USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume III > Part 55
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Senator Malcolm Lawrie Bell attended public schools of his native community and Phillips Academy at Andover from which he was graduated with the class of 1912. Di- rectly after finishing his academic education he became associated with the firm of Stone and Webster in Boston, and remained with with Tucker, Anthony and Company, bank- ers and brokers in Boston. He stayed with this financial house until the United States entered the World War. At this time he en- listed in the United States Navy and was at Harvard dispatched to the officers training school. Later he was promoted to the rank of ensign and served in this capacity for about five months when he received an hon- orable discharge from the service.
On returning to Marblehead he immedi- ately took a keen and active interest in the affairs of the community, becoming a mem- ber of the school committee with which he
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was affiliated for nine years, serving two terms as secretary of the body and one year as chairman. He also served on the board of assessors and maintained his post in this office for a period of eight years. The able and satisfactory manner in which he was carrying out the work in the various organ- izations he was serving gained for him wide recognition and he soon came to be elected to the board of selectmen, being chairman of this unit for two out of the four years he served. In 1929 he was appointed the Republican candidate for the State Legisla- ture and was elected to fill office until 1930. At the expiration of this time he was named for the Senate and elected to this august body for one term, and was returned to the House of Representatives for the term of 1934-35. His accomplishments as a legis- lator have long been apparent and his tal- ents for intelligent consideration of weighty State matters have won the respect of legis- lative opponents as well as from his co- workers.
In conjunction with his civic activities Mr. Bell has also been very active in the social affairs of Marblehead where he be- longs to the American Legion Post No. 32, an organization in which he had the honor of serving as first treasurer for a period of five years. He is also a member of the M. A. Picket organization, the Mugford Asso- ciation, and is associate treasurer of the Marblehead Historical Society. He is past president of the Young Men's Christian Association and a director member of the Republican Town Council.
On October II, 1920, Senator Bell mar- ried Elizabeth Webb of Marblehead and they are the parents of three children : Lin- ton, Lawrie, and Robert.
WILLIAM EVERETT SMITH-For over a quarter of a century William Ever- ett Smith has taught physics in the English
High School in Boston. As a resident of the community of Marblehead he has mani- fested the same inspirational characteristics that have served to endear him among the legion of students who have had the pleas- ure of coming under his expert tutelage during his long and distinguished career as an educator. He has taken a keen and definite interest in the affairs of his sur- roundings and through his efforts has come to gain the esteem and respect of a host of friends and associates who have seen fit to honor him with some of the most respon- sible and important posts in the affairs of this town.
William Everett Smith was born in Mar- blehead on July 26, 1876, the son of Samuel and Mary P. (Oliver) Smith, both natives of his birthplace. His father, who was a veteran of the Civil War, having been a corporal in the Union Forces during that conflict, engaged in the shoe industry throughout his life. His mother died in 1925. Mr. Smith, of this review, was edu- cated in the public schools of his native community, graduating from the high school here in 1895. Shortly after com- pleting his studies he went to Boston where for three years he worked in the leather business. At the expiration of this period he determined to enter the teaching profes- sion and matriculated at the Bridgewater Normal School where he was graduated with the class of 1902. Recognized for his scholastic attainments he was admitted to the senior class at Harvard University and in 1903 was the recipient of a degree of Bachelor of Science from this institution. He then embarked on a professional career, securing his first post as a member of the faculty of the Greenfield High School, where he taught for six years. It was in 1909 that he came to the city of Boston and became affiliated with the English High School, an association he has since maintained.
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Throughout his career with this latter in- stitution he has been a resident of his na- tive community of Marblehead and in this connection has taken a lively interest in the affairs of this community. Professionally he is the president of the Eastern Associa- tion of Physics Teachers. He has served as a member of the school committee of Marblehead for five years ; has been chair- man of the finance committee for a similar period and has served as chairman for the committee on revision of town government. He was also a member of the unemploy- ment relief committee, a trustee for the Abbott Public Library and president of the Marblehead Chapter of the Unitarian Lay- men's League. During his work here he has been called upon to contribute written works on the history of Marblehead among which we find one on the schools of the community which was prepared for the "Messenger," in its tercentenary edition. For his work on the finance committee he received the unanimous congratulations from his fellow-townsmen in town meeting assembled, a great tribute to his ability. His favorite recreation is gardening.
