USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 72
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Mr. Hadley is a veteran of the World War, having en- listed for service overseas and receiving his commission as second lieutenant August 15, 1917. He served in the IoIst United States Infantry, and in December of the same year was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant while in action in France. He sailed September 13, 1917, and saw active service with the American Expeditionary Forces for nineteen months, engaging in the three major offensives and also being active in the three defensive sectors. He was wounded in action at the battle of Chateau-Thierry, and was awarded the 26th Division Citation at St. Mihiel. He received his honorable dis- charge from the service after his return to America on June 2, 1919. Mr. Hadley is prominent in club circles, being a member of the Worcester Country Club, the Quinsigamond Boat Club, the Rotary, University, and Harvard clubs of Worcester, and the Worcester Auto- mobile Club. He is a member of Devens Post, Ameri- can Legion; and is a member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce. He attends the Congregational church.
Mr. Hadley married, in 1920, Grace Wardwell, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and they have two sons: Edward Lowell, born October 31, 1921, and Wardwell Gould, born June 25, 1923. Mrs. Hadley is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
DENNIS F. MALONEY-As treasurer of the Wood Novelty Company of Leominster, Massachusetts,
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Dennis F. Maloney is identified with the furniture man- ufacturing business, but this interest represents only a part of Mr. Maloney's business activities. He is also the owner and proprietor of a thriving clothing business.
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Mr. Maloney was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, August 5, 1878, son of John Maloney, a native of Leo- minster, who was engaged in the comb industry to the time of his retirement, and of Annie M. (Donnelly) Maloney, who was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, both of whom are now (1923) living in Leominster. He received his education in the public schools of Leomin- ster, graduating from the high school with the class of 1896, and then entered the employ of Thomas Lavin, who was engaged in the clothing business in Fitchburg. That connection he maintained until 1908, when he pur- chased the Gardner branch store of Mr. Lavin, later re- moving it to Leominster, where it is now located, under his own name. Since that time he has continued to suc- cessfully conduct the business, which, under his efficient management, has steadily expanded. Although he has given careful attention to his clothing business, Mr. Ma- loney has also found time for another important business enterprise. He is treasurer of the Wood Novelty Com- pany, Inc., which was organized in 1918 and incorporated in 1919, the official personnel being as follows: Joseph P. Mercier, president ; Pierre Besson, vice-president ; and Dennis F. Maloney, treasurer and general manager. The corporation is engaged in the manufacture of a general line of furniture, but also specializes in a line of children's chairs. The plant is located at No. 73 Man- chester Street, where the business occupies three floors and a basement, and requires the services of a large number of employees. Twenty thousand square feet of floor space are fully occupied, and the plant sends its product to all parts of the United States. Mr. Maloney is a member of Gardner Lodge, No. 39, Order of For- esters, and his religious affiliation is as a member of St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Maloney married, October 5, 1908, Anna M. Duggan, who was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of two children: Walter J., who was born July 5, 1910, and Margaret E., who was born January 25, 1912.
MITCHEL K. MAYKEL-In automobile circles in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, and for a wide region in this and adjoining districts, Mr. Maykel is well known as the distributor of some of the foremost makes of automobiles. A man of marked business ability, energy, and progressive spirit, Mr. Maykel's ac- tivities are contributing materially to the general ad- vance, and he holds a position of dignity and honor in the community. He is a son of Kalel and Annie (Smart) Maykel, his parents both natives of Syria, and both now deceased. His father was active in the dry goods business in Worcester, Massachusetts, until his death, which occurred in 1895, and his mother died in 1905.
