USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Hampden county, 1636-1936, Volume III > Part 69
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EDWIN LYMAN DAVIS-In the varied fields of industry and fraternal orders, Ed- win Lyman Davis of Chicopee Falls, has established records having features ap- proaching the unique. He has the distinc- tion of having been connected with what is now the J. Stevens Arms Company, for more than four decades, and its traffic manager for a quarter of a century. In Masonic cir- cles, city and State, he has been for years a prominent figure and official. An incident in his fraternal career is of more than passing note because of its revelation of the honor in which he is held, and the light it throws upon his personality as it appears to others. Upon the presentation of Apron and Jewels, the inscription read : "He lives in a house by the side of the road and is a friend of man."
Mr. Davis was born on February 19, 1868, at Peterboro, New Hampshire, the son of Oscar W. and Margiana A. (Needham) Davis, both natives of New Hampshire and both deceased. Oscar W. Davis died in 1885, at the age of forty-five; Mrs. Davis lived to be eighty-nine years of age. The first-named was born at Nelson and the lat- ter was a native of Pattensville. Edwin Lyman Davis attended the schools of his birthplace and Peterboro Academy, in the meanwhile working on the farm until he had reached the age of sixteen years. In 1884 he left his native New Hampshire to go to Bos- ton, where he was employed for some years in the old Howard Athenaeum Theatre. He returned to New Hampshire, remaining un- til 1894, when he went to Chicopee Falls, to do clerical work for the Overman Wheel Company. When, in 1898, this company was absorbed by the J. Stevens Arms Com- pany, Mr. Davis continued with the new concern, a connection which has not been broken since. He was, for five years, in the manufacturing department, then taking charge of the shipping department. Since
1910 he has been the traffic manager for the company. Mr. Davis has been a member of the Chicopee Board of Aldermen, and was the chairman of the Licensing Commission of the city from 1912 to 1918.
As a young man, Edwin Lyman Davis became affiliated with the Masonic Order, and has risen to unusual heights in his Ma- sonic activities. He is a life member and Past Master of Belcher Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was sec- retary for thirty years; Past High Priest of Unity Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; mem- ber of Springfield Council, Royal and Select Masters ; Springfield Commandery, Knights Templar ; Evening Star Lodge of Perfection, fourteenth degree ; Massasoit Council, Prin- ces of Jerusalem, sixteenth degree ; Spring- field Chapter, Rose Croix, eighteenth de- gree ; Connecticut Valley, Consistory, thirty- second degree; and of Melha Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Eighteenth Masonic District ; Past District Deputy Grand High Priest and Past Patron of Cabot Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; Past Grand Patron of the Massachusetts Order of the Eastern Star; Past Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, from 1911 to 1926; Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Massachu- setts, of which body he is a life member. Since 1931 he has lectured in many Masonic lodges. On February 28, 1931, he was pre- sented with the Apron and Jewels by the lodges and members of western Massachu- setts.
At Brandon, Vermont, on December 17, 1896, Edwin Lyman Davis married Mary Leota Osborn, daughter of Daniel W. and Sophia (Skelton) Osborn, of Brandon. The Osborn family is one of the oldest in New England, and Mrs. Davis' line traces back through Cyrus and Betsy S. Osborn of 1794,
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whose son Daniel was her father. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of three chil- dren : I. Madeleine D., wife of Roscoe H. Stone. 2. George W., auditor of the Mack Truck Company, of New York. 3. Albert E., Past Master of Belcher Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Davis is a Past Ma- tron of the Order of the Eastern Star, and was Grand Electa of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts, 1928-29. The daughter, Made- leine D., was Past Matron of the Isadore Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, of Springfield, and Past Deputy Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts. It is noteworthy that Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the oldest living Past Patron and Past Ma- tron of the Cabot Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.
THOMAS FRANCIS BURNS-The changes in the economic scheme of the United States during the past five years has produced a new group of leaders who are sympathetic with and understand the sig- nificance of these alterations. They are alert, alive to what is happening and in a large measure have been responsible for welding a policy that promises to better conditions and maintain the standard of living to which this country has been accustomed. Such a person is Thomas Francis Burns, vice-presi- dent of the United Rubber Workers of America. Throughout his career here he has manifested those qualities that undis- putedly signified that quality of leadership which he displays with such telling effect today. He is vitally interested in the wel- fare of his fellows and through his contribu- tions to their betterment has come to win their confidence and whole-hearted support. In this capacity he has become one of the most important figures in the social, indus- trial and civic life of this section of the State.
