Men of progress one thousand biographical sketches and portraits of leaders in business and professional life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part 35

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 35

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).

SIMPSON, JAMES RAE, of Lawrence, merchant, was born in Stanstead, Canada, January 4, 1832, son of Donald and Helen (Rae) Simpson. His early years were spent on a farm, the winter months at school, which was several miles distant from his home, and reached not infrequently by a hard trudge over unbroken roads. His education was finished at the Stanstead Academy, from which he graduated at the age of fifteen. After teaching a country school for four winters, he came to the United States in pursuit of em- ployment. He was some time employed in a furniture store in Boston, next worked awhile in a Lowell mill, for a longer period in the print works at Manchester, N.H., where he became an overseer, and in the spring of 1853 came to Law- rence, which has since been his home. Here, after working a few seasons in the Pacific and the

Atlantic mills, he entered the grocery business in the employ of Shattuck Brothers, and in 1858 engaged in this branch of trade with Alfred A. Lamprey, under the firm name of A. A. Lamprey & Co., which continued for twenty years. Then he purchased his partner's interest; and he has since conducted the business alone, of late years with his son, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as assistant. His profits were early invested in real estate, and he now owns much valuable property in the city. He was one of the promoters of the Merchants' Na- tional Bank building and of the building erected

JAMES R. SIMPSON.

for the United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, two fine structures on the main business street of Law- rence. He is president and director of the Mer- chants' National Bank, an active member of the Lawrence Board of Trade, and president of the Pilgrim Fathers' Hall Association. He was a member of the Lawrence Common Council in 1863, and mayor of the city in 1878-79-80-85, the only person who has held the office for four terms. At the close of his fourth term he de- clined a renomination, and retired with an ad- mirable record and undiminished popularity. He is identified with many societies of a social and benevolent nature; is a past master of the Gre-

26 1

MEN OF PROGRESS.

cian Lodge of Masons, and has been its treasurer since 1867 ; a member of the Mt. Sinai Royal Arch Chapter, member of Bethany Command- ery, Knights Templar ; and member of the Home Club. Mr. Simpson was married April, 1859, to Miss Julia H. Coan, of Exeter, Me. They have two children now living : Nellie M. and James E. Simpson.

SMITH, (WILLIAM) DEXTER, (JR.), of Boston, journalist, writer of popular lyrics, and playwright, is a native of Salem, born November 14, 1839, son of William D. and Lucy Ann (White) Smith. He is of Scotch-English ancestry. At the time of his birth his father was an inn-keeper and farmer. His education was acquired at the Epes Gram- mar and the English High Schools of Salem ; and at the age of twenty he came to Boston, where he attended Comer's Commercial College, receiv- ing at the close of his course a book-keeper's diploma. For a year or two he was book-keeper in the store of his father, then established at No. 18 Faneuil Hall Square, under the firm name of William D. Smith & Co., at the same time teaching evenings in the Pitts Street free evening school ; and in 1860 he entered the service of the United States as clerk in the Boston post- office (1860-64), still continuing his work at the evening school, which covered four years (1859-63). At about this time he began con- tributing to local periodicals, among them Gla- son's Pictorial, the Saturday Evening Gasette, and the Evening Transcript, furnishing both prose and poetry ; and also to write songs. His first song, "She is Waiting for Us There," was pub- lished by Russell & Patee in 1862, while he was connected with the post-office; and it was immedi- ately added to the repertory of " Buckley's Sere- naders," who sang it thousands of times. Next came " Follow the Drum " (1863) and other stirring war-songs,-" Hurrah for the Old Flag," "Stand by the Banner of Columbia," " Union and Liberty," and many others, which at once became popular in the army, on the march, and by the camp-fire. With the close of the war appeared "Columbia is Free " (1865), originally sung at the Boston Museum by T. M. Hunter, and " Our Victorious Banner." Then followed numerous ballads, several of which became household words. Among these "Ring the Bell Softly, there's Crape on the Door " (1866 : set by E. N. ('atlin ),

"Cross and Crown " (also 1866). sung at scores of funeral services by Joseph L. White, the famil- iar cradle song, " Put me in my Little Bed " (1870), so well known by the children a genera- tion ago, "Singing Baby to Sleep," "Where the Little Feet are Waiting." and " Darling Minnie Lee," have enjoyed the widest popularity, reach- ing sales of thousands of copies. His " Ring the Bell Softly, there's Crape on the Door," was recited at the memorial services in commemora- tion of the late llon. Thaddeus Stevens in Con- gress, December 17. 1868. by Congressman Ashley. These and other songs appeared in

