USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 20
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He is a member and director of the Amesbury Cham- ber of Commerce, is a Republican in politics, belongs to the Lafayette Club of Amesbury, and to the following named fraternal orders: St. Jean de Baptist, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Knights of Columbus, of Amesbury. He is a member of the Sacred Heart Cath- olic Church of Amesbury.
In 1903 Mr. Peltier was married to Cora Eva Herbert, who was born in Amesbury, October 25, 1883. They have six children : Mildred M., Dorothy H., Arline Rose, Roland, Norman and Lucille.
WILLIAM SHERIDAN ROGERS, the efficient and respected chief of police of Amesbury, was born in Brownville, Maine, October 5, 1865, son of William S. and Mary Elizabeth ( Hobbs) Rogers, both of whom were natives of Brownville, Maine, the former born there in 1828, and the latter in 1837. William S. Rogers, Sr., died in 1902, but his widow is still living, being now (1921) eighty-four years old. Her husband, in civil life, was a mason by trade, but he had a fine Civil War record, being a veteran of that war. He served for three years with the First Maine Cavalry, being a private of Company B. Later he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, registered in the Milo, Maine, post.
William S. Rogers, the son, was educated in the public schools of Brownville, Maine, passing eventually through the high school. For fifteen years thereafter he remained near home, engaging in farming and lumbering. But at the end of that period he came to Boston, and for the next twelve months was in the employ of the Hough- ton & Dutton Company. Coming to Amesbury, he next served the Boston & Maine Railroad Company for six years, residing in Amesbury. Then followed a period of service to local carriage builders. In 1903, however, Rogers became a member of the police force of Ames- bury. Four years later, he resigned from the Amesbury force to accept appointment as chief of police in Salis- bury, Massachusetts. A year later he returned to Amesbury and resumed his connection with the local police force. For eight years he did regular duty as patrolman, and in 1916 became chief of police. He has since held that office, to his credit, the police force having become an efficient body under his direction. Politically, Chief of Police Rogers is a Republican; fraternally he belongs to the Elks, of Newburyport, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of the Universalist church of Amesbury.
He has been married twice. In 1899 he was married to Margaret Lynch, of Amesbury, Massachusetts. She died in 1906, and three years later Mr. Rogers married Josie Lynch, also of Amesbury. Two children were born to the first wife: Bernice M. and William S. To his second wife, six children have been born: Gilbert, Paul- ine A., Russell R., Frank A., Virginia M. and Elinore A.
VAUGHN ULMONT AIKEN, milk dealer of Mer- rimac, Massachusetts, was born in Barnstead, New Hampshire, October 4, 1893, son of David L. and Annie (Franeis) Aiken, both of New Hampshire families, the former of Barnstead and the latter of Concord, later of Merrimae, Massachusetts. David L. Aiken followed carpentry for the greater part of his adult years. The family home was in Barnstead, New Hampshire, and there the son, Vaughn U., went to school. He passed through the public schools, and for some years there- after worked in his native place. For four years he was a teamster, or to be more correct a teaming contractor, for he was in business for himself. Later he came to Haverhill, and for about a year worked in the factory of the George B. Leavitt Shoe Company, of that place. A
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further three years he spent with the Ruddock Shoe Company, and then went into business as a dealer in milk and dairy products in Merrimac, trading under his own name. He has developed an extensive business, deliver- ing about four hundred quarts of milk a day, and having a large cream business in addition. Trading in other dairy products also tends to make his total turnover a worth-while one. He is, it is said, the largest dealer in milk and cream on the Merrimac side of Haverhill. Fra- ternally, Mr. Aiken belongs to local lodges of the Odd Fellows and American Mechanic orders. Socially, he is a member of the Oxford Club, of Merrimac, Religiously, he is a Congregationalist, attending the Merrimac church of that denomination.
He was married, in 1915, to Alice E. Purdy, of Ames- bury, Massachusetts, daughter of Austin and Mary Etta (Foss) Purdy. Her father was originally of Nova Scotia, and later of Haverhill, where he now lives and follows the trade of baker. The mother of Mrs. Aiken, however, belongs to an Amesbury family.
