Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-27

Alden Speare was born in Chelsea VT
Oct 70. 1875, son of DR.. Sceva and Jane
tMerrilD Speare. His paternal GRANDPA
ther, DR.. Moses Speare, was born in
Shutesbury, Mass and died in Vershire,
Vt. The subject of this sketch received his
carry education in the common schools of
Corinth, VT, and prepared for college at
the Newbury seminary in Newbury, Vt
winch he entered with the idea of hecom-
ing physician His father died in March,
loil, and in October following he went to
Boston, where he obtained employment as
clerk In u retail dry goods store, where he
remained until August. 1851, in which year
he organized the firm of Speare. Burke g.
Co., to carry on the oil and starch business
IN lSo3 the office was removed to No 3
central Wharf, where the business was
carried on under the name OF Alden Speare
IL Co., for over 10 years, now at 369 Atlantic
avenue, Mr. Speare being a special part
ner. Mr.. Speare has been prominent in
public affairs, having held many positions
OF trust and honor. In 1860 he was elect d
a member of the school committee of Bos-
ton, ana he held the position until 1868,
when he removed to Newton Mass The
following fall he was elected to the New
ton school board. and he served on that
board until 1870 when he was elected the
mayor of that city. He was three times
nominated for mayor declining twice, and
upon his acceptance he was elected with
out an opposing vote, there having been no
other candidate. lie served acceptably to
the people and he was reelected for a sec
ond term Mr.. Speare has been "A member
OF the Boston Chamber of Commerce since
its organization, and for four years up to
1891 he was president of that organization.
1T was largely through his efforts that the
present magnificent building of that body
was erected. and II was he who secured
from President Whitney of the West End
railroad the land for the site. He took an
active interest in the construction of the
building and he laid the corner stone. lie
was president of the Boston Associated
Board of Trade in 1906: he has been
vice president of the National Board of
Trade since 1892, and a vice president OF
the Merchants Association of Boston
since 1896. lie was one of the incorporators
of the Boston Penny Savings bank and he
has been one of the vice presidents as well
as one of the trustees of that institution.
For nearly twenty years he was one of the
directors of the Everett National bank.
He was director of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa t'e railroad and of the St. Louis
and San Francisco. the Atlantic and Pac-
iic for many years, and was a director
of the Mexican Central, and the Connect
cut and Passumpsc Railroad companies.
He was largely interested in several New
England manufacturing corporations. and
was a vice president of the Arkansas VAL
ley Town and Land company. MIR. Speare
was president of the Vermont Association
of Boston for several years.tie was an en-
thusiastic Nermonter, and he has contrib
uted very largely to the success Of the As
ISOLATION of the Sons and Daughters of the
Green Mountain State in the metropolis of
his adopted State. He has taken an active
part in the social life OF his community,
being a member also of the Exchange club
of the Boston Art club. and of the old cd
BostOnians society, as we'll as OF other
cial organizations. In politics he was re-
publican. MIR. Speare has been identified
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. and
for years he has been an active member of
the hoard of managers of the Foreign
and Home Missionary society of that
church. For many years he was a member
of the Boston Wesleyan association, and in
lS,j, lSS2. 1856 and ISIS he was president i
hat asso ciation. While living in Boston hs
was one OF the original members and for
several years a director of the Young
Mems Christian association, and in 1857 he
was president of that organization. Since
1872 he has been a member of the board of
trustees of Boston University, and he has
held the position of vice president of that
institution for many years. Mr.. Speare was
united III marriage with Miss Caroline NJ
Robinson March /, 1919; and these children
were bonn of their uniou; Jane, Herbert
Alden. Emma c.. Ella NJ. Lewis r., Min
ME Il; and e. Ray Speare.