USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 29
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 29
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 29
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On October 23, 1890, Frank Alden Besse married Mary Bryant Gammons, born in Wareham, daughter of Edward A. Gammons, of whom later. To this marriage the following children came: Edward Al- den (q. v.), Gerard Curtis, Harry W., Gertrude Gammons, Alden Bourne, and Justine.
(X) Gerard Curtis Besse was born in Wareham, June 28, 1896, and received his education at Wareham High School; Phillips-Exeter, and Yale, with Bach- elor of Science degree in 1917. He served one year as a private in Battery B, 10th Field Artillery, National Guard of Connecticut, having been assigned for three months of that period to duty on the Mexican bor- der, in 1916. On May 12, 1917, he enlisted at Platts- burg; New York, as a candidate for a commission in the first officers' training camp. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve Corps on August 15, 1917; was first assigned to Battery P, 302nd Field Artillery, Seventy-sixth Division; and was detailed to the aviation section, Signal Corps,
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June, 1918; was attached to the air service as observer in August, 1918; joined the 10th Battalion Company on October 29, 1918, and served in France from Sep- tember 21, 1918, to May 25, 1919, when he was dis- charged with rank of first lieutenant, Field Artillery Corps. He is now assistant treasurer of the Hyannis Trust Company. He married, December 21, 1917, Gladys Harriett Busiere, of Taunton, and has two sons, Gerard Curtis, Jr., and Bryant Busiere.
Harry William, third son of Frank Alden and Mary Bryant (Gammons) Besse, enlisted in the United States Army on June 13, 1917, at Paris, France, hav- ing been in the French army previous to declaration of hostilities by the United States. He was mustered into service at Fairhaven, on October 14, 1918, as a private in the Coast Artillery Corps of the regular army. While serving with the French army he par- ticipated in the following engagements: Chemin-des- Dames (Aisne sector), third battle of Aisne. He was discharged from the French service on Novem- ber 23, 1917, and from the American army November 23, 1918.
(The Gammons Line).
The family line from which Mary Bryant (Gam- mons) Besse is descended is believed to be of English origin, and members of the Gammons family are to be found in many parts of New England. The name is variously spelled Gammons, Gammon, Gamon, Gamons, and Gamans. It is of record that one Philip Gammon, fisherman, of Casco, and later, of Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, married prior to 1690, the eldest daughter of John Parrott; and there was Rob- ert Gammon, of Pemaquid, who took the oath of fidelity in 1674. The origin of the Wareham family has not been definitely ascertained. There are, how- ever, traces of many descendants of the Wareham Gammons in certain towns of Maine after the close of the Revolution, and at Falmouth, near Portland, Maine, living families of that name during the middle of the eighteenth century.
(I) William Gammons, of Plymouth, was at Hali- fax in 1759, in a regiment commanded by Colonel John Thomas. In 1736, Plymouth records indicate, William Gammons married Hannah Hubbard.
(II) John Gammons, son of William and Hannah (Hubbard) Gammons, was born in Middleboro, April 8, 1745. His wife Hannah died October 13, 1796, in her forty-ninth year, mother of seven children.
(III) Jairus, second son and third child of John and Hannah (Hubbard) Gammons, was born in South Middleboro, March 30, 1783. His wife, Mary, died July 10, 1826, mother of fourteen children.
(IV) William Gammons, son of Jairus and Mary Gammons, born in South Middleboro, December 12, 1816, settled in West Wareham in 1861, where he re- mained. He married Deborah Bryant Gallt, born in Wareham, daughter of Deacon John and Mary (Shurtleff) Gallt. They had three children.
(V) Edward Allen Gammons, son of William and Deborah B. (Gallt) Gammons, was born January 15, 1842, in South Wareham. He worked in the Parker Mills in winter and followed the sea in summer. In October, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Third Mas- sachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was stationed for a time in North Carolina, and participated in the bat- tles of Kinston, Whitehall, and Goldsboro; was hon- orably discharged from the service in June, 1863, and
was proffered a commission as captain of militia by Governor Andrew in 1864. In July, 1863, he became a clerk in the old Wareham Bank and the Wareham Savings Bank (both combined), the former becoming the National Bank of Wareham in 1865. He advanced steadily, and eventually became treasurer and cashier of the savings and the national bank. When the law of 1904 separated savings and national banks he became cashier of the national bank and his son-in-law, Frank A. Besse, became treasurer of the savings bank. On July 1, 1911, Mr. Besse was elected president of the National Bank of Wareham, and retained his interest in the Wareham Savings Bank. A Democrat, Mr. Gammons served as member of the water and electric light commissions and as chairman of the local Demo- cratic Committee. He belonged to the General Wil- liam F. Sherman, Post, No. 208, Grand Army of the Republic (an organizer and quartermaster), Social Harmony Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons (Past Master, secretary for twenty-five years), and Ware- ham Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.
