USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume IV > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
Judge Hill married, April 22, 1913, at Salem, Grace Ellingwood Dennis, daughter of Edwin W. and Izette (Silver) Dennis, both of her parents deceased. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hill: 1. Emily Dennis (de- ceased). 2. Richard Devereux Hill, born November 6, 1919.
CHARLES A. GREEN-As second in command to the chief law officer of Essex County, Charles A. Green, of Salem, by fill- ing the position of first assistant district attorney, gives notice that he has advanced another step in his legal career. A practi-
794
THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
tioner of a score of years' standing, he has also held the post of Master in Chancery for a decade and a half; therefore he was no novice to the public and the law courts when he became right-hand man of Essex's prosecuting attorney.
Mr. Green's ancestors came from Ireland many years ago, and took up their abode in Salem. In this city both his parents, James and Margaret (Regan) Green, were born, the father deceased and the mother surviv- ing.
Charles A. Green was born in Salem, July 9, 1889, and passed through the public schools of the city, graduating from a high school in 1907. His reading of law was pur- sued in the offices of McSweeney and Mc- Sweeney, of Salem, and he completed his formal professional studies at the Charles H. Innes Law School in Boston. He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in Aug- ust, 1913, and at once entered practice in Salem in association with his former pre- ceptors, McSweeney and McSweeney. Since severing that connection, he has been a law associate of James Kinsella, city solicitor of Salem. From the time of leaving Mr. Kin- sella's office he has practiced in his own name and has built a large and desirable clientele. Some fifteen years ago he was appointed a Master in Chancery and has filled the office satisfactorily. It was on January 1, 1931, that he was named first assistant district attorney for Essex County by District Attorney Hugh A. Cregg, and he has brought the qualifications of a prose- cutor to the discharge of his official duties. He is a member of the Essex County Bar Association and Massachusetts Bar Asso- ciation.
During the World War he was active on home duty, participating in local drives for funds for the government and public welfare, engaging in public speaking as a "four-min- uteman" and other war work. He is affiliated
with Salem Lodge, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, and Salem Council, Knights of Columbus. He is a member of the Father Mathew Total Abstinence So- ciety. His principal recreations are out- door sports, and he is known as an enthus- iast of golf. His office is at No. 2591/2 Essex Street, and he makes his home with his mother in Salem at No. 54 Ocean Ave- nue.
CAPTAIN EDWARD D. SIROIS, man- ager of the Winter Garden Flower Shop, at No. 41 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, has taken an active part in the military affairs of this community. As a youth he enlisted for foreign service and during the World War volunteered, experiencing active serv- ice in France and taking part in some of the greatest engagements of this conflict.
Captain Sirois was born in Lawrence, De- cember 18, 1898, the son of George A. and Mary M. (Devlin) Sirois. His father, who was an accountant in this city, was of French extraction, while his mother of Scotch-Irish stock was a direct descendant of Edward Devlin, one of the pioneer mer- chants of Lawrence, who served on the old common council of the city. Captain Sirois was educated in the public schools of this community graduating from high school in 1916. Shortly after completing his educa- tion he began his soldiering career by en- listing in the United States Army for serv- ice on the Mexican border. He remained on duty six months and then returned to Law- rence where he became associated with the Lawrence "Telegram" as assistant circula- tion manager, maintaining this position un- til June 25, 1917, when he again joined the army, this time with the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. This body was called for action and mobilized at Boxford, Massa- chusetts. In September of that year the contingent was sent overseas, Captain Si-
1
797
THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
rois then being a corporal. This unit ex- perienced some of the hardest engagements of the American Army in the World War, taking part in the battles of Champagne, the Marne, Meuse Argonne, St. Mihiel, Ile de France and Lorraine. Before hostilities ceased Captain Sirois had been promoted to a second lieutenancy and was discharged with the rank of captain on April 29, 1919. He returned home this year and arrived during the police strike in Boston. The Massachusetts Provisional Militia was be- ing formed, he aided in its reorganization and was commissioned in this unit as a first lieutenant. In 1920 this became a perma- nent organization of the Massachusetts Na- tional Guard and in 1923 Mr. Sirois received the commission of captain.
