USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume V > Part 23
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Mr. Gaddis is very fond of out-of-door sports, particularly baseball and football. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Fores- ters and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. For more than forty years, Mr. Gaddis has made his home in Dorchester, Massachusetts, where he is greatly interested in the Dorchester Improvement Association. His residence is at No. 37 Wellesley Park. He and his family are members of St. Andrew's Roman Catho- lic Church of Dorchester.
William M. Gaddis married, at Taunton, Massachusetts, on April 20, 1903, Jane C. Gro- gan, who was born in the city of Taunton, the daughter of James and Jane Grogan. Mr. and Mrs. Gaddis were parents of one child, Jane Dorothy, who was born June 8, 1912; she is now a student in the Dorchester High School, member of the class which will graduate in 1930. Mrs. Gaddis died January 25, 1929.
MARTIN EDWARD DONLAN-The Pierce Rubber Company of Boston, Massachu- setts, was established in Boston in 1922 and has grown to be one of the most efficient tire service concerns in this vicinity. The presi- dent and treasurer, Martin Edward Donlan, is the son of Peter E. and Margaret (Doherty) Donlan. His father, who is superintendent of the Boston Elevated Railway Company, was in military service during the Spanish-Ameri- can War and is a member of the Spanish War Veterans.
Martin Edward Donlan was born at Rox- bury, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1894. He was educated in the Comins Grammar School at Roxbury, and then entered the English High School at Boston, from where he graduated, and later matriculated in Boston University and completed his academic work there by graduation. He then took a course in the School of Business Administration in Bos- ton, but was there only two years when he
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resigned to enter business. In 1913, after leaving college, Mr. Donlan went to work for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in the position of shipper and assistant in the stock room. He was with the Firestone Company for one year when he left to enter the employ of the Kelly-Springfield Tire Com- pany. With this firm he held the positions of shipper, billing clerk, credit manager, and assistant office manager, also counter sales- man. The filling of these different positions covered a period of six years. Mr. Donlan then had further opportunity for learning the tire business; he went on the road for the same company and for four years was the Boston sales representative, and after work- ing for ten years in different capacities in the tire industry, thus acquiring a thorough knowl- edge of all its phases, he started in busi- ness for himself, an interest
buying the Pierce Rubber Company, which is an ex- clusive truck tire distributing organization for Boston, on Kelly-Springfield truck tires, and also jobber on all makes of pneumatic tires. While Mr. Donlan is at present the president and treasurer of the Pierce Rubber Company, he also is acting sales manager and for the past two years has been in full control of the company. Altogether, he has been in the tire business for fifteen years. For twenty-two months during the World War, Mr. Donlan was in the United States Navy in the depart- ment of Naval Aviation. In politics, he is a Democrat, and in 1924 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in New York City that nominated John W. Davis as candidate for the Presidency. He is a mem- ber of the Quincy Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; the Knights of Colum- bus; the Irish Charitable Society of Boston, the Quincy Post of the American Legion; the Boston City Club, and the Roman Catholic church.
At Mattapan, Massachusetts, on February 1, 1921, in St. Angelos Church, Martin Edward Donlan married Josephine Adline Couture, daughter of Alfred John and Mary Elizabeth
(Craig) Couture. Mr. and Mrs. Donlan have six children: 1. Mary Margaret, born Decem- ber 1, 1921. 2. Martin Edward, Jr., born April 11, 1923. 3. Margaret Dorothy, born Novem- ber 12, 1924. 4. Robert Emmett, born Febru- ary 12, 1926. 5. Jeannette, born July 27, 1927. 6. Josephine Genevieve, born September 17, 1928. Mr. Donlan and family make their home in Quincy, a suburb of Boston, where Mr. Donlan indulges in his hobby of literature and history.
SETH TURNER CRAWFORD-For near- ly twenty years Seth Turner Crawford has practiced law in Boston, and is today among the city's best-known lawyers, having an im- portant and extensive legal clientele. His rec- ord has been one of distinction, augmented with the years.
