USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 24
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Mr. McLeod was educated in the public schools of his native town and also attended school in Haverhill, Massachusetts, whence he had removed with his par- ents. For eight years following the completion of his formal education Mr. McLeod worked in the shoe indus- try, resigning from this occupation to work for E. J. Hodgdon as a watch salesman, also selling diamonds. After two years he entered this business on his own account, entering into partnership with J. E. Woodbury, under the firm name of Woodbury & McLeod, carry- ing a line of jewelry, watches and talking machines, with a place of business located at No. 47 Merrimack street, where they remained until 1920. At this time larger quarters were needed to take care of the fast growing business and, accordingly, they moved to No. 174 Merrimack street; their new quarters have twenty- five feet of frontage and sixty feet depth, and Messrs.
Woodbury & McLeod are the largest dealers in watches and diamonds in Haverhill.
Mr. McLeod is a member of the Masonic order, affil- iating with Pentucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Cham- ber of Commerce, and the Agawam Club.
Mr. McLeod married, in 1907, Agnes Grace Estes, of Bradford, Massachusetts, and their children are: Mar- jorie Grace, Paul A., Stewart S., Arline, and James M., Jr. With his family Mr. McLeod is a member of the Presbyterian church of Haverhill.
DR. JAMES HAROLD POWERS, one of the leading younger members of the dental fraternity of Essex county, Massachusetts, was born in this city, February 1, 1894, the son of John and Mary T. (Mul- cahy) Powers. John Powers was assistant superin- tendent of the Danvers Bleachery for many years, and died in Peabody, October 10, 1917. To Mr. and Mrs. Powers were born two children: James Harold, of further mention; and John A., superintendent of the C. F. Mulcahy Company.
James Harold Powers obtained the elementary portion of his education in the local public schools and then entered St. John's Preparatory School at Danvers, Mas- sachusetts, subsequently matriculating at Tufts Dental College, from which he was graduated in 1918, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine. That same year he passed the Massachusetts State Board examinations, after which he enlisted in the United States Navy, but was not called to active service, and on April 1, 1919, began his professional career at Peabody, in the O'Shea building, moving, however, to No. 297 Essex street, Salem, in February, 1921. He is thorough and painstak- ing in his treatment of every patient who consults him, and by reading and research keeps well informed on all matters pertaining to the profession. In 1918 Dr. Powers was appointed dental examiner for the United States Public Health Service in the Seventh Massa- chusetts District, his duties consisting of the care of soldiers, sailors and marines who come under the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. Dr. Powers holds membership in the leading dental organizations, among them being the American Dental Association, the New England Dental Association, and the Essex County Dental Society. In politics Dr. Powers is an Independ- ent, preferring to remain free from all partisan influ- ences in the exercise of his own judgment on public issues. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, and is a prominent member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Peabody.
RICHARD J. SHEA-One of the best known men in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is Richard J. Shea, who for twenty-five years was clerk of the City Council, and for very long city auditor. Indeed, he has the distinc- tion of being longer in office as auditor than any other man now living in the State of Massachusetts.
Mr. Shea was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on May 30, 1855, son of Michael and Margaret (Bradley) Shea. His mother was born in the city of Cork, Ire- land, and she died in Lawrence in 1890; his father was born in the County of Cork, and lived until 1917. He
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Charles L. Ware
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was a veteran of the Civil War, service which brought him honorable place in American records, and also many sincere friends and comrades in Lawrence. Mich- ael and Margaret (Bradley) Shea had six children, two sons and four daughters, Richard J., being the first- born. He was still in early boyhood when his father went away to war. His education was obtained in the Lawrence publie school, and afterwards he took a bisi- ness course at the Lawrence Commercial School. En- tering business life, he was for a short while in the Pacific Mills in Lawrence, but soon went into the grocery business, which line he followed for fourteen years, then went to Salem for a short while, and returning to Lawrence worked for the Spigot River Commission. He was thus employed until January, 1886, when he was appointed clerk of the Common Council of Lawrence. At the same time lie was elected city auditor, and he held both these offices continu- ously, until 1912, when the Council was abolished. He, however, is still city auditor, a proud distinction, for he has the State record as such.
