USA > Massachusetts > One of a thousand, a series of biographical sketches of one thousand representative men resident in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89; > Part 29
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facturers, of North Adams, and then en- tered the office of Mr. Jonathan E. Field, at Stockbridge, to study law. He was subsequently taken into partnership by Mr. Field in the law practice and gen- eral insurance business. Mr. Dunham was admitted to the bar in 1860, and upon the death of Mr. Field, in 1868, he came into the full practice alone, which he now carries on as attorney- at-law and real estate agent at Stock- bridge.
He is president of the Stockbridge Li- brary Association and chairman of the board of control. He was United States assistant internal revenue assessor for sev- eral years ; chairman of the board of select- men of Stockbridge seventeen years ; mem- ber of the House of Representatives for 1871, '81 and '84.
He was largely interested in the incor- poration of the Stoekbridge Water Com-
HENRY J. DUNHAM.
pany in 1862, and had the management of the company for twenty-five years, resign- ing in 1887.
Ile was for some years treasurer of the Stockbridge Savings Bank ; has been its trustee since its organization, and is now its attorney. He is also carrying on the woolen mill at Glendale, as trustee of F. W. Adams.
DURYEA.
Mr. Dunham was married at New Leb- anon, N. Y., March 25, 1854, to Malvina, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Gates, who died January 25, 1865. His second marriage at New Lebanon, N. Y., February 15, 1866, was with Sarah F., daughter of John C. and Mary Bostwick. He has five surviving children : Arthur H., a graduate of Williams ; Etta F., William W., Hattie E., and Carrie L. Dunham. His eldest daughter, Delsie M., died October 30, 1880, aged twenty-one years.
He is president of the " South Berkshire Sportsmen Club," organized for the pro- teetion of fish and game.
In 1858, when the law was enacted authorizing the designation of certain jus- tices of the peace to try criminal eases, Mr. Dunham was designated and appointed to the office, which he still holds under the title of trial justice.
DURYEA, JOSEPH TUTHILL, the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Duryea, was born in Jamaica, Queens county, Long Island, N. Y., December 9, 1832. His ancestry was English and French (Hugue- not). His father's family came to New York with the Dutch, settling what now is the city of Brooklyn : his mother's came to Saybrook, Conn., about 1650-'60, re- moving subsequently to the Hamptons, Long Island.
He prepared for college at Union Hall Academy. He entered Princeton College in 1852, and graduated in 1856. The same year he became a student at the theolog- ical seminary at Princeton, and the year following was appointed tutor in Greek, and afterwards in rhetoric. During the whole period of his course of education he had studied music, in theory and har- mony, used the violin, 'cello, and organ, and during his college life was the musical director and organist of the chapel. He was also the leader of a chorus and orches- tra in the town.
While preparing for college, he decided to fit himself to enter upon the business of literary and musieal publication, and accordingly acquired a practical knowl- edge of printing in all its departments. Three eminent men, friends of the family, each without knowing the intentions of the others, advised him to prepare for the ser- vice of a Christian minister. He was licensed to preach, in the autumn of 1858, by the presbytery of Nassau, L. I. In 1859 he was ordained by the presbytery of Troy, and installed as pastor of the Sec- ond Presbyterian church, Troy. Here he remained three years. During this period
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DURYEA.
he was invited to prominent churches in the East, West, and South, but preferred to remain with his people, until he became convinced that the climate was too severe for a constitution always delicate.
In April, 1862, he accepted a call to become one of the pastors of the Collegi- ate Reformed Dutch Church, New York, with Drs. DeWitt, Vermilyea, and Cham-
JOSEPH T. DURYEA,
bers, as associates. Here he remained over five years. During this period he was engaged, with the co-operation of his people, in the work of the United States Christian Commission, the Amer- ican Union Commission, visiting the army, and addressing assemblies in the principal cities of the country, and in Union Square, New York, on behalf of the government and the army, and the sufferers by the war. After the war he assisted in the organiza- tion of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, the erection of the building on 23d Street and the re-organization of the city mission, and the erection of its chapels in various parts of the city.
He left New York for Brooklyn, on account of the opportunity offered by the growth of population for enterprise in church extension. He served as pastor of the Classon Avenue Presbyterian church about eleven years. During this period
his congregation completed their commo- dious house of worship, and assisted to found four other churches, all of which are now flourishing organizations. They also conducted a comprehensive mission work in various destitute neighborhoods of the city, and did pioneer service in meth- ods of temporal relief, now organized under the titles "The Fresh Air Fund " and " The Country Week."
