USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 31
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Adelbert D. Sprague received his education in the public schools, going from school to school until he had passed through them all. He is a member of the class of 1894, Haverhill High School. Being attracted towards the profession of law, he sought for the best place in which to lay the foundations for it and found that place in the office of Mellin A. Pingree, the well known jurist of Haverhill. The years of association and study with Judge Pingree not only amply fitted him for admittance to the Essex county bar in 1908, but aided greatly in his later successful career. Mr. Sprague soon estab- lished himself in a law practice of his own, with an office on Merrimack street, in Haverhill, Massachu- setts. He holds membership with the Haverhill Bar Association. Like his father, a Republican in poli- tics, he has been interested more particularly in its local affairs. In 1904-05 he served his city as a member of the City Council. Mr. Sprague has al- ways had and shown a helpful interest in civic af- fairs, and is much sought by those who know him best for his counsel and aid in everything concern- ing civic righteousness. He has two children: Jean- nette A., born July 6, 1915; and Summer Daggett, born December 11, 1917.
JOSEPH HENRY CROWLEY, ex-service man, and now a dental surgeon, with a growing practice, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, was born in. Charlestown, Massachusetts, on July 10, 1895, son of Jeremiah J. and Margaret E. (Gill) Crowley. His mother was originally of Waltham, Massachu- setts, and died in 1909, but his father, who was of. Essex-2-9
Boston, died February 28, 1922. Jeremiah J. and Margaret E. (Gill) Crowley had six children, three sons and three daughters, Joseph H., being their third-born.
Joseph Henry Crowley was educated in the ele- mentary and high schools of Charlestown, Massa- chusetts, graduating from the latter in the class of 1918. Having decided to enter the dental profes- sion, he sometime thereafter became a student at Tufts Dental College, graduating, eventually, in the class of 1919. His college course was not, how- ever, pursued continuously, for the World War, in which the United States became involved in 1917, brought serious national responsibilities to all patri- otic young Americans. Dr. Crowley enlisted in the Dental Corps, and was assigned to Base Hospital No. 7, where he remained stationed until long after the termination of hostilities. He did not receive his discharge from military service until December 11, 1919. Entering civilian practice, Dr. Crowley at first associated with Dr. King, of Newburyport, but. in April, 1921, opened an office for himself at No. 19 State street, Newburyport. It is of course hardly possible yet to state that definite success will come to him in his endeavor to practice in. Newburyport, but the indications are promising, and Dr. Crowley in his work shows a skilled hand and a desire to give good service.
Dr. Crowley is a member of several fraternal or- ders, including the Benevolent and Protective Order Elks, Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. His fraternity is Psi Omega, and he belongs to the Louis Pasteur Club. Also, by rea- son of his war service, he has membership in the American Legion. Dr. Crowley is unmarried.
WALTER B. HOPKINSON, merchant and presi- dent of Delano, Potter & Company, Inc., of Bos- ton, Massachusetts, was born in Newburyport, Mas- sachusetts, where he now makes his home, August 28, 1865, son of William N. and Laura E. (Whit- tier) Hopkinson. In the public schools of his na- tive town he obtained his education, and at an early age entered the business world as a clerk in the office of John Currier, Jr., of Newburyport. After. two years he became associated with Howard W. Spurr & Company, wholesale grocers, and found this work particularly to his liking, and after four years, with a knowledge of the business acquired .. by strict attention to business and details, he be- came a salesman for Delano, Potter & Company, Inc., of which firm he is now president.
Mr. Hopkinson has continued to make his home in Newburyport, with his business interests in Bos -. ton, and he has always been keenly interested in ' all matters of public interest. A Republican in poli- tics, he was a delegate to the National Convention. which nominated William Mckinley in 1900, and also served in this capacity at the nomination of : Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. During " the World War, Mr. Hopkinson served as mayer, of Newbury-, port.
Mr. Hopkinsen married, in. 1900,. Eleanor .. Robin -.
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son, daughter of John C. and Mary E. Robinson, and . the Boston Medical Association; the Penobscot they are the parents of a daughter, Elizabeth B., born June 5,- 1901.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON BRIGGS, M. D .- For a physician to be a successful general practitioner requires much study and experience. To become a specialist, one must have special abil- ities and sufficient time to gain the specialized knowledge, and after that he must get that knowl- edge known and appreciated by others. . To find the . two, often opposed, professions combined in one person is not only rather unusual, but definitely marks that person among his fellow-men.
