USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume IV > Part 25
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ber of the last-named class is necessarily small, and these should have a special place in any permanent record of the people of the city of Boston. It is safe to say that very few, if any, can equal the record of James Winthrop Pickering, in length of professional service here, or in the matter of continued success. Bearer of a name which was distin- guisked long before he came into the world, member of a family which has served for gen- erations in professional life and in other ca- pacities, Mr. Pickering began legal practice here in Boston fifty-seven years ago, and there are few in this part of the State who do not know of him as one of the most able of his profession.
James Winthrop Pickering was born in Bos- ton, Massachusetts, March 26, 1848, and came most naturally into his choice of a profession, for he was a son of James Farrington Pick- ering. a successful member of the legal pro- fession, and descendant of a long line of fore- bears who had achieved success in profession- al activities. His mother, Sarah (Pike) Pick- ering. was also a member of an old New England family, and the boy was born to a rich heritage of ability, character, and of tradi- don. He attended the public schools, gradu- ating from Charlestown High School in 1867. and then entered Harvard Law School. where be Enished his course with credit. graduating in the spring of 1871. From that time to the present (1928) Mr. Pickering has devoted his energy and his ability to his professional re- sponsibilities, and he has achieved a success worthy of his distinguished forebears. Now (1928) as he is nearing his eighty-first birth- day. he can look over the years and see more of the growth and development of the city of Boston than most of his fellows. and can recall as one-time personal associates more members of the legal profession than any other man within the limits of Metropolitan Boston. He has his offices at No. 73 Tremont Street, and is still known as one of the active and able men of his profession. The number of his friends is legion, and though numbers
of those with whom he was associated in early years have passed on to the "next room," he has made friends of his younger associates and so keeps fresh his touch with the life of the present time. Mr. Pickering was a member of the First Training Regiment. Plattsburg, in 1915, and the Ninth Training Regiment, Platts- burg, in 1916, being the oldest man in each camp, aged sixty-seven and sixty-eight years respectively. He was active in recruiting dur- ing the World War.
James Winthrop Pickering was married. in Ashby, Massachusetts, October 20. 1880. to Alice Aurelia Wheeler, daughter of Oliver Lawrence and Mary (Whitney) Wheeler. They have no children.
BIRNEY CLEAVES PARSONS-A law- yer of wide reputation and an extensive prac- tice, Birney Cleaves Parsons is prominent in legal circles in Boston, where he has pursued his profession for many years, with offices at No. 11 Beacon Street. In the conduct of his business he has displayed ability, industry, and a profound knowledge of the law resulting in a continuously successful practice throughout a period of years. He is a trustee of many large estates. At Lynn, where he makes his home. Mr. Parsons is active in the various civic and social affairs of the community.
Mr. Parsons was born at Salem. Massachu- setts. December 22. 1870, a son of Allen Par- sons. born in Beverly. Massachusetts. died in Lynn. in his seventy-third year, and of Adelia Ann (Cleaves) Parsons. born in Rockport, Massachusetts. died at the age of eighty-four. in East Saugus. His father was a prominent merchant of Gloucester and later of Lynn. active in the affairs of the Baptist church in both cities. Of his marriage with Adella Aan (Cleaves) Parsons. fre children were born: 1. Cora A .. deceased. 2. Hattie, who lives in
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East Saugus. 3. Sadie, deceased. 4. Birney Cleaves. 5. J. Allen, of Lynn, connected with the Post Office department there. The Par- sons family is an old one in America, Jeffrey Parsons coming from England to Gloucester, Massachusetts, in Colonial days. Members of the family played an important part in the war of the American Revolution.
Birney Cleaves Parsons removed with his parents to Gloucester, Massachusetts, when still a baby, and there attended public school until he was nine years old, at which time he came to Lynn. He was graduated from the Lynn High School in 1888, and later entered Boston University School of Law, and was graduated with high honors in 1894, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the same year he was admitted to the Suffolk County bar, and shortly afterwards began the practice of his profession with almost immediate suc- cess. Since that time he has devoted all his time and attention to his law work, the range of his activities extending throughout all East- ern Massachusetts.
