USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 60
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served an apprenticeship with Joby Wolcott, a builder and contractor. About 1832 he embarked in rubber manufacture in Roxbury, and later on conducted a woolen mill near Dudley street in Roxbury. The finan- cial crash of 1836 swept away his means, and for a few years thereafter he lived on a farm in Bedford. In 1843 he returned to Boston and re- sumed his profession of a house builder and contractor, in which he soon took a leading position. Music Hall and many other prominent and costly public and private buildings, stores and blocks of dwellings were erected by him. He was a man of comprehensive mind, far seeing and sagacious, and of great executive ability. His judgment and ad- vice were much songht and much respected. He was frank and candid in manner, scrupulously honest, careful of the rights of others, and of a sympathetic, generous and genial nature. He was thrice married, first to Sophronia Faulkner, July 2, 1829, who died December 21, 1837; second to Mary Baker Wolcott, March 26, 1839, who died September 6, 1847; and in May, 1848, to Susan Davenport Ward, who died in 1825. Mr. Emery died in Glasgow, Scotland, February 25, 1860.
On the maternal side our subject is a descendant in the ninth gener- ation from Ezekiel Richardson, who came from England and settled in Charlestown in 1630, and is also of the seventh generation removed from Edward Faulkner, who settled in Andover in 1634. Ezekiel Richardson was a man of great respectability and worth, whose name often appears in the colonial records of Charlestown. He was one of the first Board of Selectmen, and was a deputy or representative of the town in the General Court, and in many ways was both a useful and influential citizen. The name of Edward Faulkner appears ninth in the list of the first settlers of Andover. He was one of ten persons, including the pastor, who founded in 1645 the church in Andover, it being the twenty-fourth church organized in Massachusetts. Both branches of the family on the maternal side were noted for strong, vigorous character, fervent piety and sturdy mental qualities.
Descended from such an ancestry it is not strange that the subject of this sketch should have developed those independent, forceful traits of character such as have been conspicuous in his career. His preliminary education was received in the Boston public schools. For six years he attended Phillips Academy at Andover, and subsequently graduated from the Boston High School in 1848. He then entered the employ of J. P. Thorndike, a leather merchant of Boston, as a clerk, with whom he remained one year. In September, 1849, he shipped as supercargo
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of the ship Ceathys, having a cargo of building material for the construc- tion of houses in San Francisco. Upon his arrival, in February, 1850, he found some defect in the title to the land upon which the houses were to be built, which needed investigation. While this was progress- ing he went into the mines, where he remained until the middle of the following August. He then returned to San Francisco and superin- tended the erection of forty houses, in which he had one-third interest and from which he realized a profit of $17,000. In 1851 he returned to Boston, and in the spring of 1852 entered the employ of Fred Jones, a boot and shoe manufacturer of Athol, whose business was established in 1824, and whose father had previously been a tanner at the same place. The business, at the time Mr. Emery entered Mr. Jones's em- ploy, had grown to considerable magnitude, being one of the largest in New England. As early as 1836 Mr. Jones opened a store in Boston for the sale of his goods, at which time his cousin became associated with him as partner, under the firm name of F. & N. Jones. Several years later they dissolved, and each continued the business on his own account. In 1853 Mr. Emery became a partner with Mr. Jones under the firm name of Fred Jones & Co., at which time the firm was doing a business of from $400,000 to $500,000 annually, which rapidly in- creased in volume after Mr. Emery's admission to the firni. In 185% they had the first factory in New England, where the entire process of boot and shoe making was done by machinery. Before the war of the Rebellion they did a heavy business in the South and West, and their loss, in consequence of the war, was heavy. In anticipation of the war they began, in the winter of '60-61, the manufacture of army shoes for soldiers, and upon the breaking out of hostilities they had several thousand pairs on hand. Unable, however, to dispose of them to the Massachusetts authorities, although offered on their own terms, they sold them to Pennsylvania troops. Being of superior quality, a great demand was created for their production in this line, and throughout the war they made immense quantities of army shoes, their output of this quality of goods exceeding that of any concern in New England. Large orders were often filled on short notice by working their factory night and day, in one instance producing 5,000 pairs of boots for cav- alry and delivering them in New York within three days, a remarkable feat for that period of comparatively crude machinery facilities. In 1882 the firm of Fred Jones & Co. was dissolved, and from that time until the discontinuance of the business in May, 1891, Mr. Emery
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conducted it alone. During his career as a manufacturer, Mr. Emery operated factories at different times at Athol, Milford, Ashland, Dover, Alton, Southville, Plymouth, Farrington and Ayre. From 1842 till the closing out of the business, however, the principal factory was at Plym- outh.
