USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford, Volume III > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
After eighteen months in New Bedford, Mr. Brierly returned to Massachusetts Metaphysical College for the Normal course of instruc- tion, and at graduation in September, 1888, received the degree, C. S. D. At his rooms in the old Mt. Pleasant House which once stood opposite the present standard building on Pleasant street, he held his first class, a single student, and his first Sunday service, until April 1, 1887. He removed to Middle street, September, 1887, and organized a Christian Science Bible School. James E. Brierly was superintendent; Mrs. Clara Hicks, treasurer ; and Miss Mary J. Eldridge, secretary. It was not until September, 1893, that a church was organized and a charter secured, but in the quarter of a century which has since elapsed its growth has been steady, until it is a strong, virile church, radiating an influence exceedingly blessed and powerful. During these early years the little body of devoted men and women led by Mr. Brierly, their first pastor, met in many different places, their meeting places being the old Mt. Pleasant House, now demolished; No. 187 Middle street; the Five Cents Savings Bank Building ; No. 109 Fourth street ; the corner of High and Purchase streets; the Universalist church; Vesta Hall; Christian Church on Middle street, and finally their own church, completed in May, 1916. So this work, which began in a gathering of "two or three" the first Sunday after Mr. Brierly's arrival in January, 1887, has gone on and on gathering strength with each day.
Mr. Brierly was the first pastor of the church, serving until Mrs. Eddy decreed that The Bible, "Science and Health," should be the pastor of the denomination. Then Mr. Brierly was chosen first reader, Mrs. Roxa D. Long as second reader, followed by Mrs. Nellie Delano and Mrs. James E. Brierly. After this the readers were chosen. For three years Charles L. Kirkland, first reader ; Mary J. Eldridge, second reader ; George S. Taber, first reader; Miss Louise R. Macy, second reader ;
427
NEW BEDFORD
Mrs. Fannie Lowell, first reader ; Mrs. Ella Hillman, second reader ; Mrs. Daisy Snow, first reader ; Walter R. Mitchell, second reader; Mrs. Alice B. Taber, first reader ; and George W. Holbrook, second reader. A sec- ond church was formed through the efforts of Charles L. Kirkland, but three years later, in September, 1902, the two united, as at present. A reading room was first started in the Five Cents Savings Bank Building, after which it was transferred to No. 109 Fourth street, corner of High and Purchase streets, Cushing Building, Christian Middle Street Church, and now is maintained in the bookstore building, No. 222 Union street. During the year 1902 Mrs. Eddy informed her students that all readers that had served three years should retire at the proper time, and Mr. and Mrs. Brierly, feeling that a union of forces was desirable, invited the officials of both congregations to meet for a conference at the First Church, No. 109 Fourth street. From this meeting came the final reunion consummated in September, 1902. At the same time they resigned.
Since 1887 Mr. Brierly has taught classes under the authority granted him, his students being allowed in common with all class stu- dents to use the title "S. S." after their names if they become practi- tioners. On May 1, 1901, the New Bedford Institute of Christian Science received a charter of incorporation for the purpose of teaching "Chris- tian Science mind healing as is taught in a certain book called "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker G. Eddy. James E. Brierly, Ella F. Hillman, Louise R. Macy, Cordie F. Hillman, Eliza- beth Salisbury, Esther I. Seales, Latetia M. Eldredge, Minnie C. Rue- dinger, Mary E. Oliver and Priscilla B. Case are the incorporators. The following are the officers which were elected on April 15, 1901: Presi- dent, James E. Brierly ; clerk, Minnie C. Ruedinger ; treasurer, Ella F. Hillman; directors, James E. Brierly, Cordie F. Hillman and Louise R. Macy ; principal, James E. Brierly. On September 23, 1915, at sunrise, with simple but impressive services, the cornerstone of the new First Church of Christ, Scientist, was laid on the site at County and Mill streets in the presence of the officers of the church, the building commit- tee and the contractors. The brief service was conducted by the readers, Mrs. Alice B. Taber and George W. Holbrook. James E. Brierly put the stone in place. Beneath it was imbedded a copper box containing the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, copies of the publications of the Christian Science Publishing Society, and a paper containing the names of the church officials, the building committee and the contractors. The new church was ready for occupancy in 1916. Mr. Brierly maintained an office at No. 948 Kempton street, where he keeps office hours morning, afternoon and evening, ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of a large clientele there and at their homes. He is the dean of New Bed- ford practitioners and a bulwark of strength to the church he was instru- mental in founding in New Bedford.
