USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1913 > Part 31
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In the fall of 1874, having been admitted to the Suffolk Bar, Mr. Myers, with Mr. J. B. Warner of Cambridge, formed the firm of Myers & Warner, and has since practised law continu- ously in Boston.
From 1893 to 1903 he represented Cambridge in the Legislature, and was Speaker of the House from 1900 to 1903. He has taken a lively inter- est in matters of education and good govern- ment. He has served as president of the Library Hall Association of Cambridge, and was treas- urer of the Citizens' Committee, which raised the funds for the Public Library.
Mr. Myers is a director of the Cambridge Trust Company, the Walworth Manufacturing Company, and various other similar enter- prises. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Civil Service Reform Associa- tion, the Economic Club of Boston, the Prospect Union, the Cambridge Historical Society, and numerous clubs. His home is in Cambridge.
DR. J. T. G. NICHOLS
NICHOLS, J. T. G., DR., for many years a resident of Cambridge and particularly well known as president of the Cambridge Savings · Bank, was born in Portland, Me., in 1837, and died August 26, 1911, at his summer home, Boar's Head, N.H.
He attended Harvard College and the Law-
rence Scientific School, and received his M.D. degree. The outbreak of the Civil War, soon after, led to his appointment as a surgeon in the Northern Army; and later in the struggle he was a member of one of the un- attached companies in this State. He was at one time a member of John A. Logan Post 186, G.A.R., but resigned his membership some years ago.
DR. J. T. G. NICHOLS
Dr. Nichols was one of the best-known and most skilled practitioners in Cambridge, and his fame, gained from a practice here of more than sixty years, spread far beyond the borders of the city. At the Cambridge Hospital, too, he had an excellent record. When the hospital was opened, he became one of the visiting physicians and he continued to hold this posi- tion until he resigned, owing to his age. There- upon he became one of the consulting physicians, in which capacity he continued until his death.
Apart from his professional life, Dr. Nichols was perhaps best known through his connection with the Cambridge Savings Bank, to which he gave freely of his business acumen. He had been connected with the Bank for more than thirty-seven years, for it was on February 11, 1874, that he was chosen a member of the cor- poration. Two years later, February 9, 1876, he was elected a trustee.
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On the death of president Charles W. Sever, Dr. Nichols was, on July 7, 1904, elected vice- president of the Bank; and he also served as acting president until February 8 of the follow- ing year, when he was chosen president, holding this office until his resignation on June 19, 1911.
Dr. Nichols was a member of the Massachu- setts Medical Society; the Cambridge Society for Medical Improvement; the Boston Society of the same name; the Harvard Medical Alumni Association and the Boston Medical Library. He was also a member of the First Parish Church, and for many years had served as chairman of its standing committee.
Dr. Nichols is survived by his widow. His two sons are Henry A. Nichols, receiving teller at the Cambridge Savings Bank, and J. T. G. Nichols, Jr., of Newburyport.
JOHN NOLEN
NOLEN, JOHN, landscape architect, city plan- ner, civic lecturer, writer, observant traveler in old worlds and new, is, in the thoughts of many, now occupying the desirable position in public estimation which those who knew best the lamented Charles Eliot, son of Ex-President Eliot, expected him one day to have.
Mr. Nolen's career has been unusual. He was born in 1869, was graduated in 1893 from the University of Pennsylvania, studied at Oxford, Munich and Harvard, which gave him its A.M. in 1905.
Practice and theory have found in his life the blending which invariably spells out success. Before college he had a fruitful business career; after college-in fact, till 1903-he combined lecturing and administrative work for the Uni- versity Extension Society in Philadelphia. He thus became a fluent and effective speaker, and at the same time learned to organize men, direct activities, and deal with multitudinous details. He acquired the art of influencing minds in the mass and also one by one. He developed the habit, whether in a crowd or in the quiet of an office conversation, of stating unwholesome truth without dilution and also without hurt to the most sensitive. When as city planner or re-planner he is to speak about the city's needs before the citizens en masse, he makes
his diagnosis as carefully as any doctor called to a sickbed, and then reports exactly what he finds.
