Elisha S. Converse
Encyclopedia
Elisha Slade Converse was the first mayor of Malden
, Massachusetts
, businessman, founder and president of Boston Rubber Shoe Company, representative and senator in state congress and a philanthropist.
) immigrated to the New World together with future Governor John Winthrop
in 1630, and later became the founder of Woburn
, Massachusetts
.
Deacon Conyers was the descendant of one of the trusted chieftains of William the Conqueror - Roger de Coignieres, from Navarre
, France
.
De Coignieres established his family residence in England after the invasion.
Many members of the French branch of this family, including Admiral Coligny, were French Protestants and were killed in 1572 in the St. Bartholomew massacre.
Some of them survived and escaped to England.
Over the centuries, the family name changed: first - to Conyers, then – to Convers, and in the colonies - to Converse.
, Massachusetts
, on July 28, 1820.
When Converse was four years old, his parents moved to Woodstock
, Connecticut
.
Spending his childhood there, he acquired professional and basic educational skills.
When he was thirteen years old, he began to work on a farm.
When he was nineteen years old, he began the own business in the Thompson village.
He continued it until he was 24 years old.
In 1844 he returned to Boston, where he opened the wholesale shoe and leather trade.
The business was new to him, but he soon familiarized himself with its details, and during his connection with it the reputation and success of the firm became well established.
In 1847 he moved to Stoneham
, Massachusetts
, and in 1850 to Malden
, where he lived until his death in 1904.
In 1851 he became one of the founders and directors of Malden Bank, which was reorganized as the First National Bank of Malden in 1864, and served as its president for over 30 years, beginning in 1856.
Converse became the president, director, and trustee of other companies and institutions, including Boston Belting Company, Rubber Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, Revere Rubber Company, Exchange National Bank of Boston, Five Cent Savings Bank and Wellesley College.
In 1853 Converse opened the Boston Rubber Shoe Company in Malden that employed 3,500 people and became one of the largest rubber manufacturers in the USA.
In 1875 his factory was severely damaged by fire, but he managed to rebuild it within a few months.
His business was so prosperous that it was expanded to Melrose
.
Later, the company opened agencies around the country and even in England.
Converse was the company treasurer and general manager for 40 years, and the president from 1893.
In 1881, when Malden had been incorporated as a city, he was, by universal acclaim, elected as its first mayor.
The Converse Memorial Building, in which the Malden Public Library is located,
was designed by Henry H. Richardson.
It was built by Converse and his wife as a memorial of their eldest son, Frank, the assistant cashier of Malden Bank, who was murdered during the first US robbery of a bank in 1863.
Converse donated money for its construction, and artwork for its decoration.
This building, when completed, was given to the trustees of the Malden Public Library, "for the benefit of the inhabitants of the city of Malden."
In October 1885, Malden Public Library was opened in the Converse Memorial Building.
Converse provided basic education and proper health care for his employees.
He also founded the Malden Home for Aged Persons and Day Nursery.
Converse tried to improve the health care system in Malden.
He provided monetary and land donations for the construction of Malden Hospital.
In 1892, two years after its incorporation, Malden Hospital admitted its first patients.
For many years Converse served as its president.
He and his family donated money and land for the Maternity Hospital and the School of Nursing.
Converse participated in the creation of the Malden city water supply system (Spot Pond Water) and Reservoir.
Converse donated 107.5 acres (43.5 ha) of land - to organize the public Pine Banks Park.
Their children were:
Frank Eugene Converse (1846–1863),
Mary Ida Converse (1853–1940, m. Costello Converse, 1882),
Colonel Harry Elisha Converse (1863–1920, m. capt. Mary Caroline Parker, 1891),
Frances Eugenia Leland (1865–1941, m. Lester Leland, 1892).
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, businessman, founder and president of Boston Rubber Shoe Company, representative and senator in state congress and a philanthropist.
Family history
His ancestor, Deacon Edward Conyers (Edward ConversEdward Convers
Deacon Edward Convers was an early Puritan settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and was one of the founders of Woburn, MA.He built the first house and first mill in Woburn. Convers was very active in town affairs, serving as one of its first selectmen...
) immigrated to the New World together with future Governor John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
in 1630, and later became the founder of Woburn
Woburn, Massachusetts
Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 38,120 at the 2010 census. Woburn is located north of Boston, Massachusetts, and just south of the intersection of I-93 and I-95.- History :...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Deacon Conyers was the descendant of one of the trusted chieftains of William the Conqueror - Roger de Coignieres, from Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
De Coignieres established his family residence in England after the invasion.
