Men of progress one thousand biographical sketches and portraits of leaders in business and professional life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part 51

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 51

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institutions of society, contributing to benevolent and charitable objects and in aiding enterprises for the public welfare. He is a director of the

PHILANDER DERBY.

Gardner National Bank, and a trustee of the Gardner Savings Bank. Invitations to public office he has invariably declined. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith an Ortho- dox Congregationalist. He was married Septem- ber 27, 1839, at Petersham, to Miss Viola Dunn, daughter of John and Abigail Dunn. They have had four children : Mary Augusta, John Baxter (deceased, July 11, 1842), Ella Viola, and Arthur Philander Derby.

DICKINSON, HENRY SMITH, of Springfield, manager of the George R. Dickinson l'aper Com- pany, Holyoke, is a native of Springfield, born September 26, 1863, son of George R. and Mary Jane (Clark) Dickinson. His father, born in Readsborough, Vt., in 1832, son of Caleb Dickin- son, a prosperous farmer of that town, was one of the foremost paper manufacturers in Hampden County, and the founder of the George R. Dickin- son Paper Company. His mother was a native of Framingham, this State. He was educated in the Springfield public schools, and at the age of seventeen began business life as book-keeper for

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

the Dickinson & Clark Paper Company, in which his father at that time had a half interest. He remained with this concern until the establish- ment of the George R. Dickinson Company and the completion of its mill,- one of the most com- plete and perfect of modern paper mills,-in the spring of 1883. Then he engaged in the work of selling the product of the new company, and be- came the "right-hand man" of his father, who was its president, treasurer, and manager. He as- sumed various office duties, and made four exten- sive trips over the country each year. going south to Louisville and west as far as Omaha. Less than five years after the mill went into operation his father died from the effects of a fall, by step- ping through an open trap-door in a Springfield store ; and the entire care and management of the business. as well as of other interests of the estate. fell upon him, then but twenty-four years of age. The capacity which he displayed commanded the confidence of all who came in contact with him. Under his direction the business of the company expanded ; and in less than three years from the death of his father the mill was enlarged and

HENRY S. DICKINSON.

new machinery added, increasing its manufactur- ing capacity to twenty-five tons of envelope and super-calendered book papers daily. Mr. Dickin-

son is also a director of the Hancock National Bank and a trustee of the Five Cents Savings Bank, both of Springfield. In politics he is an earnest Republican, and has been called by his party associates to serve in prominent positions. He was a delegate to the National Republican convention in Minneapolis in 1884, and the same year was chairman of the Republican city com- mittee of Springfield. In 1889 and 1890 he was a member of the Springfield Board of Aldermen. president of the board the second year, also chair- man of the committee on fire department, and a member of the committee on finance; and he has been repeatedly urged to stand for the Republican nomination for mayor. In 1891 he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, where he served on the important committee on railroads. He was also a member of the special committee representing the State at the dedication of the Bennington ( Vt.) Battle Monument. He declined a renomination for a second term. He has dis- played his public spirit in numerous ways, and given substantial aid to numerous local organiza- tions and popular movements. The first United States flag to float over a Springfield public school-house was presented by him. He is a prominent Freemason, member of the Springfield Commandery, Knights Templar, and of Aleppo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Boston. The fine tower clock on the Masonic building in Springfield was his gift to the Masonic Associa- tion. He finds relief from the cares of business in yachting, fishing, and in driving fine horses. He is the fortunate possessor of the sloop-rigged yacht " Rival," formerly owned by Commodore Sanford, of the Atlantic Yacht Club of Brooklyn, N.Y., which has won a dozen and more races. and under his ownership captured the "Rival Cup" of the New Haven Yacht Club in 1894. His summer fishing trips are to Canada, in the region cultivated by the Amablish Fishing Club, of which he is a member. In Springfield he is a member of the leading clubs and of the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Dickinson was married March 2, 1885, at Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Stella E. Paige, daughter of William H. Paige, formerly connected with the Wason Car Works of Springfield. They have three children : George Richard, Henry Raymond, and Stuart Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson's home is a modern residence on Pearl Street, which he purchased in 1894.

