Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 4

Author: Arrington, Benjamin F., 1856- ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 406


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 4


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Mystic Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen. He joined the Odd Fellows in 1868.


Mr. Alley died at about six o'clock on the morning of December 28, 1920, at his residence at No. 10 Lincoln street, where he had lived for about thirty-eight years. The immediate cause of his death was heart trouble, but his age being nearly eighty-four years, his strength had been gradually failing for some time.


Mr. Alley was survived by his wife, Mary A. Alley, and a sister, Mrs. Louis Granger, of Lynn.


THOMAS HENRY O'SHEA, who stood high in the banking world of Salem, Massachusetts, broad- ly interested in every branch of public endeavor and philanthropy, was a representative of a large group of citizens of Essex county, Massachusetts. Mr. O'Shea was born in North Salem, April 8, 1867, a son of Martin and Catherine (Burns) O'Shea. Martin O'Shea was one of the solid cit- izens of Essex county, Massachusetts, of Irish extraction, and by occupation an engineer.


Receiving a practical education in the public schools of Peabody, Thomas Henry O'Shea through all his career looked toward the future of the city of Salem, in whose institutions he took the deep- est interest. He was a director of the Naumkeag Trust Company, and was vice-president and direc- tor of the Warren National Bank. The former in- stitution, one of the leading financial organizations of Salem, benefitted by the sound judgment and progressive mind of Mr. O'Shea, and in the latter institution, in Peabody, he was one of the mov- ing spirits. He was a trustee of the J. B. Thomas Hospital and a liberal contributor to its support.


During the World War, Mr. O'Shea gave very generously to all drives and all movements in sup- port of the American Expeditionary Forces. He also gave the Red Cross an office in one of the O'Shea buildings, rent free, during the period of the war and for nearly a year thereafter. Fra- ternally and in a social way, Mr. O'Shea was widely known. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. He was also a member of the Salem Club, and of the Charitable Irish Society of Boston.


On November 28, 1894, Mr. O'Shea married, at Peabody, Catherine Teresa Hayes, daughter of John J. and Mary (Mahoney) Hayes. Mr. and Mrs. O'Shea were the parents of two children: Thomas Joseph, born August 5, 1897; Catherine Marie, born June 15, 1902. The family are mem- bers of St. John's Catholic Church.


WILLIAM E. ARNOLD, partner in the Haver- hill firm of Arnold & Burke, garage owners, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, January 11, 1900, son of John E. and Bessie (Lane) Arnold, who were both of that province of the Dominion of Canada.


The Arnold family moved into the United States not long after the birth of William E., and for


many years have lived in Haverhill, Massachusetts, where the father, John E. Arnold, is connected with the shoe manufacturing industry. It was in Haverhill that William E. Arnold was educated, and in the vicinity he has worked since leaving school. For four years after leaving school he was in the employ of J. Ellison, and then went into business for himself, trading under his own name at No. 52 Main street, Bradford, Massachu- setts, and developing a satisfactory trucking busi- ness. Later, however, he entered into business partnership with Mr. Burke, and the two now have a promising garage and automobile repair business in Haverhill, their garage and repair shop being situated at No. 225 River street. Mr. Arnold is showing definite enterprise and alert activity.


RALPH M. DAWLEY-Undoubtedly traveling broadens the mind. So much is evident in the case of Ralph M. Dawley, of Newburyport, Massa- chusetts. He is a man with a broad observing mind, and a keen intellect, notwithstanding that his academic education apparently ended when he was only nine years old. His world-wide travel began then, and has been continued intermittently until quite recently. He has landed in very many countries, as may be imagined when it is known that he has traveled around the world three times.


