History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 108

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 108

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"The artificial mark for Apollas Frances' creatures is a half crop off the under side of the right ear, and a hole throngh the left ear.

" Recorded the Sth day of August, A.D. 1801, by me, Isaac Dean, town clerk."

"Sarahı Wellman's artificial mark for her creatures is a crop off of

the left ear and a slit in the same, and a hole through the right ear.

" Recorded Sept. 21, 1802, by me, Isaac Dean, town clerk."

Lawyers .- Ephraim Leonard, Esq., Dr. George Wheaton, Isaac Dean (the old town clerk), Benjamin White (the selectman), were all men of learning and sound judgment, and what legal business our fathers wanted doubtless was by these gentlemen performed acceptably by them for years, and the first lawyer who settled here was David Gilbert, Esq., who lived in the house on South Main Street next south of James L. Hodges' residence, was town clerk, and had at one time a large practice, and I am told by the Hon. John Daggett, of Attleborough, who knew him, that he was a clear-headed and safe lawyer. His con- versational powers were good, and no doubt he took well his part in the pure wit and satire of the law- yers of other days as they gathered around the fire- place in the old Cohannet tavern at Taunton during the evenings of the court days. Mr. Gilbert married, Feb. 17, 1800, Deborah, daughter of Rev. Roland Green, and they had seven children,-Henry Hamil-

ton, Gustavus, Hannah Grover, David Humphrey, William Augustus, Deborah Mariah, and Sophia Maria. The last child was born July 30, 1812, and lived in this town up to her death, which occurred a short time since.

Mr. Gilbert was town treasurer many years, and held many offices of trust and importance in town and parish affairs. He died suddenly in 1842.

Hon. Horatio Pratt commenced practice in this town about 1830. His office was near where Bessom's store now stands, but soon removed to Taunton, where for many years he had a large and lucrative practice. He retired from practice in 1855, which he told the writer of this was the greatest mistake of his. life. He was exceedingly frail in appearance, and his health was always very poor, but he had a clear mind, and was called one of the sharpest of lawyers. He was collector of the port of Dighton under Gen. Jackson, which office he resigned, as it was required of him to move to Fall River; was at one time dis- trict attorney, a master in chancery, and was a mem- ber of the Massachusetts Senate three years. He was the son of Solomon, the prominent manufacturer, and he died at Taunton in 1872, leaving a widow and several children.

An old gentleman from Maine named Warren, and- a descendant of Gen. Warren, alternated between here and Foxborough for a short time previous to 1855. He was an old-fashioned, courtly gentleman, and a well-read lawyer, and in the olden time a prominent school-master. During the rebellion he went South and resided with a son, after which he returned, and a short time since died in Wrentham.

Erastus M. Reed, born July 28, 1832, at Taunton, studied law in the office of Bassett & Reed in that town (now city), was admitted to practice at the April term of the Supreme Judicial Court 1856, commenced practice in Mansfield May 13, 1856, was appointed trial justice 1858, and held the appointment until 1873, when the First District Court of Bristol County was erected, and he was appointed special justice of said court, and holds daily at Attleborough a session of said court; was a member of the Legislature in 1866-67. He has served many years as town clerk, and as one of the school committee. He married Aug. 21, 1857, Sarah J. Crockette, of Middletown, Conn., had one child, Bertha H., born March 10, 1867.

William A. Copeland, Esq., son of Almond and Elizabeth, born 1855; graduated at Amherst, 1877 ; was admitted to practice in 1880; opened an office here and also in Boston at about the same time; is now a member of the Legislature (1883) and also of the school committee; is grandson of Elijah Cope- land, Sr., who was a large farmer and owned and worked a large farm in the southerly part of the town ; upon mother's side his grandfather was Dea- con Otis Allen.

Thomas E. Grover, Esq., a son of Thomas the

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Friend, was here during 1866 or 1867; then removed to Canton, where he now resides ; has been trial jus- tice and notary public for many years.

Dr. Samuel Caswell, a "Practitioner of Physick," was born Oct. 6, 1695, settled within the present limits of Mansfield, near Benjamin E. Sweet's present residence; dicd about the year 1747.

Dr. Nicholas White was born 1705; alternated be- tween the north precinct (Mansfield) and south pre- cinct (Norton) ; died in the north precinct June 21, 1751.

Dr. Lewis Sweeting migrated between Mansfield and Norton ; was one the committee of correspondence and safety in Mansfield in 1776. He married Abiah Cobb, by whom he had ten children, and he must have had a large practice to have kept his own family well.

