USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1913 > Part 32
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But an experience even more severe than that of battle awaited him,-that of imprison-
exposure without shelter and insufficient food having ended the lives of seventy-nine of his comrades. This rate of mortality put the Texas swamp prison-camps among the worst in the entire South, equalling in their horror, the terrible records of Andersonville and Libby. Only thirty-two sick and wasted men remained in the camp which had held seven hundred
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brave Union soldiers; and, as these were too sick to cook their own rations or care for them- selves, the Confederates closed the camp, and sent them to the Union lines. But for this the entire company would soon have been obliterated. In the whole war there was no greater suffering or larger percentage of mor- tality than in the Texas swamp prison-camps.
In spite of all that he had suffered, he essayed to do further duty, and was assigned to the United States sloop of war Kearsarge, but the privations and suffering of his previous service had broken his health, and near the close of the war he resigned.
Mr. Read is a member of Post No. 56, G.A.R .; of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States; of the Kearsarge Naval Veterans; and of the Association of Survivors of Rebel Prisons.
After his return from the war Mr. Read became a partner of William Read & Sons, but also found time for public service. He was a member of the common council in the years 1880 and 1881; of the board of aldermen in 1882 and 1883; of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1SSS, and was promi- nently mentioned for speaker of the House; of the Massachusetts Senate in 1892 and 1893.
He was on important committees in the Legislature, being chairman of committees of military affairs, water supply, and federal relations, and also a member of banks and banking, education and prisons. As a legis- lator he has always been found on the right side of the great questions. He has been much interested in the improvement of the public service, and gave his support to the Australian ballot law. No temperance meas- ure failed to receive his vote.
He was recognized by his fellow-members as a clear-headed, practical business man, with an excellent capacity for stating his views clearly and forcibly in the debates, in many of which he took part. The modification of the bill in relation to truant schools for Middle- sex County, so that small institutions may be established instead of one large one, was due quite largely to Mr. Read's management.
He introduced and carried through the Senate the petition for authority to issue five hundred thousand dollars additional water
bonds for Cambridge; also the petition for authority to make a loan for public parks, securing an amendment providing for the appointment of park commissioners. He also secured passage of an act for taking land in Belmont for a high service reservoir for Cam- bridge, in spite of strong opposition from Belmont. He also had charge of and was instrumental in passing the bill for the increase of the Massachusetts naval militia. This arm of the service was originally created by a bill presented by Mr. Read when he was in the Legislature in 1888.
But his most important work was upon the annexation of Cambridge to Boston. There was in the Senate a combination of circum- stances which made it seem probable at one time that the decision might be adverse to Cambridge. The committee on cities recom- mended that the matter be "referred to the next General Court." Senator Read was not satisfied with this semi-approval, and was unwilling that the subject should lie open to the next Legislature to be again taken up, and therefore determined to kill it. His prin- cipal opponent was confident of success, having with him the committee on cities, backed by the advocates of annexation. Against both these elements he alone made the fight, with the motion that the whole question be "in- definitely postponed." After a long and hot debate Mr. Read carried the Senate in favor of this motion. A re-consideration was at- tempted at a later day by the advocates of annexation, but Senator Read again carried the day, and the proposition was thus killed and thrown out of the Legislature for good. These facts are mentioned as showing Mr. Read's ability as a legislator and his influence in the Senate. He has many times been urged to accept the candidacy for mayor of the city but declined.
Mr. Read has always been a Republican in state and national politics. In city poli- tics he has been a hearty supporter of the Cambridge non-partisan methods of selecting officers. He is greatly interested in all public matters, and the spirit which prompted him to offer his life to the nation in the days of peril has never ceased to control him when there was opportunity to promote the public interest.
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BIOGRAPHIES
In the fiftieth anniversay Cambridge cele- bration, in 1896, Mr. Read was chief marshal, and was in a large measure responsible for its notable success. He was also chief marshal of the naval procession in Boston at the Grand Army encampment of 1904. At present, he is commander of the Massachusetts Command- ery of the "Naval Order" of the United States; commander of the Association of Union Ex- Prisoners of War; trustee of the National Sailors' Home; member of the National Coun- cil of the Civil Service Reform League of United States; president of the Cambridge Civil Service Association; a state commis- sioner of the Massachusetts Nautical Training School. He delivered the memorial address at Harvard in 1900.
