USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford, Volume III > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
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M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
V
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 6404
HISTORY
OF
NEW BEDFORD
Under the Editorial Direction of ZEPHANIAH W. PEASE Editor of The Morning Mercury
VOLUME III
ILLUSTRATED
The Lewis Historical Publishing Company New York 1918
Copyright, 1918. The Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
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pany in a clerical capacity, and during the seventeen years which have since intervened has through many promotions risen to his present position, superintendent of equipment. He has never known other employers, in his chosen line of work has gained enviable reputation and is one of the men who have gained for the Union Street Railway Com- pany the reputation of being one of the best managed of New England Street Railway systems. He is a son of Thomas B. and Sarah F. (Winsor) Fuller, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, his father a former cashier of the Citizens Bank of New Bedford.
Arthur B. Fuller was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, January 12, 1882, and there completed the courses of Roger's Grammar School and one year of high school. He finished study at the New Bedford High School with the graduating class of 1900, then beginning his busi- ness career. His first position was as stock clerk at the Weld Street Station of the New Bedford Street Railway Company. The following spring he was transferred to the main office of the company, which at that time was on the corner of Purchase and Union streets. From clerical position he was advanced to paymaster, then was promoted to the post of cashier, being transferred to the Weld Street Station in 1912. The custom, when he became cashier, was to receive the money collected by the conductors and place it in a common receptacle, count- ing it in bulk the next day at the main office. The company did away with that system and inaugurated the present one of counting every conductor's money in his presence on coming in from a run, and Mr. Fuller was sent to the Weld Street Station to start this system. This plan caused a much greater degree of accuracy as well as a saving of conductors' and accountants' time. After two and a half years as receiver, Mr. Fuller became storekeeper, a position which had become a very important one with the great expansion of the company. Soon afterward he was appointed assistant purchasing agent for supplies and accessories, a position he still holds. The death of Mr. Bennett in 1914 created a vacancy in the position of superintendent of equipment, which was filled by Mr. Fuller's appointment. He brought to the position youth, enthusiasm, knowledge and experience, the duties of his office being efficiently and faithfully performed. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Union Street Railway Relief Association, and in reli- gion a Protestant.
Mr. Fuller married, November 21, 1913, Flora F. Keith, of Onset, Massachusetts.
THOMAS A. TRIPP.
To be the directing head of a plant employing more than one thou- sand people would indicate not only business ability, but managerial and administrative ability of a high order, and that these attributes are char- acteristic of Mr. Tripp, the success attained and the standing won in the
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business world by the Pairpont Corporation of New Bedford is conclu- sive evidence. The founding and growth of the corporation is part of the business life and record of Thomas A. Tripp, who has never known other allegiance since graduation in 1877 than the Mount Washington Glass Company, of which he became president, and the Pairpont Corporation, formed through a consolidation of the Mount Washington Glass Com- pany and the Pairpont Corporation under the corporate name, the Pair- pont Corporation, of which he has been general manager since 1895. He entered the employ of the Mount Washington Glass Company on his twentieth birthday, in 1877, at thirty-three years of age, was president of the company, and at thirty-eight became general manager of the Pair- pont Corporation, his present position at the age of sixty. Although other important corporation responsibilities and honors have been attained, his personal success has equalled that of the company with whom his business life has been spent. Mr. Tripp comes from a family long seated in the town of Fairhaven, his ancestor, Joseph Tripp, of the second generation, a deputy from the town of Dartmouth in 1685, and a selectman, 1686-90.
The American ancestor, John Tripp, born 1610, died 1678, was ad- mitted an inhabitant of the Island of Aquidneck (now Rhode Island) in 1636, and became one of the important men of the Rhode Island colony, deputy and assistant many years. He married Mary Paine and from them descend those claiming early colonial Tripp ancestry. The line of descent is through their son, Joseph Tripp, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and his wife, Mehitable (Fish) Tripp; their son, Peleg Tripp, and his wife, Abigail (Jenkins) Tripp; their son, Samuel Tripp, who died in Acushnet, May 11, 1824; his son, Stephen Tripp, born in Dartmouth, May 4, 1756, died April 6, 1831 ; his son, Stephen (2) Tripp, born in Acushnet (then Fairhaven), died in Fairhaven, May, 1873; he married Hannah Gifford, and they were the parents of Arnold Gifford Tripp, and grandparents of Thomas A. Tripp, whose useful lives are the principle topics of this review.
