USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 80
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The house of Oliver A. Miller here mentioned is thoroughly representative of Ameri- can superiority in the product of this kind of machinery, especially relating to the shoe manufacturing industry. The home office is at his factory, with salesrooms at 57 Lin- coln street, Boston, and at 3 Victoria Road, Northampton, England, with agents in Paris, France, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and Melbourne, Australia.
Oliver A. Miller, the well known manufacturer of shoe trees, is one of the most en- terprising of the citizens of Brockton. He is the son of Ammi Rogers and Martha (Tracy) Miller, of Bennington, Wyoming county, N. Y. His father was a farmer and carriage manufacturer, and is now located at Attica in the same county. His father's family were eight in number, three boys and five girls, a happy family, and successful. One brother is living in Alexander, a successful farmer ; another brother doing an ex- tensive dry goods business in Attica, N. Y.
O. a. miller.
39
BIOGRAPHICAL.
The subject of this notice was the fifth in order of birth, and has always been snc- cessful in his business pursuits. He was born in Bennington, N. Y., March 3, 1855. Received his education in the Genesee County Seminary at Alexander, N. Y., entering the same at the age of fifteen years. His early life previous to entering the seminary was similar to that of most boys who live on a farm. The young man had a laudable desire to be in business for himself at an early day. His first business experience was as clerk in the hat, cap and fur store of Messrs. Tweedy, Smith & Son of Buffalo, N. Y. Ile afterwards became a traveling agent on the road, selling a machine known to the trade as the " carriage painter's automatic jack." It was while engaged in this busi- ness, and his extensive acquaintance acquired in traveling through all parts of the coun- try, extending from Boston on the east, to Iowa on the west, including Washington, Cincinnati and Lonisville. Ky., on the south, with other prominent cities and towns, which gave the young man breadth of ideas and helped to foster his ambition to be in business on his own account. We have already seen that Mr.'Miller has from the first been prospered, not with a mushroom rapidity, but in that steady growth which brings the largest results. He has been successful only by his untiring activity and industry, constant and earnest effort, backed by a clear head and a trained mind, not afraid of work. He believes in the progress of his adopted city and deliglits in everything that tends in that direction, and is a cheerful promoter of the interests of the same. The following quotation from Shakespeare may well apply to him :
" Not propt by ancestry, neither allied to eminent assistants, but by the force of his own merits he makes his way."
Of the private life of Mr. Miller, we may safely say he is exceedingly domestic in his habits and tastes, and with his family, consisting of his wife, three sons and one daugh- ter, he enjoys life in his quiet and delightful home on Prospect street, on the top of an elevated spot of land known as Prospect Hill, overlooking the city, which includes many " hives of industry " where his productions are in common use. He strives to make home the chief centre of life, a happy one, where, after the cares and toils of the day are over, he can spend the cheerful hours of evening in the delights of the family circle. In order to enhance the pleasures of his family, he has erected a bowling alley, billiard room and a music room, where with them he can enjoy his "Sans Souci" retreat.
In May, 1880, when he began his increased business on Prospect Hill he purchased the homestead of Aberdeen Keith on Prospect street, containing about three fourths of an acre of land, on which is plenty of fruit, and where his home is situated.
Mr. Miller is a man of strong, positive ideas and utterances, and thinks for himself, firm in his convictions, and liberal in his belief. In politics he has always been a Re- publican and a Protectionist. He cast his first vote for Gen. U. S. Grant for president. In his religious belief he is a pronounced Spiritualist, and is a director of " Onset Bay Grove Association of Spiritualists." Notwithstanding this he is in touch with the other denominations in the city, and has assisted by liberal contributions in erecting houses of worship for those differing from him. In fact, he cares little for names, and believes in character rather than in creeds, and places no confidence in professions unless backed by uprightness in character and life. Mr. Miller is a regular attendant on church services at the Church of the Unity.
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Isabella W. Lathrop of Rochester, N. Y., February 20, 1878.
CHILDREN :
I -- Georgia Belle, born May 5, 1879, and is now a student in Dana Hall, Wellesley, a preparatory school for the college in that town.
II -- Howard Oliver, born May 9, 1881.
III -- Everett Percy, born July 20, 1883.
IV -- Lawrence Lathrop, born May 4, 1889.
BENJAMIN KINGMAN.
