USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 37
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The Young Men's Hebrew Association of Taunton was organized in 1910 by Judge Louis Swig, Louis Franklin, Max Goldstein, Max Ackerbach and others. For a short time it was a lively organization, catering to the needs of the growing youth of the community. Eventually interest sub- sided, and the society was disbanded. But in 1915 the Young Men's He- brew Association was reorganized, with the following-named officers: Presi- dent, William W. Wells; vice-president, Thomas Bravaman; financial secre- tary, Samuel Izkovitz; recording secretary, Dr. Hyman Swig; treasurer, Max Assiran. Quarters were then in the Leonard block, over the Star Theatre. During the World War, twenty-six of its members enlisted in the service, four of whom met death overseas. The officers in 1923: Presi- dent, Edward A. Teplow; vice-president, Samuel Ruboy; recording secre- tary, Milton Levy; financial secretary, William Teplow; treasurer, Isadore Deutsch; sergeant-at-arms, Jacob Berkover. There is a membership of forty.
In 1917, Touro Lodge, No. 184, Order B'nai B'rith, was organized, the first officers being: President, Nathan H. Friedman; vice-president, Harry Karon; monitor, Judge Louis Swig; assistant monitor, Harry Glickman; financial secretary, Abraham B. Levi; treasurer, William J. Dana. The lodge, taking a leading part in civic, social and other movements among Jewish people in the city, has for its officers of 1923: President, Judge Louis Swig ; vice-president, Irving Bertman ; monitor. William W. Wells; assistant monitor, Joseph Cohen; recording secretary, Edward A. Teplow; financial secretary, Harry Zachs; treasurer, Max Assiran; sergeant-at-arms, Samuel Ruboy. With its quarters on Weir street, over Armory garage, it has a membership of sixty.
The Taunton District Zionists were organized in 1918, and the first officers were: President, William W. Wells; vice-president, Leo Bookchin; secretary, Isaac Teplow; treasurer, Joseph Weiner. The district has a membership of fifty-eight, and the officers are: President, William W. Wells; vice-president, Leo Bookchin; secretary, James Sugarman; treasurer, Isaac D. Teplow; executive committee: Louis J. Antine, Louis Berkover, Leo Bookchin, Samuel Cohen, William J. Dana, Mrs. Nathan H. Friedman, Nathan Friedman, Mrs. Harry Karon, Harry Karon, Samuel Rodberg, James. Sugarman, Mrs. Louis Swig, Isaac D. Teplow, Joseph Weiner, Joseph M. Wells, Mrs. William W. Wells, William W. Wells.
Touro Auxiliary, No. 32, Independent Order B'rith Abraham, was in- stituted January 21, 1921. Its officers today, as elected at the first annual meeting, are: President, Mrs. Pauline Swig; vice-president, Mrs. Rose Glick- man ; recording secretary, Miss Gertrude Goldstein; financial secretary, Miss Reba Friedman; treasurer, Mrs. Ida E. Wells; monitor, Mrs. Ryetta Baron; guide, Mrs. Sadie Swig; sentinel, Mrs. Annie Levi; guardian, Mrs. Florence Wells; trustees: Mrs. Esther Goldstein, Mrs. Fannie Antine, Mrs. Pifla Cohen. The auxiliary has a membership of sixty.
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Taunton Branch, No. 714, Arbiter Ring, was instituted in 1922, and its officers are: Chairman, Jacob Reizner; recording secretary, Perez Forman ; financial secretary, Philip Altenhaus; treasurer, Edward Marder.
