USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
WILLIAM E. O'SHEA, D. D. S .- In professional circles in Worcester County Dr. O'Shea is winning a position of prominence, and as a doctor of dental sur- gery has developed a very considerable practice during the nine years of his activity. A native of this country and trained in prominent American institutions, Dr. O'Shea is a son of Patrick and Ellen (O'Connell) O'Shea, his father for many years a commission mer- chant of Worcester, but now retired.
William E. O'Shea was born in Worcester, Massa- chusetts, April 9, 1891. His education was begun in the public schools of his birthplace, and following his graduation from the Worcester High School he entered the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, from which he was graduated in the class of 1914, receiving his de- gree at that time. Returning to his native State shortly after his graduation, Dr. O'Shea entered the employ of a prominent dentist of Whitinsville, Massachusetts, later working in an office in Fall River, Massachusetts, in order to gain breadth of experience. Dr. O'Shea opened an office in Webster in 1915, and has continued here since uninterruptedly, developing a large and lucrative practice and gaining an assured footing in the profession. He gives his influence and support to all progressive effort, and politically is identified with the Democratic party, although as yet he has never accepted public office. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Colum- bus, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He is a member of the Putnam Country Club. His religious affiliation is with St. Louis' Roman Catholic Church.
Dr. O'Shea married Blanche E. White, of Worcester, Massachusetts, daughter of James and Matilda (King) White. Dr. and Mrs. O'Shea are the parents of one child, Roy Anthony.
RAYMOND DRAPER-In the world of finance of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Raymond Draper has won a position of large responsibility and marked importance as cashier of the People's National Bank of Southbridge. Active in financial affairs since the completion of his education, Mr. Draper has risen by his own efforts to a position of dignity and broad sig- nificance and is commanding the esteem not only of his associates in the institution but of the people generally. He is a son of Allan H. and Alice M. (Glover) Draper,
both natives of Massachusetts and both now living, the father being active as a building contractor.
Raymond Draper was born at Revere, Massachusetts, May 14, 1895. Receiving his early education in the public schools of Framingham, to which city the family had removed in his childhood, he completed his studies at the Framingham High School and shortly thereafter became associated with the Framingham Trust Company in a minor capacity.
Active in this con- nection for about a year
and a half, Mr Draper came to Southbridge in
1916 to become affiliated with the Southbridge National Bank and filled a responsible position in that institution until 1919. He then went to Boston, where he entered the First National Bank of that city as a student in training for foreign service and continued there for about two years. Then returning to Southbridge, Mr. Draper formed a connection with the Southbridge National Bank and con- tinued with that institution until the year 1922. Mr. Draper then accepted the position as cashier of the People's National Bank of Southbridge, in which capac- ity he is still active. Mr. Draper is a member of the Southbridge Chamber of Commerce and bears a con- structive part in every movement for community ad- vance. His leisure interests are those of the outdoor world, and his clubs are the Southbridge, the Cohasse Country, the Worcester Tennis, and the Quinebaug. He is a member of the Episcopal church.
Raymond Draper married, on February 18, 1922, Katharine Cornwall, who was born at Buffalo, New York, and they have lost one little son, Raymond Corn- wall, born December 8, 1922, and died May 30, 1923.
SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS-In one of the vital lines of business effort in Southbridge, Massachusetts, Samuel W. Williams holds a leading position, his interest having been inherited from his father, and he has gone forward to more than usual success. Samuel Williams, Mr. William's father, was born at Whitney, England, and came to this country as a young man, settling in South- bridge. He bought out the undertaking business there- tofore owned by a Mr. Beecher, and taking over the interest in the year 1854, he carried it forward with large success, developing its scope materially. He was a man of broad public spirit, always alert to the move- ment of the times, and in his business activities he con- tributed in no slight degree to the welfare of the people. His death on May 5, 1911, removed from the community a man whose loss was keenly felt in every circle in which he had been known. The mother, Ella M. (Underwood) Williams, was born at Holland, Massachusetts, and is still living.
