by Laurel | January 28th, 2014
09 Feb 1911
William Reardon
1845 – 1911
Forestdale Cemetery, Circle Section
Death of William Reardon
Well-Known Holyoke Citizen
General Superintendent of Mills of American Writing Paper Company
and Prominent in the Paper Industry.
William Reardon, 65, general superintendent for the American writing paper company, died at his home, 204 Linden Street, Holyoke, about 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon after an illness extending over a long period. While Mr. Reardon had been out of health for some time, yet his last illness was of almost three weeks’ duration, and from the beginning of his last attack little hope was held out for his recovery. He was well-known in paper making circles, and had been connected with the the papermaking business from a boy, both in Scotland and England and in this country, having worked in all departments of the mills, and had a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the business. Starting to work in the mills when but 10 years of age, he had little advantages in the way of education, but in spite of handicaps he educated himself, and by his own exertions rose to the post he occupied at the time of his death. He had served on the board of aldermen for the city, and for nine years was a member of the school board, acting as its chairman. In 1909 he was again appointed to the school board by mayor Avery to fill out the vacancy caused by the death of Committeeman Thomas Sears. At the expiration of the term he declined to be a candidate for another term. On the school board he proved a reliable man for the city, bringing business methods and good common sense to work on the problems arising before the board. In 1885 he served as alderman from Ward 1 under Mayor James E. Delaney.
William Reardon 1845-1911
Mr. Reardon was well known in the city, and had a large circle of friends. He was a man of sterling integrity, broad-minded and democratic. Although belonging to a number of societies, yet he enjoyed better remaining at his home with his family and his books. He was born in Greenock, Scotland, August 22, 1845, and started to work in the paper mills of that country when but 10 years of age, and from 1855 to 1869 worked in paper mills in Scotland and England. In 1869 he came with the family to Rainbow, Connecticut. Later he came to Holyoke and worked as a machine tender in the Valley paper Mill. From Hoyoke he went to Bath, N.C., as superintendent of a mill in that place, and later returned to Holyoke as superintendent of the Old Albion Mill, which was bought from the Hampden paper Company. Later a new mill was built. Mr. Reardon having charge of its construction, and following its completion was superintendent of the mill until it was taken in by the American writing paper company, at which time he was made general superintendent of the mills of the company making machine-dried paper, which office he held at the time of his death.
In 1870 he married Miss Margaret McCabe, who survives him with one daughter, Miss Mary, and three sons, William J., James and George, all of Holyoke. He also leaves a grandson, William, a half-brother, Angus Johnston of Holyoke, and a half-sister, Mrs. Planey of Lawrence. He was a member of Mount Tom Lodge of Masons, a Shriner and a Knight Templar. He also was a member of the Holyoke and Bay State clubs.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
