USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 5
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HENRY SEVERANCE SAWYER-Textile manu- facture is one of the basic industries of New England prosperity, and in this industry the Sawyer family, formerly of New Hampshire and now established in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, has long been identified. This family for many years owned and operated the Sawyer Woolen Mills in Dover, New Hampshire, and in that city on the Coche- co River the late Charles F. Sawyer was born. After the sale of the Sawyer Woolen Mills to the American Woolen Company, Charles F. Sawyer became a mem- ber of the firm of Sawyer, Regan Company, located at Dalton, Berkshire County.
Kenneth W. Bruning
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Charles F. Sawyer married Gertrude Severance, who was a native of San Francisco, California, and who died on June 30, 1939. Of this union was born Henry Severance Sawyer, at Dover, New Hampshire, on August 15, 1907. He was in his infancy when the family removed to Dalton, and there he began his edu- cation in the public schools. In due time he entered Phillips Academy at Andover, and after graduating from that famous preparatory institute, enrolled at Yale University, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy upon graduating with the class of 1929. Preparatory to taking his place in the industry which had so long engaged the abilities of the Sawyers, he studied at the Lowell Textile Institute in the city of that name, receiving therefrom the degree of Bachelor of Textile Engineering.
Since 1932 Mr. Sawyer has been associated with Sawyer, Regan Company of Dalton, engaged in the manufacture of woolen textiles. This firm was estab- lished about the year 1907. When Charles F. Sawyer died on December 29, 1938, Henry Severance Sawyer, who had been assistant treasurer of the firm, succeeded him as treasurer. Later he became president of the company, and holds this position at the present time.
Mr. Sawyer's business interests extend to the fields of banking and insurance also. He serves as a trustee of the City Savings Bank of Pittsfield, and sits on the board of directors of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company of that same city. His public services include membership on the town finance committee of the town of Dalton, and he is also a trustee of the Dalton Public Library. He is active in business councils and civic affairs in his community as a member of the Pittsfield Kiwanis Club, and is also interested in the work of the Boy Scouts of America. His social club affiliations include the Pitts- field Country Club and the Wahconah of Dalton.
At Salem, on February 3, 1934, Henry Severance Sawyer was married to Katherine Kelsey of that city, a daughter of Harlan P. and Florence (Low) Kelsey. Mrs. Sawyer is a graduate of Smith College at North- ampton, where she was in the class of 1934. She is now active in the work of the Pittsfield Girls' League, of which she has served as president, and she is also a vice president of the Girls' Clubs of America.
Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer attend the Dalton Congrega- tional Church. They are the parents of Charles F. Sawyer, who was born on November 26, 1940.
KENNETH WILLIAM BRUNING-Having earned an excellent reputation for his work in avia- tion, Kenneth William Bruning came to Springfield and established a thriving air freight transportation enterprise.
Mr. Bruning was born July 18, 1915, at Union City, New Jersey, son of John William and Jennie Adrian (Lassins) Bruning. His father was born at Dunmore, Pennsylvania, January, 1875, and now resides at Palisade, New Jersey. He was associ- ated with the New York Central Railroad Company for forty-seven years, is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, is a Republican, and attends the Lutheran Church. He married Jennie Adrian Las- sins, daughter of George Benjamin Lassins, who is a native of France. Mr. Lassins is a painter of stained glass windows, and now resides at San
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Diego, California. Jennie (Lassins) Bruning was born in January, 1887, at Sunnyside, Long Is- land, New York, and resides with her husband at Palisade, New Jersey. They became the parents of the following children: I. John Robert, who served during World War II as a night fighter pilot in the United States Navy with the rank of ensign and is now associated in business with Kenneth William Bruning. 2. George Herman, who also served in the United States Navy during World War II as a chief machinist mate, and is now as- sociated with Kenneth Bruning. 3. Mrs. Joseph J. Barnes, of Palisade, New Jersey. 4. Kenneth William, of this sketch.
Kenneth William Bruning received his early edu- cation in the public schools of North Bergen, New Jersey, and was graduated from the Memorial High School at West New York, New Jersey, in 1933. In 1936 he was graduated from the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics at Newark, New Jersey, as a licensed airplane and airplane engine mechanic.
