USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 2 > Part 31
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enemy and after the men had deserted their guns, he touched off two loaded cannon and then turned the gun-carriages about and sent them roll- ing down the bluff into the water. He then rushed down the cliff, entered a boat, and made for the opposite shore, which he reached, notwithstanding the hot fire that was poured after him. The action was reported to Generai Washington, by whom it was highly complimented. He was a sergeant in Drury's company of Knox's artillery in May, 1776. He was commissioned first lieutenant in Lamb's artillery regiment in 1780. He died at Easton, February 11, 1821. Another man who saw considerable service was Cap- tain James Perry, who raised a company of soldiers as early as 1776. Cap- tain Josiah Keith raised a company of soldiers, thirty-three of whom were from Easton, and served with them for awhile in Col. John Daggett's regi- ment. Subsequently for three years dating from January, 1777, he served as captain in Col. Michael Jackson's Eighth Regiment. He was then made major in the same regiment, in which capacity he served during the year 1780. A comparatively large number of men from Easton served in the Revolutionary War, many enlisting in the company of Captain Francis Lus- comb, of Taunton; in Captain Keith's; in Captain John Allen's company of Col. Carpenter's regiment ; in Captain Macey William's company, and there were some scattered through various other companies.
The War of 1812 did not create much enthusiasm, and there are no facts concerning Easton's connection with it to call for any special notice. Easton furnished 385 men for the Army and Navy in the Civil War and expended over $40,000 for war purposes. Besides this, large subscriptions were made by citizens, and there were here, as in other towns of the State, large con- tributions for camp and hospital stores. In common with other towns in the Commonwealth, Easton did her share in the World War, and 255 of her sons and daughters answered the call of duty. Of those mentioned, the following made the supreme sacrifice: Lieut. George Sarle Shepard, Lieut. Oliver Ames, Jr., Sergeant Winfield Skidmore Knowles; Yeoman Chester Rice Smith; Privates George Francis Schindler, Jeremiah Francis Sullivan, Lawrence Howard Swift, George Philip Workman.
Educational .- It was provided in the articles of incorporation of the town of Easton that within six months from the time of publication of such articles, the town should "procure and maintain a school-master to instruct their youth in writing and reading." The High School was organized in 1868, first as a peripatetic institution, moving into different sections of the town for different terms; but before long it was permanently located at North Easton, because more than half the scholars were there. The district system was abolished in 1869, and this change, here as elsewhere, has had a beneficial result. On May 1, 1920, there were in Easton 1117 chil- dren between the years of five and fifteen. Twenty-two per cent. of the inhabitants of Easton are in the local public schools. The total school expenditure was $83,315.10 for year ending December 31, 1920. Easton is well equipped with modern school buildings. In addition to the Oliver Ames High School building and the New Grammar School building at North Easton, new buildings of modern design have been erected in recent years at South Easton at Unionville and at Poquanticut. As to means for educa- tional purposes, the town of Easton probably stands first in the list of towns of the State. By the will of Hon. Oliver Ames, who died in 1877,
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it was endowed with the large bequest of $50,000 for the support of schools. In order that such a fund might not tempt the town to reduce its appropria- tions, the will provides that it shall be forfeited unless the town shall every year appropriate for the support of schools an amount per scholar equal to the average amount per scholar appropriated by all the towns of the State. The income of the fund is used for general school purposes. Besides this there is another fund of $50,000 left by Hon. Oakes Ames for the benefit of the children of North Easton Village. By the aid of this fund, the High School is being equipped with excellent apparatus, various chemical and mechanical instruments, including microscope with numerous specimens. a skeleton and a manikin.
CHAPTER VI. FAIRHAVEN
Fairhaven has had its interesting share in the evolution of ownership. and of township and political divisions of this far southeastern section of Bristol county, since the first substantial records of changes were made with the conveyance of the territory from the Indian proprietors in 1652. Formerly known as Sconticut, a name that is retained now only by a point of land to the south of the town, it is part of that territory that was conveyed by Chief Massasoit and Wamsutta, his son, November 29, 1652, the deed being signed by John Cooke and John Winslow -- Wamsutta mak- ing his mark thereon, and the conveyance itself being made to Governor William Bradford. Up to the year 1787 the section was included in the Dartmouth territory, in which year Dartmouth, Westport and New Bed- ford were divided, the Fairhaven portion being part of New Bedford. Eventually, Fairhaven became a township by itself, including Acushnet, when February 22, 1812, the supporters of Thomas Jefferson on the Fair- haven side sought and obtained the town's incorporation.