Mr. Brierly married, October, 1877, Ruth Agnes Harrison, of Fall River, Massachusetts, daughter of William H. Harrison, who died at
428
NEW BEDFORD
Fall River, aged ninety-three, a quarry operator, but for many years was retired from all active business pursuits. His wife, Ruth Ann (Brayton) Harrison, was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Brierly are the parents of Raymond H., born in New Bedford, in May, 1888, now in charge of the shipping department of the Weeden Manufacturing Com- pany of New Bedford ; he married Maud Brightman, they the parents of sons, Roland and Earl Brierly.
HERBERT ELLSWORTH CUSHMAN.
At the bottom of one of the panels of the forefathers monument at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in this inscription: "Robert Cushman, who chartered the Mayflower and was active and prominent in securing the success of the Pilgrim Enterprise, came in 1621." This Robert Cush- man, whose term of residence in New England was short, was one of the leading spirits in all the preliminary measures taken both in Eng- land and Holland by the Pilgrims prior to the actual sailing of the "May- flower." His own coming for some reason was delayed, but the year following he came in the "Fortune" accompanied by his only son, Thomas. This Thomas Cushman married Mary Allerton, a "Mayflower" passenger, and became prominent in church and colony life. Robert Cushman returned to England on business for the colony and there died in 1626, but Thomas Cushman continued in Plymouth until his death, December 10, 1691. He was laid at rest in that holiest of American shrines, Burial Hill in Plymouth, his gravestone proclaiming him "that precious Servant of God." He was the founder of this one of New Eng- land's historic families, he being the only son of Robert Cushman, who is commemorated on the Forefathers' Monument.
Herbert Ellsworth Cushman, for many years financial head of one of New Bedford's great corporations, The Morse Twist Drill and Ma- chine Company, and an eminent citizen, is of the ninth American genera- tion of the family. The line of descent from Robert Cushman is through Elder Thomas Cushman, elder of Plymouth Church for forty-three years, and his wife Mary (Allerton) Cushman; their son, Thomas (2) Cush- man, and his second wife, Abigail (Fuller) Cushman, of Rehoboth ; their son, Benjamin Cushman, and his first wife, Sarah (Eaton) Cushman; their son, Jabez Cushman, and his wife, - - (Padelford) Cushman ; their son, Zebedee Cushman, who moved to Taunton, Massachusetts, and his wife, Mary (Padelford) Cushman; their son, Alvah Cushman, of Taunton, and his wife, Sally (Leonard) Cushman ; their son, William H. Cushman, of Taunton, and his wife, Joanna Harlow (Paine) Cush- man ; their son, Herbert Ellsworth Cushman, of further mention.
William H. Cushman was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 2, 1839, and there died, August 27, 1901. For many years he was engaged in nail manufacture with his brother David, was well known, highly esteemed and greatly beloved. He married Joanna Harlow
429
NEW BEDFORD
Paine, born October 12, 1840, daughter of John B. and Rebecca (Reed) Paine, and granddaughter of Levi and Lucy (Doten) Reed, of Plym- outh. Mrs. Cushman survived her husband and later became a resident of New Bedford, where her sons were prominent in manufacturing cor- porations. William H. and Joanna Harlow (Paine) Cushman were the parents of eight children: Henry Presbrey, died young; Herbert Ells- worth, of further mention; Albert Francis, died aged twenty years; William Alvah, of New Bedford, clerk of Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company ; Jennie E., married Louis Bright Barker; Everett Morton (q. v.), superintendent of the Holmes Manufacturing Company, New Bed- ford; Grace Reed, died young ; Bessie May, married Francis N. Smith.
Herbert Ellsworth Cushman, eldest son of William H. and Joanna Harlow (Paine) Cushman, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, Janu- ary 1, 1862. There he completed full courses of grade and high school study, finishing with graduation, class of 1880. He began business life with the Taunton Locomotive Works, serving that corporation as clerk for one year, then for about six years was head bookkeeper for the Wil- liams Manufacturing Company of Taunton. In 1887 he resigned his position and came to New Bedford, entered the employ of the Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company, as sales agent, and is now rounding out his thirty-first year of continuous service with that very important corporation. He continued as sales agent for the company until 1902, his record in that responsible position then bringing him promotion to his present office, treasurer and general manager, succeeding Gideon Allen, Jr., who succeeded E. S. Taber as treasurer in March, 1889, be- came vice-president in 1902, and upon the death of Andrew G. Pierce, September 11, 1903, was elected president. As treasurer of so important a manufacturing corporation, Mr. Cushman at once became a factor in the financial world and during the years which have passed since assum- ing the duties of his office he has grown to full stature as a financier and general manager. The corporation is strong in all its departments, factory, office and selling, but in its finance department particularly so, that department being the cornerstone of every successful manufactur- ing enterprise.
