USA > Massachusetts > Memorial encyclopedia of the state of Massachusetts > Part 24
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On June 28, 1855, William Newell Learned was united in marriage with Abby Ann Yell, who was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, February 15, 1833, a daughter of Moses and Mary (Ramsdell) Yell, and a granddaughter of Kimball Ramsdell, of Lynn, whose father served in the Revoluntionary War, and of Captain Moses Yell, Sr., of Salem, Massachusetts, who married, June 14, 1795, Nabby Moses, of Salem, was a Free Mason and a famous sea cap- tain. Moses Yell, Jr., father of Mrs. Learned, was educated in the schools of Salem, Massachusetts, then came to Lynn, where he learned the trade of leather cutter with Mr. Breed. One of his hobbies throughout his long life was walking, and when he was eighty-three years old he walked from Lynn to Boston and return. He was an active member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and one of the oldest members of the hand engine company. He died at Lynn, Massachusetts, at the age of eighty-five years.
Mr. and Mrs. William Newell Learned celebrated their silver wedding
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anniversary, June 28, 1880. The Rev. William Butler, D. D., who married them, was present at the anniversary and made an address in which he stated that of his entire library burned during the Sepoy Rebellion, while he was a missionary in India, the only books that he saved were the Methodist Disci- pline that he used on the occasion of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Learned and a copy of the Bible. The other members of the official board of the church presented them with a silver tea service, and Mr. Learned's Sunday school class gave them a beautiful silver piece. Many other gifts from friends and relatives gave evidence of the love and esteem in which the couple was held. At the time of Mr. Learned's death, they were preparing to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, which would have occurred in one month.
Mr. and Mrs. Learned were the parents of a child, Charles Abbott, born February 24, 1857, in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and later attended Wilbraham Academy. He was for a number of years engaged in the real estate business, and is now as- sociated with Proctors Engraving Company. He makes his home in Lynn. He is a member of the A. C. Moody Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. In 1878 he married Nellie Silliman, who is a native of New York. They are the parents of two children: I. Howard C., born October, 1879, received his education in the public and high schools and later in a business college in Lynn; he married Bertha Benson, and they reside in Lynn. 2. Mabel M., born January, 1882, became the wife of Clarence Simmons, of New York; she died in Brooklyn, New York, April 7, 1917. Since the death of her hus- band, Mrs. Learned has continued to live in Lynn. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for sixty years. It was one of Mr. Learned's greatest pleasures to pass the time in his own home circle, sur- rounded by the family to whom he was so devoted. He was a man of strong domestic tastes and one to whom the ties of home and family were sacred.
Mr. Learned was the most companionable of men, and was a member of the A. C. Moody Lodge, Knights of Pythias, where he made many friends, who learned to admire this noble gentleman for the many sterling qualities of
character which he possessed. He was the possessor of a most genial na- ture, kind in heart and generous in deed. Honorable and upright, he be- lieved in rendering every man his just due, and made friends easily, hav- ing the rare faculty of keeping those friendships. His death was a severe loss, not only to his immediate family, and to the large circle of his devoted friends, which his good qualities had won for him, but to his fellow-men-in- general, none of whom had not benefited in some way by his life and splen- did example.
ambrose Dawes
Ambrose Dames
T HE community of Dorchester, Massachusetts, in general, felt the wholesome and inspiring effect of the example of the late Ambrose Dawes, and it will be long before its members cease to miss the kindly and genial influence which always sur- rounded this good man. It is always difficult, if not sometimes impossible, to fully estimate the effect upon their environment of such men as Mr. Dawes, whose influence depends not so much upon the deeds that they have accomplished, as upon that subtle force which communicates itself unseen to all about from a fine and gracious per- sonality. Perhaps the most characteristic of all achievements of the day is that in the line of mercantile development, and it is the leaders of activity in this direction that are our choicest heroes. Ambrose Dawes was conspic- uous as much for the high principle that he observed in the business world as for the success that he attained. His death, which occurred while he was a resident of the "Canterbury," a hotel in the Back Bay, Boston, April 12, 1912, filled the community where he had resided for about sixteen years with sadness and sorrow, for his acquaintanceship was extremely wide and his friends were legion. In addition to the creditable career of Mr. Dawes he proved himself an honorable member of those energetic men of affairs whose united labors have built up the wonderful structure of New England's mercantile development. His honor and integrity were unimpeachable, while his sense of justice was sure and broad. Mr. Dawes' life was an active one and yet, how- ever actively he pushed his business operations, it was never at the expense of the precepts of the stern New England morality or dictates of conscience. In this way he built up for himself an enviable reputation among all classes of men.
