USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 61
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Henry Lyman, the second son, received a common-school education. He began his business carcer at eighteen years of age, in company with his brother, George Edward, under the style of G. E. & H. L. Bryant, and started the first clothing house in the town, conducting it for sixteen years. Since then Henry L. Bryant has engaged in the real es- tate and mortgage business. He is the corre- spondent of sixty-one banks, and his business transactions for the year 1895 amounted to one million, two hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Bryant erected the second brick block in Brockton, and has built five business blocks. He owns twenty stores, and is the second
largest tax-payer in Brockton, having risen to this position by his own unaided efforts. Sagacious and prudent, he has handled mill- ions of other people's money, and has always been successful in his transactions. Mr. Bryant was for a time a member of the Com- mercial Club. He is an attendant of the Unity (Unitarian) Church.
J OHN B. DAMON, a successful farmer and owner of the Centennial Hotel at North Scituate Beach, was born in Scituate, July IT, 1835, son of John and Al- mira (White) Damon. His education, which was begun in 'the common schools of his native town, was completed in Brockton, Mass. In his youth he was occupied in farming, but at the age of twenty he engaged in lobster fish- ing, which he continued successfully for seven years, when he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. For a number of years he was engaged exclusively in tilling the soil of a good farm in this town, during which time he demonstrated his practical knowl- edge of agriculture, and he derived good finan- cial returns for his labor. Early in the seventies he erected the Centennial Hotel at North Scituate Beach, and for fifteen years he gave his personal attention to its manage- ment. He is still the owner of the property, which he has improved, and he has done much to increase the attractiveness of the locality.
On May 5, 1867, Mr. Damon was united in marriage to Ella A. Grover, a native of South Hingham, Mass., and a daughter of A. H. and Eunice K. (Stoddard) Grover. Her father was a native of Maine, and her mother of South Hingham, Mass. Of the children born to Mrs. Damon's parents, six are living, namely: Eunice A., now Mrs. Charles H. Poole, of Rockland, Mass .; George A.
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Grover, of Somerville, Mass. ; Ella A., who is now Mrs. Damon; Edward E., a resident of Holbrook, Mass .; Mary, who lives in Rock- land; and Arthur B. Grover, of Somerville. Mr. and Mrs. Damon have two children, namely : Almira W., wife of George S. Bailey, of North Scituate, Mass. ; and John, who re- sides at Scituate Beach.
In politics Mr. Damon votes independently, supporting those candidates whom he considers the best qualified to hold office, and he sup- ports all practical measures calculated to ben- efit the community. He is widely known in this locality as a prosperous farmer, a success- ful hotel proprietor, and a sterling citizen. He is connected by membership with Satuit Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
IDWARD HOGAN, while at no time a resident of Plymouth County, may be considered as entitled, through his children, to representation in this work. He was born in Fishmoyne County, Tipperary, Ireland, in 1792. Despite almost insur- mountable difficulties, he obtained a good edu- cation, and was conversant with the Greek and Latin languages. He owned a good farm, which he took pleasure in cultivating. In the politics of his day he was an ardent supporter of Daniel O'Connell. Of a religious disposi- tion he took pleasure in teaching Sunday- school. He married Bridget, daughter of Lawrence O'Brien, of Borisvleigh, Tipperary County. By this marriage there were ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity. These were: Sarah, Lawrence, Edward, Thomas, Mrs. Burke, Mrs. Littleton, Mrs. Condon, and Mrs. Leyden.
Sarah Hogan, the sixth child, who was born in Tipperary, came with her widowed mother to this country in 1852. While the substan-
tial part of her education was acquired in her native country, she had the further advantage of pursuing a course of study with Squire Bird in Foxboro, Mass., and in 1859 she was united in marriage with James Hayes. Her brother Lawrence, when but seventeen years old, enlisted in the Fourth Massachusetts Cav- alry, and served in the Civil War. On one occasion, while carrying a dispatch to General Butler on the battlefield, he received a wound that was the probable cause of his death in 1881. He was an Alderman of Elmira, N. Y., where he resided in the latter part of his life. Edward Hogan, who served three years under General Burnside, died in 1892. Thomas, who has occupied several positions of trust in New York State, is now living in Brockton. The four sisters of Mrs. Hayes are also liv- ing. The father died in 1849, at the age of fifty-seven. The mother passed away in March, 1891, nearly one hundred years old. Her father and mother lived to the ages of ninety-nine and one hundred and three years respectively. Three of her cousins on the maternal side, two lawyers and a teacher, fought under Napoleon.
