USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 3
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Mr. Preston is active in many phases of community life. He has served as president of the Springfield Rotary Club, and holds memberships in the Colony Club, the Longmeadow Country Club, and the Long- meadow Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons. He enjoys music and travel, and has been active in the productions of the Springfield Theater Guild, also is now serving as president of Playgoers of Spring- field, Incorporated. A good sportsman, he is especially adept in swimming. Photography interests him, and he has taken many motion pictures during his travels both in this country and abroad. For five years he was president of the Springfield Board of Fire and Casualty Underwriters, and is a former president of the Associated Insurance Agents and Brokers Asso- ciation, being one of the three founders of this or- ganization. He is active in the Springfield Chamber
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of Commerce, is a director of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, is a trustee of the Hampden Savings Bank, served as chairman of the World Youth Fund Campaign, and is a member of the Board of Governors and chairman of the house committee of the Long- meadow Country Club. Mr. Preston achieved great success as president of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents and as vice president of the In- surance Federation of Massachusetts.
On September 7, 1937, Harvey Russell Preston married Eleanor Spear, daughter of Howard and Hallie R. (Roberts) Spear. Mrs. Preston received her early education in the public schools of Springfield, was graduated from high school, and later attended art school. Mr. and Mrs. Preston became the parents of one child, Harvey Russell Preston, Jr., who was born February 6, 1939.
EDWARD MYRON HOUGHTON -Among Holyoke's active businessmen is Edward Myron Houghton, treasurer and general manager of the Standard Corset Company. Mr. Houghton has spent his entire life in the corset industry, this being his fifty-second year in that business. He was born in West Boylston on November 25, 1879, the son of John Walter and Eleanor Eliza (Henry) Houghton. John Walter Houghton, who was a retail merchant in Oakdale, was born in 1852 and died in 1915. Eleanor Eliza (Henry) Houghton was born in 1854 and died in 1902.
Edward Myron Houghton was educated in the elementary schools of West Brookfield and the West Brookfield High School, of which he is a graduate. He started his business career in West Brookfield in 1895 with the Olmstead Quality Corset Company and worked with this well-known concern for twenty-four years, eventually handling a large part of the responsibility in such matters as determin- ing cost, handling production, and purchasing. In 1919 he resigned to organize, in conjunction with four others, the Standard Corset Company of Holy- oke, a firm which has been successful from the start. Mr. Houghton assumed the office of treasurer and general manager and has continued in that ca- pacity to the present time. He is one of the incor- porators of the Mechanics Savings Bank. Aside from a term as selectman in West Brookfield in 1919 to 1920 he has not taken an active part in politics. He is a member and Past Master of Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Warren. He and his family make their home at 33 Dartmouth Street, Holyoke.
He was married in Worcester on June 6, 1906 to Florence Forrestal Porter, the daughter of Charles and Lydia (Stoddard) Porter. They have one daugh- ter, Eleanor Stoughton, born September 13, 1919. She has been educated in the Holyoke elementary schools and high school. at Colby Junior College and at the Northampton Secretarial School.
JACOB POPKIN-After rather an unusual back- ground and experience Jacob Popkin of Springfield established an upholstering company that was pioneer in this field in this city.
Mr. Popkin was born in Boston, on July 14, 1897, son of David and Mary (Weinstein) Popkin. His W.Mass. IV-2
mother, born in Vilna, Russia, and died in Boston, June 6, 1914, was the daughter of Nathan Weinstein, a native of Russia, who died in Maine, where he had been engaged in the fruit produce business. David Popkin, born in Vilna, Russia, and died in Boston, May 18, 1927, was the son of Isaac Popkin, who spent his entire life in Russia, where he was an educator. Prior to his death David Popkin was a fur- niture manufacturer in Boston, a Republican in his political faith, and member of the Orthodox Jewish Congregation.
After attending local schools and the high school in Malden, Jacob Popkin began making his own liveli- hood with the Merchant Marine Corps, where in six years he rose to the rank of chief officer. After leaving the Corps he founded the Hampden Up- holstering Company, in Springfield. From 1924 to 1927 this concern was located on Harrison Avenue. Mr. Popkin then founded the Berkshire Upholstering Furniture Company, at No. 93 Broad Street, which subsequently was moved to the Rolls-Royce plant, and still later, in 1942, to its present site at No. 116 Liberty Street. The business is incorporated and Mr. Popkin is president.