BENJAMIN KINGMAN was the third son of Seth and Judith (Washburn) Kingman. He was born in the North Parish of the old town of Bridgewater, now Brockton, Decem- ber 3, 1793, and, like most men in his day, worked upon the old homestead farm, which he afterwards owned, situated in what is well known as the Kingman neighborhood, on Summer street, in the easterly section of the city of Brockton. Besides the service rendered to his father on the farm during the summer season, he with his brothers spent their leisure time during the days and long winter evenings by hammering and and making wrought nails, then the only nail used, which were all made by hand. At the age of seventeen years he commenced his apprenticeship with Josiah Perkins to learn the blacksmith's trade. Upon arriving at the age of twenty-one, he embarked in trade, keeping a variety store in the house which formerly stood at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets, the residence of the late Isaac Keith, in Campello. He after- wards removed his store to the corner of Main and Belmont streets, now occupied by Hotel Belmont.
While engaged in trade at the latter place, about 1821, the year of the incorporation of the town of North Bridgewater, now Brockton, he commenced the manufacture of shoes for the wholesale trade, and was one of the earliest manufacturers in this city. During the winter season he would go to Savannah, Ga., to sell his goods, where he had a store, and at the time of the great fire, in which a large portion of the city was destroyed, his was the only one in his section that was saved. He afterwards spent one winter in Cuba, West Indies, selling his goods.
In 1812 he was a member of Capt. Nehemiah Lincoln's company of militia, and was called to do duty at Plymouth. His widow drew a pension for a long time. He was the first person engaged in the sale of lumber in the town. He opened a lumber- yard on the land afterward occupied by the brick dwelling-house of the late Hon. Ed- ward Southworth, on Main street. He was also engaged in building houses on con- tract. When the third meeting-house was erected, in 1827, Mr. Kingman was the most active member of the building committee, and was the agent to carry out all the plans in removing the old church and building the new, and at the dedication of the same he was on the committee of arrangements. August 10, 1835, he was appointed
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41
BIOGRAPHICAL.
agent to build the parsonage house for the First Congregational Church, which stood on the spot now occupied by " Perkins's Brick Block."
In 1833, in company with Byla Keith, Esq., Mr. Kingman built the public-house, which was the only one in the city for a long time, and destroyed by fire, at the corner of Main and School streets, now occupied by "Washburn's Block." He was the first proprietor, where he remained but a few years. At another time he became joint owner of the public house now known as the Hyland House, in Bridgewater.
In all the walks of private and daily life, Mr. Kingman was highly respected as a citizen, unostentatious, quiet, honest and decided. He was possessed of an active mind, and was very communicative to others and highly enjoyed life, fond of society, and felt a deep interest in all the great topics of the day. A person of excellent judg- ment, calm and considerate in all of his movements, his conduct was prudent and dis- creet, and in public affairs ever reliable. He seldom took part in the strife of political life, excepting as a voter, but was always firm as a Whig and unwavering as a Re- publican.
That he enjoyed the full confidence of his fellow-citizens may be seen in his having frequently been called to fill offices of trust. and responsibility. He was prominent in all the public affairs of his native town, and filled nearly all the offices in the gift of the same. He was one of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, represented the town in the Massachusetts Legislature, and for upwards of thirty years was a deputy sheriff for the county of Plymouth. He was one of the first directors of the Randolph and Bridgewater Railroad corporation, now merged into, and forming a portion of the pres- ent Old Colony Railroad Company. At the time of the incorporation of the first bank of discount in the city, Mr. Kingman was the chief promoter and organizer, and became one of its directors. At the time of his death he was an agent and director of the Hingham Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Although Mr. Kingman never made any public profession of religion and belonged to no particular denomination, yet there was no person more devoted to the interests of and success in the First Parish than he. In his early life, and almost to the close, he was a regular attendant on the public services of the sanctuary, and had a deep interest in its prosperity. He was the, principal man in maintaining the legal rights of the par- ish, in court and out, during the long term that the same was in litigation; and in the settlement of all matters pertaining to the same, where there were any differences, he was the leading spirit. He was the principal in the building of and completion of the elegant church edifice, known as the Brown church, erected in 1854 which was de- stroyed by fire, January 24, 1894.
Mr. Kingman passed peacefully away from the scenes of earth on the 13th of April, 1870, at the age of seventy-seven years.
