USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts of today; a memorial of the state, historical and biographical, issued for the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago > Part 56
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JOHN L. OTIS.
Otis had a long and exciting war experience. He took part in all of Burnside's and Foster's engagements in North Carolina, and in 1863 was engaged with General Foster's army in its work in South Carolina. The fol- lowing year he was ordered to service in Virginia, and joined the Army of the James. In all of his army ex- perience General Otis showed himself to be the true soldier, and the scars of three wounds, one received at Newbern, and two at Kingston, serve to keep fresh in memory the dangers of his long cam- paign. He returned to his chosen profes- sion at the close of the war, and became superintendent of the Florence Sewing Ma- chine Company at Florence, Mass., where he remained for three years, or until he established the Northampton Emery Wheel Com- pany, of which he is treasurer. General Otis is held in high esteem by his fellow- townsmen, and has often been honored by election to office. He is a stanch Re- publican, and one of the party's leaders. He was a selectman, assessor and over- seer of the poor in Northampton in 1875-76, and a year later was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving on the Committee on Military Affairs. He was elected to the State Senate in 1879, and re-elected the next year, at both times serving on important committees. He made a most honorable record as a legislator, per- forming valuable service for his constituents and for the State. General Otis was married, March 1, 1847, to Catherine, daughter of Cyrus Preston, of South Hadley, and has two children.
444
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
N NORTHAMPTON has always been particularly strong in her representatives of the law and letters, and many shining lights in the former profes- sion have had their birth or early business experiences in the " Meadow City." The city still has its prominent disciples of Blackstone, and among them may be classed Richard W. Irwin, the present city solicitor, and a rep- resentative of the younger generation. Mr. Irwin was born in Northampton, Feb. 18, 1857, where his parents, William and Mary Irwin, resided. His early schooling was obtained in the pub- lic schools of that city, where he learned just enough to be imbued with a desire to go to col- lege. At that time, however, the plan seemed out of the question, as he was too poor, but the idea always remained and years afterward bore fruit. He im- mediately went to work at the trade of a machinist in Flor- ence, and having mastered it moved to Elgin, Ill., in 1876, where he went to work in the ma- chine department of the Elgin Watch Factory. He re- mained there two and one- half years, resigning his position to return to Natick, where he engaged in the house fur- nishing business with his brother, T. 1 .. Irwin. The bent of his nature, however, was not in a mercantile direction. He always had a desire to read law, and to consummate that plan he left the furniture business in 1882, and entered Boston University, from which he graduated with honors and the degree LL. B. in June, 1885. He had planned to locate in the West after receiving his diploma, but sickness in his family com-
RICHARD W. IRWIN.
pelled him to return to Northampton, where he has since practised very successfully. While an enthusiastic Republican, Mr. Irwin has paid more attention to the practice of his profession than to political battling, although he has ever stood ready to serve his party in the field, and has done some valiant service. He has been a member of the Republican City Committee for the past six years, and has "stumped " the district for the Republican ticket. He is one of the most con- vincing Republican speakers in the State. He has declined nomination to the Legislature on sev- eral occasions rather than have such honor conflict with his law business, and, as a consequence, his cli- entele has grown to flattering propor- tions. His selection as city solicitor for three consecutive terms has also ex- tended his reputa- tion, and has added not a little to his legal business. Mr. Irwin was also a member of the Com- mon Council of the City Government for two years, one of which he was presi- dent of the board. He has shown a great interest in mat- ters relating to the military, and is now captain of Company 1, Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. His recreation consists of his duties in society and a devotion to music, which is a talent with him, and which has led him to sing in several church choirs at various times. Mr. Irwin was married, Nov. 16, 1892, to Miss Florence E. Bangs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Bangs, the former being a pros- perous merchant of Springfield, where the ceremony took place.
445
NORTHAMPTON.
