USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume III > Part 33
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During his career he has taken an active part in the organization work of his pro- fession, being a member of the Lynn Teach- ers' Club, the Essex County Teachers' As- sociation, the State High School Principals' Association, and the State Teachers' Fed- eration, the National Principals' Associa- tion. He has also been active in the social and civic life of this community, being a member of the Lynn Chamber of Com- merce, a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Lynn, the Lynn Young Men's Christian Association, the Boy Scouts of America and the Ionic Club of Swamp- scott. He is a member of the Congrega- tional Church and has served as deacon and Sunday school teacher here. Mr. Mitchell fraternizes with the Masonic Order as a member of the Mount Carmel Lodge of
Lynn. Golf and fishing are among his favorite hobbies and in satisfying the for- mer he is a member of the Happy Valley Golf Club of Lynn. For twenty-two years he has maintained a residence at Freedom, New Hampshire, where he spends his sum- mer vacations.
On August 28, 1900, Mr. Mitchell married Grace C. Davis, daughter of Albert H. and Anna L. (Bradbury) Davis, of Newfield, Maine. She is a graduate of the public schools of Newfield and the Gorham Nor- mal School at Gorham, Maine. Prior to her marriage she taught school. She is a member of the Congregational Church of Lynn, the Women's Republican Club, the Fortnight and other women's organiza- tions here. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of two children : I. Donald D., born November 4, 1903, in the contracting busi- ness at Marblehead and married to Corrine Ahearne of Salem. They have a son and daughter (twins). Donald D., Jr., and Cor- rine born April 1, 1932. 2. Dorothea Emma, now Mrs. Arthur Dalzell of Lynn, and the mother of a son, Robert Allen, born Jan- uary 8, 1934.
H. ALLEN DURKEE-Representative of the citizenship that has caused Lynn to attain its present prestige and commercial prominence is H. Allen Durkee, who is a well-known and esteemed business man of that city, where he was born on May 7, 1896. Mr. Durkee's career includes distinguished military service, in which he had the exam- ple of his maternal grandfather, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. His father, George D. R. Durkee, was born in Pleasant Valley, Nova Scotia, on August 9, 1862, the son of Joseph Durkee, who was a native of Nova Scotia, and was a sea cap- tain and later engaged in farming at Yar- tnouth, Nova Scotia, where he died. George
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D. R. Durkee, who married Lottie (Chand- ler) Durkee, a native of Vermont, was for many years a contractor and builder of Swampscott and is prominent in local Re- publican affairs, having served as chairman of the water and sewerage board for twenty years. He is living in retirement in Swamp- scott, where he is a member of the Baptist Church.
H. Allen Durkee was graduated from Swampscott Grammar School in 1910, and from Swampscott High School in 1915. He then attended the University of Maine for two years, but his university education was interrupted by America's entry into the World War. As a member of the National Guard, he, with his company, was mustered into service at Boxford, Massachusetts, in August, 1917, and left for France on Sep- tember 1, 1917, where, with the 26th Divi- sion, the IoIst Field Artillery, he served nineteen months, took part in all the major engagements of that division and saw ac- tion on five defensive sectors. Mr. Durkee was honorably discharged at Camp Devens on April 29, 1919, with the rank of sergeant- major, and later he became a first lieutenant of the 102d Field Artillery, National Guard, and is also a member of the United States Officers Reserve Corps.
Following his discharge, Mr. Durkee formed a partnership in February, 1920, with Fred L. Mower, and under the firm name of Durkee, Mower & Company, en- gaged in the manufacture of marshmallow fluff at No. 215 Burrill Street, Swampscott. Charles Jenkins was admitted to the com- pany in 1925, and in 1929, due to the need for expansion, the firm was removed to their present location at No. 76 Brookline Street, Lynn, and the name was changed to Durkee Mower, Incorporated, of which Mr. Durkee is president and Mr. Mower treas- urer. The other officers are: Chester F.
Rich, vice-president; Charles Jenkins, vice- president. At the time of incorporation, they purchased the instant cocoa business from Chester F. Rich, who became a mem- ber of the firm, and now manufacture this product in addition to marshmallow fluff, distributing their products throughout New England and in New York State.