Samuel W. Williams was born at Southbridge, Massa- chusetts, February 17, 1894. His early education was received in the local public schools and following the high school course he entered Post's Business College at Worcester, where he made comprehensive prepara- tion for his future. Immediately following the comple- tion of his education Mr. Williams learned the under- taking business, and in 1917 took over the business as its independent head and has since been thus active. Mr. Williams is one of the progressive, forward-looking young men of the day in Southbridge, and commands the esteem and confidence of all who know him. Under
312
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY
his management the interest has developed extensively He is affiliated with Quinebaug Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Doric Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and the Sons of Saint George; also the Knights of Pythias. He is a promiment member of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, of which he is also a director, and is a member of the Southbridge Club. He attends the Congregational church.
Mr. Williams married, on November 12, 1919, Louise Locke, who was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, daughter of Horace Locke, and they have one son, Samuel W., Jr., born November 28, 1920.
CHARLES OTTO SWANSON-Few pioneers of recent years have achieved success more broadly worth while and more definitely useful to the people than Charles Otto Swanson, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Coming to the United States as an immigrant boy of eighteen some thirty-four years ago, he has won his way through his own initiative to his present position as president of the Massachusetts Baking Company, one of the leading concerns in its field, operating seven plants in important cities of Massachusetts nd Connec- ticut, with general offices at Springfield, Massachusetts.
Mr. Swanson's family was a prominent one in Sweden, and his father, Gunnal Swanson, was a well- known millwright in that country, establishing many nationally important concerns, overseeing installations, etc. He followed his nine children to the United States after his retirement, and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where he remained until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-five years, the sunset of his life being spent in comfort among his children. The mother, Eleanor (Anderson) Swanson, who was also born in Sweden, accompanied him to this country and died in Brooklyn at the age of sixty-two years.
Charles Otto Swanson was born in Sweden, May 27, 1871. His early education was acquired at the public schools of Helsingborg, Sweden, and from boyhood he cherished an ambition to come to America, whither his elder brothers had sailed. His tastes early developed along mercantile lines, and when only eight years of age he demonstrated his natural ability as a salesman, developing a brisk business at the railway station selling candy, cigars and fruits. He was always on hand after school, on Saturdays, and holidays, and while he was thus engaged a brother from America returned for a visit and promised him that when he was older he should come to the United States and have wider opportunities. Meanwhile, Mr. Swanson became active in his father's business as soon as his common school course was com- pleted, and learned its details, but later drifted into the flour business, learning the trade of baker. While he was thus engaged, he studied English in preparation for his coming to the United States, and on June 1, 1889, only a few days after his eighteenth birthday, he landed in New York City. Four of his brothers were then living in Brooklyn, and they offered to care for him while he attended school and learned the customs of the coun- try. They were all following the mill wright trade, and wished to give him a start in life. Mr. Swanson declined, preferring to attend night schools and provide for his own maintenance. So he struck out to find work, and learning that there was a Swedish contractor in
Fort Hamilton who might need help, he started in that direction. On the way he passed a building under con- struction, and stopping to look things over, took the con- tract to lathe the house. He had never seen a lath put on, so he searched the town until he saw other work- men engaged in this branch of construction. He watched these men for a short time, then went to work on his contract, which he completed with entire satis- faction to his employer. Mr. Swanson then secured a position with a Swedish contractor in New York City, with whom he continued for about one year. Then an attack of malaria struck him down and the physicians advised him to go to another climate. Going to the White Mountains, he found his health improved, and was persuaded to take up life insurance, and he was so largely successful that he received an offer of an agency. But other interests had caught his attention. In the course of his life insurance activities he had been in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, several times, and had seen an opportunity in the form of a small bakery. This business he purchased in partnership with a friend in 1894. They enlarged the plant and developed the trade, and three years later they purchased also the old Boutell Cracker Bakery, one of the oldest enter- prises of its kind in the State of Massachusetts, having been established in the latter part of the eighteenth century.
