USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume III > Part 17
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Fraternally, he is a Mason holding the thirty-second degree through the Scottish Rite, and is also a member of the Peabody Rotary Club. An outdoor sportsman, his favorite recreations are boating, fishing, and golf. In the many civic and community activities that are a part of a municipality Mr. Shackelford has ever been among those who are the first to give support and assist- ance; his readiness to cooperate with all causes of worthy purpose having portrayed him as a citizen of notable type.
On September 7, 1916, he married Alice Torrey of Salem, and to them have been born two sons: I. Philip Torrey, who was born on July 22, 1917. 2. Charles Henry, who was born on October 15, 1918. Both boys are students at Beverly High School. The family residence is in Wenham.
DANVERS BLEACHERY, Peabody.
COTTON BLEACHING AND FINISHING The cotton that is manufactured and finished in New England comes to us from the South-
ern states, but the plant is indigenous to sections of Asia and Africa as well as the United States. It has been used for cloth- ing in those countries from a very remote period. Records are found which prove the use of colored goods, and as bleaching is a prerequisite for coloring there must have been some knowledge among the an- cients of bleaching processes. Pliny de- scribes Tyrian purple of a period antedating the Christian era by more than one thou- sand years.
The limited knowledge of the oriental nations spread slowly to the westward. Venice and other Italian cities of the thir- teenth century had labor unions among their dyers. Arrian, a writer of the second century describes the perfection of cotton cloth. After the decline of the Roman Em- pire the art of bleaching was forgotten, but many centuries later the Dutch acquired a knowledge and monopoly of the art. This they retained until about the middle of the eighteenth century. Up to that time it was customary for England to send goods to Holland to be bleached.
THE DANVERS BLEACHERY-Danvers Bleach- ery was built in 1847 and 1848. The plant at first consisted of only the stone building, which is now the center of many fine build- ings erected as the business developed.
Circumstances would not seem to war- rant the establishment of a bleachery in Peabody. The town had no cotton mills and, therefore, all the work necessary for the successful operation of a bleachery would have to come from out of town. The enterprise was directed by Theophilus W. Walker, his brother Nathaniel, and Elijah W. Upton, natives of Peabody. Mr. Upton was a prominent manufacturer of glue, and the Walkers were financially interested in the business.
This period marked the awakening of the American Nation and the beginning of a
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new era in her history. A spirit of great enterprise was manifested in Massachusetts and other New England states. Many large manufacturing plants were erected and op- erated so successfully that they eventually made this country economically independ- ent of the nations of Europe.
The foresight of the men who conceived the idea of a bleachery in Peabody was fully justified by the success which crowned their efforts. The establishment was care- fully planned and ably executed. The water to be used for bleaching was obtained from the brook that flowed from Cedar Pond. It was tested in the laboratories of Harvard University, and pronounced to be admir- ably adapted for bleaching.
After a few years there came a demand for colored goods and a dye house was built. The small power house was replaced by a large building in which steam boilers were installed in the basement and a Corlis engine on the second floor. The name of the plant then was known as The Danvers Bleachery and Dye Works. Its affairs were controlled by the Walker brothers with offices in Boston. As its business increased additional buildings were erected; in 1890 a white finishing room, and a few years later a large storehouse were found to be necessary. Wooden sheds with open shut- ters that had been used for drying the goods were replaced at that time by the installa- tion of steam cans, which reduced the time of the operation from days to hours. A stitching department was also added. This . proved very profitable and was eventually installed in the storehouse to which an ad- dition had been made and a new storehouse was built.
The ownership of the Bleachery and Glue Works which had been controlled by the Walker brothers and Upton was dissolved by mutual consent. The bleachery became the sole property of the Walkers, and the
Glue Company was owned exclusively by Mr. Upton. Through their connection with bleachery the Walker brothers became in- terested in the cotton manufacturing indus- tries of New England, as owners or by rep- resentation on the board of directors of many of the most successful mills. This fact naturally increased the work of the bleachery very materially.
During its eighty-five years of progress, the bleachery has experienced many changes in methods and materials. Styles of finish and fabric have been changed, but the Dan- vers Bleachery has maintained a leadership at all times.
