USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 87
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March 12, 1887, Mr. Kingman, accompanied by his wife, made a tour through Cali- fornia, via New Orleans, Mexico, Texas, and the Gulf States.
While Mr. Kingman is a local historian of note in his own country, he has also had extensive opportunities of acquiring information from the records of many hundred towns in Europe, and has a large amount of material in the line of family history and genealogy in that country. For the purpose of gathering the most reliable data of New England Families and other Historical study, he visited Europe, accompanied by his wife, who has kindred tastes, sailing from New York on the morning of December 19, 1888, for Southampton, in steamship " Trave " of the North German Lloyd Line. Travelled through England very thoroughly and making a long stay in London. Visited the home of Governor William Bradford in Austerfield, Yorkshire, Scrooby, and other places in that vicinity.
The line of descent from the first of the name of Kingman in the United States is as follows :
Henry' and Joanna ( -- )-John2 and Elizabeth (-)-Henry3 and Bethiah (How- ard)-Henry+ and Mary (Allen) -- Seth5 and Judith (Washburn)-Josiah Washburn" and Polly (Packard).
Mr. Kingman united in marriage with Susan Bradford daughter of Capt. Thomas and Susanna (Bradford) Elhs, of Plympton, Mass., January 1, 1852, who is a direct descend- ant in the eighth generation from Gov. William Bradford and Alice (Carpenter) South- worth, who arrived in Plymouth, Mass., from Austerfield, Yorkshire, England, in 1620, and was a leader among the Pilgrims and left a record of the doings of the colonists in the earliest settlement of Plymouth. They had one child :
I-Carrie Parker Kingman, born in Brookline July 15, 1858, and died September 18, 1859.
FREDERICK HOWARD.
FREDERICK HOWARD is one of the oldest now remaining of the earlier residents of the old town of North Bridgewater. There are but a few now living of those who were young persons at the time of the incorporation of the old town in 1821. He was then but six years of age. He has resided in three towns and one city and yet is a resident of the same locality in which he was born, and where he has always paid his taxes. The first was Bridgewater (North Parish), then North Bridgewater,
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Brockton as a town and as a city. His present home is on the old property, where the first church of the parish was erected.
He was born in Brockton, then the north parish of Bridgewater, February 14, 1815, and has pa sed his entire life in his native town. His education was confined to the common schools, and at the early age of thirteen years he entered the employ of Lysander Iloward, dressing and cutting shocs, receiving the meagre salary of one shilling per day for the first six weeks. He remained here until twenty-one years of age, and then, after having worked one year for Rufus E. Howard in the same busi- ness, in 1837, he commenced in a small way for himself in the manufacture of boots and shoes, which he continued six years, when failing health compelled him to re- linquish the business. Since that time he has dealt some in real estate, and been more or less engaged in town affairs. He was selectman, assessor, and overseer of the poor one year in 1849, and was special county commissioner nine years. He has also been somewhat engaged in settling estates. He was also a director in the North Bridge- water Bank during its existence, and is the only surviving director of that old institution. He is a Republican and has been from the organization of the party.
It is always a pleasure to place upon the page of history "passing incidents " in the life of one whose career has been marked by unostentatious benevolence, and whose kindly spirit has carried sunshine into many homes of suffering and want. Such an one is Frederick Howard, the subject of this sketch.
Quiet and unostentatious in the bestowal of his charities, Mr. Howard expends thousands of dollars that the public know not of, and can rest in the sweet satisfaction of having done his duty to his fellow-man. Many there are, not only in this State but in others, that can speak of the benevolence of Mr. Howard. He is a kind neighbor and one of Brockton's most honored citizens.
Mr. Howard traces his ancestry in this country to John Howard, who came from England and first settled in Duxbury, and later (1656) in West Bridgewater. When a lad John Howard is said to have lived in the family of Miles Standish. He was a man of great influence in the new plantation and was one of the first military officers in Bridgewater. The line of descent is as follows: John1, John2 and Sarah (Latham), 1703 ; Captain Robert3 (one of the first settlers of the North Parish) and Abigail (Keith), 1725 ; Daniel4 and Vesta (Howard), 1773; Darius5 and Huldah (Cary), 1808; and Frederick.6 Darius married Sophia, daughter of Jonas Howard, June 3, 1804, by whom he had three children. His wife died August 15, 1807, and June 5, 1808, he married Huldah, daughter of Jonathan Cary, and their family consisted of eight children, of whom Frederick was the fourth. His father, who died April 8, 1836, was a select- man of the town and also deputy sheriff several years.