RCHIBALD DAKIN, druggist of Brockton, is a worthy representative of two old and respected families, the Dakyns and Warwicks. He was born in Digby, Nova Scotia, in 1861, and is a son of Edward Dakin. He traces his lineage on the paternal side to the days of Queen Elizabeth, when the name was spelled Dakyns.
The family coat-of-arms perpetuates the exploit of a Dakyn, governor of a castle in Cheshire, who, while at sea, was attacked by pirates, and cut the grappling ropes with an axe. This valorous gentleman had a family of nine children. Daniel Dakin, grandfather
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of the subject of this sketch, was probably a native of Nova Scotia; and he was engaged in farming there during his mature manhood. He married a daughter of Mr. Warwick, a gentleman of character and ability, who was for some time in business in New York City, and was later a Judge in Digby. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dakin had a family of eight boys and two girls.
Their son Edward was for some time en- gaged in ship-building with his brothers at Digby. He followed the sea also, and was master of a vessel. He married a daughter of Dr. W. L. Bent, of Digby. Four children were born to this couple, three of whom are living, Archibald being the youngest. While in Venezuela Edward Dakin was attacked by yellow fever, and died at the age of forty-four.
Archibald Dakin, having acquired his edu- cation in the common schools and the academy of Digby, was employed as clerk in A. J. McCallum's drug store in his native town for a year; was next with his brother, a druggist, in Wareham; and was then in East Boston in the same business for a while. In 1879 he formed a partnership with Dr. Robinson, under the firm name of A. Dakin & Co., and opened a drug store in Wareham. Dr. Robin- son retired at the end of a year, and Mr. Dakin managed a successful business alone for seven or eight years, selling his establishment at the end of that time on account of ill health. In the mean time, in 1882, he started a branch store at Onset; and the next year he began to publish The Seaside Ripple, a semi- monthly paper, the circulation of which rapidly increased, until it amounted to twelve hundred. At the end of a year he sold this paper to H. H. Sylvester, who is now on the editorial staff of the New York World. After disposing of his Wareham business, Mr. Dakin spent two years in recuperating, his chief
trouble being low nervous tone ; and in Septem- ber, 1891, he opened his present establishment in Brockton. He has a neat and completely furnished store, and a good line of trade.
Mr. Dakin takes an active interest in the politics of the day as a member of the People's party. In 1895 he was the Populist candidate for Representative to the State legislature, and made a gain of thirty-three votes. He is a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Brockton.
HOMAS BARSTOW, a prominent con- tractor and builder of Norwell, is a na- tive of this town, born April 26, 1850, son of Thomas Barstow and Amelia B. (Hathaway) Greene. He was named Thomas Barstow after his father; and in 1857, at the request of his grandmother, his surname Greene was dropped, and his name legally changed to Thomas Barstow. His parents had two other children: Albert S. Greene, who is now employed in the Charlestown Navy Yard, and resides in Somerville, Mass .; and Lydia B., who resides with her brother on the old homestead.
Thomas Barstow, the direct subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the farm that was settled by his great-grandfather, who also bore the Christian name of Thomas, and who was prominently connected with the ship-building industry on North River during the time of its greatest prosperity. After attending the district school, he took a supplementary course of study at Hanover Academy. When nine- teen years old, he began to learn the carpen- ter's trade with James Ford, of Pembroke, with whom he remained three years. Since then he has been in business for himself as a contractor and builder, and has been very suc- cessful. He owns about forty acres of the homestead farm, which he carries on.
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In 1892 Mr. Barstow was elected on the Republican ticket to the State legislature. He has served the town as Selectman since 1889, having been Chairman of the Board during the past seven years. He has also held the offices of Assessor and Overseer of the Poor, each for several ycars. He is a member of North River Lodge, No. 167, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Hanover, in which he is a Past Grand; and of Phoenix Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Hanover, in which he is a Past Master. He is also a member of Pil- grim Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and of Old Colony Commandery, Knights Templars, of Abington, Mass.
DWIN L. MAGLATHLIN, of King- ston, who owns and operates a tack manufactory at Indian Pond, was born in Kingston, March 28, 1849, son of Peter W. and Marcia (Bradford) Maglathlin. His father was a native of Kingston, and his mother of Maine. The family, which is of Scotch origin descends in a direct line from its founder in America, John Maglathlin, and a more extended account of its ancestry may be found in the sketch of Philemon W. Maglath- lin, which appears elsewhere in this work.
