USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts of today; a memorial of the state, historical and biographical, issued for the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago > Part 51
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
404
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
A SHLEY B. TOWER, who has a national reputation as an architect and civil engineer, was born at Windsor, Mass., June 26, 1847. Mr. Tower's parents were Stephen D. and Esther L. (Beals) Tower, and the family was a prominent one in that town and descend- ants of the first settlers of Massachusetts Colony. He received a good and liberal education, and, after serving three years' apprenticeship as a builder, he began the study of the business that has since become his life- work and which has given him an acquain- tance with manufac- turers in all parts of the country. Mr. Tower was married in 1875 to Permelia J. Fritts. Mr. Tower has had a long and successful career in his chosen profession, and to-day stands at the head. He was elected city engineer of the city of Holyoke in the year 1881, and he successively held the office that year and for the two succeeding ones, in- troducing many re- forms into the man- agement of the office. In 1878 he became the junior partner of the firm of D. H. & A. B. Tower, civil en- gineers and archi- tects, at Holyoke, and for thirteen years retained these rela- tions. During that time the firm built up a very large business in the designing and the superintendence of construction of paper mills. Nearly all of the paper manufacturing centres of the country show samples of the work of the firm, and a mill building that bears the stamp of the firm of Tower is considered all that is desired. On Jan. 1, 1892, A. B. Tower purchased the interest of the senior partner and the good-will of the firm, and has since conducted the business alone at
Holyoke, having large and well-arranged offices on Main Street. With the change the success of Mr. Tower has not decreased but, on the contrary, has largely increased. As a designer and builder of paper and fibre mills, and as an inventor and patentee of paper machinery, he is recognized as the leading expert of the country. When in partnership with his brother he designed many of the large paper mills of Holyoke, as well as mills that were erected in foreign countries. Among his many con- tracts some of the most important are the Kimberly and Clark mills at Kim- berly, Wis., the Telu- lah mill at Appleton, Wis., the Glens Falls paper mill at Fort Edward, N. Y., the Ticonderoga mill at Ticonderoga, N. Y., the . Denver paper mills at Denver, Col., the Shattuck and Babcock paper mill at De Pere, Wis., the Linden paper mill and the Riverside pa- per mills at Holyoke, the Niagara Falls Paper Company's mills at Niagara Falls, N. Y., and the im- mense paper and sul- phite fibre mills now being erected at Rumford Falls, Me. He is also a director in the Denver Paper Mills Company, and is interested in a num- He enjoys the repu- tation of being one of the best mill architects in the country, his mastery of all the intricate details of paper- mill construction being unsurpassed. His success as civil engineer and as inventor is well matched by the prosperity that has attended his numerous business ventures. Mr. Tower is domestic in his tastes, and after business hours enjoys his evenings at his home with his library and many works of art.
ASHLEY B. TOWER.
ber of other manufacturing plants.
405
HOLYOKE.
W ILLIAM HENRY BROOKS, the son of Reuben P. and Margaret (Eliot) Brooks, is a native of Schuyler's Lake, Otsego County, N. Y., where he was born, Jan. 5, 1855. The birthplace of Mr. Brooks is thirty miles south of Utica, being a part of Richfield Springs, and was adopted as a home by Mr. Brooks, Sr., when he retired from business in New York City. William H. fitted for college at Clinton Liberal Insti- tute at Clinton, N. Y., and entered Dartmouth College in 1872, from which he graduated during Centennial year. He began the study of law in the office of Warren C. French, at Woodstock, Vt. After being admitted to the bar Mr. Brooks formed a law partnership with Edward W. Chapin, of Holyoke, in 1878, and remained so con- nected until 1882, when he withdrew and commenced the practice of his pro- fession alone. He has practised in that city ever since, al- though owing to the fact that Springfield is the county seat and the scene of the larger part of his work, Mr. Brooks has recently opened an office in the latter city, which he runs in connection with the one at Holyoke. Mr. Brooks's career at the Hamp- den County bar has been a most brilliant one, and he stands to-day in the front rank of his profession, in the western part of the State. He is very versatile in his practice and can conduct a criminal case or plead in a civil suit with equal ease. Although still comparatively young, both in years of life and experience, Mr. Brooks has been counsel in some cases which have brought him both fame and money. Recently his work has been
1
WILLIAM H. BROOKS.