In addition to other matters in North Bridgewater and Brockton, in which he has ever manifested a decided interest, he was for a long series of years actively engaged in im- proving the thoroughfares of the town, and many of the noteworthy improvements in the roads and streets are largely the result of his energy and good judgment.
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MOSES ADAMS PACKARD.
MOSES ADAMS PACKARD is the son of Martin and Anna (Adams) Packard, and grand- son of David and Susanua (Perkins) Packard, who resided on the old homestead on Forest avenue, afterward occupied by Lemuel Packard. The subject of our sketch was born February 28, 1843, in New London, N. H., but has resided for the past fifty years in what is known as Centreville, Brockton. He belongs to a family well known as having either been shoemakers or manufacturers from the earliest settlement of the old town of North Bridgewater. Up to and previous to his arriving to sixteen years of age he was a pupil in the public schools of the town, working with his father when not in school. Mr. Packard commenced to take out stock, as was the custom in his younger days, take it home and make them up and return them to the manufacturer. He continued in this business a little over two years, until the fall of 1862, when the coun- try called for a lot of nine months men for the army. In response to the above call he deemed it his duty to enlist, which he did in the latter part of 1862. He was in the army about one year, from September 26, 1862 to July 7, 1863, a member of Company · G, 45th Massachusetts Regiment, under Col. Charles R. Codman, Captain Joseph Mur- dock. This regiment being known as the "Cadet Regiment," embarked for Newbern, N. C., October 24, 1862, joining General Foster's forces and was engaged in the battles of Whitehall and Kinston. He was in service about six months at Fort Macon, North Carolina. Upon his return from the army he worked at shoemaking about two years and then commenced manufacturing, which he continued for two years, and then became foreman in the cutting room of Orr & Sears, continuing with them about six years. Two years after leaving Messrs. Orr & Sears, Mr. Packard again went into the manufacturing business. At this date he began to carry out the idea of making a shoe of a special price and advertising it. He made a shoe which he retailed at $2.99 cents. Began to advertise it in a small way in a Shoe Trade Journal and this was the first attempt at fixing the price which the retailer should charge, and this ad- vertisement was the first effort to push a special grade of shoes. This was about 1881. The first case of $2.99 shoes that was sold were shipped to Messrs. Husted Brothers of Norwalk, Ohio, who have been regular customers to date.
In 1884 Mr. Packard took Capt. R. B. Grover in the business and the firm name changed from M. A. Packard & Co. to Packard & Grover. This partnership continued until January 1, 1889, when Captain Grover retired and the firm was reorganized as M. A. Packard & Co., with John Kent and O. M. Fisher as partners, the former of whom had been in Mr. Packard's employ ten years, and Mr. Fisher five years.
Mr. Packard is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was one of the aldermen in the city government in 1890-91-92-93, and president of the Board in 1892.
He is a person of whom all speak well and is a quiet, unobtrusive man of public spirit, attentive to business and believes that one hundred cents make a dollar, always interested in the welfare of the city, and is ready to contribute to sustain its credit and its good name. He is a member of the Brockton Commercial Club and other organizations. He is a member of the Bay State Commandery, Massachusetts Consis-
M
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
tory, &c. This firm have a genuine push in business and their business is constantly increasing.
In private life Mr. Packard takes great delight and is ever happy in the company of of his immediate friends, relatives and associates. In politics he is a Republican. In his religious views he is a pronounced Universalist as his antecedents have been for three generations. Hc takes especial interest in agricultural affairs and has about one lun- dred acres of land in Jerusalem District, West Bridgewater, upon which he has the best of stock. His farm is situated on Pine street. He has been a farmer about five years, which together with his manufacturing interests makes him a busy man.
Mr. Packard's line of descent from the first in this country is as follows :
Samuel1 and Susanna (Edson)-Zacheus2 and Sarah (Howard)-David3 and Hannah (Ames)-William4 and Sarah (Richards)-Lemuel5 and Sarah (Hunt)-David® and Susanna (Perkins)-Martin7 and Anna (Adams)-Moses Adams® and Abbie (Dunbar).
