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 89
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His researches in the line of plant life and growth, and his experiments prior to the establishment of experiment stations, brought him into notice as the scientist in agriculture, and led to his appointment on the state board of agriculture, where he
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STODDARD.
served twelve years, and on the board of cattle commissioners, of which he has been chairman since 1868.
He was called to a professorship in the Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, in 1867. From 1876 to '79 he was acting president, and president from 18So to the present time.
Some of Professor Stockbridge's most interesting experiments were made in measuring the force that plants exert in their growth ; especially worthy of men- tion, also, are his experiments, unique and original, made on the effects of moisture. His experiments on percolation, evapora- tion and dew, were made with instruments of his own invention.
But of his investigations and experi- ments, those which resulted in the most practical results to agriculturists were made in 1868, '69 and '70, on the chemical composition of farm crops, and the effect of supplying the constituent elements needed. These led to the use of special, instead of general, or random, fertilizers.
He has been called to serve various agricultural societies, and has delivered many lectures on his specialties in New York as well as the New England states. In addition to his contributions to the an- nual reports of the Massachusetts Agricul- tural College, he has published numerous other articles of weight and merit, espe- cially illustrating the results of his experi- ments and discourses in his chosen life work.
Professor Stockbridge resides in Am- herst.
STODDARD, ELIJAH BRIGHAM, son of Elijah and Zilpah (Nelson) Stoddard, was born in Upton, Worcester county, June 5, 1826.
After passing through the public schools of his native place, he fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., and was graduated from Brown University, Provi- dence, R. I., in the class of 1847.
After graduation he studied law in Wor- cester, with John C. B. Davis, and was ad- mitted to the Worcester county bar in June, 1849, and began the practice of law in partnership with Mr. Davis, under the name of Davis & Stoddard, which continued until 1852 ; then with Hon. Isaac Davis until 1857.
Mr. Stoddard was elected to the House of Representatives in 1856 : district attor- ney in 1857; a member of the Senate, 1863 and '64, and a member of the govern- or's council, 1871 and '72. He was mayor of Worcester, 1882, and his administration
STONE.
was marked, as has been his management of all public affairs, with ability and con- scientious adherence to duty.
Mr. Stoddard was married in Worcester, June 16, 1852, to Mary E., daughter of Isaac and Mary H. (Estabrook) Davis. Of this union were three children : Edward D., Mary G., and Amy L. Stoddard.
For nearly twenty years he was engaged in the full practice of his profession, and withdrew from court practice in 1866 to accept the secretaryship of the Merchants' & Farmers' Insurance Company.
Mr. Stoddard was elected president of the Quinsigamond Bank in 1884, which position he still holds. He is also presi- dent of the Worcester Five Cents Savings Bank. He has been a member of the Wor- cester public school board nine years, and for the past ten years has been a member of the state board of education, where he has rendered zealous and lasting service. His native tact and business discretion have been recognized by thirty years' con- tinuous service as a director of the Provi- dence & Worcester R. R. ; as a solicitor and trustee of the State Mutual Life Assur- ance Company, and as a trusted counselor of various public and private enterprises. In politics he is well known as a consistent and influential Republican.
STONE, ANDREW C., son of Aaron and Mary (Ward) Stone, was born in Marl- borough, Cheshire county, N. H., May 16, 1839.
He received his early education in the public schools, and in the higher branches at the Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., from which he graduated in 1860. He afterwards commenced the study of law with the Hon. Daniel Saunders.
In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the 33d Massachusetts regiment, and served three years.
On being mustered out he went to Ohio and resumed the study of law, and was ad- mitted to the Ohio bar in 1867. He re- turned to Lawrence, where, having been admitted to the Massachusetts bar, he com- menced practice.
He took an active interest in politics ; was president of Lawrence common coun- cil for one year ; was chairman of the Re- publican city committee ; member of the Republican state central committee, and delegate to the national Republican con- vention at Chicago, in 1884. He was elected state senator for :8So and '82, dur- ing which time he was a member of the judiciary and railroad committees. In 1885 he was appointed city solicitor, and in 1887.
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STOWELL.
received the appointment of justice of the police court of Lawrence.
He is past commander of Post 39, G. A. R., and was judge advocate on the staff of the commander of the department of Mas- sachusetts for 1888.
He is an active member of the order of F. & A. M., is a past master of Pho- nician Lodge, and is now senior grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachu- setts.
