USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 69
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W. R. Gravel.
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Superintendent of Police Michael H. Crowley, of Boston, there came to the Gardner authorities a most commendatory letter, recounting Mr. Le- blanc's qualifications for the office of chief and suggesting him for the place.
Chief Leblanc has been instrumental in establish- ing many improvements in the Gardner Police Department. He has inaugurated twenty-four hour service at headquarters and has completely motor- ized the vehicular apparatus. He has also opened two additional routes for the patrolmen. Pistol practice for the entire force has been established, and the efficiency of the members has thus been greatly advanced. His men, in fact, constitute one of the most expert group of marksmen to be found anywhere. The force has been further modernized by being equipped with riot guns, tear- gas apparatus, and other up-to-date methods of police efficiency. The chief has also opened a school of fire for bank employees to teach them the use of firearms. For two years he has had stationed at various schools an officer to look after the small children's safety in crossing streets. This has proved a salutary move for the little ones. The chief has been active in the enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment and has been in receipt of letters of commendation from different temper- ance societies for his attitude toward this law. He is "always on the job" himself and his constant and expert supervision results in the smooth func- tioning of the department.
Chief Leblanc is a member of the New England Association of Police Chiefs, the Police Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, and the Massachu- setts Police Chiefs Relief Association. In addi- tion to his duties as chief he performs those of constable and truant officer in Gardner. He is a Past Commander of Gardner Post, American Legion ; an honorary member of the French Na- tional Club; and affiliates with the Assumption Society, Foresters of America, and St. Vincent de Paul Society. He is a member of the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church at Gardner.
Chief of Police Leblanc married, March 28, 1920, Eva Lapierre, of Gardner. She is a graduate nurse, a former district nurse, and is active in Red Cross work. Their children are: Cyrille, Jr., Helen E., Patrick A., Gerald F., and Anne R. The Leblanc family residence is at No. 102 Monad- nock Street, Gardner.
JAMES R. HORGAN-Experience in police work and in business has well fitted James R. Horgan for his present duties as head of the Horgan Detective Agency, one of Worcester's outstanding organizations of its kind.
Mr. Horgan was born on March 13, 1891, in Worcester, son of John J. and Mary J. (Athy) Horgan. His father was a native Bostonian, and the mother was born in Worcester. John J. Hor- gan was a member of the Worcester police depart- ment over a period of many years. In the public schools, James R. Horgan studied as a boy and in IgII he was graduated from South High School. He then worked for a time in the accounting department of the American Steel and Wire Mills, until at length he received an appointment to the police department of his city. Until May, 1919, he served on the police force, filling different offices and assignments and performing a varied work. He then went into business in Providence, Rhode
Island, though after a time he returned to Wor- cester and became engaged in the automobile busi- ness for himself. In 1921 he was appointed a United States Government investigator, working with the prohibition unit of the Federal Depart- ment of Justice. In September, 1926, he spent a short time once more in the automobile business, until, in 1931, he established the Horgan Detective Agency.
Mr. Horgan's early police activities had given him a wide experience in detective work, so that he is now able to conduct a large business and to perform the type of service that he has chosen in all its many branches. Some of Worces- ter's leading groups in business and civic life have from time to time sought the protection of Mr. Horgan and his powerful organization. In the course of his work here, he has come to be widely known and esteemed, not only through his own labors, but because of his affiliations with such groups as the Commercial Travelers' Asso- ciation, the Police Relief Association, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (of Worcester). In his detective work Mr. Horgan is ably assisted by Thomas C. Rice.
Mr. Horgan married, on June 19, 1919, Agnes Rice, of Framingham. They became the parents of two sons: I. James T., born April 14, 1920. 2. Robert E., born May 30, 1925. Both sons are now students at the Midland Street School, in Wor- cester. The family residence is situated at No. 29 Amherst Street, Worcester.
WILFRED R. GRAVEL-Before Wilfred J. Gravel settled in his native town of Southbridge as a practicing lawyer and had been appointed to the office of town counsel, he served as a rep- resentative of the United States Government in an attempt to pacify and rehabilitate the Republic of Haiti. His accomplishments were so gratifying to his departmental superior at Washington that they brought him the official and cordial thanks of the government.
