History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 2

Author: Thompson, Elroy Sherman, 1874-
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 2
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 2
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 2

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CHARLES L. BATES-After completing his uni- versity course and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws, Charles L. Bates entered the teaching pro- fession, in which he rendered valuable service for nearly twenty years. Since 1902 he has served as town treasurer of Wareham. Mr. Bates is a de- scendant of Mary Allerton, who came to New Eng- land in the "Mayflower." His father, Stephen Bates, was a native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he was engaged during the early years of his life as a shoemaker and fisherman, but during the later years he was engaged as a farmer. He died in 1917, having survived his wife, Lucinda N. (Burgess) Bates, born in Pocasset, Barnstable County, for six years.

Charles L. Bates, son of Stephen and Lucinda N. (Burgess) Bates, was born in Plymouth, Massachu- setts, November 16, 1865, and received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Wareham. After com- pleting his course in Wareham High School he ma- triculated in Lincoln-Jefferson University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1909, receiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Laws. After completing his professional training he entered the teaching profession and for a period of seventeen years was so engaged, giving to this work the ad-

PLYMOUTH, NORFOLK AND BARNSTABLE

vantages of his excellent training and his native abil- ity, and exerting over the lives of the young people with whom he was associated a most beneficial in- fluence. For nine years he was engaged in teaching in Wareham, and for eight years he taught in the town of Carver, Massachusetts. He has always taken an active interest in local public affairs, and on March 2, 1902, he was elected town clerk and town treas- urer for Wareham. That office he has continued to hold for more than twenty-four years. He has served as a member of the Wareham School Board for over twenty years, and for several years was a member of the Republican town committee. He is a past-presi- dent of the Plymouth County Town Clerks' Associa- tion, which later admitted Barnstable and Dukes counties, and is now known as Plymouth, Barnstable, and Dukes Counties Town Clerks' Association, of which he is a member. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church, which he serves as a member of the board of trustees and as recording steward, and he is also treasurer and superintendent of the Sunday school.

Charles L. Bates, was married, in 1887, to Georgia R. Morse, who was born in Carver, Massachusetts, daughter of Robert P. and Deborah (Bumpus) Morse. Mr. and Mrs. Bates are the parents of two children: 1. Charles Evarts, who served in the United States Army during the World War as a member of the Supply Company, 128th Infantry, Eighty-second Div- ision, with which unit he served in France with the American Expeditionary Forces for eighteen months. 2. Georgia Myrtle, who married Arthur E. Gariepy, of Wareham, and is now engaged as her father's assistant at the town office.

LEVI O. ATWOOD-The Atwood family, from which is descended Levi O. Atwood, prominent Middleboro manufacturer, occupies an important place in the annals of Great Britain, no less than sixteen families of the name having had their arms entered in the Herald's College. As is the case in Great Britain, the Atwood family in America has been a most prolific one. The first American ancestor of record was:

(I) John Wood, or Atwood, resident of Plymouth in 1643, married Sarah, daughter of Richard Master- son, and had nine children, including:

(II) Deacon Nathaniel Atwood, born February 25, 1651-52, died December 17, 1724, married Mary, daughter of Jonathan Morey, and had eight children, including :

(III) Lieutenant Nathaniel Atwood (2), born Oc- tober 3, 1693, married (first) Mary, daughter of Francis Adams, and (second), October 7, 1747, Mrs. Abigail Lucas. He lived in that part of Plymouth which became Plympton, and served as a lieutenant in the military company of the town. He had eleven children, including :

(IV) Ichabod, born in 1744, in that part of Plymp- ton that became Carver, married Hannah, born in 1751, daughter of Captain Nathaniel and Hannah (Perkins) Shaw, of Plympton. He was a farmer and dealer in lumber, wood, and charcoal. Captain Na- thaniel Shaw, father of his wife, was a patriot during the Revolutionary War. Twelve children were born to Ichabod and Hannah (Shaw) Atwood, including:

(V) Nathaniel Atwood (3), born April 28, 1782, in Middleboro, married Zilpha, born in 1782, daughter of Francis and Mary (Shaw) Shurtleff, of Plympton and Carver. They had five children, including:

