USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Edward P. Goddard was born near Sorrel, P.Q., and for a number of years was engaged in farming in Bolton, his son's birthplace, and in trading to some extent. He was one of the prominent men of the town, and held a number of public offices. His death occurred in his forty-seventh year, his wife having heen called to rest from the cares of earth when only thirty years of age.
George B. Goddard was the eldest son in a family of six children, four boys and two girls. Until he was nine years of age he lived on his father's farm in Bolton (an estate of six hundred acres), and then the family moved to Manchaug, in the town of Sutton, Mass., where he went to work in a cotton-mill for a dollar a week, laboring from daylight until sundown. This continued for a year, and then another move was made, the family going to North Oxford, Mass. For two years George worked in a cotton-mill in Wilmington, and then returned with his family to Canada, where his father settled once more on the home farm.
The boy, who was then about thirteen years
of age, soon left home and started in the world for himself, finding employment in South Na- tick, Mass., at shoemaking. About 1857 he shipped on a whaling vessel from New Bed- ford, which was out from port some four years, and was twice cast away. The first time he was with six men in a boat which was sep- arated from the vessel about three hundred miles from the island of St. Helena, and they were adrift four days and three nights without food or water. The boat was finally guided to St. Helena ; and on the island where Napo- leon spent so many gloomy hours they spent three months, being then taken off by their own vessel. The second time they were lost for twenty-four hours off the coast of Africa. On his return the young sailor received eighty- five dollars as pay for his entire time.
When his vessel returned to port, New Eng- land was mustering to suppress the secession of the South, and on August 23, 1861, Mr. Goddard enlisted in Company A, First Batta- lion, Seventeenth United States Regiment. He was in the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, and was engaged in all the battles of the Peninsular Campaign under Mcclellan. In the battles of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellors- ville he saw his comrades fall around him. At Chancellorsville his regiment led the fight, and at the end of the battle not one of the color guard was left. Mr. Goddard bore the flag, and, with but nine men to support him, succeeded in defending it and returning safely. For his bravery in this action he was ap- pointed Color Sergeant, and he was later made Rank Sergeant of the regiment and urged by his superior officers to send his name to Wash- ington for a commission ; but he refused to do it, fearing that he was not well enough edu- cated to adorn a higher rank. He was ap- pointed Captain of a colored regiment, but
96
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
refused the honor for the same reason. He received three flesh wounds while in battle. In 1864 he received his discharge, and en- gaged in recruiting for the service until Lee's surrender, his duties calling him to the front and to Portland Harbor with troops.
When the war was over he went to sea again, this time on a coaster plying between Boston and Philadelphia. He finally retired from the sea and went to work at shoemaking, being employed at different times in Natick, in Bigelow's shoe shop in Worcester, in Boyd & Corey's factory at Marlboro (three or four years), in Moss Brothers' factory, and in a factory at Cochituate. While in Marlboro he learned to operate different machines. From Cochituate he went to Brockton, then to Rock- land, where he remained four months, return- ing then to Brockton. Here he obtained em- ployment as engineer and repairer in Lucius Leach's shoe shop, and remained seven years. He then took out his first patent on the Brock- ton mallet, now well-known to the shoe trade, and for a year manufactured his invention in a small way. Not satisfied with his income, however, he went to work for wages again, entering the employ of Stacy, Adams & Co., with whom he remained about six years. In 1886 he resumed the manufacture of mallets, establishing a workroom in Charles Howard's shoe shop; and in the fall of 1888 he purchased the building at 71 Field Street, Montello, his present place of business. In addition to his manufacturing, which is now in a prosperous condition, Mr. Goddard is interested in real estate.
Mr. Goddard was married in 1873 to Alice M., daughter of Edward Hurd, of Nova Scotia, and has a daughter and a son. The son, who was for some time associated with his father, is now in the printing business.
In politics Mr. Goddard is independent.
He is a member of Electric Lodge, No. 204, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of Dam- ocles Lodge, No. 16, Knights of Pythias; Brockton Division, No. 11, Uniform Rank, and Canton Nemasket; the Ancient Essenic Order; the Royal Arcanum; the Knights of Honor; the Daughters of Rebekah; the New England Order of Protection; and the Ameri- can Benefit Society. As a Grand Army man he is a member of Fletcher Webster Post, No. 13, and has held the rank of officer of the guard ; and he is at present officer of the guard in the Union Veterans' Union, and has been appointed delegate to the next national con- vention of the last-named body.