Edwin L. Maglathlin was reared and edu- cated in Kingston, and resided upon his father's farm until he was sixteen years old. He then went to sea as a fisherman, making one or more voyages to the Grand Banks. At the age of twenty he gave up the sea, and be- ยท came a locomotive fireman on the Old Colony Railway. After serving in that capacity for some years, he was appointed an engineer, and continued in the company's employ for twelve years, during which time he was in charge of locomotives upon all branches of the road. In 1885 he resigned his position, and
entered into partnership with his brother, Horace B., the tack manufacturer of Silver Lake. The firm of Maglathlin Brothers con- tinued in business for nine years, when it was dissolved, and our subject was for a time en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. Re-embarking in business, he was engaged in manufacturing tacks in Kingston village, where he continued for a few months, or until May 1, 1894, when he purchased his present plant at Indian Pond. He has water power sufficient to run his fac- tory at all seasons of the year, and, having a first-class equipment, he produces a large out- put annually, including shoe tacks of every variety. Mr. Maglathlin wedded Elmira Simmons, daughter of Nahum Simmons, late of Kingston. He is a self-made man, as he was forced to make his way in life solely by his own exertions; and his present business standing is a sufficient guarantee of his future prosperity. Politically, he supports the Re- publican party.
ENRY T. SMITH, a representative citizen of Rockland, where he holds the office of Selectman, was born in Candia, N.H., April 6, 1856, son of French and Laura A. (Quimby) Smith. His father, who was born in Canada, was engaged during a great part of his life in farming in New Hampshire. His mother died at the age of fifty. She gave birth to five children - Augustus F., Henry T., Nettie, Clara A., and Alice I.
Henry T. Smith is a high-school graduate. He remained in his native State until twenty years old, spending a part of the time in farm work, which developed his muscles and strengthened his body generally. Then, feel- ing no inclination to continue a farmer's life, he went to work in a shoe shop in Belfast, Me.
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He was employed in Belfast for about five years, and then came to Rockland, Mass., where he made shoes for a period of fifteen years. He has been engaged in the baking business under the firm name of H. T. Smith & Co. since 1896. During his residence in Rockland he has established a reputation for honesty and integrity, and won the sincere respect of his townsmen.
On August 10, 1878, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Emma Howard, of Bel- fast. Two children have blessed the union - Orminda and Bertha. In politics Mr. Smith favors the Democratic side, but believes that it is best sometimes to disregard party lines. He has served the town in the capacity of Overseer of the Poor, Assessor, and Select- man, and he is a member of Standish Lodge, No. 177, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the New England Order of Protection. He is also a member of the Rockland Fire Department.
G EORGE HERBERT THOMAS, of Brant Rock, who is successfully en- gaged in the varied occupations of a farmer, general teamster, and dealer in ice, wood, milk, hay, and grain, is a worthy rep- resentative of one of the oldest families of Marshfield, Mass., his native town. He was born March 10, 1852, son of Luther and Abi- gail (Sampson) Thomas.
There were three early settlers in Marsh- field bearing the surname Thomas. The first of these was John, an orphan lad, who came in the "Hopewell " in 1635. He was under the care of Governor Edward Winslow for a time, and eventually became his steward at Careswell. The others were William and his son Nathaniel, who came with the son's wife and child in 1637. John Thomas married in 1648, Sarah Pitney; and both he and Na-
thaniel Thomas have been succeeded by a numerous posterity, including many useful and esteemed citizens, not a few of whom, at- taining distinction in various fields of effort, have filled positions of influence and honor.
Samuel Thomas, son of John and Sarah, born in 1655, married Mercy Ford, and was the father of John, second, born in 1684, Na- than, and others. Nathan Thomas married successively Alice Baker, Abiah Snow, and Sarah Bartlett. These and other early de- scendants of John Thomas, first, are men- tioned in Mr. William T. Davis's "Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth," a book of reference invaluable to the student of Pilgrim family history.
Nathan Thomas was a tanner, and lived in Marshfield. His son William, who suc- ceeded to the ownership of his homestead, was probably the William Thomas prominent in Marshfield in pre-Revolutionary times, hold- ing a Captain's commission from Governor Hutchinson. Captain William Thomas was the great-grandfather of George H., the sub- ject of this sketch. His children were: Luther, Sr., Jesse, Mary, and Sarah. Luther Thomas, Sr., who was born January 25, 1757, and died October 24, 1831, was twice mar- ried. By his first wife, Rebecca Dingley, he had three children, namely: Marcia Abiah, author of "Memorials of Marshfield," who was born July 30, 1800, and died September 14, 1879; William Foster, born January 25, 1802, died July 26, 1883; Sarah, born Febru- ary 20, 1807, died October 14, 1896. By his second wife, Abigail Hewitt, he had one son, Luther, who was born November 30, 181I.
