USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Somerville, past and present : an illustrated historical souvenir commemorative of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the city government of Somerville, Massachusetts > Part 40
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Sanborn, James S., was born in Wales, Me., March 29, 1835, the son of Henry and Ann (Daly) Sanborn. His youth was spent in Wales, Monmouth and Nashua, N. H., and he received the education of the district schools of that time. In 1856 he married Harriet N. Small, daughter of Captain John and Sarah (Moody) Small of Auburn, Me. They have four children; the two sons are connected with their father in business. He began business by traveling and selling garden-seeds for A. H. Dunlap, Nashua, N. II., and for several years he was a commercial traveler. His first venture for himself was in Lewiston, Me., where he went into the coffee and spice business. In 1868 he became connected with Dwinell, Hayward & Co., of Boston, and in 1872 moved with his family to Somerville, where he has since resided, except for five years, 1880-1885, when he lived in Boston. The present firm of Chase & Sanborn was formed in 1878, and the greatest success has at- tended them. Besides the coffee business, to which Mr. Sanborn has given his best effort, he has within a few years given much attention to the French Coach Horse, at his summer home, Poland, Me., where he has a large establishment. Mr. Sanborn has traveled exten- sively in the United States, Canada, West Indies, Central America, Mexico and the countries of the Mediterranean. He is pre-eminently a self-made man, and .his energy and persever- ance have been largely the cause of the success that attends all his undertakings.
Sanborn, William A., was born on Prospect street, the son of Joseph P. and Mercy K. Sanborn, May 9, 1852. He attended the Prescott, and afterwards the High School, from which he graduated in 1871, and then went to work at brickmaking for his father, for whom he worked two years, at the end of which time he went into business for himself. Two years later he took John W. Hatch into the concern, and for fifteen years the firm was composed of these gentlemen. Mr. Sanborn now carries on alone the manufacture of brick, his yards, which are extensive, being located on Mystic avenue and in Exeter, N. H. He has recently bought a large tract of land at Epping, N. H., which will also be opened . for brickmaking. Mr. Sanborn married Gertrude W. Braley of Charlestown, and they have two girls and a boy. He is a member of Soley Lodge of Masons, Paul Revere Lodge, and Somerville Encampment of Odd Fellows, Monument Council, Royal Arcanum, the Massachu- setts Builders' Association and other trade organizations. He is also one of the founders of the Winter Hill Universalist Church.
Sargent, Aaron, was born in Charlestown, October 29, 1822, the son of Aaron and Sarah (Nichols) Sargent of that city. His education was obtained in the public schools of Charlestown. He came to Somerville in 1846, residing in East Somerville until 1869, when
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he removed to Winter Ilill. He served on the school committee of the town from 1858 to 1862, on the anditing committee from 1860 to 1862 and from 1868 to 1871, on the finance committee from 1868 to 1871, and on the water board from 1858 to 1871. On the incorpo- ration of the city government, Mr. Sargent was elected city treasurer, and continued in the office by successive elections till 1881, when he resigned. He served as a commissioner of the sinking fund from 1876 to 1888. Mr. Sargent married Miss S. Maria Adams, daughter of Joseph and Phebe P'. (Morse) Adams of Somerville. She is a lineal descendant of Jolin Adams, the carly miller of Cambridge. They reside on Broadway.
Sawyer, Charles W., was born in Charlestown, Mass., February 28, 1833. His early education was obtained in the Training Field School and the Grammar School in Charlestown; he then attended a private school, and finally took a course in a commercial college. In 1853 he was appointed a clerk in the Charlestown Post-Office, where he remained sixteen years, most of the time being assistant postmaster. In 1869 he resigned the position, and engaged in the auction and real estate business in City square, Charlestown, with an office also in Boston, doing a large business in Charlestown, Somerville and vicinity. In this business he has since continued. Mr. Sawyer took up his residence in Somerville in 1873. In 1875 he was, a member of the Common Council, and served in the Board of Aldermen in 1876. He was subsequently chairman of the Board of Health for two years. He is a charter member of the following named Masonic bodies : Signet R. A. Chapter and Cœur de Lion Commandery of Charlestown; Soley Lodge of Somerville and Somerville Council. He was for two years Em. commander . of Cœur de Lion Commandery, in which he is now an honorary member. He is a member of Somerville R. A. Chapter. He was president of the Training Field School Association in Charlestown for two years, and was for many years the president of the 999th Artillery Association of Charlestown, - a social club of 350 members, many of whom are residents of Somerville - and is a member of the Boston Real Estate Exchange. Mr. Sawyer has always taken great interest in the muni- cipal affairs of Somerville, and is now one of the trustees of the Public Library. He married, in 1856, Miss Julia A. Heal, who died in September, 1894. He resides on Main street, Winter Hill.