Miscellaneous .- St. Paul Commandery, No. 249, Ancient and Illustrious Order, Knights of Malta, was instituted at Taunton, in Good Samaritan Hall, June 8, 1898, with forty-three charter members. The commandery removed to Odd Fellows Hall, January 1, 1915, where they meet the second and fourth Tuesdays in each month. Since the institution of the com- mandery, the following-named have served as Sir Knight. Commanders of St. Paul: Walter Dunkerly, Samuel Davis, Fred A. Fuller, H. M. Living- stone, George Herbert, H. W. Dryden, Zeno S. Waterman, N. A. Cushman, Leon H. Bremner, John W. Harrison, Robert A. Waterman, John F. White- ly, Thomas H. Arden, Ralph D. Dean, Robert MacAdam, Samuel F. Gard- ner, William E. Knight, James W. Stillman, Howard F. Woodward, Wal- lace W. Gibson, Joseph L. Macomber, Henry W. Atkins, Frank E. Chap- man, Howard Sturgis, John R. Sartoris, Walter R. Howland, Francis C. Sartoris, Frank G. Burt. The commandery in 1923 had a membership of one hundred and ten.
Unity Lodge, No. 38, New England Order of Protection, was instituted May 17, 1888, with twenty-seven charter members. The first officers were: Warden, Frank L. Fish; secretary, Charles A. Clifford; financial secretary, Frank O. Warner; treasurer, George B. Warren. The lodge in 1923 had a membership of ninety, its officers being: Warden, William A. Woodward; secretary, Nathaniel A. Cushman; financial secretary, Mrs. Ruth E. Simms; treasurer, Frank P. Tew.
William H. Martin Lodge, No. 51, New England Order of Protection, was instituted by William H. Martin, of Boston, grand warden, September 27, 1888, and at that time it was known as Winthrop Lodge. Three years after the lodge's institution, William H. Martin died, and soon afterwards the lodge voted at a regular meeting to name the organization after the late warden.
Winthrop Lodge, No. 116, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was instituted August 29, 1890, with twenty-nine charter members. Grand Mas- ter Workman J. Edward Burt and associates acted as installing officers, the first officers being as follows : Past master workman, James E. Russell; mas- ter workman, William H. Thomas; foreman, William D. Richardson; over- seer, Edgar W. Bennett; recorder, Fred P. Palmer; financier, Arthur F. Wastcoat; treasurer, Bion C. Pierce; guide, Eugene Wrightington; inside watchman, Alvaro Harnden; outside watchman, Charles C. Blandin. Trus- tees-For three years, Eugene Dexter; for two years, Arthur Wilbur; for one year, Edgar F. Bugbee. Medical examiner, M. C. Golden. Up to the year 1923 the recorders had paid out to the beneficiaries of deceased broth- ers $150,000. The officers for 1923: Master workman, John P. Field; fore- man, James Boylan; overseer, John O'Sullivan; guide, Hugh Owens; re- corder, John A. McDonald; past master workman, M. J. Wrenn; inside watchman, M. Noonan; outside watchman, J. Smith; financier, James J. Smith; treasurer, John J. Ambrose.
The first Court of the Foresters of America in the Old Colony was in- stituted in Taunton, called Court Elizabeth Poole, No. 116, May 29, 1880.
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Court Weir was instituted April 2, 1892. Court General Sherman was in- stituted April 17, 1891. There are two auxiliaries in the city.
A tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men existed in Taunton previous to the constitution of Winnecunnet Tribe, No. 71, and the present tribe, establishing that organization on a sounder footing, was given its number, 71. The first meeting for reorganization was held at Good Samaritan Hall, October 8, 1903; and with forty-seven charter members and thirty others elected to membership, the new tribe was instituted November 12, 1903, the officers being : Prophet, Albert S. Paige; sachem, W. H. Pendleton; senior sagamore, Alvaro Harnden; junior sagamore, Charles R. Borden; chief of records, George E. Chace; collector of Wampum, George M. Jones; keeper of wampum, Sumner A. Dudley; trustees : John T. Irvine, Richard E. War- ner, Walter E. Cook.
Teeweeleema Council, No. 79, was instituted in November, 1905, with these officers: Pocahontas, Mrs. Amos Pendleton; prophetess, Mrs. Edith L. Paige; Wenonah, Mrs. Mary Witherell; Powhatan, William H. Pendle- ton. Chewan Council was instituted in Whittenton in 1923.
