USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Hampden county, 1636-1936, Volume III > Part 37
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To fully appreciate the significance of this industry one must realize the very impor- tant position soap has come to assume in the manufacturing world. It is employed in hundreds of trades and is practically indis- pensable to the textile industry. The elder Perkins was aware of this fact and it is due to his genius and enterprise that the organi-
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zation he founded has enjoyed such out- standing success. The history and back- ground of this venture is of great interest for it originally had its inception in 1857, in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Thomas T. Fisk, "father of men who made history in the manufacturing realm of the Nation," started to make tallow candles in the cellar of his home, for general sale. The venture did not prosper. His sons, who had come to Springfield and enjoyed success, came to their father's rescue, built him a shop in Hinsdale, and capitalized his venture. Soap was added to the manufacture of candles and the products were marketed and dis- tributed by members of the family residing in Springfield. The elder Fisk passed away in 1861 and the sons took over the business, bringing it to this city. It was operated under the firm name of L. I. Fisk and Com- pany until the passing of Levi I. Fisk in 1880, when it became the Fisk Manufactur- ing Company, and was incorporated and capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. Even- tually attention was turned to the founding of the Fisk Rubber Company and later the manufacturing concern was sold to the American Textile Soap Company, which failed in its objective to merge various plants into a large concern. The business was discontinued and it was at this time that Eugene C. Perkins purchased the machinery owned by the company and began to formu- late plans for operation. He founded the Perkins Soap Company with C. H. Dunker, who passed away in 1933. It was shortly after this that George C. Perkins was named president and D. A. Sullivan became vice- president and superintendent of the plant.
George C. Perkins received a general edu- cation in the public schools of his native city and later attended the Choate Preparatory School at Wallingford, Connecticut. After completing his studies at the latter institu-
tion he became associated with his father in business, initiating a career which has been marked for its distinction and success. Mr. Perkins has taken a keen and active interest in the social and civic affairs of his surround- ings and has been particularly prominent in the Springfield Boys' Club, an organization in which he serves as vice-president today. He is widely known socially and holds mem- bership in the Longmeadow Country Club.
In 1933 George C. Perkins married Eliza- beth Carver, of Westford. They reside at No. 87 Forest Glen Road, Longmeadow.
RUFUS H. TILTON-Highly esteemed among his colleagues, Rufus H. Tilton, at- torney, has maintained a large and lucrative practice in the city of Springfield for over fifteen years. During this period he has built up a large and select clientele, particu- larly among the leading business men, and today is specializing to a great extent in casualty and insurance law.
Mr. Tilton was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, October 9, 1884, the son of Charles and Cora (Shackford) Tilton. His father, who is a native of the State of New Hampshire and still living, is a Methodist clergyman. His mother, who haled from the city of Boston, passed away in 1930. Mr. Tilton attended the public schools of his native community, later entered the Boston Latin School, and after completing his studies here matriculated at Wesleyan Uni- versity, graduating from this institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1908. At this time he determined to follow the legal profession and attended George Washington University, where he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws in IgII. The same year he was admitted to the Massachusetts State Bar and initiated a private practice in the city of Boston, which he continued to conduct until 1916, when
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he came to Springfield, where he has since been engaged in an independent practice. The work he has accomplished during his residence here has won him wide renown, and he is particularly noted for his achieve- ments in casualty and insurance cases. In his profession he is a member of the Hamp- den County Bar Association.
He has been active in political and civic affairs, at one time serving as assistant dis- trict attorney of western Massachusetts, as well as being a member of the Constitutional Convention. His work in the former office was outstanding. In his social affiliations Mr. Tilton is a member of the University Club and the Winthrop Club. During his collegiate career he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and the legal fra- ternity of Phi Delta Phi.
In 1912, Mr. Tilton married Marguerite L. Verne of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of one daughter, Elea- nor M., a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, also of Boston University, where she re- ceived her Master's degree.