Outside of his private business career Mr. Emery has been a forceful factor in many avenues of affairs. A man of great energy and inten- sity of purpose, with strong convictions, quick to perceive and resent all forms of injustice, and with courage to combat whatever he believes wrong, without regard to consequences personal to himself, he has upon many occasions prominently figured in movements which have been far-reaching in their effect for good. When he returned from California in 1851 he was instrumental in organizing a committee of fifty or more members, made up from representatives of different churches of Bos- ton, who being dissatisfied with the then condition of local political affairs, nominated Jacob Sleeper for mayor, making the third candi- date for this office in the field. Mr. Sleeper received sufficient votes to defeat both of his opponents, and the election resulted in no choice, and a second election terminated the same way. At the third election J. V. C. Smith, the Whig candidate, was elected. The organization, composed chiefly of members of evangelical churches, was kept up after the election, and out of it grew, in 1852, the Young Men's Chris- tain Association, the first society of its kind in the United States, and from a split among the same original committee was formed the Young Men's Christian Union, both of which are to-day strong and vigorous organizations. From this early participation in local political affairs to the present time Mr. Emery has had more or less to do with the city and ward politics, but never as a seeker after office or for personal aggrandizement. In the presidential campaign of 1860 he supported the Bell and Everett ticket, but has since been identified with the Re- publican party, although he has always been liberal in his views and independent as far as his political actions were concerned.
In the movement to repeal the internal revenue laws after the close of the war, Mr. Emery took a conspicuous and influential part. This system of taxation, made necessary by the exigencies of the govern- ment in carrying on a gigantic war, was continued with well nigh ruin- ons results to many manufacturing enterprises long after the war closed. Under it abuses of the most flagrant character were engen- dered, extortions were practiced by dishonest revenue collectors, and
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it became such a burden upon the industrial forces of the country that many manufacturing enterprises were abandoned, and no incentive ex- isted to warrant the establishment of new ones. Only a few at first were bold enough to advocate the repeal of this entire system of tax- ation, but their efforts were unavailing; so strongly entrenched was the system that its adherents, largely its beneficiaries, easily defeated all efforts to repeal the measure. Concerted action, even among those most directly injured, seemed difficult to secure. Mr. Richardson, of Detroit, one of the leading match manufacturers of the country, was for a time practically alone in his advocacy of the repeal of this system of taxation.
Mr. Emery was among the first in New England to co-operate with Mr. Richardson in the work of arousing the people to a sense of the injustice of the system, and he took up the cause with characteristic energy. He called together the young men engaged in manufacturing, and through his efforts a public meeting was held and the matter thor- oughly discussed. In opposition to many, resolutions were adopted demanding the repeal of the system. By appeals and discussions a strong public sentiment was aroused, and later, at the national conven- tion of manufacturers, called to discuss the subject, a delegation was sent from New England, composed of representatives from thirty of the leading branches of manufacture. Throughout the long contest which preceded the final repeal of the internal revenue system, Mr. Emery was foremost in the fight, and his intelligent and well directed efforts did much to bring about a result now universally conceded to have been a wise and just move. The import duty on hides was among the burdens which more directly affected New England than any other section of the country, and was among the first after the war closed that the public asked to be relieved from. Such was the strong pres- sure brought upon Congress to revise and reduce import duties, that David A. Wells was appointed by Congress to report upon the subject. At the suggestion of Mr. Wells, Mr. Emery prepared for him careful and exhaustive figures showing the evil effects resulting to the country from the duty imposed upon hides. The results of Mr. Emery's in- vestigations were incorporated in Mr. Wells's report to Congress, and had not a little influence in securing a removal of the duty, a timely result which virtually saved the heavy tanning industry of New Eng- land.