At this time Mr. Bruning went to San Diego, California, and started as an assembly mechanic for the Consolidated Aircraft Company. He rose to more important positions in the company until he was made head of the division of alterations and repairs. Then he moved to East Hartford, Con- necticut, in October, 1937, and became associated with the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Company as an operator in the experimental testing division. He remained there eighteen months and rendered valu- able service to the company. At the end of this period he became associated with the Spartan School of Aeronautics, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, as an instructor in charge of operations and tests for the Army program. After a year and a half at this insti- tution, he spent a year as chief instructor at the Fairfax Aviation School. From this time until the middle of 1945, when he came to Springfield, Mr. Bruning was associated with several aircraft organi- tions, including the Interstate Aircraft and Engineer- ing Corporation where for six months he acted as divisional superintendent and test pilot; the Trans- continental and Western Air Lines Company at Kansas City, Missouri, where he served as an in- structor in the Army training program; the Con- solidated Vultee Corporation, where he served from February 1, 1944, as a flight engineer at the com- pany's San Diego, California, plant; and the War Department, for which he did important war work until the end of the conflict.
At this time Mr. Bruning came to Springfield and established the Bruning Aviation Company, which was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts October 15. 1945. He is president of the firm whose offices are at 95 State Street, but were formerly at 31 Elm Street. The enterprise is engaged in the transportation of freight by air, and it has been substantially successful under the able management of Mr. Bruning, who holds seven licenses in aero- nautics, which in addition to his airplane engine and airplane mechanic licenses, include: a pilot license, and four instructor's licenses.
JUSTIN E. HAYES, M.D .- Throughout the many years he has been a resident of Northampton, where
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he specializes in internal medicine, Dr. Justin Hayes has developed both an extensive practice and a real popularity in the community. His responsibilities are not limited to private practice, for he has official con- nections with two hospitals.
Doctor Hayes is a native of Dover, New Hampshire. He was born July 13, 1881, son of Dr. Justin G. and Elizabeth G. (Hills) Hayes. The family moved to Williamsburg, Hampshire County, in 1892, but as a youth Dr. Hayes returned to the state of New Hamp- shire for his education, attending Kimball-Union Academy at Meriden in that State. He thereafter at- tended the University of Maryland, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, where he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1904. His internship took place in Catonsville, Maryland, and after its termination he returned North, establish- ing practice as a country doctor at Chesterfield, Massa- chusetts, and remained there from 1905 until 1910. From 1911 to the present time, his practice has been conducted at Northampton, where he has specialized in internal medicine. Dr. Hayes is the chief of medical service in the Cooley-Dickinson Hospital, located in Northampton, and is a trustee of the Northampton State Hospital. A member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, Dr. Hayes is past president of its Hampshire District. He also belongs to the American Medical Association. He worships at the Congre- gational Church.
At Holyoke, in January, 1908, Dr. Justin E. Hayes married Josephine E. Canavan, of Holyoke, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Canavan.
JOHN L. BANNER who is the proprietor of the Henry A. Bidwell Insurance Agency, dealing in both insurance and real estate and located in Northampton, has had a notable business career in that city, being for a number of years engaged in banking activities. Leadership and responsibility are not new to him, and at present he holds official positions in realty and agricultural organizations.
Born in New Britain, Connecticut, April 16, 1909, son of John H. and Agnes V. (McNamara) Banner, John L. Banner was brought to Northampton in his infancy. His family settled there and John L. gradu- ated from Northampton High School. His first regular employment was with the Nonotuck Savings Bank, which he entered in 1928, remaining until 1946. By that year he had become assistant treasurer. He re- signed to purchase the interests of the late Henry A. Bidwell, whose insurance agency, operated in his own name, had become one of the largest in North- ampton. Under the progressive, wide-awake manage- ment of John L. Banner, the firm, which is still oper- ated under the name of the Henry A. Bidwell Insur- ance Agency, continues to prosper and to make new friends among Northampton citizens.
Mr. Banner, although his insurance and real estate activities have occupied his full-time efforts only dur- ing the recent years of his career, had already come to the fore as an important figure in allied fields. He is vice president of the Hampshire County Board of Realtors, and a member of the Chamber of. Com- merce. He is also secretary and director of the Hamp- shire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Northampton Country Club, and the
Pioneer Valley Association. He is Episcopalian in religious faith, and attends St. John's Church.
