USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 35
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Mr. Lane was born in Hampton, New Hampshire, May 13, 1845, and died in 1902, at Amesbury. He was educated in the district schools of his native town and Hampton Academy, and at an early age began to make his own living. He apprenticed himself to learn the trade of carriage making, and as a journeyman, located in Amesbury. Subsequently he engaged in business for himself, and his high quality of workmanship soon brought him increased trade. In 1885 he retired, selling his business to his brother. This business developed
and increased many times over the start, and carriages built in his factory were known to be all that skilled workmanship and art could manufacture.
Mr. Lane married Anna G. Tucker, born in Salisbury Point, April 12, 1846, and they were the parents of three sons: George O .; Harvey S .; and Harlan S .; also of two daughters: Cora Belle and Gertrude M. Lane. There also are four grandchildren.
JOHN P. TRUE-On September 27, 1917, the town of Amesbury, Massachusetts, lost one of its most influ- ential and prominent citizens in the death of John P. True. Mr. True was born in a house situated on the town line between Seabrook and Southampton, New Hampshire, February 27, 1826. His younger days were spent on the homestead, attending school during the winter months and working about the farm in the summer. Later, when finishing school, Mr. True con- tinued to engage in farming, and was thus employed for several years. He became interested in tanning leather and this led into the manufacturing end of this busi- ness ; subsequently, Mr. True removed to Amesbury, Massachusetts, and there manufactured leather goods, meeting with well-deserved success.
Mr. True married Mary A. Wells Morrell, daughter of Jeremiah and Mary (Wells) Morrell, natives of Salisbury, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. True were the parents of a son, born in Salisbury, now residing in Framingham, Massachusetts. They were also the par- ents of a daughter, Addie L. True, who resides at the homestead in Amesbury. Mrs. True is now deceased.
JOHN BROWN GORDON-Of the eighty-five residents of Haverhill, Massachusetts, who were mem- bers of the Haverhill Fire Department in 1882, the number living could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand, and of the number only one is still in active service. He is Chief Gordon, who has been chief of the Haverhill Fire Department for thirty-two years, and will probably be until he of his own accord elects to resign. He is now in his seventy-second year, but his life has been an active one, and he is still an enthusiastic and useful public servant.
John Brown Gordon was born in Sandown, New Hampshire, on June 10, 1849, son of James R. and Lucy (Wells) Gordon, the latter a native of Sandown, New Hampshire. James R. Gordon, born in Brentwood, New Hampshire, was a blacksmith at Sandown and Chester, New Hampshire, for the greater part of his life, and died in 1876. He worked for the Under Edge Tool Company when they first started in business.
John B. Gordon, in his boyhood, attended the Chester, New Hampshire, public schools, and took a higher course at the Chester Academy, where one of his pre- ceptors was John K. Lord, of Hanover, New Hamp- shire. He also finds pleasure in recalling that while at the academy he shared desks with Daniel Chester French, who became so noted a sculptor, among whose works is "The Minute Man of Concord," at Concord, Massachusetts. After his schooling was at an end, John B. Gordon began to work for his father, and learned the trade of blacksmith. Mr. Gordon was of an observing and inventive mind, and while working at the smithy thought out the principle of the detachable
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caulk on horse shoes. He perfected the device, and put it into use, but it was never patented, and he therefore did not benefit financially as fully as he might have. A caulk following the same principle is to-day in very general use. Fifty years have passed since Chief Gor- don came to Haverhill and opened a smithy on Court street. The shop he started under his own name in 1872, was, it has been stated, the largest of its kind that Haverhill has ever had.
Forty years ago Mr. Gordon joined the local fire department. He is still an active member; indeed has been continuously chief since 1893; and during the thirty-two years as such he has had to deal with many threatening conflagrations. It is in great measure due to the vigilance and careful inspection Chief Gordon has given, that Haverhill has not experienced disas- trous fires like those which have menaced, and in some cases wiped out, other eastern cities. Mr. Gordon was elected captain in 1883; appointed call chief in 1890, and in the same year became permanent chief of the fire de- partment. During his decades of public service, Chief Gordon has been the recipient of many tokens of the respect and appreciation of his comrades, and of the public in general.
Chief Gordon is a member of the local body of the Knights of Pythias, and for very many years has been a member of the Haverhill Baptist Church.
