Men of progress one thousand biographical sketches and portraits of leaders in business and professional life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part 105

Author: Herndon, Richard; Bacon, Edwin M. (Edwin Monroe), 1844-1916
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Boston : New England Magazine
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Massachusetts > Men of progress one thousand biographical sketches and portraits of leaders in business and professional life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts > Part 105

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LARRABEE, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, of Boston, merchant, is a native of Maine, born in the town of Lemington, August 29, 1841, son of Ezekiel and Mary (Davis) Larrabee. His father lived to the age of eighty-two, his grandmother Davis lived to be one hundred years and four months old, and

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his great-grandmother reached ninety-nine years. His mother died at the age of sixty-three. His ancestors on the paternal side came from France (French Huguenots), and his maternal ancestors were English,- on both sides early settled in Maine. His education was mainly acquired at the Lemington Academy. After finishing at the academy, he first thought of teaching for a while, but finally decided to go into a country store in- stead. He remained there for a year and a half, and the experiences thus gained were of great ad- vantage to him. For the next three years he was in a dry-goods store in Biddeford, Me .; and in

B. F. LARRABEE.

1862 he came to Boston, taking a position as travelling salesman with the house of D. C. Gris- wold & Co. Two years later he was admitted to a partnership in the business. Six years later, in 1871, he organized the firm of Claflin, Larrabee, & Co. He was principal buyer for the house, and made fourteen trips to Europe in its interest. After a successful and prosperous career of twenty-two years, passing through the great fire of 1872 and sustaining heavy losses, and the panic of 1873, but meeting every payment promptly, and, in fact, discounting every purchase without any outside aid even from its own bank, Mr. Larrabee retired from this firm in January, 1893.

In January, 1890, he and his partner, Mr. Claflin, bought out the retail firm of William H. Zinn, and continued the business under the name of William H. Zinn until July, 1892, when Mr. Larrabee bought out Mr. Claflin's interest. In October of the same year he brought his own name to the front, and from that time the growth of this long successful business has been something phenom- enal. Mr. Larrabee's eldest brother was a shoe manufacturer, and a partner of Aaron Claflin & Co., New York. He died in 1873. Another brother is Mr. Larrabee of the firm of Wilson Lar- rabee & Co., wholesale dry goods, Boston. His only living sister, Mrs. A. M. Moore, resides in Michigan. She is a lady of literary talent. She has been president of the Woman's State Temper- ance Alliance, and is reputed to be an excellent publie speaker. Mr. Larrabee has no political ambition, and has never held nor sought office. He has been a director of several corporations and institutions in Boston. He is a member of a number of local clubs, and has served at differ- ent times on their boards of management. Mr. Larrabee was first married, in 1867, to Miss Eliz- abeth H. Bosson, of Boston, and by this union were two daughters and one son. Mrs. Larrabee died in 1881. He married second, in 1887, Miss Lucy C. Ashley, of Bloomington, Ill. His resi- dence is in the beautiful suburb of Brookline.

LAWLER, WILLIAM PATRICK, M.D., of Low- ell, is a native of Lowell, born January 26, 1860, son of William and Bridget ( Egan) Lawler. His father was born in County Carlow, Ireland, son of Patrick and Mary (Spencer) Lawler, and his mother in King's County, Ireland, daughter of Matthew and Mary (O'Connor) Egan, of the famous Egan family of that county. Both parents are still living. His father came to this country when a small boy, and has been a resident of Lowell for over forty years. He has always been a hard-working man, and is noted for honesty and constant industry. Dr. Lawler's education was begun in the public schools of Lowell, from which he graduated at the High School in 1877, being one of the graduation day speakers. He then en- tered the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada, and graduated there in 1880, A.B., with the high- est honors of his elass, and distinguished as the deliverer of the valedietory address. Two years later the degree of A.M. was conferred upon him

