USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 103
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In 1843 the Protestant Methodist Society was or- ganized. Services were held for a while in Torrey's Hall. In the year 1845 a church was built. Preach- ing was maintained for about five years, when the in- terest in this movement became small. An attempt was made for a while to sustain Episcopal Methodist services. About 1855 an interest was manifested in Unitarian preaching, and proved a permanent in- terest. The North Easton Unitarian Society was or- ganized in 1857. After a long season of transient preaching, in 1860 Rev. C. C. Hussey was invited to become pastor. He accepted and filled that office for six years. In the autumn of 1867, Rev. William L. Chaffin received a call from this society, which he accepted. He began preaching as its pastor on the first Sunday of 1868. In August, 1875, the society moved into the beautiful church built by the late Hon. Oliver Ames, and presented by him to the so- ciety. At that time it reorganized, and assumed the name of Unity Church.
So brief a sketch as the above, giving, as it neces- sarily does, only a bare outline of the history of Easton, omits much that deserves to be chronicled. Many things of a more personal nature, which would have made this a more readable narrative, have been reluctantly omitted, and have had to be sacrificed to a general statement of facts. If only a few of the more widely-known citizens have been selected for special biographical notice, it is not because there have not been others; indeed, there have been many others who well deserved more special mention than they have received. As the writer, though warmly attached to this home of his adoption, has been a resident here for only about sixteen years, very few of the individuals alluded to were personally known to him. But the impression they have made upon the town and upon the memories of citizens now living justify such a reference to them. Among them well known in other days as men of mark and char- acter were Daniel Wheaton, Elijah Howard, Martin Wilde, Howard Lothrop, Dr. Caleb Swan, Gen. Shep- ard Leach, and Rev. Luther Sheldon. Other names will readily occur to those who have been at all famil- iar with the history of the town. Easton may well be proud of her industries ; she has more reason to be proud of the men and women she has given to the world.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
OLIVER AMES, SR.
Hon. Oliver Ames, the founder of the great manu- facturing firm of O. Ames & Sons, was born at Ply- mouth, Mass., April 11, 1779, being the youngest son of Capt. John and Susannah Ames, and was a lineal descendant of William Ames, who came to this coun- try in 1638 and settled in Braintree, Mass. His early education was gained by ordinary common-school instruction, and by the practical experience of hard work in his father's blacksmith-shop. These fur- nished him the groundwork of a sober judgment, in- dustrious habits, and a stable and energetic charac- ter. At the age of eighteen he went to Springfield, where he learned the trade of gunsmith. In April, 1803, he married Susannah Angier, and by this mar- riage two distinct branches of the English family of Ames which had sent representatives to this country were united ; for Susannah Angier was a descend- ant of Dr. William Ames, a famous author and pro- fessor. Very soon after his marriage Mr. Ames re- moved from Bridgewater to Easton, and commenced the manufacture of shovels. After a stay of over two years at Easton, he removed to Plymouth to manufacture shovels for Messrs. Russell, Davis & Co., and he continued there until about 1813, when he returned to Easton. He had determined upon this return previous to this time, had purchased land and a good water-privilege, and had begun the erection of a dwelling-house. He was one of a company to build a cotton-factory for the manufacture of cotton fabrics. He had manufactured hoes and shovels during his first stay in Easton, but on his second ar- rival he began again the business that has now be- come world-famed. Difficulties and embarrassments that would have defeated any one but a man of great ability and persistent energy beset him in these early days. The cotton-factory burned; the war of 1812 had had a disastrous effect upon business ; he was endeavoring to restore the business of his father to a prosperous condition ; and he had made great outlays in getting established at Easton. But his credit was good and his courage strong ; his character and abil- ity alike inspired unlimited confidence; and he worked steadily on to a sure and lasting success.
With only a humble beginning, shovels being made by hand and carried to market upon a one-horse wagon, the business steadily increased, shop being added to shop, workmen increasing by scores, until it has become by far the largest and most prosperous shovel business in the world. He would never allow any work to be sent to the market that was imperfect, and he thus laid the foundation for the great reputa- tion which the Ames shovel has borne, and which it continues to bear.
