USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Hampden county, 1636-1936, Volume III > Part 29
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the previous year, and was still losing when he took the job. He pointed out to his em- ployers the weak spots in the organization, and was told to go ahead and right them, which he did with the cooperation of the employees. In getting the confidence of the employees as well as the officers, this twenty-four old youth, weighing only 115 pounds and many times taken by strangers to be the office boy, with the knowledge of paper-making learned in that small country mill of one and one-half tons capacity, had increased the product of this, the largest paper mill at that time in the world, from about seventy-five to eighty tons weekly (ninety tons was the most ever made in one week) to one hundred and fifty tons per week regularly. This was accomplished without expending one dollar, but it took eighteen hours a day of Mr. Gill's efforts, and the splendid cooperation of the em- ployees. At about that time a new book- keeper and office boy were engaged, and on November 15, of that year, Mr. Gill was elected secretary and given full management of the mill. He bought a block of the com- pany's capital stock at that time, from the savings of seventy per cent. of his salary earned while in Holyoke. The company operated the largest colored writing paper mill in the world, making all the Western Union Telegraph Company paper for about twenty years. Mr. Gill introduced to the railroads and made for them the yellow way- bills now used by almost every railroad in the world. In order to get that business, it was necessary to furnish the waybills all printed, and for some years the printing was done in Holyoke. Mr. Gill managed the company's business so successfully that he succeeded in doubling its production within four months. A short time later he was made.treasurer and bought a larger stock interest, and with its president controlled the company. It is an interesting fact that
the company, while Mr. Gill was an officer, made more money each year than it did the previous year, though the selling price was less. He remained as treasurer of the Chem- ical Paper Company until 1892, building up its business and establishing a deserved rep- utation for business leadership.
In the year 1891 the Winona Paper Com- pany failed in Holyoke, and some of the creditors and bankers involved in the failure, together with Moses Newton, president of the Chemical Paper Company, insisted that Mr. Gill form a corporation and buy the Winona mill and operate it as its treasurer, in addition to his duties as treasurer of the Chemical Paper Company. The newly pur- chased mill was at first called Chemical Paper Company No. 2, and Chemical Paper Company No. I had a large stock interest in it. Mr. Gill bought the Winona mill at pub- lic auction in May, 1891, and in 1893 sold his interest in Chemical Paper Company No. I and bought the other stockholders' interests in Company No. 2. At that time he changed the name. of the plant to the Geo. C. Gill Paper Company. During the nine years that he owned the plant, he erected new build- ings and added additional machinery, with- out ever losing a working day because of lack of orders. In August, 1900, he sold his mill to the American Writing Paper Com- pany, which elected him second vice-presi- dent (he refused the first vice-presidency) and gave him charge of several other mills. He continued as vice-president until his resignation in 1901 to take the presidency of the Shannon Copper Company, which he held for six years, making it a dividend payer, and then selling out his interest to give his attention to banking. In 1900 he was elected a director of the Holyoke Na- tional Bank, and, though offered the presi- dency, declined that office until he had an opportunity to acquaint himself more fully with banking. After a year's experience as
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a director, he was elected president. When he assumed the chief executive office of the bank, its deposits totaled about $700,000, and so effectively did he conduct its affairs that the bank outgrew its quarters and in 1914 bought and rebuilt the building at the corner of High and Dwight streets for additional space and better banking rooms. The de- posits rose to approximately $10,000,000 in 1925, the year in which he withdrew from the presidency. In the course of his presi- dency of the bank, he organized the Savings Department and many innovations were in- troduced, including the "Holyoke National Way" of solving the housing problem which at that time, 1919, was acute. The bank issued 25,000 booklets explaining the plan. It met with instant approval by banks, finan- cial journals and institutions all over the country. By this plan many houses in Hol- yoke and vicinity were built and financed. Practically the same plan is now being used by the government's home loan building association. In June, 1915, the new bank was opened at High and Dwight streets and was pronounced by architects one of the best arranged banking quarters in the country, and has been copied in many other cities. From that time forward the institution's de- posits gained at about the rate of $1,000,000 a year until Mr. Gill retired from the bank- ing business in 1925. In September, 1916, Mr. Gill and associates at St. Albans, Ver- mont, bought the Shipley Pulp and Paper Mills at Sheldon Springs, Vermont, forming a new corporation, The Missisquoi Pulp and Paper Company, and Mr. Gill became its president. During his official connection with the mill, they added new buildings and machinery, increased and improved the pro- duction, bought farms on both sides of the river to add many miles of riparian rights to a very valuable water privilege, and erected tenement houses with electric light
and running water installations, sewers, schools, recreation centers, and in fact con- structed a small and prosperous country town. Mr. Gill sold his interests in this company in 1928 and retired from the com- pany.