Mr. Crawford's father, John Jennings Craw- ford, was born at Hazel Green, Wisconsin, January 24, 1856. He was a banker, his home being at Randolph, Massachusetts. His death occurred in Boston, January 21, 1904. Mr. Crawford's mother, Ellen Josephine (Turner) Crawford, was a native of Randolph, born April 13, 1860. She died in Pasadena, Cali- fornia, December 5, 1920. Their children: 1. Seth Turner, of whom follows. 2. John D., killed while in action in France, soldier of the United States in the World War. 3. Judith MacMillan, who continues to reside in Randolph, Massachusetts.
Descended from ancestors who came from England and settled in New England early in the seventeenth century, eldest child and only surviving son of John Jennings and Ellen Josephine (Turner) Crawford, Seth Turner Crawford was born in Randolph, Massachu- setts, June 30, 1886. From Thayer Academy, South Braintree, he graduated in 1902, and from Phillips Academy at Andover in 1903.
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He matriculated in the fall of that year in Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut, and took his academic degree in 1907. Following his graduation from Yale he entered Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a member of the class of 1910, and from that institution he took the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Thus roundly trained in the arts and for his profession, admitted to the bar of Massachusetts in 1910, he began active practice in that year and has continued it through the years succeeding. From 1910 until 1915 he was associated with the law firm of Whipple, Sears and Ogden; from 1915 until 1920 with Edward H. Ruby, under the firm style of Ruby and Crawford from 1918 till 1920; and from 1920 until the present, following Mr. Ruby's death, has been in independent practice. Mr. Crawford's offices are in Devonshire Street, No. 85, and he continues to make his residence in Randolph.
Although the profession of law has occupied the major share of Mr. Crawford's activity, he has participated largely in general affairs of interest to citizens. He is a member' and president of the board of trustees of the Turner Library in Randolph, and a trustee of the Randolph Savings Bank, and member of the board of investment. In politics he is a Republican. From 1910 until 1916 he was a member of Company D, 1st Corps of Cadets, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. He belongs to the Yale Club of Boston, Boston City Club, Country Club, and Union Boat Club.
Mr. Crawford married, in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 7, 1915, Sallie Ward Law- rence, daughter of Wesley Eaton and Sarah (Gustine) Lawrence; their children are: 1. Alice M. T., born November 23, 1917. 2. John D., 2d, born April 16, 1920. 3. Seth Turner, Jr., born May 31, 1923.
FRANK T. ALBERTS-A fine example of the foreign-born lad who has become so thoroughly assimilated into the life and suc- cesses of this country of his adoption as to
think and act only in terms and deeds of genuine Americanism is furnished by Frank T. Alberts. Forty years ago he was born in Russia; today he is a widely known and ex- pert life insurance underwriter and assistant agency manager in Boston. In modern par- lance, Mr. Alberts has made good all along the line, not the least of his regard for the American form of government having been shown through patriotic service as an artillery man in France during the World War. Among the arts of peace he believes that he is in the right place as a representative of an in- surer of lives against the hazards of loss through death, total disability and dependent old age.
Frank T. Alberts was born in Russia, Feb- ruary 23, 1888, the son of Harris and Ella (Gerstein) Alberts, both parents natives of that country, and now deceased. He was still a mere child when brought by his parents to Boston that the family might improve their circumstances. His educational courses car- ried him through the local public school sys- tem, inclusive of the Eliot Grammar and Boston English High School. Preparation for entry in the world of business, a career in which he had elected, was made at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Mr. Alberts' first connection was with the Stanley Motor Company of Newton, Massachusetts, where he was employed as a clerk for two years. His next association was in the capacity of clerk for Wilder P. Clark and Company, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, remaining with that firm until 1907. In that year he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he engaged in the tobacco business on his own account, and con- tinued therein until the United States became an associated nation in the World War.
In 1917, Mr. Alberts was accepted for serv- ice and enlisted in the United States Army in September, of that year, being assigned to the 7th Company, Coast Artillery, from which he was transferred to the 53rd Regiment, Railway Artillery. He was ordered overseas and served eleven months as a private, first class, in his outfit in France. He received his honorable discharge from the service in March, 1919.
