Page:One of a thousand.djvu/420

 40G MEDBERY. MENTZER. The leading idea in his late work is that of lifting politics and patriotism into a kind of religion. He thinks that the State will somehow come to rival the Church, if not to take its place, as an object of social en- thusiasm. Convictions of this kind have led him to exhibit great activity in histor- ical work by voice and pen. He is warmly EDWIN D. MEAD. interested in practical politics, and is a fre- quent participant in political discussions. He was one of the founders of the Massa- chusetts Society for Promoting Good Citi- zenship. He has also had the principal direction, in late years, of the Old South historical work in Boston, for the education of young people in history and politics. MEDBERY, Andrew Nelson, the son of Viall and Hannah (Peck) Medbery, was born in Seekonk, Bristol county, December 5. l8. 2 7- His opportunities of an early education were very limited. At the age of seven he attended the district school of his native town four months of the winter season, working on the farm the rest of the year. At the age of nineteen he commenced to teach school during the winter sessions, continuing his farm labors the remainder of the year. After teaching seven winters his health gave way, and in consequence, he gave up teaching, but remained on the farm until he purchased a store in Seekonk, on October 27, 1869, where he has continued to carry on business to the present time. He was appointed postmaster of Seekonk in 1870, which position he still holds. He has also held the offices of school commit- teeman, selectman, town clerk, and a mem- ber of the House of Representatives in 1880. In 1880 he was appointed to take the United States census of Seekonk, and, in 1885, the state census. Mr. Medbery was married in Bristol, R. I., May 30, 1854, to Sarah Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Hon. John Greg- ory, formerly of Portsmouth, N. H. He has no children. Mr. Medbery united with the Baptist church, 1853, with whose Sabbath-school work and benevolent societies he is closely identified. He has been clerk of the church since 1854. He has always been a radical temperance man, and has never used any intoxicating liquors or tobacco. MENTZER, WALTER C, son of Charles L. and Lucy J. (Brewer) Mentzer, was born October 26, 1862, at Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, Pa. His early educa- tion was received at the public schools of Boston and Northborough, and completed at the Northborough high school and the Woburn Academy. When twenty-three years old, Mr. Ment- zer formed a partnership with W. H. Ken- nedy, as wholesale beef dealers, and in 1876, as W. C. & A. F. Mentzer, he opened a wholesale beef market on North Market Street, Boston. The same firm is still do- ing business, as commission dealers in Armour & Co.'s Chicago dressed-beef. In Somerville, on the 31st day of De- cember, 1876, Mr. Mentzer was married to Clara B., daughter of Almon R. and Diana W. (Jackson) Thurston. They have one child : Charles A. Mentzer. Mr. Mentzer has been identified with the Knights of Honor, Charity Lodge, F. & A. Masons, Royal Arcanum, I. O. O. F., and I. O. R. M., of Cambridge and Somerville, and has held offices in all these orders. He was elected to the common council of Somerville in 1885, and was president of the board in 1S86 He was elected to the board of aldermen in 1887, has been twice candidate for mayor, and in 1889 was elected member of the Mystic water board. He has always been an earnest Republican, in politics, and in social and philanthropic movements has ever taken an active part. He is a director in the Somerville Co-op- erative Bank.