Taunton Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, one of the most flourishing granges in this part of the State, was instituted December 29, 1902, by Wil- liam H. Howard, of Easton, secretary of the Massachusetts State Grange. The officers elected for the first year were as follows: Master, Perley E. Davis; overseer, Edwin L. Lewis; lecturer, Charles D. Lincoln; steward, Cassander Gilmore; assistant steward, E. H. Leonard; chaplain, Lester Davis; treasurer, George O. Soper; secretary, Ernest A. Reed; gatekeeper, Abel F. Crane; Ceres, Mrs. C. Gilmore; Pomona, Mrs. Anna Tinkham; Flora, Mrs. M. J. Leonard; lady assistant steward, Mrs. L. F. Davis; execu- tive committee: John Wade, George A. Crane, Charles I. King; chorister, Philip Crane. The Grange had a membership in 1923 of 192, and its officers were the following-named: Master, Dr. John P. Howland; overseer, Martha Wood; lecturer, Arthur Wood; steward, Edwin Warner; assistant steward, James DeCoff; chaplain, Mrs. Alice Pero; treasurer, Edward Crossman; secretary, Mrs. Susie Schreeder; gatekeeper, George O. Bullock; Ceres, Miss Gertrude Dean; Pomona, Margaret Howland; Flora, Araminta A. McCor- mick; lady assistant steward, Jennie DeCoff; executive committee: Dr. C. E. Borden, Daniel Neff, Nora Bostock; pianist, Mrs. Hastings. The lead- ers of the degree teams: Dr. C. R. Borden and Mrs. Jennie DeCoff.
The Portuguese people of Taunton, mill-workers, farmers, shop-keep- ers, gardeners, besides their churches, have a number of fraternities, as follows :
Lodge No. 40, Portuguese Fraternity, U. S. A., was organized May 20, 1920, with forty-six charter members. With a membership of 152 in 1923, the officers were as follows: President, Frank F. Silva; treasurer, Andrew T. Brazil; secretary, Manuel M. Carvalho; financial secretary, Eugene F. Soares.
Lodge No. 45, Portuguese Fraternity, U. S. A., was organized Febru- ary 13, 1921, with thirty-two charter members. With a membership of eighty-two in 1923, the officers were as follows: President, Miss Mary D. Rose; treasurer, Miss Amelia V. Rose; secretary, Miss Nellie Silva; finan- cial secretary, Mrs. Annie E. Brazil.
Lodge No. 46, Portuguese Fraternity, U. S. A., was organized Febru- ary 13, 1921, with forty-two charter members. With a membership of
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sixty-four in 1923, the officers were as follows: President, Mrs. Victoria E. Santos; treasurer, Mrs. Lena V. Pimental; secretary, Mrs. Mary F. Medeiros; financial secretary, Miss Valentina Vicente.
Lodge No. 56, Portuguese Fraternity, Young America, was organized August 20, 1922, with twenty-eight members. The officers in 1923: Presi- dent, Joseph F. Pimental; treasurer, Jose P. Mendoza, jr .; secretary, Joaquin F. Ferreira; financial secretary, Frank Rose.
Lodge No. 2, S.S. Trinity, was organized June 13, 1897, with sixty- two members. In 1923, with a membership of 144, the officers were: President, Anthony F. Pimental; vice-president, John C. Santos; treas- urer, Manuel S. Bettencourt; secretary, Manuel S. Carvalho; financial secretary, Joseph Vicente.
Lodge No. 34, Vasco da Gama Society, was organized October 28, 1915, with thirty-two members. In 1923, with a membership of 149, the officers were: President, Augusto Camara; vice-president, Manuel V. Ennes; treasurer, Augusto G. Fernandes; secretary, John Baptista; finan- cial secretary, John G. Jardin.
Royal Michaelense Beneficent Association, Council Theophila Braga, No. 2, was organized April 12, 1896; reorganized January 12, 1900. Coun- cil Travassos Lima was organized April 3, 1910.
St. Antonio Portuguese Protective and Beneficent Society was or- ganized in 1891.