Arnold Gifford Tripp was born in (now) Acushnet, May 10, 1818, died in the village of Fairhaven, February 21, 1906. He learned the car- penter's trade, working in Marion, Falmouth and Nantucket until 1849, then came from Nantucket to Fairhaven, starting for the California gold fields with a party of Fairhaven men on August 1, 1849. They sailed in the ship "Florida," and on January 1, 1850, arrived at their destination. In 1905 but three of his party of gold seekers of "49" were living ; in 1910, their number was reduced to one and none now remain. Mr. Tripp remained in California until the latter part of 1852, then spent a winter in the South building bridges. He then returned to Fairhaven, where until 1870 he, in partnership with Anselm J. Bourne, conducted a con- tracting and building business, their shop being located on Main street opposite the Jethro Taber house. During that period he erected many residences in Fairhaven and vicinity, and was employed in the erection
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of the Congregational and Methodist churches. His last contracts were the erection of a barn on the H. R. Rogers estate and the residence of Mrs. John S. Taber, on William street. He spent a few months in the Pennsylvania oil fields, and for a short time was in partnership with a nephew in Troy, New York, otherwise his life from his return from Cali- fornia was spent in Fairhaven. His life was one of great activity from youth until within a few years of his death. He served his town as select- man, but his usefulness as a citizen was honorable, upright and true. He was a member of the Society of Friends, plain of speech and life, a man of the best type, earnest, energetic and reliable. Arnold G. Tripp mar- ried, in June, 1844, Susan T. Swift, born February 10, 1820, died May 28, 1908, both she and her husband having long won octogenarian honors, both dying at the age of eighty-eight. Mrs. Tripp was a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Swift, of West Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Thomas A. Tripp, only child of Arnold Gifford and Susan T. (Swift) Tripp, was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, October 8, 1857, and in 1875 completed public school study with graduation from high school. Two years were then spent at the Friends (later the Moses Brown School) at Providence, Rhode Island, terminating with graduation with the class of 1877. On his twentieth birthday, October 8, 1877, he entered the employ of the Mount Washington Glass Company as clerk and bookkeeper, remaining until 1880, the company then employing one hun- dred and twenty-five people. In 1880, the Pairpont Manufacturing Com- pany was organized, and until 1885 Mr. Tripp was a bookkeeper for that concern, becoming treasurer in 1885, succeeding Alexander H. Seabury. In 1890 he was elected president of the Mount Washington Glass Com- pany, continuing until 1895, when the two companies consolidated as the Pairpont Corporation, Mr. Tripp becoming and yet remaining general manager of the corporation, which in its four exclusive lines of manu- facture, cut glass, silverware, paper and paper tubes, employs more than one thousand people. He is a director of the First National Bank of New Bedford, director of the Fairhaven National Bank, and president of the Fairhaven Institution for Savings.
Mr. Tripp does not take his business responsibilities light and the positions he holds he regards as having claim upon all his talent and energy. Yet he has not given himself to the sordid side of life, but has ever been keenly alive to his duty as a citizen and has rendered his town valuable service. In 1890 he accepted election to the school board for a term of three years, was again chosen in 1900, and gave his services to the board until February, 1918, sixteen of those years shouldering the added responsibility of chairman of the board. He serves that magnifi- cent Rogers philanthropy, The Millicent Library of Fairhaven, as life member of the board of trustees, and for more than a quarter of a cen- tury has been treasurer of the local meeting of the Society of Friends. Thus he has served Fairhaven and New Bedford as business man and
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citizen for forty years, deserving so well of both that they claim him as an honored son.
Mr. Tripp married, at Wakefield, Rhode Island, Lois Elma Babcock, born there September 6, 1857, daughter of John Babcock, a prominent business man of Wakefield, and his wife, Mary (Perry) Babcock. Mrs. Tripp is of the eighth generation of the family founded in New England by James Babcock, who was first of record in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1642, the line of descent being: James Babcock, the founder ; his son, John Babcock; his son, George Babcock; his son, Hezekiah Babcock; his son, Caleb Babcock, his son, Hezekiah Babcock; his son, John Bab- cock ; his daughter, Lois Elma Babcock, who married Thomas A. Tripp, as above noted. They are the parents of two daughters, Anna L. and Mary Arnold Tripp, and a son, Stanley Russell Tripp. The family home is at No. 74 Green street, Fairhaven.
WINSOR C. PEIRCE.
