USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume IV > Part 29
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THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
During his residence in Peabody, Mr. Lynch has entered actively into many civic enterprises and has been identified with al- most every movement for the city's benefit. In 1934 he was appointed by Mayor Sullivan a member of the City Planning Commission and in the previous year was elected pres- ident of the Rotary Club, in whose work he has been prominent. He is also affiilated with Salem Lodge, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks.
Mr. Lynch is married and is the father of one son, Thomas Edward, Jr.
REV. MICHAEL J. WELSH-One of the well-known and beloved priests of this diocese is the Rev. Michael J. Welsh, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, of Lynn.
The church itself, which numbers about five thousand souls, has a brilliant record of achievement in the spiritual realm. It was on June 14, 1874, that the people in the vicin- ity of the present parish of St. Joseph met and determined upon the need for a church. On May 3, 1875, ground was broken in Union Street, at the corner of West Green Street, the stone for the foundation of the building being quarried on the lot. On July 4, 1875, the Catholics of Lynn laid the cornerstone of St. Joseph's Church, their august ceremonials coinciding with the cele- bration of the independence of the American Colonies from the mother country. The Mass on that occasion was celebrated by the Rev. A. S. Healy, assisted by Father John C. Harrington, and the Rev. Dr. Spalding, of New York, was the preacher. Construction work continued for a decade, and the fin- ished church was finally dedicated on June 21, 1885, by Archbishop Williams. Father McKenna, of New York, delivered the ser- mon on that day, and Mass was celebrated by Bishop Bradley, of Manchester, assisted by several noted priests. St. Joseph's parish
is an offshoot of St. Mary's, of Lynn. The first pastor was the Rev. John C. Harring- ton, born September 18, 1841, in Portland, New York, lived in Wareham, Massachu- setts, in early life, attending Nott's Acad- emy, being graduated from St. Charles' Col- lege, in Maryland, in June, 1867, and or- dained in Troy on June 3, 1871. His first curacy was at St. Mary's, Lynn, where he continued from June, 1871, to June 21, 1885, when he became pastor of St. Joseph's.
The present church of St. Joseph's, with its Sunday school, parochial school, sodali- ties and different organizations, is a strong Catholic unit in this region of Massachu- setts. The rector's residence is in Green Street-a handsome brick structure three stories high and containing about twelve rooms. It is surrounded by a beautiful lawn. The church architect was J. C. Murphy, of Providence, Rhode Island, and the frescoer was Mr. Brazier. The church building is of brick, trimmed with Chelmsford granite. Its style is Gothic, and the church rises to a one hundred and eighty-six foot tower to the left of the nave, which is eighty feet high. The church itself is one hundred and fifty-eight by seventy-two feet, contains one hundred and eighty-seven pews, seats about twelve hundred people, and has a basement sixteen feet high and seating one thousand people. At the rear of the main church building stands a sodality chapel, twenty-five by thirty-six feet. The interior of the church is an artistic triumph. Seven columns and two pilasters support the vaulted roof, and from the columns spring eight Gothic arches, groined and splayed. The vestibule, leading to the body of the church by three doors, is lighted by four small windows of stained glass. Just inside these doors, overhead, is the choir loft, illuminated by two small win- dows and one large magnificent window, rosette in design with a central figure of St.
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Cecilia. These windows are of stained glass. The windows on the epistle side of the nave are gifts of John Griffin, Mrs. John Griffin, Mary A. Callaghan, Maurice P. Bresnahan, Mrs. Daniel O'Shea, and one each to the memory of Patrick Murphy and Honora Lee. There are eight of these convention- ally designed windows. On the other side of the nave are windows which are the gifts of the family of John Mahan and one each in memory of John Riley, Bridget Lane, John Smith, James Smith, and Patrick Han- nawin. They are seven in number. The sanctuary is finished in stucco and illumi- nated by five stained glass windows, and below the windows are five paintings-these representing the Nativity, the Baptism of Christ, the Resurrection, St. Peter receiving the keys of Heaven and Hell, and the angelic adoration of the Godhead. The clerestory and vault of the church are adorned by holy symbols and the decorations are brown, gold, red and olive in tone. The church interior is one of the most beautiful in Lynn and Essex County.