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The principal turn in his affairs, from a business standpoint, came in January, 1922, when he became associated with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the Uinted States. This line of work proved to his liking, and one for which he possesses qualifications. His mastery of the details of life insurance under- writing led to merited advancement in the favor of his seniors and to equally merited promotion through the grades. In 1924 he was appointed assistant agency manager of the Equitable for Boston, in which position he still continues, being one of the readily ac- knowledged experts in his line in this city and one of his company's highly valued officials. As a member of the Boston Life Underwriters Association and the National Life Underwriters Association he enjoys a large and valued ac- quaintance of insurance men throughout the country.
The political faith of Mr. Alberts is that of the Democratic party. Comradeships and memories of the great war are kept bright through his membership in the American Legion. He attends Temple Mishkan Tefila, of Roxbury, and is a member of the Brother- hood of Temple Mishkan Tefila and the Men's Club of Adath Jeshurun, also Boston Chamber of Commerce and Boston City Club. For the general outdoor sports he has a keen liking, being especially fond of travel, hiking and swim- ming.
Frank T. Alberts married, in 1925, Rose Rosenberg, born in Warsaw, Poland, and they are the parents of a daughter, Evelyn Victoria.
JOSEPH FREDERICK GEHLING-For more than forty-four years Joseph Frederick Gehling has been associated with the Needham Cemetery, and since 1917 he has been its super- intendent.
John H. Gehling, father of Joseph Frederick Gehling, was born in Germany and came to this country in 1836, being then a young man in the
full vigor of youth. He was a weaver of car- pets and for twenty-four years he followed this trade here, until 1860. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company H, 32d Massachusetts Regiment, and served for three months as a substitute. When his term was served he reënlisted in the same company and regiment, and continued in active service to the close of the war in 1865, taking part in numerous hard-fought battles, among them being the two battles of Bull Run and the battle of Fredericks- burg. When the war was over he returned to Needham, where he followed farming for a time, but finally retired, about twenty years prior to his death, which occurred at the age of eighty- four years and eight months, on October 4, 1908. He married Maria Lena Garogas, who was born in Germany, and died at the age of sixty years, and. they became the parents of six children, of whom three are living (1928): Mary; Joseph Frederick, see next paragraph; and Henry.
Joseph Frederick Gehling was born in Need- ham, Massachusetts, July 10, 1866. He received his early education in the public schools of his birthplace, but at the age of ten years he went to work on a farm, to assist in earning his liv- ing, and he followed farming during the greater part of the time, until he was about eighteen years of age. On July 18, 1884, more than forty-four years ago, he entered the employ of the Needham Cemetery Association, and since that time he has been constantly employed in making more beautiful and useful this acreage. Since 1917, he has been the efficient super- intendent of the cemetery, and as the years have passed he has been an increasingly im- portant factor in the improvement of the ceme- tery. When he came here only a very small part of the cemetery was developed, and that was in a crude state. In association with dif- ferent engineers he has since laid out the paths, built the roads, and staked out scores of burial lots, and he has seen the cemetery grow to its present loveliness. Mr. Gehling is one of the oldest cemetery superintendents in point of service in Massachusetts. He is also one of the oldest and most active members of the New England Association of Cemetery Superin-
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tendents. He has attended, possibly, more con- ventions of the organization than any other member. These conventions having been held in the largest cities in different parts of the United States, he has, consequently, familiarized himself with a large section of the United States. In 1929 the convention was held in San Francisco, the itinerary covering the prin- cipal cities of the West and Northwest, and he, with Mrs. Gehling, visited these points. He is also a member of the American Association of Cemetery Superintendents, and has attended numerous conventions of this organization, trav- eling extensively to reach its numerous meeting places in different parts of the country. Mr. Gelling is interested in all that pertains to the general welfare of Needham; he has been a member of its Board of Trade for many years, and has always been a generous supporter of all well-planned measures for the advancement of the general welfare. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans, by virtue of his father's serv- ice in the Civil War, and is well known among a very large number of associates.