In 1828-29 he represented his town in the Massa- chusetts Legislature, serving with marked ability
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upon the Committee on Manufactures. In 1845 he was elected, contrary to his desires, and by a large vote, to the Massachusetts Senate. He was, however, no lover of office, and desired only that he might have the charge of the highways of his town intrusted to him, a charge he took pride in, and faithfully ful- filled. He was a man of strong and resolute will, of great force of character, indomitable energy, and per- severing industry. He was the possessor of a splendid physique, and easily bore off the palm in all feats of strength and skill, especially in wrestling, of which he was very fond. His manly and dignified bearing gave every one who saw him the impression that they looked upon a man of mark. He was such a man as a stranger, meeting upon the street, would turn to look at a second time. Born of the people, he was always very simple in his tastes and democratie in his feelings and principles. In his likes and dislikes he was equally decided, but his judgments were based upon what he believed to be the real worth of any one, without reference to his station or condition. He was consequently greatly respected and beloved by his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. He was enthusi- astically fond of farming, and, like Daniel Webster, was especially fond of fine oxen, always obtaining the best, and taking great pleasure in their manage- ment. He took an early stand, both as a matter of principle and practice, in favor of temperance, and brought up his family according to total abstinence principles. He was a decided Unitarian in his re- ligious convictions, having a cordial dislike to the rigid tenets of the Calvinism of his day. He was liberal in his aid of religious institutions, to which he also gave the sanction of his personal attendance. His charities were large, and they were not bounded by the limits of his seet or neighborhood. His de- feets were such as pertained merely to his limited culture and to the stern conflict and discipline of his early life. Mr. Ames lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four years, dying at North Easton, Sept. 11, 1863.
OAKES AMES.
Hon. Oakes Ames is the most widely known of any of the citizens of Easton, and the one who has had the greatest influence upon the fortunes and affairs of the country. To him more than to any other man belongs the great credit of accomplishing one of the grandest enterprises of this generation, the building of the Union Pacific Railroad. For that work, which has been of incalculable benefit to the country in many ways, he deserves the gratitude of all its citi- zens, and his name will always be associated with that splendid achievement.
Oakes Ames was the oldest son of Oliver and Su- sannah Ames, and was born in Easton, Mass., Jan. 10, 1804. He passed his youth there, acquiring a common-school education, and assisting his father in the workshop and on the farm. He gained a thor-
ough knowledge of the shovel business, in which his father was engaged, and he devoted to it for years a laborious industry and great energy, early becoming its overseer. In 1844 his father, having reached the age of sixty-five, withdrew from all active partieipa- tion in the business, turning it over to his sons, Oakes and Oliver, and from this date the firm bore the name of Oliver Ames & Sons. The discovery of gold in California and Australia, and the vast increase of railroad building, gave a new impetus to the shovel business, and it rapidly grew to extensive proportions, and became very profitable. It was managed with great enterprise, and weathered the financial storm of 1857 without serious disturbance, and went on to increasing success.
In 1860 Oakes Ames was elected councilor from the Bristol district, and served with great efficiency as one of the cabinet officers of Governor Andrew, by whom he was highly esteemed. He was soon solicited to become candidate for Congress from the Second District. On the informal ballot at the nominating convention he received two-thirds of all the votes cast. He was elected by a large popular vote. This was for the Thirty-eighth Congress, and he was re- elected for the four succeeding Congresses, serving ten years altogether. During these ten years he was a member of the several Committees on Manufactures, on the Pacific Railroad, on Revolutionary Claims, and on Roads and Canals, and his business experience and sound practical judgment rendered his services valuable upon these several committees. He was a warm friend of President Lincoln, and enjoyed his personal confidence.
