USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Newton, Garden City of the Commonwealth > Part 7
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Socially Mr. Burrage is very popular and he is a member of the Puritan, B. A. A., Exchange, Tiffin and Unitarian clubs of Boston, Norfolk Hunt Club of Med- field, president class of 1890, Newton High School, president of the Newton High School Alumni Association, presi- dent of the Newton Boat Club, secretary Players' Club, member and first treasurer of the Brae-Burn Golf Club, and a member of the governing committee, Neighborhood Club.
Mr. Burrage married Miss Marguerite Kimberly, a niece of Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, U. S. N., and they have one daughter, Dorothy.
Mr. Burrage is now erecting a hand- some residence on Temple Street, West Newton.
HENRY AUGUSTUS PRIEST, a well-known resident of Vista Avenue,
Auburndale, was born in Lowell, Mass., in 1848, and is the son of Charles H. and Mary (Rowe) Priest.
He was educated in the public schools and at the West Newton English and Classical School, and entered the steel busi- ness in 1865 with Park Brothers & Co. In 1872 Mr. Priest went into business for himself under the name of Henry A. Priest & Co., as agents for the Howe Scale Company and the Atha Steel Company. In 1877 the firm name was changed to its present title of Priest, Page & Co.
Mr. Priest married Miss Helene M. Leslie and they have one son, Harry D). Priest, who is associated with his father in business.
Mr. Priest is vice-president of the New- ton Club, a member of the Exchange Club of Boston, and attends the West Newton Unitarian Church.
HEMAN MERRICK BURR, sev- enth mayor of Newton, was born in this city July 28, 1856, and is the son of Isaac T. and Ann Frances ( Harden) Burr. He received his education in the Newton schools, graduating from the high school
HEMAN M. BURR.
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in the class of 1873, and from Harvard College in the class of 1877.
In 1887 and 1888 Mr. Burr was a member of the common council from Ward 6 and was the president of that body in the latter year. Mr. Burr was the Re- publican candidate for mayor in the fall of 1888 and was successful, defeating the Citi- zens' nominee for that office. Mavor Burr was re-elected for the year 1890 after another warm contest with Mr. Hermon E. Hibbard, candidate of the Citizens' party.
Mr. Burr married Miss Mary Frances Ames, and they have three children, Roger Ames, Francis Hardon and Mary Hart- well Burr. Mr. Burr resides on Kings- bury Street, Chestnut Hill.
PRESCOTT CORYDON BRIDG- HAM, a well-known resident of Newton- ville, was born in Buckfield, Me., Jan. 31, 1824, the son of George and Anna (Nick- elis) Bridgham.
He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at the Hebron, Me., Academy.
Since 1843 Mr. Bridgham has been en- gaged in the dry goods and woollen busi-
PRESCOTT C. BRIDGHAM.
ARTHUR C. WALWORTH.
ness in Boston, and for over thirty years the business has been conducted under the firm name of Bridgham & Co.
Mr. Bridgham was a member of the com- mon council in 1880, 1881 and 1882, and has also been a director and trustee in the West Newton National and West Newton Savings Banks since 1887. He is a member of the Newton Club, the Merchants' Asso- ciation, the Pine Tree State Club, and at- tends the West Newton Unitarian Church.
He married Miss Lucy A. Foster of Boston, and they have had four children, Robert Choate, Charles Prescott (de- ceased), Frederick Corydon and Gertrude Foster (now Mrs. Levi C. Wadleigh, Jr.).
Mr. Bridgham has resided in a comfort- able home on Newtonville Avenue since April, 1853.
ARTHUR CLARENCE WAL- WORTH was born in Boston April 29, 1 844, and is a son of the late Hon. James J. Walworth of Newton and Elizabeth (Nason) Walworth.
He received his education at Yale Uni- versity, '66, and the Lawrence Scientific School, '68.
