USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 56
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he also had an interest in an iron mine. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Hol- brook, was a daughter of Thomas Holbrook, a resident of Weymouth, Mass. Their son Samuel, born December 22, 1653, was a ship- wright and farmer. He married, and became the father of nine children. His son Isaac, born in Scituate, December 20, 1687, the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer, who spent his last days in this town. He was married three times. By his first wife, Lydia Clift, he had a son Isaac, second, born in 1717. Isaac, second, was the father of Isaac, third, and grandfather of Isaac, fourth, born in 1764, who was a farmer and a ship-builder, owning a shipyard on the North River in Pembroke, where he was a lifelong resident. Isaac Hatch, fourth, married Sarah Hatch, of this town, and they both lived to be octogenarians. They had six children.
Isaac Hatch, fourth, born in 1796, son of Isaac, third, and Sarah Hatch, acquired his elementary education in the district school, and later added to his stock of knowledge by attending Bridgewater Academy. When he was seventeen years of age, his father pur- chased for him a tract of land in Hatchville or East Pembroke. Through this land passed a steadily flowing stream, which they damned and utilized to run a woollen-mill that they had erected. They then engaged in the manu- facture of satinet ; but the enterprise not prov- ing to be a financial success, it was abandoned a few years thereafter. Having previously built a saw-mill, Deacon Hatch purchased standing lumber, which he manufactured in large quantities. He subsequently became interested in the manufacture of boxes, and continued engaged in the management thereof through the rest of his life, building up a lucrative trade.
He married Lavina, a daughter of Hezekiah Allen, and niece of the Rev. Morrill Allen. She was a native of Bowdoinham, Me. By this marriage there were seven children, but four of whom came to maturity: George F. ; Isaac, fifth of the name in direct line; Martin ; and Lavina. Isaac and Lavina reside in Bos- ton. The father died at the age of fifty-four, but the mother lived to be eighty-three, sur- viving her husband twenty-nine years.
George F. Hatch was a public-spirited and progressive man, who took much interest in the growth and welfare of the town of Pem- broke while he retained his residence here. Eventually he removed to Quincy, Mass., where he died'December 29, 1876, aged forty - nine years and nine months.
Martin Hatch, after attending the public schools of his native town, took a supplement- ary course of instruction at a private school in Kingston. He then assisted his father in the work of the mill. When Mr. Isaac Hatch died, Martin and his brother George succeeded to the management of the concern, carrying on the box factory with excellent results for a period of about twenty-five years, or until the ill health of both compelled their retirement from active business. Mr. Hatch has since given his time to the care of his private in- terests. He owns and occupies the old home- stead, which suggests many tender memories. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. In his religious outlook he is a man of liberal and progressive ideas.
LIZABETH A. KINGMAN, for many years a prominent and successful teacher in the public schools of Brockton, is the daughter of the late Albert Kingman of this city and his wife Lavina Alden. She was born October 31, 1841, in
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North Bridgewater, now Brockton, and has spent the greater part of her life in her native place, closely identified with its social and intellectual interests. Miss Kingman has a worthy ancestry, being descended on her mother's side from Richard Williams (who has been called the father of Taunton, and who was a cousin of Oliver Cromwell), also from John and Priscilla Alden; and on her father's side from Henry Kingman, who settled in Weymouth in 1630.
Miss Kingman received her early education in the public schools of the town, and later, wishing to prepare herself for teaching, took a training course in the Bridgewater Normal School. She entered that institution while Marshall Conant was at its head, and was graduated in 1861 under Albert G. Boyden, A. M., the present principal. Miss Kingman gained a reputation for herself among both pupils and teachers as a thorough student and a young woman of fine abilities. She was valedictorian of her class, and a successful future in the line of her chosen profession was predicted for her. Accepting an offer of a school in Easton, she taught there for a year, fully justifying the expectations of her friends. Leaving Easton she went to Stoughton for a year, and after that time, up to 1893, she taught in Brockton. Many of her former pupils, now men and women, and engaged in various callings, remember with gratitude and appreciation the untiring patience and kindly help with which she lured them along the rugged and devious paths of learning.
In 1893 Miss Kingman decided to give up teaching and to devote her time to her favorite study of history and to the development of plans for benevolent work. She has long been deeply interested in the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and is an ardent advocate of the principles of that organization.
