USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford, Volume III > Part 10
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L. J. Oscar Fontaine early developed musical talents, and with his academic study a course of musical instruction was pursued. He was placed under the instruction of Leon Riguet, organist of the cathedral and composer of more than local fame; continued under him until entering the Seminary of St. Hyacinthe. There his musical study con- tinued, and later, at Nicolet Seminary, he spent four years under the instruction of Professor De Chattellon, an acknowledged master of the pipe organ. While at Nicolet, Mr. Fontaine also acted as the seminary organist. After leaving Nicolet he continued musical study under the direction of Professor Octave Pelletter, organist of the Cathedral at Montreal, also pursued studies in harmony and composition under Pro- fessor Guillaume Couture. Later he returned to St. Hyacinthe and was appointed assistant to the cathedral organist, his former teacher, Leon Riguet. For seven years he filled that position, constantly growing in power and skill. In 1904 Mr. Fontaine came to the United States, lo- cating in Fall River, Massachusetts, where he was appointed organist and choir director of the Church of Notre Dame, which had just in- stalled a magnificent organ. He continued in that position until 1910,
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when he resigned to accept a similar relation with St. Anthony's Church. of New Bedford.
Although Mr. Fontaine has control and is master of the finest organ in this section, he makes no pretensions to being a concert organist, neither does he teach the organ. He has built up a choir of one hundred male and female voices at St. Anthony's, all of them working people, whose only musical instruction is received through him. His musical library is a wonderful collection, containing nothing inferior. His work at the church requires five organ compositions each Sunday, and he is not known to have repeated himself once in a period of several months. He has a large number of piano pupils and these with church services and choir rehersals, leave him no time for pupils on the organ.
He is a voluminous composer, his library containing many three- part sacred pieces for female voices and selections for male voices in three parts written by himself. He writes many of his organ accom- paniments, composed a mass for male voices in which the "Santus," is written in 5-4 time, a most unusual combination. He is one of the most successful composers of what are known as "piano teaching pieces," a field of piano compositions in which he is supreme. Every year he has issued from the music publishing house, Theodore Presser, of Philadelphia, several compositions that reach the teachers of the United States and Canada through the medium of the "Etude," the well-known musical publication. Among the best known of his classical publications are: "L'Elegant," "L'Illusion," "Boat Song," "L'Humoresque." He is a member of the American Guild of Organists, and is very popular with a large circle of friends.
Mr. Fontaine married Berthe Desjardins, daughter of George T. and Philomene (Peloquin) Desjardins, her father a real estate and in- surance agent. Mr. and Mrs. Fontaine are the parents of Conrad Rene, born in 1911, and Gaston Pol, born in 1914, both born in New Bedford.
JOSEPH OLIVIER PAQUETTE.
When Mr. Paquette first came to New Bedford from his native Canada, his cash capital consisted of four dollars, and he was unable to speak the language of the country which he had selected as his home. But he had friends among the French speaking people of the city, and within a year had acquired a knowledge of English, had supported him- self and gained a business knowledge, which was the foundation of his later successful career as a real estate agent and promoter. The firm name under which he operates, "The Joseph O. Paquette Land Com- pany." is one well known in New Bedford, and he is head of the largest real estate development business in the North End. This is the record of his twenty years of life in New Bedford, 1897-1917, and stamps him as a man of ambition, ability and courage, a self educated, self made
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man, honorable, upright and highly esteemed among those with whom his twenty years have been passed. He is a son of Jean and Leas Paquette, both of whom died in Canada ; Jean Paquette, a building con- tractor, died in 1892, two of his uncles serving and losing their lives in the Rebellion of 1837. His widow survived him until 1910.
Joseph Olivier Paquette was born in St. Aime, Quebec, Canada. January 31, 1877. He attended the Montreal schools until fifteen years of age, then became a clerk in a Montreal dry goods store, con- tinuing in mercantile life until coming to New Bedford, April 1, 1897. The first year in New Bedford was spent in the employ of a house paint- er, and in learning to speak English, his second year as clerk with the Globe Clothing Company, the following six years as agent and assis- tant superintendent for the John Hancock Life Insurance Company. He was very successful in his insurance work, and later, when offered a real estate agency by a Providence firm, he accepted, making an equal success in that line of business activity. Having demonstrated his ability to transact business profitably for others, he decided to engage in business for himself, and in March, 1910, began real estate operations as "The Joseph O. Paquette Land Company." Success attended his efforts and he is one of the best known real estate operators of this city and Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a Republican in politics, member of the Franco-American Republican Club; New Bedford Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Nashawena Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men; Council No. 3, League Des Patriots, De I.'Union St. Jean Baptiste D'Amerique; and the Commonwealth Club of Wor- cester, Massachusetts.
