USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume III > Part 38
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He has always been interested in genea- logical and historical matters. In 1906 he edited and published a "Pettingell Gene- alogy," containing some six hundred pages, the material for which had been collected and compiled by his brother, Captain John M. Pettingell, who died in 1901, before the book was ready for the printer. In addition to articles of local historical interest, pub- lished or delivered from time to time, he prepared and published in 1925 a "History of Warren Lodge," one hundred and seventy- five pages, containing the historical address which he delivered at the one hundredth anniversary of the lodge, together with other matter and many illustrations. For several years, he has been interested in the work of the Piscataqua Pioneers, an histori- cal and genealogical association having to do with the early settlers in the Piscataqua region of Maine and New Hampshire. In 1932 he was president of that organization and is now one of its directors. In connec- tion with this society, he has done much original research work concerning Edward Hilton, the first settler within the corporate bounds of Dover, New Hampshire, who later removed to Exeter, New Hampshire, and was already settled there when its first settlers came in 1637. In 1933, for the Pis- cataqua Pioneers, Judge Pettingell had charge of the excavation of the traditional site of Edward Hilton's house, in what is now Newfields, New Hampshire, and uncov- ered the original cellar walls of an ancient building. At the annual meeting of the so- ciety in August, 1933, at Newfields, he deliv- ered an address advancing the theory that Hilton settled at that point in the summer of 1633.
In 1906 Judge Pettingell married at Som- erville, Massachusetts, Martha Edith Wins- low, born in Boston, Massachusetts, a de- scendant of Kenelm Winslow, who came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1623, and was
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a brother of Governor Edward Winslow, of that place. On her mother's side she is de- scended from Edward Hilton, already men- tioned. Their children are: I. Dorothy Nash Pettingell, born October 29, 1910; Bachelor of Arts, Radcliffe College, 1932; married John Fletcher Rich, Bachelor of Arts, Dartmouth College, 1930; Bachelor of Laws, Harvard Law School, 1933; they re- side in Buffalo, New York. 2. Winslow Lockwood Pettingell, born January 8, 1916; a member of the class of 1938, Harvard Col- lege. 3. Elizabeth Hilton Pettingell, born February 15, 1918. 4. Warren Haskell Pet- tingell, born October 15, 1923.
HARRY BRADFORD PERKINS, M. D., F. A. C. S .- For over three decades Dr. Harry Bradford Perkins has been a promi- nent physician and surgeon of Essex County and Haverhill, and in the pursuit of his pro- fessional activities he has also taken a keen and active interest in the civic and social life of this community.
Dr. Perkins, a native of the State of Ver- mont, was born in Bakersfield, Franklin County, on March 17, 1879, the son of Mal- colm R. and Laura (Bradford) Perkins. His father died in 1894, while his mother lived until 1917. Dr. Perkins attended the public schools of his native community and ma- triculated at the University of Vermont, from which he was graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree with the class of 1903. He then served his interneship and studied at the Fletcher Hospital, the Lying-in Hos- pital in Boston, the Polyclinic Hospital of New York City, and the London Hospital of London, England, as well as several others. In the year 1905 he came to Haverhill and established a practice which has since be- come one of the most substantial in this city. His professional colleagues and laymen have come to admire him not only for his broad knowledge, but also for the unique ability he has demonstrated in medical matters.
In his professional affiliations he is a past president of the Pentucket Association of Physicians, is a member of the staff of Gale Hospital, and belongs to the Haverhill Medi- cal Club, the Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In 1934 he was elected a Fellow of the Ameri- can College of Surgeons.
Socially he is identified with the Haverhill Kiwanis Club, the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, and fraternizes with the Merri- mack Lodge of the Masonic Order, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree, and is a member of Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine, in Boston. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
In 1908 Dr. Perkins married Gertrude MacLean, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and they are the parents of one son, James Manlius, who was born February 16, 1916, was gradu- ated from Haverhill High School in 1934, and is now attending Phillips Exeter Acad- emy.
HERMAN WHITMORE-Among out- standing industries which have contributed substantially to the commercial position of the city of Haverhill is the Haverhill Box- boards, Incorporated, a large paper box- board manufacturing concern which is being directed and managed by Herman Whit- more, who, throughout his active business career, has devoted his talents to the de- velopment of this enterprise. During the period he has occupied the position of execu- tive vice-president and general manager, this business has grown under his able super- vision, and through his activities he has won the admiration and respect of his business associates and the public at large.