In 1894 she was appointed, by the Massachu- setts Women's Christian Temperance Union, State Superintendent of Sunday-school work, a position which she still occupies. She has also been leader of the Loyal Temperance Legion, a children's organization in Brockton, since 1884. She has frequently addressed conventions on Sunday-school as well as on temperance work. She is connected with the Porter Congregational Church, and is Superin- tendent of the primary department of the Sun- day-school. Miss Kingman is a pleasing writer, and has often been called upon in fam- ily gatherings and festivities to express in verse the sentiment of the occasion, four golden weddings and many anniversaries hav- ing thus tested her poetic ability.
ALISHA HOWLAND JOSLYN, founder of the Joslyn Express Company, was born in that part of Pembroke, Plym- outh County, Mass., included in the town of Hanson, January 24, 1811, and was the son of Eleazer and Alice (Howland) Joslyn. He was educated in the public schools of Hanson, and at an early age began to work in a cotton factory in that town, and later in Marshfield. Here he made a careful study of the machin- ery, and became familiar with all the details of the business, so that at the age of twenty he was called upon to take a position as fore- man of a mill in Pembroke. Later he re- moved to Lowell, where he spent about three years. He was then waited upon by gentle- men from Newburyport, who solicited him to go to that place to equip and manage a new mill. He accepted the offer, and remained in Newburyport for two years, when ill-health prompted him to resign, and he returned to Hanson.
He afterward built the branch of the Old
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SYLVANUS W. HALL.
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Colony Railroad extending from Stoughton to North Easton. He also put in the public water-works at Plymouth. For some years following this he kept a market in North Bridgewater, now Brockton. In 1860 he was asked by the President of the Old Colony Rail- road to open an express route between Boston and North Bridgewater, and was offered the exclusive right of the railroad for that purpose. After carefully deliberating the matter, he concluded to start the business, which later became so successful. For many years Mr. Joslyn gave his direct supervision to the work, or until personal considerations made it desir- able for him to retire and devote himself to his private interests, which he did until his death in October, 1892.
Mr. Joslyn was twice married. By his first wife, Hannah, daughter of Daniel Sawin, M. D., of East Bridgewater, he had three chil- dren - Cornelia, Elmer, and Alice. In 1857 he married Mrs. Ellen Gurney, daughter of Albert Kingman. One son, Albert Kingman Joslyn, survives him.
Mr. Joslyn was a member of the Porter Con- gregational Church and a strong advocate of temperance. In politics he was a Republican, and filled various offices. He was a fine speci- men of a self-made man, and his life is an ex- ample of what may be accomplished by untir- ing activity and close attention to business. During his life he earned a reputation for ability and business integrity that any man might envy.
YLVANUS W. HALL, Postmaster at Marion, Plymouth County, Mass., and a worthy representative citizen of this town, was born at Rochester, now Marion, November 6, 1832. His father, Daniel Hall, was a native of Duxbury, this county. For thirty years of his active life he
served as Deputy Sheriff of Plymouth County, and a part of that time also for Bristol and Barnstable Counties, being widely and favor- ably known throughout the south-eastern part of Massachusetts as a man of genuine worth and ability. The maiden name of his wife was Hannah King. They had five children, namely : Charles D. ; Sylvanus W. ; Abner, deceased ; Julia A. ; and Jennison C.
Sylvanus W., the second son, was born and reared on a farm. He stayed at home with his parents until fourteen years of age, when he began life on his own account, going to the neighboring town of Mattapoisett, where he was employed as a clerk for a year. The fol- lowing two years he was similarly engaged at Providence, R.I. The next three years he spent in New Bedford. He was then assistant at the Marion Railway Station a year, and afterward station agent at Fairhaven, Bristol County, three years. Returning to Marion in 1861, Mr. Hall was appointed to the charge of the post-office here, which position he ably filled, discharging its duties with promptitude and efficiency for thirty-five years, or until his resignation, which took effect on April I, 1896. He was succeeded by his son-in-law, Frank M. Tripp, the present Postmaster.
