USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume III > Part 11
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James T. Fitzgerald married, in 1915, Mar- guerite M. Goodwin, a native of Massachu- setts, and they are the parents of a daughter, Rita E., born on February 22, 1920, and now attending high school.
ALBERT LAWRENCE WALES-A lifelong resident of Groveland, Albert L. Wales achieved distinctive success as one
of the leading building contractors in Essex County. In business circles and in the vari- ous affairs of civic and community life, his talents and integrity were shown in daily contact with his neighbors and fellow- townsmen. Mr. Wales was born in Grove- land on July 29, 1866, son of James L. Wales, who was born in Groveland and died in 1901, and Mary C. (Ordney) Wales, de- ceased, a native of West Newbury, and who, according to family records, was de- scended through his paternal line from "Mayflower" stock through John and Pris- cilla Alden. His father, James L. Wales, was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in Company M, heavy artillery, and later was engaged in business as a merchant.
Mr. Wales received his education in the public schools of his community, was grad- uated from Groveland High School in 1882, and, for many years, was the oldest living male graduate of this institution. He early became interested in the building and con- struction field. In 1892, being then twenty- six years old, he ventured into business for himself with offices in Groveland, and began constructing residences that he determined should be an honor to the builder's art and ability. Giving to every building careful workmanship and selected materials caused the contracting firm of Albert L. Wales Construction Company to become well known. Subsequently, with the growth of confidence and reputation, the firm became the builder of the costliest residences in and around Haverhill. Although primarily build- ers of dwellings, several of the attractive school buildings in Essex County were con- structed by the Albert L. Wales Construc- tion Company, including the Merrimack, West Newbury, Byfield, Stowe High, and others. It is with a natural and justifiable pride that Mr. Wales surveyed his more than forty years of work in the construction field.
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In addition to managing his contracting business Mr. Wales was well known to financial circles as president of the Grove- land Cooperative Bank, and as an incorpora- tor of the Haverhill Savings Bank and the City Five Cents Savings Bank. Strongly influential in the civic life of the community, he gave that measure of intelligent attention to public affairs that becomes good citizen- ship. He served his community for twenty- four years to 1921 as a member of the school board of the town of Groveland. On Sep- tember 15, 1888, at the first meeting of the Groveland Public Library, Mr. Wales was elected secretary, a post he held until April, 1890. On April 6, 1927, he was elected trus- tee and chairman of the board of the Lang- ley Adams Library. During the World War he "did his bit" as an instructor in voca- tional training at Durham College. A thirty- second degree Mason, he affiliated with Mer- rimack Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Pentucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Haverhill Council, Royal and Select Mas- ters ; Haverhill Commandery, Knights Tem- plar; Merrimack Valley Lodge of Perfec- tion, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was a past councillor of Merrimack Council, Jun- ior Order United American Mechanics, of Groveland, a charter member of the Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
On October 26, 1887, Mr. Wales married Carrie B. Vaughan, a native of St. Stevens, New Brunswick, daughter of Joseph I. and Sarah A. (Price) Vaughan, the father a veteran of the Civil War serving as captain in a Pennsylvania regiment.
Death came to Albert L. Wales on Feb- ruary 16, 1934, at the age of sixty-seven and a half years. He left a record upon which no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil falls. In high but simple dignity, in char-
acter and service, his life stands out against the sky of human endeavor as do the New England hills in which that life was moulded and made strong.
ARTHUR R. ST. ONGE-The career of Arthur R. St. Onge has been that of a suc- cessful merchant and of a citizen of large usefulness in the manifold affairs of com- munity life. Mr. St. Onge is of French- Canadian descent, the son of Raphael St. Onge, born at St. Rock, Quebec, Canada, and Alma (Peltier) St. Onge, a native of St. Thomas, Quebec, Canada. His father died in 1923 and his mother in 1925.