Dr. William Henry Harrison Briggs, born in Free- dom, Waldo county, Maine, February 16, 1861, has not only a large general medical practice, but also is one of the most distinguished specialists in pathol- ogy and gynecology in this part of the State; he also finds .time and has the ability to engage in many other interests. His early days were spent on the wide acres of the farms owned by his parents, Samuel B. and Matilda Blanchard (Cookson) Briggs, both of whom were born in Maine, and there for his later profession, he entered first the public schools, then, from 1875 to 1878, he taught school, School, of Castine, Maine, from which he gradu- ated in 1880. After several years of study and teaching he was graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine,: in June, 1887, after which he entered Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hamp- shire, from which institution he received his medi- cal degree. After spending a short time as a gen- eral medical practitioner, he gave that up, tem- porarily, to gain training as a specialist. He went to New York City and entered what was, and is now, one of the most famous hospitals in the United States, Bellevue Hospital, where he gained that training in gynecology and pathology which has made him a distinguished specialist. Dr. Briggs did not neglect.the general practice of medicine for his specialty, with the result that he is a much sought and very busy physician. Besides his practice in Haverhill, he is connected with Dr. Hart's Hos- pital in Roxbury, Massachusetts; is a registered druggist of Maine; and has seen long service as secretary of the United States Pension Examining Board, which is located at Winn, Maine.
During his residence in Springfield, Maine, he be- came very much interested in schools and education there, with the result that he was soon busily en- gaged in their improvement and upbuilding. He became chairman of the Board of Education, and for an extended period was the esteemed superin- tendent of the public schools of that place; also held nearly all of the local offices of that city, in- cluding: chairmanof the board of directors of the Springfield. Normal School; superintendent . of schools; member of the Board of Health; and United States Pension Examiner. Dr. Briggs also is a member of the American Medical Association;
Medical Association; and the Maine Medical Asso- ciation. Politically he supports the Republican party. Fraternally he is a prominent Mason, hav- ing gone through all branches of the order, and now having the distinguished honor of being a thirty-third degree Mason. He also is a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Dr. Briggs, with his family, are attendants of the Congrega- tional church of their city.
At Portland, Maine, May 23, 1909, Dr. Briggs married Grace Lee Johnson, daughter of Frank Henry Johnson, the latter born in Maine, Septem- ber 12, 1856, and Susie S. Johnson, also born in Maine, in 1855. Dr. and Mrs. Briggs are the par- ents of one daughter, Zelma, born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, February 26, 1911. Dr. Briggs now has one of the finest homes in the best residential sections of Haverhill.
OSCAR .H. NELSON, lawyer, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, was born in West Newbury, August spent most of their lives. Beginning preparation . 81, 1876, son of Charles W. and Mary E. (Howe)
Nelson. He was educated in the public schools and the Dummer. Academy, graduating from the New- later attending the Eastern Maine State Normal . buryport High School in 1895. Three years later Mr. Nelson entered the Boston Law School and passed the bar examinations in 1900. Immediately he began the practice of his profession in Newbury- port and has met with signal success; he is associ- ate justice of the District Court in Newburyport. He represented his city in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1918; was city solicitor in 1916-1917; and has also served as alderman and as a member of the Common Council, and during and since these dates he has conducted many important cases.
Fraternally Mr. Nelson is a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; King Cyrus Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Newburyport Com- mandery, Knights Templar; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also is a member of the Dalton Club, and of the · Unitarian church.
On October 15, 1904, Mr. Nelson married Cas- sine H .. Brown, daughter of John Brown, of Nan- tucket, Massachusetts, and they were the parents of the following children: David and Robert, born April 6, 1906, both deceased; Mary C., born Octo- ber 17, 1909; Charles B., born December 1, 1915; and John E., born May 31, 1919.