In 1922 he became affiliated with the Winter Garden Flower Shop, which had been established by his father, and upon the death of the elder Sirois he took over the business, an enterprise which he has con- tinued successfully as manager. Between 1919 and 1921 he was World War civil serv- ice clerk for the city of Lawrence, a position he resigned in 1922 to take over the man- agement of the Lawrence sub-district office of the United States Veteran Bu- reau. He remained at this post until he took over the management of his father's business.
Long active in civic affairs, Mr. Sirois' in- telligent leadership brought to him the at- tention of his party and he was elected Representative to the General Court of Massachusetts from the Fifth Essex Dis- trict (Ward Five of Lawrence), on No- vember 6, 1934. This is a Democratic dis- trict but despite this and the fact that there was a great country wide Democratic sweep he was elected as a Republican.
Throughout his career his interest in military matters has made him a promi-
nent figure in this realm and he has been the commander, vice-commander and ad- jutant of the Lawrence Post of the Ameri- can Legion, is a member of the American Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans and the French Amer- ican Veterans, belonging also to the Army and Navy Club, Companies K, M, and Battery C, Veterans Association. Though his activities have been centered on these organizations he has also found time to enjoy the civic and social affairs of the community and holds memberships in the Y. D. Club of Lawrence, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Knights of Co- lumbus.
On September 18, 1929, Captain Sirois married Margaret H. Noonan of Law- rence, and they are the parents of one child, Eileen M., born March 19, 1930.
RAYMOND P. MILLER-Insurance as a medium of service to one's fellows has in Raymond P. Miller one of its most enthus- iastic and successful exponents. He is gen- eral agent of the Salem office of the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company of Boston, chartered in 1835.
Born in Lynn, January 9, 1896, Mr. Mil- ler attended the public schools of Swamp- scott to which place his parents removed when he was one year old. Following his graduation from Swampscott High School in 1914 he entered the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology, where he won his di- ploma and degree of Mechanical Engineer in the class of 1918. In addition to success- fully negotiating the proverbially heavy course at "Tech," he served eighteen months with the Airplane Division of the United States Reserves. In the summer and fall of 1917, previous to enlistment in Class 5, United States Naval Reserve Corps, for
798
THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
general service, he completed his senior class work. At the end of his period of service at Rockaway, Long Island, in 1919, he held the rating of engineering inspector, lieutenant (junior grade).
After the World War he entered indus- trial associations, becoming production manager, first in a steel mill, and next in a paper mill. In 1926 he received and ac- cepted an invitation to be personnel man- ager at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was about this time that he was drawn to the insurance profession through reading a book dealing with the subject, published by the Alexander Hamil- ton Institute. His interest increased re- markably, and finally the urge became so strong within him that he applied for and received an assignment with the Aetna Life Insurance Company, agreeing to work nights in order that he might become fa- miliar with the business from the sales- man's standpoint. After doing part-time work for one year, he gave up his good in- come at the institute and entered the Moore and Summers agency in Boston, June I, 1927. His experience as an engineer and manager stood him in excellent stead, and from the beginning of his new association his production was good. In his second year he was several times agency leader in volume of monthly new insurance business written. "The New England Pilot," an in- surance organ, commenting on his rapid ad- vance in the life underwriting field, said in part : "One feature of his work is the direct outcome of analytical studies as an engi- neer, namely, his 'Gap-Sheet.' After finding the 'gap' between a man's assets and lia- bilities, he proceeds to bridge it. Doing this has kept him busy, rewarded him finan- cially, and made him one of the pillars of the Moore and Summers organization. Needless to say, 'Ray' is not only a thor- ough student, but a salesman who has the
gift of really interesting his clients, all of whom become his loyal friends." He re- mained with the Moore and Summers agency for six years, and on July 1, 1933, he was appointed by the New England Mu- tual Life Insurance Company to be its gen- eral agent at Salem in succession of the late William B. Dawe, who was the company's first general agent in this city. The agency's offices were moved from the Masonic Tem- ple Building to Suite No. 406 Perley Build- ing, No. 254 Essex Street, Salem.
Mr. Miller is affiliated with St. Andrew's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Ban- gor, Maine, and is a member of the Boston Life Underwriters Association ..