MOS HUNTING, who, since the fall of 1866 has been successfully engaged in the grocery, provision, grain, flour, hay, and straw business at East Bridgewater, was born in Shutesbury, Mass., April 12, 1835, a son of Nathan and Melinda (Smith) Hunting.
The Hunting family is said to be of Scotch origin. Amos Hunting, the father of Nathan, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. In his early days Nathan Hunting engaged in mercantile business in Boston, but subse- quently retired to a farm in Shutesbury, where he lived until his death. Melinda Smith Hunting, his wife, was a native of Stoughton, Mass. They had five children - Nathan, Amos, Francis H., Mary A., and Henry M.
Amos Hunting grew to manhood in Shutes- bury, and acquired his education in private schools and the high school of that town. When eighteen years old he entered the employ of the Fall River Railroad at what is now known as Westdale, as assistant station agent, and before long was promoted to the position of agent at that place, in which ca-
97
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
pacity he served five and a half years. Dur- ing a portion of that time he carried on a gro- cery store. In 1866 he came to East Bridge- water and started the business which he still conducts and which has developed so that he now employs four clerks regularly and has a large and lucrative trade.
On December 22, 1859, Mr. Hunting mar- ried Miss Margaret Orr Holbrook, who was born in Weymouth, Mass., and is a daughter of Arvin Holbrook. Of the eight children born to them but four are living, two sons and two daughters, namely: Melinda O .; Jessie, wife of Frank Bradford; Fred A. ; and Harry A.
In politics Mr. Hunting is a Republican. During the Massachusetts legislative session of 1891 he was a member of the Lower House, and he is now serving as a register of voters of East Bridgewater. He is one of the Board of Trustees of the East Bridgewater Savings Bank. Mr. Hunting's success in his business dealings, and the hearty support he gives to plans for the development of the community, together with his many sterling qualities of character, all combine to make him a re- spected and popular citizen.
UCIUS R. CHURCHILL, of the firm of Churchill & Washburn, plumbers and steam-fitters of Brock- ton, was born in East Bridgewater, January 4, 1860, a son of Rodney and Hannah G. (Reed) Churchill. Several generations of his family have lived in Bridgewater.
His grandfather, Charles Churchill, resided in this vicinity and worked at shoemaking for some time, eventually going into business and hiring a number of shoemakers. He married Dorcas Hawes, and they reared ten children, six of whom are living, namely: Charles;
Newton; George; Rodney, father of Lucius R. ; Dorcas; and Elizabeth. Rodney Church - ill was born in West Bridgewater in 1837, and is now living in East Bridgewater. He is shoe cutter by trade. An active meniber of the Union Congregational Church, he is at present Treasurer of the society. His wife is a daughter of John Reed, of East Bridgewater. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Churchill, Lucius R. being the second.
Lucius R. Churchill was educated in West Bridgewater. He went to sea at the age of sixteen and sailed on a merchantman two years, rounding Cape Horn three times, en route to San Francisco, and making one trip to Liverpool, England. For four years after his return he worked as a shoe cutter, and he then obtained a position as book-keeper for R. G. Shepard, who was engaged in steam- heating and engineering. After four years at the book-keeper's desk, he worked for Mr. Shepard three years as engineer, and in 1890 he started in the plumbing and steam-heating business for himself. On April 1, 1895, he formed a copartnership with William S. Washburn ; and the firm of Churchill & Wash- burn is now one of the most prosperous and reliable plumbing firms in the city. Mr. Churchill began business at Campello, and moved to his present stand six months after starting. The first year he had ten men in his employ, and he now keeps on an average thirty hands.
Mr. Churchill was married in November, 1882, to Cora J., daughter of Nathan M. Poole, of East Bridgewater. He votes the Republican ticket, but takes no active part in politics, preferring to give his time to his business. Well advanced in Masonry, he is a member of Satucket Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of East Bridgewater, in which he has held the
98
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
office of Junior Warden; and he belongs to Harmony Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Bridgewater, and Bay State Commandery, Knights Templars, of Brockton. He is a member of Campello Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Commercial Club of Brockton. He attends worship at the Porter Congregational Church.