Mitchel K. Maykel was born at Beyrouth, Syria, March 7, 1881. The family coming to this country when he was an infant, he received his early education in the public schools of Worcester and followed his higher studies at St. Joseph's French School. His early busi- ness experience was in the dry goods line, and he was
thus active until 1914. Meanwhile, in 1912, Mr. Maykel became interested in the automobile business in addition to his dry goods interest, and within the following two years the automobile business so far eclipsed the latter in importance that since 1914 he has devoted his entire attention to automobiles. He first took over the agency for the Abbott-Detroit car, then, in 1915, also became agent for the Krit car and the Empire car, and in 1917 he added the Metz. In 1918 Mr. Maykel took over the agency for the Oldsmobile, and the latter two became his leaders. He dropped the Oldsmobile in 1922, mean- while, in 1919, having taken over the Maxwell and Chalmers cars. He has also been agent for the Velie car. Mr. Maykel has become one of the most prom- inent figures in the automobile business in the city of Worcester, and his continued success is assured. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Interested in every branch of public ad- vance, he has never taken a leading part in public affairs, but for a number of years served as court interpreter for Worcester County. He is a member of the Worcester Automobile Club, and attends the Greek Catholic church.
Mr. Maykel married, on November 25, 1900, Josephine Massabeni, who was born in Syria, and is a graduate of the American College in that country. They are the parents of eight children : Eva M., Charles M., Albert E., Evelyne, Margaret J., Adele, Anna, and William.
JOSEPH E. VENNE-Among the well-known men of Leominster, Massachusetts, engaged in the insurance business is Mr. Venne, who has served his community as a public official for several years. His father, Charles, who was a farmer until his death in 1884, and his mother, Perpetin (Landry) Venne, whose death oc- curred in 1880, were natives of St. Jacque, Province of Quebec, Canada.
Joseph E. Venne was born at St. Jacque, Canada, August 3, 1855. His education was obtained in Joliet College, and when completed, he entered the dry goods business in Montreal, where he remained for three years. Then he moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, and for five years engaged in the same line of business there, leaving to establish himself as a dry goods merchant at Manchester, New Hampshire. He was in business there ten years, before moving successively to Lowell, Massa- chusetts, for eight years, and to Leominster in 1898. In the city of Leominster he maintained a dry goods business for six years, and then started his insurance agency, representing nine of the foremost insurance com- panies, and becoming vice-president of the Bay State Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Lawrence, Massa- chusetts.
He is affiliated fraternally with the Foresters of America, and the Union of St. Jean de Baptiste, and is a member of the Lorier Club. Politically, he is a Dem- ocrat, a member of the Democratic State Committee, and chairman of the License Board of Leominster, a position which he has held since 1915. He was an Alder- man in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, for a period of one year. In religion, a Roman Catholic, he attends St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Venne married (first) Eugena LeDue, February 13, 1882; she died in .1888. He married (second)
Charles E. Cook.
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Adeline Birtran, who died in 1917. He married (third), January 6, 1919, Sarah Coopy, a native of Shatergay, New York. The children of his first marriage were: Joseph George, born July 25, 1883; and Antonette R., born April 25, 1886.
CHARLES E. COOK-In various lines of forward endeavor Charles E. Cook, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, has for many years been a leader in this part of Wor- cester County. Identifying himself with the local in- dustries as a young man, he has borne the part of a useful citizen throughout the years, and has now for many years been active in the responsible office of Post- master of Uxbridge. Mr. Cook is a son of John Cook, who was born in Ireland in 1825, and came to the United States in 1849, locating in Uxbridge. He was for many years identified with the textile industry, and overseer of weaving at Waucantuck Mills of Uxbridge. The mother, Margaret (Ranahan) Cook, was born in Ireland in November, 1836, and came to the United States in 1852. The father died in 1880 and the mother in 1916.
Charles E. Cook was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, April 6, 1862. His education was acquired in the public and high schools of Uxbridge, also under private instruc- tion in the classics. Possessing artistic tastes and a practical turn of mind which led him to apply his ener- gies in the industries, he became a noteworthy figure in the textile industry as a designer of woolen goods after learning the trade in the Waucantuck Mills. He was active in the employ of that concern for ten years (1879-1889). He then secured a position in the Hecla Mill of the Calumet Woolen Company of Uxbridge. He remained with this concern, however, for only five years or thereabouts, his appointment to his present po- sition commanding his service thereafter. Always deeply interested in the public advance and active in various movements for the community welfare, Mr. Cook is looked upon as a leading citizen of Uxbridge, and his appointment as Postmaster by President Cleve- land was acclaimed as an excellent and desirable step in the progress of local affairs. Mr. Cook received his appointment on February 14, 1894, and he has now made the very unusual record of more than twenty-nine years of continuous service in an office usually changed with the changes of the political administration. This is an eloquent comment on the confidence and esteem in which he is held in local circles, also upon his practical ability in the administration of exacting and responsible duties filled with multitudinous detail.