Chief Gordon married, in 1877, Jennie P. Abbott, of Ossipee, New Hampshire, daughter of Henry R. and Phoebe ( Bicksford) Abbott, of New England families. Her mother was born in Rochester, New Hampshire, and her father, Henry R. Abbott, in North Berwick, Maine. He followed the ancestral occupation of farming, and died on October 24, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have one child, a son, Louis J., who was born in Newton, New Hampshire, in 1879. He is now resident in Wel- lesley, Massachusetts, and is of the New England Mu- tual Life Insurance Company of that place. He mar- ried Frances Milner, of New Brunswick, and the next generation of the Gordon family is represented in their children : Rich Milner and Eileen Gordon.
STANISLAS FUGERE was born in St. Valier, Quebec, Canada, on December 3, 1883, and is a son of Maglorie and Julie ( Bourgault) Fugere. When he was a child of six his parents removed to the United States, locating in Salem, Massachusetts. There he attended the public schools and Jolliette College, learning rapidly, and making many friends among his schoolmates. On looking about for a field of activity at the close of his college course, the young man decided on a business career. He started in the grocery business in Salem, and continued there for nine years. He was induced to go to Easthampton, Massachusetts, and removing there, conducted a grocery business in that city for nine years.
Mr. Fugere then made a radical change in his line of business; disposing of his interest in the grocery store, he took a preparatory course to fit himself for his new field. He entered the New England Institute of Anat- omy, from which he was graduated in 1913. He passed the examinations of the Massachusetts State Board, and in that same year opened an office at Salem as an undertaker and embalmer. Well fitted by nature for
work of this kind, requiring, as it does, tact and a sin- cere appreciation of the serious things of life, Mr. Fugere has established himself among the people of Salem, and commands the work in this line from the best families of the city and vicinity. He is cordially liked and respected, and has advanced to a position where he does a really successful business.
Mr. Fugere has many social and fraternal connec- tions. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose; the Artisan's Order of Mutual Protection; La Societe St. Jean Baptiste; Union St. Jean Baptiste of America; and of the Catholic Foresters of America. Politically he is affiliated with the Republican party, and is a staunch supporter of its policies.
Mr. Fugere married, in Clinton, Massachusetts, on February 12, 1906, Alma Robinson, of that place. They have six children, as follows: Wilfred, who studied for the priesthood at Assumption College, Worcester, for two years, is now at the Salem High School; Emilie; Cecile; Bernatte; Raymond; and Claire. The family are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.
GEORGE DUFFETT-One of the well-known manufacturers of heels in Lynn, Massachusetts, that important centre of shoe manufacturing, is George Duf- fett, sole owner now of the firm of Duffett & Green, established twenty-three years ago.
George Duffett was born in Newfoundland on August 30, 1867, the son of John and Diana (Sutton) Duffett, of that part of the Dominion of Canada. John Duffett was a ship carpenter, and died in 1918, but his wife, the mother of George Duffett, of Lynn, died when the latter was only twelve years old, in 1879. She was the mother of six children. John Duffett married (second) Emily Sparks, and of this union five children were born.
George Duffett attended the public schools of his native place in his boyhood, but was not very old when he took to the sea, at the outset accompanying his father to the fishing grounds, and for several years thereafter being connected with the fishing industry of Newfound- land. Eventually he entered the service of the Canadian Government, revenue department, and for three years was a special officer on a revenue cutter. However, in 1891, he came to the United States, and settled in Lynn, Massachusetts. For a year after coming he was in the employ of the Lynn Gas and Electric Company; for the next six years he was in the factory of the Bowen Heel Company of Lynn. There he learned that branch of the shoe industry, and at the end of six years of service he resolved to start in independent business in the same line. He formed partnership with Mr. Green, and the two established the firm of Duffett & Green, and began to manufacture heels for the local shoe manufacturers. In 1900 Mr. Duffett acquired the interest of his part- ner, and since has been sole owner of the business, which he now conducts under his own name. His plant is situated at No. 519 Eastern avenue, Lynn, and is equipped with the most modern machinery. The factory finds steady work for twenty-five persons, has 6,000 feet of floor space, and a capacity for 20,000 heels a day. Mr. Duffett is therefore one of the largest manu- facturers of heels in the Lynn district.
