History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 94

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 94

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Juhu J. Archer

390A

FALL RIVER.

JOHN JASON ARCHER.

John Jason Archer, son of Dr. Jason H. and Jen- nette (Bowen) Archer, was born in Fall River, Mass., July 26, 1845, and died at his residence in the same city, Oct. 31, 1882. His paternal grandfather was Amos Archer, a resident of Wrentham, Mass., and was one of her most esteemed men. His father, Dr. Jason H. Archer, was a native of Wrentham, Mass., where he spent his youth and prepared for college at Day's Academy. He entered Brown University in 1812, and graduated in 1816. He immediately commenced the study of medicine with the celebrated Dr. Wil- liam Ingalls, of Boston, and after completing his medical studies, he very soon came to Fall River, where he continued to have a successful practice till May 12, 1852, when he returned to his native place, and resided there until his death, January, 1864.

While a citizen of Fall River he took an active part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town. Politically, he was a Whig and Republican. He was the first president of the Massasoit Bank, and continued to hold that position five years, until he severed his relations with the place. He received from the officers of the bank soon after his retirement a beautiful " service of silver" in recognition of his valuable services. During his residence at Wrentham he was a director in the Wrentham Bank.

He married Jennette, daughter of Abraham and Ruth Bowen, and had four children, viz., Amanda M .; Caroline A., wife of Frederick H. Gee ; Jennette F., died in infancy ; and John Jason. Mrs. Archer's father, Abraham Bowen, was one of the first men in Fall River to commence the manufacture of cotton or woolen goods. (For a more detailed history on this subject, see history of Fall River.)

Abraham Bowen, son of Nathan Bowen, was one of Fall River's most intelligent and useful citizens. His heart was in every good work, and he did much to build up the rural and material interest of the town. His house was often the house for the weary traveler, and especially ministers of various denominations.

He was social, hospitable, and kind, and the poor found in him a warm and sympathizing friend. Mrs. Jennette (Bowen) Archer was born in Fall River, Oct. 16, 1805, and died at her residence in the same city, Jan. 19, 1883.

From the Daily News we append the following :

" DEATH OF JOHN J. ARCHER, EsQ .- One of the most highly-esteemed members of the bar of this city, John Jason Archer, passed peacefully away between six and seven o'clock this morning. He had been in fail- ing health for about eighteen months, but was fully as well as he had recently been until about two weeks since, when he was attacked with fever with typhoid symptoms, and gradually sank until his death this morning.

"Mr. Archer was the son of Dr. Jason H. and Jennette Archer. His father died a number of years since, but his mother has been spared to render such ministries to him as only a devoted mother can in the hours of suffering and mortal weakness.

"Ile was born in this city, where he resided until the removal of his parents to Wrentham, from whence he went to Brown University and graduated in the class of 1866. Very soon after graduating he was ap- pointed an instructor in English literature in the Naval Academy at

Annapolis, where he remained between one and two years, when he was attacked with measles, which were epidemic at the Academy at the time. On recovery from the disease his eyes were found to be so much affected as to prevent his performing the duties of his position, and he resigned and returned home. He soon after commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of Norfolk County. On his return to this city he began practice, and has been for a number of years the senior member of the firm of Archer & Jackson. Ile was also associate justice of our District Court, and was for several years a member of the school committee.

" In all the relations of life as son, brother, wise and honest coun- selor, friend, and good citizen, Mr. Archer has left a record that is equaled by few and seldom surpassed. He was thirty-seven years of age."

The accompanying portrait represents him about eighteen or twenty years of age, and is the only good one extant.

Nov. 1, 1882, the members of the Bristol County (Second District) bar, met in the court-room to take action on the death of the late John J. Areher, asso- ciate justice of the court. Hon. J. C. Blaisdell was appointed chairman, and A. B. Leonard, elerk.

A committee, consisting of Hon. Mayor Braley, Milton Reed, and Andrew J. Jennings, was appointed to draft resolutions, and presented the following :

" With unfeigned sorrow we assemble here to-day. The death of John J. Archer has removed from our bar one whose place cannot easily be filled. Intellectually and morally he had few, if any, superiors in our community. His scholarship was not only wide and varied, but also accurate and unpretentious. Thoroughly read in law and master of its fundamental principles, he was one of our safest and ablest counselors. No man had a keener sense of right or wrong, or stronger moral con- victions. Upright in all his ways, he ever had a charitable word for the wrong-doer. His attainments commanded the respect, and his character the regard of all who knew him.

