History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 58

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 58
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 58
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 58

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).

Maynard A. Davis, as has been stated, is the presi- dent, Elmer E. Folsom is the vice-president, Warren H. Church is the treasurer, D. Willard Case is the secretary, and other members of the firm are Clay- ton F. Baker, Willard L. Wheeler, H. Halsey Davis and Benjamin V. Loud.

Mr. Davis has found time, despite the duties of the work in which he is engaged, to assume a number of outside responsibilities, among the more important of which are the offices he fills as a director of the Peoples Savings Bank of Brockton, and Brockton National Bank; director of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, and trustee of the Young Women's Christian Association. In his political preferences, Mr. Davis is a Republican, and he has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of his community. He has been prominently identified with almost every movement that has been for the betterment of Brock- ton-a man beloved by those who know him well, and

respected by all with whom he has come in contact. He is one of the founders of the Brockton Rotary Club, a member of the Commercial Club, and of the Brockton Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Davis has also been exceptionally active in his church and re- ligious life. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Brockton, and as a member of the build- ing committee he expended a vast amount of time and energy to secure the new edifice. He is also on the board of trustees of his church.

Maynard A. Davis married, in 1886, Emma S. Walker, a daughter of George H. and Sarah A. Walker, of Seekonk, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of four children: 1. Mabel E., married Julian E. Morrow. 2. Ruth A., married Dr. E. L. Wallace. 3. H. Halsey, a graduate of the Mas- sachusetts Agricultural College and Harvard School of Business Administration. 4. Stanton W., a student at Dartmouth College, class of 1930.

JOHN R. BISSETT-Now and then the stone- cutting business attracts a doughty Scot, and, in this instance John R. Bissett, of Aberdeen, is the sole owner of the Bissett & O'Brien Granite Company on Vernon Street in South Quincy, Massachusetts. Mr. Bissett is a sagacious business man who has the in- terests of this section very much at heart, and he enjoys a prominence that must be very gratifying to one who has laid his foundation in such constant endeavor.

John R. Bissett was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, September 22, 1874, son of John Bissett and Eliza® (Robertson) Bissett, his father, a native of Aberdeen- shire, having been a granite-cutter until his death; his mother, also born there, being now deceased. Mr. Bissett received his education in the public schools of Aberdeen, at the conclusion of which he came to the United States, settling at Quincy and entering the granite business in 1892. He served his ap- prenticeship with the William Turner Granite Manu- facturing Company, and remained with them until 1895. Leaving here, he worked with various compan- ies throughout the country, but came back to Quincy and until 1905 was employed by the Forbes, Craig Granite Company, at which time he went with Kav- anagh Brothers until 1913. In 1913 he became as- sociated with Michael J. O'Brien in the firm of Bis- sett & O'Brien, which partnership continued suc- cessfully until 1924, when Mr. Bissett became the sole owner by purchase. This concern is one of the lead- ers of the section; it specializes in memorials and stones for cemeteries, but also does some building work. and almost exclusively with New England granite. Mr. Bissett deserves great credit for the manner in which he has conducted the business in the face of strong competition, for his success has not been attained without tremendous sacrifices.

Mr. Bissett's hobby is soccer football. He attends the Presbyterian church. His affiliations include the Quincy Granite Manufacturers' Association and the American Granite Manufacturers' Association. In politics he is a member of the Republican party. In fraternal circles he belongs to the Clan McGregor, Order of Scottish Clans, and the St. Croix Masonic Lodge of Calais, Maine.

Mr. Bissett married, in 1900, Mary Brown Michaels, a native of St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada, and seven children have blessed their union: 1. Lillian May. 2. John Everett. 3. Hazel Isabel. 4. Robert Alex-

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ander. 5. Florence Louise. 6. William Cameron. 7. Ruth Margaret.

WILLIAM RAPP COOK, one of the prominent and progressive citizens of Brockton, Massachusetts, was born here January 27, 1885, a son of Robert and Ann Elizabeth (Rapp) Cook. Robert Cook was a native of Scotland and for many years a leading drygoods merchant of Brockton. The mother, Ann Elizabeth (Rapp) Cook, was born in Leicester, Eng- land, the eldest daughter of William Rapp, a well- known elastic webbing manufacturer.

