways and methods were taught. Even the smallest details were scruti- nized by Mr. Gulesian. He was so deeply interested in making the lot of his unfortunate countrymen easier that he worked with un- ceasing energy, and his business-like method of conducting this
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temporary home was a wonder to all concerned. Miss Alice Stone Blackwell said: " Mr. Gulesian works like a horse." The refugees remained there until suitable places were found for them at various occupations.
All this time he had been working hard through the British Ambassador at Constantinople to have his relatives, who had been in the midst of the massacre, and whose property had been burned or seized by the Turkish Government, come to America. No sooner had the first refugees been arranged for than he got word that his family and near relatives had arrived in New York, twenty- two in number. They were detained at Ellis Island, and he went to New York to release them. When his mother, who was in the party, first saw him, she said: " Thank God that, in His Providence, we decided to send that second telegram to the missionary at Smyrna, fifteen years ago, bidding him return the money to you, for this brought you to America, and you have been the means of saving us."
He placed them in the Waltham Street temporary home, where they remained for a year, until they were able to care for them- selves.
He has always been ready to lend a helping hand to any of his countrymen, and they are always welcome to his office, where they are greeted with a pleasant smile and a warm handshake, and the poorer the visitor, the more he is made welcome.
He has written many articles for newspapers and magazines upon the Armenian question, the titles of some being: " Armenia of To-day and its Possibilities," " The English Hand in Turkish Massacres," " The Armenian Refugee."
While his native country and countrymen have a warm place in his heart, he is equally interested in everything American, and no more patriotic American could be found anywhere. One of his patriotic acts which is still fresh in mind was his offer to Secretary Bonaparte of $10,000 for the ship " Constitution." This he in- stantly decided upon making when he first read of the plan to use the grand old ship as a target. He thought that to destroy that frigate would be to destroy one of the most precious relics in our possession, one fraught with cherished memories. Mr. Gulesian says: " This priceless relic will do more to preserve and inspire American patriotism in our youth, than almost any other object." He claims that England would not part with Nelson's Flagship for its weight in gold. " Are we poorer than England, that we have to econo- mize by destroying the dear old ship?" The following is a copy of the telegram to Secretary Bonaparte which electrified the country, and many give Mr. Gulesian the credit of being the means of arousing the enthusiasm which saved the ship at that time.
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" Chas. J. Bonaparte, Boston, Dec. 11, 1905.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
Will give ten thousand dollars for the Constitution (Old Iron- sides). Will you sell?
M. H. Gulesian, 16 Waltham St., Boston, Mass.
Here is another instance of American patriotism shown by Mr. Gulesian: fourteen years ago, when, authorized by the City of Boston, he made the lion and unicorn of copper to replace the historic ones on the Old State House, he bought the old ones to ensure their preservation, and today they adorn the lawn in front of his house.
Mr. Gulesian has numbered among his friends and co-workers Julia Ward Howe, William Lloyd Garrison, Henry B. Blackwell, Alice Stone Blackwell, Frank B. Sanborn, Richard Humphreys, Frances E. Willard, Samuel J. Barrows, Isabel C. Barrows, Edward Everett Hale, Mary A. Livermore, Lord Bryce, and William T. Stead, all of whom have had an influence on his life.
He is president of the Huntington Avenue Improvement Asso- ciation, of the Old Ironsides Association, member of the Republi- can Club of Massachusetts, the Columbian Lodge of Masons, the Bostonian Society, the Boston Press Club, the Chamber of Com- merce, the Boston City Club, the Bay State Automobile Club and the Boston Economic Club. He was also an organizer and at one time a director of the Cosmopolitan Trust Company, and he was Secretary of the United Friends of Armenia, of which Julia Ward Howe was President and William Lloyd Garrison, Treasurer. He is an executive member of the Men's League for Woman Suf- frage, and honorary member of the Playwriters' Club. He is associated with the Baptist denomination. For recreation, motor- ing and walking are his favorite diversions.
When, in 1915, it was decided to form a citizens' training camp at Plattsburg, Mr. Gulesian was one of the first to volunteer as a private. He proved himself an enthusiastic "rookie," and made some remarkable scores in marksmanship for a man who had never handled a gun.
In the spring of 1917 he sent the following letter to Colonel Roosevelt:
" Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, April 14, 1917. Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.
Dear Colonel: -
It appears now that you will raise your Division of United States Volunteers to go to France, and I want to ask you, if, when the time
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comes, you will consider me as a private to serve under you? I am an Armenian by birth, resident of America for over thirty years. I am fifty-two years of age, but I am strong and healthy and know how to shoot.
I consider it not only a privilege but the greatest honor to fight under the American flag for the liberation of poor Belgium and the defense of dear France.
My military experience consists only of training at the 1915 Plattsburg Camp, where I was a member of C Company, Second Battalion.
I earnestly hope you will place my application on file, and that I may hear from you favorably at the proper time.
With sincerest regard, I remain
Sincerely yours, (Signed) M. H. Gulesian."
He is an earnest advocate of universal military training, to promote discipline and obedience as the only means of true effi- ciency. He is also an advocate of practically free immigration, and claims that every able-bodied man or woman should be al- lowed to land, whether having any money or not. His own life is a splendid illustration of his favorite theory that the immigrants who want to come to this country are the ones whom the country wants and needs, and that the truest Americans are not always those to the manner born, but often the wise men of the East, who behold and follow the Star leading to the life of higher possibilities and achievement. He believes that two things more than any- thing else have made this country the most wonderful in the world: first, immigration, and secondly, the railroads. As he says, " You can put a hundred million more foreigners in the country, and still have plenty of room left." He laughs at those immigrants who object to other immigrants coming. He has made a special study of the near Eastern question, and thoroughly understands all phases of Turkish and European politics.
