USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 41
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Mr. Fairbanks has not had opportunity to enter much into public affairs, but is a member of the Parks Commission, and is a director of the Merri- mack National Bank. Fraternally he is a Mason, holding all degrees up to and including the shrine; also is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and socially is a member of the Pen- tucket and Wachusett clubs.
Mr. Fairbanks married, in 1901, Franceska G. Strong, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Blake) Strong, the former a wholesale grocer in Indiana. Through her mother, Mrs. Fairbanks descends from a Maryland family. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks have three children: Franceska S., William C., and Pau- line.
BYRON TRUELL-Since 1854 Mr. Truell had been a resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and al- though long past life's prime, he was actively en- gaged in business and continued to take the keen in- terest in the affairs of the city in which by far the greater part of his life had been spent.
Byron Truell was born in St. Johnsbury, Ver- mont, November 23, 1834, son of George W. and Frances (Whitcomb) Truell. In 1837 his parents went to Barnston, Quebec, Canada, and it was there he received his early and preparatory training prior to entering Stanstead Academy. Terminating his studies at the age of nineteen years, he came to Lawrence, Massachusetts, which city continued to be ' his home and place of business until his death, which occurred in June, 1922. He first secured employ- ment as a clerk in a dry goods store, but resigned four years later and formed a partnership, under the firm name of Bailey & Truell. This part- nership continued for five years, when the firm dis- solved, the stock being divided between the former partners, Mr. Truell then removing to No. 249 Essex street, where he established in the dry goods busi- ness, under the firm name of Byron Truell & Com- pany. The enterprise proved successful and grew so rapidly under the energetic management of Mr.
Truell that in a short time he was obliged to en- large his store, and while the remodelling was in progress, he erected a temporary building across the street. He continued a successful business in the enlarged store until 1902, when he retired from mer- cantile life to accept appointment as postmaster of Lawrence from the hands of President Roosevelt, an office which he held until 1906, when he returned to business life, dealing in real estate and invest- ments, with offices in the Bay State building. He was vice-president of the Consolidated Pacific National Bank, and the Merchants' Trust Company of Lawrence; a trustee of the Essex Savings Bank, of Lawrence; and a member of the Lawrence Cham- ber of Commerce.
A Republican in politics, he always took an active part in the affairs of his party. He served two terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, two terms in the State Senate, and two terms on the Governor's Council. In religion he was a Congregationalist; fraternally a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with lodge, chapter, council and commandery.
In 1863, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Byron Truell was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Armstrong, who died in 1902. They were the par- ents of five children. 1. Gertrude T., who married Albert E. Butler; he died in 1895; he was the cashier of the Arlington Trust Company. Mr. and Mrs. Butler were the parents of three children: i. Byron Truell (2), who married Ruth Lyall, and they have two children: Mary Elizabeth and Robert Truell; ii. Gertrude, the wife of Wendell Abbott, and they have a son, Albert Stephen; iii. Marion, the wife of Guy E. Boynton, who have two children: Brenda Butler, and Sandra Truell. Mrs. Butler resides with her father. 2. Grace T., who married Dr. A. S. Ruland, of Syracuse, New York, and two children were born of this marriage; Ralph, who died when young; and Gertrude Catherine Ruland. The other three of Mr. Truell's children died young.
Mr. Truell's long life was one of constant activity and business success. The prominent places he filled in city and State offices were worthily filled, and he was faithful to every trust reposed in him. He passed the evening of life in well earned com- fort and plenty, greatly loved and esteemed.
JOHN S. KING, dental surgeon, one of the best- known in Haverhill, Massachusetts, was born at Cen- tral Norton, New Brunswick, Canada, June 28, 1857, the son of George and Hannah (Mills) King, the former a farmer at that place until 1868, at which time he died.
John S. King spent his early boyhood on the home farm, attended the local public school, and eventually became a student at the Boston Dental College, graduating satisfactorily, and entering prac- tice in 1892, at No. 3 Washington Square, in asso- ciation with the late Dr. Chase. They remained associates until 1900, when Dr. King opened indepen- dent office in Haverhill. He has continued to prac- tice ever since. Nevertheless, he found time to take
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the graduate course in dental surgery at Tufts Col- lege, and graduated with the class of 1907, gaining the degree of D.M.D. He has had very satisfactory practice, and has a large clientele in the Haver- hill district.
Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Religiously he is a Universalist, a member of the local church of that denomination.
Dr. King married, in 1896, Eliza P. McVey, daugh- ter of Andrew and Mary (Baxter) McVey, of St. John, New Brunswick. They have three children: Mary I., John Mills, and Elizabeth B.
CHARLES S. HARDING-The Harding Shoe Company, Inc., of which Mr. Harding is president and general manager, is one of the recent additions to the shoe manufacturing corporations of Haver- hill, Massachusetts, but its present operations in- dicate that it will be an appreciable addition. The company was incorporated in 1921 by Charles S. Harding, Bernard Durgin, J. W. Price, Fred Mears, and E. C. Wentworth, all of whom are directors, Mr. Harding being president and general manager, as above stated, and Mr. Mears treasurer. The company manufactures a line of women's turned shoes, specializing in novelties. The plant is situ- ated in the Hays block, on Granite street, and oc- cupies the entire fifth floor, with 14,000 square feet of working space. The most modern machinery has been installed to give capacity for one thousand pairs of shoes a day, and altogether the enterprise finds steady employment for about a hundred men.
Charles S. Harding, president, is well known in the shoe industry. He was born in Wisconsin, on October 4, 1886, son of Bryan and Nancy (Neal) Harding. His mother, who was of Elkins, New Hampshire, is still alive, but his father died in 1917. Soon after his birth the family removed to Rochester, New York, where his father, for many years, thereafter, was a shoe manufacturer, and subsequently was identified with the shoe industry in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Charles S. Harding spent almost all of his boy- hood and youth in Rochester. He attended Ro- chester schools, and finished with a course at the Bradstreet Preparatory School. After leaving school, Charles S. went into his father's business in Ro- chester, remaining in his father's plant for about two years, during which time he learned the busi- ness fairly well. He was apparently an enterprising young man, for he then organized the Leach Shoe Company, of Rochester, and became manager of it, continuing as such for about six years. He then went to Lynn, Massachusetts, to take up appoint- ment as superintendent of one of the plants of the A. E. Little Company, with which firm he remained for two years. In similar responsibility he served the Lunn & Sweet Company, of Auburn, Maine, for a year, then came to Haverhill, and became con- nected with the Hazen B. Goodrich Company, as quality man. Three years later he was offered and accepted the responsibility of president and man-
ager of John H. Gross, Inc., of Haverhill. He held those capacities for that firm for three years, after which he took part in the organization of the Harding Shoe Company, Inc.
Mr. Harding is a man of good business ability, active and thorough. He has been busily employed in the affairs of his own business, but has never- theless found time to enter into matters of com- munity and public character. During the years of the World War, 1917-18, he served in a military capacity with the Massachusetts State Guard; he also has been an interested member of the Haver- hill Chamber of Commerce. Fraternally he has many Masonic connections, being a member of St. Mark's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of New- buryport; Pentucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Merrimack Valley Lodge of Perfection. He also is affiliated with the Knights of Birmingham, of Rochester, New Hampshire. Socially he belongs to the Agawam Club of Haverhill. He is a Congre- gationalist, a member of the Bradford church of that denomination.
Mr. Harding married, in 1905, Miss Belle Bridges Hungerford, of Chicago, Illinois, and they have two children: William Paul and Harriet Lowell.
JAMES DEARBORN MULLIN-Not only to the industrial world of Essex county, Massachusetts, but to the entire shoe industry of America, the name of James D. Mullin bears special significance. He is probably the oldest shoe manufacturer in the United States still actively engaged in business.
Mr. Mullin was born in Boston, and is a son of Henry B. Mullin, one of the earliest shoe manu- facturers of Lynn. The family removing to Lynn when Mr. Mullin was a child, two years of age, it was in this city that he received his education, and learned the business which became his life work. When only twelve years of age he learned to make shoes in his father's shop, a little one-story struc- ture on Whiting street, off the north side of the common. This was before the days of shoe ma- chinery, when every operation was done by hand, each individual pair designed by the maker and cut out with a little skiving knife. He worked with his father until he was twenty-one and then the elder man made him a partner in his business.
