History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 84

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 84
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 84
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 84

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Joseph C. Lincoln received his academic training in the public schools of Brewster and Chelsea, Mas- sachusetts. From thence until 1896 he was vari- ously employed, but at this time bicycling was in its hey-day and for three years thereafter, or until 1899, Mr. Lincoln served as associate editor of the "Bul- letin" of the League of American Wheelmen. In 1899, at the termination of his editorial duties with this publication, he removed from Boston to New York City, and since that date and relocation has moved often, and has written steadily. Every year has brought forth a new volume. Mr. Lincoln's productivity is highly deserving of praise, and is justly appreciated by his readers.

His first short story Mr. Lincoln sold to the "Sat- urday Evening Post," and succeeding ones appeared in many other popular magazines, while his verses found an audience in "Harper's Weekly," "Puck," and other journals. His first book, "Cape Cod Bal- lads," was published in 1902, a collection of verses. His first novel, "Cap'n Eri," an amusingly human story of three old sea captains who advertise for a

wife, appeared shortly after, and was followed by "Partners of the Tide," "Mr. Pratt," and "The Old Home House." None of these was especially suc- cessful as a best seller, but now came a veritable parade of successes, all notable, beginning with "Cy Whittaker's Place" and including such well known titles as "Shavings," "Rugged Water," "Queer Jud- son," and "The Big Mogul." Each of these novels enjoyed a more abundant sale than the one preceding. Mr. Lincoln always "has a story to tell," and does not lack plot and dramatic incident, but, after all, it in his characters that are the true lure of his books. Our reactions to them are our reactions to living men and women. Love, ambition, longing for riches, temptation, selfishness, generosity, loss, gain, the queer vagaries of fortune, all these come into his books as they come into life. But while his charac- ters thrill, amuse, interest, arouse to antagonism and sympathy, are real, weak but not wholly des- picable, the great charm of Mr. Lincoln's work is its prevailing tone of kindness. His is no literature of contempt, of fault-finding, or irritation, such as represented in many contemporary chronicles of small town life. Lincoln loves his small town; he loves the people who make up its steady population. True, he sees their shortcomings, narrownesses, and mistakes, but he sees much more besides, much in them that is good, and entertaining. "Perhaps I could write a story with wholly gloomy situations and unhappy misadventures," he has explained, "but I wouldn't like to try it. I would much rather try to make people cheerful and keep myself cheerful at the same time. Life contains both laughter and sorrow; and it seems to me that one is as real as the other." Certainly no one of his volumes fails to bear out this point of view.

Says Hildegarde Hawthorne, in a brochure en- titled "Joseph C. Lincoln's America," published by D. Appleton & Company of New York and London (who are, incidentally, the publishers of Mr. Lin- coln's books) :

Lincoln has done and is doing a fine thing in these books of his. He is saving for us a precious part of America, writing down, before it is too late, a past recent enough, but changing fast, a past woven closely into the very fibre of our character and meaning as a nation. He shows, too, the coming era, the Cape Cod of today, against its back- ground of yesterday. And when I say "Cape Cod," I mean pretty much any part of our country that is not within the boundaries of a great city, but that has drawn from the foundations of American heritage for its foundations. He loves the past but is cheerful over the present, and evidently fronts the future with entire confidence. America is to him a place to be proud of, even though he can make whole-hearted fun of its peculiarities. He knows it has faults, plenty of them, and he talks of them freely. But the love remains. . .

In reviewing the career of Mr. Lincoln, it is hard to conceive, when his voluminous writings are taken into consideration, that it would be possible for him to devote himself to any other work outside of his profession. Nevertheless, he has dozens of outside interests and posseses a social and public history far superior to that of the average man. During the war Mr. Lincoln was an arduous worker on behalf of his country; was a member of the Vigilantes, a group composed of New York news writers and authors; he devoted many days to the sale of government bonds, canvassing the department stores in New York City for this purpose; and in addition to this was one of the most zealous "four-minute" men, speaking throughout the suburbs of New Jersey. For twenty-five years

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Mr. Lincoln resided in Hackensack, New Jersey, from 1900-1925, and during that time served two terms as a member of the Board of Education of that city, and was a devoted worker in the Unitarian church, the religious denomination of himself and his family. Among the many social organizations with which he is connected are the Dutch Treat Club, Players' Club, of New York City; Art 'Club, Contemporary Club, and the Franklin Inn Club of Philadelphia.

