USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 75
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 75
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 75
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Joseph A. LeClair was born at Quincy, November 14, 1891, son of Narcisse and Hedwidge (Marchand) LeClair, native of St. Andrea, Province of Quebec, Canada, who is still living; his father, founder of the firm, was a native of Warwick, Quebec, and died in 1920. Mr. LeClair received his education at the Quincy public schools and Burdett's Business Col- lege. On completing his studies, in 1906, he entered the granite business with his father as a stone cutter, until 1920, later becoming partner and sole owner, and he has registered a notable success and won the name of being one of the best men in his line in this section.
Mr. LeClair is a member of the Quincy Granite Manufacturers' Association; the American Granite Manufacturers' Association, and allied organizations. In politics he adheres to the Republican party. In religion he attends St. Agatha's Roman Catholic Church. He belongs to the Franco-American So- ciety, and the Ave Maria Council of the Knights of Columbus. His hobbies are bowling and organiza- tion work.
Mr. LeClair married, in 1918, Catherine Creedon, born at Quincy, and their union has been blessed with a son, Edward Arthur LeClair.
EMIL BIELLI-Emil Bielli & Company, granite manufacturers at No. 49 Brook Road, South Quincy, of which . Emil Bielli is the capable senior partner, was organized in 1890, under the name of Kelley & McDonald; later the name was changed to J. F. Kel- ley & Sons, Mr. McDonald's interest being bought
out by Mr. Kelley. In 1924, Mr. Bielli bought out the business and the name was changed to Emil Bielli & Company, at which time Mr. Bielli took in Donald Ruga as a partner, and the business has con- tinued under this style ever since, and has always been located at the present location. The company does a strictly wholesale business in the manufacture of mausoleums, memorials and monuments for the cem- etery trade; its work is executed almost exclusively in the New England granite which has proven so abundant and fine; and today it ranks as one of the oldest and largest concerns of its kind in the granite industry. It has cut many large pieces of granite, among the foremost having been a statue of the "Rock of Ages," with a woman leaning on a cross, this piece weighing about eight tons in the rough and six tons finished. This was made of Westerly granite and was cut for a Springfield concern; and the firm has finished numerous other fine jobs of this character.
Mr. Bielli was born at Taino, Italy, April 14, 1891, and received his education at the public schools of that charming Italian city. Mr. Bielli's father, Louis Bielli, sailor and farmer, native of Italy, is deceased; his mother, Carolina (Colombo) Bielli, also born in Italy, survives. On completing his education, he accepted a position there in the granite cutting busi- ness, and devoted four valuable years to his appren- ticeship in this field of endeavor. Having heard from relatives and friends of the greater opportunities for advancement in the United States, he came to this country in 1906, bidding farewell to his loved ones and associates, and settled at Milford, Massachusetts, where he engaged for a time in his vocation. He then proceeded to New York City, where he had friends, and for five years engaged in granite work, being employed a good part of this time on the Municipal Building, and on the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in both of which structures are to be noted signs of his artistic handicraft, and in both in- stances these structures will stand as his monuments. In 1915 he came to Quincy and worked for Fred- erick Barnicoat for a short time; and in 1915 reached a decision which has meant everything to him since, being the determination to cease working for others and to set himself up in business. He accordingly applied his savings to the purchase of J. F. Kelley & Sons, in association with the aforesaid Donald Ruga. His success is best attested by his works, which are to be found liberally scattered over New England.
Mr. Bielli enlisted in the United States Army, May 28, 1918, for World War service, and later was as- signed to duty with the Second Trench Mortar Bat- tery of the Second Division. He went overseas, reached France safely, and for ten months was on duty with the American Expeditionary Forces, tak- ing part in the following battles or campaigns: Toul Sector; St. Mihiel Sector; Meuse-Argonne; Cham- pagne Front, in one of the battles of which he was wounded in action. He also served in Germany as a member of the Army of Occupation, and was dis- charged in 1919, June of that year, with the rank of chief mechanic.
Mr. Bielli is a member of the Quincy Granite Manufacturers' Association, the American Legion, and the Republican party. He attends St. John's Ro- man Catholic Church. His principal outdoor diversions are baseball, football, and motoring.