In politics, Mr. Popkin is a Republican, although inclined to support candidates for public office on the basis of the merits of the individual. Mr. Popkin is a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the Probus Club, the Oxford Country Club, and the National Manufacturers Association. He fishes and golfs for recreation, and attends the Beth El Temple.
On September 17, 1924, Jacob Popkin married Ger- trude Smerenoff, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, daughter of Adam and Ida (Smerenoff) Smerenoff. Her father, who is deceased, was engaged in the print- ing business. Mrs. Smerenoff resides with her daugh- ter in Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Popkin are the parents of the following children: I. Dorothy, born June 6, 1927, is a graduate of Springfield High School and attended Miami University, Miami, Florida; she married Barney Silverman, of St. Louis, Missouri, and is the mother of a son, David. 2. Sheila, born June 31, 1932, is a student in high school. 3. Stephen, born March 31, 1938.
ALBERT RICHARD CONWAY-Prominent as a chiropodist and podiatrist at Pittsfield, Dr. Albert Richard Conway is also known for his civic and cul- tural activities not only in the community but throughout Berkshire County.
Dr. Conway was born in Pittsfield on October 18, 1907, the son of John J. Conway and the late Sarah Louise (Walsh) Conway. His father retired from the service of the General Electric Company in 1939, after thirty-two years of employ- ment by that concern.
After completing his preliminary education in the elementary and high schools of his native city, Dr. Conway went to Boston to study at the Massachu- setts College of Chiropody, from which in 1933 he received his degree.
Since 1933 he has been in practice as chiropodist and podiatrist in Pittsfield.
Dr. Conway is a member not only of such organ- izations as the Massachusets Chiropody Association, the Knights of Columbus and the Fraternal Order of
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Eagles but also of Father Matthew's Temperance Association. He is a communicant of St. Mary's Ro- man Catholic Church, Pittsfield. For recreation, Dr. Conway likes to go fishing.
He married Margaret Theresa Conroy at Hinsdale, on August 23, 1940. A native of Hinsdale, Mrs. Con- way is the daughter of Patrick and Rose (Maxwell) Conroy, both of whom now are deceased.
THOMAS WARD SYMONS, president of the Franklin Savings Institution of Greenfield, was born in Templeton May 29, 1895, the son of Thomas J. and Minnie G. (Fisher) Symons. His father was a merchant until his retirement.
Thomas Ward Symons graduated from Gardner High School and was a student at Clark University at Worcester. He left college to serve in the United States Army during World War I and from April of 1917 to September, 1920 served in the Infantry, holding the rank of a sergeant. He entered the em- ploy of the Suffolk Savings Bank for Seamen and Others in Boston in 1920 in the capacity of clerk, and during the twenty-one years that he remained with this institution was promoted from clerk to teller and then to cashier and at the time of his resignation in January, 1941 was serving as executive vice president. From January, 1941 to the present time he has been president of the Franklin Savings Institution of Greenfield. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Franklin Savings Institution, and is a director of the First National Bank of Green- field. Mr. Symons is a trustee of the Boston & Revere Railroad, the first narrow-gauge railroad to be con- structed. He serves as treasurer of the Franklin County Hospital, and is first vice president of the Massachusetts Savings Bank Association. Fratern- ally he is affiliated with the Charles W. Moore Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Fitchburg. He is a member of the American Legion and of the Kiwanis Club, and belongs to the Congregational Church. His chief recereations are golf and fishing.
Thomas Ward Symons married on October 6. 1917 in the Park Street Church of Boston, Doris Gould of North Adams, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Gould. Mr. and Mrs. Symons have one daughter, Barbara Symons, born at Lunenburg. who graduated from the Choate School of Brookline and the Marot Junior College at Thompson, Con- necticut. She married James O. Sanders, and they have one son, James M. Sanders, born in Greenfield, July 3, 1946.
W. LEONARD DONOVAN-One of the outstand- ing certified public accountants of Springfield, W. Leonard Donovan has for many years contributed sig- nificantly toward the business growth and develop- ment of this city.