In addition to the Durkee Mower Com- pany, Incorporated, Mr. Durkee is inter- ested in the Five Cent Savings Bank of Lynn, of which he is one of the incorpora- tors, and is a member of the town meeting of Swampscott. He is a member of the Universalist Church of Lynn, the Lynn Chamber of Commerce; is a past president of the Lynn Rotary Club; a member of the Young Men's Christian Association of Lynn, Sigma Chi Fraternity, the Tedesco Country Club of Swampscott, and the Swampscott Yacht Club; is a member of the Manufacturers Representative Associa- tion of New England, and a past com- mander of Leon E. Abbott Post of the American Legion of Swampscott. A Mason he is a member of all Scottish Rite bodies, including the Consistory, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree.
On September 6, 1922, he married Doro- thea Bruce, who is a native of Lynn, and the daughter of Frank E. and Carrie (Alley) Bruce, of Nahant. Mrs. Durkee is a grad- uate of Lynn Classical High School, and completed her education at the Massachu- setts School of Arts in Boston, from which she was graduated in 1918. She is a mem- ber of the Universalist Church of Lynn, and is a past president of the Rotaryetts of Lynn; and is a past vice-president of the Junior Aid. Mr. and Mrs. Durkee are the parents of three children: I. Allen Bruce, who was born on September 4, 1923, and is president of Swampscott Garden Club. 2. Donald David, who was born on July 10,
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1925. 3. Lawrence George, who was born on December 20, 1931. The family residence is at No. 28 Puritan Avenue, Swampscott.
FRED LINCOLN MOWER-Among the outstanding business men of the city of Lynn is Fred Lincoln Mower, who, from a modest position, has risen to be a member of one of the largest and most successful candy manufacturing firms in New Eng- land, as secretary and treasurer of Durkee Mower, Incorporated. During his career here he has also taken a keen and active interest in the social and civic life of the community and through his activities in this field has become identified with many of the leading organizations.
Mr. Mower, a native of Lynn, was born November 3, 1897, the son of Frank Henry and Hattie Lincoln (Skinner ) Mower. His father who was also born here, January 6, 1862, and died in November, 1927, engaged in the shoemaking industry for a number of years. The elder Mower was the son of Samuel Carter and Johannah (Pike) Mower. Samuel C. Mower was a leather worker here and owned extensive real estate holdings, among them the present site of the Boston and Maine Railroad Station. He was also the father of Fred L. Mower, who, for over forty years, was associated with the legitimate stage. Mr. Mower's mother, Hattie Lincoln Skinner, was the daughter of William C. and Abbie (Hains) Skinner. Her father was a native of Lynn, and her mother was from Vermont. Two of her brothers, Elbridge and Oscar, saw service in the Civil War.
Mr. Mower received a general education in the public schools of his native com- munity and, after completing his studies here, took a business course in Lynn and later attended Boston University. On June
15, 1915, he became associated with the Walter M. Lowney Company, candy man- ufacturers of Boston, and remained with this concern until he enlisted for World War service on March 26, 1917. He received two months training at Boxford, Massachu- setts, before embarking for the front with the IOIst Field Artillery of the 26th Divi- sion. During the nineteen months he served in France he took part in four offensives and was stationed in one defensive sector. The Armistice signed, he was returned to this country and honorably discharged from the army at Camp Devens with the rank of sergeant, first class. After the war he en- listed in the Massachusetts National Guard and when he resigned in 1925 was a first lieutenant, IOIst Field Artillery.
He resumed his connection with the Low- ney Company of Boston, becoming produc- tion manager and assistant superintendent for the concern. He remained here for one year and then in February, 1920, formed a partnership with H. Allen Durkee to manufacture marshmallow fluff. They be- gan operations at No. 215 Burrill Street, Swampscott, under the firm name of Dur- kee, Mower & Company. Gradually this business grew and required removal to larger quarters at No. 76 Brookline Street, Lynn, their present address. By 1925 the business had advanced to such a point that Charles Jenkins was invited to become a partner. Larger quarters were obtained in 1929 at No. 76 Brookline Street, Lynn, and at this time they also consolidated with Chester F. Rich in the manufacture of his instant cocoa preparation. With this or- ganization the business was incorporated under the name of Durkee Mower, Incor- porated, with H. Allen Durkee president, Chester F. Rich vice-president, Charles Jen- kins vice-president, and Mr. Mower secre- tary and treasurer.