Mr. Duffet has long been a Mason, having advanced
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to the commandery. He is a member of the Swamp- scott Masonic Club, and also belongs to the local bodies of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Duffett married, in 1900, Flora A. Strong, also of Newfoundland, where her father was a fisherman. She is the daughter of Samnel and Catharine (Gooby) Strong. Mr. and Mrs. Duffett have two children: Marion I., who was born in 1905; and Ruth E., born in 1907. Both children show marked musical ability.
JOHN KIRBY-For sixty-two years a resident of Danvers, Massachusetts, and for the greater part of that time active in the industrial world, John Kirby lived a life of usefulness, and was always interested in the progress of events. He passed away in September, 1921, at the age of eighty-five years.
Mr. Kirby was born in County Kerry, Ireland, on February 1, 1836, and there received a practical educa- tion in the National schools of his native land. Coming to the United States in 1853, he located in Natick, Mas- sachusetts, later removing to Danvers. Since 1859 Mr. Kirby had been a resident of Danvers, early establish- ing himself as a shoemaker. He trained his children to useful activities, and his sons became successful busi- ness men. In 1898 Mr. Kirby's two sons bought what was then known as the Rice block. This is an old but substantial structure, built in 1847, and here they con- duct a market, shoe store, and shoe repairing shop.
Mr. Kirby married, in 1860, in Danvers, Mary J. Hal- lessey, who was born in Ireland; she died in February, 1918. They had five children: Ellen; Mary; P. Henry; John F .; and Margaret. The members of Mr. Kirby's family belong to the Roman Catholic church.
JOHN HENRY SIMPSON, assistant superintend- ent of the Farwell Bleachery Company, was born in Lancashire, England, October 30, 1879, the son of Henry Simpson, also born in Lancashire, in 1847, and died in 1888; he was engaged in textile lines during his active life. Mr. Simpson's mother, Catherine (Kenna) Simp- son, was a native of Belfast, Ireland, and died in 1920, aged seventy-three years.
After attending the public schools of his home town, John H. Simpson came to America, and was a student at the Lowell High School. After leaving school he went to work, his first position being with the Merri- mac Print Works, where he remained for six years, and at the time of resigning, had worked upward to the position of foreman.
Mr. Simpson removed to Providence, Rhode Island, and there entered the employ of the United States Fin- ishing Company, and after five years returned to Massa- chusetts, to the city of Lawrence, and secured a posi- tion as foreman of the Farwell Bleachery Company, in the finishing department. After two years there he went to New Jersey, where he held a similar position with the Standard Bleachery at Carleton Hill, Passaic county, later becoming superintendent of the finishing room. Returning again to Lawrence at the end of two years, Mr. Simpson became assistant superintendent of the Farwell Bleachery Company, which position he now holds. He is a man skilled in his line of work, and is well known among the leading citizens of Lawrence. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Simpson married, in 1914, Mary A. Pendergast, born at Lowell, Massachusetts, April 7, 1885, and they are the parents of a son, Andrew Lawrence Simpson, born June 28, 1916.
FREDERICK WILLIAM MATHISON, who owns Mathison's Garage at Merrimac, Massachusetts, is a native of Lawrence, same State, born there on June 17, 1892. His parents, Olef and Caroline (King) Mathison, were of European birth, his father having been born in Sweden, and his mother in Hamburg, Germany. They did not meet, however, until both were in this country, and after marriage they made their home in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where Frederick William spent all the years of his childhood and youth. He was able to pass through the Lawrence High School before giving up academic studies and taking up the serious work of life. His first employment, however, was not in Lawrence. He went to New York and there worked as a clerk for more than two years in the store of the James H. Dun- ham Dry Goods Company. Returning to Lawrence, he spent the next two years in the employ of a relative, August Mathison, a building contractor there. Next he worked for Otto Steinard, also of Lawrence and also in the contracting business. However, a year later he began to work as a carpenter for E. W. Pitman & Com- pany, of Lawrence, and with that company he remained for five years, at the end of that period taking up inde- pendent business as a carpenter and contractor in Law- rence. He continued as a master carpenter until 1917, when he moved to Merrimac, and there worked for the J. B. Judkins Company for a year. During the time of the World War, he enrolled in the vital shipbuilding effort. He entered government service, and for a year (1918) was a foreman for the government in the Shat- tuck shipyard, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The ' emergency over, he returned to Massachusetts, and for a while found work at Amesbury, making automobile bodies for the Amesbury Body Company. Following that line, he eventually again took up residence in Mer- rimac, and worked in the plant of the Merrimac Body Company for about a year. In 1920 he decided to open independently in the automobile repair and supply busi- ness at Merrimac. He established what is known as Mathison's Garage, and has had no reason to be disap- pointed in the enterprise, which is developing satisfac- torily. Mr. Mathison is of optimistic spirit, and is alert and enterprising.
Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally a Mason and Odd Fellow, belonging to the Bethany (Merrimac) lodge of the former, and the Lawrence body of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Baptist church of Lawrence.
Mr. Mathison has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1915, was Florence Latervase, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, who died in 1917; one child, a daughter, Dorothy Carolina, was born of this mar- riage, April 22, 1916. He married (second), in 1919, Agnes Fitzgerald, of Merrimac.
HARLAND A. SAWYER, general manager of the Amesbury Electric Light Company, of Amesbury, Mas- sachusetts, was born in that town January 21, 1868, son of Aaron and Lois D. (Jones) Sawyer. He attended
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the public schools, and in 1890 graduated from Cornell University. Immediately, Mr. Sawyer engaged in busi- ness for himself as an electrical contractor, and fol- lowed this occupation for several successful years. His knowledge of electrical matters, both in theory and prac- tice, made him a very desirable man for the interests of the lighting plant of Amesbury, and he became asso- ciated with this company as superintendent in 1912, soon after becoming manager, and in 1920 was appointed gen- eral manager, which office he now capably holds.
An able man of affairs, Mr. Sawyer has held several other important offices, among them being: Manager of the Merrimac Power and Building Company; president and director of the Amesbury National Bank; and director of the Powow River National Bank, which he served as vice-president in 1920. Mr. Sawyer is a mem- ber of the firm of the Sargent Coal Company, and a former treasurer of the Board of Trade, of Amesbury, which office he has held since the organization of this body. He is a member of the New England section of the National Electric Light Association.
On November 16, 1892, Mr. Sawyer married Harriet E. Mason, daughter of Charles W. and Cornelia R. (Rogers) Mason, of New Haven, Vermont, and she died December 6, 1919. They were the parents of a daughter, Lois M., born May 29, 1904. Mr. Sawyer attends the Christian Science church, as did Mrs. Saw- yer before her passing away.
EDGAR H. MURPHY, who for eight years has conducted a growing plumbing and sheet metal business in Haverhill, Massachusetts, under the trading name of the E. H. Murphy Company, was born in Skowhegan, Maine, June 26, 1882, son of Lyman D. and Andell L. (Levett) Murphy, the latter of an Athens, Maine, fam- ily, and the former of Skowhegan, Maine, where he was engaged in the electrical business.
Edgar H. Murphy was educated in the public schools of Skowhegan, graduating from the high school of that place with the class of 1901. Soon afterwards he began a commercial course at Gray's Business College, Port- land, Maine. After graduating therefrom he began his business career in the employ of the N. S. Stewart Company, of Skowhegan. They were plumbers, and in their employ Mr. Murphy served an apprenticeship at that trade. Eventually he came to Haverhill, where he found employment at his trade with Murray & Dug- dale, remaining with them until 1913, when he decided to start in business for himself. He established the firm of the E. H. Murphy Company in that year, and has since steadily developed that business. This company caters to general plumbing needs, sheet metal and heat- ing, also welding, and carries a full line of supplies, and also specializes in Gurney heaters. Their place of business is at the corner of White and Vine streets, Haverhill.
Mr. Murphy has interestedly followed public affairs, especially those of his own city; he is a member of the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, and belongs to many fraternal orders. He belongs to Saggahew Lodge of Masons, and formerly to Somerset Lodge, of Skow- hegan, Maine, and to Somerset Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the same place. While resid- ing in Maine, he took an active part in military affairs.
For six years he was a first lieutenant of Company E, Maine National Guard, Second Maine Regiment, but since he has been in Massachusetts and in business for himself, he has not been able to follow military incli- nations. His business calls for most of his time, and he has eight men working for him. He is a member of the Master Plumbers' Association, and socially be- longs to the Agawam and Wachusett clubs, of Haver- hill. By religious conviction he is a Congregationalist, and a member of the North Congregational Men's Club, of Haverhill.