At Hillsdale, New York, on October 11, 1935, John L. Banner married Sophie M. Andrus of Easthampton, daughter of Frank and Frances M. (Czuyramski) An- drus. They are the parents of four children: I. Jean Ellen, born June 28, 1937, now attending Smith Col- lege Day School. 2. Robert Kenneth, and 3. Peter Charles, twins, born June 15, 1938. 4. Peter Charles, born February 13, 1946. All the children were born in Northampton.
RAYMOND SCRANTON REDFIELD-A1- though Raymond Scranton Redfield can be claimed as a native son by Philadelphia, he is in fact a scion in both lines of descent of old New England families, and it is appropriate that the scene of his successful business career has been the city of Springfield, "capital" of Western Massachusetts.
Mr. Redfield's grandfather, Alanson Redfield, was born in Madison, Connecticut, and was a sea captain. He married a Miss Todd, also a native of the same little town not far eastward of New Haven, and both died in Madison. They were the parents of Edwin B. Redfield, who was associated throughout his entire business career with R. . G. Dunn and Company and was a man of prominence in Madison, being a deacon of the Congregational Church and an active supporter of the Republican party. Edwin B. Redfield was re- tired from business at the time of his death in 1939. He married Katherine Scranton, who survives him and resides at Madison, Connecticut, where she too was born, a daughter of Samuel and Josephine (Boynton) Scranton, her father being a native of Madison and her mother of Wiscasset, in the state of Maine. Samuel Scranton was a veteran of the Union Army during the Civil War, in which he served, with the rank of lieutenant, in the 14th Con- necticut Volunteer Cavalry. He and his wife both died in Madison.
To Edwin B. and Katherine (Scranton) Redfield, the son Raymond Scranton was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 17, 1891. He was educated in elementary school and at the English High School in Lynn, and as a young man took his first employ- ment with the Fitz-Dana wholesale iron and steel concern in Boston. He remained with the sales de- partment of this firm for some five years, but his in- herited seafaring blood asserted itself and he went to sea and acquired a master's license for all ocean sail. Two years after achieving this distinction he answered the call to the colors in World War. I. Entering the First Officers Training Camp at Platts- burg, New York, he was commisioned a second lieu- tenant in the infantry and assigned to Fort Sill in Oklahoma. In July he was sent overseas, where he saw service in France for about a year. Raised to the rank of first lieutenant, he received his honorable discharge at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Released from military duties, Mr. Redfield came to Springfield, in the spring of 1919 and became as- sociated with F. W. Norris, an insurance broker, as an agent. Taking to the insurance business from the first, Mr. Redfield was uniformly successful, and in 1926 was able to buy out Mr. Norris' interests, and became the proprietor of the firm, the name of
W.Mass. IV-3
Dudley B. Wall
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which he changed to R. S. Redfield and Company. Under this designation he has operated to the present time, building up a highly successful and lucrative business. He has a general agency for commercial insurance. His other principal business interest is the Hallett Transfer Company of Boston, of which he is the owner.
Mr. Redfield is a member of the National Asso- ciation of Insurance Agents, of the Massachusetts Insurance Association and of the Springfield Board of Underwriters, and of the last-named organization he is a past president. He has long been active and influential in Springfield business circles, and is a member and past president of the Chamber of Com- merce of that city. He also holds membership in the United States Chamber of Commerce. He is a Re- publican in politics. His favorite diversion is yacht- ing.
On June 12, 1920, Raymond Scranton Redfield married Evelyn Parker, a daughter of the late Frank and Myra (Wentworth) Parker. Frank Parker was in the transfer business in Boston. Mrs. Redfield, who is a native of Boston, graduated from high school there. She is an active member of the Emmanuel Con- gregational Church and also gives much time to the work of the American Red Cross. Of this marriage there are three children: I. Barbara, who was born on February 14, 1923. She is a graduate of the Tech- nical High School in Springfield, and is married to Harry Claiborne of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Clai- borne is assistant district attorney at Las Vegas. There is one daughter of this marriage, named Bar- bara Ann. 2. Richard Wentworth, born on May 8, 1926. He also graduated from the Springfield Tech- nical High School. He served during World War II in the armed forces. Richard Wentworth Redfield is now associated with the Standard Oil Company at Santa Rosa, California, and is married to a Santa Rosa girl, by whom he has one son, James Edward. 3. Nancy, who was born on January 22, 1931. Follow- ing the example of her brother and sister, she is now a student at the Technical High School in Spring- field.