Mr. Packard married' Abbie, daughter of Charles Ager and Lucy (Ellis) Dunbar of Brockton, February 28, 1866.
FRANCIS EDWARD HOWARD.
THE subject of this sketch is a descendant of one of the oldest families in the original town of Bridgewater, having settled in what is now West Bridgewater, when that was the centre for church worship and where the town business was transacted. John Howard was the ancestor of those bearing the name of Howard in the Bridgewaters, and in Plymouth county. He came from England and was at Duxbury as early as 1643, from whence he removed to the then West Parish of Bridgewater and became one of the original proprietors and settlers, taking the oath of fidelity in 1657. The original homestead land has been in the possession of the family from that date till now. The descent from this original John Howard is as follows :
John1 and Martha (Hayward)-John2 and Sarah Latham)-Major Edward3 and Mary (Byram) -Col. Edward4 and Susanna (Howard)-Captain Benjamin Beal5 and Olive (Howard)-Francis E.6 and Mary Kingman (Hayward).
Mr. Howard was born on the old Howard homestead in West Bridgewater, May 14, 1825, and was educated in the common schools of that town, where he made the most of his opportunities and has been an apt scholar since he left school studies, always a close reader and wide observer, and is in every sense a self-made man. He early be- came a farmer as most of his townsmen are, and settled on the farm where he now re- sides in 1847, and lias a great fondness for country life, much preferring it to the bustle and strife of the large cities, and yet Mr. Howard takes delight in traveling, in reading and studying. He is plain, outspoken and sincere, and is a hearty supporter of every- thing tending to improve, develop and advance the interests of the best elements in society. He has advanced opinions on all subjects and is ready by his pen and voice to support them. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but now a staunch Republican, and it is said he was the first man in his town to sign a paper as an adherent of the Repub-
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lican party in 1854. He has been an active and able contributor to the local press and his writing shows a mind well adapted for literary matters if he had chosen that as a profession. In all the various walks of business life Mr. Howard is aggressive, active, sagacious, enthusiastic and generous, very strong in his likes and dislikes, and a bitter opposer of wrong in any form, a firm friend, a kind neighbor, and in fact, he is one of the best and most useful citizens of his town and county, and has the confidence of the leading men at home and in the surrounding places. In his religious belief he is of the liberal Unitarian Congregational order, and is a consistent believer in their doctrines, and a constant contributor to the interests of his church as well as a regular attendant upon the services of the sanctuary. He was treasurer of the church for upwards of fif- teen years. He believes that a person should have a higher and better aim in life than the acquisition of wealth, the seeking for office, or the love of popularity, and endeavors to conform his life to his belief, and having these things in view he thinks it is not all of life to live, nor all of death to die.
Mr. Howard was for thirteen years elective member of the Plymouth and Bay Uni- tarian Conference. While he has never been an office-seeker his services have often been called into recognition, and for eight years was one of the Board of Senool Com- mittee ; he was also one of the selectmen of the town six years. Soon after the war of the Rebellion was over an association was formed December 4, 1865, to erect a monument to the memory of the deceased soldiers who went from West Bridgewater. Mr. Howard was vice-president of the same, and when later, the monument was dedicated July 4, 1879, he was president of the association, and in behalf of the association and as presi- dent, presented to the town the mionument in an appropriate address, which was ac- cepted by the late Henry Copeland, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. In 1882 Mr. Howard represented the representative district, including Brockton and West Bridge- water, in the Massachusetts Legislature, and in that position as well as in many other official relations, he has shown himself modest and unassuming, possessing a large share of good native common sense as well as ability, and that all important requisite, sterling integrity. He is a believer in higher education, and since his father left the munificent gift to be used in the cause of education, as treasurer of the Howard Seminary, he is of valuable assistance to the trustees in carrying out the wishes of the donor.
On the 25th day of November, 1852, Mr. Howard married Mary Kingman, daughter of Pliny and Polly (Kingman) Hayward, born June 6, 1826, of West Bridgewater, Mass.
CHILDREN.
I-Edith Frances Howard, born August 15, 1855.