more in the civil line, but within the past few years he has been counsel for the defence in several trials for manslaughter and in six murder cases. He is a fine jury lawyer, and the announcement that he is to deliver an argument to the chosen twelve is sure to attract many listeners. He never goes into a case unless fully prepared, and both in cross examining and in delivering an argument conducts himself in a manner that carries conviction. Inheritance and personal study of political principles have es- tablished Mr. Brooks's Republi- canism beyond the shadow of a doubt, and he has done some very effective campaign work in his congressional dis- trict. He does not seek for office, how- ever, and in the year 1892, declined a nomination to Congress, in his dis- trict. He was nom- inated for the dis- trict attorneyship in 1889, but lost it by only a very small number of votes. He was city solici- tor of Holyoke in 1881, 1882 and 1883 and was nominated for mayor the follow- ing year, being de- feated by a small majority in that Democratic strong- hold. Mr. Brooks has been twice married. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Warren C. French, of Woodstock, Vt., who died in 1881. In 1884 he married Jennie, daughter of the late Edwin Chase. He has three children by the first union and two by the latter. The qualities that have assured Mr. Brooks's success at the bar are his industry, his earnestness, his eloquence and his capacity to throw himself, heart and soul, into a case and make his client's interests his own.
406
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
D R. GEORGE HERBERT SMITH, who is one of quite extensively to municipal affairs and to several lines the leading physicians of the city of Holyoke and has been for the past quarter of a century, was born at Chicopee, Mass., July 4, 1840. He was the son of Edmund H. and Lucy B. Smith. The elementary edu- cation of Dr. Smith was acquired in the public schools of his native town, both in the grammar and high schools and later in Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbraham, Mass., from which he graduated in June, 1861. He commenced the study of medi-
cine during the same year. The breaking out of the war fired the youth with en- thusiasm, and on Sept. 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-fifth Reg- iment, Connecticut Volunteers. In March of the follow- ing year he was assigned to duty on the surgical staff of the regiment, re- maining with it until it was mustered out of service. After the close of the war, Dr. Smith resumed his medical studies and was graduated from Bellevue Ilos- pital Medical Col- lege, at New York, in March, 1865. The young doctor immediately located at Simsbury, Conn., and began the prac- tice of medicine and surgery. He removed to Sycamore, Ill., the following year and practised there for awhile. In November, 1868, he returned East and settled at Holyoke, where he has since been engaged in a large and lucrative practice. He is considered one of the best physicians in the city, and his opinion is often sought. While the duties of the medical profession are very exacting, especially where a doctor has a large practice, Dr. Smith has found time to devote himself
GEORGE H. SMITH.
of business in which he is interested. He is a Repub- lican, and has often been an office holder in the city of his adoption. He was a member of the Common Council in the years 1875 and 1876, being president of the board during his last year as a member. During the next two years he represented his ward in the upper branch of the City Council and was an important member of that body. He has also been a member of the School Committee for twelve years, and has also been a member of the Board of Park Commissioners and chairman of the Board of Health. He has also been chairman of the Board of Commis- sioners of the Sink- ing Fund for the city debt. Dr. Smith is also interested in several mercantile enterprises, being owner of a third in- terest in the Excel- sior Paper Company of Holyoke, and is likewise a trustee and auditor of the Mechanics' Savings Bank of that city. He was a director and auditor of the Holyoke & West- field Railroad in 1878. Dr. Smith is married, his wife being Ada M., daughter of the late Dr. C. W. Babcock, of Medina, Ohio, to whom he was united, June 8, 1869. As a result of this union Dr. and Mrs. Smith have two chil- dren, Abbie May Smith and Lucy C. Smith, to brighten their home. In business political, and social circles Dr. Smith enjoys great popularity, and he combines pro- fessional ability and skill with a genius for business and public affairs in an exceptional degrec. In both spheres he has been equally successful.
407
HOLYOKE.