The church is also unusually prosperous and progressive. Father Harrington did much to build it up, and was made perma- nent rector and irremovable parish priest on December 27, 1906. He remained at its head until his death, February 15, 1913. The Rev. Edwin J. Dolan was then named pastor by Cardinal O'Connell. Two years later he purchased, in the name of the Archbishop of Boston, land across the street from the church, there constructing parish houses. Father Dolan was born November 16, 1856, in Boston, was graduated from Roxbury High School in 1875 and three years later from St. Charles' College, Baltimore, which, in 1883, conferred an honorary degree upon him. He also took a two-year course in philosophy, then entered St. John's College in Brighton, and remained there until or-
dained to the priesthood. On June 2, 1889, he was assigned to St. Ann's Church, Glou- cester, there remaining for two years until, in 1891, he was made associate pastor of St. Joseph's, at Lynn. In February, 1908, he went to St. Michael's, remaining as pastor there until November 29, 1909, going next to St. Edward's, in Monticello. On the death of Father Harrington, he took charge of St. Joseph's Church, in Lynn, continuing here from May 19, 1913, until his death on Febru- ary 10, 1922. Father Francis W. Maley, the next pastor, devoted himself consecratedly to the work of the parish for the next twelve years until his death in August, 1934.
The present pastor of St. Joseph's, the Rev. Michael J. Welsh, has wonderfully demonstrated his ability to lead a great church like this one. He is a native of East Boston. He prepared himself for higher studies at Boston College, later studying at St. Mary's Theological Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, where he was ordained. After serving as a curate at different churches, he was made pastor of St. Patrick's, in Lynn, there remaining for twenty years. At the death of Father Maley, in 1934, he was made irremovable pastor of St. Joseph's Church. Here he is assisted by three curates, and heads what is one of the largest and most flourishing churches in the diocese.
CHARLES JOHN POWELL-Clerk of the district court of Peabody, Charles John Powell has been appointed to that office by three Governors of Massachusetts, and is highly regarded for his competence and service in that office. Mr. Powell was born at Salem, June 24, 1889, a son of William Powell, who was born at Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, and of Mary (Judge) Powell, who was born at Agra, India. Her father, an army officer, was stationed there. William Powell engaged in the leather busi-
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ness in which he has continued until the present time. Mary (Judge) Powell died July 13, 1925.
Mr. Powell attended public school, was graduated from Peabody High School in 1908, and entered the law office of S. How- ard Donnell, as stenographer and law stu- dent. In this dual rôle he demonstrated power of concentration and ability for work, for it is not easy to work and study at the same time. But he was determined to suc- ceed and willingly met the demands of his ambitions, which were realized February 21, 1913, when he was admitted to the Essex County bar and permitted to prac- tice in the Superior Court of Salem, before Judge Loranus Hitchcock. In July of the same year he became a partner of S. How- ard Donnell, the firm name being Donnell & Powell, and this partnership continued until the fall of 1922, when Judge Edward
B. O'Brien entered the firm as Donnell, O'Brien & Powell. This firm continued until September, 1929, at which time it was dissolved, and Mr. Powell has since prac- ticed alone specializing in probate and con- veyance law.
His many legal and personal qualities commended him to the Honorable Samuel W. McCall, Governor of Massachusetts, who, on May 22, 1918, appointed him clerk of the District Court of Peabody, a position he has filled continuously until the present, having been reappointed by Governors Channing H. Cox and Alvin T. Fuller dur- ing their administrations.
Mr. Powell is a Republican and was that party's candidate to the constitutional con- vention in 1918, but was defeated by a small margin by his Democratic opponent. Mr. Powell is a member of the Corporation of the Warren Five Cents Saving Bank; a member of the Massachusetts Bar and American Bar associations ; past president of the Association of the Clerks of District
and Municipal Courts ; Past Master of Jor- dan Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; is a life member of all the Masonic bodies in both the York and Scottish Rite; a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Peabody Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, of which his wife is also a member; Holten Lodge, No. 104, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; charter member of Peabody Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Peabody Rotary Club, and the Now and Then Association of Salem.
Mr. Powell married, June 20, 1925, Hazel R. Norton, of Peabody, daughter of Ben- jamin K. and Ida F. (Merrill) Norton, and they have twin daughters: Hazel R., and Marjorie W., born March 28, 1927.
