USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume III > Part 28
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In 1877 he was married and the more eager to achieve success. In 1880, or a little earlier, he deserted the shoe industry to take a contract to build a school house at Pecker Hill. At this time his brother, George L. A. Kelly returned from the West, and was taken in as a partner in the contracting busi- ness. This was the start of Kelly Brothers, contractors and builders, which came to be favorably known all over Massachusetts. They won the reputation of doing their work well, and on time. Charles N. Kelly was responsible for the great part of their operations, and directed most of the largest projects. On December 18, 1927, the brother died, and soon after Charles Kelly, then a man of seventy-four, liquidated the affairs of the firm, and has devoted himself there- after to private matters and possessions,
such as the brickyards and the property he had acquired as a builder and contractor. He is vice-president of the Haverhill Na- tional Bank and a trustee of the Haverhill Savings Bank, and financially interested in a variety of commercial and industrial affairs.
Over a long period Mr. Kelly has been interested in many of the activities of Haver- hill and he was prominent in most of the worthy movements which made for the progress and prosperity of the city. He was a member of the first water board of Haver- hill, and was one of the commission that constructed the concrete bridge connecting the city with Bradford, his name appearing on the bronze plaque that records the event. He was chairman of the financial committee of the local chapter of the Red Cross Society, in Haverhill. Fraternally Mr. Kelly is affil- iated with Saggahew Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Haverhill, and a member of all the bodies up to the thirty-second de- gree, Scottish Rite. During the World War period he was president of the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Rotary Club and the Pentucket Club.
Charles Natenis Kelly married (first) Mary E. Laskey, and (second) Abbie Laskey, and to the second marriage were born six children : 1. Natenis, married Marie L. Leach. 2. John A., is married and resides in Wil- mington, Delaware. 3. Ruth, married Charles W. Gould. 4. George. 5. Barbara. 6. Janet.
RALPH HICKS GASKILL-Ralph Hicks Gaskill, manager and treasurer of the Essex County Cooperative Farming Asso- ciation, at Topsfield, has devoted his life to studying and advancing the interests of the farm and farmer in New England.
Born in Mendon, Massachusetts, on June 14, 1892, the son of Albion A. and Abbie F. (Hicks) Gaskill, he completed his general
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schooling here in 1909 and entered the Massachusetts Agricultural College from which he was graduated in 1913. His mother was a native of Sutton while his father came from Mendon where he was engaged in farming. The family was early at Salem, the name then being spelled Gaskell. Upon graduating from the Massachusetts Agri- cultural College, Mr. Gaskill was employed as a member of the faculty of the Bristol County Agricultural School in Dighton, serving at this post for one year when he was appointed agricultural agent for Bris- tol County, a position he filled for two years. During this period he conducted extension courses on farming throughout the county, a substantial contribution in aiding the farming community of this sec- tor. The success of this work is reflected in the fact that during the next three years Mr. Gaskill was called upon to establish the same extension course system in Essex County for the Essex Agricultural School at Hathorne. When the United States entered the World War he was appointed a dollar-a-year man by the government to serve in offices dealing with the food pro- duction problems and in 1920, became asso- ciated with the Essex County Cooperative Farming Association of Topsfield as man- ager. The Essex County Cooperative Farming Association was organized in 1917 and during the war period ran heavily into debt. Soon after Mr. Gaskill and associates took charge in 1920 they began to reduce the indebtedness, and, during the past ten years, the organization has had a steady growth until now it is serving more than one thousand farmers, doing an annual bus- iness upwards of a half million dollars and paying substantial dividends regularly to stockholders. By 1921 he had become sec- retary of the Essex Agricultural Society and today he is executive officer of both organizations. As secretary of this society
he was a prime mover for reorganizing the fair which is held at Topsfield annually and which has become the third largest attrac- tion of its kind in the State, a tribute to Mr. Gaskill's initiative and enterprise in the farm world. The Topsfield Fair was or- ganized in 1818 and was active for one hun- dred years, but in later times interest in it had died and it became dormant. Mr. Gas- kill took a leading part in its reorganization and interest in it has been so awakened that today it is in a highly prosperous condition and is truly a first class agricultural fair and maintained as its founders intended.