Fairhaven's early town records were swept away in the great gale of September 23, 1815, which took the toll bridge with its contents, and the list of town officers is not to be had until 1816. June 15, 1815, a small part of Freetown was annexed to Fairhaven, and April 9, 1836, a small part of Rochester was annexed, and the bounds between those two towns were fixed. Acushnet became a town by itself February 13, 1860, and the Fair- haven bounds now remain as then established. In the early years of the Fairhaven village, all the town meetings were held at the "head of the river," but the Academy building, still standing, began to be occupied as the town house in 1832. A new townhouse was erected ir. 1843 on land near the Woodside cemetery, that was destroyed by fire in 1848. The present Town House, the gift to the town of Mrs. H. H. Rogers, was dedicated February 22, 1894, when Mark Twain, a lifelong friend of Henry H. Rogers, was one of the speakers. The town now has a popu- lation of 8,500.
Earliest of the arrivals in this section were John Cooke, son of Francis, and both of the "Mayflower," whose house was a few rods southeast of the Oxford schoolhouse, Fairhaven; Samuel Hickes, at Newlands Neck, in
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the southeast part of the present town; William Palmer, who owned land situated south of the steam railway, extending east from the river. "Miss Jennings," widow of John Jenne, resided near Parting Ways. Samuel Cuthbert lived at the head of Sconticut Neck road. William Spooner's homestead included Riverside cemetery, the Dana farm, and more; James Shaw lived between the present railroad in Fairhaven and Fort Phenix. Fairhaven and Oxford were two settlements of simultaneous growth, the latter being known locally as the Point. Among those who first settled here were Seth Pope, Thomas Taber, Jonathan Delano, Isaac Pope, Lettice Jenny, Samuel Jenny, Valentine Huttleston, Samuel Spooner, William Spooner, John Spooner, Joseph Tripp, Daniel Sherman, Edmund Sherman, John Davis.
In the Wars .- George H. Tripp, librarian of the New Bedford Public Library, has made a very thorough survey of the history of the town in four wars, and it is from his paper read before the Old Dartmouth His- torical Society that these excerpts are made: At the outbreak of the King Philip War, in the second month of that war, July, 1675, Dartmouth was alinost immediately destroyed, thirty houses being left in ruins, and the inhabitants fleeing to the garrisons for shelter. John Cooke and his family were saved, taking refuge with others at the garrison; but four or five of the people living on this side of the river were killed. Elder Jacob Mitchell, a nephew of John Cooke, with his wife Susannah and her brother, John Pope, were killed early in the morning, as they were riding. Mr. Tripp states that as a direct result of the hardship endured by Dartmouth, the Plymouth Colony exempted all residents of this vicinity from taxation for four years after peace was declared. The fort at Nolscot (Fort Phenix), was built some time before June, 1775, and was two years in building. There had previously been a fort, probably a relic of Indian warfare, on the site of the Beacon, and called on the map of 1762 "Fort Ruins." Prob- ably the first engagement in the Revolution occurred in Buzzards Bay, not far from West Island. and was engineered by Fairhaven men. Early in May, 1775, Daniel Egery and Captain Pope headed an expedition of Fair- haven men that was the means of recapturing two sloops and taking thir- teen prisoners from the British. On September 6, 1788, the British gained possession of the fort, and landed at Fairhaven, with the intention of destroying the town. They would have been successful were it not for the gallantry of Major Israel Fearing, who made a stand with 100 to 150 men, and routed the enemy. Under the auspices of the Fairhaven Improvement Association, and at the suggestion of Job C. Tripp, then secretary of the association, a boulder to the memory of Major Israel Fearing was dedi- cated July 29, 1905, the speakers being Thomas A. Tripp, president of the association, Hon. William W. Crapo and Colonel George L. Montague. The memorial with its oval bronze plate was set up to commemorate the event of September 7, 1778, when the patriot Major Fearing with his small company met the British troops and drove them from the town. Again, in 1885, the Fairhaven Improvement Association placed upon a can- non that was in service at the fort in 1778, a tablet, giving its history. It had been taken from Nassau by the warship "Alfred," and was after- wards secured by Captain Nathaniel Pope, and set up at the fort. Recon-
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structed in 1780, the fort was called Fort Fearing, but in 1784 it was known as Fort Phenix.