He was married at Ashtabula, O., Janu- ary 19, 1869, to Mary F., daughter of Joseph D. and Lucinda (Hall) Hulbert, of that place.
STORER, DAVID HUMPHREYS, son of Hon. Woodbury and Margaret (Boyd) Storer, was born in Portland, Cumberland county, Me., March 26, 1804.
He was graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of 1822, and from his alma mater he received the honorary degree of LL. D. in 1876.
Choosing the medical profession, soon after his graduation, he entered the Har- vard medical school, from which he was graduated in 1825.
Settling in Boston, he soon acquired an honorable position in the ranks of the medical fraternity, together with an exten- sive and lucrative practice. He is to-day the oldest physician in Boston.
From 1839 to '58 Dr. Storer filled the chair of obstetrics and medical jurispru- dence in the Harvard medical school, and for nine years of that period - from 1849 to '58 - served as physician to the Massa- chusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Storer is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Ameri- can Philosophic Society, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Boston Society for Medical Improvement, and the Boston Society of Natural History. He is also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is an honorary member of the New York and Rhode Island State Medical societies.
Dr. Storer has frequently delivered lectures and addresses on various scientific subjects, in which he has incorporated his own researches and discoveries, as well as those of previous and contemporaneous scientists. His fame as a scientist rests mainly on the important additions he has made to the department of ichthyology. In his " Report on the Fishes of Massa- chusetts," published in 1839, and in the " Memoirs of the American Academy," published in 1855-'60, and also in his "Synopsis of the Fishes of North America,"
he follows the arrangement of Cuvier. These works are of great value to the student of North American ichthyology.
His latest publication (1867) is a quarto of 287 pages, with 174 illustrations, descrip- tive of the " Fishes of Massachusetts," and contains all the additions made to ichthyo- logic knowledge since the date of the re- port on the same subject in 1839.
Dr. Storer was married in Roxbury, April 30, 1829, to Abbie J., daughter of Thomas and Abigail (Stone) Brewer. Of this union were five children : Horatio Robinson, Francis Humphreys, Abby Ma- tilda, Mary Goddard, and Robert Wood- bury Storer.
STOWELL, SIDNEY SHERWOOD, sec- ond son of Austin and Hyla Cleopatra (Watkins) Stowell, was born in Peru, Berk- shire county, July 12, 1858, his ancestors being the founders of the town.
His early education was obtained in the "little old red school-house," where his
SIDNEY S. STOWELL.
father and grandfather were educated. He very early evinced a love for mechanics and manipulation of tools, and his grand- father being a carpenter, he had free access to tools and their use, which to him were mental food and recreation. At the age of fourteen he attended a select school in Middlefield.
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STRAHAN.
STOWELL.
Soon after this he left the farm, and with less than ten dollars as an outfit, earned by himself, he started for a neighboring town, where he found employment for three hun- dred and sixty-five days in the year, from three o'clock in the morning till late at night, at twenty dollars per month, remitting one-half of this to his father, as he was not of age. This he did for several years. He now became acquainted with the local den- tist, determined to learn the mysteries of dentistry, and to that end apprenticed him- self for three years, his compensation being the knowledge gained, theoretical and prac- tical, and what money he might earn in the absence of his employer. Fees were not plentiful, and they were his only support, but he struggled on, working and studying, fitting himself for college until his appren- ticeship had nearly expired, when a very severe illness brought him nigh unto death. Upon his recovery he returned to his home in Peru, and there did some local practice with the few tools in his possession. He invented an automatic mallet, and a ma- chine for running an emery-wheel, out of the meagre stock of machinery within reach, which did him good service for a long time, and with which he earned money to defray his first year's expense in college. He afterwards studied in the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1884, one of the best operators of his class. He then took a special private course in Washington, D. C., on "crown and bridge work."
He practiced two years in Dalton, and then settled in Pittsfield, where he is now enjoying a very large and successful prac- tice, giving special attention to the higher branches of dentistry - crown and bridge work.
Dr. Stowell is a member of the Connec- ticut Valley Dental Society, and his contri- butions to their proceedings are frequent. He has given clinics in Boston, Montreal, and New York. In September, 1887, he gave a clinic in Washington, D. C., before the dental section of the 9th international medical congress, introducing a new method of crown setting, since generally adopted. He was at this time made a member of the congress. He is also a con- tributor to dental journals and magazines.