Mr. Paquette married, in New Bedford. February 18, 1903, Olive A. Normandin, born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, daughter of Francis X. and Josephine E. Normandin, her father now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Paquette are the parents of Normand J., born May 8, 1904; Roland L., October 15, 1905; Raymond H., February 16, 1907; Evelyn V., April 16, 1913.
GEORGE HERBERT NYE.
When in 1881, a young man of seventeen, George H. Nye entered the employ of the City of New Bedford as an attachee of the surveyor's office, he probably had little idea that his life was to be spent in the employ of that and kindred departments of the city public service. But that was the fact, nevertheless, and the city gained for the engineering department that which the private engineering profession lost, although for a very short time, 1893-94, he was engaged as a private surveyor as well. He has given to municipal engineering problems his entire time and talents, and it is gratifying to his townsmen to know that his reputation has ex- tended far beyond city limits, and that he is regarded as an authority and consulted by eminent municipal engineers.
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George Herbert Nye was born in New Bedford, June 10, 1864. After preparatory study at New Bedford Friends' Academy, he became a stu- dent at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, there continuing his studies until graduated, class of 1885. During his summer vacation in 1881, he secured a position in the office of the city surveyor of New Bed- ford, and during the summers, 1881-1885, there spent his vacation periods. In 1886 he received permanent appointment as city surveyor, an office he held until 1893, then for a year was in private practice as a surveyor. His connection with the city engineers began in the summer of 1884, and continued in connection with his duties of city surveyor until the duties of the latter office were retired in 1893, then he gave his entire time to the duties of assistant to the city engineer until 1910, when he accepted appointment as city superintendent of cemeteries, an office he held two years, 1910-1912. In April, 1912, he was elected city engineer by com- mon council in convention, and each succeeding year has been reëlected to succeed himself. His office is in Room 303, Municipal Building. Mr. Nye is a member of professional societies, Eureka Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Adoniram Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; New Bed- ford Council, Royal and Select Masters; Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar ; and the Dartmouth and New Bedford Yacht clubs. He mar- ried, in New Bedford, in 1888, Anne Freeman Bartlett.
JOSEPH UBALDE PAQUIN, M. D.
Since 1901, Dr. Paquin has practiced his healing art in New Bedford, coming from Canada's great medical department of Laval University, Quebec, Canada, his M. D. bestowed by that institution in 1901. He is an ardent disciple of prevention as well as cure, and as chairman of the New Bedford Board of Health in 1915-16 he strove for the enforcement of all health ordinances of the city and the enactment of more stringent and sweeping laws for safeguarding public health. His practice is extensive and he ranks with the eminent physicians of his community. He is a son of Joseph Albert and Emma (Savard) Paquin, his father a merchant and mayor of St. Eustache.
Joseph Ubalde Paquin was born in St. Eustache, Province of Quebec, Canada, October 4, 1878. His years of preparatory study were passed in the Academy (St. Eustache) of his home city, and at Bourget College, Quebec, Canada. He then entered the classical courses, Laval University, Quebec, whence he was graduated B. A. in 1897, and four years later received his M. D. at the Medical Department of Laval Uni- versity, Montreal, class of 1901. Since that year he has been continuously in active practice, his residence and practice in New Bedford dating from that time, his offices and residence at No. 1304 Acushnet avenue. He is a member of the New Bedford Medical Society, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Public Health Association, was chairman
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of the New Bedford Board of Health, 1915-16, and is a trustee of Massa- chusetts State Hospital at Palmer, his term expiring in 1921.
While deeply engrossed in his professional duties, Dr. Paquin has many social and fraternal connections, and is one of the genial, courte- ous gentlemen whom his fellow-men delight to meet and honor. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles (physician to), Loyal Order of Moose, Fraternal Order of Tigers, Nashawena Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, Franco American Federation of New Bedford, L. Union St. Jean Baptiste d' Amerique (physician), Knights of Columbus, Foresters of America, Knights of Sherwood Forest of Massachusetts (physician), La Societe Historique, Franco Americaine de Boston, Le Club des Franc Tireurs de New Bedford, Le Club Tremont de New Bedford, the Plymouth Club of New Bedford, and St. Anthony Church, Roman Catholic.
