USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume IV > Part 38
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In 1905, George W. Sylvester married Maude E. Weeks, daughter of James T. and Adeline (Gilman) Weeks, of North Braintree, Massa-
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chusetts. They have one child, Doris A., who was born at Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1906, and is a graduate of both the Braintree High School and of Thayer Academy. Mr. Sylvester and family attend the Methodist church.
GEORGE FRANCIS STRATTON-Posts of great importance have been filled and admin- istered with skill by George Francis Stratton, of Boston, almost from the beginning of his career in the commercial field. Starting with a collegiate education, he began with teaching, but quickly departed from this field, to give his tal- ents and ambition a larger field in which to operate. Success followed and advancement came as his abilities were recognized. He has shown himself to be a citizen of great industry, of unusual talents, of attractive personality and a comprehensive grasp of business matters with which he has been engaged, a man of worth to the community, who makes and holds friends wherever he makes acquaintances.
He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 4, 1890, a son of Edward B. and Sarah L. (Fifield) Stratton, both natives of Cambridge, the father, treasurer of the North Avenue Sav- ings Bank there. Their son was educated in the Cambridge public schools, was graduated from the Cambridge Latin School and then at- tended Harvard University, from which he was graduated in 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Following this he took a post-grad- uate course at Columbia University, New York City, from which he was graduated in 1916 with the additional degree of Master of Arts. For the following four years he taught school, then entered the service of the Federal Govern- ment as chief chemist at the Perryville, Mary- land, plant of the Atlas Powder Company, then engaged in the production of explosives for military operations. He remained in that po- sition until 1918, when he was appointed an adjuster of fire losses for the General Adjust-
ment Bureau. Three years later he was ap- pointed senior adjuster of the Boston branch of that bureau, soon promoted to be assistant man- ager for New England, and, in 1925, again pro- moted to be general manager of the General Adjustment Bureau for this geographical divi- sion, with headquarters at No. 141 Milk Street, Boston. He is independent in politics and attends the Congregational church. He is an oarsman of distinction, having won his letter "H" in that sport while at Harvard and still indulges in the sport. He is a member of the Harvard Club and the Boston Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Stratton married, in 1917, Dorothy Nichols, and they are the parents of two chil- dren: Gardner N., and Frances N.
BENJAMIN STONE DAVIS-When Mr.
Davis was in his twenty-second year his career as a counter salesman in a department store was interrupted by the call to duty in the serv- içe of his country, then engaged in war against the Imperial German Empire. He served with patriotic devotion and, at the close of the con- flict, returned to commercial life, to which he gave as close attention as he had to his military work. Prosperity was his reward and today he is one of the important factors making up the commercial life of Boston. He is a young man of great promise, with a keen perception of business affairs and a happy propensity of ma- king friends and holding them by the strength of a pleasing personality. The field in which he operates is extensive and it is freely predicted by his associates that he will continue to ad- vance along the road leading to independence.
He was born in Sunapee, New Hampshire, March 28, 1896, a son of Frank H. and Maria Jane (Stone) Davis, his father being of old Colonial stock, a retired hotel owner of New Hampshire and New York City. His education was obtained in the public schools of New York City and in business college there, after which
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he entered business life as a counter salesman in a Brooklyn department store. After a short time there he went to Los Angeles, California, where he became associated in the automobile tire business, at which he worked as a salesman for the United States Rubber Company until 1916, when he went to Boston and was made indoor salesman for the American Motor Equip- ment Company. For eight years, excepting the interval of his military service, when he served with the 4th Division in the Signal Corps of the Regular Army during 1918 and 1919, he re- mained with that enterprise, in 1924 establish- ing himself independently in the business of automobile accessories at No. 1104 Common- wealth Avenue, Boston. He acquired the agency for the Sieberling tire, which he still retains in conjunction with his other merchandise. In association with his brother, Howard, he erected a modern service station at No. 1286 Boylston Street, which has 5,000 square feet of space for cars, a large rest room for women, and is one of the finest and best-equipped stations in New England, with ample facilities for the care of tires, batteries, cleaning and lubrication of motor cars. Benjamin has charge of this station, while his brother conducts the Commonwealth Avenue enterprise. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and is affiliated with Doric Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, also with the Royal Arch Masons of Boston.