Mr. Smith was married on August 8, 1909, to Eliza G. Reynolds of Marblehead, and they are the parents of two sons: I. Theo- dore, a graduate of Bowdoin College, and of Harvard University where he gained his Master's degree. He also studied for a year at the Sorbonne, Paris. He is now an in- structor in English in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2. Gregory, grad- uate of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology where he received a Master of Sci- ence degree. He is now a chemical engineer for the Eastman Kodak Company of Roch- ester, New York.
LEWIS DOANE-Among the men who are carrying the burden of educational lead- ership in post-war Essex County is Lewis
Doane, head of the department of biology and science in the Marblehead High School. He is a native of the town, born November 6, 1886, son of Elisha C. and Laura (Stone) Doane. His father, whose birthplace was East Orleans, Massachusetts, and who died in 1906, was a direct descendant of Deacon John Doane, who came from England to Plymouth in 1630, and removed to Eastham, Massachusetts, in 1644. The Stone family was among the pioneer settlers of Marble- head.
Lewis Doane received his early schooling in Marblehead and was graduated from Dean Academy in 1904. He matriculated at Tufts College, where he gained the degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1909, and in 1911 he was graduated from the School of Business Administration, Har- vard University, with the degree of Master of Business Administration. Mr. Doane was a member of the Marblehead school committee from 1913 to 1916, and was a member and secretary of the finance com- mittee for six years. While a member of the Massachusetts Naval Militia, he was mustered into the Naval Service in March, 1917, and served throughout the World War. He spent his first year as an ensign on the U. S. S. "North Carolina," on convoy duty in the North Atlantic between the United States and Europe. In March, 1918, Ensign Doane was transferred to the U. S. S. "Canonicus" of the United States mine- laying group, engaged in the highly dan- gerous task of laying a mine barrier from Norway to the Shetland Islands. He won promotion to the rank of lieutenant, junior grade, in January, 1918, and was awarded the senior grade in July, of that same year. He was assigned to inactive duty in April, 1919, and was honorably discharged from the navy, in 1921.
Returning to Marblehead, Lewis Doane began teaching in the high school and has
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so continued. He is a member of the Mar- blehead Teachers' Association and the Na- tional Education Association. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Order, be- ing a thirty-second degree Mason, and is also senior warden of Philanthropic Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Mar- blehead; high priest of Washington Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons; member of Wins- low Lewis Commandery, Knights Templar ; and Master of Sutton Lodge of Perfection, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He was foremost in the organization of the Ameri- can Legion Post in Marblehead and was its first commander. He is a member of the Military Order of the World War, and treasurer of the Marblehead Arts Associa- tion. As is evident, Mr. Doane is keenly interested in civic and other affairs of Mar- blehead and is constructively active in the promotion of anything that makes for the benefit of the place and its citizens.
On August 12, 1932, Lewis Doane mar- ried Helen Paine, of Marblehead.
WILLARD WOODBURY WOODMAN
-To those familiar with the field of educa- tion in New England, the name of Willard Woodbury Woodman is well known and honored. He was a teacher for forty-seven years, the principal of the Peabody High School for thirty-four years, he having the record of longest service in this school, which has been established for eighty-five years or more. His resignation in 1934 from the principalship was keenly regretted by educators, the community of which he has been a leading citizen for so long, and the great number of graduates whose characters and lives he has moulded.
Mr. Woodman was born January 18, 1865, in Hebron, Maine, the son of Flavius Mellen and Edith Olevia (Bearce) Woodman. His elementary education was obtained in the
public schools of Minot, Maine, and at Hebron Academy. In 1879 he entered Ed- ward Little High School in Auburn, Maine, from which he graduated in 1883. He then taught school for a year in Minot. In the fall of 1884 he matriculated at Bowdoin Col- lege, from which he graduated and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1888 and re- ceived his Master's degree in Arts, in 1891. He was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, of which he was president his junior and senior years. During his senior year he was one of the editors of the "Bow- doin Orient," the organ of the college, also one of the editors of "The Bugle," a senior class publication. He represented the col- lege in athletics as a member of the 'varsity boat crew during his junior and senior years. At the annual field day meet, in his junior year, he won the medal for best indi- vidual record. In the annual boat race in May, 1886, he pulled stroke for the sopho- more crew ; was one of the directors of the Tennis Association his sophomore and junior years; was one of the gym class leaders, junior year ; was elected commodore at the meeting of the Boating Association in the fall of his senior year; was elected captain of senior gym class his senior year; was assistant librarian in the college library his sophomore, junior and senior years ; was one of the speakers chosen to take part in the prize declamations, sophomore year; won the first prize in prize declamations his junior year.
