348 JOSLIN. JOSLIN. missioned a colonel by Gov. John D. Long, January 9, 1880, and served on his staff for three years. In presidential campaigns his services have always been in great demand in the organization of campaign battalions, and he commanded corps of this kind in 186S, '72, '76, '80 and '84. Mr. Jordan is a staunch Republican in politics, in which he has always taken a lively interest. He has always held a high position in local affairs in Roxbury, declin- ing public office until 1S87, when he was elected senator for the 7th Suffolk district. His commercial relations have given him honorable prominence throughout the coun- try, and his executive ability has been often recognized in contact with the prominent business men of Boston. He is vice-presi- dent of the Boston Paper Trade Association. He was married May 19, 1S70, to Martha Shackford Meserve, the daughter of Capt. Isaac H. and Mary W. Shackford. He has four children : Robert Anson, William Meserve, Porter Bolles, and Mary Shack- ford Jordan. JOSLIN, Allen Lafayette, son of Elliott and Almira (Davis) Joslin, was born in East Thompson, Windham county, Conn., August 30, 18,33. His education was limited to what he gleaned from the district school. At twenty-four years of age he started in the shoe business for himself, in Oxford, Mass. In i860 he formed a co-partnership with L. B. Corbin, under the firm name of L. B. Corbin & Co., shoe manufacturers. This co-partnership was dissolved in 1870, and a new one formed in 1871, under the firm name of A. L. Joslin & Co., who carry on the business at the present time. Mr. Joslin was married in Oxford, Sep- tember 15, 1 85 7, to Lucretia M., daughter of Loriston and Clarissa (Eddy) Shumway. Of this union were two children : Ada I., and Homer S. Joslin. He was again mar- ried in Peabody, October 24, 1867, to Sarah A. E., daughter of Abel and Lydia P. (Emerson) Proctor. Of this union were two children : Elliott Proctor, and Abel Proctor Joslin (deceased). Mr. Joslin has served his adopted town in various official capacities — selectman, treasurer, member of school board, etc. He was a representative to the Legisla- ture in 1885 ; state senator in 1SS6. He is president of Oxford National Bank, and trustee of Leicester Academy. His sum- mer residence is Oxford, and his winter residence, Beacon Street, Boston. JOSLIN, James Thomas, son of Elias and Elizabeth (Stearns) Joslin, was born in Leominster, Worcester county, June 23, 1834- He is a lineal descendant of Thomas Joslin, who came to America from Eng- land in 1635, and who was a pioneer settler in Lancaster, where he died in 1660. Mr. Joslin was educated in the common and high schools of his native town, and subsequently pursued a two years' course of study in Lawrence Academy, Groton. He then began the study of law in the of- fice of the late Hon. Charles H. Merriam, Leominster, where he remained two years, and then spent two years in the office of Wood & Bailey, Fitchburg, where he was admitted to the bar in i860. Like many another lad who has to de- pend upon his own resources, he com- menced to teach school when he was JAMES T. JOSLIN. eighteen years of age, and taught five winters in Leominster, besides acting as assistant in the high school one year. He also taught the Hale high school at Stow during the autumn of 1857, and in the winter of 1859 completed a term in a school where three teachers had proved unequal to the task. While pursuing his legal studies in Leominster he served two years on the
