History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 41

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 41
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 41
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 41

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(VI) Charles Lane, born on April 19, 1765, at East Abington, died, in September, 1849; he married, on May 25, 1788, Rachel, daughter of David Jenkins, who died on April 14, 1840. Children: David, Charles, Rachel, Richmond, Jenkins, of whom fur- ther; Lydia.

(VII) Jenkins Lane, son of Charles and Rachel (Jenkins) Lane, was born in East Abington, on July 24, 1801. After attendance at the public schools, he learned the shoemakers' trade. Eventually, he en- gaged in business on his own account, and finally in association with his sons, Richmond, Jenkins, Zenas Merritt, Alonzo and Everett, organized the firm of Jenkins Lane and Sons, which, in the last years of his life, Mr. Lane turned over to his sons as opera- tors, the greatest shoe manufacturing company in this section, having achieved a volume of business to- talling $1,000,000 yearly at the time of his death, No- vember 17, 1870. He was among the pioneers in the boot and shoe industry in Plymouth County, and the first in Abington to make a shoe complete, this in 1859. Jenkins Lane married, on December 22, 1825, Mehetable Pratt Jenkins, daughter of Zenas Jenkins, and in addition to the aforementioned sons, they had three daughters: Mehetable Pratt, Elvira, and Maria Jane. Jenkins Lane was for many years a director of the Abington National Bank, the first president of the Abington Savings Bank, and, for a time, treasurer of the Hanover Branch Railroad Company, and represented the town of Abington in the Massachusetts General Court during the year 1846. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of East Abington and for some years super- intendent of its Sunday school. Few names stand higher in history than that of Jenkins Lane, not alone for his business capacity and mechanical skill, but more than that for his record of a broad and generous citizenship. Through all the years his in-

tegrity and fair, square dealing were never questioned. He had built up his business by straightforward busi- ness methods and so continued to the end. It can well be written of him: "He was long a useful man in the community in which he lived."

(VIII) Alonzo Lane (3), son of the Hon. Jenkins and Mehetable Pratt (Jenkins) Lane, was born in the town of East Abington, Massachusetts, on April 12, 1835, and died at Longmeadow, Massachusetts, on September 18, 1907. As a lad, he was a student in the public schools of his native community, also at Andover Academy, and Munson, Massachusetts. He was a member of the firm of Jenkins Lane and Sons at the time of its organization, but later withdrew, and for many years was engaged in the leather busi- ness at Boston, as member of the firm of Lane, Pierce & Company, with tannery at Altmar, New York State. In 1886 he withdrew from this firm to become associated with his brother Everett Lane, in the leather business in Boston, under the name of A. & E. Lane. After this partnership was dissolved in 1895, Mr. Lane soon after retired from business, leading a quiet home life. Mr. Lane always took a deep interest in his native town, he was a good citizen, but public office had no attraction for him, his business and home life were more congenial to his taste.

Alonzo Lane married (first), on September 19, 1856, Maria Smith, daughter of Judson Smith, and their daughter was Myra Judson Lane. He married (second), on June 6, 1867, Helen E. Stetson, daughter of Martin S. Stetson, of Whitman, Massachusetts, and to this union was born a son, Jenkins, who eventually made his residence in California, and died, April 13, 1924; burial in Abington, Massachusetts.

MERTON S. GURNEY-The fourth generation of an ancestral family of clock makers, Mr. Gurney during his lifetime took his place in the business and added another name to the list of prominent members of the same name in the jewelry field. A native of Brockton, he had a deep interest in com- munity development and gained much distinction in industrial and fraternal circles of the city. His death occurred in 1927.

Merton S. Gurney was the son of Lysander Frank- lin and Chloe (Keith) Gurney. The father was born at Hanover, Massachusetts, in the Studley homestead in 1843. He gained his education in the public schools there and in East Abington where he moved with his family at the age of twelve. When he was sixteen he came to North Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where he learned the watchmaking trade, in which his father and his grandfather before him had been en- gaged. In 1863, he opened his own store, assisted by an uncle, David Studley, in his own name at the north corner of Church and Main streets, where he continued until 1870. At that time his brother, War- ren Studley Gurney, joined him, and the L. F. Gur- ney Company was changed to Gurney Brothers. Many changes were made which improved the busi- ness and the firm progressed to such proportions that in 1882 the store was moved to its present location at the south corner of School and Main streets. Warren S. Gurney had been born at Hanover, Massachusetts, in 1839, and was a veteran of the Civil War as a musician of various regimental bands, later entering the jewelry business until his death in 1896. Lys- ander Franklin Gurney died in 1905, survived by his