Benjamin Stone Davis married, in Boston, June 15, 1927, Bertha Elizabeth Runel, daugh- ter of Dr. Charles and Louise Runel. They are the parents of one child, born May 28, 1928.
WALTER BRUCE GRANT-Eloquent tes- timony to the high regard in which the pro- fessional ability and personal attributes of Walter Bruce Grant, lawyer who has practiced extensively in Massachusetts and elsewhere, are held, is the fact that he was appointed to act as chief counsel for the United States in the
hearing over the Chamizal Mexican boundary case. He was named in a treaty agreement between the United States and Mexico dated June 24, 1910. In Boston, where Mr. Grant has had his professional headquarters and his home since 1891, frequent tribute has been paid to him in the form of appointment to positions of public trust.
For nearly three centuries the Grant family has been in America, the emigrating ancestor having been Peter Grant, who came from Scot- land to settle in Boston in 1652. The subject of this biography was born in Milwaukee, Wis- consin, March 21, 1859, the son of Albert Grant, who was born in Winterport, Maine, Novem- ber 12, 1819, died January 5, 1889, and Harriet N. (Taylor) Grant, born in Windham, New Hampshire, April 9, 1824, died in Washington, District of Columbia, March 5, 1876.
When Walter Bruce Grant was seven years of age the family removed from Milwaukee to New Hampshire where, at Derry, they made their home until 1870. That year they went to Washington, District of Columbia, and there Mr. Grant attended the public schools and en- tered, in 1876, the preparatory department of Columbian University-since become George Washington University. Graduating in 1877, he enrolled for a college course in the same in- stitution and received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1881, then matriculated in the Law School. In 1884 he won his Bachelor of Laws degree and the following year his Master of Laws degree. He was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1885; to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court in 1889, and to the Massachusetts State Bar in 1891, the year he opened his office for private practice in Boston. Here he has done distinguished work that has merited and received much public at- tention.
Active in Republican politics, Mr. Grant was a delegate to the Republican National Conven- tion held in Chicago in 1916, and is serving as vice-president of the Massachusetts Repub- lican Club. During the World War he served as chairman of the Draft and Exemption Board
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for District No. 20, in Boston. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Massa- chusetts Bar Association, and the Bar Asso- ciation of the city of Boston. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Masonic Order, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree, and with Phi Kappa Psi. In religion he is a Uni- tarian. Mr. Grant's club memberships include the Boston City Club, the Boston Art Club, the University Club; and the Toltec Club of El Paso, Texas. He has been honored by ap- pointment as trustee of Lincoln Memorial Uni- versity, at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Busi- ness interests outside Mr. Grant's legal prac- tice include the presidency of the American Tube Works.
On August 28, 1889, Mr. Grant married Lu- cinda E. Tripp of Hudson, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, whose death occurred January 12, 1907.
HAROLD C. READ-Taking a deep inter- est in the preservation of historical places of interest in the State, Harold C. Read is one of Boston's leading citizens and, in addition, is a prominent factor in the insurance business of the city as member of the firm of Jordan, Read and Company, which he organized in 1920, with Herbert F. Jordan (see accompanying biog- raphy). Mr. Read has been associated with the insurance business since the completion of his formal education and has held a number of important positions prior to his present part- nership. His progressive spirit and keen, in- tuitive sense of insurance matters have placed him in the front ranks of this business, and since 1921 he has been the popular and effi- cient secretary of the Insurance Society of Massachusetts.
Mr. Read was born in Boston, December 2, 1888, son of Charles F. Read, born in Boston, and Mary B. (Comer) Read, born in Chelsea,
both of whom are living. Charles F. Read is one of the most highly respected and esteemed. citizens of Boston, and for the past forty years he has been treasurer of the Bostonian Society.