Many generation of the Aiken family will be found in the vital records of New Hampshire. Jacob Aiken, grandfather of Vaughn U., was born in Barnstead, that State, where he was a cooper almost to his death, which occurred in 1903, three years after the death of his wife, Abbie, who also was a native of Barnstead.
JOHN J. GRIFFIN, ex-serviceman, a veteran of Chateau-Thierry and other major battles of the World War, and now in business in Haverhill, Massachusetts, one of the owners of the Locust Garage business, on Locust street, was born in Webster, Massachusetts, June 2, 1887, the son of John P. and Catherine (Farrell) Griffin, both of Webster, where the former was engaged in the textile business. John J., however, was only three years old when his mother died. In his boyhood he at- tended the St. Louis Parochial School, at Webster, Mas- sachusetts, and also became a graduate of the high school. After leaving school he entered the employ of the A. J. Bates Shoe Company, of Webster, Massachusetts, and there remained for the next six years, when he went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, to enter the employ of the Kimball Shoe Company, which company he served for ten years, there being a break in the service, however, as in 1917 he had to cast aside personal affairs and enlist in the armed forces of the nation then at war with Ger- many. Mr. Griffin enlisted in the artillery, and was assigned to Headquarters Company, 102nd Artillery, of the famous Twenty-sixth Division, the New England Division. His regiment was in some of the hardest fighting in which American troops engaged, and many battle clasps are above Griffin's war medal. He was present in the following major battles of the war: Toul- Verdun; second battle of the Marne; Argonne; and Chateau-Thierry. He was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal, on April 29, 1919, after which he again took up his civil connection with the Kimball Shoe Company. In 1921 he left their employ to enter into business for himself. For that purpose he associated with Harry W. Robertson, of Haverhill, and the two now conduct the Locust Garage, at Haverhill.
Mr. Griffin is a member of the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, and fraternally is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a member of a Lawrence, Massachusetts,
eyrie. He also is a member of St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts. He is un- married.
HARRY WILLIAM ROBERTSON, part owner of the Locust Garage, Locust street, Haverhill, is a native of Haverhill though he has spent most of his life in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He was born in Haverhill, August 29, 1890, son of Andrew G. and Eta A. Robert- son, the former originally of New York, and the latter of a Haverhill family. Andrew G. Robertson was a musician by profession, and the family settled at Law- rence, Massachusetts, where Harry W. attended school. He passed through the grammar and high schools of that city, and also took a commercial course at the Lawrence Commercial School. Thus equipped for a business life, he entered the employ of the Pacific Mills Company, Lawrence. In the capacity of bookkeeper in the dye works department he remained with that company for about a year, then found a better appointment with the George A. Horne Company, also of Lawrence, which firm he served for two years. He next entered the employ of the A. J. Wills Motor Car Company, serving that company until 1921, when he decided to venture into business for himself. He associated with John J. Griffin, and the two, as partners, established the Locust Garage, on Locust street, Haverhill. The garage has floor space of three thousand five hundred square feet, and finds employment for seven men, doing general antomo- bile repair work, but specializing on Hudson and Essex cars. Both partners are enterprising active men, both are members of the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, and belong to the Eagles fraternity. Mr. Robertson in religious faith is an Episcopalian, and is a member of the Episcopal church of Haverhill.
He was married in 1914 to Mary May Foley, of Rougshaw, New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada.
LEONARD A. TILTON was born in Groveland, Massachusetts, June 30, 1873, son of Newton N. and Harriet L. (Carlton) Tilton, the former being engaged as a foreman in the shoe industry the greater part of his active life, and both being natives of Grove- land. Young Tilton was educated in the schools of Groveland, and after leaving the high school went to work for J. H. Thompson of Haverhill, as a clerk. After three years he resigned and entered the employ of the Haverhill, Georgetown & Danvers Railroad Com- pany where he remained for ten years, then becoming associated with the Dole & Childs Undertaking Firm where he remained until 1919 when he engaged in busi- ness on his own account under the name of Leonard A. Tilton, embalmer and funeral director. He is a member of the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.