In entering upon his career as a mill worker, Mr. Peirce chose the factory rather than the office, and has risen through various promotions in other mills to his present position, superintendent of the Page Manu- facturing Company. He is a son of David B. Peirce, who was a travel- ing salesman for many years, veteran of the Civil War, serving with the Fifth Massachusetts Battery, engaged with his battery in many of the battles fought by the Army of the Potomac.
Winsor C. Peirce, son of David B. and Sarah E. (Gammons) Peirce, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, October II, 1878, and has spent his life in his native city. His first work was in the Rotch Mill and he left the mill three years after his first entrance, holding the position of "third hand" on speeders. From the Rotch he went to the Grinnell Mill as "third hand," remaining two years; thence to the City Mill as "third hand" for one and one-half years; to the New Bedford Spinning Company as "second hand" for four years ; then as "second hand" in the Hathaway Mill for several years, leaving that mill to go to the Manomet as a "second hand." He spent several years at the Manomet, then re- entered the employ of the Hathaway Mill, but as an overseer of carding. He held that position for six years, 1910-16, then being promoted to assistant superintendent. On September 10, 1917, he was promoted to the superintendency of the Page Manufacturing Company, a position of responsibility. Mr. Peirce is a member of Eureka Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Camp No. 150, Sons of Veterans. He married in New Bedford, September 12, 1904, Ellen Lukeman.
PELEG HUMPHREY SHERMAN.
The Shermans were an ancient family in England, and the name there was numerous. The name is said to be derived from their ancient
Teleg H. Shuman human
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occupation, they having been cloth dressers or shearers of cloth. The Dedham family in England retained the family occupation, and the coat- of-arms borne by those residing in or about London. The family has been productive of men of marked character and abilities in England, whilst the American branch has become famous, furnishing many well known figures in public life, who have filled offices of public trust and honor.
Peleg Humphrey Sherman, of this review, is a descendant of the Hon. Philip Sherman, of English birth, son of Samuel Sherman, son of Henry Sherman, son of Henry Sherman, of Dedham, England, where Philip Sherman, the American ancestor, was born February 5, 1610. He came to New England in 1634, located in Massachusetts, got into trouble with the authorities over the Ann Hutchinson matter, and went to what is now Rhode Island, where he purchased a large tract of land from the Indians, March 28, 1638, and when the colony was formed legally on July 1, 1639, he became its secretary. He was also town clerk of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, for many years, and there died in 1687. He married Sarah Odding, and reared a large family, including a son Peleg. After moving to Rhode Island, Philip Sherman became a member of the Society of Friends.
Peleg Sherman, known as Lieutenant Sherman, son of the Hon. Philip Sherman, the founder, was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He married Elizabeth Lawton. From Peleg Sherman the line of descent to Peleg Humphrey Sherman, of the ninth American generation, is through Peleg (2) Sherman, son of Peleg (1) Sherman, born 1666, and his wife, Alice (Fish) Sherman; their son, Peleg (3) Sherman, born 1704, who married, in 1731, Bathsheba Sherman; their son, Peleg (4) Sherman, born February 11, 1744, died 1776; married, in Dartmouth, Massachu- setts, Sarah Kirby, daughter of Thomas Kirby. Mrs. Sherman married (second) in 1780, David Wing. Peleg (4) Sherman owned the farm on the road from South Westport to Horseneck, where is still standing the famous William Ricketson house built in 1680 and one of the oldest dwellings with a stone chimney in New England. On this farm the Sherman family located. The line is continued through their son, Thomas Sherman, born 1775, died October 27, 1845, and his wife, Meri- bah (Allen) Sherman, daughter of Ebenezer Allen; their son, Peleg (5) Sherman, born October 10, 1804, a farmer and carpenter, and his wife, Hannah P. (Case) Sherman, whom he married, December 7, 1829. Among their children was Charles F., of whom further.
Charles F. Sherman, father of Peleg Humphrey Sherman, was born in Westport, Bristol county, Massachusetts, March 10, 1835, and died November 11, 1915. He was a well educated man, and for twenty-one years taught the winter term of the Westport public school. He owned a farm, which he cultivated many years, and was one of the respected, substantial men of the town. He was a Republican in politics, was a member of the school committee, and constable for many years. Mr.