Mr. Donovan was born December 20, 1899, at Springfield, son of William J. and Jennie (Leonard) Donovan. His grandfather, Thomas Donovan, was a machinist associated with the Boston and Albany Railroad shops at Springfield. William J. Donovan, father of W. Leonard Donovan, was born at Spring- field, and died there September 29, 1946. He en- gaged in the barber supply business, sold out in 1932, was affiliated with the Democratic party but
was an independent voter, and was a member of the Holy Name Roman Catholic Church. He mar- ried Jennie Leonard, daughter of James and Mary (Hennessey) Leonard, the former a retail grocer of Springfield and Chicago, and both natives of Ireland. Jennie (Leonard) Donovan was born in Springfield, and now resides there.
W. Leonard Donovan was graduated from the Technical High School in Springfield in 1917, and then became associated with the "Springfield Repub- lican" as a member of the editorial staff. In 1918 he joined the business department of the "Spring- field Union" and remained there for a year, after which time he became affiliated with the Hampden Knitting Company, of Springfield, as assistant superin- tendent. In 1920, two years later, he became a cost accountant for the Bay State Thread Works at Springfield, where he remained until 1923. In this year Mr. Donovan became a staff member of the Springfield offices of Scovell Wellington and Com- pany. Three years later he became a certified public accountant, and served the company in this capacity until 1933, when he opened his own offices in the Springfield National Bank Building, where he has since continued as a certified public accountant. He has practiced alone and has gained substantial success in this line as well as earning a stalwart reputation for efficiency and accuracy of performance.
Mr. Donovan plays an active role in the life of his community. He holds memberships in the National Association of Cost Accountants, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accoun- tants and American Institute of Accountants. He is a former president of the Springfield Chapter of Cost Accountants, and served a three-year term as a national director of that organization. He was treasurer of the Home City Council of the Knights of Columbus for many years and is a member of the Archbishop William's Assembly. He also be- longs to the Springfield Country Club. Mr. Donovan by political preference is a Republican, is active in the Civitan Club of Springfield, and in religious affiliation is a devout Catholic, attending the Holy Name Roman Catholic Church.
FRANCIS JAMES BROCK-A native of Massa- chusetts, the colorful career of Francis James Brock, of Springfield, has taken him far distant as the coast of South America, nearly always as an exponent of the difficult profession of salesmanship. Currently he is manager of General Building Products, Spring- field.
Mr. Brock was born at Medford, on November 25, 1914, son of Frank G. and Alice K. (Hanley) Brock, and the grandson of Walter Brock, a native of Ver- mont who long was engaged in the sawmill business prior to his death. Frank G. Brock was born at Orwell, Vermont, and is a resident of Medfield, a builder and contractor of note. He is an independent voter in politics, is connected with civic affairs and worships at St. Edward's Roman Catholic Church, of Medfield. His wife was a native of Hubbardton, Vermont.
Francis James Brock attended the public schools, was graduated from the Medfield High School with the class of 1931, and later studied business admini- stration at the famous Bryant and Stratton Business
W. Leonard Somvan
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College in the city, receiving his diploma in 1936. He became associated with L. Grossman and Sons, of Quincy, Massachusetts, dealers in retail building materials. After about a year, Mr. Brock went with the Norwood Lumber Company. His next connection was with the Diamond Match Company, in Boston, as traveling salesman, but after eighteen months he went to the British West Indies as a representative of the Walsh-Driscoll Construction Company, with headquarters at Port of Spain, Island of Trinidad. Here he had charge of the corporation's lumber yards. Two years in the tropics were enough for Mr. Brock and he returned to New England to join the staff of the Raytheon Manufacturing Company, at Waltham, as expediter of the purchasing department. After two years he went with General Building Products of Springfield, of which since May 15, 1945, he has been manager. Politics have never been a vital inter- est of Mr. Brock although he co-operates heartily with many civic projects. He is a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, of the Building Trades Association, and fraternally is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His favorite diversion is golf. He is a member of the Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, of Springfield, and with his wife is active in the organizations of the church.
On August 22, 1943, Francis James Brock married Elinor J. Barr, a native of Dedham, daughter of Benjamin and Alice (Lane) Barr. Her father, who is deceased, was engaged in the printing business; her mother resides in Dedham. Mr. and Mrs. Brock are the parents of two sons; Francis James, Jr., born April 4, 1945, and John Richard, born October 3. 1947.
EDWARD DOCHERTY-One of Holyoke's pub- lic-spirited business men, prominent in many of the city's organizations, is Edward Docherty, treasurer of the Holyoke Wire Cloth Company. In addition to his business and civic activities, Mr. Docherty is an active sportsman and nature enthusiast.