DEXTER SMITH.

rapid succession ; and in a comparatively few years the number of Mr. Smith's lyrics had reached five hundred, the list of titles alone filling twelve pages of the catalogue of the library of the British Museum. Several of them have been reproduced in England, and " Ring the Bell Softly " has been translated into foreign languages. His success in this field is due to his faculty of reaching the heart of the general public. " His songs have won their way," W. S. B. Mathews, the eminent critic and musi- cal writer, has said, "because they possess the qualities of simplicity and graceful sentiment, which appeal strongly to the average American."

262

MEN OF PROGRESS.

Many of Mr. Smith's lyrics have found their way to England, and have been set to music and pub- lished in that country. Among his song-poems thus complimented have been : " Do not Wound the Heart that Loves Thee," and " Baby's gone to Sleep " (set by Sir Julius Benedict, and published in London) ; "Our Victorious Banner " (set by Sir Robert Prescott Stewart, of Dublin); "On Rosy Wings the Summer comes" (set by Franz Abt, of Germany, composer of " When the Swal- lows Homeward fly ") ; "Tell me not that I'll Forget thee " (set by Carl Rosa, London) ; and others. In 1865 Mr. Smith became clerk in the music store of G. D. Russell & Co., then at No. 126 Tremont Street, and soon after took up the work of editor of musical publications, his first editorial duties being in connection with The Orpheus (1867). Since that time he has been continuously engaged as editor and in other departments of journalism. Among these periodi- cals have been The Folio (1869-71), Dexter Smith's Paper (1872-77), and The Musical Record (1878-1894) ; and his editorial services have been employed, largely as musical and dramatic critic, on The Commonwealth, The Beacon, and other Boston journals during long periods. He has also served as correspondent of the London Or- chestra, and of numerous musical journals in this country. His first dramatic work was upon a version of "Cinderella," which was brought out at the Continental Theatre, Boston (1866). Later he wrote upon " Revels " (produced by Willie Edouin); then " Zanita," produced at the Boston Theatre (1884), where it had a long run, and was subsequently brought out in the other large cities of the country. He has also made a successful libretto for " Uncle Tom's Cabin," which has been performed in various New England cities, as well as adaptations of " Boccaccio," first pro- duced by the Boston Ideal Opera Company at the Boston Theatre (1880), "The Musketeers," and others. He has written numerous odes for no- table occasions,- the Dedication Ode sung at the opening of Selwyn's Theatre, Boston (1867), the Dedication Ode sung at the opening of the Cen- tennial Exhibition at Philadelphia (1876), that sung at the unveiling of the Army and Navy Monument, Boston Common (1877), and the ode for the centennial celebration of the Stoughton Musical Society ( 1886), the oldest musical society in the country ; and he has published several books, among them " Dexter Smith's Poems "

(Boston : G. D. Russell & Co., 1868), " Blanks and Prizes," comedietta (Boston : Spencer & Co., 1869), and "Cyclopedia of Boston " ( Boston : Cashin & Smith, 1886). He has in preparation a small volume of graceful sonnets of late years contributed by him to the periodical press, mostly to the columns of the Boston Transcript and Jour- nal. Mr. Smith was a member of the musical committee of the World's Peace Jubilee, Boston ; served on the committee on Poor Children's Ex- cursions 1875-82 ; and has taken part in other popular movements. He has been identified with Boston since he moved here from Salem, his fre- quent trips abroad only increasing his fondness for the former city, adding largely also to his original patriotic and genuine Americanism of thought and feeling. He has been connected with the Masonic order since 1873, a member of the Revere Lodge, Boston. In politics he was a Republican in early life, latterly becoming an Independent. He has never held public or other office, always declining to serve in such stations, which have no attraction for him. He is un- married.

