USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > Illustrated history of South Boston > Part 13
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RESIDENCE OF HENRY J. BOWEN.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
pany, and is now one of the trustees of the South Boston Savings Bank.
Mr. Bowen was married in May, 1880, to Miss Sarah E. Dean, daughter of Henry A. Dean, and has one son, Robert Montgomery Bowen. Mr. Bowen's lei- sure time is spent in his library which is an extensive one and in horseback riding. He is the possessor of a num- ber of valuable paintings by modern French and Dutch masters, and resides on Broadway in one of South Boston's finest residences.
CHARLES S. JUDKINS.
One of the prominent business men and former residents of South Boston is Charles S. Judkins, who is one of the leading real estate and insurance agents of this city. His office is situated at 599 Broadway; the pressure of business of late years forced him to open another office at 113 Devonshire street, Boston. Mr. Judkins has the care of some of the largest estates in this district and else- where, and. has conducted to a success- ful finish, many of the largest real estate transactions in South Boston and its vicinity. He was born in Fairfield, Maine, in 1850. His first education was received in the district school. This was supplemented by an attendance at the Westbrook Seminary and the Friends' School, Vassalboro, Me., concluding with a course at Eaton's boarding school for boys. Mr. Judkins' tendency for the real estate business came to him in early years, and he has since maintained him- self in that line with marked success. He commenced business in South Bos- ton in 1872, when he took up his resi- dence. He has handled and cut up the largest estates in South Boston. His thorough knowledge of land and build- ing values has placed him in a prominent position in the real estate world, and he is to-day considered an expert and one of the best judges of real estate in Boston. He has built a large number of houses and has done a great deal towards the development of South Bos- ton, in whose growth and advancement he has always been preeminently in-
terested. Mr. Judkins was in the confer- ences which led up to the confirmation of equipping Boston with the elevated rail- way system, and was associated with the Ames-Shepard elevated railway project which will increase Boston's rapid tran- sit. Mr. Judkins has been associated with the Mattapan Deposit & Trust Company since 1890 being one of its
CHARLES S. JUDKINS.
incorporators ; and has been one of its directors since that time. He is a mem- ber of Rabboni Lodge, F. & A. M., and the South Boston Citizens' Association. In the latter organization he has always been at the service of the district, and his particularly able advice has been of much assistance on many important com- mittees sent out by that body in the in- terest of South Boston.
SAMUEL W. JOHNSON.
One of the most progressive of South Boston's citizens is Samuel W. Johnson, the well-known real estate dealer and builder. Hle was born in Onslow, N. S., March 8, 1851. His native town was settled from sturdy New England stock, who went from the New England Bay colony about 1760. It was at this time that two hundred Harvard graduates settled in Nova Scotia, before the New England refugees, who failed to sym-
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
SAMUEL W. JOHNSON.
pathize with either England or the colonists, left New England. The sub- ject of this sketch came from English parentage on the paternal side, and is a descendant of Sir Christopher Wren. He was the tenth child of a large family, eight of whom are still living, and two of whom are clergymen. Mr. Johnson has been engaged in business and a continu- ous resident of South Boston since 1873. It was in 1881 that he commenced his noted career in the real estate business, during which time he has done more towards improving property in this dis- triet than any other man. In 1884 he branched out in the direction of building houses for investment and improvement, and has constructed nearly two hun- dred houses. He has invariably been
successful in all his operations and wherever he has constructed a build- ing he has im- proved the appear-
ance of the neighborhood and increased the valuation of the property. He has confined his operations entirely to this district and givesregular employment to a large number of men. He has won suc- cess at every turn, showing remarkable judgment and foresight. In a little more than a decade of years he has amassed a snug competency, to which he is entitled. He has used all with the fullest degree of fairness, which has won for him the con- fidence of the public and the friendship of all with whom he comes in contact. Five years ago he bought his present sightly residence on Thomas Park, built by the late Thomas Manning, which gives a commanding view of the harbor and adjacent islands. He is a member of Gate of Temple Lodge, F. & A. M., Bethesda Lodge, I. O. O. F., South Boston Citizens' Association and is a trustee of St. John's M. E. Church. In politics, Mr. Johnson is a Republican and has been honored several times. In 1896 he was tendered the nomination for representa- tive to the legislature and November 19, 1900, he was elected chairman of the Ward 15 Republican Committee. He has always been held in the highest esteem. In 1876, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Jennie L. Hatch, and as a result of the union, they are blessed with three bright children.