On commencement day in 1888 Mr. Wood- man was one of the class speakers, his attain- ments during his four years' course entitling him to this honor, and on recommendation of the faculty he was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
After leaving college he was appointed instructor in Latin at Thayer Academy, South Braintree, Massachusetts.
Tillard Woodbury Woodman
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In the fall of 1889 he was called to be principal of the Gorham High School, Gor- ham, Maine, and held this position for eleven years. During two years of that period, 1898 and 1899, in connection with his official duties as high school principal, he served as superintendent of Gorham public schools. During these two years, Mr. Donald B. Mac- Millan, famous Arctic explorer, was one of the teachers under Mr. Woodman's super- vision, being principal of the Levi Hall School in North Gorham. This was the first position held by Mr. MacMillan after receiv- ing his degree from Bowdoin College in June, 1898.
In 1900, upon the recommendation of President Hyde, of Bowdoin College, and former Governor Robie, Mr. Woodman was elected principal of Peabody High School, Peabody, Massachusetts, and has filled that position for thirty-four years, "with credit to himself, with entire satisfaction to the school committee of the city, and with enduring benefit to thousands of people who during that period have. sat under his instruction. In educational circles in Essex County and indeed throughout Eastern Massachusetts and in the State of Maine as well, he enjoys an extensive acquaintance and an excellent reputation as an educator and as a man of Christian character and moral worth."
Mr. Woodman, for many years, has been a member of the South Congregational Church in Peabody and holds the office of deacon. He is also chairman of the Pru- dential Committee, member of the church cabinet ; and member of the Essex Congre- gational Club.
The two hundredth anniversary of the founding of the South (Congregational) Church in Peabody and the ordination of Rev. Benjamin Prescott as its first pastor was celebrated September 21-23, 1913. The principal features of the celebration were
the pageant given by members of the Pea- body Historical Society, illustrating impor- tant events in the history of the church and the town and the unveiling of the Prescott memorial tablet, under the supervision of Mr. Willard W. Woodman, chairman of the memorial committee. A quotation from the printed account of the anniversary proceed- ings reads as follows: "At 3 o'clock on the afternoon of September 23d, the bronze tablet affixed to the memorial boulder placed over the tomb of Rev. Benjamin Prescott in the little private burial ground on Tremont Street was unveiled in the presence of a large gathering." This burial ground has been put in fine condition by the memorial committee of the South Church, of which W. W. Woodman was at the head, the ex- pense being borne by descendants of the first minister of that church.
The exercises were opened by Mr. Wood- man, who briefly told what had been done at the place, something that was apparent to all who were familiar with the locality. He presented as the speaker of the occa- sion, Rev. Prescott Evarts, rector of Christ Church in Cambridge, a great-great-great- grandson of Parson Prescott, and a son of the late United States Senator, William E. Evarts, of New York.