Mr. Nolen has written many articles, pub- lished many reports, given many addresses, and advised in the formation of many organizations for the betterment and beautifying of our cities. His attitude toward practically every civic prob- lem with which he has had to deal, is clearly indicated in his latest book, "Replanning Small
JOHN NOLEN
Cities," perhaps the most important single contribution to city improvement literature ever made by an American. In reading it one sees that Mr. Nolen always has in mind in his writing and work the three essentials: (1) The influence of comprehensive city planning on the civic spirit; (2) the relationship of the specific plan to better housing, proper schooling, well-planned playgrounds, spacious parks, grade crossings, waterfronts, a true wage-system, and better living; (3) and the urgent necessity that American cities, like Düsseldorf and other German cities, should be able to borrow large sums to make their plans effective.
As one reads the list of Mr. Nolen's activities, creations and publications, most of which belong
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within the last decade, one is amazed at both the quality and quantity of his good work. Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, first vice-president of the American Civic Association, member of the Executive Board of the National Conference on City Planning and of the Boston Metropolitan Plan Commission, and of such clubs as the Boston City Club, the New York Harvard Club, and the Appalachian Mountain Club, Mr. Nolen has been counsellor to more than a score of representative American cities, many more educational and philanthropic institutions and private estates, and official landscape architect to such municipalities as Madison, Wis., Mont- clair, N.J., Reading, Pa., Roanoke, Va., San Diego, Cal., New London, Conn., Savannah, Ga., and Schenectady, N.Y. In Massachusetts alone ten cities are the better and the fairer for his touch.
It is evermore the man behind the guns that wins the victory. Back of all of Mr. Nolen's intelligent, artistic and amazingly abundant work is a simple, quiet, tactful, friendly but extremely forceful personality, gathering in- spiration all along the way of life, from chance acquaintances, from friends whose name is legion, and most of all from a happy home made possible by his marriage in 1896 to Miss Barbara Schatte of Philadelphia.
Mr. Nolen lives in Cambridge, but his main professional fields have been South and West. His strong preference for public work has been expressed oftenest perhaps in the case of the small city, sometimes regardless of compensa- tion. He has kept the standard of his com- paratively new profession ever far ahead of mediocrity and mercenary interests, and his motto ever is "The beautiful is as useful as the useful."
FORRIS W. NORRIS
NORRIS, FORRIS W., real estate operator, was born at Dunkin, Quebec, June 25, 1885, being the son of Anson O. and Emma A. Norris. His early education was received in the district schools of Canada, and he afterwards attended North Troy Academy, North Troy, Vt.
At the age of twenty he became associated with Mr. G. A. Giles in the real estate business. He was so successful that about four years later
he opened an office for himself. Since that time Mr. Norris has been one of the men most active in furthering the growth of Cambridge. The the remarkable industrial development of the city in recent years is in no small measure due to his energy and enterprise. It was he who organized the Riverbank Trust, and he has been identified with numerous other similar projects.
FORRIS W. NORRIS
Mr. Norris is at present a director of the Guaranty Trust Company, director and treas- urer of the Cambridge Realty Company, trustee of the Riverbank Trust, a member of the Cam- bridge Board of Trade and the Massachusetts Real Estate Exchange. He also belongs to the Cambridge Lodge of Elks. In politics he is a Republican, and served in the Common Council for three years-1909, 1910 and 1911. Mr. Norris's religious affiliations are with the Protes- tant Church.
Mr. Norris was married to Bessie E. Griffin on March 7, 1907. They have two sons- Forris W. Norris, Jr., and Jackson Morton Norris.
CHARLES ELIOT NORTON
NORTON, CHARLES ELIOT, was born in Cam- bridge, November 16, 1827, and graduated in 1846 from Harvard University, which three
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years later conferred upon him the degree of A.M. Subsequent honors were given him by Cambridge University, England, which gave him the degree of Litt.D., in 1884; Columbia, L.H.D., in 1885; Harvard, LL.D., in 1887, and Yale in 1901; Oxford, D.C.L., in 1900. He went to India when twenty-two years old, and then came home through Europe.
In 1855 he made a second visit to Europe, and remained there two years.
CHARLES ELIOT NORTON
During the Civil War he edited at Boston the papers issued by the Loyal Publication Society, and from 1864 to 1868 he was associated with James Russell Lowell in editing the North American Review.