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The equitable condition of freight rates from Boston of to-day is in great measure due to the forces set in motion by Mr. Emery. For a long time New England was practically at the mercy of the Vanderbilt system. So strongly was this state of facts supposed to exist that the managers of the Vanderbilt line in 1842 arbitrarily advanced the freight rates from Boston to St. Louis and Chicago from seventy-five and and eighty cents per hundred to $1.80 per hundred, a tariff practically in favor of the West as against New England. Mr. Emery at once set about inaugurating means to overcome this unjust discrimination. Mainly through his efforts was formed the National Despatch line, which, by the co-operation of the Vermont Central, Grand Trunk, Fitchburg, and a railroad through Canada and Michigan, gave New England a route to the West independent of the Vanderbilt system, and soon, through the loss of patronage, the rate of the latter was re- duced to forty cents per hundred. Later the Vanderbilt people, by purchase of two hundred and fifty miles of the route used by the Na- tional Despatch line in Michigan, were again masters of the situation. Mr. Emery again proved equal to the emergency of promptly meeting a condition that would have again put New England at the mercy of a single line to the West. He conceived the idea of making the New York and New England Railroad, then unfinished, a through line to the West. A part of the road was then in the hands of a receiver, and to extricate it it was necessary to raise $2,000,000. This Mr. Emery set about doing, and had practically accomplished the task when Van- derbilt heard of the movement and at once capitulated. From that time to the present there has been no attempt to largely discriminate against New England, and fair rates have prevailed.
In behalf of the boot and shoe industry, with which he was so long and prominently identified, Mr. Emery has in many ways been a help- ful factor. His time and services have always been freely given to advance the general good of the industry. At the time of the expira- tion of the Mckay sewing machine patent, a strong effort was made to secure its renewal, but Mr. Emery, believing that the interest of the manufacturers would be best subserved by a discontinuance of the sys- tem of royalties that had prevailed under the old patent, vigorously opposed the granting of a renewal of the patent. He appeared before the committee appointed by the Boston Board of Trade, and later before the Congressional Committee on Patents, and ably and thoroughly stated the reasons why the renewal should not be granted, and largely
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by his convincing and reasonable arguments the movement was de- feated. The Shoe and Leather Association, one of the best trade organizations, was also the outgrowth largely of Mr. Emery's efforts. At a dinner of boot and shoe manufacturers, held at the Revere House in 181, at which Mr. Emery presided, he suggested the desirability of such an organization. The idea commended itself to others, and after some discussion, resulted in the appointment of a committee, at the head of which was Mr. Emery, with power to draw up a constitution and by-laws and to give form and expression to the plans and purposes of the association. Organization was soon after perfected, and Mr. Emery was placed on the Bureau of Credits, where he did most effect- ive work on lines from which have resulted the most valuable part of the association's work. This was the first trade association formed in Boston, and from its organization to the present its influence upon the industry it represents has been in every way most salutary. Mr. Emery has always been actively interested in the work of the associa- tion, and from his labors in its behalf much of its success can be largely ascribed.
