History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 72

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 72
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 72
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 72

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Robert L. Draper was educated in the Canton pub- lic schools and at Chauncy Hall School in Boston, and has spent his mature years in assisting in the expansion of Draper Brothers Company, nationallv known manufacturers of woolen cloth of high qual- ity and woven felts. Mr. Draper is vice-president of the company. He is a member of Blue Hill Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a member of

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Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He attends the Unitarian church. Mr. Draper's favorite hobby is fishing, for he enjoys the out-of-doors and all simple, wholesome sports.

In 1914, Robert L. Draper married Mary W. Wel- den, of Canton, Massachusetts, daughter of Robert Welden. Two children were born of the union: 1. Sylvia C., born January 29, 1916. 2. Robert W., born June 8, 1918.

WILLIAM H. EVANS-Since 1915, William H. Evans has been associated with Henry A. Brown in the activities of the Henry A. Brown Corporation, realtors, and during that time, he has been con- tributing a valuable share to the progress of the business. The concern specializes in the develop- ment of summer community resorts, and is well known in this field.

William H. Evans was born in England, December 21, 1892, son of Henry W. Evans, a farmer, whose death occurred June 20, 1920, and of Annie (Waite) Evans, who died January 23, 1924. He received his education in his native district, and in 1912, at the age of twenty years, came to this country. He came to Massachusetts, and in 1915 made the ac- quaintance of Henry A. Brown, who was then in the mortgage business in Boston. The two became firm friends, and in 1919, when Dr. Brown came to Brockton, and organized the Henry A. Brown Realty Company, Mr. Evans accompanied him and was associated with him in that enterprise. When the Henry A. Brown Realty Company was incorporated as the Henry A. Brown Corporation, Mr. Evans continued his business association with Mr. Brown, and is still associated with him. Such summer re- sorts as Common Fence Point Beach, Rocky Nook Beach, Pinehurst Beach, Pocasset Beach, and Park- wood Beach, have been developed by this concern, and their work has made a reputation which is a valu- able business asset. Mr. Evans is a Republican in his political sympathies, and his fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic Order, Paul Revere Lodge, and also he has been elected a member of the Kiwanis Club. During the World War Mr. Evans served over- seas for thirteen months, in the Quartermaster's Corps, of the United States Army, and was honor- ably discharged at the end of the conflict, with the rank of corporal. His religious affiliation is with the Episcopal church.

William H. Evans was married, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 26, 1921, to Marion Nichol- son, daughter of Joseph and Annie (Kay) Nichol- son. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the parents of one daughter, Virginia K., who was born in Cambridge, October 13, 1922.

HENRY A. BROWN-As president of the Henry A. Brown Corporation, Realtors, Henry A. Brown has been very active in the development of summer community resorts. The concern was organized in 1919. Such delightful resorts as Pinehurst Beach, Pocasset Beach, Parkwood Beach-all on Cape Cod- as well as Common Fence Point Beach, in Newport County, Rhode Island, are the results of the activ- ities of this corporation, and each season adds to its achievements in this field.

Henry A. Brown was born in Dorchester, Massa- chusetts, July 3, 1885, son of Henry A. Brown, now deceased, and of Clara E. (Ware) Brown. He at- tended the public schools of Dorchester, and later

took a business course in Bryant & Stratton Com- mercial School in Boston. After the completion of his commercial course he was engaged in the broker- age business in Boston until 1913, in which year he entered the real estate and mortgage business, rep- resenting several of the savings banks in Massa- chusetts and continuing successfully in that line until 1919. He came to Brockton. and under the name of the Henry A. Brown Realty Company engaged in the real estate business, giving attention to de- velopment work, and in this field specializing in beach resort developments. A prosperous business was rapidly built up, and in 1921 the concern was in- corporated with Henry A. Brown as president, Wil- liam H. Evans, treasurer, and Lillian V. (Lewis) Wilson as secretary. The corporation has continued to specialize in the development of summer com- munity resorts and includes among its achievements to the present tinie (1928) the following beach re- sorts: Parkwood Beach, Pocasset Beach, Pinehurst Beach, Rocky Nook Beach, and Common Fence Point Beach. The offices are located at No. 196 Main Street. They advertise as "Creators of Com- munities," and in this field have thoroughly demon- strated their ability. Mr. Brown is a Republican in his political affiliations, and fraternally, he is identi- fied with the Masonic Order. He is past president of the Brockton Real Estate Board, a member of the Brockton Chamber of Commerce, the Boston Real Estate Exchange, the Commercial Club of Brockton, the Boston City Club, and a member of the First Parish Congregational Church.

