Page:One of a thousand.djvu/498

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4 3 4 PINKERTON. PITMAN. Knights of Honor; ex-superintendent of the Universalist Sabbath-school ; and has been prominent in various literary, social, and political organizations. Mr. Pilsbury was a member of the House of Representatives in 18S2 and '83, and of the Senate in 1887 and '8g. He served on the committee on prisons in 1882, '83, and '87, being clerk of the com- mittee in 1883 ; served on the committee on water supply in 18S7 ; was chairman of the committee on Hoosac Tunnel, and Troy & Greenfield Railroad in iS87,and chairman of the committee on railroads in 1889. He is a member of Henry Price Lodge, F. .X: A. M. ; Howard Lodge, No. 22, I. O. O. F., and Bunker Hill Encampment, No. 5, I. 0. O. F. The latest tribute to his integrity and ability is his recent appointment by Mayor Hart, of Boston, as one of the commission- ers of the Boston board of health, his term expiring in 1892. PINKERTON, ALFRED S., son of Wil- liam C. and Maria W. (Fiske) Pinkerton, was born in Lancaster, Lancaster county, Pa., March 19, 1856. He attended the public schools of his native place until by the death of his father he was forced to leave school, and with his mother, who sought to return to her kin- dred and native state, came to Worcester, where he soon found employment as book- keeper with one of the leading manufactur- ing firms, and by dint of faithful application, secured the unqualified confidence of his employers. But he had an aspiration to enter the legal profession, and by using his leisure hours while engaged in mercan- tile pursuits, he fitted himself, with the assistance and direction of the late Hon. Peter C. Bacon, with whom he studied, and was finally admitted to the bar in 1881. He immediately began legal practice, and has risen to a recognized position in the profession. Mr. Pinkerton is a prominent Odd Fel- low, a member of Worcester Lodge, No. 56, and Wachusett Encampment. In 1882 he entered the grand lodge and grand encampment, where he at once took rank; was a member of the committee which in 1887 reported in favor of the establish- ment of a " home for aged and infirm members of the fraternity." He is now grand master of the Grand Lodge of Mas- sachusetts — the youngest man ever occupying the chair. He is also a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity. In [887 Mr. Pinkerton was elected a member of the House of Representatives from Worcester, serving as House chair- man of the committee on towns. He was re-elected in 1S8S and '89. In 1S88 he served on the judiciary committee and the committee on constitutional amendments, and the joint special committee to repre- sent the Commonwealth at the centennial celebration of the settlement of Ohio. In 1889 he served on the judiciary committee, and was House chairman of the committee on water-supply. ALFRED S PINKERTON. Mr. Pinkerton, during these years, was frequently heard in debate, seldom failing to command the attention of the House. He participated in all the important dis- cussions, and was the member who pre- sented Senator Hoar's name to the Repub- lican caucus. He has been secretary, and is now chairman, of the Worcester county Republican committee, and has contributed materially to the service of the party in his county. PITMAN, Robert Carter, son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Carter) Pitman, was born in Newport, Newport county, R. I., March 16, 1825. He received his public school training in the schools of New Bedford, and there fitted for college at the Friends' Academy. He was graduated from the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in the class