Dr. George Wheaton was born Aug. 18, 1728; he bought the place previously owned by Dr. Caswell. After the incorporation of Mansfield he removed to Norton ; he was prominent in town affairs while he resided here.

Dr. Jonathan Pratt was born Oet. 17, 1729; he lived southeast from the centre; died Oct. 13, 1771.

Dr. Daniel Parker was here in 1777; his name is found in the parish records.

· Dr. Hezekiah Skinner owned and lived for many years in the dwelling-house at West Mansfield in which Mr. Brayton Sherman now lives. He liad a large practice, and had the reputation of being skill- ful in his profession. He died Aug. 24, 1848.

Dr. Roland Green, son of the second minister, in early life settled here, built and lived in the house now occupied by Dr. Carpenter in West Street. He had a large practice at one time. Dr. Charles Talbot, afterwards the well-known Dighton physician, lived and studied with Dr. Green. Dr. Green married Hannah Talbot. They had no children. He died Oct. 1, 1841, aged seventy-five years.

Dr. Benjamin Billings built and lived in the house now occupied by S. C. Lovell. He married, Dec. 7, 7, 1780, Sibell Dean. They had children as follows: Fanny D., Ferdinand, Benjamin, and Sibel E. He had a large practice and much influence in town and parish. His eldest daughter married Rev. Mr. Briggs. He had a jovial, kindly disposition, and fought dis- ease cheerfully and hopefully and successfully. He died Oet. 9, 1842, aged eighty-two years.

Dr. William G. Allen, born in Rehoboth Dec. 16, 1833, married Martha M. Matherson, of Pawtucket. He graduated at the Albany Medical School, studied in the office of Dr. Miller, of Providence, settled here in 1857, and has continued here ever since. Have had one child, William Howard, born in February, 1868.

Dr. Frederick L. Perry, son of Dr. William F. Perry, at his father's decease took his practice, and lives in house upon south side of West Street, near his late father's residence.

Dr. John B. Wilson, born in Easton Oct. 19, 1837,

married Susan, daughter of Jephtha Buek, of Easton ; commenced practice there in 1857, removed to this place in 1870, and has ever since resided here; and children have been born to them as follows : Brad- ford W., born February, 1860; Eugene, born in 1865; Ida, born in 1869; Willimena, born in 1874; Effie J., born in 1881.

Dr. Charles Young was here during the years 1875 and 1876. He removed to Stoughton, where he now is.

Dr. - Sanford was here a short time about 1880.

Masons .- Saint James' Lodge of Masons was char- tered Marchi 9, A.D. 1865. The charter members were William G. Allen, William B. Bates, William Graves, Daniel W. Stevens, E. M. Reed, Ellis Fairbanks, Charles M. Dean, William N. Hamblet, Simeon J. Clark, Charles Hellitt, John Rogers, Zacheus Fletcher.

Biographical Sketches .- Deacon Otis Allen, for many years one of the deacons of the Orthodox Con- gregational Society, clerk in the cotton mills, a man much given to the preservation of the deeds of mar- riages, births, and deaths, a God-fearing, holy man, lived for many years in the house now occupied by his son, Lloyd A. Allen. He lived a peaceful, natural life, and died regretted and mourned by all who knew him, at the advanced age of ninety years and five months, Aug. 30, 1874. He was a constant at- tendant at church, and a great help and support to his pastors, the Rev. Mr. Blake and Rev. Mr. Ide.

Charles Day, for many years deputy sheriff, col- lector of taxes, constable, etc., was at one time in business at East Mansfield. During the " abolition" period he was one of the first to announce his oppo- sstion to slavery, and his house was a sort of a station of the "Underground Railroad," where fugitives could find a warm friend and a hospitable roof. At one time Frederick Douglass rested at his house. Capt. Day was a conscientious member of the Orthodox Congregational Society. At the time of his death he lived in a house erected by his children on the south side of Park Street. During the Garfield and Arthur campaign, Capt. Day appeared in the uniform of the Garfield Club of this town, and marched with it whenever it paraded. A photograph of him in his uniform was sent to President Garfield, which the President acknowledged, and sent to Mr. Day a photograph of himself. Mr. Day died Nov. 19, 1881, aged eighty-five years.

