Information Regarding Bigelow, Kennard & Co.

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Joseph L. Casey, formerly engraver for Bigelow, Kennard & Co., is now with the Shreve, Crump & Low Co.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th February 1913

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Daniel Connor, formerly for 32 years with Bigelow, Kennard & Co., died at his home in South Boston, July 6, at the age of 72. He left a widow, two sons and three daughters, one of the sons being Maurice D. Connor, salesman for John C. Sawyer.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 20th July 1904

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O. E. Wilkins, formerly watchmaker for Bigelow, Kennard & Co., Boston, Mass., now represents the Hoyt Security Cash Register Co. in the New England States.

Source: The Keystone - August 1898

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The case of Marie Adams, to whom a stay of proceedings was granted on her sentence to Sherborn prison tor women, as the result of her conviction for the theft of a valuable diamond from Bigelow, Kennard & Co., was again before the court Saturday and the original sentence was confirmed and ordered to be carried into effect.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 8th June 1904

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ALLEGED THIEVES CAUGHT

Boston Police Get Two Men Charged with Robbing Window at the Store of Bigelow, Kennard & Co.

Boston, Mass., July 13.—Charges that Joseph E. Walker, 22, of 32 Clarendon St., and Arthur E. Alden, 23, of 136 W. Newton St., this city, had made plans for a series of robberies are made by the police who captured the two men after it is alleged that one of them had hurled a half-brick through the Washington St. window of the store of Bigelow, Kennard & Co., Inc., Wednesday morning, and made away with a quantity of watches and other valuable property.

In the confusion following the break, it was reported that the thieves had secured several thousand dollars worth of merchandise, but later investigation showed that the stolen property was valued at less than $1,000.

At the time of the arrests a search disclosed that the men had taken several clocks, pearl earrings, watches and compasses. In addition the officers found a seal-skin coat and three fur pieces, valued at $1,275, alleged to have been stolen some time ago from a Boston furrier.

Walker and Alden were arraigned in the municipal court yesterday and held in $12,000 each for a hearing July 17. Sergeant McDonald stated that the pair were charged with six different breaks, five in the Back Bay and one downtown.

At the time the brick crashed through the Bigelow, Kennard & Co.’s window one of the watchmen was on the second floor. He heard the shattering glass and at once rushed to the street floor, but the thieves had already taken their loot and fled. Inside the window he found half a brick wrapped in pink paper, As he arrived on the scene patrolman Cunningham rushed to the corner but the two thieves had made their escape.

Sergeant McDonald, Captain Driscoll, Inspector Cronin and Special Officer de Sessa went to Clarendon St., where Walker lives. There they report that they found the watches which had been stolen from Bigelow, Kennard & Co. and that the property was easily identified.

Walker, according to McDonald, went to Providence on the noon train the day before the arrest, taking some jewelry to pawn or sell, but that Wednesday was a half holiday and about all the pawnshops were closed.

The arrest of Alden at his room was followed by the capture of Walker at the Back Bay depot Wednesday night shortly after seven o'clock.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th July 1923

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=44449&p=191299&hil ... er#p191299

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E. H. Ensign, associated with Bigelow, Kennard & Co. for more than 38 years, is at Harwichport recuperating from a recent illness, which compelled him to relinquish business activities for some time. Members of the trade will be glad to learn that he is regaining his normal health steadily.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th April 1919

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T. Frank Bell, head of the leather department of Bigelow, Kennard & Co., has retired from that position. He was in business for himself for many years on Temple Place. Seven years ago he gave up this business and entered the employ of Bigelow, Kennard & Co.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th March 1925

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The firm of Bigelow, Kennard & Co. has been reorganized and incorporated under Massachusetts laws, with a capital of $750,000 as follows: First preferred (seven per cent.), $250,000; second preferred, $400,000; common, $100,000. The incorporators were Alanson Bigelow, Sr., Alanson Bigelow, Jr., and Reginald C. Heath. At a meeting for organization Nov. 27 Alanson Bigelow, Jr., was elected president, Alanson Bigelow, Sr., vice-president, Reginald C. Heath treasurer and Edmund T. Glover clerk. These, with other directors to be chosen at a meeting this week, will constitute the officers of the corporation.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 4th December 1912

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Allard Spencer, of Bigelow-Kennard & Co., has returned from a trip to Europe. He visited France, England, Czecho-slovakia and Italy, where he was welcomed by many members of the trade in those countries. The second floor of the company’s store has been converted into a new department for glass, antiques, hall clocks, etc. The department has been most tastefully decorated. There is a new connecting suite of offices for the president, treasurer and directors.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th April 1925