Shattuck, Frederick W., was born upon a hillside farm in the little town of Reading, Vt. His early life was a type of that of thousands of New England boys, who by their industry and perseverance have worked their way through school and college. During early boyhood he had the privilege of attending school one short term each winter and each summer. Later the spelling-book gave place to the scythe and hoe in summer. When seventeen he attended a fall term of school at Green Mountain Academy, South Woodstock, Vt., and he taught his first school during the following winter. About this time he con- ceived the idea of fitting for college, and by teaching winters, working summers, and attending school during each fall and spring, he prepared for and entered Dartmouth College, graduating in the class of 1879. Since that time he has been engaged in teaching at Windsor, Vt., Fitchburg, Lawrence, Manchester, N. H., and Winchester, and for the past five years he has been the popular and efficient principal of the Luther V. Bell School.
Simonds, Edwin N., son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Patch) Simonds, was born in Burlington, Mass., May 1, 1850. His education was received in the Phillips School, Boston, and the Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. He has carried on a successful business as a milk contractor since 1871, and has been a resident of Somerville since 1874. Mr. Simonds is a member of Soley Lodge, A. F. and A. M., Somerville Chapter, R. A. M., of Orient Council, and of Cœur de Lion Commandery, K. T., Charlestown. He is identified with Paul Revere Lodge No. 184, I. O. O. F., and is vice-president of the Winter Hill Club. On November 26, 1873, he married Miss Annie M. Simonds of Lexington, Mass., who died November 23, 1874. On September 27, 1877, he married Miss Edith J. Hanchett of Natick,
SOMMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT. 625
Mass. Mr. Simonds is a model business man and a public-spirited citizen. No city can have too many men of his characteristics.
Smith, Dr. Frederick G., was born in Wilton, N. H., December 12, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and at Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Mass. He practiced pharmacy in Boston three years, two of which were spent in the Mas- sachusetts College of Pharmacy. He entered the department of medicine and surgery in the University of Michigan in October, 1890, graduating therefrom in June, 1893. During the six months immediately following he was house surgeon at the Methodist Episcopal Hos- pital at Omaha, Neb., and commenced the practice of his profession in Somerville in January, 1894. October 21, 1896, he was married to Miss Mabel Johnson, eldest daughter of the late Judge Edward F. Johnson of Marlborough, Mass. He resides at 49 Cross street.
Souther, Ezra D., son of Emery and Hannah (Lincoln) Souther, was born in Boston, October 11, 1847. He attended the Mayhew School in that city, and on the completion of his education entered a commission house, where he remained six years; he then took a po- sition with the National Revere Bank of Boston, and has remained in it to the present time, a period of twenty-five years. Mr. Souther's first ancestor in this country came over in about 1632, and was the first secretary of Plymouth Colony. The Lincolns of Hingham were his ancestors on his mother's side, among whom was General Ebenezer Lincoln; it is also claimed that Abraham Lincoln was one of the Hingham family. Mr. Souther has lived in Somer- ville for the last twenty-three years, and served the city in the Common Council in 1887 and 1888, and in the Board of Aldermen in 1889 and 1890. He was elected Overseer of the Poor to fill an unexpired term, in January, 1895; and in April, 1896, was re-elected for a full term of four years. He is a member of Soley Lodge, F. A. A. M., Winter Hill Lodge, K. H., Unity Council, Royal Arcanum, Boston Bank Officers' Association, and the Broadway Congregational Society. He married Lydia True Preble of Boston, November 28, 1872, and they have two children, a son and a daughter. They reside at 14 Pembroke street.
Southworth, Amasa E., was born in Stoughton, Norfolk County, May 19, 1844. He was the son of Amasa and Abigail (Sherman) Southworth, the latter now living at the age of ninety and in full possession of all her faculties, while her mother lived to the advanced age of one hundred and two years. He received his education in the ungraded common schools of Stoughton, and at the age of sixteen moved to Boston, and entered the employ- ment of Dana, Farrar & Hyde, wholesale grocers. He remained with this house through its various changes, and is at present united with the junior partner of the house for whom he first worked, under the style of Hyde & Southworth, in the same store and same business. In 1866 he married Abbie M., daughter of Charles and Lydia Dorman, of Rockport, Mass., and moved to Somerville in September, 1868. They have had six children, three at present living. He has always taken an active interest in social and political matters, being a char- ter member and past master of Soley Lodge of Masons. Always a Republican, in 1894 he was elected to serve as representative to the General Court for 1895, and was placed on the committees on banks and banking, and metropolitan affairs. In 1895 he was re-elected, and was on the committees on libraries and metropolitan affairs for 1896. As a member of the latter committee, he took great interest in all matters affecting the interests of Somerville, particularly the water bill and the bills for parks and boulevards. Believing that Somer- ville was unjustly assessed for these latter, he strongly advocated the abolishment of the pres- ent assessment and the postponement of any assessment until the year 1900, which bill was finally passed. He looks with pride upon the rapid growth in wealth and population of the city, and always has a good word for the home of his adoption.