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In his social and civic affiliations Mr. Mower is a member of the Lynn Chamber of Commerce, the Lynn Rotary Club, the Tedesco Club of Swampscott, the Y. D. Club of Lynn and the Manufacturers Repre- sentative Association of New England. He is a Republican in politics and for the past four years has been a member of the Swampscott Town Meeting. Mr. Mower is a member of the Wayfarers Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, also of all the Scot- tish Rite bodies and Aleppo Temple of Bos- ton, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His main diversions are golf, fishing, and theatrical productions, and in the latter he holds the office of pro- duction manager of the Tavern Players of Lynn.
On September 23, 1922, Mr. Mower mar- ried Gladys Jenkins, a native of Lowell and the daughter of Charles and Alice (Sum- mers) Jenkins of Swampscott. Mrs. Mower is a graduate of the Lynn Classical High School, a member of the First Congrega- tional Church of Swampscott and the Junior Aid of Lynn. Mr. and Mrs. Mower are the parents of one daughter, Joyce, born Jan- uary 26, 1925.
RALPH HENRY ILLINGWORTH- Numbered among the younger industrial executives of Lynn, Massachusetts, Ralph Henry Illingworth, treasurer and general manager of the Boston Machine Works Company, of Lynn, has come to be a figure of importance in the city. He was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, December 16, 1900, the son of Harry I. and F. Etta (Dan- iels ) Illingworth. The former was a native of Waltham, this State, born in 1855, who died in Swampscott, on October 31, 1929. He was treasurer and general manager of the Boston Machine Works Company and one of the founders of the business in asso-
ciation with C. E. Riley, of Boston. Promi- nent in Swampscott circles, Harry I. Illing- worth was president of the Rotary Club, president of the Boston branch of the Na- tional Metal Trades Association, and for many years deacon of the Baptist Church and superintendent of its Sunday school.
After being graduated from high school in 1918, Ralph Henry Illingworth studied engi- neering for two years in Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. He returned to Lynn to become associated with his father in the Boston Machine Works Company, manufacturers of shoe machinery and oil burners. He was started in the old fash- ioned way as a worker at the bench, and was promoted as he proved his capabilities. He was for a time a traveling representative of the firm, and later was service manager, prior to going into the office with his father. When the elder Mr. Illingworth died in 1929, the son was elected to succeed him as treasurer and general manager, positions he has filled efficiently since. Industrial man- agement and business judgment were ably shown by Mr. Illingworth in the operation of his own plant and he was elected in April, 1934, president and treasurer of the Lynn Products Company.
However much Mr. Illingworth is oc- cupied with industrial duties, he does not neglect social, civic and humanitarian activ- ities. He is a member and former moderator of the First United Church, of Swampscott, and chairman of the finance committee. He is a director of the Lynn Chamber of Com- merce, the Boston branch of the National Metal Trades Association, and a director of the Lynn Rotary Club, the Employers Asso- ciation of Eastern Massachusetts, and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Mr. Illingworth is president of the Lynn Finance Corporation, and the Lynn Boys' Club. Chief among his recreations is camp-
Palph . Alingwort
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ing, and he maintains a camp at Surry, Maine.
On October 13, 1931, in Swampscott, Ralph Henry Illingworth married Esther Louise Emery, a native of Surry, Maine, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William E. Emery, both deceased. Mrs. Illingworth is a normal school graduate and prior to her marriage was principal of a public school in Revere, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Illingworth are members of the First United Church of Swampscott. Mrs. Illingworth is president of the Women's Club and a past president of the music committee of this church. She has two children by a prior marriage: E. Louise Gott, graduate of the Swampscott High School, 1932, and of the Garland School of Home Making, class of 1934; and Ernestine Louise Gott, graduate of Swamp- scott High School, class of 1934.
ERNEST STEPHENS of Lynn, is one of the well-known leaders of secondary education in Essex County and in his posi- tion as deputy superintendent of Lynn pub- lic schools holds large influence among edu- cational circles. His career is the record of a young man who carefully prepared for a career as an educator. His efforts were always directed into channels that would further his capacity for service in his chosen field, and this well directed plan has brought him, while he is still a comparatively young man, to the front of Massachusetts educa- tors.
He was born in Gloucester, Massachu- setts, on July 8, 1889, the son of William and Nancy A. (Quint ) Stephens. His father was born in Par, County of Cornwall, Eng- land, on December 12, 1858, the son of Thomas Stephens, who died in Gloucester, and Elizabeth (Hancock) Stephens, who died in England. William Stephens was a blacksmith by trade and was active in
public affairs, serving as alderman, and was for many years president of the city council of Gloucester. In politics he was a Repub- lican and his religious affiliation was with the Congregational Church in his early life and with the Protestant Episcopal Church in later years. He died on March 5, 1925. Nancy A. (Quint) Stephens was born in North Berwick, Maine, on December 15, 1862, died in Gloucester on February 3, 1923, and was the daughter of Thomas and Louisa Jane (Welsh) Quint, both natives of Maine, and buried in Gloucester. Thomas Quint was for many years a foreman of the Cape Ann Granite Company of Gloucester.
