History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 217

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 217

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Benjamin Crane, the second son of Barnabass and Joanna Crane, was born Sept. 11, 1768. In his boy- hood he worked on a farm. He had no opportunity to obtain an education, excepting a few weeks in winter. After a few years he became a sailor-boy, and feeling the need of education to advance him in his calling he studied mathematics and navigation. He soon after became a sea-captain, and followed the coasting-trade until two or three years after his mar- riage, when he abandoned that pursuit and purchased a small farm three-quarters of a mile east of Berkley Common. On this rocky farm of about seventy acres he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Alinda Crane died Sept. 3, 1854, in the seventy-sixth year of her age. Benjamin Crane died Oct. 10, 1855, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. They had ten children ; nine of them grew up,-Silas Axtel, Benja- min, Daniel, Abiel Briggs, Asahel Hathaway, Thomas Briggs, Caroline, Abiathar, and. Luey. Although without the advantages of an education themselves, yet they somehow from the beginning stimulated all their children to unusual mental effort. The little farm-house was a house of books and study for their children. Benjamin Crane was an honest and just man, and entered heartily into all the plans of his children for their advancement. His wife, Alinda, during many years of her married life, had the cares of a large family with all the other labors of a New England farmer's wife, yet she retained through her

Bernard Loughlin. Robert Loughlin.

George R. Read.

Frank Il. Tisdale.

J. B. Reynolds.

Charles F. Tirrell.

Eeben L. Sylvester.

Edward E. Starkey. Seth Talbott.

Thomas C. Sweet.

Milton Stanley, Jr.

Frank W. Stanton. Samuel T. Starkey Williant Stone. John F. Streeter.

John Quinley.

William N. Smith.

Lewis Smidt.

James II. Springer.

William Morrison.

Nicholas Nerney.

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whole life a cheerful and wonderful elasticity of spirits. She was ever alive to the intellectual growth of her children, and very much of their success in life was due to faithful training in moral and religious instruction. From the little one-story farm-house they sent forth their children.

Silas A. Crane was born Oct. 21, 1799. In 1823 he graduated from Brown University, having fitted him- self for college and paying his way through by teach- ing. He was an excellent scholar, taking the second honors of his class, and for a time was tutor in the university. He became an Episcopal clergyman, re- ceived the degree of doctor of divinity, and for a few years was president of Kemper College, in St. Louis. The last thirty years of his life he was rector of St. Luke's Church, East Greenwich, R. I. He was a profound scholar, an earnest Christian, respected and venerated by his people and all who knew him. Among the bishops and clergy of the Episcopal Church there was no abler or wiser counselor. He died July 16, 1872. He married Mary Elizabeth Martin, of Providence, R. I.

Benjamin Crane was born Sept. 13, 1804, and was educated at Brown University. He had an acute logical and analytical mind, with an aptness and clearness of explanation and demonstration that made him, for all who desired instruction, a most ad- mirable educator. He followed the profession of a teacher for many years, was a merchant for a time, and then retired to his farm. He was a devoted dis- ciple of his Master, and in active life and usefulness he passed away, Nov. 11, 1861. He married Sephro- nia Paull, of Berkley, Mass.

Daniel Crane was born Oct. 6, 1806. He was edu- cated at Brown University and at Union College. Much of his life has been spent away from the ordi- nary intercourse of men and business. He has ac- quired a vast amount of information from books, has a good knowledge of Greek classics, is an excellent Latin scholar, and has read in the original many of the best Italian, Spanish, and French authors. In ancient and modern history, in the English classics, poets, and in Old English he is thoroughly versed. He has stored his retentive memory from childhood to old age with knowledge, and is now as gnileless as a child, spending the remainder of his days with a relative in Akron, Ohio. He married Margaret Cam- eron, of Taunton, Mass.

Asahel H. Crane was born April 15, 1811. He was engaged in teaching school for a number of years, then entered into mercantile business, and was in the Union army until its close. He married Jerusha G. Nichols, of Taunton, Mass., and after her death was married to Asenath Mitchell, of Bridgewater, Mass. He died June 10, 1880.

Thomas B. Crane was born June 16, 1814. He began life as a clerk, subsequently going into busi- ness for himself. Several years he was in Nantucket under the firm of Pratt & Crane. He was associated

with his brother Abiathar in mercantile business in Greencastle and Bainbridge, in Indiana, during which time he was in California for a year or two. A few years after he purchased a farm near Terre Haute, Ind., remaining there until his death, which oc- curred May 19, 1882. He married Maria D. Andros, of Berkley. After her death he married Emily Wood, of Middleborough, Mass.