RESIDENCE OF SAMULL W. JOHNSON.
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
1 25
P. B. CORBETT.
The senior member of the firm of P. B. Corbett & Sons, comprising Peter B., Nicholas D. and Frederick 1. Cor- bett, has been for years one of Bos- ton's most active auc- tioneers, real estate and gen- eral in- surance agents, holding al- so com- missions of justice of the
Quebec, residing there until July, 1868, when the family removed to Boston, where with the exception of fifteen months in the west and south, in 1871 and 1872, Mr. Corbett has since resided.
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NICHOLAS D. CORBETT. PETER B. CORBETT. FREDERICK A. CORBETT.
peace and notary public. He was born March 29, 1850, in Castletown, County Kilkenny, Ireland, and is of a family whose ancestry dates back to the Norman conquest of England. He left Ireland with his parents, two brothers and three sisters, July 12, 1864, and landed in
His early education was acquired at a private school and the national school of Whitechurch, County Kilkenny. He later took a business course in a Boston Commercial College. He took up the trade of his father that of a general mason and stone cut- ter which he fol- lowed until 1872, working in various parts of the country, including Quebec, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio, and in northeastern Texas. Although this was one of the best paid of the building trades, Mr. Corbett not liking either the work or the roving life it entailed, gave up his trade in 1872 to enter, at less than half the pay to which he had been accus- tomed, the employ
RESIDENCE OF P. B. CORBETT.
I 26
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
of a Boston publishing house, where he continued until 1886, the last three years being in charge of one of its most important depart- ments at a handsome sal- ary. In the latter year he determined to enter business on his own account and his tastes, training and natural ability leading him into the real estate business, he opened an office in South Boston, and has since con- tinued in this business, be- ing at the present time one of the best-known real estate men in the state, he also represents several of the largest American and foreign insurance companies.
In 1892 he purchased the property at 32 1 to 325 Broad- way, and moved his office there. Mr. Corbett began the year 1901 by associat- ing with him in business his two sons, Nicholas Des- mond, born in South Boston, August 7, 1875, and Fred- erick Augustine, born in South Boston, August 27, 1880. Mr. Corbett is a member of South Boston Council, K. of C., of which he was the organizer, Clover Club of Boston, Charitable Irish Society, of Boston, Irish American Historical So- ciety, Mount Washington Lodge A. (). U. W., South Boston Citizens' Associa- tion and the North Dorchester Improve- ment Association. He was married Octo- ber 22, 1874, to Miss Mary Francis I Irley. They have four children, Nicho- las Desmond, Frederick Augustine, Mary Gertrude, and Ernest Brian. His resi- dence is at No. 12 Pleasant street, Dorchester.
THE LATE JOHN H. LOCKE.
Over sixty-four years' residence in this district made John H. Locke one of the best-known citizens of South Boston. He was born August 1, 1835, in Rye, N. II. He attended the Hawes gram-
THE LATE JOHN H. LOCKE.
mar school, but when the districts were changed he went to the old Mather school, where he graduated in 1849, securing a Franklin medal. He then attended the English high school, where he won a Lawrence prize. After two years at the high school ill health com- pelled him to abandon his studies, and he entered the employ of Jewett, Tibbetts & Co., then on Milk street. The firm was afterward changed to Tibbetts, Bald- win & Davis, and the business removed to Summer street. It was on the prem- ises of this concern that the great Boston fire of 1872 started. In May, 1873. he entered the Central National Bank, where he held the responsible position of head book-keeper for twenty-eight years, or up to the time of his death. He was a life member of Adelphi Lodge, F. & .A. M., of which he was secretary from 1871 to 1873 and from 1875 to 1877. He was
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
a member of Bethesda Lodge 1. O O. F., for forty-one years, and a member of its board of trustees for twenty- eight years. He was for twenty-five years a member of the Grand Lodge, I. (). (). F. He was honored with public office, serving in the common council in 1871-72, and again in 1879. During his last year he was chair- man of the Finance Com- mittee. In 1876 he was a member of the Boston School Board. He was also a member of and a former vice-president of the South Boston Citizens' Associa- tion. For upward of thirty- three years he lived on Sev- enth street, where he sud- denly died of pneumonia December 8, 1900. He was united in marriage to Miss Emma Jane Johnson of Bos- ton, who, with four children, survive him.