O NE of the representative citizens of Holyoke, and especially of the French portion of that city, is Pierre Bonvouloir, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Bonvouloir was born in Sainte Brigide, county of Iber- ville, P. Q., March 9, 1854, his parents being Pierre and Mary Louise (Benoit) Bonvouloir. He attended school until he was thirteen years old, when he went to work on his father's farm and later in stores in St. Cesaire and Farnham, P. Q. He emigrated to the States and settled in Holyoke, Dec. 12, 1871, where he worked in a couple of grocery stores until August, 1875, when in com- pany with J. A. Proulx he entered business for himself. The following year he bought out his partner and has since conducted the very profitable and growing business alone. The advan- tages of this country early impressed themselves upon Mr. Bonvouloir, and he became a citizen in November of Cen- tennial year. He soon became promi- nent in the political affairs of the city and became a leader in the Democratic party. In 1880 he was elected to a seat in the Common Council from Ward Four, while during the years 1887 to 1892, inclusive, he served as school committeeman- at-large, in which position he gave excellent satisfaction. He was also elected a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, this year. But Mr. Bonvouloir's interest in city affairs is not confined to the field of politics. It has a much broader scope. He is well known and highly respected in business circles and is interested in many important organizations. He is an
PIERRE BONVOULOIR.
active member and director, since its organization, of the Holyoke Board of Trade, and is always on the alert for the advancement of the city's interest, either in the introduction of new industries, or in the development of old ones. He was also a member of the Holyoke Co- operative Bank, and in July, 1889, he organized the City Co-operative Bank and has been its secretary and treasurer since that time. Mr. Bonvouloir is married and has a pleasant family. His first marriage was to Miss Lucinda, daughter of Joseph Dufresne, which took place at Three Rivers, P. Q., Feb. 2, 1883. Mrs. Bon- vouloir died, and in May, 1891, he mar- ried Annie Dufresne, a sister of his first wife. By his first marriage Mr. Bon- vouloir had four chil- dren, Cosette, Liliane, Annette and Lionel. Mr. Bonvouloir is very popular socially and is a leader among his countrymen, while he counts his friends among all nationali- ties. He has in terested himself in the formation of many French socie- ties and has held some office or other in nearly all of them. Holyoke has a very large French popu- lation, and Mr. Bon- vouloir's prominence in political and business life make him a much sought after man, by members of the French population. To many he has given friendly aid or advice, and many have taken advantage of this interest in the welfare of his fellow-man, to seek his help for various objects. Mr. Bonvouloir is accordingly regarded as the leading citizen of Canadian birth in Western Mas- sachusetts, and he has exerted a widespread influence in the Americanizing of his compatriots.
408
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
E DWIN L. MUNN, president of the Park National Bank of Holyoke, and one of the youngest bank presidents in that section of the State, was born at Greenfield, Mass., March 4, 1854. His father was Colonel Charles H. Munn, one of the leading citizens of that town, and a descendant of a family that had been residents of the place for many years. His mother was Mary S. Stockwell, of Hadley. Both of Mr. Munn's parents have died within the past two years. Edwin L. Munn is unmarried, and lives with his brothers and sister, having a very pleas- ant home. Mr. Munn's school - days were comparatively few, and he may properly be called a self-educated man. When a boy he at- tended the public schools in Greenfield, and later spent a year or more in Mt. Pleasant Institute, at Amherst, Mass. While yet a boy he began a business ca- reer that has been very successful, and singularly enough one that has followed the same lines through all of these years. His first work was as a boy in the Franklin County National Bank of Greenfield, in which institution he was steadily advanced in position, being successively book- keeper and teller. This latter position he held, when, in 1876, he left the bank to go to Conway, Mass., as the cashier of the Conway National Bank. He remained there until he went to Holyoke, and with a number of prominent capitalists organized the City National Bank and became its cashier. He served in this capacity for five years, or until 1884, when he organized the Home National Bank and went into its service as cashier. In !