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SAMUEL H. HOWLAND, former assistant treas- urer and a member of the board of firm trustees of the well-known Woodard & Wright Last Company, a shoe-part manufacturing concern with whom he was associated for more than forty years, was born August 13, 1862, at Plymouth, Massachusetts, son of Samuel and Martha A. (Bartlett) Howland, both natives of Plymouth. Samuel Howland, the father, was a seafaring man, out of Plymouth.
Samuel W. Howland received his education in the public schools of the community in which he was born and reared; and immediately after the comple- tion of these courses of study he at once branched out for himself, receiving his first real contact with the world of commerce in the employ of the con- cern with whom he was destined to remain for the greatest part of his commercial career: the Woodard & Wright Last Company, of Campello, Brockton, Massachusetts. Mr. Howland associated with this concern in 1886, as a bookkeeper, but his general ability, high standard of integrity and his keen busi- ness foresight soon made themselves manifest and he rose steadily through the ranks. On January 1, 1928, after serving faithfully for a period of forty-two years he retired from active business life, having attained the office of assistant treasurer and member- ship in the board of trustees of this company.
Despite the many exacting duties of the work in which he was engaged, Mr. Howland found time in which to take a keen interest in the civic and com- munity affairs of the township in which he resides. In his political preferences, he is strongly inclined toward the Republican party. He has also been active in the club and social life of his community, for he not only holds active membership in the Com- mercial Club, the Walk-Qyer Shoe Club, and the Young Men's Christian Association; but he is also affiliated, fraternally, with the St. George Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons; the Council, Royal and Select Masters; Bay State Commandery, Knights Templar, and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Samuel H. Howland married (first) Ada C. Gray, and by this union there was one child, William A. Howland. Mr. Howland married (second) Alice J. Kent, and by this union there was also one child, Bertha A. Howland. Mr. and Mrs. Howland reside in Brockton, in which township they attend the Uni- tarian church.
ABRAM L. BOWMAN, treasurer of the Wood- ard & Wright Last Company, of Campello, Brockton, Massachusetts, was born February 22, 1860, at Fal- mouth, Massachusetts, a son of Stephen E. and Sarah A. (Wright) Bowman, both born in this State. Stephen E. Bowman, now deceased, was a carpenter and builder during his long and active life, having been born at Falmouth; while Sarah A. (Wright) Bowman was born at Carver, Massachusetts.
Abram L. Bowman received his education in the public schools of Falmouth. Immediately after the completion of these courses of study, Mr. Bowman then branched out for himself, and his business ca- reer, with the exception of fourteen years which he spent in the employ of the Bay State Straw Works, of Middleboro, Massachusetts, has been devoted to service in the concern of which he is now the treas- urer, the Woodard & Wright Last Company. One
of the oldest concerns of its kind in Brockton, the Woodard & Wright Last Company enjoys a world- wide reputation for the excellent quality of its prod- ucts.
Despite the exacting duties of his work, Mr. Bow- man has still found time in which to take an interest in the affairs of his community. In his political in- clinations he prefers the Republican party. He is affiliated, fraternally, with St. George Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.
Abram L. Bowman married, in 1889, Mary C. Wood. By this union there was a son: Arthur L. Bowman, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman reside in Brockton, where they attend the First Con- gregational Church, of which Mr. Bowman has been a member of the standing committee and a deacon for the past twenty years.
CHARLES FRANKLIN WOODARD, for many years a member of the firm and now a member of the board of firm trustees of the Woodard & Wright Last Company, one of the oldest shoe-part manufac- turers in Brockton, was born May 5, 1882, at Stough- ton, Massachusetts, a son of Edward C. and Inez (Curtis) Woodard, both of whom were natives of Stoughton.
Charles Franklin Woodard received his education in the public schools of the community in which he was born, and making contact with the world of com- merce immediately after the completion of these courses of study, he has spent practically all of his business career in the Woodard & Wright Last Com- pany, a detailed history of which may be found under the biographical history of Louis F. Wright, who is now serving as the president of the board of firm trustees, which is carrying on the business. Since the reorganization and the establishment of this operating board, Mr. Woodard has filled the office of vice- president, along with Samuel H. Howland and Abram L. Bowman, others on this board whose bio- graphical histories may be found elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Woodard is, in his political preferences, in- clined toward the Republican party, as as such he has always taken a particularly keen interest in the affairs of his township. He was for a considerable period of time a member of the Massachusetts State National Guard. He has also been active in his club and social life, for he is a member of practically all local clubs, and is also affiliated, fraternally, with St. George Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is now Worshipful Master; Satucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; the Brockton Council, Royal and Select Masters; Bay State Commandery, No. 38, Knights Templar; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Charles Franklin Woodard married, in 1901, Eva Viola Reynolds, a daughter of Orrin S. and Mary A. (Keene) Reynolds, of Brockton. Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ard are the parents of three children: 1. Leroy R., who was born April 16, 1903. 2. Rodney D., born April 18, 1905. 3. Priscilla V., born November 21, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard and their family reside in Brockton, where they attend the South Congrega- tional Church.