JAMES N. GURDY, president of the Jersey Ice Cream Company, at No. 44 Bay State road, Law- rence, Massachusetts, was born in Fairview, Iowa, December 16, 1861. He is a son of Benair B. and Martha McClure (Spaulding) Gurdy, the former a steam fitter and machinist prior to his death. He had charge of piping the first pork packing house built in Chicago, Illinois. Martha MeClure (Spaul- ding) Gurdy was a direct descendant of Put. Spaul-
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ding, of Revolutionary fame. J. N. Gurdy attended public school in Bridgewater, New Hampshire, and in 1875 was in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The year 1876 he spent in the West, and then returned to Lawrence, where on March 1, 1879, at the age of eighteen years, he opened a retail fruit store at Nos. 409-411 Essex street, and at that location remained twenty-seven years. To his original line, that of fruit, a coal and wood department was added. After a new block was built, the fruit business was given up and confectionery and ice cream were added. The handling of ice cream in his confec- tionery department led to his becoming a manu- facturer of that commodity, which has now become a necessity to American life. The business was carried on under the firm name, Jersey Ice Cream Company, but in March, 1907, the firm became a corporation, James N. Gurdy, president; George W. Kennison, treasurer, and Thomas E. Gary, secre- tary. In 1912-13 a large, specially-designed plant was erected at No. 44 Bay State road, and the com- pany operates a branch plant at Lynn, Massachu- setts, employing about fifteen men. About seventy- five people are employed in the Lawrence plant, which is a large and prosperous one. Including Bos- ton, there is no plant in Northern New England that does a larger business. Their trade extends all over New England, except Connecticut. Mr. Gurdy is a member of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and attends the Central Methodist Church.
James N. Gurdy married (first) in Lawrence, in 1882, Harriet O. Colcord, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Clark) Colcord, of Exeter, New Hampshire. She died October 15, 1916, leaving three children: 1. Harriet O., who married George W. Kennison. 2. Irene M. 3. Elbert O., who is engaged in busi- ness with his father; on April 18, 1921, he married Edna Ruth Schueler, of Lawrence. Mr. Gurdy mar- ried (second) Margaret M. Burnley, of Lawrence. The family home' is at No. 88 Nesmith street, Law- rence, Massachusetts.
EDSON B. HOYT-The firm of G. H. Hoyt & Son is the oldest and one of the largest manufac- turers of paper and wood boxes in Haverhill, Mas- sachusetts. Its record for business integrity is with- out a blemish. For nearly fifty years of ups and downs, panics and failures, good times and bad, it has never failed to meet its obligations to the last penny.
Edson B. Hoyt, of the third generation in the company, is now its sole owner. He was born in Brentwood, New Hampshire, June 8, 1875, which is the same year in which the firm was founded. He was educated in the public schools and Peekskill Military Academy, Peekskill, New York. The call of trade was strong, however, and when seventeen he entered the box-making plant and began what was to be his successful career. This company had been started in 1875 at Brentwood, New Hamp- shire, by his grandfather, George H. Hoyt, and his father, George H. Hoyt, Jr., under the Arm name
of George H. Hoyt, & Son, Box-makers. They moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1878, locat- ing on Phoenix Row; after four years they re- moved to Wingate street, where they remained for twenty-five years. In 1912 they settled at No. 266 River street, where they now (1921) have a large factory, employing over seventy-five hands. Many of the employees have been with the house for more than forty years.
George H. Hoyt, Jr., retired from the firm in 1907, leaving the complete ownership and manage- ment to Edson B. Hoyt. Under the latter's control the business has made very rapid and solid progress, being now one of the largest of its kind in Haver- hill, and rated exceedingly high in every respect. Their principal products are paper and wood boxes, which they make and distribute entirely to the local shoe trade.
Mr. Hoyt's parents, George H. and Belle (Silli- way) Hoyt, have been a great inspiration to him in his endeavors. His father since his retirement has been very active in Haverhill club life. His grandfather, George H. Hoyt, was for years not only identified with the South Christian Church, but was especially conspicuous in Christian work and in all movements for the betterment of Haverhill.