Mr. Gravel was born in Southbridge, August 27, 1892, a son of Horace J. and Marie Louise (Lord) Gravel, his parents natives of Canada. His father came to Southbridge when a young man and was a merchant here for a number of years. He is now retired. He is also prominent in local politics. The son, Wilfred, attended the public schools in Worcester, graduating from the Worces- ter High School in 1913. He then entered the Worcester Dental Laboratory, where he was learn- ing the profession of dental surgery when the United States entered the World War. On August 2, 1917, he enlisted and was assigned to the 25th Ambulance Corps; he went overseas and was in the ambulance service several months. Among the major battles in which he participated were St. Mihiel, the Argonne and Verdun. He also served as a waggoner. After a service of two years and two weeks he was honorably mustered out, August 15, 1919.
Soon after his return home, he became a student at the Berkeley Preparatory School in Boston, where he graduated September 10, 1920. He then entered Boston University Law School, which made him a Bachelor of Laws at graduation June 14, 1923. Certification to the bar was issued to him October 9, 1923.
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Later in the same year that he left the law school, and just about as he was to engage in the practice of his profession, he was commissioned by the United States Government to go to Haiti in the capacity of a peace treaty official. He re- mained in this service for eight years, traveling to and from the United States frequently and also making official trips to Cuba, Jamaica, San Do- mingo, Republic of Panama, Colombia and Brazil. During his stay in Haiti he had full charge of affairs for the Haitian Government, handling all moneys for that government, directing all work on improvements and shipping, and disbursing wages to all the employees, who were natives. Being the only white official in his district at the time, he might well have been termed a one-man government. He was highly complimented by Washington for the excellence of his services in so trying a situation.
On his return to the town of Southbridge in March, 1931, he established himself in the prac- tice of law. In March, 1932, he was appointed district service officer for District No. 5, American Legion. In April of the same year he received the appointment of town counsel of Southbridge, in which office he has since had complete charge of the town's law department. His affiliations include the Southern Worcester County Bar Association, American Legion, and Phi Delta Phi Fraternity.
Mr. Gravel married, October 23, 1923, Dora May Cardinal, of Worcester. In all his journeys, Mr. Gravel and his wife have traveled together, and during the period of his service in Haiti she made eighteen trips from the tropics to South- bridge.
ARTHUR LeDOUX-Having risen from the state of a poor boy to that of a citizen of prom- inence in the community of East Brookfield, Arthur LeDoux is both a leader in business and in town affairs, owning a number of meat and grocery stores and holding the office of chairman of the board of selectmen. He is one of the town's enterprising citizens and has built a number of modern homes, which he rents to parties desirous of convenient living conditions.
Mr. LeDoux is of French descent. He was born in East Brookfield, June 16, 1885, a son of Caesar and Valera (Rendeau) LeDoux, and received his education in the local public schools. His first employment was in Scott's woolen mill in East Brookfield, starting at the age of fourteen years. At the age of seventeen he left and went to work for E. H. Stoddard, a market gardener, remaining in his service until he was twenty-one. At that age he married and he and his wife went on a farm, where they lived and worked together for four years. Meanwhile, for a similar period, he drove a meatcart, and on April 10, 1912, he gave up the management of the farm and opened the meat market and grocery, which he has since oper- ated with gratifying success. Since starting his initial enterprise, he has opened a second store for the sale of meats and groceries, and this also has proved a successful undertaking. He is the pro- prietor of three gasoline stations, one each in East Brookfield, Sturbridge, and Southbridge, and these are well patronized. He is a member of the board of trustees of the North Brookfield Savings Bank and of the board of directors of the Southbridge Cooperative Bank.
Public affairs of East Brookfield and Worcester County have commanded the attention of Mr. Le- Doux for many years. He has held the office of fire warden, chief of the fire department, member of the department of public welfare, and served as a police officer for several years. When he became fire warden the condition of the fire depart- ment was not satisfactory, but under his adminis- tration modern fire-fighting apparatus was installed and during his chieftancy of the fire department many improvements were added, these including modern equipment, ample firehose and fire extin- guishers.