CHRISTIAN CHRISTIANSEN-A sub- stantial citizen and progressive business man of Lynn is Christian Christiansen in whom the ancestral Viking strain of achievement is continued. His present position among the leading business men of Lynn is hard won and is the result of setting himself to a purpose and earnestly striving to attain his goal. Born in Kristiansand, Norway, on April 9, 1886, Mr. Christiansen is the son of Christian and Hannah (Halvorsen) Chris- tiansen. His father, who was a mechanic, was born in Fetsund, Norway, on October 13, 1857, and died in November, 1933. in Oslo, Norway, where Hannah (Halvorsen) Christiansen, whose birth occurred in Kris- tiansand, Norway, on August 31. 1859, is residing.
Christian Christiansen received his educa- tion in public schools in Norway, and later was graduated from a technical school in 1906. He was employed as a machinist in Oslo for one year and then, having reached his majority, came to the United States and settled in Lynn. A skilled craftsman, Mr. Christiansen readily found employment in
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machine shops in Lynn and later in Peabody and Boston. He applied himself to learning the English language and so, knowing what was happening in his surroundings, acquired extensive experience in his trade and in busi- ness practice. Continuing in various em- ployments and steadily increasing his profi- ciency, he became associated in 1923 with other men in organizing the Rotary Machine Company, Incorporated, of Lynn, of which firm he was elected treasurer and a member of the board of directors. Jerome P. Byron was president of the company and upon his death, Mr. Christiansen succeeded to that office, which he now holds. The Rotary Machine Company manufactures shoe ma- chinery and supplies an extensive market throughout New England. Under Mr. Chris- tiansen's guidance the enterprise has shown remarkable growth, expanding wisely and being known for the quality of their prod- ucts which are considered by the shoe ma- chinery trade as among the best in their field. Beginning with only two men and little machinery the firm now employs twenty-five or more workers and is well equipped.
The privileges and duties of citizenship have been actively exercised by Mr. Chris- tiansen, who vigorously cooperates in civic, welfare and other community affairs. Through his many associations he has won the esteem of representative citizens of all classes and his personal qualities have gained for him many friends. Honorable in thought and conduct, friendly to all and of unquestioned integrity, his career has been marked not only by financial success but also by the respect that makes him a welcome guest wherever he goes. He is a Democrat in politics and is much interested in matters pertaining to good citizenship.
On January 9, 1909, in Lynn, he married Hilda Ottesen, a native of Olso, Norway, and the daughter of Anton and Louise Otte-
sen, also of Norway, where they died and are buried. Mrs. Christiansen was educated in her native land being graduated from high school. With her husband she is a member of the Lutheran Church, having been reared in the faith of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Christiansen has one sister in this country, Mrs. O. Flogen, of Lynn, and also a sister in Oslo, Norway, Mrs. H. Staahas.
HENRY JOSEPH DES ROBERTS- Among the outstanding electrical engineers of Essex County and vicinity is Henry Joseph Des Roberts, who throughout his long and distinguished business career has devoted his time to perfecting his knowl- edge of this subject and has come to be recognized as an authority in this field. Today he heads one of the large electrical contract organizations in this section and is also proprietor of a modern and well equipped electrical supply company. As a resident of Lynn he has taken an interested and active part in the social and civic life of this community, being identified with many of the leading organizations here.
Mr. Des Roberts is a native of the State of Massachusetts, born in Newton, May 4, 1894, the son of Frank and Azeline (Vac- hon) Des Roberts. His father, a native of Canada, died in Biddeford, Maine, August 24, 1926, at the age of sixty-one. He was engaged in the building and contracting business for a number of years. The elder Des Roberts was the son of Francis Des Roberts, a native of France who was sent to America as an orphan infant during the French Revolution. He became a resident of Canada, where he manufactured and in- stalled lightning rods. Mr. Des Roberts' mother, Azeline Vachon, was a native of Canada, as were her parents, Zepherin and Azeline Vachon. For many years her father engaged in farming and then came to New-
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ton, Massachusetts, and entered the build- ing and contracting business.