Mr. Hall was married on November 6, 1859, to Miss Annie M., daughter of Dr. W. N. Ellis, who was for many years a popular physi- cian of Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have four children, namely: Lucy M., Assistant Post- master at Marion; Hannah, wife of Richard A. Cowing; Mattie C., wife of Captain Will- iam Kelley; and Elizabeth B. S., wife of Frank M. Tripp.
Politically, Mr. Hall is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He served as Town Treasurer and Collector sixteen consecutive years, and for three years was Collector of the Port of Marion. He belongs to the Masonic
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order, being an active member of Pythagorean Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he was Secretary ten years. Mr. Hall is a member of the Congregational church.
ARVEY ·CROCKER, an energetic and enterprising business man of Plym -; outh County, engaged in harness- making and saddlery at Wareham, is a native of this town, born September 1I, 1847, being one of a family of six sons and five daughters born to Walton N. and Elizabeth (Swift) Crocker. His father was from Hyannis, Barnstable County, and his mother a native of Wareham.
Harvey Crocker attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, when, his patriotic ardor being thoroughly aroused, he enlisted in defence of the Union, joining the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry January 20, 1864, and being mustered into service at Readville. With his comrades in arms he went first to Port Royal, thence shortly after to Virginia to join General Butler's forces, from that time till after the close of the war being detailed for special duty until his discharge, which he received December 14, 1865. On returning home, Mr. Crocker worked in his father's har- ness shop three years, serving a full appren- ticeship to the trade, which he is now follow- ing. He next spent three years in seafaring pursuits, cruising on a whaling vessel two years, and one year on a coaster. His father having died in the mean time, Mr. Crocker then retired from nautical pursuits to assume charge of the harness shop; and he has since carried on a prosperous and lucrative business, dealing largely in horses and carriages in addition to his manufacturing.
Mr. Crocker was first married on March 19, 1874, to Sarah Shaw Bump, of Lakeville,
Mass. ; and one son, Harvey Shaw Crocker, was the fruit of the union. His second mar- riage, uniting him with Louise Stanwood Barnes, took place October 27, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Crocker have three daughters, namely : Lucy Fenderson, born August 5, 1887; Louise Stanwood, born April 14, 1890; and Elizabeth Swift, born April 9, 1892.
In politics he adheres closely to the prin- ciples promulgated by the Republican party, in which he is an active and intelligent worker. Since 1884 he has been a member of the Board of Registrar of voters, and in 1895 he represented the Seventh Plymouth District in the State legislature. He is identified with several local social organizations, being a member of Wareham Post, No. 208, Grand Army of the Republic; of Social Harmony Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; and of Wankinquoah Lodge, No. 119, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Wareham. Mr. Crocker is well known in this section of Plymouth County, and stands remarkably high in the community as an honorable, upright, and trustworthy citizen.
HARLES H. COLE, a trusted fore- man in H. M. Kingman's shoe factory of Brockton, was born October 15, 1835, in Boston, Mass., son of Charles and Abigail Griggs (Harvey) Cole. His father, a native of Paris, Me., was reared on a farm, and attended the common schools in his native town. When Charles Cole attained his ma- jority he removed from Maine to Dedham, Mass., where he worked in a cotton-mill for some time, and first made the acquaintance of his future wife. Later he came to Boston, and followed the trade of carpenter. While there, among other buildings, he erected a block on Pine Street, and a larger one on Shawmut Street, now Shawmut Avenue. He
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subsequently moved to Campello, where he died at the age of seventy-five years. He married Abigail Griggs Harvey, of Spring Street, West Roxbury, who bore him six chil- dren - Susan, Lucinda, Charles, John Har- vey, George William, and Hattie. Susan married Horace Baker, and they reside in Brockton. Lucinda married the Hon. H. A. Monk. a heel manufacturer also of this city. The mother lived to be seventy-four years of age.