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wife, who died in 1912. The latter was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Of such parents, Merton S. Gurney was born April 14, 1869, at Brockton, Massachusetts. He went to the public schools of the town and immediately thereafter went into the Gurney Brothers Company. He had learned the watchmaker's business, and was assigned to the watch and repairing department. Mr. Gurney was also a graduate optician. In 1905 on the death of his father, he became a half-owner in the company, his brother, Sanford K. Gurney, as- sociated with him as his partner, and so in name and in fact Gurney Brothers continues as it was or- ganized. Mr. Gurney was clerk of the Brockton Savings Bank, and a member of the Chamber of Com- merce and Commercial Club of Brockton. He held the thirty-second degree in the Masonic Order, and was Past Master of his local lodge and Past High Priest, of Massachusetts. Politically, his beliefs were with the Republican party, and his religious faith with the Congregational church.

Mr. Gurney married Ella G. Packard, June 25, 1894, and to this union the following children were born: 1. Mrs. Dorothy (Gurney) Abbott. 2. Marion. 3. Fred P., graduated from Dartmouth College in 1926, and a member of Gurney Brothers.

SANFORD K. GURNEY-The half-owner of Gurney Brothers, jewelers, a firm of eighty-eight years' existence, Mr. Gurney, a son of the founder of it and a member of a family well known and prom- inently identified in the watch-making business for four generations, has been connected with the industry for more than a quarter of a century, during which time he has held responsible positions. At the death of his father, in 1905, he assumed his share of the control of the business, and has carried on the policies of its origin faithfully and efficiently, so that Gurney Brothers i sone of the leading jewelry establishments of the city.

Mr. Gurney is the son of Lysander Franklin and Chloe (Keith) Gurney, and was born at Brockton, Massachusetts, in 1875. He went to the public schools of Brockton, and was graduated from the Brockton High School in 1893. He attended Brown Univer- sity, from which he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1897. Upon completing his education he was employed by Gurney Brothers, jew- elers, in charge of the bookkeeping, buying and clerk- ing department. His father, Lysander Franklin Gur- ney, had succeeded to the business in 1863, which was founded by his uncle, David F. Studley, in 1841. The first store was located at the north corner of Church and Main streets, where it continued for a number of years. In 1870 Warren Studley Gurney, a brother of the founder, upon his return from military service in the Civil War, joined him and the name was changed to Gurney Brothers. Numerous additions were made in order to accommodate the increasing patronage. In 1882, the business had grown to such proportions that it was moved to its present location on the south corner of School and Main streets, and which from year to year is altered to meet the growth of the business. Warren Studley Gurney died in 1896 and Lysander Franklin Gurney in 1905. At that time, the latter's two sons, Merton S. (q. v.) and Sanford K. Gurney, became the owners of the business which they have continued throughout the passing years. Merton S. Gurney died in 1927. Mr. Gurney is a member of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted

Masons and the Commandery, Knights Templar. He is affiliated with the Commercial Club, of Brockton; the Chamber of Commerce, and a number of golf clubs in Brockton and vicinity. He is a Republican in politics.

On January 28, 1902, Mr. Gurney married Mabelle Crocker and has two sons: 1. Joseph G., graduated from Brown University, and a member of the Gurney Brothers Company. 2. Richard C., a senior at Brown University, where he had been president of his fresh- man class, a member of the varsity football and base- ball teams, and has recently been selected as a Rhodes scholar. He will spend three years of study at Ox- ford, England.

ALFRED E. GREEN, honored citizen of Duxbury, was born on February 22, 1850, in Spain. He is a son of Charles Green, of London, England, who died in 1855. Charles Green was a mining and civil engi- neer, a man of decided prominence in his world.