During these two periods of his ministry, he was invited to the presidency of two col- leges, and to a chair in a theological sem- inary, and to several churches in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and other cities. He had also acted as director in Princeton theological seminary, and the theological seminary in New Brunswick, N. J.
In 1879 he received a call from the Cen- tral Congregational church, Boston, where he was installed April 17th, and of which church he is at present the pastor.
In 1885 he was called to the presidency of Union University, at Schenectady, N. Y. For two years, in connection with his pastorate in Boston, he occupied the chair of biblical theology at Andover Sem- inary ; during one year the chair of polit- ical economy in Boston University, and for eight years was special lecturer in phil- osophy at Wellesley College.
Among his publications are " The Pres- byterian Hymnal," "The Psalter for use in Worship," "Vesper Services," "Oration before the Alumni of Princeton," in com- memoration of the graduates who served in the army of the Union, "Oration before the Alumni of the Theological Seminary at Princeton," " Address before the Cabi- net, Senate, House of Representatives, Officers of the Army and Navy of the United States, on Washington's Birthday," during the period of the war, and several sermons.
DUTTON, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, son of Ephraim and Phoebe (Wilson) Dutton, was born in Hillsborough, Hillsborough county, N. H., October 14, 1831.
After leaving the public schools, he was sent to Norwich, Vt., where he had the advantages of a private class under the well known Captain Partridge. From this institution he was graduated in 1851.
After graduating he went to Washington, D. C., and having established a reputation as teacher of penmanship and book-keep- ing, he opened a commercial college, in Alexandria, Va., and was successful from the start.
His father's health failing, he was recalled to his native place, and was in business
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DUTTON.
with his father, at Hillsborough Bridge, N. H., for seven years. He then came to Boston, in 1859, and went into the small ware and millinery jobbing business, in which he remained fifteen years, first in the firm of B. F. Dutton & Co., then Dutton & Wyman, then Brown & Dutton, and lastly, B. F. Dutton & Co.
While always successful, so far as his own financial management was concerned, he passed through many vicissitudes inci- dent to the trade during these years, but never weakening under pressure, and always preserving his commercial integrity and gaining in financial ability. No
BENJAMIN F. DUTTON.
obstacle has ever presented itself, however insuperable in aspect, that he has not been able to overcome or circumvent by a change of financial tactics. For the last fifteen ycars Mr. Dutton has been asso- ciated as partner and financial manager in the well-known house of Houghton & Dutton, Boston. This was one of the first "department " stores established in this country, and from a comparatively modest beginning has grown until it has assumed its present colossal proportions.
Mr. Dutton was first married in Hills- borougli, in 1851, to Harriet L., daughter of Dr. Elisha and Sophia (Kingsbury) Hatch. Of this union were three children :
DWIGHT.
Ellen, Harry and Hattie Dutton. His second marriage was in Enfield, N. H., in 1860, to Harriet M., daughter of George W. and Louisa A. (Merrill) Conant. Their children are: Cora, Frank, George C., Clara M. and Nina Dutton.
Mr. Dutton is connected with the Con- gregational church. He is, and has always been, a Democrat, having cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce.
DWIGHT, JOHN SULLIVAN, son of Dr. John Dwight of Boston (Harvard 1800), and Mary (Corey) Dwight, was born in Boston, May 13, 1813. His early school days were passed in home and private school instruc- tion, later on in grammar and Latin schools, five years under B. A. Gould and F. P. Leverett. He entered Harvard in 1828, and was graduated in the class of 1832. He then entered Harvard divinity school, and was graduated in 1836.
He then preached in Unitarian churches six years ; settled in Northampton one year ; joined the Brook Farm Association, where he remained five years teaching classics and music, farming, gardening, etc., and editing the " Harbinger."
He established "Dwight's Journal of Music " in April, 1852 ; owned and edited it until September, 1881. Long previous to this, as early as 1839, he had published a volume of translations of smaller poems of Goethe and Schiller.
His tastes were literary, and his time at present is spent in his home in Boston, in literary and critical work.
Mr. Dwight was married in Boston, in 1851, to Mary, daughter of Silas and Mary (Barrett) Bullard, who died in 1860, leav- ing no issue.
Mr. Dwight is a trustee of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind.