On January 15, 1867, Edward A. Gammons married Mary Bowman Billings, daughter of Warren and Mary F. (Caswell) Billings, who survived him at the time of his death on January 29, 1918. Mrs. Gam- mons was prominent in social affairs and an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd (Epis- copal), of which her husband was treasurer many years. Children: 1. Mary Bryant (before noted). 2. William Edward, died July 19, 1897. 3. Henry El- liott, died April 16, 1897.
EDWARD A. BESSE, one of the most prominent men in the banking world of Wareham, Massachu- setts, and a man who has always taken a leading part in the club and social life of his community, was born February 13, 1891, in Wareham. He is a son of Frank Alden and Mary B. (Gammons) Besse (q. v.). Frank A. Besse died August 11, 1924.
Edward A. Besse was educated in the public schools of Wareham, and graduted from Exeter Academy. He then accepted employment as a clerk in the Ware- ham National Bank, in 1909, remaining with this institution unt1 1913, when he resigned to accept a position with the Wareham Savings Bank, an in- stitution with which he has remained, and in which he now holds the position of teller. He is also man- ager of the Warr Theatre, of Wareham.
In his political preferences, Mr. Besse is a Repub- lican, and he has served for more than three years as Water Commissioner for the Wareham Fire Dis- trict. He is also a member of the Wareham School Committee. Fraternally, he is allied with Social Harmony Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Lafay- ette Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Boston; Giles F. Yates Council, Royal and Select Masters; the Massachusetts Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston. He is also a member, in the Masonic orders, of the Princes of Jerusalem; and the Rose Croix Chapter, of Boston; and he is a Past Patron of the Agawam Chapter, Or- der of the Eastern Star. He is a member of the execu- tive council of the Lotus Club; and holds member- ship in the Marion Golf Club.
Edward A. Besse married, in 1912, Deborah How- land Ellis, who was born in Wareham, a daughter of Nathan H. Ellis. Mr. and Mrs. Besse are the par-
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ents of four children: 1. Mary. 2. Edward Gammons. 3. Frank Alden (2). 4. Marcia. Mr and Mrs. Besse and their family reside in Wareham, where they at- tend the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, of which Mr. Besse is a member of the vestry.
ANNE F. SMITH-A factor in the advancement of the cooperative banking interests of Dedham, Miss Anne F. Smith, treasurer of the Dedham Co- operative Bank, has long been prominently con- cerned with financial matters in these lines, in which she has become expert; and, an efficient and popu- lar official, she renders that degree of service to banking activities of Dedham and the county that has won for her the high regard of all who do busi- ness with this banking institution. Miss Smith is a daughter of Michael Smith, a contractor and builder, who was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and died in 1907, and of Ellen (Flynn) Smith, of Waterford, Ireland, who died in 1880.
Anne F. Smith was born March 5, 1875, in Ded- ham, where she attended the grammar and high schools, and prepared herself for her chosen career. She has been identified with bookkeeping and finance since she first entered the business world. Becom- ing associated with the Dedham Co-operative Bank in 1914, Miss Smith was elected treasurer of that in- stitution upon the death of Thomas P. Murray, in May, 1926.
The history of the Dedham Co-operative Bank has its beginning in 1886, in which year it was founded by a small group of business men, with F. F. Favor as president; Dr. F. L. Babcock, vice-president; Arthur Giles, secretary; and Thomas P. Murray, treasurer. The bank's first location was in the gro- cery store of Mr. Murray at East Dedham, and in 1919 it was removed to Dedham. Starting out with a capital of only one hundred and ninety-eight dol- lars, this institution has experienced a gradual and steady growth, and the assets are now well over the $2,000,000 mark, the executive officers at the present time being: Dr. D. J. Hurley, president; John W. Withington, vice-president; F. H. Valentine, secre- tary; Miss Anne F. Smith, treasurer.
