USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume IV > Part 16
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In 1909 he came to the United States and located in Lynn, where he was made agent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Com- pany. He was promoted to assistant and then was transferred to Providence, Rhode Island, as managing assistant. His next advancement was as manager at Waltham, and when the company decided to move him forward, his agents presented him with a beautiful watch and a clock. His next sta- tion was Somerville, and leaving this office, his agents, the doctors, and other associates presented him with a testimonial signed by them. It was in 1922 that he was brought to Salem as the Metropolitan's manager in this city.
He is chairman of the North Shore Asso- ciation of Metropolitan managers and chair- man of the exemption committee of the New England Metropolitan managers. His clubs are the Kiwanis Club of Salem, Cale- donian Club of Lynn.
Mr. Dunk married, June 8, 1904, at Glas- gow, Mary Catharine Hendry, and they have a son, George H. W. Dunk, born in Lynn, August 13, 1910; graduated at the Salem High School and then entered Phil- lips-Exeter Academy at Exeter, New Hamp- shire. From there he went to Williston Academy at Easthampton, Massachusetts, leaving Williston to enter Still's College of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, where he won a fellowship in 1933 and was gradu- ated with the class of 1935. He is a member of the Alpha Tau Sigma Fraternity, the Sigma Phi Fraternity and the National Honorary Osteopathic Fraternity. On Au- gust 13, 1934, he married the former Miss Mildred Libby, in Oakland, California. Miss Libby was graduated from the Nurses' Training School of the Highland Hospital, in Oakland, in 1934. They are now residing at 217 Lafayette Street, Salem. (Dr. Dunk was notified (just before we went to press),
that he had received the appointment of in- terne at the Massachusetts Osteopathic Hos- pital in Boston beginning July 1, 1935.)
LEWIS W. KENNEY-As a native of Lynn and proprietor of the L. W. Kenney Company, a shoe manufacturing concern which he has headed for many years, Lewis W. Kenney has come to occupy an out- standing place in the social, civic and busi- ness life of the community and has won the esteem and affection of a host of friends and associates.
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Mr. Kenney was born at No. 47 Collins Street, which today is the site of his factory, on February 14, 1877, the son of Owen and Mary (Nason) Kenney. His father, who was born in Lancaster, England, and came to this country as a young man, engaged in the shoe industry in Lynn for a number of years and passed away here October 27, 1926. The elder Kenney was a Republican and in his civic activities became chairman of the city committee, a position he filled for many years. He was a Civil War vet- eran, having served in the infantry of the Union Army for one year and two years in the cavalry. His wife, Mary Nason, was born in Dixmont, Maine, on February 10, 1843, and died in Lynn on May 26, 1932.
Lewis W. Kenney received a general edu- cation in the public schools of his native community and later attended the Burdett Business College in Boston. His first posi- tion was with the T. G. Plant Company, shoe manufacturers of this city where he remained four years and gained broad ex- perience in the trade. In 1898 he launched a shoe manufacturing business of his own, establishing his factory at No. 47 Collins Street, the site of his old home. The build- ing which today houses this industry is a three-story frame structure; this and the factory equipment are owned by Mr. Ken-
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ney. The firm is known as the L. W. known firms in the manufacture of shoe Kenney Company and specializes in the forms. manufacture of misses and children's shoes for the New England trade.
In the social life of the community Mr. Kenney has identified himself with many of the leading organizations in this field, among them the Ionic Club of Swampscott, the Lynn Chamber of Commerce and oth- ers. He also belongs to the Masonic Order where he is a member of the Golden Fleece Lodge and all the York Rite bodies, also Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order No- bles of the Mystic Shrine, Boston. In poli- tics he is a Republican and he worships at the Community Church of Lynnfield. Throughout life he has found recreation and diversion in horses and has always kept a few high grade horses in his stables.
On November 26, 1902, in the city of Lynn, Mr. Kenney married Sadie Ann Lawrence, a native of Gloucester, and the daughter of Benjamin Lawrence, a shoe worker of Lynn. Mrs. Kenney passed away in Lynn on November 2, 1931. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney were the parents of three chil- dren: I. Lawrence W., born December 4, 1906, graduate of Lynn High School and the University of Pennsylvania, associated with his father in business. He married Ruth Carter of Lynn and they are the par- ents of Barbara Ann. 2. Herbert Lewis, died in infancy. 3. Priscilla Jane, born April 12, 1918, attending Wakefield High School.