(VI) Ichabod F. Atwood was born in Fall Brook, Middleboro, on March 13, 1820, and died at his home in Rock in 1901, in his eighty-first year; was buried in the Atwood lot in the Fall Brook Cemetery, on the same farm where he was born. He attended the dis- trict school and Peirce Academy, and when about fifteen years of age was engaged as a teacher, which profession he followed for about thirty years, all of which period he taught in Plymouth with the excep- tion of one year. He was interested in the mills of Fall Brook and Rock, and resided in the latter town after 1866. A Republican in politics, he served in many important local offices, having been justice of the peace more than forty-five years, surveyor for forty years, selectman and overseer of the poor for three years, member of the school committee several years, also auditor and assessor. His services were frequently retained for the administration of estates. He was a member of the Methodist church. He married, in 1841, Abigail T. Thomas, daughter of Harvey C. and Hannah C. (Atwood) Thomas. Chil- dren: Emery F., Charles Nelson, Harvey N., and Hannah Z. His wife died in 1906, in her eighty- fourth year, and was buried in the same cemetery with her husband.

(VII) Charles Nelson Atwood, son of Ichabod F., was born on June 22, 1844, on the farm, and received the rudiments of an education in the public schools of Middleboro. He was employed about the home place and in the mill until 1879, and then assumed charge of the mill and box manufacturing plant in which his father was interested, and in 1904, his son, Levi O. Atwood, was made a partner in the business, the name of the concern then having been changed to C. N. Atwood & Son.

Charles Nelson Atwood was elected a Selectman in 1908. He was a Republican in political affiliation, and was a member of the Congregational church, and for many years treasurer for the latter's society. He was a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, of the Middleboro Savings Bank, and of the Co-operative Bank, of Middleboro. He enjoyed traveling, having, with his wife, journeyed extensively in this country, Europe, and Mexico. He married (first), October 23, 1866, Rozilla A. Barrows, daugh- ter of William Orville and Amanda N. (Wood) Bar- rows. She died November 22, 1874, in her twenty- ninth year, and was buried in the cemetery at Rock. Children: 1. Alton Barrows, born September 20, 1867. 2. Levi Orville, of whom further. Charles N. Atwood married (second), October 17, 1876, Sarah A. Gibbs, daughter of Francis Bradford and Tirzah Swift (Morse) Gibbs, descendant of one of the oldest fam- ilies of Barnstable and also a descendant of Revolu- tionary stock through the Morse family. By this mar- riage there was one son, Ichabod F., born February 28, 1882, graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology in 1903, and thereafter engaged in the box manufacturing business in Chelsea with his brother, Charles N. Atwood (q. v.).

Levi O. Atwood, son of Charles Nelson and Rozilla A. (Barrows) Atwood, was born on May 4, 1870. After attendance at the public schools of Middleboro, he studied at Eaton School, and at Bryant & Strat-

PLYMOUTH, NORFOLK AND BARNSTABLE

ton Business College, Boston. His education com- pleted, Mr. Atwood became associated with the box manufacturing business of his father, and in 1891 accepted a membership in the firm, thus. continuing until 1893, when he disposed of his financial interest in the business, which reverted to his father, and journeyed West to California, where he became identi- fied with the carriage manufacturing business. After three years devoted to the latter business, Mr. Atwood entered the printing and publishing industry, which he followed for six years. In 1902, he returned to Middleboro and again became associated with his father in the box manufacturing business, in which concern he was a partner until 1914, when he pur- chased the interest of his father, and has since that time continued the enterprise as an individual pro- prietor, with large plant and offices located at Rock, Massachusetts, where between forty and fifty men are employed to supply the constantly increasing de- mand for the products. The concern is now the largest manufacturer of wooden boxes in this section, which may be considered quite a distinction, as many plants making boxes are naturally located in this section of the State.

Mr. Atwood is affiliated with numerous fraternal organizations, clubs, civic bodies and various societies, including: Mayflower Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Old Colony Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Middleboro; Harmony Chapter, at Bridgewater; Brockton Council, Royal and Select Masters; Bay State Commandery, Knights Templar; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; also Middleboro Commercial Club, past-presi- dent; Associated Industries of Massachusetts; Boston Chamber of Commerce; the Old Middleboro His- torical Society; Middleboro Agricultural Society, and National Association of Box Manufacturers. He is a member and a trustee of the Rock Community Church. His varied business interests include the following: Director of the Middleborough Trust Com- pany, Middleborough Co-operative Bank; and trustee of the Middleborough Savings Bank.