Edson B. Hoyt, following in the footsteps of those before him, is a prominent club and fraternity man, and leader in all good works. He is a mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce and the Massa- chusetts Republican Club. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, being a member of Haverhill Com- mandery, Knights Templar, also Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston. Among his club memberships are those in the Agawam Club, the Wachusett Club, and the Island Golf Club, of Haverhill, also the Webhammet Golf Club of Kennebunk Beach, Maine, his summer home. ·
During the World War Mr. Hoyt was very active and efficient in Red Cross work, accomplishing far more than could be asked of so busy a man. He is also a director and trustee of that so often neglect- ed philanthropy, the Salvation Army Home. He has for years given freely not only of his money, but what is more valuable, he has given himself personally, and many a former derelict has been saved and rehabilitated through his efforts.
Mr. Hoyt is married and lives in his splendid home at No. 125 Kenoza avenue, perhaps the finest residential section of Haverhill.
WALTER I. PERRY, one of the prominent ex- ecutives in the shoe industry in Essex county, Mas- sachusetts, with factories at Newburyport, was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, January 4, 1869, and is a son of Jonathan A. and Sarah M. (Adams) Perry.
Receiving a practical education in the public schools of Newburyport, Mr. Perry began work, on January 4, 1886, in the office of one of the large shoe manufacturing plants of that day, where
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ladies' turn-sole, low-cut shoes were made. Later on he became associated with Charles A. Bliss in the same business, and in 1907 became a member of the Dodge, Bliss & Perry Company. The original firm was incorporated in 1892, as the N. D. Dodge & Bliss Company, and not long after the change as outlined above, on December 17, 1907, the com- pany was again reorganized, becoming the Bliss & Perry Company, and has continued thus until the present time. Mr. Perry is now president and gen- eral manager of this extensive business.
Fraternally Mr. Perry is a member of the Knights of Pythias; he attends the Congregational church.
On March 15, 1891, Mr. Perry married May W. Welch, and they have three children: Donald I., who is now (1922) a student of aviation at the Cor- nell Aviation School; Beatrice C., and Norman.
WILLIAM ERWIN GOLDSMITH, D. M. D., of Newburyport, Massachusetts, was born at Boston, same State, September 27, 1897, son of Samuel and Mollie (Levin) Goldsmith. He was educated in the Phillips Brooks School in Boston and the Newbury- port High School, following which he attended Tufts Dental College, graduating in 1918, with the degree of D. M. D., and soon after this time en- gaged in the practice of his profession in Newbury- port, continuing until the United States entered the World War. Dr. Goldsmith enlisted at this time and was examining dental surgeon at Went- worth Institute during the war. He is now located at No. 12 State street. One of the younger pro- fessional men, he is rapidly taking his place among the progressive and aggressive citizens of his city and is actively interested in all that pertains to its welfare.
JAY E. DAY was born on March 28, 1884, in the State of Wisconsin. His grandfather, George H. Day, was a prominent manufacturer of Danvers, Massachusetts, about the time of the Civil War. He was connected with the business of manufac- ' member of the School Committee in the fall of 1921. turing bricks, which is one of the oldest industries at Danvers, and in 1860, acquired a property on Liberty street, Danvers, where he carried on his When quite young Mr. Desaulniers lost his left arm through an accident, but he has always, never- theless, been an expert athlete. He holds medals for swimming, diving, skating, running and tennis. business for fifteen years. In 1875 he sold the brickyard on Liberty street to his two sons, George H. Day, Jr., and Edwin Day, the father of Jay E. Day. In the same year he acquired a brickyard, situated off Endicott street at Danvers. This he continued to operate until 1898, when he sold it to his son Edwin, and retired from active participa- tion in business affairs.
Edwin Day, father of Jay E. Day, retained active control of the brickyard on Endicett street, which he hed purchased from his father in 1898, until the day of his death in 1905. Mr. Day then assumed the management of it, and it is now the only brick- yard in operation at Danvers.
Mr. Day also is treasurer of the Miller Shoe Company, manufacturers of infants', children's, and misses' shoes, located at Salem. He started this business with H. A. Miller in 1917; E. J. Cullen is
vice-president and H. A. Miller, president.
Mr. Day is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. For the past two years, he has served as commis- sioner of roads.
Mr. Day married Sarah Persis Abbott, of Dan- vers. They have one daughter, Caroline Abbott Day.
CLEMENT CHARLES DESAULNIERS-The profession of the law is represented in Salem, Mas- sachusetts, by a group of men whose work is count- ing far for the progress of the community. Among these men, Clement Charles Desaulniers is a leading figure.