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In business life Mr. Walworth is presi- dent of the Walworth Construction and Supply Company, and is also president of the Malleable Iron Fittings Company of Branford, Conn.
Mr. Walworth has always taken an ac- tive interest in the affairs of the city of Newton, and in 1887 and 1888 was a rep- resentative in the General Court. He is a trustee of Atlanta University, a manager of American Society Mechanical Engi- neers, president of National Association of Steam Heating Engineers and Contractors, a member of the Newton Club, University Club of New York, and of the Yale Club of Boston, of which he is president.
He married Miss Mary Frances Colby, daughter of the late Gardner Colby, and with a family of six children, James J., Arthur C., Jr., Gardner C., George R., Florence E. and Mary Louise, resides on Centre Street, Newton Centre.
ANDREW B. COBB, a son of An- drew B. and Lydia M. Cobb, was born in Newton Nov. 2, 1852.
His education was obtained from the Newton grammar and high schools, and at
WILLIAM H. PARTRIDGE.
ANDREW B. COBB.
sixteen years of age he entered the foreign trade. In 1874 he went to India and en- gaged in business in Calcutta until 1887. He is now a member of the firm of Con- verse, Stanton & Co., dry goods commis- sion merchants, Boston and New York. During his residence in Calcutta Mr. Cobb held the position of vice-consul general for the United States for seven years.
Mr. Cobb enjoys society and is a mem- ber of the Merchants' Club, New York, Lakewood Golf Club, Brookline Country Club, Oakley Country Club, Brae-Burn Golf Club, Sons of the Revolution, Claflin Guards Veteran Association ; president of the Newton Golf Club ( 1899-1901), and a former president of the Newton Boat Club (1894-95).
Mr. Cobb married Miss Ellen M. Con- verse, daughter of the late Edmund W. Converse, and with two daughters lives in a fine old-fashioned residence on Centre Street, Newton.
WILLIAM HENRY PAR- TRIDGE was born in South Boston July 31, 1839. His father, Warren Partridge, and mother, Elizabeth Billings, both came
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from sturdy Pilgrim stock. William was educated in the public schools of Boston, graduating from its English High in 1858. He is a member of the Alumni Associa- tion of the Hawes Grammar, and has been since 1879 treasurer of the English High School Association.
He early joined the Phillips Congrega- tional Church, of which his father was long known as its "Good Deacon," and was clerk of its parish for several years. He was a leader in its Christian activities and elected president of the Young Men's Christian Association of the Peninsula
tional ticket by way of protest against the Republican party's presidential nomina- tion. He has voted it ever since. His activity soon gained recognition in that party's councils, and he was elected a mem- ber of the state committee, of which he was chairman for two years. He served as delegate at large to its national conven- tion in 1892, and was nominated elector at large upon its presidential ticket. He was appointed for five successive years, 1891-95, a member of the State Ballot Law Commission. In 1900 he was nomi- nated for secretary of state, in 1901 for
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SCENE ON THE CHARLES RIVER.
ward. He joined the Republican party at its birth, casting his maiden presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln when first nomi- nated, and was active in its politics while a citizen of Boston.
He served three months in the Civil War. He removed to Newton in 1875 with his wife, Prudence F. Palmer, and oldest son. His four children, Francis C., Warren, Albert S. and Helen E. Partridge, are graduates of its public and high schools. The entire family are members of Eliot Congregational Church.
In 1884 he voted the Prohibition na-
lieutenant governor, and in 1902 he became his party's nominee for governor of the Commonwealth. He helped organize the Newton Young Men's Christian Associa- tion and served as its secretary and treas- urer for several successive years. He was secretary of the old Newton Musical As- sociation, which occupied a place second to none except the Handel and Haydn of Boston. He was secretary and treasurer of the Newton Sunday School Union.
He was chosen as member of the union committee of our city to push the anti- liquor constitutional amendment campaign
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RESIDENCE, DANIEL C. HEATH, HIGHLAND AVENUE.
in 1889. He has long been a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is a corporate member and auditor of the International Institute for Girls in Spain. He is an officer in the Evangel- istic Association of New England.
