USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume III > Part 35
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PERLEY B. BARBRICK was born on November 15, 1874, in Urbania, Hants County, Nova Scotia, Canada, son of Mat- thew and Lavina (MacDonald) Barbrick, both of whom were natives of Nova Scotia. After completing his education in provin- cial schools, Mr. Barbrick, at the age of eighteen years, came to Massachusetts. He was with the Carter-Russell Transportation Company for a few years, but when offered a position by Clyde R. Sanders, manufac- turer of wood blocks used in the shoe in- dustry, he accepted and remained in this line of business to the end of his life. After serving in various positions in the factory he was promoted to superintendent, having supervision over a hundred of the most skilled men in the plant and industry. Few men were held in greater respect and affec- tion by the employees under him.
In private life Mr. Barbrick held a promi- nent place in fraternal circles, being affili- ated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he was a Past Noble Grand, Mutual Relief Lodge, and a member of the Encampment; Palestine Lodge, Knights of Pythias; Kenoza Lodge, Order of Rebekah, and the Pythian Sisters. He was also a member of the Three Winks Club, and of the Portland Street Baptist Church.
In 1900 Perley B. Barbrick married Mary E. Matterson, a native of Oxford, Cumber- land County, Nova Scotia, daughter of Jos- eph E. and Lucinda (MacCormick) Matter- son. Mrs. Barbrick is one of the leading women in Massachusetts in fraternal cir- cles, being a past Noble Grand of Kenoza Lodge, of Rebekah; Past Noble Grand of the Pythian Sisters; member of Merrimack Valley Association of Past Noble Grands, and has been a delegate to State and na- tional conventions of the Pythian Sisters.
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The death of Mr. Barbrick occurred on December 15, 1930. He had devoted his fine qualities of mind and character to fields of useful service, winning honor and loyal friendship from all who knew him.
HERMAN PACKARD BRETT-Al- though well known during the last two dec- ades of his life as the proprietor of a jew- elry establishment in Beverly, Massachu- setts, Herman Packard Brett was for a larger and earlier period a manufacturer of shoes. He was a native of South Paris, Maine, of an early New England family whose ancestry is traced to William Brett of Kent, England, who was of record at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in 1630. He was born November 19, 1859, and received his education in the schools of his birthplace and the Oxford Normal Institute.
Mr. Brett did not start his career as a teacher, as might be expected, but as an employee of the old Portland and Oregon Railroad. He soon turned his attention to making shoes by hand as did many of those who later rose to prominence in the shoe industry in New England. His first busi- ness was in Mechanics Falls, where he established a "factory" by which is meant a small shop, or part of the house in which one lived, where a few hand-workers gath- ered to produce boots and shoes. In 1880, Mr. Brett went to Stoneham, Massachu- setts, to act as foreman in the Burley & Usher shoe factory. A few years later this company moved to Beverly, where he con- tinued his connection with it. When this firm changed its factory to Newburyport, Massachusetts, it became Burley and Stev- ens, and Mr. Brett resigned to go to Lynn with the V. K. and A. H. Jones Company. His return to Beverly was to accept the superintendency of the J. H. Baker and Company, later the F. A. Seavey Company,
which became known as the J. W. Carter Shoe Company. In 1905, with Walter A. Perry as a partner, this concern was pur- chased, and when ill-health caused Mr. Perry's retirement, Mr. Brett continued the business as the sole owner. After the great fire in Salem, in 1914, Mr. Brett sold his business. A year earlier he had started a jewelry concern, a small interest in which was owned by a Mr. Allen. Mr. Brett de- termined to confine his commercial efforts to the jewelry business, bought out Mr. Allen, and to the time of his death oper- ated his jewelry trade in Beverly.
From the business standpoint, Herman P. Brett, in later years, was the owner of the H. P. Brett and Company jewelry store ; a director of the Beverly National Bank, and a trustee of the Beverly Savings Bank. At one time he was a member of the City Council and a leader in municipal affairs. During the World War period he took a prominent part as a member of various boards and committees. Fraternally, Mr. Brett was a notable figure, being a thirty- third degree Mason in the United States jurisdiction, a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Newbury- port, and a member of all the intervening bodies of Masonry. He also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Order of the Eastern Star, and other similar orders, and was a member of the Union Club, and a past president of the Beverly Business Men's Club. He was of the Congregational faith and a generous supporter of religious and welfare move- ments.
