USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Stoneham > History of Stoneham, Massachusetts > Part 18
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January 17, 1876, Mr. Copeland came to Stoneham to live and remained here until May 1, 1879, when the firm opened another store in Woburn and Mr. Copeland went to that town to take charge of the new enterprise, and has since resided there. All three stores have been maintained up to the present time and a prosperous business done. Robert Bowser died in 1886, and the business has been conducted since under the firm name of Copeland & Bowser.
HUBBARD COPELAND.
Mr. Copeland was married in Charlestown, September 17, 1889, to Miss Wilhelmina Smith, a native of Durham, N. H.
He has been an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, having united with that denomination twenty-seven years ago while living in New Hampshire. On returning to Reading he was transferred to the M. E. Church in that town and while there was Steward and a Trus- tee. On removing to Stoneham he was again transferred and became Stew- ard of the Stoneham M. E. Church, and since residing in Woburn has con-
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nected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church in that city and is now Superintendent of the Sabbath School.
RICHARD L. BOWSER.
Richard L. Bowser, son of Robert and Jane Bowser was born at Sackville. New Brunswick, Feb. 4th, 1840. The early years of his life were spent on his father's farm. He attended the common schools of his native place, sub- sequently attending a few terms at the Mount Allison Academy.
He spent five years in the employ of a mercantile house in St. John, N. B. Coming to Stoneham in July, 1865, he entered the employ of John Hill & Co., shoe manufacturers, where he spent eight years, and then for one year had charge of the finishing department at C. H. Darling & Co.'s, Wakefield,
RICHARD L. BOWSER.
Mass. Being very ambitious and having a strong desire to return to mercan- tile life, and being convinced that there was a good opening in Stoneham for a large dry goods and gents' furnishing business, he severed his connection with that firm and entered into a co-partnership with Hubbard Copeland and Robert Bowser, Jr., who were already established in that business at Read- ing, Mass., and in October, 1874, commenced a business that has been con- tinued with marked success. In April, 1879, they enlarged their business still more by opening a large store in Woburn, Mass.
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Mr. Bowser was married Dec. 24th, 1870, to Ella F., daughter of Francis and Hannah F. Hill. They have one son, Horace
Mr. Bowser has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the M. E. Church for 24 years and holds several offices in the Church. He is a mem- ber of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., and also a member of the Board of Trade, having served two years as its Treasurer.
Few towns of Stoneham's size can boast of as large and complete a store as Mr. Bowser's. It has grown with the town, and its owner by his public spirit and liberality has repeatedly shown that he appreciates the fact that his interest and that of the citizens are identical.
DR. GEORGE W. NICKERSON.
George Wheaton Nickerson, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Stoneham, is the son of Joseph and Eliza P. (Chase) Nickerson, and was born in West Tisbury, Mass., February 7, 1852. His early education was obtained in the district school of his native town and in Duke's County Academy, also located in West Tisbury. He afterwards attended the Wes- leyan University at Middletown, Conn., and from there went to New York, where he attended a full four years' course at the College of Physicians and
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Surgeons of New York City. He practised his chosen profession in New York City from 1878 to 1884, and in January of the latter year came to Stoneham, where he has since resided and has succeeded in securing an ex. tensive practice in medicine and surgery.
He has never been married but resides with his mother on Central Street, near Church Square.
He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. the Middlesex East District Medical Society, the Boston Gynecological Society, Fells Lodge A. O. U. W., and Bear Hill Assembly, Royal Society of Good Fellows, and is an attendant at the Methodist Episcopal Church.
LEONARD PAGE BENTON.
Leonard Page Benton, shoe manufacturer, was born in Plymouth, N. H., April229, 1837, and is the son of Zenas D. and Priscilla E. (Flanders) Benton.
LEONARD P. BENTON.
He attended the public schools of his native town, and at an early age learned the trade of a shoemaker in Auburn, N. H., making shoes sent from Haverhill, Mass.
15
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He worked there at his trade until the war broke out, and on October 10, 1861, enlisted in Co. E, 8th Regiment, N. H. Vol. Inf. His regiment was attached to and went with Gen. Butler's New England Division to Ship Is- land ; was with Gen. Butler at the capture of New Orleans. He was at the capture of Fort Hudson, 1863, and in the Red River campaign in 1864. He was made a prisoner May 15, 1864, at Yellow Bayou, near the Red River, and taken to Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas. Was exchanged October 20, 1864, and returned to his regiment. He was mustered out January 5, 1865, after serving three years and three months, being in active service in the field most of the time.
