History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 91

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 91

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Mr. Hathaway was one of the first to organize the Citizens Savings-Bank in 1851, and was ever after till his death one of its board of investment. In 1854 he assisted in organizing the Pocasset Bank, of which he was the rest of his life a director, and during his last ten or twelve years its president. As a banker he was noted for his sound judgment, strict integrity, and faithful performance of all the trusts reposed in him.

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He was also largely interested in the manufac- turing interests of Fall River, having been a prime mover in organizing the Robeson Mills, and an active participant in the founding of the Stafford and Davol Mills. He was a director in the Watuppa, Granite, Robeson, Davol, and Stafford Mills, from the time of their organization, and was the president of the Robe- son Mills and a director in the Manufacturers' Gas Company.

In all these responsible positions his judgment was valued by his associates. For politics and office- holding he had little taste, though always earnest in the support of correct principles and the elevation of the most suitable men to office. He was a member of the board of aldermen for one year, declining a re- election at the expiration of his term. Though fre- quently importuned to become a candidate for the office of mayor, he always declined.

For many years Mr. Hathaway was one of the foremost and most valued citizens of Fall River. Possessed of a rugged and independent character, he was always bold in his denunciation of shams and frauds, and earnest in the defense of what he consid- ered to be just and true. His uprightness and integ- rity were known to all men, and no one had a greater share of public confidence in all fiduciary relations. He was an earnest friend of temperance and active in all efforts for the moral welfare of his native city. He was a friend of the widow and orphan, an earnest hater of pretenses, and will long be remembered for the sterling virtues of his character. His life was well spent, and the memory of his good deeds and : upright life will long survive him,

Mr. Hathaway married Abby Warren, daughter of Joseph and Rhoda Warren, March 21, 1832. She was born Aug. 10, 1811, in Fall River, and died Feb. 10, 1869. They had ten children, four of whom died in infancy, and daughter Mary, at sixteen years of age. The surviving children are: Abbie, wife of Eleazer Waldron, of Fall River; Edward E. ; Marion A., wife of Henry Fry, of Providence ; Samuel W., and Clarence M.

Mr. Hathaway died on the 10th of April, 1873, aged sixty-five years and five months.

HON. OLIVER CHACE.

Hon. Oliver Chace was born in Swansea, Mass., Nov. 11, 1812. He is descended in a direct line from William Chase, who was the first of the name settling in America, and who came from England in the fleet with Governor Winthrop in 1630, bringing with him his wife, Mary, and his eldest son, William, then a lad about eight years of age. The first residence of William Chase was in Roxbury (now Boston High- lands), Mass., where he lived until 1637. He was a carpenter by trade, and in the winter of 1637-38 made a settlement with Stephen Bachiler and others in Yar- mouth, Barnstable Co., Mass., dwelling there until

his death in May, 1659. The place of his residence in Yarmouth was near Stony Cove, and his " farm fence" is designated as a boundary in several deeds and other documents.

William? Chase was born in England about 1622, came with his father to America, married and settled near Herring River, on the east side of the Bass River in Yarmouth, now Dennis or Harwich. His children, born from 1646 to 1672, were connected with the Society of Friends. He died in 1685.

Joseph3 Chase, son of William2, married Sarah Sherman, and reared a large family. He was a member of the Friends' Meeting at Sandwich, Mass., in 1681. In 1688 he was at Portsmouth, R. I., and was a prominent member of the Rhode Island Friends' Meeting until his death, in 1724, at Swan- sea, Mass.

Job4 Chase, son of Joseph3, was born Aug. 21, 1698, married Patience Bourne Sept. 6, 1718, and resided in Swansea. His will was proved Dec. 25, 1766. The family name of his wife is variously spelled " Born," "Burne," "Bowen," and " Bourne," tradition and ancient records favoring the latter orthography.