Mr. Miller married, August 1, 1919, Mar- ion Douglas Chesley, of Swampscott, and they became the parents of four children : I. John Raymond, born April 6, 1922. 2. David Irving, who died at the age of four- teen weeks. 3. Douglas Lee, born May 3, 1928. 4. Lois Elizabeth, born March 27, 1932. The family have their home at No. 73 Fuller Avenue, Swampscott.
GUY C. RICHARDS-In the practice of law, Guy C. Richards, of Beverly and Salem, has attained a position among the leaders of the Essex County bar. Accord- ing to family data his first ancestor in this country was John Richards, who settled in Plymouth in 1633. He later removed to New London, Connecticut, where this branch of the family centered, and some members of it arrived at distinction. Cap- tain Guy Richards served in the Revolu- tionary War. On the maternal side, Mr. Richards' grandmother, Amelia (Nickerson) Thorndike, was born in Provincetown and died in Salem at the age of eighty-seven years.
Henry H. Richards, father of Guy C., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and became
799
THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
a merchant in Salem, being thus engaged from 1889 until the time of his death, Feb- ruary 12, 1916. Before coming to Salem he lived in Franklin County, Maine, where he was prominent in Republican political cir- cles, having been chairman of the Republi- can County Committee. He married Ade- laide E. Thorndike, a native of Boston, whose death occurred August 9, 1917. She was a member of an old and well-known New England family.
Guy C. Richards, named for his Revolu- tionary ancestor, was born in Farmington, Maine, September 21, 1874. He graduated at the Salem High School in 1892 and en- tered Dartmouth College, where he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts on gradua- tion in the class of 1896. At graduation he was made a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and was one of the commencement speakers. He was president of his class at graduation and since then has continued to serve as president of his class organiza- tion. In 1925 he served as president of the General Alumni Association of Dartmouth College, and from 1925 to 1931 he was a member of the Dartmouth Alumni Council. He is president of the Dartmouth Associa- tion of Southern Essex and president of Dartmouth Corporation of Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity. From 1896 to 1900 he taught Latin in the Salem public schools and be- ginning in October, 1898, he pursued his law studies under the preceptorship of the late Hon. Alden P. White and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar, March 4, 1901. He practiced in association with Judge White until the latter's election to the bench and has since practiced in the same office they occupied together. For twenty years he was treasurer of the Essex Bar Association, and from 1913 to 1916 he served as city solicitor of Beverly. He is a member of the University Club of Boston.
Mr. Richards married, October 4, 1904, Mabel Hurd, of Beverly, in which city they have their residence. Mr. Richards' law office is at No. 2561/2 Essex Street, Salem.
CHARLES E. HALLIDAY-More than twenty years in law practice in Salem has given Charles E. Halliday excellent stand- ing at the bar and with his clients. On the paternal side Lawyer Halliday's grandfather was a paymaster in the English army, sta- tioned in India, with headquarters in Cal- cutta. In the latter city Charles Halliday, son of the paymaster, was born. He came to the United States and engaged in busi- ness as a manufacturer of shoes. He mar- ried Ellen Buckley, a native of Massachu- setts.
Charles E. Halliday, son of Charles and Ellen (Buckley) Halliday, was born in Wo- burn, this State, October 12, 1891, and passed through the public schools, graduating from the Westbrook (Maine) High School. He next entered Northeastern University, grad- uating from its law department with his degree in the class of 1912. In the same year he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar and established himself in an office in Salem. Here he has built up a large and desirable clientele, which he serves in his general practice. He is a member of the Massachu- setts Bar Association and the Essex County Bar Association.
During the World War period he served in a civilian capacity in the Quartermaster's Department, United States Army, being sta- tioned at Boston, and having charge for the army of the New England shoe and leather department. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Halliday married, October 20, 1915, Katharine Louise Brady, of Salem, in which
800
THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
city they have their home at No. 3A Willow Avenue, and Mr. Halliday his law office at No. 157 Washington Street.