The business to which he now gives his attention, the Holyoke Heater Company, was incorporated in 1912, when Mr. Gill be- came its president. He has so remained down to the time of writing. It is situated at No. 90 Sargeant Street, and its chief work consists of the manufacture of water heaters of various kinds. The business grew so fast in its early stages that the company, in order to get a satisfactory source of supply, bought a foundry at the rear of the main plant for manufacturing castings. This branch was incorporated in March, 1920, as the Holyoke Foundry Company, and Mr. Gill has since been its president, as well as head of the parent company.
He is a Republican and a leading figure in Holyoke affairs. Many organizations have craved the advantages of his remarkable business and financial judgment, and he has generously given of his energies to his com- munity and its institutions. On May 9, 1917, the Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank at Boston invited Mr. Gill to form a com- mittee and act as its chairman to help place the First Liberty Loan bonds. Mr. Gill ac- cepted and in fifteen days had raised $2,713,- 050, an over-subscription of $253,050. He acted as chairman of the Second Liberty Loan drive that over-subscribed its quota of $2,840,000 by $1,318,250, in twenty-six days, and in the third drive, which he also di- rected, the quota of $2,222,300 was over-sub- scribed by $712,200, in twenty-eight days. Altogether, under his chairmanship, a total of $9,806,800 Liberty bonds was sold. He is a member of Mount Holyoke Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he
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is also affiliated with the Royal Arch Chap- ter. He is an attendant of the Second Con- gregational Church, of Holyoke.
On June 21, 1893, George Carleton Gill married Jenta Clark Johnson, daughter of Robert B. and Cornelia (Clark) Johnson. Mrs. Gill's father was a native of Weare, New Hampshire, and died in Holyoke. He had been treasurer of the Holyoke Savings Bank for about 40 years at the time of his death, in November, 1900, and was one of Holyoke's most prominent citizens and fin- anciers. Her mother was a native of New Haven, Connecticut. Mrs. Gill passed away on April 8, 1923. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in Holyoke. To Mr. and Mrs. Gill were born the following children : I. Dorothy Johnson Gill, now Mrs. Kendall B. Castle, Jr., of Rochester, New York; they have two sons, Kendall B. Cas- tle, 3d, and Carleton Gill Castle. 2. Dorcas Gill, the wife of Lincoln B. Smith, of Hol- yoke; they have a son, Robert Bruce Smith, and a daughter, Virginia Dorcas Smith.
PATRICK JAMES GARVEY-Out- standing for his professional pursuits, a leader in the social and civic life of Holyoke, Patrick James Garvey is numbered among the foremost citizens of this vicinity. Through the contributions he has made to the life and welfare of his surroundings he justly merits the above description, for he has organized and founded scholastic insti- tutions that afforded an opportunity to those adults whose educational opportunities have been limited; he has sponsored the work of organizations for the youth of the com- munity ; has supported the work of civic and commercial societies, and is widely known for the important place he occupies in fra- ternal circles. His efforts and achievements throughout have been attended by an out- standing success which has won for him the
appreciation and recognition of a grateful public.
Patrick James Garvey was born in North- ampton, Massachusetts, April 20, 1873, the son of John and Honora (Ash) Garvey. His father, who died in Holyoke, December 29, 1905, was a native of Ireland, having been born in County Kerry, the son of Patrick and Elizabeth (Donnelly) Garvey. The elder Mr. Garvey came to this country with his parents at the age of twelve. The fam- ily settled in Easthampton, Massachusetts, where he later became a foundryman, asso- ciated with the Valley Pump Company, manufacturers of steam pumps. Later, he came to Holyoke, where he lived in retire- ment until his demise. His wife, Honora Ash, also a native of County Kerry, Ireland, was the daughter of James Ash, a fisherman.