After the death of the last survivor of the Walker brothers the business reverted to Mr. Grant Walker, son of Nathaniel who retained the management of it for several years. He was president of the Pequot Mills in Salem, in the administration of which he displayed high qualities of busi- ness acumen. On account of failing health he resigned the presidency and sold the bleachery to the Pequot Mills in 1909.
Since its establishment, five superintend- ents, including the present incumbent, Harry M. Shackelford, have directed the work of the bleachery. Mr. Shackelford, who represents the Mill, has made many improvements during his administration.
There is a new and enlarged bleach house, a kier room, a change in the loca- tion of the dye house, a new sewing and fin- ishing room, and a new power house equipped with a battery of Babcock and Wilcox oil-burning boilers, two turbines and a well designed switchboard. This last-named improvement furnishes electric power to the entire plant. The turbine is a General Electric non-condensing machine of the latest design. Two storage tanks for oil are located near the railroad. The pumping station in the rear of Washington Street has been equipped with a storage
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Garfield J. bluse
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tank for water, which will hold one million gallons of the purest quality for bleaching. In addition to this, new and improved methods of finishing sheets and pillow cases are used.
Danvers Bleachery has adhered strictly to the use of pure materials in her methods of bleaching. This caution preserves the pure white appearance of the goods for many years, a condition acknowledged and appreciated by dry goods dealers and house- wives. A great variety of goods has been finished by the bleachery. Sheeting from 42 to 100-inch widths, damask, dental, vel- lums, quilts, towels, crashes, flag goods, fuse cloth, sateens, jeans, hollands, and many other kinds have passed through its hands. More than twenty million yards of sheeting are finished annually. Six million sheets and pillow cases of standard quality required by the United States Government, are made and finished ready for domestic use.
HENRY F. DUGGAN-In the profes- sional life of the city of Peabody, Henry F. Duggan holds a position of high regard among his fellow-citizens. He is one of his city's leading lawyers, and his interest in community affairs has been evident in many practical and tangible ways.
Mr. Duggan was born February 18, 1887, at Peabody, Massachusetts, son of Henry D. and Ellen T. (Daley) Duggan, both na- tives of Ireland. They came to this coun- try from Ireland about 1870, and, settling in Peabody, made this place the family home. The father is now deceased, and the mother makes her home in Peabody.
In the public schools here Henry F. Dug- gan, of this review, received his early edu- cation. When he completed his work in the schools here, he realized the need of greater educational opportunities for those
whose circumstances compelled them to work in the daytime, and accordingly founded, in 1911, the Peabody Evening School. From a very early period in his career Mr. Duggan took a deep interest in civic affairs here, and was elected to several offices, so that, when he took up the prac- tice of law in 1929, he already had a splen- did background of sound, practical training. In preparation for his legal work, he at- tended the Suffolk Evening Law School, and his admittance to the bar came on No- vember 20, 1929. Since that time he has been carrying on his professional work in Salem and Peabody.
Mr. Duggan was first elected to the Pea- body city council in 1917, and served con- tinuously from then until 1923. In 1920 he was elected president of the council, and in the same year he served as a member of the Massachusetts General Court.
Several organizations have found in Mr. Duggan an enthusiastic and wise supporter of their programs for civic advancement. He has maintained memberships in the Boston Bar Association and the Essex County Bar Association. During the World War, he was a member of the United States Naval Reserve Corps. In fact, there is al- most no branch of life in which he has not taken a deep and lively interest, with the result that he is honored, respected and esteemed by his fellow-citizens.
GARFIELD SOMERBY CHASE-Much of the credit for the maintenance and direc- tion of one of the finest transportation sys- tems in Essex County should go to Garfield Somerby Chase, who, for over three dec- ades, has been intimately acquainted with this work. He has risen from a modest po- sition to become one of the foremost execu- tives in the Eastern Massachusetts Street
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Railway Company, and directs the activi- ties of the Lawrence and Haverhill divi- sions as manager. In a service of such vital significance to the public at large he has maintained a high standard of efficiency and through his able and courageous direction has won the esteem and respect of the citi- zenry.
