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 77
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Captain Reade enjoys the well-merited respect and esteem of his fellow-townsmen. He has shown himself a loyal soldier, a patriotic citizen, a faithful legislator, and an incorruptible administrator of every public and private trust committed to his hands.
REED, ERASTUS MALTBY, son of Wil- liam and Mary (Dennis) Reed, was born in Taunton, Bristol county, July 28, 1832.
Public schools and Bristol Academy, of Taunton, gave him his early educational training. He then studied law in the office of Bassett & Reed, Taunton, and was admitted to practice in the Bristol county bar, 1856.
May 13, 1856, he opened a law office in Mansfield, in the Old Meeting House. He has remained in Mansfield ever since, but for several years held legal connections with James H. Dean, Taunton.
Mr. Reed was married in Taunton, Au- gust 21, 1857, to Sarah Jane, daughter of John and Mary (Pierce) Crockette of Mid- dletown, Conn. Of this union is one child : Bertha Holden Reed.
Mr. Reed has been town clerk, town treasurer, enrolling officer under the United States government during the war of the rebellion ; a member of the school board, and superintendent of schools ; was a member of the lower branch of the Legis- lature, 1866 and '67 ; clerk of the Ortho- dox Congregational society ; a trustee of the Bristol County Savings Bank ; justice of the peace, notary public, trial justice and special justice of the first district court of Bristol county ; commissioner of insolvency, master in chancery ; president of Cobb Stone & Machine Company, Taun- ton ; for many years treasurer of St. James Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he was one of the charter members.
REED, JOSIAH, the son of Thomas S. and Cynthia (Shaw) Reed, was born April 18, 1826, in South Weymouth, Norfolk county. He is a lineal descendant of Wil- liam Reed and Ivis, his wife, who settled in Weymouth in 1635, being the eighth
generation from William I. William Reed was the first representative to the General Court from Weymouth after its incorpora- tion. Among the ancestors of Josiah Reed were Colonel Thomas Reed, who died in 1719 ; Captain John Reed, who died in 1757, and Captain John Reed, who served in the revolutionary war. These early ancestors were inspectors of leather in Weymouth, at that time such officials being chosen by the town, Among the later generations were Harvey and Quincy Reed, who established the first wholesale boot and shoe store in the city of Boston.
JOSIAH REED.
In fact, this family claim to be the found- ers of the boot and shoe business of this country.
Mr. Reed's unbroken record of persever- ing industry has an early beginning, he working at the age of nine at a bench by his father's side in his shoe-maker's shop
The winter months, spent in the district school, served rather as a vacation than as a season of labor. A service of several years with Nathaniel Shaw & Co. was the preliminary to his successful business ca- reer as boot and shoe manufacturer. Upon this he entered in 1851, when twenty-five years of age, and in January, 1852, he sold the first goods for the California market. He made a specialty of that trade for the
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next fifteen years, and carried his business up to a position of commercial standing widely known and universally respected.
In due course of time Henry B. Reed and the late F. Sumner Reed were admitted to the firm. In 1886 he gave the reins into younger hands, leaving to his successor, Henry B. Reed, not only a sound and well- established business, but a record of strict and unblemished mercantile integrity.
Mr. Reed was married in 1845, to Sarah C. Fogg, whose death occurred in 1863. His second wife, Mary J. Ainsworth, lived but a few years, and in 1874 Mr. Reed married Mrs. Helen M. Matson, of Milwau- kee, Wis., a daughter of Walter P. and Susan (Greeley) Flanders. His surviving children are : Mrs. J. W. Field of Dorches- ter, Henry B. Reed, Mrs. J. H. Elwell of South Weymouth, and Ralph Duryea and Kate Isabel Reed, children in the family home.
Mr. Reed has been identified with all good measures and works in his native town. In the single point of introduction of water he is deserving of the most endur- ing gratitude. His was the first voice raised to advocate this greatly needed improvement. Unmoved by threats, un- daunted by opposition, Mr. Reed firmly pressed his point, gaining slowly in support, until in 1884, the motion to introduce water into the town was carried by a two- thirds vote.
A leading spirit in the councils of the town, his influence has been felt. A staunch worker in the Republican party, he has never failed to respond to a call to duty. In charities, an open hand has been constantly bestowing its quiet and liberal gifts. He has been a deacon in the Con- gregational church for the last thirty-seven years ; is president of the Savings Bank, and vice-president of the First National Bank of Weymouth.
