History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 27

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 27
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Since he has been principal of Hanover High School, the system has made notable strides for- ward, and in his plans for the future are other im- provements which are certain to redound to the credit of the city and elevate him still further in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. His youth and

experience taken together bode well for the cause of education and whatever ambitions he may have to further serve the people of his community and State.

Mr. Orcutt married, July 18, 1922, Esther Burke, and their union has been blessed with a son, Leon M., Jr., born in 1924.

GEORGE H. STEARNS, of Duxbury, Massachu- setts, who has held many offices of trust in that township, was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, July 20, 1853. Mr. Stearns is a son of George A. and Charity B. (Richardson) Stearns, both of whom are now deceased. George A. Stearns, the father, was a carpenter and builder of Northfield, Massachusetts, and Brattleboro, Vermont, a man beloved by those who knew him well, and respected by all with whom he came in contact.

George H. Stearns received his education in the public schools of the community in which he was born, and immediately after made his first contact with the business world as a messenger in a whole- sale clothing store in the city of Boston, where he remained for two years. He then went to California for his health, remaining about two years, and al- though his general condition was greatly improved it was still under the doctor's orders that he went to Europe where he spent another two-year period. In 1882, he opened a general store in South Duxbury, and at that time he received the appointment as post- master, a position which he held for about twenty years. In 1890, he was elected town clerk, and in 1900, town treasurer and tax collector, in the town of Duxbury. He has since continued in those offices. George H. Stearns married, in 1874, Cora L Ellis, of Duxbury, and to them were born three children: Guy A. (deceased), Ray A., and Charity R. Mr. and Mrs. Stearns reside in Duxbury.

GEORGE H. PRIEST-If any man in the world has a hard job, it is the manager of a gas plant; con- ditions attending the industry would be enough in themselves, but at the other end of the line there is a most discriminating public to serve. George H. Priest, the efficient manager of the Brockton Gas Light Company, wears a smile all the time, as if fitting the declaration of Carlyle that "Genius means the transcendent capacity of taking trouble." Yet this is the chief function of the splendid institution which graduated Mr. Priest-the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology at Boston, whose graduates are rendering such indispensable service that every com- munity they touch is better for their presence. Mr. Priest is happy over two things in particular-in 1925 the company moved into its new building on Main Street, with many added facilities, and causes of complaint from gas users have been reduced to a minimum.

George H. Priest was born May 16, 1877, at Brock- ton, the son of Herman E. Priest, now a retired gro- cer, and Ella G. Priest, who died in 1901. He was educated in the Brockton public schools and the Boston institution referred to, whence he went out with the class of 1899, with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Chemical Engineer. He claims to have entered the gas business as a boy in short pants, when he rode around in a rig with the gas man who lighted the street lamps, and on Saturday nights ac- companied his father, once employed at the local

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plant, to pay off the employees. His successive em- ployments have been with the Boston Consolidated Gas Company, the United Gas Improvement Com- pany, and the Greenfield Gas Light Company, up to 1908, when he was further promoted by joining the large New England construction concern of Stone and Webster. On May 1, 1916, he accepted the position of manager of the Brockton Gas Light Con- pany. Thus he had two years to familiarize himself with the ground before the United States entered the World War; when this conflict came, he placed his services at the disposal of the authorities and coop- erated in every way to the end that the citizens might save as much as possible so they could more thor- oughly support the armies in France. He was promi- nent in all the Liberty Loan and Community Chest drives, and contributed liberally from his own purse.

On the occasion of the opening of the Brockton Gas Light Company's new structure, the Brockton "Daily Enterprise" and the "Brockton Times" de- voted special sections to a résumé of the concern's activities, under date of Saturday, December 12, 1925. From this edition the following account is taken:

This week marks the beginning of a new and important period in the history of Brockton's oldest public utility, for today the Brockton Gas Light Company is holding a public opening of its new home at No. 54 Main Street, hav- ing left its old quarters in the Masonic Building on Center Street which it has occupied for the last quarter of a cen- tury.