Caroline Crane was born Dec. 1, 1816. She was educated by her brother, the Rev. Silas A. Crane, D.D., and was married to the Hon. George P. Marsh in 1839. From 1842 to 1849 her husband was in Congress; from 1850 to 1854 United States minister at Constantinople. In 1861 he was appointed min- ister plenipotentiary to Italy, which office he held until his death, in July, 1882. Mrs. Marsh is now residing in Florence, Italy. She was peculiarly fitted to be the companion of this extraordinary man, one of the most eminent linguists and philolo- gists in our country. This intellectual and culti- vated woman, speaking several languages and con- versant with the literature of several others, has been much admired for her personal attractions, her great conversational powers, and accomplishments. Her many charities and efforts for the education and im- provement of the poorer classes in Italy have greatly endeared her to the people.

Abiathar Crane was born April 24, 1819. After teaching school for a number of years, he, with his brother Thomas, went to Greencastle, Ind., engaging largely in mercantile business, subsequently entering into the lumber trade in Bainbridge, Ind., running two steam saw-mills. He also built a large flour-mill in Bainbridge at a cost of about forty thousand dol- lars ; but in less than a year after it was in operation he was attacked with brain fever and lived but a few days, dying in the prime of life. As a business man he was widely and reputably known throughout the State. He died March 24, 1856. He married Caro- line, daughter of Levi L. Crane, of New Bedford, Mass.

Lucy Crane was born April 3, 1822, and was edu- cated under the guidance of her sister, Mrs. George P. Marsh. She was married, in Constantinople, to Dr. Adolph Wislizenns, at the residence of the Hon. George P. Marsh, then United States minister to Tur- key. They now reside in St. Louis.

Dr. Wislizenns is a cultivated gentleman, is well known as a naturalist and scholar, and is a careful and successful physician. Mrs. Wislizenus is an at- tractive and educated woman, and speaks fluently French and German. She has a good knowledge of music, and is an accomplished performer on the piano forte.

Abiel B. Crane was born June 18, 1808. At the age of seventeen he was employed as clerk in New- berne, N. C., remaining there for three years with the exception of the summer months, which were spent at his father's. When twenty years of age he opened

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MISCELLANEOUS.

a store in Berkley. He was married to Emma T. Porter Sept. 21, 1829. She was the daughter of Tis- dale and Rebecca Porter, of Berkley. During the next few years he was in business in Newberne, N. C., Valley Falls, R. I., Assonet village, Mass., and Talla- hassee, Fla. In the fall of 1839 he entered into co- partnership with Caleb Bryant. They conducted a wholesale and retail store in Boston until a building had been fitted up for their business in Taunton.

Mr. Crane continued doing business in Taunton under the firm of Bryant & Crane, or A. B. Crane, until the year 1850, when he was chosen to repre- sent the town of Berkley in the General Court to meet in Boston January, 1851. A part of the fol- lowing three or four years were spent in Indiana with his brother Abiathar. In October, 1855, he and his brother Benjamin opened a store at Weir village, Taunton, but subsequently he bought his brother's interest, and for a time his son Samuel was with him. In the fall of 1864 he was one of the two elected to rep- resent the district composed of Fairhaven, Acushnet, Freetown, and Berkley in the General Court of 1865. For a number of years he was in company with William Babbitt, in the manufacturing of juniper shingles in North Carolina. In 1873 he retired from business, having at that time a cataract on both eyes. Three years later his eyes were operated upon by Dr. Wil- liams, an eminent oculist of Boston, the operation being so far successful as to restore the sight of one eye. From his early life he had a taste for music, attending the singing-schools of those days, and ac- quiring some knowledge of vocal music. Since then his leisure time has been spent in the study of the science of music. He is well known as a composer of sacred psalmody.

Mr. Crane is one of those rare men in this age whose integrity, honesty, and unselfishness are such that he decides in matters involving his personal in- terests with the same impartiality as between neigh- bors. Under the administration of President Jack- son he was postmaster of Berkley for a number of years. He was appointed by the Governor and Coun- cil a justice of the peace for the county of Bristol, in which capacity he served many years. As a friend to publie improvements in the town he is distin- guished. He gave largely for the building of the Trinitarian Chapel, and was a' large contributor towards the building of the Methodist Episcopal Church, so much needed in this place. He has been one of the trustees and one of the board of stewards since the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is over fifty years since Mr. Crane and wife were first united to the church. They celebrated their golden wedding September, 1879, their children, grandchildren, and many other connections and friends were present to enjoy that festal day.