Mr. Evarts pictured in imagination the appearance of his ancestor whose memory the company had gathered to honor, and he surmised from the well-known beauty and charms of his granddaughter, Rebecca Pres- cott, who married Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence, that Rev. Benjamin Prescott must have been a handsome man. He spoke of the parson's influence in the community, and the work that he did in civil life in the twenty years he lived after leaving the min- istry. He praised Mr. Woodman highly for the success of his efforts in discovering the
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names and places of residence of Parson Prescott's living descendants and gave him due credit for his labors in supervising the restoration of the burial ground. The rugged boulder to which the bronze tablet is attached was selected by Mr. Woodman after several weeks' intensive search in the surrounding territory. The tablet bears the following inscription which was recom- mended by Mr. Woodman and approved by the other members of his committee:
To PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF BENJAMIN PRESCOTT BORN SEPTEMBER 16, 1687 DIED MAY 27, 1777
ORDAINED SEPTEMBER 23, 1713 FIRST PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE PRECINCT, SALEM NOW PEABODY WHERE FOR FORTY FIVE YEARS HE MINISTERED WITH FIDELITY AND CHRISTIAN ZEAL
THIS STONE IS PLACED BY HIS DESCENDANTS UPON HIS GRAVE
SEPTEMBER 23, 1913
Mr. Woodman is a member of the Na- tional Education Association, the National Secondary School Principals' Association, and the Massachusetts High School Princi- pals' Association for thirty years ; a member and director of the Massachusetts Teachers' Federation, 1923-24-25 ; a member for thirty- four years of the Essex County Teachers' Association, of which he was secretary, 1920-21, vice-president, 1921-22, and presi- dent, 1922-23; a member of the Peabody Teachers' Association since it was organ- ized. He is one of the original members of the "Ten of Us Club," the "pioneer princi- pals' club" of Massachusetts, formed in 1902, consisting of a group of high school princi-
pals of greater Boston, who have met yearly in Boston, the second Saturday of each month from November to May, to discuss in a confidential and friendly way the vari- ous administrative problems that arise in the schools represented. The commissioner of education endorsed the purposes of the club and has recommended the formation of similar groups throughout the State. He, as well as the deputy commissioners, and other prominent educators, have been, at different times, guests of the club. Mr. Woodman has been a member of the Massachusetts Athletic Association since it was first organ- ized and has served on several important committees ; he was president of the North Shore Football League and of the Essex Interscholastic League for several years. He is a charter member of the Bowdoin Club of Essex County ; is affiliated fraternally with Jordan Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Peabody; is a member of Old Salem Chapter of the Massachusetts Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and was its president for five years, 1929 to 1934; is a charter member of the society, Sons and Daughters of the First Settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts; is a member of "The Alden Kindred of America, Inc."; is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower De- scendants ; is a member of Essex Institute, Salem, Mass .; is a member and vice-presi- dent of the Peabody Historical Society; is chairman of the Lyceum and Library Com- mittee of Peabody Institute, Peabody. At a meeting of the directors of the Peabody Community House, Inc., held May 6, 1918, Mr. Woodman was unanimously elected a director to fill the vacancy caused by Rev. George W. Penniman's resignation. At the annual meeting the following November, he was elected a member of the board of cor- poration. At subsequent meetings, he was reëlected to these positions.
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In' 1913 he was appointed by the Massa- chusetts Advisory Council to serve as a member of the Peabody committee of the George Washington Memorial Association, and to join in the Nation-wide movement to raise funds for the erection of a National Civic Hall in Washington, as a Peace Memo- rial to the Father of our Country.
He served for several years as a member of the Peabody Chamber of Commerce ; served as a member of the unemployment committee during the period of depression, 1932-33; took an active part in the sale of Liberty Bonds during the World War and served on the "Liberty Loans" committees ; served on the war library committee, and on committees of the American Red Cross to aid in its war fund drives; was chosen by the executive committee of the Red Cross to serve as head of the educational committee ; served on the mayor's committee, appointed to make arrangements for an appropriate "Welcome Home" to the World War vet- erans; also on the committee appointed to secure a suitable medal to be given the re- turning soldiers and sailors.
At the time when men were being drafted for service in the World War, Mr. Wood- man was appointed an associate member of the legal advisory board of Peabody, the oath of office being administered to him by Judge George B. Sears, of Salem. Massa- chusetts. At the close of the war, Mr. Wood- man received the following letter from the office of the Provost Marshal General :
WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL WASHINGTON
April 6, 1919.
To WILLARD W. WOODMAN, Peabody, Massachusetts.
To the Associate Members of Legal Advisory Boards:
You have now completed the great work of assist- ing in the selection of the contingents of the National
Army which were raised through the Selective Serv- ice System. Upon you devolved the difficult task of advising registrants of the true meaning and intent of the Selective Service Law and Regulations by assist- ing registrants to make full and truthful answers to the questionnaire and to aid generally in the just ad- ministration of said Laws and Regulations.
The successful performance of this duty has un- doubtedly brought to you a proud satisfaction in the privilege to serve the Nation in the hour of need. Commendation can add little to such satisfaction, but I would be untrue to my own feeling did I not extend this expression of gratitude to you for the success of this great achievement.