Politically, Mr. Parsons supports the prin- ciples and candidates of the Republican party, and he is affiliated, fraternally, with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which organization he is a member of the Mount Carmel Lodge at Lynn. He is a member of the City of Bos- ton, Massachusetts State, and the American Bar associations, a member of Phi Delta Phi Fraternity, and of several clubs, including, the Ionic Club, of Swampscott, the City Club, the University Club, and the Boston Univer- sity Club, of Boston, the Appalachian Moun- tain Club, and the Unitarian Club. Mr. Par- sons worships in the faith of the Unitarian church, and is an active member of the church of this denomination in Lynn, having just com- pleted a three-year term as chairman of its board of trustees.
In 1896, Birney Cleaves Parsons married (first) H. Alberta Wharff, who died in 1902. In 1905, Mr. Parsons married (second) Flor- ence B. Nourse, of Lynn, daughter of James H. and Ellen (Silsbee) Nourse, both now de-
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons reside at No. 55 Mountain Avenue, Lynn.
JAMES HERBERT MORSON-Practic- ing the legal profession in the very heart of a section of the United States that has long been noted for its able exponents, James Her- bert Morson has for more than a quarter of a century marched bravely in the procession and today holds a position at the bar of Mass- achusetts that is a full proof of his abilities. With his headquarters in Boston and offices at No. 73 Tremont Street, he handles the le- gal affairs of a large clientele with a satis- faction to them that has been fully proved by its ever-increasing proportions, while the re- spect in which his talents are held by his pro- fessional brethren and by the bench is a badge of honor which he has won during a long ca- reer of activity. Mr. Morson prepared himself carefully for his career by thorough courses at various educational institutions and since his admission to the bar of this Commonwealth has followed with meticulous care the prog- ress of his profession, in order that he at all times might keep abreast of the latest rulings of all courts and possessed of an intimate knowledge of current actions. He is a man in- terested in fraternal and civic affairs, values highly the privileges of citizenship and is ever on the alert to promote, insofar as his individu- al assistance may be of avail, any public cause that is promulgated for the benefit of the entire community.
James Herbert Morson was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, November 1, 1872, a son of Richard W. and Janet (Robertson) Mor- son. His father was a farmer and the owner of a grist-mill, as well as wool and lumber mills, who was born in the West Indies, of Scotch parentage, and removed to Prince Ed- ward Island when a youth, where he married a native of that Canadian province. The boy
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was educated in the public institutions of his native land and, after courses in the elementary grades, attended the Prince of Wales College at Charlottetown and later the University of Maine, being graduated from the last-named institution in 1903 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Coming to Boston at once, he passed the examination and was admitted to the bar of Massachusetts in August and then estab- lished himself to practice. He is a Republi- can in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion. His college fraternity is Gamma Eta Gamma, and he also is a member of the Brookline (Massachusetts) Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He is president of the Canada Club of Boston, and a member of the Square and Compass Club. He has his residence at No. 30 Stanton Road, Brookline.
James Herbert Morson married, in Brook- line, Massachusetts, June 11, 1910, Minnie A. Robertson, daughter of George Robertson.
WALTER H. MORETON-The first mo- tor boat showroom in Massachusetts, and the second in the United States, was opened by Walter H. Moreton, president of the well- known concern which operates under the name of Walter H. Moreton Corp., dealers in ma- rine engines, motor boats, and electric genera- ting plants. Mr. Moreton opened his first office here in Boston on State Street, in 1912, but for the past two years he has been located at No. 1045 Commonwealth Avenue. He is a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, and is well known both as an able business man and as a "yachting enthusiast."