Mr. Shea has necessarily been more or less promi- nent in most of the public movements in Lawrence during the last few decades. He was secretary of the Democratic City Committee; is paymaster of the State Aid of Soldiers' Relief, and belongs to several fraternal orders. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is senior past exalted ruler ; and the Foresters. Needless to say, Mr. Shea has a wide circle of friends. He is a member of St. Mary's Roman Cath- olie Church.
Mr. Shea married, in 1899, Anna L. Herbst, who was born in Germany. They have two children: Richard J., Jr., who was born in 1900; and Margaret, born in 1907. The son was a member of the Students' Army Training Corps, at Villanova College, and later, for a short period, was stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia.
CHARLES L. WARE, steam and power engineer of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was born in Frederickton, New Brunswick, November 5, 1875. son of Walter B. Ware, born in 1853, at Wrentham, Massachusetts, now engaged in the lumber business, and Eunice (Newcomb) Ware, born April 6, 1853, at Pietou, Nova Scotia, who died in 1898.
Mr. Ware was educated in the public schools of Rut- land and Springfield, Massachusetts, and soon after leaving school went to work for the Lakeville Woolen Company, at West Rutland, Massachusetts, where he remained for four years, and then was employed at the Massachusetts State Primary School. A year was spent in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, employed by the Manville Company there, and thenee Mr. Ware removed to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he worked for almost five years as engineer of the E. D. Thayer Com- pany. Following this position, Mr. Ware was em- ployed by the American Steel and Wire Company of that city, and later removed to Norwood, Massachusetts, and entered the employ of Winslow Brothers, as assist- ant master mechanic. After three years an opportunity came to fill the position of chief engineer of the Mystic Dye Works at Medford, Massachusetts, and Mr. Ware remained there three years. He then became master
mechanie of the Hockanum Mills at Rockville, Connec- ticut, and after six years there, held a similar position with the Standish Worsted Company, of Plymouth. Until 1918 he was chief engineer of the Assabet Mills of the American Woolen Company, at Maynard, Mas- sachusetts, and in the latter year he was appointed engineer of steam and water power for all the mills of the above company, with headquarters at Lawrence, which position he now holds. Mr. Ware's vast experi- ence in his line of work has been of untold value to him, and each succeeding employer received the benefits derived from previous experiences.
Mr. Ware is a Republican; a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers of New York; and fraternally he is a member of Fayette Lodge, No. 69, Free and Accepted Masons of Rockville, Connecticut; Adoniram Chapter, Royal Areh Masons, of Rockville; Adoniram Couneil, Royal and Select Masters, of Rock- ville; and a member of the Blue Room Club, of Boston; and the National Association of Stationary Engineers.
Mr. Ware married, in 1898, Helen Moulton, born July 7, 1873, at Rutland, Massachusetts, daughter of Menzies R. Moulton, and they are the parents of : Myrtle H. Ware, born at Norwood, in 1901; and Miriam E. Ware, born in 1904, at Medford.
RALPH W. PRESCOTT was born in the State of Maine in 1868. His father. John Prescott, was the owner and proprietor of a Maine farm.
Mr. Prescott was educated in the public schools of his native State. After his studies were completed, he ocetipied himself with agricultural work until he was thirty-four years old, hecoming a farmer like his father. In 1903 he moved to Danvers, Massachusetts, and after obtaining temporary employment as a farmer for a few months, he began to raise poultry for the market. He spent four years in the poultry business and then became a manufacturer of concrete blocks for building purposes. Mr. Prescott has conducted this business successfully for the past eleven years and finds his produet in great demand as building material for houses, garages, and other structures.
Mr. Prescott attends the Universalist church. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and belongs to the lodge at Salem.
Mr. Prescott married Alice E. Keyes, of Winthrop, Maine, and they are the parents of a son, Ralph W. Prescott, Jr.
CHARLES E. TYLER, retired shoe manufacturer, Civil War soldier, and for many years identified with the town administration of Georgetown, Massachusetts, as well as with its general public affairs, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, July 7, 1839, the son of Caleb Greenleaf and Rooxbie L. (Chaplin) Tyler. His mother was originally of Georgetown, but his father, who died in 1860, was for several years a merchant in Montgom- ery, Alabama.