REED, WILLIAM, JR., son of William and Sophia (Ladd) Reed, was born in Newburyport, Essex county, December 2, 1842.
He received his early educational train- ing in the public schools of Newburyport and Cambridge. He was graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1864. After graduation he taught in high schools in Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsyl- vania, but having a taste for journalism, became editor of the "Daily News" of Fall River, in 1866.
In 1868 he went to Montana Territory and took editorial charge of the Helena " Daily Herald," the first Republican daily
of that territory. He went from there as a press correspondent to Idaho, Oregon, California, and Washington Territory, but returned East in 1870 to become city editor of the Providence " Morning Herald."
In 1872 he purchased the Taunton "Daily Gazette," and has since been pub- lisher and managing editor of the same.
He was married in Newburyport, De- cember 26, 1870, to Katharine T., daugh- ter of George W. and Ann S. Hale. Of this union there are four children: William, George H., Katharine, and Sophia Reed.
Mr. Reed was representative for the 3d Bristol district in the Legislatures of 1878 and '79. He was the senator from the Ist Bristol district in 1882. He served as a member and clerk of the special committee on convict labor of the Commonwealth, which reported to the Legislature of 1880. He was three years a member of the Taunton school board, and president of the Taunton board of trade for the years 1885 and '86, and has held many other offices of honor and trust.
REYNOLDS, RICE MUNN, Son of Jo- seph L. and Oral (Munn) Reynolds, was
RICE M. REYNOLDS.
born in Monson, Hampden county, Decem- ber 18, 1838.
He was educated in the public schools and Monson Academy.
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At sixteen years of age he was employed as clerk by William B. Converse, with whom he remained five years. After the expira- tion of his minority, he engaged in the woolen manufacturing business with his father. For twenty-one years he and his brother, Theodore Reynolds, have been in- terested in the ownership and management of these mills which their father established.
Mr. Reynolds has been selectman for three years, and two years chairman of the board.
In 1876, and again in 1877, he represented his district in the Legislature. He was one of the original incorporators of the Monson Savings Bank, and has been a trustee since its organization. He is a director and vice-president of the Monson National Bank. With A. A. Gage he is interested in the manufacture of men's straw hats, also, with the estate of the late Alfred Norcross, is an owner of the Central Block, the largest and most elegant business struc- ture in the town. It was through his exer- tions that the beautiful Memorial Hall was erected.
RICE, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, son of Thomas and Lydia (Smith) Rice, was born in Newton, Middlesex county, August 30, 1818.
He attended the public schools, was pre- pared for college in the academies of those days, and having pursued his studies in Union College, was graduated in the class of 1844, from which institution he received his A. M. three years later. He was com- mencement orator in 1844, and received the degree of LL. D. from Harvard Uni- versity in 1876.
After graduation he began business life in the house of Wilkins, Carter & Co, paper manufacturers, Boston. He has continued in the same line to the present time, having built up an extensive business, and is now senior member of the house of Rice, Kendall & Co., paper dealers.
Hle has been twice married, and is the father of four children : two daughters and two sons, all of whom are married, except the youngest.
Mr. Rice was mayor of Boston, 1856 to '58 ; a member of the national House of Representatives from1 1859 to '67; and gov- ernor of Massachusetts from 1876 to '79. He is vice-president of the Webster Histor- ical Society; a member of the American Archeological Society, and American His- torical Association ; a Trustee of the Mas- sachusetts Institute of Technology, Art Museum of Boston, and of the Episcopal theological school at Cambridge; a director
of the American Loan & Trust Company and of the Massachusetts National Bank, also of the Bunker Hill Monument Associ- ation; president of the National Sailors' Home, and honorary chancellor of Union University, N. Y., 1881.
ALEXANDER H. RICE.
Massachusetts, it is generally conceded, is unusually well equipped with public men, who, from their scholarly attain- ments, inherent ability and acquired ex- perience, reflect great credit upon their fel- low-citizens when called upon to exercise high and executive functions. No more conspicuous figure to-day fills the later his- tory of the old Bay State than Governor Rice. Of dignified and genial presence, possessed of a fertile imagination, winning address and felicitous grace of expression, he is universally acknowledged to be a model executive officer. In commercial circles his judgment and experience find scope and exercise upon the numerous boards with which he is connected, and in the walks of his private life are exemplified the virtues of one to the manner born.