It was as a member of the Committee on Railroads that he first became interested in the government project of building a road to the Pacific. In July, 1862, Congress passed an act authorizing and making some provision for the construction of a railroad and. telegraph line from the Missouri to the Pacific. Scarcely anything, however, was done about it. In July, 1864, the need of such a line of communication between the East and the West was imperatively felt, and Congress passed a second aet more liberal than the first, doubling the land-grant, authorizing the issue of mortgage bonds to the same amount as the government bonds, and making the latter a second mortgage, and offering to withhold only one-half the money the road might earn for government transpor- tation. One attempt to construct the road under this new arrangement signally failed. Oakes Ames was then looked to as the man competent to undertake and complete this gigantic work. Many prominent men, among them President Lincoln, urged him to undertake it for the public good. After nearly a year of such solicitation, and after careful deliberation, he decided to do it, and thus to connect his name im- perishably with the greatest public work of the cen- tury in this country.
It is impossible in the necessary limits of this brief
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sketch to trace even in outline the progress and suc- cessful completion of that great work, or to do more than allude to the famous Credit Mobilier affair which engaged such general attention and created such absurd excitement. Once undertaken, Oakes Ames gave to the work all his accustomed energy. He in- vested a million dollars and hazarded his entire for- tune in the enterprise. He invited his friends to join him and invest their capital, men in and out of Con- gress being invited to engage in it on the same terms.
The obstacles to be overcome, both physical and financial, were immense. But they were overcome, and on May 10, 1869, the rails of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific were joined at Promontory Point, and the Pacific Road was complete ; the East and West were united, and this was seven years earlier than the terms of the contract required. As to the Credit Mo- bilier affair, those have been freest to condemn it who knew least about it. It is safe to assert that not one in a hundred of those who used that term as a symbol of business iniquity really knew what it meant. It was for this very reason a convenient and powerful weapon to wield in a time of great political excite- ment. It suggested unknown horrors and depths of iniquity. In fact, however, it was a construction com- pany. Roads had been built by the same method be- fore ; they are commonly built in the same way in the West to-day.
who, fearful of the result of such confession upon their political chances, sought to evade the matter, have been permanently disgraced; but from that day to this, in proportion as the case is understood and his services appreciated, Oakes Ames has risen in popular regard.
The Massachusetts Legislature, May 7, 1883, passed a resolve relating to the above-named vote of censure, acknowledging "the great services of Oakes Ames," "his unflinching truthfulness and honesty," the public confidence in his integrity and honor, and ending thus: "Therefore the Legislature of Massachusetts hereby expresses its gratitude for his work and its faith in his integrity of purpose and character, and asks for like recognition thereof on the part of the national Congress."
Oakes Ames was a man of large and powerful frame,-" the broad-shouldered Ames," as Mr. Lin- coln called him. He was courageous and enter- prising in business affairs, with a special liking for large undertakings. The Pacific Railroad suited his liking and capacity for great and adventurous tasks. He was very temperate, a total abstinent from all in- toxicating drinks, and was simple and democratic in his tastes, caring little for the luxuries that usually accompany great wealth. His business integrity was unquestioned. Under a rugged exterior he carried a kind heart, and after his death scores of letters from various quarters told his friends of numerous kind- nesses until then unknown to them. In 1828 he married Eveline O., daughter of Joshua Gilmore, of Easton. Of this union there were born Oakes An- gier, April 15, 1829; Oliver, born Feb. 4, 1831; Frank Morton, born Aug. 14, 1833: Henry, born April, 1839, and died in September, 1841; and Susan Eveline, born May 12, 1841. He was stricken with paralysis on the 5th day of May, and on Thursday, the 8th day of May, 1873, he died.