He projected and managed for years the People's Course of Entertainments,
the most successful ever given in our city, and enjoys the distinction of giving one grand dime entertainment in Eliot Hall, to which he admitted every one, with a re- served seat, for ten cents, with every ticket sold before entering the hall, and our best people comprising his audience.
He has been a member of the Hunne-
RESIDENCE, GEORGE A. FROST, CHESTNUT STREET.
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EDWARD B. WILSON.
well Club since its entrance into its new clubhouse. All these years he has been a frequent contributor to the columns of our local papers on all subjects, and a pro- lific and terse writer in the interest of the Prohibition party. In short he has been a useful citizen in the city of his adoption.
EDWARD BOARDMAN WIL- SON, twelfth mayor of Newton, was born April 21, 1840, at Haverhill, N. H., and is the son of Isaac P. and Rhoda B. Wil- son.
He came to Boston after receiving an education in the public schools of his native town, and entered the dry goods business. Beginning at the bottom he gradually won his way to the top, and is now the senior member of the well-known firm of Wilson, Larrabee & Co.
Mr. Wilson is a director in the Colonial National Bank of Boston and of the First National Bank of West Newton. He is also a director of the Boston Merchants' Association and a member of the Boston Associated Board of Trade, the Massachu- setts State Board of Trade, the Trade Club, Newton Club, Newton Boat Club,
Mayors' Club of Massachusetts, Sons of New Hampshire, Royal Arcanum and the Masons.
Mr. Wilson removed to West Newton in 1886, and in 1892 he was elected a member of the board of aldermen. In 1899 he was elected mayor, and re-elected in 1900.
Mr. Wilson married Miss Luella E. Woodward, now deceased, and he has two children now living, Frederick A. and Josephine F. Wilson.
JOHN HOWARD NICHOLS, a well-known resident of Newton, was born in Kingston, N. H., Dec. 18, 1837.
He was educated at Exeter and at Pem- broke Academy of his native state, and came to Boston when nearly eighteen years of age, where he found employment in the wholesale grocery and later in a tea-im- porting house on Central Wharf. When twenty years of age Nr. Nichols was appointed supercargo for Mr. John L. Gardner's bark "Arthur," bound for China, in which country he remained as special agent for ten years. On his re- turn to this country he continued in the
JOHN H. NICHOLS.
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EDWARD SAWYER.
China trade until 1876, when he was elected to his present position as treasurer of the Dwight Manufacturing Company. From 1886 to 1900 Mr. Nichols was also treasurer of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company. Mr. Nichols is a member of various clubs, a director in several manu- facturing enterprises, and a member of the Eliot Congregational Church.
Mr. Nichols and his family have been long residents of Newton and have a fine estate on Sargent Street, Newton.
EDWARD SAWYER, a well-known resident of Newton, was born in Warner, N. H., June 24, 1828, and is the son of Jacob and Laura (Bartlett) Sawyer.
He was educated in the public schools, and adopted the profession of a civil en- gineer, in which he has been engaged since 1848. He makes a specialty of manu- facturing plants, sanitary engineering and hydraulic work, and was employed as chief engineer when the Newton waterworks were constructed. He has also been chief or consulting engineer for waterworks in various other places.
Mr. Sawyer is a member of the Ameri-
can Society of Civil Engineers, of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, of the American Society for Advancement of Science, of the Boston Society of Arts and the Tuesday Club of Newton.
He married Miss Frances E. Everett, and they have one daughter, Frances E., the wife of Mr. Herbert G. Pratt.
Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer live in a beauti- ful estate on the top of Mt. Ida, on Bellevue Street, Newton.
BENJAMIN SANBORN PALMER was born in East Boston Oct. 21, 1856, his parents being Benjamin F. and Abi- gail Palmer. He received his education in the schools of Boston, graduating from the English High School in 1873, where he was awarded the Franklin medal for schol- arship.