Mr. Chase was born in West Newbury, Essex County, on September 13, 1881, the son of Elwood Norton and Anna (Noyes) Chase, both natives of his birthplace in which his family were pioneers. His father was the manufacturer of the first horn combs made in Newbury, and served as town clerk for about thirty years. Mr. Chase, of this review, was afforded an early education in the public schools of Haverhill and later attended the Mt. Hermon Prepar- atory School, from which he was graduated. Shortly after completing his studies he be- came associated with the Gale Shoe Manu- facturing Company in Haverhill, and began to learn the shoe business. Two years later, in 1902, he joined the Boston Northern Street Railway Company in this city, start- ing in the capacity of conductor. His rise in this work was rapid. In 1905 he was made a starter, in 1912 was promoted to the position of superintendent of the Haverhill division, in 1921 became manager of the Lawrence division and in 1924, due to the excellent manner in which he had per- formed all the tasks assigned to him, he was given the responsibility of supervising the affairs of both these units as manager, a position he has accomplished successfully and occupies today.
As manager of these two large divisions he oversees the operation of fifty-five cars over seventy-five miles of track and also directs the activities of thirty-four buses, which make scheduled runs in the cities of Haverhill and Lawrence and in the sur-
rounding district. His work not only calls for a knowledge of transportation but also demands tact and diplomacy. It is worthy to note here that during his incumbency as manager the divisions under his direction have made remarkable progress from every standpoint in their effort to fulfill public needs.
The nature of his work has made it im- possible for Mr. Chase to enjoy as much civic and social life as he would like. He has, however, found time to become identi- fied with some of the leading organizations in his territory which include the Lawrence Rotary Club and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
On June 9, 1904, Mr. Chase married Har- riet Walsh Stevens of West Newbury, and they are the parents of five children: I. Alice Searle. 2. Charlotte Evalin. 3. El- wood Norton II, who is now a student at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. 4. Somerby Noyes, who is a stu- dent at Phillips Academy.
WILLIAM W. HENNESSEY, M. D .- A native son of the city of Salem, Massachu- setts, Dr. William W. Hennessey has con- tributed richly to the professional well-being of this municipality and its people. He is widely and favorably known in Essex County, and holds a position of leadership among his fellow-citizens.
Dr. Hennessey was born June 17, 1884, in Salem, son of James P. and Mary (Ryan) Hennessey; the father a native of Ireland and the mother of Newburyport, Massachu- setts. His grandfather was the founder of the family in America, having brought James P. Hennessey to the New World when the father of the present Dr. Hennessey was but a child. The Hennesseys settled in Salem, where James P. Hennessey was a currier by trade and a leather exporter. He fought on
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the Union side in the Civil War and, after having been with the 27th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment for fourteen months, quit that organization, came home, and reënlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Light Artillery on February 24, 1864. With that unit, he served as lead driver of ammunition wagons until he was honorably discharged at New Or- leans, Louisiana, on October 13, 1865. He died in Salem on April 18, 1914.
William W. Hennessey, whose name heads this review, received his early education in the Salem public schools and was graduated from high school in 1902. He then entered Tufts Medical College, where he completed his work in 1906 and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Serving an interneship at Carney Hospital, in South Boston, for sixteen months, he devoted the next eighteen months to an interneship in the Massachu- setts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston. He then had six months of nose and throat work at Massachusetts General Hospital, and for four years was clinical assistant at the Eye and Ear Hospital. For thirteen years he was at Carney Hospital as eye surgeon, and, since 1913, he has been ear, nose and throat surgeon at Salem Hospital. During the World War period, he served as chief of the department of head surgery at Camp Dev- ens, Ayer, Massachusetts, holding the rank of first lieutenant.
Today, in addition to being an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Hennessey is active in several organizations of his profes- sion. He is a member of the American Medi- cal Association, the Massachusetts State Medical Society, the New England Ophthal- mological Society, the New England Oto- logical and Laryngological Society, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Otology and Laryngology. He is one of the best known and most prominent specialists in New England, and has a wide reputation among his colleagues.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. In these organizations and the other groups with which he is con- nected, he has consistently taken an active part. His labors have been outstandingly useful, and have brought him the widespread esteem and respect of his fellow-citizens.