They have had six children,-Emma Porter, Alex- ander Baxter, Samuel Newhall, Asahel Porter, Helen Harrison, and Rebecca Porter.

Emma P. Crane was born July 20, 1830. She was educated by her uncle, the Rev. Silas A. Crane, D.D., of East Greenwich, R. I. She was a fine student, possessed of a thoughtful mind, and her perceptive and reflective faculties are of a high order. With a natural taste for music, she acquired a good knowl- edge of that science, and for twenty years or more has been the organist at the Trinitarian, now Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in Berkley, where she is prominent in her liberality and in her untiring efforts to sustain the church, and to carry forward the cause of Christ. She was married to Charles Bissett, July 4, 1854, a skillful mechanic of Taunton.

Alexander B. Crane was born April 23, 1833. He graduated at Amherst College in 1854, studied and practiced law in Terre Haute, Ind., and was prose- cuting attorney of the county one term. In 1862 he entered the army as captain in the Eighty-fifth Indi- ana Infantry, became lieutenant-colonel, and then colonel of the regiment. The regiment was in the Army of the Cumberland until the fall of Atlanta. Then with Gen. Sherman on his march through Georgia and the Carolinas. He was captured in 1863, and was in Libby Prison several weeks ; partici- pated in the battles of the campaign in Tennessee and Georgia, leading to the capture of Atlanta and Savannah, then through South and North Carolina. During the war he was on detached service as pro- vost-marshal at Nicholasville, Ky., and afterwards at Nashville as a member of the board for the examina- tion of officers for the colored regiments. At the close of the war he married Miss Cornelia Mitchell, of New York City, July 12, 1865, and has since been engaged in the practice of law in the city of New York.

Samuel N. Crane was born Oct. 6, 1835. He went to Indiana at fourteen years of age with his uncle, Abiathar Crane, and there pursued his studies, also assisting his uncle in business until his uncle's death. He then returned home and was in business with his father a few years. At the beginning of the war he was in Colorado, and there enlisted as a private in" the First Colorado Regiment, was soon promoted to second lieutenant, and then to first lieutenant. He accompanied this regiment on its wonderful march- ing and fighting campaign through New Mexico. During the last year of the war he was on detached service, acting assistant quartermaster at Fort Zarah, Kan., and acting assistant commissary of subsistence. After the war closed he married Miss Clara Rhodes, of Mansfield, Mass., Sept. 6, 1865, and is now residing in the city of New York engaged in the management of real estate.

Asahel P. Crane was born Feb. 18, 1838. He at- tended school at an academy, and prepared himself to fill the position of a clerk in his father's store at the age of seventeen. He was very active, industri- ous, and faithful, but was only in the business about one year, when he was taken sick, and lived about

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

four weeks. He died Oct. 29, 1856, in his nineteenth year.

Helen H. Crane was born Feb. 9, 1842. She has had rare opportunities for study and improvement from having been much of her life in the family of her uncle, the late Hon. George P. Marsh. For several years she was in Rome during Mr. Marsh's long resi- dence there as United States minister to Italy, re- ceiving the advantages of European travel and sur- rounded by all that Italy holds dear. She has given special attention to the study of modern languages, and has a vivid appreciation of music. Since 1878 she has spent much time in Providence, R. I., giving private instruction in the French language.

Rebecca Porter Crane was born March, 14, 1844. She was educated at the female college then in Wor- cester, Mass., and at a select school for young ladies in Rochester, N. Y.

She is possessed of a bright intellectual mind, and is remarkable for her social qualities. During her studies she gave some attention to music, and having a natural musical voice she became a fine singer. She was married, Nov. 15, 1870, to the Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, Jr., a Trinitarian Congregational clergy- man settled in Framingham, Mass.

Fall River .- POST-OFFICE .- A post-office was first established in this town Jan. 31, 1811, with Charles Pitman as postmaster. March 26, 1813, the office was removed to Steep Brook, and there was no office in what was then the village of Fall River until March 18, 1816, when the present office was estab- lished, and Abraham Bowen was appointed post- master, who held the office until his death, in April, 1824. He was succeeded by his son, James G. Bowen, who continued until July, 1831, when he was succeeded by Benjamin Anthony. Mr. Anthony held the office until within a few days of his decease, June, 1836. Caleb B. Vickery was soon after appointed, and continued until Dec. 31, 1849, when he was suc- ceeded by James Forde, who held the office until July . 1, 1853. He was succeeded by James M. Morton, who held the office until Oct. 1, 1857. He was suc- ceeded by Ebenezer Slocum, who held the office until Dec. 18, 1861. He was succeeded by Edwin Shaw, who served until March 1, 1875. He was succeeded by Chester W. Greene, who served until April 15, 1881. William S. Greene is the present incumbent.