It was not until this matter was given a political turn that anything wrong was suspected. It was found that several congressmen had a financial inter- est in it, and it was asserted that Mr. Ames had inter- ested them with corrupt intent in order to influence their legislation, and they were accused of taking bribes. Yielding to popular clamor, Congress de- manded investigation. . Two committees were ap- pointed to make it. They sat for months, made their reports to Congress, and on the 28th day of February the House passed a resolution condemning the con- duct of Mr. Ames "in seeking"-so reads the resolve- OLIVER AMES, JR. " to procure congressional attention to the affairs of a Hon. Oliver Ames, the second of that name, was the third son of Hon. Oliver and Susannah Ames. He was born at Plymouth, Mass., Nov. 5, 1807. In 1814 he became a resident of Easton by his father's removal to this place, since which time Easton has been his home. In his youth his time was divided between attending school and employment in the shovel-works. He became an expert workman, and was thorough in every branch of the shovel manu- facture. He also showed great aptitude for study, and in 1828, being disabled for active labor by a se- vere fall, he entered an academy at North Andover, Mass., intending to prepare for college, and ultimately to study law, for which pursuit his talents peculiarly fitted him; but, after spending a year and a half at the academy, he entered as a law student the office of William Baylies, Esq., of West Bridgewater. This proved unfavorable to his health, and with the in- corporation in which he was interested," etc. He alone must bear the brunt of the storm and be offered up as a scapegoat, where in reality no sacrifice was needed. He was charged with bribery when it did not appear that any man had been bribed. The charge rested upon the assertion of one man, and that man an interested party, whose word was good for nothing in the face of Mr. Ames' denial. In fact, no 'legisla- tion was desired or even looked for. Mr. Ames, for the good of the enterprise, endeavored to enlist the influence of prominent men in different parts of the country. There was far less reason why ownership in the stock referred to should embarrass a congress- man than his ownership of stock in a national bank, an iron furnace, a woolen-mill, or even in government bonds. Those congressmen who openly declared their ownership in the Credit Mobilier stock and regretted they had so little, are held in honor to-day. But those | creasing demands of business at home led him to
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cast in his lot with that of his father and his brother Oakes.
In June, 1833, he married Sarah, daughter of Hon. Howard Lothrop, of Easton. In 1844 he entered into copartnership with his father and brother, forming the house of O. Ames & Sons, and became a most efficient co-laborer with them. As early as 1826 he became much interested in the temperance movement, sup- porting the cause of total abstinence, of which from that time he was a consistent and earnest advocate, serving it actively and contributing to it largely. He was a member of the Whig party, and, at its dissolu- tion. joined the Republican party, taking a lively in- terest in its principles and measures. In 1852 he was elected to the Senate of Massachusetts by the Legis- lature, there being no choice by the people, and he did excellent service upon several important commit- tees. In 1857 he was elected to the State Senate by popular vote. In some of the campaigns he made effective speeches upon the issues of the hour. In 1855 the Messrs. Ames built the Easton Branch Rail- road, and after this became interested in those im- portant railroad enterprises in which the two brothers became so deservedly famous. The achievement of building the Union Pacific Railroad, which was mainly accomplished by their united efforts, is now common history. In 1866, Oliver Ames was elected president of that railroad, an office he held with sig- nal ability until March, 1871. During this time the road passed through some of its stormiest days and severest trials. His sound judgment, great business capacity, and inflexible integrity were of immense service in carrying this great enterprise safely through difficulty and peril to final success.
Oliver Ames held many positions of trust and re- sponsibility, of which a few may be mentioned. He was a trustee in the Taunton Insane Asylum for about twenty years; he has been president of the National Bank of Easton, of the Ames Plow Com- pany, and the Kinsley Iron and Machine Company ; a director in the Union Pacific, Atlantic and Pacific, Kansas Pacific, Denver Pacific, Colorado Central, Old Colony and Newport, and other railroads ; also of the Bristol County National Bank, and other corporations. His publie spirit led him to take great interest in enterprises of education, philanthropy, and reform. He was identified with agricultural, historical, and other societies, and willingly served for years on the board of school committee of Easton. He was always interested in the Unitarian Churches of Easton and North Easton, was constant in his attendance upon religious services, and for several years was a Sunday- school superintendent. He died at North Easton, March 9, 1877.