He is president of the Harvard Musical Association, an office he has held for the past sixteen years, and is a recognized au- thority on all matters pertaining to the history and interpretation of music, which finds Boston so congenial a home. To none more than Mr. Dwight is perhaps due the prominence and perfection which that art has acquired in the city of his birth.
DWIGHT, WILLIAM GEORGE, son of Dr. William and Helen M. (Clark) Dwight, was born in Bernardston, Franklin county, September 21, 1859.
His preparatory studies were in the dis- trict schools of Bernardston, the Powers Institute of that town, and in the Amherst high school. He was graduated from Am-
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DWINELL.
herst College in the class of 1881. He began his newspaper career as reporter on the " Springfield Daily Union," and was afterwards connected with the " Holyoke Daily Transcript," to the sole proprietor- ship of which paper he succeeded in 1888.
Mr. Dwight was married in Malone, N. Y., July 28, 1888, to Annie M., daughter of David and Aurelia (Percy) Bush.
Too much engaged in the management of his paper to seek for office, he has not served his city in any public capacity. He is a young man of energy and ability, which is shown in the fearless and able manner in which he edits and conducts his paper, which is recognized as one of the leading journals of western Massachusetts.
DWINELL, JAMES FISHER, son of Amos and Achsa Dwinell, was born in Newport, Sullivan county, N. H., July 23, 1825. His parents removed in 1826 to Marshfield, Vt., where he remained on the farm, except when at school, until 1845, when he went to Charlestown, Mass. Dis- trict and select schools in Marshfield and the Lowell high school furnished his edu- cational training. In 1845 he began work, peddling tin and glass ware. Two years later he was in the dry-goods business for a short time in Lowell.
November, 1848, he bought an express team and located at Haymarket Square, Boston. In 1850 he sold the express busi- ness and bought a half interest in a coffee- roasting business, under the firm name of Taylor & Dwinell. In 1851 he bought out Mr. Taylor's interest and took another partner. In November, 1852, he sold the business, bought out another coffee busi- ness, and after enlarging his sphere of action, changing co-partnership several times, extending the business until it em- braced the manufacture of spices, he be- came sole proprietor in 1876. In 1877 the spice firm of Hayward & Co. united their business with his, under the firm name of Dwinell, Hayward & Co., which is the present commercial title of the house.
Mr. Dwinell was married in New Hamp- ton, N. H., November 27, 1849, to Martha C., daughter of Noah and Martha Mason. Of this union are three children : James H., Emily F., and Mattie A. Dwinell.
Mr. Dwinell was a member of the House of Representatives 1859 and '60, from Charlestown ; member of the board of al- dermen 1863, '64, and '65 ; member of the Republican city committee from the or- ganization of the party until 1867, when he removed to Winchester. During this time he was a member of the Republican
state central committee two years, and was again a member from 1870 to '72. He was a delegate to the national Republican con-
JAMES F. DWINELL.
vention in 1876. He has been a member of the Winchester town water board from 1872 to the present time, and its chairman the past eight years. He was again a mem- ber of the House in 1883, and again a mem- ber of the state central committee for 1888. In 1889 he was elected to the Senate and served on the committees on drainage and water supply. He is a prominent Mason of the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. He has been an active, and is now an honorary member of the Boston Lancers. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He worships with the Congregational church, though not a member. He was a charter member of Winchester Savings Bank, in- corporated in 1871, and is vice-president, trustee, and member of the investment committee.
DYER, DAVID HARTWELL, son of David and Silvia (Jackson) Dyer, was born in Lee, Penobscot county, Maine, September 16, 1833.
The family moved to Fall River in 1844. He availed himself of the advantages for an education furnished by the public schools, closing his studies by one year's attendance at the high school.
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DYER.
Soon after arriving in Fall River he went to work as an operative in the old Troy Mill. He worked in various cotton mills until fourteen. From fourteen until eight- een, he worked at nail-making, learning the trade. From eighteen to twenty were his last two years of school attendance. He then was employed by the American Linen Company as book-keeper from Janu- ary 1, 1853, until 1865, with the exception of the time spent in the service of his country. His present vocation is that of civil and mechanical engineer, making mill engineering a specialty.
Mr. Dyer was married in Fall River, November 23, 1858, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Job Borden and Abby (Allan) French. Of this union were three children: Susan Chace, William Allan and George French Dyer.