You have given your time and energy without com- pensation and as a testimonial of such action I have directed that a copy of this letter be sent individually to those who have thus so generously and loyally served.
ENOCH H. CROWDER, Provost Marshal General.
At the testimonial banquet given in honor of Mr. Woodman in the City Hall, Thursday evening, October 18, 1934, a framed testi- monial was presented to him by Harold E. Kiley, in behalf of the school committee:
TESTIMONIAL OF THE PEABODY SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO WILLARD W. WOODMAN
After thirty-four years of loyal service, as Princi- pal of Peabody High School, Mr. Woodman has sub- mitted his voluntary resignation. It is with the deep- est of regret that the School Committee of the City of Peabody finds itself unable to prevent the loss of such a valuable asset and such an esteemed member of its organization. Mr. Woodman's name will go down in the pages of New England's school annals as an edu- cator of the highest type and in the full sense of the word. His ability was not confined to mere book- knowledge and mathematical precision in the execu- tion of his decisions. He also had that rare gift of understanding the workings of the adolescent mind. The love and admiration of youths, now grown to manhood and womanhood, testify to an administra- tion where advice was meted with patience and justice tempered with mercy. An ever burning flame of veneration for Mr. Woodman will always kindle in the hearts of the grateful people of Peabody. We now resolve that this humble expression of our esteem for Willard W. Woodman shall be spread upon the records of this municipal body as a permanent tribute to his accomplishments. May the fireside fancies of his remaining years be full of joy and happiness, as
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he pictures, in review, the marching ranks of gradu- ates whom he loved so dearly and whom he served so well.
J. LEO SULLIVAN, Mayor.
WILLIAM A. WELCH, Superintendent of Schools.
Members of the School Committee:
WILLIAM J. BIRMINGHAM, JOSEPH H. MCDONALD, HAROLD C. KILEY, NORMAN V. CRANE,
MARY E. KELLEY, ALICIA M. McNIFF.
On Monday evening, February 18, 1935, representatives from some twenty-two classes attended the annual Peabody High School Alumni reunion and banquet, to wit- ness the presentation of a large portrait of Mr. Woodman to the school as a gift from about twelve hundred former students. Mark E. Kelley, president of the Alumni Associa- tion, made the presentation and Superin- tendent William A. Welch accepted the gift in behalf of the school department.
The toastmaster, James E. Farley, in his introduction of Mr. Woodman, saluted him as a modern pioneer in education, who by his personal influence and teachings had done more to reflect the human values in thousands of graduates than any other indi- vidual person. He added that the fruit of his labors now comes in the knowledge that his former pupils are now making strides of progress in almost every professional field in the business and educational world. Other speakers were Mayor James S. McVann, Principal Arthur J. Barry and Vice-Princi- pal Henry A. King, all graduates, who paid glowing tributes to their former headmaster, Willard W. Woodman.
Mr. Woodman is a descendant of Edward Woodman, one of the founders of the town of Newbury, Massachusetts. His line of de- scent from Edward Woodman is as follows : (I) Edward; (II) Edward, Jr .; (III) Dea- con Archelaus; (IV) Joshua; (V) Captain John; (VI) John, Jr .; (VII) Isaiah ; (VIII) Flavius Mellen ; (IX) Willard Woodbury.
EDWARD WOODMAN.
Edward Woodman, the American pro- genitor of the family, was one of the origi- nal grantees of Newbury, and one of the fifteen persons among the proprietors who were addressed as "Mr.,"a title indicating social position, influence and character above that of the average colonist. He was promi- nently identified for many years with the civic and ecclesiastical affairs of the town and became the leader in a prolonged and bitter controversy in the church which re- sulted in setting aside some strict regula- tions of church government. Of the seven men first chosen as the "select men" of New- bury, in 1636, he was the chairman. He was a deputy to the General Court in 1636 and every year thereafter through 1670. Re- elected in 1671, but he declined to serve. In 1638 he was commissioned magistrate "to end small causes," and also commissioned "to see people marry," which he once spoke of as "an unprofitable commission, which has cost me many a bottle of sack and liquor, where friends and acquaintances have been concerned." Coffin, in his "History of New- bury, Massachusetts," characterizes Mr. Woodman as "a man of talents, influence, firmness and decision."
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