The French-speaking residents of the north part of the city, mostly in Whittenton, have membership in a number of societies, some of which organizations have been in existence since 1870. For example, the St. Jean Baptiste Society was first organized at about that time. The St. Jean Baptiste Society in 1914 became a part of L'Union St. Jean Baptiste, as No. 53. In 1923 it had a membership of nearly 280. Alfred Meunier is the president. St. Agnes Council, No. 81, of L'Union, was established in 1915, and in 1923 it had nearly 200 members; its president was Rosanna Nevitt. Société des Artisans, No. 58, was established in 1898; its president was Joseph A. Cyr. Catholic Order of Foresters, No. 1178, was organized in 1899, and in 1923 it had 377 members. Other clubs and circles are Cercle Rostand, in existence since 1893; Charette Club, Cercle Lacordaire.
Other Taunton fraternal organizations include: Ladies Auxiliary, No. 1, Alfredians, instituted in 1904. American Benefit Society, No. 193. Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 845. Sabbatia Commandery, No. 860, and Taunton Commandery, No. 74, United Order of the Golden Cross. Lady Mitchell Branch and Smythe O'Brien Branch, I. N. F. General Sheridan - Conclave, No. 88, Knights of Sherwood Forest. Taunton Lodge, No. 793, Loyal Order of Moose. Taunton Nest, No. 1569, Order of Owls. Bristol Council, No. 158, and Sabbatia Council, No. 1345, Royal Arcanum. Clan Gordon, No. 4, and Ladies Auxiliary, Order of Scottish Clans.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE INDUSTRIES OF TAUNTON.
All along through the years, from the beginnings in 1637 to the present, Taunton has been eminently industrious, whatever the causes for
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the persistent and the greater increase in the tides of action among the cities to the immediate south. It is a more ancient story here, that of Work, than is told in any other city in the county. It takes us farther back in its introduction than the first times of cotton or iron manufactur- ing, even to the years of the hamlet, when fishing and fishing only was the employment of the early comers, and when that odd but thankful phrase, "Taunton, good Lord," is said to have been first uttered. Who knows when that greeting and declaration was made use of? Tradition has it that it was a grateful greeting that was made to travelers passing this way in the spring when the river was abundant with herring, and the nets of the fishermen were full to breaking. Then, "What place is this?" would be sure of the hearty, resounding "Taunton, good Lord." But should a wayfarer ask that question in the late winter, when the stock of the river fish had run low in the household, the reply would carry with it less cordiality, to say the least. Contained in the old phrase is the perennial reminder of an era of vast abundance of the finny tribes in our rivers, and of days of simple tastes and of wholesome manual labor.
Massachusetts has not overlooked the cod and its early-time associ- ation as an emblem. Taunton, noted for its alewives of old, has no herring representation on any seal or emblem. Yet there has never been any herring-run on these Atlantic shores that formerly bore comparison with the multitudinous ones in April-an annual event, time out of mind. The seaward towns, the fishing-towns, so-called, send afar for the supply that has brought them their repute,-south for the mackerel, to the banks and shoals for cod and pollock, and their schooners chase the schools of hake and halibut to Fundy Bay and Labrador. But the migrant herring have from ancient times swarmed up to and through Cohannet and Taun- ton, and at times made fishing almost a pastime for the river fishermen. And long before white men came here, at least before any tangible record was made of the appearance of white men here, the Indians had their annual visitations from Montaup; and at the time of the swarming, when the famous herring-run was at its height on Mill river, they, too, swarmed here to capture the fish and carry loads of them away to their homes on the Atlantic shores; and those who camped here had their year-round plenty. In this relation, states the document signed by William Briggs, Jr., less than a century after the settlement of the town: "The ancient standers remember that hundreds of Indians would come up from Mount Hope and other places every year in April, with great dancings and shoutings, to catch fish at Cohannet. They set up their tents about the place until the season for catching alewives was past, when they would load their backs with burdens of fish, and load their canoes, to carry home their supply for the rest of the year. A great part of the support of the natives was from the alewives."
The herring-run was one of the strong incentives to the first planters from Dorchester way to come here and try their luck at home-building and settling down for all time. The great river event, both in the Indians' time and in that of the first settlers, was the enormous herring- run, when there was enough for all. Gradually, as the years passed and the rivers became polluted, the herring-run has become less and less. Formerly it was the custom to pay as high as five hundred dollars for
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the fishing privileges at the various weirs, but at this time they are almost given away. The herring fisherman today is unable to make a living as was customary only a generation ago.