CAPT. ELIJAH J. GOODWIN.
A venerable citizen of South Boston and one who has always done his duty as a private citizen and a public servant, is ex- police captain Elijah J. Goodwin. He was born at Vineyard Haven, Mass., January 19, 1820. At the age of ten years his parents removed to Scituate, where he attended school until fourteen years of age. Ile then entered the store of Jenkins & Webb where he remained for five years. Being possessed of a de- sire to go to sea, and having made two trips in a fishing schooner, he started for Boston and shipped on the Arab, a vessel of six hundred tons, then the largest vessel sailing out of Boston. The ship sailed for Mobile to load with cotton for Liverpool, with a mixed crew of eight nationalities. The crew soon became mutinous. On June 17, the ship took fire and was burned to the water's edge. The crew was saved and returned to Mobile on a steam transport. Young
CART
CAPTAIN ELIJAH J. GOODWIN.
Goodwin came to South Boston, August 5, 1839, to learn the trade of a ship joiner. March 1, 1841, he joined the fire department and became a member of old Mazeppa Company 17. Later he was made clerk, assistant foreman and foreman. Although he resigned from the department in 1854 on account of ill health, in 1857 he again joined the department as a member of S. R. Spin- ney Company 2. He continued a mem- ber of the fire department after the introduction of steam fire engines. Ile remained with Engine 2 until he resigned in March, 1861. and joined the police department. He was first detailed to Station 5 as a patrolman. April 1, 1863, he was promoted to lieutenant and as- signed to harbor police, Station 8, but in August, 1869, at his own request he was transferred to Station To, where he re- mained until made captain, May 12, 1894,
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
and assigned to Station 12. He remained captain of the City Point station for nineteen years, dur- ing which time no one had occasion to bring charges against him. When retired by law he was presented with a handsome plush chair and resolutions signed by the superintendent, deputy superintendent and captains of the police department as follows : " Resolved, that we, the superintendent, deputy superintendent, chief in- spector and captains of the police department in the city of Boston, tender to Captain Goodwin our high apprecia- tion of him as a man and as a captain of police, and we wish for him many years of rest and comfort." Since re- tirement, according to the rules of the police depart- ment he has retired to pri- vate life. He is a resident of K street and has occu- pied his present home since 1851, this being the second house he has built on K street. He is a member of the Bos- ton Police Relief Association and the South Boston Citizens' Association. He comes from good New England stock and cherishes with pride a grandfather's clock that has been an heirloom in the family for one hundred and fifty years. Hle was married March 1, 1849, to Miss Emeline Simpson, who died July 30, 1893. Ile has two children, Mrs. M. L. Pierce of South Boston and Frank S. Goodwin, now living in Dorchester.
HENRY C. BIRD.
A highly esteemed resident of South Boston is Deacon Henry C. Bird, who has been identified with this district nearly all his life. He dates his ancestry back to the early settlers of Dorchester. He is a son of the late Matthew Bird. When four years of age his parents re-
HENRY C. BIRD.
moved to this district, and young Bird attended the Hawes grammar school. When twelve years of age he graduated.
His first experience in mercantile life was as a boy in Leonard's auction store on Tremont row, and he was afterwards employed by Joseph Leonard, Bromfield street. It was in 1869, that he engaged in business for himself as a member of the firm afterwards known as Leonard, Bird & Co., who then conducted a busi- ness on Tremont street. the firm later changed to Henry C. Bird & Co. Five years ago the concern was incorporated under the name of Lewis J. Bird & Com- pany, and is to-day the largest of its kind in this city, doing a big auctioneering business on Bromfield street. Mr. Bird is known over Boston and vicinity for his honest, upright dealings. He has won scores of friends by his conscientious methods. He has for many years been
1 29
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
an influential member of Phil- lips Congregational church. His brother members of this well-known congregation prize his services highly and for years have selected him as one of their deacons ; and he is now senior deacon. Other than this he has been trusted for years as the treas- urer of the Phillips Church Society, a position he has filled with credit to himself and to the prosperous parish. He is a member of the Hawes School Boys' Association, the South Boston Citizens' Asso- ciation, Knights of Honor, and was formerly a member of the Ancient and Honor- able Artillery Company. In all of these bodies he has been an active member, always looking forward to the social and financial condition of each. Anything pertaining to the welfare, improvement and success of South Boston has always met with his most hearty approval. This is but natural as he comes from a stock that has always held Boston in the highest esteem and who settled in that part of Dorchester, which is now known as South Boston. His record is without a blemish and by the people of this local- ity, he is esteemed as one of its leading residents.
