USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Stoneham > History of Stoneham, Massachusetts > Part 23
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Mr. Buck is a citizen who has the respect and love of the inhabitants of the town in which he was born and has always lived. He has served one term as Selectman and refused a nomination for a second. No man stands higher as a loyal citizen and upright business man than he does.
See page 28 for view of residence.
RICHARD DOBSON WALL.
Richard D. Wall, son of Gilbert and Maria (Dobson) Wall, was born in Bayfield, N. B., May 3, 1842.
His early life was spent in his native town, where he received a common school education. He came to Boston in March, 1865, and entered the em- ploy of a large carriage manufacturing establishment on Beverly Street, and one year later came to Stoneham as an employee of O. A. Edgell, carriage
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builder, en Block Street. In 1872 he purchased the plant from Mr. Edgell, and has continued the business to the present time. During these years many elegant vehicles have been turned out from this establishment for this and other towns, including several beautiful and substantially built hose wagons for the fire department of this town, Milton and other places.
In 1876 he was married to Miss Eugenie Green of Stoneham. Of this union is one child, Bessie.
Mr. Wall is a member of Wamscott Tribe, No. 39, Imp. O. R. M., and is a frequent attendant at the Methodist Episcopal Church.
S. W. CHAMBERLIN.
Samuel Wentworth Chamberlin, inventor and manufacturer of machinery, was born in Rochester, N. H .. Dec. 21, 1832, is a descendant of William Chamberlin, who settled in Cambridge, Mass., in 1672, and is the son of Moses and Nancy (Wentworth) Chamberlin, his parents being of sturdy New Hampshire and Maine stock. His father was a cousin to Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlin, of Maine, and his grandfather, Samuel Chamberlin, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the War of 1812.
On his mother's side he is a cousin to the well known pioneer printer "Long John" Wentworth, of Chicago, Ill., and is a descendant of Rev. Wil- liam Wentworth, who settled in this country in 1638 and the next year with others formed a government in Exeter, N. H., and was of the same family as John Wentworth, the last English Colonial Governor in this country.
Mr. Chamberlin attended the public schools of Rochester and Dover, N. H., leaving school at the age of fifteen and going to work in the Sawyer Mill, at Dover, where he was employed two years and the year following was second overseer in the carding room of the Whitehouse Mills, Rochester, N. H., where, he says, "I had a good position, but like other boys did not ap- preciate it and gave it up, and learned to make boots and shoes."
In May, 1851, at the age of eighteen and a half years he went with several others to Charlestown, South Carolina, where he was employed as foreman in the bottoming room of the South Carolina shoe factory for eight months. In December of the same year he returned North and settled in Natick, Mass., where he employed six men and worked at the shoe business for two years.
From Natick he removed to Stoneham March 4, 1854, soon after he was 2 I years of age. He employed several men, and was in the shoe business for nearly seven years, during the last two of which he was experimenting on shoe machinery, and in 1859 he invented a machine for burnishing boot and shoe heels, on which he was granted letters patent July 23, 1861. The first machine was bought by George Haynes, of Haverhill, Mass., in May, 1861.
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SAMUEL W. CHAMBERLIN.
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After the patent was granted Mr. Chamberlain gave up the shoe business, and began the manufacture of these machines, and has followed the business over 30 years. This was the first successful machine ever made for the pur- pose, and it superseded all other methods for finishing boot and shoe heels. More than 2500 of these machines have been manufactured and sold under his patent, many hundred of them being now in use.
This machine was placed upon the market previous to the Mckay Sewing or Heeling Machine, or the New Era pegging machine, or any other machine for bottoming boots and shoes that became generally used, but there were machines in use for cutting sole leather and for fitting uppers.
Mr. Chamberlin sold a one-half interest in the patent in 1873 to the Tap- ley Heel Burnishing Machine Association, of Boston, Mass., for $12,225.00, and was for one year manufacturing agent for the Association, at the end of which time he again began manufacturing machinery on his own account, and has continued in the business ever since.
He has during that time invented and improved machines, and has of late improved his original machine and four patents have been taken out on his Improved Heel Burnisher, and it again stands at the head of machinery used for the purpose, and patterns are now heing made and patents applied for on still more recent improvements. The machine bids fair to supersede all others of the kind.
Mr. Chamberlin has taken out nine letters patents and has recently ap- plied for two more, and now controls six. At one time he controlled twenty- two patents, some of which were quite valuable, and has made money on patents and1 shoe machinery.
