Boston of to-day; a glance at its history and characteristicsWith biographical sketches and portraits of many of its professional and business men . fullest vigor, and when, with his difficulties, embar-rassments, and obstacles successfully surmounted,he was enjoying the fruits of his labors and indulg-ing in ambitious and well-founded hopes of en-hanced success. He permitted no outside schemesand enterprises to distract his mind, and acceptedno office except that of trustee of the WatertownSavings Bank, of which he was the most activefounder. Brought up in politics as a Whig, he pre-served hi
Boston of to-day; a glance at its history and characteristicsWith biographical sketches and portraits of many of its professional and business men . fullest vigor, and when, with his difficulties, embar-rassments, and obstacles successfully surmounted,he was enjoying the fruits of his labors and indulg-ing in ambitious and well-founded hopes of en-hanced success. He permitted no outside schemesand enterprises to distract his mind, and acceptedno office except that of trustee of the WatertownSavings Bank, of which he was the most activefounder. Brought up in politics as a Whig, he pre-served his independence of speech and thought, andabandoned the party of his youth when he believedit untrue to the principles of human a Republican, he was still independent,and recognized no authority binding him to itsranks when he believed it hail outlived its usefulnessand purpose. Nor in religious matters, more thanm politics, was he bound by traditions. Born in theOrthodox Congregational Church and educated underits influences, he became in the latter part of his lifea Swedenborsrian, and died in that faith. William, was. 1852. He sc-rveil his time as an apprentice withT. J. Whidden, and went into business as a mason BOSTON OF TO-DAY. 361 and builder in 1876. In 1878 he formed a copart-nership with Joseph L. Gooch, and established thefirm of Gooch & Pray, which has become one of theleading building and contracting concerns of NewEngland. Under his own personal supervision erected the Boston Rubber Shoe Companyworks; the Fire Department repair-shops; theAmerican Express Companys stables, the largestand most expensive stables in the country ; the Atlasand other storehouses ; the Real Estate Tnist Build-ing, and other large structures in Boston; theMasonic hall in Maiden for Mr. Yerxa; the OldColony station at New Bedford; cells, wards, etc.,for the State Prison ; and other large works in theEastern States. Mr. Pray is the president of theBuilders Adj
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidbostonoftoda, bookyear1892
