J. HERBERT L. SMEAD – A well known figure in business circles in Erving, and in social and civic interests in Orange, is J. Herbert L. Smead, whose lifelong activities have been of a practical nature and whose present success as the manager of the Heywood-Wakefield Company in Erving, places him among the thoroughly outstanding men of the day. Mr. Smead is a son of J. Henry Smead, who died, March 17, 1924, at the age of eighty-five years and who throughout the greater part of his lifetime was an employee of the New Bedford Post Office. The mother, Sarah Adell Smead is also now deceased and both these families are prominent ones in this State.
J. Herbert L. Smead was born in Greenfield, November 8, 1870. Receiving his education in the local public schools, he removed to New Bedford, Massachusetts, with the family as a lad and there learned the printer’s trade. In 1886, he became a resident of Gardner where for twenty-eight years he was associated with the chair industry. He started as a bookkeeper with the old Heywood plant and remained with the Heywood interests permanently. When he was detailed to his present responsibilities a few years ago, he was serving as treasurer of the Washburn & Heywood Chair Co., and assistant secretary of the parent plant in Gardner. When the Heywood-Wakefield Company established their new chair factory in Erving, Mr. Smead was made manager of this enterprise, which is one of the most important in the village of Erving. This expression of the confidence of the concern in Mr. Smead’s ability and judgment was a very definite appraisal of his worth and his success in the founding and development of the interest has well justified the step. The Erving plant comprises a spacious modern structure of fully 60,000 square feet of floor space, exclusive of office and outbuildings. Its establishment in this community means much to the prosperity and progress of the village and as the local head of the Heywood interests Mr. Smead holds the unqualified esteem and confidence of all.
J. Herbert L. Smead married, November 30, 1899, Alice M. Sawin, and they are the parents of three children: Robert S.; Helen N.; and Elsie A.