Fraternally he is a member of Sagahew Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Oriental Lodge of Perfection, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Merrimac Council, No. 9, Junior Order of United American Mechanics ; Pales- tine Lodge, No. 26, Waldemar Council Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias; and Mutual Relief Lodge, No. 83, Haverhill Encampment, No. 78, and Canton Eagle, No. 40, Patriarchs Militant, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1903, he married Lillian Spry, of Haverhill, and they attend the Trinity Episcopal Church of Groveland.
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HAROLD E. MILLER, of Haverhill, a young man who is making good in the Massachusetts shoe industry and now probably the youngest responsible executive of an important plant in the Haverhill district, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, June 15, 1897, son of Alfred K. and Mary L. (Loughlin) Miller, the latter of a Con- necticut family. His father was born in 1866, and for many years has been a grocer in Lynn. Harold E. Miller of Haverhill has one younger sister, Grace F.
Mr. Miller in boyhood attended the Lynn schools, taking a course also in the Pickering Grammar School at that place, and was prepared for commercial affairs at the Burdette Business School. For nine years after leaving school he was in the employ of the T. W. Gardiner Company of Lynn, having office and production responsibilities ; then followed eighteen months with the United Last Company, Boston. In 1921 he came to Haverhill to become manager in the Haverhill plant, which is the largest in its line in the Haverhill district, and is a branch of the United Last Company. The Haverhill plant finds employment for seventy-five per- sons, has 30,000 square feet of floor space, and a capacity production of one thousand pairs a day.
Fraternally, Mr. Miller belongs to the Order of Red Men, being a member of lodge No. 82, of Lynn, Massa- chusetts. He is a Baptist. Mr. Miller is an ex-service man, having enlisted in the United States Army during the World War. He was assigned to the One Hundred and Fiftieth Heavy Artillery Battery, and stationed at Portland, Maine. He was discharged with a certificate of honorable discharge, December 24, 1918.
A few months prior to that, September 9, 1918, he was married, at Lynn, Massachusetts, to Florence L. Kenison, born in Bridgeton, Maine, in 1895, daughter of William Kenison, a millwright at Lyun.
PERRY E. ELLIOTT, owner of one of the best supply houses in the Haverhill district, in plumbing, steam-fitting, heating, and sheet metal work lines, was born February 13, 1857, in Nova Scotia, the son of Isaac A. and Mary (Bowlby) Elliott, the former a farmer in that part of the Dominion of Canada.
Mr. Elliott spent his boyhood in his home town, at- tended the local schools, and when his schooldays were over he assisted his father in the working of the paren- tal farm. He was twenty-four years old when, in 1881, he came to Haverhill, Massachusetts. He farmed in, or near, Haverhill for six years, and after spending an- other year in a shoe factory, entered the steam fitting business, which was his business for more than thirty years. He became established independently in a plumb- ing and steam fitting business in 1909, his first store and workshop being on Merrimac street, Haverhill. Five years later, he removed to West street, and six years later, in 1919, to Emerson street, Haverhill. The busi- ness has been satisfactorily developed, and he has car- ried through some important heating and plumbing con- tracts. In September, 1921, he sold his business to his nephew, C. McNeily, and bought a controlling interest in the Sayward Hardware Company, on Washington street, Haverhill. He is well known throughout Essex county and has a good share of the county trade in his line. Fraternally, he is a Mason, belonging to the
local chapter. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Centre Church of Haverhill.
In 1890, he was married to Josephine H. Miller, daugh- ter of Joseph and Hannah ( Peary) Miller, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. They have two children: Lowell A. and Glendon M. Lowell A. is a veteran of the World War, having served in Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, during the war. He received a commission, and at present holds the grade of first lieutenant in the United States Army. Glendon M. is now at Dartmouth College, Han- over, New Hampshire.
JAMES B. EWART, a well-known and active resi- dent of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and actively engaged in real estate and insurance business in that city as well as in its public affairs, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, March 4. 1868, the son of John and Sarah J. (Bailey) Ewart. John Ewart was born in Manchester, England, of Scottish parents, and was for many years in the employ of the Boston and Maine railroad, indeed, until his death in 1916, which occurred at the age of seventy- four. His mother was of a Lawrence family, daughter of John Bailey, who was roadmaster at the time the railroad was built into Lawrence, and had the distinction recently of completing fifty years of continuous service with the Boston & Maine Railroad Company.