Henry A. Brown was married, at Brockton, Massa- chusetts, November 3, 1920, to Gladys V. Gold- thwaite, who was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts, adopted daughter of Emerson and Abby (Copeland) Goldthwaite. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents. of three children, two living at the present time: 1. Helen, who was born September 5, 1921. 2. Ruth, born July 10, 1924.

FREDERICK M. JENNEY-Remembered as an influential factor in mercantile activities in Middle -- boro, and particularly in the coal business that was founded by his father, Frederick M. Jenney was a prominent townsman, a man of recognized busi- ness enterprise and energy, and one who discovered his special sphere of action as a coal merchant. He was a son of James L. Jenney, founder of the James L. Jenney Coal Company, who died in 1910, and of Mary (Hackett) Jenney, who died December 11, 1921.

Frederick M. Jenney was born April 7, 1869, at Fairhaven, in Bristol County, and was graduated at Eaton School, Middleboro. After several years' en- ployment in a needle factory in Middleboro, he be- came associated with his father in the coal business, and he continued as a partner therein until his father's death. Mr. Jenney then took over the busi- ness, which had been established by James L. Jen- ney in 1865, and continued in its proprietorship un- til his own death, in 1912, when his widow, Mrs. Clarabelle (White) Jenney, took the management of the concern as at present. The Jenney Coal Company occupies ground ninety by three-hundred feet; has fifteen employees and six teams are used in. the business.

A Republican in his political views, Mr. Jenney supported with vote and influence the principles of

Frederick No jenney

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that party, though he had never sought public of- fice. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church.

Frederick M. Jenney married July 16, 1883, Clara- belle White, who continues the successful direction of the affairs of the James L. Jenney Coal Company, the largest coal dealing firm in Middleboro. Mrs. Jenney is a daughter of Henry Clay White, who died October 28, 1873, aged thirty-eight years, one month, and eleven days, and Sarah J. (Leonard) White, who died September 8, 1906, aged seventy-three years, nine months and eight days. Henry Clay White, who for a time was employed in a general store, and afterwards learned shoe-making, was a musician of ability and well-known as such throughout this sec- tion of the State. A fine tenor singer, he taught in singing schools, was a leader in choral societies, and directed the music of the Central Baptist Church for some years; he was also a player and teacher of violin. Mrs. Jenney is a member of the Boston Woman's Club, and her religious faith is that of the Baptist church, of which she is a member.

The children of Henry Clay and Sarah J. (Leon- ard) White: Charles Henry; Fred Harold, of whom further; Martin Leonard; and Clarabelle, manager of the James L. Jenney Coal Company.

Fred Harold White was born November 26, 1857, at Bridgewater, where he attended the public schools. A shoe operator, he was employed in a shoe store from 1898 onwards. He is a Republican in his polit- ical views; and he is a member of the Central Bap- tist Church. Mr. White married, January 23, 1904, at Lakeville, Nettie Frances Haskins, daughter of Bowers Lothrop and Mary Lizzie (Caswell) Haskins.

REV. MORTIMER DOWNING-Not only as pastor of the Church of Saint Francis Xavier, in Hy- annis, but as a prominent leader in the building of new churches and the development of old ones in this section of Massachusetts, the Rev. Mortimer Down- ing has won the admiration and the love of his con- gregation and of the entire surrounding community. He came to Hyannis in 1913, since which time he has been working tirelessly to increase the influence of the churches in this district and to extend their bene- fits to the people. He now has charge of the work of several churches in surrounding villages, in which he is striving toward even greater attainments than heretofore realized.