Mr. Whitmore was born in Brunswick, Maine, June 12, 1895, the son of John A. and Anna (Crehore) Whitmore, both natives of that State. His father, who died in 1895, was one of the leading merchants of Bruns-
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wick. Herman Whitmore was educated in the public schools of Haverhill, Massachu- setts, and at Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science with the class of 1918. His edu- cational pursuits were interrupted during the World War when he became a mem- ber of that adventurous and romantic flying unit, the Lafayette Flying Corps, and served with that body for the duration of the con- flict.
As a member of the Haverhill Boxboards, Incorporated, he started in a modest capac- ity and acquired an experience that well pre- pared him for the important tasks he assumed with this organization later in his career. The company was founded by a group of New York capitalists in 1902 as the Haverhill Boxboard Company and oper- ated under this title until 1920, when this plant was purchased to become part of a combine known as the Robert Gair Com- pany. Under this arrangement business was conducted until 1934 and during the latter year the concern was incorporated and assumed its present title. During the early days of the enterprise about sixty tons of paper boxboard were produced daily, in buildings containing a floor area of fifty thousand square feet and manned by one hundred and fifty employees. Today its growth is reflected by the fact that two hun- dred and fifty tons of the product are pro- duced on a daily schedule, in a plant occupy- ing one hundred and seventy-five thousand square feet and manned by two hundred and fifty hånds.
In his social affiliations Mr. Whitmore is a member of the Haverhill Country Club. Since he has lived here he has worshipped at the Congregational Church.
In 1921 Mr. Whitmore married Cora M. Fraser, of Iowa, and they are the parents of one child, Jean O., born October 3, 1925.
FRANK E. RAYMOND-Elected for a second term as high sheriff of Essex County, Frank E. Raymond, of Salem, has met with public favor in the discharge of his duties as chief peace officer of this jurisdiction. He is also a leading member of the bar and has been active in civic affairs many years. Among the positions he filled at different times before entering the shrievalty were town meeting moderator, chairman of the board of assessors, associate justice of Dis- trict Court, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, town counsel, and assistant district attorney. Few men have been as well equipped for administer- ing the office of sheriff.
Sheriff Raymond inherits in goodly meas- ure his capacity for public office. His father, Benjamin F. Raymond, born in Beverly, was town treasurer of Essex for twenty-five years. He was also a leading druggist in that community for a considerable period, and has since been engaged in the real estate busi- ness. He married Lelia A. Story, who was born in the town of Essex.
Born in the town of Essex, April 4, 1882, Frank E. Raymond is descended from the oldest families of Essex County, tracing his ancestry to Roger Conant, the founder of Salem. He was graduated from the local high school in 1899, and from the Gloucester High School in 1900. He took his profes- sional training at Boston University Law School, where he was graduated and received his degree with the class of 1907. For two years he was a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He began the practice of law at Essex and Salem in 1907, and soon began to give evi- dence of ability both as lawyer and for civic officeholding. Understanding thoroughly par- liamentary procedure, he was chosen moder- ator of Essex town meeting and held the office fifteen years. He next was elected to
Frank Ray win
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the Board of Assessors of Essex and served as its chairman for three years. Under ap- pointment from the Governor he became as- sociate justice of the Third District Court and was on that bench for five years. For the terms of 1916-17 he held a seat in the lower House of the Legislature, and was a member of the fish and game committee in his first year, and of the committee on judi- ciary in his second year. He was town coun- sel of Ipswich in 1917-18-19. His service as assistant district attorney of Essex County was performed from 1922 to 1930. For his first term as sheriff of the county he was elected in 1930, and he was reelected in 1932. Under the regulations attaching to this office the holder must reside in the Master's House at the Essex County Jail, and he accordingly removed to Salem when he began his first term. He is identified with the Essex County Bar Association.
His fraternal affiliations are with the Ma- sonic Order, Knights of Pythias, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Patrons of Husbandry (Grange). He is a member of the Now and Then Association of Salem.