Mr. Tyler was educated in Georgetown publie schools, and also attended the Putnam Free School, after leav- ing which he worked in his father's store for three years. He next entered the shoe factory of a relative, H. P. Chaplin, with whom he remained for seven years, after which, having mastered the trade, he became a mann-
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facturer himself, opening in independent business as such, under the trading name of Charles E. Tyler. Six years later he sold his business and went to Bangor, Maine, where for ten years he operated a moccasin fac- tory. In 1883 he returned to Georgetown and became the head of Little & Company, Inc., manufacturers of shoes. In 1886 he retired altogether from business, and since that time has lived in Georgetown, devoting his time to public and communal affairs. He has been a Mason for fifty-two years, and for very many years has been a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. His Civil War service was with the 50th Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry. He served for about thirteen months, then was honorably dis- charged at Wenham, Massachusetts.
In the public affairs of Georgetown he is of record as follows: Chairman of the board of selectmen; over- seer of the poor; town anditor; chairman of the board of assessors; and also as trustee of the Peabody Library, the Georgetown Savings Bank, and the Board of Invest- ments. In several other capacities he has helped in com- munity affairs.
Mr. Tyler married, November 8, 1862, Caroline N. Harriman, daughter of William Brown Harriman, shoe manufacturer of Georgetown, and his wife, Olive (Nel- son) Harriman. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have no living children, both of their two children dying in early infancy.
AUGUSTUS PEABODY LORING, JR .- Among the younger members of professional men in Beverly, Massachusetts, Augustus Peabody Loring, Jr., is a noteworthy figure. He was born in Boston, Massachu- setts, on April 16, 1885, and is a son of Augustus and Ellen (Gardner) Loring, long residents of that city. As a boy Mr. Loring attended the Noble and Green- ough schools, of Boston, Massachusetts, and later entered Harvard University, from which he was gradu- ated in 1908, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. But his chosen career was the law, and he followed this course with legal studies at Harvard Law School, and also at the Boston University Law School.
Mr. Loring became associated with Alfred Bowditch, the well known Boston trustee, specializing in the man- agement of estates. Mr. Loring has been largely instru- mental in the growth and development of the business since that time, and is now the active head of the firm. They handle some very important work, and act as trustees for many of the famous estates in this vicinity. The offices of the company are at No. 111 Devonshire street, in Boston, but Mr. Loring resides in Beverly.
In social and fraternal circles in both places Mr. Loring is widely known and popular. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Somerset Club, and the Exchange Club, both of Boston, and is also a member of the Union Club, of Beverly. His religions convictions place his membership with the Unitarian church.
Mr. Loring married Rosamond Bowditch, daughter of Alfred and Mary L. (Rief) Bowditch, of Boston, and they have four children: Mary D .; Rose ; Augustus P., 3d; and Ellen Gardner.
C. E. BRAGDON-One of the leading hardware stores of the town of Danvers, Massachusetts, is that of C. E. Bragdon, whose long experience in this line of business in Boston gives him an unusual advantage in anticipating the requirements of the local trade.
Mr. Bragdon is a son of William E. and Nancy E. (Boardman) Bragdon. William E. Bragdon was a machinist by occupation, and the family were for many years residents of Gloucester, Massachusetts. There were four daughters, Susan, Grace, Annic, Jennie, and the one son, whose name heads this review, was the youngest child.
C. E. Bragdon was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1885, and received his education in the public and high schools of that city. He entered the business world in the employ of C. H. Price, a prominent druggist of that day in Salem, but did not remain permanently in this business. After a short time he went to Boston and entered the employ of Frye, Phipps & Company, a large wholesale hardware concern, with whom he remained for fourteen years. From 1906 until 1916 he represented the company on the road in the capacity of salesman. On November 1, 1916, Mr. Bragdon entered the retail hardware business in Danvers, succeeding L. J. Ross, at the old location at No. 53 Maple street. This store was founded by Mr. Ross in 1891, and was even then a prosperous interest. Under Mr. Bragdon's hand the business has grown and developed widely, and is now a leading source of supply for the vicinity of Danvers.
Mr. Bragdon is prominent in the trade, and is now a member of the board of directors of the New England Hardware Association, having been elected to that posi- tion in March, 1920. Fraternally, Mr. Bragdon holds the thirty-second degree in the Masonic order. Politi- cally, he is affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of the Salem Tabernacle, and was superin- tendent of the Sunday school in 1913 and 1914.