A MONG the many men who have contributed to the fame of Northampton, as an educational centre, none deserve public recognition to a greater degree than Lewis Joel Dudley, president of the Clarke Institu- tion for Deaf Mutes. Mr. Dudley was born in Guilford, Conn., Nov. 11, 1815, his parents being Joel and Har- riet (Griswold) Dudley. Like many other boys, he was brought up and worked on a farm, during his early boy- hood, attending the district school during the winter. He early decided upon a college course and began prepara- tion in the Guilford Academy and con- tinued it in the acad- emy at Berlin, in the same State. At the age of nineteen he entered Yale, in the class of 1838, and in the face of many difficulties, including an almost fatal illness during his junior year, graduated with his class. After his matriculation he taught the Lewis Academy at South- ington, Conn., for a year, and the Brainard Ha Academy at Had- dam in the same State. In 1840 he a became a tutor at Yale, giving instruc- tion in Latin the first year and in Greek for the next five years. His instruc- tion in Greek was highly complimented by Professor James Hadley, who said that it was of permanent value to the college, in elevating the standard of instruction in this department. While during this work he attended lectures on theology, moral government and mental philosophy. He gave up his tutorship in 1846 and entered the Yale Law School, and a year later received the degree of bachelor of laws. For a year he read law in the office of Hungerford & Cone, in Hartford, and
was admitted to the bar in 1848, but disliking the pleadings of that time he gave up the law and opened a classical school in Northampton, to prepare boys for college. This institution was a great success, and dur- ing its fourteen years of life received pupils from every State in the Union. During the war Mr. Dudley aided greatly in the enlistment of soldiers, besides doing much for their comfort in the field. In politics Mr. Dudley is an independent Republican. In 1864 he was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate and was made a member of the State Valuation Commit- tee. In the years 1865, 1866 and 1867, and again in 1873, he was elected a representative to the General Court. Dur- ing his tenure of office in 1867, he took a leading part in securing a charter for Clarke Institute, which has been brought to a high state of excellence, since his election to the presidency, in 1883. Mr. Dudley was also largely in- strumental in the construction of the Massachusetts Cen- tral Railroad to Northampton, and was a director of that corporation for thir- teen years. Mr. Dudley was married, in May, 1851, to Theresa Hunt Bates, daughter of the late Hon. Isaac C. Bates, of Northampton, and a colleague of Daniel Webster in the United States Senate. Two children have been born to them, Theresa Bates, who died Sept. 20, 1853, and Etta Theresa, the wife of Wallace Holbrook Kräuse, of Boston. President Dudley's services in the cause of deaf-mute education and in other fields have gained for him a national reputation. 1
LEWIS J. DUDLEY.
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Waltham
1
LUX ENG CO
W ALTHAM is conceded to be one of the prettiest manufacturing cities in the Commonwealth. It is located on the banks of the Charles River, ten miles from Boston, and the heart of the city is a plain surrounded by a series of hills, of which Mt. Prospect is the largest and best known. The river divides the city into two parts, connected with a series of bridges, making access to all parts of the city very easy. The river is itself a great attraction, and, from the point known as the Moody Street bridge up as far as Newton Lower Falls, there is more pleasure boating than can be found on any sheet of water in New England. It is visited by thousands of strangers each summer. Steam launches, row-boats and canoes make a fleet of nearly eight hundred pleasure craft. The streets are well taken care of, and the houses, of a superior class, are nearly all owned by the occupants. Main Street, on the north side of the town, is the oldest main thoroughfare, and for this reason the buildings are not of so imposing a character as those on Moody Street on the south side. A notable improvement has, however, been made in the last few years by the erection of several new brick blocks. The water supply is the best in the State, the reservoir being supplied by springs that were accidentally discovered while digging the filtering basin on the north side of the river. The health of the city is excellent, and the recent completion of the Metropolitan sewerage system, which includes Waltham in its scope, will tend to decrease the death rate.
Waltham was incorporated as a town on Jan. 4, 1738, old style ; by the modern calendar, Jan. 15, 1738. Its history for the first century of its settlement is so blended with that of the parent town of Watertown that it is difficult to separate the incidents of its existence at that period. Within its limits is the newly discovered city of Norumbega, the site being marked by a stone tower erected by Professor Horsford, who claimed that it was founded at the time of Leif Ericson's discovery of the New World.
Waltham's growth, owing to a combination of circumstances, the principal one being the lack of railroad facilities, was of a slow nature until within the last twenty years. Since then there has been a great change, and the prosperity of the city has been great, although not of a mushroom character. In 1884 the town was incorpo- rated as a city, the charter being granted by the Legislature on June 2, and accepted by vote of the people in July of that year. It was the first city in the Commonwealth to adopt a one-board form of local government. The population, according to the last national census, was 18,533, and it is now over 20,000.
