USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 3
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Mr. Haverty has not forgotten the land of his fathers, and is the forceful president of the Friends of Irish Freedom Association. Much of the success of this society is due to his wise leadership. He is also vice-president of the Massa- chusetts State Council of the Friends of Irish Freedom Association. He is a member and advo- cate of the Knights of Columbus; Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. 8; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 65; the Merrimack Valley Country Club, and the Gratton Club. He is an Independent in politics; was very active in the Red Cross, Liberty Loan and other movements during the World War, also was on the legal advisory board. Mr. Haverty is a member of Saint Patrick's Church (Catholic) of Lawrence.
GEORGE P. MORRIS-Prominent in the indus- trial world of Essex county, Massachusetts, George P. Morris, sole owner of the George P. Morris & Company leather factory, of Lynn, has built his success upon broad experience definitely sought with the purpose of preparing for executive re- sponsibility.
Mr. Morris was born in St. Louis, Missouri, November 5, 1882, and is a son of Henry J. and Elizabeth (Mertian) Morris, his father being a prominent interior decorator of Roxbury, Massa- chusetts.
Acquiring his early education in the public schools of Boston, where the family then resided, Mr. Morris took up special studies through the International Correspondence School, then entered the shoe industry in Roxbury, remaining in this connection for eight years. Realizing the great opportunities in this and allied industries for suc- cess, he mapped out a most practical course. Go- ing to many different points throughout the East, he worked in various shoe factories, studying the general requirements of the trade, then, in 1917, came to Lynn, and with this accumulated knowl- edge one of his most valuable assets, founded the business of which he is owner and manager, and is now manufacturing fine leather for the shoe trades and meeting with gratifying success. Mr, Morris is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Knights of the Maccabees, of Binghamton, New York.
Mr. Morris married, in 1915, Claudia Berube, of Lynn, daughter of Philip and Marie (Sampson) Berube. Mrs. Morris' father was well known as a road contractor until his death in 1893; her mother was a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have two children: Thomas H., and Marie E. The family attend St. Joseph's Roman Cath- olic Church, of Lynn.
OSCAR R. BODWELL-Long prominent in real estate circles in Danvers, Massachusetts, Oscar
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R. Bodwell has for the past three years held a Jeading position in the industrial world of Dan- vers as president of the New England Electric Lamp Company.
Mr. Bodwell is a son of David and Caroline E. (Sanborn) Bodwell, long residents of this city. David Bodwell was born in Methuen, Massachu- setts, coming to Danvers as a young man, and during his active lifetime was connected with the shoe industry.
Born in Danvers in 1866, Mr. Bodwell, as a boy, attended the public schools of the city, and acquired a practical education. For three or four years, thereafter, he followed farming, then was employed in the shoe industry for several years as shoe cutter. Becoming deeply interested in the development of the city from a commercial stand- point, Mr. Bodwell then entered the real estate field, taking up, also, its customary allied inter- est, insurance. He followed along these lines until 1918, when he became president of the New Eng- land Lamp Company, in which capacity he is now carrying forward the business of that concern along progressive lines. Mr. Bodwell is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Bodwell married Alice P. Turner, of Dan- vers, and they attend the Danvers Highlands Con- gregational Church.
JAMES B. ALLEN-Identified with the general progress of Cliftondale in a very practical way as a member of the firm of R. T. Allen & Brothers, James B. Allen is bearing a part in the prosperity of the county of Essex, Massachusetts. Mr. Allen is a son of Stewart and Mary (Boothe) Allen, residents of Hammond, New York. His father died in 1914.
Mr. Allen was born in Hammond, November 29, 1884, and received his early education in the public schools of that community, and attended the Hammond High School, after which he had the advantage of a course at the New York Trade School. Upon the completion of this course, Mr. Allen came to Cliftondale in 1904, where his brother Robert T. has long been at the head of a thriving hardware business, in whose employ he worked for some years. In 1916 the business was incorporated, and James B. Allen was received into the organization, in the office of vice-president, which office he still holds. Under the name of R. T. Allen & Brothers, this concern is doing a very extensive business as dealers in hardware, paints, oils and other supplies in this general class, and they also do a very considerable plumb- ing and heating business, holding a prominent position in their field in this section of the county. In the public life of the community Mr. Allen is deeply interested, and always stands ready to do his part in every movement which tends towards the bettering of conditions in the town of which he is a resident. He is a member of the Clifton- dale Board of Trade, and fraternally holds mem- bership in William Sutton Lodge, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, in Henry J. Mills Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and in Zebulon Council, Royal and Select Masters, and is also a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Allen married, in 1910, Grace M. Stone, of Vassalboro, Maine, daughter of Jonathan and Lillian (Holmes) Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have four children: Donald S., born in September, 1911; Norman S., born in February, 1914; Roger Blaine, born in May, 1916; and Philip Pershing, born in September, 1918. Mr. Allen has five brothers and two sisters.