Walter H. Moreton was born in Detroit, Michigan, July 27, 1883, son of James A. and Alice (Barker) Moreton. His father, who is an expert accountant, is treasurer of the busi- ness which his son heads. Mr. Moreton re- ceived his education in the public schools of Detroit, and when school days were over be-
came associated with a wholesale jewelry firm of that city, with whom he remained as sales- man for ten years. In 1912 he came to Bos- ton and opened an office of his own at No. 214 State Street, where he dealt in marine engines. After a time, as his business grew, he re- moved to No. 780 Commonwealth Avenue, where for five years he continued to develop the enterprise which he had founded. In 1926 he again changed his location, this time re- moving to his present site at No. 1045 Com- monwealth Avenue. After having built up a substantial trade in marine engines, the con- pany, which operates under the name of Wal- ter H. Moreton Corp., added to the scope of their business by adding to their stock motor boats and electrical generators, and these last have become an important part of the business. As the motor boat became more and more a common plaything of the well-to- do and a business proposition for many along the waterways, the motor boat showroom naturally came into existence to meet the need of a method of displaying stock where pos- sible purchasers are going on their daily rounds. The first motor boat showroom, it seems, was opened in New York City some years ago, and Mr. Moreton enjoys the distinction of having opened the second one in the country here in Boston, this being the first in the State of Massachusetts.
Mr. Moreton is a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce and is well known in business circles here. He is also a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in Palestine Lodge, of Detroit, Michigan; and in King Cyrus Chapter, Roy- al Arch Masons, also of Detroit, Michigan. In 1905 he was a member of the First Michi- gan Cavalry Troop, and he is now (1928) one of the best-known men among those who are devoted to the pastime of yachting. He is a member of the Boston Yacht Club, the Corin- thian Yacht Club, the Wollaston Yacht Club, the Quincy Yacht Club, and of numerous other clubs of the same kind, and through these numerous connections with this manly sport
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finds opportunity to keep well in touch with this particular field of recreational interest. He is also a member of the Boston Square and Compass Club, and is identified with several other social organizations. His religious affil- iations are with the Episcopal church.
Walter H. Moreton was married, in New York City, in May, 1915, to Elizabeth M. Laf- fan, and they are the parents of two children: 1. Walter M., born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1917. 2. Elizabeth Priscilla, born in Bos- ton in February, 1925. The family residence is located at No. 3 Moreland Road, in Quincy, Massachusetts.
ROBERT W. MOORE, Jr .- Though still relatively young Robert W. Moore, Jr., has risen to a position of considerable importance in the insurance field in New England. At present he is a member of the firm of Moore and Summers, general agents in Eastern Mass- achusetts for the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, and the success of his company is due in no small degree to Mr. Moore's own great energy and ability. He has exhibited a thorough knowledge of all the details of the business, a fine executive capacity, and a knowledge of men and the manner of dealing with them, that have brought his firm to the top of the list of agencies of the New Eng- land Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Moore is also socially prominent in Boston, where he makes his home, being a member of many local clubs.
His father, Robert W. Moore, who was born in Delphi, Indiana, is the Professor of Mod- ern Languages at Colgate University, Hamil- ton, New York. His mother, who before her marriage was Alice Wheeler, was born at Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Robert W. Moore, Jr., was born on Novem- ber 24, 1891, at Hamilton, New York. He at-
tended the public schools of his birthplace, and later entered Colgate Academy there and, finally, Colgate University, from which he was graduated in 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Soon after completing his academ- ic education, he became connected with the Columbia School Supply Company and spent one year in their employ at Indianapolis, In- diana. At the end of that time, in 1915, he came to Boston, and having formed a connec- tion with the New England Mutual Life In- surance Company, he acted as agent for them until 1921, when, in association with Merle G. Summers, he established the insurance firm of Moore and Summers, retaining the agency for his former employers. This arrangement has continued since that time.
Politically, Mr. Moore is a member of the Republican party, and he is also a member of the Colgate Chapter of the Delta Upsilon Fra- ternity. He is a member of the Brae Burn Country Club, the University Club of Boston, the University Club of New York, the Corin- thian Yacht Club, the Exchange Club, the Al- gonquin Club, the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club, and is past president of the Boston Life Underwriters' Association. Fraternally, Mr. Moore belongs to several Masonic bodies, in- cluding Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He and his family attend the Baptist church. Mr. Moore devotes much of his spare time to yachting, in which he is very expert, and to golf.
In 1915, Mr. Moore married Josephine Ap- pel, who was born at Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are the parents of three children: 1. Robert W. 2. Beverly. 3. Fred- erick Appel.