He returne .i to Ashland, N. H., and resumed shoemaking, coming to Stoneham in 1869 and working in the factories of Hill & Messer and others until 1876, when he started in business for himself and has continued to the present time.
Mr. Benton was married in Campton, N. H., to Miss Harriet A. Avery, of that town, November 29, 1861, and two children have been born to them, Herbert L., who died at the age of five years, and Edna Alice, wife of Wm. P. Fletcher, of this town.
Mr. Benton became one of the first members of Co. H, 6th Regiment, Stoneham Light Infantry, when this company was transferred to Stoneham in 1882, and remained with it five years, being appointed First Sergeant and rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He is a Past Commander of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., a member of Columbian Lodge, Columbian En- campment, Evergreen Lodge D. of R., and Canton Fells, I. O. O. F., and having passed through the chairs of both the Lodge and Encampment has become a member of the Grand Lodge and Encampment. He was a charter member of and one of the most active in organizing Miles Standish Colony, United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, has been through all the offices and is now a permanent member of the Supreme Colony. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1886.
BUSINESS CAREER.
In April, 1876, Mr. Benton began the manufacture of children's hand- sewed, turned, ankle ties in a room about 10 x 12 feet in dimension, in Aaron Hill's building on Franklin Street, employing three men and having a portion of the work done outside. . In October, 1876, he removed to Round's build- ing, corner of Main and Maple Streets, put in machinery, and commenced the manufacture of children's grain boots and shoes, employing four men and five girls the first winter and turning out one case per day. In the fall of 1877 he moved into John Hill's building, on Main street, and occupied a whole floor, employing about thirty men, women and girls and turning out two cases or more per day. Here he remained two years and when the Fitz- Gerald building was completed he moved into that where he still further in-
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creased his capacity, employing fifty hands with an output of about six cases per day. About a year ago he commenced to change from grain goods to kid and goat and now manufactures misses' and children's fine quality boots and shoes in the Battles' shop, on Main street, which he purchased nearly six years ago, moving into it on the Fourth of July, 1885. Since he has been there he has employed on an average from fifty-five to sixty hands and is manufacturing forty cases per week for the New England trade. As one of the fruits of his business enterprise Mr. Benton has built and lives in a sub- stantial residence on the corner of Main and Benton Streets, nearly opposite his factory.
EDWARD F. SANBORN.
Edward Francis Sanborn, although not a resident of Stoneham, is closely identified with the leading industry of the town, being the senior partner of the firm of Sanborn & Mann, one of the two largest shoe manufacturing firms in Stoneham:
He was born in Boston in July, 1846, and was educated in the public schools of that city.
There he also became familiar with the shoe business, and in 1881 began the manufacture of shoes in this town in co-partnership with Arthur E. Mann, and they have continued up to the present time, manufacturing a medium grade of men's and women's shoes, mostly for the southern and western trade.
They occupy the John Hill & Co. factory on Main Street, where they have been ever since they started, and their office in Boston is at 51 Lincoln Street.
The firm began moderately, but now employ about 400 hands, the build- ing having been twice added to during the ten years they have been in business.
Mr. Sanborn lives in a handsome residence in Winchester, Mass.
See page 52 for view of their factory.
CHARLES O. CURRIER.
Charles Ozni Currier, druggist and manufacturer of carbonated beverages, was born in Warner, N. H., June 28, 1856, and is the son of Ransom and Mary (Chase) Currier.
His early schooling was obtained in the common schools of his native town, and afterwards he attended the public schools of Lynn, Mass., gradu- ating from the Lynn High School.
He also attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, in Boston, and is a graduate of that institution.
He worked in a drug store in Lynn for several years and came to Stoneham in March, 1877, a few months before he attained his majority.
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He started in the drug business for himself in Stoneham in 1877 in his present store, and has since continued. In 1886 he commenced the manufacture of Carbonated Beverages (soda water, &c.) and has added new machinery each year since, and is now doing quite an extensive business in that line in supplying the trade of Storchamr. In 1889 he put in an Otto Gas Engine. His store is located on Central Street, and the manufactory is in the basement.