He has manufactured the following patent shoe machinery : Hill Scouring and Buffing Machine, Rotary Power Heel Breaster, Wax Heel Burnishers, Edge Setters, Hot Kit Heel Burnishing Machines and many others, and has fitted up many shoe factories complete.
Mr. Chamberlin was married at Natick, Mass., June 17, 1855, to Miss Ellen A. Austin, of Dedham, Mass., and they lived together nearly twenty- five years, until her death in 1879. December 25, 1881, he was married a second time, at Lowell, Mass., to Mrs. Georgia A. (Manning) Elderkin, of Machias, Maine. One son, Edgar L., who died in 1865, was born to him by the first wife but he has had no children by the second wife.
Mr. Chamberlin's advice to the coming generations is to "Work when you are young ; do not count the hours but the dollars and loaf when you are old, or earlier if you can afford it."
Mr. Chamberlin has resided in Stoneham over thirty-seven years, and for more than twenty years owned and occupied a fine residence No. 2 Winthrop street.
Mr. Chamberlin has taken thirty-two degrees in Masonry, was one of the charter members of King Cyrus Lodge, of Stoneham, and is a member
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of Waverly Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery. K. T., of Melrose, and a member of the ancient and accepted Scottish Rites, of Boston, and belongs to the Lodge of Perfection, Council of the Princes of Jerusalem, Chapter of Rose Coix, Council of Kadosh and Grand Consistory for the State of Mass. He was also one of the charter members of Wamscott Tribe, No. 39, Imp. O. R. M., of Stoneham, and belongs to several other societies. He attends the Unitarian Chmrch.
ROBERT HENRY BOYCE.
Robert Henry Boyce, son of James and Jeanette Boyce, was born in Lon- donderry, N. H., Feb. 26, 1849.
Until sixteen years of age he worked on the farm and attended the com- mon schools of his native town.
In the year 1865 he came to Reading and in the spring of 1866 moved to Stoneham, entering the employ of his brother, C. M. Boyce, blacksmith. A few years later he accepted the position of engineer at Drew & Buswell's shoe factory on Franklin Street, which he held until 1880, when he established the business of manufacturing taps, innersoles and stiffenings in the base- ment of the Stoneham Co-operative Shoe Company building. He com- menced on a small scale, and by close attention to business and constantly adding new and improved machinery, has built up a thriving trade in the New England States. Business is never dull with him, keeping steadily at work from 12 to 15 hands with good pay. Mr. Boyce has recently removed his business to more commodious quarters in T. H. Jones' block.
Mr. Boyce was married in Stoneham July, 1869, to Miss Georgia A. Paul. Of this unionlis one child, Harry.
Mr. Boyce is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is an at- tendant at the Unitarian Church.
He has a beautiful residence on Montvale Avenue, near Main Street.
CHARLES M. BOYCE.
Charles Morrison Boyce, blacksmith and stable keeper, was born in Lon- donderry, N. H., December 14, 1839, and is the son of James and Jeannette (Moore) Boyce.
He attended the district school in his native town and afterwards went to Pinkerton Academy, Derry, N. H.
When eighteen years of age he came to Reading, Mass., and went to work for Myron Damon to learn the trade of a blacksmith. He served a three years apprenticeship with Mr. Damon, and after working at his trade for a year later he enlisted for nine months in Co. D, Fiftieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1862, from Reading.
His regiment went to Boston Rouge, and was in all the engagements
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there, and afterwards went to Port Hudson and was there during the siege of that place. Mr. Boyce's company remained in the service three months longer than the term of enlistment, and he was not discharged until August 1863, after having served a year.
In October, 1863, Mr. Boyce came to Stoneham and built a shop at Farm Hill, in the north part of the town, and started in the blacksmithing business on his own account. He remained there three years, when he bought the lot of land on Pleasant Street on which his business is now located and re- moved his shop there ; where he has since remained and has done a good business, necessitating the enlargement of his building.
In addition to blacksmithing, about three years ago he opened a livery stable on Main Street, not far from his blacksmith shop on Pleasant Street, and has also been successful in that and is now doing well.
Mr. Boyce was united in marriage in Reading, Mass., October 25, 1866, to Miss Henrietta·M. Green, daughter of James A. Green, of Stoneham, and they have had one son, Charles Stevens, who is now living.