LOUIS F. WRIGHT, at one time a member of the firm and now a member of the board of trustees of the Woodard & Wright Last Company, shoe-last
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Samuel J Honland
Charles H. Woodard
Eigen Theyar
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manufacturers of Campello, Brockton, Massachu- setts, was born on January 12, 1886, at Brockton. Mr. Wright is a son of E. C. Wright, who was one of the founders of the concern with which his son has spent his business career.
Louis F. Wright received his early education at Phillips-Exeter Academy, the Stone School of Boston, and later attended Dartmouth College, graduating from there with the class of 1909, when he received the degree of Bachelor of Science. Immediately after these courses of study, Mr. Wright began work with his father in the Woodard & Wright Last Company, rising steadily through the various positions that would give him the greatest possible knowledge of the methods of operation, until he finally became a mem- ber of the firm. It is a point of interest that this company was established in 1880, under the name of Churchill, Lee & Wright, and E. C. Wright was, as has been stated, one of the founders. After about one and a half years Mr. Churchill retired, and the firm became known as Lee & Wright. In 1886 Mr. Lee sold his share of the enterprise to Horace F. Wood- ard, after which the firm operated under the name of Woodard & Wright. In 1912, E. C. Wright bought out H. F. Woodard and operated the business until 1919. In 1919, however, the business was re- organized, and the control of the company was placed in the hands of a board of trustees consisting of E. C. Wright, Louis F. Wright, Charles Franklin Wood- ard, Samuel H. Howland, and Abram L. Bowman (q. v.). In 1925, Louis F. Wright was appointed president of this board; and such has been the suc- cess with which this concern has met that today one hundred people are kept in constant employ and the plant itself is so constructed as to be capable of turn- ing out approximately twelve hundred pairs of lasts per day. It is one of the oldest concerns of its kind in Brockton, and one of the best known in the Eastern United States.
Despite the many exacting duties of the work in which he is engaged, Mr. Wright has still found time in which to assume a few outside interests, the most important of which is the office he fills as treasurer of the Bristol Block Company, of which he was one of the organizers. He has also taken a keen interest in the civic affairs of his town, and in his political preferences he is inclined toward the Repub- Ican party. He has also been active in his club and social life, for he is not only a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce of Brockton and the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Club, but he is also a member of the University Club of Boston. He is affiliated, frater- nally, with Paul Revere Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; the Council, Royal and Select Masters; Bay State Com- mandery, Knights Templar; the Consistory, thirty- second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and he is also a member of the Phi Kappa Psi College Fraternity.
Louis F. Wright married, in 1909, Janet A. Wright, a daughter of E. T. and Mary F. (Grace) Wright, of Rockland. Mr. and Mrs. Louis F. Wright are the parents of two sons: 1. Louis E., born Septem- ber 17, 1910, who is now a student at a private school, Moses Brown School of Providence. 2. Hobart A., born September 4, 1913, now a student at the Bridge- man School. Mr. Wright resides at No. 1293 Main Street, Brockton, Massachusetts.
EVERETT EUGENE THAYER - It is nearly half a century since Everett Eugene Thayer, now one of the leading merchants and citizens of Brockton, Massachusetts, left school and entered business life. During that period he has made constant progress up- ward, his engaging manners, undeviating devotion to the duties of citizenship as well as of the enterprise in which he has been concerned, and high sense of commercial probity attracting a multitude of friends and bringing a prosperous business to his house. His civic interests are ever alert to the prosperity of all and the maintenance of sound government, while his fraternal affiliations commend him to a large proportion of our citizenry likewise attached.