The birth of Ambrose Dawes occurred in Quincy, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 19, 1843, the youngest son of George M. and Elizabeth (Greenleaf) Dawes, old and well known residents of Quincy, and later of Brookline, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. George M. Dawes were the parents of four children, namely: I. Elizabeth, deceased, who became the wife of Henry Mitchell. 2. George G., deceased. 3. Richard, also deceased; and 4. Am- brose, in whose memory we are writing. George M. Dawes, the father, was court crier at Quincy, Massachusetts, for a number of years. Several old Massachusetts families were represented by Ambrose Dawes. His grand- father was Judge Thomas Dawes, and on his maternal side, the Greenleaf family, he was connected with the Adams family of Quincy.
Ambrose Dawes spent his boyhood days in his native city of Quincy, and obtained his education at Chauncy Hall School, where he received a
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good schooling, adding to it in after years by reading and close observation. As a matter of fact, Mr. Dawes devoted every spare moment to reading, his selection being always the best books or the latest scientific and philosophical works, so that he always kept abreast of current thought and knowledge. When he reached his eighteenth year, Mr. Dawes' youthful enthusiasm cansed him to answer the call of his beloved country, and accordingly he enlisted his services from Melrose Highlands, Massachusetts, during the ter- rible conflict between the North and the South. He served in Company A, Thirteenth Regiment of Massachusetts, under the gallant Colonel Leonard, and was wounded at the battle of Antietam. He was a good soldier, serv- ing to the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. Mr. Dawes' first line of work in the business world was as a salesman for a wholesale grocery house of the city of Boston. After the Civil War, he entered a large wholesale millinery firm in New York City as an accountant, remaining with that concern for twenty-nine years. Upon his retirement from all active busi- ness pursuits, Mr. Dawes returned to his native State of Massachusetts, and located in Dorchester, where he resided for sixteen years. He later moved to the "Canterbury" Hotel, in the Back Bay district, Boston.
In his religious belief, Mr. Dawes was a Unitarian, and a faithful and consistent member of the Unitarian church in Dorchester. He was generous in his contributions to its various charities and good works, and was notable for his faith and his attitude towards the church. Of all good causes, he seemed to love this most and was most devoted to it. The strong and self- confident character of Mr. Dawes was greatly moderated by the most kindly of hearts and cheerful dispositions. A man in whose life his religious faith played so important a part would naturally be of a nature to consider the rights and interests of others, and this was preeminently so in his case. Mr. Dawes identified himself closely with the affairs of his adopted community, and took a keen interest in all political questions and issues. He was a staunch Republican in politics, but was in no sense of the term an office seeker, preferring to exercise such influence as he could in his capacity of a private citizen. Mr. Dawes was affiliated with a number of important or- ganizations, among which should be mentioned the New England Society of New York and the Dorchester Benjamin Stone, Jr., Post, No. 68, Grand Army of the Republic. Ambrose Dawes was not only a gentleman of the old school, but of every school, and his career may well be held up as a model to future generations and as a credit to the race which produced him.
On October 4, 1876, Ambrose Dawes was united in marriage, in Dor- chester, Massachusetts, with Martha Shaw, a daughter of George A. and Martha A. (Sawin) Shaw, who were the parents of two children, namely: I. George Edward Shaw, who died in 1880, and was for many years in the City Hall, Boston. 2. Martha, now the widow of Ambrose Dawes. George A. Shaw, the father of Mrs. Dawes, was a prominent figure in local politics, and died in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1882. His wife also passed away
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ambrose Dames
there. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Dawes has made her home with a relative of Mr. Dawes, Mrs. Jabez S. Holmes, the widow of one of our former prominent lawyers.
