USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 3 > Part 30
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where he proved himself so valuable that in 1827 he became a partner in the business, the firm becoming Elisha Dunbar & Company. In addition to the ship chandlery business, the partners began importing bar iron from Sweden and Russia, and as they prospered invested their surplus funds in the whaling industry, buying one ship after another and fitting it out for whaling cruises. In 1839 Captain Dunbar died and Mr. Jones became sole owner by purchase of the Dunbar interest from the heirs. After coming into full con- trol he reorganized the business under the firm name Edward C. Jones, with storerooms at the foot of Spring street, but his own private offices were on Centre street, in the building which, after his death, was sold to Bartlett Brothers.
The increase of business compelled Mr. Jones to sur- render part of his burden, and whaling being so profi- table then, he withdrew from the ship chandlery line and devoted all his energy to the fleet of whalers he owned, adding to that fleet from two to five ships yearly. For nearly half a century he was connected with whaling, retiring in 1873, he at one time (1850) being agent, part or sole owner, in sixteen ships or barks, as follows: "Robert Edward," from 1830 until 1867; "Iris," from 1831 until 1851; "Roman," 1835 until 1871; "Mobile," 1842 until 1851; "Rhine," 1845, one voyage; "Clarice," 1846 until 1871; "Junius," 1849 until 1853; "Eliza Adams," 1850 until 1863; "Europa,"
1852 until 1864; "Oriole," 1863 until 1870; "Gazelle," 1867 until 1873; "Emma C. Jones," 1849 until 1871; "Governor Troup," 1843 until 1868; "Milo," 1849 until 1864; "Lapwing," 1856 until 1864; "Florida," 1841 until 1865; "Congress," 1842 until 1851. The last six named were the most successful and profitable of all.
During the Civil War a Confederate privateer at- tacked a fleet of whalers in the Arctic, burned all but one, sending the crews home in the one unharmed ves- sel, which it so happened belonged to Mr. Jones. The losses inflicted by the Confederate raiders and the great mortality among the vessels of the Arctic fleet from the rigor of the severe winters gave the whaling ship owners such a serious setback that when the dis- covery of petroleum resulted in a great curtailment of their market for oil they were practically forced out of business. With characteristic energy and wisdom, Mr. Jones disposed of his ship property and turned his capital to the other fields of investment in which, dur- ing the years, he had become interested. He was a director of the First National Bank of New Bedford, formerly the Marine Bank; a director of the New Bed- ford Gas Light Company from its organization, and had other interests.
Although the whaling industry in which Mr. Jones was for so long a prominent figure represented in its day one of the most profitable as well as picturesque phases of the development of American trade, his successful career was not the result of luck or was it due to the prosperity of the industry in which he was engaged. The fitting out of a merchant fleet demanded both unusual skill and executive ability, both marked characteristics of Mr. Jones, coupled with rare good judgment which he exercised in selecting captains and crews. With thoroughness and attention to detail, he spared no pains in putting ships into perfect condition and in equipping them with adequate supplies, while
liberal treatment of the men sailing them attracted to his employ the best and most efficient, thus enabling him to contribute largly to American preeminence in the industry.
He was possessed of a remarkable memory, and was able to memorize a poem simply by reading it once, and his love of poetry and good literature continued throughout his life. Possessed of a keen sense of humor, he appreciated Dickens thoroughly and read his books with much pleasure. On account of his lame- ness, he could not participate as a soldier during the War of the Rebellion, but he was active in the recruit- ing service; and one company, raised mainly through his help, adopted the name of Jones Guards. On ac- count of his strong anti-slavery sympathies, he became an ardent Republican, and so continued throughout the remainder of his life. He was easily moved by the appeal of the human voice, whether from the lecture platform, the pulpit or the stage, and he was exceed- ingly fond of the drama and of vocal music. He was a liberal supporter of city charities and philanthropies, especially interested in the Association for the Relief of Aged Women.
Mr. Jones married (first), in 1835, Louisa Gibbs, who died in 1839. He married (second), in 1844, Emma Chambers, who died in 1852, the mother of four daughters: Sarah Coffin, died aged seven years; Emma Chambers, of New York; Amelia Hickling, of New Bedford; and Sarah Coffin, died in 1891, wife of J. Malcolm Forbes, of Milton, Massachusetts. Mr. Jones married (third), in July, 1872, Mary Coffin Luce, daughter of Captain Matthew Luce, of New Bedford, who survived him until 1917.