" Realizing the worth of such a man, not only to our profession. which he dignified and adorned, but to the community at large, which he influenced and elevated ;

" Resolved, That we the members of the Fall River bar, most fully and keenly recognize the ability, worth, and high character of onr de- ceased brother, John J. Archer, and with feelings of mingled pride and sadness attest his many virtnes, his professional attainments, and his upright life ; that in him we have each lost a sympathizing friend, and one whose intercourse with us was ever marked by the greatest cour- tesy and kindness.

"A. J. JENNINGS, " M. REED, "H. K. BRALEY."

On motion of M. G. B. Swift, the following resolu- tion was adopted :

" That the above resolutions be adopted as the sense of the bar and be presented the Second District Court to be spread npon its records, and that they be sent to the family of the deceased and to the press for pub- lication."

A special session of the District Court was subse- quently held before his Honor Judge Blaisdell, at which A. J. Jennings, on behalf of the members of the bar, presented the resolutions adopted at their meeting. In a few remarks Mr. Jennings. said,-

" My heart responds to every word in the resolutions. It is a day when a bar like this should rejoice when they can write words of truth, as these words are, about any man who has been a member of it. I think we have a right to have something bright mingled with our sadness, when we can point to such a man as a member of the bar herc, as one who has chosen our profession, as one whose every act and thought has simply tended to elevate, to raise it in the respect and esteem of the com- munity, and who gained for himself the love and respect of all his fel- low-members and the members of the community in which he lived.

" As far as my personal knowledge is concerned, the words of the reso-

390B

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

lution and its preamble express to myself the cordial relation in which he stood to me. I never heard from his lips any words except those of truth, of justice, of honesty. I never heard from his lips any words in which he sought to belittle other men ; strong words he sometimes spoke against wrong and evil, but he always found there was some good in the man that committed the wrong.

" He seemed to be always looking for the best instead of for the worst, hut always in the straight line of integrity, honesty, and uprightness, and all his words and acts conformed to it. He was very sparing of his speech to those who swerved from the true path, and I say we should honor him for it, and should be proud of him for it.

"One of our younger members has been taken away and our ranks are broken, but I am glad we can assemble here and feel that the good acts done will live after him. Hisacts must still remain to exert their in- fluence upon us who have seen his life, been impressed by his thoughts and works, to make us better and truer men, better and truer members of the profession. I submit to the court these resolutions, and ask that they be spread upon its records."

Hon. Mayor Braley, on seconding the resolution, said,-

" It seems to me that it is fitting for the bar to pause a moment in its career of business, and take notice of the death of one of its members,- brother Archer. He delighted to make himself a master of law. He was a sound adviser, and was a legislator of this court for some time, and always presided with dignity, with impartiality, and with justice. In his intercourse with the members of the bar he was always pleasant, always cordial, and also strictly true. Whatever he said might be relied on, and in his death we lose a faithful friend."

Hon. M. Reed made a few remarks, and incidentally referred to the death of members of the bar since he was received. J. M. Wood, M. G. B. Swift, A. N. Lincoln, and H. A. Dubuque followed, each mention- ing some pleasing trait in the character of the de- parted.

In accepting the resolutions on behalf of the court, Judge Blaisdell said, ---

" After hearing the enlogies pronounced by you, gentlemen of the bar, I can but say that the occasion of our meeting is a most unusual one. ' A good man has fallen,' not simply a lawyer, not simply a neigh- bor or kind friend, but a good citizen, with all that that term implies. My words must be few after so much has been said. In the life of Mr. Archer, who has now passed on and gone before, we have a lesson for ourselves, a lesson for us to learn. He was a true man in all the rela- tions of life. So far as I have knowledge of him, he was emphatically a true man. He never misled, never deceived, never permitted litigation for the sake of litigation.