Throughout his entire life Ambrose Dawes displayed unbrokenly the vir- tues so characteristic of his race, during the early privations and hardships, as well as through the latter years of success. He was the possessor of pa- tience, courage, industry, and a certain buoyant optimism that simply over- looked obstacles and refused to admit defeat. As a business man Mr. Dawes showed rare wisdom and foresight, and joined with strong intellectual pow- ers were his courage and tremendous energy. If there was in his character one element which stood forth with special prominence and could be pointed out as a marked characteristic of his life it was his rugged honesty. To all who knew him and therefore loved him, his memory must recall the noblest and gentlest personality, all that constitutes the most essential worth of hu- manity, the purest charm of character, and the highest Christian manhood. The personal influence that ennobles one's surroundings may escape fame, but lives immortal in the best part of other lives. Mr. Dawes was a man of whom it is often truly said, "The world is better for his having lived here."
Charles William Beer
T HERE was much in this life to command admiration, but it was not more his strict adherence to the principles of right and justice that attracted all men toward the late Charles W. Geer than his unfailing kindness and spirit of self-sacri- fice. He held the respect of the business world, which was the outgrowth of a life known to be honorable, upright and without reproach. "Good business" with Mr. Geer did not necessarily mean volume, but quality, and everything that he said and everything he dealt in was, in his belief, exactly as he represented it to be. His personality was pleasing and dignified, and he was indeed the personifi- cation of kindness, and no sacrifice was too great did it bring happiness to those he loved. A strong will, a loving, gentle, unselfish nature, keen in- tellect and high ideals, were among the characteristics of Mr. Geer, whose death, which occurred at his home at No. 38 Atlantic street, Lynn, Massa- chusetts, December 13, 1913, deprived not only his adopted city but the community-at-large of a prominent citizen and a noble Christian gentleman.
Charles William Geer was born in Norwich, Connecticut, December 12, 1850, the son of George W. and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Geer. His father, George W. Geer, was for many years a purser on a sound steamer, the Nor- wich line, which plied between New London and New York, and was a na- tive of the State of Connecticut, while his wife was born in New York State. Charles William Geer received his education in the schools of his native city, Norwich, Connecticut, and later attended the Highland Military Academy of Worcester. From a youth, he was eager to enter the business world, and upon the completion of his education did office work for a short time. It was only natural that the son should follow in the footsteps of his father, and accordingly he served for many years in an official capacity on the Norwich line. During the year 1880, Mr. Geer came to Lynn, Massachusetts, and entered the employ of B. F. Spinney & Company as head bookkeeper, and remained there in that position until the year 1884. About this time his at- tention was attracted to the insurance business, and he entered into partner- ship in this line with N. Everett Silsbee, taking over the interest of Charles N. Stevens. The firm of Silsbee & Geer later became Silsbee, Baker & Geer, and still later Silsbee, Baker, Geer & Ingalls, which was the oldest firm in that city. Mr. Geer was obliged to retire from all active partici- pation in business affairs on account of ill health in October, 1912, he hav- ing previously sought to regain his health in Florida and Texas, but with- out the desired result.
Mr. Geer was twice married, his first wife being Annie Warren, of Paw-
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tucket, Rhode Island, and a niece of Mrs. B. F. Spinney, of Lynn, Massachu- setts. Her death occurred in June, 1883. Charles William Geer's second marriage took place on January 3, 1887, with Izzette Patten, a native of Lynn, and a daughter of John F. and Elizabeth Ellen ( Brimblecom) Patten. Her father was a native of New Hampshire, and her mother of Massachu- setts. Mr. and Mrs. Geer became the parents of two children, both sons, namely: I. Laurence Patten, who is at present bacteriologist in the serv- ice of the United States; he was a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Boston, and was united in marriage with Florence Mans- field Skinner, May 24, 1916. 2. Russell Patten, who was for a time con- nected with the banking firm of Baker, Ayling & Young, of Boston, but is now in the Naval Reserve, in the service of the United States. The home life of Mr. Geer was ideal, and there the excellencies of his character shone forth in all their beauty. He was a devoted husband and an ideal father. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Geer has continued to reside in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Politically, Mr. Geer was a Republican, and in his religious affiliations was a member of the Universalist Parish in Lynn. He was a member of Mt. Carmel Lodge, Olivet Commandery, of Masons, a Knight Templar, and a member of the Oxford Club, possessing many true and staunch friends in these organizations. He was considered one of Lynn's best known business men, and his reputation for integrity in business was an enviable one. He was in the fullest sense of the word a self-made man, and what is perhaps more rare a self-made man who had not an enemy. He began at the very bottom of the ladder, upon the completion of his education, and steadily climbed the difficult and dangerous way to the region of success, accomplish- ing this without disregarding others. The traditions of good citizenship, the reputation for substantial, honorable business dealings established by Charles William Geer, of Lynn, Massachusetts, will always occupy a high place in the business world of Eastern Massachusetts.
