History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 33

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 33
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 33
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 33

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Despite the many duties of his business, Mr. Mac- Leod has nevertheless found time in which to take a keen and active interest in the civic and general affairs of his community. In his political views, Mr. MacLeod is a staunch supporter of the Republican party; and as such he was elected, in 1916, a member of the Quincy City Council. He is affiliated, fratcr- nally, with Rural Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, St. Stephen's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Quincy Commandery, Knights Templar; Aleppo Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; the Royal Arcanum; the Clan McGregor, Order of the Scottish Clans; and the Scots Charitable Association. He is a member of many organizations having to do with the work in which he is interested, and among the more important of these are the Quincy Granite Manufacturers' Association and the American Granite Manufacturers' Association. He is also one of the active members of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce His favorite recreation is fishing.

William J. Macleod married, in 1894, Jessie Mac- Leod, who was born on Prince Edward Island. Mr. and Mrs. Macleod are the parents of four daughters and one son: 1. Margaret. 2. Ruth H. 3. Chester A., associated in business with his father (q. v.). 4. Jean. 5. Catherine. Mr. Macleod and his family maintain their residence in Quincy, where they attend the First Presbyterian Church.

CHESTER A. MacLEOD, junior member of the well-known granite manufacturing firm of W. J. Macleod & Son, No. 24 Vernon Street, Quincy, Mas- sachusetts, was born August 29, 1898, at Quincy, a son of William J. and Jessie Macleod, who are now residing in Quincy.

Both parents were born on Prince Edward Island, as was the grandfather, John MacLeod. William J. Macleod is the founder and senior member of the firm with which his son is now associated. A fully detailed biography of the elder Mr. Macleod precedes.

Chester A. Macleod received his early education in the public and high schools of Quincy and grad- uated from Burdett's Business College, in Boston. Upon the completion of his education he went to work in his father's mill. He continued thus until 1922, holding various offices in the organization and thus becoming well qualified for the office he now holds as junior partner of the company. His work in this respect was interrupted, however, by the entry of the United States into the World War, when Mr. Mac- Leod enlisted in the Air Service, United States Army, in June, 1918, and was assigned to duty at Mitchel Field, Garden City, Long Island. Here he remained

until he was honorably discharged, July, 1919, at which time he held the rank of corporal.

In his political preferences, Mr. Macleod is a Re- publican, and he is respected for the zeal with which he supports the welfare and advancement of Quincy. He is active as a member of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce; is on the executive board of the Granite Manufacturers' Association, and is a member of the American Granite Manufacturers' Association. He also holds membership in the Kiwanis Club, the American Legion, the Neighborhood Club, and the Cocheto Club; and he is, fraternally, affiliated with Rural Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Ste- phen's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Quincy Com- mandery, Knights Templar; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; the Clan McGregor, Order of the Scottish Clans; and the Scots Charitable Association.

Chester A. Macleod married, in 1925, Norma Barnard, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of one daughter, Audrey. Mr. Macleod and his family maintain their nesidence in Quincy, where they attend the First Presbyterian Church.

HOWARD BRADFORD WILBUR, one of the leading lawyers of Brockton, Massachusetts, and long identified with civic and legal affairs of his township, was born March 27, 1874, at West Bridgewater, Mas- sachusetts, a son of E. Bradford and Rhoda F. (Rice) Wilbur, both descendants of pioneer New England families. E. Bradford Wilbur, a native of Raynham, Massachusetts, died during 1913. He was a promi- nent farmer of this region. Rhoda F. (Rice) Wilbur was born in West Bridgewater.

Howard Bradford Wilbur received his early educa- tion in the public schools of the community in which he was born, and graduated from Howard High School. He obtained his legal training at Boston University Law School, from which he graduated with the class of 1897, when he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the Mas- sachusetts bar in 1897, and began general practice in association, but not in partnership, with Robert O. Harris and Albert F. Barker. Mr. Wilbur has since carried on a most successful practice under his own name. He is a member of the Brockton Bar Association, and served as the first secretary of this legal organization.