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

DOWNS, HARRY ASHTON, M. D., of Somerville, is a native of New Hampshire, born in Barnstead, October 18, 1867, son of George and Laura Ann

H. ASHTON DOWNS.

(Wedgwood) Downs. He is of old English stock, his mother being of the famous family of Wedgwoods, who have made fine pottery for a number of generations in England. When he was a babe, his parents moved from Barnstead to Farmington, N. H., where he lived until he was twelve years of age. Then a second removal was made to Beverly, Mass., which was his home till 1889. His general education was acquired in the public schools of Farmington and of Beverly ; and his medical studies were pursued in the Bos- ton University Medical School, where he gradu- ated in June, 1893, having taken a four years' course. He also spent four months at the West- borough Insane Hospital, studying cases, and three months at the Boston Lying-in Hospital. He came to Somerville in July, 1893, and in June, 1894, was appointed a member of the medical staff of the Somerville Hospital. Since the first of January, 1894, he has been the medical exam- iner of the Somerville Young Men's Christian Association. Dr. Downs is a member of the Massachusetts Homeopathic Medical Society, and of the Boston University Alumni Association,

He belongs to the Masonic order, member of Lib- erty Lodge, and of Amity Royal Arch Chapter of Beverly. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith a Baptist, member of the Winter Hill Baptist Church of Somerville. He is unmar- ried.

EATON, WILLIAM NEWCOMB, of Quincy, ice dealer, is a native of Quincy, born December 29, 1845, son of Jacob F. and Ann Jerusha (New- comb) Eaton. His paternal grandparents, John and Dolly (Fox) Eaton, were of Meredith, N.H., and his maternal grandparents, William and Je- rusha (Arnold) Newcomb, of Quincy. He was educated in the Quincy public schools. After leaving school, he was first employed in the store of Faxon Brothers, Nos. 9 and 11 Commercial Street, Boston, flour business. Subsequently he took charge of the ice business for his father until the latter's death in 1871. Since that time he has been engaged in the business on his own account. Mr. Eaton served for seven years as selectman and paymaster of Quincy; in 1883 and 1884 he was a representative for Quincy in the lower house

WILLIAM N. EATON.

of the Legislature; in 1891 and 1892 a senator for the First Norfolk District ; and is now (1895) a commissioner of public works for the city of

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

Quincy. His politics are Democratic. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, member of the Rural Lodge of Quincy, and of the South Shore Com- mandery, Knights Templar. He is a member also of the Granite City Club of Quincy. He was married December 29, 1869, to Miss Mary Fran- cesca Packard, daughter of Elisha and Lucy (Newcomb) Packard, both of Quincy. They have five daughters : Minnie Francesca, Loulie Packard (married to Arthur Hall Doble, June 6, 1894). Annie Jerusha, Edith Elizabeth, and Grace Eaton.

ENDICOTT, AUGUSTUS BRADFORD, of Ded- ham, sheriff of Norfolk County, was born in Can- ton, September 10, 1818, son of Elijah and Cyn- thia (Childs) Endicott. He is descended on the paternal side from one of the earliest families of that name in Massachusetts. His education was acquired in the common schools of Canton. He was early apprenticed to a trade, that of carpen- tering, and served for four and a half years. Soon after reaching his majority, he went to Chelsea to become a pattern-maker in the iron foundry there. He continued in this occupation for about ten years, and then turned his attention to other lines of work. In 1852 he removed to Dedham, where he has since resided. The fol- lowing year he was appointed a deputy sheriff under Thomas Adams, then sheriff of Norfolk County; and this position he held continuously thirty-three years, until August, 1885, when, upon the death of Sheriff Wood, he was appointed by Governor Robinson sheriff of the county, to serve until the following November. Then he was elected for the unexpired term of Sheriff Wood, -one year ; and at the next election, in Novem- ber, 1886, was chosen for the full term of three years. At each succeeding election he has been re-elected. He has also represented the town of Dedham in the Legislature, serving two terms (1872 and 1874); and has held the offices of se- lectman, assessor, overseer of the poor, and mem- ber of the Board of Health for twenty-two years. He is prominent, also, in various business inter- ests in Dedham,- president of the Dedham Na- tional Bank, president of the Dedham Institution of Savings, a director of the Norfolk Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Dedham, and director of the Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is a member of the Fisher Ames Club of Ded- ham. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Endi-

cott was married in Dedham on the 22d of July, 1845, to Miss Sarah Fairbanks, daughter of William and Millie Fairbanks. They have two

A. B. ENDICOTT.

daughters and one son : Mary Augusta (now Mrs. William H. Lord), Lizzie Blanche (now Mrs. George H. Young), and Henry Bradford Endicott.