He married, in September, 1911, Margaret A. Bailey, of Fort Fairfield, Maine. The Hennessey residence is No. 333 Essex Street, Salem, and here also Dr. Hennessey has his offices.
WILLIAM F .: SMALLIE-Identified actively with financial corporations in Sa- lem, William F. Smallie is best known per- haps as treasurer of the Holyoke Mutual Fire Insurance Company, having its head- quarters in this city.
Born in Digby, Nova Scotia, June 6, 1881, Mr. Smallie is a son of Calvin P. and Mary W. (Balcomb) Smallie, who came to Salem in 1885, residing here some years, and now having their home in Beverly. He was four years of age when his parents settled in Salem, and in time he completed his early education in the public schools. On leaving school, he went to work for I. P. Harris & Company, wholesale and retail grocers, where he was employed for four years. He next accepted a clerkship with the Boston & Maine Railroad Company, and, after a few years there, he engaged in the grocery busi- ness on his own account in Beverly, and was thus occupied for about ten years. This he followed with association with the firm of Gray & Davis, in Cambridge, being as- signed to assist the superintendent in the production end of the business, the manu- facture of lighting and starting systems for automobiles. After some four years he re- signed that position to go with Massachu- setts Motors, Inc., Boston, as chief clerk. He had been with the latter company about
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a year when it failed. His next connection was with E. L. Pride & Company, public accountants, of Boston, where he was sit- uated for some time. For almost the fol- lowing year after leaving the former firm, he was with the Chelsea Clock Company as production manager.
He has always been an earnest student of affairs, having attended Wentworth Insti- tute, taking mechanical drawing, also hav- ing done Young Men's Christian Associa- tion work. He also studied four years in the evening classes of the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance. Since he came to Salem, he made an intensive study of in- surance subjects, taking a course on invest- ments at the Roger Babson Institute, and a winter course on investments at Boston University. It was in February, 1923, that first he became associated with the Hol- yoke Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Salem, entering in the capacity of a clerk. He was made a subject for promotion, and advanced to assistant treasurer. In 1929 he was elected treasurer, the post he has since filled. He is an incorporator of the Salem Savings Bank and the Salem Five- Cents Savings Bank. President of the Mu- tual Accountants Association, of Boston, he is also president of the Men's Club of the Lafayette Methodist Episcopal Church, of Salem. He is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Now and Then Asso- ciation of Salem, the Washington Associ- ates and Salem Young Men's Christian Association. His chief recreation is garden- ing.
Mr. Smallie married, September 2, 1908, Cora P. Pride, and they have a daughter, Eleanor W., born November 26, 1911, a graduate of the Whittier School for Girls, Merrimac, Massachusetts. The family home is at No. 267 Lafayette Street, and Mr. Smallie has his business address at No. 114 Washington Street, Salem.
CHARLES HOWARD BATES is a na- tive and lifelong resident of Salem, and of a family whose name has long been identi- fied with business, community and social life of city and county. He is well known as an investment broker and counsellor of integrity and experience, and is a staunch supporter of all movements for civic im- provements. Mr. Bates was born in Salem, November 28, 1885, a son of Atkins H. and Carolyn (Procter) Bates, both natives of Massachusetts. The Bates family came from England and settled at Marblehead, where they were seafaring folk. Atkins H. Bates was engaged in the wholesale grocery business for many years and is now retired.
Charles Howard Bates was educated in public schools and prepared for a career in music, studying until he was twenty-four years with celebrated members of the Bos- ton Symphony Orchestra, but gave up musical ambitions for a career in banking and finance.
He entered the Salem National Bank as clerk and teller, acquiring during his six years employment in that institution a foundation knowledge of investments. In 1908 he resigned to accept a position as teller with the Merchants National Bank and several years later, was promoted to assistant cashier. He remained with this institution fifteen years. His next connec- tion was as Essex County representative of Hale, Waters & Company, Investments, continuing until 1930, when he entered business for himself. The broad knowledge of banking, finance and investments, ac- quired from his several responsible posi- tions, ably fitted him to establish his own firm, Charles H. Bates, Investments, that steadily serves an increasing patronage. His integrity and judgment have justified the confidence placed in him.
