USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume IV > Part 17
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He has been president of the Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank since 1915, a director of the Central National Bank of Lynn since
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19II, and is also president of the Merchants' Terminal Company of Boston.
He is a trustee of the Unitarian Church of Lynn, and a trustee of the Lynn Young Men's Christian Association.
During the war Mr. Smith devoted a great deal of his time to public activities-on the Lynn Committee of Public Safety, as presi- dent of the Lynn Chapter of the American Red Cross, and as chairman of the Commit- tee for Conservation of Fuel for Lynn and vicinity.
He is on the board of managers of the Lynn Hospital, is a vice-president of the Eliza J. Hahn Home for Aged Couples, vice- president of the Lynn Home for Aged Men, a member of the Executive Committee of the Old Essex Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a member of the Boston and Lynn Chambers of Commerce.
NELSON JARVIE DARLING-Start- ing as an office boy in 1895, Nelson J. Dar- ling, of the class of 1907 of Cornell Univer- sity, is today manager of the River Works of the General Electric Company, located at West Lynn, Massachusetts. The plant covers an approximate area of two hundred acres, having a floor space of 2,855,000 square feet, and about 8,000 are employed. Some of the principal products manufac- tured there include: High speed gearing ; turbines; motors and generators for indus- trial use; centrifugal air compressors and blowers; gas-electric equipment and con- trol; street and aviation lighting equip- ment ; castings, arc welding radio generator sets.
Mr. Darling was born in Toronto, Can- ada, on August 7, 1884, the son of Henry W. and Helen (Christie) Darling. His father before becoming associated with the General Electric Company, was president of the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Toronto. Later, when the family moved to Boston,
Massachusetts, Henry Darling became as- sistant treasurer and later treasurer of the General Electric Company, continuing in the service of the company as treasurer for over thirty years.
His early childhood having been spent in Canada, Mr. Darling attended the public schools of Toronto, and also in Boston, Albany, and Schenectady, after the family moved to the United States. It was when he was but eleven years old, in the summer of 1895, that he began his career with the General Electric Company, as an office boy. Thereafter, a portion of each summer was spent in the offices of the company. During the high school period, part of his summers were spent in the Schenectady factory.
After his graduation from Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, Mr. Darling en- tered Cornell University, where he took an active part in student affairs and athletics, playing on the 'varsity Lacrosse team. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fra- ternity. He graduated in 1907 with the de- gree of Mechanical Electrical Engineer. The years from 1907 to 1910 were spent in the Testing Department at the Schenectady Works, where he had many and varied expe- riences in testing switchboards, turbines, railway motors and gas engines. It was while engaged in testing switchboards in Building 60 Gallery that the opportunity came to go to the Panama Canal Zone to install the General Electric control equip- ment for the unloader and concrete laying equipment for the lock site at Gatun. Mr. Darling was one of two test men who went to the Canal Zone and assisted in the instal- lation of the equipment and on his return to Schenectady, took up railroad testing work on the banks of the Mohawk River, later entering the Gas Engine Engineering De- partment.
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In the fall of 1909 Mr. Darling was trans- ferred with this department to the Erie
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Works and for two years acted as commer- cial engineer in the sale of gas-electric cars, which activity very largely ceased at the beginning of the World War. At this time the manufacture of high explosive shells for England and Russia and steam turbines for United States destroyers was commenced in the Erie Works, Mr. Darling acting in the capacity of executive in charge of the work, continuing in this capacity until 1919.
Mr. Darling was placed in charge of pro- duction in the Erie Works in 1919, and was promoted to assistant manager in Novem- ber, 1918. In April of 1922 he was appointed manager of the River Works, the position which he now holds.
Mr. Darling married, in 1919, Jeanette Craig Devine, a daughter of Robert F. and Sarah Devine, of Erie, Pennsylvania. They have a son, Nelson Jarvie Darling, Jr., and a daughter Phyllis, and they are living at Beach Bluff, Massachusetts. Mr. Darling is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Lynn ; a director of the Essex Trust Com- pany of Lynn, and a trustee of the Five Cents Savings Bank of Lynn; is a member of the Tedesco Country Club, also the Cor- nell Alumni Society of Boston, as well as the Lynn Chapter of the American Institute Electrical Engineering.
His brother, Alan Graeme Darling, is also a Cornell graduate in the class of 1911. He has been employed in the General Electric Company continuously since 1918, and is at present in the Power Generation, Trans- mission, Distribution, Electro-chemical and Electrolytic Division of the Industrial Engi- neering Department.