ENDICOTT, HENRY, of Cambridge, manufact- urer, was born in Canton, November 14, 1824, son of Elijah and Cynthia (Childs) Endicott. He belongs to the Massachusetts family of Endicotts, and to the branch that settled in Canton in 1700. His education was acquired in the public schools and through home study. He began business life in the manufacturing of steam-engines and boilers in Boston, in 1845. under the firm name of Allen & Endicott, and has had a long and successful career in this branch of work. He is now presi- dent of the Allen & Endicott Building Company, director of the Cambridge Gas Light Company, director of the First National Bank of Cambridge. and trustee of the Cambridgeport Savings Bank. He has been connected with the Masonic frater- nity nearly forty years, and has passed through the various orders to high rank, having also held high position. He was made a master mason in 1860.

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

in Amicable Lodge, Cambridge, and was worship- ful master in 1864-65-66 ; was worshipful master of Mizpah Lodge (U.D.) in 1868, and elected worshipful in 1869 under charter; and was dis- trict deputy grand master, District No. 4, in 1867-68. He was exalted in 1861 in St. Paul's Royal Arch Chapter, Boston ; was scribe, 1862-63 ; king, 1864; high priest, 1865-66 : also high priest of Cambridge Royal Arch Chapter (U.D.) in 1865 ; and grand king of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts in 1867. He was made royal and select master in Boston Council in 1861, and became a member the same year; was made a

HENRY ENDICOTT.

Knight Templar in 1861 in Boston Commandery. and became a member the same year; after hold- ing nearly all the minor offices, was elected cap- tain-general in 1868; generalissimo, 1869 and 1870 ; and eminent commander in 1891 and 1892. He was trustee of the permanent fund from 1874 to 1888. He received the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite from the fourth to the thirtieth, both inclusive, May 9, and the thirty-first and thirty-second, May 16, 1862, in the Grand Consistory of Massachusetts ; was created a sov- ereign grand inspector- general, thirty-second degree, in 1874. He was senior grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1873,

and most worshipful grand master in 1887-88-89 ; was elected member of the board of directors in 1869, and has been a member continuously since by election or virtue of office. He is an honorary member of Mt. Olivet, Amicable, and Mizpah lodges of Cambridge, Converse of Malden, St. l'aul's and Cambridge Royal Arch Chapters, Bos- ton Commandery, and St. John's Commandery, No. 4, Philadelphia. His club associations are with the Colonial Club of Cambridge and the Union C'lub. Mr. Endicott was married first May 4, 1847, to Miss Miriam J. Smith, who died in 1849, at the age of twenty, leaving no children. He married second, September 2, 1851, Miss Abby H. Browning, of Petersham. They had four children, of whom one only survives: Emma Endicott Marean. He has five grandchildren.

EWING, GEORGE CLINTON, of Enfield, is a native of New Hampshire, born in Littleton, Jan- uary 15, 1843, son of George C. and Lydia A. (Stillwell) Ewing. His father was one of the early founders of the city of Holyoke, Hampden County, and died in 1887, leaving a valuable property in that place : he was a member of the Massachu- setts Legislature in 1851, and candidate for lieu- tenant governor on the Prohibitory ticket 1879. The family moved to Holyoke when George C. was a child, and he was educated in the public schools there and at Williston Seminary. After leaving the seminary, he was clerk in a store for a year. In 1862 he became connected with the Fairbanks Scales Company, with headquarters at Philadelphia. He rose rapidly in the estimation of the managers, and, when twenty-six years old, was given an interest in their Philadelphia branch. In 1874 he was sent to England to take charge of the London branch house; and, while in this posi- tion, he made frequent trips upon the continent, perfecting arrangements for the introduction of the famous scales. In 1876 he made a tour of the world, visiting India, China, and the Australian colonies. This trip was so successful in a busi- ness way that he repeated it in 1879, being absent about three years. At the World's Fair held in Sydney in 1879 and 1880 he was one of the judges appointed by the government of New South Wales ; and a like honor was given him by the Victorian government at their exposition in 1SS1. In 1882 he started on another three years' trip, going this time to South Africa and to most

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

of the Pacific islands, still pushing the sale of the Fairbanks scales. Upon his return he settled in Enfield, and upon the death of his father he as-

GEO. C. EWING.

sumed the management of the latter's estate. In polities he is a Republican. He was never, how- ever, in political life until his election to the lower house of the Legislature of 1894 for the Fifth Hampshire District. In that body he served on the committee on public service and on the special committee on the unemployed. Mr. Ewing was married April 20, 1882, to Miss Amanda Woods, daughter of the Hon. Rufus D. Woods, of Enfield. They have three children : Kathleen. Rufus W., and Marjory Ewing.