Mr. Cook has for years served in various lines of commercial, financial, and social endeavor, and is clerk of the corporation and on the board of trustees of the Uxbridge Savings Bank, also chairman of the auditing committee. He is vice-president of the Blackstone Val- ley Agricultural Society, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. For six years he was Grand Knight of Mumford Council, Knights of Columbus, of Whitins -. ville before the order was represented at Uxbridge. He is also a member of the Foresters of America, in which he served five terms as Chief Ranger, and is an associ- ate member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His religious affiliation is with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Cook married Hanah M. Fahy, who was born in
Uxbridge, February 22, 1857, and is a daughter of Cor- nelius Fahy, who was born in Ireland in 1809, and Mar- garet (Murphy) Fahy, also born in Ireland in 1813. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of six children : I. Joseph E., who was born in Uxbridge, May 1, 1892. He enlisted April 7, 1917, in Denver, and was in France during 1918 and 1919. He received his discharge from the service with the rank of second lieutenant in 1919. He served in the Machine Gun Corps, 88th Division. He married Alice Spencer, who was born in Iowa; he re- sides in Denver, and is on the staff of the Denver "Post." 2. John J., who was born in Uxbridge September 17, 1893, and enlisted for service in the World War in 1917. He was discharged from the service with the rank of lieutenant. 3. Charles W., who was born in Uxbridge, June 3, 1895. 4. Edward C., who was born in Uxbridge, August 2, 1896, and was drafted in 1918 and served in the infantry at Boston forts. 5. Mary M., born in Uxbridge, November 27, 1897. 6. William J., born in Uxbridge, September 6, 1899.
IRVING A. GREEN-One of the natives of Wor- cester who has spent practically his entire life in the city of his birth is Irving A. Green, secretary of the Washburn Company of that city, who has been identified with the concern which he now serves in official capacity since the beginning of his active career.
Mr. Green is a son of William Arthur Green, a native of Northboro, Massachusetts, who was engaged in busi- ness as a milk distributor to the time of his retirement in 1897, and of Stella A. (Moody) Green, who was born in East Pittston, Maine, and who are now living in Worcester. Born in Worcester on August 30, 1880, Irving A. Green received his education in the public and high schools of his native city, and' when his formal school training was completed, found his first employment with the Wire Goods Company, now one of the divisions of the Washburn Company of this city, beginning his connection with the concern in the capacity of office boy. During the more than two decades which have elapsed since then, he has continuously maintained his connec- tion with this concern, filling at various times prac- tically every position in the business and finally rising to the official position of secretary, which he now holds (1923). His interest, faithfulness, and ability have con- tributed largely to the progress of the business, and he is well known as one of the successful business men of Worcester. From 1907 to 1910 he was in Lowell, man- aging the Woods-Sherwood Company, the oldest manu- ufacturers of wire goods in this country, and which the Wire Goods Company had purchased. In 1910 the business was transferred to Worcester, and Mr. Green returned to his native heath. From 1912 until 1915 his headquarters were in Chicago, where he was acting as superintendent of the Wire Hardware Com- pany, the controlling interest of which had been pur- chased by the Wire Goods Company. That business later was consolidated with the Cassidy-Fairbanks Manu- facturing Company, and it now forms one of the divi- sions of the Washburn Company. Mr. Green is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Quin- sigamond Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Eureka Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hiram Council, Royal and Select Masters; and Worcester County Com-
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mandery, No. 5, Knights Templar. He is also member of the Worcester County Music Association, and is treasurer of the Worcester Male Singers' Club, which is the successor of the old Board of Trade Glee Club. Mr. Green is gifted with a fine baritone voice, and is deeply interested in music. He is a member of the Economic Club, the Rotary Club, the Young Men's Christian Association, the American Society Mechan- ical Engineers, including its Worcester chapter, the Worcester County Mechanics' Association, and the Tay- lor Society. His religious affiliation is with the First Universalist Church of Worcester. For relaxation and recreation Mr. Green is much interested in photography.