Dr. Stowell was married in Pittsfield, August 19, 1885, to Mary Adeline, second daughter of Andrew Jackson and Martha Pelmyra (Barnum) Porter. They have no children. He is an officer and member of the Masonic order, being a companion in Berkshire Royal Arch Chapter.
STRAHAN, THOMAS, son of Thomas and Jean (Gordon) Strahan, was born in Scotland, May 10, 1847.
His early education was obtained in the schools of Arlington. He is a graduate of Cotting Academy, Arlington, and Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H.
His first connection in business was as a dealer in wall-paper, on Cornhill, Boston, 1866. He removed to Horticultural Hall building, afterwards to the corner of Washington and Franklin streets. His salesrooms are now on Park Street, Bos- ton, and his extensive factory in Chelsea. He is at present a manufacturer of, and dealer in, wall-paper.
THOMAS STRAHAN
Mr. Strahan was married in Chelsea, November 28, 1867, to Esther, daughter of John T. and Esther Reed Lawrence. Of this union were six children : two liv- ing - Florence Esther and Alice Pauline, and four deceased - Harry Lawrence, Maude Louise, Madeleine Gordon, and Thomas Edwin Strahan.
Mr. Strahan, although carrying on a large and successful business, has found time to engage in social and political mat- ters. He has been at the head of the va- rious organizations with which he has been connected in the city of Chelsea, where he resides. He was for two years president
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of the common council, and was elected mayor of that city in 1883, and re-elected in 1884. He also represented his district in the Legislature in 1885.
During his official relation as mayor of the city he had the pleasure of entertain- ing many distinguished guests at his hos- pitable and artistic home.
SUGDEN, RICHARD, was born in an obscure village near Bradford, England, March 26, 1815.
His parents were of humble origin and circumstances, and he struggled hard from boyhood to early manhood to over- come these embarrassing conditions of birth. He gave his daily labor for his board alone, while his scanty clothing was obtained from hours of over-work. Al- though he was deprived of the privilege of an ordinary education, yet in a small way he was able to gratify a longing for books and the current literature of the day. There were but two libraries in the neighborhood in which he lived -one containing three volumes, viz .: the Bible, "Baxter's Saints' Rest," and "Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress." The other was the treasure of an old Welsh cobbler, consist- ing of about sixty volumes, carefully secured in a box beside his bench. He became a confidant of this man, and in consequence was privileged to take once a week a book for perusal from this primi- tive library. His method of procuring a newspaper was novel and business-like ; fourteen pence per copy were required to purchase one paper each week, and he, with six comrades, formed a club, at a cost of two pence each per week, he in this way obtaining the coveted prize. This ardent love for literature followed him to manhood. Works of history and autobiographies of self-made men were his favorite reading. Blessed with a re- tentive memory, and being an intelligent reader, he to-day possesses a fund of knowledge which renders him an enter- taining companion and a man of authority on a multitude of topics.
At twenty-eight years of age he em- barked in an emigrant ship to America, and after a voyage of twenty-seven days, landed in New York, March 29, 1845. During the passage he formed the acquaint- ance of a young Scotchman, whose brother in America had sent him a small hand- book, descriptive of the manufacturing towns in Massachusetts. From this Mr. Sugden learned that wire was manufac- tured in Spencer, and card clothing in Leicester. Wire-working being his partic-
SULLIVAN.
ular trade, he decided to make one of these two points his first stopping place. Reach- ing the latter, he applied for and obtained work of H. A. Denny in a small wire-draw- ing mill in Cherry Valley, Leicester. Two years later he and a fellow-workman, Na- thaniel Myrick, came to Spencer and pur- chased the small wire-works owned by Roswell Bisco. In 1850 they purchased the machinery of a mill in Cherry Valley,
RICHARD SUGDEN
in which H. G. Henshaw was interested, and moving it to Spencer, admitted Mr. Henshaw to the firm. The business was expanding quite rapidly, but the feeble health of Mr. Henshaw made this a part- nership of short duration. The firm again became Myrick & Sugden, and so con- tinued until Mr. Myrick retired, in 1870. Harry H., son of Mr. Sugden, was now admitted, but in a few years the firm was dissolved by his death. In 1876 Mr. Sug- den purchased the large works of J. R. & J. E. Prouty, in the Lower Wire Village, and converted the combined business into a new corporation called the Spencer Wire Company, of which he is president and general manager.