GEORGE B. JAMES. .
George B. James was born on Dor- chester street, South Boston, July 5, 1837, and lived in this section upwards of thirty years, then moving to Dorchester. His father was Benjamin James and his mother, Sarah Ann Kent, was born in South Boston. His mother graduated at the Hlawes school in 1825, taking a city medal at the time, while her son, George B. James, took a Franklin medal at the same Hlawes school in 1850, afterwards graduating from the English high school in 1853. His ancestors were of Pilgrim
GEORGE B. JAMES.
origin, he being the seventh generation from Peregrine White, the first white child born in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts.
He entered the lumber business as a clerk at the age of sixteen and has con- tinued in the selling and manufacture of lumber and mainly in the ownership of forests, continuously, since 1853. He gave up the manufacture of lumber, devot- ing himself to the development and ownership of forests in New England, Canada and New Brunswick, devoting special attention to New Hampshire forests since 1875, and is at the present time the largest owner of spruce forests in the White Mountain section of New Hampshire, being a practical expert in forestry matters.
In 1875 and during subsequent years, he became the publisher and editor of " The American Cultivator," the oldest agricultural paper in America. . " The American Horse Breeder," the most
1 30
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
prominent trotting horse paper in Amer- ica. "The Massachusetts Ploughman," the third oldest agricultural paper in America.
Hle also originated and founded " The Boston Budget," now conducted by his son, William Grant James, " The Manu- facturers' Gazette " and " The Household Companion."
While conducting these several jour-
ROBERT F. MEANS.
nals he has never ceased to devote the most of his time to forestry matters, especially to the forest-lands of New Hampshire ; and is a recognized anthor- ity on all such matters.
He is a member of the Boston Cham- ber of Commerce; of the Boston Art Club; American Forestry Association, Washington; Appalachian Mountain Club of Boston ; Boston Real Estate Exchange; Old Bostonian Society: Old Hawes
School Boys' Association. He was the fifth president of the Hawes Associa- tion and has maintained a lively interest in the organization and in its successes.
He is a director and member of the executive committee of the East Boston Company of this city; chairman of the trustees of the Boylston Street Land Company, Back Bay F'ens. Boston ; chair- man of Board of Trustees of the Wollas- ton Land Company, of Quincy; trustee of the Ten Associates Land Company of Norfolk Downs, Quincy; Di- rector of the Everhart Coal Company, Wilkes Barre, Pa: Also member of various other minor societies and corpora- tions.
In 1863 he married Miss Adelaide Grant Washburn of Gardiner, Maine, and four children are the result of the union, - George B., Jr., Wil- liam Grant, Robert Kent and Adelaide Washburn.
ROBERT F. MEANS.
The subject of this sketch was born in the old Fort Hill district, August 22, 1838. At the age of five years he came to South Boston and attended the old Hawes grammar school and is to-day one of the most active members of that association. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of St. Paul's Lodge and DeMolay Com- mandery, Knights Templar. He is also affiliated with the South Boston Citizens' Association, of which organization he was president for several years ; the Massachusetts Charit- able Mechanics Association, the Ameri- can Chemical Society and other bodies. In politics Mr. Means is a Republican. Hle has served on the local Republican committees, and was vice-president of the Republican City committee for three years and a member of the Massachusetts State committee for two years. He also
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
served Ward 14 for two years in the legis- lature, during which time he took a promi- nent part in its deliberations and has the honor of being the first representative to introduce a measure requiring electric wires to be placed underground. He was a member of the Mattapan Literary Association and one of a committee which succeeded in having a branch of the public library established in South Boston. As president of the South Boston Citizens' Association he con- tributed largely to the move- ment for a high school in South Boston. As the friend and associate of the late Al- bert F. Lauten, Mr. Means was a valuable assistant in securing Marine Park for this section. As an old and ex- perienced chemist and in- spector, his ability and acquirement have gained for him the confidence of the most prominent oil men in the country. He has given much time to the study of petroleum oils and the re- sults of his labor in that direction are highly com- mended by physicians.