RICE, CHARLES J., son of Benjamin and Lucy (Whitney) Rice, was born in New Gloucester, Cumberland county, Maine, July 2, 1832.
The common schools gave him his early education. He finished his school life in
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the Winchendon and Leicester academies. He was a teacher in the public schools of Massachusetts for twelve years.
In 1861 he began his business career as a lumber dealer, in the firm of Bigelow, Wyman & Rice. A change in the firm occurred in 1869, to Raymond, Forristall & Rice, and in 1872, Mr. Forristall having deceased, the firm became Raymond & Rice-the name of the present company.
Mr. Rice was married, February 1, 1872, to Sarah M., daughter of George and Miranda (Moore) Cummings. They have no children.
From 1862 to '71 Mr. Rice held the position of deputy collector of internal revenue for what was then the 9th con- gressional district, comprising northern Worcester and Franklin counties. He has been a director of the First National Bank from 1865 to the present time. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1885 and '86. He has been a member of the Winchendon school board for sev- eral years, and at present is its chairman.
RICE, JOHN W., son of John and Alice (Ames) Rice, was born in Rutland, Wor- cester county, December 8, 1818.
JOHN W. RICE.
His early education was obtained in the common schools and at the normal school at Barre.
RICE.
In 1843 he began business life with Noah Humphrey in Barre, manufacturing boots and shoes. After one year he assumed the entire business, and continued it alone for twenty years, during which time he had connected a mercantile business with the former. He then associated his son with him, under the firm name of J. W. Rice & Son. This relation continued about ten years.
Latterly Mr. Rice has turned his atten- tion to horticulture, in Barre, where he resides. He also holds a fire insurance broker's license, and does quite an extensive and prosperous business.
Mr. Rice was married in Barre, Novem- ber 16, 1843, to Myra, daughter of Ethan and Phebe (Harwood) Holden. Of this union were three children : Albert E., Maria L. Jervis, and Martha A. (Stone), now deceased.
Mr. Rice has held the office of select- man and town treasurer, and in 1874 repre- sented the town in the House of Repre- sentatives. Mr. Rice, though a Republican, was succeeded in the Legislature by his son, Albert E. Rice, who was elected on the Democratic ticket.
At the time the town was raising her quota of men for the war he was very active in the Union cause, and without waiting for the sanction of the proper authorities, paid out, as treasurer, over ten thousand dollars in bounties, on his own responsi- bility.
Mr. Rice was a charter member of the Barre National, and also of the Barre Savings Bank, and served many years as a director in one, and as a trustee in the other.
His son, Albert E., was a member of the famous "Sleeper's battery," and received an honorable discharge at the close of the war.
RICE, WILLIAM, son of William and Jerusha (Warriner) Rice, was born in Springfield, Hampden county, March 10, 1821.
He is descended from Edmund Rice, who settled in Sudbury in 1639. His father came to Springfield in 1817. After receiving the education afforded by the public schools of Springfield, he attended the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, graduating from that institution with honor at the age of nineteen.
He entered the ministry of the M. E. church in 1841, and, under its system, served, as pastor, various large and influ- ential churches of the denomination. His health becoming impaired, he retired from
5IC
RICE.
RICE.
the active ministry in 1857, and removed to Springfield, where he has since resided. He was elected to the general conference of the church in 1856, and took an active part in the great controversy then going on concerning slavery in the church. He was again elected in 1876, and was a lead- ing member of the committee appointed for the revisal of the hymn-book, and be- came the editor under whose supervision the " Methodist Hymnal " was published.
Among other literary works, Mr. Rice published a few years ago, "Moral and Religious Quotations from the Poets," a " Pastor's Manual," and an excellent cata- logue of the Springfield city library, which is still in use.
In 1853 the Wesleyan University, Mid- dletown, Conn., conferred upon him the degree of A. M., and in 1876 the degree of D. D. For many years he has been a trustee of the university, and president of the board of trustees of the Wesleyan Academy. For eighteen years he was a member of the state board' of education
WILLIAM RICE.
and of the school board of Springfield. During this period he devoted much time and attention to the work of popular edu- cation. He has also been closely identi- fied with the history of the City Library Association of Springfield. He has been
its secretary and librarian since 1861, and in this capacity the selection and classifi- cation of the books have devolved entirely upon him. His wide range of reading, liberal views, cultivated taste, and sound judgment eminently fitted him for this work, and have given the Springfield city library in a great degree its present high position among the libraries of the country.