CHARLES RICE GOW-A veteran of two wars-the Spanish-American and World-in both of which he served his country-Charles
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Rice Gow, of Brookline, occupies a prominent place in the business and engineering world. Mr. Gow was born December 5, 1872, at Med- ford, the youngest son of Robert M. and Cor- delia (Flynn) Gow. His father was a plumb- er by trade, born at Leith, Scotland, coming to this country in his youth, later marrying here, and becoming the father of five children. One of the sons, Frederick W. Gow, born at Charlestown, married Ella F. Davenport of Medford and they had four children, Miriam D., Ruth M., Doris (who later married Hed- ley Patterson), and Frederick W., Jr. Frederick W. Gow attended the public schools of Charles- town and Medford and later learned the en- graver's trade. In 1887 he entered the Water Department of Medford where his father was then serving as superintendent. In 1905 hav- ing succeeded his father as superintendent, he left the city's employ and associated himself with his brother, Charles R. Gow, who was then engaged in the business of engineering contracting at Boston and retained this con- nection until the time of his death in July, 1920. During the later years of his life he served as chairman of the Water Commission of the city of Medford and as Exalted Ruler of the Medford Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. The remaining son of Robert M. Gow, Robert C., died in 1928, while the two daughters, Jeannette M. and Grace G., died in 1907 and 1892 respectively.
Charles R. Gow was graduated from the Medford public schools in 1889 and entered Tufts College from which he was graduated in 1893 with the degree of Bachelor of Sci- ence. In 1919 he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the same in- stitution in recognition of his attainments in the engineering and construction fields. After graduation he served for a while with the Med- ford Water and City Engineer departments and in 1895 accepted employment with the Boston Transit Commission in connection with the construction of the first Boston Subway System. In 1898 he enlisted in the 5th Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry, for service in the
Spanish-American War and returned a year later as a first-lieutenant. With George H. Foss he formed the contracting firm of Gow & Foss which later was changed to Gow & Palmer. In 1906 Mr. Palmer having with- drawn, Mr. Gow organized the Charles R. Gow Company, which is still in existence. As a con- tractor Mr. Gow constructed many sections of the various Boston Subway Systems, Metropoli- tan Water and Sewerage Works, Grade Cross- ings elimination works and many other State, municipal and private undertakings. For six years prior to the World War he delivered a course of lectures at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the subject of "Founda- tions."
In February, 1918, he was commissioned in the Construction Division of the United States Army and assigned the task of building the Army Base at South Boston, together with the Quartermaster's Stores at D and E streets, the work aggregating in cost approximately $26,000,000. He was mustered out in Septem- ber, 1919, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In addition to his war experience, Mr. Gow served for nineteen years in the Massachusetts Militia, being placed on the retiring list in 1908 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel of Engi- neers.
Since 1922 he has confined his business ac- tivities to the practice of the profession of con- sulting engineering. Among the many services rendered by Mr. Gow of a public or semi- public character are the following: Member Special State Commission on Ipswich River Water Supply, 1912; president Boston Society Civil Engineers, 1915; chairman Boston Licens- ing Board, 1915-1916; president Associated In- dustries of Massachusetts, 1921-1922; president Boston Tufts Club, 1922 ; president Boston City Club, 1923-1924; chairman Metropolitan Water Supply Investigating Commission, 1925; and member Special Metropolitan Transit Com- mission, 1928. He is a trustee of Tufts Col- lege, a trustee of Franklin Foundation, mem- ber board of governors of the University Club, vice-president of Norfolk Golf Club; director
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of Beacon Trust Company, Hood Rubber Com- pany, Warren Brothers Company, Gilman Manufacturing Company, West Roxbury Co- operative Bank. He attends the Congregation- al church at Brookline, and in politics is en- rolled as a Republican.
Mr. Gow was married, June 12, 1900, at Dor- chester, to Jeannette A. Weaving, daughter of Arthur E. and Annie (Carroll) Weaving. Their children have been five: 1. Ralph F., born March 21, 1903. 2. Arthur R., born August 7, 1905. 3. Jeannette, born June 21, 1907. 4. Charles R., Jr., born November 24, 1910. 5. Grace A., born August 26, 1914.