Mr. Bragdon married Elizabeth Graham, of Salem, and they have two daughters: Lucille E., born in 1906, and Nancy E., born in 1916.
PERCY HAROLD FERNALD-Portsmouth (New
Hampshire) Navy Yard stands land which was once owned by the ancestors of Percy Harold Fernald, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and his wife's genealogy is rich in Colonial New England connections.
Percy Harold Fernald was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on March 14, 1875, son of Charles and Lucy (Keene) Fernald, of Kittery, Maine, his father a shipbuilder.
Percy H. Fernald attended the public schools of Portsmouth, and after leaving school, found employ- ment as telegraph messenger in his native place, even- tually hecoming an operator. This brought him some- what into line with things electrical, and from the needle instrument he went into the employ of Morris Swartz, an electrical contractor, at Portsmouth. There he learned the trade, and in course of time became an electrician, finding work as such with the Portsmouth Electric Company. In 1901 he came to Newburyport and entered into connection with James Dickins, for whom he worked until 1913. when he went into business in Newburyport for himself, as an electrical contractor.
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He at first rented a store and shop at No. 4 Middle street, but eventually increasing business caused him to seek larger quarters, which he found at No. 38 Pleasant street, his present address. Mr. Fernald has shown that he has expert knowledge of his trade, and that he is also an alert, enterprising business man, His present establishment is stated to be very complete, his stock the largest in Newburyport in that line.
Mr. Fernald is one of the aggressive business men of the city and is quite popular among them. He attends the Central Church, and shows a generous interest in church and communal movements. He is a member of St. Mark's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and King Cyrus Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.
Mr. Fernald married, in 1897, Grace M. Clark, of Dover, New Hampshire, daughter of Joseph and Helen (Estes) Clark, of that place, and a descendant of notable Colonial New England houses. Both families are among the oldest in New England, and have given to the nation and to the New England states many dis- tinguished sons. Mr. and Mrs. Percy H. Fernald have three children: Martha Estes, who was born in 1898; Arthur Herbert, born in 1900; and Helen Cather- ine, born in 1903.
WILLIAM HENRY SEARS, JR., was born at Kingsley Falls, Canada, on July 16, 1875, and is a son of William H. and Sarah (Robinson) Sears, both Can- adians. The elder Mr. Sears, who was the proprietor of an hotel, died in 1919.
William H. Sears, Jr., received his early education in the public schools of Newburyport, Massachusetts. After completing his studies he went to Louisville, Ken- tucky, where he entered the service of R. M. Hughes & Company. In 1894, after having spent four years at Louisville, Mr. Sears came to Haverhill, Massachusetts, and obtained a position with Harold F. Blake, a manu- facturer of shoe patterns. He remained with Mr. Blake for some years, and then entered the service of Mr. Bourque, his present partner. In 1910 he formed a partnership with Mr. Bourque, under the firm name of Bourque & Sears. Up to the present time the partners, whose offices are at No. 64 Wingate street, have devoted themselves exclusively to the manufacture and sale of shoe patterns.
Mr. Sears is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to all the Masonic bodies in the York Rite, including the fourteenth in the Scottish Rite, also the Mystic Shrine; he also is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Sears married Georgia Blanche Atkins, of Haver- hill, Massachusetts, in 1898, she a daughter of Edward and Annette (Perkins) Atkins, the former a native of Rochester, New Hampshire, who engaged in the shoe manufacturing industry. Mrs. Atkins was born at Altonbay, New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Sears have no children.
EPES SARGENT-For many years a resident of Essex, Massachusetts, Epes Sargent has been identified with the ship-building industry for more than thirty years.
Mr. Sargent was born in Petite Riviére, Nova Scotia, April 29, 1863, and is a son of William H. and Edna
Burnham (Perkins) Sargent. The elder Mr. Sargent was a native of Bayview, Gloucester, Massachusetts, and was engaged in the shoe business until his death in 1874. His wife died in Essex in 1903.