WILLIAM JAMES LEMUEL ROOP-It is in- teresting to note that the operations of the New England Sand & Gravel Company have been iden- tified by scientists to be in the original bed of the Ipswich river. Almost equally interesting is the method of extraction, the company employing rather unique methods for refining and commer- cializing the sand and gravel. William J. L. Roop, a civil engineer, is vice-president and general man- ager of the company, and it is the public opinion that a great part of the improvements and ef- ficiency of operation is due to his initiative and inventive ability. William J. L. Roop was born in Norristown, Pennsylvana, February 13, 1891, son of William Reed and Barbara H. (Williams) Roop, his father born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, his mother in Mansfield, Ohio. William R. Roop, a railroad engineer, died in 1920.
William J. L. Roop was educated in the pub- lic schools of Norristown, Drexel Institute of Philadelphia, and the International Correspondence School, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, primarily pur- suing the study of civil engineering, later taking courses in telephone engineering in night school, graduating in 1912. He entered the employ of the engineer of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and having had considerable experience gained by summer vacation work, Mr. Roop soon won pro- motion to the position of assistant engineer. De- sirous of gaining training in business methods, he resigned his promotion as assistant engineer, and became an employe of the Bell Telephone Com- pany, of Pennsylvania, as a draftsman in the plant engineering department, and with that com- pany and plant rapidly rose through successive promotions to chief draftsman, specification writer, and district engineer. But he was ambitious for further experience and in accepting the position as superintendent of a dredging and construction company of Philadelphia, he entered a difficult and comparatively new field of engineering, but he met the demands made upon him and advanced to the position of chief engineer.
During the war period 1917-18, he was identi- fied with important constructive work under the Emergency Fleet Corporation, and the ordnance department. Later he opened private offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as consulting and in- vestigating engineer, so continuing until his ac- ceptance of the position of general manager of the New England Sand & Gravel Company. In 1921
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has was advanced to further responsibility by election to the office of vice-president of the com- pany which was organized and incorporated in 1915. Mr. Roop's professional club is the Engi- neers' of Philadelphia, and he has numerous other affiliations. He is a member of Sigma Phi of Norristown High School, Pennsylvania; F. A. F. N., an exclusive secret society of Norristown; Alpha Phi, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Beta Chapter Omicron Delta, of Melrose, Massachu- setts; is a thirty-second degree member of the Masonic order, a noble of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His social clubs are: the Salem, of Salem; the Boston Athletic and the Vesper Country, of Lowell, Massachusetts.
In 1914 Mr. Roop married, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Martha M. Morehead, of that city, daughter of Gustavus and Marcella (Andrews) Morehead; her father, of a Virginia family, died in 1913, her mother, a Philadelphian, died in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Roop are the parents of two chil- dren: Martha Jane, born in March, 1917, William Reed (2), born in November, 1920. The family home is in Melrose, Massachusetts.
FRED L. MOSHER, prominent among the younger successful business men of Haverhill, Massachusetts, is a son of Lewis M. and Nellie (Pinnette) Mosher.
After completing his education, he learned the business of electrical contractor, and engaged in this line of work on his own account, in 1911, continuing successfully until his enlistment in the army in 1917. On his return to civilian life, in 1919, Mr. Mosher took up the thread of his busi- ness, locating at No. 5 White street, Haverhill, and has added to his early success in the four years which have passed, employing on an aver- age eight men. Of an enterprising nature, Mr. Mosher has ever been watching for favorable business opportunities to enlarge his activities, and in 1920 became a partner in the Haverhill Top Lift Corporation, the other corporators being Chester Paul and Joseph Samson; eventually he purchased the interests of the latter two men and is now the sole owner of the thriving business. The plant covers 2500 feet of working space and seven men are employed. Mr. Mosher is a mem- ber of the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce; he was a member of Camp Utility, located at Camp Devens, where he remained for nineteen months, and was discharged, May 10, 1919, with the war- rant of sergeant. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He attends St. James Catholic Church, of Haverhill.