Oliver Ames stood among the foremost in his repu- tation for a manly and unblemished character, and for business ability,-a reputation he well deserved. No one could be with him without seeing that he was a strong, substantial, able, and honorable man. His
name was felt to be a sufficient indorsement of the worth and promise of any enterprise. Though Oakes Ames, with characteristic courage, took the initiative in the magnificent undertaking of constructing the Union Pacific Railroad, his brother, by the co-opera- tion of his sound judgment as well as by his financial support, shares in the honor of that splendid achieve- ment. Business cares were not, however, allowed to engross all his attention. He continued, to the last, his interest in literature, kept himself familiar with the great questions that agitate thought and life, en- joyed the society of cultivated persons, and often sur- prised them by the clearness and comprehensiveness of his carefully-formed opinions. In his character there were blended an admirable simplicity and a most cordial fellow-feeling with a real dignity and refinement. He was noted for his generosity. No help was denied any object that commanded his confi- dence; but he shrank from all publicity in his benefac- tions. He had a high sense of honor that was prompt to rebuke anything mean and dishonorable. He was not only a philanthropic, but he was also a religious man, with a strong faith in God and in immortality,- a faith that at the last ripened into glad anticipation.
All his benefactions will never be known, but those he was known to have bestowed were most wisely made, and are doing a good that is incalculable. Reference has already been made in the sketch of Easton to some of his large bequests, to his gifts of a fund of fifty thousand dollars each for the schools, the roads, and for a free public library, as well as his gift of the beautiful and costly church to the Uni- tarian Society. Besides these may be mentioned his gift of about thirty-five thousand dollars for the Plymouth monument, ten thousand for building Unity Church parsonage, and two other bequests of the same amount to keep the church, parsonage, and cemetery in repair. In these gifts, and by the influ- ence of his noble character, he has signally blessed his town, and has left behind him a perpetual memo- rial of good. Oliver Ames' children were Frederick Lothrop Ames, born June 8, 1835, and Helen Angier Ames, born Nov. 11, 1836, and died Dec. 13, 1882.
E. J. W. MORSE.
Edward J. W. Morse was a descendant in the eighth generation from Samuel Morse, who was of a Norman family of high antiquity, and was born in Devonshire, England, in 1585, and came to New Eng- land in ship "Increase," April 15, 1635, settled first in Watertown, in 1637 in Dedham, and died at Med- field, Mass., June 20, 1654. In 1635 he was one of a company who settled a tract of land south of the Charles River. The next year they changed the name of their town from Contentment to Dedham, the General Court passing an act Sept. 10, 1636, in- corporating it. In this movement Samuel Morse was the leader, and was chosen collector. "The first set-
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tlers of Dedham were a remarkable collection of people. Tradition brings down a high character at- tached to most of the names on its early records, and their public and private acts fully confirm it. Or- derly and industrious in their habits, they allowed no one to remain in the community who was not engaged in some regular occupation. Any violation of rules was followed by a penalty, yet the most exact strict- ness was accompanied by equally unfailing kindness." Samuel was townsman (selectman), 1640-42; treas- urer, collector, etc. A monument to his memory and others of his family stands in the town of Medfield. He married his wife Elizabeth in England, and their seven children were probably all born there.
His son John (second generation), born 1611, in- herited the homestead in Dedham. This he soon sold, and went to Boston to become a merchant tailor. In 1655 he went to England, making his will the same year. He died in 1657, leaving his widow, Annis, with forty pounds. His other property, in- ventoried at three hundred and eighty-seven pounds, nine shillings, five pence, was to be equally divided among his eight surviving children. One of these was Joseph (third generation). He married, Nov. 12, 1668, Priscilla Colburne, and settled in Medford, near " Death's Bridge," where he "built a house in the time of King Philip's war," and died in 1689. His second son, Joseph (fourth generation), graduated at Harvard in 1695, became A.M., and was pastor of the church in Canton for twenty years from 1707. He was persecuted out of the pulpit, but remained a member until his death, in 1749, at seventy-one years. His estate was inventoried at seventeen hundred and sixty-three pounds, five shillings, six pence, his library at thirty-five pounds, and his plate at thirty- seven pounds, ten shillings. By his wife Amity he had six children. Henry (fifth generation) married Abigail Clapp, at Stoughton ; had six children, one of whom was Asa (sixth generation). He was born Nov. 7, 1752, married Hannah Griggs, of Roxbury, in 1778, resided in Canton, and had seven children, one being James (seventh generation). He married Lucy Whiting, lived in Dedham, was a musician and clerk of a military company, and a hatter by occupa- tion.
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