In 1891, Levi O. Atwood married (first) Eva G. Tinkham, a native of Albany, New York, who died in 1901. He married (second), in 1903, Gertrude Col- yer, who was born in Missouri. By his first wife Mr. Atwood is the father of two children, Rose Anita, and Marion Nelson. To the second marriage has been born one daughter, Grace Elizabeth.

CHARLES H. BATES-For the past twenty-five years Charles H. Bates has rendered most valuable service to the town of Middleboro, where he has served during that period as superintendent of the public schools. Mr. Bates was engaged as a teacher during the first two years of his active career, as prin- cipal of various high schools for eight and a half years, and as Superintendent of Schools for eight years before coming to Middleboro.

Mr. Bates is a descendant of Governor Endicott, on the paternal side, his grandfather being John Bates, a farmer of Cohasset, who later removed to Danvers, Massachusetts. Albert A. Bates, father of Mr. Bates, was born in Danvers, and received his education in the public schools of that town. He then engaged in business as a leather dealer there, and in later life was assessor for the town of Danvers. He also

served as a member of the Board of Selectmen there, and was actively interested in local public affairs to the time of his death, which occurred in 1910. He married Hannah Maria Webster, a native of Derry, New Hampshire, also now deceased. Both were highly respected in Danvers, where they had a host of friends.

Charles H. Bates, son of Albert A. and Hannah Maria (Webster) Bates, was born in Danvers, Mas- sachusetts, June 9, 1857, and received his early educa- tion in the public schools there. He then continued his studies in the high school at Salem, Massachu- setts, where he completed his preparation for college, and the following fall he matriculated in Colby Col- lege. In 1905, because of the valuable service he had rendered in the field of education, his alma mater awarded him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Upon the completion of his college training he was engaged in teaching in Danvers for a period of two years, and then accepted the position of principal of the school at Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he remained for one year. His next position was that of principal of the school at West Dennis, Massachu- setts, which he filled for one year, after which he was principal of the high school at Chelmsford, for one year. At the end of that time he became principal of the Uxbridge High School, where for thirteen years he rendered service of a high order of excel- lence, winning the confidence and esteem of students and professional associates alike. After five years as principal of the high school he was made superinten- dent of all the schools and continued in that position until 1901, when he was appointed superintendent of schools for Uxbridge and Douglas districts. One month after the last-named appointment was made, however, or rather one month after the school term there had begun, he was appointed Superintendent of schools for Middleboro, and that position he has con- tinued to fill. More than a quarter of a century of service has enabled Mr. Bates to become a powerful factor in the development of the lives of the youth of Middleboro and vicinity, and has greatly endeared him to successive groups of public school students, many of whom have found him to be a wise and helpful friend, as well as a skilled educator. Politically, Mr. Bates gives his support to the principles and the can- didates of the Republican party, and he has been willing to bear his share of the burdens of local public office. He served for three years as trustee of the library board of Uxbridge, and has generously sup- ported those projects which have seemed to him to be well planned for the advancement of the public welfare, wherever he has been residing. His big work, however, has been with the youth of each community, in whom he has materially helped to in- spire high ideals of civic and political life. During the World War he served as one of the "four-minute" speakers, for the town of Middleboro, and aided in all possible ways the various campaigns which were a part of the community war work. Fraternally, he is a member of the college fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Middleboro, and with Lodge No. 1274, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Middleboro Commer- cial Club, which he has served as secretary; is past- president of the Worcester Teachers' Association; also of the Plymouth County Teachers' Association,

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PLYMOUTH, NORFOLK AND BARNSTABLE

and of the Southeastern Massachusetts Superinten- dents' Association. He is a member of the National Education Society, and is recognized as one of the foremost among the educators of Plymouth County. His religious affiliation is with the Unitarian Church, which he served as a member of the Parish Com- mittee, and as president of the Men's Club. He has also served as superintendent of the Sunday school.

