JAMES JEFFERSON MYERS was born in Frewsburg, New York, November 20, 1842. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1869, and from the Harvard Law School in 1872, and began practising law in Boston in 1874. In 1888 he was prominent among those who organized the Harvard Republican Club. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1893 and served continuously to 1903, being speaker for the last four years of his service. He rendered notable service in legislation against stock watering schemes and worked hard for the Metropolitan Park Bill and other measures affecting public interest. He died April 13, 1915.

WILLIAM H. NILES was born in Oxford, New Hampshire, December 22, 1839. He received his education in the public schools and under private tuition, and also spent three years at the Providence Conference Seminary, East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He read law in the office of Caleb Blodgett, Jr., and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in March, 1870. Since that time he had carried on a general law practice, and at the time of his death, September 23, 1914, was head of the law firm of Niles, Stevens, Underwood & Mayo of Lynn.

Mr. Niles was a member of the Lynn School Board for four years and had been president of the Essex Bar Association for the past eleven years. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated William McKinley.

JOHN B. RATIGAN was born in Worcester, December 22, 1859. He graduated from the classical high school, Holy Cross College and the Boston University Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1883. He had been a member of the Worcester School Board and of the Worcester Board of Aldermen. He was appointed a Justice of the Superior Court by Governor Foss in 1911. He died February 1, 1915.

DAVID FOSTER SLADE was born November 5, 1855, at Slade's Ferry in Somerset, Massachusetts; the son of Jonathan Slade of that town and Emeline (Hooper) Slade of Walpole, New Hampshire. His education, begun in the district school, was continued at the Fall River High School and at Brown University, where he was graduated in the class of 1880.

With the practice of the law as his chosen profession he undertook its study in the office of Morton & Jennings, Fall River. After a year of valuable training under Mr. Morton, Mr. Slade became a student at the Boston University School of Law, graduating in 1883. He was admitted to the Bar on June 6 of that year and with James F. Jackson, then practising in Fall River, a partnership was formed bearing the name of Jackson & Slade; later Jackson, Slade, & Borden. This was dissolved by Mr. Jackson's removal to Boston in 1905. The business continued under the style of Slade & Borden during the remainder of his life.

Elected to the General Court, Mr. Slade served in the House of Representatives for the years 1894, 1895, and 1896, as a member of the Committee on the Judiciary, on Rules, and as House Chairman, in 1895, on Federal Relations. In 1900 he became a member of the Executive Council, where he represented the First District for four years; three of these years with Governor Crane and the fourth with Governor Bates.

A further service to the Commonwealth was in helping to establish the Industrial School for Boys at Shirley. Mr. Slade was made Chairman of the original Commission in 1908 and served for three years. In 1911 the Massachusetts Training Schools were united under a single Board of Trustees and at Governor Draper's request he remained for one year as a member of this board.

He also acted as one of the Grade Crossing Commissioners for the State at Lowell and North Adams.

His death occurred June 28, 1914.

HENRY WALKER was born in Boston, and graduated from Harvard College in 1855. After leaving college he studied law in the office of Hutchins & Wheeler. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as adjutant of the 4th Massachusetts regiment and later was appointed colonel of that regiment. After the war he resumed the practice of law. He was License Commissioner of Boston from May 1, 1877, to July, 1878, and Police Commissioner from April 30, 1879, to April 22, 1882. During 1887 and 1888 he commanded the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. He was for many years a member of the Democratic State Committee. He died at his home in Newton, December 19, 1914.