In 1920, Mr. Mosher married Frances C. Fur- long, of Lowell, Massachusetts.
SAMUEL HENDERSON GREEN, for many years engaged in the shoe industry in Lynn, Massa- chusetts, was born there October 24, 1850, and died July 20, 1900. His father, Samuel H. Green,
was born September 12, 1803, and died August 6, 1881, and his mother, Hannah (Boden) Green, was born January 9, 1806, and died December 25, 1896.
Samuel Henderson Green was a salesman for a shoe finding house and also was engaged in manu- facturing shoe counters and heels. He was well and favorably known in Lynn, where he passed his life and was always active in the public affairs of that city. His fraternal connections were with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he was a member of the Oxford Club. During his life- time he was a regular attendant of the Univer- salist church.
Mr. Green's ancestry includes several distinguish- ed members, among them being his great-grand- father, who was the pilot of the ship carrying the Great Constitution into Marblehead; he was wounded and moved to his position at the steering wheel in a chair.
Mr. Green married Mary A. Wardwell, born at Swampscott, Massachusetts, October 31, 1854, daughter of Ezra Holt and Rosanna Story (Blan- chard) Wardwell. Ezra Holt Wardwell was born in Lynn, July 10, 1827, and died January 24, 1882. His wife was born in Lynn, September 16, 1831, and died October 21, 1882. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Green, Joseph Blaney, was upset in a boat by a shark and swallowed in Swampscott Harbor. He came from Blarney Castle, Ireland, the first Blaney families settling in Swampscott in a house built in 1641. Mrs. Green has a photograph of this house. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Green: Arthur Wardwell, born in Lynn, September 8, 1874, is a practicing dentist, at present in govern- ment service in Washington, D. C. He served in the Spanish-American War and also went to the Mexican Border in 1916. During the World War he was in France, and was commissioned cap- tain. 2. Jennie, born in Lynn, March 9, 1878, mar- ried Arthur G. Stern, born in Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, December 19, 1876, jeweler in Lynn.
Mrs. Green has three grandchildren two, the son and daughter of Arthur W. Green, namely: Arthur H. Green, born in Lynn, January 29, 1906, and Marion Wardwell Green, born January 25, 1908. The only child of Mrs. Jennie (Green) Stern is Henderson Arthur Stern, born November 28, 1916.
COLIN DUNLOPE KERR-In various branches of industrial and business activity the name of Kerr has for many years been identified with the history of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Father and son, since 1868, have been prominent in this city, Colin Dunlope Kerr, the father, having come to this country from Scotland prior to that date, and Albert L. Kerr, the son, (see sketch following) having been a leader in insurance circles for the past decade.
Colin Dunlope Kerr was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, on June 22, 1846. The family removing to Glasgow in his childhood, it was there that he received his education in the public schools. After
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completing his studies he worked at the Kerr Silk Worsted Mill, in Glasgow, Scotland, remaining there until 1865, when he came to the United States. Locating in Dover, New Hampshire, he remained there for a period of three years, then, in 1868, came to Lawrence, Massachusetts. Here, in association with a brother, Peter Kerr, Mr. Kerr went into the painting business, under the firm name of Peter Kerr & Company. The brother, Peter, retired from the concern in 1870, and from that time on Colin D. Kerr conducted the busi- ness alone, until his retirement in 1910. In 1878 Mr. Kerr took the contract for the painting of the shoe machinery made by the Mckay Sewing Ma- chine Company, of Lawrence, and was with this concern during the remainder of his active busi- ness career, a period of service covering thirty- two years.
During his long residence and business activity in Lawrence, Mr. Kerr has become widely known in many branches of public interest. In 1888 he became a shareholder and also a director in the Lawrence Co-operative Bank. He has been chair- man of the Security Committee of that institu- tion for many years; a number of years ago he was elected vice-president of this bank, and later, president, which office he now ably fills. He has been treasurer of the United Presbyterian Church of Lawrence since 1898.