Before this, in 1857, Longfellow told Norton of his ambition to write in poetic form a trans- lation of Dante's "Divina Commedia," and turned to him for aid in the work. The work progressed, Longfellow being assisted by Norton and Lowell, and from frequent conferences grew the Dante Club, with Norton as president.
Professor Norton was a university lecturer at Harvard in 1863-1864 and 1874-1875. In 1875 was he appointed professor of the history of art; he resigned in 1898, being retained as professor emeritus.
He was first president of the American In- stitute of Archaeology founded in 1879; first president of the Arts and Crafts Society; mem-
ber of the Massachusetts Historical Society; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; member of the Imperial German Archaeological Society and was for some time president of the Harvard Musical Association.
Professor Norton published a prose trans- lation of Dante's "Divine Comedy," "Consid- eration of Some Recent Social Theories," "His- torical Studies of Church Building in the Middle Ages" and "Notes of Travel and Study in Italy"; contributed to an American edition of Scott; edited the letters of Goethe, the poems of Arthur Hugh Clough and John Downe, the philosophical discussions of Chauncy Wright and several other works.
Professor Norton's wife, to whom he was married in 1862, died ten years later, in Ger- many. His three sons and three daughters are living. Professor Norton died October 21, 1908, at Cambridge.
EDMUND MORLEY PARKER
PARKER, EDMUND MORLEY, counsellor at law, was born in Cambridge on August 15, 1856, being the son of Joel and Mary (Morse) Parker. His father was Chief-Justice of New Hampshire and Royall Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. Edmund M. Parker,
EDMUND MORLEY PARKER
Lewis Parkhurst.
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after receiving his early education in private schools, attended the Reading High School (1869-1870) and the Cambridge High School (1870-1873). He graduated from Harvard College in 1877 with the degree of A.B., traveled and studied in Europe (1877-1879), and was given his degree of LL.B. by Harvard Law School in 1882.
Mr. Parker was admitted to the Suffolk Bar in 1882, and has engaged in the practice of law ever since, acting as trustee of many real estate trusts and various private estates. In 1890 and 1891 he served on the commission that revised the Cambridge Charter, and in 1903 and 1904, was Chairman of the special commission on the law of eminent domain in the State of Massachusetts. From 1905 to 1910 he lectured at Harvard College on comparative adminis- trative law.
Mr. Parker is a member of the Union and the Exchange Club of Boston, the Oakley Country Club, the Jamestown Golf and Country Club, the Conanicut Yacht Club, and others.
He was married to Miss Alice Gray on April 8, 1891.
LEWIS PARKHURST
PARKHURST, LEWIS, a native of Dunstable, Mass., was born July 26, 1856, being the son of the late Thomas H. and Sarah Newton (Wright) Parkhurst. His father was a farmer and lumberman, noted for honesty, good judg- ment and a happy disposition. Joel Parkhurst, an ancestor, was a Lieutenant in the War of the Revolution. His immigrant ancestor, George Parkhurst, was born in Guilford, England, and settled in Watertown, Mass., where he died in 1648.
Lewis Parkhurst was obliged to begin a life of hard work when eleven years of age, by labor- ing on a farm at eight dollars a month and his board, and although his parents did what they could to help him get an education, he had mainly to work his way through the academy and college, aided by a friendly loan of five hundred dollars, which he repaid during his first year after graduation. His preparatory study was at the Green Mountain Academy in South Woodstock, Vt., and he was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1878, receiving the
degree of A.M. from the same institution in 1908. His eminent success in life was largely aided by the influences and associations of his years in school and college, and continued con- tact with the men with whom he formed friend- ships in those days. He served successively as principal of the grammar school in Fitchburg, and of the high schools in Athol and Winchester. In 1886 he entered into the employment of Ginn and Company, publishers of school and college text-books, and became a member of the same firm in 1889, and its business manager. In 1897 Mr. Parkhurst built and has since managed the Athenaeum Press, of Cambridge. He organized and was first president of the Middlesex County Bank, in Winchester, Massa- chusetts, and for many years was a trustee of the Winchester Savings Bank. In the same locality he served for seven years on the Water Board, was a member of the School Committee, and a trustee of the Public Library. He was chairman of the committee that built the Win- chester High School building, and held the same position on the building committee of the Win- chester Unitarian Church, with which he was affiliated. In 1908 Mr. Parkhurst was elected as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives; and served as a member of the Railroad committee; and in that same year was made a trustee of Dartmouth College, and president of the Dartmouth Alumni Association in Boston.