THOMAS PATRICK SAMPSON-In the business life of the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, Thomas Patrick Sampson has for many years taken an important rôle. He is now treasurer and general manager of the T. P. Sampson Company, as well as its president, and his son, Neylon J. Sampson, is the active head of the organization. An- other son, Everett T. Sampson, assists in the work of the company, which is one of Hampden County's leading undertaking establishments.
Mr. Sampson, the father, was born at Feakle, County Clare, Ireland, on December 25, 1858, son of Thomas Sampson and Brid- get (Shea) Sampson. All of his family in Ireland were buyers and sellers of fruit lands and orchards. He had a full grammar
school education in his native land, and later was graduated from the Comer Commercial College. It was in 1878, after coming to the United States, that he entered the under- taking business with Bourke Brothers. Afterward he continued this work with other firms until he was able to establish and incorporate the T. P. Sampson Com- pany in 1909 in Springfield. He has re- mained as president, treasurer and general manager of this enterprise down to the pres- ent time, though gradually he has relin- quished many of the active duties connected with his office and turned them over to his sons.
No record of Mr. Sampson's life would be complete without an account of the devel- opment of his business, which in its infancy was situated on Bridge Street, opposite Stearns Park. Later it was removed to Dwight Street and then to Matton Street. In 1927 the Sampsons bought the residence of Harry J. Fiske at No. 730 State Street, where they have remained down to the pres- ent time. The building here was com- pletely renovated and altered, so that it is now equipped with every modern conven- ience for the proper handling of large funer- als. Arrangements make it possible for four funerals to be held from this house at the same time. The nine employees of the com- pany include three licensed embalmers and a woman assistant. In 1934 the T. P. Samp- son Company opened a branch at No. 500 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, for the conven- ience of its Forest Park, Longmeadow and East Longmeadow clientele. Appointments in the Sampson funeral home are beautiful and in good taste, their quiet dignity giving a homelike appearance to the establishment. Father and sons and the employees of the organization have trained themselves to give the most careful attention to every detail of their work.
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In addition to his work with the business, Thomas Patrick Sampson has given consid- erable attention to community affairs in Springfield. In addition to being a member of the Massachusetts State Funeral Direc- tors' Association and the National Funeral Directors' Association, he is active in the Tuesday Club; the Calvert Club ; the John Boyle O'Reilly Club; the Fraternal Order of Eagles, in which he is a charter member of his lodge; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Knights of Columbus, in which he holds the Fourth degree; and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, in which he was formerly president of Division No. 6. He is a member of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cathedral, having belonged to this parish since 1878. His contributions to charitable and church organizations have been numerous and valuable, and he has continued them through all the mature years of his life. Though interested in poli- tics and public affairs, he has withdrawn from the limelight of popular attention and has held himself aloof from any office-seek- ing tendency, preferring to meet his respon- sibilities in the realm of business and in his private relationships.
At Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1888, Thomas Patrick Sampson married Susan G. Neylon, daughter of John and Bridget (Ma- loney) Neylon. They became the parents of the following children: I. Everett T. Sampson, referred to above as an assistant in the business of the T. P. Sampson Com- pany, of Springfield. 2. Ruby, who is now Mrs. Ruby G. (Sampson) McNeil. 3. Ney- lon J. Sampson, of further mention. 4. Ethel L. Sampson.
Neylon J. Sampson who is in active charge of the business of the T. P. Sampson Company, was born in Springfield, Massa- chusetts, and educated in the public schools here. After completing his preliminary edu-
cation, he went immediately into business, and business has represented his major in- terest since that time. He is, however, ac- tive in a number of organizations, profes- sional and otherwise, including the Massa- chusetts Funeral Directors' Association and the National Funeral Directors' Association, the Knights of Columbus, the Foresters, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Calvert Club, the Tuesday Club, the John Boyle O'Reilly Club, the Alhambra Club and the Turn Verein; member of the Knights of Columbus ; member of and past chief ranger of McDermott Court of Massachusetts Cath- olic Order of Foresters.
CHARLES T. SANDQUIST-Recog- nized as an expert in the electrotyping busi- ness, Charles T. Sandquist has made several important contributions to the science of electrotyping in his factory at Springfield and has seen these innovations adopted by companies other than his own. He has been connected with this same kind of business practically all his life, and is esteemed and respected in the commercial world.