William Rapp Cook received his early education in the public schools of Brockton. When he was fourteen years of age the family moved to Avon, Mas- sachusetts, and here Mr. Cook attended the Gifford High School and later completed his studies at Mount Hermon School at Northfield.

Mr. Cook was literally reared in a drygoods at- mosphere, his father having served a long and ar- duous apprenticeship in Scotland. The son, who liked the business, decided to follow it. At the age of seventeen years, Mr. Cook went to work for the Shepard & Norwell Company in Boston, Massachu- setts, and through special arrangement was to work in every major department for three months. In this manner in three years Mr. Cook gained a wide and varied experience. Desiring to know from first-hand knowledge about the much-vaunted Oid Country ap- prentice method of learning the business, Mr. Cook went to England in 1905 and found a berth with Af- fleck & Brown, Manchester. This concern was then one of the largest in England, employing over 2,000 assistants, most of whom "lived-in," that is, were domiciled as domestics, so to speak, with their em- ployers. Mr. Cook remained there on a contract for one year and after visiting relatives in Scotland re- turned to Brockton.

In 1908 Mr. Cook formed a business partnership with David Tyndall under the firm name of Cook & Tyndall. They established a ready-to-wear special- ty shop for women, misses, and children. This proved to be a most successful venture. After thir- teen years together Mr. Cook purchased Mr. Tyndall's interest in the business.

In 1919 Mr. Cook purchased one of Brockton's old- est landmarks, the Tilden property, on Main Street, directly opposite Belmont Street. In 1926 he erected on this site the present Cook Building. This build- ing now contains not only the William R. Cook Com- pany, Incorporated, but provides a good location for four other retail stores as well as two upper floors for offices. In 1921 Mr. Cook purchased land in the rear of his Main Street property, also a landmark, known as Burke's Court. On this site was erected a modern fireproof two-story garage, one hundred car capacity.

In 1909 Mr. Cook married Bessie Louise Merrill of Avon, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of four children, three of whom are daugh- ters, and one, a son. The eldest is Martha Elizabeth Cook; the second, Dorothy Louise Cook; the third, William Rapp Cook, Jr., and the fourth, Barbara May Cook. Mr. Cook and his family maintain their residence in Brockton, in which community they at- tend the First Congregational Church.

Mr. Cook may be said to have achieved a great measure of success in his business, and it is of in- terest to note, as a sequel to his earnest, humble be-

ginning, that, despite the ever-increasing demand made on his time by his business and real estate, he has nevertheless found time for outside responsibil- ities, among the more important of which are those of treasurer of the Marshfield Country Club, di- rector of the Montello Co-operative Bank, and a member of the board of governors of the Commercial Club. Mr. Cook was also elected the first president of the Brockton Retail Merchants' Association. Po- litically, he is a staunch supporter of the Republican party in national affairs. Fraternally, Mr. Cook is a member and a Past Master of Paul Revere Lodge Free and Accepted Masons; also a member of Brock- ton Council, Satucket Chapter, and Bay State Com- mandery, No. 38, Knights Templar, and Massachu- setts Consistory, being a thirty-second degree Mason.

JONAS E. BACON, M. D., valued member of the staff of the Brockton Hospital, was born on October 25, 1853, at Woburn, Massachusetts, a son of John and Mary (Wallace) Bacon, of Woburn. John Bacon was a farmer of that township.

Jonas E. Bacon received his early education in the public schools of Woburn, and graduated from Har- vard University, with the class of 1875, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He began training for his medical career, continuing at Harvard and graduating from the Medical College there in 1878, with the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Bacon at once en- tered his profession in Brockton, doing general medi- cal work. His practice increased steadily, and in due time he built up a large and aristocratic clientele. Dr. Bacon was one of the organizers of the Brock- ton Hospital, and is now a member of its staff.

Dr. Bacon has been particularly interested in health conditions and sanitation in his district. In 1879, he was appointed City Physician of Brockton. Since that time he has been a member of the Board of Health of Brockton. Among organizations which pertain to his profession, in which he holds member- ship, the most noteworthy are the American Medical Association, the Massachusetts State Medical So- ciety, and the Brockton City Medical Society. He is fraternally affiliated with the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Dr. Bacon is particulary fond of reading and he is justifiably proud of his library.