Sheriff Frank E. Raymond married, June 29, 1910, Emma Louise Low, of Essex, daugh- ter of Charles Gilman and Emma ( Andrews) Low, and a descendant of Rev. John Wise, a noted figure in Colonial history. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond have children as follows: I. Frank Everett, who completed his education at the Lowell Textile School, is now employed by the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company in Salem. 2. Roger Conant, is a student in chemical engineering at Northeastern Uni- versity. 3. Sumner Low, is a member of the class of 1934, Bates College. 4. Lelia Anna. 5. Alice Louise. 6. Pauline Frances. 7. Al- thine Low.
REV. JOHN B. E. DION, S. M., assist- ant pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Haverhill, has been closely identified with
this historic institution since 1925, when the newly erected structure was dedicated for worship, and in the performance of his duties has won the esteem and affection of the en- tire parish.
Father Dion was born at Central Falls, Rhode Island, June 26, 1894, the son of John B. E. and Olivine (Gaboriau) Dion. He was educated in the parochial school of North Cambridge and after completing his studies, entered Marist College, Catholic University, at Washington, District of Columbia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1919. Following his ordination his first assignment was in the community of Van Buren, Maine, where he acted in the capac- ity of curate. From here he was sent to Brunswick in the same State and after spend- ing a brief time at this place, went to Lyons, France. Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned as curate of the St. Anne Church at Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he remained until he came to the St. Joseph Church in Haverhill, an institution with an intensely interesting background.
The church was originally founded by a group of Catholic laymen of French-Cana- dian extraction. Formerly this group wor- shipped at St. Gregory's, a site now used as a school. By 1870 the growth of this colony in Haverhill had produced such leaders as Napoleon Bourque and Euchariste Belle- feuille, who formed the Société Saint Jean- Baptiste and deemed it advisable to have a priest who could speak the native tongue of the majority of the congregation. The re- quest was gladly acceded to by Archbishop Williams and Father Garin, an oblate father of Lowell, was asked to visit this group, which he did in 1871. During that same year Father Baudin (OMI), of Lowell, be- gan to conduct regular services in a rented hall on Water Street, which formerly oc- cupied the property now the site of the Crescent Motor Boat Club at No. 85 Water
Essex-19
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Street. It is recorded in the register that Father Baudin said the first mass here on December 25, 1871, at which time he also baptized two infants. The first officially ap- pointed pastor to this newly organized parish was the Rev. Father Casgrain, a Canadian, who had formerly served the church in Fall River and came here in 1872.
For a brief period during the first part of his pastorate, Father Casgrain lived on Cedar Street and later took up his residence on Locust Street. While he served this parish a wooden church was erected on the corner of Locust and Grand streets, which was solemnly dedicated by Archbishop Wil- liams of Boston on the 17th of December, 1876. Two years later the priests' home was built at No. 19 Grand Street.
During the early part of 1886 Father Bou- cher replaced Father Casgrain, and under the supervision of the new pastor the church was enlarged some fifty feet in length, a move which increased the seating capacity to eleven hundred. Later during this period the church was enclosed by a layer of brick and the solid structure that resulted gained for it the name of the "brick church." The basement was converted for the use of a parochial school which was placed in charge of the Grey Nuns of the Cross, an order from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They were housed in a home immediately to the rear of the church, which was blest by Bishop Brady of Boston on October 15, 1891.
By 1893 the Marist Fathers were placed in charge of church activities here when Archbishop Williams called Father Elphege Godin, S. M., of Three Rivers, Quebec, Can- ada, to come to Haverhill. Father Godin be- came one of the best known priests among the French people of New England. A year after he came to this city the Boys' School on Broadway, at Oak Terrace, was blest by Archbishop DuHamel, of Ottawa, on Octo- ber 22, 1894, and placed in charge of the
Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Arthabaska- ville until the fall of 1903, when the Marist Brothers took charge. In 1912 a spacious brick building was erected for the girls on Oak Terrace at a cost of fifty thousand dol- lars by the Rev. John Portal, S. M., and the combined schools were caring for more than three hundred and fifty boys and some five hundred girls, while the parish had a mem- bership of six thousand five hundred per- sons, or between twelve and thirteen hun- dred families.