Mr. Sandquist was born December 29, 1877, at New Haven, Connecticut, son of Charles U. and Clara (Anderson) Sandquist, who came from Sweden to this country. His father was an expert machinist.
In the public and high schools Charles T. Sandquist received his formal education. After a little preliminary experience, he came to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1898, and started his labors in the electrotyping trade here. He was able, by 1912, to buy out the firm of Charles Van Vlack, who had founded an electrotyping enterprise here in 1867 and had become one of the early busi- ness pioneers of the city. In 1912 this com- pany was incorporated under the name of the Charles Van Vlack Company. Mr.
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Sandquist became president and treasurer of the newly organized company, and Milton R. Steele was made secretary of the firm. His wife became vice-president. This firm employs more than sixteen people, and per- forms work that is international in scope.
In addition to his activities as president of the Charles Van Vlack Company, Mr. Sand- quist is a director of the National Securities Corporation. He is prominent in the Free and Accepted Masons, being connected with Springfield Lodge, and he holds the thirty- second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite; he also is a member of Melha Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club; and his church is the Congregational.
In 1902 Charles T. Sandquist married Jus- tine L. Lindgren, who came from Sweden to this country. To this marriage the follow- ing children were born: I. Clara Eleanor, a graduate of Columbia University ; she be- came the wife of Charles Pearson, and they have a daughter, Janice Pearson. 2. Theo- dore Abner, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he attended the Whar- ton School of Business and Finance. The Sandquist home is situated at No. 38 Fern- leaf Avenue, Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and Mr. Sandquist has his place of business at No. 191 Chestnut Street, Springfield, Massachusetts.
WILLIAM WHITING, son of William B. Whiting, founder of the Whiting Coal Company of Holyoke, was born in Dudley, Massachusetts, in 1841, and died in Holyoke on January 9, 1911. He was a descendant of James Whiting, one of the early settlers of Hingham, Massachusetts, who came to the Colonies from Hingham, England.
William Whiting was the founder of the Whiting Paper Company, which was estab- lished in 1863 when the first paper mill was
built on the site of the present office of the company. In 1865 the business was incor- porated and in the same year the second mill was built between the first and second ca- nals on Dwight Street. The third mill, erected in 1928, adjoins the No. 2 mill be- tween the canal.
Mr. Whiting became one of Holyoke's leading citizens and served as both mayor and treasurer of his home city. He was elected a member of Congress in 1883 and while in Washington became a close friend of William McKinley, who afterward be- came President. He married Anna Maria Fairfield, daughter of Luther M. Fairfield, of Holyoke, and they had two sons, William Fairfield and Samuel Raynor.
William Whiting was a very public- spirited man and also had numerous private charitable enterprises. A special concern of his was the Holyoke City Hospital which he helped to establish and to which he gave generously of time and money as long as he lived. Mr. Whiting had a large farm in Holyoke and another in Chesterfield which he visited frequently, and he was interested in all phases of farm life. He felt that it was an advantage for a boy to grow up on a farm and in interview he once said: "Life on a farm, it seems to me, impresses a per- son with the idea that it is pretty hard work to accumulate money and that you can only do it by the greatest industry and economy. You can't guard children from the necessity of work without hurting them. The boy that gets along is the one who is looking around for something to do and is anxious to do everything well and thoroughly."
His public spirit and his attitude toward mankind is evidenced in the following para- graph taken from a paper on "The Develop- ment of Holyoke," which he read at a meet- ing of a club to which he belonged. "I want to see the gospel preached as often as pos- sible that success and prosperity depend on
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the well-being of all, that every effort should be made to unite all the people in good feeling, confidence and mutual progress, and that no greater blessing can be bestowed on any land than an upright, intelligent body of workmen."