ULDA BARKER LOUD, of Rock- land, Mass., is one of the bright and progressive women of the day, strong in mental gifts and executive ability. She was born in East Abington (now Rock- land), September 13, 1844, daughter of Reuben and Betsey (Whiting) Loud.
Reuben Loud, Miss Loud's father, was a native of Weymouth, Mass. He owned a farm in Rockland, and after being engaged for several years as a shoe manufacturer he retired from business to farm life. He died at the age of seventy-eight. His wife, now seventy- seven years old, a native of historic Plym- outh, is living on the homestead in Rock- land. She is the mother of seven children, namely : Rienzi, formerly a lawyer in Albion, Mich., now deceased ; Marcus M., deceased ; Georgianna S., wife of Major E. P. Reed, of North Abington; Hulda B., the subject of this sketch; Eugene F., a resident of San Francisco, now serving his sixth year in Con- gress; Sarah Ann; and Clarice A., wife of James Beverly, of Rockland.
Hulda Barker Loud was educated in East Abington, graduating from the high school at the age of seventeen ; and she began to teach when she was eighteen years old. As a teacher she displayed marked ability, and she had the courage to battle against an injustice which many bear in meek silence. A woman teacher, though performing as much work and
work of as high a grade as a man, usually re- ceives a much smaller salary ; but Miss Loud, who for thirteen years held a high position as a teacher in Rockland, received the salary of a male principal. She was awarded this salary because she demanded it, and constantly agi- tated the question of equal rights with the school committee.
In 1884 the publishers of a new paper asked Miss Loud to take the editorial .chair, and she consented, naming the paper the Rockland Independent. Of this publication she is still editor-in-chief. Her energy would not be confined to the editorial chair alone, and in 1889 she purchased the business - job print- ing and publishing - and is now sole proprie- tor of the office. The paper bears the impress of strong mentality, and has always been the vehicle of reformatory principles, social and political. When, in 1889, Miss Loud became head of the establishment, she announced in the opening number that she had bought the business " to help save the world; that it was not a business venture in any sense of the word; that the business would always be in charge of a foreman; that she desired a medium through which she could convey her - best thought to the world, unhampered by worldly interests " (see "A Woman of the Cen- tury," published in 1893). In addition to the Independent she publishes the North Abington News and the North River Pioncer. The In- dependent was founded by E. C. Osborne and W. J. Barry, and Mr. Barry is at present local editor and has charge of the business matters to a great extent.
Miss Loud began to speak in public a num- ber of years ago, advocating woman suffrage in 1872-74, and speaking in behalf of the Knights of Labor at different times. At the Women's International Council, held in Wash- ington in 1888, she represented the Knights
IOI
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
of Labor, and her address was received with enthusiasm. She spoke also at that time before the Knights of Labor and the Anti-Poverty Society of Washington. But though very suc- cessful as a speaker, she prefers home to pub- lic life, and finds newspaper work more con- genial than lecturing. She has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rockland Public Library for the past six years; served three years on the School Board of the town; and for many years she has been accustomed to address town meetings on important topics, no one questioning her right to do so. In the spring of 1891 Miss Loud adopted two boys, her niece's children, whom she governs wholly without force. She is a zealous apostle of the new mental science, though recognizing the claims of the body.
She has built a house on her mother's farm, in a retired spot outside the village, and at- tends to her own domestic affairs, spending a few hours of the afternoon in her office, and passing the rest of the time in her own home. Though Miss Loud works from sixteen to eighteen hours a day, she was never physically or mentally stronger than now. She boasts that through sheer force of will she has never known a day's sickness, though she inherits many weaknesses. Altogether she is a re- markable woman, exemplifying strongly the power of mind over matter. She attends the Unitarian church.
ILLIAM BROWN, of Abington, is a self-made man, who, without edu- cational or other advantages, has raised himself to a position of prominence and honor in the community. He was born No- vember 6, 1813, in Abington, a son of Wal- ston and Betsey (Wales) Brown. Like many of the citizens in this part of Plymouth
County he comes of old New England stock, his ancestors having settled in Newburyport at an early date. Walston Brown was born in West Abington. He died in 1857, aged sixty-nine years. His wife died at the age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of the following children : Mary Adeline, Julia Caroline, Caroline Goodwin, Anna How- ard, and Nellie Davis.