In 1923 he was first elected to the board of selectmen, and he has since enjoyed successive reëlections, being now chairman of the board for seven years. In the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association he was appointed a member of a com- mittee of four to organize every county in the State and thus bring its selectmen into member- ship. At the end of nine months, after they had started this work, they had completed it one hundred per cent. In 1927 he was elected president of the Worcester County Selectmen's Association. He was appointed a member of the committee on the Brookfield River project and acted as its secretary, the other members being from West Brookfield, Brookfield, and Warren. In 1920 he was named on the committee in connection with the proposition of separation from the town of Brook- field. He has been affiliated with the Société St. Jean Baptiste for twenty years and holds the office of president and he is a member and Past Sachem of Lassawa Tribe, No. 139, Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. LeDoux married, June 25, 1906, Emma Boucher, of North Brookfield, and their children are : Arthur Leo, Armend A., Beatrice and George Edward. Mr. LeDoux's fellow-citizens look upon him as a self-made man, one who has overcome numerous difficulties that early beset his pathway and has now accumulated a competence. He is known as a generous, kind-hearted man, unselfish in spirit and the dispenser of a practical charity from an ever-open purse. His efforts in behalf of East Brookfield's past and present spell much for the future comfort and welfare of those who shall come on the scene of action.
WILLIAM FRANK BUTLER-For more than three decades William Frank Butler has been engaged in the important and inspiring task of the educator, and since 1925 he has been principal of the Lamartine Street School in Worcester, one of the largest in the city.
William Frank Butler was born in Ireland, July 14, 1878, son of John Butler, who during most of his active life was employed by the American Steel and Wire Company, of Worcester, and of Mary (Looney) Butler. As a boy Mr. Butler attended the public schools of Worcester, finishing his grammar school course at the Belmont School, under the late A. G. Lewis. He was graduated from the Classical High School in 1896 and then, as he had chosen the teaching profession as his life work, entered the State Normal School at Worcester, where he completed his course with graduation in 1899. During this period E. Harlow Russel was principal of the Normal School and there are many who count themselves fortunate to have had the privilege of working under the guid-
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ance and the inspiring influence of such a man. Mr. Butler is one of those who feel that they owe much to the high ideals for the teaching profes- sion held by Mr. Russel and to the influence which he exerted over those with whom he came in con- tact. In the fall of 1899 Mr. Butler began his work as a teacher, accepting a position in the Gram- mar School at Quinsigamond Village, under Prin- cipal R. H. Mooney. Here he remained for a period of six years, at the end of which time, in 1905, he was transferred to the new Woodland Street School as "head teacher." In 1909 he was made principal of the Edgeworth Street Grammar School, where he served most efficiently until 1918. In that year he was transferred to the Belmont Street Grammar School, which he served as prin- cipal until 1925. Then, as Mr. Mooney was retir- ing, Mr. Butler was appointed to take his place as principal of one of the largest schools of the city, the Lamartine Street School, containing thirty rooms and providing accommodations for more than a thousand pupils. Here Mr. Butler has con- tinued to the present time and his wide experi- ence within the city limits has given him a thor- ough knowledge of the general characteristics of the various racial groups in the different sections of the city. All of these he has found interesting and eager to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the public schools, and to all of these groups Mr. Butler has given his best, knowing that no higher contribution can be given to one's community and country than wise guidance of its youth. Like the revered Principal Russel of his Normal student days, Mr. Butler holds the high- est ideals of service in the teaching profession and, like his old principal, he steadily works at the task of making those ideals "real." To make the dreams of idealistic youth come true is a life task, and when such realization means inspiring high dreams and high endeavor in successive groups of the youth of the land, no higher service can be ren- dered. Mr. Butler is a keen judge of character and his varied experience with the young of the city of Worcester has enabled him to estimate truly the home influences and the general environment of various groups and of individuals under his care. He is enthusiastic and thoroughly devoted to his work, and much of the inspiration of his old principal, Mr. Russel is still living and acting in the work of Mr. Butler.
Mr. Butler is a member of the Worcester Prin- cipals' Club, Worcester Teachers' Association, Mas- sachusetts Elementary Principals' Association, Na- tional Education Association, the Economic Club of Worcester, the Drama Club, and the Knights of Columbus, which he serves as treasurer.