Mr. Des Roberts, of this review, received a general education in the public schools of his native community and later attended Sacred Heart College in Montreal, Canada. He returned to Biddeford, Maine, and was graduated from the high school there. De- termined to pursue the electrical engineer- ing profession, he studied the subject at night school in Boston. The two years fol- lowing his graduation from high school he also spent in his father's contracting busi- ness. Study and experience made him even more eager to engage in his work and when he had completed his school work in Boston he returned to Biddeford, Maine, and began to put his knowledge in practice. In 1915 he came to Lynn where he became associ- ated with the General Electric Company. He completed his apprenticeship with this concern and in 1916 obtained a State license. His ability and aptitude for this work coupled with the well rounded experience he had gained up to this time enabled him to become a journeyman electrician in Lynn with the Reliance Electrical Company. He maintained this association until July 5, 1917, when he enlisted in the navy and was assigned to the United States ship "Vir- ginia," which was a training ship. He re- mained with this branch of the service until he received an honorable discharge, July 16, 1919. During his career with the navy his electrical knowledge and knowledge of the French language were valuable assets to him, for he became chief electrician for his ship and was appointed interpreter. The "Virginia" was a unit of a battle fleet which later was turned over for transport service to carry army detachments across and to return with casualties.
Directly after he was released from the navy he returned to Lynn and resumed his association with the Reliance Electrical
Company. His rise during this period was rapid. He was soon appointed foreman and then rose to the position of superintendent, finally became a partner in the firm, and maintained this status until January I, 1926, when he sold out his interest and founded and organized the Des Roberts Electrical Company, which he headed. Four years later the enterprise was incorporated and he became president and treasurer, the offices he occupies today. This organiza- tion, whose headquarters and retail store is located at No. 48 Blake Street, Lynn, does all types of electrical contract work throughout New England and New York State. Mr. Des Roberts also heads as pro- prietor and owner, the wholesale electrical firm of Des Roberts Electrical Supply Com- pany, located at No. 440 Union Street in this city.
Though he has devoted most of his en- ergy to business pursuits during his life in Lynn, Mr. Des Roberts has also found time to enjoy the social affairs of the community and today holds memberships in the Amer- ican Legion and the Knights of Columbus. In his professional associations he belongs to the American Institute of Electrical En- gineers and the National Wholesale Elec- trical Association. He is a Republican in politics and adheres to the Roman Catholic faith, worshipping at St. Pius Church of that denomination. He finds his greatest diversions in travel and outdoor life and in this connection has a cottage at Silver Lake where he spends his week-ends. During the summer he travels extensively over the United States and in the winter visits for- eign countries.
On August 20, 1924, in the city of Lynn, Mr. Des Roberts married Cecelia Wilson, a native of Prince Edward Island and the daughter of James Wilson of Cartigan, Prince Edward Island, who is a retired mason contractor. Mrs. Des Roberts is a
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graduate of the high school of Charlotte- town, Prince Edward Island, and prior to her marriage was a trained nurse in the Worcester Hospital at Worcester, Massa- chusetts. She is a member of the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion and wor- ships at St. Pius Roman Catholic Church.
ERNEST HENRY CLOUTMAN-As owner of the Rex Machine Company of the city of Lynn, Ernest Henry Cloutman fills an important place in the industrial life of this community and is one of its active citi- zens in social and civic affairs.
Mr. Cloutman was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, November 19, 1897, the son of Byron W. and Bridgett (Doherty) Cloutman. His father, also a native of this place, was the son of Byron and
(Bowden) Cloutman, both natives of Mar- blehead, where the first Cloutman worked in the shoe industry and enlisted for service in the Civil War with the Union Army. Byron W., father of Ernest Henry Clout- man, of this review, is a retired realtor of Marblehead, where he is actively associated with the Republican party and the St. Michaels Episcopal Church."
Ernest Henry Cloutman received a gen- eral education in the public schools of his native town and after completing his studies he became associated with the Hart Perforating Machine Company on Wash- ington Street in Lynn. This connection, which he maintained for two years, was the determining factor in the career he chose and has followed so successfully since. Shortly after severing his connections with the above firm he entered the employ of the United Machine Company in this city and spent a similar length of time with this con- cern. The experience he gained in this bus- iness, coupled with the ability and aptitude he displayed, equipped him to embark on a business venture of his own at the expira-
tion of this period. Determined on this course he founded the Rex Machine Com- pany and established offices at No. 360 Broad Street, which is the present site of this business. This concern of which he is sole owner and proprietor, manufactures cutout dies and perforating tubes which are used by the shoe industry. Under Mr. Cloutman's careful guidance and leadership the Rex Machine Company has made steady progress and is looked upon today as among the foremost in its field.