WILLIAM FAIRFIELD WHITING -- Known as Holyoke's "first citizen," Wil- liam Fairfield Whiting was both locally and nationally distinguished. As head of the Whiting Paper Company interests he was a leader of one of New England's great in- dustries, and as Secretary of Commerce of the United States under President Calvin Coolidge he was an advisor whose words were heeded in times of stress and whose in- fluence was felt in the whole business organ- ism of the land. A close friend to the Presi- dent, he was one of the first men to foresee, even in the opening years of the present century, the great future of Mr. Coolidge, whom he helped at every stage of his steady political advancement. In countless ways he participated and led in the forward march of events in his time, earning respect, ad- miration and gratitude.
Mr. Whiting was born July 20, 1864, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the elder son of the late William Whiting and Anna Maria (Fairfield) Whiting. The Whiting family is an old and well established one in New England, having been traced back to James Whiting, one of the eary settlers of Hing- ham, Massachusetts.
Attending the public schools of Holyoke, William Fairfield Whiting later became a student at Williston Academy, and in 1886 he was graduated from Amherst College, a classmate of the Hon. Allen T. Treadway, of Stockbridge, Congressman ; the late Rob- ert Lansing, Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State; and the Rev. Milo H. Gates, of New York. At Amherst he played football and was a member of the Beta Theta Phi
Fraternity. In vacation periods and after graduation from Amherst, Mr. Whiting worked at his father's paper mills, going from department to department and ac- quainting himself with every branch of the business. The mills greatly prospered under the guidance of the father and the two sons, the other son being the late Samuel Raynor Whiting. William Fairfield Whiting worked his way forward with the organization until at length he became its president, so serv- ing for many years. At his father's death, on January 9, 1911, William F. Whiting took over the Holyoke Mills, Nos. I and 2, his brother acquiring the property of the Collins Manufacturing Company, in North Wilbraham, which had also belonged to the Whiting interests. The company came to be known as the world's largest fine paper manufacturing establishment, and Mr. Whit- ing, as its head and guide, was ranked with the country's industrial leaders. He came to be associated with the directorates of many banks in Holyoke, Springfield and New York, continuing these interests until in later years he gradually turned them over to his sons.
In 1927, when the Lyman Mills, an old textile property, went out of business be- cause of severe trade conditions, Mr. Whit- ing bought the property, converting a part of it into Whiting No. 3 Mill, a plant that was the last word in modern fine paper mill organization. This mill operated through the depression years, and was a boon to the people of Holyoke, chiefly because of the courage and public spirit of Mr. Whiting. Even after he relinquished many of his busi- ness duties, turning them over to his sons, the grandsons of the founder, he continued to pay strict attention to the enterprise with which he had so long been associated, help- ing his sons to expand the business when need for expansion came and otherwise lending valuable assistance. In 1934 the
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company's papetrie plant was removed from New York to the Lyman Street unit of the old Lyman Mills.
All his life William Fairfield Whiting took a deep interest in public affairs, begin- ning at Holyoke and extending his activities to the national political stage. He never sought to take a direct part in these affairs, yet he made a point of learning about the personalities involved, and, when need be, saw to it that the personalities of his choice should prevail. He was truly interested in human beings, liked them, and wanted to know more about them. Walking to work in the days when he was still active at the Whiting Paper Company, he met the men and women of Holyoke and talked with them. He was their friend, and his impres- sive demeanor won their hearts. In his black hat, black bow tie and dark suit, he was a man of distinguished bearing. And his deeds matched his appearance.
While leading in Holyoke politics, Mr. Whiting came into contact with several State leaders, including Mr. Coolidge, who was then starting off in Northampton poli- tics, holding minor public offices. A deep and lasting friendship quickly developed be- tween the two men, and Mr. Whiting began to help Mr. Coolidge at every possible op- portunity. The three men who perhaps most helped Mr. Coolidge to attain the apex of his career were Mr. Whiting; Frank E. Stearns, wealthy Boston merchant; and the Hon. William Morgan Butler, former United States Senator, from New Bedford.