Dr. Jonas E. Bacon married, April 4, 1880, Margaret Robinson, and to them has been born a son: Edward Wallace. Dr. Bacon and his family reside in Brockton, and attend the First Congrepa- tional Church.

DAVID COBB, owner and operator of the oldest commercial establishment in Hingham, one of the old- est merchants in that community, and held in high esteem by residents of Hingham, was born in that town January 21, 1843. He is a son of David and Mercy Bates (Fearing) Cobb, both now deceased. David Cobb was the founder of the paint and oil company which his son has carried on with such suc- cess for a number of years. Mr. Cobb, the elder, lived to the fine old age of ninety-two years, and his pass- ing was a great loss to his many friends and the community.

David Cobb received his education in the district schools of Hingham, and immediately after the com- pletion of his studies he went to work, in his father's paint and oil store in Hingham, where he has re- mained. In 1869, after having had a considerable

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amount of experience as a painter, he took over the management of his father's store and, as has been stated, has conducted it with marked success up un- til the present time.

Mr. Cobb, in his political views a Republican, is noted for the excellent manner in which he has stood behind any movement designed for the advancement of Hingham. He is now affiliated with the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has been treasurer for the past thirty-seven years; is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star; and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He resides in Hingham.

FRANCIS CREEDON, Jr., M. D .- One of the recently established men of the medical profession in Brockton, Massachusetts, is Dr. Francis Creedon, who began practice here in 1926. Dr. Creedon is a graduate of the National University of Cork, Ireland, and came to this country soon after receiving his medical degree.

Dr. Francis Creedon was born in Cork, Ireland, December 31, 1901, son of Francis and Katherine (Kelleher) Creedon, both natives of Ireland, the father engaged in business as a merchant. He at- tended the local public schools and then became a student in the National University of Cork, from which he was graduated with the class of 1924, re- ceiving at that time the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In January, 1925, he began general practice in his home town, but decided on America for the practice of his profession, and after gaining a year's exper- ience in his own land, he decided to come to this country. Accordingly, in May, 1926, he arrived in Brockton. Massachusetts. He took his examinations in July, 1926, and since that time has been success- fully engaged in practice here. Though not quite a year has passed since his arrival in Brockton he has already made for himself a warm place in the regard of his associates, and each month has brought some increase in the number of his patients. There is every reason for predicting that the career of Dr. Creedon in this country will be an increasingly suc- cessful one, and he has the good will of his profes- sional associates as well as of his patients and his personal friends. He is an Independent in his polit- ical beliefs, and his religious affiliation is with the St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church. He is a mem- ber of the Order of Owls, and Medical Examiner thereof; member of the Foresters of America; of the Brockton Medical Society, and on the staff of Brock- ton Hospital.

ROBERT GEORGE CLARK, Jr .- One of the younger members in the legal profession in Brock- ton, Massachusetts, is Robert George Clark, Jr., who was admitted to the bar in 1926, and has been en- gaged in general practice here to the present time. Mr. Clark is located in the offices of Nutter, King & Keith, of Brockton.

Robert George Clark, Jr., was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, January 6, 1901, son of Robert George, and of Margaret A. (McCourt) Clark. He received his earliest training in the public schools of Bridge- water and then became a student in Holy Cross Col- lege from which he was graduated with the class of 1923, receiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Arts cum laude. The following fall he became a student in the law department of Boston University, from which he was graduated in 1926 with the degree

of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar that year and since has been engaged in general prac- tice in Brockton. He has his office at No. 106 Main Street and is laying the foundations of what promises to be a most successful career. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the University Club, of Brockton, and, professionally, is a member of the Plymouth County Bar Association. Mr. Clark is a public-spirited citizen who is interested in the welfare of the community and who is willing to bear his share of the burdens of public office. He is a mem- ber of the school committee of Bridgewater and has been during the last few years an active supporter of all plans for the community weltare. His religious affiliation is with the Roman Catholic church.

HENRY W. MERRILL-The name of Merrill stands in the forefront of those that have been as- sociated with the proprietorship of hotels in the New England and Atlantic States, Henry W. Merrill hav- ing represented both the name and the business for the better part of a half century. Mr. Merrill was born to that calling, and was long known to hotel men and the general public as one whose successful management of hostelries was of the most exemplary and enterprising sort.