The Means brothers are descended, on the father's side from Robert Means, a leader of the Scotch-Irish immigrants of 1718, who in- troduced the linen spinning wheel and potato. On their mother's side, they are de- seendants of Jeremy Hlou- chin, deputy to the General Court; also one of the earliest selectmen of Boston, and of Rev. James Allen, pastor of the First Church, who "owned a far larger part of the territory of Boston than was ever owned by any individual, unless per- haps we except one William Blackstone." They were also descended from Francis Wells, Esq., an old-time merchant and distiller, who came to Boston in 1723 in his own ship, " Ye Hampstead Galley," from London, and resided on Bowdoin square and Green street, in early days
called . Wells Corner." Francis Wells' daughter, Elizabeth, was the wife of Samuel Adams, the patriot, and it is probable the long-lost burial place of Samuel Adams may be found to be in the Allen-Wells tomb of the Granary burial ground. Their great-grandfather, Cap- tain Edward Rumney, previous to the evacuation of Boston by the British, helped fortify Dorchester Heights, pre-
JOHN 11. MEANS.
paring heavy barrels of rocks, etc., to roll down upon the British in case of attack. Their mother was Sophia Rumney Wells. Their great-grandmother was a sister of Governor William Eustis and the great- granddaughter of Nathaniel Hancock, who, Page's "History of Cambridge" says, was grandfather of John Hancock, the signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. Whether Hancock was a relative or not both Adams and Hancock were
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
staunch friends of the Wells family, one of whom, Elton Wells, in Savannah, Ga., originated with a cargo of sugar what Adams in Boston originated with a cargo of tea. The " Sugar Party " in Georgia was as similar to the " Tea Party " of Boston as the resolutions endorsing the action of the Continental Congress by the Georgia county deputies, of whom Elton Wells was one, were to the resolutions of Samuel Adams in the Massachusetts Legislature of 1765 and 1769, defining the common right of Englishmen.
JOHN H. MEANS.
This well-known citizen was born in South Boston in 1844 and received his education in the Old Hawes grammar school. . He is the senior member of the firm of Means & Thacher, paint manu- facturers, 6 and 8 Custom House street, Boston. He is thirty-second degree Mason and has been a member of the following Masonic bodies for more than thirty years :- St. Paul's Lodge, St. Mathews Royal Arch Chapter of South Boston; De Molay Commandery, Knights Templars, and the Massachusetts Con- sistory. He has for several years been a member of the South Boston Citizens' Association and now serves as president for 1901. No little of its present large membership and influence in local matters have been due to his personal exertions. As representative of this association dur- ing the six days' yachting carnival in South Boston in July, 1900, by his sugges- tion and efforts, he obtained, with the assistance of the local congressman, the loan of a large searchlight from the United States government which was operated from the South Boston Yacht Club to show to advantage the large fleet of yachts and decorations at City Point. Mr. Means has always been active in the Republican party, is a man of rare political ability and has successfully managed several local campaigns against great odds. He did successful work in the interest of Hon. John L. Bates in his campaign for lieutenant-governor in 1899, represented South Boston in the Republican State committee of 1900 and was unanimously
reelected for 1901. He was active in the formation of the South Boston Re- publican Club, the securing of its beauti- ful club house, and is at present the chairman of its executive committee. He is also an active member of the Old Hawes School Boys' Association. Mr. Means' picture may be seen in the public library of this district as one of the six survivors of the Mattapan Literary Asso- ciation, which organization gave several thousand books to the city to found the branch library here.
JAMES H. STARK.
This former resident was born in Eng- land, July 6, 1847, his father bringing him to this district in 1856. He attended the Hawes, Lincoln and Latin schools. Learning the electrotypers' trade, at twenty-three years of age he engaged in business for himself but was burned out in the Boston fire of 1872. The next two years and a half he devoted to yachting, being an enthusiast. In 1874 with William H. Mumler he started the second photo-engraving concern in the United States known as the Photo
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