On July 30, 1879, Herman Packard Brett married Sarah Ellen Moody, daughter of Sylvanus P. and Lucy (Ryerson) Moody, of South Paris, Maine, and the period of their married life covered fifty-two years.
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They were the parents of a daughter, Georgia May, who married Frederick Wil- liam Bartlett and is the mother of a son, Frederick William Bartlett, Jr., born No- vember 8, 1922.
Mr. Brett died on February 7, 1931, at the age of seventy-one years. The community lost a citizen who had been identified with its best interests over a long period, a man whose constructive counsel and work had contributed importantly to its progress. He passed on to those who follow him a good name which remains as a challenge to worthy citizenship, to honorable dealings in all the contacts of business and of life, to high ideals and worthy achievements.
FRANK W. PENNIMAN-Of the jour- nalistic profession it has been said that many are called but few are chosen. Frank W. Penniman, editor and publisher of the "Peabody Enterprise" was of the few. He entered the profession as a youth and was at various times connected with a number of the leading newspapers of the East, hav- ing served on the "Worcester Telegram," the "Lynn Sunday News," the "Boston Post," the "Boston American" and others, and was editor of the "Havana (Cuba) Post," before entering upon his twenty- three years as head of the Peabody Pub- lishing Company. He wielded great influ- ence, as man and editor ; ranked high in the respect of his colleagues, and is held in honor by the people of Peabody for his con- stant and constructive contributions to the advance and betterment of the municipality.
Mr. Penniman was born on December 20, 1879, at Concord, Massachusetts, the son of George J. and Amelia Frances (White) Penniman, both natives of Massachusetts. George J. Penniman died in 1915, and Mrs. Penniman in 1894. Frank W. Penniman
was a student in the Concord High School when he left to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War in Company I, 6th Massachusetts Infantry, and received his diploma from the high school while in serv- ice. Mr. Penniman was sent to Cuba on the transport "Yale," but was a member of troops which had to be withdrawn from the battle front because they were equipped with rifles using black powder, the smoke of which disclosed the position of the men using it and thereby endangered all the forces in that sector. Frank W. Penniman returned from the war, happy to have es- caped its greatest destroyer, disease. He attended Harvard University for the scho- lastic year 1901-02.
While still in high school Mr. Penniman became the local correspondent at Concord, for the "Lowell Sun." He also gained some early experience on the "Marlboro Enter- prise" and the "Worcester Evening Tele- gram," and the "Gazette." For a time he was engaged in newspaper work in Porto Rico, and also accepted the post of editor with the "Havana Post." It was from his Cuban position that he returned, in 19II, to Peabody, and founded a weekly paper, the "Peabody Enterprise," which he edited and published until his death in 1934. The de- velopment of his paper and of the Peabody Publishing Company, of which he was pres- ident, was accomplished only under great difficulties and at great expenditure of both energy and means. He was the true news- paperman, courageous and hopeful, gifted with that instinct for news values that few men have, and the name he gave his weekly was both a slogan and a personal charac- teristic. However slow the early growth of his enterprise it was steady and important, the plant and equipment being eventually complete and modern. He had to have con- structed his own building to accommodate
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the new and heavy machinery which he in- stalled.
In nearly all phases of local affairs, Mr. Penniman played a conspicuous rôle. He was the first secretary of the Peabody Chamber of Commerce, a past president of the Peabody Rotary Club. a member of Mt. Carmel Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Lynn, a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Aleppo Temple, Bos- ton, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; of Esquire Lodge, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Peabody ; a past chairman of Peabody troop of Boy Scouts, and a member of Fidelity Post, Vet- erans of Foreign Wars. He was especially interested in the Boy Scout movement. His religious affiliations were with the South Congregational Church.
On January 10, 1914, Frank W. Penniman married Isabelle M. Tucker, of Lynn. She died February 28, 1919. They were the parents of three children: Frank W. and Edward G., twins, born December 20, 1915, both educated at Boston University, and are connected with the "Peabody Enter- prise." A daughter, Barbara L., born Feb- ruary 18, 1919, a high school student.