Arthur R. St. Onge was born in Haver- hill on July 23, 1875, and was educated in public and parochial schools. His career be- gan inauspiciously as a shoe factory worker in Haverhill, but he soon left that occup- ation to become a clerk in a clothing store conducted by the Model Clothing Company. He remained in this position several years, applying himself diligently to his work and seriously studying all phases of the business with the intention of starting his own firm. In 1900 he left the Model Clothing Company to enter the employ of E. J. Kempton Com- pany and in 1907, established his own busi- under the firm name of Kelley and St. Onge, located at No. 25 Essex Street. Upon the death of Mr. Kelley in 1913, Mr. St. Onge continued the business under his own name until 1928, when he formed a partnership with L. A. Barrett and incorporated the busi- ness as Barrett and St. Onge, removing to No. 21 Washington Square. Here the firm conducts a men's clothing and haberdashery business, dealing only in quality merchan- dise and has a patronage that reaches into other communities besides Haverhill. Bar- rett and St. Onge, Inc., is one of the best known and most respected enterprises of its kind in this section and enjoys the confidence of a large number of customers. Mr. St. Onge
Kaip /aring
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is treasurer of the firm. His influence within the clothing trade has been recognized by his being elected president of the Retail Clothier and Furnishing Association of Ha- verhill.
In civic affairs, he has supported all move- ments for community betterment and has been a member of the park commission for several years, being largely responsible for the creation of several playgrounds. He served three years as a member of the license committee. During the World War he took an active part on various boards, commit- tees and drives and his assistance was in- strumental in the splendid record Haverhill achieved in war work. Mr. St. Onge is probably the outstanding leader among the French and French descendants of Haver- hill, his efforts in this field being notable. He was the organizer of the Franco-Amer- ican Civic Association in 1934, the purpose of which was to give intensive cooperation to every movement for community advance- ment. He is a charter member of the Rotary Club, but due to business affairs, has been unable to give this organization as much of his time as formerly. His other mem- berships include the Chamber of Commerce ; the Retail Committee, his service here dating back more than twenty years ; a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ; Catholic Order of Foresters ; St. Jean de Bap- tiste Society ; St. Vincent de Paul Society, of which he is a director, and St. Joseph's Ro- man Catholic Church.
In 1902 Mr. St. Onge married Albertine C. Houle, of Haverhill, daughter of Desire H. and Victorine (Phile) Houle. They are the parents of five children: I. Victor A., who is a graduate of Georgetown Univer- sity, 1925, and is an executive of the L. H. Hamel Leather Company, of Haverhill. He married Florence Connell, who is deceased. 2. Lucien R., a graduate in 1926 of the Mas- sachusetts Institute of Technology and is
now assistant chief engineer of the York Ice Machinery Company, York, Pennsyl- vania. 3. Alcide R., who prepared for busi- ness at Bryant and Stratton Business Col- lege and is now employed by the R. H. Stearns Company of Boston. He is also a law student at Northeastern University. 4. Hubert J., who was graduated from Ha- verhill High School in 1934. 5. Victorine A., a high school student.
HON. DANIEL CECIL MANNING- In the capacity of presiding justice of the District Court at Peabody, Hon. Daniel C. Manning has continued to be a credit to the bench of Massachusetts since he was ap- pointed more than a dozen years ago. He is active also in the civic life of Peabody, holding office in a number of institutions. Judge Manning's parents, Daniel J. and Elizabeth E. (Dunney) Manning, were na- tives of this State. His father when a young man learned the leather trade in the Proctor factory at Peabody, in which town he after- wards conducted a retail shoe business. He is now a restaurateur in the same town.
Daniel Cecil Manning was born in Salem, July 17, 1881, and received his early education in the public schools of Peabody, graduating at the high school in 1899. In the fall of 1900 he entered Harvard University, com- pleting the prescribed four years' college course in three years, and receiving at gradu- ation the degree of Bachelor of Arts, cum laudc. He enrolled at Harvard Law School in the fall of 1903, and graduated Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1906. In the same year he was admitted to the bar of Massa- chusetts, and at once became associated with the law firm of Powers & Hall, of Boston. He made a trip to the Pacific Coast in 1907, and was absent most of that year.
On his return to Essex County, he opened an office in Salem, January 1, 1908, for prac- tice of law in his own name. In 1912 he was
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elected on the Republican ticket to the Mas- sachusetts House of Representatives, and was reelected in 1913, serving two terms. He was appointed first assistant district attorney of the Eastern District of Massachusetts in the fall of 1916, filling this office for three years.