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Sherman married Martha W. Snell, born in Westport, Massachusetts, July 16, 1842, died December 26, 1896, daughter of Humphrey W. and Clarinda (Potter) Snell, of Westport. They were the parents of two children : Maria L., became the wife of Menzo S. Loucks, of Mountain Vieu, California, by whom she has two children, namely, Charles Frnest and Ray Sherman Loucks ; and Peleg Humphrey, of whom further.
Peleg Humphrey Sherman, only son of Charles F. and Martha W. (Snell) Sherman, was born on the home farm in Westport, Bristol county, Massachusetts, April 28, 1866. He was educated in the public school taught by his father, and in the intervals of school life, until six- teen years of age, he remained his father's farm assistant. He then began learning the trade of mason, at which he worked for a time before decid- ing to become a funeral director. He took up his residence in New York, there becoming proficient in the art of embalming by a thorough career in the Renouard College, graduating in 1903, and then located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he has since been in business as funeral director, his establishment located at No. 506 County street. He is mas- ter of his business, is most courteous, considerate and thoughtful, per- forming his duties with a quiet dignity and with as little obtrusiveness as possible. He is a popular member of the Masonic order, being a past master of Star in the East Lodge, of New Bedford, and holds all degrees of chapter, council and commandery. He is a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is highly re- garded by the brethren, companions, sir knights and nobles of these bodies. His clubs are the Masonic, Pilgrim and Brooks, his politics Re- publican, and his church the North Congregational.
Mr. Sherman married, in New Bedford, September 20, 1894, Hannah F. Davis, born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, daughter of Captain Joshua V. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Davis, her father a whaling captain. Cap- tain and Mrs. Davis were the parents of Joshua V., Jr., Elizabeth W., and Hannah F., now Mrs. Sherman.
ARNOLD CARR GARDNER.
With a capital of $3,000,000 and the largest employer of labor in the New Bedford district, and the largest producer of combed cotton yarns in the world, the Manomet Mills, through its treasurer, transacts a volume of business enormous in its extent. The new mill, completed in 1917, raises the company's number of hands employed to two thousand and four hundred, and its spindles in operation to two hundred and four thousand, their product being combed cotton yarns. The control of the finances of such a corporation demands a man of high quality, not alone one skilled as a financier, but having qualities of leadership, one broad of vision and of a progressive, well-balanced mind. The treasurer's office is a vital spot in most corporations and a penurious grasping policy may bring disaster as surely and as quickly as a policy which never considers
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expense or provides ways and means intelligently. The Manomet pos- sesses in Mr. Gardner a man well qualified for the treasurer's office, a man of financial ability, high business quality, honorable, upright and efficient. He came to the position through years of preparation in re- sponsible positions with other companies of varying kind, but each con- tributing to the training needed to produce the financier and able man of affairs. He comes of ancient New England family, Gardners and Gardi- ners being found from earliest days. He is a son of Darius P. Gardner, clothier and outfitter for whalers. He died in 1899, at the age of sixty- six. He was an ardent Democrat, a man of character, highly esteemed. He married Frances M. Taber, of Acushnet, who survives him at the age of eighty-four, she born July 21, 1833. They were the parents of Arnold Carr, of further mention ; Mary, born 1862, married, in 1892, Edward S. Brown, of New Bedford; Lucy Bartlett, born in 1866, married Frederick R. Emmart, of Boston, and died in 1906; William B., treasurer of the Nashawena Mills, of New Bedford.
Arnold Carr Gardner was born in New Bedford, December 14, 1869. He attended public schools and in 1888 completed his high school course with graduation. He began business life as clerk with Frederick Swift, a whaling merchant, remaining four years. The next two years he was clerk in the offices of the Coastwise Transportation Company, going from that company to the Dartmouth & Westport Street Railway Company, being treasurer of that company and of the Union Street Railway Com- pany, remaining five years. He then became assistant manager of J. C. Rhodes & Company, Incorporated, eyelet manufacturers. He continued in that position for three years, then for a year was with the New Eng- land Cotton Yarn Company of New Bedford, becoming treasurer of the Manomet Mills in October, 1903, and has had a prominent part in the upbuilding of that corporation now operating three mills. He is a Re- publican in politics, a member of the Dartmouth, Wamsutta, Country and Yacht clubs of New Bedford, Seapint Club, Osterville, Massachu- setts, and Scott Fish and Game Club, Quebec, Canada. The sport he most enjoys is boating. He is a member of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, and stands high as an authority on cotton mill finance.
JAMES THOMSON.