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by his alma mater. Upon his graduation from the university he began the study of theology at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Md. After nearly two years at that venerable institution his health broke down, owing partly to over-study and partly to constant confinement ; and upon recommen- cation of the faculty he gave up all studies for a while. The next year was spent in travel through the Southern States ; and when he returned, with health fully restored, he determined to take up the study of medicine. Accordingly, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Balti- more, and took the regular course. Graduating

WM. P. LAWLER.

in 1886, he was almost immediately (in May) ap- pointed by the Commissioners of Charities and Corrections of New York assistant medical of- ficer of the New York City Insane Asylum on Blackwell's Island, and at the expiration of one year was elected by the same commissioners, on the recommendation of the medical board, house surgeon to the Harlem Hospital at 99th Street and Tenth Avenue, at that time one of the emergency branches of Bellevue Hospital. In May, 1888, Dr. Lawler returned to his native city, and began the regular practice of medicine there. His thor- ough education and his hospital experience in New Vork were well-known facts in Lowell, so that he

soon fell into a large and lucrative business ; and his career has been marked by a series of brilliant successes, In 1889 he was appointed a member of the medical staff of the out-patient department of St. John's Hospital, and in 1890 was elected to the regular staff of that institution. The next year he was appointed by Mayor Fifield city phy- sician of Lowell and member of the Board of Health, which position he held for three years. In January, 1894, upon the recommendation of Congressman Stevens, he was made pension examining surgeon for his district. Dr. Lawler is a member of the Middlesex North Medical Society, of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and of the Massachusetts State Association of Boards of Health. In 1893, upon the appoint- ment of Mayor Pickman, he attended the Pan- American Medical Congress at Washington as the representative delegate for Lowell. He is a close student and a hard worker, and has profited much from his travels and his varied experiences with many classes of mankind. He is also a public- spirited citizen, and has the confidence of the community in which he lives. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus, of the An- cient Order of Foresters. and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In politics he is a stanch Democrat of the old Jeffersonian school. Dr. Lawler was married in July, 1892, to Miss Kath- erine M. Vilwig. of Winchester, Va. They have had one son (deceased) and a daughter : Mary Katharine Lawler (born August 3, 1895).

LICHTENFELS, WILHELM GUSTAV, of Worces- ter, insurance manager, is a native of Ger- many, born in Pforzheim, June 7, 1859, son of Wilhelm Gerhard and Sophie (Merky) Lichtenfels. His family was of Southern Germany, Grand Duchy of Baden. He was educated in private schools in his native place, and at the "Real Gymnasium " in Pforzheim. He came to the United States at the age of sixteen. He was em- ployed as a book-keeper in different trades up to 1891, when he became manager of the Germania Fire Insurance Company in Worcester, and agent for steamship lines. He is also a director of the Worcester Protective Department. Hle is a notary public and justice of the peace by appoint- ment of Governor Russell. He is active in politi- cal affairs, serving as treasurer of the Democratic city committee of Worcester, and is prominent in

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fraternal organizations, being president of the Frohsinn Society, ex-treasurer of the Turner Society, past regent of the Conquest Council, No.

WM. G. LICHTENFELS.

915, Royal Arcanum, a Freemason. an Odd Fellow, a member of the German order of Harugari, and an associate member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is also interested in military affairs, and is connected with the Worcester City Guards. Mr. Lichtenfels was married June 23, 1885, 10 Miss Emma E. Zitkor, of Portland, Me. They have four children : Emma, Wilhelm, Bertha, and Friedrich Lichtenfels.