Alfred E. Green received his education at Christ Hospital, London, England, but came to this country while he was a very young man, settling at Duxbury, where, in 1869, he entered the employ of the French Cable Company, which was then operating a trans- atlantic cable to Brest, France, the American end coming ashore at Duxbury. This cable, one of the first to be strung across the bed of the ocean, is still in use, although it has been renewed in various sec- tions along its three-thousand-mile way. Mr. Green remained with this organization until 1917, when he was retired with a pension. Since then he has con- tinued active in the insurance business, and has achieved a marked degree of success in this type of endeavor. Mr. Green probably enjoys the widest circle of friends known to any one man in Plymouth County, for he is beloved by all who know him well and respected by all with whom he comes in contact. In his political views, he is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, and was elected to membership upon the Board of Selectmen for the town of Dux- bury. He has also been very active in county politics. During the emergency created by the entry of the United States into the World War, Mr. Green took a prominent part in the Liberty and Victory Loan drives instituted by the United States Treasury De- partment. He also contributed materially to the boards and committees formed for the purpose of aiding the soldiers. He is a member of all the local clubs of Duxbury, and is affiliated with Cornerstone Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks.

Alfred E. Green married, in 1876, Mary H. Knowles, daughter of Samuel and Lucia Knowles, of Duxbury, where Mr. and Mrs. Green maintain their residence.

CALVIN JOSSELYN ELLIS, of Hanover, Mas- sachusetts, started out in life with the determination to master every detail of a certain branch of manu- facturing; today he is the executive head of the Han- over Rubber Company, only manufacturing enterprise of its kind in this community, and which engages in business on a national scope. Oscar F. Ellis, father of the prominent manufacturer, was a native of Han- over, and was engaged for many years as a grocery store operator. He died in 1908. His widow, who be- fore her marriage to Mr. Ellis was Ella F. Russell,

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also a native of Hanover, is living at the present time (1928) at Hanover.

Calvin Josselyn Ellis, son of Oscar F. and Ella F. (Russell) Ellis, was born at Hanover, Massachu- setts, on April 21, 1891, and received his education in the local grammar and high schools, supplemented by studies at Burdett Business College. For a num- ber of years following completion of his educational studies, Mr. Ellis was engaged as bookkeeper for the Hood Rubber Company. Subsequently he was comp- troller of the Plymouth Rubber Company, and in 1913, he organized the Hanover Rubber Company for the purpose of manufacturing rubber soles and heels, he having accepted the office of treasurer of the com- pany and membership of its board of directors. The Hanover Rubber Company has progressed beyond the fondest hopes of its founders, due largely to the able direction of Mr. Ellis, who has literally dedicated his life to the success of the large enterprise. The plant of the company is contained in buildings having floor space in excess of twenty-six thousand square feet, one hundred and forty-five people being employed in the production of its products, and the demands for the output of the Hanover Rubber Company have in- creased steadily year after year.

Mr. Ellis is a member of Phoenix Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a thirty-second degree Ma- son. He is president and member of the board of gov- ernors of the Marshfield Country Club, and is a con- sistent member of the local Christian Science Church. During the emergency periods brought about by the World War, Mr. Ellis served his community in the capacity of chairman of the local public safety com- mittee, and was otherwise active in cooperation with governmental agencies and activities.

Calvin J. Ellis married, in June, 1917, Bernanice C. Everson, of Whitman, Massachusetts, daughter of Orlando D. and Idella E. (Monroe) Everson. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are the parents of a son, Calvin J., Jr., born on January 24, 1921.

RUSSELL BROWN DEWOLF, postmaster at Duxbury, Massachusetts, was born there, on Decem- ber 11, 1890. He is a descendant of an old and dis- tinguished line, and is a son of William Stanley and Mary Lee (Hamilton) DeWolf, both descended from early American pioneer stock. William Stanley De- Wolf, who was born at New Bedford, Massachu- setts, and who died in 1896, was for many years a Western Union telegraph operator; a man beloved by those who knew him well and respected by all with whom he came in contact. Mary Lee (Hamil- ton) DeWolf was born in Duxbury. Her family, in particular, has been prominent for many generations in this part of the land.

Russell Brown DeWolf received his education in the public schools of the community in which he was reared; and was apprenticed to the butcher's trade. In due time, he mastered meat cutting, and followed this type of endeavor until 1922, when he was appointed the postmaster of the Post Office at Duxbury, his appointment being signed by President Warren G. Harding. Mr. DeWolf succeeded James W. Hastings in this office. Although he is still a young man, he is already noted for the excellent man- ner in which he stands behind any movement de- signed for the general advancement of his community. In his political preferences he is a staunch Republi- can.