SOULE, RUFUS ALBERTSON, of New Bedford, manufacturer, was born in Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, March 16, 1839, son of Thomas Howard and Margaret Albertson (Dunham) Soule. He is a direct descendant of George Soule, who came over in the " Mayflower," and, through his mother, of the Albertsons and Dunhams, who were among the earliest families in Plymouth. His maternal great-grandfather, George Dunham, was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and his grandfather, George Dunham, an officer in the War of 1812. Thomas Howard, for whom his father was named, was the originator of the Howard family in this country, and came over in 1634. Rufus A. Soule received a good education in the public schools in New Bedford, and an excellent training for busi- ness life. He began upon leaving school as a clerk in a boot and shoe store, and for eight years he was a salesman with the Union Boot and Shoe Company of New Bedford. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Company E, Third Regi- ment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and contributed his share to a remarkable family war record,- each of his three brothers also serving in the war, one in the cavalry, one in the artillery, and one in the navy. All passed through unscathed save

263

MEN OF PROGRESS.

one,- Henry Warren Soule, who was killed in action at Gettysburg. In October, 1865, Mr. Soule entered business on his own account, form- ing a copartnership with Savory C. Hathaway for the manufacture of shoes, Mr. Hathaway having started the business about two months earlier, under the style of S. C. Hathaway & Co. At the

RUFUS A. SOULE.

beginning the business was small, employing but five or six hands. In 1866 the style of the firm became Hathaway & Soule, and it so continued till 1876, when Herbert A. Harrington, of Boston, was admitted, and it was changed to Hathaway, Soule, & Harrington. In June, 1890, the firm became a stock company, under the title of Hatha- way, Soule, & Harrington Incorporated, with Mr. Hathaway as president, Mr. Soule vice-president, and Mr. Harrington treasurer, and the three con- stituting the board of directors. The business has gradually grown until for the year ending June 1, 1893, the sales of the corporation had reached nearly a million and a half. Its factories are now in New Bedford and Middleborough, the main office in Boston, and salesroom also in New York; and it is interested in retail stores in New York City, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, and in several New England cities,- Boston, Springfield, New London, Conn., and Bridgeport, Conn. In

addition to this extensive business Mr. Soule is interested in the City and the Bristol manufactur- ing corporations (a director of each), is vice-presi- dent of the New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust Company, president of the Acushnet Co-operative Bank, director of the New Bedford Co-operative Bank, president of the New Bedford Board of Trade. He has served in the New Bedford city government, member of the Common Council in 1869-70-71-74-75, and president of the body in 1874; was a member for New Bedford in the Legislature of 1878 and 1879, serving both terms on the committee on railroads ; and is now chair- man of the Board of License Commissioners of New Bedford, appointed for the term of six years from the first Monday in June, 1894. Upon his appointment to the latter office the New Bed- ford Mercury remarked that he is of "the right stamp of man to hold public office. . . . He is honest and courageous, devoted to what he be- lieves to be right, and fearless in his words and acts." He is a member of the Loyal Legion ; is past commander of the R. A. Peirce Post, 190, Grand Army of the Republic (a delegate from the Massachusetts Encampment to the Na- tional Encampment in Pittsburg, Penn., Septem- ber, 1894); member of the Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar, the Adoniram Royal Arch Chapter, and Star in the East Lodge of Masons of the Wamsutta and Dartmouth clubs of New Bedford, and the Saturday Night Club of Hyannis. Mr. Soule was married August 28, 1860, to Miss Susan Nesmith, of Bucksport, Me. They have had three children : Margaret Howard (now wife of Dr. Garry de N. Hough), Lois M. (wife of Alexander T. Smith), and Rufus A. Soule, Jr.

STETSON, GEORGE RIPLEY, of New Bedford, president of the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company, is a native of Connecticut, born in Brooklyn, Windham County. May 11. 1837, son of James A. and Dolly (Witter) Stetson. On his father's side he is descended from Robert Stetson, who was commissioned as cornet in 1658 or 1659 of the first Horse Company raised in Plymouth Colony; and on his mother's side the family descent is from the first settlers in the north- eastern part of Connecticut, and commissions from George III. to his grandfathers Witter are now among the family possessions. The present home- stead of the family has been in their possession

264

MEN OF PROGRESS.

from about the time of the original grants of land by the English government. His father moved from Brooklyn, Conn., to Northampton, Mass., in 1843, and, returning to Brooklyn in 1847, occu- pied the homestead farm, where, between farm work and school, the boy's time was spent till his eighteenth year. His education was attained in the common schools and in an academy at Hampton, Conn. He began work for his trade as a ma- chinist on the first of January, 1856, under Hiram Wells at Florence, Mass., and completed his

GEO. R. STETSON.