Charles H. Cole obtained his early educa- tion in the old Brimmer School on Common Street, Boston. At the age of ten he removed with his parents to Sharon. Here he assisted in the cultivation of the farm, of which he soon took entire charge. At the age of six- teen, however, he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and subsequently worked at it until the fall of 1859. In the mean time he had removed to Stoughton, and from there came to Brockton, October 17, 1853, to en- gage in rebuilding the old South Congrega- tional Church, which had been destroyed by fire on May 23 of that year. After this he was employed throughout the winter season at the factory of A. & A. B. Keith at Campello, and at his trade in summer until 1859, when he abandoned the latter calling, as already in- timated. While in the employ of Messrs. Keith he learned the business of sole-leather cutting, in which industry he was a pioneer, and one of the first to adopt new methods. During the war he made army shoes, and after- ward remained in charge of his department until the firm went out of the business seven- teen years later. The Keith's establishment was the first and largest steam factory in Brockton, then North Bridgewater, and the firm had the first dies and first pegging and stitching machines. When a strike occurred in the winter of 1859, Mr. Cole stood by his
employers. The esteem in which he was held by the company is best shown by the fact that, while he neither sought promotion nor increase of wages, he was advanced with due regard to emoluments.
After Messrs. Keith retired from business, Mr. Cole entered the C W. Copeland shoe factory as foreman of sole-leather department, which position he held until Mr. Copeland's failure in July, 1883. In February, 1884, he took a similar position in the factory of H. M. Kingman. Later, at the urgent request of Mr. Copeland, he returned to assist him for a time in cutting sample stock. While so en- gaged he had the misfortune to lose a finger, after which he re-entered the H. M. Kingman factory. During the thirteen years spent here he has been foreman of the sole-leather room, and is now in addition superintendent of the factory. In politics, from his first vote to the present time, he has steadily supported the Republican party. In the first year that the new law went into force he was appointed by Mayor Keith a member of the Board of Regis- trars for the term of one year. He was after- ward reappointed by Mayor Whipple for the term of three years, but he resigned after serv- ing one year. Mr. Cole was one of the pro- moters of the Campello Co-operative Bank, which was established in October, 1877, and has been on the Security Committee since its organization, that being the only office he would accept. During the Rebellion he served as Collector of the money demanded for substitutes in District No. 6, paying the amount received into the hands of the Hon. H. W. Robinson. In the year 1864 he fur- nished a substitute, who entered the marine service for four years.
On February 24, 1856, he was united in marriage with Olive A., daughter of Sylvanus French. She was born October 16, 1834,
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and has had four children - Mary Abbie, Lizzie Augusta, George French, and Lucia E. Mary Abbie, who married Henry Newton, of Brockton, died November 20, 1885; Lizzie Augusta married Henry Crane, of Bridge- water; George French married Lillie Perkins, of Norwell, Plymouth County; and Lucia took for her life partner Dr. J. F. Allen, of Arling-' ton. He is a dentist of Campello. Frater- nally, Mr. Cole is a member of Brockton Lodge, No. 218, Knights of Honor. In re- ligion he is a member of the South Congrega- tional Church.
HARLES L. RICE, a prominent cit - izen of Rockland, Mass., was born at Brookfield, Vt., December 31, 184I, a son of Alphonso and Mary (Cardell) Rice. The father was a plain, honest New England farmer, who spent the greater part of his life in the "Green Mountain State" in tilling the soil, but eventually removed to Brooklyn, Ia., where he died at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Cardell, was a native of the State of New York, born near Lake George. On both sides Mr. Rice comes from a long- lived stock, several of his paternal ancestors having lived to be over ninety years old. Mr. and Mrs. Alphonso Rice were the parents of nine children, namely : John A,, a dry-goods merchant of Rockland; Mary, who resides in Brooklyn, Ia .; Cynthia Louise (deceased) ; Lovina, a resident of Rockland; Hannah, who resides in Boston; Carrie, now a resident of Minneapolis; Charles L .; George E., who lives in Malden, and is a dry-goods merchant ; and Eugene M., a resident of Boston, Mass., who conducts an extensive dry-goods business in Chelsea.
Charles L. Rice, the seventh child of his
parents, was brought up on his father's farm, on which, after he was twelve years old, he worked during the summers, learning the routine duties of farm life. His education was obtained by attendance during the winters at the district school and by a supplementary course of study at Barre Academy. Like his brothers and sisters, he followed for a time the calling of a teacher, being thus engaged for three terms.