Harold C. Read received his education in the public schools of Brookline, and graduated from high school with the class of 1908. His first entrance upon an active business career was in Boston, in 1909, when he opened an office as an independent insurance broker, in which he continued successfully until 1913. He then be- came associated with Grafton W. Potter and they formed the insurance firm of Read and Potter. This partnership existed until Paul Burrage was admitted to the firm, and the name was changed to Read, Burrage and Com -· pany. Under Mr. Read's capable administra- tion, the business of this concern grew rapidly and it became one of the most important in the city, continuing to prosper until 1920, when Mr. Read formed his present partnership with Mr. Jordan. With such splendid assets as the abil- ity and experience of both Mr. Jordan and Mr. Read, the firm of Jordan, Read and Company is one of the most reliable, prosperous and pro- gressive in the State, and the recognition of these excellent qualities is evidenced by their large and important clientele. Mr. Read is a member of the Boston Board of Fire Under- writers, Casualty Underwriters' Association, Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, and the Boston Chamber of Commerce. In social or- ganizations, he is a member of the Maugus Club and having especial interest in patriotic and historical societies, he is a member of the Bunker Hill Monument Association and the Sons of the American Revolution. In politics, he is a member of the Republican party and his religious affiliations are with the Episcopal church. In 1908, Mr. Read enlisted in Com- pany C of First Corps Cadets and served until November, 1913, having the rank of private. Upon the outbreak of the World War, he re- ënlisted in June, 1917, in Company D, First Motor Corps, Massachusetts State Guard, at- taining the rank of sergeant, which he held un- til his discharge in February, 1919.
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Harold C. Read married, in 1915, Margaret Frances Scudder, born in Hingham, and they have two children, Robert Scudder and Charles Marshall.
HERBERT F. JORDAN-Having been con- nected with the insurance world since the begin- ning of his actual business career, Herbert F. Jordan has established a remarkable reputation for his knowledge and ability in the intricate matters of the insurance business. Mr. Jordan is a partner in the firm of Jordan, Read and Com- pany, which he established in 1920 with Harold C. Read (see accompanying biography), and their organization, with offices located at No. 119 Water Street, is one of the most prominent general insurance agencies in the city, writing all kinds of insurance with the exception of life, particularly specializing in fire and casualty risks. Mr. Jordan takes an active interest in civic affairs, particularly in advancing whole- some athletic recreation for the citizens of this great municipality.
Mr. Jordan was born in East Boston, Octo- ber 1, 1888, son of Robert F. and Louise E. (McKie) Jordan, both of whom are living, the latter a native of East Boston. Robert F. Jordan was born in Portland, Maine, and has been engaged all his life in real estate, insur- ance and banking business. He is treasurer of the Enterprise Co-operative Bank of East Bos- ton, which is one of the oldest cooperative banks in the country.
Herbert F. Jordan received his education in the local public schools and, after high school, entered the insurance firm of Ellison, Coolidge and Company of Boston, in 1903, the name of this company being later changed to Gilmour and Coolidge. He remained in the employ of this concern until 1911, familiarizing himself thoroughly with the methods employed and advancing steadily by reason of his energetic
ambition and desire to succeed. He next be- came associated with Simpson, Campbell & Company, with whom he remained until 1915, when he accepted a position with the firm of John C. Paige Company. He was a valued member of this organization until 1920, when he and Mr. Read founded their present pro- gressive agency. Mr. Jordan is a director of the Massachusetts Plate Glass Insurance Com- pany in which he takes an active part. He is a member of the Insurance Society of Massa- chusetts, the Boston Board of Fire Underwri- ters, and in social organizations is a director of Cottage Park Yacht Club, and a charter member of the Winthrop Golf Club. In politics, he has always followed the principles of the Re- publican party, displaying a sincere and earnest interest in the welfare and improvement of the community. He is a popular figure in fra- ternal circles, being identified with Winthrop Masonic Lodge, Winthrop Chapter and Win- throp Commandery. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist church.
Herbert F. Jordan married, June 2, 1913, Pauline F. Tucker, born in Winthrop, and they have one son, Robert F.