Joseph C. Lincoln married, May 12, 1897, Flor- ence E. Sargent of Chelsea, daughter of Charles and Henrietta (Richards) Sargent, and to Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln has been born one son: Joseph Freeman Lincoln, who graduated from Harvard in 1923 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts; married Virginia Cross, of Weston, Massachusetts, and they have a daughter, Anne; he is following in the footsteps of his father and is rapidly becoming known as a writer of fiction. Mrs. Joseph C. Lincoln has been an un- failing source of inspiration to her husband in his work.

Mr. Lincoln's favorite recreations are fishing and golf. He still haunts the ponds, the little lakes, and the bays of his boyhood. Occasionally he takes a trip into Maine or Canada in quest of the Northern fish. There are three, and sometimes four, hours a day that he reserves sacredly to himself for work. These are from nine until noon or one o'clock, dur- ing which time he disappears into his "shop." He is one of the few authors who do not use a type- writer, and does his writing with a soft and stubby pencil, upon large sheets of yellow paper. He works thus systematically in the forenoons, but in the after- noons may be found often on one of the beautiful golf courses overlooking the sea, or Pleasant Bay, near Chatham, or not far distant near the place of his birth, Brewster; or he may be found motoring over the Cape Cod roads, or superintending a clam bake for a party of friends, a task at which he exer- cises as brilliantly as any of his "cap'ns." His love for the Cape remains, even as spoken in these con- cluding lines :

For each heart has its picture, and each its own home song. The sights and sounds which move it when Youth's fair memories throng ;

And when, down dreamland pathways, a boy, I stroll once more,

I hear the mighty music of the surf along the shore.

FRANK W. VYE-One of the well-known busi- ness men of Braintree, Massachusetts, is Frank W. Vye, cashier of the Braintree National Bank. Mr. Vye has been identified with the banking business during the entire period of his active career with the exception of ten years spent as a railroad clerk.

Frank W. Vye was born in Woburn, Massachu- setts, July 9, 1881, son of Frederick N., deceased, who was deputy sheriff, and of Elizabeth S. (Wal- lace) Vye, who survives her husband (1928). Mr. Vye attended the local schools of Woburn, Massa- chusetts, and then continued his school training in Randolph, Massachusetts, after which he continued study for one year in Boston University. After leav- ing college he entered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, with whom he remained as clerk for a period of ten years. At the end of that time he became identified with the Stoughton Trust Company, as bank clerk, which connection he maintained for only one year. His

next connection was with the Randolph Trust Com- pany, with which he was connected as treasurer, which position he filled until 1921, when he came to Braintree as cashier of the Braintree National Bank. Mr. Vye is a Republican in his political sympathies. Fraternally, he is identified with the Masonic Order, being a member of the Blue Lodge, of which he is Past Master; also of Chapter and Commandery. He is a public-spirited citizen, interested in philanthropic and general welfare work, and at the present time

is serving as treasurer of the Old Colony Council of Boy Scouts and the Norfolk County Hospital. His business address is at No. 2 Elm Street. Mr. Vye is a member of the First Congregational Church of Randolph, which he serves as a member of the board of deacons, as a member of the standing committee, and as treasurer.

Frank W. Vye was married, September 17, 1907, to Amy E. Tucker. Mr. and Mrs. Vye are the par- ents of one son, Tucker N., who was born August 30, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Vye make their home in Braintree, Massachusetts.

GEORGE MELVILLE HASKINS-From the time he was nineteen years of age George Melville Haskins has been the owner and publisher of va- rious local publications. Beginning with the "Rock- port Review" (Massachusetts), he has owned and published local news sheets in Bar Harbor, Maine; in Melrose, Massachusetts; in Auburn, Maine; and, since 1923 he has been the owner of a printing and publishing business in Hyannis, Massachusetts, which publishes four news sheets, namely, the "Hyan- nis Patriot," the "Barnstable Patriot," the "Cape Cod Item and Bee," and the "Chatham Monitor."