Mr. Garvey received a general education in the public schools of Easthampton and later attended the St. Joseph's School in Chicopee, from where he was graduated with the class of 1888. He then attended Williston Academy, completing his work here in 1892, and then matriculated at the Boston University Law School, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Laws, cum laude, with the class of 1894. The year he com- pleted his legal training he was admitted to the Massachusetts State Bar and entered the law office of T. B. O'Donnell, now dean of the Hampden County bar. He served an apprenticeship here of two years and in 1896 established a practice of his own, which has subsequently been marked for its outstand- ing distinction and success. For a period he practiced alone and then he formed a part- nership with Franklin A. Morris, a combine which operated under the firm name of Gar- vey and Morris until the latter's death about two years later. From that time on Mr. Garvey has practiced alone and established an enviable reputation as a professional
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man. In his professional affiliations he is a member of the Hampden County and Mas- sachusetts Bar associations.
Throughout his career, Mr. Garvey has taken a deep interest in the affairs of this community. The value of an education has always been paramount in his mind and he has bent every effort to give every one an opportunity in this direction. It was through his initiative and foresight that the first in- dustrial public evening school in the State was organized. This was a forerunner of the present evening vocational school. He was also responsible for organizing the first public school of naturalization and citizen- ship in the State, a feature which is now part of the public school system. To really appre- ciate the true concern he has about educa- tional matters we cite the fact that today he is the principal of the Holyoke Evening High School, an institution he was respon- sible for founding over thirty years ago. In an official capacity he has served as a mem- ber of the board of overseers of the poor. He is a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Holyoke, president of the Tri-County Automobile Club, a member of the executive council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the Boys' Club Council. In his fraternal affiliations he is a member and Past Exalted Ruler and Past District Deputy of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and is a member and past president of the Massachusetts Elks Association. He belongs to the M. C. V. F., Turn Verein Society of Holyoke, and is a non-resident member of the Pasconuck Club of Easthampton. Mr. Garvey is a member of the Democratic party in politics, and in his religious convictions adheres to the Ro- man Catholic faith, worshipping at the Sacred Heart Church of Holyoke. He finds his greatest diversion in sports, and is par- ticularly fond of fishing, hiking and auto- mobile touring.
On June 25, 1902, in Holyoke, Mr. Garvey married Annie E. Kilbride, native of this city and the daughter of Thomas F. and Honora (Flynn) Kilbride, both deceased. Mrs. Garvey is a graduate of the Sacred Heart Convent of Holyoke and the St. Jo- seph's Academy of Pittsfield. She is a mem- ber of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, the Day Nursery, and other wom- en's organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Garvey are the parents of three children: I. Anne P., a graduate of the New Rochelle College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts de- gree; she is now a teacher in the Holyoke High School. 2. James F., a graduate of Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts degree; he is now associated with the New York Telephone Company in New York City. 3. Edward J., who is now a freshman at Colgate University.
SIGEFROID J. BONVOULOIR-En- gaged in several different types of business endeavor, Sigefroid J. Bonvouloir, of Hol- yoke, occupies a position of standing and distinction in his own community and the surrounding district of Hampden County.
Mr. Bonvouloir was born March 24, 1877, at Sainte Brigide, Province of Quebec, Can- ada, son of Pierre and Zoe (Nadeau) Bon- vouloir. His father, who was born at the same place on December 29, 1831, and died on the Bonvouloir homestead there on Octo- ber 20, 1916, was a farmer all his life. Po- litically, he held to the views of the Liberal party and took the lead in local politics. He also belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. His wife was born October 8, 1837, at Sainte Angele, Province of Quebec, Can- ada, and died February 14, 1929, at Sainte Brigide, on the Bonvouloir homestead farm.
