History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 97

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 97
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 97
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 97

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MYRON L. KEITH-A member of a family that has become definitely identified with the shoe in- dustry, one in which his father before him had been engaged, and his brother carried on, Mr. Keith has grown with the business and holds a very responsible position in that industry. An active man in public affairs, and a very prominent member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, he has acquired a high reputation and is accorded the greatest respect by all those with whom he is associated, either commercially or so- cially. He is the son of Franklin and Betsey (Bailey) Keith of Brockton, both of whom are now deceased.

Myron L. Keith was born at Brockton, Massachu- setts, March 26, 1859. His father was a well-known shoe manufacturer of Brockton. The son went to the public and high schools of the town, and upon completing his education, he started in the shoe bus- iness with a brother, Flavel B. Keith, as bookkeeper and clerk in the factory. When he was twenty-four years old, he joined another brother, George E. Keith, the founder of a nationally known shoe company, the George E. Keith Company, manufacturers of the Walk-Over shoe. For a number of years, Myron L. Keith served as superintendent, and with the growth and development of the business he, too, progressed and was soon elected vice-president of the company, in which capacity he is now serving.

As a representative business man of Brockton, and a man whose reputation and connections were val- uable, he was invited to become a member of the board of directors of the Home National Bank, which he accepted. He is a Republican in politics. Mr. Keith is a very active and interested member of the Masonic Order. He belongs to St. George Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a Past Master; and holds all the degrees of the Scottish Rite, up to and including the thirty-third. He has been Dis- trict Deputy, also Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. He has been awarded the most coveted honor of the Masonic Order by having the thirty-third degree conferred upon him. Mr. Keith is a member of the Commerce Club, and various country clubs. He attends the South Congregational Church, of which he was clerk of the parish for twenty-five years.

Myron, L. Keith married, in 1886, L. Ada Cum- mings, of Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. Keith was the daughter of Henry and Catherine Cummings. Their one child, Edith Lee Keith, died in infancy.

CAPTAIN FRANCIS EDGAR HAMMOND- For nearly thirty years Captain Francis Edgar Ham- mond has been a seaman, rising from one position to another until he became a master on sea-going tugs. Since 1924 he has been State-pilot for the port of Fall River. Captain Hammond has been commended for bravery in saving human life by the Humane So- ciety of Massachusetts, and he is well known in Chatham, where he makes his home, and where he was born.

Captain Hammond was born in Chatham, Massa- chusetts, January 10, 1879, son of Seth Williams, a native of Chatham, a school teacher, who was also school commissioner for many years, and of Addie Lorena (Ellis) Hammond. He attended the public schools of Chatham, graduating from the high school with the class of 1895, and shortly afterwards entered the employ of the Standard Sugar Refining Com- pany, where he remained about two years. He then returned to Chatham, and in 1899 went to sea, as a seaman on the wrecking tugs of Merrit and Chap- man, of New York City. After a time he again made a change, entering the employ of the Clyde Line, plying between New York City and Jacksonville, Florida, serving as sailor, quartermaster, boatswain and third mate. He then identified himself with the Philadelphia and Reading Line, serving on their sea- going tugs as second mate, mate, and master for a period of seven years. For thirteen years he served as master in the employ of the Staples Company of Fall River, and for the past three years, 1924-27, he has been State-pilot for the port of Fall River. Polit- ically, Mr. Hammond gives his support to the prin- ciples and the candidates of the Republican party. He is a member of Pioneer Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Somerset, Massachusetts. He is also a member of the Boston Marine Society and of the Chatham Board of Trade, and his religious member- ship is with the Methodist church.

Captain Hammond has always been a man of courage and of prompt and decisive action. Early in 1911, he left the sea for a time, returning to it late in 1911, and following it since, continuously. Later, he was recognized and commended by the Humane Society of Massachusetts for bravery and gallant ac- tion in saving the crew of the schooner "Greta," off Cape Cod, January 12, 1914.

Captain Hammond was married, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1908, to Mertis Jean- nette Hammond, who was born in Wareham, Mas- sachusetts, daughter of Luther Edson and Hannah J. Hammond, both natives of Chatham. Captain and Mrs. Hammond became the parents of two children: 1. Jeanne Elizabeth, born September 19, 1909. 2. Carleton Edgar, born September 26, 1911.

ISAAC F. HOWES-Proprietor of one of the most picturesquely situated hostelries on the coast of Massachusetts, member of numerous fraternal or- ganizations, and a native of Chatham, Isaac F. Howes is a prominent figure among the leaders of the com- munity, in which he has served a number of terms in public office.