Mr. Boyce was a member of the Board of Overseers of the Poor of Stone- ham, for five years, is a member of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., Colum- bian Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Miles Standish Colony, U. O. P. F.
He resides in a homestead which he built on Pleasant Street, next to his blacksmith shop.
EDGAR L. PATCH.
Professor Edgar L. Patch is a native of Spencer, Mass., where he was born December 2, 1851, and is the son of Leonard A. and Elizabeth E. (Brown) Patch.
He was educated in the public schools of Worcester, and in preparation for his profession he took a full course in the Massachusetts College of Phar- macy, of Boston, from which he graduated in 1872.
From thirteen to sixteen years of age he was engaged in a variety of pur- suits, and at sixteen he went to work in a retail drug store.
When eighteen years of age he united on his own account with Henry Canning in the retail drug business at the corner of Green and Chambers Streets, Boston, and this co-partnership is in existence at the present time, the business having continued at the same locality since it was established.
In 1879 Mr. Patch was appointed to the chair of Theory and Practice of Pharmacy and in 1886 to that of Director of the Pharmaceutical Laboratory in the Mass. College of Pharmacy, corner of St. Botolph and Garrison Streets, Boston, and he still holds both these positions.
Prof. Patch organized the E. L. Patch Co. and established the laboratory on Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, for the manufacture of chemical and phar- maceutical products in October, 1888. Active business operations were commenced May 1, 1889. Since then the plant has been twice enlarged and
PROF. EDGAR L. PATCH.
PROF. PATCH'S RESIDENCE.
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further additions are in contemplation and this business promises to become one of the most important industries of the town.
Mr. Patch was married in St. John, New Brunswick, June 5, 1873, to Miss Matilda S. Ferguson, and six sons have been the fruit of their union, five of whom are living, namely: James Alfred, Arthur Lionel, Ernest Llewellyn, Claude Eldred and Ralph Reginald.
Prof. Patch came to Stoneham in September, 1870. His home is at 28 Lincoln street.
He is a member of the First Baptist Church, of which he is Deacon and Treasurer and was for several years President of the Stonehem Young Men's Christian Association.
See page 187 for view of laboratory.
FRANCIS K. SWEETSER, ESQ.
Francis K. Sweetser, attorney and counsellor at law, is a native of Stone- ham, where he was born January 21st, 1865. He is the son of Francis K. and Myra A. (Spurr) Sweetser.
He attended the public schools of Stoneham until he was fifteen years of age and then went to a fitting school at West Dedham, Mass., for two years. He entered Tuft's College at the age of seventeen and graduated in the class of 1886, of which he was class historian.
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He spent two years, from 1886 to 1888 in the law office of Hon. Charles Robinson, Boston, and during nearly two years following attended the Har- vard Law School.
He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and in that year opened an office in the Equitable Building, Boston. In January, 1891, he entered the law office of Hon. Charles T. Gallagher and D. Frank Kimball, 209 Washington St., Boston. He has had an evening office in Central Square, Stoneham, since he commenced to practise.
Mr. Sweetser was united in marriage in Saco, Maine, October 21, 1890, to Miss Jennie M. Clement, of Saco, formerly a resident of Stoneham.
He is a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. and A. M., and is a member of the Unitarian Church.
He is a young man in whom the citizens have confidence and has been ap- pointed on several important committees chosen to look after special town in- terests, notably finances, drainage, and to look after the town's interests around Spot Pond. He is also a Trustee of the Public Library and Town Solicitor.
PROFESSOR QUEEN.
Charles Butterfield Melvin, Jr., better known as Prof. Queen, son of Chas. B. and Maria C. Melvin, was born in Lawrence, Mass., 1850. He received his education in the grammar and private schools of that city and Eaton's Commercial College, Boston. . At the age of thirteen he entered the employ of the Weekly Journal printing office, Lawrence, remaining about one year, when he accepted a position on the Essex Banner of Haverhill, Mass., as press boy ; from there he came to Stoneham with his parents in 1865, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Melvin first engaged in the show business under his own management in 1866. For ten years he played alone in the smaller towns of Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut. In 1876 he entered into partnership with an old showman, Charles H. Dearborn, and for eight years ran very successfully several exhibitions-Orium & Pond's Panorama, Burnham's Tableaux of America, etc. After the death of his partner, he played successful engage- ments for many prominent managers at a good salary, viz: Rich & Harris, B. F. Keith, Austin & Stone, Bradenburg of Philadelphia.
