Norfolk County MA Archives Biographies.....La Croix, James 1823 - 1883
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 12, 2006, 1:39 am

Author: E. O. Jameson (1886)

JAMES LA CROIX, ESQ.

   JAMES LA CROIX, son of William and Lois (Bullard) La Croix, was born Nov. 30,
1823, in East Medway. After his school days he went to Northampton and learned
the tailor's trade, but his health being poor, having fulfilled his
apprenticeship, he returned home and worked with his father on the farm. He
married Mary Skinner Hodges, daughter of Willard and Hannah Smith (Pond) Hodges,
of Franklin, Mass., and settled down on the old homestead. Upon the death of his
father he purchased the interests of the other heirs and established the
business of manufacturing refined cider and vinegar. Subsequently he added the
manufacture of canned corn, fruits and vegetables of various kinds. By careful
and able management he developed a large business. The production of the first
year was but five barrels of vinegar and some five thousand cans of fruits,
while in 1882 the production reached three thousand barrels of refined cider and
vinegar and some three hundred and seventy-five thousand cans of various fruits
and vegetables.

   In 1883 the manufacture of catsup was taken up successfully. The enterprise
and courage of Mr. La Croix in establishing and enlarging this industry was a
great benefit to the whole community. Not only was employment furnished to a
large number of laborers, but the farmers in the vicinity were provided with a
market for their products at home, and many thousands of dollars were thus
distributed annually. Mr. La Croix was a man of great executive ability,
naturally a leader among men, and for many years was a power in political
circles and in the public affairs of the town. His health became broken by
business cares, and being worn out by overwork he took a sudden cold and fell a
prey to pneumonia, from which he died Sept. 6, 1883. Mr. La Croix was a citizen
of prominence, a man of public spirit and of large business capacity, and his
death was regarded as a great public loss.


Additional Comments:
From:

HE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT PERSONS,
AND
The Genealogical Records
OF
MANY EARLY AND OTHER FAMILIES
IN
MEDWAY, MASS. 1713-1886.
Illustrated
WITH NUMEROUS STEEL AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS.
BY
E. O. JAMESON,
THE AUTHOR OK "THE COGSWELLS IN AMERICA," "THE HISTORY OF MEDWAY, MASS." ETC.
MILLIS, MASS. 1886.

Copyright, 1886.
E. O. JAMESON, MILLIS, MASS.
All Rights Reserved.

J. A. & R. A. REID, PRINTERS, PROVIDENCE, R. I.


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