Henry W. Merrill was born in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, in 1854, where he attended the public schools. He then engaged in various activities until 1898, at which time he became the proprietor of the Hotel Royalton at No. 44 West Forty-fourth Street, New York City. He also spent fifteen years with the management of the Flagler Hotel system in Florida, and was long associated with his brother in the management of the Crawford House, at Crawford Notch, in the White Mountains.

A Republican in his political convictions, Mr. Mer- rill stood staunchly with his party. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the thirty- second degree. His death took place July 17, 1922.

Henry W. Merrill married, March 2, 1920, Jennie H. Richmond, daughter of Lucius and Ann M. (Pool) Richmond.

CHARLES S. LUDDEN, for many years identified with the shoe industry in New England, and now a prominent member of the automobile world of Brock- ton, Massachusetts, was born on June 13, 1865, at South Randolph (now Holbrook) Massachusetts. He is a son of Henry and Eliza J. (Shaw) Ludden, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Ludden's father, Henry Ludden, was born in South Randolph (now Holbrook), Massachusetts; and his death occurred during the year 1905. He was also prominent in the New England shoe industry. Eliza J. (Shaw) Lud- den, the mother, was a native of Maine, and died during the year 1900.

Charles S. Ludden received his early education in the public and high schools of the community in which he was born, and he later attended and gradu- ated from the Bryant & Stratton Business College, of Boston. Immediately after the completion of these courses of study, Mr. Ludden at once branched out for himself, receiving his first real contact with the world of commerce when he became associated, during the year 1885, with the L. M. Reynolds Com- pany, a concern with whom he remained until 1898 when he resigned to accept the office of assistant

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treasurer of the Boston & South Shore Street Rail- way. He later resigned from this appointment as well, and journeying to Lynn, Massachusetts, he there became engaged in the manufacture of wooden shoe- heels. This business turned out to be a most suc- cessful enterprise, and Mr. Ludden formed what was then known as the Star Wood Heel Company. This company continued in most successful operation for more than three years, at the end of which time Mr. Ludden sold out his entire interest and returned to Brockton. There he was appointed to the office of treasurer of the Peoples Savings Bank of Brockton, a position which he retained from 1909 until 1921, when he resigned. He was then connected for about five years with Charles G. Clapp in the real estate business. This association was amicably severed, however, and Mr. Ludden became the president of the Hudson-Essex Company's branch in Brockton, which position he now holds. Mr. Lud- den has also found time in which to assume a number of outside interests, among the more im- portant of which are the offices he fills as a trustee of the Peoples Saving Bank of Brockton, and as director of the Morris Plan Bank.

Despite the many and varied duties of the work in which Mr. Ludden has been engaged, he has still found time in which to serve the people of his com- munity in other than a private capacity. In his polit- ical preferences he is strongly inclined toward the Republican party; and as such he has for a very considerable number of years served as a member of the School Board of Holbrook. He has long been a member of the Commercial Club of Brockton, and he is a past vice-president of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association of Brockton. He has also been ac- tive in his club and social life, for he is affiliated, fra- ternally, with the Norfolk Union Lodge and the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.

Charles S. Ludden married, in 1886, Idella A. Faxon, a daughter of Micah B. and Addie V. A. (Mayhen) Faxon, of Holbrook. Mr. and Mrs. Lud- den are the parents of two children, one son and a daughter: 1. Leon W. Ludden, treasurer of the Brockton Hudson-Essex Company. 2. Hazel F. Lud- den, a graduate of Radcliffe College. Mr. and Mrs. Ludden and their family reside in Brockton, in which city they attend the Baptist church, of which Mr. Ludden has long been a member and the super- intendent of the Sunday School.

WALTER G. FIELD, manager of the South Shore Buick Company, of Hingham, Massachusetts, was born on July 19, 1886, at Quincy, Massachusetts, a son of Francis C. and Sarah (Pierson) Field, both natives of Massachusetts.