OTIS J. REDDEN-Among the foremost of leather commission houses in Boston is the one which Otis J. Redden operates under his own name. Mr. Redden has been in the leather busi- ness for thirty-six years, and has been in the leather commission business for himself for fif- teen years, first in partnership, and then, since 1919, alone, operating under his own name. His business is located at No. 727 Atlantic Avenue, in Boston, and he handles about one and a quarter million pounds of leather annually.
Otis J. Redden was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, February 1, 1878, son of Levi Red- den, who was born in Horton, Nova Scotia, and was sexton of the Ruggles Street Church
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for a period of thirty-four years preceding his death, which occurred in 1927, and of Cynthia Ann Trenholm Redden, who was born in Grand Pré, Nova Scotia, and is now deceased. He received his education in the public schools of Boston, Massachusetts, and when his studies were completed entered the employ of the George P. Sewell Company, of Boston, a well- known leather concern. That was in 1892, when Mr. Redden was fourteen years of age, and during the thirty-six years which have passed since that time he has been continuously identified with the leather business. In 1900, after eight years of association with the George P. Sewell Company, he identified himself with the Rausch-Ellis Company, of Boston, and that connection he maintained for another eight- year period, until 1908. In that year he en- tered the employ of the Edward Kelley Com- pany of Boston, but at the end of one year he made another change, this time going with the Graton and Knight Manufacturing Company, of Worcester, Massachusetts, with whom he remained for a year and a half. His next po- sition was with the Martineau & Burke Com- pany of Boston, and there he continued until 1913, when he made the great venture and en- gaged in business for himself as partner of Mr. Morse, under the name of the Morse Red- den Company. The partnership was main- tained until 1919, when the connection was severed. Mr. Redden then engaged in busi- ness alone under his own name, Otis J. Redden. Since that time he has continued most success- fully, and he is building up an already large and well-established business. When the concern was founded under the name of the Morse Redden Company it operated as a jobbing and commission leather house. Mr. Redden now (1928) sells about one and a quarter million pounds of leather each year, and his business has for some years been rated among the lead- ing concerns of its kind in Boston, especially for Alpena Leather Corporation's "Barkrom" Sole Leather, also representing Wilder & Company, Chicago, William Mortimer & Co., Ltd., Eng- land, on rough belting leather, and McAdoo
& Allen Welting Co., Quakertown, Pennsyl- vania, on splits. This company also does a general jobbing business in leathers for shoe manufacturers and specialty manufacturers. He is a Republican in politics, and active in the affairs of the party, serving as a member of the Boston Republican City Committee, and he has always been ready to serve the general welfare in whatever capacity he could be of most use. For four years prior to the World War he was a member of Troop D, First Massachusetts Cavalry, and he is a generous supporter of civic and philanthropic progress- ive measures. He is well known in the Ma- sonic Order, holding membership in Hyde Park Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Mount. Vernon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Cyprus Commandery, Knights Templar; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Blue Hill Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Redden finds his exercise and his recreational interest in bowling and hiking, and he is great- ly devoted to all out-of-door sports, though he has time for personal participation in only the two which are his favorites. His religious membership is with Blaney Memorial Church, which he serves as chairman of the executive board.
Otis J. Redden was married, in 1905, to Jen- nie Priestman, who was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, and they have two daughters: Ethel Marion, and Helen Louise.
HARRY KNIGHT NOYES-In the auto- mobile industry of New England Harry Knight Noyes, of Boston, holds a high position com- mercially, and in the regard of his business associates. For more than twenty years his name has been connected with this important industry, in which he has risen from a small retail business to executive positions in many
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industrial organizations allied with motor cars and accessories throughout this section of the country.
He was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, in 1871, where he obtained his early education and worked on a farm until entering the whole- sale produce business in Lowell, Massachu- setts, with his father, the firm name being H. E. Noyes & Son. In 1906 he became actively interested in the automobile business and es- tablished the Lowell Auto Company, two years later becoming branch manager in Boston of the Buick Motor Company's plant. For seven years he continued in that capacity, then, pur- chasing the branch, organized the Noyes Buick Company, for the distribution of the Buick car throughout New England. From that time he has been president of the concern, with control also over the affiliated organizations of the Noyes Buick Sales Company, of Boston, the retail Buick dealers of the city; H. K. Noyes & Son, Incorporated, warehousing and finance, and a number of other corporations formed for retail dealing in automobiles. In politics Mr. Noyes is a Republican. He is a thirty-second degree member of the order of Free and Ac- cepted Masons, affiliated with the higher bodies of that organization, and belongs to the Algon- quin, University, Brae Burn Country, and Woodland Golf clubs.