In May, 1928, Mr. Gow was selected to fill the newly created chair of "Humanics" at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
PAUL C. SANBORN-Athletic in his busi- ness as well as his recreational diversions, hav- ing a keen mind for the work in which he is engaged, there are few, if any, more engaging insurance men among the younger element in Boston than Paul C. Sanborn, who is associ- ated with Joshua B. Clark (q. v.), in the firm of Clark & Sanborn, general agents for Boston of the State Mutual Life Insurance Company. There is always room at the top for such ener- getic men as he, and his friends and associates predict that he will be found on the topmost rung of the ladder of achievement.
Paul C. Sanborn was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, January 22, 1901. His father is Frank B. Sanborn, a native of Seabrook, New Hampshire, now president and manager of the Sanborn Manufacturing Company, of Cambridge, and his mother is Grace (Cobb) Sanborn, daughter of Darius Cobb. Paul C. was educated in the elementary public schools of Cambridge and in the Cambridge Latin School. Upon conclusion of this educational work he took a clerkship with the Old Colony
Trust Company, where he remained for a year. He was then engaged by the Sanborn Manu- facturing Company, makers of surgical appli- ances, as purchasing agent, and held that post for more than three years, leaving it to be- come associated, in 1920, with the John Han- cock Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he remained until 1925. It was then he met and formed the partnership with Joshua B. Clark. In politics he is a Republican, in re- ligion a Unitarian. He is director in the E. R. Grabow Company and holds membership in the Boston Athletic Association, the Unicorn Country Club, Tedesco Country Club, Corinth- ian Yacht Club, Boston Chamber of Commerce, Boston Life Underwriters' Association, Gen- eral Agents' Round Table, and National Asso- ciation of Life Underwriters.
HARRY E. WRIGHT-Possessed of an energy and industry that might well have been the envy of a college boy, Harry E. Wright concluded, after forty years of successful ex- ecutive work in the directorate of a great leather house, to establish himself in busi- ness independently. His success was immedi- ate and he became one of the leading wool dealers in Boston. The story of Mr. Wright's life is one of unceasing attention to his busi- ness, yet never with such slavish devotion as to forbid his engaging in recreational pursuits. He likes the outdoors as well as any man of full blood, he is a devoted friend, a staunchly de- voted citizen, a business executive of more than ordinary powers and operating on a code that retains the many friends he makes. He is dependable, trustworthy, upright and honor- able in all his activities, a worthy example for the rising generation to emulate, in both his business and in his private life.
He was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, August 26, 1854, and was there educated in the pub-
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Paul (Sanborn
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lic schools, after which he became a tanner's apprentice and spent nine years learning the business, when he became associated with the Illinois Leather Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky. He rose step by step with this concern, eventually becoming a director and member of the finance committee and continuing his service with it for forty years. He left it in 1921 and established him- self in the wool business, locating at No. 263 Summer Street, Boston, where he deals in all kinds of wool, noils and waste, his principal outlet being to the textile and felting trade of New England. Mr. Wright's father was Rob- ert Wright, a printer and a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served in a regiment from Ohio, of which State he was a native, and was wounded in action. His mother was Sarah (Sipe) Wright, also of Ohio. He is a member of the Baptist church and is fond of golf. He is affiliated with the Republican party and fra- ternally allied with the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, Delta Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar, and Lulu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He be- longs to the Boston Wool Trade Association and to the Colonial Golf Club, of which he is a director and a member of the green com- mittee.
Harry E. Wright married, in 1878, Amanda Worley, of Bridgeport, Ohio, who is still liv- ing. They have one child: Virginia Briggs.
CHARLES H. J. KIMBALL-From his young manhood Charles H. J. Kimball, of Bos- ton and Dedham, has shown a strong predilec- tion for business affairs, in which he has been eminently successful. He began life as a clerk and in twelve years purchased the business in which he had been employed. He extended his abilities and, with an unfaltering industry
and a mind keen to the task for which it was set, advanced with steady progress to the top of his profession. Holding always best tradi- tions of commercial dealing, he made and held many friends and won a place in the respect of his fellow-citizens that comes only to him who deals out the justice for which he looks in others. His citizenship is of the highest qual- ity, as is evidenced by the service rendered in the affairs of his native town.
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