Thomas Francis Burns was born in Hol- yoke, Massachusetts, June 19, 1906, the son
of Thomas and Elizabeth J. (Bleasius) Burns, the former a native of County Ar- magh, Ireland, and the latter of Chicopee Falls. The elder Burns came to this coun- try with his parents when he was two years of age and settled with them in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became an expert loom fixer and in 1894 came to Chico- pee where he was prominently identified with the Loom Fixers Union, serving as
president to this organization for twenty- five years. He established his residence in Holyoke and lived there from 1902 until his death which occurred in 1918. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and in religion worshipped at the Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Burns received a general education in the Rosary School of Holyoke and after completing his studies here at the age of eighteen years, secured employment with the Fisk Rubber Company in the inspection of inner tubes department. He worked in this capacity until July, 1933, when he be- came business agent for the United Rubber Workers Union. The profound knowledge he had of the rubber industries problems coupled with his long experience in labor affairs won him wide recognition and when the code for the tire and tube industry was about to be drawn up he was invited to be- come labor advisor, a post he accepted and fulfilled with distinction. The outstanding work he accomplished in the aforementioned offices led to his appointment as chairman of the Rubber Workers Council in June, 1934, and the Chicopee Falls representative of the American Federation of Labor. In September, 1935, he was elected to the office of vice-president of the United Rubber Workers of America. In his affiliations he is a member of the Council for Industrial Progress at the invitation of President Roosevelt. In August, 1935, he was ap-
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pointed a member of the Governor's Ad- visory Board by Governor Curley.
In 1925 Mr. Burns married Maude Wal- ton, daughter of Robert J. and Jane (Henry) Walton, of Holyoke. Mr. and Mrs. Burns are the parents of one daughter : Janice.
HAROLD TAYLOR DOUGHERTY- A wealth of practical and well-rounded ex- perience dating back to his boyhood and acquired in some of the leading libraries of New England has eminently qualified Har- old Taylor Dougherty to occupy the post of chief librarian for the Westfield Athe- naeum. He has risen to a high place in his profession and during his career has been selected to supervise work on some unusual and important projects, including the estab- lishment and management of a library at Kelly Field in Texas, during the World War. Apart from his professional work he has taken an active and interested part in the affairs of his surroundings and today is prominently identified with many of the leading social and civic organizations of this vicinity.
A member of an old and distinguished American family Mr. Dougherty was born in Boston, Massachusetts, December 28, 1874, the son of M. Angelo and Mary Elizabeth (Proctor) Dougherty, the former a native of New York City, New York, the latter of Newton, Massachusetts. His father, who died at the age of eighty-seven years in 1925, was a Congregational minister and the son of Judge Charles H. Dougherty of New York City. His brother, John Hampden Dougherty, a lawyer in New York City, was the father of Walter Hampden, the actor. On his mother's side Harold Taylor Dough- erty is descended from Robert Proctor, who was the first settler of Rowley, Massachu- setts, having settled there during the early part of the seventeenth century. He also
lists among his ancestors on his maternal side, the Rev. George Philips who was the first minister of the original church in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Harold Taylor Dougherty received a general education in the Cambridge Latin School and after completing his studies here matriculated at Harvard University where he was a member of the class of 1900. It was during his high school career that he became interested in library work. He se- cured his first position with the Cambridge Public Library as a runner, when he was fourteen years old, receiving a wage of six cents an hour for his work. The associa- tions he made and the experience he ac- quired during this period of his life were dominant factors in the choice of his life work. He came under the expert tutelage of Miss Hayward, for many years librarian in Cambridge and following her death, served with W. L. R. Gifford in the new Cambridge Library, shortly after that institution had been erected.