While at college Mr. Parkhurst was a member of the Greek fraternity known as "Delta Kappa Epsilon," and now belongs to the University Club of Boston. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, where he is chairman of its library committee. A loyal Republican, Mr. Park- hurst has seen no reason for changing his party allegiance. At intervals in his remarkably busy life he has found recreation in fishing, hunting, golf and traveling. He married in Weston, Vt., November 18, 1880, Emma, daughter of John and Sarah (Cragin) Wilder, whose ancestors lived at Hingham, Mass. Two children were born of this marriage, one of whom now living is Richard Parkhurst, born in 1894.
No one can fail to perceive, from even a brief sketch of such a career as that led by Mr. Park- hurst, that his main aim all along has been to "do the duty next to him," whether as a boy
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on the farm, a lad at school, a student in college, a teacher, a trustee, a banker, a publisher, or a member of the legislature of his native state. He served with remarkable public spirit the town where his home is made, and rejoiced to make its buildings more commodious and its streets more attractive. People have trusted him with weighty responsibilities, and he has borne faithfully, evidently seeking as his best reward the satisfaction of knowing that by his diligence and intelligence others have been made happier, wiser and better.
WILLIAM TAGGARD PIPER
PIPER, WILLIAM TAGGARD, trustee, was born in Boston, Mass., August 9, 1853, son of Solomon and Mary Elizabeth (Taggard) Piper. His first American ancestor was Nathaniel Piper, who came from Devonshire, England; first definite date about 1653, and settled at Ipswich, Mass., before 1665, bought land in 1662. The line of descent is traced through his son Jona- than, who married Alice Darby; their son Joseph who married Esther Wright, and their son Soloman who married Susannah Pratt and was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Piper attended the Boston public schools, including the Latin School, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1874, receiving the degrees of M.A. in 1881 and Ph.D. in 1883. During 1875-1876 he attended Trinity College, Cam- bridge, England. He was a member of the Cambridge Common Council during 1888-1889, and Alderman during 1890. He had been a member of the School Committee since 1891, and president since 1892, retiring in 1909. The latter year he also became trustee of the Cam- bridge Public Library, and was president of that body during the years 1896-1903.
Mr. Piper was director and secretary of the As- sociated Charities of Cambridge during 1881- 1902, and since 1886 was trustee and president of the Avon Home for Children in Cambridge. He was also trustee of the Massachusetts Home- opathic Hospital and the Boston State Hospital; director of the Cambridge Trust Company; member of the New England Historic Gene- alogical Society (Councillor) during 1898-1901 and 1904-1907; Colonial Society of Massa- chusetts; Bostonian Society; Cambridge Histor-
ical Society; Unitarian Club; Cambridge Club (vice-president, 1906, president, 1907); Union Club of Boston and the Oakley Country Club.
Mr. Piper was married at Yellow Springs, O., July 10, 1879, to Anne Palfrey, daughter of the Rev. William F. Bridge, Harvard, 1846. Mr. Piper died at his home in Cambridge, being survived by four children: William Bridge, Harvard, 1903; E. Elizabeth Bridge, Radcliffe, 1906; Anne Taggard (now Mrs. Matthew Hale, Harvard, 1903); and Ralph Crosby Piper.
DAVID PROUDFOOT
PROUDFOOT, DAVID, coal merchant, was born in Cambridge on August 7, 1840. His parents were William and Jane Proudfoot. He at- tended the public schools of the city until he was sixteen years old, and then went to work on a farm. He afterwards obtained employ- ment with the Boston & Lowell Railroad. He was connected with this company for twenty- two years, and during the greater part of the time was ticket-master at the Boston terminus.
In 1881 he decided to go into business for himself, and in August of that year procured an office and wharves at East Cambridge for the retailing of coal. The venture proved suc- cessful, and Mr. Proudfoot had soon built up a large trade. He is still actively occupied in the management of the affairs of the concern of David Proudfoot and Company.