WILLIAM J. ROLFE
ROLFE, WILLIAM J., was born in Newbury- port, Mass., December 10, 1827, and died July 7, 1910. After graduating at Amherst College in 1849, he taught in Maryland (Kirkwood Academy); at Wrentham, Mass., (Day's Acad- emy); and later as head-master of high schools in Dorchester, Lawrence, Salem and Cambridge. In 1867 he edited Craik's "English of Shake- speare," and in 1868 a series of text-books in Physics, Chemistry and Astronomy, in con- junction with Mr. J. A. Gillet; also selections from Ovid, Virgil and Horace, with Mr. J. H. Hanson. In 1870-1883 he edited the complete works of Shakespeare. He has also edited selections from Gray (1875), Goldsmith (1876), Tennyson (1884-1896), and the complete poems of Tennyson (10 volumes, 1898); two volumes of selections from Browning (1887); Scott's "Lady of the Lake," "Marmion," and "Lay of the Last Minstrel," with a complete edition of Scott's Poems (1882-1887); Byron's "Childe Harold" (1887); "Minor Poems of Milton" (1887); Macaulay's "Lays of Ancient Rome" (1888); Selections from Wordsworth (1888); and a series of "Elementary English Classics" (six volumes, 1888-1890). Other of his books are "Shakespeare the Boy" (1896); "The Ele- mentary Study of English" (1896); "Life of Shakespeare" (1901), and "A Satchel Guide to Europe" (1872, revised annually to 1907),
which was published anonymously for twenty- seven years.
He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Harvard in 1859, the same from Amherst in 1865, and that of Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.) from Amherst in 1887.
WILLIAM J. ROLFE
He married (1856) Eliza Jane Carew, who died in 1900. He had three sons: John Carew Rolfe, George William Rolfe and Charles Joseph Rolfe (died in 1911), all graduates of Harvard; the first being professor of Latin in the University of Pennsylvania; the second, an instructor in the Institute of Technology; and the third, a lawyer. Dr. Rolfe came to Cambridge in 1862, when he became head-master of the High School, which was not divided into English and Latin Schools until after he left in 1868.
W. G. ROSEBERY
For more than twenty years President Rose- bery has been an unusually successful teacher, principal and president in literary and com-
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mercial colleges. For sixteen years he has been principal and president of successful schools. For more than twenty years, before establishing the Cambridge Commercial College, he was with the largest commercial school organization in the world-about thirty schools with an annual attendance of more than 10,000-first as teacher, then principal and finally as superintendent of a group of the schools.
W. G. ROSEBERY
The president of that great organization, Mr. G. W. Brown, also the manager of the Ameri- can Business Educational Exhibit at World's Fair, Chicago, 1893, said, "Mr. Rosebery's work is characterized by that strength, thor- oughness and skill which denote the clear head and the master hand."
Mr. Rosebery holds a handsome diploma issued to him by the Chicago World's Fair, for "unusual skill as teacher of Bookkeeping and Penmanship," and a solid silver medal from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, 1904, for skill as teacher of bookkeeping, penmanship and rapid calculation, both the diploma and the medal having been won for him by his pupils in Competitive Examinations.
Mr. Rosebery has made a specialty of pre- paring young men and young women for con- fidential positions and has become so skillful in "fitting the right person into the right place," that many successful and prominent business and professional men rely entirely on his judg- ment and recommendations and sometimes have him make a selection several months ahead so as to be certain to secure someone trained under his supervision. His wide experience as teacher and business manager has given him a thorough knowledge of what business men want, and the pupils trained under his personal direction are fortunate. The pupils of the Cambridge Com- mercial College have his personal attention and the benefit of his successful experience.
JOSEPH HENRY RUSSELL
RUSSELL, JOSEPH HENRY, was born in Cam- bridge, February 21, 1855. He received his education in the public schools of Cambridge and in special schools in Boston. Mr. Russell has always been active in municipal matters, and was a member of the Common Council during the years 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893, the last year being president of that Board.
JOSEPH HENRY RUSSELL
Dudley A. Sargent.