He was born in County Cork, Ireland, June 9, 1863, the son of Mortimer G. Downing, a merchant in Ireland, and of Katherine (O'Sullivan) Downing. After attending the National School in Ireland, he became a student at Saint Brendan's Seminary in Kil- larney, finally studying at the Irish College, in Paris, where he was ordained to the priesthood in May, 1888. In that same year, he came to New- port, Rhode Island, where he assisted for ten years in Saint Joseph's Church. He then spent six years at Saint Mary's Church in Taunton, Massachusetts, and subsequently had charge of the Catholic charities in Fall River, Massachusetts, for three years. Later, he served as pastor for the Church of Saint James, New Bedford, Massachusetts, a capacity in which he acted for about six years. In 1913, he came to Hy- annis, where, ever since, he has been pastor of the Church of Saint Francis Xavier. He has four churches: one in Hyannis, one in Osterville, one in West Barnstable and one in Yarmouth Port and has under his jurisdiction, the work of the Catholic church

in Hyannis, Barnstable, West Barnstable, Hyannis Port, Centerville, Osterville, Santuit, Cotuit, Yar- mouth, West Yarmouth, South Yarmouth and Yar- mouth Port. The Church of Saint Francis Xavier was formerly attended from Woods Hole, but be- came a separate parish in 1902. A portion of this parish was later taken to form the parish of Well- fleet, including Harwich, Harwich Port, East Har- wich, West Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Chatham, Dennis, East Dennis and West Dennis. The Church of Saint Francis Xavier in Hyannis, has had the fol- lowing pastors: Rev. Daniel E. Doran; Rev. Michael Owens, who was pastor for six months; Rev. John F. Mckeon, and Rev. Mortimer Downing, who has been pastor since 1913. Since he has been in Hy- annis and working in the nearby villages of Barn- stable County, Father Downing has doubled the size of the church in Hyannis, doubled the size of the church in Osterville and doubled the number of masses in all his churches to take care of the in- creased attendance. He built the church in West Barnstable in 1916. Father Downing is aided by one assistant pastor all year around and has three assis- tants during the summer months. He is chaplain and organizer of the Father McSwiney Council of the Knights of Columbus, which was named after Father Cornelius McSwiney, former pastor in charge of the Catholic churches throughout the Cape and Nan- tucket.

GEORGE H. CHASE-In West Yarmouth and vicinity there are many housewives who appreciate the fact that the Cape Cod Laundry can be depended upon to do good work and to return the family wash, clean, whole, and in time to be of use. The pro- prietor of this concern is George H. Chase, who be- gan business in a small way in a remodeled barn in 1914, but who is now the proprietor of a large and thoroughly equipped plant (developed by adding to and altering the original one), containing more than 6,500 square feet of floor space. Mr. Chase has earned a reputation for prompt, first-class service and each year brings a decided increase in patronage.

Alexander B. Chase, father of Mr. Chase, was born in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in business as a contractor. He was one of the three contractors who built the first stretch of highway on the Cape, the other two being Albert Berry, of West Yarmouth, and Luther Brown, of South Yarmouth. He served the town of Yarmouth as a member of the school committee and was in- terested in local affairs to the time of his death which occurred at West Yarmouth, February 1, 1922. He is buried at Hyannis. It is a matter of record that three Chase brothers came to America in 1630, and it is supposed that one of these, ancestor of the line to which Alexander B. Chase belongs, settled in West Yarmouth. Alexander B. Chase married Lucy Bearse of Hyannis.

George H. Chase, son of Alexander B. and Lucy (Bearse) Chase, was born in West Yarmouth, Mas- sachusetts, June 12, 1879. He attended the public schools of Yarmouth and then went on the Massachu- setts "Nautical Ship," sailing out of Boston in the summer of 1896. He completed the course, but at the expiration of the year, on account of an epidemic of diphtheria, left the sea. In the spring of 1897, he went again to Boston and secured a position with a wholesale cotton house as bookkeeper and general

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office man. That connection he maintained for about eight years. At the end of that time he became as- sociated with the Boston Consolidated Gas Company, with whom he remained for about five years. His next position was with the Wholesale Electrical House of Boston, with which he was connected as salesman for five years. In the spring of 1914 he came to West Yarmouth and, in a remodeled barn on the old Chase homestead, he opened a laundry. Beginning on a small scale with about five hundred square feet of floor space he enlarged his plant as the demands of his business increased, and has kept adding until the old barn has grown into a modern, well-equipped laundry plant, with between sixty-five hundred and seven thousand square feet of floor space. Mr. Chase has equipped his laundry with the most modern of machinery, and has also established a reputation which is bringing him more patronage. Prompt and careful service have been the watch- words of his business, and the housewives of Yar- mouth and vicinity have learned to appreciate the quality of his service. Mr. Chase is actively inter- ested in local public affairs, is secretary of the Yar- mouth Planning Board, and has also served as a Park Commissioner. Fraternally, he is identified with Fraternal Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Hy- annis; and with the Hyannis Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and also with Massachusetts Consistory, of Boston, in which he holds the thirty-second degree. He is a Past Grand of Cape Cod Lodge, No. 226, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and he was the first secretary of the Hyannis Rotary Club. His re- ligious affiliation is with the Congregational church.