His elevation to the bench and appoint- ment as presiding justice of the District Court at Peabody was made by Governor Channing H. Cox in 1921. He removed his office to this city the same year, and has since practiced as a conveyancer and in pro- bate work. He is vice-president and attor- ney of the Peabody Cooperative Bank and a trustee of the Josiah B. Thomas Hospital in this town. His interests in county, city and town politics was active for a number of years, in which he was secretary of the Essex County Republican Club and a member at different times of the city and town Repub- lican committees. He served as president of the Salem Bar Association in 1917, and is a past president of the Peabody Chapter of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He is affiliated with Delta Upsilon Fraternity of Harvard. His principal form of recreation is the game of polo.
Judge Manning married, April 25, 19II, Miriam T. Kerans, of Danvers. She died April 20, 1923. The judge has his chambers in the courthouse at Peabody, and his law office at No. 4-A Main Street, in which town he resides at No. 25 Emerson Street.
WILBERT CLARK HARDY, M. D .- Recognized as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Haverhill, Dr. Wilbert C. Hardy's career includes broad and useful service within the medical profession and, as would be expected from a man of his in- telligence and standing, active participation in the various affairs of the community.
Dr. Hardy possesses capacity for leadership and his talents are in demand constantly, his ability having often been proved. He was born on December 17, 1893, at Haver- hill, the son of F. W. Hardy, who was asso- ciated with the shoe industry, and Maud P. (Clark) Hardy.
After obtaining his preparatory education in the public schools of Haverhill, Dr. Hardy matriculated at Tufts Medical Col- lege and was graduated in 1916 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Further studies were prosecuted at Boston City Hospital in the following year. With America's entry into the World War, Dr. Hardy enlisted in the medical corps and was assigned to duty at Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, and later at Macon, Georgia, after which he served overseas in the American Expeditionary Forces in Base Hospital No. 51. At the time he was honorably dis- charged he held the rank of major in the medical corps and, continuing his military record as a member of the Officers Reserve Corps, now holds the rank of lieutenant colonel (medical). In beginning his private practice in 1918, in Haverhill, Dr. Hardy had had the valuable experience of practic- ing his medical talents as an army surgeon and of treating diseases of all kinds, so that he readily established himself among the successful practitioners of the community. Carrying on a general practice, Dr. Hardy has become well known for his unusual skill as a surgeon, performing successfully many difficult operations. In addition to his private practice, he is school physician of Haverhill and is a member of the staff of Gale Hospital. Professionally, he is a mem- ber of the Pentucket, the Massachusetts State and the American Medical societies.
In civic affairs Dr. Hardy has taken an active part and in 1934 he was appointed a member of the Board of Water Commis- sioners to serve until 1939.
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A member of the American Legion, Dr. Hardy received the esteem of his comrades by being elected, 1934, commander of Wil- bur M. Comeau Post, No. 4, an honor that he justly deserves and an office he is cap- ably filling. His fraternal affiliations are with Merrimack Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Haverhill Commandery, Knights Templar, and Aleppo Temple, Boston, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics.
Dr. Hardy married, in 1919, Cora A. Al- derton of West Virginia, and they are the parents of two children : I. Betty Anne, who was born on September 30, 1921. 2. Wil- bert C., Jr., who was born on February 3, 1923. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ROBERT F. METCALF-Numbered among the prominent lawyers of Haverhill is Robert F. Metcalf who, for more than thirty years, has been actively engaged in the practice of law and has taken a leading part in civic, religious and community af- fairs. His activities have covered many fields in all of which his cultured charm and engaging personality have made him wel- come, and in which his experienced judg- ment and quick intelligence have been greatly appreciated. Mr. Metcalf was born in Georgetown on June 3, 1880, the son of George L. Metcalf who was born in Dan- vers and died in 1927, and of Olive V. (Andrews) Metcalf who was a native of Boxford and died in 1934 at the age of eighty-five.