In his political preferences he is a Republican and served, over a period of some twenty-five years, as town moderator for the township of West Bridge- water, Massachusetts, where he is, perhaps, even better known than in Brockton-if one may differ- entiate between the two, in the case of a man who may be said to be widely known and highly respected throughout almost the entire part of the double district, and in which he now is district attorney. This includes Norfolk nd Plymouth counties, During the World War, Mr. Wilbur served in the capacity of chairman of the United States Draft Board's Exam- ining Board, at West Bridgewater. He has been active in social life, and is, fraternally, affiliated with St. George Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.

Howard Bradford Wilbur married, in 1904, Bessie L. Bates, daughter of Loring M. and Jennie L. (Moulton) Bates, of Brockton. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur are the parents of two children: 1. Claire L., who married Clarence H. Kinney. 2. Lorine Ę. Mr. Wilbur

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and his family reside in West Bridgewater, in which township they attend the Unitarian church.

WALTER T. STALL-From clerk in the hard- ware firm of Dames, Stoddard & Kendall, at Boston, to the leadership in the sporting goods establishment of Stall & Dean Manufacturing Company, Incorpora- ted, of Brockton, was the remarkable record of Wal- ter T. Stall, now gone to his reward after having served his day and generation with a fidelity that was little short of sublime. Mr. Stall was typical of the best in business men of New England; he possessed not only great acquisitive and executive ability, but a broadness of outlook and a warmth of heart that drew to him with bonds of steel those friends who knew his true worth. His passing, therefore, was the occasion for expressions of genuine regret, and for remarks to the effect that his like would not soon be seen again.

Walter T. Stall was born at Boston, May 30, 1869, son of Thomas D. Stall, a Boston machinist, and of Mary Louise (Pratt) Stall, representatives of fami- lies who have done much to advance the neighbor- hoods in which they have made their homes. Mr. Stall's education as a youth was limited to the local schools of Boston. At the end of his course of study he became a clerk for the hardware concern men- tioned above, where he remained until 1896, when he removed to Brockton and established the sporting goods manufactory of Stall & Dean. The other part- ner in the firm was C. H. Dean. The first location of the firm was on Pleasant Street; later, they removed to Foundry Street, and in 1919 they removed to the present site on Montello Street, where they occupy an entire building and employ more than one hun- dred people. Indeed, it is said they are the most important makers of baseball uniforms in the world. In 1922, the business was incorporated with Walter T. Stall as president, C. H. Dean, vice-president, and Richard Godfrey Stall, son of Walter T. Stall, chief clerk. Upon the death of the elder Stall, Mr. Dean was made president, the younger Mr. Stall, vice- president and treasurer, and W. F. Dean, brother of Mr. Dean, assistant treasurer. The company's busi- ness had increased so fast that it has needed a Chi- cago branch, which is now well established, and of which Richard Godfrey Stall is vice-president. The corporations are separate.

Walter T. Stall was a director of the Home Na- tional Bank of Brockton. a member of the Republican party organization, and a charter member of the Brockton Commercial Club. In the Free and Accep- ted Masons, he has passed through the Blue Lodge only. His religious affiliation was with the Baptist church. His social activities centered in the Thorny Lea Country Club.

Mr. Stall married, at Boston, April 15, 1895, Er- dine C. Cobb, daughter of William N. and Frances Ellen (Aldrich) Cobb, and they had a son, Richard G. Stall.

The death of Mr. Stall occurred October 15, 1925, and thus passed through the gates of Heaven a man of keen intellect, engaging personality, broad human sym- pathies, whose life was a fine example to those who have followed him of the present day.

RICHARD GODFREY STALL, of the firm of Stall & Dean, a sporting goods manufacturing com- pany of Brockton, Massachusetts, was born Septem- ber 13, 1898, at Arlington, Massachusetts, a son of

Walter T. and Erdine C. (Cobb) Stall, and a de- scendant of one of the older and best-known families of this State. Walter T. Stall was a co-founder of the concern with which his sons are now associated.