In 1919, when Mr. Coolidge was Governor of Massachusetts and issued his famous po- lice strike decree, "Law and order must be enforced," Mr. Whiting was close by his side through many of the difficult hours, giving help and advice whenever needed. In 1920 Mr. Whiting ran for delegate to the Republican national convention, pledged for
Calvin Coolidge for President. He sought election in the First Congressional District and was given a handsome endorsement. Never did he deviate from his pledge to support his friend, always voting for Mr. Coolidge, and continuing to do so even when the politicians gathered at the headquarters of the "Ohio gang" one hot June night and agreed to put over Warren G. Harding at any price. At that gathering Mr. Whiting refused to budge from his decision and his pledge, voting for Mr. Coolidge even on the final ballot. Few men today realize the im- portant part that Mr. Whiting played in winning for Mr. Coolidge the Vice-Presi- dential nomination. When mention of the Coolidge name swept the convention hall, much management was needed to have his name brought up at just the right time. Every delegate at the convention received, on one occasion, a book on Calvin Coolidge, containing the candidate's life story and a record of his important public utterances. The tale was briefly but impressively told, and tremendously aided the Coolidge cam- paign. The story of that book was not, however, always told. It was sponsored by Mr. Whiting, who conceived the idea while traveling to Chicago with the late George A. Galliver, president of the American Writing Paper Company. They had the book printed in Chicago, and forty-eight hours later it was in the hands of every delegate.
History reveals the manner in which Mr. Coolidge rose to ever-increasing heights of distinction. While he was Vice-President, he frequently visited the Whitings at Hol- yoke, and Mr. Whiting and his family were often at Washington. As President Harding died and Mr. Coolidge ascended to the Pres- idency of the United States, the story of the friendship between these two men became nationally known, and it was seen that Mr. Whiting's influence at the White House was
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an important one. He participated in the but opposed the principle of preventing a work of the Cleveland convention of the Republican party in 1924, doing much to bring about the President's renomination -- not a difficult task in that year. In 1928 he likewise went to the Kansas City conven- tion, where he wanted to vote for Mr. Cool- idge but deferred to his friend's wishes.
In August, 1928, the Hon. Herbert C. Hoover resigned as Secretary of Commerce in the Coolidge Cabinet to devote his full time to the Presidential campaign. Presi- dent Coolidge left the office vacant for a considerable period while Mr. Whiting was in Europe on an annual holiday. When Mr. Whiting returned from Europe, on August 20, he found a note on his desk in New York, asking him to come to Superior, Wisconsin, where Mr. Coolidge was so- journing. A day later he was given the Cabinet portfolio of Secretary of Commerce. In Washington, District of Columbia, the Whitings made a splendid impression. News- paper men who attended the first interview with Secretary Whiting went away with the realization that a leader of great power and understanding had come to the capital. Mrs. Whiting quickly entered the social life of Washington, so performing one of the im- portant duties falling to the lot of a Cabinet member's wife. When President Coolidge left Washington, on March 4, 1929, Mr. Whiting ended his official connection with the government and returned to Holyoke.
delegate from using his own judgment at the convention. Mr. Liggett then struck Mr. Whiting off the official delegates' list, forcing him to run without the label of his approval. Press wires hummed across the country with the story that Mr. Whiting's action perhaps meant Mr. Coolidge's candi- dacy, but both men refused comment on this invention. Mr. Whiting was elected a dele- gate by a tremendous vote, carrying nearly every community in the First Congressional District. At the convention he voted for Mr. Hoover, Mr. Coolidge having definitely refused to run. Delegates from everywhere then came to Mr. Whiting, seeking his ad- vice and establishing his popularity.
Indeed, he was popular in all walks of life. He liked many of the British leaders, knew bankers and railroad builders through- out the world, and was fond of the men who worked under his direction and was loved by them. He was for years president of Holyoke Hospital, which his father had helped to found, giving lavishly to it through the period of his headship of the institution. He was long president of the Holyoke Public Library, retiring from that office in 1934. He was a sponsor of the Holyoke Museum. He also participated helpfully in the work of the Second Congre- gational Church, of which he was a member, and aided many other churches, believing them to be one of the Nation's greatest safe- guards.
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