Frank W. Penniman died while he slept, on July 4, 1934, at the age of fifty-five years. His passing was mourned as that of one of the foremost citizens of Peabody, and as one who had been of genuine service to the community. A man of vision, he was withal practical and possessed the happy faculty of expressing his ideas clearly and of put- ting them into substantial use. He saw farther ahead than most of his compeers and he inspired others to constructive ac- tivities. His memory will live in future years as that of a man whose works were of real and lasting value, and whose achieve- ments benefited the people of his place and time.
HENRY WARREN BARNARD-For more than thirty years, since the death of his father, shoe manufacturer and capitalist, Henry Warren Barnard, of Andover, has served as trustee of the senior Barnard's estate. He is one of the incorporators of the Andover Savings Bank and active in civic circles in his community.
Mr. Barnard was born in Andover, No- vember 5, 1868, the son of Jacob W. and Eliza Jane Barnard. The former, who, as founder and head of J. W. Barnard and Son, was engaged in the shoe manuufacturing industry in Andover for more than forty years, died in 1903. After graduation at the Punchard Free High School in his native town, the son, Henry Warren, joined his father in the manufacture of shoes, the firm eventually becoming J. W. Barnard & Son, until 1930, when business was discontinued. As a member of the board of incorporators of the Andover Savings Bank Mr. Barnard contributes to the thrift and financial sta- bility of the town.
In politics he is a Republican and in fra- ternal alliance a member of the Masonic order (thirty-second degree Scottish Rite) and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His clubs include the Boston City Club, Essex Club, Andover Masonic Club, and Andover Country Club. He is a member of the South Church of Andover.
Henry Warren Barnard married, August 15, 1894, at Andover, Mabel Paradise, daughter of William Thomas and Mary Jane Paradise. Their children are: I. Ma- rion Paradise Barnard, born August 6, 1895. 2. Foster Carnes Barnard, born November 28, 1896. 3. William Shirley Barnard, born February 27, 1901. Mr. Barnard has his official address at No. 15 Barnard Street and the family home is in Elm Square, An- dover.
Oveny Warren. Barnard
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WILLIAM SHIRLEY BARNARD-
From the shoe manufacturing industry, William Shirley Barnard graduated into the real estate and insurance business at An- dover. Born at No. 12 High Street, Andover, February 27, 1901, he is the son of Henry Warren (q. v.) and Mabel (Paradise) Bar- nard. His father was the owner of the J. W. Barnard & Son shoe factory in Andover and a trustee of the Jacob W. Barnard estate. From the grammar school of his native city Mr. Barnard passed to the Mitchell Boys Military School at Billerica, Middlesex County, where he studied for a time. He next entered the Manning School at Andover, afterwards enrolling at the Punchard High School in that city and there finishing his education. On completion of his high school course he apprenticed himself to Cushman & Herbert, operators of a shoe factory at Haverhill, where he was employed for six months in 1917-18. His next connection was with the firm of J. W. Barnard & Son, of which his father was the proprietor. This association he maintained for twelve years and then withdrew to start for himself in the real estate and insurance business, April 10, 1931. In these lines he is building up a large and desirable clientage in Andover and the vicinity. He is affiliated with St. Matthew's Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and the Andover Square and Com- pass Club, of which last-named group he was secretary in 1932-33. He is a member of the South Congregational Church at Andover.
Mr. Barnard married, October 28, 1926, at the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Lawrence, Winifred MacNaughton, daugh- ter of Daniel and Ada Belle MacNaughton. Their children are: I. Nancy Paradise Bar- nard, born November 20, 1928. 2. Patricia Perdue Barnard, born March 17, 1930.
FOSTER CARNES BARNARD-Mem- ber of a family long prominent in Andover life, Foster Carnes Barnard continues in his own career the tradition of prominence and community leadership which he inher- ited by right of birth.