Southworth, Gordon A., was born at Dorset, Vt., December 11, 1838, the son of Gus- tavus W. and Caroline (Alden) Southworth. His youth was passed in Chicago and Lowell, in the public schools of which he was educated. Choosing the profession of teaching, he
JOHN P. SQUIRE.
SOMMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT. 627
began his work at Tewksbury. His subsequent experience has been three years at the Straf- ford (N. H.) High School; two years at the New Market (N. H.) High School; one year at Nahant; nine years at the Centre School, Malden, whence he came in 1873 to the prin- cipalship of the Prescott School, Somerville. After a service of twenty years in this position, he was unanimously elected, in 1893, Superintendent of Public Schools, an office which he now holds. Mr. Southworth has been prominent in educational associations in the county and state. He is one of the founders and president of the Teachers' Annuity Guild of Eastern Massachusetts. He is the co-author of a series of school text-books for language in- struction, which are widely used. He is also the author of a series of arithmetics, " The Es- sentials of Arithmetic." He has also been identified with Sunday-school work all his life, having been for fourteen years the superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Franklin- street Church in this city. Mr. Southworth married, in 1876, Miss Elizabeth F. Pettes, daughter of Horace and Abigail S. (Parks) Pettes of Boston.
Sparrow, Edmund S., was born in Orleans, Mass., October 16, 1846. He attended the village school until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to sea, as the expression is, until he was twenty-one, at which period of his life he came to Boston and learned the building trade. After working at it three years he embarked in business for himself, as architect and builder, which calling he conducted successfully for twenty years when he re- tired from the business. For the past ten years he has devoted most of his time to the man- agement of real estate. During the years 1894 and 1895 he was a member of the Board of Aldermen, the last year being president of the board and chairman of several important committees. He belongs to various organizations, among which may be named the John Abbot Lodge, A. F. and A. M., Somerville Royal Arch Chapter, De Molay Commandery, K. T., Elm Council, R. A., and Caleb Rand Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a director of the Sprague and Hathaway Co., and the West Somerville Co-operative Bank; is also one of the trustees of the Somerville Hospital and a member of the executive committee. He resides at 18 Meacham street.
Squire, John P., son of Peter and Esther (Craig) Squire, was born in Weathersfield, Vt., May 8, 1819. He came to Boston in 1836, and worked for Nathan Robbins until he began business for himself in 1842, when he established the house of John P. Squire & Co. This business grew, during his lifetime, from one hog per day to over 4,000 hogs per day, and represented from $15,000,000 to $18,000,000 per annum. Mr. Squire married Kate Green Orvis in 1843, by whom he had eleven children, nine of whom were living at the time of his death, January 7, 1893.
Starbird, George M., is a native of Bowdoinham, Me., to which State his ancestors came nearly two hundred years ago. At the age of sixteen he came to Charlestown, where he became apprenticed at the carpenter trade. In 1860 he established himself in business as carpenter and builder, and since that time has done a large business with success. In 1872 and 1873 he was a member of the Board of Aldermen of the city of Charlestown. In 1873 he was nominated as a candidate for representative from Charlestown to the General Court, but declined the nomination. In 1879 he was again nominated to the General Court, and was elected, and served on the committee on harbors and public lands. In 1881 he moved to Somerville, where he was a member of the Common Council in 1887 and 1888. Ile is a trustee and a member of the investment committee of the Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank, a director in the Mutual Protection Fire Insurance Company, a director in the Somerville Electric Light Company, and has been a trustee of the Somerville Hospital since its organization. He is a member of Soley Lodge, F. A. A. M., and of the Royal Arcanum. He resides at 102 Pearl street.
Stodder, Frederick Mortimer, was born in Cambridgeport, Vt., February 22, 1833. He attended the district schools in that town, and subsequently the academy at Saxton's River
GEORGE M. STARBIRD.