Dr. Paquin married, September 23, 1902, at Manteno, Illinois, Nelda Marceau, born there December 5, 1877, daughter of Zephere Marceau, furniture dealer, undertaker, mayor of Manteno, and his wife, Helen (Carney) Marceau. They are the parents of Helen Emma, born April 28, 1904, a student at Academy of the Sacred Heart, Fairhaven, Massa- chusetts; Zephya Albert, born May 11, 1905, attending St. Anthony's Parochial School; Jeanne Louise, born January 24, 1906, attending Academy of the Sacred Heart; Beatrice Frances, born January 19, 1907, attending Academy of the Sacred Heart ; John Conrad, born January 19, 1912, attending St. Anthony's Parochial School.
ALFRED HOLMES.
A native son of Massachusetts, Mr. Holmes, at the age of twelve, began his successful career as a cotton mill worker at North Pownal, Vermont, a career he has pursned without interruption from that first boy's position to his responsible post as superintendent of Mill No. 2, of the Nonquitt Spinning Company, a two and a half million dollar corpora- tion, operating two mills where fourteen hundred employes and one hun- dred and ninety-five thousand spindles combine in producing combed cotton yarns. All the way has been won through merit, and a point of vantage once reached was never relinquished except when moving to a higher level in mill service. His ambition from a boy has been to do things well, and to be faithful to a trust has become a part of his very nature. He is master of his business, and from the standpoint of the trained practical worker of wide experience meets his problems and forms his judgments.
Alfred Holmes was born at North Attleboro, Massachusetts, April 6, 1876, son of Leander and Margaret (Duckworth) Holmes, his parents both living, his father also a mill man. He attended in Lonsdale, Rhode Island, the public schools. The family soon moved to North Pownal,
Mm. H. A. Jokey
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Vermont, and at the age of twelve he began running a cotton waste machine, continuing until advanced to the carding room. From North Pownal he went to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and for a short time was a back boy at the E. Jenks Mill, going thence to the Mechanic Mills in East Attleboro, Massachusetts, as picket tender and card stripper, serv- ing as such for three years. He then returned to Pawtucket and for one year worked on "speeders." The next four years were spent in the em- ploy of J. F. Adams, in Adamsdale, Massachusetts, there becoming a carding room "second hand." Back to Pawtucket again was his next move, changing to thread manufacturer at the J. & P. Coates Mills, his rating, "speeder" and "comber." He remained at the thread mills three years, leaving to take the position of overseer with the Lorraine Manu- facturing Company in Pawtucket, there remaining one year. The next year was spent at Hebronville, "second hand ;" then three years at the New Hampshire Mills in Pennacook, New Hampshire, "second hand ;" again one year at Pawtucket with the Dexter Yarn Mills, overseer of the carding room ; and three years with the Samoset Mills, overseer of card- ing in two mills. Another period of about three years was passed at the Luther Mills at Fall River, Massachusetts, as overseer of carding, com- ing from that position to a similar one in Nonquitt Mill No. I, at New Bedford, in 1904. In 1911 he was appointed superintendent of Nonquitt Mill No. 2, which position he has occupied to date. He has fairly won his place in the manufacturing field, and is a thoroughly respected and self respecting man. He has many friends, is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Congregational church, but when free from his official duties his home and his family are his first consideration.
Mr. Holmes married in Pennacook, New Hampshire, in 1900, Mary J. Osborne, they the parents of a son, Leander, born January 26, 1902, named for his grandfather ; and a daughter, Margaret L., born August 10, 1915, named for her Grandmother Holmes.
WILLIAM HENRY AUGUSTUS TOBEY.