Everett Eugene Thayer was born in North Easton, Massachusetts, November 9, 1864, and was educated in the schools of that center. He came to Brockton, May 4, 1881, and entered the employ of the H. W. Robinson Company, dealers in carpets, rugs, drapery, wallpaper and painting, remaining with that concern until February 1, 1896. Then, in cooperation with Edwin H. Blake and Fred H. Washburn, he formed a co-partnership under the title of the H. W. Robin- son Carpet Company. Mr. Blake retired from the firm in 1913 but the concern continued under the same name until June, 1922, when it was incorporated, with Fred H. Washburn as president; Everett Eugene Thayer, treasurer and general manager. Henry A. Baker is associated with the corporation as a di- rector. The headquarters are at Nos. 27, 29 and 31 Main Street, Brockton. Mr. Thayer is a Repub- lican in politics, and attends the First Parish Con- gregational Church. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, attached to Paul Revere Lodge; also of Satucket Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Brockton Council, Royal and Select Masters; Scottish Rite Masons, and of the Bay State Com- mandery, Knights Templar. He belongs to the Brockton Kiwanis Club.
Mr. Thayer married Lottie Inez Baldwin, of Flush- ing, Long Island, New York, on February 5, 1890. She was a daughter of Theodore M. and Charlotte J. (Knapp) Baldwin. Mrs. Thayer's death occurred in Brockton, November 14, 1914.
ABRAM J. FREEDMAN - As manufacturers of shoes in that great center of the shoe-manufacturing industry, Brockton, Massachusetts, the firm of A. Freedman is regarded as a specialist in the production of the popular medium-grade shoes for men and women. Although this company has as its executiev head A. Freedman, his son, Abram J. Freedman, has been most actively identified with the business and has been instrumental in the building up of the trade which the company now enjoys.
Abram J. Freedman, son of Alfred and Sarah (Levine) Freedman, was born May 10, 1890, in the city of Brockton, Massachusetts. He received his rudimentary education in the public schools of Brockton, and was graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, in the class of 1912, with the Bachelor of Science degree. After grad- uation he became associated with his father in the wholesale and jobbing shoe business, located at No. 14 North Montello Street, Brockton. The Freed- mans entered into the manufacturing end of the shoe business in 1918, under the present firm name of A. Freedman & Sons. Their former relations
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with the wholesale and jobbing features of the in- dustry had convinced the associates that the type of shoe most in demand by the greatest number of people was a sturdy and at the same time stylish, medium grade. To this type of shoes for men and women the Freedmans have directed the facilities of their manufacturing plant which takes up two en- tire floors, and contains 20,000 square feet of floor space in the building at No. 146 Court Street. The shoe output of A. Freedman is now sold throughout the United States, and sales are increasing in an ever-expanding field year after year.
In fraternal circles, Mr. Freedman is a member of the Blue Lodge and St. George Chapter, Free and Accepted Masons. In political affiliation, he is Republican. Mr. Freedman worships at Temple Israel, in the city of Brockton.
Abram J. Freedman married, in 1914, Hilda Cohen, daughter of Albert Cohen, of Brockton, Massachu- setts. He is the father of three children: Alberta L., Eleanor G., and Robert J.
MARSHALL WILBUR-Four cornerstones which may be considered as the basis upon which to
erect a fitting practice of the law are: Diligence, conscientiousness, gentlemanliness, and character. The possessor of these may be looked upon with profound respect and admiration, and how partic- ularly did Marshall Wilbur manifest those attributes is indicated by the position he has achieved in his career in the profession. A member of the well- known and old American family, many of the mem- bers of which served honorably in the War of In- dependence, Mr. Wilbur has a birthright which aptly prepared him to practice the necessary characteris- tics for success and prominence. He has earned the esteem he has won among his associates by his sincere efforts and thorough understanding of the law and his pleasing attitude toward his clients and adversaries. He has courage without rashness, shrewdness without trickery, courtesy without fawn- ing, firmness without obstinacy, patience without dilatoriness and ambition without selfishness. He is the son of Seth and Angeline (Wood) Wilbur, both of whom are deceased.
Marshall Wilbur was born at Plympton, Massa- chusetts, November 12, 1871. He attended the local public and high schools and then went to the Bos- ton University Law School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895, receiving his de- gree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in 1896, and began the practice of his profession at Lynn, Massachusetts, with Mr. Keith, which con- tinued until 1898. At that time, he removed to Brockton, where he continued independently in the field of law until 1907, when he formed a legal part- nership with John McCarthy, with whom he was as- sociated for ten years, during which time the ener- gies of both partners brought an extensive business to the office, and in the discharge of which a very high reputation was attained. In 1917, the part- nership was dissolved, and Mr. Wilbur again es- tablished a practice under his own name, which was flourished since. He is a member of the Brockton Bar Association, and of the local lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Wilbur's politi- cal persuasions are with the Republican party.