Mr. Desaulniers was born in Salem, on March 18, 1891, and is the son of Charles and Delima (Marchessault) Desaulniers, long residents of the city of Salem, Massachusetts. He received his early education at .St. Joseph's Parochial School in this city, attending for a period of eleven years. He then entered Nicolet Seminary, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, remaining at this institution for three years. Next, for a period of two years, he was at Sherbrooke Seminary, also in the Province of Quebec. He was graduated from the Salem Commercial School in 1908, and from the Boston Young Men's Christian Association Preparatory School in 1912. Then he took up his legal studies at the Northeastern College School of Law, from which he was graduated in 1914.
With this exhaustive preparation for his life work, Mr. Desaulniers was admitted to the Essex county bar in February, 1915, and began the prac- tice of law in Salem in March of the same year. He has been successful from the beginning, and is rapidly making his way to the forefront of the pro- fession in Essex county. He has given much thought and time to the study of income taxes. Mr. Desaulniers is taking a deep interest in the public affairs of the town; he was appointed a He was local attorney for the Red Cross during the World War. Politically he is a Republican.
On September 21, 1917, Mr. Desaulniers mar- ried Norma Benet, daughter of Lorenzo P. Benet, of Winchester, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. De- saulniers are members of St. Joseph's Roman Cath- olic Church. Their daughter, Anne Margaret, was born on September 25, 1918, and a son, Benet, was born February 25, 1921. The charming family resi- dence is located at Salem Willows.
THE A. LEE COMPANY, INC., of Lawrence, Massachusetts, a pioneer concern in the United States in the manufacture of indigo products, has been established in this city for forty-five years, and is one of the big industries of Essex county. Ashton Lee, Sn., the founder of this business,
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was born in Bradford, England, March 21, 1846. Gaining a thorough education in the public schools and college of his native city, he became interested in the work which his father was carrying on, the manufacture of chemicals and dye stuffs. Entering the factory, which was located in Bradford, he familiarized himself with every detail of the busi- ness. In 1876 Mr. Lee came to America, and locat- ing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, founded the pres- ent business and began the manufacture of chemi- cals and dye stuffs here, on a very small scale, but the products now are shipped over a wide territory.
From the beginning the venture prospered, and under Mr. Lee's management its development was steady and its growth permanent. The location, in a textile manufacturing city, and in one of the most active manufacturing sections of the country, proved advantageous, and the business was soon an assured success. For a time the founder had as a partner a brother, Frank William Lee, from 1890 until 1917. In 1900, the son, Ashton Lee, Jr., was received into partnership. In 1901 the business was incorporated under its present name, and since the death of Mr. Lee, Sr., his son has been the head of the concern. The works are located on Chelmsford street, and cover three acres of ground. The pro- duct consists of chemicals for the textile trades, and dye stuffs for woolen, worsted, cotton, paper, and other mills, and they make a specialty of indigo products.
In the manufacturing world of this section Mr. Lee held a position of more than usual prominence, and at one time represented the Massachusetts Board of Trade at the Hague Conference.
Ashton Lee, Sr., married Mary Kane, daughter of John Kane; she was born in Dublin, Ireland, on August 10, 1862. They were the parents of four children: Ashton, Jr., of further mention; Carrie; May; and Smith, who is also connected with the business.
In the death of Ashton Lee, Sr., which occurred March 21, 1914, not only the concern of which he was the founder sustained a great loss, but the city of Lawrence, and the industrial world of Essex county lost a man whose ability counted for public progress, as well as for individual success.
Ashton Lee, Jr., son of Ashton and Mary (Kane) Lee, was born in Methuen, March 6, 1884. Receiv- ing a practical education in the public schools of the city, he became associated with his father in business in 1900, first employed in the factory, later as travelling salesman. Upon the death of his father, Mr. Lee was elected president of the cor- poration, also assistant treasurer. In 1917 he was elected treasurer, still filling the office of president.
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Ashton Lee, Jr., is a member of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and interested in all that pertains to the industrial progress of the city. He is a member of the Merrimac Valley Country Club, of the Boston City and the Boston Yacht clubs, and of the New York Athletic Club.
In October, 1917, Mr. Lee married, in Methuen, Anna Sullivan, daughter of William F. Sullivan, of
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