Mr. Dyer was the first volunteer from Fall River at the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in company A, 7th Massachu- setts volunteers, of which he was com- missioned captain by Governor John A. Andrew, and was mustered into service June 15, 1861. He assisted in the organi-
DAVID H. DYER.
zation of the 3d regiment, Massachusetts volunteers ; was also captain of the 5th and 21st unattached companies, Massa- chusetts volunteers, raised for short terms
DYER.
in 1864. He received well-deserved com- pliments from General Couch and Gover- nor Andrew for meritorious conduct dur- ing the war. He is now quartermaster of Post 46, G. A. R. He has been treasurer of Mechanics Mills, Weetamoe Mills, Saga- more Mills and Quequecham Mills, and manager of Wilmington Cotton Mills ; director at various times of Mechanics, Weetamoe, Sagamore, Osborne and Flint Mills ; is now director of Sagamore Manu- facturing Company and clerk of the cor- poration, and has been a member of the New England Cotton Manufacturing Asso- ciation about twenty years. He is also president of the Glen Mills. He is promi- nently identified with the Baptist church, and has always been active in Sunday- school work.
Mr. Dyer learned the science of engineer- ing and manufacturing by personal appli- cation and study, without the aid of schools or teachers. In the winter of 1885 he visited most of the states in Mexico to inves- tigate the condition of manufacturing in that country, and spent two months at Monclova and Paras, State of Coahuila, Mexico, winter of 1888, making plans for alterations in mills.
Mr. Dyer has been at the head and front in organizing mill companies in Fall River, and as a mechanical engineer has earned laurels in the plans and construction of nearly twenty of the great cotton mills that have raised Fall River to the first rank of cotton manufacturing cities in New England. He has shown financial ability in his entire business career, notably in saving the Sagamore Mill corporation from ruin, and placing it on a sound financial basis, during the panic of 1873. He has also planned and constructed mills in the South, and represented southern houses in the cotton interest. Since 1886 he has given his attention to mechanical engineer- ing as applied to cotton mill work.
DYER, SAMUEL, son of Thomas and Ruth (Collins) Dyer, was born in Truro, Barnstable county, August 22, 1819.
His early education was limited to the common schools.
He entered business life for himself in the town of Truro, in 1848, in dry goods and groceries. He subsequently changed his business to that of dealer in wood, coal, lumber and grain.
Mr. Dyer was married in Truro, Febru- ary, 1849, to Betsey Hopkins, daughter of Solomon and Betsey Paine. Of this union are two children : Samuel Dyer, Jr., and Mrs. Amelia F. Ryder.
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EATON.
Mr. Dyer has been selectman, overseer of the poor, assessor, member of the school board. and justice of the peace ; he has been a member of the parish committee of the Congregational church in Truro for several years. He has been moderator of the town meetings for more than twenty- five years. At twelve years of age he went to sea, and at twenty-four com- manded a vessel, and at one time was
EATON.
in the employ of the United States Gov- ernment, as contractor for removing rock from Wellfleet harbor, and building a dike at Beach point.
Mr. Dyer, during his long and honor- able career, has always contributed to those movements tending to improve and enlarge the usefulness of his native town, and is justly held in high repute by his fellow-townsmen.
EATON, CHESTER W., son of Lilley and Eliza (Nichols) Eaton, was born in South Reading (now Wakefield), Middle- sex county, January 13, 1839.
His father, Hon. Lilley Eaton, was the historian of the towns of Reading and Wakefield.
CHESTER W. EATON.
He was an attendant at the district schools and high school of his native place ; fitted for the Chandler scientific depart- ment of Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1859. He then studied for the legal profession at the Harvard law school.
He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1864, and immediately commenced
the practice of the law in South Reading. In 1868 he opened another law office in Boston, still retaining that in South Read- ing. In 1880 he added the business of publisher and editor of the "Wakefield Citizen and Banner." To this was joined a real estate business, in 1886.
Mr. Eaton was married in Rye, N. H., May 14, 1868, to Emma G., daughter of Rev. Giles and Elizabeth (Thompson) Leach. Of this union were three children : Richard Gardner, Theodore, and Emma Florence Eaton.
Mr. Eaton has held the following offices : town clerk, town collector, member of the school board, trustee of the public library, justice of the peace and notary public (twenty-five years), trial justice, and treas- urer of the Wakefield Savings Bank.
During the war of the rebellion he served as a private in the 50th Massachusetts regiment, engaging in the campaign end- ing in the surrender of Port Hudson, La.