During the 1812 War, Fairhaven, by its situation, was very near the scene of much of the activity of the time, some of the town shipping being captured by the enemy, and the garrison at Fort Phenix being put in order for the defence of the harbor. A company of regular militia was formed in the town, with John Alden, Jr., as captain; and there was also a company of volunteers here under command of Joseph Bates, senior.
The fort was garrisoned during the Civil War period, and the New Bedford Home and Coast Guard occupied the works from May 12 to October 5, 1861. About 300 men from here had service in the Civil War. At Riverside cemetery a granite monument was erected in 1867 to the memory of 118 Fairhaven men who made the sacrifice for the Union cause in the Civil War.
Throughout the period of the World War, Fairhaven was second to no other town in the county in standing by the cause of the Allies. More than 600 men from this section represented the town in all branches of service.
Schools and Churches .- The first school of note in this town was the Academy, that was built in 1798, the agreement for the building being signed by thirteen people. The school in 1802 was taught by Richard Sawyer, John Nye and Abiah Haskell. After its uses as a school ceased, the building was purchased by Captain John A. Hawes. For some years Rev. William Gould conducted a young ladies' boarding school which brought pupils from other parts of the State, as well. The building was removed, and the school work ceased there when the railroad was built. The late Job C. Tripp, more than half a century a member of the school board of Fairhaven, recounting his experiences at a meeting of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, stated that upon the abolishment of the school district system in 1869, it was hard for some few of the citizens to give it up. But prior to the new system now vested in the school committee, districts twelve and thirteen made a desperate effort to have a new schoolhouse built, with modern improvements and equipment. After many meetings it was voted to build a new schoolhouse, and to appropriate the sum of $10,000 therefor. Eventually the whole matter fell through, and it was well, in view of the generous action shown afterward by a noted graduate of the Fairhaven high school in providing the princely accommodations to meet the educational wants of the whole town, and a large portion of the towns of Mattapoisett and Acushnet, as well.
The enrollment of pupils in Fairhaven schools for the school year ending June, 1922, was 1864, the average membership 1582, and the average attendance 1581. The appropriation for the elementary schools was $65,- 000; for high school, $10,000. Attendance from the town at the high school had increased 123 per cent. in the past ten years. The schools are : High, Rogers, Washington street, Job C. Tripp, Oxford, Edward Anthony. The high school was established January 26, 1852, the building then occu- pied having belonged to the Methodist denomination. Grammar schools were started in 1843; the Rogers school was built in 1885, and the Oxford school in 1896. The school superintendents have been: Z. W. Kemp,
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E. B. Gray, F. M. Marsh, O. H. Toothaker, Charles F. Prior. The Fair- haven School Association was formed in 1894. Five trust funds provide in part for care and maintenance of the schools.
Few towns in the county of the size of Fairhaven are more com- pletely supplied with churches of the various denominations. The pre- vailing order here, as well as throughout the county, at first, was Congre- gational. At about the year 1794 a plain wooden structure was built at what is now the corner of Main and Centre streets, and there the First Congregational Church in Fairhaven gathered, it being organized as "The Second Church of Christ in New Bedford"; and the year following, Febru- ary 24, 1795, Rev. Isaac Weston was ordained the first pastor. During his ministry, in 1807, a revival took place, adding many to the church. He was dismissed in 1808; and there being antagonistic elements in the church, certain of the members withdrew in 1811 and formed the Third Church, whose services were held in a small schoolhouse that stood where the Union Hotel was constructed. But both churches settled their differ- ences in 1820. Meantime, Rev. Abraham Wheeler had become pastor of the older church, he remaining five years, to be succeeded by Rev. Paul Jewett, in 1820. Rev. William Gould came to the church as pastor in 1823, and Rev. Jacob Roberts, his colleague, in 1839. Again there was trouble, which resulted in division in 1841, when the Centre Congrega- tional Church was formed, its membership erecting the building at the corner of Centre and Walnut streets, now occupied by the Methodist Episcopal church. But that society disbanded in 1848. The older society built their brick church in 1844-45.