Receiving his early education in the pa- rochial schools of his native parish in the Province of Quebec, Sigefroid J. Bonvouloir was afterward graduated from Saint Cesaire
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Commercial College, completing his work ing. He is well-versed in a variety of sub- there in June, 1895. Coming to Holyoke, jects pertaining to contemporary life and current problems, as well as in history and literature, and is often consulted by those who wish expert advice such as can come only from deep study. Massachusetts, he associated himself with his brother, the late Pierre Bonvouloir, in the retail grocery business in High Street. His first position was that of clerk, and later he became a partner with his brother, where- Aside from his brother, Pierre Bonvou- loir, who is now deceased, he has three other brothers : J. A. Bonvouloir, of Central Falls, Rhode Island, and Adelard and Emile Bon- vouloir, who are engaged in farming on the old homestead farm of the family at Sainte Brigide, Province of Quebec, Canada. upon the firm became Pierre Bonvouloir and Company. He continued in that work until 1905, when they sold out the business. Then Mr. Bonvouloir became a traveling sales- man for the M. J. Judge Paper Company, of Holyoke, remaining with that organization until, in 1919, he resigned to become con- nected with the City Cooperative Bank, of Holyoke, and the Holyoke Credit Union. The City Cooperative Bank was founded by his brother, Pierre Bonvouloir, who was also foremost in organizing the Holyoke Credit Union. Becoming clerk for both institu- tions, Sigefroid J. Bonvouloir afterward ac- cepted the assistant treasurership of them, and, at his brother's death, in November, 1934, he became treasurer. So continuing down to the present time, he operates, in addition to these enterprises, a general in- surance business, with headquarters on the second floor of the Park National Bank Building, at No. 380 High Street, Holyoke.
Taking an eager interest in all things hav- ing to do with the affairs of his community and the well-being of its people, Mr. Bon- vouloir belongs to the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, the Circle Rochambeau, and the local council of the Union de Saint Jean Baptiste. Politically, he holds aloof from partisan affiliations, giving his support al- ways to the men best qualified for public office and to the measures that he believes politically right. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Aside from the societies with which he is connected, Mr. Bonvouloir devotes his major time and energy to read-
LINCOLN BARDWELL SMITH-An active figure in the business life of Holyoke during the past twelve years, Lincoln Bard- well Smith is an officer or director of sev- eral leading enterprises of the city and has played an important part in their develop- ment. He was born at South Hadley Falls November 15, 1895, son of Fred Merwin and Evelyn (Bardwell) Smith and a member of a family long established in that community. His great-grandfather, Hiram Smith, who was born and died there, was known as "King Hiram," because he was Hadley's most prominent citizen, the keeper of the general store, postmaster and general friend and counselor to all his neighbors. Hiram Smith, the grandfather, was also a merchant and postmaster at South Hadley. He mar- ried Harriet Coney and they were the par- ents of Fred Merwin Smith, born at South Hadley Falls in September, 1863, died there January 7, 1928. He was principal of the local schools in early life, but subsequently became a paper manufacturer and followed that vocation until his retirement. A Re- publican in politics, he served for two terms in the State Legislature and was regarded as one of the most influential members of his party in the State as well as an outstanding figure in the South Hadley district. During
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the World War, he was chairman of Draft Board No. 7, under the Selective Service Act. Evelyn (Bardwell) Smith, his wife, who was born in Shelburne, Massachusetts, still resides in South Hadley. She is a daughter of Osmus Omri Bardwell, a farmer born at Shelburne, and Helen (Packer) Bardwell, who was a native of Mt. Holly, Vermont.
Lincoln Bardwell Smith, of this record, received his preliminary education in the public schools of South Hadley, Phillips Andover Academy and the Cheshire Pre- paratory School, Cheshire, Connecticut. Subsequently he entered Amherst College, but in April, 1917, gave up his studies and enlisted in the army at Providence, Rhode Island, for war service. He was trained at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and Boxford, Massachusetts, and early in October, 1917, went overseas with the 26th (Yankee) Di- vision, which was the first complete division of the American army on the front. After further training in France, these troops moved to the front line trenches and there- after participated in most of the major de- fensive and offensive engagements of the American Expeditionary Forces. In No- vember, 1917, Mr. Smith was promoted to corporal and served with this rank during the remainder of his enlistment. After eight- een months overseas he was returned to the United States and received his honorable discharge with the rank of corporal at Camp Devens, Ayer, Massachusetts, in April, 1919.