MCCOLLESTER, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, M.D., of Waltham, is a native of New Hampshire, born in Marlborough, Cheshire County, May 3, 1831, son of Silas and Achsah ( Holman) McCollester. He is a descendant of Isaac McCollester (then written McAllister), who came to this country as a captain in the British army some time during the colonial wars, was taken prisoner and never exchanged, and, being released, settled at Marl- borough, Mass. About the year 1760 he, with two others, was authorized to lay out or survey Monadnock Division, No. 5, New Hampshire ;

and he thereupon settled in that portion called Marlborough, for many years known as New Marlborough. His son Samuel was born in Marl- borough in 1765; and Silas, son of Samuel and father of John (2. A., was also born in Mar]- borough in 1796. John Q. A. was educated in common and select schools in his native town; at academies in Fitzwilliam, Woodstock, Vt., Sax- ton's River, Vt., and Walpole, N.H. ; and at Nor- wich University, where he received the degree of .A.B. in 1853 and A.M. in 1856. He studied medicine with Dr. James Batchellor, a famous phy- sician in Marlborough and adjacent towns for many years ; at Deer Island, under Dr. Moriarty, acting as ranking student under his direction in the hos- pital of the institution and as quarantine physician ; and at the Dartmouth Medical College and Jeffer- son Medical College, graduating from the latter in 1856. He practised in his native town for a couple of months after his graduation, from March 15 to May 6, to accommodate Dr. Samuel Richardson, and then settled in South Deerfield, Mass., where he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people. But, deeming the field too limited, in December fol-

JOHN Q. A. McCOLLESTER.

lowing he removed to a part of Groton then known as Groton Junction, now Ayer. Here, and in the towns of Harvard, Shirley, Leominster, Lunenburg,

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Townsend. Westford, Littleton, Acton, and several other places, he held an extensive and laborious practice until 1887, at which time he opened an office in the city of Waltham, where he already had a large number of friends, and where he im- mediately entered upon a wide though less labori- ous practice. Dr. MeCollester was a member of the School Board for seven years at Groton and three years at Harvard, and alludes with pride to his associates there, among whom were ex-Gov- ernor Boutwell, the Rev. David Fosdick, one of the best Hebrew graduates of Harvard College. the Rev. Crawford Nightingale, the Rev. Daniel Butler, the Hon. E. Dana Bancroft, and A. J. Sawyer, an eminent public teacher. He has been a fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society since 1856; is a life member of the American Unitarian Association : a charter member of Caleb Butler Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and has been a member of the Governor Gore Lodge of Odd Fellows since its organization. During the Civil War he was an examiner of recruits, post surgeon at Camp Stevens, Groton, and surgeon of the Fifty-third Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teers. His military service was characterized by professional skill and executive ability of high order. He was indefatigable in the welfare of his men, even facing danger upon the field of battle to care for wounded soldiers. He has been a justice of the peace for thirty-five years. He mar- ried first, May 6, 1856, Miss Sarah E. Hazen, who died May 5, 1858 : and second, August 9, 1859, Miss Georgiana L. Hunt. His children are : by his first marriage, Anna (born August 28, 1857) : and by his second marriage, Lucretia 1. (born August 26, 1860), Edward Q. (born January 28, 1863), Harvey G. (born August 5, 1864), E. May (born September 1, 1867), John F. (born July 27, 1872), and H. Hortense McCollester (born July 2, 1878).

MANN, ALBERT WILLIAM, of Boston, expert accountant, is a native of Boston, born October 4, 1841, son of Nehemiah P. and Elizabeth M. (Pit- man) Mann. His parents were of Portsmouth, N. H., and of English descent. His ancestors on both sides were among the early settlers of New Hampshire, and some of them were in the War of the Revolution. He was educated in the Boston public schools, graduating from the Hawes Gram- mar School in 1855, a Franklin medal scholar, and from the English High School in 1858. Upon

leaving the High School, he entered the Black- stone Bank, and remained there until October 4. 1862, when he enlisted as private in Company A. Forty-fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers (the Cadet Regiment), the bank directors voting to hold his position open for him until the expira- tion of his term of service. He served the full term, participating in all the engagements of his regiment,- Kinston, Whitehall. Goldsborough. and Dover Cross Roads, - and was with it during the draft riot in Boston in 1863. doing guard duty in different parts of the city. Upon his discharge from the service, instead of returning to the bank,

ALBERT W. MANN.