Ralph M. Dawley was born in Sand Lake, Mich- igan, on July 20, 1879, son of John and Sarah (Mosher) Dawley. His mother was of Sand Lake, Michigan, and died in 1919, a year before the death of his father, who was a cattle dealer, and origi- nally of Oswego, New York. Ralph M. was one of the six children, three sons and three daughters, born to his parents. His early life was spent in his native place in Michigan, but he was evi- dently of adventurous spirit, for he was only nine years old when he cast aside his school books and ventured on the long, long trip across the Atlantic Ocean to England, the voyage being all the more venturesome by being made on a cattle boat. When in England, his adventurous spirit drew him into the ranks of the British army, in which he enlisted as a drummer boy, and served as such for three years and two months. He then re- turned to the United States, and later made one trip to France, enlisting upon his return in the Thirty-third Michigan Volunteer Regiment, raised for war service against Spain. With that regi- ment he went on active service to Cuba, and after the pacification of that island and the return of his regiment to the United States, he enlisted in the Regular army, being commissioned a sec- ond lieutenant of infantry and ordered to do duty with the Third United States Infantry. He was honorably discharged in 1902, after the Philippine and Porto Rican troubles were over. Soon after- wards, he found civil employment in the Schenec- tady plant of the General Electric Company. Later, he was sent to Brazil by the General Elec-


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tric Machine Company. He returned along the Pacific Ocean, landing at San Francisco, California, traveling overland to New York City. A man of distinct versatility, and with an aptitude for me- chanics, he spent the period, 1904-08, in the auto- mobile trade, but in the latter year veered to aero- planes. He became connected with the Curtiss Aeroplane Company, and by that firm was sent to Singapore, Malay Straits, and India, with the hydroplane, the "Nancy Bess." In 1910 he re- turned to the United States, and for the next two years was with the Thomas Auto Company, as tester. The next four or five years were passed in the employ of various concerns, but soon after the United States entered the World War, in 1917, Mr. Dawley again cast aside civil affairs and enlisted for war service. He enlisted in the United States navy, as aviation instructor, and was assigned for duty at Squantum Field, later being at Norfolk, Virginia. At the end of the war, Mr. Dawley had the rating of chief petty officer. After re-entering civil life, he came to Newbury- port, and has since been the manager of the garage owned by Hannah Gillis. His knowledge of autos and his business ability are evident in the development of that garage business since he has been manager of it, it being today one of the most complete and up-to-date in the city of New- buryport. Mr. Dawley has also a garage business of his own at Salisbury Beach, and expects to do well there. He has rapidly made friends in New- buryport and vicinity. Mr. Dawley is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.


Mr. Dawley was married, in 1904, to Edna Convercise, daughter of Samuel and Sarah E. (Gardiner) Convercise, of Troy, New York. Sam- uel Convercise died in 1889.


REV. F. FRANCIS V. De BEM-As pastor of Our Lady of Good Voyage, one of the most promi- nent Roman Catholic parishes in the city of Glou- cester, Massachusetts, Rev. F. Francis V. DeBem is well known as a zealous, learned and eloquent divine, and a public-spirited citizen.


F. Francis V. DeBem was born in Boston, Massachusetts, November 5, 1867. When he was but one year old he was taken by his parents to Fayal Island, the Azores, and there he obtained his elementary education, after which he entered the seminary of the Island of Terceira, where he took a lyceum scientific course and was ordained priest in September, 1890, at the seminary by the Rt. Rev. Francis Maria Souza. On December 1, 1890, he came to Gloucester to the original parish with Archbishop Williams. Here he supervised the building of a wooden structure, which was completed July 9, 1893. Here Father DeBem con- tinued to conduct services until February 20, 1914, when the building was destroyed by fire, after which, upon the same site, he supervised the build- ing of a new church and has continued as rector of the parish up to the present time.


Father De Bem is an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus, being formerly chaplain of the local organization, and is a member of many organizations for the civic and social betterment of the community. During the recent period of war with Germany, he was most active in the support of the cause of the Allies, and intimately connected with the different movements having for their object the welfare of the men in the ser- vice.


Life holds no more beautiful relationship than that which a Catholic priest bears to his people and his people bear to him. He is one who never falters, whose helping hand is never withdrawn, whose patience is without end, and whose heart is ever true. For through sunshine and rain, through happiness and disaster, through peace and war, through virtue and misery, come what will within the range of human experience, in its midst you will find the priest toiling not for him- self, but for those he loves and for whom he stands ready to die so they may have happiness both here and hereafter. This is the type of priest, this is the manner of friend, this is the kind of pastor Father De Bem is to all with whom he comes in contact; a noble man, full of courage, zeal, and devotion, with deep and abiding re- ligious faith.


JOSEPH EBEN BODWELL-There are names which fittingly find a place in the permanent rec- ords of any city, and in Lynn, Massachusetts, one of these names is Joseph Eben Bodwell, whose influence upon the real estate market of the pass- ing generation was constructive to an unusual degree.