Mr. Gulesian gives the following message to young Americans, particularly to the young foreigners who come to these shores: " Be neat and clean in personal appearance; be honest; do every- thing that comes along cheerfully and willingly. Do not impair your faculties by smoking and drinking, which are detrimental to your success in life. Above all, endeavor to associate with the best type of American men and women."
Mr. Gulesian has wrought well for the people of his native land, has been a true Moses in leading many of them out of darkness to the Land of Liberty, has brought their best traditions to the New World, and has helped with distinguished success to upbuild his adopted country.
Ing by EG Winding 2 Ste
Howard P. Haines.
HOWARD PRESTON HAINES
H OWARD PRESTON HAINES, a man of learning and an esteemed resident of Malden, Massachusetts, was born January 17, 1855, at Saco, Maine, and died August 3, 1917. His father, Samuel Haines (born at Saco, Maine, December 25, 1825 - died February 22, 1903), son of Hannah Milliken and Asa Haines, was for thirty years a mill agent for the Columbian Manu- facturing Company, a self-made, far-sighted man with great finan- cial ability, loyalty, and faithful devotion to the business interests entrusted to his care, and endowed with a strong sense of humor. He was fond of music, the theater, and fine horses.
His mother, Minerva L. McFadden, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Reirdan) McFadden, of Scotch descent, was a noble woman of strong character, quiet dignity and independent thought, whose encouragement and excellent training proved helpful in fitting her son for his life work. Mr. Haines was of English and Scotch descent, the ancestors on the paternal side settling in Maine among the early colonists of this country. His uncle, Dr. Reuben Haines was a skilful surgeon, doing wonderful brain surgery in 1878.
In childhood Mr. Haines evinced a strong love for reading and games. He also had many small tasks at home which were a benefit to him throughout life, teaching obedience, discipline and self- reliance.
His education was received at Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, and at Harvard College, from which he was gradu- ated with the degree of A.B. in 1881. During college days Emer- son's works, histories, biographies, and humorous literature were his companions, with mathematics and science for deeper reading and study.
At the completion of his college course he began his business career with the Columbian Manufacturing Company. Later he traveled West and became engaged in agricultural pursuits. After several years he returned East and took up teaching as a profession for which he had a special preference. This was in 1892. In 1896 he accepted a position in the Boston Customs' Service which he
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filled for eight years, then returning to private study and tutoring In 1912 and 1916 he was elected a delegate to the Progressiv Presidential Conventions.
Mr. Haines was a member of the Pi Eta fraternity of Cambridge the Kappa Omicron Alpha of Andover, the University Club o Malden, and the Amphion Club of Melrose. Politically, he was : member of the Progressive Party. Until 1912 he had always votec the Republican ticket and changed his party because of the means taken to elect the Republican nominee to the Presidency. He was a Unitarian in belief, but a member of the First Universalist Parish, Malden. His recreations were the theater, grand opera, and the attendance at University games. He traveled extensively in his own country and abroad, making special visits to university cities and towns, observing very closely the methods of instruction.
September 3, 1890, he married Lottie B. Smiley, daughter of Orrin C. Smiley and Mary (Huston) Smiley, granddaughter of Joseph Smiley and David Huston, who were of English and Scotch descent and early settlers of Maine.
The following were some of the rules of success which he often advised young people to follow: " Obedience, frugality, industry. Strict attention to business as the first consideration. Amusements secondary; with due cultivation of mind and heart."
Mr. Haines was an instructor of marked ability, an educator with natural endowments that brought him success in his pro- fession. He had a strong sense of justice and right, was kind hearted and sympathetic with those in distress and a liberal con- tributor toward educational advancement, giving financial help to many young men and women in college. He was a most con- siderate man, ever thoughtful of those with whom he was intimately associated. His students and those connected with the various institutions in which he taught were recipients of many acts of thoughtful kindness at his hands.
Mr. Haines' life was full of good works, publicly and privately bestowed, and in the many activities in which he served and repre- sented the community his usefulness was far-reaching and the high appreciation in which he was held was richly deserved. It reflected honor upon his kindred as well as upon the home of his life-time, and affords a noble example to those upon whom his duties now must fall. May his influence as a true citizen, his philanthropy and un- failing interest in humanity ever be emulated.
WILLIAM TAYLOR HARLOW
A STERLING citizen of Worcester County, faithful and effi- cient in the many civil positions which he held, a veteran of the Civil War, a valued officer in two Massachusetts regi- ments, and a man respected wherever known, was William Taylor Harlow, who was born in Shrewsbury, Worcester County, October 3, 1828. He died in Worcester, Massachusetts, December 1, 1915. He came of the best Pilgrim stock, for in his veins ran the blood of Governor William Bradford, John and Priscilla Alden, William and Alice Mullens and Richard Warren. These with Sergeant William Harlow, who came from England nine years after the landing of the Pilgrims, constitute an ancestry of which he might well have been proud.
William Taylor Harlow was the son of Gideon Harlow, who was born February 17, 1799, and died October 26, 1877. His mother was Harriet Howe. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Harlow, who was born in 1775 and died in 1865; and his maternal grand- father was Nathan Howe. His grandmothers were Thankful Bannister and Mary Parker. His father was a farmer, public spirited, always interested in the welfare of the community in which he lived, of untiring energy, lovable in his home and devoted to his family. His mother was a highminded woman whose influence was strong and wholesome and left its impress on his moral and spiritual life.
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