THOMAS BUSH TRIPP-The entire life of Thomas Bush Tripp was spent in his native New Bedford, and no man better served his city than he. His business enterprise and public spirit were em- ployed in behalf of his own community, and he was recognized as one of the strong men of the city. While he was president of the First National Bank at the time of his death, he had only filled that high position for about one year, although a director for more than twenty years. He completed an honorable business record in other lines and no stain of failure marred his record. He was a son of James and Eliza (Mosher) Tripp.
Thomas Bush Tripp was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, August 19, 1838, and died Decem- ber 29, 1912. He was educated in the New Bed- ford public schools, completing the advanced courses of the high school in 1858. He was engaged in the grocery business in New Bedford until 1872, his store located in the block at the corner of County and Allen streets. After the death of his father he turned his attention to real estate, discerning with rare vision the rapid growth of the city which was to soon follow. He was a good judge of the value of real estate, and with unerring judgment selected large tracts of unimproved land which he purchased and improved with graded streets and sewers before offering a lot for sale. This policy he followed in all his additions, and so well were his locations chosen and so skillfully was his busi-
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ness conducted, that prosperity followed all his in- vestments and likewise his investors. He dealt generously with the public, allowing ample time for those of limited means to secure homes, hundreds becoming home builders and owners for the first time in their lives. This meant not only prosperity for Mr. Tripp and the home builders, but for the city, whose aggregate value of taxable property was greatly increased.
In addition to the management of his real estate business, Mr. Tripp was a director of the New Bed- ford and Fairhaven Street Railway Company, elect- ed in July, 1873, the road having been incorporated the previous year. He held the position until 1887, then resigned, but upon the organization of the Union Street Railway Company, he accepted a directorship, October 30, 1897, and became vice- president of the company, July 14, 1898, serving until his death. He was also a director of the New Bedford and Onset Street Railway Company; be- came a director of the Dartmouth & Westport Railway Company in October, 1901, and vice-presi- dent, January 9, 1902, serving until his death. His devoted and efficient services to these concerns was the subject of fine tribute after his death. He was also a director of the Howland Mills Corporation, Dartmouth Mills Corporation, a director of the First National Bank in 1890, and on December 21, 1911, was elected president, holding this until his death. He was also a trustee of the New Bedford Institution for Savings, and relied upon by the board as their expert in all real estate investments.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Tripp took a deep interest in public affairs, and in his younger years was an ardent worker for the party. He was a member of Common Council in 1864, representative to the State Legislature in 1872, and a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1873. In 1891 he was appointed a member of the Board of Public Works, a post he ably filled for several years, also holding a place upon the New Bedford water board, to which he devoted much time during the building of the Quittacus water supply for New Bedford. He was, at the time of his death, a trustee of the Kemp- ton fund, the gift of Sarah E. Potter to the city. A thorough business man, Mr. Tripp was highly capable of filling these various offices or positions, and to his ability he added a strong principle that caused him to regard "a public office as a public trust." This resulted in the city and various or- ganizations securing the highest form of service and won for him the highest commendation. He was a past master of Eureka Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and highly regarded by his brethren of the order. In early life he was a member of the City Guards, and until his death he was a mem- ber of the Wamsutta Club, and was at one time its president. He was also a member of the Coun- try Club of New Bedford. He was a man of regu- lar life and methodical habits, careful in all things and devoted to his home.
Mr. Tripp married in 1888, Emma J. Ashley, daughter of Rodolphos and Ruth (Parker) Ashley.
Mrs. Tripp survives her husband, with a daughter, Molly Bush Tripp, the family home No. 413 County street.