"I can only say that I only knew John Jason Archer to respect him. As one of the special justices of this court he discharged the duties with fidelity, with truthfulness, with high motion before him to always do justly between party and party, and was conscientious in the discharge of his duty. More than a lawyer, his character, as I understand it, is engraven to-day not only npon our memories here, but it is ergraven in matters of education, of good example here in our community, going in and out before us an upright man. When such a man passes away we may well pause in our ordinary proceedings of life to pay tribute to the fallen. Try and pay that tribute of respect which is due to such a man. It is the pleasure of the court to order that these resolutions be enrolled upon the records of the court."

MILTON REED.

Hon. Milton Reed was born in Haverhill, Mass., on Oct. 1, 1848. He is the second son of William and Sophia (Ladd) Reed, and through both father and mother descended from the first English colonists in the Merrimac Valley. In 1868, the youngest in his class, he was graduated with high honors from Harvard University, and came to Fall River as editor

of the Daily News soon after graduation, but subse- quently studied law at the Harvard Law School, and was admitted to practice in 1872. He opened an office in Fall River, and rapidly advanced to a high rank in his profession. He served several years as special justice of the Police and District Courts and city solicitor, in the latter capacity extending his reputation as a sound and able lawyer by his success with the important cases of the city. In 1880 he was chosen senator for the Second Bristol District, and rapidly made a reputation at the State House as a brilliant debator and sagacious legislator. He de- clined a renomination the following year. In 1881 and 1882 he was the Republican nominee for mayor, and althoughi defeated polled the highest vote ever given an unsuccessful candidate. Mr. Reed is a man of studious habits, great energy of character and business foresight, which have already reaped him a substantial reward. He is interested in many and a director in several of the largest corporations of the ' city, and for his age one of the most successful citizens of Fall River.

EDWARD PURINGTON BUFFINTON.

Edward Purington Buffinton, son of Aaron and Rebecca Buffinton, was born in Westport, Mass., Nov. 16, 1814. His parents coming to Fall River when he was but a lad, he grew up personally in- terested in all that related to the prosperity of the growing town. Mr. Buffinton engaged in business for himself early in life as a market-man, at the corner of Main and Pocasset Streets until the erection of the town-hall and market-building in 1846, when he removed thither, and continued in the same pur- suit until the close of his life, being one of the lead- ing merchants in' that department. In 1852 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1854, when Fall River changed its form of govern- ment and became a city, he was honored with an elec- tion to the Board of Aldermen, and in November, 1855, was chosen mayor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hon. James Buffinton. The following year, 1856, he was elected to the same office by the people. The three succeeding years he devoted to his business and private affairs, during which he was free from the cares and responsibilities of official life, and happy in the change. In 1860, however, he was again elected to the mayoralty, and held the office for seven consecutive years.

From the inauguration of the Rebellion to its close, Mr. Buffinton was at the head of the city government, and had an experience from which a man of weaker nerve would have shrunk discouraged. His labors were almost incessant day and night, but he never for a moment faltered in the discharge of his duties, and his entire administration was distinguished for judiciousness, care, economy, and humanity. He died Oct. 2, 1871.

391

FALL RIVER.

WILLIAM LINDSEY.

William Lindsey, son of Capt. Jonathan W. and Hannah Lindsey, was born in Bristol, R. I., Sept. 20, 1816. His grandfather, also William Lindsey, was a lifelong resident of Bristol, and died advanced in years. Jonathan was a hatter in early life, and after- wards going to sea rose to be shipmaster. He was born June 18, 1778, and married Hannah Easter- brooks, who was born in Bristol, Aug. 18, 1778. They had eleven children born in Bristol,-Sarah, Hannah, Martha, Mary, Lydia, Jonathan W., Catherine, Abby, William, Nancy W., and Nathaniel. All attained maturity, married, and all except Lydia had children. The combined ages of the eight now living is five hundred and sixty-six years. Mrs. Lindsey died in Bristol, March 21, 1851. Capt. Lindsey survived her three years, dying April 12, 1854.