EDWIN SPRAGUE GARDNER-Though long retired from the practice of law, Edwin Sprague Gardner is still well remembered in Springfield as a prominent member of the bar who was actively interested in all civic betterment movements.
Mr. Gardner was born in Palmer, on May 1, 1876, the son of Charles L. and Esther Ely (Gilmore) Gardner. His father, born in Cummington, on May 27, 1839, died in Springfield on March 20, 1913. He was also an attorney, and a Republican. His parents were Elisha and Elvira (Sprague) Gardner, both of whom were also born in Cummington. Esther Ely (Gilmore) Gardner was the daughter of Nathaniel and Charlotte (Olmsted) Gilmore. Her father was born in Somers, Connecticut, where he died. Mrs. Gardner's brother was the late Dwight O. Gilmore of Springfield.
Edwin Sprague Gardner began his education in his native Palmer. On being graduated from the Palmer High School, he went to the Moses Brown School in Providence from which he was graduated in 1894 to enter Amherst College from which he was
graduated in 1898. In 1902, Mr. Gardner received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from Boston Uni- versity School of Law. He had been admitted to the Massachusetts Bar the previous year.
After taking his degree, Mr. Gardner joined his father and brother, Charles Gilmore, and the two brothers and their father practiced law together for many years. In the course of his legal career, Mr. Gardner became associated with the Third National Bank and Trust Company of Springfield, of which he continues to be a director. He retired from the law after more than three decades of practice. He is a member of the Colony Club and the Longmeadow Country Club. Mr. Gardner maintains a camp at Raymond, Maine, where he has spent his summers since 1908. His favorite sport there is fishing.
Mr. Gardner married Harriet Babcock in New York on June 21, 1911. She died in Springfield on November 24, 1945. Born in Iowa on October 29, 1879, Mrs. Gardner was the daughter of Adelbert and Elizabeth (Atkinson) Babcock of Iowa. Mrs. Gardner was a graduate of the Mary Baldwin School at Staunton, Virginia, and for many years was active in the South Congregational Church of Springfield. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gardner: Mary Gilmore, now Mrs. Calvin Goodman Waters, and Edwin Gilmore, who is associated with Uni- versal C. I. T. Corporaton of Springfield. The daughter attended the Holmquist School at New Hope, Pennsylvania, the Porter School at Farm- ington, Connecticut and the French School for Girls in New York City. She completed her edu- cation at Mademoiselle Clement's School in Paris, France. Mrs. Waters' husband is associated with the Wico Electric Company of Springfield. They are the parents of Nancy Gardner Waters, born November 21, 1942, and Calvin Drake Waters, born November 15, 1944. Edwin Gilmore Gardner, gradu- ated from Middlesex School at Concord, Massachu- setts. He married Elizabeth Shaffner of Tucson where he and his wife were both students at the University of Arizona.
DUDLEY BRABNER WALLACE-Held in high esteem by his friends and business associates of Springfield, Dudley Brabner Wallace has gained an excellent reputation as a lawyer of prominence in his community.
Mr. Wallace was born September 21, 1900, at Springfield, son of Robert M. and Ellen (Dudley) Wallace. Andrew B. Wallace, grandfather of Dud- ley Brabner Wallace, was a native of Scotland, came to this country, settled in Pittsfield, engaged in mer- cantile operations there, moved to Springfield, and founded what is now the Forbes and Wallace de- partment store in that city. His son, Robert M. Wallace, father of Dudley Brabner Wallace, was born in Pittsfield, and died in Texas, November 28, 1940. He was a traveling salesman for a wholesale dry goods concern, attended the First Congregational Church of Christ, and in poli- tics was a Republican. He married Ellen Dudley, daughter of John Dudley, a native of Buxton, Maine, who engaged in farming there. She was born at Buxton, March 1, 1870, and died at Springfield, February 21, 1947.
