USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Hampden county, 1636-1936, Volume III > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
Mr. and Mrs. Bagg have one son, Aaron Moore, born April 6, 1912. He attended the Holyoke schools, entered Hotchkiss School,
307
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RECORDS
Lakeville, Connecticut, in 1926, and upon his graduation from that institution in 1930, matriculated at Princeton University, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June, 1934.
JOSEPH C. BEHAN-During forty years of service with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company of Spring- field, Joseph C. Behan has risen from the ranks to his present office as second vice- president of the company. He has been in responsible charge of important executive duties over a long period.
Mr. Behan was born in Albany, New York, on March 21, 1873, son of Thomas and Winifred (McManus) Behan. Both his father and mother were born in Ireland and came to the United States with their par- ents in childhood, settling in Albany. In the public schools of that city, Joseph C. Behan received his education, but at a rela- tively early age he was obliged to seek em- ployment in order to help contribute to the support of the family. In 1892 he joined the Delaware and Hudson Railroad organi- zation as a stenographer in the office at Al- bany, but in 1896 relinquished this connec- tion to come to Springfield, where he ob- tained a position as stenographer with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany. From that time onward, his business interests have centered in this organization. Rising gradually as he demonstrated his capacity for larger responsibilities, he was appointed assistant superintendent of agen- cies and on January 1, 1912, became super- intendent. On January 1, 1931, he was elected second vice-president of the com- pany, continuing in charge of agencies in his new office. Mr. Behan is a well-known figure in Eastern life insurance circles and possesses an authoritative knowledge of the insurance field. He is a member of the Life
Agency Officers Association and the Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau, and in addition to these professional connections is a member of the Springfield City Club and the Colony Club. While the demands of his business have prevented him from entering public life, he has followed the cause of civic progress with interest and lent his support to many worthy community movements.
On June 24, 1896, Joseph C. Behan mar- ried Katharine Wasserbach of Albany, New York. They are the parents of two chil- dren: I. Louis Bertrand, who is connected with the New York agency of the Massa- chusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and resides at Bronxville, New York. He married Dorothy Danley of St. Louis, Mis- souri, and they have two sons: Joseph C. and Louis B., Jr. 2. Herbert Gregory, of Hartford, Connecticut, connected with the Hartford agency of the same company. He married Elsie Farrell of Hartford, and they have two children: Herbert Gregory, Jr., and Katharine.
GEORGE HENRY HUGHES-During a long and distinguished legal career, which spans more than a quarter of a century, George Henry Hughes has come to enjoy outstanding success in his profession and is widely known through his social and civic activities in the city of Springfield and vicin- ity. As one of the leading attorneys of this section he has fulfilled a boyhood dream and ambition, achieving this desire through his own diligent efforts and perseverance. To- day he enjoys a large and lucrative practice and is highly regarded and esteemed by his professional colleagues and the public-at- large.
George Henry Hughes was born in Web- ster, November 20, 1885, son of Edward H. and Mary C. (Berard) Hughes, both na-
308
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RECORDS
tives of Scotland, who emigrated to the Dominion of Canada with their parents dur- ing their youth. Mr. Hughes' paternal grandfather was dispatched to the Domin- ion by the English Government which placed him in charge of the public schools of Drummond County in the Province of Que- bec. His mother's father was sent to Sorel, Providence of Quebec, as a wool expert. The family later removed to Webster, Massachusetts, where Mr. Berard became a wool expert for the well-known Slater Mills. It was here that Mr. Hughes' father and mother were married, having been neigh- bors in Canada prior to moving to Webster.
George Henry Hughes received a general education in the public and preparatory schools of his native State and after com- pleting his studies matriculated at Holy Cross College. Later he attended the law school at Boston University and was gradu- ated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1908. Throughout his boyhood his one great ambi- tion was to become a lawyer. Limited to a certain extent in his finances, he worked in various capacities during his student days to help defray the expenses of his education.