As the newly appointed treasurer of the Fairhaven Mills, Mr. Thom- son made the acquaintance of his fellow cotton manufacturing officials early in 1917, and the months which he has since passed in that office have confirmed the favorable impression then created. He came to the Fairhaven Mills from the Harmony Mills of Cohoes, New York, but his business life had been spent in New York City mainly with a commis- sion dry goods house. There he acquired a close familiarity with cotton goods and mill financial problems, so that he was able to step at once
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into a treasurer's position and has since been either treasurer or agent of cotton mills. He is a son of James Thomson, born in Scotland, who came to the United States when a young man, became a successful mer- chant of New York City, and several years prior to his death had so arranged his finances that he retired. He married Phoebe Vreeland, born in New Jersey, a descendant of the old Holland emigrant of that name, who early came to New Amsterdam and founded a family.
James Thomson, son of James and Phoebe (Vreeland) Thomson, was born in New York City, September 19, 1867, and there pursued courses of public school study extending through grammar school. The first twenty-five years of his business life were spent with the Minot Dry Goods Commission House, beginning as office boy and through a series of promotions coming to responsible position. In 1907 he resigned to become assistant to the treasurer of the Dwight Manufacturing Com- pany, in 1911 became treasurer of the Arnold Print Works of New York City, and in 1913 went to Cohoes, New York, as agent of the Harmony Mills. There he remained until 1917, becoming treasurer of the Fair- haven Mills, New Bedford, February 15, 1917. He is a member of the Fort Orange Club of Albany, New York, the Art Club of Boston, the Wamsutta and Country clubs of New Bedford.
EVERETT MORTON CUSHMAN.
At the bottom of one of the panels of the Forefathers Monument at Plymouth, Massachusetts, is this statement: "Robert Cushman who chartered the May Flower and was active and prominent in securing the success of the Pilgrim Enterprise came in the Fortune 1621." This was the ancestor of the Taunton Cushman family to which Everett Morton Cushman, Herbert Ellsworth Cushman, William A. Cushman, brothers and prominent business men of New Bedford, belong. Robert Cushman, after coming in 1621, returned to England on business of the colony and died there in 1626. His son, Thomas Cushman, born in England, in 1608, he left in Plymouth in the care of Governor Bradford. Thomas Cush- man became an important man in the Plymouth colony, was an elder of the church for forty-three years, and his gravestone on Burial Hill calls him, "That precious servant of God." He married Mary Allerton, of the "Mayflower," and together they walked life's pathway for fifty-five years, she surviving him ten years. He died December 10, 1691, in his eighty-fourth year.
Thomas (2) Cushman, son of Deacon Thomas (1) and Mary (Aller- ton ) Cushman, lived to be eighty-nine ; his years were from 1637 to 1726. He married (first) Ruth, daughter of John Howland, and (second) in 1679, Abigail Fuller, of Rehoboth. Their son, Benjamin Cushman, lived on a part of his father's farm in Plympton and both he and his first wife, Sarah (Eaton) Cushman, were members of the Plympton church. He was succeeded by his son, Jabez Cushman, he by his son, Zebedee Cush-
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man, who settled in Taunton, Massachusetts, after his marriage to Sarah Padelford, of that city. They were the parents of Alvah Cushman, born in Taunton, who married Sally Leonard, a woman of strong, forceful character, daughter of William Leonard. They were the parents of Horatio Leonard Cushman, an eminent business man and city official, and of William H. Cushman, father of Everett Morton Cushman, of New Bedford, superintendent of the Holmes Manufacturing Company.
William H. Cushman was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 21, 1839, and there died August 27, 1901. For many years he was a nail and tack maker with his brother, David, but later became a mem- ber of Taunton's Fire Department, ranking as captain. His health failed and he resigned, living retired for several years prior to his death. He was a member and an official of Alfred Baylies Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and a man greatly beloved by all who knew him and there were few in Taunton who did not. He married Joanna Harlow Paine, born October 12, 1840, who survives him, residing in New Bed- ford. She is a daughter of John B. and Rebecca (Reed) Paine, her mother a daughter of Levi and Lucy (Doten) Reed, of Plymouth. The children of William H. Cushman : Henry P., died young; Herbert Ells- worth, treasurer and general manager of the Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company ; Albert Francis, died aged twenty years; William Alvah, of the Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company ; Jennie Edith, married Lewis Bright Barker; Everett Morton, of further mention; Grace Reed, died young ; Bessie May, married Francis N. Smith, and re- sides in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
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