Russell Brown DeWolf married, in 1912, Alice Wadsworth, daughter of Hamilton and Lucy E. (Pe- terson) Wadsworth, of Duxbury. Mr. and Mrs. De- Wolf are the parents of two children: 1. John Han- ilton, born May 5, 1915. 2. Russell Brown, Jr., born July 6, 1916. Mr. DeWolf and his family reside in Duxbury and attend the Unitarian church.

EVERETT L. CROWELL-The entire career of Everett L. Crowell has been identified with banking, and since February, 1926, he has served as clerk of the Abington Savings Bank. Mr. Crowell is a native of Abington, and is well known in financial circles.

Everett L. Crowell was born in Easton, Massachu- setts, March 10, 1893, son of Charles W. Crowell, now living retired in Nova Scotia, and of Rhoda J. (Blades) Crowell, both well known in Abington and vicinity, and both natives of Nova Scotia. Mr. Crowell received his education in the public schools of East Boston, Nova Scotia, and of Brockton, completing his preparation for an active career with a commercial course in a business college. He secured his first position with the Security Co-operative Bank at Brockton, Massachusetts, and remained there for four and a half years. At the end of that time he was made assistant bank examiner, which responsible offi- cial position he most efficiently filled for a period of eight and a half years. In February, 1926, he came to Abington, as clerk of the Abington Savings Bank, and that position he still holds (1928). Mr. Crowell is one of the well-known bankers of this section of the State, and his unquestioned integrity, as well as his profound and practical knowledge of the banking business, make him an important factor in holding the confidence of the public. He has a host of friends in this section of the State, and both his business as- sociates, and those who come in contact with him in other connections, hold him in high esteem. Politi- cally, he favors the principles of the Republican party, and his fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to several local clubs, and at- tends the Congregational church.

Everett L. Crowell was married, May 28, 1914, to Blanche Higgins, of Campello, Massachusetts, daughter of Matthew S. and Hattie (Lothrop) Hig- gins. Mr. and Mrs. Crowell are the parents of two children: 1. Virginia H., born March 10, 1915. 8. Barbara S., born October 4, 1916.

JOHN F. CONDON-A million-dollar business in soles in 1926, representing a growth of only five years from a modest start, is the splendid record of the Condon Cut Sole Company at Brockton, in which P. J. Condon is the senior partner, and his son, John F. Condon, owns a junior interest. The company employs more than twenty-five persons and has a floor space of more than 10,000 square feet; its pro- duct is international in scope and gives general satis- faction wherever introduced. Much of the success of the business has been due to the progressive meas- ures and originality of John F. Condon, whose record during the World War and whose attainments since entitle him to high standing in the community.

Mr. Condon was born May 11, 1895, at Brockton, so that he is operating among friends who have known him always. His father, Patrick J. Condon, has long been identified with the shoe business of Brockton, and his mother, Catharine Condon, is a woman of strong character whose fine qualities have found ample expression in her son. Mr. Condon began his

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business career with the Condon Brothers Shoe Coni- pany at Brockton, with which concern he was as- sociated until 1921, when he became associated with his father in the Condon Cut Sole Company. He had the advantage of public school study and a course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Boston, after which he launched into practical affairs. His work was interrupted by the advent of the World War; he enlisted in the United States Army and was made a sergeant of the American Expeditionary Forces, a rating which requires a great deal of execu- tive ability and is one of the hardest jobs in the service. Returning to civil life, he took up his work where he had left off, and soon had become read- justed and had carried forward his plans with a partnership in which his father shared. Mr. Condon is a member of the Republican party; in religious affairs he belongs to the St. Edward's Roman Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Co- lumbus.

Mr. Condon married, February 16, 1919, Estelle Reed, of Brockton, and their union has been blessed with two sons: John F., Jr., and Robert P.

ALBERT T. BROWN-In historic Hingham, Massachusetts, is a famed hostelry which has been catering to the comfort and entertainment of travel- ers for more than a century. This notable old hotel, the Cushing, is known far and wide for its hospital- ity, and under the direction of its present proprietor, Albert T. Brown, has acquired additional popularity.

Mr. Brown is the son of the late Alden Brown, a native of Maine who passed the last years of his life in the town of Camden, that State, where he died in 1918; his widow, who was before her marriage, Nellie J. Cooper, also of Maine, is living at the present time (1928).