The Washington Street Christian Church (Unitarian) was organized November 30, 1820, Elder Charles Morgridge becoming the pastor in 1821. Therefore, since 1819, meetings had been held at the homes of the mem- bers and at the old Academy building. On December 7, 1832, the church was instituted as the Washington Street Christian Church, and December 15 the same year, the meetinghouse was dedicated, Elder William Taylor being the first pastor there. In the year 1865 a re-organization of the church was effected, in which the Christian scriptures were declared to be the sufficient rule for faith and practice. The present church building was built in 1901, the "Rogers Memorial," by the family of the late Henry H. Rogers.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Fairhaven was organized in 1829, and in June, 1830, their meetinghouse was dedicated, this building later being occupied by the high school. In 1841 the Methodist society began to occupy the building left vacant by the Centre Congregational society. The Second Advent Society was formed in 1841, as a result of the preach- ing of Rev. William Miller. They purchased Sawin's Hall, and rebuilt it into a chapel for their uses. In 1849, the society of Friends built their meetinghouse on Bridge street.
The cornerstone of St. Joseph's Catholic Church was laid September 24, 1905. The church was opened December 25, 1905, and was dedicated by the Bishop, February 11, 1906. The pastor is Rev. Stanislas Bernard. The pastor of the Church of the Sacred Hearts, the parish as formed including Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Marion, is Rev. Father Seraphim
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Oghe. St. Joseph's parochial school and Academy of the Sacred Hearts are part of the Catholic foundation in the town.
Banks .- The Fairhaven Institution for Savings was incorporated Feb. ruary 10, 1832, with the following-named trustees: Ezekiel Sawin, Sylvanus Allen, Bartholomew Taber, Wilson Barstow, Philemon Fuller, Jr., Rowland Gibbs, George Hitch, Joseph Bates, F. R. Whitwell, Levi Jenney, Sampson Perkins, William L. B. Gibbs, Abner Pease, Lemuel Tripp, Joseph Tripp, James Tripp, Nathan Church, Jabez Delano, Jr. Ezekiel Swain was chosen president ; Joseph Tripp, treasurer; William L. B. Gibbs, secretary. The business of the bank was started in its present building, occupying the rooms of the Fairhaven Insurance Company, and was continued there urtil, in 1876, the building was purchased from the Fairhaven National Bank. The second president of the bank was Isaiah F. Terry, who served sixteen years; he was succeeded by Captain George H. Taber, who was president twenty-two years. Captain Taber was succeeded in 1886 by Thomas A. Tripp, the president in 1923. Lewis E. Bentley is vice-presi- dent; Charles H. Morton, treasurer. The bank deposits in April, 1923, amounted to $1,961,426.63.
In March, 1831, the Fairhaven Insurance Company and the Fairhaven Bank were chartered by the State, naming as incorporators the same group of Fairhaven whaling merchants. Both the bank and the insurance com- pany had capitals of $100,000; the bank capital was increased in 1836 to $200,000, and in 1923 it was $120,000. When this bank and the Marine Insurance Company were organized, Fairhaven was almost as largely in- terested in whaling ventures as the village across the river, and the same motives and considerations of business needs caused the merchants to establish these mutually serviceable agencies. The bank building now occupied by the Savings Bank was built in 1831, and here the Fairhaven Bank did business for forty-five years. In 1876 the National Bank of Fairhaven purchased the property next east of the old bank house, and there they began to occupy, and have remained to the present time. The building was thoroughly renovated in 1923. The bank in 1923 had re- sources of about $500,000. The presidents: Ezekiel Sawin, April 20, 1831- May 19, 1862; George F. Tripp, May 26, 1862-September 12, 1878; Lewis S. Judd, September 16, 1878-May 12, 1884; Chas. H. Morton, May 12, 1884- July 1, 1904; Levi M. Snow, July 1, 1904-December 23, 1912; Geo. B. Luther, December 23, 1912. Vice-presidents: C. D. Hunt, February 21. 1879-January 14, 1884; May 18, 1884-September 19, 1903; Levi M. Snow, January 18, 1904-July 1, 1904. Cashiers: Duncan M. B. Thaxter, May 7. 1831-November 25, 1845; Reuben Nye, November 25, 1845-June 23, 1895; Geo. B. Luther, July 1, 1895-December 23, 1912; Edward T. Pierce, De- cember 23, 1912.
Public Utilities .- The villages of Fairhaven and Oxford were first con- nected by a bridge across Herring river in 1795, and the layout of Main street to North street was then made. The next year, 1796, the toll bridge between New Bedford and Fairhaven, crossing Fish Island and Pope's Island, was built. This bridge was partly destroyed in 1807. and rebuilt. A bridge was erected on the easterly side of Crow Island from New Bed- ford to Fairhaven June 22, 1804. It was on September 23, 1815, that the
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toll bridge from Fairhaven to New Bedford was swept away, and the bridge at the head of the river was built in 1828. The bridge across the Acushnet river at Oxford Heights was completed in 1892; and the widen- ing and construction of the new bridge of the then existing New Bedford ard Fairhaven bridge was begun in 1863. This bridge had been maintained as a toll bridge up to 1870, and thereafter it was maintained by New Bed- ford and Fairhaven.