Receiving his preliminary education in the public schools, Mr. Metcalf prepared for college at Phillips-Exeter Academy and then entered Boston University Law School from which he was graduated in 1903 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in the same year and
began to practice in Haverhill with the firm of Poor & Fuller. Continuing with this firm for five years, Mr. Metcalf gained valu- able experience in the practical affairs of law and proved himself an able attorney, especially in the field of research. In 1908 he withdrew from the office of Poor & Fuller and began practice under his own name, taking offices at No. 53 Merrimack Street, and conducting a general law prac- tice which he has continued until the pres-
ent. His career shows in a steadily in- creasing line of successful service to a large clientele that includes representatives of the larger commercial firms of Haverhill. Mr. Metcalf's practice is mostly in probate and estates, his long experience and broad knowledge in these subjects having made him known as an authority. Professionally, he is a member of the Haverhill and the Essex County Bar associations.
A resident of Georgetown, Mr. Metcalf has served in municipal affairs as modera- tor, as a member of the water commission, trustee, selectman, assessor, and as a mem- ber of the finance committee. In addition to these services he was active in various drives and committees during the World War and is chairman of the Georgetown Chapter of the American Red Cross. He is well known to financial circles as a trustee of the Georgetown Savings Bank. A mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, his religious affiliation is with the First Congregational Church of George- town, of which he is treasurer and a mem- ber of the board of trustees. Mr. Metcalf is also president of the board of the Perley Free School, a trustee of the Carleton Home of Georgetown, is prominently identified with the Boy Scout movement and is a trustee of the Harmony Cemetery at Georgetown. For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Metcalf's vigorous personality has aided every worthy cause and all civic
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THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
ventures. These activities have required much of his time and attention but with characteristic generosity he has given him- self willingly to all efforts for the welfare of his community.
In 1910 he married Jennie F. Spofford, a native of Boxford and the daughter of Israel F. and Rebecca P. (Stocker) Spofford. Of this marriage were born two children: I. Olive R., who is a student at McIntosh's Business College. 2. Robert F., Jr., who was graduated from the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology in 1934, and is con- nected with the Employer's Fire Insurance Company at Boston.
JAMES HENRY HIGGINS-A man who was for many years one of Newbury- port's most active citizens but is now retired from his busier endeavors, James Henry Higgins won particular note by virtue of being one of the foremost newspaper men of his period. He played an important part in revivifying the Boston "Herald," a work which probably stands as his greatest single achievement.
Mr. Higgins was born at Rochester on January 12, 1860, son of John C. and Fannie Higgins, the former of whom lived from 1820 to 1884. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools, and held numer- ous jobs, including that of office boy in a coal company's office and also that of paint- ing blinds in the attic of a paint shop. The desire for newspaper work manifested itself when, as a boy of sixteen, he became owner of a small crude printing press and pub- lished handbills which he gratuitously dis- tributed in the neighborhood. His early ambition and desire for newspaper work was realized as evidenced by his career. At the age of seventeen years he became a printer's "devil." He earned $9 in the first month, $12 in the second month, and $15 in the third, and his work consisted of stand-
ing on one leg and kicking the press with the other foot, for such was the old method of printing by means of the foot-press. At the end of the third year Mr. Higgins ac- quired a one-third interest in the business of his employers, and so began his activities that led him into the newspaper business.
In 1887, soon after Fred R. Smith launched the Newburyport "Daily News," he sug- gested the merging of Mr. Higgins' printing business with his own publishing enterprise. This consolidation of interests was duly effected, bringing with it the beginning of Mr. Higgins' career as a newspaper man. In 1892 came the erection of the News Building, the paper's permanent home, and in 1911 the News Publishing Company was incorporated. Of this company, Mr. Hig- gins was made treasurer, and he held this same office thereafter. Meanwhile, his repu- tation as a newspaper man was extending throughout this region of Massachusetts. In 1898 he was called to the Worcester "Post" to effect a systematic organization of that newspaper, a feat which he accomplished with creditable success. In 1908, with Mr. Smith, they acquired the Gloucester "Daily Times," of which he also became treasurer, and, in 1912, in collaboration with Mr. Smith, he obtained control of the Lynn "Evening News" and was made its treas- urer.
His usefulness was recognized in the larger metropolitan area when, in 1911, he was called to Boston to join the managing staff of the Boston "Traveler." In July of that year he consolidated the "Traveler" with the "Herald," of which he was elected treasurer and general manager in 1914. The "Herald" of that day comprised several smaller papers as well as the original "Herald," a morning publication, the other papers that were merged with it being the "Traveler," an evening paper, and the "Sun- day Herald." In 1917 the "Herald" added
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the "Journal" to its properties, merging this paper also into its own publication and cre- ating a newer and larger organ of news.