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and at Townshend, Vt. He came to Boston in 1850, and entered the employ of A. Whitney & Co., 370 Commercial street, the members of the firm being Alfred Whitney and A. B. Gookin. Four years later he became a partner in the establishment, the new firm name being that of Gookin & Stodder, and they have continued in the same location until the present time. Mr. Stodder came to Somerville in April, 1873, purchasing his present home at II Grand View avenue. IIe has been a member of the City Government, having served the city as a member of the Council in the years 1882 and 1883. Ile is a member of the First M. E. Church, and is secretary of the board of trustees; he was also an active member of the old Hanover-street Church in Boston, and served it as treasurer for many years. He has two sons, both of whom reside in Boston, where they are engaged in business.
Story, Isaac, was born at Marblehead, Mass., November 4, 1818, the son of Isaac and Sally Martin (Bowen) Story. He was educated at Lynn Academy and Pierce Academy, Middleborough, and continued his studies subsequently under private direction. In 1839, when twenty years of age, he became principal of the Franklin Academy, in Kutztown, Pa., and later the principal of the Bertie Union Academy, N. C. During this absence he studied law under the direction of Hon. Samuel H. Perkins, a leading member of the Philadelphia bar. Returning to Lynn, he studied law with Hon. Thomas B. Newhall for a time, and - again going South - taught in Maryland, for a year or more. Coming to Boston, where his parents then resided, in January, 1843, he entered the law office of Hon. Charles Theodore Russell, and subsequently that of Messrs. Fuller & Andrew, composed of Henry H. Fuller and John A. Andrew, -afterwards governor, - from which office he was admitted to the Suffolk bar in September, 1844, and then commenced practice on his own account. He was admitted to practice in the United States Circuit and District Courts in May, 1845, and from that time, with the exception of one year's absence, practiced law in Boston until his appointment, May 31, 1873, by Governor Washburn, as the standing justice of the Police Court of Somerville. He took his seat on the bench at the organization of that court in the following June, and still holds the office. For several years he practiced in the same office with Governor Andrew, who was one of his groomsmen at his first marriage. He has been twice married : first, to Elizabeth Bowen Woodberry, daughter of Captain Jacob and Elizabeth (Bowen) Woodberry, of Beverly; second, to Mary Ann Chase, daughter of Hezekiah and Sally (Iloyt) Chase, of Lynn. He came to Somerville in May 1853, where, with the excep- tion of four years - from 1857 to 1861 - he has ever since resided. In 1856 he was the representative of Somerville in the General Court, and during several years was a member of the School Committee of Somerville. His paternal grandfather, Dr. Elisha Story, a Boston boy, was one of those so-called " Indians " in the tea espisode in Boston Harbor on the eve of the War of the Revolution, and led the party who captured two brass field-pieces from the British sentry at what is now the Park-street entrance to Boston Common. His maternal grandfather, Nathan Bowen, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was orderly ser- geant in a Marblehead company stationed in that part of Charlestown now known as Winter Hill, in Somerville, to guard the Hessian troops taken at General Burgoyne's surrender. He afterward became lieutenant, and at the close of the war returned to Marblehead, and upon the death of his father took his place as a magistrate, which he held until his death in 1837. His father, Isaac Story, Jr., commanded the Marblehead Light Infantry, attached to a batta- lion of artillery, in the War of 1812 with Great Britain.
Sturtevant, George F., son of Josiah and Hannah Sturtevant, was born in Center Harbor, N. H., in 1839. He was educated in the schools of his native town, and at the age of twenty came to Somerville, and entered the employ of Richard H. Sturtevant; sub- sequently the firm of Sturtevant Brothers, provision dealers, was established, and he was ad- mitted a member of the firm. In 1881 he withdrew from the partnership, and went to Brad- ford, Ill., where he engaged in the vocation of shipping horses to the East, remaining there
Residence of FREDERICK F. STOCKWELL, 9 Kidder Avenue.
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until 1893, when he returned to Somerville and established a business in hay, grain, etc., and continued in it until his death, which occurred in January, 1894. Mr. Sturtevant was mar- ried to Miss Harriet E. Dodge, by whom he had three children, two sons and a daughter. He served the city as a member of the Water Board five years. He belonged to a number of the social organizations of Somerville, among which were John Abbot Lodge, F. A. A. M., Knights of Honor, and Good Fellows.
Sturtevant, Lindley J., was born in Holderness, N. H. At the age of twelve he came to Somerville, where he was educated in the public schools. He embarked in the provision business in early life, and for the past twenty years has been in that line of trade in the Union Market, Boston. He is very genial in his disposition, and exceedingly popular among his acquaintances and friends. He is a member of a number of organizations, among which are the F. A. A. M., the I. O. O. F., Royal Arcanum, Pilgrim Fathers, and Good Fel- lows. He resides on Columbus avenue.