Mr. Gaskill has been president of the Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs (1932), president of the Danvers Rotary Club (1930), and fraternizes with Amity Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Dan- vers. When at college he became a mem- ber of Lamba Chi Alpha Fraternity. He is a trustee of the Danvers Savings Bank, president of the Maple Street Congrega- tional Church Men's Club at Danvers, and a member of the Town Meeting Members of Danvers. He has been a resident of Danvers since 1918.
In August, 1915, Ralph Hicks Gaskill married Nina Marion Taft of Mendon, and they are the parents of two children: I. Ruth, born April, 1919. 2. Roger, born March, 1921.
JAMES RUSSELL CROSBY-For the past seven years James Russell Crosby has been actively engaged in the accounting business as an associate of Harris S. Knight, certified public accountant in Salem.
Mr. Crosby was born in Beverly, Massa- chusetts, on December 7. 1896, the son of Ormond and Bessie E. (Stoddard) Crosby. His mother was born in Massachusetts while his father, who died in 1900, was a native of Nova Scotia. He received his gen- eral education in the public schools of
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Salem. His planned career was interrupted by his enlisting in the air corps for World War service and he was assigned to Aero Squadron 356 in which he served overseas until he was honorably discharged as ser- geant in 1918. Returning to civilian life he further trained for his profession at North- eastern University and received the degree of Bachelor of Commercial Science in 1926, since which time he has continued actively in the accounting field.
Mr. Crosby has numerous social and po- litical connections and in these he has been impressed into official position. He is as- sistant secretary and treasurer of the Essex Club, financial secretary of the Now and Then Association, member of the City Re- publican Committee, on the executive com- mittee of the Essex Agricultural Society, and a member of the American Legion. He fraternizes with the Masonic Order.
ROBERT L. STUART-For the past thirty-five years Robert L. Stuart has been actively engaged in the jewelry business and today manages the firm of Daniel Low & Company in Salem, a position he has oc- cupied since 1923.
Mr. Stuart was born in Boston, Septem- ber 3, 1881, the son of Robert V. Stuart, a tailor, and Annie S. (Smart) Stuart, both natives of Maine. He received a public school education graduating from the Mel- rose, Massachusetts, High School, in 1898, and shortly thereafter entered the whole- sale jewelry business in Boston. He re- mained in that city for four years when he became associated with Daniel Low & Com- pany, and began a connection with Salem business life which has continued through- out three decades.
Mr. Stuart, who has been actively inter- ested in local civic affairs, is a director of the Salem Chamber of Commerce and is
past president of the Rotary Club of this city. He fraternizes with the Masonic Order, is a member of the Temple Club, and is chairman of the campaign to build a new Masonic Temple in Danvers. He has also served as chairman of the Danvers School Board for one year.
Mr. Stuart married, on March 10, 1908, Ann F. Craig. They are the parents of three children: I. Ruth, who has attended secretarial school. 2. Sylvia, who is a grad- uate of Simmons College. 3. Robert C., who at the present time is a student at Exeter, preparing for Dartmouth College.
FRED J. CLOUTMAN-Among the members of the legal profession in Essex County, Fred J. Cloutman is known for his ability and learning and as a successful lawyer of wide experience. He is one of that group to which the community looks for leadership in its civic affairs and the manner in which he has responded, the un- selfish devotion he has given, are an ex- ample of citizenship at its best. Mr. Clout- man was born in Peabody, September II, 1894, a son of Frederick W. and Mary A. (Donovan) Cloutman, natives of Massachu- setts. His father was for more than thirty years a member of the Salem Fire Depart- ment and a respected citizen and neighbor. F. J. Cloutman received his early education in the public schools and, after being grad- uated from high school in 1913, entered Northeastern University from which he was graduated in 1918 with the degree of Bach- elor of Laws. This degree was earned while he was employed as a clerk in the probate court from 1913 to 1917, and while he worked in the trust department of the Old Colony Trust Company of Boston, from 1917 to 1918.
Mr. Cloutman was admitted to the bar in July, 1918, and began to practice in Salem.