II-Mary Jane Howard, born April 29, 1857. Died August 10, 1857. The mother died June 2, 1857. He then married Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of Simeon and Sibil (Fobes) Taylor, born April 21, 1827, of West Bridgewater, Mass., October 5, 1858.
TYLER COBB.
THE history of North Bridgewater and Brockton would be incomplete did we fail to make mention of one whose name is at the head of this sketch. He is a direct
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
descendant from Henry Cobb, who first appeared at Plymouth, Mass., in 1629. Ile was an early resident of Scituate in 1633, and removed to Barnstable, where he died in 1679, leaving seven sons and four danghters.
His descendants have been quite numerous and widely scattered. Previous to 1828 there had been nineteen graduates of New England colleges.
Of the early life of Mr. Cobb history is comparatively silent. He was settled on Kent street in Scituate, North River, where he had eighty acres of land. He removed to Barnstable with his pastor, Rev. Mr. Lothrop, in 1639. Four of his children were born in Plymouth, one in Scituate, and cight 'in Barnstable. His wife's name was Patience, who died in 1648. He married, second, Sarah, daughter of Samuel Hinckley and a sister of Governor Hinckley. He was a useful and valuable citizen, often a deputy in General Court, and in other public positions. His son, John, settled in Plymouth, Gershom in Middleboro, and Edward in Taunton. He died in 1679.
The Cobbs have been quite a numerous name in Bristol County, principally in Taun- ton, Norton, Dighton, and Mansfield. It was in this latter place that the subject of our sketch was born in 1812. When he was thirteen years of age, in 1825, he removed to the then town of North Bridgewater, now Brockton, which contained less than fifteen hundred inhabitants. The old North Parish had just blossomed into a town and became an independent municipality three years previous. His brother, David Cobb, had become a merchant in the old Parish about 1820, and Tyler was his clerk in the store, which was situated at what is now the corner of Main and Court streets. The store was previously occupied by Silas Packard and Col. Edward Southworth, then the town clerk of the new town. David Cobb married Abigail Willis, daughter of Mr. Packard, January 1, 1823. She died January 12, 1824. The younger brother remained in the store until 1835, when he removed to Roxbury, remaining one year, when he returned to North Bridgewater. In 1836 he purchased the business then con- ducted by Nathaniel H. Cross at the corner of Main and Belmont streets, on the site of Hotel Belmont, and familiarly known as the "Old Green Store." There he con- tinued for one year, when he sold out to Mr. Cross, and looked about for a location on which to settle. In 1838 he erected the building now forming a portion of the present Metropolitan Hotel, at the south corner of Main and High streets, which at that date was the prominent building of the town. . Mr. Cobb occupied this building as a dwelling, and for stores, offices and a public hall, which, to people who were familiar with the town fifty years ago, has much of historical interest. This hall was well known as " Cobb's Hall," in which has been held every kind of meetings, singing schools, dances, legerdemain, and every other kind of performance. Religious societies of every shade of belief have met in this hall for worship. Courts have been held here. It was at one time the only place where town meetings were held and if memory serves us right there was a spring floor for the special use of dancers. Many of our readers will call to mind the familiar singing masters, Thomas J. Gurney, Seth Sumner, and others, who often wielded the baton and played the violin in giving in- struction in this hall. In anti-slavery days, when, to advocate the liberation of slaves was the most unpopular thing one could say or do, we often listened to the earnest words from Garrison, Douglass, the colored champion and orator, pleading for the
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liberation of his race, as well as the well-known Phillips, and Parker, Stephen and Abby Foster, Pillsbury, and William H. Burleigh, who once was a newspaper editor and resident of North Bridgewater, and later a philanthropist of notc.
Various were the kinds of meetings, lectures and singing festivals which afforded so much delight to our fathers, which were held within these walls.