DWIGHT E. TIMMERMAN-Entering upon his business career and guiding an in- dependent venture to success has been the rec- ord achieved by Dwight E. Timmerman, one of Boston's outstanding men in the insurance business of the city today. Mr. Timmerman heads the firm of D. E. Timmerman and Co., which he organized and opened in 1915, after having been associated prior to that time with one of New England's greatest insurance cor- porations. He has continued to maintain his offices at No. 101 Milk Street, where he con-
ducts a general brokerage business which has progressed steadily and consistently, the num- ber of his clients having increased with each year, and his success can be easily attributed to his careful consideration shown to all and his splendid principles of integrity and effi- ciency which have characterized all his com- mercial dealings.
Mr. Timmerman was born in Potsdam, New York, April 12, 1889, son of Frank E. Timmer- man, born in Potsdam, New York, who died in 1924, and Rhoda (Petrie) Timmerman, born in Oswego, New York, who is still living. Frank E. Timmerman was long engaged in the agricultural industry and was also a promi- nent business man in his community, while in political affairs he was an outstanding figure, serving as president of the town of Potsdam for twelve years, and earning the respect and esteem of all his fellow-citizens for his con- stant devotion to the public interests.
Dwight E. Timmerman was educated in the public schools of Potsdam, after which he at- tended Potsdam State Normal School, and then entered St. Lawrence University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1912, re- ceiving his degree of Bachelor of Science. En- tering the world of business, he chose insur- ance and accepted a position with the New England Casualty Company and remained with this concern for three years, assimilating the various details and principles of the enterprise and acquiring a host of friends, together with receiving the recognition and commendation of his company's officers who appreciated his de- votion to the interests of the firm and his ability to acquire so much new business. In 1915, Mr. Timmerman decided to branch out for himself and, accordingly, he opened his pres- ent independent office for the operation of the insurance brokerage business. While his suc- cess in the field of insurance attests to his con- stant attention to his business, he is also a prominent factor in a number of financial cor- porations and industrial organizations, being a director of the Canton Trust Company; di- rector of the Massachusetts Plate Glass In-
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surance Company; director of the Boston Ac- ceptance Corporation; director of the Reversible Collar Company, and a director of the Stand- ard Rivet Company. In politics he is an In- dependent, preferring to judge the merits of in- dividual candidates rather than align himself with any particular party. Active in fraternal affairs, he is prominently identified with the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity; Blue Hill Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Rising Sun Chap- ter; Boston Commandery; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His social connections are with the University Club, Blue Hill Country Club and the Wampatuck Country Club. His hobbies are hunting and fishing, in which he finds great recreation and relaxation from active concerns of his business. His religious adherence is given to the Universalist church.
Dwight E. Timmerman married, in 1913, Mildred March, of Cambridge, and they are the parents of four children: Ruth, Hope, March, and Ann. The family residence is located at No. 864 Pleasant Street, Canton, where Mr. Timmerman takes an active part in all affairs of civic progress and improvement.
CHARLES H. WILSON-From errand boy to senior partner in the firm with which he be- gan his active business life is the pleasing rec- ord of Charles H. Wilson, of Boston, one of the best-known insurance men of the city. Be- yond his business, his social, civic and fraternal interests have been varied and advantageous to all those with whom he has been associated. His citizenship is standard and of the highest grade.
Charles H. Wilson was born in Boston, No- vember 25, 1872, a son of Charles H. Wilson, a native of Germany and a follower of the sea, and of Sarah (Gardiner) Wilson, born in Eng- land. Their son was educated in the public schools of Boston, leaving when he was eleven
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