From this time forward the Swanson interests grew rapidly and steadily. About 1911 Mr. Swanson's brother, Arthur G. Swanson, became interested with him, and they bought the Currier & Fairbanks bakery in Wor- cester, Massachusetts, then a year and a half later they built the Worcester Baking Company, which is now the largest individual bakery in the New England States. In 1915 the present Swanson Baking Company's plant in Fitchburg was built. Charles O. Swanson was the sole proprietor of this plant from 1905-06 until November 30, 1917, when he founded the present corporation, receiv- ing into the organization six other important bakeries. Mr. Swanson, however, declined to assert more than local authority, and for about two years the corporation met with only indifferent success. He was then elected to the presidency, the corporation becoming known as the Massachusetts Baking Company, and with the leadership of the courageous spirit which years before was brought out in the incident of the lathing contract, the concern has since gone forward to phenomenal success. Mr. Swan- son has built up a wonderful organization and has brought the working and executive forces of all the different plants into complete harmony. The seven plants now included in the corporation are located respectively in Fitchburg, Springfield, Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Mr. Swanson is also president of the Worcester Baking Company, which is affiliated with the corporation only through his connection with it, and en- tirely an independent company. The product of the Massachusetts Baking Company, which comprises prin- cipally the finest quality of bread put out under different trademarks, practically covers the New England States. Mr. Swanson is a member of the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the board of directors of the Worcester North Savings Bank, as well as chair- man of the board of directors of the Massachusetts
Charles Swanson
313
BIOGRAPHICAL
Baking Company. Fraternally he is identified with the Charles W. Moore Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Fitchburg, and the local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Fitchburg, and the Lions Club of Hartford, Connecticut, and his religious affiliation is with the Swedish Lutheran church.
Mr. Swanson married, in 1903, Lily Marie Swanson, whom he met when on a visit to Sweden for the pur- pose of bringing his younger brother back to America. Mr. and Mrs. Swanson are the parents of four children : I. Carl William, who married Anna Maynard, and they have one child, Ann, born May 20, 1922; he is manager of the Fitchburg plant. 2. Lilly, wife of William Fraas, teller in the Safety Fund National Bank of Fitchburg, a former student at the Worcester Art School, and there- after supervisor of art in the same institution. 3. Eleanor, a graduate nurse of the Children's Hospital, in Boston. 4. Margaret, a senior at the Fitchburg High School. Mr. and Mrs. Swanson have reared two other boys from childhood: Knute J. Cederholm, now super- intendent of the Swanson Baking Company of Fitch- burg; and John L. Cederholm, now superintendent of the Hartford plant of the Massachusetts Baking Com- pany.
JOHN J. CUNNIS-One of the prosperous and pro- gressive merchants of Clinton, Massachusetts, who con- ducts one of the foremost retail shoe stores in the com- munity is John J. Cunnis, executive head of the firm of Alexander & Cunnis. Mr. Cunnis is of Irish birth and parentage, having been born May 17, 1892, in County Galway, Ireland, the same locality that was also the birthplace of his father and mother, Patrick J. and Mary (Manning) Cunnis.
John J. Cunnis was brought to this country by his parents when small, and acquired his education by at- tending the public schols of Clinton, where the family settled. Upon arriving at an age to join the world of wage earners, Mr. Cunnis secured a position as sales- man in a retail shoe store, and later became manager for the G. W. Laythe Shoe Company, Inc., filling that responsible position for five years. The desire of Mr. Cunnis was not, however, to remain in the ranks of an employee, and accordingly in January, 1922, he realized his ambition to become an independent factor in merchan- dising by starting in the retail shoe business, in company with Mr. Alexander, forming the firm of Alexander & Cunnis for this purpose. This store is one of the most pretentious in its line in Clinton, carries a fine line of shoes and hosiery for men and women, and employs three salesmen to serve the growing trade the establish- ment enjoys.
Throughout his mature years Mr. Cunnis has maintained a lively interest in the local affairs of the community and discharges his duties as a citizen in a faithful manner. During the World War he enlisted in the United States Army, and was a member of the 29th Regiment, Battalion F, Field Artillery, serving from October 19, 1918, until the close of the war brought his honorable discharge on December 26, 1918. He is a member of the American Legion, and at the present time is serving as president of the local Chamber of Commerce. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, and Clinton Council, No. 1701, Knights of Columbus, while his religious affiliation is with St. John's Roman Catholic Church, to which he gives lib- eral support.