An event of this character is of sufficient interest to pro- vide a subject for pause and reflection on the affairs of one of our public servants whose daily service is so readily ac- cepted as a matter of course that it is easy to forget that human beings are planning and working day and night, overcoming difficulties and solving problems so that the people of this community may never be disappointed when they call for service.

The residents of Brockton who remember the beginning of the gas company in North Bridgewater are now becom- ing few, because only those who are approaching the mile- stone marking three-score and ten were here when the or- ganization meeting of the North Bridgewater Gas Light Com. pany was held in the office of Jonas R. Perkins, on August 26, 1859, sixty-six years ago. It is a matter for some local pride that the town was progressive even in those early days, for gas companies were not numerous in 1859, even in larger cities.

The first gas company in America was formed in Balti- more in 1816. This was before the days of public water works and horse cars in Plymouth County; electric lights and telephones were unheard of, and automobiles, submar- ines, phonographs, radio and airplanes as yet undreamed of save in the minds of such visionaries as Mother Shipman.

The Randolph and Bridgewater steam railroad was built in 1846, and the telegraph was introduced in 1856, but these were not local enterprises. The population of the town at this time was about 6500, and even then over 1,000,000 pairs of shoes were manufactured annually.

The first gas company in North Bridgewater was a very small affair, composed of fourteen stockholders, with a capi- tal stock of $12,000. The following courageous capitalists made up the entire company: William F. Brett, president ; David F. Studley, treasurer and director; Jonas R. Perkins, secretary and director; Henry W. Robinson, director; Noah Chesman, director; Thomas Angell, Joseph C. Hartshorn, Reed P. Silver, Luther Studley, George Sawyer, Francis A. Thayer. Thomas Leonard, H. C. Studley, and N. F. Jones, stockholders.

The new home of the Brockton Gas Light Company is the result of years of waiting and many days of careful plan- ning to develop a central office plant suitable for the in- creasing needs of this rapidly-growing company. This building was formerly the Field Block, built about forty years ago. The preceding building on this site, of course, dated back to the North Bridgewater days and was a fam- iliar sight to the residents of fifty years ago.

Local organizations have been employed almost exclusively in the construction work. George Howard & Sons were the general contractors; J. J. Callahan & Company installed the plumbing and fixtures; Anderson Heating & Plumbing Con- pany the heating, sprinkling and ventilating; L. Richmond & Company did the painting; H. L. Newton, signs and letter- ing ; Shaw-Walker Company, the steel cabinet work, fire-

proof ledger safes and steel shelving; the Standard Con- veyor

Company, pneumatic tubes; Tremaine Electric Com- pany, electrical work; Bloom, South & Gurney, magnesite floor; York Safe & Lock Company, vault doors and strong box. An American Ideal gas steam boiler sold by the A. H. Wolf Company is used to heat the building.

The administrative officers were listed as Junius Beebe, president; Robert C. Morse, vice-president and assistant treasurer; Micajah P. Clough, treasurer; Benjamin N. Johnson and Stewart B. McLeod, at- torneys and directors; George H. Priest, manager and director; C. R. Prichard, director; and W. B. Cas- well, assistant treasurer. The presidents since the or- ganization have been: William F. Brett, Noah Ches- man, Henry W. Robinson, William S. Eaton, War- ren A. Reed, Alfred Kimber, Charles A. Anderson, Frederick Munch, Marcus Beebe, and Junius Beebe (incumbent). The treasurers have been: David F. Studley, Noah Chesman, H. W. Robinson, Baalis Sanford, James W. Whitmarsh, F. P. Richmond, William A. Stetson, and M. P. Clough (incumbent). The clerks have been: Jonas R. Perkins, James W. Whitmarsh, F. P. Richmond, E. B. Mooney, C. F. Prichard, C. S. Purinton, and R. C. Morse (incum- bent).