Ernest Stephens attended public schools of Gloucester and after being graduated from high school in 1906 matriculated at Dartmouth College from which he was graduated in 1910 with the degree of Bache- lor of Arts. Led by his interest in educa- tion he became a teacher at Spalding High School at Barre, Vermont, and taught there two years, accepting then a like position in the Technical High School of Newton, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1916. In that year he came to Lynn as director of the department of social studies at Lynn English High School.
On October 4, 1917, he enlisted in the United States Army and was in training at Camp Devens. He was assigned to the depot brigade and on July 5, 1918, he was sent to rehabilitation headquarters of the Walter Read Hospital, Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia. When he was discharged in April, 1919, he held the rank of hospital sergeant. Returning to civil life, Mr. Stephens was appointed secretary of public schools of Lynn on March 21, 1919, and on November 12, that year, was made assistant superintendent and secretary of the school committee. From January 8, 1923, to May 13, 1923, he was acting superintendent of
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schools and on May 10, 1927, was made assistant superintendent in charge of sec- ondary education. On September 13, 1927, he was appointed deputy superintendent of schools and secretary of the school commit- te, which positions he now holds. He was a post-graduate student at Harvard Univer- sity, receiving in 1927 the Master of Educa- tion degree and also did post-graduate study at the Boston University Graduate School and at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Having broad interests, Mr. Stephens is active in many organizations of Lynn, hold- ing membership in Ashler Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Rockport, and in this order is a member of the consistory and of Aleppo Temple, Boston, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Lynn Chamber of Commerce; Lynn Lions Club, which he served as president from 1927 to 1929; is a member of the executive committee of the Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of St. Stephens Protestant Episcopal Church of Lynn, in which he holds the office of senior warden. Politically he is a Republi- can.
He was united in marriage on December 15, 1923, to Esther Guild Nelson, who was born in Lynn and is the daughter of John Henry and Abbie Clara (Ford) Nelson. John H. Nelson is deceased and Abbie C. (Ford) Nelson resides with her daughter and son-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are the parents of two children : I. Robert Nel- son, who was born on October 18, 1924. 2. Ernest Stephens, Jr., who was born on Aug- ust 22, 1930.
HON. J. LEO SULLIVAN-In the civic affairs of the city of Peabody, his birth- place, the Hon. J. Leo Sullivan has taken an important part. Serving on many boards and commissions, as well as in several pub-
lic capacities, he equipped himself admir- ably for his present post at the head of the city government. He is, incidentally, the first man to be elected to the office of mayor for three successive terms.
Mr. Sullivan was born on December 8, 1895, at Peabody, Massachusetts, son of Timothy J. and Bridget (Vaile) Sullivan, both natives of Ireland and now deceased. They came to America about 1880, settling in Peabody. In 1902-03-04 the father was a member of the municipal electric board. He was a stationary engineer by profession.
In the public schools of Peabody, the Hon. J. Leo Sullivan received his early edu- cation, subsequently becoming engaged in the hardware business in this city and so continuing from 1915 to 1917. He then enlisted for service to his country in the World War as a member of the Motor Transport Corps of the United States Army. He was overseas from December, 1917, to July, 1919, and then, returning to this country, was mustered out at Camp Mills, New Jersey, in August, 1919. Re- suming his hardware and mill business in Peabody, he continued it until 1930.
Meanwhile, he was becoming increas- ingly active in public affairs. He was a member of the city council for three terms, from 1923 to 1928 inclusive. Elected mayor of the city in 1929, he was reelected in 1931 and again for the 1933-34 term. Intensely popular in the community, he has been un- usually active in the promotion of Pea- body's well-being and civic interests. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, and he is also a past commander of Post No. 153 of the American Legion. His political alignment is with the Democratic party, and his favorite recreations are those of an outdoor nature. Into all his many under- takings he has consistently put his best interest and fullest enthusiasm, and his en-
J. Jeo Sullivan
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ergy has been responsible for the further- ance of many worth while projects.