Coming with the family to Essex in his childhood, Mr. Sargent was educated in the public schools of this town. Later he was interested in the manufacture of fishing tackle, in the employ of the H. W. Mears Company, of Essex, then became connected with the James & Son shipyards, and has remained with this concern contin- uously since. He has been closely identified with much of the finest work which has gone out from these yards, and was one of the inboard joiners on the "Mayflower," which was launched in the spring of 1921.
In the public life of the city Mr. Sargent has long been a prominent figure. His first public service was as town auditor, and thereafter, for twenty-five consecu- tive years, he served as town clerk. He has been a member of the Volunteer Fire Department for thirty- seven years, and is now filling the position of engineer for the second time.
Mr. Sargent is a member of Starr King Lodge, Knights of Pythias; is a charter member of Fernwood Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen; and is a member of Ocean Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Universalist church of Essex.
Mr. Sargent married, in 1885, Caddie F. Cook, of Essex, and they have one daughter, Seola Florence.
HENRY N. BOURQUE was born on September 26, 1874, at Haverhill, Massachusetts, and is a son of Xiste Bourque and Olive (Vellaire) Bourque. Mr. Bourque's father was a French Canadian, engaged in the shoe manufacturing industry; he died in 1917. His mother was a native of Vermont.
Mr. Bourque received his early education in the public schools of Haverhill. After completing his studies he entered the employment of the Webster Machinery Company, where he worked for three years. He then decided to engage in the leather industry and spent eight years working for various firms, thus acquir- ing a thorough knowledge of the industry. At the end of this period, feeling himself fully qualified by knowl- edge and experience to engage in business for himself, Mr. Bourque formed a partnership with Mr. Brown. Under the firm name of Bourque & Brown, the partners engaged in the leather industry and met with complete success. After a time, however, Mr. Bourque withdrew from the firm and established himself in business as an individual. His enterprise prospered, and at length, in 1910, he took William Henry Sears, who had been in his employment for some time, into partnership with him. The firm is now known as Bourque & Sears, and its offices are at No. 64 Wingate street, Haverhill. Up to the present time the partners have engaged exclusively in the manufacture and sale of shoe patterns. Mr. Bourque is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. Bourque married, in 1897, Mary Roston, of Eng- land, the daughter of Edward P. and Mary Roston. Both of her parents were English by birth. Edward P. Roston, Mrs. Bourque's father, who was a barber, died in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Bourque have no children.
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EDWARD E. CHASE-In the many branches of the public service there is none which holds greater responsibility than that of the fire department. In Lynn, Massachusetts, Edward E. Chase is the capable chief of the fire department. A man of fine executive ability, and devoted to the progress and success of his depart- ment, he is carrying forward its interests, inspiring the rank and file to the highest achievement, and making history which will hold a thrill of satisfaction for future generations.
Mr. Chase is a son of Zachariah J. Chase, who was born in Poland, Maine, and came to Essex county in his youth. He was one of the original partners of the Z. J. Chase & Sons Ice Company, of Lynn, which he was instrumental in organizing. He was one of the prin- cipals in its development, and was connected with this business the remainder of his lifetime. He died about three years ago. He married Harriet Moon, who was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of English parents. She died eight years ago in this city.
Edward E. Chase, son of Zachariah J. and Harriet (Moon) Chase, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, on June 8, 1862. He received his early education in the public schools of the city, then completed his studies at the high school. At fifteen years of age he started life in the ice business, which he followed up to the time he was fifty. He was in the employ of the Lynn Ice Company for seven years, then on June 1, 1886, he became interested for himself in the firm of Z. J. Chase & Sons, which was comprised of his father, himself and his brothers.
In this capacity Mr. Chase became a well-known figure in the business life of the city. On March 8, 1885, he became identified with the Lynn Fire Depart- ment as a call man, and on March 12, 1899, was appointed call captain. As time passed he became more and more important in the department, filling the office of lieutenant for a period of five years. Then, for per- sonal reasons, Mr. Chase resigned from this office. once more holding the less responsible position of call man. Later on, the demands of other affairs releasing him, it was with great satisfaction to his friends, and also to the general public, that the news became known of his appointment, on December 13, 1912, as chief of the fire department of the city of Lynn, Massachusetts. He still holds that position, administering the affairs under his charge with the judgment and efficiency which have marked every step in his public career.
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