Mr. Barnard was born at Elm Square, Andover, on November 28, 1896, a son of Henry Warren Barnard (q. v.) and Mabel (Paradise) Barnard. He received his edu- cation in the Andover grammar school, Mitchell Boys Military School at Billerica and Phillips-Andover Academy, from which he resigned in 1918 to enter the navy. En- rolling at Harvard Radio School, he quali- fied as radio operator, Third Class, United States Navy, and was assigned to the U. S. S. "Nebraska," on which he made three trips to France with the Yankee Division troops. After his discharge from the navy he became associated with his father and brother in J. W. Barnard and Son, shoe manufacturers at Andover, a company orig- inally established by his grandfather, Jacob WV. Barnard, and since controlled by mem- bers of the family. After learning the busi- ness thoroughly, he advanced to positions of executive responsibility and served as general manager of the company until it discontinued operations in 1930. Since that time he has been engaged in the real estate business with his father.
Mr. Barnard is also a trustee of the J. W. Barnard Estate and an incorporator of the Andover Savings Bank. He is treasurer of the Davison Associates, a holding company for the Phi Delta Fraternity, a member of St. Matthew's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the board of the Home for Aged People in Andover and a member of the South Congregational Church. Mr. Barnard is well known for his progressive outlook on the problems of
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modern life and exercises an important in- fluence in all local affairs. .
He married, on September 8, 1925, Eliza- beth Fairweather Dixon of Newton, Massa- chusetts, and they are the parents of two children : I. Barbara, born March 23, 1928. 2. Joan Foster, born April 21, 1933.
WILLIAM CRISTIAN MEYER-
Widely known as inventor of the Goodyear welt machine, William Cristian Meyer came to be one of the leading figures in the shoe industry of Essex County and New Eng- land. His inventions-both he and his father before him were noted in this field- brought him into prominence in his indus- try, and caused him to be honored and be- loved in a wide circle of acquaintance. The welt machine alone practically revolution- ized the shoe industry when he perfected it so that it could be practically used.
Mr. Meyer was born on April 7, 1860, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, son of Herman and Anna (Krafft) Meyer, both of German birth. His father, an inventor and me- chanic by occupation, was the man who conceived the idea of the corrugated wash- board and was also the originator of nu- merous other constructive and practicable devices for dispensing with human labor and thereby freeing man for higher and more important activities.
William Cristian Meyer spent his early boyhood in Wisconsin, there attending the public schools and receiving his formal edu- caton. Later he came eastward, associated himself with the shoe industry, and became one of the leading figures in the trade in New England. He was connected with the Goodyear Company, and had his home in Beverly, Essex County, though it could not be said of Mr. Meyer that he was a man whose life was very closely tied to any given locality. Rather he gave his energies
to betterment of the whole of the shoe in- dustry, wherever it might be represented. Designing and creating the world-celebrated Goodyear welt machine he added to it more than one hundred other machines and ap- pliances for use in the shoemaking indus- try in the course of his busy career.
Earning the acclaim of men in all walks of life and all branches of the industrial world, Mr. Meyer also contributed to civic and social activities. He was a Republican in point of political alignment and a mem- ber of the Union Club of Beverly and the Beverly Chamber of Commerce.
His work won him national and interna- tional recognition, as was evidenced in many ways. In 1915, in an issue of the "National Geographic Magazine," Mr. Meyer was referred to as one of the fifty inventors of all time who had made out- standing contributions to the world. The magazine grouped his name along with the names of Edison and Marconi and such in- dividuals, paying special attention to the welt machine, which is now universally used. He won bronze medals in recognition of this and other inventions in the Paris Exposition and the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, and in a variety of ways was commended for his brilliant work.
William Cristian Meyer was twice mar- ried. He married (second), in 1910, Anne W. Parmenter, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, daughter of John W. and Evelyn A. (King) Parmenter, the father of Pawtucket and the mother of North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Mr. Meyer was the father of the following children : By the first marriage : I. Gertrude A. 2. Herman W. 3. Albert W., the last- named now deceased. By the second mar- riage : 4. Eleanor F., a student at Wellesley College. 5. Elizabeth K., a student at Oak Grove Seminary, Vassalboro, Maine. The family residence is No. 34 Washington Street, Beverly.
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JOHN W. CARTER-In the memories and affections of the older people of Bev- erly, the name of John W. Carter holds a high place. He went there as a vigorous and ambitious boy and in young manhood established one of the stores and businesses which remain to the present. He took his citizenship seriously and devoted a great deal of his time and energy to the promo- tion of the betterment of his adopted town.