The foregoing few incidents in a busy career form but an outline of the events themselves, and of necessity suggest rather than fully de- seribe the part Mr. Emery has performed in them. Enough, however, it is hoped, has been given to make evident a strong and vigorous per- sonality. Mr. Emery's leading characteristics can be easily accounted for. They were inherited from ancestors, who, whatever may have been their shortcomings viewed in the light of to-day, were not de- ficient in qualities of sterling honesty, of great moral courage, and true independence of character, united to fervent piety, love of home, regard for religion and education and intense patriotism. Mr. Emery has often run counter to the popular view on important questions, but has never hesitated to stand alone when he believed he was right. He is a man of careful, calculating judgment, and always has full command of his resources. He is not easily discouraged in any enterprise in which he may enlist, and possesses the ability to conceive and manage large undertakings. He has always been a great reader, and has managed to keep well informed on a wide range of topics. He excels as a con- versationalist, and is a terse and ready speaker upon any subject upon which he has given thought and study. Physically he is a man of large frame, and possesses a vigorous constitution which the exacting cares of large business operations have made but little inroad upon. He is
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a New Englander in all that the name implies, and while justly proud of his seetion and the men and women who laid the foundation of its greatness, no one is more ardently or broadly proud of his entire coun- try.
Mr. Emery was married September 18, 1855, to Caroline Sweetser Jones, daughter of Frederick and Maria (Sweetser) Jones, who died in 1890. Their children are Maria Sweetser, Francis Faulkner, jr., and Edward Stanley Emery. Another son, Frederick Jones Emery, died in infancy. The two sons of Mr. Emery were associated with him in the manufacturing business until it was discontinued. They are now living in the new State of Washington.
GEORGE A. ALDEN.
GEORGE ADELBERT ALDEN was born in Hope, Me., April 2, 1830; is a son of Silas and Sarah (Lindley) Alden, and a descendant in the eighth generation of John Alden and Priscilla Molines, of the May- flower. Silas Alden, his father, removed with his family to Bangor, Me., when our subject was four years of age, where for many years he was engaged in the drug business, and where he died January 23, 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife, who died July 14, 1882, in her seventy-eighth year, was a near relative of John Lind- ley, the distinguished English botanist. They had ten children, of whom but three are now living, George A., Silas Augustus, and Sarah, the wife of Frank N. Lord, of Boston.
Our subject was educated in the excellent public schools of Bangor, and after graduating from the High School of that city for a short time assisted his father in the drug business. In November, 1848, he came to Boston and secured a position in the wholesale and retail drug store of William B. Little & Co., being placed in charge of the retail department. He remained with this firm until 1851, when he went to Philadelphia, where he remained about two years. Upon again return- ing to Boston his services were at once secured by the reorganized firm of George B. Little & Co. as manager, where he continued until Au- gust, 1855, when he severed his connection with this house, and began his commercial career. He was successful from the start, and for about two years continued business alone, when he admitted to part-
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nership Isaac P. T. Edmands, under the firm name of Alden & Ed- mands. They soon ranked among the largest handlers of India rubber and goat skins in the country. In 1844 the firm was dissolved, Mr. Alden retaining the India rubber interest, and Mr. Edmands continuing the goat skin part of the business. Mr. Alden conducted the business alone until 1878, when his son, Adelbert H. Alden, having become of age, was made a partner, under the present firm name of George A. Alden & Co. From that time to the present their dealings in rubber and gutta percha have been conducted on an extensive scale, their operations and interests in these lines exceeding that of any concern in the world. Since Mr. Alden's son has been a member of the firm the business has undergone many changes; new branches have been created, and their interests have been extended in various ways. In 1880 they took up the shellac business and, under the name of the New York Shellac Co., they now do nearly one-half of the entire business done in this commodity in the United States. In 1884, for the pur- pose of more extensively carrying on the importation of rubber, they organized "The New York Commercial Co., Ltd .. " with a capital of $600,000, of which Mr. Alden was president, and his son was secretary and general manager. December 1, 1892, this company was changed to " The New York Commercial Co.," and capital increased to $2,500, - 000; George A. Alden, president; A. H. Alden, vice-president and general manager. In 1887 the importation of cocoa was added to their various interests. Their operations in this direction have been con- stantly increasing, and at the present time they are ranked as the largest importers in the United States. About six years since they further extended their business interests by inaugurating the exporta- tion of grain, petroleum, lumber, staves and rubber to Portugal, Spain, the Mediterranean ports generally, and various ports of Russia and Germany, and employ from two to three steamers per month for this purpose.