MASS .- 3-15
Ura Locke Russell
T NIE death of Mr. Russell, which occurred in Arlington, June 12, 1908, at the age of seventy-four years, deprived that town of one of the most highly respected of its citizens. He was a man of much force of character and a very winning per- sonality, a man who at once seemed to inspire respect and af- fection on the part of all who came in contact with him. He was the possessor of a broad and tolerant outlook upon life and entered with sympathy into the feelings and beliefs of others. He was a devoted husband and father, and his conduct in every relation of life was well worthy of being held up as an example to the youth of the community.
The birth of Ira Locke Russell occurred in Arlington, Massachusetts, March 31, 1834, the oldest son and child of Bowen and Mehitable (Locke) Russell. Bowen Russell was a native of Lexington, Massachusetts, and was a farmer and market gardener. His wife, Mehitable (Locke) Russell, was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, and bore him five children, namely: Ira Locke, Abbie, Susan, deceased; Ellen, deceased; Charles Howard. Ira Locke Rus- sell's family, on both paternal and maternal side, were of the old New Eng- land Revolutionary stock, and being a descendant and representative of the sturdy Colonists, his entire life was characterized by those qualities which were dominant in the early settlers.
Mr. Russell obtained a common school education in his home town of Arlington, Massachusetts, but when leaving school he did not allow that to be the extent of his education. Fully aware of the advantages of an education, Mr. Russell remained always through life a reader and keen ob- server, and although not actually attending school, was a student and the possessor of a retentive mind. He was considered a mathematician of some note, and greatly delighted in figuring out difficult problems. Leaving school at a very early age, in fact when just a boy, Mr. Russell started to work on the home farm, assisting his father, who was a farmer by occupation. He learned all the details of truck gardening, and decided to adopt farming and truck gardening as his chosen line of business in life. He selected the town of Arlington, Massachusetts, as the place for his endeavor on account of the town being situated close to a large city like Boston, where there was always a large market for good products. Arlington was then becoming noted for its fine truck gardens, and the demand for its products was great Upon coming into manhood, Mr. Russell foresaw the advantage of work- ing along modern and scientific methods, and therefore started improvements
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upon his place, continuing to improve until the time came when he owned one of the fine truck gardens for which the town of Arlington, Massachusetts, is famous. This was accomplished only after years of hard and tireless work, during which time Mr. Russell had to surmount many difficult tasks, but he was rewarded in his declining years by knowing that his chosen work in life was a successful undertaking. One might truthfully say that his entire life of seventy-four years, two months and twelve days, was devoted to the home farm and its advancement, the fruits of which are now enjoyed by his family. The farm so well established by Mr. Russell is now being con- ducted by his son, Howard Symmes Russell, who has greatly improved this place.
His religious life was deep and sincere, without ostentation. He and his family were attendants of the First Baptist Church in Arlington, to which Mr. Russell was a generous contributor towards its welfare. The funeral services were held from the Russell home, the Rev. C. H. Watson, Doctor of Divinity, from the First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In all public relations Mr. Russell was without blame and without reproach, and in his private life he was not less so, being an example of charity, generosity and affection towards all who were thrown in contact with him. In politics, he was an independent voter, and always upheld the man best fitted for the office in question. He himself never sought public office, although he did serve for two years as a member of the old Committee of Twenty-One. Those who knew Mr. Russell in any stage of his career were enabled to appreciate his many sterling qualities.