The Fairhaven Branch railroad was opened in 1854 with its construc- tion to Tremont, thus connecting with the main line to Boston. A steam ferry plied for years between Fairhaven and New Bedford, until the street railway was put into operation in 1872. In 1894 the road was changed from horse to electric. The proprietors of the New Bedford and Fairhaven ferry had incorporated March 8, 1832.
The first newspaper published for the interests of this town was the "Bristol Gazette," starting in 1812, at the time of the town's incorporation, and ceasing publication in July, 1813. The "Fairhaven Star" was first published February 18, 1879, by Charles D. Waldron. In August, 1902. it was installed in its present plant. Henry D. Waldron assumed the publication in March, 1916.
In 1893 the Fairhaven Water Company began its system of water works for supplying the town with water. In 1893 the New Bedford Gas and Edison Electric Light Company began supplying the town with lights, and in 1895 the board of sewer commissioners organized. The office of superintendent of streets was created in 1890. The present almshouse was built in 1894.
The Millicent Library was founded and given to the town by Mrs. William E. Benjamin, Mrs. Clara L. Broughton, Mrs. Mary H. Coe, and Henry H. Rogers, Jr., children of Henry Huttleston and Abbie P. Rogers, as a memorial to their sister, Millicent Gifford Rogers, who died August 31, 1890, at the age of eighteen years. The building was finished and ready for occupancy January 30, 1893, on which day dedication exercises were held. The library building is constructed of granite, with terra cotta trim- mings, the style being Italian renaissance. The architect was Charles Brigham of Boston. A feature of the interior is the memorial window which fills the outer wall of the entrance hall. The librarians have been : Don C. Stevens, 1893-1901 ; Drew B. Hall, 1901-1911 ; Galen W. Hill, 1911 -. There are now nearly 30,000 books in the library. The Oxford branch issued nearly 10,000 books in 1922.
The Rogers Memorial Monument, erected to the memory of Henry Huttleston Rogers, Fairhaven benefactor and captain of industry, was erected in the fall of 1911, and the formal dedication took place in the town hall, January 29, 1912, the anniversary of the birth of Mr. Rogers. The principal address was given by George H. Tripp, librarian of the New Bedford Public Library. Mr. Rogers was donor of the High School build -. ing. the Memorial Unitarian Church; Mrs. Rogers had the town hall built for a civic centre; the children of Mr. Rogers erected the Millicent Me- morial Library, and the family gave the recreation ground in Cushman Park as a memorial of the colonial ancestor. Henry Huttleston Rogers was born in this town, January 29, 1840, received his early education here, and was graduated at the high school April 11, 1856. He afterwards lived
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in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, in New York City, and in Ohio. He was prominent in the petroleum business with the firm of Charles Pratt & Company, and with the Standard Oil Company of Ohio. He was one of the members of the Standard Oil Trust, and occupied high positions with financial institutions, banks and railroads.
The postoffice was established in 1820, at the residence of Joshua Drew, who was the first postmaster. When that house was burned, the postoffice was transferred to Phenix block, thence to rooms opposite the Congregational church. The town hall was built in 1896, and the office was there for awhile, and thence it was transferred to the Masonic build- ing. The postmasters since Joshua Drew were: Charles Drew, Joseph Cutler, J. T. Buttrick, Elbridge E. Morton, Charles H. Morton, Eben Aiken, Jr., Job C. Tripp, John I. Bryant, William C. Stoddard, Edward G. Spooner, William M. Allen.
The older and most general industry of the town was that of the whale fishery, when, in common with New Bedford, the town prospered and the wharves were scenes of activity for many years. In the year 1837, for example, Fairhaven owned thirty-seven whaling vessels, their owners having a capital of $950,000, and nearly 1,000 men being employed. The fleet numbered forty-eight vessels in 1858.
The American Tack Company was incorporated in 1867, and in 1891 it merged with five other large tack companies as the Atlas Tack Corpora- tion. There are also three marine railways; the D. N. Kelley wholesale fish dealers; and a number of boat builders.
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