Charles H. Bates was married, in 1884, to Mary Etta Reed, daughter of Allan and Eliza Ann Reed, of Provincetown, Massachusetts. They are the parents of two children: 1. Grace Claire, who married John Alden Miller, Jr., and now resides in Taylorsville, North Carolina. 2. Catherine, married Roger Paine, of New Bedford, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Boston University, and is known as a concert singer and violinist.

WILLIAM HENRY DEACON-In a section of Norfolk County which is largely devoted to the gran- ite manufacturing industry the name of the late Wil- liam Henry Deacon was long prominent in the trade as founder of one of the best-known and most pro- gressive concerns of its kind in this granite producing section of the State. The firm of Deacon Brothers, Incorporated, was one of the first to import foreign granite and it was the Plymouth branch of this con- cern which cut the figures "1620" in the famous Plymouth Rock, at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Since the death of Mr. Deacon on September 29, 1923, his widow, Ada Druitt (Snewin) Deacon, has been presi- dent of the concern, and the son and daughter have been serving as treasurer and manager and as secre- tary, respectively. The life and business career of William Henry Deacon are well worthy of record, and as the entire thirty-four years of his active ca- reer were identified with the granite industry his work was no small contribution to this field of busi- ness activity.

Walter Deacon, father of Mr. Deacon, was born in Devonshire, England, where he was educated and where he learned the trade of granite cutter. In 1871, he left Cornwall, England, and came to this country, locating first in New York City, but later coming to Quincy, Massachusetts, where he continued to live and to work as a granite cutter, and where he died. He married Caroline Williams, and they were the parents of several children, among whom was Wil- liam Henry Deacon, of honored memory.

William Henry Deacon was born at Dartmoor, County Devon, England, November 16, 1861, and died in Quincy, Massachusetts, September 29, 1923. From earliest boyhood his associations were with the gran- ite trade and as a child he found delight in his father's skill as a cutter. He attended the public schools of Dartmoor, England, and after coming to this country continued his education in the public schools of Quincy, Massachusetts. When thirteen years of age, he became interested in the craft of his father, and worked about six years with him. In January, 1880, he entered the employ of Adams Vogle & Sons, as a granite cutter. That connection he maintained for a number of years, but while faithfully and skillfully attending to his work he was also studying drawing in an evening school. From the beginning he looked forward to a time when he might be able to estab- lish a business of his own, and in 1889 he formed a partnership with John Cole under the style of Cole and Deacon, and engaged in the granite manufactur-

ing business in Quincy. Three years later, in 1892, Mr. Cole retired from business and Mr. Deacon admitted his brother Walter Deacon, into partner- ship, under the firm name of Deacon Brothers. After a short time, however, Walter Deacon retired, and from that time to the time of his death, September 29, 1923, William Henry Deacon continued the busi- ness alone. Under his skillful management the busi- ness grew rapidly, establishing a reputation which brought to it annually a large amount of new busi- ness and steadily enlarging the scope of its opera- tions, until, at the time of the death of the founder it was one of the largest and most prosperous gran- ite manufacturing establishments in the country. In addition to the founding of a successful manufactur- ing enterprise and its development into one of the leading concerns of this section, Mr. Deacon also found time to take an active part in local public affairs, serving as a member of the Common Council of Quincy for three years, 1905-1907, during which time he was a member of various important com- mittees, and throughout his lifetime giving earnest and generous support to all movements planned for the advancement of the interests of the community. In 1920 he presented the four cornerstones for the Salvation Army Citadel, at Plymouth, England, as a memorial of his residence in the home country, and as a souvenir of the new Plymouth of New England. He was a member of the Granite Manufacturers' As- sociation, and was well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Rural Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Stephen's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Quincy Commandery, Knights Templar; and of Taleb Grotto, Mystic Order Veiled Prophets of the En- chanted Realm, of Quincy.