apprenticeship at the works of the American Machine Company in Springfield, in February, 1859. The spring of 1861 found him at work as a journeyman mechanic in Wallingford, Conn., having been thrown out of employment as a ma- chinist by the general depression that preceded the Civil War. Subsequently he returned to Northampton, and during the war carried through contracts in gun-work there, and also in New Haven and in Trenton, N.J. In the autumn of 1863 he entered the employment of O. F. Win- chester, of the Winchester Arms Company, where he remained ten years approximately, including a trip to Brazil in 1868 during the war with Para- guay, at which time he was in charge of arms and ammunition consigned to the Brazilian govern-

ment. These arms were probably the first consid- erable number of breech-loading guns introduced into South America. For most of the time spent with the Winchester Arms Company he had charge of the ammunition department. This was a comparatively new industry, and during his con- nection with it new machines and processes were frequently developed. Many of the methods in present use were of his invention. In May, 1873, Mr. Stetson came to New Bedford, and assumed mechanical charge of the Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company, with which he continued as superintendent till July, 1890. During this time the industry grew from one of comparatively small consequence to one of the largest in its line of manufacture. On the last-mentioned date he re- signed, to take his present office of president and general manager of the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company. In addition to the duties of this office he is president of the New Bedford Co-operative Bank, president of the Union Boot and Shoe Association, and director of the Board of Trade. He served as alderman during the administration of the Hon. Abram Howland as mayor in 1875 and 1876 ; and was a member of the Water Board for five years, declining a re-elec- tion at the close of the second term. He is a member of the several Masonic orders, and served as treasurer of the Royal Arch Chapter for a term of years. He was also president of the Republi- can Club of New Bedford during the Harrison campaign of 1888. Mr. Stetson married in No- vember, 1859, Miss Ellen M. Stall, of Hadley. They have had seven children, five of whom are now living : George A., Ellen M., May E., James A., and Jane W. Stetson.

STEVENS, CHARLES GODFREY, of Clinton, member of the bar and ex-judge of the district court, is a native of New Hampshire, born in Claremont, September 16, 1821, son of Godfrey and Hannah (Pool) Stevens. His father was also a native of Claremont, born there September 10, 1796, and died there September 18, 1842, a merchant and manufacturer, member of the New Hampshire Legislature, moderator of town meet- ings for many years, and a delegate to the con- vention at Harrisburg, Penn., which nominated William Henry Harrison for president. His mother was a daughter of Captain William W. Poole, of Hollis, N.H., a farmer, trader, and

265

MEN OF PROGRESS.

manufacturer. He attended a preparatory school and Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N.H. ; and graduated from Dartmouth College in the

CHAS. G. STEVENS

class of 1840. He read law with Upham & Snow, Claremont, N. H., and was admitted to the bar in 1843, at Claremont. In 1845 he moved to Massachusetts, and began practice in Clinton. In 1853 he was a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention ; in 1862 a member of the State Senate ; and in 1862-63 a draft com- missioner for Worcester County by appointment of Governor Andrew. He was appointed judge of the Second Eastern Worcester District Court in 1874, and held this position till 1882. Judge Stevens has also been long identified with banking interests in Clinton. He assisted in organizing the Clinton Savings Bank, in 1851, and has been for many years solicitor and secretary and trustee of the institution. He was also one of the or- ganizers of the First National Bank in 1864, and has been its president from its establishment ; and he has been a director of the Merchants' and Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1876. In politics he was a Daniel Webster Whig, and afterward became a Republican ; and in religious faith he is an Episcopalian, senior warden of the Church of the Good Shepherd, in

Clinton. The only society to which he belongs is that of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was married September 29, 1846, to Miss Laura A. Russell, daughter of Eli and Hepzibeth (Floyd) Russell, a descendant on her father's side of James Russell (born 1710, died 1784), origi- nally of Wellington, Conn., later of Walpole, N.H .; and on her mother's side of Benjamin Floyd, born in Boston in 1738, and died in Walpole, N. H., in 1812. Their children living are : Edward Godfrey and Ellen Kate Stevens.