Edward Kingman, Esq., at one time a prominent citizen, was representative to General Court and se- leetman, justice of the peace, etc. Formerly kept the " Old Lamb Tavern" in Boston, a most noted hotel. Afterwards kept hotel in Baltimore; was a member of the Columbia Lodge of Masons of Boston, was in the grocery business here, and died April 9, 1871. He had a kind, generous disposition, was very emphatic at times in expression of opinions. At one time a rum case was being tried before him, and the counsel for the prisoner was pleading for mild treatment, upon

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MANSFIELD.

the assurance that the prisoner would quit the busi- ness. The squire turned to him and said that he would let him off easy this time, but he must quit rum- selling d-d quick.

Elijah Hodges, Esq., a prominent politician, early espousing the principles of the Democratic party, and clinging to them with great tenacity to the time of his death. He was a man of good judgment, a most fluent conversationalist, and his wife told the writer that her husband never would go to a " sewing circle," because the women wanted to do all the talking. He was justice of the peace many years, at one time clerk in Pratt's store, did something in straw business, held many public offices, was a prominent and active mem- ber of the Unitarian Society, a pleasant and accom- modating neighbor, was for many years unable to do any business by reason of ill health, built and lived for many years in the house on the east side of South Main Street, now occupied by Alfred Grover. He died Dec. 16, 1871, aged eighty-two years.

Jacob Dean lived in the house north of Lloyd A. Allen's house, now owned by Mr. Chase. He was a farmer and owned a large tract of land. He early gave attention to cultivation of apples, of which he raised a large variety, sending some years to the annual cattle show at Taunton, in which he took a deep interest, one hundred and sixteen varieties. He was a quiet, modest man, a good citizen, a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He died July 15, 1871, aged ninety years and seven months.

William Reed Dean, son of Jacob, a distinguished antiquarian, published several genealogical works. Died at his father's house, June 16, 1871, aged sixty- one years and ten months.

Darwin Dean, Esq., for many years justice of the peace, settled a large number of estates, was select- man, member of the "Old Society," a farmer, and lived near Jacob Dean. Was a man often consulted by the townspeople, of good judgment, died Nov. 8, 1882, aged seventy-seven years, leaving a daughter, who married Walter L. White. They live upon the old place. In ancient deeds the street running by his late residence is called "the road leading from Taunton to Mansfield."

Ebenezer Williams, a large land-owner, prominent in town and parish matters, a conscientious, upright man, lived in the house on the west side of North Main Street, now owned by his son, Charles P. Wil- liams. He died Nov. 7, 1851, aged seventy-five years and nine months.

Hon. John Rogers, in early life, started in a small way the collection of straw braid from the women of this and the surrounding towns; afterwards commenced the manufacture of straw goods, in which he was very successful, the business rapidly increasing until it gave employment to a large number, both male and female. He built the shop upon the south side of Park Street, and the house upon the east side South Main Street, both of which are now occupied by his

son. He was much interested in politics, formerly a Democrat, afterwards a prominent member of the " Know-Nothing" or American movement, then join- ing the Republican party, of which he was an active member to the time of his death. He was a member of the Constitutional State Convention, represented this town in the Legislature, and this senatorial dis- trict in the Massachusetts Senate. He was a leader in politics, much interested in all political conven- tions ; a successful business man, one who gave lib- erally to all worthy objects ; a prominent member of the orthodox Congregational Society, and presented that society with the organ now in their church, as well as the bell now in the tower of the same church. He was a kind and pleasant neighbor, a good citizen, and an honest and upright man. He died March 31, 1873, aged sixty-six years and four months, leaving three children,-Ellen M., wife of Rev. Jacob Ide; Frances E., wife of Daniel E. Harding ; and John W., who is now, with a partner, engaged in the straw business in the shop his father built.

William B. Bates, Esq., son of the prominent man- ufacturer, Maj. Elkanah Bates, held the offices of town clerk, selectman, representative to the Legisla- ture, trial justice, justice of the peace, postmaster, etc. No man ever lived in Mansfield in whom more people had confidence than in Mr. Bates. He was administrator, executor, referee, guardian, and trustee in very many estates, managed his own business well, and managed other people's affairs just as well ; was the "right-hand man" of his pastors, Rev. Mr. Blake and Rev. Mr. Ide; contributed largely in behalf of every worthy object; was a charter member of St. James Lodge of Masons, and an officer of it for many years ; was a kind, sociable, pleasant, and accommo- dating neighbor, prominent in the temperance move- ment, a member of the Republican party from its birth ; erected and lived in the house now occupied by his son-in-law, George H. Hallett, on the east side North Main Street. Died June 10, 1880, aged sixty- nine years and eleven months, leaving two children, -- Alfred W., in business in New York, and Marrigen H., who married Mr. Hallett.