ALFRED PHILEAS LACHANCE, LL. B., M. D. -With early training in some of the foremost institu- tions of his time, and more recent post-graduate work both at home and abroad, Dr. Lachance has attained more than local note as a surgeon, and for some years has been obliged to devote his time exclusively to sur- gery, turning away medical patients, although he is equally noted as a physician. A native of the Province of Quebec, Dr. Lachance is a son of Alexis and Octavie (Forand) Lachance. Alexis Lachance was born at St. Elizabeth, Quebec, and came to the United States as a youth of eighteen years, securing employment in the linen mills of Webster, Massachusetts. Following his marriage he again resided in Quebec for about eleven years, then removed with his family to Webster, where he remained until 1907, when he came to Gardner to reside with his son, Dr. Lachance. He is still living in the eighty-first year of his age. The mother was born at St. Jean Baptiste, Province of Quebec, and died in January, 1918, at the age of seventy-five years.
Alfred Phileas Lachance was born at St. Alphonse, Province of Quebec, May 17, 1878. He was still a child when the family removed to Webster, and his school at- tendance up to his fourteenth year was at the parochial schools of that town. He then entered St. Joseph's Seminary of Three Rivers, Quebec, from which he later received his degree of Bachelor of Literature in the year 1899. Determining to enter the medical profession, he took up his further studies at the Laval University Faculty of Medicine (now the Montreal College of Med- icine), from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1903. Returning to Massachusetts, Dr. Lachance located at once in Gardner, where he took up the practice of medicine, and his subsequent success has well demonstrated his fitness for the profession of his choice. For about four years he gave his entire at- tention to internal medicine, then from 1907 until 1918 he carried forward the practice of both medicine and surgery. Since October of the latter year he has devoted his entire time to surgery, for which he took special post-graduate study, beginning in 1915 at the New York Post-Graduate College, thence going to Chicago to the Post-Graduate College of that city, and also under Mayo Brothers, Rochester, Minnesota. In 1921 he went abroad, taking extensive post-graduate work at Paris and Rome. He went abroad again in 1924, to Vienna and Paris. Dr. Lachance holds a foremost position among the pro- fessional men of Worcester County, and ranks high among the surgeons of the State. Since 1907 he has served continuously as a member of the surgical staff of the Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital of Gardner. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Massachusetts State Medical Society, and the Amer- ican College of Surgeons, and is widely prominent fra- ternally, being a member of the Knights of Columbus; of Gardner Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; L'Union St. Jean Baptiste d'Amerique; the Arti- sans Canadiens Francais; the Forestiers Franco-Ameri-
314
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY
cains; and he is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Dr. Lachance married (first), October 14, 1904, Eu- genie Lamoureux, of North Grosvenordale, Connecticut, who died in 1907, leaving an infant daughter, eight months of age, Jeannette Marie Rose, who is now a stu- dent at the Ursuline Convent at Quebec. Dr. Lachance married (second), September II, 1912, Helena C. Forbes, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and they have one daughter, Helen Anna.
LOUIS ALFRED JALBERT-Born at St. Robert, Quebec, Canada, Antoine Jalbert came to the United States with an uncle when fourteen years of age, settling at Hatfield, Massachusetts, where his son Louis Alfred Jalbert, was born. Antoine Jalbert married Adeline St. Germain, born at St. Robert, Quebec, and died in Massachusetts, in 1894, her husband surviving her until February 1I, 1923. The family is an ancient one, springing from French ancestors who settled in Quebec early in the history of the province. In Massa- chusetts, Louis A. Jalbert has won high and honorable position as a business man and public spirited citizen of Leominster.
Louis Alfred Jalbert, son of Antoine and Adeline (St. Germain) Jalbert, was born in Hatfield, July 22, 1876. He was educated in the public schools of North- ampton, and the Academy Brochu of Southbridge, Massachusetts, also took a correspondence course at the International Correspondence School in Scranton, Penn- sylvania, his business life beginning upon graduation from the latter institution. He learned interior decora- tion, but after two and one-half years at that line he became a clerk in the H. T. Hyde department store in Southbridge, there remaining four years. From 1901 until 1906 he clerked in the clothing store owned by N. T. Harlburt, of Webster, and in 1906 he established his own department store business in Leominster, his present place. His store is located at No. 183 Mechanic Street, and there Mr. Jalbert conducts a prosperous business.