In the spring of 1920, Mr. Smith became associated with the Stevens-Duryea Com- pany of Chicopee, Massachusetts, and was employed with that company for ten months as a mechanic. Early in 1921 he secured a place with the Hadley Mills Company at South Hadley to learn the woolen business, but after a period of six months he came to Holyoke as a helper and moulder with the
Holyoke Foundry Company, a place which offered larger opportunities. Within a brief period he was promoted to foreman in the plant and in 1922 was elected treasurer of the company, an office he has since filled. In 1925 he also became connected with the Holyoke Heater Company as assistant treas- urer and has continued his association with this enterprise, of which he is now vice- president and general manager. Mr. Smith's interests have extended in recent years to the field of finance. He is a director of the Park National Bank and president of the Holyoke Securities Company, devoting a full share of his attention to the duties of these positions. In addition he has been active in club and civic life. He is a mem- ber and past president of the Lions Club of Holyoke, a member of the Pelham Country Club and the Y. D. Club of Boston, is affili- ated with Mt. Holyoke Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons at South Hadley and Saint Andrew's Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also a member of the Engineers Soci- ety of Western Massachusetts, the Second Congregational Church of Holyoke and the Reserve Officers' Association of the United States Army. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Smith is fond of outdoor sports, particu- larly fishing, and of radio and flying. He is an amateur radio operator and owns his own plane, which he flies for diversion.
On September 16, 1922, he married C. Dorcas Gill, daughter of George C. Gill, president of the Holyoke Heater Company and the Holyoke Foundry Company, and Jenta (Johnson) Gill, now deceased. Mrs. Smith was educated in the public schools of Holyoke, Capen School at Northampton, the Emma Willard School at Troy, New York, from which she was graduated in 1916, and Smith College, where she was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1920. She is a member of the Second Congrega-
William & Makelin
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tional Church of Holyoke, the Junior Serv- ice Corps of this city and Eunice Day Chap- ter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children : Rob- ert Bruce and Virginia Dorcas Smith.
WILLIAM BROWNRIGG WAKELIN -- Among the prominent business men and citizens of the city of Holyoke is William Brownrigg Wakelin, who directs, as presi- dent and general manager, the activities of the McAuslan and Wakelin Company, In- corporated, a dry goods concern of which his father was one of the organizers. Apart from administering the affairs of this organi- zation, which is one of the largest of its type in this vicinity, Mr. Wakelin is also promi- nent in the social and civic life of this com- munity being affiliated with many of the leading organizations here.
publican party, and other social and civic organizations. He worshipped at the First Congregational Church in this city. His wife, Margaret McAuslan, also a native of Scotland, having been born there in 1852, died at the family winter home in Florida in January, 1931.
Mr. Wakelin was afforded a general edu- cation in the public schools of Nashua, New Hampshire, and later came to Holyoke, at- tending the Holyoke High School. After completing his studies at these institutions he entered the Holyoke Business College, and prepared himself for the business associa- tion he was to form with his father in 1899 when he joined the firm of McAuslan and Wakelin as a shipping clerk. He displayed marked aptitude for the business from the outset and under the expert tutelage of his father, gained a thorough and well-rounded experience that prepared him for the im- portant and responsible positions he occu- pies today. From the post of shipping clerk he rose to become department manager in the ready-to-wear department and when the establishment became McAuslan and Wake- lin Company, Incorporated, he assumed the post of secretary in addition to being mer- chandizing manager. He worked in this executive capacity until the death of his father at which time he was elected presi- dent and general manager.
William Brownrigg Wakelin was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 12, 1879 son of William B. and Margaret (McAus- lan) Wakelin. His father, who was born in Scotland in 1844, died in the State of Flor- ida May 30, 1921, while still a resident of Holyoke. The elder Wakelin received a general education in the schools of Scot- land and came to this country as a young man, settling in New York City. Later he came to Holyoke, and joined the dry goods firm of Connelly, McAuslan & Forbes, a partnership business. He recognized the Apart from his business pursuits Mr. Wakelin has been very active in the social and civic life of this city. He is a member of the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, a member and past president of the Holyoke Kiwanis Club, belongs to the Mount Tom Golf Club and fraternizes with the William Whiting Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Hol- yoke. A man fond of outdoor life he finds opportunities that existed here for the fu- ture of this concern, and consequently in 1885 he purchased the interests of Messrs. Connelly and Forbes and the firm has been organized under the title of McAuslan and Wakelin, operating in this manner until its incorporation at which time he became pres- ident, a post he maintained with outstanding distinction and success until his demise. As a resident of this community he was active in local affairs, being a member of the Re- his greatest pleasure and recreation in golf
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