Boston has always been the financial center of operation of this firm, but the growth of the business during recent years has necessitated close and intimate relations with New York city, where business offices are maintained, and between their headquarters in that city (66 Broad street) and Boston a private telegraph wire has been employed since 1880, and more recently long distance private telephone connection has also been established. During the great Boston fire of 1872 the head- quarters of the firm in this city, corner of Milk and Bath streets, were
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destroyed, incurring a loss of about $100,000. After the fire, quarters were established on Congress street, where they remained until about five years ago, since which the present location, 200 Devonshire street, has been occupied.
As a commission merchant Mr. Alden has long been the most prom- inent figure in his line in New England, and for many years has been at the head of the largest business of its kind in the United States. It seems unnecessary to expatiate upon the qualities required to accom- plish the work he has performed, or to go into details in explaining his success. The best evidence of his business capacity lies in the tin- adorned statement of what he has accomplished. Against strong com- petition, to have maintained and constantly strengthened the position he has so long held in commercial circles; to have successfully met and been equal to the many changing conditions of trade, exhibit better than words of adulation, however merited, the strength of char- acter and forceful nature of the man.
Mr. Alden was married in 1856 to Harriet J. Hadley, of Charlestown. They have had two sons, the elder of whom, Adelbert H. Alden, pre- viously mentioned, was born in 1857. He early evinced a decided taste for a commercial career, and before he had attained his majority had exhibited unusual business tact and ability. Since becoming associated with his father as partner his connection with the business has been very close and intimate, and its general management and development during recent years has largely been the result of his superior business acumen. He was one of the leading organizers of the United States Rubber Company, and since 1890 has resided in New York city, the more adequately to look after and superintend the constantly increasing demands of the various interests with which he is prominently indenti- fied. He married Miss Mabel C., the daughter of Charles E. Thayer, of Boston, and has had two sons. Mr. Alden's younger son, George Edwin Alden, is also connected with the business interests of his father, and is president of one of their corporations.
Besides his connection with the various interests mentioned, Mr. Alden is president of the Seamless Rubber Co., of New Haven; a director of the National Revere Bank, Revere Rubber Co., Boston Rubber Co., and Boston Rubber Cement Co. He is an original mem- ber of the Merchants' Club and of the Boston Athletic Association, and is also a member of the Algonquin Club, Temple Club, Country Club, Pine Tree Club, Trade Club, Exchange Club, and a life member of St.
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Andrew's Royal Arch Chapter and De Molay Encampment Knights Templar.
For twenty-nine years Mr. Alden resided with his family in Cam- bridge. During the last four years the family has resided during the summer on the famous Baker estate in Wellesley, which comprises 800 acres of land, and in many respects is one of the finest farms in New England. During the winter Mr. Alden resides with his family at the Hotel Vendome in Boston.
HOWES NORRIS.
HON. HOWES NORRIS was born at Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vine- yard, Mass., November 2, 1841, and is the youngest of four children. He is the son of Capt. Howes and Elwina Manville (Smith) Norris. His ancestors on his father's side came to Martha's Vineyard from Bristol.
He is descended on female lines from many of the families whose names are well known on the island, the Mayhews, Nortons, Butlers, Smiths and others, and from others no longer to be found there, the Harlocks and Shaws; from the Coffins and Starbucks of Nantucket, and from the Chipmans, Skiffs and Presburys of Sandwich. Through Hope Howland, wife of Elder John Chapman, he is descended from John Howland and Elizabeth Tilly, his wife, passengers in the May- flower in 1620.
His father, Captain Howes Norris, was a ship captain, and was mur- dered in 1842, while on a voyage in the Pacific Ocean in the whaleship Sharon of Fairhaven, his ship being attacked and captured by savage natives of one of the King Mills group of islands. His mother, Elwina Manville (Smith) Norris, the daughter of Nathan and Polly (Dunham) Smith, of Tisbury, was killed by lightning, in 1851, in her own home. His brother, Alonzo, was lost by the burning at sea of the ill-fated steamer Austria in 1858.
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