Many members of the French branch of this family, including Admiral Coligny, were French Protestants and were killed in 1572 in the St. Bartholomew massacre.
Some of them survived and escaped to England.
Over the centuries, the family name changed: first - to Conyers, then – to Convers, and in the colonies - to Converse.
Early years
Elisha Slade Converse, the third son of Elisha and Betsey (Wheaton) Converse, was born in NeedhamNeedham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, on July 28, 1820.
When Converse was four years old, his parents moved to Woodstock
Woodstock, Connecticut
Woodstock is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,221 at the 2000 census.-Annual events:*The Woodstock Fair, run by the Woodstock Agricultural Society has been held since 1860. The current President of the Woodstock Fair is Susan Z. Hibbard...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Spending his childhood there, he acquired professional and basic educational skills.
When he was thirteen years old, he began to work on a farm.
Business achievements
From the age of sixteen he learned the trade of a clothier.When he was nineteen years old, he began the own business in the Thompson village.
He continued it until he was 24 years old.
In 1844 he returned to Boston, where he opened the wholesale shoe and leather trade.
The business was new to him, but he soon familiarized himself with its details, and during his connection with it the reputation and success of the firm became well established.
In 1847 he moved to Stoneham
Stoneham, Massachusetts
Stoneham is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Its population was 21,437 at the 2010 census, down from 22,219 in 2000. The town is the birthplace of Olympic figure skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan and is the home of the Stone Zoo.- History :...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and in 1850 to Malden
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
, where he lived until his death in 1904.
In 1851 he became one of the founders and directors of Malden Bank, which was reorganized as the First National Bank of Malden in 1864, and served as its president for over 30 years, beginning in 1856.
Converse became the president, director, and trustee of other companies and institutions, including Boston Belting Company, Rubber Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, Revere Rubber Company, Exchange National Bank of Boston, Five Cent Savings Bank and Wellesley College.
In 1853 Converse opened the Boston Rubber Shoe Company in Malden that employed 3,500 people and became one of the largest rubber manufacturers in the USA.
In 1875 his factory was severely damaged by fire, but he managed to rebuild it within a few months.
His business was so prosperous that it was expanded to Melrose
Melrose, Massachusetts
-Government:Robert J. Dolan is the mayor. Melrose is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Paul Brodeur . Katherine Clark is the state senator for wards 1 through 5 and Thomas McGee is the state senator for wards 6 and 7. Melrose is part of the seventh Congressional...
.
Later, the company opened agencies around the country and even in England.
Converse was the company treasurer and general manager for 40 years, and the president from 1893.
Political/public service
He had served the commonwealth two years (1878–79) in the house of representatives and two years (1880–81) in State senate.In 1881, when Malden had been incorporated as a city, he was, by universal acclaim, elected as its first mayor.
Philanthropy
Among Converse's philanthropic deeds were the establishment and construction of Malden Hospital, Malden City Hall, Malden Public Library, Malden YMCA, Malden Historical Society, and the Malden Auditorium - one of the finest theateres around Boston at that period.The Converse Memorial Building, in which the Malden Public Library is located,
was designed by Henry H. Richardson.
It was built by Converse and his wife as a memorial of their eldest son, Frank, the assistant cashier of Malden Bank, who was murdered during the first US robbery of a bank in 1863.
Converse donated money for its construction, and artwork for its decoration.
This building, when completed, was given to the trustees of the Malden Public Library, "for the benefit of the inhabitants of the city of Malden."
In October 1885, Malden Public Library was opened in the Converse Memorial Building.
Converse provided basic education and proper health care for his employees.
He also founded the Malden Home for Aged Persons and Day Nursery.
Converse tried to improve the health care system in Malden.
He provided monetary and land donations for the construction of Malden Hospital.
In 1892, two years after its incorporation, Malden Hospital admitted its first patients.
For many years Converse served as its president.
He and his family donated money and land for the Maternity Hospital and the School of Nursing.
Converse participated in the creation of the Malden city water supply system (Spot Pond Water) and Reservoir.
Family
In 1843 Elisha S. Converse married Mary D. Edmands (1825–1903), daughter of Captain Hosea and Ursula Edmands, of Thompson.Their children were:
Frank Eugene Converse (1846–1863),
Mary Ida Converse (1853–1940, m. Costello Converse, 1882),
Colonel Harry Elisha Converse (1863–1920, m. capt. Mary Caroline Parker, 1891),
Frances Eugenia Leland (1865–1941, m. Lester Leland, 1892).