John W. Carter was a native of Aetna, Maine, born August 6, 1847, the son of John and Emily (Getchell) Carter, members of pioneer families of the Pine Tree State. His schooling was completed at fifteen years of age, and he left home to come to Massachu- setts where he believed opportunity would hold open a door for his enterprise and energies. He had little money, when in February, 1872, he joined Austin Whit- comb and opened a small hardware store on Cabot Street, Beverly. Into the work of developing this business he put everything that he had of means and abilities, and grad- ually it expanded and prospered until it was the leading establishment of its kind in the town. In addition to the partnership in the Whitcomb-Carter Company, in later years he was a member of the board of directors of the Beverly National Bank, and also of the Deaf Mute School. He was president of the board of the local hospital, prominent in the support and guidance of the Young Men's Christian Association, and held in high repute in the financial circles of Essex County. Fraternally he was affiliated with Amity Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was a Past Master, the St. George Commandery, Knights Templar, and all the other Scottish Rite bodies of Masonry, being a thirty-second degree Ma- son. He was a Congregationalist in his re- ligious faith and generous in the support of religious and all worthy projects.
In 1873 John W. Carter married Augusta R. Osgood, who was born May 14, 1845, daughter of William and Maria (Emerson) Osgood, of Conway, New Hampshire. Mrs. Carter resides at No. 12 Broadway, Beverly, which has been her home since 1888.
The death of Mr. Carter occurred on Jan- uary 5, 1905, and was greatly mourned by the many who knew him. His passing was a serious loss to the municipality, for his career had been one of genuine achievement and of rich usefulness in service.
ANDREW KIMBALL CREESY- Through most of his long and useful career Andrew Kimball Creesy was associated with the shoe industry. He was born at Beverly, Massachusetts, April 23, 1862, a son of Andrew Elliott and Anna C. (Towne) Creesy, both natives of Massachu- setts, and both deceased, the former in 1877 and the latter in 1904. Andrew Elliott Creesy was a shoe manufacturer and it was in his factory that the son, Andrew, started to learn something about the trade.
Mr. Creesy was but fifteen years of age when his father died, and when his education was completed he went to Newburyport, to enter the employ of what was then Dodge Brothers, manufacturers of shoes. He re- mained with this concern a number of years during which time he became familiar with every process of manufacture and the dis- posal of the footwear produced. For a time he was in business for himself, but at the be- ginning of the present century he accepted the position of salesman with the large Millet and Woodbury Company. In his capacity of traveling salesman he became familiar with all parts of the United States and was popu- lar and successful among the shoe trade everywhere.
Mr. Creesy was a trustee of the Beverly Savings Bank and financially interested in
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several business concerns. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a mem- ber of the Square and Compass Club, the Beverly Chamber of Commerce and the Fireman's Association. He was of the Uni- tarian faith and active in the furtherance of religious and welfare movements.
In 1891 Andrew Kimball Creesy married Lottie L., daughter of Edward and Hen- rietta (Robertson) Humphrey, of Marble- head. Mr. Humphrey was a native of Mar- blehead and interested in the shoe industry, and died in 1925. Mrs. Humphrey was born in Illinois and died in Massachusetts, in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Creesy were the par- ents of a son, Andrew Elliott Creesy, now a major in the United States Marine Corps. He received appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he made an unusually fine scholastic record and was graduated a midshipman with high honors.
The death of Andrew Kimball Creesy, on January 27, 1930, was greatly regretted by the community in which he had played a useful part, and the friends and acquaint- ances he had won all over the country. He gave generously to the service of others and in their memories his name will always live. One wrote of him:
He was one of those genial men who had the gift for making friends wherever he went. In his native city his standing was high and his counsel often sought in civic and business affairs. He was always ready to give aid to any worth while enterprise aimed at the growth and better development of Beverly. While not neglecting his fraternal connections, he loved above all else his family and home.
LAFAYETTE GREGORY-For more than half a century Lafayette Gregory, of Marblehead, was associated with the Jos-
eph M. Herman Company, one of the best known shoe manufacturers in the United States. He became a partner in the concern in 1910, and, from the time of its incorpora- tion to his retirement from business in 1932, was an active executive officer. Nearly half of his experience was that of a salesman who traveled the West at a period when mining camps were numerous and the In- dian still quit his reservation to go on the war-path.
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