The schools of Waltham have always been kept up to a high standard of excellence ; the reason for its separation from Watertown, of which it was once a portion, being because of the lack of school accommodations in that section of the town. The schools now rank with the best in the State. The public library contains 18,000 volumes. Waltham depends upon its manufactures for its wealth, although on the north side of the town are some magnificent farms and some estates used as country residences. The Waltham Watch Company is the largest watch factory in the world, employing three thousand hands, with a daily output of three thousand complete watch movements. The company has $3,000,000 of capital, and is very prosperous. The United States Watch Company was incorporated in 1885, employs three hundred hands, and is now on a paying basis.
The cotton factory, the Boston Manufacturing Company, was the first cotton factory in the United States to take the raw material and furnish a finished product. It was established in 1813, and it speaks volumes for the management that there has never been a strike by the employees. A bleachery is connected with the mills. The mills have a capacity of 100,000 yards of cloth per day, and the underwear department turns out 150,000 garments per year. Other important manufactories include the Davis & Farnum Manufacturing Company, established in 1844, which have a capacity of melting thirty-five tons of metal per day ; the Waltham Emery Wheel Company ; the Waltham Gas and Electric Light Company ; the Judson L. Thompson Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of metal buckles ; the American Watch Tool Company and the Parmenter Crayon Company. There are also several other small factories.
447
WALTHAM.
G EORGE LOWELL MAYBERRY was born in Edgartown, Mass., in 1859, and is a son of Dr. Edwin and Leonora Mayberry. After leaving the public schools of his native place he finished his preparation for college under the instruction of his father, and entered Harvard College in 1878. Graduating from college in 1882, he immediately began the study of law, graduated from the law school of Boston University in 1885, and was admitted to the bar in Boston the same year. He im- mediately began the practice of law with his brother -in - law, Horatio N. Allin, having offices in Waltham and Boston, and has continued this arrangement to the present time. In 1887 he married Mary A. Atchinson of Jericho, Vt., and has three children. Mr. Mayberry's first pub- lic office was that of city solicitor of Waltham, to which he was elected in 1889. Having held this office for two years he resigned it to accept the office of mayor, to which he was elected in 1 890. He served the city as mayor during 1891 and 1 892, and at the close of his second term declined to be again a candidate on account of the increasing demands of his law business, to which he has since given his exclusive attention. Though a resident of Waltham only since 1884, Mr. Mayberry has gained the confi- dence of the people of his adopted city in a marked degree. His rapid progress seems the more creditable when it is known that he is naturally of a retiring dispo- sition, and one who ever studiously avoids public notice. Though a pronounced Republican in politics, he was
elected to office as a citizens' candidate, and his admin- istration has been liberal and free from partisanship. While filling the office of mayor, Mr. Mayberry has shown himself a fitting representative of the vigorous young city which had honored him. He kept himself thoroughly in touch with the different departments of the city, and his counsel was eagerly sought, and was invaluable in promoting harmonious and efficient work. He reorganized the police department, and brought about changes in its management which greatly increased its efficiency. He was largely instrumental in the establishment of a thoroughly equipped manual training-school as a part of the public- school system of the city. During his administration the city has completed its system of sewer- age, and through his efforts important changes have been made in the laws of the State relating to sewers, giving greater freedom of action to the local authorities. He recommended the adoption of the public park act, and the establishment of a system of parks and playgrounds for the city, and ap- pointed an able park commission to carry out these views. He has also been a conspicuous advocate of important changes in the city charter, urging the reorganization of the executive departments on a more business-like basis, and more in accord with advanced thought on the problem of mu- nicipal government. It is in the practice of his profes- sion that Mr. Mayberry has laid the foundation for a successful career. His work as a lawyer has extended widely through all branches of civil business.
GEORGE L. MAYBERRY.