Possessed of a thorough knowledge of this work Mr. Dougherty determined to follow it as a career and after leaving college joined the staff of the Library of Congress in Washington, District of Columbia, where he worked from 1900 to 1907. He then was librarian in Waltham, Massachusetts, re- maining there for three years and from 1910 to 1915 acted in a similar capacity for the Public Library of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1916 to 1925 he was librarian for the Free Library at Newton, Massachusetts, and the year following served as manager of the library department of Herman Goldberger in Boston. He assumed his present position as chief librarian of the Westfield Athe- naeum in 1927.
Recognized for his accomplishments he was chosen to direct the activities of the li- brary at Kelly Field in Texas, and later was
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dispatched to supervise the library at Camp Pontenezem, outside of Brest in France. He also came to act as dispatch agent for books sent overseas from Newport News, Virginia. Professionally Mr. Dougherty is a member of the American Library Association, the Massachusetts Library Club and the West- ern Massachusetts Library Club.
Mr. Dougherty has been very active in the social affairs of this community and is president of the Young Men's Christian Association, secretary of the Get Together Club of Westfield and secretary of the West- ern Hampden Historical Society. He also is a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and as a nature lover and outdoor man he finds his greatest recreation and relaxa- tion in walking, hiking, snowshoeing, camp- ing and mountain climbing. In indulging these hobbies he has earned the distinction of being one of the few men who have climbed all the highest mountain peaks in each of the six New England States.
In 1905 Mr. Dougherty married Sally Viles, daughter of Jonas and Delia (Linsley) Viles of Boston, and they are the parents of one daughter, Linsley, who is now associ- ated with the Brooklyn Library in New York.
FRANK J. FITZGIBBON, D. D. S .- To those familiar with the annals of Holyoke since the Civil War, the name FitzGibbon stands for a family, few in numbers, but prominently active in former days in busi- ness, musical and cultural affairs, and whose present members take rank with the profes- sional and social leaders of the city. Color, romance, enterprise and solid attainments seem to have been natural characteristics of each successive generation. The first of the family in America was John J. FitzGibbon, a miller of Limerick, Ireland, who, becoming unpopular with the English authorities, be- cause of his political ideas, sold his business
overnight and set sail for Canada with eleven members of the family. Settling in Hamilton, Province of Ontario, he joined the American Army for service in the Mexi- can War of nearly a century ago, from which he never returned. He married a Mary Fleming in Canada. A son, also named John J. FitzGibbon, born in Hamilton, On- tario, October 18, 1844, came to Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1868, where he made musical history as a band leader, musician and soloist. As a boy of ten he was also soloist in the vested choir of St. Mary's Cathedral, Hamilton, and sang as such in the church and in concerts until his voice changed. In 1856, while working as a news- boy, he parted with two hard-earned dollars for an old bugle, or "flugelhorn," and quickly mastered its playing. At fifteen years of age he was elected leader of a band and was also a member of the orchestra of the Theatre Royal, Hamilton. He also organ- ized and was the instructor of the St. Mary's Band in the Canadian city, and in the mean- while had learned to play various brass in- struments, the violin, the piano and the organ.
With this background, John J. (2) Fitz- Gibbon came to Holyoke, a young man of twenty-two years, and was chosen leader of the Holyoke Brass Band, an organization he made notable. To record his activities during the following years would be to recall . interesting parts of the musical history of southern New England outside of Boston. He was the leader of a number of bands and orchestras, not only in Holyoke, but in Hart- ford, Springfield, Pittsfield, Easthampton, Chicopee, and other places. His associates were some of the best musicians and vocal- ists of his day ; among his friends were many of the great of the stage and opera. His in- troduction of the "band tournament" when some three hundred carefully chosen musi- cians were gathered at Lake Pleasant, and
.
Frank & Fit- Ribbon
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played before an audience of twenty thous- and, is now an almost forgotten but colorful page of musical history. John J. FitzGibbon died on April 14, 1913, at the age of sixty- nine years.
By marriage, Bandmaster FitzGibbon was connected with another interesting Holyoke family, for his bride was Mary A. Sullivan, sister of a former mayor, and the daughter of Mortimer Sullivan. Mrs. FitzGibbon was born in Dursey, Ireland, January 1, 1849, and was brought by her parents to Holyoke during the summer of that year on a ship that took seventeen weeks to make the voy- age. Her father, who had been with the Allehese Mining Company, of Cork, Ireland, came to America in 1847, and returned to his native country two years later to bring his family here. He came here to help build the first Holyoke Dam.