Albert T. Brown, son of Alden and Nellie J. (Cooper) Brown, was born at Camden, Maine, Au- gust 25, 1881, and received a thorough education in the local grammar and high schools. For a period of six years of his early business career, he was en- gaged as manager of a large livery stable at Rumford Falls, in his native State. He removed to Massa- chusetts and Hingham in 1906 to assume charge of the large livery stable at the time conducted by its proprietor, Mr. Cushing, which enterprise Mr. Brown subsequently acquired and thereafter operated on his own account, at the same time purchasing the Cush- ing Hotel that is so favorably known to the traveling public. With the passing of the years, Mr. Brown eliminated the old style forse-propelled vehicles in his livery establishment in favor of the automobile, and now operates a fleet of taxicabs of the most modern design, rendering an efficient service to his clientele which is characteristic of the man. Little need be said in regard of his hotel enterprise, as every traveler who has occasion to pass through and stop over-night at Hingham appreciates the sincer- ity of his welcome and the excellent service afforded by his hotel. Republican in political affiliation, Mr. Brown is actively identified with the affairs of that party in the vicinity and State, being at all times particularly interested in safeguarding the welfare of the community.

Albert T. Brown married, in 1914, Mrs. Mary Cush- ing, daughter of Alexander Gormley, of Sacramento, California, and of Sally (Summers) Gormley, a native of the city of Manchester, England. Helen C., step- daughter of Mr. Brown, who was born in 1893, mar-

ried R. C. Damar. Mr. Brown is a member of the Old Ship Church at Hingham, town of his residence.

ALBERT PRESTON BAXENDALE, Brockton manufacturer, is a member of a family whose name is recognized and respected in the shoe marts of the world. Son of a shoe manufacturer, Mr. Baxendale became identified as a youth with an allied branch of the shoe manufacturing industry, and is today an executive of the company, which is the largest of its kind in the world.

The Brockton branch of the Baxendale family is of English origin, the first American ancestor having been John V. Baxendale, son of Robert and Hannah (Dawson) Baxendale, the former a native of Lanca- shire, and the latter a native of Leeds, England. The son first left England, bound for America, and event- ually his parents and other members of the family followed.

John V. Baxendale, son of Robert and Hannah (Dawson) Baxendale, was born July 9, 1820, at Pres- ton, England. As a youth he removed to Leeds, ac- companying his family, and became employed in the cotton industry. When he had attained his twenti- eth year, he sailed for America, with Philadelphia as his destination, and there secured employment as a foreman in a cotton mill, and within a brief period his parents likewise emigrated from England and came to Philadelphia, with others of their family. Having had occasion to learn of the town of North Bridgewater, Massachusetts, John V. Baxendale eventually determined to seek his fortune in that community, where he became a resident about 1858. In association with a Samuel Herrod, he established a factory for the manufacture of boots and shoes, which, due to its constant growth, was removed on several occasions to more commodious quarters, and finally a large tract of land was purchased and a factory erected on the premises. This factory later was de- stroyed by fire, but Mr. Baxendale, although at the time past his seventieth mile-stone of life, pluckily rebuilt upon an adjacent site and continued for sev- eral years thereafter the manufacture of his shoes and other products. He retired from active business about twenty years prior to his death, which occurred March 1, 1906. On August 9, 1848, John V. Baxen- dale married Jane Morrison, daughter of William Morrison, a native of Montreal, Canada, and to this union were born two sons: John William, born July 12, 1856; and Albert Preston, born May 2, 1864, died in the twenty-first year of his age. Mrs. Jane (Mor- rison) Baxendale died on June 27, 1897.

John William Baxendale, son of John V. and Jane (Morrison) Baxendale, was a native of Philadelphia, but removed with his parents to North Bridgewater when three years of age. He was a student in the common schools and the Bridgewater High School, and was graduated from the last-mentioned in 1873. He then became regularly employed in his father's factory, with the intention of thoroughly learning the business of shoe manufacture, but soon afterward went to work in a shoe factory operated by a Jay B. Reynolds, and it was not long before he was promoted to foreman in charge of the cutting depart- ment, and thus continued until 1886, when, the busi- ness having been removed, to Orange, Massachusetts, Mr. Baxendale became superintendent of the new factory, which position he occupied for about five years, and then, due to ill health, resigned and re- turned to Brockton, where he died on November 13,

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 41

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