Benjamin Bates, formerly a well-known Boston banker, and founder of Bates' College, of Maine, brother of William B., died a short time previous to the death of William B.

Elkanah Bates, another brother, was at one time in business in Boston, from which he withdrew many years before his death, and spent the winters in Boston, but a portion of every summer he spent here with his brother. He died a short time after his brother, Wil- liam B., in Boston. The three brothers all died sud- denly of heart-disease.

James Green was one of the most active and influ- ential members of the "old society." For many years, up to his death, was station agent in the em- ploy of the Boston and Providence and Taunton Branch Railroads. He was the son of Simeon Green

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and grandson of Roland Green, the second settled minister of the town. He was a large land-owner. His funeral sermon, which was published, was preached by his pastor, Rev. Daniel W. Stevens. He died Oct. 6, 1869; his age was fifty-two years and eleven months.

Capt. Ellis Fairbanks, at one time captain of a military company, a charter member of St. James Lodge of Masons, for many years secretary of the lodge, prominent member of the " old society," died Oct. 27, 1871, aged seventy-one years.

Elijah Copeland, one of the largest farmers, owning many acres in the south part of the town. His old house stood on the present site of the residence of his sons. He subsequently built the Copeland House, a little south of the old house. He was very successful in his business. A quiet, modest man, never took an active part in any public meetings ; a constant at- tendant upon divine worship, was reckoned as the "salt of the earth" by his pastors, Rev. Mr. Blake and Rev. Mr. Ide. He died Aug. 3, 1872, aged eighty- seven years and four months, leaving two sons, Elijah, who now works a portion of the old farm, and Al- mond, who has died since his father did, and several daughters.

Elbridge Sweet lived at West Mansfield, was a farmer and mill-owner, doing a large business in his grist- and saw-mill. He was many years one of the selectmen of the town, a man of good judgment, honorable in his dealings, a deacon in the Christian Baptist Society ; died Feb. 2, 1876, aged sixty-four years, five months.

Isaac Skinner, a man with a great fund of histori- cal matter and deeds relating to the early history of the town and to the individuals who up to his death had lived here, a prominent and active member of the Orthodox Congregational Society, very modest and retiring; of far more than ordinary intelligence ; great student of the Bible, which he, though never having more than ordinary school advantages, was able to read in its original language; upright and honorable in all business transactions. He died April 19, 1873, aged seventy-nine years, six months.

Gardner Chillson started a furnace here in 1852 for the manufacture of his own furnaces, stoves, and ranges, with salesroom in Boston. He was an active member of the Baptist Church, was previous to his removing here a representative to the General Court from Boston, was a liberal contributor to religious charities, and left the bulk of his large estate to the several Baptist missionary organizations. He died Nov. 21, 1877.

Rev. John Blain, a Baptist clergyman, and once settled over the Baptist society, afterwards gave his time to the work of an evangelist, in which he was very successful. He was for many years without a settlement ; built the house now owned by S. W. Cord; died here Dec. 26, 1879, aged eighty-four years and ten months. He was " tall of stature," of

robust health, and never took a vacation during his life. He made large donations for missionary pur- poses, and left the greater part of his property at his death to such uses.

Business .- For a town so well located, with its railroad facilities and its proximity to the trade cen- tres, Mansfield has not had its just share of mercan- tile interests. This may be attributable to several causes, the principal of which is perhaps the value set upon valnable land by its owners. Thirty-five years ago a scheme was devised to sell nearly all the lands in the immediate vicinity of the depot at a large price. The whole area was laid out (npon paper) into house-lots, streets, and parks, and ficti- tious and exorbitant prices set upon the lots. The schenie failed for the want of purchasers, but the prices then asked clung to the land like an incum- brance, and have proved something more than a " shadow," but owners of land are now offering it in favorable localities at reasonable prices.

Very prominent among the business men of the town stands the name of Solomon Pratt, who com. menced business in the early part of the present century, at the age of twenty years. He was a man of very large business capacity, owned largely of real estate, and was in his day the most active and indus- trions man in the town. He opened a general store in a building which stood where Borden's drug-store now stands, which was afterwards moved to Sodem, and now stands near Mr. Cabot's factory and is a part of his estate. He built the building for a store after the removal of the old one, which now is owned by William C. Bessom, and stands at the corner of South Main Street and Webb Place. Mr. Pratt opened the first store in the Centre village, and it was the favorite resort for all the local politicians and theologians. The hall overhead, on the after- noon of the election, was resorted to by the voters, who were treated by the successful candidate.