Mr. Cobb was one of the most active persons in the town in his day, having a variety of kinds of business. When he began business his stock consisted of that kind of goods usually found in a country variety store, having West India goods, dry goods, hardware, and some clothing. Hc afterwards added to his business that of druggist and apothecary supplies. About the year 1848 he purchased the stock and interests of Messrs. Howard & Fisher in the shoe tool manufacturing, for which the old town was noted, which he conducted for nearly forty years, giving employment to more than twenty-five people. Mr. Cobb could never remain idle, his nature was of the most active kind. Quick in speech, decided in action, he was considered one of the smartest business men in the vicinity. He always had a kind word for all; of an inquisitive nature, which, with his retentive memory, made him a person of unbounded resources for general information, well posted on political affairs, conversant with everything moving in the town, having extensive dealings with literary people and the public generally. On the dates of particular transactions and upon most any subject he had a ready reply and was considered authority on everything which occurred within his knowledge. When Tyler Cobb could not furnish any explanation or give dates of events one might well despair of finding them.
Mr. Cobb was a resident of North Bridgewater, now Brockton, during a most re- markable half century of time and witnessed some of the most rapid changes in his adopted town, as well as in the Commonwealth and country, and was ever alive to everything transpiring. He started with the old town, lived in another, and finally died in a thriving city of about 32,000 inhabitants, and yet never changed his legal residence.
On the 10th day of January, 1838, Mr. Cobb concluded it was not good to be alone, and united in marriage with Catherine Packard, only daughter of the late Thomas and Chloe (Packard) Wales, and, having no children of their own, they adopted several, and made a home for, and brought them up with a parents' care and tenderness and started them on life's journey in a manner creditable to themselves, and doing a kind- ness to others. Many of the students of the old Adelphian Academy can recall the pleasant scenes in the family circle while enjoying the home of Mr. Cobb and his be- loved wife. No family had a warmer place in the hearts of those who temporarily made their home with Mr. and Mrs. Cobb. Mr. Cobb died September 29, 1887.
We should not forget to mention the recent gift of the early home and birthplace of Mrs. Cobb which she has recently donated to a corporation to be used as a home for such as come within its scope. For particulars see full account under its appropriate name, " The Wales Home."
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
SANFORD WINTER,
SANFORD WINTER, the portrait of whom may be seen in this volume, is among the many self made men of Brockton. Starting with few advantages early in life he has become a prominent and well known eitizen, and among our most active business men, one who has done much toward forwarding the interests of Brockton in opening up new fields for the employment of labor, and adding to the prosperity of the city.
Mr. Winter was born in the town of Carthage, Franklin county, Me., November 16, 1826. After the usual course of common school education (his father dying when he was a young man), the duties of the farm devolved upon him, which he conducted for two years, when he sold the same and removed to Jay, Me., working on a farm two years. At the end of that time he came to North Easton in 1852 and entered into partnership with Abijah. Pratt of that town in the buying and slaughtering cattle for the retail trade, under the firm name of Pratt & Winter, the business at that time requiring about one hundred and fifty cattle per year, besides the smaller animals. In 1855 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Winter continued in business alone, running two re- tail wagons. During the stringent times of 1857-8 he had pretty hard work but went through safely, and in 1859 commenced the wholesale business in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, in connection with the retail, and in 1860 purchased a farm of Manley Packard on Pearl street, Brockton Heights, and removed to that locality. The business continued to increase until 1865, when a fire destroyed all his buildings excepting his dwelling house, eausing a severe loss and throwing him out of business for about one year. But Phoenix like from the ashes of the old buildings, new and improved build- ings were erected and many new improvements introduced, and where the varied kinds of business in connection with his works, are successfully conducted, giving employment to thirty-five hands and twenty horses.
Besides the above named Mr. Winter erected a large brick block in 1881 at the corner of Main and Belmont streets, on the corner where the " Old Green Store " formerly stood. His corner lot is about 75 by 120 feet square and the building four stories in height, the lower floor being used for stores. The whole upper portion is used as a hotel under the name of "Hotel Belmont," and contains sixty-two rooms besides a splendid dining room, reading room, and billiard room ; having gas and electricity and heating by steam, and connected throughout with electric bells. This is one of the finest hotel structures in the county and is under the ownership of Mr. Winter, his son, Everett H. Winter, having the general management. Very few men possess the ability to success- fully conduct as many and as varied enterprises as are under the control of Mr. Sanford Winter. Having arrived to nearly the age usually allotted to man, three score and ten, he seems to handle every department of his extensive business with extraordinary skill, method and success. He is the proprietor of the Franklin Market, Centre Street Market, and the Boston Cash Store in Belmont street.
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