Juan. Gain
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He has gone steadily forward and enjoys a large practice that includes several of the larger concerns in Salem and Essex County. Mr. Cloutman has engaged actively in poli- tics and is well known for his vigorous speeches in campaigns conducted in Essex County. He has no room for narrow party prejudices but believes that through party organization the public welfare, which he considers of paramount importance, can best be served.
Aside from his professional duties Mr. Cloutman has served the community as a member of the school committee from 1921 to 1927. He is a member of the Salem and the Essex Bar associations; the Young Men's Catholic Temperance Society, of which he was president during 1914; and the Knights of Columbus, of which he was Deputy Grand Knight in 1919.
Mr. Cloutman married, February 11, 1922, Nora Murray, of Beverly Farms, and they are the parents of two children: I. Mary Louise. 2. Ann Marie.
FRED HENRY EATON-As senior member of the law firm of Eaton and Chand- ler, Fred Henry Eaton is a well-known mem- ber of the Lawrence bar. He has been en- gaged in practice in this city for almost forty years and in addition to his professional con- nections is an officer or director of several local financial institutions.
Mr. Eaton was born at Lawrence on Sep- tember 6, 1874, a son of James Henry and Elizabeth Frances (Jenness) Eaton, and a member of old New England families. He is a direct descendant of William Eaton, born in England about 1604, who settled in Water- town, Massachusetts, in 1637, and became a proprietor of Watertown in 1642. From William Eaton the line is traced through John Eaton, his son; William Eaton, in the
third American generation ; the Rev. Benja- min Eaton, in the fourth generation ; Major Jesse Eaton, who was a minuteman at Bunker Hill and was afterwards with Gen- eral Stark at Bennington and General Gates at Saratoga; Ebenezer Eaton, son of Major Jesse Eaton ; and James Henry Eaton, father of Fred Henry Eaton and representative of his family in the seventh American genera- tion.
James Henry Eaton was an important figure in the life of Lawrence for many years. He was born in Candia, New Hampshire, on February 3, 1833. At the age of sixteen, following his father's death, he became a teacher and in 1856 came to Lawrence as sub-master in the Oliver Grammar School. Shortly thereafter he took up the study of law, but as he was preparing for the bar examinations, he was induced to enter the service of the Essex Savings Bank as a teller. The following year he was elected treasurer of the bank and served in that office with distinction until his death. Although he never practiced law, his legal training was of great advantage to him both in his banking duties and in the various positions of honor and trust in civic and public life to which he was called. He was associated with many institutions of the city, was elected a member of the City Council and in 1898-99 served as mayor. By virtue of character and achievement, he became one of the leading citizens of Lawrence and his death on March 22, 1901, was widely mourned.
James Henry Eaton married, on Novem- ber 14, 1860, Elizabeth Frances Jenness, who was born on April 16, 1837, at Epsom, New Hampshire, daughter of William T. and Mary Jane (Sanders) Jenness. They became the parents of two sons: 1. George Herbert, born August 29, 1861, died January 15, 1893. 2. Fred Henry, of this record.
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Fred Henry Eaton was educated in the public schools of Lawrence and at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. He pre- pared for his professional career at Boston University School of Law, from which he was graduated in 1897 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and began active prac- tice as an attorney at Lawrence, being a member of the firm of Bell and Eaton. After his associate, the Hon. Charles V. Bell, was nominated to the bench of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, Mr. Eaton carried on prac- tice alone for several years, but subsequently joined with Frederic N. Chandler to form the firm of Eaton and Chandler. This part- nership still exists. The firm, to which James Henry Eaton, son of Fred Henry Eaton, was also admitted some years ago, is engaged in general practice, with offices in the Bay State Building, at Lawrence.
Mr. Eaton is also president of the Bay State Merchants' National Bank of Law- rence; a trustee, member of the Board of Investment and attorney for the Essex Sav- ings Bank of Lawrence; and a director of the Lawrence Cooperative Bank and the Lawrence Morris Plan Company. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at Boston University and a member of the Andover and North Andover Country clubs. Mr. Eaton was an alderman of the City of Law- rence in 1902. His present residence is at Andover, where he is a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
On August 24, 1897, at Gloucester, Massa- chusetts, Mr. Eaton married Maude Sher- man, daughter of Judge Edgar Jay Sher- man and Abbie Louise (Simmons) Sherman. They are the parents of three children: I. James Henry Eaton, born November 29, 1898; married Mildred Frost. They have two children. 2. Alma Sherman, born Octo- ber 29, 1903 ; married, June 24, 1925, Scott
Hunt Paradise. They have three children. 3. Elizabeth Frances, born December 1, 1907 ; married, June 18, 1932, Miner William Mer- rick. They have one child.