The year he finished his legal training he was admitted to the Massachusetts State bar and the following January came to Springfield, after practicing a short time in the city of Boston. He established himself in this city and initiated a career that has been outstanding for its distinction and suc- cess. Much of his practice is devoted to corporation law, and in this connection he represents some very important industrial and commercial organizations in this vicin- ity. Professionally Mr. Hughes is a mem- ber of the Hampden County Bar Associa- tion and socially belongs to the Honorable Artillery Company, the Veteran Fusilier Corps, as well as fraternizing with the Be-
nevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Dur- ing the World War Mr. Hughes served throughout the conflict.
HARVEY RUSSELL PRESTON-As president of Goldthwaite, Preston & Olm- stead, Inc., general agents for the Travelers Insurance Company at Springfield, Harvey Russell Preston heads one of the important business enterprises of the city. He has had many years of experience in the insurance field and has been active in his present con- nection during the past decade.
Mr. Preston was born at Fair Haven, Vermont, March 2, 1896, son of Edward J. and Caroline (Hulett) Preston. His father, who was also a native of Vermont, was en- gaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business for more than forty years. His mother was born at Hulett's Landing, Lake George, New York.
Harvey Russell Preston was educated in the public schools of Fair Haven, Vermont, completing the high school course in 1914. For a time he was associated with his fath- er's business but in March, 1918, he went to Hartford, Connecticut, where he entered the Travelers Insurance Company's training school. In September of the same year he enlisted in the National Army for war serv- ice and was assigned to the 350th Infantry Depot Brigade then training at Camp Up- ton, Long Island. In December, 1918, after the Armistice, he received his honorable dis- charge from the service with the rank of corporal and returned to the Travelers' training school at Hartford. In July, 1919, he was appointed assistant cashier of the Richmond, Virginia, branch of the company and in September, 1920, was transferred to the Hartford branch office in the same ca- pacity. In October, 1922, he was appointed assistant cashier at Reading, Pennsylvania, and in June, 1924, was promoted to cashier
309
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RECORDS
and office manager of the branch office in Dayton, Ohio. Before taking over the du- ties of this position he was recalled to the Hartford office for special training and in the meantime was offered a better position by Edward Stuart Goldthwaite, then oper- ating the Travelers' general agency in Springfield.
This agency was founded shortly after the Civil War by Major Homer G. Gilmore, a close friend and war-comrade of Major Preston, who continued it as an independent enterprise in Springfield until 1908. At that time Mr. Goldthwaite a member of the Home Office staff of The Travelers, pur- chased a half interest in the agency. Its name was then changed to Gilmore and Goldthwaite, and although Major Gilmore died soon afterward, the same firm name was continued. When Mr. Preston came to Springfield in 1924 he assumed the duties of office manager of the agency. On Jan- uary I, 1930, when it was incorporated un- der its present name, Goldthwaite, Preston & Olmstead, he became vice-president and a director, and in 1932 assumed the presi- dency of the agency, which he has since held. Goldthwaite, Preston & Olmstead are general agents for the Travelers Insurance Company, the Travelers Indemnity Com- pany and the Travelers Fire Insurance Com- pany of Hartford. They provide almost every form of insurance service-life, acci- dent and group insurance, compensation and liability, burglary, plate glass, automobile, steam boiler, property damage, fire, marine, windstorm and auto, fire and theft policies. Their long established position and volume of business have made them one of the lead- ing general agencies of the United States.
Mr. Preston is personally well known in insurance circles of the State and has been active in many insurance organizations, serving at the present time as president of
the Springfield Board of Fire and Casualty Insurance Underwriters, regional vice-presi- dent of the Massachusetts State Association of Insurance Agents, and is an incorporator of The Hampden Savings Bank. He is also a member of the board of control of the Springfield Safety Council. While his busi- ness has been his principal interest, he has participated in other phases of Springfield life, both civic and social, and in addition to connections previously mentioned is a di- rector and member of the board of manage- ment of the Springfield Young Men's Chris- tian Association, a member of the Colony and Kiwanis clubs and a member of the Masonic Fraternity.
