USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 1622-1918, vol 2 > Part 20
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Carl Bowen Johnson attended the grammar and high schools of Putnam, and in early manhood turned his attention to the profession of teaching and also to newspaper reporting. During the period of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago he was the special representative and writer in the city for the New York Independent. He has been engaged in newspaper work for forty years and for twenty-three years has been identified with the Sentinel, which he is now editing.
On the 11th of November, 1896, in Putnam, Connecticut, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Fisher, a daughter of the late Judge Oscar Fisher, of Woodstock, Connecticut. She is a graduate of Wheaton College of Norton, Massachusetts, was a Vol. II-13
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special student at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the former president of the Alden Club, associated with the Federation of Women's Clubs, at Franklin. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born two sons, Kenneth Bowen and Malcom Fisher.
Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a Mason, having taken the degrees of lodge and chapter. He is a member of the Franklin Business Association, of which he was formerly the vice president, and he is. a deacon of the Congregational church. He was also a member of the school committee of Franklin, Massachusetts, for four years and during three years of that time served as its chairman. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party.
JOHN HENRY ASH, M. D.
Dr. John Henry Ash, a well known representative of the medical profession at Quincy, where he has practiced for more than a quarter of a century, was born in North Weymouth, Massachusetts, April 17, 1870, his parents being Richard and Mary (Dolan) Ash, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father crossed the Atlantic to America in 1852 and about the same time the mother made the voyage to the new world. They were married in Holyoke, Mas- sachusetts, and in 1859 removed to North Weymouth. Mr. Ash was identified with shoe manufacturing and devoted his life to that business in Weymouth.
Dr. Ash of this review, after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools of Weymouth, determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work and in preparation for his pro- fessional career entered Harvard, completing a course in the medi- cal department with the class of 1892. He then opened an office in Quincy, where he has since remained, and his ability is attested by the liberal practice now accorded him. Professional advancement is proverbially slow and yet it was not long before Dr. Ash had demonstrated his capability of coping with the intricate and in- volved problems of medicine and surgery. He has ever been most careful in the diagnosis of his cases and his judgment is seldom if ever at fault in foretelling the outcome of disease. Moreover, he has been deeply interested in anything that tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life and has remained a
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close student of his profession, broad reading and study keeping him informed concerning the latest scientific researches.
On the 21st of November, 1894, Dr. Ash was united in marriage to Miss Alice T. Keohan, of Weymouth, and they have become the parents of seven children. Richard, the eldest, is a graduate of Tufts Medical College of the class of June, 1917. He volunteered and was commissioned first lieutenant in the U. S. A. Medical Re- serve Corps and instructor at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Alice T. is a school teacher. Mary, Kathryne, Helen, Monica and Dorotha are all at home. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and they are communicants of St. Mary's.
Dr. Ash's attitude upon the temperance question is indicated by the fact that he is a member of St. Mary's Total Abstinence Society. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Catholic Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the demo- cratic party where national issues are involved, but at local elections he maintains an independent attitude. He has served as a member of the school committee, also as a member of the board of health, is a trustee of the Crane Library and for three years has occupied the position of city physician. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the Norfolk South Medical Society, of which he is the president, the Massachusetts Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He maintains his residence in Quincy with a summer home at Houghs Neck, Massachusetts. With the interests of his city and its public welfare he has long been closely identified, his aid and influence being on the side of progress and improvement, of advancement and upbuilding. He has ever held to the highest standards in his profession, recognizing fully the obli- gations and responsibilities that devolve upon the physician and, working his way upward step by step, he occupies a prominent place among the leading physicians and surgeons of his section of the state.
CHARLES H. LAWRENCE.
Charles H. Lawrence, who is engaged in the restaurant business in Franklin, where his birth occurred October 23, 1879, is a son of Charles A. and Susan M. (King) Lawrence, who were also natives of Franklin. The father is a painter and has also worked in the
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straw shops but has given the greater part of his time and attention to the painting trade. He is now sixty-eight years of age. In 1917 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the Ist of October at the age of sixty-three years, after an illness of two weeks.
Charles H. Lawrence was reared in Franklin and is indebted to its school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. After his textbooks were put aside he began work at the painter's trade and later followed several occupations, but in May, 1903, em- barked in the restaurant business, in which he has since continued. He conducts a good establishment of this character and is liberally patronized. He caters to the best class of trade and has won a reputation for serving excellent meals.
In October, 1903, Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage to Miss Eva B. Everett, a daughter of Oliver and Delia Everett, who were early residents of Wrentham, Massachusetts. Her father died in 1900, while her mother survived until 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have become the parents of one child, Marion Everett, who was born September 5, 1904.