ABRAHAM H. HOWLAND-Although little more than in the prime of his splendid manhood when his final summons came, Abraham H. How- land had long been a conspicuous figure in the business life of New Bedford, his native city. He belonged to the whaling era of New Bedford's his- tory, saw it all in its greatness, and witnessed its decline and fall. He was nearly all his life en- gaged in merchandising as clerk and proprietor, but, dealing with the whalers as their outfitters, finally became a ship owner, and made two voyages as master of the ships he owned. He was a keen, sagacious, business man, quick to act and most per- severing. While he was essentially the merchant, there was no department of New Bedford's life in which he was not interested. As first chief execu- tive of the city under the charter, his wisdom, pub- lic spirit and disinterested patriotism was a rock of strength to the young municipality, and his four successive reelections to the mayoralty shows be- yond controversy the high value his fellow-citizens placed upon his patriotism, wisdom and executive ability. His life was a valuable one, and although a generation has since arisen to whom he is per- sonally unknown he will always live as one of that body of men who were the responsible heads and controlling spirits during a period of prosperity in New Bedford, largely brought about by their own enterprise, energy and public spirit. The condition which created such men and the business they de- veloped to such a high state of prosperity are now things of the past, but the years in which Abraham H. Howland flourished were wonderful years, and their close marked one of the great tragedies of history, the collapse of a great industry, and the destruction of a great fleet of vessels connected with the whaling industry and hailing from New Bedford as their home port.
The town of Dartmouth, the village, borough and city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, have been the home localities of the Howlands from the time Henry Howland bought a tract of land in Dartmouth in 1652. Henry Howland is of record in Plymouth as early as 1624, was constable of Duxbury in 1635, became a member of the Society of Friends in 1657, and both he and his wife, Mary (Newland) Howland, died at their Duxbury home. He was a good man, honorable, upright and intelligent, transmitting these qualities to his posterity. The line of descent to Abraham H. Howland is through Zoeth Howland, second son of Henry and Mary (Newland) Howland. Zoeth Howland was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, but settled in the town of Dartmouth as early as 1662. He was killed by the Indians, January 21, 1676, at Pocasset, a part of Rhode Island, since known as Little Compton and Tiverton. The present stone bridge at Tiverton was known as Howland's Ferry, and was later operated by Daniel Howland, son of Zoeth. Zoeth Howland, like his father, was
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a convert to the Society of Friends, and all his five sons were members of the Apponegansett Monthly Meeting except Samuel. He left a widow who married again.
Benjamin Howland, second son of Zoeth How- land, was born March 8, 1657, in Duxbury, Massa- chusetts, died at his farm at Round Hills, in the town of Dartmouth, February 12, 1727. He was a substantial farmer, a leading member and treasurer of the Apponegansett Monthly Meeting of Friends, was selectman, assessor, surveyor of highways, and constable, holding these offices at different times and for many years. The Round Hills farm, which he owned and cultivated, has never been owned by any other than a descendant of Benjamin Howland. He married Judith Sampson, and they were the parents of a large family.
Isaac Howland, son of Benjamin and Judith (Sampson) Howland, was born at the Round Hills farm in the town of Dartmouth, January 30, 1694, died at the farm he owned and cultivated in the southern part of the town, September 22, 1778. He was an active member of the Society of Friends, selectman, surveyor of highways, constable, and juryman. He married Hannah Allen, and they were the parents of eight sons and daughters.
Abraham Howland, son of Isaac and Hannah (Allen) Howland, was born in the town of Dart- mouth, in 1726, and died at the Round Hills home- stead farm. He married Ruth Hicks of Dartmouth, who died June 30, 1856, the mother of five sons and four daughters.
Captain Weston Howland, son of Abraham and Ruth (Hicks) Howland, was born in the town of Dartmouth, May 30, 1764, and died in New Bed- ford, Massachusetts, August 8, 1841. He was a master mariner, for some years engaged in the coastwise trade, then established a flour and grain business with storehouses on Rotch's Wharf. He was a large vessel owner and kept quite a fleet en- gaged in transporting the grain and flour he sold. He maintained a branch of his business at Alex- andria, Virginia, which was in charge of his son Thomas, and had many interests, varied in char- acter. He was a good business man, and as a citizen highly esteemed and honored. He married (first) Desire Crandall; (second) Abigail Hatha- way, who survived him at the family home, at the corner of Spring and Eighth streets, New Bed- ford, and died July 12, 1867. His sons were active in New Bedford business circles, and one of his daughters, Alice R., married Joseph C. Delano.