He was born in Tullcross, Scotland, on May 4, 1891, the son of George and Margaret (Ferguson) Docherty. His father, who was born in 1862, is still actively engaged in business, as president of the Holy- oke Wire Cloth Company, which he founded in 1919 under its present name. Margaret (Ferguson) Doch- erty, who was born in 1866, is like her husband still living in Holyoke.
Edward Docherty was educated in the elementary schools of Holyoke and the Holyoke High School. In 1910 he entered the employ of the Boston and Albany Railroad as an office boy and spent ten years in the service of that road, interrupted only by his two years overseas during World War I. He held the post of temporary employment manager of the Boston and Albany in 1920, when he resigned to become as- sociated in the management of the Holyoke Wire Cloth Company, which his father had organized short- ly before. He became treasurer of the company and has served in this capacity ever since. Besides his immediate business responsibilities with his own con- cern, he is a trustee and member of the investment committee of the Holyoke Savings Bank and is a corporator of the Mechanics Savings Bank. He also is one of the moving spirits of the Holyoke Taxpayers
Association, of which he is president, and the Massa- chusetts State Federation of Taxpayers Associations, of which he is a director.
Mr. Docherty enlisted in the United States Army Engineers Corps on May 24, 1917 and spent two years overseas as a supply sergeant with the Four- teenth Regiment before receiving his honorable dis- charge on May 7, 1919. He is a member of the Four- teenth Engineers Veterans Association and of the l'aper City Post of the American Legion. During World War II he served as deputy blackout officer and a member of the National Advisory Council of the War Production Board. He is a member of the William Whiting Lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; and as a Thirty-second degree Ma- son Mr. Docherty is affiliated with the Melha Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and from 1921 to 1942 served on the board of directors of the Holyoke Masonic Association. Another of his keen interests is work with boys, and he is a member of the Executive Council of both the Boy Scouts organization and the Holyoke Boys Club. He is a member and past president of the Lions Club, a Republican, and a member of the Sec- ond Congregational Church. Always an able sports- man, Mr. Docherty was Holyoke city tennis champion in 1931 to 1933 and is an active member and past Commodore of the Holyoke Canoe Club and a mem- ber of numerous sportsmen's clubs in Massachusetts. Fishing, hunting, and skeet shooting are his favorite hobbies.
He married, in Springfield, Natalie Fitzgerald, daugh- ter of Thomas and Minnie A. (Heubisch) Fitzgerald. Mr. and Mrs. Docherty have two children: Bruce Ed- ward, born in May, 1934, now a student at Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, New Hampshire, and Nancy Docherty, born in August, 1937, who is attend- ing the Highland Grammar School.
WARREN FRANCIS HOYE-With the life and affairs of Springfield, Warren Francis Hoye has been identified prominently the most of his mature years. He is, however, like many of the foremost figures in the metropolis, a native of another part of Massa- chusetts, for he was born at Weymouth, this State, on August 22, 1895, son of William V. and Minnie J. (Cushing) Hoye, his father being a native of Ded- ham, Massachusetts, who died in Springfield. His wife was born at Hingham, Massachusetts, the daugh- ter of Michael J. and Josephine Cushing. Both par- ents are deceased.
Warren Francis Hoye was graduated from the pub- lic schools and the Holbrook High School, at Hol- brook, class of 1913. He began his business career with the Carpenter Morton Company, of Boston, manufacturers and wholesalers of paints. He started in the humble capacity of office boy, and by a hard road made his way during the following twelve years, to an important position on their sales force. He re- signed to become sales manager for the Raymond B. Shattuck Corporation of Springfield, an office he filled capably for about two years prior to June I, 1927, when he initiated his present firm, that of War- ren F. Hoye, Inc., to which he has given two decades of noteworthy leadership as its president and treasurer. His concern deals in building materials, and sheet metals, operating as wholesale distributors. In pri-
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vate interests Mr. Hoye is an influential Republican, a member of the Town Committee and active in the election of worthy candidates to municipal and State offices. Along business lines he is a member and past president of the Springfield Rotary Club, member of the Board of Directors of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce; member and past president of the Building Trades Employers Association; president of Hampden Council Boy Scouts of America; member of the American Legion. During World War I, he served in the Air Service with the rank of lieutenant. Fraternally he is a Thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with the various bodies of Masonry includ- ing the Knights Templar and Melha Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. A member of the Old First Church, Congregational, of Springfield, he served on the financial board as chair- man for six years, and at the present time is chairman of the Building Committee, a member and past presi- dent of the Men's Club. For recreation he enjoys a game of golf.