It was in 1856 that the partnership began, and Mr. Mullin has been actively engaged in the busi- ness ever since, still retaining full management of his now extensive interests. His recollections of the early days of shoe manufacture, and the de- velopment of the great shoe industry of today are full of interest. At the time he became actively identified with the business, in 1856, little progress had been made over his earliest recollections. The most important factories cut the uppers and blocked out the soles, sometimes sending the uppers out to be stitched. The stitched uppers, soles and heels were sent out with the lasts to be put together in homes, then brought back to the factory to be pack- ed and shipped to the buyers. Up to that time the centers of shoe manufacture were in Maine, New
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Hampshire and New Brunswick, the product being shipped to Lynn to be sold. Thus from being a point of distribution, the city of Lynn became the nucleus of manufacture. The progress of invention reached the shoe business, and when the more or less primitive hand shaving knife for shaving heels, was invented, it was accepted as marking an era in shoemaking. Through many stages of progress the industry developed, each new invention bringing about new possibilities, until today the hand-made shoe is almost a thing of the past.
Few men who can remember those early days now survive, and fewer still are active in business now. Mr. Mullin does not know of any other maker of shoes at the present time who made the start as far back as he did, seventy-three years ago. Few men could endure the strain of large business interests for such a length of time, but at eighty-five years of age Mr. Mullin is in excellent health, is regularly at his office, every day, and is still the alert, capable executive. About twenty-five years ago he received his son, Henry C. Mullin, into partnership, the firm name at that time becom- ing J. D. Mullin & Son. The business has grown to very large proportions, and is one of the solid business houses of the city. During the inevitable disturbances due to war conditions it has been; very slightly affected, and is still going forward.
Mr. Mullin married Lucy Colby, of Nahant, and they have one son and one daughter. The son, Henry C., as above noted, is associated with his father in business. The daughter, Lucy, is Mrs. Crocker, of Allston, Massachusetts. Mr. Mullin takes great pride in possessing a great-grandson, Wallace Taylor, a child of a few years, residing in Brookline, Massachusetts.
WILLIAM A. ROWE-Among the representative citizens of Beverly, Massachusetts, is William A. Rowe, a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, his birth having occurred there July 29, 1865. Mr. Rowe is president and general manager of the Harper Garage Company of Beverly and Salem, and proprietor of the Rowe Motor Company of Peabody, and the Danvers Motor Company of Danvers, and holds a recognized place in the business circles of the city in which he has resided since 1904.
William A. Rowe obtained his education in the public schools of his native city, after which he learned the shoemaker's trade and continued in this particular line for about three years. He then became interested in bicycling. The high wheel was used exclusively in those days and it was on this type of a machine that Mr. Rowe, in 1885, won for himself a world-wide reputation as a fast rider. In that year he won the five-mile international cham- pionship, riding a wheel fifty-five inches high and weighing twenty-two and one-half pounds. He also held the record for the longest run ever made in one hour on the high wheel, covering twenty-two miles and one hundred and fifty yards in that period. In September, 1886, he won the world's one mile championship. He began riding at the age of seven-
teen and continued to ride in professional meets until 1889, when he terminated his professional riding and assumed charge of the bicycle department of Wright & Ditson's, of Boston, Massachusetts. Here he remained for six years, when he resigned in order to establish himself in the bicycle and sport- ing goods business at Lynn, Massachusetts, under the firm name of the Rowe Lawrence Sporting Goods Company, and thus continued for a period of four years, when he founded the Harper Garage Company of Beverly, Massachusetts, of which he is now president and chief stockholder. The organiza- tion, which at first handled many different makes of cars, is now agent for the Ford cars only, and is one of the largest Ford agencies East of Bos- ton. The great success of the company is due in no small way to the wonderful executive ability of Mr. Rowe, together with his wide acquaintance of former makers of bicycles, who after the auto- mobile came into the market turned their factories over to the manufacture of the modern machines. Mr. Rowe has always been an abstainer from intoxi- cants and tobacco in any form, and claims that his success in both the athletic and business world is largely due to this fact.
William A. Rowe is a member of the Beverly Chamber of Commerce, and affiliates with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a member of the Beverly Rotary Club, and the First Congregational Church of Lynn.