During his thirty years of residence in New Bedford, Mr. Cushman has been called to other positions of trust, he now serving the First National Bank as director, the New Bedford Institution for Savings, as trustee, the Fireman's Mutual Insurance Company and Union Mutual Insurance Company, of Providence, as director, the New Bedford Foundry and Machine Company, as director, and is a director of the company which he also serves as treasurer, the Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company. He is an ex-president of the New Bedford Board of Trade, member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Engineer and Machinery clubs of New York City, the Wamsutta and Country clubs of New Bedford, Hope Club of Providence, the Old Colony Historical Society of Taunton, the Peabody Museum and Essex
430
NEW BEDFORD
Institute of Salem, the American Museum of Natural History of New York, and the Old Dartmouth Historical Society of New Bedford. He has been for several years and is now president of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society of New Bedford. In religious affiliation he is a mem- ber of the Unitarian church of New Bedford. His masonic memberships are held with Alfred Baylies Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Taun- ton ; St. Mark's Chapter, Royal Arch Masters, of Taunton ; New Bedford Council, Royal and Select Masters, of Taunton ; St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar, of Providence. In political faith he is a Republican.
Mr. Cushman married, January 22, 1901, Anna Russell Taber, daughter of William C. and Sarah A. W. Taber. Mr. and Mrs. Cush- man are the parents of three children: Mary Allerton, who died in in- fancy ; Sarah, born September 30, 1902; Eleanor Jarvis, born November 28, 1905. This record of the life of a busy business man necessarily touches the principal happenings of its half century of years. From the age of eighteen years he has been a worker, performing well each duty as presented and continually rising to a high level of usefulness. He is a worthy twentieth century representative of a family which dates back to the earliest English settlement of New England, a family, which dur- ing the near three centuries which have elapsed since Robert Cushman, "that precious servant of God," first stepped upon the sacred soil of Plym- outh, has borne well its part in the upbuilding and development of the new Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HORACE ALLEN LAWTON.
Scion of an ancient Rhode Island family, Horace Allen Lawton was brought when an infant to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and there his years, fifty-five, were passed. He selected a business career, and for twenty-three years conducted two drug stores in New Bedford, one at the corner of Union and Purchase streets, the other at the corner of Union and Second streets. He operated in connection with his brother, Charles H. Lawton, the firm of C. H. & H. A. Lawton, organized Janu- ary I, 1873, continuing until July 1, 1896, both brothers then retiring, after settling their affairs, and selling the business to the C. H. & H. A. Lawton Drug Company. While Horace A. Lawton was an excellent business man, well informed and possessed of strong literary taste, he took little part in city affairs, and found in his home his greatest happi- ness. This does not imply that he was not interested, for on the con- trary he was keenly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen, and in his own quiet way bore his part. But he was essentially a business man, won his way from the bottom of the mercantile ladder, and in his busi- ness and in his home found the full measure of a contented, successful life.
Horace Allen Lawton was of the eighth generation of the family founded in Newport, Rhode Island, by George Lawton, who was one of
Grow | Laig lio
431
NEW BEDFORD
the twenty-eight signers of the Compact, April 30, 1639, for the forma- tion of a "Civil Body Poloticke." George Lawton was prominent in Colonial affairs, serving six terms as deputy and nine terms as assistant to the Governor. He owned land at Portsmouth, and there died October 5, 1693, his body being laid at rest in his own orchard. He married Eliza- beth Hazard. The line of descent is through the founder's third son, Robert Lawton; his son, Captain George Lawton ; his son, Robert Law- ton ; his son, William Lawton; his son, Peter Lawton; his son, Peter (2) Lawton ; his son, Horace A. Lawton.
Bristol, Portsmouth or Newport, Rhode Island, continued to be the homes of the preceding until Peter (2) Lawton, born May 20, 1811, a cabinetmaker, moved to Seekonk, Massachusetts, thence to New Bed- ford, in 1843, and there died at his home, now No. 198 Kempton street, July 24, 1869. At one time he was a manufacturer of pianos. Peter (2) Lawton married, in Bristol, Rhode Island, August 12, 1839, Nancy F. Simmons. They were the parents of two sons, Charles Henry and Hor- ace Allen, both now deceased, founders of the business, now the C. H. & H. A. Lawton Drug Company.