BIOGRAPHIES
241
He is the General Manager for a firm of Boston gentlemen whose special business is the manage- ment of estates in trust. This business calls for the closest personal attention, experience and most careful judgment, and Mr. Russell's long connection with the firm, which extends over a period of more than thirty-five years, speaks volumes for his business foresight and sagacity. He is also a Director of the Cam- bridge Electric Light Company. Mr. Russell is a member of the Cambridge and Colonial Clubs, of Amicable Lodge of Masons, and Harvard Council Royal Arcanum.
WILLIAM EUSTIS RUSSELL
RUSSELL, WILLIAM EUSTIS, the youngest man ever raised to the Commonwealth, and who was one of the remarkable figures, politi- cally, in this country, was born in Cambridge, January 6, 1857, and died in August, 1896. He was the son of Charles Theodore and Sarah Elizabeth (Ballister) Russell, and was educated in the Cambridge schools and Harvard College, graduating in the class of '77. He studied law at the Boston University Law School, received the first degree of Bachelor of Laws from that university in 1879, entered the law office of his father, and was admitted to the Suffolk Bar in 1880. He was elected to the common council of his native city in 1881, and served the two following years in the board of aldermen. He was chosen mayor in 1884, and was re-elected the three succeeding years, twice without opposition.
In 1888, in response to a popular request, he accepted the nomination of his party as candidate for governor. Although he was defeated, he led the ticket. In 1889 he again led a brilliant but unsuccessful campaign, and so increased his vote that hopes were enter- tained of his election if again nominated. He again received the nomination in 1890, and was triumphantly elected. He was re-elected in 1891 and 1892, at both times in the face of strong opposition. His administration was conducted on sound business principles, and as governor he showed the capacity to grasp the popular demands in the way of legislation, and at all times upheld the interests and honor of the state. As an orator, he was one of the most brilliant in the state.
WILLIAM EUSTIS RUSSELL
DUDLEY ALLEN SARGENT
SARGENT, DUDLEY ALLEN, professor of physical training and director of Hemenway Gymnasium, Harvard University, was born in Belfast, Waldo County, Me., September 28, 1849. His father, Benjamin Sargent, son of Samuel and Lucy Sargent, and a descendant from William Sargent "second," son of William and Mary (Epes) Sargent, of Exeter, England and Bridgeton, Barbadoes. William "second" built a home on Eastern Point, Gloucester. Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1678. He married Mary, daughter of Peter Duncan, and they had fourteen children. Benjamin Sar- gent married Caroline Jane, daughter of Martin and Sally (Grinnell) Rogers, of Belfast, Me., who was a descendant from John Rogers of Marshfield, Plymouth Colony, who came to America about 1641. He was a ship carpenter and spar maker, and died in 1855.
Dudley Allen Sargent was large for his age and very active; he was fond of drawing boats
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and ships and constructing toy machines. He was brought up in the town of Belfast, on a farm owned by his uncle, and he assisted him in the work on the farm. He attended school but part of each year, being obliged to work most of the time. His helpful books when young, were: Smile's "Self Help," and Emerson's "Conduct of Life," while Cutler's "Physiology" first turned his attention to the importance of physical exercise and habits of right living. His school training was received at the Belfast public schools and the Brunswick high school.
physical culture. He invented
statues made in 1893 of the typical American college curriculum. He had two life-size training as a regular part of the school and gymnasiums. He strongly advocated physical schools, colleges, athletic clubs and Y.M.C.A. appliances as used in most of the American games, exercises, apparatus and developing gymnastic
ten thousand students of both sexes from the made from measurements furnished by about student, a man and a woman. These were
leading American colleges and universities.
DR.SARGENT'S
SCHOOL OF
PHYSICAL EDUCATION -
EVERETT STREET
CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS
DR. SARGENT'S SCHOOL
He was director of the gymnasium at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me., from September, 1869 to 1875, and was graduated at Bowdoin College, A.B., 1875. He then pursued a course in medicine at Yale University medical school, where he was instructor in gymnastics, 1876- 1879, and was graduated M.D., 1878. He also attended medical lectures in the schools and hospitals of New York City during the spring of 1878. He was assistant professor of physi- cal training at Harvard University, 1879-1889, and director of Hemenway Gymnasium from 1879, and of the Harvard Summer School for physical culture from 1887. He started the Sargent Winter Normal School for physical education in 1881. An inborn love for activity for its own sake, and a feeling of well-doing, resulting therefrom, prompted him to teach
He also constructed twenty-two anthropo- metric charts the same year, showing the dis- tribution of any American community as to physical power and proportions; also the rela- tion of the individual, in size, strength, sym- metry and development, to the normal standard of the same age. He did not patent his gym- nastic apparatus and developing appliances, but gave them freely to the public, thinking that was the best way to serve the cause of physical education. He came, however, to regard this as a mistaken idea, as the profits derived from a royalty on the extensive sale made of patented apparatus would have enabled him to carry on his work of research and investigation with more comfort and better results, and the public would not have been taxed any more for the manufactured appliances.