Joseph E. Bodwell was born in Reading, Massa- chusetts. His parents removing to Lynn when he was a child of five years, it was here that the boy received his education, which was limited to the common school course at the Burkett School, from which he was graduated. As a young man the lure of the sea called him, and he shipped on the merchant marine, his initial trip being to India. He followed the sea for eight or ten years, retir- ing as first officer of the "Prince George," of the Dominion Atlantic railroad. Returning thereafter to Lynn, he entered the real estate field in this city, and was active in this business until his death, which occurred in March, 1917. He was very successful, from his standpoint, as an in- dividual operator, but will longest be remember- ed for his participation in a movement which is still fruitful of great good to the real estate busi- ness in this vicinity, and through it to the pub- lic in general. Mr. Bodwell early became affili- ated with other real estate dealers in Lynn, form- ing the Real Estate Exchange of Lynn, which still exists, largely devoted to its original purposes in the Lynn Exchange of the present day. This or- ganization of progressive business men meets for conference on general real estate topics and their relation to the community-at-large.


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Mr. Bodwell was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, of the Woodmen of the World, and of the Knights of Pythias. He never lost his fondness for the sea, and held membership in the Lynn Yacht Club until his death, taking the keenest delight in an occasional sail. He attended St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Lynn.


Mr. Bodwell married Fannie E. Smyth, and they were the parents of one son, Frederick E., now a prominent real estate man in this city.


FRED RUPERT CAMPBELL, an enterprising manufacturer of Lynn, and prominent in fraternal circles, is broadly active in the progress of the city. He was born in Lynn, December 6, 1878, a son of Edward Thomas and Augusta J. (Oakes) Campbell, for many years residents of this city.


Gaining his education in the public schools of the city, Mr. Campbell, in association with his brother, Charles Edward Campbell, whose life is reviewed elsewhere in this work, has reached a prominent position among electrical manufacturers in this part of the State. The business was for- merly located on Central square, and for a time embraced a retail store, dealing in electrical sup- plies of every kind. Twice selling out, the second time to the General Electric Company, the business was removed to Stewart street, absorbing the busi- ness of Charles E. Howard in 1915, and in 1916 the fine new building of the Campbell Electric Company was erected and equipped for the special line of work turned out. This consists of X-ray equipment, such as is used in hospitals and by physicians, many varieties of electrical equipments, transformers and automatic switching devices. This business is one of the successful interests in its field in this section. In addition to holding an interest in this business, Mr. Campbell is treasurer of the X-ray Foot-O-Scope Corporation, and active in its management. He is also a director of the State National Bank, of Lynn, and of the Lynn Morris Plan Company, and is a member of the Lynn Chamber of Commerce.


Fraternally Mr. Campbell is a member of the Golden Fleece Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; of Sutton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Olivet Commandery, Knights Templar; and is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of Peter Woodland Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and of Lynn Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He attends the Episcopal church.


On November 24, 1904, Mr. Campbell married Amy E. Fletcher, daughter of Nathan B. and Emily Clapp (Lewis) Fletcher. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have two daughters: Doris Evelyn, born November 18, 1905; and Ruth Fletcher, born De- cember 25, 1913.


CHARLES EDWARD CAMPBELL-Achieving success entirely by his own efforts, Charles E. Campbell, of Lynn, now conducts an important business in the manufacture of many different


electrical devices of especial significance to the public.


Mr. Campbell was born in Lynn, January 11, 1881, and is a son of Edward T. and Augusta J. (Oakes) Campbell. After completing the course of the public schools of his native city, Mr. Campbell was employed in a shoe factory for a short time, then went to Boston and Medford, doing experimental work on telephones. Follow- ing this line of activity for about three years, he then opened a small shop in Lynn, and did electrical work on a very modest scale. By con- stant effort he increased the business materially, and in 1900 opened a larger shop at No. 54 Cen- tral square, his plant first being in the basement, then on the top floor of the building, eventually expanding to fill the entire top floor. In 1906 Mr. Campbell added to his interests by opening a retail store, handling electrical supplies of all kinds, and this continued until 1909, when he sold out his entire business and made a fresh start, this time locating in the Fabian building on Union street. There he manufactured incandescent lamps and x-ray tubes for about three years, when he sold out to the General Electric Company. Re- moving to Stewart street, he still continued in the manufacturing branch of the business, and in 1915 purchased the business of Charles E. Howard, one year later erecting the Campbell Electric building, his present fine structure, equipping it in the most modern and approved manner. Here he specializes in the manufacture of x-ray equip- ment for the use of hospitals and physicians, electrical equipments, transformers, and automatic switching devices. He is doing a constantly in- creased business, and is one of the successful men in this field in Essex county. His brother, Fred R. Campbell, has long been associated with him. (q.v.)