His interest in the parisli matters as a public. officer ceased by his resignation, May 14, 1860, upon the reception of which the society passed the following resolutions, which we find on their records :
" Whereas, By the resignation of Benjamin Kingman, in the office of Chairman of the Standing Committee of this parish, after having filled the same for a long series of years, and therein acted a prominent part in our history as a parish, we, the members
F
42
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
of the Parisli, are led to consider the energy, the large experience, the sound judgment, and the public spirit which he has manifested in the discharge of the duties of that office ; now, therefore,
" Resolved, That his services in said office are entitled to our grateful acknowledg- ments, and that we deem it a just and proper act, as well as a pleasant one, to place upon record this testimonial of our appreciation of those services and of the benefits resulting to us therefrom.
"JONATHAN WHITE, " JONAS R. PERKINS, " WILLIAM F. BRETT, " Committee,"
Mr. Kingman married Rebecca, daughter of Josiah and Rebecca (Perkins) Paekard, of North Bridgewater, now Brockton, December 4, 1817.
CHILDREN :
I .- Julia Ann Kingman, born August 22, 1819, married Rufus Emery Howard, May 18, 1838. He died July 8, 1838. She then married Hon. Edward Southworth, February 2, 1843. He died March 14, 1877.
CHILDREN :
1 .- George Southworth, October 5, 1843. Died single.
2 .-- Ella Frances Southworth, October 10, 1845.
3 .-- Frederic Southworth, March 3, 1851, married Esther Louisa, daughter of Atwood and Almira T. Holmes, of New Bedford, Mass., October 18, 1874.
II .- Rufus Packard Kingman, born November 4, 1821, married Abbie Baker, daughter of Capt. Winthrop Sears and Sally (Hawes) Baker, of Yarmouth, Mass., August 30, 1852. Mr. Kingman died February 20, 1894. (See biographical memoir on another page).
III .-- Henry Lyman Kingman, born July 27, 1829. Died single, November 21, 1862.
IV .-- Benjamin Franklin Kingman, born October 27, 1831, married Ada Eels, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Eels) Ramsdell, of Warren, Mass., December 18, 1854. The father died at Minneapolis, Minn., July 14, 1875.
CHILDREN :
1 -- Susan Homer Kingman, born May 16, 1857. 2 .- Joseph Ramsdell Kingman, born April 15, 1860.
V .-- Maria, born October 19, 1840, married Charles F. Marston, of Barnstable, Mass., October 19, 1863. She died Mareh 9, 1864. He died January 23, 1865.
FRANCIS E. WHITE.
AMONG the leading and prominent citizens of Brockton is the subject of this sketch, whose name is at the head of this article. He was born in South Weymouth, Norfolk
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
county, Mass., August 8, 1837, and received what education could be obtained from the common schools of, and one year in the first High School, established in his native vil- lage. In 1854, at the age of seventeen years, he entered a counting room in Boston, where he received a good business training, and at the age of twenty-one went to New York city, where he engaged in the same line of business experience, remaining until the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861. The country needing patriotic young men, he felt it his duty to help by enlisting, which he accordingly did in Company G., Fourth New York Cavalry, September 2, 1861, where he served in the army of the Potomac over three years, being mustered out with his regiment at Winchester, Va., October 28, 1864.
He was promoted early in the service, and at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., in December, 1862, he was promoted to first lieutenant.
At the close of the war he settled in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, and soon after married Adaline Frances, born February 17, 1844, daughter of Charles Little and Betsy (Morton) Hauthaway, of Brockton, May 2, 1866. He engaged in the manufac- ture of boots and shoes, becoming a partner of Daniel S. Howard & Co., one of the leading and most successful manufacturers in Massachusetts.
In November, 1879, he retired from that firm and established business in his own name, in which he has been prosperous from the commencement, which has continued to the present time. Mr. White is one of the wealthy residents of the city, and is always among the most zealous and interested in any measure for the progress of the city and its material prosperity.
He was an early advocate of the proposed change of the name of North Bridgewater to one more distinctive in character and favored the name which was finally adopted. He earnestly advocated the change from a town to the city form of government, and has since served two terms in the Board of Aldermen, and is at present one of the commissioners of the Sinking Fund. He is a director in the Brockton National Bank and of the Boylston Bank, Boston, and a member of different Masonic bodies and also of the Commercial Club. He also belongs to the military order of the Loyal Legion and of the G. A. R.