he entered the office of his father, N. P. Mann & Co., State street, as accountant, where he remained for six years, with the exception of a three months' enlistment in the First Unattached Com- pany, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. In 1872 he accepted an engagement to represent a Boston firm as resident agent in San Francisco. Cal. In less than two years after his arrival in Califor- nia the firm dissolved, the senior partner retiring from business : and the agency was discontinued. Thereupon. in June, 1874, he entered the San Francisco banking house of Sather & Co .. and continued in its employ until June, 1879. These five years marked the period of the " Bonanza "

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excitement : and the bank did a large business as transfer agent for Eastern customers and in col- lecting dividends, and also in paying assessments on the mines on the Comstock Lode. He re- turned to Boston in ISSo, and from that time has been engaged in various financial enterprises. He has served for short periods the Exchange National Bank, the Natick National Bank, and the First National Bank of Chelsea, and of late years has devoted most of his time to accountant work. In 1891 he was sent to Fort Payne, Ala., by a committee of stockholders, to examine and report upon the financial condition of the Fort Payne Coal and Iron Company. He has audited the books of the treasurer of the city of Lowell, the treasurer of Dartmouth College, and of other large corporations. In 1895 he was elected auditor of the Massachusetts Mutual Accident Association of Boston. Mr. Mann is an active member of numerous organizations. He was ad- jutant of Major General H. G. Berry Post No. 40, of the Grand Army of the Republic, in 1889 and 1890 ; has been colonel of Gordon Forrest Com- mand, No. 12, Union Veterans' Union of Malden, since 1894; and is now (1895) aide-de-camp on the staff of the commander in chief of the Union Veterans' Union. He joined the Grand Army in 1871 and the Union Veterans' Union in 1893. He has been a Freemason since 1865, when he joined the Adelphi Lodge. In politics he is a Republican, and has been a member of the Re- publican city committee of Malden, where he resides, for two years, and of the Republican Club of Massachusetts since 1894. He has, however, never held a political office, and never been a candidate for office. Mr. Mann was married June 20, 1867, to Miss Sarah G. Allbright, of Dor- chester. They have four children : Gilbert Sher- burne, Henry Judson, Carrie Alice, and William Albert Mann.

MARTIN, JOHN JOSEPH, M.D., of Marble- head, was born in Lowell, May 29, 1862, son of Thomas Henry and Susan (Keenan) Martin. His early education was received in the public gram- mar school; and he was fitted for college at the Francestown Academy, Francestown, N.H. He studied medicine in the Dartmouth Medical Col- lege, and graduated therefrom November, 24, 1891. For a few months after graduation, or until May, 1892, he practised in the town of New Sharon, Me. Then he removed to Marblehead,

where he has since been actively engaged. In June, 1894, he was appointed assistant surgeon of the Eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Militia. He

JOHN J. MARTIN.

is a member of the Essex Club. Dr. Martin was married November 6, 1883, to Miss Hattie J. Whit- aker, of Hancock, N.H. They have one child : Helen E. Martin (born November 12, 1894).

MENDUM, SAMUEL WARREN, of Boston, mem- ber of the Suffolk Bar, is a native of Boston, born November 14, 1863, son of Willis Barnabee Men- dum and Mary Emeline (Frederick) Mendum. His paternal ancestors came from England to Massachusetts prior to 1650, removing later to Kittery, Me. His ancestors on his mother's side were Massachusetts people from the neigh- borhood of Westford. His early education was obtained in the Boston public schools; and he was prepared for college at the Boston Latin School, where he was graduated in the class of ISSI. In the prize declamation contest he re- ceived the first third prize. In July, 1881, he passed the entrance examinations to Harvard College, receiving honors in Latin and Greek. In the autumn of ISSI he entered Tufts College, and was graduated with the degree of A.B. in