On December 17, 1923, just forty-seven years to the day, after its solemn dedication, St. Joseph Church was destroyed by a dis- astrous fire. After due consideration the people of the parish decided to build on a different site and on May 5, 1924, ground was broken for the new edifice at the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Blaisdell Street, on Pecker Hill, by the pastor, Rev. Hernin Perennes, S. M. The corner stone was laid and blessed by His Eminence, William Car- dinal O'Connell, of Boston, November 9, 1924, and the following Christmas (1925) the Gothic Church in the style of Chartres Cathedral was opened for worship at a mid- night mass with the Rev. Hernin Perennes, S. M., as pastor, ably assisted by the Rev. John B. E. Dion, S. M. A fund of four hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars was raised for this new project, which included the main building, the priest's new home and the sister's new home. This included the purchase of a Casavant organ, and an altar of pure thirteenth century design, construct- ed of marble and Verona stone from the Mc- Bride studios in Pietra Santa, Italy. This edifice is undoubtedly one of the finest con- tributions the populace of French extrac- tion have made to the city of Haverhill.
LeROY T. STOKES, M. D .- Counted among the distinguished citizens of Haver- hill is Dr. LeRoy T. Stokes, physician and
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surgeon, whose brilliant career as a special- ist in the field of pediatrics has gained na- tional prominence. To his neighbors and fellow-townsmen Dr. Stokes is also known as a citizen of the first rank by his active participation in civic and municipal affairs to which he gives more than an average share of his time and attention, his interest in these matters being an example of the privi- leges and duties of citizenship. Born at Goffstown, New Hampshire, on January II, 1891, he is a son of Dr. Dudley L. Stokes, physician and surgeon, who was a native of Freedom, New Hampshire, and of Sarah (Tyler) Stokes, who was also born in Free- dom, New Hampshire.
Dr. LeRoy T. Stokes obtained his educa- tion in the public schools and Dartmouth College, being graduated in 1913 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and took post- graduate work for one year at the Lying-in Hospital, New York City, and Long Island Hospital, Boston. In 1914 he started a gen- eral practice in Haverhill, and then, led by his interest and marked success in treating the diseases of children, specialized in this branch of medicine, known as pediatrics. His work in this field has resulted in an exten- sive practice and his remarkable accomplish- ments have directed attention to him as an authority in his specialty. On the personal side of his practice, Dr. Stokes has won the deep gratitude of countless families for his successful ministrations to their children, and, as a true physician, this feeling is highly treasured by him. In addition to serving his private practice he is chief of the pediatrics staff of Gale Hospital, Haverhill. Profes- sionally, Dr. Stokes is a member of the Haverhill Medical Club, which is limited to twenty-five members; the Pentucket Medi- cal Association; Essex County, Northern District, Medical Association; New Eng- land Pediatric Society ; American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical
Association. He is also a member of the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States Army.
The ninth generation of his family in America, Dr. Stokes is worthily continuing family traditions for community service in his many activities. He is a member of the school board of Haverhill, serving his sec- ond two-year term and is active in the work of the North Congregational Church of Haverhill, of which he is a deacon. He is a member of Haverhill Historical Society, the Whittier and Pentucket clubs, the Haverhill Kiwanis, and Humane Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, of Rochester, New Hampshire ; Pentucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Haverhill Council, Royal and Se- lect Masters, of which he is a Past Master ; Haverhill Commandery, Knights Templar, the Princes of Jerusalem, and Aleppo Tem- ple, Mystic Shrine, Boston. He is also a member of Fidelity Chapter, No. 90, Order of Eastern Star, of which he is a Past Pa- tron.
On June 17, 1914, he married Nellie B. Gilbert, of Manchester, New Hampshire, daughter of Arthur C. and Mary F. Gilbert, and granddaughter of Michael and Sarah Elizabeth (Moulton) Gilbert, and a direct descendant of General Jonathan Moulton, of Moultonboro, New Hampshire, and of Moses Sentre of Center Harbor, New Hamp- shire, for whom the town was named. Dr. and Mrs. Stokes became the parents of four children: I. Sarah Elizabeth, who died at the age of seventeen months. 2 and 3. Gor- don Dudley and Gilbert Elliot (twins), who were born on February 23, 1918, and are members of the class of 1935, Haverhill High School. 4. Priscilla Sentre, who was born on September 23, 1925. Despite his many activities Dr. Stokes' first interest is his family and home life and his wife and children know him as a devoted husband and father. Mrs. Stokes is a graduate of
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Tilton Seminary, of the Young Women's Christian Association School of Domestic Science, and of Miss Sacker's School of In- terior Decoration and Design, Boston. She also had post-graduate work at Boston Uni- versity. Mrs. Stokes is prominently identi- fied with women's organizations and cultural circles, serving as president of the Women's Guild, and is a member of the Women's City Club, the Haverhill Music Club, the Arts and Crafts Club, and is a member and a Past Matron of Fidelity Chapter, No. 90, Order of the Eastern Star, of Haverhill.