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Dudley Brabner Wallace, while traveling abroad, attended the elementary schools of Switzerland and Germany, and in 1918 was graduated from the Cen- tral High School in Springfield. In 1922 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Williams College at Williamstown. Three years later he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from the Harvard Law School, and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar.
After having been graduated from law school, Mr. Wallace practiced as an attorney in Boston, remain- ing there for five years. In 1930 he came to Spring- field and was associated with the law firm of Ely, Giles, and Ely. After eight years with this part- nership, during which time he gained valuable ex- perience, he opened his own office at 1200 Main Street. In 1942, he went into partnership with Clarence Brooks, and the firm became known as Brooks and Wallace. He and his partner have car- ried on a general practice since then, which has proven to be very successful, with the fine work of Mr. Wallace contributing largely.
Active in the life of his community, Mr. Wallace holds memberships in many prominent organiza- tions. He belongs to the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and is a former president of the Hampden County Bar Association. In 1939 Governor Saltonstall appointed him to men- bership on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commis- sion. In 1942, he resigned to take over the job of Water Commissioner of Springfield, the position to which he had been unanimously elected by the Springfield City Council. He subsequently held this position for three successive terms, and now is chairman of the Springfield Water Commission. He is a former director and former vice president of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Management of the Springfield Young Men's Christian Association, and is active as a member of Lodge No. 61 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Springfield. In politics, Mr. Wallace is a Republican. In religious affilia- tion, he is a Congregationalist, and attends the South Congregational Church of Springfield. For exercise and recreation, he enjoys fishing.
On January 28, 1939, Dudley Brabner Wallace married Sara Neily, daughter of Ernest and Sara Louise Neily. Her father, a native of Maryland, was a hardware merchant in Baltimore, and died in 1924 at Towson, Maryland. Her mother is now residing at Towson. Born at Baltimore, Mrs. Wallace was graduated from the Towson High School, and attended a local private school. With Mr. Wallace she attends the South Congregational Church. Dudley Brabner and Sara (Neily) Wallace became the parents of the following children: I. Robert Miller, who was born August 30, 1940. 2. Sara Neily, who was born June 22, 1942. 3. Janet Dudley, born May 19, 1947.
JOHN FRANKLIN FARRELL-A prominent educator of Adams, John Franklin Farrell has made outstanding contributions to important educational institutions of this section of the State.
Mr. Farrell was born at Dalton, August 22, 1896, son of Fred W. and Susan M. (Davison) Farrell. Franklin Farrell attended the Dalton elementary
schools and was graduated from Dalton High School. He studied at Colgate University and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Michigan. He later entered Boston University, from which he received the degree of Master of Education.
After completing his formal education, Mr. Farrell became associated with the Fisk Rubber Company in their chemistry and physics laboratories. Soon, he turned to teaching and became a science teacher at Dalton High School. It wasn't long before he had taken on the added duties of assistant principal and athletic coach at the school. His next position was that of principal of Lee High School at Lee, Massa- chusetts, where he served for a period of six years. He is now superintendent of the Adams public schools.
Mr. Farrell belongs to important organizations in his professional and community life. He holds mem- berships in the National Association of School Ad- ministrators, the New England School Superinten- dents Association, the Massachusetts School Super- intendents Association, and the Berkshire County School Superintendents Association. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Forest Park Coun- try Club. In religious affiliation he is a Roman Catholic and attends St. Thomas' Roman Catholic Church at Adams. For the past twenty-five years he has been an intercollegiate football and basket- ball official.
On July 7, 1920, at Dalton, John Franklin Farrell married Florence E. Controy, daughter of Charles J. and Nellie E. (Canfield) Controy. They became the parents of the following children: I. Eileen, who was born September 14, 1921. 2. Rosita Ann, who was born June 4, 1926. 3. Charles F., who was born December 20, 1935.
ELLIOTT MAXFIELD PREBLE-The strong 4 sense of public service which led Elliott Maxfield Preble as a young man to turn from industrial pursuits and a business career to the organizational field of endeavor, and eventually to his becoming the general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association in Pittsfield, may well have been an inheritance from his father, Warren L. Preble. The latter, a machinist by trade, took an active and useful role in public af- fairs, and served at various times as assessor, fire chief and selectman of the village where he resided.
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