Mrs. Mary A. (Sullivan) FitzGibbon was a genuinely great woman in her own right. Upon the celebration of her eightieth birth- day a newspaper drew attention to the fact that she "who had maintained a millinery establishment at one time, was the first busi- ness woman in the city, and the mother of the first policewoman of Springfield." An- other editor wrote in part :
Somebody had to make a start for the modern busi- ness and professional woman. She is Mary FitzGib- bon, who advances through the 'eighties adored by her family and beloved by everybody. How very modern she was as the handsome young woman of the Victorian days, who does just what the modern like, a natural course. . . . Mother of all those doc- tors and dentists, and a Springfield policewoman officer, to whom she gave the most devoted care, in the happiest kind of a home, and the most successful kind of a millinery shop. In her handsome 'eighties, Mrs. FitzGibbon is just as modern as she was then.
John J. (2) and Mary A. (Sullivan) Fitz- Gibbon were the parents of two sons : Frank J. FitzGibbon, D. D. S., of this review, and John J. FitzGibbon, D. D. S .; and two daughters: Mrs. Mary F. Lathrop, a social
worker connected with the Police Depart- ment of Springfield, whose official rank is that of policewoman; and Grace C. Fitz- Gibbon, M. D. D. O., of Holyoke, a biog- raphy of whom accompanies this.
Frank J. FitzGibbon, D. D. S., was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, November 19, 1873, and received his preliminary education in the Holyok: public schools. After being graduated from high school, he matriculated at the Philadelphia Dental College, from · which he was graduated with the class of 1901, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. Returning to his native city he established himself in the practice of den- tistry and has so continued, with offices in the Hadley Falls Trust Building since this structure was erected in 1926. He is fortu- nate in having had the planning and super- vision of the construction of his own offices. His rank among his colleagues is of the highest and his clientele is both large and appreciative.
Dr. FitzGibbon is a member of the Mas- sachusetts Dental Association, the Connecti- cut Valley District Dental Society, the North Western Dental Society and the American Dental Association. In 1934 Gov- ernor Ely appointed him a member of the Massachusetts State Board of Dental Ex- aminers. He is vice-president of the Serv- ice Mortgage and Industrial Bankers. He was appointed by the mayor a member of the Municipal Gas and Electric Commission in 1935. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Holyoke Lodge, No. 902, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and the Knights of Columbus, third degree. Among his clubs are the Holyoke Country and the Lions Club, of Holyoke.
An editorial in connection with the ap- pointment of Dr. FitzGibbon to the Board of the Municipal Gas and Electric Light Commissioners said in part that it "brings into the city service a man qualified far
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above the average for such service. He is a true and loyal Holyoker from the ground up. He knows the problems that face the com- mission and can be depended upon to safe- guard and extend the community benefits which have come to Holyoke through the operation of one of its most valuable assets Dr. FitzGibbon has the talents to meet the occasion and to give valuable as- sistance to the other two commissioners who have given most notable service on that body."
GRACE C. FITZGIBBON, M. D. D. O. -Three noteworthy members of the profes- sional coterie of Holyoke are the two broth- ers and a sister of the FitzGibbon family, Frank J. FitzGibbon, D. D. S., John J. Fitz- Gibbon, D. D. S., and Grace C. FitzGibbon, M. D. D. O., all leaders in their particular fields of endeavor. They are the sons and daughter of parents who were in the fore- front of business and musical life for many years, and progressive influential citizens.
Grace C. FitzGibbon was born in Holyoke, daughter of John J. (2) and Mary A. (Sul- livan) FitzGibbon. She acquired her formal education in the Holyoke schools, and after being graduated from Central High School, entered the Massachusetts College of Oste- opathy, from which she received the degree of M. D. D. O. with the class of 1918. Since that time, Dr. FitzGibbon has practiced her profession in Holyoke, first in the Prew Building, but after 1926 in the then newly constructed Hadley Falls Trust Company Building. It is worthy of note that on the same fifth floor of this building the two brothers and their sister have their separate offices, all of them planned and equipped according to their individual ideas and pur- poses.