The younger Luther Thomas married Abi- gail, daughter of Andrew and Lydia (Soule) Sampson. Her father was of the fifth genera- tion in direct line from Henry Sampson, one of the "Mayflower " Pilgrims. Mr. and Mrs.
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Luther Thomas had six children: Anne, who was born June 19, 1837, and died February 23, 1883; Henry, born February 7, 1839, now living in California; Alice Jane, born December 25, 1844, who died in October, 1889; Abbie Frances, born May 25, 1848, who died October 27, 1896; George Herbert, whose birth-date is mentioned above; Emily Augusta, who was born January 1, 1857, and died March 5, 1860. Luther Thomas during his active life was engaged in farming in Marshfield. He died October 19, 1896, aged nearly eighty-five years. His wife, Mrs. Abigail Sampson Thomas, died June 21, 1885, at the age of seventy-three.
Miss Marcia A. Thomas, half-sister of Mr. Luther Thomas, will long be held in honored, grateful remembrance as the local antiquary and writer, and a public benefactor. It would be utterly impossible now to copy from some of the oldest stones in the ancient burial-ground the inscriptions reverently and happily pre- served in her little volume of "Memorials," published in 1854, which she modestly de- clined to dignify with the title of history. The proceeds of the book, with two or three individual subscriptions, were placed at inter- est till a sufficient fund had accumulated to erect in that quiet resting-place a monument to the memory of the early settlers of Green Harbor.
George H., the younger of the two sons of Luther Thomas, was an attendant of the com- mon schools until he was about sixteen years old. He remained with his parents six years after he became of age, then started out for himself, settling at Brant Rock, where he began in a small way, but now has a thriving business as a result of sagacious and persever- ing energy. He is well known in the village of Brant Rock and vicinity as a man of sterl- ing integrity. In politics he is a Republican.
On March 27, 1879, Mr. Thomas married Ellen M. Peterson, a native of Duxbury, Mass., and daughter of the late Jabez Peter- son, of that place. Her mother's maiden name was Phoebe Shurtleff. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have two daughters - Edith F. and May.
OSHUA DEAN, dealer in lumber, grain, and coal, and proprietor of the Dean Foundry at East Bridgewater, ranks among the foremost business men of this locality, as well as the oldest, having been in business since 1868. He was born in Easton, Mass., March 25, 1830, a son of William and Keziah (Britton) Dean. The Deans, who are of English origin, settled first in Raynham, Bristol County, Mass. William Dean, a na- tive of the old Bay State and a successful farmer, died in 1844. His wife, also a native of Massachusetts, survived him nearly forty years, passing away in 1883.
Joshua Dean, direct subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Easton, Mass. His 'father dying when he was fourteen years old, he was early thrown upon his own re- sources, and received but a limited education. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the moulder's trade at North Chelmsford, Mass., and worked there ten years in the employ of two firms. He was subsequently for six years foreman for William E. Bird, proprietor of a foundry in West Bridgewater; and in 1868, forming a partnership with Cephas Perry, he purchased a foundry at East Bridgewater. This was successfully managed for several years by the firm of Dean & Perry, and was finally destroyed by fire. Some time after that Mr. Dean became sole proprietor, and under his supervision new shops were built, to which he subsequently made important addi - tions. His business prospered and increased
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from year to year, and in 1895 he purchased what is now known as the Brockton Brass and Iron Foundry, of which he is sole proprietor. His success in business has been achieved by his own unaided efforts.
Mr. Dean married Evaline Cragin, a native of Peterboro, N.H., and of the children born to them two are living: Jennie, wife of Thomas H. Perkins; and Carrie E., wife of E. Samuel Ryder.
Mr. Dean is a Republican politically. He represented the district in the State legislat- ure in 1880, and served for a number of terms as Selectman of East Bridgewater. He is prominent in Masonry, being a charter mem- ber of Satucket Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at East Bridgewater, and is identified with the lodge of Knights Templars at Abington. His home is one of the most beautiful in this sec- tion of the county. Mr. Dean, though not a church member, is generous in his support of religious enterprises. He and his wife take part in all the prominent social events of the vicinity.
EPHAS WASHBURN, a prosperous farmer of Halifax, Mass., is a native of Plymouth County, born in the town of Bridgewater, January 18, 1832, a son of Cephas and Mercy (Paris) Washburn. His father, Cephas Washburn, Sr., was twice mar- ried. By his first wife, formerly a Miss Paris, he had three children: Martin L., living in Bridgewater; Albion K, an inventor, resid- ing in Bridgewater; and Cephas. His second marriage was with Sallie Paris, and a son and daughter were born of this union, namely : Frank, who died in 1860; and Harriet M., the wife of Simeon F. Jordan, of Bridgewater.
