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Bank, positions
SOUTHEASTEEN MASSACHUSETTS 1071
which he held from 1893 to
1902. His own business transactions were
characterized by strict integrity and square
dealing, and his cooperation with his partner
in uncompromising adherence to these principles
was the prime factor in the attainment
by their firm of the enviable commercial position
which it occupies. Mr. Sparrow was a
man who was intensely loyal to those who en-
joyed his intimate acquaintance.
Mr. Sparrow was twice married. On Jan.
23, 1885, he married (first) Franc D. Giddings,
of Romulus, N. Y., who died in 1894.
In 1897 he married (second) Florence G.
Shaw, daughter of George H. Shaw, of Middleboro,
who survives him. He was a member of
Mayflower Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of the
Middleboro Business Men's Club.
(IV) Dr. William E. Sparkow, son of
Josiah and Minerva, born April 21, 1824, in
Rochester, attended the public schools of his
native town and lived on his father's farm
until he. was sixteen years of age. He then
became a clerk in a drug store in Mattapoisett,
where he continued two years. He took up
the study of medicine under the preceptorship
of Dr. Newton Southworth, of Mattapoisett,
and entered Yale University, graduating in
1847. Returning to Mattapoisett he began
the practice of his profession, and was meeting
with great success when the outbreak of
the Civil war caused him to throw aside personal
aims and ambition and enter his country's
service. He became a surgeon in the
army, and was located at Jefferson Barracks,
at St. Louis, Mo. In 1863-64 he was in Vir-
ginia, where he was acting assistant surgeon,
following General Grant. His experience in
the army hospitals gave him a wide knowledge
of surgery. When he returned to Massachusetts
at the close of the war he again took up
his private practice, and continued busy until
his death. He also kept a drug store for many
years.
Outside of his professional duties Dr. Sparrow
was active in a number of enterprises in
Mattapoisett and Marion. As early as 1867
he was interested in the manufacture of lumber,
owning sawmills in the town of Marion, and
he was also extensively engaged in cranberry
culture. He owned some fine bogs in Marion
and other sections. He was a man of progressive
ideas, and was deeply interested in the
material growth and welfare of his town. He
died at his home May 15, 1899, and was buried
in Mattapoisett cemetery.
Dr. Sparrow was a stanch Republican, and
took a keen interest in the game of politics.
In 1856 he was assistant postmaster of Mattapoisett,
and served in that capacity for ten
years, when he was appointed postmaster, in
1866, succeeding Benjamin F. Barstow, whodied.
Dr. Sparrow filled the office most acceptably
for twenty-seven years, resigning in
1893. For nearly a quarter of a century he
was a member of the school committee, and
for a half century a member of the town's^
board of health. He attended the Congregational
Church.
Dr. Sparrow was twice married. His first
wife, Sophronia S. Holmes, was born in the
town of Rochester, now a part of the town,
of Mattapoisett, daughter of Josiah and Betsey
(Clark) Holmes. She died in 1865, leaving
four children, and was buried in Matta-
poisett cemetery. To this marriage were born :
William E., Jr.; Elizabeth; Solomon Eaton;
and Frank M. The daughter married Ward
Parker Delano, an architect, lived in Wor-
cester, and died in 1898, leaving three children.
Ward P., Jr., Frank S., and Gertnide-
H. Dr. Sparrow married (second) in 1868
Mrs. Eliza Harding, a widow, daughter of
George Dunham, of Martha's Vineyard.
(V) William E. Sparrow, Jr., son of Dr.
Sparrow, born Nov. 17, 1849, was educated
in the public schools of Mattapoisett, the-
Academy at Middleboro, and the Boston
'
In-
stitute of Technology, graduating from the last
named institution in 1872. For some years he
was engaged as civil engineer and railroad engineer
in Pennsylvania. Returning to Massachusetts,
he was engaged for a time in manufacturing
in New Bedford, and later in looking
after his father's estate, making his home
in Mattapoisett. He is a Blue Lodge Mason.
Mr. Sparrow has long been interested in local
history and genealogy, and has made a study
of same for a number of years.
On June 2, 1880, he married Mary S. Atsatt,.
born at Mattapoisett, daughter of John T.
and Mary (Bowles) Atsatt. They have three
children : Minerva, who was educated in the
high school and Mount Holyoke Seminary,
graduating from the latter, is now a teacher
of Latin and Greek in Rust University, in
Mississippi ; Charles A., who attended the public
and high schools, graduated from Amherst
College and in 1910 from Harvard Medical
College, with the degree of M. D., is now
engaged in the practice of medicine in Worcester;
1909.
Seaton Lee, a student, died July 31,
(V) Solomon Eaton Sparrow, second son
of Dr. Sparrow, was born at Mattapoisett, and