Joseph Frederick Gehling married, December 6, 1896, Fannie Edith Burbank, who was born in Keene, New Hampshire, and they became the parents of six children, of whom four are living (1928): 1. Dorothy, married Harry Stockel, a radio expert, and they have two children: Hazel May, and Robert Frederick. 2. Daniel Chester, a painter by trade, who married Hazel Dyson, and they have one child: Shirley. 3. Albert Burbank, an expert knitter of sweaters, who makes samples for manufacturers; married Elixza Longley. 4. Raymond Lawrence, who for several years has been associated with his father in the care of Needham Cemetery and is now assistant superintendent. The family home is located at No. 82 Nehoidem Street, in Need- ham.
GEORGE H. CROSBIE-Working his way through Harvard University by writing insur- ance was the groundwork of what George H.
Crosbie, of Boston, has built into a splendid and constantly growing business. Early observation in his work brought to him the idea of special- ization in life insurance, with the result that he has devoted himself largely to the medical profession, among whom he has written over eighteen hundred policies throughout the State of Massachusetts, with a constantly enlarging field, and a growing list of professional friends. Now in the prime of life, his outlook for a con- tinued prosperity is excellent, while his social qualities endear him to all with whom he comes in contact.
George H. Crosbie was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, March 7, 1833, son of Haley M. and Susan (Hartley) Crosbie, both natives of In- diana. His father was originally a minister of the Congregational church, but for the last thirty-five years of his life had been a special agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insur- ance Company. George was educated in the public schools of Iowa, and the high school in Joliet, Illinois. Upon leaving school he worked on a farmi for one year, and then drove a stage route in New Mexico.
From New Mexico he had gravitated to California, where he learned and worked at the carpenter trade, but his yearning was for a broader education, an ambition that brought him East and in 1906 he entered Harvard University, class of 1910, working in his spare time in writ- ing insurance for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. He has never departed from this profession, and is now special agent for this company with offices at No. 79 Milk Street. Mr. Crosbie is also special agent for the Fidelity and Guarantee Casualty Company of Baltimore, Maryland, for the State of Massachu- setts. He makes his home in Newton Center, and is a member of Mt. Lebanon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He also holds membership in the Harvard Club, Boston Life Underwriters' Association, Boston Casualty Underwriters' As- sociation, Massachusetts Brokers' Association, and Insurance Society of Massachusetts. In politics he is Republican, and was a delegate of that party to the Massachusetts State Con- vention at Springfield. He is a director in the
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Coolidge Corners Co-operative Bank, a director in the North End Mission, and in Cooms Farm, Incorporated, of Arkansas. During the World War he had charge of the Red Cross cottage on Boston Common, a work which he adminis- tered with excellent skill and ability. His hobby is natural history, and the training of youth in healthy and interesting occupations out of doors. In this he has taken the position of Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop No 5, of Newton Center, Boy Scouts of America, devoting every Satur- day to leading the troop on long walks, and educating them in woodcraft and interesting allied studies. He attends the Unitarian Church of Newton Center and is a member of the Lay- men's League of that organization.
Mr. Crosbie married, in 1909, Viola Rowley, of Joliet, Illinois. Their children are: George H., Jr., born in March, 1914; Arthur H., born in August, 1916, and Hadley M., deceased.
MYER BRODY-Graduating at the age of twenty years, Myer Brody was compelled to wait until he had attained his majority 'before he could be admitted to practice law at the bar of Massachusetts. He was the youngest member of his class in law and since his establishment in the profession has devoted much of his time to political affairs, in which he has given evi- dence of an inherent ability that gives promise of future eminence.
He was born in Boston, June 14, 1903, a son of William and Rose (Miller) Brody. Both parents were born in Russia, the father coming to Boston when a young man and becoming a clothing manufacturer, his factory at No. 106 Court Street. His death occurred in this city, January 15, 1926, at the age of forty-nine years. Mrs. Brody came to America when an infant and is still living. They were the parents of one daughter and one son, the first named being
single and living with her mother at No. 26 Mallon Road, Dorchester, Massachusetts.
The son, Myer Brody, was educated in the Dorchester public schools and was graduated from Oliver Wendell Holmes Grammar School in 1916. He then attended the Boston Latin School and the Berkeley Preparatory School here, which last-named institution graduated him in 1920. He then took the course at the Boston University Law School and was grad- uated in 1923, the youngest member of his class. He allied himself with the Republican party and has done considerable campaign work for that organization. He is an enthusiastic tennis player and is fond of football and kindred out- door sports. His fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Pythias and he is a member of the congregation of Temple Beth-El of Dorchester.