In 1843 Mr. Rice was married to Caro- line L., daughter of William North, of Lowell. Their children are : Rev. William North Rice, Ph. D., LL. D., professor in the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn .; Edward H. Rice, Ph. D., a well- known teacher in our public schools ; Rev. Charles F. Rice, A. M., a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church ; and Caroline L., A. M., wife of Prof. Morris B. Craw- ford of the Wesleyan University.
RICE, WILLIAM W., son of Rev. Ben- jamin and Lucy (Whitney) Rice, was born in the old historic town of Deerfield, Frank- lin county, March 7, 1826.
His collegiate education was acquired at Bowdoin, from which he was graduated in the class of 1846. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by his alma mater in 1886.
After graduating he spent four years as a preceptor in the far-famed Leicester Academy, and in 1851 commenced the study of law in the office of Emory Wash- burn, then in full practice in Worcester. After the usual course of three years' study he was admitted to the bar, and from the first year of his professional life to the present time he has been a diligent and conscientious practitioner. His courtesy of manner, deference to the court, and fairness in judicial practice have contrib- uted not a little to his success as an advocate.
He has been constantly called by his fellow-citizens to fill positions of honor, trust and responsibility. In the municipal administration of Worcester he has served in various capacities, particularly in those connected with educational interests. In 1860 he was mayor of Worcester. In the capacity of special justice of the police court, and as an occupant of the bench of the county court of insolvency, his course met with marked approval.
In 1868 he was elected district attorney for the Worcester district, which position he held five years, and his record is that of one who, always acting with fidelity to the State, showed a manly regard for the rights of those whom it became his duty to prosecute.
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RICHARDS.
RICH.
As a member of Congress, Mr. Rice is most widely known. He was first elected in 1876 to the national House of Repre- sentatives, where he at once took foremost rank. He was re-elected in 1878, '80, '82 and '84. He was able in debate, courte- ous in bearing, and firm and consistent in his convictions.
Politically, Mr. Rice has long been an honored member of the Republican party, and is on record as the first Republican mayor of Worcester. In the war of the rebellion his voice gave no uncertain sound.
In his religious sentiments he is a Uni- tarian.
Mr. Rice was united in marriage, Novem- ber 21, 1855, with Cornelia A., daughter of Augustus R. and Sophia H. (Le Clanché) Moen, of Stamford, Conn. Of this union were two sons : the elder, William W. Rice, Jr., dying in childhood, and the younger, Charles Moen Rice, a graduate of Harvard, and now a member of his father's law firm. Mr. Rice's first wife died June 16, 1862. In September, 1875, he mar- ried Alice M., daughter of Henry W. and Nancy (Merrick) Miller, of Worcester.
RICH, ISAAC B., son of Isaac B. and Margaret (Lewis) Rich, was born in North Bucksport, Hancock county, Me., February 23, 1827.
He received his early education in the public schools of his native town, and in 1846 entered the employment of William Pelby, manager of the old historic National Theatre, and has since been connected with Boston play-houses, gradually working his way up to the position of manager and proprietor. His connection with the How- ard Athenæum dates back to the days of the famous old "stock company." For a short time he himself flourished as an actor. For three years he was treasurer of James Myer's and Nixon & Kemp's Equestrian companies. In August, 1868, he formed a managerial partnership with Joseph Trow- bridge when the Howard Athenaeum stage was given up to variety business. During the following season Joseph Hart became a partner, and later John Stetson took Mr. Hart's place, when Messrs. Rich and Stet- son purchased Mr. Trowbridge's interest and continued their partnership for nearly seven years. November 9, 1885, Mr. Rich opened the Hollis Street Theatre, and con- tinues to hold the position of one of the most popular and prosperous of managers.
Aside from the exacting demands upon his time and vitality in his theatrical busi- ness, Mr. Rich has for years been the successful proprietor of the well-known
" Banner of Light," and has carried on an extensive business in the publication of works relating to Spiritualism.
ISAAC B. RICH.
Mr. Rich is married and has five chil- dren : Clara E., Abbie M., Charles J , George I., and Maude L. Rich.