Mr. Palmer immediately entered the tea-importing business, being for ten years with the firm of Williams & Hall, and from 1884 to the present time with the well-known house of Chase & San- born, of which firm he has been a member since 1900.
Mr. Palmer attends the Congregational
BENJAMIN S. PALMER.
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Church at West Newton and is a mem- ber of the Neighborhood Club and the Brae-Burn Golf Club of Newton and of the Exchange and Algonquin clubs of Boston.
Mr. Palmer married Miss Marion P. Crocker, and they have one child, Mary Bradford Palmer.
Mr. Palmer was one of the first to recognize the beauties of the south side of West Newton hill as a place of resi- dence, and he has a beautiful home at the corner of Chestnut and Prince streets.
FRED LYMAN THAYER, M. D., for many years a popular physician of West Newton, was born in Shirley, Mass., May 13, 1848, and was a son of Elisha F. and Lucretia ( Plimpton) Thayer.
At an early age he came to Newton, where he received his education in the public schools and the West Newton Eng- lish and Classical School. He chose medi- cine as his profession and graduated with distinction from the Harvard Medical School in 1871. He was then stationed at the Marine Hospital in Chelsea, Mass., but soon began general practice at Allston,
FRED L. THAYER, M. D.
GARDNER COLBY.
Mass. Subsequently having an opportu- nity to associate himself with Dr. Whitney, he improved it and settled in West New- ton. From that time forward his practice steadily increased until he became one of the leading physicians of the city, valued as a man of ability, wisdom and force, loved in a multitude of homes for his min- istrations, respected and honored wher- ever his name was known.
He labored faithfully and earnestly for the success of the Newton Hospital (where a ward is now named for him), and as the chairman of its executive committee, a member of the administrative board and of the medical staff, rendered untiring and efficient service. Dr. Thayer was also a member of the civil service examining board for the city of Newton, and an at- tendant at the West Newton Unitarian Church.
He married Miss Lizzie St. George Rice, and lived until his death in a fine estate on Waltham Street, West Newton.
GARDNER COLBY was born at Bowdoinham, Me., Sept. 3, 1810. Left fatherless while a mere lad, he was brought
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to Boston by his mother, and first found employment as a boy in a store. Rising rapidly by sheer force of industry and capacity, he had a store of his own while yet a young man ; and going from retail dry goods business to wholesale and into manufacturing, before he attained the age of forty years he was one of the leading merchants of Boston. At about that time he came to Newton, purchased a large es- tate on Centre Street, and built the man- sion where his son Joseph L. now resides. Later in life he became interested in rail- road building in the West and was the founder and first president of the Wiscon- sin Central system. But Mr. Colby's reputation does not depend upon his suc- cessful business career. Always a gener- ous giver, in later life he held his wealth to be a trust and bestowed much thought on its best use. When Waterville College was in financial difficulties he came to the rescue and gave it so liberal an endowment that it took the name of Colby, and it later received the largest legacy of his es- tate. First and last to educational and religious causes he gave nearly a million dollars, a great part of it in the Baptist denomination, of which he was always an enthusiastic supporter, having been one of the founders of the Baptist Social Union and a benefactor of Newton Theological Institution. He married Mary Low Rob- erts of Gloucester, whose name has become a household word with Baptist missionaries all over the world. His death occurred April 2, 1879. Their children were Gard- ner R., a successful New York merchant ; Charles L., railroad builder and financier in the West; Rev. Henry F., D. D., of Dayton, Ohio; Joseph L., mining and railroad building ; Mary F., wife of Arthur C. Walworth of Newton Centre; and Georgette E., wife of Daniel R. Wolfe of St. Louis.
WILLIAM PELEG ELLISON, fifth mayor of Newton, was born in Dux- bury, Mass., Oct. 30, 1835, his parents being William and Almeda (Partridge)
WILLIAM P. ELLISON.