He made the farm his home until August, 1862, when, obeying the voice of patriotism, he enlisted as a private soldier in the Tenth Regiment of Vermont Volunteer Infantry. On October 27, 1863, he was commissioned a Captain, being assigned to the command of Company A, Seventh Regiment, United States Colored Troops. After serving in this capacity until March 4, 1864, he was ordered to Hilton Head, S.C., thence to Jacksonville, Fla., which latter place he reached about the end of the month. Here he was prostrated by an attack of rheumatic fever, from which he did not recover until October. In the mean time his regiment had been transferred to Virginia, where he rejoined it after an en- forced absence of seven months. After his re- turn he was detailed with his company as provost guard of Major-general Weitzel's headquarters. A few months later he was appointed Acting Assistant Inspector-general, First Brigade, Second Division, Twenty . fifth Army Corps. On May 24 he was ordered to Texas, and in the following June was detailed Acting Assistant Inspector-general of the sub-district of Victoria, and in February, 1866, detailed with the same rank to the Cen- tral District of Texas. On October 13 the command was moved east to Baltimore, where it was mustered out, Captain Rice being brevetted Major and Lieutenant-Colonel of volunteers for services.
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Soon after his return to the North he came to Rockland, where, in 1867, he went into business with his eldest brother, the firm being known as J. A. & C. L. Rice. Dealing first in dry goods and similar wares, they sub- sequently, in 1870, added a furniture depart- inent, and were very successful in both lines. The combined enterprise at length attained such large proportions that in 1872 the brothers decided to separate, John A. Rice taking the original dry-goods business, and Charles L. the furniture trade in its several branches. In 1874 he added the department of undertaking. Eight years later he estab- lished a branch house in South Weymouth; and in 1887 he bought and improved the large stores now occupied by him on Park Street.
On November 7, 1865, Mr. Rice married Hattie E. Perry, a native of Worcester, Vt., and daughter of the Rev. David Perry. Her father was a minister of the gospel, a very able and worthy man, who, after following his sacred calling in Worcester and elsewhere, at the age of seventy-five accepted a charge at Falmouth, Mass., where he died three years later. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have had seven children - Julia P., Clarence E., David Perry, Mary L., Cora H., Hattie Adele, and Charles L. Julia P. married George W. Wakefield, and resides in Minneapolis, Minn. ; Clarence E., who is an able business man, married Sadie Tolman, and lives in Rockland. He is the superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Congregationalist church, where he and his wife attend worship. They have one child, Louise T., born June 5, 1896. David Perry, who has chosen to devote his life to the min- istry, is now pursuing his theological studies. Mary L. became the wife of Frank A. Shel- den, is a resident of Rockland, and is an as- sistant teacher in Volkman's Fitting School, Boston. Cora H., Hattie Adele, and Charles
L., Jr., all live at home, and are pupils in the public schools.
Mr. Rice is a stanch Republican in politics, but has hitherto declined to accept office. He has always taken a great interest in the de- velopment of the town, and more especially in anything that would tend to increase its im- portance as a business centre. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the club, which has accomplished much in this direction. The idea occurred to him ten years before, and he went at that time to the neigh- boring city of Brockton, where there was an organized Board of Trade. After a careful examination of their system, rules, and by- laws, he returned to his own town with a very satisfactory report, which he laid before his fellow-citizens, but failed to impress upon them the desirability of taking steps to form a similar organization. After ten years, another and more successful attempt was made, resulting in the Rockland Commer- cial Club, of which Mr. Rice was chosen first President, and remained so for a period of three years.
In religious opinions Mr. Rice is in sym- pathy with the Congregational church, of which he is an active and useful member. He has been for fifteen years Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the church, and has con- ducted a Sunday-school class for the excep- tionally long period of twenty-five years. When the house of worship was destroyed by fire, he rendered valuable service in securing the erection of another, and was elected to the Chairmanship of the Building Committee. The result of his efforts in this direction may be seen in the new structure, which is an ad- mirable specimen of the modern church edi- fice, containing, in addition to the auditorium, handsome and convenient parlors, and rooms for Sunday-school and other purposes. The
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building was erected and furnished at an ex- pense but little short of forty thousand dollars. Mr. Rice fills a wide sphere of usefulness, and is highly respected by his fellow-citizens as an honorable business man, and a whole-souled, Christian gentleman.
ILLIAM T. DAVIS, the accom- plished historian of Plymouth, Mass., is a native of this ancient town, of which he is an influential and honored citizen. He comes of long lines of Colonial ancestry, numbering among his kinsfolk, near and remote, many worthy and distinguished names.
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