On December 10, 1874, Ira Locke Russell was united in marriage with Louisa S. Locke, a daughter of Josiah and Harriett Priscilla (Symmes) Locke. Josiah Locke was a native of Winchester, Massachusetts, which at that time was a part of Woburn, Massachusetts, and his wife was born in what is now Arlington, but was then Charlestown, Massachusetts. Josiah Locke was a farmer, as were many of his forebears before him. Mr. and Mrs. Ira Locke Russell became the parents of five children, as follows: I. Harriett Priscilla. 2. Amy Louise, who became the wife of Charles Taber Bunker, of Arlington, and they are the parents of three children, namely : Amy Helen, Louise Coleman and Dorothy Taber; they now reside in North- ampton, Massachusetts. 3. Warren L. Russell, united in marriage with Alice Upham, this union being blessed with one child, Lois Russell; Warren L. Rus- sell is a school teacher in a Manual Training High School in Brooklyn, New York. 4. Howard Symmes Russell, united in marriage with Mabel B. Coolidge, of Arlington, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of one child, Constance Symmes Russell; as stated before, Howard Symmes Russell is now conducting his father's farm in Arlington, Massachusetts. 5. Abbie Mun- roe Russell, who is a teacher in the Arlington High School, where she spe- cializes in teaching millinery, dress making and sewing.
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It was in his own home and in the intercourse of his family that Mr. Rus- sell experienced more real, genuine happiness than he could find elsewhere. Thus did he round out his life, and to his splendid record of good citizenship and business success, he added that highest praise of a true and worthy man- hood.
Alexander Boles
Alexander Boles
TF one attempted to enumerate the men of talent and capabil- ity of the Irish race, who have appeared even in a small portion of the community, he would be confronted by such a list as would discourage the most enterprising. The town of Arlington, Massachusetts, for instance, can show amongst its distinguished and successful citizens so large a proportion of those who owe their origin to the "Emerald Isle" as to ex- cite wonder and admiration. A splendid example of these men was Alexan- der Boles, whose death, which occurred on his farm near the Reservoir in Arlington, Massachusetts, October 13, 1884, was a serious loss to that entire region and to the community-in-general. He became well known for his high integrity and the absolutely upright life which he led. In all the rela- tions of his life, and in all his associations with his fellow-men, the sterling qualities which he possessed in full measure stood out in a marked manner, and gained for him the admiration and affection of all who were thrown in contact with him. In his family life his conduct was of the highest type, a devoted husband and father who found his chief happiness in the inti- mate intercourse of his own household by his own hearthstone. Mr. Boles was the possessor of much business tact as well as unfaltering enterprise, and was honest and sincere in all his business transactions. Great credit is due such a man, who started in a small way, and by his energy and business intelligence increased the growth of his business. It is a well known fact that the American race owes many of its best qualities to the Irish blood which flows within its veins, and Mr. Boles was indeed a fine example of the best Irish type in this country. His death, when he was but forty-four years and nine months of age and at the very height of his career, deprived his adopted country of a successful business man and a citizen of energy and public spirit.
The surname Boles is spelled variously, Boles, Bolles and Bowles, and belongs to an ancient English family. Alexander Boles, the progenitor of the family, was born at Florence-Court, County Fermanagh, Ireland. He was descended from a branch of the English family which some generations ear- lier located in Ireland. He was a farmer, and raised a large family.
James Boles, the son of Alexander Boles, was born at White Hill, near Florence-Court, County Fermanagh, Ireland, about the year 1810. He was brought up on his father's farm, and was educated in the common schools. He left home when he became of age, and began farming on his own account. He raised flax, wheat, barley and potatoes, as well as sheep, cattle and horses. He became a well-to-do farmer and a leading citizen. He was
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united in marriage with Polly Johnson, a daughter of James Johnson, who lived in the same county in an adjacent parish. This union was blessed with five children, namely: John, William, James, Mary, and Alexander, in whose memory we are writing.
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