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BIOGRAPHIES
He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Bowdoin in 1887, and Sc.D. in 1894. His college fraternity was the Alpha Delta Phi, and the following learned societies have admitted him to membership: American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Physical Edu- cation, of which he was president for several years; American Academy of Medicine; Ameri- can Statistical Association; American Public Health Association; National Educational Association; Boston Society of Medical Science; Boston Natural History Society; Boston Physical Education Society; and his club asso- ciation is with the Boston Athletic and Cam- bridge Clubs. He was originally a Republican, but voted for Cleveland, and from that time has been independent in politics, both national and local. His religious affiliation is with the Universalist denomination. He is the author of
"Handbook of Developing Exercises" (1882) ; "In Case of Accident" (1884); "Universal Test for Strength and Endurance" (1902) ; "Health, Strength and Power" (1904) ; "Physi- cal Education" (1906); and of various papers read or published by societies and asso- ciations and articles for current magazines. His investigations include: "The Physical Characteristics of Athletics" (1887); "The Height and Weight of Cuban Teachers Com- pared with American" (1900); "The Physique of Scholarship Men, Athletes, and the Average Students" (1907). He enjoys and finds recreation for his own body in swimming, bicycling, dancing and walking and in change of employment.
He was married April 7, 1881, to Ella Fraser, daughter of William and Frances (Worthington) Ledyard, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and one child, Ledyard, was born of the marriage.
MOSES MORSE SAWIN
SAWIN, MOSES MORSE, son of Moses Sawin,
was born in Southborough, Mass., May 5, 1835. He was a farmer and miller, having a grist mill in his native town. He worked in his father's grist mill until 1860, attending the common schools of his native town in his boy- hood. He left home and re- moved to Cam- bridge, Mass., August 14, 1860, buying out what was then known as Buck's Ex- press. He con- ducted this business several . years under its old name, then
changed it to Sawin's Express, which became one of the best known and most flourishing of the suburban express lines about Boston. His business was in transporting baggage and merchandise be- tween Boston and Cambridge. He continued iņ business until 1905, when he sold out to the Boston & Sub- urban Express Company, and retired from ac- tive business. He has resided since 1866, in Cambridge, at No. 73 Brattle Street, his pres- ent home. He is a well-known and highly es- teemed citizen. Moses M.
MOSES MORSE SAWIN
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Sawin married, January 18, 1859, in Aug- usta, N.Y., Susan Olive Kendall, daughter of Leonard Jarvis and Olive Kendall. Leonard Jarvis Kendall was a son of David and Susan Kendall, of Cambridge, descendant of Francis Kendall, the immigrant settler and founder of Woburn, Mass. Children: Jennie Olive, born March 1, 1861, married Henry Carleton Piper, a son of Henry A. Piper, of Cambridge. Henry Carleton Piper resides in Australia, representative of the banking firm of Henry W. Peabody & Company, of New York City. Children; Margaret Piper, born May 25, 1892; Warren Piper, born February 8, 1898. Charles Austin, born March 5, 1863, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Boston; married Carrie Howland Allen, a direct descendant of John Howland, who came in the Mayflower; resides in Newton, Mass .; no children. Susan Kendall, born May 17, 1867, resides at home with her parents. Her- bert Edward, born February 23, 1869, pro- prietor of H. E. Sawin's Express, Cambridge; married Edith Adams, of Cambridge; child, Edward Adams, born January 21, 1903. Alice L., born January 17, 1872, resides with her parents. George Alfred, born October 12, 1878, is with the General Electric Company, Lynn, Mass .; married Grace A. Schofield, whose father bought out the firm of Henry .Plympton & Company, furniture dealers, Boston; child, George A., born March 21, 1907.