Walter G. Field received his education in the pub- lic and high schools of the community in which he was born; and immediately after entered the grocery business at Quincy. He began work in the grocery store of Brown & Crowell, and soon rose to the posi- tion of manager of this establishment. This proved to be a very happy occupation, and the one in which Mr. Field remained for more than fourteen years. He resigned to enter the automobile business at Quincy. and in August, 1925, he accepted the position of mana- ger of the South Shore Buick Company, at Hingham, Massachusetts. This has turned out to be the most successful venture of all, and the one in which Mr. Field has since remained. His income, based upon

volume of business transacted, now averages a goodly figure. Thus it may be seen what an alert, keen visioned business man he is, and to what extent he is applying his exceptional commercial abilities.

In his political views, he is a supporter of the Re- publican party, and as such he is noted for the ex- cellent manner in which he stands behind any move- ment designed for the welfare or advancement of Hingham. He has been prominent in social life, and is a member of Wampatuck Club; the Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; the Commandery, Knights Templar; and the Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Walter G. Field married, April 17, 1910, Robina D. Hall of Quincy, who died on April 12, 1922. One son, Stanley Pierson Field, was born on April 2, 1922, as a result of this marriage. Mr. Field married as his second wife Margaret (Hall) Davison, June 1, 1924, and a daughter Margaret was born on December 7, 1925. Mr. Field and his family have a home at No. 24 Main Street, Hingham, where they attend the Unitarian church.

BENJAMIN D. BAXTER-Coming of a family which has been prominent in Cape Cod history for many years, Benjamin D. Baxter is an outstanding figure in one of Cape Cod's newest and most unique industries, the production of artificial pearls and pearl essence. His entry into this business, of which he is a leader in Hyannis, was due to a pecular circum- stance. In 1918, Mr. Baxter learned that there was a great demand for herring scales, and curious to ascertain the reason, found that these scales were being used in the manufacture of artificial pearls. Becoming intensely interested, he began experiment- ing and, in 1919, succeeded in producing a superior pearl essence, which has been used by the leading pearl manufacturers in this country with marked success. Mr. Baxter also conducts a jobbing and re- tailing business under the name, "The Native Pearl," supplying pearls made from the pearl-essence pro- duced in his laboratories.

Mr. Baxter was born in Hyannis, November 2, 1879, son of Benjamin D. Baxter, who died in 1897, and Elizabeth A. (Webber) Baxter, born in Falmouth, England, who died in 1921. Mr. Baxter is a direct descendant of Thomas Baxter, who came from Scot- land in 1679 and settled in Yarmouth. Benjamin D. Baxter was a native of Yarmouth and for many years was engaged as a sea-captain, visiting all the famous ports of the world with his vessels. During the Civil War, he was commissioned a captain and placed in command of a transport which delivered soldiers to Roanoke Island, New Bern and other Southern ports. At the conclusion of the war, he returned to the Merchant Marine, remaining in that service until 1880 is command of a number of trading vessels. He then went to Antwerp, Belgium, and engaged in the ship- ping business, remaining there until 1893.

Benjamin D. Baxter, Jr., received his early educa- tion in the city of Antwerp, where he attended pri- vate schools, and later in the public schools of Barn- stable, after which he entered the Burdett Business College, Boston. He began his business career as bookkeeper in Hyannis and, in 1904, became associ- ated with the custom house, acting as deputy col- lector until 1914. In 1909, he began packing and shipping flounders at Hyannis, and in this business,

J. f. Cahill

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he continues to be occupied in the spring and fall of each year. For two and a half years, he operated a motion-picture theatre at Hyannis, until 1917, and the following year he began his experiments in search of the artificial pearl-essence. Since founding his present business, Mr. Baxter leases the Herring River at Harwich in order to be certain of a continued sup- ply of herring scales. His great success in attaining the secret of this process directs our attention to the fact that the American people's curiosity has made them the greatest and most numerous inventors in the world. This desire to know why and how the scales were used was responsible for Mr. Baxter's in- teresting himself in the process, and his achieving his present successful position as one of the leaders of this industry. In 1927, he used over ninety per cent of the scales taken on Cape Cod for the pearl indus- try in producing his "Native Pearls" and pearl- essence. In the civic and social affairs of the town, Mr. Baxter takes a deep interest and is ever active in all projects for community improvement and ad- vancement. In politics, he is a member of the Re- publican party, and in fraternal connections, is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, being a Master Mason. He is identified with the local Chamber of Commerce. His recreation is music. He studied violin five years in Antwerp, Belgium, and as a boy played in public before the age of twelve years.

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 58

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