JAMES WALLACE BLUNT was born in Skowhegan, Maine, May 6, 1878, son of Albert G. and Mary (Sawyer) Blunt, na- tives of that Commonwealth. His father, who was a wholesale and retail merchant, was prominent in political affairs, having served as a member of the Governor's staff and the Governor's council. Mr. Blunt re- ceived a general education in the public schools of his native community and later attended Bloomfield Academy. After com- pleting his studies at this institution he em- barked on a business career. He secured a position in his father's hardware firm. Later he entered the textile business and in this work rose to become treasurer and sales manager for the Marston Worsted Company which eventually was taken over by the American Woolen Company. For approxi- mately five years he remained with this or- ganization and in 1912 was named insurance commissioner of the State of Maine, a post he occupied until 1914. He became deeply interested in this work and did consultation work for several insurance companies, con- tinuing until the United States entered the World War. In May, 1917, he enlisted in
310
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RECORDS
the United States Army and entered the service with the rank of captain. He was detailed to the supply department and sta- tioned in the city of Boston, where for thirty months he was in charge of the purchase, production and inspection of army supplies other than ordnance for the New England Zone. At the end of the conflict he was placed in charge of government contracts in New England, and later carried on similar work outside this section of the country.
Returning to civilian life he was elected secretary and agency manager for the Equitable Accident Company of Boston in 1920, and continued with this concern until 1924 when he was made agency manager of the Monarch Life Insurance Company in Springfield. Five years later he was ap- pointed vice-president of this organization.
Socially Mr. Blunt is a member of several clubs and societies, including the American Legion. He fraternizes with the Masonic Order where he holds a thirty-second de- gree and is a member of Kora Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Fond of the outdoors he finds great pleasure in all types of sport, particularly fishing, which he indulges in during his leisure.
On January 23, 1901, Mr. Blunt was mar- ried to Lola Marston of Maine, and they are the parents of five children: I. Mary, now the wife of Professor Alexander Thomson of Middletown, Connecticut. 2. James P., associated with the Monarch Life Insurance Company. 3. Charles Marston, now a stu- dent at Cornell University. 4. James Wal- lace, Jr., student at Loomis Institute at Windsor, Connecticut. 5. Phoebe, student at the Longmeadow Junior High School.
CARLTON E. NAY-The career enjoyed by Carlton E. Nay, secretary and director of the Monarch Life Insurance Company, is a
tribute to his ability and perseverance. Starting in an humble capacity he has risen through his own efforts to become a promi- nent figure in the business life of the city of Springfield and through his accomplish- ments has gained the richly merited esteem and respect of his colleagues.
Carlton E. Nay was born in Westford, Vermont, January II, 1881, son of Elisha and Lucy (Maxfield) Nay, both natives of that Commonwealth where his father op- erated a farm throughout his active life. Mr. Nay received a general education in the public schools of his native community, later attended the high school at Milton, Ver- mont, and was graduated from this institu- tion. Shortly after completing his studies here he entered the Burlington Business College and after a course of study entered the teaching profession which he pursued in his native State for about one year. He then became a clerk in a country store and later a bookkeeper for the branch office of Swift and Company in Burlington.
In 1916 he came to Springfield and be- came bookkeeper for the Nayasset Club in this city, a position he maintained until 1920, when he joined the Monarch Life In- surance Company in the same capacity. From the outset of his career with this or- ganization he demonstrated an unusual apti- tude and ability for the business. Shortly after he became associated with the firm he was made assistant treasurer and in 1925 he was appointed secretary as well as being named a member of the board of directors. Since that time he has maintained these offices with outstanding distinction and suc- cess.
Socially Mr. Nay is a member of the Springfield Lions Club and fraternizes with the Masonic Order where he belongs to all the Scottish Rite bodies.
-
ยท 3II
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RECORDS
Mr. Nay is married to Clara E. Brown of Jericho, Vermont, and they are the parents of two children : Russell B. and Lucille S.
GEORGE EDWARD PELLISSIER- As assistant general manager and director of the Holyoke Street Railway Company and the Northampton Street Railway Company, George Edward Pellissier today aids in the direction of one of the most important pub- lic utilities in this section of the State. Pos- sessed of experience in various phases of the engineering profession he is admirably equipped for the administrative post he now occupies. Apart from his professional pur- suits he has also taken a keen and active interest in the affairs of this community and today is prominently identified with many of the leading social and active organiza- tions of this vicinity.