George Melville Haskins was born in Rockport, Massachusetts, May 14, 1878, son of Franklin Kane Haskins, a wholesale fish dealer, and Lucy Giles (Marshall) Haskins. He attended the public schools of Rockport, including the high school, and then, having early become interested in the printing and publishing business, became, at the age of nineteen, the owner and publisher of the "Rockport Review." This news sheet he successfully published for seven years, and then, having developed it to a state of prosperity which enabled him to sell at a good fig- ure, he sold out and went to Bar Harbor, Maine, where for three years he was the owner and pub- lisher of "The Bar Harbor Record" and also of a society weekly known as "Bar Harbor Life." the end of three years he again sold out, and this At time he removed to Melrose, Massachusetts, where he purchased the "Melrose Free Press." Two years later, he again made a change. He sold the "Mel- rose Free Press" and went to Auburn, Maine. There he purchased a two-hundred-acre farm, which he conducted as a potato, dairy, and orchard farm, keeping a herd of forty registered Jersey cows. Though deeply interested in his farm, he had no in- tention of forsaking the profession of his early choice, and while in Auburn he established and successfully operated for thirteen years, the "Auburn Free Press." He then sold out, again at a satisfactory figure, and, in 1923, came to Hyannis, Massachusetts, where he has since been located. Here he purchased the print- ing and publishing business of F. B. and F. P. Gore, and as owner of that business he publishes four news sheets, including the "Hyannis Patriot," the "Barnstable Patriot," the "Cape Cod Item and Bee," and the "Chatham Monitor." Mr. Haskins' long

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experience in the business of publishing local news sheets is enabling him to give first-class service to his many patrons and his four papers are very gen- erally read throughout the localities to which they are sent. Mr. Haskins is a member of Massachusetts Press Association, of the New England Press As- sociation, and of the National Editorial Association, and is one of the progressive and well-known citi- zens of this section of the State. Fraternally, he is identified with the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and with the Royal Arch Masons. He is a member of the Hyannis Rotary Club, and his re- ligious affiliation is with the Federated Church of Hyannis.

George Melville Haskins was married, at Bar Har- bor, Maine, November 29, 1905, to Harriet Blanche McFarland, daughter of Edward Everett and Ade- laide (Brooks) McFarland. Mr. and Mrs. Haskins are the parents of four children: 1. Virginia, born March 25, 1910. 2. Robert E., born January 26, 1912. 3. Barbara Louise, born July 20, 1919. 4. Richard Brooks, born August 5, 1921.

GEORGE E. DEAN-A factor in the financial and civic affairs of Falmouth, George E. Dean is a member of a family which had its inception in Amer- ica and Massachusetts prior to the middle of the seventeenth century, the descendants of the first American ancestor having ever been worthy bearers of his name, ready and willing at all times to spon- sor any cause or project that tended to the well- being of their communities.

Walter Dean, first of the family on record to seek the shores of America, sailed from the town of Chard, England, in 1637, and was active in the Plym- outh Colony in 1640, records indicating that he was a member of the Board of Selectmen in the village of Taunton from 1679 to 1686.

George E. Dean, the eighth in the direct line of descent from the original progenitor of the family, Walter Dean, was born in Bridgewater, October 22, 1862, son of Edward M. and Abbie W. (Eldridge) Dean. In his thirteenth year, he went to Fairhaven and attended the public schools of that town, and after high school, continued his education under pri- vate tutors until he reached his eighteenth year. He then became associated with the world of business, entering the employ of the National Bank of Fair- haven in a modest clerical capacity. In June, 1889, Mr. Dean accepted the task of reorganizing the Fal- mouth National Bank, and following his success- ful accomplishment of this duty, he was urged to remain with the institution, and at the present time, holds the offices of vice-president and cashier.