The decade represented by the service of Mr. Priest's management has seen an increase of nearly 100 per cent in the business of the company, much of which must be traced to his own progressive meas- ures and keen foresight. Service to the users, it is unnecessary to state, has gone forward in a like proportion. In January, 1926, C. H. Tenney & Com- pany of Boston, acquired a majority of the stock, and now controls the company through a management contract. Mr. Priest continues his connection in the capacity of manager. The prominence of Mr. Priest in the affairs of his neighborhood is evidenced by the statement that he is probably connected with as many organizations as any man here. He is a Republican, and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Rotary Club, the University Club, the Commercial Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Boston Cham- ber of Commerce, the University Club of Boston, the Engineers' Club of Boston; the American Gas Asso- ciation, Guild of Gas Managers of New England, the New England Gas Association, and the Southern Gas Association. He is president of the Brockton Com- munity Service, vice-president of the Brockton Wel- fare Association and a vice-president of the Audubon Society of Brockton. In church circles he is a Uni- tarian.

Mr. Priest was married, at Hopedale, to Maud Woodbury, and they have a daughter, Dorothy Priest, born July 12, 1902.

JOHN A. PETERSON, M. D. physician and sur- geon of Hingham, Massachusetts, and a highly re- spected citizen of this community, was born on May 22, 1870, at Heath, Massachusetts. Dr. Peterson is a son of Jonathan and Cloe (Stratten) Peterson, both of whom are now deceased. Jonathan Peterson, was one of the prominent farmers of Heath, and took much interest in the affairs of his community.

John A. Peterson received his early education in the public schools of the district in which he was born, Heath, and he attended the University of Vermont, graduating with the class of 1896, when he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after the completion of these courses of study, Dr. Peterson began practice at Guilford, Vermont, where he re-

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mained for about four years. In 1900, however, he removed to Hingham. That he has met with success is evidenced by the fact that it is in Hingham he has since remained, caring for a steadily increasing prac- tice. Dr. Peterson has one of the largest and most artistocratic clienteles in this part of the State.

In his political views, he is a staunch supporter of the Republican party. He was appointed in 1910 by Governor Draper to the office of Medical Examiner for Plymouth County and since reappointed by Governors McCall and Cox. He has also been active in the general affairs of his town, and he is noted for the excellent manner in which he stands behind any movement designed for the welfare or advancement of Hingham. He takes an interest in the social life of Hingham, as well, and is a member of many societies relating to his profession, including the American Me- dical Association, the Massachusetts State Medical Society, the Plymouth County Medical Society and the Medico-Legal Society. He is a member of the Wampatuck Club.

Dr. John A. Peterson married, in 1903, Mary L. Orwell, and they have two daughters: 1. Amy, born in 1905. 2. Natalie, born in 1913. Dr. Peterson and his family reside in Hingham, and attended the Unitarian church.

J. ALBERT SULLIVAN-Probably no citizen of the city of Brockton is more popular with his fellows than is J. Albert Sullivan, who occupies an important official position in connection with the local govern- ment. Every one who has occasion to come into contact with Mr. Sullivan is happy in the possession of his friendship, for he is of the rare type of man who invariably detects the meritorious qualities of his fellow-men, and who seeks to create a spirit of good will and camaraderie wherever he may be.

John T. Sullivan, of Avon, who died in 1926, and Mary (O'Brien) Sullivan, a native of County Cork, Ireland, still living, are the parents of J. Albert Sulli- van. The father was for a period of many years connected with the Standard Oil Company.

J. Albert, son of John T. and Mary (O'Brien) Sullivan, was born on May 21, 1891, in Brockton, Massachusetts. After attendance in the local public schools, he was enrolled in the Brockton High School, and was duly graduated from that institution in the class of 1909. He early became associated with the M. A. Packard Shoe Company, and was engaged in the capacity of paymaster for that company until 1917, in which year he resigned his position and proffered his services to the Nation. He was first assigned to the first Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg, New York, and after subsequent assignments for duty at various other military training camps, was discharged from the service in August, 1919, with rank of first lieutenant. Returned to Brockton, he did not again en- gage in business pursuits, but instead was elected to the office of city clerk, to succeed C. R. Barrett. Mr. Sullivan adequately demonstrated his fitness for the responsible position, and has consequently been re- elected to the same office at each succeeding election, courtesy and efficiency having made of him an almost indispensable part of the city administra- tion. A Democrat in political belief, Mr. Sullivan was, prior to his election to the office of City Clerk, a valued member of the Common Council of Brock- ton, during the years 1914, 1915 and 1916; and in 1917 he was an alderman. He is a member of the St. Pat-

rick's Roman Catholic Church, of various local clubs, the Seville Council, Knights of Columbus; the Bene- volent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

On August 5, 1920, Mr. Sullivan married M. Alice, daughter of Joseph and Julia (Culhane) Sullivan. They are the parents of a daughter, Patricia M., born March 5, 1924.