UNITARIAN CHURCH.1-Early in 1832 it was ascer- tained that a considerable number, and among them some of the most enterprising and wealthy men of the place, had become disaffected with the measures and services of the orthodox denominations, and would unite in forming a society for a more rational worship. Immediate measures were adopted for the incorporation and organization of such a society. Seventy-four persons signed an agreement, of which the following is an extract :

" The undersigned, being desirous of securing to themselves the ines- timable privileges of religious fellowship, unfettered by arbitrary creeds and confessions of faith of human imposition, and to obtain for this community the high advantages and purifying influences of enlight- ened instruction in morals and religion, and of the intelligent and ra- tional worship of Almighty God, do associate ourselves for the purpose of forming a religions society, to be called the Unitarian Society of Fall River."

The above extract is copied from a circular subse- quently issued, but our historian has been unable to find the official records of the society for the first few years of its existence. Of the seventy-four subscribers referred to it has been ascertained that the following names were among the number, although possibly some of them may not have united with the society until the following year: Nathaniel B. Borden, Pat- rick Wright, Peleg H. Earl, Joseph Rice, Horatio N. Gunn, Caleb B. Vickery, A. G. Shearman, Joseph S. Cook, Samuel S. Allen, Otis Lincoln, Ebenezer Luther, Lewis L. Arnold, James C. Anthony, Alvin Clark, Samuel S. Thaxter, Foster Hooper, Hezekiah Battelle, Joseph Gooding, Daniel Paine, Thomas J. Pickering, Thomas Tasker, Samuel Hathaway, Ezra Marvell, William Read, David A. Valentine, William H. Hawkins, Benjamin B. Sisson, W. W. Nye, Charles Pease, James Ford, Bradford Durfee, John Mason, John Lindsey, Daniel Goss, John Bowcock, I. S. Bliven, S. D. Cragin, Israel Brayton, Oliver S. Hawes, Joseph Nye, William T. Wood, Nathan Pratt, Thomas D. Chaloner, Phineas W. Leland, John Chatburn, James S. Warner, Moses Lawton, Willard Winter, Leander Borden, Holder Borden, Abel Borden, Jr., Richard H. Smith, John B. Winchester, Jesse Eddy, Edmund Davis, Walter C. Durfee, Davis A. Blake, Samuel West, Warren Carpenter, Hugh Gaul, Ben- jamin B. Sisson, William Munday, Israel Borden, Robert C. Brown, Abraham S. Newell, Gideon Hatch, Henry Lyon, Stephen Davol, Benjamin Sweet.

These seventy-four subscribers were owners of property to more than double the amount of that which was possessed by members of either of the six other religious societies then in the village. Measures were soon taken to build a more elegant and commodious house for worship than was at that time in the town, which, after many delays, was ac- complished in the spring of 1835. During the three years intervening the society hired for a time the old Baptist meeting-house, which stood on the then di- viding line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, just north of the head of Columbia Street, and sub- sequently the Presbyterian Church on Anawan Street, recently vacated, which occupied the site of the present school-house.

No regular pastor was secured until 1834, when Rev. George W. Briggs, a recent Harvard graduate, was ordained, and began his labors on Anawan Street. The following year the new building was completed and formally dedicated. This handsome edifice was located on the southeast corner of Second and Borden Streets, and cost, with the organ, nearly