The Falmouth National Bank, the oldest bank on Cape Cod, was founded more than a hundred years ago, its petition for incorporation being headed by the name of Captain Elijah Swift, in 1819. On Au- gust 6, 1821, it opened its doors for the transaction of business, the original capitalization in 1820 being $80,000, which has been increased until the capital stock is now $100,000 with a surplus and undivided profit of $150,000 (1927). Captain Elijah Swift was elected the first president and today, his great- great-grandson, Eugene E. C. Swift, Jr., is one of the directors of the bank. To illustrate the manner in which the heritage of sentiment and tradition is valued, when a new vault was necessary in order to meet modern banking requirements, the directors in-

sisted that the century-old, low, white, tiny-paned facade fronting the village green should not be al- tered in any respect, and so today, although the in- terior has kept up with the march of progress so far as grilles, a vault similar to that of the Boston Fed- eral Reserve specifications, and mahogany desks are concerned, in the center of the building is still to be seen the identical fireplace about which half a cen- tury ago gathered the sea captains who founded and built up the bank. The present officers of the Fal- mouth National Bank are: Wiliam H. Hewins, presi- dent; George E. Dean, vice-president and cashier; Edward K. Dean, assistant cashier; and the direc- tors in addition to its president and vice-president are Alex McL. Goodspeed, Eugene E. C. Swift. Jr., Walter O. Luscombe, Harry V. Lawrence, and John F. Donaldson, all of whom are progressive but never- theless conservative business men, well-fitted for their responsibilities in connection with this strong financial institution, which at the close of business on December 15, 1926, possessed resources in excess of two millions of dollars.

Mr. Dean has taken a deep interest in the devel- opment of this section since coming to Falmouth, and he is a director of the Falmouth Co-operative Bank of this town, he has served this community in the capacity of water commissioner, also as a mem- ber of numerous committees. He was the first chief of the local fire department, and is at the present time, rendering service as moderator of the town. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Na- tional Bank Cashiers' Association, a member of the executive committee of the Cape Cod Council of the Boy Scouts, and a director of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. His popularity in fraternal circles is evidenced by his affiliation with the following fra- ternal organizations, in all of which he is an active member: Marine Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of Falmouth, but was raised in Concordia Lodge, of Fairhaven; he is identified with the Ware- ham Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons; was the first Chancellor Commander of the Falmouth Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and the first Recorder of the Century Lodge of Ancient Order United Workmen, at New Bedford. His religious adherence is given to the local Episcopal church. During the recent World War, he acted as local chairman of the first four Liberty Loan drives.

George E. Dean married, September 12, 1888, Mel- vina N. Keith, a native of Fairhaven, and to this union have been born five children: Elizabeth E., widow of Edward H. Hart; Melvina W., married Sumner Crosby, well-known attorney of Falmouth; Edward K., assistant cashier of the Falmouth Na- tional Bank, married Mary Denham; George E., Jr., the first-born, died in infancy; Mary, died in babyhood. The family residence is at Falmouth.

THOMAS J. McGRATH-Devoted to the inter- ests of his community and ever alert in any project for the advancement or improvement of the citizens and their surroundings, Thomas J McGrath, mayor of Quincy, has, indeed, earned the sincere apprecia- tion, respect and esteem with which he is viewed by the residents of the busy Massachusetts town. His active interest in all public affairs has been grate- fully recognized by his fellow-townsmen, who have bestowed upon him the highest office within the municipality. Although as mayor of a thriving and

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growing city he is burdened with many diversified duties, Mr. McGrath is of the old school of gentle- men, and he is never too busy to give his attention to any and all who seek his aid or advice. His un- failing courtesy and his sincere interest in whatever is brought to his attention has won for him a host of admirers, and as city executive he has steadily grown in popularity since his induction into office.

Mayor McGrath was born in the city of Boston, January 7, 1872, the son of Terance and Annie J. (Welch) McGrath, both natives of Ireland who came to this country at an early age. Terance McGrath was a blacksmith by trade and he served with dis- tinction throughout the period of the Civil War. He was assigned to duty with the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment and it was with this corps that he served throughout the entire campaign.

The early education of Thomas J. McGrath was acquired in the Coddington School at Quincy, and he later attended evening classes in both Quincy and Boston. Immediately after the completion of these courses of study he at once branched out for him- self, obtaining his real contact with the world of labor when, in the year 1886, he was employed as an apprentice on the old "Quincy Patriot," which was later merged with the "Quincy Ledger" and is now known as the "Quincy Patriot-Ledger." He re- mained on this paper until 1897, when he resigned in order to go into printing work in Boston. Then he did some temporary work on the "Brockton Times," and during the course of his career he worked upon various papers, particularly the "Bos- ton Herald" and the "Boston Transcript," with which latter publication he was connected for twenty years. At one time he conducted the "Quincy Mon- itor," a monthly paper published by the St. John's C. L. & A. A.