Jonathan5 Chase, son of Job, was born May 11, 1728. He married Mary Earle May 13, 1754, and had eleven children, of whom Oliver was the sev- enth. Oliver was born Aug. 24, 1769. He married Susanna Buffinton Sept. 15, 1796, by whom he had seven children. He married (second) Mrs. Patience Robinson ; no issue. He enjoyed in early life few of the advantages of birth or circumstances. His father's patrimony was an extremely limited one, and the son's education correspondingly restricted, especially was this a result of the stormy period of the Revolution. Inured to toil and compelled to be industrious in early boyhood, he naturally became noted in after-life for his application and perseverance. In 1806 he took the agency of a small mill in Swansea, in which he became part owner, and commenced the manufacture of cot- ton yarns. In 1813 he removed to Fall River, and in company with Eber Slade, Sheffel Weaver, Hezekiah Wilson, Benjamin Slade, Amey Borden, and others, erected the Troy Mill and became its agent. At that time Fall River was a village of but a few hundred inhabitants. It was mainly through his efforts that the Pocasset Company was projected and established in 1821, and for many years he controlled and man- aged its interests. He was remarkable for the pos- session of many prominent traits of character, among which may be mentioned clear and sound judgment, punctuality, industry, and integrity. He was the first to spell the family name "Chace." He died at Fall River in 1852.

Hon. Oliver Chace came with his parents from Swansea to Fall River in 1813, when only one year of age. His education was obtained at the district schools in Fall River, and at the Friends' school in Providence, R. I. Upon leaving school he entered

Oliver Chances

Cook Borden

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the variety store of Caleb Vickery, where he remained but a short time. He then accepted a clerkship in the office of the cotton manufactory of Chace & Luther, his brother being the senior partner. A few years later he formed a copartnership with Israel Buf- fington, under the firm-name of Buffington & Chace, and engaged in the manufacture of cotton laps, which business he continued until 1838, when in company with Joseph C. Anthony, firm-name Chace & An- thony, he engaged in the manufacture of cotton yarns. In 1840 he erected the Mount Hope Mills, of which he was sole proprietor and business manager for more than twenty-five years. He also conducted a large farm located in that part of Tiverton, R. I., now Fall River, Mass., including part of the Park and lands adjacent on the south. He was a director of the National Union Bank from 1842 to 1854. In 1851 he was prominent in establishing, and was one of the corporators of the Citizens' Savings-Bank, and was trustee and member of its board of investment until June 9, 1856. He was one of the corporators of the Pocasset National Bank in 1854, and was its president from the time of its incorporation until June 7, 1862. He was interested in various enterprises, and assisted in establishing and building up many of the great manufacturing concerns of Fall River, which stand to-day as monuments to the energy and enterprise of their founders. While his was eminently an active business life, he was repeatedly called by his fellow- citizens to fill important trusts. He was an assessor of taxes, an overseer of the poor, a member of the Town Council, and was several times elected to the General Assembly of Rhode Island, both as repre- sentative and senator. In polities lie was a Whig and a Republican.

He was the originator of the Fall River Manufac- turers' Mutual Insurance Company, which was estab- lished solely by his untiring zeal and persistent energy. He was its president from its organization until his death May 6, 1874, and devoted his time and strength to its management even to the detriment of his health. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends. He married, Nov. 22, 1835, Mary E., daughter of William S. N. and Mahitable (Church) Allan, of Newport, R. I. She was born Oct. 4, 1813. Their children are Oliver, born Jan. 24, 1837 (died 1837); Benjamin A., born March 19, 1840, married Sarah R. Durfee Jan. 27, 1864; Susan A., born Nov. 20, 1842 (died 1860) ; Mary E., born Nov. 17, 1844, married Crawford E. Lindsey May 27, 1863, and Wil- liam O., born 1847 (died 1848).

Mr. Chace was an outspoken and persistent oppo- nent of American slavery, an advocate of temperance and other reforms, and was to the full measure of his ability a helper of those around him who needed and deserved encouragement and assistance, and was a considerate and generous friend to the poor. He was a man of positive character, but kind and generous in his impulses, of quick perception and sound judg-

ment. Public spirited to a fault, active and earnest in all he did, he brought to bear upon whatever he undertook great enthusiasm and the whole strength of his nature.

COOK BORDEN.

The Bordens from whom he is descended were originally from Bourdonnay, an ancient village in Normandy, France. The first of the name in Eng- land was a soldier under William the Conqueror, who, after the battle of Hastings (A.D. 1066), was as- signed lands in the County of Kent. Here the family subsequently acquired wealth and influence, and the village where they resided was named Borden.