In the social and civic affairs of the com- munity Mr. Cloutman's activities have been many and useful. As well as belonging to many trade organizations, which include the National Cutting Die Association, the Fabricated Metal Products Manufacturers and the Metal Furnishing and Metal Coat- ing Industry, he also belongs to the Now and Then Club of Salem. He is a member of Mayflower Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Boston, and Fraternity Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politi- cally he is a Republican and he worships at St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Mr. Clout- man finds enjoyable recreation in the game of golf and also finds club life and traveling pleasant diversions.
Among his four brothers, Charles T., is connected with him as foreman of the Rex Machine Company; Fred T., is with the Prudential Life Insurance Company of Phil- adelphia and is an officer in the Naval Re- serve; Byron W., is in the shoe industry and Edward H., a veteran of the World War and the proud possessor of many med- als for distinguished service, is the proprie- tor of two gasoline stations in Stoughton, Massachusetts.
GRACE MELVILLE SWETT-The North Shore Country Day School, and its founder and principal, Grace Melville Swett, hold a high place in the educational activi-
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NORTH SHORE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL NORTH BEVERLY
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ties of Massachusetts. The school, whose purpose is the fitting of young boys and girls for the better preparatory schools of New England, is the only one of its class north of Boston. Miss Swett taught in the public schools of Taunton, Brockton and Newton, Massachusetts, prior to accepting an invitation to set up a small private school sponsored by a few influential par- ents of very young children in Medford, Massachusetts. During the next five years, under Miss Swett's guidance, the school in- creased to the number of fifty children. Then a building especially designed for the school was erected. The school continued to prosper and became one of the well- known private schools around Boston, fit- ting boys and girls for such preparatory schools as Milton, Middlesex, Andover, Winsor, May and Brimmer. A number of children, whose parents were professors at Tufts College, attended the school.
Because of the changed conditions in Medford after the World War, Miss Swett, upon the advice of friends, decided to open a school at Phillips Beach, Swampscott. Therefore, in September, 1922, with the loyal support of interested parents, the North Shore Country Day School was established, enrolling forty-eight pupils for its first year of study. For seven years the enrollment steadily increased until the school numbered one hundred and five stu- dents. During this time many boys pre- pared for Andover, Exeter, Milton, Middle- sex, Belmont Hill, Loomis and Choate, and the girls went into Boston to the Winsor, May and Brimmer Schools, also to the Walnut Hill School at Natick. As the school grew and prospered high school grades were added and classes preparatory for college given special attention. In 1929 the school was incorporated and moved to its present location, No. 545 Cabot Street,
Beverly. It is the aim of the school to set high ideals in scholarship and character, to teach the faithful performance of each daily task and to inspire the pupils with a real desire to think and learn. Every effort is made to develop the individuality of the pupils and encourage the expression of any talent, but great stress is placed upon a thorough understanding of the fundamen- tals of each subject.
Grace Melville Swett is a native of Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, born August 13, 1876, daughter of Melville Howard and Georgiana Elizabeth (Sanders) Swett. Mr. Swett was a graduate of Phillips Andover Academy in 1869, and received his Bache- lor's degree in Arts from Harvard Univer- sity, in 1873, and his Master's degree in 1874. He was a prominent practicing at- torney of Boston. Miss Swett was educated in the Watertown, Massachusetts, grammar and high schools, being graduated from the latter named in 1894, and was eligible for admission to Radcliffe College. As men- tioned, she taught school in Newton and other places prior to establishing what is now the North Shore Country Day School. It is worthy of note that two brothers named Swett were reputed to be the "finest scholars in the Massachusetts Colony" of earlier times. One John Swett, born in England in 1590, came from the Island of Guernsey, in the English Channel, to Sa- lem, Massachusetts, in 1636, and in 1642 was named as a freeman of Newbury, Mas- sachusetts.
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