The art of growing old gracefully has been attained in its perfection by Mr. Tobey, his many years in the circus business seemingly com- municating to him the good cheer and joviality the circus so freely dispenses to all comers. Now past the age which marks a man with octogenarian distinction he has the merry laugh of a boy, and in his daily walk into the city he meets and greets his old friends with the good fellowship and abandon of a young man. Deprived of children of their own, he and his good wife, both lovers of young people, are well known in the neighborhood and are apparently grandparents to an ex- ceedingly large family. Mr. Tobey is a descendant of Dr. Elisha Tobey, a Harvard graduate, who practiced his profession in the town of Dart- mouth, Massachusetts, and there died, May 10, 1781, aged fifty-eight
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years. Dr. Elisha Tobey's son, William Tobey, New Bedford's first postmaster, was born in that part of the town of Dartmouth, Bristol county, Massachusetts, now known as Acushnet, March 20, 1755, died in New Bedford, January 5, 1835. The postoffice in New Bedford was established in 1794, William Tobey being the first postmaster and filling the office twelve years until succeeded by Abraham Smith in 1806. William Tobey, before taking the postoffice, followed the sea and com- manded vessels. Captain William Tobey was the father of Dr. William Henry Tobey, born in 1804, died in 1864, a physician and druggist. He married Lucy W. Fuller, of New Bedford, who was taken by an aunt to her home on Nantucket Island and there grew to womanhood. She died in 1900, aged ninety-five years, eight months, fourteen days. Dr. Tobey died in Rochester.
William H. A. Tobey, son of Dr. William H. and Lucy W. (Fuller) Tobey, was born in Purchase street, opposite the Common, New Bed- ford, Massachusetts, March 1, 1835. Two months later he was taken by his parents to Rochester, New York, and there resided until the age of twenty years. He was educated in the public schools of Rochester, and about 1855 he moved to Providence, Rhode Island. The young man worked for a year in Providence and while there became of legal age. He located in New Bedford, became interested in the circus business, and for thirty-five years toured the country, first with the Rivers and Derious shows, then with the Toole and Miles aggregation, then from 1861 until his retirement was with the Forepaugh shows. He is one of the olden time circus men, is full of reminiscences of the palmy days of the business and regards the years spent with the "big top" as a liberal education.
After retiring from the circus business he entered the drug busi- ness in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and for seven years was manager for others. He then bought a store which he operated for two years, then sold out and has since lived a retired life at No. 163 River Road in the Acushnet district of New Bedford. He is an enthusiastic member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a charter member of New Bedford Lodge, No. 73, his name being No. I on the list of charter members. For six years he was chaplain of the lodge, for many years was a trustee and has attended nineteen annual conventions of the order in as many different cities. He retains a lively interest in lodge affairs and attended the Convention of 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Tobey married, November 24, 1871, in Cambridge, Massachu- setts, Mrs. Catherine R. Stone, daughter of John R. and Mary Otis (Peabody) Arrington, of Salem, Massachusetts.
CLIFTON B. PIERCE.
Clifton B. Pierce, who is serving in the capacity of superintendent of transportation in the Street Railway, is a native of New Bedford,
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Massachusetts, born April 12, 1878, son of Crawford S. and Elizabeth (Delano) Pierce, the former named a mason and builder.
Leaving school at the age of thirteen years, Clifton B. Pierce worked for William G. Hayden, who at that time carried on a general plumbing and house furnishing business. After working at the same stand, but under different management, for a period of six years, he accepted a posi- tion as local salesman for a mill supply house, serving in that capacity for several years. During the summer of 1901 he became interested in the Street Railway business and applied for a position as motorman, which he secured. Within a year he was promoted to the position of clerk on the night shift, and was later put in charge of the carhouse as night foreman. Mr. Pierce held almost all of the minor positions in the Street Railway business, and was promoted in 1910 to the position of superintendent of transportation, which he is filling at the present time (1918). Mr. Pierce is affiliated with the North Christian Church, with Vesta Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with Dartmouth Club, with the Union Street Railway Employees Association, and is a Republican in politics. He married, June 12, 1907, Lillian M. Moulton.
CHESTER P. REXFORD.
Beginning his business life at the age of seventeen as clerk with the Union Street Railroad Company, Mr. Rexford bent every energy toward mastering every detail of his position, eschewing the allurements and pleasure so attractive to a young man of that age. Promotions have fol- lowed in logical sequence until reaching his present responsible position, claim adjuster, all claims for damages against the company passing through his hands. This record of fifteen years' service with one corpora- tion testifies both to the quality of that service and to the value placed upon his faithful, intelligent efforts by the Union Street Railroad Com- pany-the only employer he ever knew. He is a son of George and Eliza (Butts) Rexford, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, his father a general in- spector with the Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company of New Bed- ford.