George Edward Pellissier was born on West Street, Hadley, October 16, 1878, the son of George Ovid and Delima (Garceau) Pellissier, both natives of Canada. His father, who engaged in farming during his active life, died in Holyoke where he had lived in retirement. The elder Pellissier was an independent in politics and adhered to the Roman Catholic faith, worshipped at the Church of Notre Dame Du Perpetuel secours. His wife also lived and died in this city.
Mr. Pellissier received a general educa- tion in the schools of his native community, later attending Hopkins Academy, where he completed his studies in 1894. He then ma- triculated at the Worcester Polytechnic In- stitute from which he was graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in the class of 1904. Directly after finishing his collegiate training he became associated with the Hol- yoke Street Railway Company as engineer in the maintenance of way. After serving with this organization for some time he
joined the Goldschmidt Thermit Company of New York City, a subsidiary of the T. H. Goldschmidt Company in Germany, as assistant engineer. He made steady prog- ress with this firm, becoming chief engineer and later chief engineer and superintendent of the plant operated by this company, his work taking him to every State in the Union as well as to Europe. He worked there for seven years and on July 1, 1912, came to the city of Springfield and established himself as a consulting engineer. In this work he engaged in the designing and construction of industrial plants, bridges, car houses, and in general engineering. Later he formed a partnership with Wellan Dibble and was the senior member of the firm of Pellissier and Dibble, a partnership which was to exist until 1917, when Mr. Pellissier became asso- ciated again with the Holyoke Street Rail- way Company as chief engineer and assist- ant general manager. Today in addition to serving this company in the aforementioned post he also acts in a similar capacity for the Northampton Street Railway Company, where he is also vice-president and a mem- ber of the board of directors.
As a leader in social and civic affairs here Mr. Pellissier is a member of many organ- izations, including the Kiwanis Club of Hol- yoke, where he is past district trustee and past lieutenant-governor of New England. He is a life member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, a member of the Holyoke Boy Scout Council, with which he has been iden- tified for the past decade, and has been pres- ident the past six years. Mr. Pellissier is a popular figure in the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce; is a member of the board of trustees and president of the Holyoke Tax- payers Association, and a member of the Holyoke Museum Committee. Politically, he adheres to the principles set forth by the Republican party and professionally is affil-
312
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RECORDS
iated with the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Me- chanical Engineers, the American Engineer- ing Council, and the Engineering Society of Western Massachusetts. He finds his greatest diversion in gardening and is also fond of fishing. Mr. Pellissier has several inventions to his credit, recent patents hav- ing been issued on such devices as rail grinders, headlights, rail joints, airplanes and welding apparatus.
On September 29, 1909, in Hatfield, Mas- sachusetts, Mr. Pellissier married Mary Elizabeth Breor, daughter of Alfred and Catherine (Dalton) Breor. Her father, who was a tobacco grower, was born and died in Hatfield, while her mother, who was a na- tive of England, passed away there also. Mrs. Pellissier is a graduate of Smith Acad- emy in Hatfield, where she completed her studies in 1896, and taught in the public schools for thirteen years. She is a talented painter, having studied art during her youth. She is a member of the Women's Club of Holyoke, secretary of the Women's Repub- lican Club, of Holyoke, a vice-president of the Women's branch of the Engineers Na- tional Club, and worships at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Pellissier are the parents of three children : I. George Edward, Jr., born March 15, 1915, graduate of the Holyoke High School in the class of 1931, and from the Silver Bay Preparatory School at Lake George in 1932. A member of the Class of 1936 at Cornell University, he has been elected to the honorary chemical society Al-Djebar. He has been appointed to the teaching staff, acting as assistant to the head of the department of chemistry. He will continue his studies while teaching until he takes his doctor's degree in chemistry. 2. Harriet Louise, born February 16, 1917, graduate of the Holyoke High School and
a graduate of the Northampton Commer- cial College. 3. Laura May, born March 4, 1919, a member of the senior class at the' Holyoke High School.