Mr. Murphy married, in 1902, Frances Altana Emer- son, of his native place. They have one child, Altana Emerson Murphy.
ERNEST K. HIGH was born at Westbrook, Maine, on October 31, 1893, and is a son of William and Betsy (Kinmond) High. His father, who was born in Scot- land, was a sailor and served as a mariner under both the British and American flags. His mother, who was also born in Scotland, is now a resident of Methuen, Massachusetts.
Mr. High received his early education in the public schools of Methuen, whither his family had moved while he was still quite young. He also attended Cannon's Commercial School and took various courses in the La Salle Extension University. After having com- pleted his studies in 1909, he obtained employment at the Pacific Mills, where he has worked ever since. He has held the position of assistant paymaster since 1917, and at the present time has charge of the paymaster's office at the Pacific Print Works.
Mr. High is a member of the First Congregational Church of Methuen. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of John Hancock Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Methuen; Lowell Council, Royal and Select Masters; Boston Consistory; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also is a member of Clan McPherson.
Mr. High married Bertha Fisher, of North Adams, Massachusetts, in 1917. Mrs. High was born on August 4, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. High have no children.
THEODORE KENNEDY was born at Peabody, Massachusetts, in 1871, and is a son of Jackson and Mary Elizabeth (Goodwin) Kennedy. His father, who was a mason by trade, was born in Maine, but lived at Danvers, Massachusetts, during the greater part of his life. He had a large family, consisting of six sons and three daughters. His children, in the order of their ages, are : Jackson; Emma; Herbert; Nora; Theodore, of whom further; Bertha; Homer; Ralph; and Harold.
Mr. Kennedy received his education in the public schools of Peabody. He early developed a strong affection for the land and decided to take up the study of agriculture. With the exception of a few years spent in the teaming and hauling business, his life has been devoted to his chosen calling, and he is well known as a progressive and energetic farmer and dairyman, and keeps on an average fifteen head of milch cows. He settled at Danvers, Massachusetts, where he now lives, in March, 1912. He attends the Baptist church.
Mr. Kennedy married Bessie Shaw, who was born in Nova Scotia. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have six chil-
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dren : Raymond. who married Nina Grey; Blanche, who married George Shaw; Lena, the wife of Sumner Simm; Pearl; Ruth, the wife of Harry W. Grover; and Herman.
MAURICE J. MAHONEY-For more than seventy years a resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and for upwards of fifty years at the head of his present under- taking business, Maurice J. Mahoney is a figure of wide prominence in this vicinity.
Mr. Mahoney is a son of John J. Mahoney, who was born in Ireland in 1826. He came to this country in 1850, locating in Lawrence, with his little family. He filled the position of sexton for Father O'Donnell, the first priest of St. Mary's Parish, then founded the pres- ent undertaking business on January 1, 1865. He placed it on a firm foundation, and saw the business grow to an important interest, but was denied the full fruits of his own success by his death on December 19, 1873, in the prime of life. The undertaking business which John J. Mahoney founded is now the oldest house in the city in this line of endeavor.
Maurice J. Mahoney was born in County Cork, Ire- land, on August 15, 1847. Coming to Lawrence with his parents when only three years of age, it was in the public schools of this city that he received his education. He started life in the industrial world as a machine shop apprentice, serving from 1863 to 1865. Thereafter he followed the machinist's trade for about eight years. The death of his father, however, changed the course of his future. He took over the undertaking business laid down by his father, conducting it for the estate. Even- tually he decided to continue it, and with the neces- sary preparation, received his license on February 24, 1874. He has since conducted the business continuously, and although his sons are now associated with him, and are taking much of the responsibility from his shoul- ders, he still holds the management and general over- sight of the business. He has always kept up with the progress of the times, and now has a complete motor equipment of the most modern type.
In various interests outside his business Mr. Mahoney bears a part. For sixteen years he was a member of the School Committee of Lawrence. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, of which order he was a charter member, and was first grand knight of Law- rence Council, No. 67. He is a member of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 65, and is also a member of St. Mary's Holy Name Society. He has for many years been a member of the Lawrence Cham- ber of Commerce.
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