Mill-folk were at work early, as well,-James M. Cushman, former town and city clerk, having conclusively shown that a mill had been built with its dam, on Mill river-hence the name. But the first captain of industry on that river of whom we have record was Thomas Lincoln, who, coming from Hingham, became owner of the mill property in 1649, his family arriving in 1652. For thirty-five years Mr. Lincoln was in control of this property, and in 1683 his sons John and Samuel became possessors of it. Robert Crossman, so far as known the first of the name here, pur- chased the mill in 1698-9, and rebuilt the old plant, the mills continuing to be known as Crossman's until 1823. The millers and the fishermen here were at odds for years because of the fact that the mill-dams pre- vented the herring from having full run upstream, thus lessening the product and the income of the fishermen.
Early Ironworking .- There is no known record to substantiate a con- jecture that prospective bog-iron operations might have induced any of the settlers to make their homes in the Taunton territory. But it is a well- accredited fact that only twelve years after Taunton was incorporated as a town, Henry and James Leonard and Ralph Russell, iron workers at Lynn and Braintree, were invited by Taunton town meeting, October 21, 1652, to come here and "join with certain of our inhabitants to set up a Bloomery Work on Two Mile River." How long before that had bog-iron been dis- covered in this section? Had John Winthrop, Jr., who passed through here in 1637, and under whose auspices the iron works at Braintree were begun in 1643, a knowledge that the ore abounded here? It is not an impractical question, but there is no reply to it. Yet we have proof that cannot be controverted that the iron industry, whose preliminaries were started here in 1652, was among the earliest industries in Taunton, and one of the longest-lived. The Raynham (Taunton) iron works were not the first in New England, contrary to a persistent misapprehension, they having been superseded by those at Lynn and Braintree, in both whose works the Leon- ards had been employed. The water wheels of the Lynn and Braintree forges having lagged for want of material from the swamps and ponds, the report gained currency that bog-iron mining at Taunton was to be proven, and that the townsmen there were aware of abundance of the raw material „in swamp and by river shore.
Then, with the establishment of the first iron works in the Old Colony, as indicated by the town grant of record October 21, 1652, began the most remarkable business enterprise in New England, for the times and the popu- lation. The forty-five names of the company of the iron works here are those of the heads of nearly all the leading families in Taunton at the time; and they also include those of Governor John Leverett, Major Edward Tyng, of Boston, and others from other towns; and the first ledgers of the works, now in possession of the Old Colony Historical Society, show that there were few residents in this section who were not employed in some way by and for the "bloomerie." .Whether or not John Winthrop, Jr., found ore here, the inhabitants themselves made sure of it on their own lands. The pigskin-bound ledgers referred to, that are stitched with the
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same material, and durable and distinct throughout, comprise the earliest entries of the anchor-forge works; and these were the discovery of the late Captain John W. D. Hall in a chimney place at the house of Deacon Elijah Leonard. Thomas Leonard, iron works manager, town justice and physi- cian; Deacon Samuel Leonard and his son Elijah, had inscribed therein the record of the daily business of the concern. The town and neighborhood were deeply interested in the works, and the first partners of the bloomery were: Hezekiah Hoare, Thomas Gilbert, Richard Williams, Walter Deane, James Walker, John Tisdale, Mr. Gilbert, Sr., William Parker, Peter Pitts, Richard Stacy, John Cobb, William Hodges, Nathaniel Woodward, Timothy Holloway, James Burt, George Hall, Oliver Purchase, Edward Bobbitt, Jonas Austin, John Hathaway, Mrs. Elizabeth Pole, Mrs. Jane Poole.