He married, October 18, 1910, Mary R. Jones, a daugh- ter of David Jones and Harriet L. (Knight) Jones ; she was born in Stockbridge, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Green reside at No. 4 Chesterfield Road, Worcester, Massachusetts.
CHARLES H. DAVIS-A most active and interest- ing career, and also a most honorable one has been that of Charles H. Davis, who is now engaged in the rcal estate business in Athol, Massachusetts, his leading in- terest being the buying and remodeling of old houses which, when they have been transformed into attrac- tive and convenient new houses, he sells. Mr. Davis has had a wide and varied business experience in sev- eral different lines of activity, and is also a well known musician.
Born in Orange, Massachusetts, December 19, 1851, Mr. Davis is a son of George W. and Mary A. (Hinds) Davis; the father of Orange and the mother of Hub- bardston, Massachusetts. George W. Davis was en- gaged in farming to within fifteen or twenty years of the time of his death, which occurred at the summer home of his son, Charles H., when he was ninety-one years of age, and his wife died in Athol, Massachusetts, at the age of eighty-eight years. Charles H. Davis removed with his parents to Templeton, Massachusetts, when he was three years of age, and in the public schools of that city he received his education. When his high school course was completed, he found his first employ- ment in the dry goods store of E. S. Read, and there he remained for a period of seven years, at the end of which time he purchased the interests of his employer and became the owner of the business. Two weeks later came a disastrous fire which was hard to bear. The building next door to his store was burncd and the fire, spreading, destroyed Mr. Davis' store and merchan- dise as well. This was a heavy blow, for the fire had not only destroyed all that he owned, but it had left him with a burden of indebtedness amounting to $3,000. His health failed somewhat, and in order to regain his strength, as well as to repair his financial losses, he ob- tained a position as salesman in the employ of a dry goods house. On September 2, 1877, he opened a real estate office in Orange, Massachusetts, still carrying a debt of $3,000. His health by this time was somewhat improved, and he bent his energies to the task of clearing the debt. Within three years that feat was accom- plished and he was once more a debt free man. Later he became sales manager for C. N. Stimpson, of Spring- field, who was engaged in the manufacture of wooden legs and pianos. This connection he maintained for
some time, and then made a change, but soon returned, signing a three-year contract. The terms of the con- tract having been fulfilled, he returned to Orange, Massachusetts, and again entered the real estate business. After continuing successfully in that line for some time in Orange, he operated a real estate office in Athol, Massachusetts, and there he has continued to the present time. His chief interest is the buying of old homes, which he remodels and renovates and then sells. He has thus transformed more than one hundred old houses in Worcester County, making of decrepit, out-of-date and inconvenient homes, attractive and well-equipped dwelling places. In 1877 he started business in Orange, but some years later removed his headquarters to Athol, and in that place he has a record of having handled more than 800 real estate sales without ever having had a case at court. During Governor Russell's administra- tion he was appointed Justice of the Peace and that office he has continued to hold to the present time. In addition to his business interests Mr. Davis has made for himself a wide reputation as a musician. He was a director of the choir of two churches in East Boston, and then came to Orange, Massachusetts, as organist and choir director for a group of churches. His wife, who had a fine soprano voice, worked with him until her health failed. Mr. Davis was also organist and choir director for two churches in Springfield, Massachusetts, and from the time he came to Athol until 1922, was organist and choir director for all the churches in that community. In 1922 he retired from church music work. Fraternally Mr. Davis is a member of Social Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious affili- ation is with the First Congregational Church of Hub- bardston, but he has always been an active worker in all churches, regardless of denominational interest.
Charles H. Davis married, on May 29, 1878, at East Boston, Hattie A. Morgan, of East Boston, daughter of Captain J. and Azuba (Gates) Morgan.