WILLARD COPELAND RICHARD- SON, president and treasurer of the Sellwell Shoe Form Company of Lynn, became asso- ciated with the shoe industry when as a youth he came to this city from New York State. During his long career in this busi- ness he has gained a thorough experience which has proved invaluable and fitted him to direct the activities of one of the well-
Mr. Richardson was born in Chazy, New York, November 7, 1873, the son of Robbins and Alvirae Ann (Sweet) Richardson. His father, who engaged in farming in Chazy, was born in Stoddard, New Hampshire, the son of Nathan Richardson, a farmer and vet- eran of the War of 1812. Alvirae Ann (Sweet) Richardson, mother of Mr. Rich- ardson, was born in Glens Falls, New York, the daughter of Robert and Fannie (Handt) Sweet, both natives of the Empire State.
Mr. Richardson received a general educa- tion in the public schools of Chazy and Mooers, New York. After completing his studies here he entered the Plattsburgh Nor- mal School, from which he was graduated. He taught school at Chazy, Cooperstown and Champlain, New York, while he was attending normal school. In 1899 he re- signed his teaching position and came to Lynn, Massachusetts, where he became asso- ciated with the shoe supply business. an interest he maintained for five years. About 1904 he went into the shoe manufacturing business for himself and a year later engaged in the shoe form manufacturing business, which today supplies shoe manufacturers and jobbers under the firm name of the Sell- well Shoe Form Company, Incorporated.
He has also been active in fraternal circles and is a member of all bodies of the Masonic Order: William Sutton Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Saugus; Henry J. Mills Royal Arch Chapter of Saugus, of which he is a Past High Priest; and he is also High Priest and a Past District Deputy of the Sutton Royal Arch Chapter of Lynn ; Zebu- lon Council, Royal and Select Masters, of which he is Illustrious Master; Olivet Com- mandery, of which he is a Past Eminent Commander; all Scottish Rite bodies, in- cluding Boston Lodge of Perfection ; Princes of Jerusalem; Rose Croix and Consistory ;
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received the thirty-second degree in this lodge ; Aleppo Temple, Boston, Ancient Ara- bic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Tontoquan Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; a Past Chancel- lor Commander of Abraham Lincoln Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and served as Master of Ancient Sirloin Chapter, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Lynn, in 1933. A charter member of the Lynn Rotary Club, 1919, he is serving as a director. Polit- ically he supports the Republican party and his religious affiliation is with the Clifton- dale Congregational Church, of which he has been a trustee and chairman of the building committee.
On August 25, 1899, in Boston, Massachu- setts, Mr. Richardson married Lottie O. Waters, native of Champlain, New York, and the daughter of Horatio G. R. and Han- nah (Robbins) Waters, both natives of Champlain, where her father engaged in farming. Mrs. Richardson was educated in the public schools of her native community and today is a member of the Congrega- tional Church, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Ladies' Union of the Congre- gational Church. Mr. and Mrs. Richard- son are the parents of one son, Lawrence E., graduate of Saugus grammar and high schools and Dartmouth College, where in 1925 he received a degree of Bachelor of Science. He is associated with the Sears Roebuck Company and is married to Walta Elmer, of Saugus. They have two sons, Robert Lawrence, born September, 1931, and Arthur Willard, born in February, 1934.
FREDERIC CLAY CHEEVER-In the laundry business, Frederic Clay Cheever, of Lynn and Saugus, has performed an impor- tant and valuable work, winning the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens in these Essex County communities. He has his business headquarters in Lynn and his resi-
dence in Saugus, and has lived and worked in other places in this county.
Mr. Cheever was born on November 8, 1860, in Saugus, Massachusetts, son of David Harrison and Mary E. (Poland) Cheever. His father, born in May, 1838, in Saugus, died there on January 13, 1916, was a son of Lot and Olive Dale (Guilford) Cheever. Lot Cheever was an expert maker of shoes by hand and a true craftsman of the old school. He lived and died in Saugus. David Harrison Cheever was a shoe worker in that place and in Lynn. He served as an officer in the Union Army. He was affiliated in Saugus with the Universalist Church. Polit- ically he was a Republican. The mother of Frederic Clay Cheever, Mrs. Mary E. (Po- land) Cheever, was born in October, 1839, in Stoneham, Massachusetts, and died in Saugus on April 24, 1911. Mr. Cheever's sister, Josephine A., born December 16, 1867, married Henry C. Russell, formerly of Lynn- field, now of Malden. He was a produce merchant, but is now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have one son, Eugene Russell, born December 8, 1905.