Mr. Campbell is a member of the Free and Ac- cepted Masons and of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Rotary Club, and attends the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation. In 1909 Mr. Campbell inar- ried Laura C. Chellis.


HARRY D. BUTTERFIELD-Part-owner of the Haverhill Service Station, Harry D. Butter- field and his brother, Frank W., are developing a good business in automobile service, supplies, and vulcanizing in their native city, Haverhill, Massachusetts.


Harry D. Butterfield was born in Haverhill on September 5, 1879, son of David L. and Abbie A. (Wells) Butterfield, the former originally of West Sumner, Maine, and the latter of Wells, same State. David L. Butterfield was connected with the shoe manufacturing industry. He died in 1912, having lived the greater part of his business life in Haverhill, in which city his son, Harry D., received the whole of his schooling, which con- tinued until he was twenty years old. He passed through the high school, graduating with the class


Charles E. Campbell.


THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY


ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS


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of 1899. Soon, thereafter, he found employment with the Electric Railroad Company. For six short periods he served that public service corpora- tion, and then for short periods worked for vari- ous local concerns connected with the automobile industry. He became expert in auto repairing. However, for three years, he worked in the shoe factories of F. M. Hodgson and L. M. Dudley, leaving the employ of the last-named in order to join his brother, Frank W, in an independent enterprise. They purchased the automobile busi- ness of Baker & Wells, on Winter street, Haver- hill, and at once formed the trading partnership known as the Haverhill Service Station. They also entered extensively into trading in tires and automobile accessories, and soon had considerable vulcanizing work at their plant. Altogether, they have a satisfactory business, and are active and enterprising.


The brothers are well known among the younger business men of Haverhill, Harry D. being a mem- ber of the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce. He does not belong to any of the fraternal orders, but is interested in the affairs of his home town. By religious belief he is a Universalist, and attends the local church of that denomina- tion.


Mr. Butterfield married, in 1904, Bertha L. Cur- rier, of Haverhill, daughter of Castanas and Har- riett (Pearson) Currier, the latter of a Haverhill family. Castanas Currier was of Natick, Massa- chusetts, a baker by trade, who died in 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield have four children: Marion L., born in 1906; David C., born in 1913; Robert W., born in 1917; and Fred C., born in 1920.


CHARLES W. TROTTER was born at Augusta, Maine, in April, 1851, a son of William and Mar- garet (Webber) Trotter. His father was an iron moulder. Mr. Trotter has two sisters, Caroline E. and Emma J. Trotter; and one brother, Fran- cis P. Trotter.


Mr. Trotter received his education in the pub- lic schools of Augusta. Like his father, he de- cided to become an iron moulder. From Augusta he moved to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade. After spending some time at Meadville, however, he decided to return to his native State, and accordingly settled at Win- throp, Maine. In 1881 he became a resident of Salem, Massachusetts, where he lived until 1914. In 1914 he moved from Salem to Danvers, where he now lives. Mr. Trotter followed his trade for forty years, at the end of which time, in 1910, he retired. He attends the Maple Street Congre- gational Church, of which his wife is a member. He is a member of the Workmen's Association.


Mr. Trotter married Caroline Richmond, of Winthrop, Maine. Mrs. Trotter is a daughter of George Z. and Ellen (Benjamin) Richmond. Her father was born at Rockland, Maine. She was his only child. Mr. and Mrs. Trotter have two chil- Essex-2-17


dren, Florence Benjamin Trotter, who is now the wife of Lawrence Perkins, and William W. Trot- ter, who was named for his paternal grand- father.