JOSEPHINE W. SPIDEL-The distinction of owning and operating one of the old established busi- nesses in Clinton, and the leader in its line, belongs to Miss Josephine W. Spidel, of the Spidel Studios, at No. 28 High Street. Miss Spidel, as well as both her parents, is a native of Nova Scotia her birthplace being South Brookfield, Queens County, of that province. Her father, Jacob Spidel, who was born in Lunenburg County, was a prosperous farmer, engaging in that occu- pation until his death in 1918. Her mother, who was born at Harmony, Queens County, died in 19II.
When she was twenty-three years of age, Miss Spidel went to Boston to seek opportunities for her talents, having taken up the study of art in her native country. She worked in various positions in Boston, Massachu- setts, until 1905 when she came to Clinton and pur- chased the studios she now owns and manages. These were originally established before the Civil War. They were owned for some years by a Mr. Boynton, then were later acquired and operated by J. E. Harvey, who con- ducted the business under the name of the Harvey Studios for sixteen years. Miss Spidel purchased the establishment from Mr. Harvey and changed the name to the Spidel Studios, which is as it now stands. The years of successful experience Miss Spidel brings to her
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business enables her to handle all classes of photographic work, both in the commercial and portrait departments, while her equipment is complete and of the most modern type, all combining to sustain a high reputation for the large output of art work she supplies to the residents and business houses of Clinton. Miss Spidel is a woman of fine character and progressive spirit, and takes an interest in whatever contributes to the best welfare of the community of which she is a part. In her religious affiliation she is a member of the Baptist church of Clinton.
CLARENCE M. NASH-Holding a responsible position in the public trust as cashier of the First National Bank of Webster, Massachusetts, Clarence M. Nash is one of the well known figures in this community, where he was born and reared, and which he has made the scene of his life work. Devoting his entire attention to one line of endeavor, the life history of Mr. Nash might be summed up in a very few words, but the effort and steadfastness of purpose which has marked his ca- reer, might well be enumerated among those forces which count for the permanent stability and prosperity of the community. Mr. Nash is a son of Richard E. Nash, who was born at Northampton, Massachusetts, and was engaged in the textile industry until his death, which occurred in 1880. The mother, Lorena (Pit- singer) Nash, was born at West Hampton, Massachu- setts, and died in the year 1916.
Clarence M. Nash was born at Webster, Massachu- setts, August 2, 1866. His education was received in the local public schools, and on completing his studies, he became associated with the First National Bank of Webster, in a minor capacity. Mr. Nash has remained with this institution, without interruption, throughout the entire intervening period of some thirty-eight years, and in his organization he has risen to positions of large responsibility until now he is cashier of the bank, which office he has filled for a number of years. This is one of the old and substantial financial institutions of Worcester County, and has borne a part during its entire progress in the general prosperity of the com- munity. Mr. Nash is also treasurer of the Webster Co- operative Bank, which position he has filled for twenty years. He has long been active as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Webster Public Library, and served on the Building Committee for the Corbin Public Library. Mr. Nash has been active as Town Auditor for the past decade, but except for this responsible office he has never accepted public honors. Fraternally Mr. Nash is affiliated with Free and Accepted Masons, Royal Arch Masons and the Royal Arcanum, of which he has been treasurer for many years. He attends the Baptist church of Webster, and has been treasurer of the church society for eleven years, also for twenty years has been organist of this church.
Mr. Nash married, on October 12, 1892, Maude E. Nichols, who was born in Webster, Massachusetts, and they have two daughters: Dorothy, wife of Earl W. Brailey, of Manchester, New Hampshire; and Janet S.
JOHN A. MONAHAN-A man whose thorough education, broad knowledge, and extensive experience in his profession make for him a leading place among
the physicians of this county is John A. Monahan, M. D., of Clinton, Massachusetts. Dr. Monohan came originally from Boylston, this State, where he was born October 27, 1879, coming to Clinton with his parents when a boy. His father, Michael Monahan, was a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and followed the occu- pation of gardener throughout his life here, his death occurring in 1919. His mother, who was born at South Hadley Falls, died in 1918.
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