Ellison. He was educated in the public schools and Partridge Academy of Dux- bury and came to Newton in 1865. Mr. Ellison was elected to the common coun- cil in 1878 and '79, and promoted to the board of aldermen in 1880 and '81. His interest in municipal affairs was then rec- ognized by an election and re-election as mayor of the city in 1882 and '83. In 1890 Mr. Ellison was appointed president of the Newton Water Board, where he rendered valuable service until its abolition in 1898. Mr. Ellison is a member of the Eliot (Congregational) Church, of the prudential committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- sions, vice-president of the Newton Hos- pital, vice-president of the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, a trustee of the Newton Savings Bank and a director of the N. and W. Gas Light Company. Mr. Ellison married Mary Elizabeth Richard- son and has a family of four children, Mary A. (Mrs. Frank A. Day), Eben H., William and Carleton L. Mr. Ellison's business is that of financial manager of trust estates, and he resides on Vernon Street, Newton.
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GEORGE P. BULLARD.
GEORGE PARTRIDGE BUL- LARD, one of the representatives of the city in the General Court, was born in West Medway, Mass., June 25, 1857, and is the son of Emerson Newell and Susan ( Partridge) Bullard. He received his edu- cation in the public schools of Medway and Franklin, and started in the hardware business with A. J. Wilkinson & Co. in 1875. He was subsequently bookkeeper for the iron and steel firm of Bacon & Co., and was admitted into partnership in 1886. Ten years later he withdrew and organized the firm of G. P. Bullard & Co., iron and steel merchants. Mr. Bullard is also interested in other steel-manufac- turing enterprises, and is president and treasurer of the Eastern Expanded Metal Company of Boston, and a director in the Eastern Bridge and Structural Company of Worcester.
Mr. Bullard has always been interested in politics, and served in the Newton com- mon council in 1894 and as alderman dur- ing 1895. In 1901 and 'o2 he repre- sented the city in the legislature, and is the House chairman of the committee on railroads.
Mr. Bullard is social in his tastes, and is a member of the Exchange, Newton and Atlantic Clubs. He is also a Mason and an attendant at the West Newton Unitarian Church.
Mr. Bullard married Miss Nina F. Jenks of Franklin, Mass., and with two daugh- ters lives in a fine residence on Temple Street, West Newton.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN DANA, son of Thomas and Mary Catherine ( Bald- win) Dana, was born in Somerville, Mass., June 26, 1863. Shortly thereafter his par- ents moved to Boston, where they resided till 1891, when they came to Newton.
Mr. Dana was educated in the Boston public schools, Hopkinson's Classical School, and at Harvard College, graduating from the latter institution in 1884 with the degree of A. B., and from the Harvard Law School in 1887 with the degree of LL. B.
He was admitted to the Suffolk bar June 17, 1888. Prior to admission he was a student in the office of Hyde, Dick- inson & Howe; then a member of the firm of Dana & Bates; then of that of Choate & Dana ; and is now in independ-
WILLIAM F. DANA.
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BENJAMIN F. BACON.
ent practice. In 1897 he was a member of the Newton common council, and in 1898, 1899 and 1900 a member at large of the board of aldermen and its vice- president for 1900. In 1901 he was, as he is at present (1902) a member of the state legislature. He is a member of the Suf- folk Bar, the United States Circuit Court Bar, the Boston Bar Association, the Mid- dlesex Bar Association, the Abstract Club of Boston, the Hunnewell Club of New- ton, the Republican Club of Massachu- setts and the Middlesex Club. He has published the following : " The Optimism of Ralph Waldo Emerson," a Bowdoin prize essay (1886) ; "The Behring Sea Con- troversy" (New England Magazine, Janu- ary, 1890) ; "Monopoly under the Na- tional Anti-Trust Act" (Harvard Law Review, February, 1894); " Federal Re- straints upon State Regulation of Railroad Rates of Fare and Freight" (Harvard Law Review, January, 1896) ; and " The Declaration of Independence " (Harvard Law Review, January, 1900).
