,i6 RICKER. ROADS. has been re-elected each successive year since then, giving the universal impression that he is the right man in the right place. He was fitted for the position to which he was elected by a long experience, having entered the city treasurer's office in 1862, JAMES W. R1CKER- when the collection of taxes was one of its duties. When the collector's office was established in 1875, Mr. Ricker was a candidate in opposition to General Sher- win, who was elected, and by whom he was immediately appointed chief clerk. When General Sherwin resigned, Mr. Ricker was al once placed in the position which he now occupies. The wisdom of the choice has been abundantly justified, Mr. Ricker being a remarkably well-posted man in municipal affairs, a courteous and genial official, very popular with both political parties, although his own affilia- tions have ever been with the Democrats. Before entering the employ of the city he was connected with several of the Boston newspapers at various times, and was one of the projectors of the "Ledger," which was published in Boston some seventeen years ago. Mr. Ricker is descended on the paternal side from George Ricker, who emigrated to this country in 1760, and settled in Somersworth, then a part of Dover, N. H. The surname Ricker is supposed to be a corruption of the French Richer, several persons of which name have been eminent in the literature of France. The first per- sons of that name in New England are traditionally reported to have come from Jersey, the island on the coast of France. ROADS, Samuel, Jr., the sixth of the name in line of descent from one of the early settlers of Marblehead, was born in that town October 22, 1854. He is the eldest son of Samuel and Emma L. (Wood- fin) Roads. His family traces its lineage back to several of the most prominent families of New England, Dr. Elisha Story, an eminent physician, and a surgeon on the staff of General Washington during the revolution, being one of his ancestors. Mr. Roads received his education in the public schools. He early developed liter- ary talent, and a taste for journalism, in which latter profession he has become widely known. Before coming of age he demonstrated his ability in this line of work in the conduct of a local paper pub- lished in his native town. He soon formed connections with the "Boston Post," the " Boston Globe," and other metropolitan papers, and is now engaged in this and other literary work. Mr. Roads is the author of the interest- ing and widely read "History and Tradi- tions of Marblehead," a work published by Houghton, Osgood iV Co., in 1880, and which has been aptly termed by reviewers "a model history of an American town." His first public office was as a member of the board of trustees of Abbot public library, of Marblehead, to which he was elected in . 1S83. In November of that year he was elected a member of the House of Representatives, ami served by continuous re-elections during the sessions of 1884, '85, and '86. In 1887 and '88 he was a member of the state Senate, repre- senting the 2d Essex district, comprising the city of Salem and tlie towns of Mar- blehead and Beverly. The district has a large Republican majority, but Mr. Roads, though a Democrat in politics, was twice elected by phenomenal majorities. In 1888 he received the honor of a unanimous nomination for representative in Congress, by the Democrats of the 7th congressional district, and though defeated at the polls after a most spirited contest, demonstrated his popularity as a candidate by running nearly one thousand votes ahead of his party ticket. Mr. Roads has shown marked ability in the public positions to which he has been