Richard Godfrey Stall received his early education in the public schools of the community in which he was born, and graduated from St. George School, at Newport, Rhode Island. He then attended the Mas- sachusetts Institute of Technology, but did not com- plete the full course there. Mr. Stall returned to Brockton, where he entered his father's company, Stall & Dean, and has remained with this concern during all of his business career. This company was formed in 1898, when Walter T. Stall formed a part- nership with C. H. Dean for the purpose of manu- facturing athletic goods and sporting equipment. The first location of this concern was on Pleasant Street. Later it was moved to Foundry Street, and in 1919 to the location on Montello Street where it utilizes an entire building. So large has this concern grown, and such is the volume of its business, that it is spoken of as one of the largest manufacturers of baseball uniforms, alone, in the world. More than one hundred employees are kept on the payroll, and the products are international in scope. During the year 1922 the business was incorporated, and W. T. Stall was made president, C. H. Dean was made vice-president, and Richard Godfrey Stall became chief clerk. With the death of W. T. Stall, in 1925, Mr. Dean was made president, R. G. Stall, vice-president and treasurer, and Mr. Dean's brother, W. F. Dean, was appointed assistant treasurer. This concern maintains a large plant in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the main office in Brockton, Massachusetts. Richard Godfrey Stall is also vice-president of this, a separate corporation.

During the World War, Mr. Stall served in the United States Naval Aviation. He is active in club and social life, as a member of the Brockton Cham- ber of Commerce and the Commercial Club of Brock- ton, the Kiwanis Club, and the Thorny Lea Golf Club, of Brockton.

Richard Godfrey Stall married, April 5, 1921, Brenda Orrell, of Glendale, Rhode Island. Mr. and Mrs. Stall are the parents of two children: Sylvia, and Nancy G. Mr. Stall and his family maintain their residence in Brockton, where they attend the Episcopal church.

ARTHUR L. RICH, prominent member of the Brockton bar, seeks recreation in a most fascinating of diversions, the collecting of rare antiques, books, and other valuable articles which formed a part of the life-work or interest of past generations. Mr. Rich is the acknowledged possessor of the largest col- lection of such material relating to the community of North Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He was born August 29, 1875, at Brockton, Massachusetts, the son of Edward B. and Louise M. Rich. His mother, a native of Orleans, Maine, died in 1883. His father, who was born at Truro, Massachusetts, and engaged for many years in the real estate business, died in 1920.

Arthur L. Rich acquired his earlier education in the grammar and high schools of Brockton, and pre- pared himself for the legal profession with a special course at Boston University. He was admitted to the bar in 1896, entered into the practice of his pro- fession in the same year, as an individual, and has been so occupied ever since. Mr. Rich is a member

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of the Plymouth County Bar Association and the Brockton Bar Association.

Arthur L. Rich married Cecelia M. Higgins, of Brooklin, Maine, the daughter of Freeman and Mrs. (Blanchard) Higgins. To Mr. and Mrs. Rich have been born a son and a daughter: Louis L., and Louise M. Rich.

ELWIN T. WRIGHT-The life story to date of Elwin T. Wright, Rockland shoe manufacturer, con- tains an element of romance usually accredited only to the pages of fiction. Beginning his enterprise within the limitations of one small room, the passing years have witnessed his steady progress and growth of business until today his is one of the outstanding companies of its kind. Lorenzo Wright, father of Elwin T. Wright, was also identified with the shoe industry. He married Catherine O'Connell, a native of Ireland, who died in her fifty-sixth year, and her husband, who was a native of Plympton, Massa- chusetts, died in 1915.

Elwin T. Wright, son of Lorenzo and Catherine (O'Connell) Wright, was born November 6, 1852, at Plympton. After a period of studies in the public schools, the youth, upon attainment of his thirteenth year, became employed by a shoe manufacturing con- cern. Arrived at the twenty-fourth milestone of his life, he determined to embark upon the career of a manufacturer, and accordingly went into business, with his shop using only one very small room, situated in Water Street, at Rockland, adjacent to the rail- road depot. In 1896, business having proven decided- ly good, he admitted as a partner in the enterprise, A. W. Donovan, and in 1906 the business was under the original name of E. T. Wright Company, with Mr. Donovan president, and Mr. Wright as treasurer of the corporation, and the organization has since continued. The present factory, when compared to the original one-room quarters, presents a startling contrast, for the company now utilizes a floor space of about 100,000 square feet, and has on its payroll between seven hundred and eight hundred employees. Noted for the high-grade qualities of its product, the E. T. Wright Company manufactures more than 3,000 pairs of superior shoes daily, and it was in this factory that the now world-famous "Arch-Preserver" shoe was conceived and has made the name of E. T. Wright & Company, Incorporated, known every- where. Mr. Wright is probably the dean of all shoe manufacturers in the United States.