Miss Smith is a member of the Catholic Women's Club, of Dedham; and her religious faith and com- munion is with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
MORTON COLLINGWOOD-The name of Col- lingwood is universally respected throughout the State of Massachusetts. Morton Collingwood, prominent attorney-at-law with a comprehensive practice, engages in the courts of both Plymouth and Boston, in which cities he maintains professional offices. The late James A. Collingwood, who was a native of Plymouth and died in this city in 1917, was a well-known figure in mercantile affairs and was engaged in the furniture business at the time of his death. He married Natalie Hueston Morton, a native of Boston, who now resides in Plymouth.
Morton Collingwood, son of James A. and Natalie Hueston (Morton) Collingwood, was born in Plym- outh, Massachusetts, on August 18, 1884. He was a student in the public and high schools of Plymouth, entered Harvard College in the class of 1905 and re- ceived the Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard Law School. In 1906, Mr. Collingwood was admit- ted to practice before the Massachusetts bar, and has since that time been actively engaged in legal prac-
tice in Boston and Plymouth; his local quarters are in the Russell Building on Court Street, and his Bos- ton offices at No. 11 Beacon Street.
Mr. Collingwood takes a prominent part in the activities of his profession. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Plymouth County. He is a member and a trustee of the Pilgrim Society, a member of the Old Colony Club, Plym- outh Country Club, Plymouth Yacht Club, Harvard Club, of Boston, Harvard Club of New York City; and the First Unitarian Church of Plymouth. He is a Republican in political belief.
Morton Collingwood married, in 1908, the late Grace Emery Heath, who was born in Plymouth and died in this city in 1918. To this union were born three children: Natalie, Joan, and Margaret.
ALFRED S. BURBANK-Plymouth is proud of a sturdy citizen-one of the "Mayflower" descend- ants-who not only conducts a thriving book and stationery business, but finds time to engage in per- haps as many civic enterprises as any man in the town. He is Alfred S. Burbank.
Mr. Burbank was born March 15, 1856, at Plym- outh, the son of Stevens M. Burbank, native of New Bedford who engaged in the drygoods business until his death, and of Cornelia (Doten) Burbank, now deceased. He is a direct descendant, through his mother, of William Bradford, second Governor of the New Plymouth Colony and one of the "Mayflower" contingent, and on his father's side he is also of dis- tinguished lineage. He was educated in the public schools of Plymouth, having attended high school, and in 1873 went into the book and stationery business for himself at Plymouth. Then he purchased the busi- ness of Captain Charles C. Doten and made many additions to it in the ensuing years, until today it is one of the largest and most successful in South- eastern Massachusetts, located at Nos. 19-21 Court Street.
Mr. Burbank's value to the neighborhood may be estimated by a perusal of his connections. He is a member of the National Association of Stationers, Office Fitters and Manufacturers; the American Booksellers' Association; Chamber of Commerce (has been secretary thirty years); the Calumet Club (past president); Plymouth Country Club, a direc- tor thereof; Black & White Club, secretary; the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants; the American Red Cross; the Plymouth Fox Hunt- ers' Club; the Plymouth Fish & Game Club; the Pilgrim Society, trustee; the United American Mechanics and the Unitarian Laymen's League. He is a trustee of the Plymouth Savings Bank, the Public Library and the Ryder Home for Aged People. He attends the Unitarian church.
Mr. Burbank was married, in 1898, to Mary F. Bailey, a native of Plymouth, and they have a daughter: Elizabeth, who married Warren C. Weeks, of Plymouth, and they have three children: Chandler B., Mary F., and Adele.
HOWARD M. DOUGLAS-No resident of Plym- outh is better qualified to fill the position of post- master than is the present incumbent of that office, Howard M. Douglas, who received his appointment as postmaster of Plymouth in 1923. Mr. Douglas has been identified with this post office since he left high
Warren S Parker
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school, in 1897, a period of over thirty years, and he may truthfully be classed as an expert in this de- partment of Uncle Sam's service.