William Lindsey had but limited advantages for school education. At the age of seven he accom- panied his parents to Providence, and after working a short time on a farm, at the age of thirteen went to work in a hat-factory, thus early commencing the battle of life. He came to Fall River, then Troy, when he was fifteen, and entered the employ of G. Burr & Co., wholesale grocers and provision dealers, as clerk. Remaining with them until he was nine- teen, he acquired a full knowledge of the business, and purchased it from his employers. This was in 1836. From that time Mr. Lindsey continued iu trade, under the different firms of William Lindsey, J. W. & W. Lindsey, Lindsey & Brothers, and W. & N. Lindsey, until 1875. For forty-three years, from 1832 'to 1875, he was in constant occupancy of the same location. He was prosperous, his industry and in- tegrity bringing satisfactory financial results and a well-deserved reputation for business capacity. Mr. Lindsey was for many years largely interested in whaling, coasting, and trading vessels, owning alone or in company with others quite a large number. In 1875, Mr. Lindsey became treasurer of the Weet- amoe Mills, of Fall River, and has held that office to the present writing. He has been a director of the Metacomet National Bank, of Fall River, since its organization, and its president since 1881. He has been a trustee of the Fall River Savings-Bank for more than forty years, and its president since 1882.

He is a stockholder and director in various cor- porations, notably, King Philip Mills, Globe Yarn- Mills, Weetamoe Mills, and Conanicut Mills. Po- litically, Mr. Lindsey was in former days a Whig, and since the organization of the Republican party a supporter of its principles, never, however, a bitter partisan, but caring more for the triumph of right principles and the election of good men than for party or personal gain.

He has never sought political distinction, his time being fully employed in attending to business. With- out seeking the position, he was in 1871 elected a

member of the first board of water commissioners of Fall River, and held that position during eight years, and until after the completion of the water-works, when, at the expiration of his third term of service, he declined a re-election.

Mr. Lindsey has been three times married, -first to Eliza A., daughter of Deacon Enoch French, of Fall River. They had three children,-Crawford E. (twice elected mayor of Fall River), Charles B., and Sarah F. His second wife was Ariadne M., daughter of Leander P. Lovell, of Fall River. They had five children,-William, Maria L., Eliza, Anna B., and John H. His present wife, Sarah J., is daughter of Job B. French, of Fall River.

From his twentieth year Mr. Lindsey has been a member of the Baptist Church, and identified with measures and means for the elevation and improve- ment of mankind. He is truly a self-made man, and his life has been steadily and actively devoted to business. He has a good knowledge of men and events, and a marked individuality of character. Cautious and prudent, of high honor as a man, rich in experience, faithful to all trusts, he has won and maintained a high place in the regards of his asso- ciates for his financial ability and his sound and wise judgment. Inheriting a vigorous constitution, strengthened by the labor of carly years and method- ical habits of life, at an age when many men lay aside active business he performs his many duties with a vigor of mind and body which promises many years of usefulness.

WILLIAM MASON.

William Mason, son of Wm. and Nancy (Northum) Mason, was born in Swansea, Mass., Sept. 13, 1806. His father was a merchant in Swansea, where he re- sided till his death, which latter event occurred in April, 1816, when he was thirty-eight years of age. His mother was the daughter of Capt. Joseph Northum.

William was brought up with limited opportunities for education, beginning at the early age of seven to work in a small cotton-mill near his home, and while in his eleventh year entering upon an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, in which capacity he con- tinned until he was twenty-one, attending school but a few months each year. He, however, was a diligent student, as well as a thorough and active worker at his trade.

After working a few months for Richard Chace, with whom he had served as an apprentice, he went to Fall River in November, 1827, and entered the employ of Leonard Garfield, a shoemaker, with whom he continued about six months, when he commenced doing work on his own account in a little shop which he had hired for that purpose. After a few months he entered into a copartnership with Gardner D. Cook in a store situated on the west side of Main Street, where the Granite Block now stands. Afterwards

392

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

they had a store on the east side of Main Street, nearly opposite the first. After some two years Mr. Mason purchased his partner's interest and continued the business himself. His trade grew, and he employed several hands and made goods to order, besides deal- ing in ready-made boots and shoes. He continued this business until December, 1837, when he closed out, and in May, 1838, settled his family in Woon- socket, R. I., where he went into the manufacture of soap with his brother, Stephen N. Mason, under the name of W. & S. N. Mason. They continued till the spring of 1843, and on March 6th of that year Mr. Mason returned to Fall River, where he continued to manufacture soap on his own account, and after a few months formed a partnership with George S. Holmes (firm of Holmes & Mason), and at the expiration of about seven months they dissolved, and Mr. Mason remained in the business till about 1864. During this time he had Joshua Remington as a partner about two years. During a portion of this time he was also en- gaged in the grocery business, which he conducted after they had dissolved partnership.