In the grammar and high schools of Sau- gus and at Comers Business College, Bos- ton, Frederic Clay Cheever received his for- mal education. His first employment, upon leaving school, was as clerk and bookkeeper in Boston stores. Later he became engaged in the laundry business, beginning his work in this trade on December 29, 1884, on Bos- ton Street, Lynn. Afterward he removed to Wakefield, Massachusetts, as a partner of C. H. Cox, the two men establishing what was known as the Wakefield Laundry. For five years he remained there, until, in Octo- ber, 1890, he returned to Lynn to open his own laundry under his own name. His first site in Lynn was in Washington Street, but on April 10, 1911, he removed his establish- ment into a fine new building which was specially planned and constructed for his
William 12 Dempsey
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purpose at No. 274 Broad Street. Here he does a complete laundry business under the firm name of Cheever's Laundry.
His work has been of such quality and dis- tinction and he has so satisfactorily proved his abilities as an executive and a director of important enterprises that he has been in- vited to participate in large civic projects. In a number of organizations, his efforts have been helpful and noteworthy, and fre- quently he has been entrusted with duties and responsibilities of a very special char- acter. Politically he is a Republican, active in party affairs. He attends the Universalist Church. He is a member of William Sutton Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of East Saugus; Sutton Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons, of Lynn ; Olivet Commandery, Knights Templar, of Lynn ; and Aleppo Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston. He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans, of Saugus, and of the Lynn Chamber of Commerce, and has par- ticipated in numerous civic and public under- takings.
In his spare time Mr. Cheever enjoys out- door recreation of a healthful sort. Fishing is one of his favorite sports, but he is per- haps happiest of all when able to spend a few quiet hours in his garden or with his family or a few chosen friends. He raises flowers and vegetables and is a skilled gar- dener.
On June 9, 1887, Frederic Clay Cheever married Kate M. Hasty, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Moses) Hasty. Her father was born at Scarboro, Maine, and was the owner of a fine farm at West Durham, Maine. Her mother was born at West Dur- ham, Maine, December 31, 1823, and died at Saugus, Massachusetts, in May, 1895. Mrs. Cheever is a native of Maine and was edu- cated in the public schools of Saugus, Mas- sachusetts. She is an attendant of the Uni- versalist Church of Saugus, and of numerous
women's organizations in her community and the county. The family home of the Cheevers is situated at No. 275 Central Street, Saugus.
WILLIAM B. DEMPSEY-Since com- pleting his academic education, William B. Dempsey, general agent of the Boston and Maine Railroad, at Lawrence, has been en- gaged in railroading. During his employ- ment he has seen the service of his road organized and brought to a state of effici- ency that was not believed possible, and to this end he contributed in no small meas- ure. He was born in Ashburnham, Massa- chusetts, November 2, 1889, son of William and Ellen (Coughlan) Dempsey, his father a native of Ashburnham, and the mother of Boston. William Dempsey, senior, was also a railroad man, connected with the Cheshire and later the Fitchburg railroads, both now parts of the Boston and Maine system. A grandfather, Michael Dempsey, worked for the Cheshire Railroad in 1845, so that there has been a Dempsey employed with the Boston and Maine for almost ninety years.
William B. Dempsey was educated in public schools of his birthplace, and was graduated from Cushing Academy with the class of 1906. In September, 1907, he be- came freight clerk for the Boston and Maine Railroad, at Fitchburg, and was located in that city until 1913. He was then trans- ferred to Gardner, Massachusetts, as chief clerk, serving for a year prior to being made a traveling agent for the system, in the station service department. He became a familiar figure in all parts of the Boston and Maine Railroad as traveling agent before he was appointed general agent at Waltham, Massachusetts, on June 1, 1927. He was brought to Lawrence in March, 1928, again as general agent, a post he con- tinues to hold with splendid success.
Essex-35
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Mr. Dempsey has never failed to keep abreast of the latest developments in rail- road transportation. While a worker he managed to take courses in the School of Business Administration, Harvard, and is a member of the Harvard Alumni Associa- tion. He is a member of the Railroad Agents' Association of New England, and of the New England Traffic Club. Frater- nally he affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Fitchburg. His recreations include golf, tennis and fishing. His record shows him to be a fine type of citizen, one ready to promote the best in- terests of the place with which he is identi- fied.