WILLIAM GARNET DODGE-A de- scendant of an old Massachusetts family and one that has been prominently identified with the shoe manufacturing industry for many years, William Garnet Dodge, of Newburyport, is actively continuing family traditions in civic affairs and in the indus- trial world as a shoe manufacturer. Mr. Dodge's father, Nathan D. Dodge, began manufacturing shoes more than seventy-five years ago and established a business in 1866, in Newburyport. The quality of his products made his name nationally known. Nathan D. Dodge was a leading citizen of Newbury- port, holding a respected position among business, religious, musical and social cir- cles; had the distinction of laying the corner stone of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion building, and was the first president of that organization in that city. A bank direc- tor, he was well known to financial circles and served in municipal affairs as an alder- man. He died in Los Angeles, California, in 1915.
William G. Dodge was born on August 14, 1882, in Newburyport, his mother being Matilda (Hinsdale) Dodge, and in local pub- lic schools received his education. He started his business career at seventeen years of age by entering the shoe factory of Dodge Brothers, his cousins, and, beginning at the
bottom, advanced through the various de- partments thoroughly learning each step of manufacture. Ambitious yet independent, Mr. Dodge determined to make his way in the industry on his own capital and ability and, to acquaint himself better with methods of shoe manufacturing, he left his father's firm four years later to become associated with the E. M. Dickerson Company, of Fitch- burg, as superintendent of their factory. After four years in this position he became production manager of the Dunn & McCar- thy plant at Auburn, New York, remaining there one year, and then returned to New- buryport to engage in business for himself.
He cut shoes himself, sent them out to be stitched, then had them made at Seabrook, New Hampshire, and finished, packed and shipped them personally. Continuing on his own capital and doing all the work himself, Mr. Dodge, on January 1, 1908, entered into cooperation with his father under the firm name of Nathan D. Dodge and Son, the name later being changed to the Nathan D. Dodge Shoe Company. Mr. Dodge held the position of treasurer and general manager and under his direction the business expand- ed into a corporation with $500,000 capital and did more than $2,000,000 annually.
In 1925 Mr. Dodge began to manufacture shoes under his own name and continued successfully until 1930, when he amalga- mated with the Bliss and Perry Company, the new organization being known as Dodge, Bliss and Perry Company, Incorporated, of which Mr. Dodge is treasurer and general manager and Donald I. Perry is president and assistant treasurer. This firm is con- ceded to be the largest independent manu- facturer of women's turned shoes in the country and their shoes are distributed na- tionally. Employing upwards of three hun- dred and fifty, their factory has 75,000 square feet of floor space and contains a cafeteria for the workers, for whose comfort and wel-
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fare the management is ever concerned, pro- viding rest rooms, hospital service and spon- soring employees athletics.
Mr. Dodge is associated with many organ- izations of Newburyport, including the Dal- ton Club, the Ould Newbury Golf Club, the American Yacht Club, the Chamber of Com- merce, of which he was the first president ; is a charter member of the Rotary Club and is a director and a past president of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is a director of the Merchants' National Bank of Newburyport, a trustee and clerk of the Anna Jaques Hospital, and a trustee of the Five Cents Savings Bank. He served as councillor-at-large under Mayor Cashman, having received the largest number of votes ever given to a candidate for that office. During the World War he served on various boards and committees, promoting drives and campaigns. Fraternally he is a member of Saint John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; King Cyrus Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Newburyport Commandery, No. 3. Knights Templar ; and of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is active in the work of the Boy Scouts of America and is an executive officer in that organization. Despite his business and other obligations, Mr. Dodge is a strong supporter of all civic movements and welfare organizations.
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