After leaving Mr. Bradenburg he retired from the show business for two years, and became assistant manager of the Central Hotel, but on account of several complications and not liking hotel life, he accepted an engagement for four months from Mr. Geo. H. Batcheller, the well known circus manager, to lecture Prof. Woodward's famous seals; from here he went to the Front Street Theatre and Museum at Worcester, under the same management, and occupied the position of lecturer and assistant superintendent, remaining there four months, but his health again failing him he returned to Stoneham,
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where for the past 3 years he has resided, playing occasional engagements for societies, museums, etc., besides being a skilful necromancer and lec- turer. Prof. Queen is a writer of merit for the local press, many of his arti cles having been read with delight.
PROFESSOR QUEEN.
[ He is a Past Grand of Unity Lodge, No. 77, I. O. O. F., of Boston, a member of the Board of Trade of Stoneham, and also the Town Finance Committee, Providence Lodge of Elks, and attends the Congregational Church, Stoneham.
Hejwas is 1871 married to Miss Ida G. Green, daughter of Benjamin and Martha Green of Stoneham.
After travelling for over twenty-five years he has chosen Stoneham as his permanent place of residence, and is now building a fine residence on the outskirts of the town, where in his old age he can enjoy the fruits of his labors.
JOHN BEST.
John Best, shoe manufacturer, was born in Boston' January 17; 1836, and is the son of James and Ellen (Graham) Best.
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He attended the public schools of Boston, and went for two years to the English High School.
In January, 1851, he came to Stoneham and worked from that time to 1861 in the shoe shops.
In July, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, Thirteenth Regiment, was a corporal and served for three years. He was engaged in the following battles : Dam No. 5, Falling Waters, Thoroughfare Gap, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Rapahannock Station, Cedar Mountain,
JOHN BEST.
Gettysburg and Wilderness. He was wounded in the left arm at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, and wounded in the left hand and received a gun-shot wound in the right thigh at the Battle of the Wilderness. He was confined in several hospitals on account of his wounds and was taken pris- ner in several battles. He was discharged at Boston, August 1, 1864.
After his discharge he returned to Stoneham and was again employed in the shoe factories, being for sometime foreman of the cutting room at E. P. Duncklee's. He was one of the incorporators of the Stoneham Co-opera- tive Boot & Shoe Co. and was its first president and agent, remaining with the company for three years. From 1875 to 1880 he worked in different
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factories and in the latter year went into partnership with W. H. Gorham in the manufacture of misses', children's, boys' and youths' grain and split shoes, the firm name being Gorham & Best. They did business in a portion of the Stoneham Co-operative Co.'s factory, employing about twelve hands besides working themselves, and turning out three cases per day. In 1886 Mr. Best bought Mr. Gorham's interest and has since done business alone. About four years ago he removed to his present location in the Rounds Build- ing, on Main street. He manufactures about four cases per week for the New England trade.
Mr. Best was married in Charlestown, Mass., November 25, 1858, to Miss S. Elizabeth Clark, of that city. They have had five children, all now living, viz : Alfred E., John H., Mary L., Fred W. and Lucy I. They reside at No. 31 Pond Street.
Mr. Best is a member of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., of which he was Adjutant four years and Commander one term, and has been a delegate to the National Encampment at San Francisco, Columbus, Ohio, Milwaukee, Wis., and will also go to Detroit in the same capacity. He is also Assistant C. of R. of Wamscott Tribe, Imp. O. R. M., Secretary of Stoneham Coun - cil, A. L. of H., Secretary of Miles Standish Colony, U. O. P. F., is a member of Stoneham Council, Royal Conclave of K. & L., the Fraternal Associates of America and Wyoming Lodge, F. & A. M., and has taken a demit from Waverly Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery, of Melrose.
He was an Assessor of Stoneham for four years, Collector of Taxes for three years and was Representative to the Legislature for one term.
WILLIAM P. FLETCHER.
William Putnam Fletcher, paper box manufacturer, was born in Woburn, Mass., January 29, 1861, and is the son of Bernard and Lydia (Horne) Fletcher.
He was educated in the public schools of Woburn, going partly through the High School.
Upon leaving school he went to work for Roland Davis to learn the busi- ness of making paper boxes, and was with him about two years, and was afterwards employed for two years by the Woburn Paper Box Co., John Honey, proprietor.