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DEATH OF FRANCIS T. BEMIS

The death of Mr. Francis T. Bemis, of the well known retail jewelry firm of Bigelow, Kennard & Company, which occurred Jan. 24 at his residence 22 Newbury street, has thrown a gloom of sadness over all the trade in this city. Mr. Bemis was a native of Massachusetts, having been born 52 years ago in the little town of Lincoln. Armed with a little more than a common-school education and a naturally keen business faculty, he came to the metropolis at an early age and entered almost at once the employ of the above mentioned house. There he remained until his maturity, displaying an unswerving faithfulness to duty and close observation of details, and finally in 1863 he became associated with the firm in partnership. Conscientious, untiring and genial in all his business relations, he bore with him the elements of that success — moral as well as material — and popularity which comes of these and other characteristics of a public-spirited citizen. It was then he earned the deserved esteem of his associates, whether transient or permanent, equal or subordinate, and there is no better evidence of the general regard in which he was held than the prompt and touching tribute offered by the other leading houses in the trade. Prompted by their long and agreeable business relations with the deceased, and desiring to publicly signify their high appreciation of his character, the following firms closed their places of business at noon on the day of his funeral:

Shreve, Crump & Low, Palmer, Bachelder & Co., Robbins, Appleton & Co., A. Stowell & Co., Henry D. Morse & Chas. M. Foss, Geo. H. Richards, Jr., & Co., Howard Watch & Clock Co., J. V. Kettell & Co., Rand & Crane, C. A. W. Crosby, N. S. Wood & Son, Clarkson & Schrieber, B. A. Hersey, Henry Guild & Son, Lewis E. Jenks, Farrington & Hunnewell, Brooks & Pike, Harwood Bros., Floyd, Pratt & Rounds, D. C. Percival & Co., Morrill Bros. & Co., Whitney Bros., Henry T. Spear & Son, Ripley Howland Mfg. Co.

The cause of Mr. Bemis’ death was pneumonia, which developed suddenly, after a few days’ illness. He held a deserved prominence in the Art and Merchants’ clubs and other home organizations, besides having a wide and peculiarly tender, private circle of attachments. There are two sons and a daughter left to mourn his loss.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - May 1888

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Joseph Levy, night watchman for the Bigelow-Kennard Co., dropped dead as he was leaving the store recently. Death was due to heart disease.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th November 1924

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The Bigelow-Kennard Co. has made considerable improvement to the front windows of its store, fronting on West and Washington Sts. The windows, which were rather too close to the ground, have been raised a foot or more so as to accommodate anyone looking in.

Edmund T. Glover, manager, is in the Deaconness Hospital, where he undergoing insulin treatment.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th November 1924

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The Shreve, Crump & Low Co. and Bigelow, Kennard & Co. took part in the Animated Advertising Adventure in the Boston Opera House for the benefit of the Boston Children’s Friends’ Society and the Travelers’ Aid Society. Miss Virginia Roberts appeared for Bigelow, Kennard & Co. and Miss Barbara Stone for the Shreve, Crump & Low Co. The two women wore the latest styles in bracelets, barpins, earrings and rings.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd December 1925

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At the ripe old age of eighty-five years, Martin P. Kennard, one of the founders of Bigelow & Kennard, the well-known Boston firm, passed away last month at his home in Brookline. From the time he entered the services of Jones, Lows & Ball, his initial step in the jewelry business, until his retirement in 1876, his career was one of uninterrupted and well-merited success. His unusual business aptitude was quickly recognized by the firm already mentioned, and he was rapidly advanced to the position of foreign buyer for that concern. He became associated with Bigelow Bros., in 1846, which firm afterwards became reorganized as Bigelow Bros. & Kennard, and his connection with it continued unbroken until he retired from business thirty years afterwards, Deceased had been so long identified with the commercial life of Boston that he naturally became interested in movements without the domain of trade. He had been president of the Boston Art Club and of the Mercantile Library Association.

Source: The Keystone - December 1903

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BOSTON

Robert P. Walker, for the last 12 years with Bigelow, Kennard & Co., has severed his connection with the above firm and is to open a retail jewelry store at 41 West St.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th February 1909

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NEW YORK

Charles E. DuBois, formerly with Dreicer & Co., this city, and with Bigelow, Kennard & Co., as designer and manager of their diamond department for eight years, but more lately in business at 80 Boylston St., Boston, for seven years, has become associated with the firm of Betteridge, Inc., and will be located at the concern's store, Fifth Ave. and 45th St.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 7th February 1929

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Adrian H. Lesperance until recently with Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co., of Philadelphia has joined the watch department of Bigelow, Kennard & Co.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th November 1916

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Mrs. Ellen B. Houghton

Mrs. Ellen Bigelow Houghton died yesterday at her home in Corning, N. Y. She was the widow of Amory Houghton, jr., for many years president of the Corning Glass Works, and daughter of Alanson Bigelow, founder of the firm of Bigelow, Kennard & Co. She was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1839. Mrs. Houghton leaves four children.

Source: New York Tribune - 6th May 1918

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Alanson Bigelow, Jr., of Bigelow, Kennard & Co., and Mrs. Bigelow were booked to sail from England for home May 2. Frank Folsom, one of the firm’s buyers, who accompanied Mr. Bigelow on his European trip, is also returning.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd May 1911

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Frank Folsom, buyer tor Bigelow, Kennard & Co., has been appointed to the committee on legislation of the America National Association.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 6th December 1916

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