On October 20, 1928, Warren Francis Hoye mar- ried Ruth H. Neidel, a native of Springfield, daugh- ter of M. H. and Catherine Neidel, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was formerly associ- ated with the Springfield Armory. Mrs. Hoye, a graduate of the High School of Commerce in this city, is a member of the Old First Church, of the Women's Guild of the church, member of the Women's Club of Agawam, and the Parent Teacher Association. Mr. and Mrs. Hoye are the parents of two children: I. William V., born June 30, 1933. 2. Cynthia, born April 15, 1935. Both are high school students.
MONTE AARON FEINSTEIN-Although he was born in Providence, Rhode Island, Monte Aaron Feinstein has been identified with life in Holyoke, Massachusetts, virtually all his days, for he was brought to this manufacturing city in childhood, when his father, Bernett Feinstein, came here to engage in the wholesale leather and shoe findings business, from which he retired in 1947 after a successful career ex- tending over half a century.
Bernett Feinstein married Bessie Potter, and the son they named Monte Aaron was born at Providence on August 3, 1898. He attended public grade school and graduated from public high school in Holyoke, and subsequently studied at the Wharton School of Business, affiliated with the University of Pennsyl- vania at Philadelphia in that state. From the Wharton School he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in economics with the class of 1920. Meanwhile he had answered the call to the colors in World War I. In 1918 he enlisted in the United States Navy and was enrolled in the officers' training school. Mr. Feinstein accepted a commission as lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve in 1936.
After leaving the Wharton School of Finance, Mr. Feinstein in 1920 took employment with the Ameri- can Braiding Company at Holyoke. Starting at the foot of the ladder, he set himself to learn the business from the ground up, with such success that he was advanced steadily through various positions until fi- nally he became president of the company in 1932, an office which he filled until some time in 1937. In De- cember of that year he dissolved the American Braid- ing Company and organized the American Electric
Cable Company, of which he became president. Mr. Feinstein is also at this time president of Marvin Properties, Inc., a real estate corporation. He is ac- counted one of the ablest business men in Holyoke, and is highly esteemed in that section of Western Massachusetts.
When the United States entered World War II, Lieutenant Senior Grade Feinstein was commissioned a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy and later a commander. During the war years he served as supply officer and commanding officer in numerous stations. He retired in 1946.
Mr. Feinstein's religious affiliation is with the Sinai Temple at Springfield, Massachusetts. He is well known in Masonic circles, being a Thirty-second de- gree Mason, affiliated with the William Whiting Lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and with the Connecticut Valley Consistory. He also belongs to the Greek letter fraternity Phi Epsilon Phi.
At Washington D. C., on November 22, 1940, Monte Aaron Feinstein was married to Ruth Moss, and of this union there are two children: 1. Marvin Hiram, who was born on April 19, 1942. 2. Ronald, born on March 28, 1946.
REV. JOHN PATRICK DONAHUE-During thirty years of active dedication to the high calling of the Roman Catholic priesthood, the Rev. Father John Patrick Donahue, Massachusetts-born has served in a number of parishes in this State, acquiring the extensive and practical experience which stands him in good stead in administering the temporal and spiritual affairs of the large parish of the church of the Sacred Heart in Pittsfield, Berkshire County.
Father Donahue's parents were both natives of Ire- land. His father the late John J. Donahue was born in famed Killarney, County Kerry, and came to the United States in his youth, settling at Worcester, at the age of eighteen years. He was a steel worker by trade, and lived to the age of seventy-seven years. John J. Donahue married Bridget Philbin of Cork, County Cork, Ireland, and to them the son they named John Patrick was born at Worcester on September 14, 1892. His education was in the main pursued in his native city, where he graduated from the Worcester Classical High School in 1910, and from Holy Cross College with the class of 1914. At that time he re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Holy Cross. Already the young John Patrick Donahue had felt the call to the vocation of the priesthood, and to prepare himself for that career he went to the Grand Seminary at Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, where he completed his studies in 1917. In December of that same year he was ordained in the Cathedral of St. James in Montreal.
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