Mr. Kerr is a charter member of the Lawrence Caledonian Club, and at present the member of longest standing in that organization. He served for three years as chief of the club, and has since been its treasurer. He is a member of Tus- can Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.
On October 25, 1872, Mr. Kerr married Jennie Hamilton, and they are the parents of two sons and two daughters: 1. James A., now a resident of Providence, Rhode Island. 2. Albert L., a sketch of whom follows. 3. Mrs. Charles A. Robinson, of Lowell. 4. Mrs. William R. Smith, of Raleigh, North Carolina.
ALBERT L. KERR, second son of Colin Dun- lope Kerr (see preceding sketch) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on December 28, 1880. He received a thoroughly practical education in the schools of Lawrence, first attending the public schools, and then the high school, and later taking a course at the Manual Training School. With this preparation in 1900, he began the work of machine designer, starting as draftsman with the Brown & Sharpe Company, of Providence, Rhode Island, one of the leading machinery manufacturing concerns in America. The young man's future was most promising in this field, but in 1911 he was induced to make a radical change in his line of endeavor. Entering the insurance business at that time in Lawrence, Mr. Kerr has achieved marked success, and is now district manager of the New England Mutual Insurance Company in this district.
Mr. Kerr is a member of the Lawrence Life Underwriters' Association, and also of the Boston
Underwriters' Association, and is an influential member of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. In public life Mr. Kerr is steadily gaining promi- nence, and his ability and standing were recog- nized at the last city election by placing him in the State Legislature as representative of the city of Lawrence.
Fraternally, Albert L. Kerr is widely known. He is a member of William B. Gale Lodge, No. 140, Knights of Pythias, of Lawrence; of Enter- prise Lodge, No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; and of Phoenician Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Lawrence. He is a popular member of the Law- rence Caledonian Club.
Albert L. Kerr married, on November 5, 1907, at Newport, Rhode Island, Jennie Burford, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and they have two chil- dren: Colin H. and Albert L., Jr. The family at- tend the services of the Presbyterian church.
REV. JAMES THOMAS O'REILLY, since 1886 pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Law- rence, Massachusetts, was born at Lansingburg, New York, May 1, 1851, son of Edward and Mary (McGrane) O'Reilly. After completing the ad- vanced courses of study at St. Mary's Academy, Troy, New York, he entered Villanova College, Villanova, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated, class of 1871. He studied the- ology, became a member of the Order of St. Augustine, and on March 15, 1874, was ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church.
Father O'Reilly was an instructor at Villanova College, 1874-76; procurator of the college in 1876; pastor of St. Denis' Church, West Haverford, Pennsylvania, 1876-79; pastor of St. John's Church, Schaghticoke, New York, 1879-1886; pastor of St. Mary's Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1886 until the present (1922) his parish within the limits of the archdiocese of Boston. Father
O'Reilly is president of the Catholic Total Absti- mence Union, and deeply beloved in the parish which he has served continuously for thirty-six years, 1886-1922.
WILLIAM B. LITTLEFIELD-For many years active in the industrial world of Lynn, Massachu- setts, William B. Littlefield retired from all par- ticipation in business twenty years before his death, which occurred on May 4, 1921.
Mr. Littlefield was a son of Horace and Dorcas (Shorey) Littlefield. Horace Littlefield was a prominent wheelwright of Wells, Maine, in his younger days, later also carrying on extensive farming operations there. Both he and his wife were of Maine birth. He died about 1897, aged eighty-five years, when his son William B. was about fifteen years of age.
William B. Littlefield was born in Wells, Maine, on the homestead farm, which he owned at the time of his death. He received a practical edu- cation in the public schools of his native town, and with that foundation built his later success.
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Coming to Lynn at the age of eighteen years, he entered the employ of J. N. Buffum, on Union street, then a small box manufacturing establish- ment, also dealing in lumber. For eight years the young man worked for this firm, gaining a practical knowledge of the business. He then en- tered into a partnership with Mr. Buffum, the arrangement continuing for six years. At the end of that time Mr. Littlefield bought out his part- ner, and became sole owner of the business. He formed a partnership with Mr. George H. Plum- mer, and the business was carried on for many years as Littlefield & Plummer, and later Little- field & Plummer Corporation. They greatly en- larged its scope, and built a large new structure for the accommodation. They took up the manu- facture of paper boxes as well as wood, and even- tually employed one hundred and fifty hands. Eighteen or twenty years before his death Mr. Littlefield and Mr. Plummer both retired from active participation in the business, leaving it to the younger partners, and the business is now car- ried on as Littlefield & Moulton.