FRANCIS E. RAFTER-One of the able members of the Salem bar is Francis E. Raf- ter, who has attained a considerable reputa- tion as a successful trial lawyer. Born in Salem, November 4, 1892, Mr. Rafter is the son of Michael J. and Ellen E. (Cronin) Rafter, the father a native of Salem and a leather worker, and the mother born in Beverly. He was graduated from Salem High School in 1911 and took his profes- sional course in Boston University Law School, where he was made a Bachelor of Laws on graduation in the class of 1916. He was admitted to the bar of Massachusetts that year, and opened a law office in Salem at No. 71 Washington Street.
The year after he started practice, the United States entered the World War, and he enlisted in December, 1917. He obtained a berth in the navy and was assigned to the United States ship "North Carolina," later being transferred to the United States ship "New York," having been promoted to gun- ner. He made a number of transatlantic crossings to France and ports of other coun- tries, and to Italy. He was mustered out of the service in January, 1919. Resuming his law practice, he gave himself diligently to serving his clients and has built up a large following. One of his most notable cases was handled in a masterly manner in 1933, namely that of Mrs. Jessie B. Costello, charged with the murder of her husband. As associate counsel for the accused he assisted in conducting one of the most finished de- fense cases in the history of the Massachu- setts trial courts on the criminal side. The defendant was acquitted. Mr. Rafter is a member of the Essex County Bar Associa- tion and Salem Bar Association. His col-
leagues view him as one of the rising law- yers of this section.
In political alliance a Democrat, he yielded to the desire of his friends and became a candidate for representative in his district in November, 1925. He won reëlections in 1927, 1929, and 1931, and during these eight consecutive years on Beacon Hill he served on the important Committee on Rules. His fraternal affiliations include the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Rafter married, September 14, 1929, Mary A. Kenney, of Salem. Their residence is at No. 71 Proctor Street, Salem.
WILLIAM HENRY McSWEENEY -- A former member of local legislative bodies, having been at the head of one chamber for a part of his term, William Henry Mc- Sweeney, well known trial lawyer of this county, is president of the Salem Bar Asso- ciation. Born in Salem, February 25, 1878, son of Dennis and Mary (Dempsey) Mc- Sweeney, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of New Brunswick, Canada, he passed through the Salem public schools and graduated at St. Mary's Educational Insti- tute in 1896. He pursued his reading of law in the office of Michael L. Sullivan, well known in legal circles of Salem, and he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar at the age of twenty years in 1900. He entered prac- tice in association with his brother, Morgan J. McSweeney, now clerk of the District Court of Essex, and in 1907 helped form the law firm of McSweeney & McSweeney, re- puted to be one of the leading legal combina- tions in the county. From 1915 to 1916 he served as assistant district attorney under Judge Louis S. Cox, when the latter held office as district attorney of Essex County. He is popularly known as an advocate of trial lawyers, being one of five attorneys in the county so designated by their colleagues
Leroy S. Colby
803
THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
of the bar. In addition to being president of the Salem Bar Association, he is a member of the executive committee of the Essex County Bar Association.
His career in Salem politics began with election to the Common Council, on which he served for three years, being advanced to president for his final year, the youngest member of any council to be chosen for this office. Next his ward sent him to the Board of Aldermen, of which he was a member in 1907-08-09. He is active in fraternal organ- izations, being a Past District Deputy and a life-member of Salem Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and an hon- orary life-member of the Veterans of For- eign Wars.
Aside from his appearance in court cases, he has done a great deal of public speaking and in this respect also has won wide rec- ognition. One of his most conspicuous and well received public addresses was that of his own writing on the subject, "The Irish Strain in the Evolution of the Common- wealth." This was delivered by him as a historical feature at the tercentenary ob- servance in connection with the Essex Insti- tute course.
Mr. McSweeney married, September 25, 1907, Frances K. McGlew, of Salem. They reside in Salem at a charmingly situated home in the midst of an acre of landscaped grounds, on Loring Avenue. Mr. Mc- Sweeney has his law office at No. 181 Wash- ington Street in the same city.