On November 20, 1887, Mr. Rowe married (first) Alice B. Ayers, who died on May 27, 1896, and to them was born one child, Alice A., September 6, 1899; he married (second), Etta F. Alexander, and to them one child was born, Eleanor G.
RICHARD F. HIMMER, D.M.D., one of the younger dental surgeons of Lawrence, Massachu- setts, is well known in the city, and enjoying a rapidly growing practice. He is a son of John and Hattie Himmer, of this city, and his father is em- ployed in the Washington Mills.
Born in Lawrence, and reared in the traditions of this historic section, Dr. Himmer received his early education in the public schools of the city, covering the high school course in the evening ses- sions while he was employed during the day. By this means he was enabled to go on with his higher education, and entered Tufts College, from which he was graduated in 1913, with the degree of Doc- tor of Dental Medicine. He made his start at the residence of his parents, at No. 190 Park street, be- ginning in a modest way. He was very successful, however, and did excellent work, thus increasing his patronage steadily with the growth that counts for permanence. Since May, 1919, Dr. Himmer's office has been at his present address, where his home is located, No. 64 East Haverhill street, Lawrence.
Outside his private practice Dr. Himmer has vari- ous interests. During the World War he was a member of the examining board for the Selective Service. He is a member of Tuscan Lodge, Free
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and Accepted Masons; of Mount Sinai Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 65; Herman Sons, O. D. H. S .; and of the Turn Verein. He is a member of the German Presbyterian church.
Dr. Himmer married, in 1915, Bertha E. Starling, of North Andover, Massachusetts, and they have two children: Richard John, who was born in 1916; and Frank Ernest, born in 1920.
A. LEROY HAMMOND, an enterprising manu- facturer, principal of the Hammond Machine Com- pany, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, manufacturers of wood heel machinery, was born in Haverhill, July 27, 1877, the son of Daniel W. and Mary A. (Young) Hammond, the former of Beverly, Massachusetts, where he is still living, and the latter originally of Belfast, Maine. His father for the greater part of his business life was identified with the shoe indus- try, with which the son also was destined to become connected.
A. Leroy Hammond was educated in the public schools of his native place, and in due course en- tered business life. He entered the employ of A. W. Brigs, engraver, of Haverhill, with whom he remained for eight years. In 1904 he ventured into association with another, in a manufacturing enterprise, the Beckett & Hammond Machine Com- pany, and was identified with that firm until 1908, when the business took the corporate name of the Hammond Machine Company. The plant was origi- nally situated on Potter place, Haverhill; later its quarters were on Hale street, but quite recently, in 1921, expansion of the business made it necessary to again move. The present factory is on Maple street, and there is every indication that the busi- ness is prospering. Originally it was only possible to find employment for three men, but now the company has fifteen men constantly employed, and its last removal was to a new building, where the operations are centered exclusively on the manufac- ture of wood heel machinery, in which specialty the company has, it appears, the largest business in Haverhill. During the year 1921 Mr. Hammond added to his business a new department, in which they grind auto cylinders, make pistons, piston rings and pins. The new addition has been a success.
Mr. Hammond married, December 13, 1918, at Haverhill, Lena M. Morrison, of Cape Breton Is- land, daughter of Allan and Anna (Ross) Morrison.
ROBERT WALMSLEY, of the Haverhill (Mas- sachusetts) firm of Bacon & Walmsley, plumbing, heating and sheet-metal work contractors, was born in England, at Bradford, Yorkshire, on September 12, 1875, the son of Thomas and Mary (Hill) Walmsley, both of that place. His father was a contracting carpenter and builder, and died in Eng- land in 1898.
Robert Walmsley was educated in England, pass- ing through the public schools of his native place, and also for six years attending technical school, which attendance gave him qualification to register
as sanitary engineer. Entering business life in h own city, he found employment with Thomas Perr; for whom he worked for more than eight year Afterwards he was with several other English coz cerns for short periods at different times. Afte coming to Haverhill, Massachusetts, he, in 190€ entered the employ of P. E. Elliott, for whom he worked for two years. For seven years, thereafter, he was in the employ of Ford & Luce, of Haver- hill, but in 1917 he formed business connection with Mr. Bacon, and the partners in that year established the firm of Bacon & Walmsley, and opened for business in plumbing and allied lines at No. 16 Winter street, Haverhill, which is the present busi- ness address of the firm. In reality their business is the successor of that of Forrest E. Goodrich, whose goodwill, equipment, and stock they acquired.