EDWIN L. MUNN
March, 1892, he again became interested in the organ- ization of a new bank, the third in one city, and the result is the Park National Bank, of which he is the president. The bank started with a capital of one hun- dred thousand dollars and a paid-in surplus of fifty thou- sand dollars, and so successful has it been that its stock is quoted many points above par. The bank paid a dividend of six per cent during the first six months of its existence. It is finely located on High Street, near the City Hall, and has handsome quarters. The safe and vault are the finest in the city, and are consid- ered absolutely fire and burglar proof. The other officers of the corporation are William F. Whiting, vice-president, and George W. Parker, cashier. Mr. Munn's political convictions have a Democratic tinge, and while he is now too fully occu- pied with his banking business to devote much time to poli- tics, he has in the past been quite prominent in this field. He was treas- urer of the city of Holyoke in 1884, 1886, 1887 and 1888, and was the Democratic nominec for the State treasur- ership in 1889 and 1890. He is also a member of a number of promi- nent clubs, including the Bay State, of Holyoke, the Winthrop, of Springfield, and the Manhattan Athletic Club, of New York, a chapter Mason, and a Knight of Pythias. Mr. Munn's unbroken record of financial suc- cess, his long experience in the banking business, and his former prominence in political life constitute him one of the representative mien of the State. Socially, Mr. Munn is popular in Holyoke and Springfield.
FITCHBURG
P ITCHBURG is the thirteenth city in the State in point of size, and its population is twenty-seven thousand. It is situated in the northeastern part of Worcester County, on the main line of the Fitchburg Railroad, fifty miles west from Boston, and is one of the most active, enterprising and prosperous cities in the Common- wealth. It is built in a valley through which courses the Nashua River, a stream; that for one hundred years has furnished power for various manufactories, and has been a leading factor in the growth of this now important city. Originally situated only on the river banks, the city has of late years extended in every direction, so that to-day the hills closing in the valley are covered with handsome mansions and comfortable cottages. In its early days Fitchburg was the scene of many little conflicts with the aborigines, but very few tragic events are happily recorded. The first white settlers permanently located there in 1748, and in 1764, with a population of only 259 souls, it was set off from the mother town of Lunenburg as a separate town. From this time to 1835 the history of the town is like that of numerous others, a slow, steady gain ; but it was not till 1870 that the place began to attract notice. In 1800 the population was about 1,400 ; in 1830, about 2,200; in 1850, about 5,000 ; in 1870, about 11,000 ; in 1885 it exceeded 15,000, and in 1890 it exceeded 22,000. From 1885, during a period of five years, the gain exceeded forty-three per cent, surpassing any city in the State, and during the past two years it has reached nearly 30,000. This rapid and almost unprecedented growth for a New England city has been due to the activity of the Board of Trade in securing new industries, the enterprise and business foresight of its leading citizens, and the city's natural advantages, more than to any artificial boom.
The industries of the city are both numerous and varied, comprising the manufacture of steam engines, machinery and tools, woollen goods, worsted goods, extensive gingham factories, ranking among the first in the country and the world ; large paper mills of national reputation, saw manufactory, rolling-machine mill, the only one of its kind ; paper-mill machinery, boots and shoes, bicycles, large car shops, and many smaller but equally important manufactories. The products of its factories and shops are exported to all parts of the world, and have the reputation of holding their own in competition with home or foreign goods. Four national banks furnish a vast amount of capital for the successful prosecution of all enterprises.
Besides being on the main line of the Fitchburg Railroad, now a trunk line, the city is the terminus for the northern division of the Old Colony Railroad and the Cheshire division of the Fitchburg Railroad. About seventy passenger trains arrive and depart daily from the large, commodious and handsome union depot. The railroad facilities are exceptionally favorable both for passenger and freight traffic, and the two roads furnish an easy and rapid communication with the seaboard, and with northern, southern or western connections at exceptionally favorable rates.
The present valuation of the city is estimated as follows : Real estate, $12,971,115 ; personal estate, $4.093,- 630 ; gain since 1891, real estate, $528, 174 ; personal estate, $276,254 ; total, $804,428. The prospects of future growth and importance were never brighter than now. The sales of real estate continue to increase at a surprising rate, building operations and extensive improvements being noticeable on every side. Visitors from Western States speak enthusiastically of the energy displayed, contrasting the city most favorably with the Western idea of enterprise, growth and prosperity. The city possesses all the modern advantages of electric lights, gas, an excel- lent system of water works unsurpassed in the State, paved streets and sidewalks, telegraph and telephone service, local and long distance, electric and horse street cars, building societies, churches of all religious denominations, first-class public schools with grammar and high schools, secret and benevolent societies of all orders, and numer- ous private and public institutions for charitable, social, educational and benevolent purposes. The city also possesses many public buildings of imposing appearance, chief among which is the Wallace Library and Art Building, the gift of one of the city's most generous and most esteemed citizens, Hon. Rodney Wallace. In all matters, industrial, social, moral, religious or educational, Fitchburg invites comparison with her sister cities, having a peaceful, industrious and prosperous population.