Mr. Pratt was engaged in the iron business,-that is, he delivered the iron to different persons who took it home and worked it by hand into nails, and returned the nails to him; in the straw business, buying straw braid from all the women within thirty miles, which he had sewed into bonnets. At one time braid ac- cumulated to such an amount that he manufac- tured fifteen thousand bonnets from the amount on hand, and it was said by his clerk, Elijah Hodges, that there was a profit of two dollars on each bonnet.

In 1811 was built the Middle Factory, by a corpo- ration of which Mr. Pratt was an active member, for the manufacture of woolen goods, which was success- fully operated until by some mismanagement on the part of the agent, and the corporation was sold to Mr. Pratt, who assumed the entire business, assisted by his sons Charles and Harrison. In 1830 the mill was burned, with six thousand dollars' worth of stock therein. Upon neither stock nor mill was there any insurance. This financial loss would have dis-

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MANSFIELD.

couraged many men, but Mr. Pratt, full of resolu- tion and pluck, rebuilt at once the mill, filled it with machinery from Cracken & Richmonds, of Taunton, and the year the factory was completed it made money enough for its owner to pay the cost of both factory and machinery.

He was also a partner of Elkanah Bates, another of Mansfield's eminent men, and together they op- crated the factory known as the "Knife Shop." After the death of Mr. Bates, Mr. Pratt bought his interest and ran the mill alone. He was also owner in the mill at East Mansfield owned by a manufacturing corporation composed mostly of Boston parties ; had a large farm which he supervised. In person he was tall and commanding; in conversation dictatorial ; held many offices in town, and represented the town in the Legislature. He died in April, 1848, aged seventy years.

About the year 1857 the matter of building a fac- tory, to be used for the manufacture of jewelry, was discussed among the citizens, and there was formed an association, and the jewelry-shop, corner of North Main and Pratt Streets, was built by this association, and soon after its completion it was let to the Sturdy Brothers, of Attleborough, who came here and com- menced operations, and did a large and profitable business for several years. The investment in the building did not prove a success to the stockholders, and they were anxious to dispose of the property, and it was sold to Merritt & Draper, who were manufac- turing in Attleborough, but came here and commenced the making of shell jewelry (made from tortoise shell), and manufactured it in large quantities, and were very successful. Subsequently Mr. Merritt with- drew and formed a partnership with John Shepard- son, and they, in the upper part of the shop, began making a general line of goods, plated and solid, silver and gold. They continued in the business several years, when they, much to the regret of the citizens, moved their business to Attleborough. Mr. Draper took in as partner D. S. Spaulding, and they continued the shell business for a number of years, when Mr. Draper withdrew and left the whole busi- ness to Mr. Spaulding, who has continued it ever since. The business has all the time been steadily increasing. Mr. Spaulding united the making of chain and other jewelry from gold plate and coin to his shell business, and it now requires the whole shop with a large addition, which has the present year been built, to do the business in giving employment to one hundred and twenty-five hands. Mr. Spauld- ing has an agency in New York city, and runs an extensive jewelry store in the City of Mexico. He is a live business man, and we feel certain that as long as any jewelry business is done anywhere, and Mr. Spaulding lives, it will be done in Mansfield. Mr. Spanlding has associated with him as special part- ner Mr. Charles P. Williams, an old citizen of the place.

In 1863, Francis G. Hodges, of Attleborough, com- menced the making of bracelets in a corner of Henry W. Rayman's barn, located in the rear of his dwell- ing-house upon North Main Street. His beginnings were very small, and the power he used was literally horse-power. He made haste slowly for a year or two. In the mean time had seen some specimens of horn jewelry, and went to work getting out samples made from cattle horn, and after completion started for the New York market with his little sample case containing them, and was the first man who ever ex- hibited samples of horn jewelry. He subsequently formed a partnership with Mr. Benjamin Frank Shaw, who was then in New Jersey, and two other gentlemen, and commenced the horn business here, and the firm manufactured largely and sold the goods readily, Mr. Shaw doing the selling, and King- man & Hodges the manufacturing. This firm lasted but a short time, Kingman & Hodges assuming the business, which rapidly grew beyond the capacity of the barn, and they bought of the estate of Charles Morse the "Middle Factory," so called, upon Rum- ford River, and there for years continued the busi- ness successfully up to about 1876, when the demand for this style of jewelry ceased.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 108

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818