FAIRBANK. JOHN HENRY, of Winchendon, president of the First National Bank for thirty years, is a native of Harvard, born January 21. 1817, son of Artemas and Rachel (Houghton) Fairbank. His paternal grandparents were Jona- than and Hannah ( Hale) Fairbank, also of Har- vard, and his maternal grandparents Jonathan and Mary Houghton, of Waterford, Me. He was edu- cated in the common schools of Harvard. He went to Winehendon in 1836, when he was nine- teen years old, and drove an eight-horse team

between Winchendon and Boston for the late E. Murdock, Jr., till the railroad was built in 1844. For the next twenty-four years (from 1844 to 1868) he was in the livery business in Winchendon in partnership with Henry Whitcomb, under the firm name of Whitcomb & Fairbank. In 1852 he bought the American House, and was its landlord from that time to 1865. The year previous he organized the First National Bank of Winchendon, and was elected its first president, which position he has held continuously ever since, a period of thirty years. He has long been prominent in town affairs, holding positions of responsibility,- a selectman for twenty-five years, most of the time chairman of the board, an assessor for fifteen years, most of this time also chairman, and ceme- tery commissioner for thirty-four years in succes- sion, save one year ; and as road commissioner, or highway surveyor, he has had partial or full charge of the highways in Winchendon for more than thirty years. In politics he is a Republican. He was married June 27, 1847, to Miss Mary E. Lee. They have one daughter, Mary Helen, born February 17. 1857, married September 1, ISSi, to

J. H. FAIRBANK.

George R. R. Rivers, of Milton. She has two children : Robert W. (born August 13, 1882) and Harry F. Rivers (born August 17, 1883).

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

FAYERWEATHER, JOHN APPLETON, of West- borough, banker, is a native of Westborough, born March 12, 1808, son of John and Sally ( Wheelock)

J. A. FAYERWEATHER.

Fayerweather. The family was originally of Cam- bridge, and through the Fayerweather homestead the present Fayerweather and Appleton Streets now run. His early education was acquired in a private school, and he was graduated from Brown University in the class of 1826. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm. Later he entered mercantile life, in which he continued for many years : from 1824 to 1858 a merchant in Westborough, and from 1858 to 1863 in the whole- sale grocery business in Boston. He has been president of the Westborough National Bank from its foundation in 1864, and a trustee of the West- borough Savings Bank from its formation in 1870. In town affairs he has long been prominent. He was a selectman of the town for many years, an assessor for three years, and an overseer of the poor for many years. In 1866 he represented his district in the House of Representatives. He has been always one of the very energetic men of West- borough, active especially in benevolent work; a strong supporter of the Congregational Church, of which he is a member, and one whose judgment and advice are sought for and relied upon. He

has been president of the Worcester County Agri- cultural Society for one term, and a trustee for thirty-five or forty years. He is a trustee also of the Westborough Reform School. In politics he is Republican. He was married December, 1831, to Miss Sarah Augusta Tyler, of Boston. They have one son and one daughter: John Appleton and Sarah Wheelock Fayerweather.

FRENCH, CHARLES EPHRAIM, M.D., of Law- rence, was born in Berkley, September 4, 1867, son of Captain Oliver E. and Harriet N. (Porter) French. His great-grandfather, Charles French, was a sea captain, his grandfather, Ephraim French, a merchant, and his maternal grandfather, Philip Porter, a mechanic. They were all men of honor and love for truth. His early education was attained in the public schools of his native town and at Newport, R.I. A scientific training followed, in New York City, with several years' study with a private tutor ; then the college train- ing at the University of the City of New York. and study for his profession at the University of

CHARLES E. FRENCH.

Maryland at Baltimore, where he received the degree of M.D. in April, 1893. Subsequently he acquired some experience in pharmacy, and pur-

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

sued special studies in the Bellevue, New York, and Maryland, Baltimore, hospitals. He began practice in Boston July, 1893, but after a few months was called away from his work by a long illness in his family, and was unable to return to it till the summer of 1894. Then he established himself in Lawrence. He is unmarried.

CHAS. C. FRY.