Mr. Walmsley is a good citizen, well known and respected. He is a member of Merrimack Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Pentucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Haverhill Council, Royal and Select Masters; Haverhill Commandery, Knights Templar; and Lodge of Perfection; he belongs to the Sons of St. George. By religious conviction he is a Baptist, a member of the First Baptist Church of Haverhill.
Mr. Walmsley married, in Bradford, England, in 1900, Emily L. Hook, daughter of Joseph and Grace (Bentham) Hook, the former a blacksmith by trade, and deceased since 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Walmsley have three children: Lily, who was born in 1908; Gladys Mary, born in 1904; and Rita Hilda, born in 1914.
JAMES E. ODLIN-The rule for success is usual- ly given as an unchangeable decision as to what one wants to do or be, and the forcing of every energy along a single track until one arrives at the chosen destination. There are, however, so many exceptions to this rule as almost to disapprove it. The supreme agency in gaining success is, after all, the mind. Mentality is higher than physique, and thought higher than labor. The thinking man makes many changes of aim, and arrives at his goal by many indirections of route.
James E. Odlin gave years to study for the min- istry, and became a most successful clergyman. At the height of that success, he again went to school, and was graduated a lawyer. In the practice of that latter profession, he demonstrated the value of his theological education in the practice of law. He was the better lawyer because of his training as a minister. Later, he went into politics, and for many years was a representative for his district at the State capital, much of his extraordinary success there being due, no doubt, to his being a clergyman- lawyer. Being a statesman and being a lawyer are not so much unlike. Both are often misunderstood and unappreciated by the world in general, both suf- fer criticism, and both professions call for unswerv- ing fidelity and sacrifice. As one reviews the life of James E. Odlin, in its many phases, one is impressed withthe fact that here was a man of great mentality,
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fearless decision, and dynamic personality, who gave himself unreservedly to the service of his fellows and his State.
(I) John Odlin, on the church list of Boston, 1630, member of the Artillery in 1638, married Margaret -, and had children, among whom was Elisha. -
(II) Deacon Elisha Odlin, son of John and Mar- garet Odlin, married, in 1659, Abigail Bright. They had four daughters and two sons. One of the sons was John.
(III) John Odlin, son of Elisha and Abigail (Bright) Odlin, graduated from Harvard in 1702, a minister at Exeter, New Hampshire, 1706 to 1754; married (first) Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, widow of Rev. John Clark, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge; married (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Briscoe, daughter of Samuel Leavitt. Children were born to first marriage, among whom was Elisha.
(IV) Elisha Odlin, son of John and Elizabeth (Woodbridge-Clark) Odlin, born November 16, 1709, was graduated from Harvard, 1781, and died Janu- ary 21, 1752. He married, November 1, 1731, widow Judith Pike. He was ordained a minister at Ames- bury, 1744. He married Judith Pike. There were children, among whom, William.
(V) William Odlin, son of Elisha and Judith (Pike) Odlin, born February 17, 1738, died Septem- ber 6, 1787, was a soldier of the Revolution (estab- lished, Daughters of the American Revolution, No. 38,493). He married, March 1, 1765, Judith Wilson. There were children, among whom, William.
(VI) William Odlin, son of William and Judith (Wilson) Odlin, born February 16, 1767, died at Exeter, New Hampshire, March 1, 1825. He mar- ried, in 1791, Elizabeth, daughter of Captain James Leavitt, born 1769, died 1860, served in the Revolu- tion, had children, among whom, James.
(VII) James Odlin, son of William and Elizabeth (Leavitt) Odlin, born January 9, 1792, died July 30, 1856. He married, October 27, 1816, Martha H. Osborne, daughter of Joseph Osborne, born 1792, died 1868. Children among whom, Joseph Edwin.
(VIII) Joseph Edwin Odlin, son of James and Martha H. (Osborne) Odlin, born June 20, 1825, died April 7, 1874. He removed to Laconia, New Hampshire. He was a druggist. He married (first), December 5, 1851, Abby Porter, who died March 6, 1852, married (second), November, 1854, Christiana Farrar. To second marriage, two children were born; James Edwin, of whom further; and William, born April 5, 1865.
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