After the death of Mr. Deacon in September, 1923, the concern was incorporated under the name of Deacon Brothers, Incorporated, with Ada Druitt (Snewin) Deacon, wife of Mr. Deacon, as president; John Russell Deacon, a son, as treasurer and man- ager; and Flora G. Deacon (Mrs. Alexander F. Mun- die), a daughter, as secretary. The company manu- factures a complete-line of memorials and monuments for cemetery trade, and also manufactures some gran- ite for building purposes, most of the work being done with New England granite, although a large amount of foreign granite is also used, this firm being one of the first to import foreign granite. This concern fur- nished all the granite consisting entirely of Quincy granite, for the Palmer House at Chicago, also the granite for the new Hotel Statler, in Boston, and for the National Mount Wollaston Bank of Quincy. In addition to the main plant, located at Nos. 307-323 Centre Street, Quincy, the corporation also main- tains two branches, one at No. 47 Court Street, Plymouth, and the other at No. 387 Bay Street, Springfield, Massachusetts. The Plymouth branch has placed many memorials commemorating the Pil- grim Fathers at Plymouth, Massachusetts, and it was this branch that cut the figures "1620" in the Plym- outh Rock which lies on the shore at Plymouth.

William Henry Deacon married, November 28, 1883, Ada Druitt, daughter of Augustus Goodwin Snewin, of London, England. Mr. and Mrs. Dea- con became the parents of twelve children, of whom three survive: Flora Gladys (who married Alexander F. Mundie), secretary of the firm of Deacon Brothers, Incorporated; Lillian May Deacon (Mrs. Coleman Nickerson), and John Russell Deacon, of whom fur- ther. The following children are deceased: Alice

PLYMOUTH, NORFOLK AND BARNSTABLE

Maude; and Walter Augustus, of whom further; and seven who died in infancy.

Walter Augustus Deacon, son of William Henry and Ada Druitt (Snewin) Deacon, was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, December 14, 1887, and died here in 1918. His preliminary education was ac- quired in the Lincoln School of Quincy, and he later took a course in The International Correspondence School, and Comers' Business School of Boston, Mas- sachusetts. After school days were over he became identified with his father in the granite manufactur- ing business, commencing at the bottom of the ladder and rising through successive promotions, until at the time of his death he was manager of Deacon Brothers (now incorporated), and also one-half owner of the retail shop, located in Plymouth. His untimely death cut short his career in the prime of his life, but still the accomplishments and achievements which were his during his life will ever remain as heart inspirations to those who follow. Mr. Deacon was actively prominent in Masonic circles, a member of the Blue Lodge, of Plymouth, Free and Accepted Masons; Royal Arch Masons, of Plymouth; Knights Templar of Abington; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Boston. He was also a member of the Order Sons of St. George of Quincy. His club was the Commercial of Plymouth, and in his religious fellowship he was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, of Quincy, having served as clerk during the year 1912.

Walter Augustus Deacon married, in Quincy, Mas- sachusetts, November 28, 1912, Anna Augusta Peter- son, daughter of John and Anna (Anderson) Peter- son. Mr. and Mrs. Deacon were the parents of two sons: Walter Ellis, born in Plymouth, December 31, 1913; and Frederick Druitt, born in Quincy, Novem- ber 5, 1917. Mr. Deacon passed away in 1918, and Mrs. Deacon continues her residence at No. 60 Oak Street, Plymouth.

John Russell Deacon, son of William Henry and Ada Druitt (Snewin) Deacon, was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, July 3, 1899. He received his early education in the public schools of Quincy and the Huntington School of Boston, and then took a course in Burdett's Business College, in Boston. After finishing his commercial training he became as- sociated with his father in the granite manufacturing business, in 1917, as a granite cutter, and continued in that department of the business until after the' death of his father in 1923, when the concern was incorporated, under the name of Deacon Brothers, Incorporated, with Ada Druitt Deacon as president, and John Russell Deacon as treasurer and manager. Mr. Deacon has his offices in the central plant, which is located at Nos. 307-323 Centre Street, South Quincy. He is a Republican in his political sym- pathies, and, fraternally, is identified with the Order of Sons of St. George. In connection with his busi- ness he is a member of the American Granite Asso- ciation, Incorporated, of Washington, District of Columbia, and of the Granite Manufacturers' Asso- ciation of Quincy, Massachusetts. He takes an ac- tive interest in civic affairs and is a member of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce. Outside of his business, Mr. Deacon's greatest interest lies in boat- ing and in airplanes. In religious fellowship he is a member of Christ Episcopal Church, and of the Men's Club.

John Russell Deacon married, in 1920, Gladys V. Hirtle, who was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, and

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 2

Author: Thompson, Elroy Sherman, 1874- Publication date: 1928 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author: Thompson, Elroy Sherman, 1874-
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642