MAX NICHOLSON-The place held by Max Nicholson in the legal fraternity of Lawrence is of his own personal achieve- ment and has not been reached by any cir- cumstance of fortune. He was born in this city, October 15, 1903, son of Nathan and
Bessie (Gerson) Nicholson, both natives of Russia, who came to the United States in about 1895 and settled in Lawrence.
Max Nicholson, a graduate in law from Boston University, obtained his education only in the face of immense difficulties. To graduate from the Lawrence High School he was newsboy, mill worker, and store clerk. Matriculating at Boston University Law College, in 1921, he worked his way by various employments and was graduated in 1924 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He had not reached his majority at that time, and it was not until March 27, 1925, that he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession. He has been an attorney-at-law in Lawrence since that time, and on May 4, 1926, was admitted to practice in the Federal courts.
Mr. Nicholson is a member of the Law- rence Bar Society, the Massachusetts State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Law Society of Massachusetts. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, M. U., Loyal Essex Lodge; Lawrence Lodge, Knights of Pythias; the Young Men's Hebrew Associ- tion, and the Brotherhood of Temple Emanuel, Veritans. Although not aspiring to political office, Mr. Nicholson is inter- ested in public affairs. He has served as counsel for the Methuen Police Association.
On March 25, 1926, Max Nicholson mar- ried Ethel Alfond of Methuen, and they are the parents of two sons: Ronald A., born February 9, 1928; and Alfred J., born June 22, 1930.
DONALD SCOTT BEE-One of the old- est business concerns in Lynn, Massachu- setts, as regards the length it has been held in one family, is the George S. Bee, roof- ing and metal work. It was founded by John Dunbar Bee, grandfather of the sub- ject of this review. For a time John Dun-
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bar Bee was a partner in the firm of Burns and Bee, but later dissolved the partnership to establish his own business with his sons, under the trade title of John Bee and Sons, with offices on Sea Street, Lynn. Later he retired and the company was continued by his sons under the old name. Still later one of the sons, George S. Bee, withdrew and established the business bearing his name, which upon his death was incorporated with Donald Scott Bee as treasurer.
Donald Scott Bee was born in Lynn, Au- gust 2, 1904, the son of George Scott and Edith (Innes) Bee, the former of whom was also born in Lynn, February 14, 1863, and died in Swampscott, on May 28, 1933. Mrs. Bee was born in Salem, December 18, 1868, and is now a resident of Swampscott. Don- ald S. Bee was educated in the Lynn Grade and Classical High School, and was a stu- dent in the Bentley School of Accounting, in Boston. He then returned to Lynn as an associate of his father in business, but con- tinued his studies at the night school of the Franklin Union, Boston, specializing in sheet metal drafting. The successful com- pletion of his course added greatly to his efficiency and usefulness in his work in Lynn. Upon the death of his father the firm was incorporated and Donald S. Bee was elected treasurer, an office he has since con- tinued to hold. Mr. Bee is a member of the Lynn Rotary Club, the Lynn Young Men's Christian Association, and the Central Con- gregational Church of that city.
At Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, on Decem- ber 5, 1930, Donald Scott Bee married Mar- guerite Irme Bell, a native of Pittsburgh, daughter of Frank P. and Jean (Wilson) Bell. Frank P. Bell is a credit man for the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, in Philadelphia. Mrs. Bee is a graduate of Connecticut College, New Lon- don, Connecticut, class of 1927, and is a member of the Central Congregational
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Bee are the parents of a son, George Scott Bee, 2d, born Septem- ber 28, 1933.
HARRY D. LINSCOTT, lawyer, 145 Munroe Street, Lynn. Residence, 78 Green- wood Avenue, Swampscott. Born in Wo- burn, Massachusetts, February 22, 1881. Graduated from Woburn High School, 1899, and from Tufts College, 1903. Engaged in newspaper work in Boston and Lynn, 1903- 1912. Attended Northeastern Evening Law School and C. H. Innes Evening Law School. Admitted to Massachusetts bar, 1912, and has since been engaged in general law practice. Has held the following public offices: Chairman of Finance Committee, town of Swampscott, 1919-23; town counsel of Swampscott, 1924 and 1927-33; chairman Board of Selectmen of Swampscott, 1925 and 1926; member of School Committee of Swampscott, 1930-33; member of Essex County and of Massachusetts Bar associa- tions and member of Executive Committee of latter, 1929-32. Married Mary J. Lin- scott. Two children, Anne M. Linscott and Andrew R. Linscott.