FRY, CHARLES COFFIN, of Lynn, treasurer of the Lynn Gas and Electric Company, is a native of Lynn, born May 31, 1842, son of Homer and Patience (Boyce) Fry. His parents and grand- parents on both sides were Quakers. His father was born in Bolton, and his mother in Lynn. His education was acquired in the common and high schools of Lynn. He began active life in the shoe business, and was concerned in it for a num- ber of years. Subsequently he became connected with the Lynn Gas Light Company; and since 18So he has occupied the position of treasurer of that company, and of the Lynn Gas and Electric Company succeeding it. He was auditor of the city of Lynn in 1876, and city marshal in 1877 and 1878. During part of the Civil War, in 1862 and 1863, he served in the Eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, as private and cor- poral. Since 1865 he has been prominent in

the State Militia, serving as first lieutenant of Company I. Eighth Regiment, from that year to 1874; then as adjutant of the same regiment, 1874-75 : as major Seventh Battalion, 1876-77- 78 ; adjutant again of the Eighth Regiment, 1879- So-SI ; and assistant adjutant-general of the Sec- ond Brigade from 1882 to date. He is also a prominent Mason, having held the positions of master of Mt. Carmel Lodge in 1876-77, eminent commander of Olivet Commandery in 1882-83, and right eminent grand commander of the grand commandery of Knights Templar of Massachu- setts and Rhode Island in 1893 and 1894. He is a member of Mt. Carmel Lodge, Sutton Chap- ter, Olivet Commandery, Lafayette Lodge of Per- fection, Giles F. Yates Council, Princes of Jerusa- lem, Mt. Olivet Chapter, Rose Croix, Massachu- setts Consistory. and Aleppo Temple. He be- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic, member of General Lander Post, No. 5. His club asso- ciations are with the Park and Oxford clubs of Lynn. Of the former he has been president since 1892. In politics he is a Republican. He is unmarried.

CHAS. J. GLIDDEN.

GLIDDEN, CHARLES JASPER, of Lowell, con- nected with telephone interests, is a native of Lowell, born August 29, 1857, son of Nathaniel

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MEN OF PROGRESS.

A. and Laura Ellen (Clark ) Glidden. His educa- tion was attained in the Lowell public schools. He began active life as a telegraph messenger in 1872 in Lowell, and at the age of sixteen was appointed manager of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company's office at Manchester, N.H. This position he held for about four years, 1873- 77, during that time also serving as a correspond- ent of the Boston Globe. In the fall of 1877 he became treasurer of the Lowell District Telephone system and of the syndicate that purchased nearly all telephone properties in New England and in six Western States. In 1883 he was made secre- tary of the New England Telephone and Tele- graph Company ; and the same year was one of the organizers of the Erie Telegraph and Tele- phone Company, and elected treasurer, which lat- ter position he has since held. He has been president of the Traders' National Bank of Lowell since its organization on the ist of July, 1892. Mr. Glidden has held no public office, having no desire for political fame. He was married July 10, 1878, to Miss Lucy Emma Cleworth, of Man- chester, N. H.

GREEN, GEORGE HENRY BARTLETT, of Bel- chertown, farmer, making fruit-raising a specialty, was born in Southampton, December 15, 1845, son of Frank and Sarah Young ( Bennett) Bartlett. He was but two years old when his father died, at the age of twenty-two; and his mother died in Ludlow ten years later. When he was four years old, he was taken to live with an uncle, Reuben Green, in Belchertown, on the farm which he now occupies; and, though never adopted, the name of "Green " was affixed to his own, and he has always retained it. His educational advantages were limited during his minority to the district school, which he attended twenty weeks each year until he was nine years old, and after that but twelve weeks a year ; but, by the use of midnight oil, he was enabled to keep abreast of many whose school privileges were less limited. After reaching his majority, he took one term with a local teacher of note and one term at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, since which time he taught every winter, excepting two, until he went to the State Legislature in 1892, while teaching, im- proving numerous opportunities for study. He also did some writing for local newspapers. When out of school, he has managed the Rock Rimmon

Fruit Farm, of which he is now proprietor, often exhibiting several hundred varieties of fruit at local fairs. He has been prominent in town

GEO. H. B. GREEN.

affairs since the seventies. In 1876 he was elected to the School Committee, and has been a member of the board ever since, with the excep- tion of the years 1886 and 1887. He was a mem- ber of the Board of Assessors from 1884 to 1891 inclusive, and moderator of town meetings in 1893 and 1894. His service in the Legislature has covered three years,- one term in the House (1892) and two in the Senate (1893-94). When a member of the lower branch, he was on the com- mittee on labor, libraries, and education, chair- man of the first two in 1894; and in the Senate served as chairman of the committee on printing and member of the committees on labor and pub- lie health. In politics he is a Republican. He was married May 4, 1869, to Miss Nancy Howe Sanford, of Belchertown. Their children are: Iva Louise, Carleton DeWitt, Susan Dwight, Sarah Sanford, Harriet Sophia, Elsa Rachel, Clayton Reuben, and George Henry Bartlett Green, Jr.

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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 51

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