When five years old, Cephas, the youngest son by the first wife, came to Halifax, where he lived until twenty-five years of age, when
he went on a fishing expedition one season. Following that he was engaged in shoemaking until 1861, when he enlisted at the first call for troops from President Lincoln. After three months' service he returned home, and was chosen Captain in the militia. He then joined Company A, of the Third Massachu- setts Infantry, as First Lieutenant, this being one of the oldest military organizations in the United States, and was mustered into service at Fortress Monroe, Va. He was stationed for some time at Fortress Monroe and at Hampton, and is credited with bringing in the first "contraband of war," as slaves captured by the Union forces were then termed. On March 4, 1863, Mr. Washburn was discharged at Carrollton, La., on account of disability. Returning to Massachusetts, he took up his residence in Plympton, where he remained six years, holding the position of station agent and postmaster. He then went to Kingston, and a year later to Stoughton, where he was sta- tion agent. From Stoughton he came to Hali- fax, and settled on the old homestead, where he has since resided. He owns about two hun- dred and twenty-five acres of land, and is profit- ably engaged in general farming and lumber- ing, also in the cultivation of cranberries.
In 1856 Mr. Washburn married Miss Amanda Mclaughlin, who died leaving him with one daughter, Abbie W., who lived to be twenty-two years of age. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Olive French, the widow of Timothy French, and a sister of his first wife. The only child by this union died in infancy ; and Mrs. Washburn has also passed away. In 1865 Mr. Washburn, who has always been a stanch Republican, was elected to the State legislature. He is a member of the Masonic order; also of Justin Dimmick Post, No. 124, Grand Army of the Republic, of East Bridge- water.
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OHN H. EAMES, of Marshfield, is a veteran of the late war, one of the few Union men alive to-day who have suffered in Rebel prisons. He was born in Medford, Mass., December 16, 1834, a son of John and Louisa (Norwood) Eames.
The Eames family is of English origin. Among the early settlers of this name men- tioned by genealogists are: Robert, of Charles- town, 1651, who removed to Woburn; Thomas, of Dedham, who had a son John, born in 1642; Anthony, of Hingham, in 1636, who removed to Marshfield, and served as a Deputy to the General Court in 1654, and later for a number of years; Mark, thought to have been his son, Deputy in 1662 and later, and Se- lectman 1667-73. A Jonathan Eames, of Marshfield, is spoken of as probably son of Mark and grandson of Anthony Eames. John Eames, said to have been one of the descend- ants of Jonathan, settled in Medford, Mass., and in that town a later John Eames, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, and John Eames, Jr., his father, were born. The John last named, who was a contractor and builder, was a lifelong resident of Medford. He died in 1849. His wife, a native of Lynn- field, Mass., died in 1875. They were the parents of eight children, John H. being the oldest.
John H. Eames acquired his education in Medford, finishing his studies in the high school. He was nearly fifteen years of age when his father died, and was obliged at that time to leave school and go to work. Obtain- ing employment in a ship yard in Medford, he worked there some three years, and then began to learn the carpenter's trade, serving as an apprentice until he was twenty-one. He sub- sequently worked as a journeyman, making a specialty of stair-building, one of the best paying branches of the trade, and was em-
ployed by some of the leading contractors of Boston.
At the time of President Lincoln's first call for seventy-five thousand three months' men, Mr. Eames responded, enlisting in April, 1861, in Company E, Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was in the disastrous battle of the first Bull Run, and after that was on duty in Washington until his term expired. He re-enlisted August 14, 1862, and was mustered as a Sergeant into Company C, Thirty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteer Infan- try, which later became a part of the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, General G. K. Warren commanding. During his second term of service Mr. Eames took part in many engagements, in which the Union soldiers demonstrated their ability to fight, including the battle of the Wilderness, and for forty-two days thereafter was more or less under fire. At the battle of the Weldon Railroad, August 19, 1864, he was captured with his entire com- pany by the Confederates; and he was incar- cerated successively in Libby Prison, Belle Isle, and Salisbury Prison, North Carolina, spending seven months in all in durance. The horrors of these charnel houses have been painted so often that it is superfluous to speak of them. Suffice it to say that, while he was in Salisbury, over twelve thousand Union prisoners died. He was finally exchanged, and was honorably discharged as a First Lieu- tenant in June, 1865.
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