Sturtevant, Richard H., son of Eben L. Sturtevant, was born in Centre Harbor, N. H., August 1, 1836. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and came to Boston in 1852. He commenced work for G. A. & A. L. Sanborn, grocers, in Somerville, continuing with them seven years; he then opened Webster Market, near the corner of Washington and Prospect streets. From 1862 to 1866 he was with Harrison, Bird & Co., becoming a member of the firm in the latter year. For five years from 1887 the firm was Sturtevant & Haley. On the death of Mr. Haley, in 1892, the firm was incorporated as the Sturtevant & Haley Beef and Supply Company, of which Mr. Sturtevant is treasurer and manager. The slaughtering and rendering are done at Nos. 50 and 52 Somerville avenue. On June 13, 1867, he married Miss Martha M. Sanborn, daughter of Robert and Martha Sanborn. He is a member of John Abbot Lodge of Somerville, the Council of R. and S. Masters, and Cœur de Lion Commandery of Charlestown. He is also identified with the Royal Arcanum, Boston Chamber of Commerce, Fruit & Produce Exchange, the National Lancers, and is a director of the Fourth National Bank of Boston. He has lived in Somer- ville for a period of forty-four years, and his present residence is the handsome house at 31 Walnut street.
Tarbox, French O. J., was born at Charlestown, September 2, 1861. He attended the primary and grammar schools of his native city, graduating from the latter in the class of 1877. A six months' course at the Boston Commercial College completed his school life, and, having a desire to travel, he made a two years' cruise on the bark Stillman B. Allen, visiting the antipodes at the age of sixteen. His return home was made from San Francisco in the famous Cape Horn clipper ship " Young America," and he entered New York Harbor in just twenty-three months after leaving it, having circumnavigated the globe at the age of eighteen, and traveled upwards of 52,000 miles. He remained on land a short time, and again went on a long voyage to the East Indies, etc., from which he returned home and then perma- nently abandoned a sea-faring life. His father having purchased a farm at Poland, Me., Mr. Tarbox joined him in tilling the soil ; but finding the life uncongenial to him at the end of two years, he returned to Charlestown. After devoting four years to the oil business, he entered the service of the Boston & Maine Railroad, working in various capacities, after which, having learned the trade of steam-fitting and piping with the Walworth Manufacturing Company, he took a position on the Fitchburg Railroad as steam-fitter, and remained in it for five years, when he again entered the employ of the Boston & Maine Railroad as air-brake fitter, and he continues in that position at the present time. Mr. Tarbox is a member of the Bunker Hill Lodge No. 14, I. O. O.F., and is master of Mt. Horeb Lodge No. 19, Loyal Orange Institution ; he is also a member of the Fitchburg R. R. Relief Association, and a member of the Common Council from Ward 2. Mr. Tarbox was married, September 12, 1890, to Sarah E. Magrath, a daughter of William Magrath, an old and well-known resident of Charlestown. They have one child and rcside at 60 Oak street.
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Taylor, Charles H., the son of John 1. and Abigail R. (Hapgood) Taylor, was born in Charlestown, July 14, 1846. He was educated in the public schools of that city, and on leaving sehool he entered the composing-room of the " Boston Traveler" and learned the printer's trade, being then a lad of sixteen years of age. In the spring of 1862 he laid down his composing-stiek, and enlisted for service in the Civil War. Thus, a mere boy, he entered the Union Army, in which he served like a veteran until a bullet received in one of the bat - tles before Port Hudson, in June, 1863, finished his army career, and almost ended his life. Returning to Boston, after his recovery from his wound, he beeame a reporter on the " Traveler," and was appointed correspondent for the "New York Tribune." In 1869 Governor William Claflin appointed him as his private secretary, with the rank of colonel, and he remained in that position three years. In 1872 and 1873 he was chosen representa- tive from Somerville to the General Court, and in the latter year was elected clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In April, 1873, he beeame manager of the " Boston Globe," and he has remained in that position until the present time, having by sturdy in- dustry and rare good judgment built up the paper to its present high position, and almost unrivaled prosperity. "Thus, while he was still under forty, the man who at twenty-three had fondly dreamed of becoming a great editor found his full ambition realized. He was recognized not only as a great editor, but as among the greatest of newspaper managers. The story of his commercial suceess is one of those faseinating romanees of the sudden cre- ation of wealth, of which the United States in recent years has furnished so many."
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