CHARLES SPENCER SERGEANT
SERGEANT, CHARLES SPENCER, vice-president of the Boston Elevated Street Railway, was born in Northampton, Mass., April 30, 1852, the son of George and Lydia A. (Clark) Ser- geant. He was graduated from the North- ampton High School and entered a bank at Easthampton, where he remained for four years, when he went to Michigan and spent the years from 1872 to 1876 in railroad work. He then accepted a position with the Eastern Railroad as chief clerk and auditor, settling in Boston, where in 1880 he was married to Elizabeth Shepley. Since 1888 he has been successively auditor, general manager, second vice-president
and vice-president of the Boston Elevated Rail- way, and has served as president of the American Street Railway Association.
Mr. Sergeant is a practical man who has come along to success, first, because he knows and enjoys the details of street railroading, and, second, because of his capacity for work. He has seen the Boston Elevated grow into one of the great systems of the country, and he has
CHARLES SPENCER SERGEANT
had no small share in its success. With his associates he has believed in a policy of co- operation with the public in giving service creditable alike to Boston and to the men behind the corporation.
He resides in Brookline and is a member of the Algonquin, St. Botolph, Exchange and Country Clubs.
He has traveled much abroad, at one time spending six months in London, having been called there as an expert to consult in the con- struction of the underground railway, one of the notable English enterprises.
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BIOGRAPHIES
CHARLES WILLIAM SEVER
SEVER, CHARLES WILLIAM, was born in Plymouth, Mass., July 1, 1834. As a boy he came to Cambridge, in 1849, and entered the employ of John Bartlett, proprietor of the Uni- versity Book Store, then located at the corner of Holyoke Street and Harvard Street (now Massachusetts Avenue). Some years later, Mr. Bartlett went into the firm of Little, Brown & Co., disposing of the book store to a firm which formed for the purpose, and which was composed of Mr. Sever, Mr. Allyn and Mr. Francis.
About that time, the concern moved to the corner of Boylston Street, and located where the grocery store of J. H. Wyeth & Co. now stands. A few years later, Mr. Francis died, and Mr. Allyn withdrew to take up a branch of the business which had been developed in Bos- ton. This left the business entirely to Mr. Sever. In 1872, he again removed, this time to the store still occupied by the firm. From then till about 1894, Mr. Sever conducted the business alone, finally forming a partnership with George H. Kent.
Mr. Sever also conducted an extensive in- surance business, and had charge of much valu- able real estate in the Harvard Square district, notably that owned by the Little estate.
Mr. Sever's connection with the Cambridge Savings Bank extended over a period of thirty years. In 1874, he was elected a trustee, and four years later, on March 18, 1878, he was elected president, holding the office till his death.
He had been a member of several organiza- tions at various times in his life, but at the time of his death belonged only to the Order of Cin- cinnati. Mr. Sever died July 19, 1904. He is survived by a widow and five children.
WILLIAM BALDWIN SMITH
SMITH, WILLIAM BALDWIN, for many years a resident of Cambridge, and prominent in Boston business circles, came of an old Maine family. He was born in the city of Bath in 1844. He spent the early part of his life in his native State, and received his education there. While still a young man he went to Boston for the purpose of obtaining employment. It was about forty-seven years ago that he started to
work for the concern of which he afterwards became a member.
The firm of Braman, Dow and Company, with which he secured a position, was then and still continues to be one of the most important com- panies engaged in this part of the country in the manufacture of steam pipes and steam fitting supplies. Mr. Smith was an energetic and ambitious young man, having an unusual amount of business acumen for one of his age.
WILLIAM BALDWIN SMITH
He set out to master every detail, and it was not long before his value to the company was recog- nized. Promotion followed promotion rapidly, until finally he was asked to become a partner. Mr. Smith accepted the offer.
As a member of the firm, Mr. Smith did not relax his activity. His mind was fertile in ideas, and he was continually watching for oppor- tunities to improve the methods in use by the company. Furthermore, he was always ready to listen to the suggestions of others and to adopt them if they had merit. The business of Braman, Dow and Company increased re- markably under his direction.
In addition to his connection with Braman, Dow and Company, Mr. Smith had for some
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