Mr. Higgins' newspaper experience cov- ered every angle and phase of the business. At the beginning he washed rollers in the pressrooms, worked in the news and editor- ial departments, wrote small stories and im- portant stories, went out at night on big murder cases, and, returning, even stood at the typecases and set type on his own stories. On some occasions he went into the streets in the gray of the morning to sell the paper in practically every phase of the mak- ing of which he had participated. His most significant achievement was, however, the establishment of the "Herald" on a sound financial footing. For he converted the paper from a losing to a paying proposition by set- ting up principles and organizations of effi- cient character, and the "Herald" has since enjoyed continued prosperity and has greatly extended its scope, influence and good works.
In 1922 Mr. Higgins retired from his ac- tive endeavors, though he has retained a lively interest in newspaper affairs in both Essex County and the city of Boston. He became recognized as one of the respected citizens of Newburyport, and has served as a director of several banks, hospitals and prominent institutions.
James Henry Higgins married, on Octo- ber 12, 1881, Alice A. Cheney, of Newbury- port, Massachusetts. She died August 7, 1921. They became the parents of two chil- dren : I. Henry B., who was graduated from Harvard University, and is now vice-presi- dent of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Com- pany. 2. Alice G., who spent one and one- half years at Smith College, and is today one of the prominent women of Newburyport, being active in a number of civic and social organizations.
Essex -- 6
CHAUNCEY GLEASON-In a career of accomplishments and success, Chauncey Gleason rose to occupy a prominent place in the dairy industry of the Nation, being ac- tively and prominently identified with many of the leading organizations in this field. Recognized as an outstanding authority, the same ability and enthusiasm that he mani- fested in business pursuits was reflected in his civic and social life during his residence in the city of Haverhill, where he was chosen by the citizenry to conduct the ac- tivities of many important and responsible public offices.
Chauncey Gleason was born in Bristol, Vermont, on January 4, 1866, the son of the Rev. George L., and Charlotte (Perkins) Gleason. For over eighteen years his father occupied the pulpit of the Riverside Me- morial Church and is credited with playing an important part in the development of the Riverside section of Haverhill. Mr. Glea- son, of this review, received a general edu- cation in the public schools of his surround- ings, which included Phillips Andover Acad- emy and Dummer Academy, and after com- pleting his studies here matriculated at Dartmouth College, graduating from that institution with a Bachelor of Arts degree in I888.
Soon afterwards he entered the teaching profession and taught school in Merrimac for a few years. Subsequently he came to Haverhill and entered upon a farming career on a one hundred and ten acre property on East Broadway, a vocation he successfully followed for forty years. Mr. Gleason cen- tered his activities here on dairying and be- came the proud possessor of a fine herd of accredited Ayreshire cows. His success, coupled with the unusual aptitude he had for this business, soon won him wide recog- nition. He participated actively in the lead- ing dairy organizations of this section, and
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through his support, contributions and great activity, soon became one of the dom- inant figures of the industry. He was presi- dent of the Essex County Cooperative Farmers Association; treasurer of the New England Milk Producers Association, and a member of the board of directors of the Eastern State Farmers' Exchange which had its headquarters in Springfield. Dur- ing his long and distinguished career he was frequently sought for his valued coun- sel and advice by organizations and indi- viduals in all sections of the country. Dur- ing his residence in this city he took an active interest in the social and civic life and at one time served as a member of the school committee.
In 1893 Mr. Gleason married Florence Nichols of Haverhill, and the daughter of George and Mary Frances (Noyes) Nichols, her father being a prominent shoe manu- facturer in this city. Mrs. Gleason was graduated from Bradford Academy in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason were the parents of three children : I. Jeanette, who is married to Benjamin B. Towne of Topsfield, Massa- chusetts, and the mother of two children : Jane and Benjamin B., Jr. 2. Winthrop P., who conducts the home farm. He married Harriet N. Atwood, and they are the par- ents of two children : George G., and Rob- ert A. 3. Elizabeth, who married Myron E. Doucette, of Garden City, Long Island, and is the mother of one child, Dorcas.
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