William Frank Butler married, June 27, 19II, Marcella G. McCabe, whom he met while she was teaching in the Edgeworth Street School, of which he was principal. Mrs. Butler was born in Worces- ter, daughter of John and Mary (Flanagan) McCabe, attended the public schools of the city, and was graduated from the Worcester State Normal School, after which she taught in Worces- ter for a number of years. She died in Worces- ter September 12, 1928. Mr. and Mrs. Butler became the parents of one son, William Francis Butler, Jr., who was born in Worcester in 1913. He attended the public schools of Worcester, grad- uating from North High School, and is now tak- ing a course in chemistry in Worcester Polytech- nic Institute.
MAURICE E. TULLER-For more than a decade Maurice E. Tuller has been associated with the automobile sales industry of Worcester and has also taken a prominent part in the develop- ment of the section of the city in which he makes his home. He was born at Auburn, New York, August 15, 1891, and received his education in the Auburn public schools and Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. His college days over, Mr. Tuller went into the automobile trade as a sales- man of several fine cars and had progressed rapidly and far by 1918. In March of that year he sold out his business and enlisted in the aviation serv- ice of his country for the duration of the World War. He won the rank of second lieutenant and was a permanent officer at Talliaferro Field, Fort Worth, Texas, during most of the period that the United States was engaged in the conflict.
Receiving his honorable discharge in January, 1919, Mr. Tuller returned to civilian life and the automobile business. He was first at Hartford, Connecticut, connected with the Franklin Automo- bile Company. In the spring of 1922, he came to Worcester and organized the M. E. Tuller Com- pany, representing the Nash Automobile Company in the city, with headquarters at No. 745 Main Street. He obtained a substantial success, which was reflected in a modern and beautiful plant and sales rooms which he has had constructed. This was completed in May, 1928, and occupies an entire corner at No. 6 Park Avenue, a two-story brick and stone Gothic building. In 1932, the M. E. Tuller Company was incorporated, of which he is the president and treasurer. He is also the pres- ident and treasurer of the Nash-Springfield Com- pany, of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Mr. Tuller has never permitted business to en- gage the whole of his time or interest. He is a member of the Worcester Country Club, the Uni- versity Club, the Quinsigamond Boat Club, and the Players Club, all of Worcester. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Auburn, New York, Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. One of the chief rec- reations of Mr. Tuller is horseback riding, keeping his own stable of saddle horses.
On June 21, 1924, Maurice E. Tuller married Marion M. Cook, of Worcester, and they are the parents of two children: I. Ann Ellison, born April 30, 1925. 2. Robert Ellison, born March 25, 1928. Mr. and Mrs. Tuller reside at No. 12 Tuller Road, a street named in Mr. Tuller's honor.
GEORGE ANDREW PUTNEY-For all his business life, George A. Putney has been identified with practical merchandising, having advanced from owner of a general store to local representative of Armour and Company at Spencer. He is well known to the trade throughout his territory. Of the town of East Brookfield, where he has his residence, he has served as clerk for more than ter years. He is also prominent in the affairs of the Republican Town Committee.
Born in Charlton, December 12, 1882, George Andrew Putney is the son of Albert Andrew and Frances E. Putney, the former a farmer and keeper of a general store. After passing through the public schools of Charlton and East Brookfield, he entered the Brookfield High School, where he studied two years. He followed with a course at Hinman's Business College, Worcester, where he was graduated in the class of 1899. In 1902, or
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three years after he left college, he purchased a general store and was its proprietor for sixteen years. In 1918 he became associated with Armour and Company in the capacity of salesman and con- tinued in this capacity until 1930. In the latter year he was made a sub-agency manager for the same company and has since been retained in this position at Spencer. He is a member of the Armour Oval Label Club.