GEORGE J. J. CLARK-The rise of George J. J. Clark of Hanover in the business world is an in- teresting story and rather unusual. Mr. Clark came to Plymouth County in 1890 from Prince Edward Is- land. In 1900 he moved from Abington to Han- over where he purchased an abandoned factory and started in the manufacture of fireworks. This plant has grown until today it is the largest plant of its kind in the world. Mr. Clark is reputed to be worth several million dollars. From a small start the busi- ness has grown until today there are nine factories scattered over the United States from Maine to Texas and a number of selling organizations with warehouses and stocks of fireworks in the United States.

Mr. Clark started in business with a capital of $2,500 and for many years the companies with which he is connected ran largely on borrowed capital, and due to the hazardous nature of the business, some- times had to pay a premium for loans. Notwith- standing this, by hard work and continuous applica- tion of business methods in the fireworks busines's, the outcome is an exceptional success.

George J. J. Clark was born on Prince Edward Island in 1866. He received his education in the local public schools, then entered the lumber busi- ness with his father, at the age of seventeen years, and so continued until 1890, when he conceived the idea of crossing the border into the friendly New England community, where he believed there was more opportunity than in the home town.

Mr. Clark is extremely liberal in charity and civic work, and fills a number of local posts of honor. His progressive spirit is best described by the statement that he represents his line of goods as a member of that forward looking modern organization, the Ki- wanis Club. In political affairs, he is a loyal mem- ber of the Republican party, and in touch with local, State and national leaders of the organization. In secret fraternal order work, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Scottish Rite Masons, and of the Ancient Arabic Order No- bles of the Mystic Shrine. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist denomination.

Mr. Clark married, in 1897, Amelia Crossman, and five children have blessed their union: Oliver F., George L., William M., Stanley H., and Milton C.

WARREN S. KEITH-As treasurer and general manager of the Keith Oil Corporation of Brockton, Warren S. Keith is identified with the only concern of its kind in the community, and he has fully dem- onstrated his ability as a business man and as an executive. Mr. Keith served in France during the World War, and is one of the young men of Brockton whose military record is a credit to the community from which he came. He was elevated to the rank of major in 1918, and is now a lieutenant-colonel in the Massachusetts National Guard.

Warren S. Keith was born in Brockton, Massachu-

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setts, June 12, 1892, and attended the public schools of his native city. When his high school course was completed he became associated with his father's oil business, and all his active life he has been associated with that industry. He was first associated with his father in the Independent Oil Company, then in the Refined Oil Company, which, in 1920, became the Keith Oil Corporation. The Refined Oil Company was established in 1918, and by 1920 had reached pro- portions which warranted its incorporation as the Keith Oil Corporation, of which Warren R. Keith, father of Mr. Keith, was made president; S. Elliot Keith, secretary, and Warren S. Keith treasurer and general manager. The Keith Oil Corporation has two storage plants with a capacity of one hundred thou- sand gallons, located at Brockton, and has about thirty-five employees. Its operations are conducted within a radius of about twenty-five miles, surround- ing Brockton, and it is the only concern of its kind located in Brockton. Success has attended the enter- prise from the beginning, and there is every prospect of an increasingly prosperous future. Politically, Mr. Keith gives his support to the Republican party. During the period preceding the entrance of the United States into the World War Mr. Keith was commissioned December, 1916, as a member of the Infantry Reserve Corps, and on May 5, 1917, after the entrance of this country into the war, was ordered to active duty at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. On August 15, 1917, he was commissioned captain and assigned to Company L, Three Hundred and Twenty-first Infantry, American Expeditionary Forces, in which body he was made major of the Third Battalion, October 27, 1918. After the close of the war he became a member of Battery E, One Hun- dred and First Field Artillery, National Guard, with the rank of captain, and in 1921 he was commissioned major of the Second Battalion, One Hundred and First Field Artillery, Massachusetts National Guard. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, One Hun- dred and First Field Artillery, October 27. 1926. Fraternally, Mr. Keith is affiliated with St. George Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Brock- ton; Brockton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Brock- ton Council, Royal and Select Masters; Bay State Commandery, Knights Templar, in which body he is Generalissimo. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is Past Commander of the American Legion, and is actively identified with several of Brockton's commercial and social clubs, including Brockton Chamber of Com- merce, Brockton Country Club, the Commercial Club. and the Kiwanis Club, which he serves a secretary. His religious affiliation is with the South Congrega- tional Church.