Mr. Lawrence is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Improved Order of Red Men. He likewise has membership with the Universalist church and with the Franklin Business Men's Association. Politically he is a republican but not an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and efforts upon his business affairs, which are being carefully and successfully con- ducted and are bringing to him a substantial measure of success. He is well known in Franklin, where his entire life has been passed, and he now owns a nice residence here in addition to his business.
ERNEST M. FULLERTON.
Agriculture has always been regarded as the initial movement in the development of any region, and while the earlier settlers of New England turned their attention to the tilling of the soil, many gen- erations have lived and flourished since agriculture was the chief occupation of the people of Massachusetts. With the passing years they have more and more largely concentrated their efforts upon manufacturing and now the products of the factories of this state are sent not only into every section of the country but into all foreign lands. In the last few years Stoughton has undergone a marked
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transformation through the establishment of many productive indus- tries in her midst. Well known in manufacturing circles of Stoughton is Ernest M. Fullerton, the proprietor of the business which is con- ducted under the style of F. E. Benton & Company, manufacturers of shoe last findings at No. 26 Brock street.
He was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, Massachu- setts, September 10, 1872, a son of Daniel F. and Phoebe (Turner) Fullerton, who were also natives of the old Bay state, the former hav- ing been born at North Bridgewater and the latter at Stoughton. The father engaged in the shoe stitching business and took contract work from all the different factories, continuing in that line of ac- tivity throughout his entire life. He was a veteran of the Civil war, serving for three years as a member of Company D, Seventeenth Regiment of Maine Infantry. He was a musician with that regiment and remained at the front throughout almost the entire period of the war. His death occurred April 25, 1881.
Ernest M. Fullerton spent his youthful days in Bridgewater and Stoughton and mastered the branches of learning taught in the pub- lic schools of the two cities. He was nine years of age when he came to Stoughton with his mother following the father's death. He early started upon his business career, entering the employ of F. E. Benton, for whom he worked in different capacities, promotions coming to him as he proved his capibility of mastering the tasks that had already been assigned to him. He finally went upon the road as a traveling salesman for Mr. Benton and later he became connected with the Phinney Counter Company of Stoughton, with which he continued for a year. He then returned to the service of Mr. Benton, with whom he continued until the death of the latter in January, 1917. At that time Mr. Fullerton and his mother bought out the business with which he had so long been associated and with which he was familiar in every detail. He has since conducted the business and now employs eighteen people. His trade is substantial and is con- stantly growing, the output of his factory being sold all over the United States and in many foreign countries. This is the largest concern of the kind in the United States, making a full line of shoe last findings. The house sustains an unassailable reputation for the integrity of its business methods and in all of his trade relations Mr. Fullerton is just with creditor and with debtor alike.
On the Ist of August, 1906, Mr. Fullerton was married to Miss Sarah E. Johnson, a daughter of Hiram and Mary A. (Shaw) Johnson, who were natives of England and came to America in early life, at which time they took up their abode in Ludlow, Vermont.
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Later they removed to Franklin, Massachusetts, and subsequently established their home in Stoughton, where Mr. Johnson was em- ployed as overseer in the woolen mills. For twenty years he was connected with the firm of French & Ward. His wife died in 1907 and he afterward returned to Vermont, where he passed away in 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton have been born three children : Donald F., who was born January 13, 1909; Bernice M., born January 28, 1910; and Laurence E., born April 4, 1914.
The parents are members of the Universalist church and Mr. Fullerton has membership with the Sons of Veterans. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party and he was at one time a member of the republican town committee. He is interested in the success of his party and does all in his power to secure the adoption of its principles yet he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. On the contrary he has preferred to give his undivided time to his business affairs and his thorough capa- bility and reliability were attested by his long connection with the house of which he is now the head. He ever enjoyed the full con- fidence of Mr. Benton and was legitimately the successor to the business, which he had so largely aided in building up.
REV. JAMES F. STANTON.
Rev. James F. Stanton, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Catholic church at Stoughton, was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, February 13, 1867, and is a son of Richard and Ann (Horrigan) Stanton, who were natives of Ireland. The father came to America in 1854 and settled at Newton, Massachusetts, where he was em- ployed as an engineer for several years. In 1869 he removed to Needham, Norfolk county, where he turned his attention to farming and throughout his remaining days gave his time and efforts to agricultural pursuits. He passed away in May, 1892, at the age of sixty-one years, while his wife long survived him and departed this life in July, 1913.