Abraham H. Howland, son of Captain Weston Howland and his second wife, Abigail (Hathaway) Howland, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, March 2, 1802, and there died May 24, 1867. After leaving school he entered business life as a clerk and passed through a long and arduous course of training to fit him for the position he was to oc- cupy. He mastered merchandising, then went to sea and became a master mariner, making two ex- tended whaling voyages. After becoming a mer- chant he also became a ship owner, and at his
place of business now the site of the plant of the City Manufacturing Corporation, conducted a large and prosperous business, and accumulated a gen- erous competence. As the whaling industry declined he sought other avenues of wealth, and was one of the first men in this country to refine petroleum as a business. He continued active in business until the end of his years, sixty-five. Mr. Howland was at one time a director of the Western railway, later a part of the Boston and Albany system, and from the date of organization was a director of the New Bedford Gas Light Company. Although a birthright member of the Society of Friends, he only openly joined in the service of the society a few years prior to his death. He was a member of the Masonic order, and for many years an active member of the City Volunteer Fire Department, and on one occasion it was entirely through his in- fluence that the department was saved from dis- bandment. In 1844 he was elected to represent New Bedford in the Massachusetts Legislature, and served three years through reélections. In the house he served on the committee on mercantile af- fairs, and was one of the active, influential men of that period. In 1847, under the new charter, he was elected the first mayor of New Bedford, then a city of 12,000 inhabitants, and so well did he ad- minister the responsibilities of that office that his four reelections followed. So in usefulness and honor his years, sixty-five, passed, there being no flaw upon his public or business record.
Mr. Howland married Mehitable Earle Russell, who died August 26, 1892, at the age of eighty-two. She was a daughter of Reuben and Anna (Tucker) Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Howland were the parents of seven children: Abigail, died in infancy; Anna, died in young womanhood; Abraham H. (2) ; Alice Russell, died August 2, 1916; Horace G., died Feb- ruary 2, 1909; Mary Tucker; and Edmond How- land, died in infancy.
ROBERT LINDSAY-Through a long course of technical study and experimental laboratory work, Mr. Lindsay has come to his present position, superintend- ent of the gas department of the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company. Chemistry, ever a fa- vorite study, has been caused to yield to him important secrets, but they were diligently and intelligently sought for and came as the result of painstaking labor and study. He is an authority on the chemist's view of gas manufacture and distribution, a branch of scientific study and practical business that he has been connected with from his nineteenth year, when he first entered the employ of his present company as their chemist.
Robert Lindsay was born in Glasgow, Scotland, November 22, 1871, son of William Archibald Lind- say, an engineer, and his wife, Mary (Hynd) Lindsay, the Lindsays an ancient Scottish clan of high standing. Robert Lindsay attended Glasgow public schools, the College of Science and Arts and Technical School be- fore coming to this country, and in New Bedford at- tended both the Swain Free School of Design and the Textile School, taking the mechanical engineering course at the latter institution and graduating from
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both. In August, 1890, he entered the employ of the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company, as chemist; not that his studies were over, for they had but begun, and during the quarter of a century which has since elapsed his work has been one long series of problems submitted and many of them solved, and many still in the course of solution but the answer still afar off. His library of works pertaining to chemistry and chemical research is very large, and his spirit of in- vestigation carries him deep into their contents. In 1910 he became superintendent of the gas department, an immense business in itself, when it is recalled that the company in New Bedford, Acushnet and Fair- haven has a total of 155 miles of main pipe; that in New Bedford alone there are 21,582 gas meters; that they supply gas to 21,255 gas stoves, and that for the financial year ending July 1, 1916, their sales of gas increased $15,976.13.
Mr. Lindsay is a member of the National Commer- cial Gas Association, member of the American Gas In- stitute, member of the New England Association of Gas Engineers, member of the Order of Scottish Clans, the Caledonian Club, Abraham H. Howland Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. In addition to .his weighty duties and responsibilities, he took the course of mili- tary training at Plattsburg, New York, and is qualified for service as an officer if called. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian.
Mr. Lindsay married, in New Bedford, December 23, 1889, Elnora Elizabeth Leuchsenring, her parents born in Germany. They are the parents of a son, Robert Bruce, born January 1, 1900, now a student at, Brown University, class of 1920.