ALBERT EVERETT AVERY-Few men have made a more substantial contribution to bench and bar than Albert Everett Avery, Judge of the District Court of East Norfolk and a resident of Braintree. For a quarter of a century Judge Avery has filled this position with ability and distinction, and consider- ing the diverse character of the cases he has handled, it is remarkable that so few of his rulings have been reversed by the higher courts. His calm judgment and high sense of honor and justice have made a deep impression on the legal profession, and he has been complimented on numerous occasions in recent years by being called to sit in the Superior Court by Chief

Justice Walter Perley Hall. He brings to his pro- fession the results of a careful training in funda- mentals at the Harvard and Boston University Law schools, while his experience as a practitioner gave him the most valuable contact with cases and in- dividuals, producing a contact with human nature that is held to be requisite to the successful prosecution of the law.

Judge Avery was born at Braintree, Massachu- setts, July 8, 1858, son of Edward Avery and Caroline (Stetson) Avery; his father was born in Marblehead and played a prominent part in the law until his death in 1896; his mother, a native of Braintrec, daughter of Caleb Stetson, was a descendant of Cornet Stetson, of Scituate, and died in 1882. On the maternal side another distinguished ancestor was John Alden, hero of Longfellow's "Courtship of Miles Standish," who married Priscilla Mullins.

The early education of Judge Avery was obtained in Adams Academy at Quincy, after which he at- tended the Harvard Law School at Cambridge, and then the Boston Law School. On standing the bar examinations he was admitted to the bar in 1883, and engaged in the practice of law in Boston with his father, and continued with him until 1896, making very satisfactory progress; the death of his father at this time threw him entirely upon his own resources, nor did he fail to respond with his best. For six years, until 1902, he practiced alone, and with very gratifying success, until appointed Judge of the District Court of East Norfolk by Governor Winthrop Murray Crane, now deceased, and he has filled this position ever since; at the present time he is the presiding justice.

Judge Avery is a member of the Democratic party. He is very much interested in educational matters, and his solicitation for the welfare of the young people brought about his selection as a member of the Braintree School Board, on which he served with conspicuous ability for `nine years; he also for sev- eral years has been a trustee of the Thayer Public Library. For fourteen years he was a member of the First Corps of Cadets of the Massachusetts Vol- unteer Militia; during the World War he was above the service age, but volunteered in other capacities and was appointed chairman of the Braintree Draft Board and a member of the Legal Advisory Board of Norfolk County. He attends the Union Congrega- tional Church, and he was president of the Cochato Club of Braintree, of which he is now an honorary member.

Judge Avery married, in 1887, Susan Josephine Dowd, a native of Weymouth and descendant of an old New England family, and four children have been born as a blessing to their union: 1. Susan. 2. Edward. 3. Stetson, who served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army during the World War. 4. Doro- thy C. Avery.

THOMAS HOWARD SOULE-As one of the oldest inn-keepers in active service in New England, the late Thomas Howard Soule, of Hyannis. who died November 11, 1926, enjoyed the reputation of being a man of great industry and resourcefulness, who knew thousands of people and counted hundreds of them as friends. Mr. Soule achieved a unique record, having been a merchant sailor, then a mem- ber of the United States Navy in the Civil War, in which great conflict he served valiantly under Ad-

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miral Farragut and assisted in the capture of the Confederate Ram "Tennessee"; in later years, he was a County Commissioner and hotel proprietor, and contributed substantially to the growth and cul- tural progress of the community.

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 27

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