Rev. Stanton was largely reared in Needham and through the period of his early boyhood was a pupil in the public schools there. He was graduated from the high school with the class of 1883 and afterward entered Boston College, being numbered among its alumni of 1887. He next entered St. John's Seminary at Brighton, Massachusetts, where he pursued his theological course and having
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thus qualified for holy orders was ordained to the priesthood on the 20th of May, 1892. He was then stationed at Roxbury, Massachu- setts, as pastor of St. Joseph's church, continuing there until 1893, when he was assigned to duty at Norwood, Massachusetts, in charge of St. Catherine's parish. He continued at Norwood until Novem- ber, 1907, when he came to Stoughton, where he has since had charge of the Immaculate Conception church, with Rev. P. J. Scanlon as his assistant. The church is located at the corner of School and Canton streets, with a parsonage at No. 177 School street. There is also a parochial school in connection with the church on Canton street and a gymnasium on Atherton street.
Mass was said in Stoughton as early as 1840, but the Catholic residents within the township were too few in number to support a church or a resident priest. The more devout members of the flock, however, frequently went as far as Quincy to hear mass on Sunday morning. When Father Rodden of Quincy visited Stoughton in 1848 he could not find more than fourteen Catholics in the locality. The diocesan records state that in 1849 Father Fitzsimmons cele- brated mass in an old historic house owned by Robert Porter and known as the Austin house. Father Flatley and Father Callahan visited Stoughton in the early '50s. Between the years 1850 and 1860 the number of Catholics in Stoughton rapidly increased and Father Flatley made preparations for the building of a church. He bought a half acre of land at the corner of Canton and School streets and erected a neat little wooden church of Roman design, which was ready for occupancy in November, 1859. Right Reverend Bishop Fitzpatrick officiated at the dedicatory service and Rev. John J. Williams preached the sermon. It was not until 1861 that mass was held regularly in Stoughton and not until 1872 that the first resident pastor took up his abode in the town. This was Father Norris, who devoted the latter part of life to the spiritual care of the orphans in the House of the Angel Guardian at Roxbury, Massa- chusetts. In 1878 Rev. James M. Kieley succeeded him as pastor in Stoughton and for thirty years continued his work. He was a stanch advocate of the temperance movement and realized what great harm the liquor traffic was working to the young men of the town. With whole-souled energy he threw his influence against the sale of liquor and the influential citizens say that it was he who kept the town free from saloons for many years. When he was at length re- lieved of his labors in Stoughton he was succeeded by the Rev. James F. Stanton, who is now in charge of the Immaculate Concep- tion church. The Catholic population of Stoughton now numbers
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about twenty-five hundred and under the guidance of Father Stan- ton the work of the church is being carried steadily forward, being well organized in every department.
HON. JOSEPH L. WHITON.
Hon. Joseph L. Whiton, mayor of Quincy, is giving to the city a businesslike and progressive administration that has brought about many needed reforms and introduced many valuable improvements. His record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for Mr. Whiton has been called to the highest position within the gift of his fellow towns- men in his native city, his birth having occurred in Quincy, February 28, 1873. His parents were Joseph L. and Mary A. (Litchfield) Whiton. The father was born in Quincy in 1844 and the mother is a native of Boston. The Whiton family in its ancestral line can be traced back to the period of early settlement in Plymouth, while the Litchfield family was established in Boston in 1630. Isaiah G. Whiton, the maternal grandfather, was born in Hingham, Massa- chusetts, and took up his abode in Quincy in the early '30s. He established the first shoe factory in the city, conducting business under the firm style of Whiton & Lincoln. He was also a sail maker and he was a stockholder in one of the first whaling vessels that sailed from Quincy. Throughout all the intervening years the Whiton family have taken active part in the work of general progress and improvement. The father died in October, 1911, but the mother is still living.
Joseph L. Whiton acquired a public school education, supple- mented by study in the Adams Academy, and, following in the foot- steps of his father and grandfather, turned his attention to shoe manu- facturing as an employe in a factory in his native city. He after- ward became identified with the wholesale shoe business in Boston as a traveling salesman and during the past ten years he has special- ized in rubber footwear. He is widely known through business con- nections and in all that he undertakes in that way displays an alert and progressive spirit productive of excellent results.
Mr. Whiton is also widely known as the efficient mavor of his native city, having been elected to the office on the 19th of December, 1916, by a majority of one hundred and sixty-nine, so that he is now serving for the second year of his term. He was elected under Plan
J.P. E.UD-124
HON. JOSEPH L. WHITON
THAT'S MORR PUBLIC LIDIARY
ASTY H. LEWICY AD TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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A. This was not his first official position, however, for he was a member of the city council for ten years and was president of the council for five years. During his administration as mayor he has put the city upon a business basis, closely watching every detail that has to do with the conduct of public interests and at the same time giving due importance to those points which are most effective in advancing general welfare. He has introduced motor equipment into the fire fighting service and has spent over one hundred thousand dollars in street repair work. He has also installed a new fire alarm system and he built the most modern fire alarm building in the United States. Various other evidences of his public spirit could be cited as tangible proof of his marked devotion to the general good. He was instrumental in securing four hundred thousand dollars from the government to widen Washington street and he was also the moving spirit in securing the erection of five hundred single houses for employes at the great new Victory plant of the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, a work for which he deserves much praise. He has closely studied the housing question and put forth every effort to give employes comfortable and sanitary homes when the new plant was erected and brought many people to the city.