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June, 1885, being second in the class. He gave much attention in college to declamation, and received in 1883 the second Goddard declamation prize, and the first Goddard prizes in 1884 and 1885. When he entered college, he had already become well acquainted with the free-trade doc- trine ; and his study of political economy in college still further convinced him of the soundness of the free-trade principle. He delivered as a com- mencement part an oration on " Protection and Labor." His view of the subject was not the popular one, but the part was generally well re- ceived. Upon graduation from Tufts he accepted a position as teacher of elocution and German in Dean Academy, Franklin, where he taught till February, 1887. In the autumn of 1886 Mr. 0. 11. Perry, who was the teacher of political economy in the academy, and Mr. Mendum or- ganized the Franklin Tariff Reform Club, which did much good work in the cause of tariff reform. Mr. Perry was president and Mr. Mendum secre- tary of the club. The influential members of the trustees of Dean Academy were extreme protec- tionists, and it is needless to say that the activity

SAMUEL W. MENDUM.

of these young teachers in the tariff reform agita- tion was not wholly agreeable to them. They evidently feared that the institution would suffer

from what might seem a too close connection with tariff reform, though both teachers had been careful not to use their positions as teachers to influence the young students, but merely asserted the right of the citizen to advocate in public the views he holds. As a result of the openly expressed opposition of the trustees, Mr. Perry and Mr. Mendum felt it their duty to resign. They both then entered the post-graduate depart- ment of Harvard University. pursuing there the study of political economy. In September, 1887, Mr. Mendum was elected sub-master of the Woburn High School, and served in that posi- tion until December. 1890, when he was chosen principal in place of Herbert B. Dow, resigned. He remained at the head of this school, being re-elected in June. 1891, and again in June, 1892, until July of the latter year, when he re- signed to take up the study of law. He en- tered Boston University Law School in Novem- ber, 1892. In September, 1893, he received an appointment for a year as junior master in the Boston Latin School, returning to the Law School in October, 1894, to finish his studies. During this winter he taught rhetoric and American literature in the Boston Evening High School. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar June 25, 1895, and associated himself with the law firm of J. T. & R. E. Joslin, who have offices in Hudson and Boston. During all these ten years of school- teaching and law study Mr. Mendum continued his active work in behalf of tariff reform, and had an effective part in the campaigns of that period. He was one of the founders of the Woburn Tariff Reform Club in 1889, and was its president for two years. In the same year he was elected a member of the executive committee of the New England Tariff Reform League, and is still on the committee, having been an ardent supporter of the change of name to the New England Free Trade League. In July, 1889, he was elected secretary of the United Question Clubs, an organization which, through pertinent questions on tariff topics publicly put to candidates for office, provoked much discussion of details in- volved in the issue. In the summer of 1892 he was assistant secretary of the Tariff Reform League, and, in the autumn campaign following, was private secretary to the Hon. George Fred Williams. Mr. Mendum has done more or less writing of a general nature, frequently contrib- uting to the press, and occasionally to the maga-

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zines. In the March number of the North Ameri- can Review for 1890 he had an article on " Ques- tion Clubs and the Tariff," and in the same maga- zine for January, 1891, one on the "Teaching of Citizenship." In April, 1891, he delivered an address before the Massachusetts Classical and High School Teachers' Association on "An Ex- amination of the Criticisms on the Herald's Prize Essays," which was subsequently published in the Academy; and he was an occasional speaker on the stump during the campaigns of 1890 and 1892. He has twice visited Europe, -first in the summer of 1886, when he wrote a series of weekly letters to the Franklin Sentinel, and again in ISgo, writing at that time letters to the Boston Post, then an independent journal and a leading tariff reform organ, During the college year of 1893- 94 he was chairman of the Board of Visitors of Tufts College. In the winter of 1894 he was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Municipal Union of Boston, the main objects of which are " the promotion of a proper interest in municipal man- agement. and the acquirement and diffusion of information concerning administrative methods in civic affairs," and is at present secretary of the organization. Mr. Mendum was a Republi- can until 1884, and then left that party on account of its attitude on the tariff question. He has since been a Democrat, attached to the progres- sive wing. He is a member of Delta Chapter (Tufts College) of the Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Mendum was married July 5, 1894, to Miss Sara Frances C'lark, of Lewiston, Me.