Isaac Freeman Howes was born on March 7. 1881, son of Jenas Taylor and Harriet (Hardy) Howes, both of whom were born at Chatham, the father hav- ing been a mariner. Following his education in the public schools of Chatham, Isaac F. Howes went to Chicago, where he formed a connection with Swift & Company, meat packers, that continued for five years. He next went to Pawtucket, and worked

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there one year; then to Providence, Rhode Island, for four years, and returned to Chatham, engaging in the hotel business as proprietor of the Hawes House. This hostelry was founded by Zenas Hawes, father of Mrs. Hawes, in 1892. It is one of the old- est in Chatham and most popular, due in large part to its excellent situation on the edge of the ocean, where it is swept at night by the far-reaching beams of the famous Chatham Light. The romantic situation, in combination with the carefully managed cuisine and the attractive chambers, with the best of service as insisted upon by Mr. Howes, has made the Hawes House strong in popular favor. Mr. Howes is a member of the Republican party and the Town Republican Committee. He has held office in the Town Finance Committee, is a director of the El- dredge Public Library, and has faithfully and con- stantly given of his efforts in the conduct of mu- nicipality and educational matters. Among the fra- ternal organizations in which he is an active member are St. Martin's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Chatham, the Board of Chatham, and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. He is a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, and attends the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Howes is a member.

Isaac Freeman Howes married, at Chatham, Eva Linden Hawes, born in Chatham, daughter of Zenas Wilfred and Salina Frances (Howes) Hawes, both of West Chatham. Mr. and Mrs. Howes are the par- ents of two children: 1. Freeman Wilfred. 2. Harriet Frances.

FRANK LINDLEY HOWLAND, of Sandwich, Massachusetts, has been active both in commerce and in civic affairs. He was for a considerable time in the lumber business. He then engaged in the handling of oil and gasoline, on which the recent World War had a stagnating effect. He has con- tinued in it, and simultaneously he has held a number of public positions, to which his fellow-citizens have been glad, repeatedly, to elect him.

Frank Lindley Howland was born at Sandwich, Massachusetts, August 28, 1860, son of Gustavus and Clarissa (Hatch) Howland; the father was a contrac- tor and builder, and for fifty years was engaged in the lumber business in Sandwich. The family goes back nine generations to John Howland, one of the "Mayflower" Compact signers.

Mr. Howland received his education in the public and high schools of Sandwich. He then became as- sociated with his father in the lumber business in Sandwich, and remained with him fifteen years. After that he went into the wholesale oil and gasoline bus- iness in Sandwich and continued in this until 1917, when the World War made it difficult to get hold of either commodity. Meanwhile, he had been elected to various public offices. He was elected tax col- lector for the town of Sandwich in 1905, and was elected town clerk and treasurer in 1907, and he has been repeatedly elected to these offices.

Mr. Howland married, at Boston, Massachusetts, November 1, 1893, Amanda S. Fry, of Cincinnati, Ohio, daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Sarah Elea- nor (Hill) Fry, of Kentucky, a descendant, it is claimed, of Lord Littletown of England, and Roland Hill, the great preacher of England, also the Stan- dish family of Standish, England. There have been two children of the marriage: 1. Winthrop Fry, born in Sandwich, January 22, 1895, who married Marian Carston, of Dayton, Ohio, and who was in the Uni- ted States Navy during the World War, being dis- charged as chief electrician to the ship, "Mt. Ver-

non," now living in North Carolina. They are the parents of a son, John Lindley Howland, born July 4, 1928. 2. Clarissa Elliott, born January 14, 1897; married Guy H. Wells, of Dayton, Ohio, and they have one child, Marguerite A., born at Dayton, Ohio, October 20, 1921.

CHARLES L. GOODSPEED was born in Den- nis, Massachusetts, August 16, 1878, a son of Charles L. and Rose (Hinds) Goodspeed. He was educated there and began his business life in boyhood, going to work in a general store belonging to E. C. Mat- thews in 1898. In 1900, he bought a half interest in the store, and organized under the firm name of E. C. Matthews and Company. He was appointed postmaster in 1915, and then bought out Mr. Mat- thews. Mr. Goodspeed is a trustee of the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank. He belongs to the Im- proved Order of Red Men and to the Grange.

Mr. Goodspeed married, in Gloucester, Massachu- setts, in 1906, Geneva W. Palmer, and their children are: 1. Eleanor W. 2. Elizabeth L.