Mr. Jalbert is a member of L'Union St. Jean Baptiste d'Amerique; the Artisans Order of Protection, being auditor of same; Franco-American Order of Foresters, Past Auditor; the Chevalier de Lafayette; the Laurier Club, past vice-president, now auditor ; is president of the Franco Republican Club; past president of the Cham- ber of Commerce, now first vice-president; a director of the Red Cross; member and trustee of the Community Service; a Councilman-at-Large, 1921-1923; director of the Mutual Cooperation Bank; trustee of the Leomin- ster Savings Bank; notary public ; trustee of the Leomin- ster Hospital Association; and treasurer of the Massa- chusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He takes an active part in the organizations mentioned, and is one of the highly esteemed men of his community. He is a member of St. Cecilia's French Roman Catholic Church. During the World War period, 1917-18, he was appointed, by Governor McCall of Massachusetts, Food Administrator for the Seventh Worcester County District. At the present time he is on the Governor's Emergency Committee.
Mr. Jalbert married, May 18, 1903, Mary Louise Far- land, born in Sorell, Canada, and they are the parents
of four children: Irene I., Loretta M., Alfred A., and Armand G.
HAROLD M. ADAMS-Coming to Fitchburg, Mas- sachusetts, as a young man out of school, Harold M. Adams has been identified with the business life of this city practically throughout his entire career and has won success in the varied lines of activity which he has followed. He has now for a considerable time been en- gaged in the produce business, and for several years has been sole owner and manager of the interest which is known as the Fitchburg Produce Company. Mr. Adams is a son of Enoch and Mary (Faulkner) Adams, his father a prominent wheelwright machinist at one of the paper mills at Poland, Maine.
Harold M. Adams was born at Poland, Maine, July 15, 1886. Receiving his education in the public and high schools of his birthplace Mr. Adams left home at the age of sixteen years and coming to Fitchburg secured a posi- tion as driver on a milk team in the employ of W. M. Martin. Continuing in this connection for about three years, Mr. Adams then established himself in the milk business in an independent way, later selling out and associating himself with Lowe Brothers Company, wholesale distributors of beef and produce, in which line he was engaged for two years with Blodget & Company, during part of this time in charge of their interests in Worcester, in wholesale fruit and produce. Returning to Fitchburg, Mr. Adams entered business under the title of the Fitchburg Produce Company, re- ceiving as a partner Fred E. Caldwell. This was in 1916, and the association continued until April, 1920, when Mr. Adams bought out his partner and has since been independently active. He has won large success, and is counted among the thoroughly progressive and representative men of the day in Fitchburg. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the United Commercial Travelers' Association, the Patrons of Hus- bandry, and is identified with the Calvinistic Congrega- tional Church.
Harold M. Adams married, on November II, 1901, at Ashby, Massachusetts, Nettie Newell, daughter of Ed- ward and Arabella (Smith) Newell, prominent people of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have three children : Twins, Harold and Hazel, born September 23, 1911; and Chester, born April 7, 1914.
MICHAEL JOSEPH FARRELL-The manufac- ture of celluloid toilet articles, hair ornaments, and nov- elties has become an important industry in Leominster, Massachusetts, the home of the Farrell & Hyland Com- pany, and the birthplace of the founder and present head of that important company. The firm Farrell & Hyland Company had its birth in Leominster in 1912, when M. J. Farrell, a traveling salesman, and John Hyland joined their capital and experience, and at No. 160 Pleasant Street, Leominster, began the manufacture of celluloid hair ornaments and novelties. The business has been successful, the company now occupying three floors in their own factory and carrying about one hundred hands on their payroll. John Hyland died in 1918, but M. J. Farrell continues head of the company and is esteemed as one of the city's worthy, substantial business men.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.