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BACON, for many years the cashier and now the
vice-president of the Newton National Bank, is a member of one of Newton's oldest families, and was born here Jan. 2, 1828, the son of Joseph and Beulah Crafts (Fuller) Bacon.
Mr. Bacon received his education in the Newton public schools and the Framing- ham Academy, and immediately entered the Newton Bank as messenger, being suc- cessively promoted to the position of vice- president. In addition to his banking du- ties, Mr. Bacon was for thirty-three years the treasurer of the Newton and Water- town Gaslight Company.
Mr. Bacon is most retiring in his nature, and his social activities are limited to mem- bership in the Eliot Church and the New- ton Congregational Club.
He married Miss Adeline E. Learned, and with two sons, Charles F. and Edward L., resides in a fine old-fashioned estate on Washington Street, Newton.
THOMAS B. FITZPATRICK was born in Grafton, Mass., Dec. 17, 1844, the son of Patrick and Mary Fitzpatrick. In his youth the family moved to Hop- kinton, Mass., and here young Fitzpatrick
THOMAS B. FITZPATRICK.
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RESIDENCE, A. LAWRENCE EDMANDS, CENTRE STREET.
learned to cultivate habits of industry, working on his father's farm spring and summer, attending school fall and winter, and graduated from district and high schools with signal honors. He was the first Catholic boy to attend and graduate from the Hopkinton High School.
about a year with E. D. Bell & Co., dry goods, at a salary of two dollars a week. Here also his future partner, Oliver H. Durrell, worked for the same pay. Mr. Fitzpatrick engaged with the wholesale house of Mason, Tucker & Co., Boston, as travelling salesman, and during the next eight years built up a large trade.
When eighteen years of age he came to Boston and found employment for In July, 1872, he entered the employ of
RESIDENCE, FREDERICK E. JONES, CHESTNUT STREET.
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Brown, Dutton & Co. On Nov. 9, 1872, the great Boston fire took place, brought about a dissolution of the house, and both Mr. Brown and Mr. Dutton undertook to form separate firms. Al- though but a few months in the employ of these gentlemen, their observation of the character, energy and business capacity of Mr. Fitzpatrick induced each of them to offer him a proposition of copartner- ship. He accepted that of Mr. Brown, as did also Mr. Durrell, and thus the firm of Brown, Durrell & Co. was formed.
ated Charities, the Working Boys' Home, St. Mary's Infant Asylnm, Child Help- ing Society, etc.
He was recently elected the national treasurer of the United Irish League in this country. For a number of years he has been president of the Union Institu- tion for Savings, is director in the United States Trust Company and the Newton Co-operative Bank. In 1899 he was elected a member of the Newton board of aldermen. In politics he is a Demo- crat and anVearnest advocate of tariff re-
VIEW OF PARK STREET.
Commencing small, the firm has stead- ily gained, and now is one of the largest and most successful wholesale fancy dry goods houses in the United States. Mr. Brown retired from the firm in December, 1893, Mr. Durrell is now dead, and Mr. Fitzpatrick is now the senior member.
His close attention to business does not prevent him from active co-operation in philanthropic and charitable work. In these connections he has been associated with many of the most active organiza- tions, among them the Catholic Union of Boston (of which representative society he was president two terms), the Associ-
form and reciprocal trade relations with other nations.
Mr. Fitzpatrick was married in 1876 to Sarah M. Gleason, daughter of Mar- tin Gleason of Fitchburg, Mass. Seven children were born to them, five sons and two daughters. One of the sons died when three years old. Three of the others graduated from the Newton High School and from Harvard University. The fourth is still in the grammar school, while two daughters are completing their studies in Eden Hall Seminary, Penn- sylvania. For nearly twenty years they have occupied the family residence, with
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