Horace Allen Lawton was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, December 14, 1843, but shortly afterward New Bedford became the family home and there his life was spent. He attended the public schools of the city until seventeen years of age, then began his business life which ended with his retirement in 1896, three years prior to his death, April 26, 1899. He began as a dry goods clerk, and while connected with that line of merchandising was employed by R. H. Whitcomb and E. B. Whiting. From the dry goods store he changed to drugs, and until January 1, 1873, was clerk in the drug store conducted by Thornton & Gerrish, his brother, Charles H., having been a clerk in the same store from his six- teenth year, entering it in 1856, he being the senior of Horace A. by three years. On January 1, 1873, the Lawton brothers, having left the employ of Thornton & Gerrish, began business as C. H. & H. A. Lawton, pur- chasing the two drug stores owned by E. Thorton, Jr., one at the corner of Union and Purchase streets, the other at the corner of Union and North Second streets. The brothers conducted these two stores for twenty-three years, retiring July 1, 1896. Those were years of honor- able business success, and when the brothers retired a stock company, the C. H. & H. A. Lawton Drug Company, purchased both stores.
Horace Allen Lawton was a member of the New Bedford Protect- ing Society from 1867 until his death, attended Trinitarian Church, and held membership in the Wamsutta Club; Eureka Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Adoniram Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; New Bed- ford Council, Royal and Select Masters; and Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar. In politics he was a Republican, but never sought nor accepted public office. At the time of his decease he was fifty-five years, four months and twelve days old, and his remains were interred in Rural Cemetery, New Bedford.
432
NEW BEDFORD
Mr. Lawton married, January 5, 1871, Clara P. Taber, daughter of Captain Jacob Taber, whose sketch follows in this work. Mrs. Lawton survives her husband and continues her residence in New Bedford (1918).
CAPTAIN JACOB TABER.
Philip Taber, the first ancestor of Captain Jacob Taber, of whom we have definite information, was a resident of Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1634, from whence he removed to Providence, Rhode Island. One of the descendants of Philip Taber was Jacob Taber, great-grandfather of Captain Jacob Taber, who was a resident of Acushnet, Bristol county, Massachusetts, erecting a house in which many generations of the family resided. The line is carried down through his son, Stephen Taber, grandfather of Captain Jacob Taber, and then through Joseph Taber, father of Captain Jacob Taber. Joseph Taber was a farmer of Acushnet, and there spent his life. He married (first) Phoebe, daughter of William Ashley, and (second) a widow, Mrs. Dexter, who survived him. Children of first wife: 1. Stephen, in early life a mariner and whaling captain, later moved to Walworth, Wayne county, New York, there becoming a land owner and farmer; he married Charity Nye, of Acushnet. 2. Abram, was also a mariner in early life; married Marcia Nye, a sister of Charity Nye, and moved to Walworth, also becoming a land owner and farmer. 3. Jacob, of further mention. 4. Phineas, a master mariner, who after retiring from the sea settled in the State of Maine ; he married Abigail Gifford. 5. Marcus W., a whaling captain of New Bedford, which city was his home for many years ; married Olive C. Ashley, who survived him. 6. Betsey A., became the wife of David Chace, a farmer of Acushnet, whom she survived.