MILLER, ALBERT EBER, M.D., of Needham, is a native of New York, born in the town of Cov- ert, Seneca County, July 7, 1833, son of Ezekiel and Polly ( Hogaboom) Miller. He is a descend- ant of the New England family of Miller, among which are a number of noted physicians and sur- geons. His grandfathers were both soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and his father was in the War of 1812. The latter, when a young man, went to New York, and settled on a farm, upon which the early life of Albert E. was spent. He attended the district school of his native town, spent a year at Cortland Academy, and then, being selected by the superintendent of schools to receive the bene- fits of the State normal department at Homer Academy, he spent three years in that institution. His first desire was to study medicine, but he was

persuaded by friends to read law instead. After a year of law-reading, however, he returned to his first choice, and was graduated from the Syracuse Medical College in 1855, and in 1864 from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He was also a private student of H. H. Smith, M.D., professor of surgery in the university, and of the celebrated 1). Hayes Agnew, M.D. After grad- uating, he began lecturing on Public Health; and he has since travelled extensively, and delivered lectures in the principal cities and towns through- out the country. His lectures to pupils of public and normal schools have been especially popular.

A. E. MILLER.

He has the finest apparatus with which to illus- trate these discourses, consisting of four beautiful French manikins, thirteen skeletons, and a great variety of models, plates, and drawings. For sev- eral years he has lectured regularly before the New England Chautauqua Assembly. He is pro- fessor of physiology and hygiene in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Boston; and has been for several years medical examiner of the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company of Phila- delphia. With his lecturing and other specialties he continues in active practice, having an office at his residence in Needham, and also one in Boston, where he is regularly two days in the week. In

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Needham he is president of the Board of Trustees of the Town Library, and has been one of the officers of that institution since its organization. has been president of the Co-operative Bank since its organization, was one of the foremost in starting the Village Improvement Society and its first presi- dent ; and he has beautified and rendered fertile a portion of the town reclaimed from waste land, and built twenty-five fine houses. He was also largely instrumental in securing from the Legislature the act allowing the town of Needham to supply its inhabitants with pure water, and was chairman of the water committee. He represented his district, the Ninth Norfolk, in the State House of Repre- sentatives in 1888-89, during his second term serving as chairman of the committee on public health. He is an active temperance worker, and has been president of the Union Temperance Band for three years, and is now vice-president of the Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society. In politics he is a Republican. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, with most of his Ma- sonic affiliations in Boston. He is a member of De Molay Commandery, and past master of the Nor- folk Lodge. a member of the Eastern Star ; a past grand of Eliot Lodge, Independent Order of (dd Fellows, Needham, a member of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and has several times held the office of district deputy grand master. He is a member of the Gynacological Society of Boston, of the International Medical Congress, the Chau- tauqua Literary Scientific Cirele, and the Norfolk. the Home Market, and the Massachusetts Repub- lican clubs. He has been superintendent of the First Parish Sunday-school for the past ten years. Dr. Miller was married in New York, November 25, 1866, to Miss Vesta Delphene Freeman. daughter of Alonzo and Vesta (Ketchune) Free- man, of Newark, N.Y. Mrs. Miller is also a phy- sician and an active temperance worker, and has been president of the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union of Needham since its organization. In 1890 Dr. Miller, in company with his wife, attended the International Medical Congress at Berlin, after which they travelled extensively through Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and England.

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Men of progress one thousand biographical sketches and portraits of leaders in business and professional life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part 105

Author: Herndon, Richard; Bacon, Edwin M. (Edwin Monroe), 1844-1916 Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Boston : New England Magazine Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Herndon, Richard; Bacon, Edwin M. (Edwin Monroe), 1844-1916
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Boston : New England Magazine
Number of Pages: 1036