Mr. White's ancestors on both sides are essentially and distinctively direct from the " Pilgrim Fathers," tracing his descent in a direct line from Peregrine White, the first child of the Mayflower party, born in New England. His family connections in Weymouth embrace the well-known and highly respected old families of Burrell, Loud and Tirrell.
Two of the ancestors of Mr. White were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. His father was in the war of 1812, although only seventeen years old, and out of seven brothers five were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion and did good, faithful service.
Mrs. Adaline, the wife of Mr. White, died May 24, 1884, and in October, 1885, he married Fannie Carlton, only daughter of Rufus Carlton and Mary (Foley) Kimball, of Brockton, and widow of George F. Gurney, of Brockton.
His only child by his first wife was Henry Preston, now seventeen years of age, and a member of the Brockton High School and preparing for admission to Harvard College.
44
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
In politics Mr. White has always been a Republican, and in local municipal affairs he is of the temperance stripe. He is also quite an extensive traveller, having covered this country and nearly all of England and the continent of Europe.
WELCOME HOWARD WALES.
WELCOME HOWARD WALES, son of John and Olive (Howard) Wales, was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, January 20, 1821, at the old Wales homestead, which was located on the site now occupied by the residence of the late R. P. King- man, Esq., corner of Main and Belmont streets. During the years which immediately followed his majority, Mr. Wales engaged in machine, manufacturing and' continued in this business until the year 1862. At the town election in March, 1862, he was chosen to the office of town clerk, a position for which he was especially adapted. Upon assum- ing control of the office he determined to discharge its duties with an eye single to the public welfare, and how faithful he was to the trust imposed is evidenced by the fact that he was re-elected annually for a period of sixteen successive years, and oftentimes by a substantially unanimous vote. His sphere of usefulness, however, was not con- fined to this office alone. In 1864 he was chosen collector of taxes, and held the posi- tion until his death, and so well did he discharge the delicate and difficult duties of this office that he was designated as the " model collector." He represented the town in the Legislature in 1869 and 1871, and in 1873 was chosen a selectman, and re-elected each succeeding year. He was also chairman of the selectmen several years. It was his constant aim to please those with whom he came in contact, and to perform in a conscientious manner the various trusts which devolved upon him.
In his death the town lost an experienced and valucd servant, and the public one who was ardently interested in all that pertained to the advancement of the various interests of Brockton.
October 16, 1845, Mr. Wales united in marriage with Lois, daughter of John Wash- burn and Almira Copeland Kingman, and their family consisted of one child, Abbie Penn, born August 28, 1848, who died February 8, 1866. Mr. Wales died July 2, 1879. Mrs. Wales is now a resident of Quincy, Mass.
CHARLES PERKINS KEITH.
MR. KEITH was born on the homestead of his father, which was formerly his grand- father's, which stood near where the present residence of Rufus P. Keith is now located, corner of Main street and Keith avenue, Campello. He was alway's a resident of the town of his nativity and never lived outside the limits of the district of his boy- hood, honored and respected by his fellow citizens, never desiring public office, rather shunning publicity of service and was the most quiet and unpretending of men, and to
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
an unfamiliar observer scemed indifferent to what was passing about him, but in mat- ters of business or socially he was quick of hearing, and keen of vision. He always elung to his habits of social and domestic life as formed in early years. In public or private life all unnecessary or outward demonstration or show was always carefully avoided by him. He had great sincerity of motive and kindness of heart, and con- veyed his meaning in a few words. His honesty and faithfulness was never called in question.
Any one who had knowledge of the antecedents of Mr. Keith would not wonder that he was a good citizen. Reared as he was in a Christian home he was early led to uphold religious influences. He was a member of the South Congregational Church. The writer can speak from personal knowledge of his father, as he was under his in- struction in the Sabbath School and knew him well in years long since gone.