448
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
F. M. STONE is the leading man in financial mat- ters in Waltham, and his opinion on any of the questions of municipal expenditure is always sure to carry a great deal of weight. He has won this distinc- tion by his integrity and strict attention to business. He stands above all things for invincible honesty. If he gives his word the people have always felt that they could trust him and that their faith would not be mis- placed. It is this one characteristic that has placed him where he is to- day and enables him to hold the esteem of all of his fellow- townsmen. He went to Waltham and set- tled there perma- nently in September, 1844. The town was at that time very small, and the prac- tice of a young lawyer did not amount to very much. But as the town grew, so did his esteem in the minds of the peo- ple, and he acquired interests outside of the practice of law that netted a fair income. The people commenced to look to him for advice in the management of the town, and he was soon the foremost citizen in the place. During the early part of his life he was a Democrat in politics, but soon after the breaking out of the war he became, as did many of the Northern Democrats at that time, a Republican and continued to remain in the Republican party until about ten or twelve years ago, when he openly announced that the Republican party was ceasing to represent the best interest of the people of the United States and came out for the Democratic nominees. Although at that time he was taking no very active inter- est in politics, his example carried a great deal of
influence and strengthened the Democratic party in the town considerably. During the administration of Buchanan, Mr. Stone was appointed postmaster of Waltham, and during the war he held the office of selectman for several terms. After the close of the war he was elected to the State Legislature and served several terms there with such satisfaction that he was elected to the State Senate. After this he was a candi- date for the nomination to Congress, but in this he was unsuccessful, owing probably to the fact that Waltham at that time did not exert the influence in the congressional district that she does now. He was made savings bank commissioner, and it was during his administration and due in great part to this influence that the savings banks and the national banks were compelled to separate and do busi- ness each on its own basis. The experi- ence that he had gained as director and president of the Waltham National Bank, and as director of the savings bank, led him to advocate this measure. His ability displayed in the discharge of his duties as bank com- missioner attracted the attention of Boston capitalists, and when the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company was formed he was asked to take the presidency of the institution, an office which he still holds. He is also the president of the Waltham National Bank and a director of the Waltham Savings Bank. He married Elizabeth H. Pierce, the daughter of a Nantucket school-master, and has two children, Charles F. Stone, the treasurer of the Waltham Savings Bank, and Walter, who is in business in the West.
F. M. STONE.
449
WALTHAM.
N ATHAN WARREN, who has been quite prominent in political and insurance circles, was born in Waltham, Mass., where he now resides, Feb. 11, 1838. He is from old New England stock, his ancestors being among the earliest settlers, - the Massachusetts Colony. Educated in the public schools of his native town, he intended to follow his studies with a view to professional life, but decided upon a business career, entering at first a wholesale dry goods house in Boston and afterwards being located in New York. In 1862 Mr. Warren responded to the call of his coun- try, and enlisted in the Forty-fifth Regi- ment of Massachu- setts Volunteers, known as the Cadet Regiment, and served honorably during the period of his enlistment. This regiment was sta- tioned in North Carolina, and took an active part in the service of that State. He afterwards was in service in the De- partment of the Gulf and in the War De- partment in Wash- ington. At the close of the war he re- turned to Boston and re-entered business life, engaging in the shipping business, mostly in connection with trade with the West Indies, South America and Africa. While thus engaged he visited the last-named part of the world. He has visited various countries in Europe. Fond of travel also in our own country, he has in the interim of business made quite extensive trips through the wild regions of the Northwest and across the plains. For over twenty years Mr. Warren has been identified with the Boston agency of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, and is at present resident secretary of that
NATHAN WARREN.
institution. He is also president of the Boston Life Underwriters' Association, and one of the directors and treasurer of the Security Safe Deposit Company. In 1880 and 1881 he represented Waltham in the Massa- chusetts Legislature and was chairman of the Committee on Insurance. He was also a member of the Joint Special Committee for the compilation of the present code of public statutes. He was for two years master of Monitor Lodge of Freemasons and for several years chairman of the trus- tees of the public library of Waltham. He has been an active and public-spirited citizen in whatever has related to the welfare of the com- munity in which he has lived. In politics Mr. Warren has al- ways been a Repub- lican, steadfast in principles and inter- ested in having those principles prevail. He has been at times chairman of Repub- lican town commit- tees, a member of the Republican State Central Committee, chairman of his con- gressional district committee and has held other positions evincing his interest in what he conscien- tiously considers best party politics. Stu- dious in his habits, ready with his pen, he has made many contributions to the press and otherwise on various topics of interest. Mr. Warren was one of the writers of the historical address on the occasion of the sesquicentennial celebration of Waltham, and the author of the historical sketch of Waltham in the recently published history of Middlesex County. He was married, in 1881, to Miss Charlotte E. Bacon, of Springfield, and has two children, a son and a daughter.