LEROY S. COLBY-One of the inter- esting but passing features of New Eng- land life is the tendency of the true native of continuing in a vocation, or career, throughout a lifetime. Few illustrate this commendable tendency better than Edwin H. and Leroy S. Colby, father and son, of
Lawrence. Leroy S. Colby was born in Lawrence, September 5, 1872, the son of Edwin H. and Sarah J. (Hammond) Colby, both natives of New Hampshire, the first of Manchester and the second of Haverhill. Edwin H. Colby was one of the first letter carriers in Lawrence, starting when the system was introduced in the day of the penny postage. He was in the service of the Federal Government for fifty-three years before his retirement in 1918, during a part of which he was captain of carriers. Included also in his service should be noted the time spent as a standard bearer in the Union forces during the Civil War. Edwin H. Colby was chairman of the Board of Civil Examiners, in Lawrence, for a period, and in his own unostentatious way a most useful and beloved citizen of his adopted city. He died in 1923.
Leroy S. Colby attended the Lawrence public schools and Phillips Academy, where he studied physics and chemistry under Professor Graves. On August 1, 1890, shortly before his eighteenth birthday, he went to work for the old Lawrence Gas Company, as a clerk. Assigned to the gas works as a timekeeper and general handy- man, he so remained for nearly three years. Then began a variety of positions and ex- periences, all requiring hard work, which fitted him for the post he occupied as assist- ant to the manager of the Lawrence Gas and Electric Company and also assistant to the president, until Mr. Colby retired in 1934 after forty-four years of service. He was fireman, assistant engineer, plant elec- trician, in the Common Street plant. He was transferred to the stock room and to the electric meter department, and was pro- moted to meter superintendent of both gas and electric meters. Then he was made superintendent in charge of the street de- partment, and when the electrical side of
804
THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
the business came to the fore, he was chosen electric distribution superintendent; having charge of all construction work in this department. When the South Law- rence plant had been in operation but a year Mr. Colby was appointed superintendent of the electric department, a position he held until 1926 when the office was abolished at the time the plant was merged with the New England Power Company, and he was made assistant to the manager and assist- ant to the president.
In all, Leroy S. Colby has been with the Lawrence Gas and Electric Company over a period of forty-four years, a remarkable record and one equalled by only one or two who are still connected with this large cor- poration, itself noteworthy because of its ability to retain employees for years. What Mr. Colby has accomplished has been the result of his own talents and unaided ef- forts. His record is one of adaptability and untiring industry, and he enjoys an unblem- ished reputation for integrity, general help- fulness and consistent adherence to high ideals. Mr. Colby is fraternally affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a charter member of the Essex County Electrical Club.
On November 15, 1899, Leroy S. Colby married Lueva S. Herrick, of Lawrence, and they are the parents of four children : Her- rick Edwin, who married Anita B. Boone, of New York; Ruth Elizabeth, at St. Vin- cent's Hospital, New York City ; Doris ; and Leroy S. Colby, Jr., who, in 1934, made his fifteenth trip around the world as an engi- neer on the S. S. "President Garfield," of the Dollar Line.
GEORGE W. HOOPER-As president of the Salem Laundry Company, of Salem, said to be one of the largest and most com- plete establishments of its kind in the coun-
try, George W. Hooper has developed this business on the foundation laid by his father. His parents were George L. and Lucy (Staples) Hooper, natives of Maine. In 1892 the elder Hooper came to Salem and in that year entered the laundry business on a small scale under the name of George L. Hooper & Son. Before his death, which oc- curred in 1913, he had seen the enterprise grown to large proportions. He enjoyed the respect of the people of Salem for his busi- ness leadership and qualities as a citizen.
George W. Hooper was born in Portland, Maine, July 2, 1868, and completed his edu- cation in a school at Concord, New Hamp- shire. Since becoming the executive head of the concern, which was incorporated in 1906, Mr. Hooper has spared no expense in the matter of plant and equipment, maintaining them at a modern standard throughout. He has installed a 250-K. W. Ames four-cyl- inder "Uniflow" engine, which furnishes all the light and power for the great plant, which is housed in a four-story building oc- cupying an entire city block and gives em- ployment to two hundred persons. Adjuncts to the business include an extensive rug- cleaning department, fur-storage depart- ment, dry-cleaning department and complete repair shop. The machinery throughout the establishment is the most modern in type and efficiency, and the plant is second to no other similar business in the United States in equipment, it is said by those qualified to make this estimate. The president of the company takes commendable pride in the remarkable growth and stability of the bus- iness in a comparatively small city, and for this condition his employees and associates give him the major credit.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.