The father of Richard and John Borden, the first emigrants to America, removed to Wales in order to secure to his family larger religious liberty than they could enjoy in England. Richard and John married in Wales, and afterwards returned to Borden. Eng- land, with a view of emigrating to America, which they did in 1635, in the ship "Elizabeth," Roger Cooper, master. For a short time they resided near Boston, but preferring the greater freedom of Rhode Island, they chose that colony as their future home.

Richard, the elder brother, and progenitor of the family to which this writing refers, chose, with other pioneers, the north end of the island, and was one of three men to lay out the original town of Portsmouth, R. I. His son Matthew, born there in May, 1638, was the first white child born on the island of Rhode Island.

John, the fifth son of Richard and Joan Borden, was born in September, 1640 ; married Mary, daughter of William Earle, and died June 4, 1716. His wife, Mary, died in June, 1734, aged seventy-nine years. He was a prominent Friend, and was extensively known among the Friends at a distance as "John Borden, of Quaker Hill, Portsmouth, R. I."

Richard, of the third generation, was the eldest son of John Borden, and was born Oct. 24, 1671. He was a large land-owner in Tiverton. He and his brother Joseph bought of Capt. Benjamin Church twenty-six and a half thirtieths of the mill-stream and mill-lot at Fall River, which he bequeathed, with other lands, to his four sons, John, Thomas, Joseph, and Samuel. He died July 12, 1732.

Thomas Borden, through whom the family line is continued, was born Dec. 8, 1697, and married Mary Gifford, 1721. He was a farmer and considerable land-owner in Tiverton, and owned a large interest in the Fall River stream. He died in 1739, in the forty-third year of his age.

Richard Borden, of the fifth generation, was a farmer and mill-owner in Fall River. During the Revolution he was taken a prisoner by the British, and carried to Newport, R. I. While on his way a chain-shot from the American fort at Bristol killed two British soldiers who had him in charge, while he, i lying close upon the deck, escaped unharmed. He

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

died July 4, 1795, aged seventy-four years. This Richard was the grandfather of Cook Borden. His wife was Hope Cook, whom he married March 12, 1747. His sons were Thomas and Richard, the last named being the father of the subject of this memoir.

Richard Borden, of the sixth generation, married Patty Bowen, and had ten children, of whom Cook was the seventh in the order of birth. He was also the seventh in descent from the original Richard Borden, who came from England in 1635. Of the eleven children of the first Richard and his wife Joan, Mary, the youngest, married John Cook in 1684. Thus early the Bordens and Cooks became intermar- ried, and from this came the given name of our sub- ject. The Cooks were among the early settlers of Rhode Island, and also of Eastern Massachusetts.

Cook Borden was born in Fall River, Mass. (in that portion then Tiverton, R. I.), Jan. 18, 1810. He mar- ried Mary A. Bessey, Jan. 1, 1832, and about that time built a residence on his estate in Tiverton, where he spent the remainder of his life, and where his widow and sons now reside. By the change of boundary line it has since come into Fall River. Before the change Mr. Borden held the office of assessor in his town, and represented it one term in the Legislature. He was, however, a business man rather than a politician, and never sought the honors or emoluments of office. He was a self-made man, and rose to the prominence which he attained chiefly by his own exertions. The weight of his character gave him position and respec- tability, although few men have been able to look back to a nobler line of ancestors. Few men have better illustrated the dignity of labor or the value of economy in early manhood.

His father died when he was about eighteen, and his first money was procured by his own labor. When starting out in business he sold the portion of the farm left him by his father, situated west of Main Street, for a sum not exceeding twelve hundred dol- lars, and this was all the capital he had, except what he made for himself. Before he embarked in business on his own account he worked several years for Frost & Gurney, the original lumber dealers of Fall River. He then commenced the lumber business for himself near Lindsey's Wharf, on lands now occupied by the new freight depot of the Old Colony Railroad Com- pany. His business grew to be large and profitable, and in 1846 he bought Bowenville, and removed his yard to the site which it now occupies.

Mr. William Cogswell, cashier of the old Tiverton Bank, was his partner for many years from the first inception of the business, and he had other partners, until at last his sons, who had grown up in the busi- 1 ness, took their places by his side, and have carried on the business since his death, the style of the firm, "Cook Borden & Co.," remaining unchanged.

For some time Mr. Borden operated in lumbering in Western Pennsylvania, and at the same time car- ried on his business in Fall River.