ALTON PARKER GOSS-An unbroken career of sixty years' active service in the newspaper business is the record of Alton Parker Goss, senior editor of "The Harwich Independent," and dean of the Cape Cod publishers.

His newspaper life began when he was taken from school, at the age of thirteen, to learn the business in his father's office of "The Barnstable Patriot." After a little more than a year, he went back to school and completed the course in the grammar grade under the tuition of that remarkable educator of that time, Martha Lee Whelden, and graduated valedictorian of his class. There were no high schools on the Cape then-the grammar school was the limit of local education. All through his last school days Mr. Goss kept along with his newspaper work on "The Barnstable Patriot" nights and mornings, Sat- urdays and school vacation periods.

Mr. Goss took part in getting out the first number of "The Independent," printed in April, 1872, at Barnstable, and ever since has been identified with each issue, coming to Harwich in February, 1873, to take full charge of the office here (at the age of sev- enteen) and where he has since remained in the bus- iness, covering a period of fifty-five years.

He met with encouraging welcome in Harwich, and all through the years the loyalty to him and his paper have never faltered. The plant prospered and was kept modernized in equipment and policies. "The Independent" has been strictly a local paper, con- ducted on lines that sought to emphasize home devel- opment, sustaining the best interests of town wel- fare, and promoting and encouraging the personal betterment of its citizens.

"The Independent" has educated a score or more of apprentices and girl type compositors, the majority of whom are pursuing the calling successfully, hold- ing responsible positions in the craft in various parts of the country.

Mr. Goss was born in Barnstable Village, Novem- ber 5, 1855, son of Franklin B. and Mary Gorham (Parker) Goss, both of Barnstable. Franklin B. Goss succeeded the late Major S. B. Phinney as owner, editor and publisher of "The Barnstable Pa- triot" for thirty-five years; and as an active partici- pant in public and political affairs was a school com- mitteeman of Barnstable for twenty-five years, col- lector of the Port of Barnstable for sixteen years,

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with office in the Custom House Building, receiving his first appointment from President U. S. Grant. He also established and controlled several other news- papers, auxiliary to the "Patriot," of which the Har- wich "Independent" was one.

The late brothers of Alton Parker Goss were F. Percy Goss, in the publishing business with his fa- ther, and for some years was postmaster at Hyannis, resigning that office to give more time to his news- papers. Another brother, Dr. W. F. M. Goss, was renowned as an expert experimental engineer in charge of the department at Purdue University, La- fayette, Indiana, twenty-five years, then dean of that department at the University of Illinois, and at the head of the commission to act on the smoke abate- ment in Chicago. Another brother died young, and an only sister, deceased, was a professional pianist, a graduate of the Conservatory of Music, Boston, and winner of the Turner Medal.

For fifty-five years Alton Parker Goss has attend- ed and reported for "The Independent" every annual town meeting in Harwich, and with but one or two exceptions every special town meeting to this time. And since the high school was established in 1881 he has attended and reported every yearly graduation without an interruption. He has studiously avoided public honors and public office, but has served on important trusts in church, fraternal and town organi- zations from time to time, and is at present chair- man of the board of trustees of the Caleb Chase Fund of $10,000, the income of which goes annually to the use of the overseers of public welfare of the town.

Mr. Goss is a member of Pilgrim Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; a charter member of Exchange Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and a member of Satucket Rebekah Lodge. He is an at- tendant at the First Congregational Church.

Mr. Goss married Emma Florence Taylor, daugh- ter of Edwin Freeman and Susan Harding (Baker) Taylor, of West Harwich, and has an only son, Ed- win Parker Goss, who succeeded his father as con- trolling manager of "The Independent" printing plant some ten years ago, having been associated in the business since leaving the high school. His wife is Mrs. Muriel (Megathlin) Goss, and they reside at Harwich Port.

The senior Mr. Goss, after a long and extremely active life of close application, is gradually giving up the routine lines in anticipation of permanent retire- ment.

JOSEPH CLEMENT ELDREDGE, native of Chatham, where his father and mother were born belongs to a well-known Cape Cod family, and is now (1928) completing ten years of service to his com- munity as surveyor of highways; also owner and proprietor of a garage, active in the commercial life of the Cape, his standing as a citizen is reckoned high.

Joseph C. Eldredge was born on October 4, 1881, only child of Rufus T. and Eunice R. (Harding) El- dredge. Rufus T. Eldredge spent his life on the sea, off Cape Cod, as a fisherman, and was known and respected for his strong character all along the coast; he died in 1903.