DANIEL ARTHUR JOHNSON-Among automobile dealers and garage operators in the city of Lynn, Daniel A. Johnson has taken his place as one of the leaders engaged in these lines. The family of Johnson, of this connection, has been resident in East- tern Massachusetts for a number of genera- tions. Daniel Johnson, paternal grandfather of Daniel A., of this review, was born in Newburyport, and much of his life was spent as a retail grocer in Byfield. He married Mary Nelson, born in West Newbury. Each of them died in Byfield. Their son, Harri- son Gray Otis Johnson, was born in New- buryport, in 1855, died in Byfield, in 1894. He was a carpenter and builder, a member of the Democratic party, and took an active
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interest in town affairs. He was also a member and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Abbie Louise Johnson, born in the town of Rowley, in September, 1865, the daughter of Nehemiah Johnson, born in Rowley, who was engaged in the shipping business and owned two schooners. He later was a wholesale dealer in clams. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Abbie Louise (Johnson) Johnson has resided in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Daniel Arthur Johnson, son of Harrison Gray Otis and Abbie Louise (Johnson) Johnson, was born in Byfield, Essex County, August 21, 1881. He attended the public schools of the town, and graduated at Dum- mer Academy in the class of 1897. After graduation, he entered the employ of the Byfield Woolen Company, running a gig for the wage of ninety cents a day. His last position there was in charge of the harden- ing rooms. He followed this for four years, then resigned and took a position on the Georgetown, Rowley and Ipswich Street Railway, serving in the capacities of motor- man and conductor until 1917. In the latter year he became an associate of the merchan- dise brokerage house of F. B. Hunnewell & Company, of Boston, in the capacity of trav- eling salesman and held this position five years. In 1922 he removed to Lynn to be sales manager of Stevens Motors, Inc., deal- ers in Ford automobiles and parts, and was with this company for two years, at its place of business on Mount Vernon Street. In 1924 he established himself in his own busi- ness as an automobile dealer on Lake View Avenue. Here he remained until April 28, 1928, when he removed to his present place of business, No. 391 Broad Street, where he has his garage and handles the Nash and Graham cars.
In politics he is a Democrat and his reli- gious preference is the Methodist Episco- pal church, being a member of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church of Lynn. He is affiliated with Mascot Noment Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Rowley; Paul Revere Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Lynn; the Kiwanis Club, of Lynn; and the National Automobile Deal- ers' Association.
Mr. Johnson married (first), in May, 1900, at Newbury, Anne Josephine Pillsbury, born in Byfield, the daughter of Hiram and Emily Pillsbury, both of whom are now deceased. He married (second), December 24, 1916, Carrie H. Todd, born in Rowley, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Todd. Mrs. Todd, mother of Mrs. Daniel A. Johnson, is deceased, and the father, at the age of eighty-seven years, survives his wife. From the public schools of Rowley, Mrs. Johnson, after graduating, entered the Ipswich (Essex County) High School, where she also graduated. She is active in social affairs, a member of the Swampscott Women's Club, the Garden Club of Swamp- scott, the Atalanta Club of Lynn, and other organizations. She is a member of the Uni- versalist Church. By his first marriage Mr. Johnson has a son: Lieutenant Earl G. Johnson, stationed at Randolph Field, Texas. He graduated at the Massachusetts Agri- cultural College, the Air Corps Primary Flying School, and at the Air Corps Ad- vanced Flying School, observation course. He entered the United States Army as a second lieutenant of cavalry in 1923, and in 1928 he was transferred to the Air Corps, being promoted to first lieutenant in that year. He married Alice Murtfalt, of Need- ham, Massachusetts, and they are the par- ents of two daughters.
JESSE MORGAN HOLDER-In his native city of Lynn, Jesse Morgan Holder has played a prominent rôle in business affairs. He is proprietor of the Holder Coal Company and is an active worker in many
Ja their Wessell.
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branches of Lynn civic, social and business life.