In 1660, James Leonard was manager or master workman at the works, though he had held but half a share in the bloomery. By deed of May 1, 1675, his son Thomas received the management of the east hearth of the works, and soon afterwards his son James was made manager of the west hearth. And from that time onwards the Leonards for generations became managers of these works, Thomas Leonard installing his son Samuel at the east hearth, and James his son Stephen at the west hearth. When Stephen Leonard removed to New Jersey, his son Zephaniah took his place, and Samuel Leonard placed his son Samuel in charge of the west hearth of the forge. Eventually, in the year 1777, the control of the property went into the hands of Josiah Dean, who was at the head of the business for forty years. He was succeeded in 1818 by his son, Eliab B. Dean, who changed the works into an anchor forge in 1825, and so continued the plant for many years, until it was given up in 1876. For a time in the history of the forge, iron was used as a medium for money for the discharge of debts.
There was one forge in the town that was used exclusively by the Leonards-that was the one begun in 1667 by James Leonard at Whitten- ton. Upon his death, in 1691, half of the property came into the possession of his son, Captain James Leonard, one-fourth went to Joseph Leonard, and the rest to Uriah Leonard. In 1699, Captain James Leonard, son of Captain James (2) Leonard, purchased the share of his uncle, Uriah, and, taking as partner Captain Thomas Cobb, became owner of this branch of the works. Here Captain James (4) Leonard succeeded his father, and eventually Samuel (5) Leonard carried on the business until his death in 1807, when the works were abandoned.
There were Leonard iron works at Chartley, too, Major Thomas (2) Leonard and Captain James (2) Leonard having built a forge there in 1696-7, Major George Leonard, son of the former, becoming manager and clerk. Later the plant came wholly into the possession of the latter and his family, and the works were abandoned in 1790. Captain Zephaniah (4) Leonard built iron works at Hopewell in 1737 on his own account. It is stated that these works continued successfully until 1766, when the latest Leonard owner, Captain Zephaniah Leonard, abandoned the plant, which John Adam renovated for a rolling and slitting mill, so continuing a num- ber of years. Samuel Leonard had a similar mill opposite Captain Zeph- aniah Leonard's forge. About the year 1695, Richard Stevens had a bloom- ery near the North Dighton furnace. In 1739-40, Bollen and Laughlin, of Boston, leased the works, and they becoming loyalists, William Laughlin,
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Jr., came into possession. Later the works were transferred to Richard Stevens' descendants. The Baylies iron works, at Westville, are elsewhere referred to.
The first iron hollow-ware works in the Old Colony were those of John King and his associates at Littleworth brook, in 1723-4, the ore being sup- plied from the vicinity. Successive owners of these works up to 1828, when they were abandoned, were Captain Josiah King and Ebenezer Caswell, and General Cromwell Washburn and Colonel Nathan King.
At Westville, as well as at Raynham and Whittenton, in earliest days, was found the omnipresent bog iron, and in the year 1739 the Boston firm of Bollen & Laughlin set up their bloomery and forge, as the Leonards, the Deans and Burts had done elsewhere. Then came here the first of the Baylies name, Thomas Baylies, from London, England, as the manager of this works. Upon the death of Thomas came Nicholas, his brother, who not only succeeded to the position, but extended the iron works, and was widely known as one of the first iron manufacturers in this section. It was this Nicholas Baylies who was the means of saving the works when, in 1776, Bollen and Laughlin preferred to join the Tory party; and it was Nicholas who purchased the old Andrews Mills and other farms round- about, and soon associated with himself in business Colonel Sylvester Rich- mond, of Dighton. Mr. Baylies was the founder of the Baylies clan in this section, and he was the father of Dr. William, Thomas S., and Hodijah Baylies. Yet we are to remember the iron industry here principally because of the ownership of Hodijah, who among other large contracts made an anchor for the frigate Constitution. Up to 1809 the village was known as Andrews' Mills. That year came John West, paper merchant, from Boston, to build the first paper mill in the Colony, hence the name, "Westville." John West's paper mill privilege was on the north side of the river, and in 1824 he associated with Samuel Crocker and Charles Richmond for the manufacture at his plant of both cotton and paper. Mr. West, who died in 1827, married a sister of Samuel Crocker, and built a house where now stands the Taunton postoffice, and that afterwards was occupied by Samuel L. Crocker.
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