William Brown had but a limited school- ing in the days of his youth, a liberal educa- tion being harder to obtain then than now; but he was blessed with natural ability and an enterprising spirit, and early began to work his way toward prosperity. In 1839 he started in the confectionery business in Abington, and he managed a successful trade for twelve years; then for about twenty years he was prosperously engaged in manufacturing shoes. In 1873 he retired from business, and has since been living quietly upon the fruits of his years of activity. Mr. Brown has been for a number of years a Director of the Abing- ton Savings Bank, and was Vice-President from July, 1882, serving until July, 1889.
He was married November 17, 1845, to Julia Whiting, of Hingham, and five children blessed their union, two of whom are living : Mary Adeline, wife of George E. Curtis, of Boston; and Anna Howard Brown, who is at home with her parents.
Mr. Brown has four grandchildren, as fol- lows: William Goodwin, George Carroll, Paul Revere, children of Adeline, wife of George E. Curtis; and Jesse Howard, son of the late Nellie Davis and Thomas Ford Giles.
Mr. Brown is a Mason, belonging to John Cutler Lodge, of Abington, and Pilgrim Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter. In religious belief he is a Universalist. He has been doubly blessed, Providence having given him wealth of years as well as wealth of this world's
102
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
goods ; and at the advanced age of eighty-three he can look forward with reasonable hope to many pleasant hours to be enjoyed.
ESSE HARLOW, who was for many years extensively engaged in the ship- ping business in Plymouth, Mass., was born in this historic old New England town, October 5, 1821. He was a son of Jesse and Mary L. (Nelson) Harlow, and a lineal de- scendant of William Harlow, who was in Massachusetts as early as 1637 and later settled in Plymouth. Jesse Harlow, the younger, acquired a part of his education at the Hiram Fuller School in Athens, and at one time, it is said, taught school in Plymouth. His health failing he took passage to Liverpool, England, with the hope of recruiting his wasted energies. The sea voyage produced the desired effect, and after returning to Plym- outh he was able to enter upon his business career, succeeding to the charge of his father's shipping interests and attaining marked suc- cess. He was engaged in trade with the West India Islands and other countries, and was the owner of many fishing vessels, beside the other crafts that bore his cargoes to and fro.
February 26, 1867, was the date of his mar- riage with Miss Sarah F. Cobb, a daughter of HIeman Cobb, who was a well-known boot and shoemaker of Plymouth. Mr. Cobb died March 22, 1857. He was the father of a fam- ily of four children, of whom Mrs. Harlow is the only one now living. Devoting himself exclusively to business, Jesse Harlow was an unusual type of man; for, though possessing sufficient influence to have easily attained any position or secured any office he desired, he had no ambition in this direction, and took but little interest in politics, belonging to none of the numerous popular fraternal organ-
izations of the day. He was loyal to the re- ligious faith of his fathers, and for a quarter of a century he was Deacon of the Church of the Pilgrimage in his native town; while for the same period of time he taught in the Sun- day-school, leaving the impress of his instruc- tion and example upon the mind of many of Plymouth's present citizens.
On the 21st of August, 1887, Jesse Harlow passed through the valley of the shadow of death, leaving a vacant place in the list of Plymouth's most respected citizens that will not be easily or speedily filled. He had some time before sold out his shipping interests, which had proved of great pecuniary value under his management. His bereaved widow is still a resident of the town in which her husband's honorable career began and ended, and where his memory is affectionately cherished.
OHN C. BATCHELDER, M.D., of Rockland, Plymouth County, Mass., homœopathic physician and surgeon, was born in Middleton, Essex County, this State, May 9, 1864, and is a son of John A. and Laura A. (Couch) Batchelder. John A. Batchelder was born in Middleton, Mass. He has been in business as a shoe manufacturer for a number of years in Saleni, Mass., his wife's birthplace. His family consists of three sons and two daughters, namely : Henry F., a practising physician in Danvers, Mass. ; John C., of Rockland; Joseph W., who is in the fire insurance business in Hartford, Conn. ; Clementine L., in Salem; and a child who died in infancy.