RICHARDS, FRED GARDNER, son of William Bradford and J. Amanda (Nelson) Richards, was born in Georgetown, Essex county, May 1, 1854, but when two years of age removed with his parents to Haver- hill, where he has ever since resided.
Hereceived a liberal education in the pub- lic schools of the city, including the high school, and attended a course at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, of Boston.
When eighteen years of age he entered business life with his father, who at that time owned a large livery-stable in Haver- hill. Three years later he took the entire management of the business. In 1885, in addition to his other business, he started the firm of Richards & Dole, undertakers. He also owns and carries on himself a farm of one hundred acres, in Bradford.
Mr. Richards was married in Haverhill, January 20, 1881, to Alice M., daughter of Nathan S. and Lucy M. (Swazey) Kimball. They have one child : Alice G. Richards.
Aside from attending to his large busi- ness interests, and to the onerous duties
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RICHARDS.
incumbent upon him as executive of the municipal government of a large city, Mr. Richards is a central figure in nearly all the civic societies of Haverhill, including the Masons and the Odd Fellows. He is a Knight Templar, ex-governor of the U. O. P. F. ; past councilor of Junior O. U. A. M., a Knight of Pythias, and a mem- ber of the Uniform Rank, K. of P., of which he is a staff officer, with title of colonel ; a member of the I. O. R. M., and M. V. C. C. of Haverhill, Lawrence, and Lowell. He is one of the vice-presidents of the Haverhill board of trade.
He served one year in the city council, and two years on the board of aldermen, one term of which he was chairman of that body. He ran for the mayoralty in 1888, and was defeated by the largest vote ever cast in that city against a candidate. The next year, however, he retrieved his political fortunes, defeating the same candidate and
FRED. G. RICHARDS.
being elected by the largest majority ever given a candidate for that office. Mr. Rich- ards is the youngest man yet elected to the office now held by him. He is bringing to his work as executive those qualities which have made him so popular and so promi- nent, and his administration bids fair to be of great benefit to the city he is serving, with which he is so honorably identified.
RICHARDSON.
RICHARDSON, CHARLES ADDISON, son of Elisha and Harriet (Blake) Richard- son, was born in Franklin, Norfolk county, October 9, 1829.
He was educated in the district schools of his native town, at the academies in Franklin and the neighboring town of Hol- liston, and at the state normal school in Westfield. He commenced a preparation for the ministry, but feeble health pre- vented the continued prosecution of this design. At the age of fifteen he became a member of the church in Franklin, then under the pastoral care of Rev. Tertius D. Southworth, a successor of Dr. Emmons. He taught schools in Medway, Franklin, Montague, South Malden (now Everett) and Dedham.
Mr. Richardson was in 1854-'5 a clerk in the book-store of John P. Jewett & Co., in Boston. In January, 1856, he became one of the proprietors and editors of the "Congregationalist," a religious newspaper founded in Boston in 1849. The large and steady increase in the circulation of this journal is due, in no small degree, to Mr. Richardson's energy and sound discretion. When he took the paper in charge as its managing editor, he threw himself into the work with great enthusiasm. During the war for the Union he prepared the summary of news for each successive week, which presented a careful and comprehensive his- tory of the progress of events. This sum- mary gained for the paper a high reputa- tion, it attracted many readers, and was pronounced by many persons the best ac- count they could anywhere find of the trans- actions of the times. Mr. Richardson has always had charge of the selections and communications for the paper, and has at- tended to the "make-up" every week of his connection with it, save when absent from home.
He was an active participant in the pur- chase of the old " Boston Recorder," work- ing earnestly to accomplish a union of the two papers, which was finally effected in 1867. In 1869 he made a trip to Europe lasting four or five months, and was again abroad in 1880, attending the world's Sunday-school convention in London, He was present at the famous Ober-Ammergau Play the same year, and wrote various let- ters to the "Congregationalist" on both these trips. He also visited California in 1874, going out by the Isthmus and return- ing overland. In 1882 he again visited the Pacific coast, including Oregon.
Since 1855, Mr. Richardson has resided in Chelsea, where, for a considerable time,
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he was an active member of the school committee. He was superintendent of the Sunday-school of the First Congregational church for five years, and has been an officer of that church most of the time for twenty-five years. He was also moderator
CHARLES A. RICHARDSON.
of the general association of the Congre- gational churches of Massachusetts at its meeting in New Bedford in 1886.
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