As one of the foremost citizens of Quincy, Mr. McGrath has ever taken a keen and active interest in the civic and general affairs of his community. He served as a councillor for the city of Quincy from 1915 to 1926, and on December 1, 1926, was elected mayor of the municipality for the term of 1927 and 1928. He has also been very active in club and so- cial life, for he is not only a member of the Boston Typographical Society, No. 13, but he is also affilia- ted with the Knights of Columbus, the Holy Name Society, the Quincy Young Men's Christian As- sociation, and is, in addition, honorary member of the John A. Boyd Camp, No. 2, Veterans of the Spanish-American War and of Paul Revere Post, No. 88, Grand Army of the Republic.

Thomas J. McGrath, who is unmarried, maintains his residence at No. 11 Thayer Street, Quincy, in which community he attends St. John's Roman 'Catholic Church.

ALEXANDER B. HOLDEN-One of the suc- cessful manufacturers of Caryville, Massachusetts, is Alexander B. Holden, who has been engaged in the manufacture of wooden boxes of all kinds since 1907. Mr. Holden is a native of Medway, Massa- chusetts, and is well known and highly esteemed in Caryville, where his factory and offices are located.

Alexander B. Holden was born in Medway, Mas- sachusetts, March 24, 1882, son of John Holden, a spinner by occupation, who died in 1902, and of Mary (Sinclair) Holden, who survives her husband. He received his education in the public schools of Medway, and then secured his first remunerative

employment with the old Medway Box Factory, where he remained but a short time. He then made a change and identified himself with the Franklin Box Company, which connection he maintained for a period of two years. From the beginning he had looked forward to the time when he might be able to engage in business for himself, and in 1907 he real- ized his ambition by establishing the Holden Box Factory in Caryville. Being an able man, resource- ful and energetic and possessed of sound judgment, he achieved success in his undertaking, and during the twenty years which have passed since he opened his factory, he has been continuously and success- fully engaged in manufacturing all kinds of wooden boxes, securing all his wood from local lumber, and employing at the present time (1928) about fifteen hands. His work has been uniformly excellent and the quality of his product has steadily brought to him new patronage. Politically, Mr. Holden gives his support to the principles and the candidates of the Republican party, and has been chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Medway since 1926. His re- ligious affiliation is with the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph.

Alexander B. Holden was married, in Medway, Massachusetts, June 22, 1909, to Helen M. Skidmore, and they are the parents of five children: Helen M., Myrtle A., John D., Rita, and Catherine.

WILLIAM W. GRIEVES-The progress of a community depends to a considerable extent upon the skill and integrity of its financiers and especially upon the banking facilities provided by those who are interested in banking and finance. The career of William W. Grieves has been identified with bank- ing institutions from the beginning and so effective- ly has he given his attention to this field of activity that he is known as an expert. Since Mr. Grieves became treasurer in 1922, the Weymouth Trust Com- pany has more than doubled its surplus and profits and the deposits have more than tripled.

Mr. Grieves was born in Cambridge, Massachu- setts, January 13, 1885, son of J. Edward Grieves, a native of Albany, New York, who was engaged as a salesman, and who died in 1915, and of Alice J. Winward, a native of Fall River, Massachusetts, whose death occurred in 1906. He attended the lo- cal public schools, and when his training was com- pleted began his long career in the banking business by entering the employ of the First National Bank of Boston, which connection he maintained for twenty years, rising from a subordinate position to that of foreign credit manager. His long term of service with the First National Bank of Boston terminated in 1922, when he came to the Weymouth Trust Com- pany as treasurer, succeeding John H. Stetson. The Weymouth Trust Company is successor to the First National Bank of South Weymouth, which was es- tablished in 1864. In 1916 a State charter was ob- tained and the institutions became known as the Weymouth Trust Company, with George L. Barnes as the first president of the new organization. In 1922 he resigned and was succeeded by Arthur C. Heald, who resigned in December, 1926, at which time George L. Barnes was again elected president. Since Mr. Grieves became treasurer the company has become one of the important financial institutions of this section of the State. The bank has a capital stock of $100,000 and surplus $100,000, and its total assets amount to two and a quarter millions. In

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 84

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