Aside from the building up of a vast business en- terprise, he has also displayed a constructive interest in the political welfare of the community and State, and was for two years a member of the State Leg- islature, two years in the State Senate, and was for four years identified with the Governor's Council. During the period of the World War, he was chair- man of the public safety committee. Mr. Wright is affiliated with John Cutler Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, being a thirty-second degree Mason, and is also a member of the Union Glee Club at Rockland, the Rockland Commercial Club, and the Square and Compass Club, of Boston.

Elwin T. Wright married, in 1874, Mary F. Grover, of Norwell, Massachusetts, daughter of Charles and Mary A. (Hobart) Grover, the latter a descendant of Peter Hobart. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been born one son and two daughters, all of whom are now married and have presented five grandchildren

to their parents. Charles I. Wright, their son, is the husband of Anna (McFayden) Wright; Anna May, the elder daughter, married J. A. Munroe; and Janet, the younger child, became the wife of Frank Dillon. The Wright family are members of the Christian Science Church at Rockland.

J. D. ARTHUR TREMAYNE-The American Granite Company, Nos. 59-61 Gilbert Street, Quincy, of which J. D. Arthur Tremayne has been a valued partner since the business was established in 1915, turns out some of the finest work in this section, and probably uses more dark, all-polished granite than any competitor located here. The concern was established by Archibald Parsons and Mr. Tremayne, and has been prosperous from the start. It was located, first, off Albertina Street in South Quincy, where it remained three years, until 1918, when the present location was chosen. The firm manufac- tures a complete line of memorials and monuments for the wholesale cemetery trade, and its artisans put a finish into their work that is unexcelled.

J. D. Arthur Tremayne was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, June 1, 1884, and received his education in the public schools of that neighborhood. His father, John Henry Tremayne, engaged in farming until his death; his mother, also a native of Cornwall, is like- wise deceased. On completing his studies he en- gaged in farming, but the struggle for a living was so severe in England that he turned his face west- ward toward America, and in 1902, came to the United States, proceeded to Quincy, and obtained employ- ment with the Deacon Brothers Granite Company, with which concern he served his apprenticeship until the latter part of 1903, when he obtained a position with the Columbia Granite Works. He continued in this place until 1909, then for three years worked for Thomas Bishop & Company; in 1912 he left Bishop and became business agent for the Granite Cutters' Union, and served faithfully in this capac- ity until 1915, when he became associated with Archi- bald Parsons (q. v.), in the formation of the con- cern now known as the American Granite Company, in which he has been a partner ever since.

Mr. Tremayne has taken an active part in the activities of his craft and in civic affairs. He is a member of the Granite Manufacturers' Association and the American Granite Manufacturers' Associa- tion. ' In political life, he is affiliated with the Re- publican party. In religious matters he is a staunch Presbyterian. His fraternal orders include: Rural Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Stephen's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Massachusetts Con- sistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Taleb Grotto, Mystic Order Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm; and the Sons of St. George, an English organization. His hobby is bowling.

Mr. Tremayne married, in 1910, Mary Dackers, a native of Quincy and daughter of Peter W. Dack- ers, First Chief of the Clan McGregor in the Order of Scottish Clans. Their union has been blessed with one child, Ethel May Tremayne.

ARCHIBALD PARSONS, senior partner in the American Granite Company, of Nos. 59-61 Gilbert Street, Quincy, organized this thriving business in 1915, in partnership with J. D. Arthur Tremayne (q. v.), and has been a constructive force in community affairs

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ever since. A native of England, he has found real opportunity among his English-speaking cousins, and has made an enviable place for himself in commer- cial and social circles.

Mr. Parsons was born June 9, 1874, in Cornwall, England, son of Charles and Mary A. (Noye) Par- sons; his father, now deceased, having died in 1888, was a native of Cornwall and made stationary engi- neering his life-work; his mother, also a native of Cornwall, has lived to see and participate in her son's success. He received his education in the public schools and on finishing, in 1889, came to the United States and settled at Quincy. His steps since have represented a steady upward climb to his present station. He served his apprenticeship as a granite cutter with Craig & Richard, working for them five years. He then was employed for three years with John Bishop, granite manufacturer, after which he became connected with Thomas Bishop & Company, with which concern he remained eight years. Next, for three years, he served as foreman of the Daniel Cameron Granite Manufacturing Company, then went with the firm of Richard & Benjamin Bishop, until 1915, when he and J. D. Arthur Tremayne organized the firm that is now known far and wide as the American Granite Company, and with this partner- ship he has remained ever since. For .three years the works was located near Albertina Street, South Quincy, after which it was removed to its present location. The firm enjoys the reputation of being among the leaders in fine extra dark, all-polished granite work; its business is strictly wholesale and it makes use of New England granite almost ex- clusively in the preparation of its monuments and memorials for the cemetery trade.