James B. Ewart was educated in Lawrence schools, attending the elementary and high schools. Soon, there- after, he became an employee of the Boston & Maine Railroad Company, and served them for seven years. Then, in 1891, he became a clerk in the Essex Savings Bank of Lawrence. With that bank he remained con- nected until 1911, for the greater part of the time as teller. He left the banking profession to enter into busi- ness for himself, in the lines of real estate and insurance, and that business he has ever since conducted.
Mr. Ewart has evidently entered very definitely into public affairs of Lawrence, so much is evident by the responsibilities placed upon his shoulders during the stress of the World War period. He was chairman of the North Andover committees for the last three Liberty Loan drives, and is at present chairman of the Building Committee of the North Andover War Memorial. Fra- ternally he is identified with the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum.
His community interest is perhaps best indicated by his choral record. He has followed elevating musical effort in Lawrence for more than a generation, and has studied music with some of Boston's leading teachers. When he was twelve years old he began singing in church choirs, and sang continuously until January, 1921. He has a fine tenor voice. For nearly eighteen years he was musical director of choirs. In fact, he has just com- pleted forty years of service in various church choirs of Lawrence and Haverhill, and for many years has been a member of the Lawrence Street Congregational Church choir, of Lawrence. And during those many years of choral association he has participated in many of the principal musical events of the community. He has been a member of the Chadwick Club, a Lawrence musical organization, for more than a quarter of a century.
Mr. Ewart married, in 1894, Edith M. Dame, of Law-
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rence, daughter of B. F. Dame, former principal of the Oliver Grammar School, of Lawrence. They have one child, a son, Raymond J., who married Dorothy Deering, of Biddeford, Maine; he is now associated with his father in business.
WILLIAM GARNET DODGE-With life experi- ence in shoe production, William G. Dodge, of Newbury- port, Massachusetts, is treasurer and general manager of the Nathan D. Dodge Shoe Company. He is a son of Nathan Dane and Matilda (Hinsdale) Dodge. The elder Mr. Dodge began the manufacture of shoes in Newburyport in 1866, and long since attained a point where his product was recognized the world over as one of superior quality. Nathan D. Dodge died in California in 1915. He was long prominent in both the business and social life of the city, and has the distinction of having laid the corner stone of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation building, and having been the first president of that organization in Newburyport. He also served the city as alderman, and was a bank director.
William G. Dodge was born in Newburyport, Massa- chusetts, August 14, 1882, and received his education in the public and high schools of this city. At the age of seventeen years he entered his father's shoe factory, and worked at all the different operations in the manufacture of shoes. At the age of twenty-one years he struck out for himself, and going to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, be- came associated with E. M. Dickerson, of that city, as superintendent of their shoe factory. He remained at this plant for four years, then went to the Dunn & McCarthy plant, at Auburn, New York, where he con- tinued for one year in the capacity of production manager. Thereafter he returned to Newburyport, and started in business for himself. Beginning entirely alone, he cut shoes himself, sent them out to be stitched, then had them made at Seabrook, New Hampshire, finishing, packing and shipping personally. After working thus for a few months on small capital, Mr. Dodge's father, on Janu- ary 1, 1908, entered into cooperation with him under the name of Nathan D. Dodge & Son, the name later being changed to the Nathan D. Dodge Shoe Company. Fully appreciating the value of his father's reputation in the shoe world, the younger Mr. Dodge took advantage of the use of the old name, and adopted it for the corpora- tion of the Nathan D. Dodge Shoe Company. For a few years William G. Dodge sold the entire product of the company, holding the position of treasurer and gen- eral manager. The business has grown to a very large interest, is capitalized at $500,000, and in the year 1920 the concern did business amounting to $2,000,000. The output consists of turned low shoes only, in ladies' styles, and the plant is conceded to be the largest in the United States devoted exclusively to this branch of shoe manu- facture.