Mr. Currier was married in Stoneham, October 29, 1879, to Miss Alma R. Cowdrey of this town, and three children have been the fruit of the union, one of whom, Edson Cowdrey, is living.
Mr. Currier is a Past Grand of Columbian Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F., a Past High Priest of Columbian Encampment, No. 43, I. O. O. F., of which he is also Treasurer, and is Clerk of Canton Fells, P. M., I. O. O. F.
W. E. CLARK.
Warren Edwin Clark is the largest retail dealer in kitchen furnishing goods, hardware, paints, oils and woodenware, having two spacious stores, one on Main street and the other on Franklin Street. He was born in Derry, N. H., April 20, 1847, and is the son of William D. and Elmira E. (Dodge) Clark, being one of a family of twelve children. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at Pinkerton Academy," also in Derry. ]
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In 1864, at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in the First N. H. Cavalry for three years, and served for nine months, until the close of the war, being mustered out of service in June, 1865. He returned to his home, where he remained until just before he attained his majority, attending school for a short time and working the balance of the time on his father's farm. After leaving home he worked in the grocery business in Nashua, N. H., and Woburn, Mass., about sixteen years, and came to Stoneham in 1884. His first business venture was in a small way in the retailing of crockery and five and ten cent goods in a store on Main Street. His honorable
methods and sterling character won confidence, and in his seven years career he has made rapid strides, steadily increasing his facilities and stock until he now occupies the large department store on Main street, next to the one in which he commenced business, which he devotes to household furnishings, crockery, &c., and the store on Franklin street, where he keeps an extensive assortment of builders' hardware, tools, paints, &c. He was married at Woburn, October 27, 1870, to Miss Flora E. Bell, of North Woburn, and in her he has found a true helpmeet. They have no children.
Mr. Clark has always been active in religious work and is a member of the Stoneham Baptist Church, being a deacon and superintendent of the Sabbath School. He is a thorough believer in temperance and a member of Helping
CHASE BROTHERS
CLARK.
PHOTO.ILEG.CO.
ON
W. E. CLARK'S DEPARTMENT STORE.
Hand Temple of Honor. He also belongs to the Young Men's Christian Association and to J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., of this town. He has no partner in business, but notwithstanding he is consequently a busy man he finds time to visit his parents three or four times a year at the old home in New Hampshire.
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GEORGE H. HOLDEN.
George Henry Holden, of Holden Brothers, provisions, etc., Main Street, was born in Billerica, Mass., January 22, 1849, and is the son of Amasa and Celia (Foster) Holden.
He was educated in the public schools of Billerica, Woburn and Boston, and in the Bryant & Stratton Business College, Boston.
GEORGE H. HOLDEN.
After that he went to work in the grocery store of W. A. Holmes & Co., opposite the Boston & Lowell depot, Causeway Street, Boston, where he was employed for eight years.
In the fall of 1873 he came to Stoneham and bought out Mr. Tweed's in- terest in the firm of Kittredge & Tweed and was in business with Mr. Kittredge about one and a half years, when he formed a co-partnership with his brother Amasa A., who had been employed in the store. and to whom Mr. Kittredge sold his interest. The Holden brothers have done a success- ful business from that time to the present at the same place, which is the oldest provision stand in the town. About eight years ago a grocery depart- ment was added to the business.
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Mr. Holden was married at Medford, Mass., June 20, 1875, to Miss Sarah J. Cutter, of West Cambridge, now Arlington, and two children, Effie C. and George H. Jr., have been born to them and are now living.
Mr. Holden is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., an attendant at the Unitarian Church, and resides with his family on Walnut street.
A. A. HOLDEN.
Amasa Albert Holden. of Holden Brothers, provision dealers, is the son of Amasa and Celia (Foster) Holden, was born in Billerica, Mass., April 29, 1847, and was educated in the public schools of Billerica and Woburn.
He came to Stoneham in the fall of 1865 where he learned the trade of a shoemaker, and worked in the shoe factories until 1871, when he went to work'in the provision store of Kittredge & Tweed and continued with Kit- tredge & Holden after his brother George bought out the interest of Mr. Tweed. In 1875 Mr. A. A. Holden purchased Mr. Kittredge's interest and the two brothers formed a co-partnership, which has been continued to the presenttime and a prosperous business done.