SULLIVAN, JEREMIAH F., son of Mor- timer and Mary Sullivan, was born in Dursey Island, county Cork, Ireland, Feb- ruary 14, 1840.
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SULLIVAN.
SULLIVAN.
His early education was secured in the common schools of his native place and Holyoke.
He came to this country when nine years of age, and at the age of fourteen years, worked in the mills of the city of which he is now chief executive. In 1856 he en- gaged in the meat business, and has since continued in the same line.
Mr. Sullivan was married in Holyoke, November 25, 1863, to Kate E., daughter of John and Helen (Fitzgerald) Dower. Of this union were seven children : Frank J., Claire E., Grace A., William D., Kate, Mary (deceased), and Abbie Sullivan (de- ceased).
JEREMIAH F. SULLIVAN.
Mr. Sullivan's career has been that of a successful business man, and it was only to the most earnest demands of his party that he yielded and accepted office. In 1873 and '74 he was a member of the board of overseers of the poor ; he was assessor in 1875, serving continuously upon that board from 1875 to '89, and was chairman of the board nine years, from 1880 to '89. He was elected mayor of Holyoke in 1889.
SULLIVAN, JOHN CLARKE, is a native of Ireland, where he was born July 13, 1843.
He came to this country when a child, and was educated in the public schools at Middleborough and Pierce Academy, where
he fitted for college, and was graduated from Brown University in the class of 1867. After fitting for college, however, he entered the army and served in com- pany C, 4th regiment, Massachusetts vol- unteers, in the department of the Gulf, under General Banks, until 1864.
After graduating from college he taught school and studied law with Judge W. H. Wood, judge of probate and insolvency for the county of Plymouth. In 1869 Mr. Sullivan was admitted to the bar of Plym- outh county, and began the practice of law in Middleborough, where he at present has a large legal business.
On the 24th of November, 1881, he was married to Myra E. Stacy, of Waterville, Me. They have one child : Olive W. Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan has been a member of the school committee, commissioner of insol- vency of Plymouth county, a member of the House of Representatives in 1881 and '82, serving on the committee of probate and chancery. He was also a member of the Republican state central committee for three years. He has been commander of Post 8, department of Massachusetts, G. A. R., and is now one of the trustees of the Middleborough Savings Bank, and a notary public.
His recent election to the office of register of probate and insolvency for Plymouth county adds another marked and merited recognition of his energy, industry and ability.
SULLIVAN, JOHN HENRY, son of Michael and Mary (Kelly) Sullivan, was born at Bere Haven, county Cork, Ireland, April 27, 1848, receiving his early educa- tion in the national schools of his native land.
When a young man he left Ireland and came to Boston, where he pursued a course at Comer's Commercial College. After mastering the science of navigation, while for a time following the sea, he located in Boston, and became engaged in the survey of cargoes brought to this port by East India merchants, and developed such re- markable proficiency in clerical work that he was made inspector of East India mer- chandise. After four years of this work, Mr. Sullivan secured the position of chief clerk and superintendent of the National Line of steamers, and on the withdrawal of the National Line, which was succeeded by the Dominion Line, he was engaged by the new company in the same capacity. He also superintended the docks of the Warren and Leyland lines, resigning after
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SULLIVAN.
six years of service to accept the position of master stevedore of the Warren Line, which position he still holds.
Mr. Sullivan was married at Providence, R. I., September 1I, 1870, to Katie F., daughter of Peter and Margaret Sulli- van. Their children are : George H., John F., Mary Louisa, Annie, Arthur, and Margaret Frances Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan was a member of the Bos- ton common council for the two terms of 1884 and '85, a member of the board of aldermen for the two terms of 1886 and '87. In 1888 he represented the 4th Suf- folk district in the state Senate, serving with honor and success. He has displayed energy and zeal in all public improvements and his influence has been given for the maintenance of our cherished institutions. He is a member of the Sachem and Put- nam clubs of East Boston, Knights of St. Rose, Montgomery Guards Veteran Asso- ciation, Knights of St. Patrick, Charitable Irish Society, and of the Royal Society of Good Fellows and Foresters.
SULLIVAN, MICHAEL FRANCIS, son of Richard and Elizabeth ( O'Connor ) Sullivan, was born in Lawrence, Essex county, September 22, 1858.
He received his early educational train- ing in the common and high schools of Law- rence, and subsequently took the medical course in Boston College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1874 he worked as clerk in a drug store. Since 1878 he has been in business for himself as a pharmacist.