Mr. Proudfoot was married on September 10, 1866, to Augusta M. Smith of Hammond, St. Lawrence County, N.Y. He is a member of the Colonial Club, Putnam Lodge of Masons, Royal Arch Chapter and Cambridge Commandery, K.T., and has been treasurer of the last two organizations. He resides in Cambridge.
FREDERICK B. PULLEN
PULLEN, FREDERICK B., chief of the police department of Cambridge, has served forty continuous years on the force. He was ap- pointed January 2, 1871, as a patrolman, during the administration of Mayor Harding, and since that time he has done duty in every part of the city. His ability and efficiency as a patrolman were soon manifested, and, in
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the fall of 1880, he took the position of de- tective in the chief's office in place of Barret Jones, who had died. As a result of his good work in this position, Mayor Fox promoted him to a sergeant. Mayor Bancroft promoted him to a captaincy, made vacant by the death
FREDERICK B. PULLEN
of Captain Thomas H. Lucy. As captain he served three years at Station 3, three years at Station 2, and one year at Station 1.
During the time he was on the force, he always proved to be a faithful, energetic, and efficient officer, and he had on numerous occa- sions received the commendation of his superiors for his remarkable ability in the performance of his duty.
Chief Pullen served with distinction in the Civil War. He enlisted in 1862, when but sixteen years old, joining the First Massachu- setts Regiment. He was in all the battles of the regiment in Louisiana, during the campaign of the Bay of Tesche, under General Banks. He served in the Shenandoah campaign under Sheridan. He received his discharge May 20, 1865, at Falls Church, Va. Chief Pullen died in 1913.
GEORGE J. RAYMOND
RAYMOND, GEORGE J .. son of Cadwallader M. and Judith A. (Squirers) Raymond, was born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, July 31, 1852. He attended school three months in his native town, and when eight years old went to work on a farm at Wicklow, New Brunswick. He remained there until he was seventeen years of age when he came to Boston and found em- ployment with S. S. Houghton. After several years' service with him, Mr. Raymond (1883) went into business for himself, and is now man- ager of The Raymond Syndicate, at 352 to 358 Washington Street, Boston. A recounting of the struggles and efforts of the young man from the period of his coming to Boston until the time when his name became known throughout the city would not be without interest. There is a peculiar fascination to the life of a man who succeeds in spite of apparent insurmount-
GEORGE J. RAYMOND
able obstacles, and one takes a kind of personal glory in the achievements of another-a glad- to-know feeling that somebody has made good. That's the way one takes to Raymond, par- ticularly after you have seen him. There is
A HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
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THOMAS LEIGHTON, JR
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TOEN READ
imize. securei his elementary education == the public schools of the city, and was grad- mated a: Harrari in the class of 1800. When the zamor needed mer to defend ins honor
He entered the United States navy, and soocc frami what war meant. He served three years. and it was his fortune to be often where the Spring was Servest, participating in ten different engagements. In April 1:03 be had the experience of the vessel which bore him going
burreted ircc-dad ram. winch mer its face = making am amack or Charlestor. S.C. being cre of the feet which was zonder the command of Admiral Dagers in that memorable comest. The engagement was a terrific one. the Anciaż recerning such a fre as ny to that time had been
at the head ci tire attacking Beer. and received die combined Sre of all the fun's in the barber. In thirty martes ber armer was generated by nearly a bundred shots and she sark ML: Read racermed bonccable memmon fer his coc-
BIOGRAPHIES
237
His next service was in the West Gulf Squad- ron. Here one expedition and engagement followed another, and he had his place in them all for many months; during the last two years of the war, his vessel taking part in many contests, and also doing blockade duty off the Louisiana and Texas coasts. He was in the battle of Sabine Pass, where the Union forces
ment in rebel prisons. In May, 1864, during an engagement at Calcasien Pass, La., he was captured by the rebels. For eight months he was confined in the stockade prison-camps in Texas, suffering hardships and exposures so terrible that only thirty-two of the one hundred and eleven men who were captured in May were living when release came in December,
JOHN READ
met with disaster and great slaughter. He also was in all the engagements of the occupa- tion of the Texas coast by General Washburn, In the winter of 1863, and took part in the capture of Corpus Christi, Arkansas Pass and Matagorda.
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