We have mentioned the marriage of Mr. Borden to Mary Bessey on the first day of the year 1832. Mrs. Borden still survives. Their children have been : (1) Mary J., died young ; (2) Mary J., married Dr. James W. Hartley, May 1, 1853; (3) Theodore W., married Mary L. Davol, June 10, 1859; (4) Avis, died young ; (5) Philip H., married Ruth A. Dennis, Oct. 8, 1861 ; (6) Jerome C., died young ; (7) Jerome C., married Emma E. Tetlow, June 28, 1870.

Mr. Borden died Sept. 20, 1880, in the seventy-first year of his age. From notices published at the time of his death we select the following, which is no over- drawn estimate of his character and worth as a man and a citizen :

" Mr. Borden from his birth, which occurred in this city in 1810, by his long business life and close asso- ciation with the varied industries of the city, was as intimately connected with Fall River, its peculiari- ties and aspirations, as a man well could be. Related by ties of blood to most of our old families, and ac- quainted by business associations with almost every- body in the city who had connections with our man- ufacturing and mercantile interests, he was one of the best known of our prominent men. His acquaintance was confined to no one class; the operative, the laborer, the mechanic, the fisherman, the tradesman, the man- nfacturer, the professional man, the clergyman, all knew him; and in his long, large list of acquaint- ances there was not one that did not know him to respect him. Naturally reserved and reticent, he was better known upon closer acquaintance. There was nothing about him flashy or eager; he was solid, conservative, steady.

" Mr. Borden was not selfish or avaricious. Many a man now lives in Fall River who has tested his kindness of heart and willingness to help one who was trying honorably to help himself. He was also a man of deep religious convictions, and for many years had been a consistent and earnest member of the First Baptist Church of Fall River. He was al- ways to be found in his seat on Sundays in the days of his health, and never tired in service or in giving. He was one of the largest contributors to his church and other religious agencies.

" Mr. Borden was fond of out-of-door sports, espe- cially of fishing. He knew all about our coast and the best fishing-grounds. He was almost an authority on these matters. In pleasant weather he delighted to be on the water, and was an expert in the use of the fishing-line.

"He always applied himself to business, and his life was one of labor and constant application. In his large lumber business, one of the best-known es- tablishments of the kind in this part of New England, he has lately been associated with his three sons. The business grew from a modest beginning into large dimensions. He has held a long list of offices of trust, and his death will leave many vacancies to be filled. He was president of the Union National

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Bank, a member of the Board of Investment of the Union Savings-Bank, a director in the Chace, Richard Borden, and Tecumseh Mills.

" His life was gentle, and the clements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, 'This was a man.'"

W. B. TRAFFORD.

William B. Trafford, son of William Bradford and Sarah (Castinow) Trafford, was born in Dartmouth, Mass., Dec. 5, 1819. He was descended, in the sixth generation, from a prominent Protestant family of England, which, under the popish persecutions, suf- fered much in person and estate. The first Trafford who started for America was a wealthy gentleman living near London. He was selected as a victim for death during the last Catholic persecution in Eng- land, and was warned when the officers coming to arrest him were approaching his house, and not having time to escape he hastily put on his groom's clothes and engaged in labor in the stables. The officers came, found no one but the grooms, and de- parted. Trafford then left the place, and chartered a vessel to remove himself and family to America. Here he passes from our knowledge. Whether he was captured and was executed, or died while at sea, are equally unknown to us. The vessel, however, came to America, and landed at Dartmouth, Mass., about 1690, bringing his two sons, one of whom was Thomas. The English estates were confiscated, and reverted to the crown. Thomas settled in Dartmouth, married, and had children. The other son settled in New Jersey, and his descendants are numerous in the Middle and Western States. From the landing at Dartmouth the Trafford family has been connected with the history of Bristol County. The oldest son of Thomas and the only child attaining maturity was Philip. He had a son Joseph, who was a Revolu- tionary soldier under Washington. Tradition says that once, while he was standing guard, Washington endeavored to make the rounds without giving the countersign. He succeeded in passing two of the guards, but Trafford refused to let him pass until he had given the proper countersign. From that time Joseph Trafford was the one chosen for duties of great trust and especial responsibilities, and he was rapidly promoted, becoming one of the best officers in his division. He lived and died in Dartmouth, leaving seven children, Samuel, Joseph, William Bradford1, Philip, Phebe, Ruth, and Naomi. (We find in family records that Joseph had a brother Elihu, who with two others ran a vessel from New Bedford to New York and up the Connecticut River. While the vessel was moored at New Bedford, Elihu and two others started on foot to visit their friends in Dartmouth. When but a short distance out they ob- served British soldiers following them, when they shot at them, and the soldiers returning their fire in-

stantly killed all three.) Joseph lived to a hale old age, and was esteemed for his strength of character and general worthiness.