DANIEL CHASE FITZ-It is some- times a handicap to be the son of a promi- nent man but Daniel Chase Fitz, of Salem, has proved to be a worthy son of a distin- guished father. Mr. Fitz has continued the traditions of the family name by attaining a position of leadership in his chosen profes- sion, the law, and in the community as a citizen of substantial influence. Born in Salem, December 13, 1884, he is a son of Andrew and Susie J. (Chase) Fitz, natives of Massachusetts.
His father was a prominent attorney and represented the Salem Savings Bank and the Salem Five Cents Bank. He was a mil- itary man and was for many years lieuten- ant colonel of the 2d Corps of Cadets, from which he retired with the rank of brigadier general. As a member of the Salem School Committee for many years, he gave valu- able service, and his death, which occurred in 1908, was deeply regretted by a wide range of friends and groups that knew him for his civic services and personal qualities.
Daniel Chase Fitz was educated in public schools and following his graduation from Salem High School in 1901, attended Har- vard University which awarded him in 1905 the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Attracted by the opportunities for public service af- forded by the legal profession, he studied at Harvard University Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1910. He became associated with the firm of Rackemann and Brewster, of Boston, and a year later en- gaged in practice in Salem with Robert W. Hill. Since December, 1933, Mr. Fitz has practiced in his own offices at No. 73 Wash- ington Street. He specializes in conveyanc-
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ing and titles and represents, among other large clients, the Salem Savings Bank and the Salem Cooperative Bank.
He was a member of the 2d Corps Cadets for three years and retired from the corps with the rank of second lieutenant. He is a member of the Salem Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, the Salem Billiard Club, and the Chamber of Com- merce.
Mr. Fitz married, December 26, 1912, Marion Elizabeth Nute, of Melrose, and they are the parents of a son, Andrew.
HARRIS STARR POMEROY, M. D .- Among Peabody's best known physicians must be included Harris Starr Pomeroy, M. D., who has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession here since 1901. He has participated also in civic and social enterprises, and has come to be widely known in his community.
Dr. Pomeroy was born on June 30, 1875, in Willimantic, Connecticut, son of Charles B. and Mary (Palmer) Pomeroy. His father was sheriff of Windham County for twenty-seven years, and always took part actively in community affairs. In Willi- mantic, his birthplace, Harris Starr Pome- roy spent his childhood, there attended school and was graduated from high school. He then became a student at Bristol Acad- emy, in Connecticut, and here he completed his preparation for college. Matriculating at Yale University he later entered the Medical School of New York University, and in 1900 was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For one year he served an interneship at Bellevue Hospital, New York.
Then, coming to Peabody, Massachusetts, he opened offices at No. 93 Main Street, which has been his headquarters since. He has made surgery his specialty, and has
won and held the confidence of patients from all parts of Essex County who, rely- ing upon his professional skill and training, come from miles around to receive his min- istrations. In October, 1932, after many years' service as a member of the surgical staff and as visiting surgeon at the J. B. Thomas Hospital, Peabody, Dr. Pomeroy was made one of the two chief surgeons of this institution.
Along with his other activities, he has taken a lively interest in the work of the Massachusetts State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and is affiliated with the Peabody Doctors' Club. For six years he was a member of the Pea- body Board of Health. In his political align- ment he is a Republican, and has been a consistent supporter of his party's policies and principles. Another form that Dr. Pomeroy's professional labors have taken was that of war-time service. After the United States became a party to the World War he was commissioned, on May Io, 1918, first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States Army. He was ordered to Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, and subse- quently to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where he served on the surgical staff at the Base Hospital. Still later he was sent to Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia, there receiving his honorable discharge from the service on January 8, 1919. Immediately thereafter he returned to Peabody and resumed his practice.