EATON, EVERETT J., son of William and Sally (Johnson) Eaton, was born in Needham, Norfolk county, December 23, 1837.
He obtained his education in the com- mon schools of his native town. After leaving school he worked a year in a pro- vision store in Boston.
Two years he was in the employ of his brother as assistant at the post-office and station of the Charles River Branch Rail- road, and afterwards six years in the ex- press, freight and livery business. He then, in 1864, went into the livery and express business for himself, and has con- tinued in the express business between Needham and Boston up to the present time.
He is an active man of affairs, and is not confined in his operations to this business alone. He is a well-known auctioneer, and constantly interested in some progressive movement promising to benefit his town and county. He is a member of the
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EATON.
Norfolk Club ; has been selectman two years ; chairman of the board of assessors three years, and is serving his second term, which expires in 1892 ; is a member of the
EVERETT J. EATON.
board of health ; was chairman of the Republican town committee two years, and has been a member more than fifteen years. He is usually selected as delegate to county, state and district conventions. He is a staunch Republican, and active in politics. He is a member of the committee on Needham water supply ; president of the Village Improvement Society, and of the Stable-keepers' Association of Newton, Needham, Waltham and Watertown, and district deputy of K. of H. His religious sentiments are voiced by the Unitarian church. He is one of the stirring, public- spirited citizens of Needham. His judg- ment is a guide in town matters, and he retains the respect and good-fellowship of those with whom he has lived so many years.
Mr. Eaton was married in Needham, February 12, 1863, to Lydia A., daughter of Alvin and Mary A. (Lucas) Fuller. Of this union were three children : William F., Everett Lawrence, and Mamie L. Eaton (deceased).
Mr. Eaton is a lineal descendant of Francis Eaton, who came over in the " May-
EATON.
flower," and who died in Duxbury in 1633. He is also a descendant, on his mother's side, of Edward Johnson, who was born in England, 1599, came to America, 1630, and who died in Woburn in 1690. His grandfather Johnson led Samuel Adams to a place of safety at Lexington, 1775.
His great grandfather was one of the first settlers who removed to Needham from Dedham and there settled. Four generations were born on the original spot. His father, William Eaton, held many town offices and joined in all public movements.
EATON, THOMAS STOWE, son of Thomas and Hannah (Pierce) Eaton, was born in Auburn, Worcester county, July 2, 1832, and received his early education at the common schools of his native town, with a short supplementary academic train- ing. Upon leaving school, he worked on the farm upon which he was living until he was of age ; he then was for a short time employed at house carpentering, after which he entered the employ of a company manufacturing sash, blinds, doors, etc.
THOMAS S. EATON.
This company did not exist very long, and upon its discontinuance, he worked in a car-shop as passenger car finisher, but finding this occupation prejudicial to his
197
EDWARDS.
EDGERLY.
health, he returned to farming, which he still carries on.
Mr. Eaton has held the offices of select- man, overseer of the poor, and member of the school committee. He was a member of the House of Representatives in 1884. His church connections are with the First Congregational church of Auburn, of which he is an officer.
He was married at Auburn, November 20, 1861, to Martha Maria, daughter of John and Lavinia (Stone) Blood, by whom he has four children surviving : Arthur Adelbert, Luella Adelia, Ida Lavinia, and Carlotta Pierce Eaton. Herbert William died at the age of fourteen, and Alice Maria at eighteen.
EDGERLY, MARTIN VAN BUREN, son of Samuel J. and Eliza (Bickford) Edgerly, was born in Barnstead, Belknap county, N. H., September 26, 1833.
His education was obtained in the pub- lic schools of Manchester, after which he was employed in the shop and mills of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. This he gave up in 1859 to engage in the insur- ance business at Pittsfield, giving his chief attention to fire insurance, and among other companies he represented the Massa- chusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, in which he was so prosperous that it proved the beginning of a most successful career as a life insurance and business man.
In 1863 he returned to Manchester for a wider field, where he remained till 1883, when he removed from the State. In 1868 Mr. Edgerly was made general superintend- ent of the agencies of the company, but gave up the position two years later on ac- count of the incident travel required. In 1882 he was chosen a director in the com- pany, and in 1884 was made second vice- president. In 1885 he was made vice-presi- dent, and in 1886 was unanimously elected to succeed E. W. Bond as president of the company. It is safe to say that no one man has contributed more to the steady growth and success of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company than Mr. Edgerly, and that for the position of presi- dent he is conspicuously qualified.
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