He then started in business for himself in Woburn, where he remained about three years, and then came to Stoneham in 1884, commencing busi- ness on Main street, in the old Richardsan & Critchett shop, now Patrick Cogan's. He remained there about two years, was in the Rounds' building on Main Street for a year, and then removed to larger quarters in Jerome Fay's shop, on Pine Street. After doing business there about four years he
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built the large new factory he now occupies on Pleasant Street, and moved into it in February, 1891.
When he commenced business he had no custom to speak of. He made shoe cartons and fancy boxes, employing three others besides himself. On coming to Stonehem he gave up fancy work and gave all his attention to making shoe cartons, employing about ten hands and turning out about I200 boxes per day:
His trade is mostly local, has steadily increased from year to year until he now employs about twenty-five hands and his output is 5000 boxes per day.
Mr. Fletcher has been twice married, first in Woburn, November 28, 1883, to Miss Sarah M. Brackett, of Cambridge, who died in the following August, and second in Stoneham, October 29, 1890, to Miss Edna A. Benton, daughter of L. P. Benton, of this town.
Mr. Fletcher is a member of Crystal Fount Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Wo- burn, Boston Encampment, I. O. O. F., of Boston, and of the Stoneham Board of Trade.
WILLIAM TIDD.
William Tidd, retired leather manufacturer, is one of the best known citi- zens of Stoneham, having been for many years the head of the well-known firm of William Tidd & Co., tanners and curriers of leather, one of the most extensive and successful manufacturing firms in this line of business in the country. No man stands higher among the members of this trade than Wil- liam Tidd. Mr. Tidd is a tanner by inheritance as well as by superior knowledge and life-long experience in the business. His ancestors for three generations were leather makers. His great-grandfather, Jonathan, built a tannery and currying shop in 1748 where J. Otis Cummings' factory now stands in North Woburn. Mr. Tidd's grandfather, also named Jonathan, succeeded to the business of his father, and for a time is said to have been the only leather maker in Woburn. The first ancestor of Mr. Tidd in this country, John Tidd, came from the Isle of Wight. When a mere boy Wm. Tidd worked in his father's factory and long before he arrived at maturity had acquired a thorough knowledge of the trade.
Mr. Tidd is the son of William and Rosanna (Buckman) Tidd, and was born in North Woburn, Mass., July 15, 1814, the house in which he was ushered into the world being now occupied as the Woburn Home for Aged Women. The homestead had passed out of the hands of the Tidd family but several years ago Mr. William Tidd caused negotiations to be made for its purchase, and after securing possession he presented it to the corporation of the above named home, and it was dedicated with elaborate exercises about two years ago to its present use. It was remodeled somewhat and en- larged, and is now an ideal home for its purpose.
WILLIAM TIDD.
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WILLIAM TIDD'S MANSION.
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Mr. Tidd attended the public schools of Woburn and in his spare time worked in his father's currying shop. He also attended the Warren Academy in that town.
His health not being very good he started off on his twenty-first birthday on a fishing trip and was gone about six months, and on his return he again went to work for his father: His father becoming embarassed William occu- pied several years in settling up the business after which he finished leather with his brother Charles for awhile.
In 1840 Mr. Tidd came to Stoneham and in partnership with Wm. T. Bloomer, as Tidd & Bloomer, they finished leather in the basement of the old tavern in Central Square, giving employment to one other man besides themselves. It was in a small way but Mr. Tidd laconically says: "Had to do something ; got to live, and worked hard to do it, too."
After six months they bought a little shop on the corner of Main and Church Streets, about where Mr. Tidd's residence now stands. After awhile as their business increased they needed more room, so moved the shop back down by the common and enlarged it. This was in 1847 or '48 and at this time they were employing about twenty hands finishing leather for other parties.
They remained there about five years and then built a factory on the site .
of the present factory of Wm. Tidd & Co., on Pine Street, and it is now a part of the latter. The original building was 40 x 80 feet, with three floors including the basement, and was built in 1852. The old shop was sold and was afterwards divided up and moved away. The firm was still Tidd & Bloomer and they continued to curry for others, although they commenced tanning in 1854 and finished on their own account as well, making money until 1861, when the war broke out. At that time business came to a stand still and failures were general. Tidd & Bloomer lost a great deal of money by bad debts and indorsements but by a hard struggle kept from failing and dissolved partnership in 1861.
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