Marshall Wilbur married, in 1909, Florence G.
Fish, daughter of Braddock Edwin and Etta (Car- lyle) Fish, of Somerville, Massachusetts. They are the parents of two children: 1. Homer E., graduate of the high school. 2. Gordon C.
BRUNO E. SCHWARZ-When the history, de- velopment and condition of the shoe trade of Plymouth County is discussed, the name of Bruno E. Schwarz always receives prominent mention as one intimately connected with that industry and identified among the leaders of that field. For over twelve years, Mr. Schwarz has been engaged in the shoe-manufacturing business in this country and in Switzerland, and after many years of intensive training and experience is the head of his own firm at Campello, Massachusetts. He is the son of Theodore and Emma (Boldt) Schwarz, of Danzig, Germany, where the father was established as an enterprising merchant. Both parents died in 1921.
Bruno E. Schwarz was born at Newark, New Jersey, October 6, 1889. He attended the public school in Zurich, Switzerland, and was graduated from the high school in Zurich. Supplementing this education with a course in business college, Mr. Schwarz went to Boston where he was employed by the United Shoe Machinery Corporation, and later by the E. E. Taylor Company, of that city and Brockton, Massachusetts. For a number of years, he was in Switzerland, associated with the United Shoe Machinery Corporation. On his return to America, he continued in the business and on April 14, 1923, started his own company , in conjunction with another man of like experience under the firm name of Schwarz, Ruggles, Incorporated. Mr. Schwarz became the president and treasurer and Mr. Ruggles the secretary and clerk. With plant lo- cated at Campello, occupying over seventeen thousand square feet of floor space and employing over one hundred and thirty men, the company has developed a very successful business, which today is interna- tional in scope. Foreseeing a great need for men's middle-grade shoes, Mr. Schwarz determined upon the policy of producing that quality for the trade and the growth of the company has constantly sub- stantiated his acute business sense. To him belongs much credit for the rapid progress of the concern, for in the short space of its three years of existence, it has become an integral part of the industry of the county, and is an important factor in the shoe trade. Mr. Schwarz is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce and the Commercial Club. His political faith is of the Republican party, and he attends the Uni- tarian church of his community.
Bruno E. Schwarz married, in 1916, Marie M. Missud, the daughter of Jean and Emma (Walden) Missud, of Salem, Massachusetts. They have one daughter, Nanine M.
DAVID JOHN BETTINI, a native of the beauti- ful city of Florence, Italy, worked as a stone-cutter several years in Switzerland, Germany, Austria-Hun- gary and Italy before casting his lot with his fellow Italians in this country, and now is a prominent mem- ber of the Italian Colony of South Quincy, Massa- chusetts, where he is head of the Florence Granite Company. He rapidly became accustomed to the methods employed in business in America, and has
David John. Bettini
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since been a most valuable citizen, with plenty of friends and a trade that extends far and wide.
Mr. Bettini was born at Florence, October 1, 1877, son of Anthony Bettini, also a native of Florence and engaged in the granite cutting business until his death in 1882, and Josephine (Bencini) Bettini, native of Florence, who died in 1918. He received his edu- cation in the public schools of Florence, at the con- clusion of which, at the age of nine, he was em- ployed in the granite industry, in which he remained twenty years as a journeyman. In 1906 he came to the United States to better his opportunities, and setled in Quincy, where he found employment await- ing him with E. Settimelli in the granite manufac- turing business. He remained here only a short time, then went to work for Charles Swingle in the same line, and remained a year and a half. Having accum- ulated a little capital, he entered as a partner in the John Maravigli & Company, granite manufacturers, and later started the South Quincy Granite Company, in 1911. In 1917, he sold out in order to go to Boston to engage in the manufacture of macaroni, of which he had learned something before coming over here. He remained at Boston two years, at the con- clusion of which he returned to Quincy and started the Florence Granite Company, of which he has been president, treasurer and manager ever since. This concern is located at the corner of Vernon and Centre streets, and is one of the largest of its kind in Quincy, using mostly New England granites, but some for- eign, as occasion requires. The company makes mem- orials, and slabs for cemeteries.
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