Josenh C. Eldredge was educated in the public schools of Chatham, and, unlike a number of the boys of the town, did not take to the sea for a ca- reer, but went to work for William Berry, who con- ducted a livery business. This place occupied his time during the last few years in school, at odd

hours, until he went to Boston in the employ of the jewelry house of Bigelow and Kennard, where he re- mained three months. Mr. Eldredge then returned to the place of his birth and started a livery business of his own, continuing in it with good fortune until the increasing popularity of automobile transporta- tion had appreciably diminished trade in conveyances by horse; in 1915 he converted the stable business to that which had taken the ascendency, and has con- ducted a garage since. Mr. Eldredge has been in business in Chatham since 1903. He has constantly allied himself with local affairs. He is a member of St. Martin's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Improved Order of Red Men; the Universal Club of Orleans; and the Chatham Board of Trade. In political adherence he is a Republican, ordinarily vot- ing the straight ticket in National elections, but in- clined toward Independent government locally and in the State.

Joseph C. Eldredge married, at Chatham, in 1904, Martha C. Kendrick, born at Chatham, daughter of James Albert Kendrick, of Chatham, and Phoebe E. (Small-Tripp) Kendrick, born at South Harwich. Mr. and Mrs. Eldredge have had seven children, of whom six are living: 1. Clement Kendrick, born Oc- tober 29, 1904. 2. Eunice Constance, born May 5, 1906. 3. Norman T., born August 16, 1908. 4. Jo- sephine, born April 16, 1910. 5. James W., born Au- gust 14, 1911. 6. Martha, born February 1, 1919, died when two months old. 7. Barbara, born September 18, 1923.

RICHARD V. CHASE-Following a long and distinguished service in the lumber business, Richard V. Chase came to Sagamore, Massachusetts, where he is now (1928) assistant to the vice-president, and at the same time is secretary of the Keith Car and Manufacturing Company.

Richard V. Chase was born at Plymouth, New Hampshire, June 4, 1887, son of Irving Hanson and Minnie (Elliott) Chase, his father having served in the New Hampshire State Legislature during two terms, representing Laconia, and for many years in the lumber business at Plymouth and Laconia.

Richard V. Chase received his early business edu- cation in the public schools of Plymouth, then en- rolled in the Worcester (Massachusetts) Academy, whence he graduated with the class of 1907, and ma- triculated in Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1911. The year of his graduation from college he identified himself with the lumber business in Plym- outh, working there and in Laconia until 1924, when, in November, he went with the Standard Steel Car Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and acted as lumber agent for that organization until February, 1927, at which time he joined the Keith Car and Manufacturing Company of Sagamore.

Mr. Chase is a Republican; is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Ben Lomond Club of Sagamore, the Laconia Country Club, and the Butler (Pennsylvania) Country Club.

Richard V. Chase married, at Ashland, New Hamp- shire, on July 15, 1912, Mary Ester Cheney, daugh- ter of Jonathan M. and Lucy A. (Hughes) Cheney. The marriage has resulted in the birth of three chil- dren: 1. Richard V., Jr., born October 12, 1914. 2. Mary Elizabeth, born November 8, 1916. 3. Irving Hanson, born August 6, 1918.

ALONZO FRANKLIN CAHOON - Old-time fishermen of the North Atlantic coast are, without exception, friends of Alonzo Franklin Cahoon, master

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mariner and fisherman of South Chatham, Massachu- setts; but, in the words of Captain Charlton L. Smith, writing in the "Fishing Gazette," official fishing men's organ since 1884, if one were to enquire of them for him by that name these friends would shake their heads and say, "Never heard o' him;" for, to the fishermen of the North Atlantic coast, Alonzo Franklin Cahoon is known familiarly as "Captain Frank" Cahoon, or, more correctly, as "Cap'n Frank" Cahoon. ("Fishing Gazette," for December, 1923.)