On the 3d of October, 1895, Mr. Whiton was married to Miss Edith Woodbury, of Francestown, New Hampshire, and they now have three children, Mary, Minnie Norton and Edith Louise, all at home. Fraternally Mr. Whiton is a Mason, belonging to Rural Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; to St. Stephen's Chapter, R. A. M .; and to Quincy Commandery, K. T. He is likewise a member of the Granite City Club, of the Yacht Club and is president of the G. A. R. Aid Association. He is likewise an honorary member of the Fore River Club. He is a Unitarian in religious faith, having membership in the First Parish church. In politics he is an independent republican, usually voting with the party yet not considering himself bound by party ties, and at all times he places the general welfare before partisanship and the interests of the city before personal aggrandize- ment. One of the old historic homes on Quincy Point is owned by the family and this house was built more than one hundred and twenty years ago and was the first erected on Quincy Point below the First Parish church. This estate once was the original Quincy Point. Upon this place is an old dike which is supposed to have been used as a means of fortification against the Indians. In 1004 Mayor Whiton built a fine residence, which he now occupies and which is located at 29 Whiting Road. Mr. Whiton has always been a resident of Quincy and it is his object as its chief executive officer
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to keep the city in touch with the most advanced ideas and methods of city building, planning and improvement. His labors have been directly beneficial and his purposes have been accomplished with little opposition, for the value of the methods which he has instituted and the plans which he has advanced have been at once recognized.
CHARLES C. HANDY.
Charles C. Handy, who for twenty years has devoted his time and attention to the banking business, has through the steps of an orderly progression reached the responsible position which he now occupies as treasurer of the East Weymouth Savings Bank. A native son of Massachusetts, he was born in the historic old city of Salem on the 5th of October, 1876, his parents being Kelley and Lucy Ella (Swan) Handy, the former a native of Yarmouth county, Nova Scotia, while the latter was born in Salem. Kelley Handy arrived in Salem in the late '6os. He was a carpenter and builder by trade and successfully followed that pursuit, being closely associated with building opera- tions in Salem throughout his remaining days. His death occurred in November, 1910, when he had reached the age of sixty-four years, but his wife had long since passed away, having been called to her final rest in 1885.
Charles C. Handy spent his youthful days in his father's home in Salem and the public school system of the city afforded him his educational opportunities. When his textbooks were put aside he be- gan earning his living as a bookkeeper and was employed in various ways during the succeeding three years. In 1897 he made his initial step in connection with the banking business, entering the Salem Five Cent Savings Bank as a messenger and there remaining until July, 1898, when he entered the National Webster Bank of Boston as messenger. In that institution he worked his way up to the position of receiving teller and remained with the bank until July, 1910, when he was appointed a bank examiner for the state of Massachusetts by the state bank commissioner. He continued to occupy that position until May, 1917, when he resigned and re- moved to East Weymouth to accept the position of treasurer of the East Weymouth Savings Bank, which was organized in 1872 and is one of the old and substantial financial institutions of this part of the state, having now been in successful existence for more than forty-five years. Their deposits at the present time amount to one
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million, six hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars. The president of the bank is Fred L. Alden, a shoe manufacturer. Mr. Handy as treasurer is active in the management of the bank and the safe con- servative policy followed by the institution has always awakened public confidence.
On the 19th of June, 1907, Mr. Handy was married to Miss Anna F. Bird, a daughter of Charles and Anne (Howe) Bird, who were natives of New Hampshire. The father became a driver and sea captain at East Boston and he resided in Boston until his death. His wife passed away in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Handy have two children : Robert C., born in March, 1908; and Richard H., born in April, 1916. By a former marriage Mrs. Handy had one son, Lewis B. White, who was born in 1905.
Mr. Handy is the vice president of the Men's Club of East Wey- mouth, composed of business men of the town, and is also identified with the Now and Then Association of Salem, also drawing its membership from the business men of that city. He is likewise a member of the Bank Officers' Association of Boston and of the Sav- ings Bank Officers' Club of Massachusetts. Mr. Handy is also identified with the of Masons at Salem, which was started in 1792 and is one of the oldest lodges of the state. His re- ligious belief is that of the Universalist church. Politically he is a republican and served on the city council of Salem from 1903 until 1908. He has always been interested in community affairs but has not been active as an office seeker, yet cooperates heartily in all well defined plans for the upbuilding of city or state.
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