FRANK H. BAEHR, M. D .- Though a comparatively young man in his profession Dr. Frank H. Baehr has won wide recogni- tion as one of the foremost surgeons in the State of Massachusetts and today enjoys a large and lucrative practice in the city of Springfield as well as the esteem of his col- leagues and the public-at-large. Through- out his career in this community, which spans over ten years, he not only has been a prominent figure in the medical realm but has also been active in the social and civic life of his surroundings.
Dr. Frank H. Baehr was born in New Haven, Connecticut, December 25, 1896, son of Herman and Ernestine (Bauer) Baehr. His parents, who are both natives of Germany, came to this country in their youth and are now residing in Wallingford, Connecticut, where his father is engaged in the real estate business. Dr. Baehr received a general education in the schools of New Britain and Wallingford, Connecticut, and after completing his studies here matricu- lated at Yale University from where he was graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in the class of 1919. Determined at this time to pursue a medical career he entered the Medical College at the Univer- sity of Vermont and in 1922 received his de- gree of Doctor of Medicine from this insti- tution. He then served an interneship at the Kings Park State Hospital, continued at the New Britain General Hospital, went from here to the St. Lukes Hospital at New Bed -. ford and finished his medical training at the Boston City Hospital.
In 1925 he came to the city of Springfield and has since been engaged in a professional
313
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RECORDS
career which is outstanding for its distinc- tion and success. Devoting his professional talents to surgery he serves several institu- tions here in that capacity, among them the Wesson Memorial Hospital where he is vis- iting surgeon. The active part he has taken in civic affairs is graphically reflected in the fact that he has been elected a member of the Springfield Health Board and is chair- man of that body. In addition he is a mem- ber of the Massachusetts State Medical So- ciety, the Hampden County Medical Society and the Springfield Academy of Medicine.
Prominent in social affairs he is identified with several of the leading clubs of this vicinity. He is president of the Exchange Club, president of the Massachusetts State Exchange Club and member of the Osler Club. In his religious convictions he wor- ships at the South Congregational Church.
On September 5, 1925, Dr. Baehr married Hazel Alice Smith of Brookline and they reside at No. 138 Park Drive in this city.
COLONEL JOHN LOVELL RICE was one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of Springfield, where he was a leader in public affairs and intimately connected with the progress of the city from the time of the close of the Civil War. His life was full and varied and he was active until his death at the age of eighty-three, retaining his vigorous will and mind which permitted him to attend to his duties with an alertness and efficiency surprising in one of his ad- vanced age.
John Lovell Rice was born February I, 1840, at Ascutney, in the town of Weathers- field, Vermont, one of a family of nine chil- dren born to Lysander M. and Clarinda W. (Upham) Rice. He was descended from early New England ancestry, tracing his lineage in the paternal line to Edmund Rice, born in England in 1594 and came to Sud- bury, Massachusetts in 1639, and through
the maternal line to John Upham who was born in England in 1597, and came to Wey- mouth in 1635. The Rices and Uphams emi- grated to Vermont about 1760 and Colonel Rice's ancestors on both sides served in the Indian, Anglo-French and Revolutionary wars.
Colonel Rice was reared on a farm and received his education in the district school and the Kimball Union Academy, at Meri- den, New Hampshire. At the age of six- teen years he began teaching in the common schools of New Hampshire, continuing this occupation for about three years. He early had ambition to be a lawyer, but difficulty with his eyes when he was nineteen years old, forced him to change his plans, though without preventing him from ultimately be- coming a member of the bar. At the age of twenty years he went to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he was employed as clerk in a store and a short time later the Civil War broke out and he enlisted from Cornish on April 19, 1861, in the 2d New Hampshire Regiment for three months, and a month later on the second call for troops enlisted for three years.
Colonel Rice was in the first battle of Bull Run and was severely wounded, a minie ball passing entirely through his body and piercing his lung. He was left for dead on the battlefield and there remained for about ten days without surgical attention of any sort and cared for only by a Virginia farmer who fed him from time to time. He was finally taken as a prisoner, transported to Libby Prison where, fourteen days later his wound was dressed. Meanwhile he had been reported as dead, his name dropped from the roll of his regiment as "Killed in action," and funeral services were held for him in his native town. He returned to active service in 1862 and took part in all the battles of McClellan's Peninsular campaign, and in Pope's second Bull Run, though he
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.