Mr. Holden was united in marriage Dec. 13, 1879, at Stoneham, to Miss Lora A. Thompson, daughter of Jonathan Thompson, of this town. They
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have had two children, both of whom are living, namely: Lester Dorr and Amasa Albert, Jr.
Mr. Holden and family reside on Warren Street.
Mr. Holden is an attendant at the Unitarian Church, and is a member of Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., and Fells Lodge, A. O. U. W.
WILLIAM H. SPRAGUE.
William Henry Sprague, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and Super- intendent of Streets, was born in Stoneham, June 27, 1845, and is the son of John and Martha A. (Sprague) Sprague, his father being a native of Northern Vermont and his mother of Stoneham.
He attended the public schools of Stoneham and after leaving school worked in the shoe factories until 1874, when with his brother, John F., he opened a retail shoe store on Cambridge street, Boston. They continued at this location about five years, the firm being called Sprague Brothers. At the end of that time the subject of our sketch purchased his brother's interest and removed the store to Hanover street, where he continued for nine years, until the fall of 1888, conducting the business alone. Having a good offer for his stock and good will he sold out without any previous intention of so doing, as he had been successful from the time he began to do business.
At that time Mr. Sprague was a stockholder of the Union store, a grocery and provision store on Central street, Stoneham, of which he had been selected by the corporation for three years as manager. Mr. Sprague with others bought out the business and from this time for about a year it was carried on in the name of Wm. H. Sprague & Co., Mr. Sprague conducting the business personally. At the end of that time it was closed out. For a short period in 1890 Mr. Sprague was in company with L. P. Benton in the manufacture of shoes.
In April, 1887, he was elected as a member of the Board of Selectmen and was chosen Chairman by his associates. He has been re-elected each year, being now in his fifth term, and has continued as Chairman of the Board, directing the affairs of the town with such firmness, fidelity and good judg- ment as to give general satisfaction and to win as supporters many who originally opposed his election. For three years he has been chosen by the Board as Superintendent of Streets and has given a large share of his time to personally supervising the construction and repair of the highways. In fact, most of his time is now given to the duties of his public offices. Mr. Sprague was Collector of Taxes for the year 1889.
He has never been married but resides with his mother and brother on Gould street.
He is a member of Columbian Lodge and Columbian Encampment, I. O. O. F., having been through the chair of the latter and become a member of the Grand Encampment. He was a charter member of Evergreen Lodge, D.
WILLIAM H. SPRAGUE.
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of R., and has been Banneret with rank of Lieutenant, in Canton Fells, P. M., for three years, being on the staff of Colonel Ralph and others of the order. He is also a member of Stoneham Council, A. L. of H., and High- land Council, O. U. A. M.
JOHN F. BERRY.
John Franklin Berry, retail dealer in boots and shoes, hats and gents' fur- nishing goods, was born in Tamworth, N. H., May 22, 1840, and is the son of John and Louisa (Jackson) Berry.
He attended the schools of his native town until fourteen years of age, when, his father being a man without means and having ten children to sup- port, he started out to earn his own living and came to Stoneham in Septem- ber, 1854, and entered a shoemaker's shop to learn the trade. He worked for Robert Greenleaf until 1858 when he obtained employment with John Hill & Co., on the opening of their new factory in that year. Here he worked until the breaking out of the civil war.
About the last of April, 1861, he enlisted for three years in Co. G, 13th Mass. Vol. Infantry, went to Fort Independence, was mustered into service July 16, and left Boston for Hagerstown, Md., July 29. He was with his regiment until May 24, 1862, when he was taken sick and was confined in
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the hospital until January, 1863, when he was able to come home on a fur- lough, and on February 26th he was discharged for disability.
In September of that year he resumed shoemaking and continued working at his trade until 1872. In September of 1872 he opened a retail store for the sale of boots and shoes, hats and caps and gents' furnishing goods on Central Street, opposite the Central House, and in 1874 removed to his present location, where he has since remained, and has the distinction of having been engaged the longest in his line of business of any one in town. He has the confidence of the people, is very popular and has always done an excellent business.