CHARLES A. STEVENS-One of the prom- inent men of the New England textile and woolen industries, Charles A. Stevens, through years of experience in this field, together with his own energy and ability, gained a pro- nounced business success and a wide reputation. Mr. Stevens, at various periods, has spent con- siderable time in the service of his country as a member of the United States Army, both in the United States and as a member of the Amer- ican Expeditionary Forces in France. His dis- tinguished military record and his readiness to support any movement for the betterment of the community indicate clearly his high sense of public duty.
He was born on January 21, 1882, at Lowell, Massachusetts, a son of Jonathan Tyler and Alice Nichols (Coburn) Stevens. His father, who was a trustee of the Stevens Estate, was born at Ware, Massachusetts, and died in 1902. His mother was born at Lowell, Massachusetts,
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and died in 1922. Mr. Stevens' grandfather, Cap- tain Nathaniel Stevens, of North Andover, was one of the pioneer woolen manufacturers of Massachusetts, having founded the company which is now known as the M. T. Stevens and Sons Company, of North Andover.
Charles A. Stevens attended the public schools of Lowell, and later entered Harvard Univer- sity as a member of the class of 1904. Mean- while he had entered the wool business in 1903, with the firm of Brown and Adams, of Boston, with whom he remained until 1905, at which time he went into business for himself, under the name of Charles A. Stevens, Wool, Noils, and Waste, of No. 200 Summer Street, Boston. This enterprise he conducted very successfully until 1911, when he retired to serve for two years as adjutant-general of the State of Mas- sachusetts. In 1914, he returned to the wool business, this time with offices at No. 185 Summer Street, where he remained until the entry of the United States into the World War, when he immediately entered the service. His military career extends back to the year 1906, when he enlisted in Company K of the Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts, National Guard Infantry. In 1907 he was promoted to be sec- ond lieutenant of this company, resigning two years later, in 1909. The next year, he was commissioned second lieutenant on the staff of Colonel Sweetser, promoted to a first lieu- tenancy in 1911 and, in 1912, became major and adjutant of the First Brigade. In 1917 he was placed on the National Guard Reserve, but in September, 1917, was appointed major and adjutant on the staff of General Edwards of the 26th Division. In February, 1918, he became adjutant, and in September of that year, lieu- tenant-colonel, which rank he held until his discharge from the service on May 2, 1919. He served a total of eighteen months in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, and was cited in orders for distinguished service by General Edwards. In 1921, he was appointed Middlesex County Chairman of the Citizens' Military Training Camps, in which position he has served since that time. Upon his return to
civil life at the conclusion of the war, he again entered the wool business, where he continued for a time, with offices at No. 184 Summer Street, Boston.
Politically, Mr. Stevens is a member of the Republican party, and he served as chairman of Edith Norse Rogers' political campaign. He is a member of the Lowell Post of the Amer_ ican Legion, the Military Order of the World War, the Military Order of Foreign Wars, the Yankee Division Veterans' Association, of which he was first president, and the Y-D Club. He is also a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Vesper Country Club, the Essex Country Club, and the Middlesex Club, of which he is a member of the executive com- mittee. He is a member of the Lowell Literary Club, and the Boston Wool Trade Association. He attends the Unitarian Church. He is much interested in military affairs, golf, politics and literature.
Charles A. Stevens married, in 1908, Helene Ada Chalifoux, who was born at Lowell, Mas- sachusetts.
HENRY SELVITELLA-Having a pen- chant for politics and a finished legal education, with several years of professional practice to augment it, Henry Selvitella, of Boston, already has been elected to office here and has attained a following that has faith in his leadership and will back their faith with their votes. He is of the younger element of the local bar and is equipped with a native energy that gives prom- ise of fine achievement in his chosen profession.
He was born in Boston, June 27, 1896, a son of Frank and Mary (Ciampa) Selvitella, both natives of Italy, who were the parents of twelve children. Henry was educated in the local pub- lic schools and was graduated from the Samuel
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