Howard M. Douglas was born in Wareham, Massachusetts, August 3, 1876, son of Joshua A. Douglas, a native of Plymouth, who served as cus- todian of the Court House for more than thirty years, and whose death occurred in 1901, and of Lucy P. (Raymond) Douglas, who was born in Plymouth and died in 1914. He attended the public schools of Plymouth, completing the courses of the grammar school, continued his studies in the high school, and when he left high school in 1897, secured his first employment as clerk in the Plymouth Post Office. His connection with this office has been continuous since that time. Faithful and reliable, also able and thoroughly efficient, he was made assistant post- master in 1905, and filled that position until 1923, when he was appointed postmaster. During the four years which have passed since that time he has continued to handle the mail for the residents of Plymouth and of the rural districts who receive their mail from Plymouth, and he has managed the business of the post office in such a manner as to win the warm commendation of those whom he serves. He is a member of the Plymouth Chamber of Com- merce, of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, and of the Massachusetts As- sociation of Postmasters, and keeps in close touch with the general problems of post office management throughout the country. In addition to his respon- sibilities as postmaster, Mr. Douglas is identified with important banking interests, being a member of the board of directors of the Plymouth Co-operative Bank, and of the Plymouth Five Cent Savings Bank. In his political allegiance, Mr. Douglas is a Republi- can, and he is active in local public affairs, serving as a member of the Finance Committee of the town. Fraternally, he is identified with Plymouth Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and with Mayflower Lodge, No. 54, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious affiliation is with the Congregational Church of Pilgrimage.
Howard M. Douglas was married, in 1903, to Maude M. Lucas, who was born in Carver, Massachu- setts. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas are the parents of two children: Richard A., and Alan L. The family re- side in Plymouth.
WARREN SAMUEL PARKER-One of the deepest and most profound students of the histor- ical aspects of Quincy is Warren Samuel Parker, who is an authority on the history of the town which has played such an important part in the history of this country. Mr. Parker was for many years in the contracting business, but despite the claims of his work he found time to delve into the history of his community.
Warren Samuel Parker was born in Quincy, De- cember 16, 1861, the son of William and Emeline (Wilson) Parker, the former a lineal descendant of Benjamin Parker, who settled in Kittery, Maine, in 1718, and was the founder of the Parker family in this country. William Parker, the father of Warren Samuel Parker, was a prominent builder and con- tractor of Quincy who came to that town in 1836, and erected the first brick business block in that city. He was prominent in all work for his community and was for many years. assistant engineer of the local fire
department and was also for some time chief of po- lice. Warren Samuel Parker was his only son and he had, in addition, a daughter, Alice Howard Parker. Mrs. Emeline (Wilson) Parker, the wife of Willian Parker, was the daughter of William and Louisa (Ad- ams) Wilson. She was the descendant of a Scotch family, the earliest record of which consists of the notification of Robert Wilson purchasing from John Brown, of Marlboro, Massachusetts, the land to the south of Fowle's Mill, on October 27, 1665. Mrs. Parker was the third child and second daughter of William and Louisa (Adams) Wilson.
After his preliminary education in the public schools of Quincy, Warren Samuel Parker took a course ill the high school of the section in which he lived, after which he went into business with his father. When his father retired in 1888, Mr. Parker succeeded to the business, which he has continued to operate with much success. In 1894, he was appointed examiner of plumbers in Quincy and in 1907 was given the office of inspector of buildings, being the first to hold this position in the city. He is an active mem- ber of Rural Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and of St. Stephen Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He is also affiliated with Mount Wollaston Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He was parish clerk and member of the parish committee of the Univers- alist church, for many years.
Practically all Mr. Parker's spare time, outside of his business, family and fraternal affiliations, has been devoted to gathering facts and data regarding the history of Quincy. For a number of years he has been gathering material for a very exhaustive history of the city and has given a number of interesting lectures on the subject. He is the possessor of a very valuable and interesting collection of cuts, il- lustrating Quincy and the surrounding territory. In 1910 he had these pictures copyrighted and pub- lished, together with the five original documents granting the land which now comprises the city to various individuals.
On January 4, 1883, Mr. Parker was married to Carrie Eda Newcomb, daughter of Bryant and Ella (Bates) Newcomb. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of three children, as follows: 1. William Bry- ant, born December 5, 1883. 2. Warren Russell, born September 23, 1887. 3. Alice, born June 23, 1894.