Also prominent in civic and social groups, Dr. Pomeroy has connected himself with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Free and Ac- cepted Masons. His Masonic affiliation is with Jordan Lodge, Peabody, and he is also a member of the Sons of the American Rev- olution, both organizations as well as others with which he has been associated, benefit-
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ing from his labors and his constant interest and enthusiasm. His position in his com- munity and county, as well as in the broader circles of his profession, has been fairly won.
J. ASBURY PITMAN, Ed. D .- Since 1906, Joseph Asbury Pitman has been pres- ident of the State Teachers College at Salem. He is an educator of long experience and distinguished record and has given many years of service to the Massachusetts schools.
Dr. Pitman was born at Appleton, Maine, on June 30, 1867, a son of William Henry and Ruth Anne (Richardson) Pitman. Fol- lowing the completion of his preliminary education, he entered the State Normal School at Castine, Maine, and was gradu- ated from that institution in 1887. In 1895- 1896 he was a special student at Clark Uni- versity and in 1896-97 at Harvard Univer- sity. From 1917 to 1921 he also carried on graduate work at Columbia University and in 1929 received the honorary degree of Doctor of Education from Rhode Island College of Education. Meanwhile, however, his professional career was well under way.
From 1884 to 1890, Dr. Pitman taught in and served as principal of various elemen- tary and high schools in the State of Maine. In 1891 he came to Massachusetts as a prin- cipal of grammar schools and in 1892 was appointed district superintendent of schools. This office he filled until 1897 when he be- came city superintendent of schools at Marlboro, Massachusetts, and served as such until 1906. In the latter year, he was called to the presidency of the Salem State Teachers College, and this position he has since occupied. Dr. Pitman is known in his profession as an able administrator and has brought to his work much energy and a progressive outlook. These qualities are
reflected in the development of the college under his guidance. He has also been active in civic affairs at Salem and is now chair- man of the Salem City Planning Board, having been a member of this body and its predecessor since its organization in 191I. He is a former president of the Salem Chamber of Commerce and for several years has been president of the Salem Home for Aged Women.
Dr. Pitman is a member of the National Education Association and a member and former president of the American Associa- tion of Teachers Colleges, the Massachu- setts Superintendents' Association, the Massachusetts Normal School Teachers' Association and the American Institute of Instruction. He is a former president of the Massachusetts Schoolmasters' Club, a member of the National Economic League, the Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Gamma Mu fra- ternities, the Rotary Club and the Free and Accepted Masons. Dr. Pitman is a Re- publican in politics and a member of the Congregational Church.
On July 23, 1890, at Lincolnville, Maine, he married Flora Etta Carver. They are the parents of two children: Earle Carver, who was graduated from Harvard in 1914 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1916 from Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, with the degree of Master of Sci- ence. He is now in charge of one of the laboratories of the du Pont Company and resides at Princeton, New Jersey. 2. Arthur Loring, who was graduated from Harvard in 1919 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1920 received the degree of Master of Arts (Ibid.). He was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1922, degree of Master of Science, and is now connected with the West-Vaco Com- pany, industrial chemists, at Charleston, West Virginia.
Friderich & atkinson
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ALBERT GOODHUE-Engaged ac- tively and successfully in business opera- tions in Peabody, Albert Goodhue is vice- president and general manager of the East- man Gelatine Corporation, the Crystal Gela- tine Company, and the Essex Gelatine Com- pany, of this city.
He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on May 4, 1881, son of Samuel V. and Jes- sie T. (Towne) Goodhue. His father, a cotton goods manufacturer, was also a na- tive of Salem, and the mother was born in Haverhill.
In the public schools of Salem, Albert Goodhue received his early education, being graduated from high school in 1900. In 1904 he was graduated from Harvard Uni- versity, a Bachelor of Arts. For one year he was associated with a firm of cotton brokers, in Boston, and then was for a time with the American Glue Company, of Bos- ton, as vice-president and a director, so continuing until that company was pur- chased by the Eastman Kodak Company, of Rochester, New York. That purchase was effected in September, 1930, and then it was that Mr. Goodhue became vice-president and general manager of the three companies named above-the Eastman Gelatine Cor- poration, the Crystal Gelatine Company, and the Essex Gelatine Company, of Pea- body. He is also a director of these com- panies.
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