STRATTON, CHARLES CARROLL, of Fitchburg, of the Sentinel Printing Company, is a native of Vermont, born in the town of Fairlee, August 22, 1829, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Sturtevant) Stratton. His father was a farmer, and a leading citizen of the town, representing it in the Legisla- ture and holding various positions of trust. He was educated in the district school and at the Thetford Academy. At the age of seventeen he left home to learn the printer's trade. After serving his apprenticeship in the office of the

C. C. STRATTON.

Democratic Republican at Haverhill, N.H., he went to Newbury, Vt., where he worked some time at his trade in the office of the Aurora of the

266

MEN OF PROGRESS.

l'aller. Subsequently he went to Boston, and worked several months there in the old Franklin Printing-office, and thence to New York, where he was employed in the Methodist Book Concern. Then in September, 1854, he came to Fitchburg, and entered the printing-office of the Sentinel, at that time a small weekly paper, with which he has been connected ever since, with the exception of a few months when he was serving in the Civil War, attached to the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, and in the Christian Commission at City Point, Va. In March, 1867, he purchased a half- interest in the establishment, and six years later, entering into partnership with John E. Kellogg, began the publication of the Daily Sentinel, the first number bearing date of May 6, 1873. The venture proved a success, and the business of the partners steadily increased and expanded. In ISSI the daily and the weekly were both en- larged ; another increase in the size of the sheets was made in 1885, a third in 1886, a fourth in 1890, when the change from the folio to the quarto was made, and a fifth in 1892, the Sentinel then becoming an eight-page paper of seven columns each, printed on a perfecting press. The Sentinel has been an important factor in the development of Fitchburg, and devoted to the interests of Central Massachusetts. Mr. Stratton is a mem- ber of the order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Honor, and belongs to the Fitchburg Board of Trade and the Fitchburg Historical Society. In politics he is Republican. He was married June 11, 1873, to Miss Maria S. Putnam, daughter of John and Sophronia C. Putnam, of Fitchburg. They have one child : Louise S. Stratton.

TAYLOR, OLIVER, of Haverhill, merchant, mayor of the city 1893-94, is a native of New Hampshire, born in the town of Atkinson, in 1827, son of Oliver and Lettice (Page) Taylor. His education was acquired in the public schools and at the Atkinson Academy. He began active life as a farmer, which occupation he pursued till the year 1852, when he moved to Haverhill to engage in business. Selecting the grocery trade, he entered the store of Currier & Taylor as a clerk, with the intention thoroughly to learn its details. After spending some time here, and a longer period in a similar capacity in the store of John Davis, he entered into partnership with

Ebenezer Webster, and established a grocery busi- ness of his own, which flourished for several years. After the dissolution of this partnership he en-

OLIVER TAYLOR.

tered the clothing trade, in partnership with his brother, Levi Taylor (mayor of Haverhill in 1872, re-elected 1873, but declined on account of ill- health), under the firm name of Levi & Oliver Taylor. Subsequently Martin Taylor was ad- mitted to the partnership, and the unique style of " The Three Taylors," by which the firm has since been known, was then adopted. The establishment was rapidly developed, and it is now one of the largest houses in its line of busi- ness in Essex County. In 1878 Mr. Taylor also became a member of the firm of Taylor, Goodwin, & Co., now the largest coal and lumber dealers in Haverhill. Besides these interests he is con- cerned in the Amesbury Carriage Company, of which he is a director, in the Merrimac Valley Steamboat Company, a director; he is president and director of the Essex National Bank, di- rector of the Citizens' Co-operative Bank, and of the Pentucket Savings Bank; and a large owner of Haverhill real estate. For a long period he has been prominent in town affairs. He has been a member of the local Board of Overseers of the Poor for upwards of thirty years; was an

267

MEN OF PROGRESS.

alderman in 1873; was first elected mayor for 1893. nominated in mass caucus, by a good majority after a sharp contest, and was returned for 1894 by a majority of 1,205. In 1876 and 1877 he represented his distriet in the lower house of the Legislature, serving the first term as chairman of the State House committee, and as a member of important committees during his second term. Mr. Taylor was married November 12, 1857, to Miss Mary E. Fellows, daughter of Samuel Fel- lows, of Haverhill. They have one daughter : Edith Taylor.

TRUELL, BYRON, of Lawrence, merchant, is a native of Vermont, born in St. Johnsbury, No- vember 23, 1834, son of George W. and Fanny (Whiteomb) Truell. He received his early educa- cation in public schools at Barnston, P.Q., and graduated from Stanstead Academy, P.Q., in 1854. At the age of nineteen he came to Law- rence, and entered the dry-goods store of A. W. Stearns & Co. as merchant's elerk. Here he re- mained till 1858, when he formed a partnership with George H. Bailey, under the firm name of

BYRON TRUELL.

Bailey & Truell, and engaged in the same business on his own account. In 1863 the connection with Mr. Bailey was dissolved; and he established

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.

Men of progress one thousand biographical sketches and portraits of leaders in business and professional life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part 35

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