Mr. Holder was born on February 9, 1874, in Lynn, Massachusetts, son of William C. and Helen (Shedd) Holder. His father, born in Washington, New Hampshire, on March 7, 1843, was engaged for many years in the retail coal business with his son, J. M. Holder, the two men carrying on their work under the name of William C. Holder and Son. The father was a Republican in his political views, and held several local offices. His church was the Unitarian, and he was a trustee of his parish. He died in Lynn on September 16, 1926. His wife, born September 16, 1845, in Peabody, Mas- sachusetts, died in Lynn in January, 1927. William C. Holder's father, the paternal grandfather of Jesse M. Holder, was Na- thaniel Holder, who, with his wife, Han- nah (Morgan) Holder, lived in Lynn, Mas- sachusetts.
Attending the public schools of Lynn, Jesse Morgan Holder was graduated from high school in his native city, and spent one year at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology. He then became associated with his father in the coal business, serving first as clerk and later becoming a partner in the enterprise. Subsequently the firm combined with B. O. Honors and Son, whereupon the name was changed to Honors, Holder and Sons. This firm was dissolved in 1915, when the present company, known as the Holder Coal Company, was formed. Of this com- pany Jesse Morgan Holder is the proprietor.
Aside from taking an interest in other business undertakings in his community, he has many other affiliations that place him definitely at the forefront among the civic leaders of Lynn. He is treasurer of the Lynn Home for Aged Men, and a member of the board of trustees of the Lynn Home for Aged Women. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Lynn, and
president of the North Shore Coal Associa- tion. His political alignment is with the Republican party. Fraternally Mr. Holder is active in the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he belongs to the Blue Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter, the Council of Royal and Select Masters, and the Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a member of Kear- sarge Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. To each organization with which he is connected, Mr. Holder has given liberally of his time and energies, thereby materially aiding in general movements for the betterment of Lynn. He has consist- ently demonstrated a strong public spirit which he reveals in terms of useful and constructive action in his community and county.
Jesse Morgan Holder married (first), Sep- tember I, 1904, in Lynn, Massachusetts, Grace E. Mix, who died August 25, 1927, in this city. She was a daughter of the late Noel Mix, of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Holder mar- ried (second), October 12, 1928, in More- town, Vermont, Joyce G. Bisbee, daughter of John and Alice (Turner) Bisbee, of Moretown. Mrs. Holder is a graduate of Boston University and of the Library School in Cleveland, Ohio. She was formerly libra- rian of Lynn, in which position she served until her marriage to Mr. Holder. She is a member of the Unitarian Church, as is her husband, and is active in the local Girl Scout movement.
The Holder family home is at No. 60 At- lantic Street, Lynn, and Mr. Holder's place of business is situated at No. 418 Union Street, this city.
J. ARTHUR WESSELL-At the turn of the present century, J. Arthur Wessell, who was not yet of age, came to Massachu- setts from Nova Scotia and obtained work. He was born in East Clifford, Nova Scotia, on September 30, 1880, and was educated
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in the schools of his birthplace. He was busy for the first five years of his residence in the United States, at Douglas, Massachu- setts, in connection with a portable saw- mill concern. He studied engineering in the Hawley School of Engineering, Boston, from which he was graduated. He also took courses in several business colleges, nearly all evening classes, after working all day in power plants. He holds first class engineers' and electricians' licenses.
In I911 Mr. Wessell turned his attention to the laundry industry, and began to in- stall equipment for the Winchester Laun- dries, Inc., reputed to be the first really modern laundry in the East. For ten years he was the master mechanic of this com- pany, during that period installing the ma- chinery in two more plants. For the better carrying on of his work, Mr. Wessell visited laundries from Boston to Chicago, utilizing the added knowledge to the increased effici- ency of his mechanical abilities. After five years as production manager for the Win- chester Laundries, Inc., he removed to Me- thuen, in May, 1926, and purchased the Gay's Laundry, established in 1900. This he has operated since with remarkable suc- cess. Since 1933 his plant has been re- equipped with the latest devices used in the business, and turns out work in the best condition and according to the best methods known. He is a member of the National Laundry Association, the Massachusetts Laundry Association, and the Lawrence Laundry Club. Fraternally he affiliates with William Parkman Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Winchester. He is a member of the Engineers' Blue Room Club, of Boston, of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, the Methuen Board of Trade, and the Lawrence Rotary Club.
In 1909 J. Arthur Wessell married Anna Elizabeth Walsh, who died in 1915. They
were the parents of three children: I. Dor- othy Elizabeth, who married Leonard Mil- ler, of Stoneham, Massachusetts. 2. Anna Bertha, private secretary of Ultrex Prod- ucts Corporation of Boston. 3. Ethel Pearl, graduate of Possi Nissen College of Physi- cal Education.