Mr. Sullivan has been commander of the American Legion of Honor ; deputy high chief, Ancient Order of Foresters ; a mem- ber of nearly all the benevolent orders in the city of Lawrence; a trustee of the public library ; a member of the Lawrence common council, 1885 and '86, serving as president of the council the latter year, and was a member of the House of Repre- sentatives in 1888 and '89.
Mr. Sullivan has closely identified him- self with the labor movement, and his efforts in behalf of the wage-workers have resulted in much good to the working classes. His stand on the labor question in the Legislature has made his name prominent in the Commonwealth.
Mr. Sullivan is unmarried.
SUMNER, CHARLES WARREN, son of Charles C. and Clarissa L. (Lane) Sumner, was born in Foxborough, Norfolk county, December 3, 1848.
Ilis primary education was drawn from the district schools until the age of ten,
SUMNER.
when he was put into the Foxborough English and classical school, a private school maintained by James L. Stowe. In 1865 he entered Tufts College, and was graduated in 1869. After graduation, he was one year instructor in science in Dean Academy.
In 1871 he entered the office of Moor- field Storey to pursue the study of law, and was admitted to practice at Ded- ham, Norfolk county, at the April term of the superior court, 1872. He then entered the office of Knapp & Bowman, at that time in Barristers' Hall, Boston, remaining with them until August, 1873, when he opened an office in Brockton, and formed a partnership with Hon. Jona- than White, the firm name being White & Sumner. In August, 1881, this part- nership was dissolved, and he has since continued the business alone. Septem- ber 11, 1875, he was admitted to practice in the United States circuit court, at Bos- ton.
In Brockton, September 1, 1874, Mr. Sumner married Clara G., daughter of El- lis and Abby (Heard) Packard. Mrs. Sumner died from consumption, February, 1875. Mr. Sumner was again married, May 21, 1876, to Lora Standish, daugh- ter of Sumner A. and Cynthia B. (Wash- burn) Hayward. Of this union is one child : Warren Ellis Sumner.
Mr. Sumner is a justice of the peace and notary public ; June 16, 1874, he was com- missioned special justice of the Ist district court of Plymouth, and retained this posi- tion until the dissolution of the court. He has been twice elected commissioner of insolvency. May 20, 1885, he was com- missioned justice of the police court for the city of Brockton, under Governor Robinson, which office he held until his appointment by Governor Ames, as district attorney for Plymouth county, in August, 1889.
He was for several years a member of the school committee ; for four years presi- dent of the Commercial Club ; is a mem- ber of the Massasoit Lodge, I. O. O. F., Paul Revere Lodge, F. & A. M., Satucket Royal Arch Chapter, and Bay State Com- mandery.
He was one of the incorporators of the Brockton National Bank, and has long served as one of its directors. He has been a trustee, also, of the Brockton Savings Bank since its incorporation, and for the past three years he has served as director of the Brockton Street Rail- way Co.
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SWAN.
SWAN, JAMES CALEB, son of Caleb and Ruth (Barrell) Swan, was born in Eas- ton, Bristol county, June 2, 1828.
He attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, and then went to the academy at North Attleborough for three years, after which he began to study medicine under his father, when he was seventeen years old, and was with him for five years, attending two courses of lec- tures at the medical department of Har- vard University, and two courses at the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. He then settled in West Bridgewater, where he is practicing medicine at the present time. He is president of the Plym- outh Agricultural Society.
In Easton, on the 7th of June, 1850, Dr. Swan married Harriet Allen, daughter of Hiram and Lurana Copeland. Their chil- dren are : Caleb, Justice S., and Ruth B. Swan. His wife died December 7, 1880 ; and February 6, 1883, he married Ada E., daughter of Calvin E. and Elizabeth Her- vey, of Belfast, Maine.
SWEET, ANDREW H., son of Joseph D. and Abby A. (Hodges) Sweet, was born in Norton, Bristol county, October 2, 1845.
He received a common school education, supplemented by a short attendance in private schools. His business career began as that of a retail grocer under the firm name of Sweet & Carpenter. He after- wards went into the manufacture of fric- tion matches, at Norton, under the firm name of Messinger & Sweet. This busi- ness was sold to the Diamond Match Com- pany, and he started alone in the manufac- ture of wood and paper boxes, and snow shovels. After selling out to the Diamond Match Company, he was manager of their Boston store and card mill at Damariscotta Mills, Me., for three years.
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