Alonzo Franklin Cahoon was born at East Dennis, Massachusetts, May 19, 1857, son of Alonzo and Bethiah (Snow) Cahoon, both born in Brewster, both deceased. The father died when Alonzo Franklin was two years old, and he was brought up by his grandparents, Ezekial and Polly (Baker) Cahoon, of Brewster. There he attended the public schools, and like his father, who had been a mariner (and shoe- maker), evinced early a love of the sea, and of fish- ing; and, like so many natives of Cape Cod, went to sea when a boy, at the age of eleven years. This first voyage as a boy was a hand-lining, or jigging, trip, before the days of seining for fish, when the mack- erel were caught on the hook and line, in the Cape Cod schooner, "W. H. Y. Hackett." In the years inter- vening before he was twenty, when he took command of a vessel, he was a "hand" on the following fish- ing schooners: "Olive G. Tower"; "Etta M. Story"; "George L. Treadwell"; and the "Nettie J. Moore." When he was made skipper, he took out the "Flor- ine F. Nickerson," and the first time they threw a seine around a school of fish they made a catch of one hundred and twenty-eight barrels of mackerel, His was the first of the thirty ships from the South Side of the Cape to return with a loaded ship, and as it was his first trip in command of a vessel, he was very proud of their catch. Captain Cahoon has fished as far south as the Capes of Virginia and as far north as Newfoundland, and during his thirty- one years of continuous command of many schoon- ers, one in particular may here be mentioned. Says Captain Charlton L. Smith, in the "Fishing Gazette," quoting from the diary of Captain Sears Lowell Moore:

The "Nettie J. Moore" (named for his wife) was lost on & clear, moonlight night on the dreaded sow and pigs ledge at the entrance to Vineyard Sound. The captain had given the correct course to the man at the wheel, and was sleeping peacefully. Careless steering was probably the cause; at any rate the "Moore" was a complete loss; and the skipper went to Arthur D. Story, of Essex, and ordered a new vessel.

By the time the "Mertie and Delmar" was ready for her first trip, the season was far advanced; but the vigorous master stocked some $7,000 worth of fish before laying her up for the winter, and early in March of the following year sailed southward, and got into New York Harbor with the first catch of mackerel. Captain Cahoon sailed the "Mertie and Delmar" for nine years, then went to Mr. Story for a new craft, and had built for him the "Nettie Frank- lin." This vessel, whose name combined the names of the captain and his wife, was a pretty craft. A large picture of her now (1928) hangs in the Cahoon house at South Chatham, reminiscent of the time- one of the many stirring occasions at sea-when Cap- tain Cahoon took 575 barrels of mackerel in one set, off Block Island. When the "Nettie Franklin" had been in use four years she was purchased by south- ern interests, and Mr. Story built another vessel, "Thomas J. Carroll," for Captain Cahoon. She in turn was sold, south, and he commanded a craft whose name has been forgotten but which drew sev-

enteen feet, for the Eastern Fish Company. Then, his last ship, a large knockabout, the "Georgia," named for his daughter, was built by Mr. Story. When Captain Cahoon abandoned life on the sea in 1909, however, it was not for a life of idleness. Be- tween fishing seasons at sea, he had cultivated sev- eral cranberry bogs which he had laid out, in prep- aration for the time when he no longer went to sea. A general store located near his home, and later on a coal and wood business, were his first ventures, in connection with the cranberry operations. He also became half-owner in two traps for weir fishing, with the Consolidated Weir Company of Provincetown, in Chatham Bay, and is still (1928) a half-owner in the Chatham Bay traps. He is also engaged in the real estate business, and in the winter time is interested in scallop and shellfish merchandising, supplying New York, Boston and Providence. Now (1928) at the age of seventy-one years, Captain Cahoon con- tinues one of the most popular figures in Chatham and South Chatham; he is prominent in all sorts of pub- lic affairs having in view the welfare of the greater community; he is vice-president and director of the Chatham Trust Company, has served in the office of president of the Chatham Board of Trade, on the Chatham Board of Selectmen for four years, on the Board of Public Welfare, and two years as chairman of the Board of Assessors; he was president of the South Chatham Fisheries Association (defunct), whose object was to improve conditions along the shore; and is chairman of the board of trustees of the South Chatham Methodist Episcopal Church. In his fraternal affiliations, Captain Cahoon is a mem- · ber of St. Martin's Lodge, of Chatham.

Alonzo Franklin Cahoon married, at East Har- wich, Massachusetts, May 6, 1878, Nettie Jane Moore, born in Chatham, daughter of Sears Lowell Moore, born in Burlington, Vermont, and of Susanna Jane (Crowell) Moore, born in East Harwich. Mr. and Mrs. Cahoon are the parents of one son, Athol Frank- lin; and are the parents also, by adoption, of a daugh- ter, Dorothy May, in 1925, when she was twelve years of age. Mrs. Cahoon takes an active interest in church and community work, having served for ten years as president of the Ladies Circle of In- dustry of the church, and is also the organist of her church. Mr. and Mrs. Cahoon find their greatest recreation in motoring.

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 97

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