FREDERICK WARREN HIXON-In merchandising and financial operations and in civic activities in the city of Lynn, Fred- erick W. Hixon is a representative citizen. His immediate business affiliation is the Warren S. Hixon Company, of which he is treasurer. The family of Hixon is one of the oldest in the State, and through it he claims a distant relationship to former Gov- ernor Gardner. His paternal grandfather, Sewell B. Hixon, was born in West Med- way, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, died in Lynn, in 1889, aged seventy-three years. He was a farmer. His son, Warren S. Hixon, born in West Medway, July 30, 1844, died in Lynn, January 16, 1933. In 1865 he established the Department Food Store at No. 570 Western Avenue, Lynn, continuing here for sixty-eight years, until his death. He was a Republican and served on the Lynn City Council for two years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lynn, where he served as a deacon for nearly half a century. He married Lucilla D. Gardner, born in Sherborn, Middlesex County, Au- gust 4, 1857, and resides in Lynn, the daugh- ter of Horatio Ware and Augusta (Fisk) Gardner; her father, born in Sherborn, died there, was a farmer, and her mother, born in Framingham, Middlesex County, died in Sherborn. The Fisk, Gardner and Ware fam- ilies are all of Revolutionary stock, accord- ing to the Hixon family data.
Frederick Warren Hixon, son of Warren S. and Lucilla D. (Gardner) Hixon, was born in Lynn, December 3, 1881, and grad-
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uated at the Lynn Classical High School and at Burdett's Business College in Bos- ton. In 1901 he became associated in busi- ness with his father as a clerk in the Depart- ment Food Store. The business was incor- porated in 1904, the title changing to the Warren S. Hixon Company, of which he was made treasurer, which office he has since filled, while being instrumental to develop- ment of the business to its present large proportions.
Other of his activities include the Equita- ble Cooperative Bank of Lynn, of which he is president ; Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank, of which he is a trustee; Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he is a direc- tor; Lynn Public Library, of which he is a trustee; Lynn Home for Aged Women, of which he is secretary. In politics he is a Republican. His fraternal affiliations in- clude Golden Fleece Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and all bodies of the Masonic Order through the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and Aleppo Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Lynn Young Men's Christian Association, the Boston City Club, and the First Baptist Church of Lynn, in which last-named body he has served as treasurer of various organizations in the church. His principal diversion is reading.
Frederick Warren Hixon married, October 27, 1909, at Lynn, Grace Gardner, born in Providence, Rhode Island, daughter of Fred H. and Emily J. (Webster) Gardner, her father associated with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company at Bos- ton for a number of years. Both parents are now deceased. Mrs. Hixon is a graduate of the Lynn English High School and the Salem State Normal School. She taught in the Lynn public schools prior to her mar- riage. She is a member of the First Uni- versalist Church of Lynn. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hixon are: I. Virginia, born
October 16, 1911, a senior in the University of New Hampshire at Durham. 2. Eliza- beth, born February II, 1915, a member of the freshman class at the University of New Hampshire. Mr. Hixon's place of business is on the original site, No. 570 Western Avenue, and the family residence is No. 48 Brimblecom Street, Lynn.
SAMUEL ALBERT GRAVES, of Lynn, is a well-known grocery merchant serving a large patronage, and a substantial busi- ness man and citizen. He is descended from early American families long prominent in Lynn, his grandfather, Samuel Graves, born in 1796, and died in 1885, and his grand- mother, having been born there. Samuel A. Graves was born in Lynn, November 30, 1863, a son of Isaiah and Susan Ann (Emer- ton) Graves. His father was born in 1826, and early in life became a shoe cutter. Isaiah was one of the "49'rs" making the trip to California by way of Cape Horn, leaving Lynn in January and arriving at his destina- tion six months later, and remained in Cali- fornia six years. His return trip required six weeks. He served on the board of alder- men one year and in the common council two years. He was a Democrat and a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Susan Ann (Emerton) Graves was born in Lynn, January 1, 1837, and died January 4, 1910.
Following his graduation from high school, Mr. Graves was associated with the E. W. & C. F. Mower Company, manufacturers of shoes, beginning as office boy and later be- coming a shoe cutter. He remained with the firm nine years and was then employed by his father from whom he purchased the business in 1900. He has since carried it on, increasing it until it is now one of the oldest grocery concerns in Lynn. Mr. Graves conducts a general grocery business that is favorably known for its excellent service.
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