450
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
F FRANCIS BUTTRICK has been prominently iden- tified with the business interests of Waltham for upwards of half a century. In the real estate opera- tions incident to a growing young New England town, and in the ownership of homes and other buildings, which are so intimately connected with the welfare of the people and the prosperity of the place, he has been one of the leading men. He is now by far the largest real estate owner in the city. He has grown up with the material devel- opment of the place, and is still active in whatever pertains to the management of his property. Mr. Buttrick was born in Pepperell, Mass., in 1814, and removed with his family to Concord in 1828. Here, after receiving an education in the public schools, he learned the trade of house carpenter with his father, working in that and surround- ing towns as a jour- neyman. He went to Waltham in 1838, where he continued in the same occupa- tion. In 1844 he commenced business on his own account as a builder and em- ployer. In 1857 he bought a lumber yard, planing and saw-mill and box factory, and entered into quite extensive operations in that line of business, giving up his occupation as a carpenter. He has lately retired from active participation in his busi- ness, which is now organized as the Buttrick Lumber Company. Through his business as carpenter and builder he became interested in real estate, mostly of improved character, with buildings devoted to the wants of a manufacturing and laboring community. From small beginnings in this way he has, by good judgment
and sagacity, fair dealings and attention to his affairs, acquired a possession of real estate, varied and valuable, in different parts of the city. As a landlord and party in interest in property held by others, Mr. Buttrick has always been kind-hearted and disposed to assist those who were inclined to assist themselves. He has helped many to preserve their homes when, under a more exact- ing man, they might not have been able to keep them. As a citizen he has always taken an interest in the affairs of the town and city, and contributed his advice and support to all matters, public and private, affecting the welfare of the community. In ma- terial aid to the many objects constantly presenting them- selves for individual assistance, he has be- stowed his benefac- tions willingly and liberally. Mr. But- trick has been for many years a director n the Waltham Na- tional Bank, is presi- dent of the Waltham Music Hall Company and a director in the New England North- western Investment Company. He was one of the promoters and incorporators of the Waltham Co-op- crative Bank, and for several years has been its president. He was a member of the Waltham Board of Selectmen for several years, and was on the last board under the town government. Mr. Buttrick is a man unassuming in life and manner, and bears the burden of business easily and quietly. He is considered one of the best anthor- ities on real estate and financial matters in Waltham, and on these matters his advice is often sought by his fellow-citizens. In 1849 he was married to Miss Augusta M. Farwell.
FRANCIS BUTTRICK.
451
WALTIIAM.
IN the role of honcr containing the names of men who have, by their influence, led to the develop- ment of industries which have spread the name of Wal- tham over the entire globe, none can outrank that of Aaron L. Dennison, " the father of the American watch industry," for it was his suggestions and influence which brought to Waltham the germ of the present watch fac- tory. Indeed, he was the master spirit in its commence- ment, and up to the time of his retiring from the busi- ness, in December, 1861, he was the in- spiring spirit of the enterprise. He was born in Freeport, Me., in 1812. His father was a shoe- maker, and young Dennison was obliged to contribute his mite to the in- come of the family. He commenced work as a tender for a mason, and worked at odd hours with his father as a shoe- maker. At eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to a clockmaker in Bruns- wick, Me. In this business Mr. Denni- son's inventive fac- ulties had full play. He made great im- provements in the then crude system of manufacture. After finishing his appren- ticeship he went to Boston and was employed by several well-known firms in the watch and jewelry trade. Mr. Dennison very early discovered the lack of system in the manufacture of both the English and Swiss watches, and having studied the system of gun and pistol manufacture, he conceived the idea that by manufacturing in large quan- tities and securing interchangeability of parts, watches could be made much cheaper and better. This led him to spend most of his evenings in studying the problem I
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