John C. Batchelder was one year old when his father removed to Salem, and in the famous city of witches he received his early education. He had a natural inclination for the profession of medicine; and after graduat-
103
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
ing from the high school, while employed as a book-keeper, he studied medicine with his brother, Henry F. Batchelder, M. D. In 1883 he entered Boston University, and, graduating from the Medical Department in 1887, he en- tered upon the duties of his profession in Melrose, Mass. He subsequently practised in Wenham, Mass., for three or four years, and then moved to Rockland, where, as successor to Dr. Southgate, he has since conducted a successful practice. Dr. Batchelder is well prepared for his life-work, and is endowcd with the fine qualities that help to make the successful physician. He is a member of the Essex County Homoeopathic Medical Society and of the Massachusetts Surgical and Gynæ- cological Society in Boston.
Dr. Batchelder is independent in politics, favoring the election to office of the men best qualified to advance the interests of the people, irrespective of party. He is a member of Amity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Danvers, Mass., and in religious belief he is a Unita- rian. Although he has been in Rockland but two years, he has made many friends in the town and vicinity, and is especially popular with the young people.
APTAIN JOHN H. PAUN, of Lakeville, Mass., a retired ship- master, was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, this State, August 15, 1831. His parents were John and Sarah (Tripp) Paun. They lived for a number of years in New Bedford, but Mr. John Paun eventually purchased the farm in Lakeville on which his son is now living, and spent his last days there. He was the father of ten children, namely : Sarah; William; Benjamin; John H., the subject of this sketch; Gilbert; Deb- orah; Charles; David; Amos; and Ellen.
John H. Paun, the third son, grew to man- hood in the city of New Bedford, receiving there a high school education. When fifteen years of age he began to learn the cooper's trade, and when only seventeen was engaged as cooper on the whaling ship "Eagle," which sailed from New Bedford to the whaling grounds of the South Pacific, and was gone forty-nine months. Having become accus- tomed to the adventurous life of a whaler, he then shipped on the ship "Pantheon" as cooper and fourth mate, and cruised in the Okhotsk Sea, along the coast of California and South Pacific Ocean. When two and one- half years out the ship took fire and was com- pletely destroyed; but the crew fortunately escaped and landed on the island of Nukahiva, where they stayed three months, and were then taken off by an English brig and landed in San Francisco.
Young Paun next shipped as first mate on the barque "Massachusetts," which was out from New Bedford forty months, cruising in the Okhotsk and the South Seas; and he was subsequently master of the barque "Ana- conda," which was under his charge some forty-five months, returning safely to New Bedford with a good cargo. His next charge was the barque "Cicero," which was out forty-six months, visiting the whaling grounds of the Arctic Ocean, the Okhotsk Sea, and the South Pacific. After twenty years of constant voyaging, enduring the bitter cold of the Arc- tic regions, the fierce heat of the tropics, and exposure to the perils of the deep, Captain Paun retired to his present home, the farm in Lakeville purchased by his father.
Captain Paun married Miss Sarah C. Coombs, and has four children - S. Ida, John G., Isabella F., and Grace I. In poli- tics he is a Republican. Intelligent and energetic, his mind broadened by travel and
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
wide experience in positions of responsibility, he is held in much respect by his townsmen, and for ten years he has served on the Board of Selectmen and Assessors, presiding during eight years of that time as Chairman of the Selectmen.
ENRY J. MILLER, manufacturer of tacks and shoe nails, is proprietor and manager of one of the impor- tant industrial enterprises of Bridgewater, Mass. He was born in Hanover, Germany, December 3, 1847, a son of David and Mary (Alden) Miller, both natives of Hanover.
The lad was twelve years old when his father died, and he was early thrown on his own resources; but he received a good com- mon-school education in his native country, and this, with his natural intelligence and the knowledge gained by travel, combined to make him a remarkably capable man. He left Ger- many for England, and on June 21, 1868, he embarked from Liverpool in a sailing vessel for India, landing at Calcutta, November 10 of that year ; and on January 8, 1869, he sailed from Calcutta for America, landing in Boston, May 13, 1869. He soon obtained employment as a farm hand in North Hanson, Mass., and in 1871 he found work of the same kind in Bridgewater, which kept him busy about a year. He then entered a shoe factory in Brockton, Mass., and in 1872, returning to Bridgewater, was hired as cnginecr at the State Normal School. This position he held thirteen years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.