Chester P. Rexford was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 15, 1885, and has ever resided in the city of his birth. He was educated in the grade schools, continuing his studies until 1902, when he began business life by securing a clerk's position with the Union Street Railroad Company in New Bedford. He was not long allowed to remain in a clerk's position, his promotion carrying him to the desk of the assist- ant cashier. In that position he proved his quality, and in 1906, which was four years after entering the company's employ, he was made cashier. Two years were spent at the cashier's desk, then he was placed in charge of the company's disbursements, to its operating and office force, as paymaster. Two years later, in 1910, he was promoted to his
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present position, claim adjuster, a post requiring an ability-to success- fully fill-which comparatively few men possess. Claims against any public service corporation are many, varied in nature and grading as just, unjust and doubtful. To work each claim into its proper class, work injustice to neither claimant nor corporation is a problem which never grows easier of solution with each recurring claim. A deep knowledge of human nature and the workings of the human mind, great tact, infinite patience and stern resolve to get at the truth are some of the requisites for the position Mr. Rexford so ably fills, although a man but fairly out of the valley of youth.
One of New Bedford's ancient and unique institutions is the Protect- ing Society, which is the oldest part and ever an important adjunct of the Fire Department, volunteer and paid. The officers of the society are a president, eight directors, a secretary and treasurer, Mr. Rexford now holding the last named dual office. The Protecting Society was the out- growth of the vigilance committee, organized in 1830 to deal with the rough element in the city. Mr. Rexford is also a member of Star in the East Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, the American Order of United Workmen, Trinitarian Church, and in politics is a Republican.
He married, September 11, 1909, Helen Allen Cushman, daughter of Dr. Andrew Barnard and Edith H. (Allen) Cushman, the full record of her father's valuable life and ancestry appearing in another part of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Rexford are the parents of Eleanor, born in New Bedford, August 8, 1910.
ARTHUR JOAQUIN TAVEIRA, M. D.
After completing medical college courses and receiving his degree, Dr. Taveira visited his native Lisbon and as visiting physician in St. Joseph's Hospital in that city, gained valuable and practical experience in the treatment of disease and of the methods employed by his country- men of the medical profession. With this complete equipment he came to New Bedford in 1912, and offering his services as physician and sur- geon proceeded to that hardest of all tasks-the awaiting of a practice. The professional man barred by the ethical tradition and precept may employ none of the arts of the merchant or business man, but must ex- pend years of his life and a great deal of money to prepare for practice, then await the pleasure of the public. Small wonder that of the great number yearly graduated from medical, dental and legal schools, so small a percentage survive those first years of weary waiting and watching. But Dr. Taveira had a more pleasing experience, and instead of the usual experience he found a practice awaiting him. Young and skillful in both medicine and surgery, he is most popular and finds his time fully occu- pied by the demands of a large practice.
Dr. Taveira is a son of Antonio Joaquin Taveira, born in Minho,
Cartera & Saveira
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Portugal, in 1831, died in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1908. He served in the Royal Army, was a merchant, a devout Catholic and much respected. He married Maria Candida Paes de Silva, born in Serra da Estrella, in 1851, and is yet living in Lisbon, Portugal. They had two sons, Dr. Arthur J., of further mention ; and Rev. Augustus Joaquin Taveira, pas- tor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, New Bedford, Massa- chusetts. Their only daughter, Marie da Conceicao Taveira, married Captain Antonio Martins, of Lisbon, an officer in the army of Portugal.
Arthur Joaquin Taveira was born in Lisbon, Portugal, December 1, 1887, and there finished courses of study in the city schools correspond- ing in grade to American primary, grammar and high schools. After that course of study was completed, he came to the United States and pur- sued study at St. Anselm's College, Manchester, New Hampshire. With classical courses finished he began professional study at the Baltimore Medical College, Baltimore, completing his course at the Maryland Medi- cal College, whence he was graduated Doctor of Medicine, class of 1910. He then returned to Lisbon and for a period was on the house staff of St. Joseph's Hospital, coming again to the United States in 1912, and locating in New Bedford, with offices and residence at No. 1565 Acush- net avenue. He is a member of the New Bedford Medical and the Massa- chusetts Medical societies, the Portuguese Fraternity, Catholic Portu- guese Society of New Bedford, Knights of Columbus, the Immaculate Conception Church, Roman Catholic, his clubs being the Merchants' and Plymouth.
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