The Hon. J. Leo Sullivan married, on June 28, 1926, Elizabeth McGlone, of Pea- body, Massachusetts. To this marriage two children have been born: I. Louise Marie, on April 1, 1927. 2. Philip Leo, on May 20, 1933. The Sullivan family home is at No. II Columbus Road.
LAWRENCE EDMOND JOHNSON- The term "self-made man," although some- times. abused, accurately describes the steady progress and increasing usefulness of Lawrence Edmond Johnson of Lynn, for his remarkably successful business career has been achieved through his initiative and ability. He has proved himself not only an able man of affairs, but also a citizen of notable type, having taken an active part in all constructive movements in the com- munity. He is the son of John U. Johnson, who was born in Juniata, Pennsylvania, and of Mary E. (McDonald) Johnson, a native of Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and now a resident of Logansport, Indiana. His paternal grandfather was Frank Johnson, a mill- wright by trade, who was born in Scotland, became a resident of Pennsylvania, and later settled in Delphi, Indiana, where he is buried. John U. Johnson engaged in the meat packing business in Delphi, where he was active in local affairs of the Democratic party, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1909, in his fifty-seventh year. His wife, Mary E. (Mc- Donald) Johnson, is the daughter of David McDonald and Mary Ellen Beale, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania and re- moved to Delphi where they are buried.
Born in Pittsburgh, Indiana, on May 23, 1877, Lawrence Edmond Johnson received his education in the public schools of Delphi, Indiana, and prepared for a business
career at Bryant and Stratton Business Col- lege, Chicago. He completed his education by attending Armour Institute of Tech- nology, Chicago, and then obtained a posi- tion with the J. H. Burr Retail Shoe Store of Delphi. Starting at a bench making shoes, he learned shoe quality and work- manship and was then advanced to sales- man in the store, remaining in this connec- tion for five years. He became a traveling shoe salesman for the Hathaway, Soule & Harrington Company of Boston, continu- ing with this firm for five years and re- signed to accept a like position with the Desnoyer & Courtney Company of St. Louis; this concern later being changed to the Courtney Shoe Company. Mr. Johnson represented this house for three and a half years and was also a stockholder in the com- pany.
Subsequently he engaged in business for himself, organizing the Specialty Shoe Ma- chinery Company of St. Joseph, Missouri. He held a large block of stock and served as manager and secretary from 1907 to IgII, at which time he sold his interest and came to Boston where he organized the Victor Shoe Machinery Company serving as treasurer and general manager. The United Shoe Machinery Company, in 1925, purchased this enterprise and Mr. Johnson gave his attention to other business inter- ests. He was president of the Johnson & Wright Shoe Company of Lynn until 1923, when he sold his interest. In 1921 he started the production of domestic oil burners for central heating plants, under the firm name of the Economy Heating Company of Lynn, being a pioneer in that business in New England. The Boston Machine Works purchased his interest in 1926 and Mr. Johnson organized the Lynn Products Company of Lynn, in July, 1927. The Lynn Products Company manufactured oil burn-
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ers, kitchen ranges of oil burning type, and with her husband, of the East Side Congre- appliances for industrial and domestic uses, with offices on Willow Street, Lynn. Mr. Johnson was president and treasurer and under his experienced guidance the firm made great strides, their products now hav- ing an international distribution and an en- viable reputation. A company for Canadian distribution was also organized, the Lynn Canadian Products Company, Limited, and of this company Mr. Johnson was vice- president. On March 15, 1934, Mr. John- son sold his interests in these companies and organized the Johnson Products Com- pany, of which he is president and control- ling owner. He became well known to finan- cial circles of Lynn through his office of president of the Lynn Finance Company.
Perhaps Mr. Johnson's concentration and devotion to his large interests make him conspicuous before all else as a business man, yet he has an unusual instinct for other matters. He is a member of Wyo- ming Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, the Lynn Chamber of Commerce, and the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Mi- ami, Florida; is a member of the Commit- tee of One Hundred of Miami Beach; for- merly was a member of the Lynn Rotary Club, and now belongs to the Boston Ro- tary Club; the Massachusetts Safety Coun- cil; chairman of the Code Authority of the Oil Burner Industry, National Recov- ery Administration; the Meadow Brook Fish and Game Club of Greenfield, New Hampshire; the Florida All-Year-Round Club, of Miami Beach ; the Belleview Golf Club of Melrose, and is active in the Re- publican party.
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