On January 2, 1910, William B. Dempsey married Alice Kirby, who died September 28, 1918. They were the parents of three children : I. Helen, born January 5, 19II, graduate of Fitchburg State Teachers Col- lege, 1931, Boston University, Bachelor of Science degree, 1932, now teaching in the public schools of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 2. Alice, born April 28, 1915, student at State Teachers College, Fitchburg. 3. Wil- liam B., Jr., born February 5, 1918, student at Fitchburg High School.
JOSEPH MICHAEL HARGEDON-For the past fifteen years Joseph Michael Harge- don has been engaged in the practice of law at Lawrence. During this time he has firmly established his reputation at the bar and built up an important clientele drawn from the city and the neighboring country. His legal talents, public spirit and gift for friend- ship have made him widely known both in Lawrence and elsewhere in Essex County.
Mr. Hargedon was born in Newton, Mas- sachusetts, on December 18, 1890, a son of Peter J. and Honora Hargedon, both of whom were of Irish birth and parentage. His father came to America in 1879, at the age of twenty-two and for many years main-
tained his home in Newton. His mother was born in 1860 and also came to this coun- try in early life.
Joseph Michael Hargedon received his preliminary education in the public schools of Newton and studied at Boston College following his graduation from high school. He prepared for his professional career at Boston University School of Law, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1919. Meanwhile, in 1918, he had been admitted to the bar at Boston. Mr. Hargedon began active prac- tice in Lawrence in the offices of James A. Donovan and Walter Coulson and quickly demonstrated the value of his services to his employers. On December 1, 1919, with the organization of the firm of Donovan, Coul- son and Hargedon, he was admitted to part- nership and has retained this connection until the present time. Offices of the firm are situated in the Bay State Building at Lawrence, where they conduct a very large general practice. From the beginning Mr. Hargedon assumed his full share of the part- nership responsibilities and by his success- ful record in many important cases has con- tributed substantially to the prestige of the firm and of the Lawrence bar.
In addition to his legal connections, Mr. Hargedon's interests have extended to other fields, particularly at Salisbury Beach, where he is secretary of the Salisbury Beach Pa- vilion Company, director and clerk of the Salisbury Athletic Association, a member of the Board of Trade and president and direc- tor of the Dodgem Corporation, a large and growing company now establishing its fun- making devices in amusement parks through- out the United States. Mr. Hargedon is also a member of the Essex County Bar Associa- tion, the Lawrence Bar Association, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Merrimac Country Club. He is affiliated fraternally with Lawrence Lodge, No. 65,
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Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he is active, the Knights of Colum- bus and is a member of St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church in Andover. Both in his profession and in Lawrence life gen- erally his cheerful good humor and kindly spirit make him a distinctive figure and his circle of personal friends and acquaintances is large.
LYNN FIVE CENTS SAVINGS BANK
-During its more than seventy-five years of uninterrupted existence the Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank has enjoyed steady growth and prosperity and today, as always, ranks amongst the most solid savings banks in Essex County and the State of Massachu- setts.
It was in 1855 that the General Court granted a charter to the Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank, in which the initial deposits were made on Saturday, October 27, 1855. The legislation necessary for its incorpora- tion was perhaps a record for legislative promptness. The matter first came to the attention of the Massachusetts House of Representatives on May 9, 1855. Action was had in the House on that date, followed by similar favorable consideration in the Senate on May 15, when act of the incor- poration was passed to be enacted. It was approved by the Secretary of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts on May 17, 1855.
The bank actually began business in the city clerk's office in the old Town House at the head of Blossom Street. During the first business day, the total number of accounts opened was thirty-eight, ranging from five cents to thirty dollars and reaching a grand total of $130.95. Included in this total were three accounts of five cents each, one of ten cents, one of twenty cents, and five of twenty-five cents. The first payment or withdrawal, amounting to eight dollars was made on February 20, 1856. The bank was
open Wednesday and Saturday evenings only.
Hon. George Hood, Lynn's first mayor, was the bank's first president, and Hon. John Batchelder, then State Senator, was the first treasurer. The incorporators were George Hood, Andrew S. Breed, Thomas B. Newhall, William F. Johnson, A. S. Moore, Dean Peabody, Charles B. Holmes, I. C. Breed, John Batchelder, and Charles Merritt.