1 By J. M. Aldrich, M. D.

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twenty thousand dollars. Unfortunately for the wel- fare of the society, before the completion of the house two of the most interested and wealthy members died, and their property, amounting to several hundred thousand dollars, passed to those belonging to other denominations, several more had removed from the town, and quite a number, during a period of religious excitement, which appeared to be directed against the new sect particularly, finally returned to the orthodox fold, leaving the society financially in a crippled con- dition. Assistance, however, was obtained from other towns and cities, and money enough eventually raised to nearly pay off the debt. Mr. Briggs, who some years since received the honorable title of D.D., re- mained with the society until 1837. He was an able preacher and an excellent pastor, and his resignation was received with much sorrow and regret. Mr. Briggs was temporarily succeeded by Rev. Warren Burton, and in 1840, A. C. L. Arnold was installed. His services, however, not being acceptable, he re- mained but a short time, and was followed, in 1843, by John F. W. Ware. The other pastors were as follows : Samuel Longfellow, ordained Feb. 16, 1848 ; Josiah K. Waite, installed Sept. 15, 1852; William B. Smith, ordained in 1860; Charles W. Buck, in 1864; Joshua Young, in 1869; Charles H. Tindell, in 1875; and Edward F. Hayward, in 1877. The latter sent in his resignation in December, 1882, to take effect the 1st of the following month, and at the time of this writing, May, 1883, no one has been called to fill the vacancy.

In the early part of 1859 a proposition was made to remove the church edifice to some place north of the stream, in order better to accommodate a majority of the members who resided in that part of the city. This project met with decided opposition from mem- bers residing in the vicinity of the house, some of whom were the most liberal supporters of the so- ciety. After holding many meetings and much dis- cussion, it was voted, at a special meeting held for the purpose, Oct. 19, 1859, that the building be taken down, and removed to its present fine location on North Main Street, a proceeding which caused a loss to the society of at least one of its oldest and most prominent members. This project was carried into effect the following year, and some changes made in its internal arrangement, making it a pleasant and commodious house of worship.

The present officers of the society are : Moderator, William F. Hooper; Clerk, Samuel Hadfield ; Treas- urer, Edward S. Adams; Standing Committee, Jo- seph Healey, James M. Aldrich, Nathaniel B. Bor- den.

Fall River .- A free public library, where the people of both sexes and all classes may have easy and constant access to a large and well-stored treas- ury of the world's lore in literature, science, and art, is the crowning glory of that system of public educa- tion which has been, from her earliest history, the pride of Massachusetts. The system of public in- | Leach ; 1873-83, Joseph. W. White.

struction in the common schools, excellent as it is, closes with the period of childhood. The great and important work of educating the people demands an agency which shall continue its operation after the school-days are over, and when the active duties of mature age have been reached. To meet this demand the system of public libraries was inaugurated, the first institution of the kind known to the world being established in Massachusetts in 1853.

In 1860 an ordinance was passed by the city gov- ernment of Fall River for the establishment of a free public library, and an appropriation made for its maintenance. A library-room was provided in the City Hall building, and properly fitted for the pur- pose. The Fall River Athenaeum, established in 1835, transferred to the city its collection of some 2400 volumes ; other contributions were made by as- sociations and individuals, and the library was opened to the public May 1, 1861. During the first year the subscribers numbered 1248, to whom were delivered 30,252 volumes, at an average of nearly 100 volumes per day.

The successful experience of each year since its organization has afforded conclusive evidence of the usefulness and stability of the institution. The num- ber of volumes rapidly increased, and the original space assigned to the library soon became too limited for its use, and various expedients were resorted to for temporary relief, but no adequate provision was made until the completion of the alterations of the City Hall building (1872-73), when the lower floor was arranged and fitted with every convenience for the purpose of a library and reading-room. The latter is one of the finest in the State, being light, pleasant, cheerful, and spacious, and easy of access to the public. The government of the library is vested in a board of trustees consisting of the mayor, ex officio, and six other citizens. The present librarian is Mr. W. R. Ballard.

Raynham .- Clergymen in Raynham since Rev. Fisk -: Rev. Asa Mann, from 1873 to 1875; Rev. Francis H. Boynton, from 1875 to 1879. Only sup- plies from Sabbath to Sabbath since.

REPRESENTATIVES TO GENERAL COURT .- 1868, Enoch King; 1870, Gineason H. Lincoln ; 1873, Thomas S. Cushman ; 1875, Joseph W. White; 1878, Elmer Lincoln ; 1880, William O. Snow.

In 1869, 1871, 1872, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1881, 1882, representatives from Easton.

SELECTMEN .- 1868, Enoch Robinson, Thomas P. Johnson, Thomas S. Cushman ; 1869-70, same board re-elected ; 1871, Thomas S. Cushman, Enoch Robin- son, Braddock Field; 1872-73, re-elected ; 1874, El- mer Lincoln, Enoch Robinson, Samuel W. Robinson ; 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, and 1879, re-elected; 1880, William O. Snow, Enoch Robinson, Thomas P. John - son ; 1881, 1882, and 1883, re-elected.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 217

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