WILLIAM W. TROTTER-For years identified with the incandescent lamp industry in Danvers, and now an expert in his line, William W. Trotter is also well known in many circles of activity in this vicinity. Mr. Trotter is a son of Charles W. Trotter, who was born in Maine, in 1850, later coming to Salem, Massachusetts, where he fol- lowed the trade of iron moulding. He married Caroline Richmond, of Maine, and they had two children: Florence Benjamin, now Mrs. Lawrence Perkins, and William W., whose name heads this review.


William W. Trotter was born in Salem, Decem- ber 14, 1883. Gaining a practical education in the grammar and high schools of his native city, he entered the employ of the Boston & Maine rail- road, in the Salem freight office. Here he re- mained for a period of three years, thereafter becoming connected with the Bay State Lamp Company, now the Hygrade Lamp Company, where he remained for three years. Continuing in the lamp business permanently, Mr. Trotter was with several different manufacturers, each for a short period, then in 1913 became associated with the Atlantic Lamp Company, in which concern he is still a prominent executive.


In the public service of Danvers, Mr. Trotter has been more or less active for a number of years, and in 1919 was elected to the town water board, still serving in this branch of activity. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a member of the Masonic Club. He is a member of the Now-and- then Club, of Salem, and of the Homestead Golf Club.


In 1914, Mr. Trotter married Viola Rundette, of Danvers, and they attend the Maple Street Congregational Church, of which Mr. Trotter is a trustee.


WILLIAM DOOLEY POWERS-After his re- turn from the naval service of his country, which he entered a volunteer upon the declaration of a state of war between the United States and Ger- many, Mr. Powers resumed his trade of sign painting and in his native Lynn established the prosperous business which he conducts today (1922), under the firm name The Powers Com- pany. He is a son of William D. and Calverta (Van Tassel) Powers, his father of Maine birth and family (born in Bath), his mother born in Digby, Nova Scotia. After the removal of the family to Lynn, Massachusetts, Mr. Powers en- gaged in the express business until his passing in 1909.


William Dooley Powers was born in Lynn, May 26, 1888, and was educated in Lynn public schools. After school days ended he was employed in Glen-


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more, then for eighteen months was with the Lynn Record Holder Company. He spent the following four years connected with the printing trade, then spent six years as foreman at the plant of the General Electric Company, of East Boston. He gave up that position to form an association with J. N. Pike, cigar manufacturer and dealer, con- tinued in that line for years, ending in 1913. He then entered the employ of his brother, who, with a Mr. Brown, was conducting a sign making busi- ness under the trade name Powers & Brown. For three years he remained with him, learning sign painting and designing, and became quite expert as a sign writer, but the war with Germany in- terrupted his business career.


Soon after the United States declared war against Germany, Mr. Powers enlisted in the United States navy, his service beginning May 30, 1917, and terminating with his honorable dis- charge Mareh 15, 1919, ranking as chief petty officer. After his return from the navy he re- sumed sign painting, forming a partnership with George B. Polando, Jr., and operating as Polando & Powers. Later that partnership was dissolved, Mr. Powers then becoming a partner with L. W. Anderson, they beginning their association as Anderson & Powers. A change was made, and under the firm name The Powers Company, sign painters, at No. 10 Central avenue, Lynn, a large and prosperous sign painting business is conducted. The business of the company is the making of signs and the designing of display advertising, a line they have developed to a high state of efficiency and success. Mr. Powers is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Lynn. His frank and open manner, cheerful and happy disposition has won him many friends, and he is very popular in the city which has been his life-time home.


He married, in 1921, Agnes Hennessy, daughter of William and Mary Hennessy, of Augusta, Maine. The family home which Mr. Powers has purchased is No. 60 Tudor street, Lynn, Massa- chusetts.


ELMER O. PUTNAM was born at Danvers, Massachusetts, in the year 1872. His grandfather, Adrian Putnam, established a lumber mill and ice business in the year 1820. When he died, his son, O. F. Putnam, father of Elmer O. Putnam, ac- quired the property and managed it for fifty years. O. F. Putnam was born at Danvers. He married Adeline Batchelder and had five children: George O., who is now sixty-two years old; Luey F., who is now sixty years old, a well known school teacher; Elmer O., of whom further; Lil- lian B., wife of George Brown; Fannie, died aged twelve years.




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