Captain Jacob Taber was born August 13, 1813, in the house built by his great-grandfather, Jacob Taber, in the now town of Acushnet, Bristol county, Massachusetts. He attended the district school during the winter months, and assisted with the work of the home farm during the remainder of the year. At the age of nineteen he shipped on the whaler, "South Boston," of Fairhaven, Captain Sheffield Read, sailing from that port in 1832. This was a short voyage to the South Atlantic, extending over a period of a month, and he then sailed on his second voyage, this time in the ship, "Marcia," Captain Peter Butler, sailing from Fairhaven, which extended over a period of thirty-three months. He continued a member of the crew of that vessel until April, 1838, then shipped on the "James Monroe," this service continuing until September, 1842, when he became a member of the crew of the ship, "Arab," as second mate, under Captain Benjamin Cushman. The tender of the "Arab" was sent home from Desolation Island, Terra Del Fuego, under command of the first mate, this causing Second Mate Taber to advance to the rank of first mate. The "Arab" made her port in October, 1845, and on July 7, 1846,
433
NEW BEDFORD
Captain Jacob Taber sailed from New Bedford in command of the ship, "Condor," he being then thirty-three years of age. He was on that voyage for twenty months, to the coast of Chile, and in July, 1848, sailed for the northwest coast and the sea of Okhotsk in command of the ship, "Chandler Price," returning with a profitable catch, nearly three years later. In 1851 he repeated the trip with the same ship, and at the expira- tion of the three years again entered his home port with a profitable cargo. In 1860 he went to Honolulu, there taking command of the ship, "Abigail," a vessel which had sailed from New Bedford in 1856. In November, 1861, he sailed as master of the "Northern Light" for the Hudson Bay Whaling Ground, returning the following October with a valuable cargo. He sailed again in the same ship in April, 1863, and cruised the same grounds until October, 1864, and while the catch was about the same as on the first voyage the price of oil had so increased, owing to the destruction wrought among the whalers by the Confederate cruisers, that it netted the owners about $30,000 more. Captain Taber sailed as a whaling master for the last time in September, 1865, in com- mand of the ship, "Three Brothers." He cruised in the Arctic ocean until August, 1869, then returned to New Bedford, well laden. This was his last whaling voyage, but his last sea voyage was not taken until 1870, when he went to San Francisco, California, and from that port sailed the bark, "Norman," around Cape Horn to New Bedford. He was a success- ful captain from every point of view ; he made money for his owners and for himself, never lost a vessel, never hoisted a signal of distress, never sustained personal injury, and never advanced a claim against any of his underwriters for even the smallest amount of damage.
The twenty-one years following his last voyage were spent in honored retirement, his private affairs being his only care. He resided at his home, corner of County and Middle streets, and there or at the Chronometer Club, a club composed of retired whaling captains, he could usually be found. He was a man of genial, friendly nature, very approachable, and always retained the many friends he so easily made. He was highly regarded in the various capacities he filled, em- ployee, shipmate, employer, friend or neighbor. He was a Republican in politics, and twice represented Ward Three in the Common Council, 1872 and 1874.
Captain Taber married, April 16, 1840, Hannah Mendell Blackmer, born in 1817, died April 3, 1881, daughter of Salisbury and Lucy Black- mer, of Acushnet. Captain and Mrs. Taber were the parents of three daughters: Lucy M., became the wife of John S. Perry, of New Bedford; Clara P., became the wife of Horace Allen Lawton, whose sketch precedes this in the work, and whom she survives, a resident of New Bedford; Alice R., became the wife of Clarence M. Hathaway, of Fall River. Captain Taber died suddenly at his home in New Bedford, December 16, 1891.
N B-28
434
NEW BEDFORD
GIDEON ALLEN, JR.
The history of the branch of the Allen family, long eminent in New Bedford business annals, of which Gideon Allen, Jr., is a leading repre- sentative, begins in New England on May 6, 1635, when George Allen, his wife, and their sons, George, William and Matthew, arrived at Boston from Weymouth, England. From Boston, George Allen went to Wey- mouth, Massachusetts, but soon afterward to Sandwich, where in 1646 he built a house near the meeting house of the Society of Friends on the main road to Cape Cod, where he died in 1648. That old house stood until 1882, when it was taken down. After his death members of his family moved away from Sandwich, two of his sons going to Con- necticut, one to Martha's Vineyard, another to Braintree, Massachusetts, but five sons remained in Sandwich.
One of these, Ralph Allen, was the ancestor of most of the Dart- mouth Allens, although it cannot be said whether or not he ever lived in that town, yet it is probable that he did. His land holdings were large both in Sandwich and Dartmouth, but before his death he divided his lands among his children confirming his gifts by deed. Ebenezer Allen, son of Ralph Allen, held land on the west side of Coxsit river as well as the homestead land, and in 1727 Ebenezer Allen, a blacksmith, was deeded the meadow at Horse Neck on the west side of Long Lot. He was succeeded by his son, James Allen, to whom he willed part of the homestead. James Allen married Mary Akin, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the line of descent to Gideon Allen, Jr., being through their son, Prince Allen and his wife, Deborah (Butler) Allen; James (2) Allen, son of Prince and Deborah Allen, married Sarah Howland, of another old Dartmouth family, they the parents of Gideon Allen and grandparents of Gideon Allen, Jr., whose life story is herein told.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.