The Dodge family, which is one of the oldest in Essex county, has always been prominent in social and public activities. William G. Dodge is a trustee of the New- buryport Five Cent Savings Bank, and is also a trustee of the Anna Jacques Hospital. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; King Cyrus Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and of New- buryport Commandery, No. 3, Knights Templar ; and of
Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Dalton Club, and of the Old Newburyport Golf Club, and president of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is a trustee of the Central Congregational Church of Newburyport, and sings in the choir of the church. He was elected the first president of the newly-organized Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, and to the City Council in 1922.
On June 22, 1915, Mr. Dodge married Ellen D. Bryan, a sister of William T. Bryan, a prominent retail shoe dealer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Dodge are the parents of three sons: William G., Jr., born January 5, 1917, died two days later; William R., born January 22, 1918; and James Dane, born October 12, 1921.
MICHAEL J. O'BRIEN, a prominent shoe mer- chant of Amesbury, Massachusetts, was born in that town November 24, 1873, son of Michael O'Brien, a native of Galway, Ireland, whose death occurred in 1905. His mother, Margaret Graney, was also a native of Galway. Mr. O'Brien was educated in the public and parochial schools of Amesbury, and soon after leaving school went to work for the Hamilton Woolen Mills, one of the lead- ing industries of that town, where he was employed for a quarter of a century. During the years he worked there Mr. O'Brien had been preparing himself for a future time when he would engage in business for him- self, and this opportunity came in 1913. In this year he started a shoe store under the firm name of O'Brien's Shoe Store and has now completed ten successful years. Mr. O'Brien has been active in the public and military life of Amesbury ; he is a Democrat and served for six years as a member of the Common Council. He was a member of Company B, Eighth Regiment, Massachusetts State Guard, for nine years.
Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians ; the Holy Name Society ; the American Asso- ciation of Recognition of the Irish Republic.
Mr. O'Brien married, in 1905, Julia A. Moran, born in 1881, at Galway, and their children are: Raymond M .; John; Mary: Edward T .; Joseph; William; Robert ; and Earl Francis. The family attend and support the good works of the Church of St. Joseph, of Amesbury.
ORVILLE FRANCIS BENNETT, for many years located in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in the plumbing con- tracting business, was born August 16, 1874, in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, son of John N. and Fidelia (Paine) Bennett. His father was a sheet metal worker and for many years lived in Fall River. He obtained his educa- tion in the public schools and subsequently served his apprenticeship at the sheet metal trade. He was em- ployed by various firms until 1886, in which year he established a business of his own, located on Bridge street, Haverhill, Massachusetts, later moving to Water street, also of this city. A brother was admitted to partnership with him, and the firm name became J. N. Bennett & Company. Three years later the name was changed to Bennett Brothers. In 1889 J. N. Bennett withdrew from the partnership and Frank White of this city was admitted, and the firm name became W. C. Ben- nett & Company. On July 1, 1907, the entire interests
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were purchased by Orville F. Bennett and he became the sole owner. His place of business is located at No. 38 Emerson street, of this city.
Mr. Bennett is a domestic engineer, is well versed in all lines of his craft, and takes contracts for plumbing, heating and sheet metal work. He is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics and, for a year, served on the executive committee of the Massachusetts State Master Plumbers' Association. Fraternally Mr. Bennett is a member of the Masonic Order, affiliating with Merrimac Lodge, Pentucket Chapter, Haverhill Council, Merrimac Valley Lodge of Perfection, Haverhill Commandery, No. 14, and the Aleppo Shrine. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Pentucket Club. Mr. Bennett was a member of Company F, Eighth Regiment, and for ten years served on the Haverhill Fire Department. With his family he attends the Universalist church.
Mr. Bennett married Cora E. Kane, in 1909, and has two children : a daughter, Hazel Caroline, and a son, Orville Damon Bennett.
ELI PLUMMER WENTWORTH, for many years a leading manufacturer of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was born April 22, 1834, in Middleton, New Hampshire, son of Ebenezer and Sophia (Roberts) Wentworth. The public schools of his native home afforded him his edu- cation, and at an early age he started to make his own way in the world. At that time the business of manu- facturing shoes was fast progressing from the hand work to the more progressive machine manufacture, and many departments were maintained which made a cer- tain part of the shoe. Mr. Wentworth made a specialty of manufacturing cut-sole leather, and for over twenty years was successfully engaged in this business. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and attended the North Congregational Church of Haverhill.
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