HORACE ALLEN LAWTON, scion of an an- cient Rhode Island family, was brought when an infant to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and there his years, fifty-five, were passed. He selected a business career, and for twenty-three years conducted two drug stores in New Bedford, one at the corner of Union and Pur- chase streets, the other at the corner of Union and Second streets. He operated in connection with his brother, Charles H. Lawton, the firm of C. H. & H. A. Lawton, organized January 1, 1873, continuing until July 1, 1896, both brothers then retiring, after settling their affairs, and selling the business to the C. H. & H. A. Lawton Drug Company. While Horace A. Lawton was an excellent business man, well informed and possessed of strong literary taste, he took little part in city affairs, and found in his home his greatest happiness. This does not imply that he was not in- terested, for on the contrary he was keenly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen, and in his own quiet way bore his part. But he was essentially a business man, won his way from the bottom of the mercantile ladder, and in his business and in his home found the full measure of a contented, successful life.
Horace Allen Lawton was of the eighth generation of the family founded in Newport, Rhode Island, by George Lawton, who was one of the twenty-eight signers of the Compact, April 30, 1639, for the forma- tion of a "Civil Body Poloticke." George Lawton was prominent in Coloniel affairs, serving six terms as dep- uty and nine terms as assistant to the governor. He owned land at Portsmouth, and there died October 5,
1693, his body being laid at rest in his own orchard. He married Elizabeth Hazard. The line of descent is through the founder's third son, Robert Lawton; his son, Captain George Lawton; his son, Robert Lawton; his son, William Lawton; his son, Peter Lawton; his son, Peter (2) Lawton; his son, Horace A. Lawton.
Bristol, Portsmouth or Newport, Rhode Island, con- tinued to be the homes of the preceding until Peter (2) Lawton, born May 20, 1811, a cabinetmaker, moved to Seekonk, Massachusetts, thence to New Bedford, in 1843, and there died at his home, now No. 198 Kemp- ton street, July 24, 1869. At one time he was a manu- facturer of pianos. Peter (2) Lawton married, in Bristol, Rhode Island, August 12, 1839, Nancy F. Sim- mons. They were the parents of two sons, Charles Henry and Horace Allen, both now deceased, founders of the business, now the C. H. & H. A. Lawton Drug Company.
Horace Allen Lawton was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, December 14, 1843, but shortly afterward New Bedford became the family home and there his life was spent. He attended the public schools of the city until seventeen years of age, then began his business life, which ended with his retirement in 1896, three years prior to his death, April 26, 1899. He began as a dry goods clerk, and while connected with that line of mer- chandising was employed by R. H. Whitcomb and E.
B. Whiting. From the dry goods store he changed to drugs, and until January 1, 1873, was clerk in the drug store conducted by Thornton & Gerrish, his brother, Charles H., having been a clerk in the same store from his sixteenth year, entering it in 1856, he being the senior of Horace A. by three years. On January 1, 1873, the Lawton brothers, having left the employ of Thornton & Gerrish, began business as C. H. & H. A. Lawton, purchasing the two drug stores owned by E. Thorton, Jr., one at the corner of Union and Purchase streets, the other at the corner of Union and North Second streets. The brothers conducted these two stores for twenty-three years, retiring July 1, 1896. Those were years of honorable business success, and when the brothers retired a stock company, the C. H. & H. A. Lawton Drug Company, purchased both stores.
Horace Allen Lawton was a member of the New Bedford Protecting Society from 1867 until his death, attended Trinitarian Church, and held membership in the Wamsutta Club; Eureka Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Adoniram Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons; New Bedford Council, Royal and Select Masters; and Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar. In politics he was a Republican, but never sought nor accepted public office. At the time of his decease he was fifty- five years, four months and twelve days old, and his remains were interred in Rural Cemetery, New Bedford.
Mr. Lawton married, January 5, 1871, Clara P. Taber, daughter of Captain Jacob Taber.
ROBERT WILLIAM POWERS-Even in these days of automobile distribution as a finished art, the headquarters of Robert William Powers, of Fall River, Massachusetts, as a distributor for the Hudson and Essex cars, forms a model of efficient management. Mr. Powers is one of those progressive and alert busi-
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