In 1865 the bank moved into the building known to a recent generation as the Home for Aged Women, but originally used as a residence by a prominent citizen, Robert Steele. This building was destroyed by fire in 1920. The quarters were shared by the National City Bank, having also been occu- pied previously by the Nahant Bank. In 1869 the Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank moved into the brick building at No. 112 Market Street, where it occupied quarters on the second floor. In 1918 it became neces- sary to construct an addition on the rear of the then existing building and again in 1924 the volume of business had become so great that it was deemed advisable to entirely reconstruct the bank's quarters so as to oc- cupy the first floor. While this work was in progress the bank occupied rooms in the adjoining building at the corner of Market and Andrew streets. After seventy years of success the unexcelled banking facilities of this institution were made available to the public on May 1, 1925. The Swampscott branch at No. 167 Humphrey Street was opened for business January 5, 1925, with Harold P. Symmes in charge. The first day resulted in thirty-seven deposits, a total of $634.52. Of the thirty-seven, ten were old depositors and twenty-seven new.
The bank commenced, on November I, 1922, the issuing of savings bank life insur- ance policies. This department may write insurance on the lives of any resident of Massachusetts between the ages of one and
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THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
seventy. All forms of insurance may be obtained, including straight life, payment life, endowment, term, annuity, and many combination savings insurance plans. Divi- dends are paid on all policies at the end of the first year. Loans may also be obtained on policies after one year. Those unable to keep up their insurance are entitled to re- ceive liberal cash surrender or paid-up insur- ance values at the end of the first six months. This department had in force at the end of the first year more than $1,500,000 insur- ance, proving without doubt that the open- ing of this department had met a real need in the community. Insurance in force as of September 30, 1930, totaled over $6,900,000, representing policies on the lives of over 7,900 persons.
In 1921 the bank started the popular Christmas Savings Club, its number of de- positors steadily increasing each year. En- deavoring at all times to offer additional services to its depositors, Vacation and Fifty Weeks' clubs were started in 1924, enabling a person to save a definite amount for vacations, taxes, or any other purposes. The bank is equipped also to send money to any country in the world through the use of its foreign drafts. Travelers' cheques may also be purchased for the protection of funds when traveling.
When the bank celebrated its seventy- fifth anniversary, in 1930, at which time it issued a very attractive pamphlet relating its history, it had 33,138 depositors and, as of October 1, 1930, deposits of $20,775,890.65. Its assets and liabilities, as of the same date, balanced at $22,583,293.64. Since then it has continued to grow and prosper.
In the matter of dividends the record of the bank has been unbroken. The first divi- dend was due and payable July 1, 1856, the amount being $27.50. In addition to its regular dividends, many extra dividends have been paid. Original by-laws of this
institution provided for a regular semi- annual dividend at the rate of five per cent. per annum, also an extra dividend to be paid every five years, the first being January I, 1861, at the rate of one and two-thirds per cent. of each year of the five-year period, or eight and one-third per cent. The regular rates have varied between three and one- half per cent. and eight and one-quarter per cent. per annum.
The successive presidents of the bank have been: George Hood, 1855-59; Hon. Thomas Bancroft Newhall, 1859-78; Henry A. Pevear, 1878-90; Judge Rollin E. Har- mon, 1890-1915 ; C. Fred Smith, since 1915. The bank has had only four treasurers : Hon. John Batchelder, 1855-58; Benjamin Vinton French, 1858-80; Henry Elliott Newhall, 1880-1920; and Charles C. Handy, since 1920.
C. FRED SMITH was born in Charles- town, now part of Boston, on June 1, 1867. During his school days he resided in Som- erville. Following his graduation from the Somerville High School in 1884 he took a short special course at the same school.
In 1885 he entered business life in the sash and door business with the concern of Levi Boles and Son. In 1890 he formed a part- nership with the late Louis G. Brockway, of Lynn, following the same line of business. This business was incorporated in 1895 as The Brockway-Smith Corporation. In the year 1928 this company merged with two other concerns in the same line of busi- ness-the new firm being known as the Brockway-Smith-Haigh-Lovell Company- Mr. Smith, who had been president of The Brockway-Smith Corporation, becoming president of the new company.
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