Mr. Parsons is a member of the Granite Manufac- turers' Association and the American Granite Manu- facturers' Association, in which his counsels are con- sidered of value by his associates. He belongs to the Republican party and the Christian Science Church, while his hobby is lodge work, since he is a member of the following: Rural Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Stephen's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Quincy Commandery, Knights Templar; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Taleb Grotto, Mystic Order Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm; Quincy Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star; Bethany White Shrine of Jerusalem, No. 2, of which he is First Past Watch- man; Wollaston Lodge of Odd Fellows: Monet En- campment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Granite Lodge. No. 173, Sons of St. George, an English organization.

Mr. Parsons married, in 1904, Margaret McLennon, a native of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, and three children have blessed their union: Nathaniel Arthur, Robert Archibald, and Mildred Shearman Parsons.

JAMES E. HANDRAHAN-One of the more suc- cessful law practitioners of Brockton, who has been highly identified in political circles throughout the county and also in local government, is James E. Handrahan. By his wise and able counsel he has gained an enviable place among the legal lights of his native town, where he has conducted a general law practice for the past twenty-five years. He is a son of Patrick Handrahan, born at Castle Grace, County of Tipperary, Ireland, who was active in the shoe

industry for many years, until the time of his death, February 20, 1927. He was one of the oldest surviv- ing veterans of the Civil War in this section, aged ninety-one years. The mother, Margaret (Casey) Handrahan, was born in County Cork, Ireland, and died in 1908.

James E. Handrahan was educated in the public schools of his native home, and graduated from Boston University, class of 1899, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. On September 15, of the same year, he was admitted to the bar and has since en- gaged in a general law practice. He has also been active in legal affairs of his city, having served as city solicitor for several terms, was special counsel for the city of Brockton, 1924, 1925 and 1926, and was a member of a special commission of three appointed to revise the city ordinances. Politically, an adher- ent of the Democratic faith, he has devoted a large part of his time to its interests. In 1900 and 1901 he served as a member of the Common Council from Ward Five, and in 1902 was a member of the Board of Aldermen; was a delegate to the Democratic Na- tional Convention held in St. Louis in 1904, and again in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1912. He was License Commissioner under Mayor E. H. Keith. During the World War Mr. Handrahan was active in the various war, drives and a member of several impor- tant committees. Fraternally, he is allied with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters. He is also a member of several local clubs, and holds membership in the Plymouth County Bar Association and the Brockton Bar Association. Mr. Handrahan and his family are communicants .of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, of Brockton.

James E. Handrahan married, in 1909, Mary M. Murphy, daughter of William F. and Mary E. (Sul- livan) Murphy, and they are the parents of seven children: James E., Jr., who is deceased; Mary A .; Agnes M., Margaret, Ann, Bernardette, and John. Mr. Handrahan's business address. is No. 106 Main Street, Brockton.

WILLIAM IRVING ATWOOD-The present manager of the Consolidated Weir Company of Pro- vincetown, Massachusetts. is a native of this State and the son of John and Rebecca Miller (Nickerson) Atwood. His mother died in 1888. His father was in the fishing business for many years, owning and operating a fleet of fishing vessels during his early life and was known as Captain Atwood. He later became a commission merchant in Boston, Massachu- setts, where he went in 1873. He was born on De- cember 26, 1811, and lived until 1895, dying at Mal- den, Massachusetts, in that year. He had a very in- teresting life and was entirely self-made in that he had no opportunities planned for him, but took ad- vantage of his own judgment and enterprise and pro- gressed on his own initiative. He went to sea quite early in life and was a veteran fisherman, having started that line of work when a young man. He was also an author, having written and had pub- lished several books.

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 33

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