William Bradford Trafford, the first of this family to bear the name of the old colonial Governor, was born in Dartmouth, and was a mariner. He had two daughters, Ruth and Nancy A., and one son, William Bradford". (Nancy, born Feb. 11, 1811, is now living at Westport, Mass.) He left not much to record, as shortly before the birth of his son he went to sca, where he probably was lost, as he never returned, and no tidings ever came of him.

William B. Trafford2 had very limited advantages of schools, and from the age of ten, when he began to work in the mills at Fall River, until his death he was constantly at work with hands and brain, and during his long and busy career no one ever won more or warmer friends. The support of his mother's family in time largely devolved on him, and well did he discharge the trust. (His mother is yet living at Westport, Mass., aged ninety-onc. She married a second time a Mr. Lewis, and George and Elijah Lewis, so long connected with Mr. Trafford in the Westport Manufacturing Company, were her sons by this marriage. She was daughter of Raymond Cas- tinow, who emigrated to America from France, mar- ried Phebe Salisbury, resided in Westport, Mass., and had seven children,-Raymond, John, Phebe, Martha, Hannah, Barbara, and Sarah C., -- and died aged sev- enty-six. Mrs. Castinow died aged forty-seven.) From his fifteenth year Mr. Trafford carried on busi- ness for himself, hiring machinery and working dili- gently, and developed those traits of economy and thrift so marked in later life. In the spring of 1846 he entered into copartnership with a fellow-workman, Augustus Chace, as Chace & Trafford. They had only a small beginning, the savings from their wages as mill operatives. Mr. Chace contributed two thou- sand three hundred dollars, Mr. Trafford seven hun- dred dollars. With this capital they purchased a small lot and water privilege at Globe village, and put up a very small mill for spinning coarse yarn, for which their means would only allow the purchase of second-hand machinery. The machinery being in poor order it was not easy to hire operatives, but the partners were men whose capacity for work enabled them alone to achieve as much labor as six hired operatives. The stream was small, and as it furnished their only power, to avoid the waste of any water they very frequently ran their machinery night and day, and for a long period habitually they would work until two or three o'clock in the morning. To such labor there could only come one result,-wealth. After enlarging the capacity of this mill they pur- chased the Westport mill, Mr. Trafford taking the management of that, and settled in Westport in June, 1854. About 1861 the interests were divided, Mr. Trafford and his half-brothers, George and Elijah Lewis, who had been previously connected with the

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

business, taking the Westport Mills, which were or- ganized and operated by the Westport Manufacturing Company. Mr. Trafford continued as business man- ager until his death, Feb. 4, 1880, having, however, returned to Fall River Sept. 16, 1876, where he con- tinued to reside till his death. His brothers attended as well to the mechanical departments as he to the financial, and all worked in harmony. Additions and extensive improvements were from time to time made, and the company has been very prosperous.

Mr. Trafford married, first, Abby W. Borden, May 15, 1842. She died Nov. 2, 1856. Their children were William C., Andrew R., Charles A., and Orrin F. April 19, 1858, he married Rachel M., daughter of Perry and Ruth (Macomber) Davis. Their chil- dren are Allison W., H. Lester, Perry D., and Ber- mard W. (A most wonderful and strong attachment exists between the four older children and the second wife of Mr. Trafford. She has nobly filled a mother's place in their young lives, and her care and attention has been fully appreciated by them. Her comfort is their first care.) All the children are living but Orrin F., who was thrown from a buggy Nov. 18, 1880, and instantly killed. William C. succeeds his father as manager of the Westport Manufacturing Company. Andrew R. resides in Westport, and has three children,-Abby W., Orrin I., and Edith C. Orrin left two daughters,-Rachie B. and Orena F. Charles A. and Allison W. reside in Providence, R. I. Charles has two children,- Minnie .E. and William Bradford. Henry L., Perry D., and Bernard W. are residing with their mother in Fall River.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 91

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