In the financial world of Lynn, Mr. Littlefield was prominent for thirty years. He was one of the organizers of the Manufacturers' National Bank of Lynn, and at its organization in 1891, was elected vice-president. Upon the death of the first president, he was elected president of the institution, which office he ably filled until a short time ago. In fraternal circles in Lynn, Mr. Little- field was well known. He was a member of the Bay State Lodge, No. 40, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also of Palestine Encampment. He was a member of the Park Club, and of the Ox- ford Club, both Lynn organizations. Politically he was a supporter of the Republican party, and was prominent in Republican affairs in Lynn, but al- ways consistently declined political preferment.
He married (first) Susan A. Gitchell. of Wells. Maine, and (second) Horatia A. Littlefield, of North Berwick, Maine, who survives him.
WILLIAM E. BIDDLE, prominent business man and manufacturer of Amesbury, Massachusetts, was born there January 1, 1883, son of William E. and Zelma F. (Hodgkins) Biddle. He was educated in the public schools, the Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University, for two years a member of the class of 1905. He then became as- sociated with his father in manufacturing car- riage parts and building carriage bodies. Mr. Bid- dle diligently applied himself to the mastering of the business, and as the years passed was able to resume greater responsibilities; in 1906, he be- came vice-president, and in 1908 president and general manager, now being in complete charge of affairs. He has also interested himself in sev- eral other business firms, being a partner of the Amesbury Brass & Foundry Company; treasurer of the Colchester Mill Company; trustee of the Provident Institute of Savings; and director of the Powow River National Bank. Mr. Biddle is al- ways to be found foremost in any movement that
tends towards the general welfare; he was a mem- ber of the Liberty Loan Committee during the World War, and chairman of Amesbury Branch of the Red Cross. Mr. Biddle is a member of the Amesbury Club; the Ould Newbury Golf Club; the Oldtown Country Club, the Harvard clubs of Boston and New York, the Merrimack Valley Country Club, the Powder House Hill Country Club, and the Detroit Athletic Club.
He married, April 25, 1906, Grace Webster Goodwin, daughter of George and Frances (Web- ster) Goodwin, and their children are: William E. Jr., born March 1, 1907, and Frances, born June 6, 1909. The family attend St. James Epis- copal Church.
FRANK M. ALLEY-For thirty-five years a leading undertaker in Lynn, Massachusetts, Frank M. Alley performed well and faithfully a duty of especial significance to the community, and in his passing, the work which had so long been en- trusted to him was lain down for other hands to take up.
Mr. Alley was born in Lynn, January 10, 1837, in a house which then stood at the point where Mount Pleasant street intersects with Essex street today. He was a son of John (4) Alley, who was a native of Haverhill, and Susan D., his wife, who was born in Marblehead.
Receiving his education in his native city, Mr. Alley was scarcely well launched upon his career before the breaking out of the Civil War called the young men of the day to the colors. He en- listed eagerly at the first call, and was a member of the Twenty-third Regiment, Massachusetts Vol- unteer Infantry, serving throughout the period of the war, and even beyond, not being mustered out until July, 1865. Almost immediately after his en- listment, he was assigned to the Hospital Corps, and his usefulness there was so marked that he was retained in that branch of the service as assistant to the surgeons.
Upon his return to Lynn after the war, Mr. Alley entered the shoe industry, but continued in this line of effort only until he had completed the necessary technical studies to qualify for the pro- fession of undertaking. He soon received his cer- tificate, and for thirty-five years was engaged actively in this work, commanding a very large patronage.
Nineteen years before his death, Mr. Alley re- tired from active business, but continued in- terested in fraternal and benevolent activities. He was a member of General Lander Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of Mount Carmel Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, holding the thirty-second degree in that order. He was a member of the Masonic order for more than fifty years, and had been the recipient of the Henry Price Medal a short time before his death, in honor of his half century of membership, be- ing one of the few men in this city to possess that distinction. He was a member of Bay State Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and
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