Mr. Bates is actively connected with sev- eral organizations, being a member of the
Frederic Ar Bol device
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THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
Marine Society, the Masonic Order, the Homestead Golf Club, and the Dancers Club. His favorite recreation is golf.
Mr. Bates married, October 9, 1911, Flor- ence Bulfinch, of Swampscott, and they have two children : I. Jerome B. 2. Carolyn.
JOHN W. GAUSS-John W. Gauss, treas- urer of Newcomb and Gauss Company, print- ers, a firm that dates back more than a cen- tury and is one of the oldest concerns in Salem, was born at Salem, April 1, 1890, a son of John D. H. and Grace (Whitcher) Gauss. His father was a native of Salem and his mother of New Hampshire. His great-grandfather had emigrated from Ger- many and, sailing by way of the Mediter- ranean Sea, landed at Salem. He became captain of a packet ship running between Boston and Salem. Stephen Gauss, grand- father of John W., was born at Salem and was a cooper.
John D. H. Gauss (father), was a printer and early entered the employ of the Salem "Observer," a weekly newspaper which had been established January 1, 1823, by W. and S. B. Ives. At this time the proprietor of the paper was George W. Pease, who had succeeded Messrs. Ives. Following the re- tirement of Mr. Pease, Mr. Gauss and George F. Newcomb formed a partnership, and con- tinued the business, which became New- comb and Gauss. The "Observer" was pub- lished until the World War, when it was discontinued and the firm became exclu- sively book and commercial printers. John D. H. Gauss died January 7, 1933. He had been a printer, with a true craftman's atti- tude toward his calling, for more than fifty years and was dean of all the printers in this section of the State. He had served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Rep- resentatives and in the State Senate, had been a member of the Salem school com-
mittee for many years, and was a leader in community life.
John W. Gauss attended the public schools and was graduated from Salem High School in 1909. For a period he attended commer- cial school, then entered the firm of New- comb and Gauss. At the outbreak of the World War, Mr. Newcomb retired from the business, which was continued by father and son until the death of the former, since which time John W. Gauss has been in charge. The firm, since its incorporation in 1928, has continued as book and commercial printers, and enjoys a reputation for excellence and quality.
Mr. Gauss is a director of the Palmer Pub- lishing Company, of Boston ; a Mason and a member of Winslow Lewis Commandery ; and is also a member of the Now and Then Association, of Salem. He maintains a sum- mer home at Naugus Head, Marblehead, where he engages in his favorite diversion of yachting.
Mr. Gauss married, August 5, 1909, Susan Searle, of Salem, and they are the parents of two sons: I. John W., Jr., who is presi- dent of Newcomb & Gauss Company. 2. F. Stewart.
DR. FREDERIC W. BALDWIN was born in the old town of Birmingham, Con- necticut, on December 14, 1861. At that time, his father Stephen H. Baldwin was a lieutenant in the Ist Connecticut Heavy Artillery, having enlisted as a volunteer soldier in the Civil War. The Baldwins were a well-known family in that part of the country. Their first ancestor in this country was John Baldwin who came over from Aylesbury, Buck's County, England in 1638, and settled in Milford, Connecticut, with the New Haven Company. Dr. Bald- win's mother (née Elizabeth Ann Inman)
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was born in Huntington, Connecticut, and her parents were James and Mary A. Inman who came to this country from England.
Dr. Baldwin lived in Birmingham and Huntington, obtaining his early education in public and private schools in these towns. He moved with his parents to Chelsea, Mas- sachusetts, in 1880 and at once took advan- tage of the educational opportunities in Bos- ton. Since, at this time, his father was engaged in the manufacture of textiles, Dr. Baldwin attended Bryant and Stratton Com- mercial School in order to fit himself to carry on the business. He studied also art and music under private teachers for some time and afterwards at the New England Conservatory of Music.
In his father's business he was a designer of textiles for a while, but became interested in the medical sciences and gradually pre- pared himself for entrance to Harvard Med- ical School from which he was graduated at the age of twenty-five, in June, 1886. He continued his studies in medicine in the post-graduate departments of the Harvard Medical School and the various hospitals in Boston affiliated with this school. During the many years in which he has practiced he has continued in close connection with Harvard and attributes whatever success he may have attained to his alma mater.
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