During this time (1859) he invested some money in the Union Mills, and was chosen a director, which position he held till he sold his entire interest there- in. He also owned an original interest in the Granite Mills, was a director, and was chosen president of the company, which position he still holds. He is also a director in the Stafford Mills, a director in the Chace Mills many years, and a director in the Massasoit Bank about twenty years. He has also been engaged with Foster H. Stafford and Asahel T. Pierce, of Paw- tuxet, R. I., in the manufacture of yarn. They have three mills,-one in North Dighton, one in Norton, Mass., and one in Warwick, R. I., and they run a thread-mill in Pawtucket. Besides all these, Mr. Mason owns large interests in various manufactories of Fall River, and is a director in the Merino Manu- facturing Company.

In politics he is a Republican, but he has a de- cided disinclination to office, although he allowed himself to be elected a member of the board of alder- men in 1857. He declined the nomination for mayor, preferring to give his undivided attention to his large and increasing business.

He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since February, 1823, when he joined at South Somerset, Mass. Since that time he has been an ardent supporter and a worthy member of that large and influential Christian body, in which he has been a class-leader for more than half a century, Sunday-school superintendent, steward, trustee, etc. He was the first Sunday-school superintendent in St. Paul's Church. He has been, and is, a liberal sup- porter of the various church interests, while his sym- pathies and support extend to all matters which have for their object the good of the community in which he lives, and the elevation of humanity at large.

On the 6th of January, 1831, Mr. Mason was

married to Harriet, daughter of Jeremiah W. and Sarah Anthony. Six children sprang from this union, viz. : Sarah E., wife of Iram Smith ; William W., died in infancy ; William W. (2d), Harriet A., died in in- fancy ; Edmund F., Charles T.

Mrs. Mason (1st) died March 14, 1865, in her fifty- sixth year.

He married, second, Jan. 1, 1866, Lois Richmond Anthony, daughter of Jonathan and Lorana An- thony. She died May 23, 1867, in her thirty-eighth year, leaving an infant son, Louis R. A. Mason.

His third and present wife was Emeline F., daugh- ter of George W. and Emeline E. Reed, of Fall River, to whom he was united Dec. 16, 1869. They have had three children,-George R., Stephen N. (died in infancy ), and Emeline E.

Mrs. Mason was born in Lowell, Mass., Sept. 25, 1839.

IRAM SMITH.

Iram Smith, son of Henry and Susan (Higgins) Smith, was born in Hampden, Me., Oct. 26, 1807. His father was a farmer and also a mason by trade, but the former was his principal occupation. He was a native of Cape Cod, and resided with an uncle by the name of Hinckley. He had two children,- Iram and Susan, who married Jefferson Stubbs, of Hampden, Me., and had several children, of whom only two daughters are living. Henry Smith died in Hampden, aged eighty-six years; his wife died in 1811.

Iram, at the date of the death of his mother, was . only four years old, too young to realize how great a loss he had sustained; for no father, however kind and wise, can fill the place of a good mother. He was reared by his father till eleven years of age, and then lived with a Mr. Mayhew, in Hampden, and Mr. Harding, at Cape Cod, until the age of nineteen, when he went to Duxbury, Mass., and remained there till he was twenty-one. During this time he had learned the carpenter's trade, and had acquired such education at the common schools as his limited cir- cumstances would permit.

On Nov. 1, 1827, he went to Fall River, Mass., where he has ever since remained. As an example of his true worth we give the following. His father was afflicted with a disease which incapacitated him for labor or for earning a livelihood, and, being poor, as soon as young Iram was old enough, he took the care of his father until his death.

In 1827, the same day Mr. Smith arrived in Fall River, he entered the employ of Deacon Shaw, a con- tractor and builder. He soon after engaged with Andrew Robeson, with whom he remained till failing health compelled him to relinquish his trade and seek some other mode of employment. In 1832 he put one thousand dollars, which he had saved from his five years' hard earnings, into a small grocery business, -

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 94

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