George H. Chase was married, at Shirley, Massa- chusetts, June 10, 1906, to Hattie A. Thoms, daugh- ter of Albert B., a native of Maine, and of Annie A. (Cook) Thoms of Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Chase have two children: 1. Mrs. Louise A. Robertson, of Bradford, Vermont. 2. Albert T. Chase, a legally ad- opted son, who is now associated with his father in the laundry business. He was a member of the National Guard before the period of the World War, and served under General Pershing, along the Mexi- can border, and upon the entrance of the United States into the World War, when the old National Guard was merged into the regular army he became a mem- ber of the American Expeditionary Forces, and sailed with the Yankee Division on the first convoy, as a member of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment. He took part in all of the battles in which his unit was engaged, and through his company was practi- cally wiped out and he was gassed, survived to return in 1919, as sergeant of Company L, One Hundred and Fourth Infantry. He married Cora A. Ballou, of Greenfield, Massachusetts, in 1924.

HENRY T. CROCKER-Since February, 1926, Henry T. Crocker has been proprietor of a general store in Brewster. He began his active career in his father's grocery store, but later entered the employ of a Boston firm, with whom he remained for a period of seventeen years. He is postmaster of the village of Brewster and also manages the W. W. Knowles & Son general store in Brewster.

Franklin B. Crocker, father of Mr. Crocker, fol- lowed the sea during the early years of his life, but in later years conducted a grocery store in Brewster. He was active in local public affairs, serving as post- master, as town clerk and as treasurer of the town

of Brewster, and throughout his life was one of the highly esteemed citizens of the town. He died in June, 1917, and is buried in Brewster. He married Mercy E. Snow.

Henry T. Crocker, son of Franklin B. and Mercy E. (Snow) Crocker, was born in Brewster, Massa- chusetts, July 2, 1888, and received his education in the public schools of Brewster. As a young man he was employed in his father's grocery store, but later he entered the employ of the Eldridge Baker Com- pany, of Boston, beginning as a clerk in the office. Later he became a traveling representative in this same connection which he maintained for a period of seventeen years all told, serving as a traveling salesman during the last eleven years of his service with that company. In February, 1926, he purchased the general store business of W. W. Knowles & Son, and since that time he has successfully conducted this enterprise. On February 26, 1926, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Brewster by President Calvin Coolidge, and he is still serving in that capacity. Fraternally, Mr. Crocker is identified with Pilgrim Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Harwich, and he is also a member of the local Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. His religious affiliation is with the Unitarian church.

Henry T. Crocker was married, in Clifton Springs, New York, July 2, 1918, to Pauline E. Tarbox. Mr. and Mrs. Crocker have had three children: 1. Frank- lin B., deceased. 2. Lawrence F. 3. Jackson H. The family home is in Brewster.

ROBERT FRANCIS CROSS-Propagation and development of trees, plants and beautiful flowers and their artistic association in landscape arrangement was an inherited instinct of Robert Francis Cross, who lives in the village of Osterville and is pleasantly known from Buzzards Bay to the tip of Cape Cod. His father before him was a landscape gardener and forester of wide repute, whose beautiful works may be seen in many sections adjacent to Boston, where he labored at his task for many years. Like his father, the son has devoted his life to an improvement of floral and arboreal landscape decoration, giving to his work a rare artistic touch that has attracted the favorable comments of all who have had the fortune to view his creations. Although he has attained wide circles of friends, who have indulged their prefer- ence by choosing him as representative in public office, it is his work as a beautifier of nature's natural groundwork that will be his most ennobling monu- ment.