He was married November 26, 1863, at Charlestown, Mass., to Miss Mary A. Jones, of Stoneham. They reside on Warren street. Five children, four daughters and one son have been born to them, two of whom are living, viz : Emma Amelia and Charles Jesse:
Mr. Berry enlisted in Co. H, 6th Regiment, M. V. M., when that company was transferred from Milbury to this town in 1882, and became the Stone- ham Light Infantry. He was the first man to sign the roll book, May 12, 1882, and was elected Second Lieutenant, June 8, 1882, First Lieutenant, June 23, 1882, and Captain, September 4, 1883. He was with the company four years and four months, being three years in command.
Captain Berry served as Representative in the Legislature in 1879, and again in 1880.
He is a Past Commander of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., having been Commander for two years, is a member of Columbian Lodge and Columbian Encampment, I. O. O. F., and having passed through the chairs of both is a member of the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment, and belongs to Ever- green Lodge, D. of R., Wamscott Tribe, I. O. R. M., Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., Miles Standish Colony, U. O. P. F., and King Cyrus Lodge, F. and A. M.
O. H. MARSTON.
Col. Oliver Hutchins Marston, hardware dealer, picture frame marutac- turer, &c., was born in Sandwich, N. H., Dec. 17, 1837, and is the son of Caleb M. and Betsey H. (Ambrose) Marston.
His early schooling was obtained in the common schools of Sandwich, and he afterwards attended the High School in Stoneham, to which town he came first in 1855.
After leaving the latter school he went to work in the shoe factories o Stoneham, where he was employed about a year and a half, and then returned to his native town and went into manufacturing pails, in which business he continued about three years, or until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he raised the larger part of a company of volunteers in Sandwich, was commissioned captain, and with his company was assigned to the Fourteenth
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N. H. Vol. Infantry. Their first duty was at Poolsville, Maryland, after which they were stationed in Washington, D. C., for nine months, and from there went to New Orleans, La., and up the river to Morganzia. They had started with the intention of joining General Banks but failed on account of delay. At Morganzia Captain Marston was taken sick and in the meantime his regiment went to the Shenandoah Valley, and joined General Sheridan.
Captain Marston recovered sufficiently to rejoin his regiment in the Shen- andoah in September, and was in the memorable battle of Cedar Creek, to which General Sheridan made his famous ride.
O. H. MARSTON.
In twenty minutes after the battle commenced, Captain T. A. Ripley, the officer in command of the regiment, was taken prisoner, and it fell upon Cap- tain Marston to assume command, which he did. He was wounded through the left arm early in the morning, but retained command of the regiment through the battle, and his wound was not dressed until evening, twelve hours after he was shot.
Capt. Marston remained with his regiment, still in command, for about three months, during six weeks of the time carrying his arm in a sling. At
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the end of that period he was relieved of his command by Major Tolman. At this time they were in Savannah, Georgia.
Soon after Major Tolman took charge of the regiment, Captain Marston was commissioned a Lieut. Colonel and again placed in command. From Savannah they marched to Augusta, Georgia, and the morning they arrived there the regiment, under Colonel Marston, was detailed to escort Jefferson Davis. then just brought into the city from his ignominous capture, from the railroad station to the steamboat by which he was taken to Savannah. With Jefferson Davis were Alexander H. Stevens and several of Davis' cabinet officers, who had also been captured.
Col. Marston's regiment remained in Augusta for awhile and then marched to Savannah, took boat to Hilton Head and another boat to Boston. They were mustered out and discharged in Concord, N. H., in July, 1865.
After the war Colonel Marston was in trade, in a general store, for him- self in Sandwich, N. H., until he came to Stoneham again in 1869, where he has since continued to reside and do business.
He first went into the sewing machine business, selling machines and furnishing parts and doing repairs, and with this he joined the picture-frame business, in which latter he has since continued. His first place of business was up stairs in the Whittier building, where he remained until his father-in- law, Hazen Whitcher, started a hardware store in a store below, when he removed down and occupied the store with him. Here they remained until 1876 when they removed to their present store in Dow's building. About five years ago Mr. Whitcher gave up active business, since which time Col. Marston has conducted both the hardware and picture-frame business, both of which are prosperous.
Col. Marston was united in marriage in Reading to Miss Sarah R. Whit- cher, daughter of Hazen Whitcher, of this town, July 1, 1862, and they have had one daughter, Mary W., who is now the wife of A. L. Souther, druggist, Boston.
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