Carrie Eda (Newcomb) Parker is a descendant of the pioneer, Francis Newcomb, who was born in Eng- land in 1605, and came to this country in 1635 in the ship "Planter." He located in Boston for a while and then settled in Braintree in 1638. There he mar- ried the daughter of another of the pioneers of that day and time and founded the Newcomb family. The Parker and Newcomb families are therefore of the oldest stock in Massachusetts and are able to trace their descent back in a straight line to the pioneers of early Colonial days.
EARL W. GOODING-The name Gooding is as- sociated in the minds of South Shore people in gen- eral with a long-established business of clock manu- facture and jewelry merchandising, and it is a well- known fact that the business of George Gooding & Son, carrying along those specialties, is the oldest of such interests in these counties, and indeed in the entire country itself. Earl W. Gooding is the fourth in line of descent from the founder, John Gooding, his great grandfather, to be actively engaged as a
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jeweler at Plymouth, and an increasing degree of success is recorded of his association with the old and highly reputable concern at No. 24 Main Street. Mr. Gooding, a veteran of two wars, is prominent in the business life of this part of the State, and one of the foremost citizens of the town, where his an- cestors have long been factors in community activ- ities. He is a son of George Gooding, who was born in Plymouth, and continued as proprietor of the jewelry business here until his death in 1917, and of Carrie F. (Weston) Gooding, a native of East Taunton, who died in 1923.
Earl W. Gooding was born February 28, 1877, at Plymouth, where he attended the grammar and high schools. He then entered Wesleyan University, with the class of 1900, in Middletown, Connecticut, remain- ing there until 1898 when he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War. Upon his return to Plymouth he established himself in the jewelry busi- ness, in which he has continued to the present. The firm of George Gooding & Son was started in 1802 by John Gooding, who continued therein for several years, when he was succeeded by his son, Benjamin B., who in turn was succeeded by his sons, Benjamin W. and George, the proprietorship then coming to George and his son, Earl W., and in December, 1917, upon the death of George Gooding, his son, Earl, took over the business, and has continued its inter- ests on his own account, under the name of George Gooding & Son. This, the oldest established jewelry store, and in the one family, in the United States at the present time, is located at No. 24 Main Street, in Plymouth, where it has continued for one hundred and twenty-five years. When it was started, in 1802, it was largely a watch-making and clock-manufactur- ing business, rather than a retail jewelry store; and at the present time, a complete line of repairing on all kinds of watches, clocks, and jewelry is done, and this also, is the largest jewelry store in Plym- outh at the present time.
Enlisting in the United States Army in 1898, as a member of Company F, First Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Gooding served throughout the period of the Spanish-American War; and, reenlisting in the Regular Army in 1899, he served until 1905, when he was discharged with the rank of first sergeant. He was with I Troop, Fifth Regiment of Cavalry, and the Eighteenth Battery, Field Artillery; and served three years in the Philippine Islands and at Porto Rico. In 1908, he was commissioned second lieuten- ant in the Standish Guards of Plymouth, and was later promoted to first lieutenant in that company. From 1908 to 1916, he was with his contingent on the Mexican border, and was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant. In September, 1917, he joined the Second Training Camp at Plattsburg, New York, and in November of that year he was commissioned a captain of infantry. He served for the remainder of the war period in Texas, Alabama, Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Georgia, receiving his dis- charge in December, 1918, with the rank of captain, and at that time, also, he was placed in the United State Army Reserve Corps with the rank of major, from which he has since resigned.
Fraternally, Mr. Gooding is affiliated with Plym- outh Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Samoset Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Old Colony Com- mandery, Knights Templar; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
He is a member of the local Post of the American Legion, the Old Colony Club, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce; and the National Retail Jewelers' As- sociation. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Plymouth Five Cent Savings Bank. He attends the First Parish Unitarian Church.
Earl W. Gooding married, on December 11, 1917, Edith Morley, of Pleasant River, Nova Scotia.
JAMES S. SWANTON, dean of real estate dealers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and a man who also has been identified for many years with the building and contracting world of that community, was born on October 4, 1875, in Queenstown, Ireland, a son of James and Catherine (Regan) Swanton, both of whom are now deceased. James Swanton, the father, was also born in Queenstown County, and he was engaged as a farmer until he came to the United States in 1887 and settled in Plymouth where he died the same year. Catherine (Regan) Swanton, the mother, was also a native of Queenstown, and she died at Plymouth during the year 1914.
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