The father of the subject of this sketch had a considerable tract of land and devoted some of his time to agricultural pursuits, but his chief business was that of shoemaking and manufacturing, which in his day was done in a small way, all branches being done by hand labor. His speciality was a low cut brogan, called by the trade "sailor's pumps," his principal market being New Bedford and Nantucket, where they were sold among whalemen. His productions had to be carted either by stage or teams, as it was before the days of railroads. This business was followed by the father for many years, when he was succeeded by the son in 1855, four years previous to the father's death, which took place July 29, 1859. In 1871 Mr. C. P. Keith relinquished the manufacturing business, and his son, Preston B. Keith, removed the old shop, the father remaining in his employment, in a new and commodious factory on the site of the old one for a short time only.
When the senior Mr. Keith died the son gave his time and attention to the develop- ing of his large real estate interests, and with the various changes of the town and city old buildings were removed and new ones erected, till at the present writing the old homestead resembles a thick settled city rather than a large farm. "Keith Avenue," is all that remains to mark the old and familiar locality of five generations of this branch of the Keith family.
Previous to the marriage of Mr. Keith he erected the house at the corner of Main street and Keith avenue, where he lived during all his married life till his death, which took place July 12, 1893.
FAMILY RECORD.
Charles Perkins Keith, the son of Charles and Mehetable (Perkins) Keith, was born in the south part of Brockton, now Campello, June 20, 1820, and married Mary Keith, daughter of Josiah and Sylvia (Keith) Williams, of West Bridgewater, Mass., Decem- ber 4, 1843.
The wife died September 19, 1884. He then married Catherine Fitzgerald, Decem- ber 8, 1885.
And here it is proper to mention the mother, one who combined rare excellence of Christian character, with true womanly graces, of cultivated and refined literary tastes, a true wife, a devoted mother and a kind neighbor.
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
I .-- Sarah Williams Keith, born March 31, 1845, married Fred W. Park , January 8, 1873. Mr. Park is employed in the shoe manufactory of Preston B. Keith, and resides on Main street, at the corner of Clifton avenue. Children :
1 .- Charles Milton Park, born June 19, 1874.
II .. Preston Bond Keith, born October 18, 1847, married Eldora Louise Kingman, of Campello, December 8, 1869. [See Biography.]
III .-- Rufus Perkins Keith, born March 2, 1851, married Marion Foster, born Octo . ber 29, 1856, daughter of Jonathan and Olive Packard (Foster) Keith, of Cam . pello, October 26, 1880, and have
1 .- Clara May Keith, born April 2, 1887.
Mr. Keith is superintendent in the factory of Preston B. Keith, director in the Campello Co-operative Bank, was Master of St. George Lodge, Free and Accept- ed Masons in' 1883 and 1884, clerk of the South Congregational Church, Cam- pello, for five years. His residence is at the corner of Main street and Keitlı avenue, on the site of the homestead of his grandfather, the late Charles Keith.
SIMEON FRANKLIN PACKARD.
SIMEON FRANKLIN PACKARD, one of the prominent citizens of Campello, is the son of Deacon Simeon and Harmony (Kingman) Packard, and grandson of Hon. Abel and Lucy (Washburn) Kingman, born January 9, 1829. After the usual rudiments of edu- cation such as the district schools of his town afforded, he attended the Adelphian Academy, North Bridgewater, Kimball Union Academy of Meriden, N. H. His father being a farmer and shoemaker, naturally the son engaged in the same line of occupation during the earlier years of his life. Upon the completion of his academic studies, at the age of twenty years, he engaged in teaching in schools near his home, and in the adjoining towns of Abington, Randolph and Stoughton (now Avon).
In 1854 he entered the store of H. K. Keith & Co., in Kingston, Mass., where he re- mained four years, during which time he was elected on the Board of School Commit- tee. Returning to Campello he immediately engaged in service with Messrs. A. & A. B. Keith, who at that time were the principal shoe manufacturers of that village, as clerk and superintendent of their factory for seventeen years. He received the appoint- ment of justice of the peace from Gov. Alexander H. Rice in 1876.
Since 1874 Mr. Packard has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business, under the firm name of S. F. Packard & Son, one of the largest and best known agencies in the country. At an early day Mr. Packard had won the respect and confi- dence of his fellow townsmen, and was frequently called to fill positions where sound judgment and a clear head were needed. He is a person of good executive ability, of strong will, and ever has in mind the best interests of his fellow citizens, and the long terms which he has held in some of his public service are the best testimonials of tlie confidence of the community. In 1874 he was elected member of the school committee of the town, which office he has held from that time to the present, and since the city
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