Dr. Grace C. FitzGibbon is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the
Connecticut Valley Society, the Massachu- setts State Osteopathic Association, the New England Osteopathic Association and the Eastern Orthopaedic Association. She is a former president of the Holyoke Quota Club, which under her leadership made splendid advances in membership and scope of work. She is vice-president of the Hol- yoke Business and Professional Women's Club, and prominently active in the humani- tarian and social circles of Holyoke. While Dr. FitzGibbon confines her professional practice to osteopathy, she has studied ear, eye, and throat diseases under Dr. Lucius Bush, and is very popular as a speaker to girls up to maturity, on health topics. As has been indicated, Dr. FitzGibbon has two brothers engaged in professions, and also has a sister, Mrs. Mary F. Lathrop, presi- dent of the Springfield, Massachusetts, Zonta Club, and a social worker with the Police Department, with the official title of "policewoman." She is the wife of Charles E. Lathrop, of the Motor Vehicle Depart- ment of the Springfield municipal govern- ment.
The FitzGibbon family has played many outstanding rôles in Holyoke affairs since the Civil War. An outline of its history is given in the accompanying sketch of Grace C. FitzGibbon's brother, Frank J. FitzGib- bon, D. D. S.
FRED A. BARBATI-Through his busi- ness interests and prominence in public life, Fred A. Barbati has become a well-known figure in Hampden County. He is now a member of the insurance firm of Barbati and Christopher at Springfield and chair- man of the City Board of Public Works.
Mr. Barbati was born in Watertown, July 29, 1894, son of Joseph and Louise (Rossi) Barbati, who were born in Italy and came to Watertown about 1885. His father, now
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a retired resident of Beverly, was engaged in the banking business for a number of years and organized several private finan- cial institutions in this section.
Fred A. Barbati received his preliminary education in the public schools of Water- town and in 191I was graduated from New- ton High School. He was employed for a time in minor positions with various organ- izations, but his early ambitions centered in the profession of law and he subsequently became a student in Boston University Law School. After two years, however. he changed his plans and reentered business life. Securing a position with the United Shoe Machinery Company of Beverly, he served a thorough apprenticeship in its sev- eral departments and rose within the organ- ization to the office of production manager, which he held for three years. At the end of that time he relinquished his connection with the company and came to Springfield. where he established a general insurance business. Mr. Barbati has devoted himself to insurance work since 1920 and for a num- ber of years has been senior partner in the firm of Barbati and Christopher. While the demands of his business have received his close attention he has also found time for many activities in public life. He has been interested in politics since he attained his majority and occupies an influential place in local councils of the Republican party. Mr. Barbati is president of the Italian-American Republican Club of Springfield, vice-pres- ident of the Republican Club of Hampden County, secretary of the Republican City Committee and a member of the Young Men's Republican Club. In 1928 he was treasurer of the Hoover campaign in Hamp- den County. In 1932 he was elected to the Springfield Board of Public Works and in 1933 was made chairman, which office he still holds. He is also a member of the Planning Board of Springfield and in 1931
was a candidate for the nomination of his party for mayor of this city. He has given devoted and faithful service to the perfor- mance of his public duties and has notably aided in advancing the cause of civic prog- ress. In addition to his other connections Mr. Barbati is president of the Dante Club of Springfield and is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His favorite hobbies are politics and out- door sports, particularly football and base- ball. During the war he devoted his efforts to managing the Beverly Machinery and Tool Company which was then engaged in manufacturing war material.
On October 23. 1917. Fred A. Barbati married Ida C. Christopher of Springfield, and they are the parents of two daughters : Evelyn M., born May 13. 1919. a graduate of the Classical High School in 1935; and Louise M., born December 11, 1923.
ROBERT PHELPS LANE-The busi- ness men of Westfield, Massachusetts, have no more representative member than Robert Phelps Lane, proprietor of the Gladwin and Lane Coal Company and of other enter- prises. He was born in Westfield, August 19, 1888, son of Loring Parsons and Sara Ella (Stimpson) Lane, both outstanding per- sons of a passing generation in the city. John Phelps, Mr. Lane's great-grandfather on his mother's side, was the first sheriff of Hampden County. He lived at West Gran- ville, where the old home still stands, a land- mark of distinction in that part of the county.
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