For many years Mr. Putney has been interested in practical politics and the public service from the Republicans' standpoint. He is a member of the board of registrars of voters, a trustee of the Pub- lic Library, and in 1921 was elected first town clerk of East Brookfield, having served in the latter office continuously since. He is also treas- urer and clerk of the Republican Town Commit- tee of East Brookfield. Prominent in fraternal organizations, he is affiliated with Hayden Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a Past Master; Lassawa Tribe, No. 139, Improved Order of Red Men, in which he was Keeper of Wampum for twenty years, has held the office of Sachem, and has served on the Great Board of Appeals ; Good Will Lodge, No. 181, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Ionic Chapter, No. 102, Order of the Eastern Star; and Worcester Council, No. 136, United Commercial Travelers. He is a member of the East Brookfield Baptist Church, which he has served as treasurer for sixteen years. During the World War period, he was chairman of the Mas- sachusetts Local Fuel Emergency Committee, chair- man of all the Liberty Loan campaign commit- tees in East Brookfield and chairman of all the local Young Men's Christian Association cam- paigns for funds.
Mr. Putney married, September 8, 1909, at East Brookfield, Elsie M. Stratton, daughter of Richard V. and Mary D. (Peirce) Stratton, both her par- ents natives of Worcester County. Mr. and Mrs. Putney have a son, George Andrew Putney, Jr., born December 14, 1914.
HARRISON GREENWOOD-As treasurer of the Gardner Cooperative Bank since 1900, Har- rison Greenwood has done much to advance the interests of this institution, reputed to be one of the largest and strongest of its type in the State. Mr. Greenwood is also at the head of the largest fire and casualty insurance agency in Gardner, in which town he is regarded as one of the most substan- tial citizens.
The Gardner Cooperative Bank was founded and incorporated in 1889, the actual founder having been James L. Stiles, who was the prime mover in bringing the organization into existence. The first president of the bank was Augustus Knowl- ton; vice-president, George W. Garland; and sec- retary and treasurer, William W. Tandy. The bank occupies its own building, which it erected at No. 33 Pleasant Street in 1928, and it is declared to be a model modern bank building. Since his election as treasurer Mr. Greenwood has had charge of the bank's affairs, and under his administra- tion, the institution has enjoyed its most remark- able period of growth.
Mr. Greenwood's father and mother, Alson J. and Martha G. (Moulton) Greenwood, were na- tives of Hubbardston, Massachusetts, where they reared their family. The father was a farmer and lumberman and active in town affairs, having
served as selectman, overseer of the poor, asses- sor, and in other offices. He was looked upon as a progressive citizen and was active in the work of the Unitarian Church. He was the father of five children: I. Dr. Sewell E. Green- wood, graduated from Harvard University ; prac- ticed medicine at Templeton, Massachusetts. 2. Silas A. Greenwood, engaged in the insurance business in Winchendon, Worcester County, and was an associate of his brother Harrison in the insurance business in Gardner. He is now de- ceased. 3. Arthur D. Greenwood, carried on farm- ing operations on the old homestead in Hubbard- ston. He is now deceased. 4. Grace, married Ernest A. Woodard, of Hubbardston. 5. Har- rison, of whom further.
Harrison Greenwood was born in Hubbardston, August 31, 1863, and, after completing his educa- tion in the public schools, came to Gardner, where he was employed as shipping clerk by S. Bent and Brothers, Inc., for ten years. He later spent three years in the office of the S. K. Pierce Com- pany, manufacturers of chairs. In 1895 he and his brother, Silas A., joined in engaging in the insur- ance business, in which he has since continued under the style of S. A. Greenwood and Son, in connection with his duties as treasurer of the Gardner Cooperative Bank. They also established an agency office in Winchendon in 1876. The firm handles practically all classes of insurance with the exception of life. Mr. Greenwood is the representative of twenty-seven insurance companies, among them being the Aetna, of Hartford, Con- necticut ; Fidelity-Phoenix, of New York; Liver- pool and London and Globe, of England; North British; Mercantile; Pennsylvania; Providence- Washington; Springfield Fire and Marine; and Royal. The Greenwood agency has prospered to the point where it is the leading office of the kind in Gardner.
Mr. Greenwood is a member of the Massachu- setts Cooperative Bank League, in whose proceed- ings he has been active, the Massachusetts Insur- ance Agents Association and the National Associa- tion of Insurance Agents. He is a director of the Gardner Trust Company, a member of the Gard- ner Chamber of Commerce, and affiliates with Hope Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons (Past Master) ; Gardner Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templar ; Improved Order of Red Men, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ridgley Club, and the Uni- tarian Church.
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