410
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
T" THE present mayor of Fitchburg is Hon. Samuel L. Graves, a lawyer of considerable reputation and a native of the pretty town of Groton, Mass. He is the son of John J. and Lucy Graves, and was born July 18, 1847. After graduating from the schools of his native town he entered Amherst College, and graduated from that institution with honors in the class of 1870. His inclination led him in the direction of the law, and he entered the office of Wood & Torrey, of Fitchburg, then a leading legal firm in Worcester County. After the completion of his legal studies he was admitted to practice in 1873. Mr. Graves at once opened an office of his own in Fitchburg, and almost immedi- ately laid the foun- dation for what has grown to be an ex- tensive and remuner- ative practice. He is looked upon as one of the leading prac- titioners in Central Massachusetts. Mr. Graves was many times urged to accept public office, but it was twenty years be- fore he could be per- suaded to accept any position but that of school committee- man. He faithfully 1 served in that capa- city for eight years. In the exciting mu- nicipal contest of 1890 the temperance party urged him to become their standard-bearer, and after some per- suasion he consented. His opponent on the citizens' ticket was Hon. Charles 1. Hayden, then in office, but Mr. Graves was elected by a big plurality, there being a third candidate. The following year he was again put forward by the same party and was elected by a larger vote than the previous year, his opponent, too, being a well-known and highly-esteemed citizen who had seen
SAMUEL L. GRAVES,
many years of public life. In politics Mayor Graves affiliates with the Democratic party, and has frequently been mentioned for important official positions by his party. He has not, however, been an office seeker in any sense of the term. Mr. Graves is universally con- sidered a man of much courage and frankness, and his expressions of opinion are always of a fearless and aggressive nature, but at all times courteous and respect- ful. Although he is a man of firm and decided convic- tions, a due regard for the opinions of others has been one of his distinguishing characteristics ; and among all ranks of society, and with men of all shades of po- litical belief, he is a decidedly popular man. As in the case of all men occupying prominent and re- sponsible positions, Mr. Graves has been the subject of more or less criticism, but his administration of city affairs has been considered by all par- ties one of the most able the city has yet seen. During the two years he has held office many public improvements have been made, and the reputation of the city as a business centre has been more than maintained. As a
speaker, Mr. Graves is well known, and is in demand at gatherings of every kind. Mr. Graves has never become closely identified with social or secret organizations, pre- ferring his home circle to those gatherings when freed from the cares of business and official life. In his capa- city as member of the School Board of Fitchburg he was enabled to accomplish much for the cause of education in the city, and in the higher position to which he was called he rendered greater services to the municipality.
411
FITCIIBURG.
I
INSEPARABLY connected with the growth and pros- perity of Fitchburg, both during the past twenty- five years and for many years to come, is Hon. Rodney Wallace, who is widely known throughout the State and the country. Mr. Wallace was born in New Ipswich, N. H., sixty-nine years ago. His early days were spent in his native State, and at the age of twelve years he commenced life on his own account. Faithful to every trust while filling the minor offices of life, he laid the foundation for a pros- perous and honor- able business life, and in early years his employers learned to place im- plicit trust in him. When thirty years of age Mr. Wallace set- tled in Fitchburg and engaged in the wholesale stationery, paper and cotton waste business, in connection with the late Stephen Shepley. In 1865. the partner- ship was dissolved, and with three asso- ciates he formed the Fitchburg Paper Company, becoming sole proprietor in 1 869. In addition to his own business undertakings Mr. Wallace has been closely identified with a number of business projects, helping in many ways to further the interest of corporations, individuals and the public generally, and in no small measure is due to him a large share of the present growth and prosperity of the city. At the present time Mr. Wal- lace is president of the Fitchburg Gas Company, a director of the Putnam Machine Company, a director of the Fitchburg National Bank, a director of the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank, a director of the Fitchburg
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.