Robert Francis Cross was born in Brighton, Eng- land, March 19, 1875, and was brought to Boston by his parents when an infant. His father was Rich- ard A. Cross, a native of Brighton and a graduate of Kew Gardens and served his apprenticeship there. In America he followed the profession he had begun in England, working steadily on gardens in Boston and neighborhood and making his early home in Lex- ington. He eventually removed to West Bridgewater and died there in 1921. The education of Robert was begun with the idea of a complete course in forestry and floriculture, coupled with definite in- struction in landscape gardening. He first at- tended the public schools of Boston, completing the elementary courses in them, then taking instruction in forestry at the Amherst Agricultural College, from which he was graduated. He entered the employ of

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Coolidge and Curtis, Boston landscape gardeners, where he worked for several years, then coming to the village of Osterville, town of Barnstable, in 1896. Here he set up his own establishment, conducting a nur- sery and forestry business on land compassing some seventy acres. He was called upon to lay out many gardens on the great estates of the Cape, a work so well done that his name today is synonymous with artistic landscapes throughout this section of New England. His religion is Roman Catholic and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is chair- man of the Barnstable Town Committee, town for- ester, tree warden and a member of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. He also holds membership in the Saturday Night Club of Hyannis, the Beacon Club of Osterville, the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Association, the New England Nurserymen's As- sociation, the Horticultural Society of Boston, and is the vice-president of the Cape Cod Foresters' As- sociation.

Robert F. Cross married Annie F. Sullivan, daugh- ter of John and Nora (Shea) Sullivan, of Boston. Their children are: Margaret, Paul, Josephine, Mary, Frances, and Robert, Jr.

BENJAMIN B. CROSBY-A business man of en- ergy and acumen, Benjamin B. Crosby is well known in Sagamore life. Entering the grocery trade soon after he completed his education, he has continued in this business at various places and is now the owner of a general store which he operates very suc- cessfully at Sagamore. He is prominent in the Ma- sonic life of the town. His father, Hatsel Crosby, was a salt manufacturer and engaged in this work until his death. His mother was Hannah (Nye) Crosby.

Benjamin B. Crosby was born August 24, 1864, at South Yarmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, where his father lived for many years. He attended the public schools of South Yarmouth, and at the age of sixteen was employed as a clerk in the whole- sale and retail grocery trade first at Brewster, and later with Crocker and Eldridge, wholesale grocers at Boston. In 1889 he came to Sagamore and in as- sociation with his brother, Chester L. Crosby, and Isaac N. Keith, started a general grocery store. In 1895 he purchased the interests of the other partners and has continued the store himself since that time, adding drygoods and other lines.

Mr. Crosby is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, and is Past Master of DeWitt Clinton Lodge, at Sandwich, Massachusetts. He is also a member of the Kabeyun Club of Sagamore. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church.

Benjamin B. Crosby married Florence O. Keith, of Sagamore, now deceased; the daughter of Hiram T. and Carolyn (Swift) Keith. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby were the parents of several children: 1. Hatsel K. 2. Caro- lyn, now Mrs. R. E. Carroll of Hartford, Connecticut. 3. Alice, now Mrs. Stewart Dudgeon, of Fall River, Massachusetts.

FLETCHER CLARK-A man of considerable prominence in his community is Fletcher Clark. Though he is now retired from active business he conducted a grocery and hardware store very success- fully for many years at Sandwich. He is a director and trustee of several banks, and serves as a trustee

of the Weston Memorial Library Fund for the town of Sandwich.

His grandfather was John Clark of Plymouth County. John Clark's son, Robert C. Clark, was a shoe manufacturer for many years in Middleboro. Owing to ill health he later opened a retail shoe store in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, where he remained until his death. He married Hannah Shaw Cooper, and Fletcher Clark was their son.

Fletcher Clark was born May 28, 1853, at North Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He attended the public schools of Sandwich, and worked both night and morning while still in school. For a time he was employed in the Sandwich Post Office, and in 1875 he entered the grocery business in part- nership with his brother, Charles M. Clark. This arrangement continued for about ten years, but in 1885 Charles M. Clark went to California, and in 1887 the partnership was finally dissolved. Mr. Fletcher Clark continued the business alone, dealing in grocer- ies, hardware, grain and hay, and builders' supplies, and in 1909 he disposed of his stock to S. I. Morse.

Mr. Clark has been treasurer and member of the security committee of the Sandwich Co-operative Bank since 1905. He is a director of this bank and of the National Bank of Wareham, Massachusetts. He is also a trustee of the Wareham Savings Bank, and a trustee of the Weston Memorial Library Fund of the town of Sandwich. He is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of De- Witt Clinton Lodge. He attends the Federated Church.

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 72

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