USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford, Volume III > Part 2
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Everett Morton Cushman, of the ninth generation of this old Pilgrim family, son of William H. and Joanna H. (Paine) Cushman, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, February 16, 1876, and was there educated, finishing in high school with graduation class of 1894. He then came to New Bedford, entered the employ of the Dartmouth Manufacturing Company, and for five and one-half years was employed in the carding room, thoroughly mastering the business. He then spent two and one- half years as "second hand" of the carding room of a Natick, Rhode Island, mill, rising to the position of assistant superintendent. He then returned to New Bedford as superintendent of the Manomet Mills, re- signing after six years' service, to become superintendent of the Holmes Manufacturing Company, which is his present position. The Holmes Manufacturing Company in its single mill employs twelve hundred hands in the manufacture of fine combed yarns, gassed, mercerized, bleached and dyed. The company is a large dividend payer and is ably managed in office and mill. Mr. Cushman is a Republican in politics, and a mem- ber of the Wamsutta Club. He is highly regarded in manufacturing circles and holds the respect of those above and below him in rank.
He married, in Natick, Rhode Island, July 19, 1905, Adelaide Louise Miner, born in South Swansea, Massachusetts, July 3, 1884, her parents later moving to Natick. She is a daughter of Howard E. Miner, born in
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North Stonington, Connecticut, in 1831, died September 22, 1914, a farmer, and his wife, Josephine (Buten) Miner, of New York, born in 1844, and yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Cushman are the parents of a son, Robert Miner Cushman, born October 16, 1906.
EDMUND WRIGHT BOURNE.
For nearly thirty of his years, fifty-six, Edmund Wright Bourne has occupied the cashier's desk in the New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust Company and seems as much the man of middle age as ever. As prepara- tion, he spent seven years in the wild free life of the Kansas cattle coun- try and there built up the splendid constitution that has withstood thirty years of a confining bank position. He is a son of George A. Bourne, of New Bedford, a captain of Home Guards, major of militia and an active business man, a descendant of Thomas Bourne, "the Eldest of the Marsh- field settlers and a patriarch of its Eden," who Savage says, "probably came from Kent, England, bringing family. He was of substance and repute." He was buried May II, 1664, aged eighty-three years. His wife, Elizabeth, was buried July 18, 1660, aged seventy years. From the "patriarch" of Marshfield sprang a large family, now found in all parts of the United States. His daughters married, one to a son of Gov- ernor Bradford, another a Tracy, another a Smith, another a Winslow and another a Tilden, these collateral lines all tracing to the "patriarch." His only son John is the source from which all of the name spring who trace to Thomas Bourne.
John Bourne succeeded to the homestead in Marshfield, a property which later than 1854 was owned in the family, its possessor then being the venerable John Bourne, a descendant of the fifth American genera- tion, who died in October, 1859, a centenarian and Revolutionary patriot. John Bourne married Alice Besbedge or Besbeesh, his the second mar- riage recorded on the town books. The line of descent is through their son, Thomas Bourne, and his first wife, Elizabeth (Rouse) Bourne ; their son, Josiah Bourne, "A man of small stature but of good practical sense, determination and perseverance who made the hills and valleys laugh and shine with their abundance ;" his son, Ebenezer Bourne, a man of promi- nence in Pembroke, Massachusetts, and his wife, Abigail (Newcomb) Bourne, who died aged one hundred years, six months, three days; their son, Deacon Abner Bourne, deacon of the First Congregational Church of Middleboro and captain of a company in the Revolution in active service in Rhode Island, and his wife, Mary (Torrey) Bourne; their son, Abner (2) Bourne, who is said to have started the first cotton factory in the State of Maine, and his wife, Abigail (Williams) Bourne, they the parents of George A. Bourne, and grandparents of Edmund Wright Bourne, of the ninth American generation.
George A. Bourne was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 12, 1814, and died in New Bedford. He attended Boston schools until he
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was eighteen, then became a money broker's clerk. In 1835 he came to New Bedford, engaging in the book and stationery business, first on Union street, then in a store in Liberty Hall building, continuing until 1850 when a partnership with Charles Almy was made and an auction business developed. A few years later the firm dissolved, Mr. Bourne continuing in business as a real estate dealer and auctioneer. The firm of George A. Bourne & Son was formed in 1889, and flourished. Mr. Bourne later retired, leaving his son, Standish, as sole owner. He was a successful dealer and largely instrumental in the upbuilding of Nonquitt. He was a member of the Common Council in 1856 and president of that body ; director of the Protecting Society in 1844-45; captain of the City Guard in 1852 and during the Civil War ; also a major of Massachusetts militia ; trustee of the New Bedford Institution for Savings; treasurer of the Unitarian Society for twelve years; a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and everywhere he was known was highly re- garded. George A. Bourne married, in 1835, Lucy Randall Standish, born August 13, 1818, daughter of Levi and Lucy (Randall) Standish, a descendant of the eighth generation of the family founded in New Eng- land by Captain Myles Standish of the "Mayflower," Plymouth's first military captain.
Edmund Wright Bourne, youngest of the twelve children of George A. and Lucy Randall (Standish) Bourne, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, July 23, 1861. His first school experience was in Miss Walker's School in Sycamore street and Mrs. Knight's School, after which he attended Parker street school, going thence to Friends' Acad- emy. He finished his studies at Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Boston, with class of 1880, and at once entered business life, going west to Kiowa, Kansas, where for seven years he was engaged in placing loans on cattle and western farms for eastern capital. He covered the cattle country as far west as Albuquerque, New Mexico, and lived the wild life of the open. Seven years were thus spent, but that form of in- vestment becoming unpopular with eastern capital, he returned East and in 1889 was elected cashier of the New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust Company, a post he yet fills, time being twenty-eight years later. The developing tendencies of his life in the west were not alone physi- cal, but there he learned lessons of determination, self-reliance and perseverance in the face of obstacles that have been reflected in his own life. He is president of the New Bedford Clearing House Association, director of the Taber Manufacturing Company, and interested in many New Bedford business enterprises. He was for three years a member of the executive board of the Massachusetts Bankers' Association. He is a member of Wamsutta and Dartmouth clubs, attends the Unitarian church, and in political faith is a Republican. In 1917 he was a member of the executive board of the Liberty Loan Committee of New Bedford. He is a man of generous, kindly nature, and highly esteemed by his many friends.
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Mr. Bourne married, October 20, 1898, Emma C. Taber, daughter of Charles and Sarah J. (Howland) Taber. They are the parents of Standish Taber, born February 13, 1900; Catherine Howland, Decem- ber 31, 1901 ; Richard Williams, July 29, 1903, Edmund Wright (2), June 26, 1905.
FRED W. STEELE.
While employed in the Howland Mill, Mr. Steele attended night classes at New Bedford Textile School, and to the practical work of the day added special technical study, acquiring knowledge which in due season brought him higher rank and greater opportunities. He came from a family of mill men, his father an overseer, and from him the boy drew the inspiration to fit himself for higher position. We love to call America the "land of opportunity" and it is, but the opportunity, while open to all, is only accepted by the few and failures abound on every hand. Mr. Steele possessed not only the required ambition but the nec- essary stamina to pursue night study while other young men of his acquaintance passed the evening hours in pleasure. It was the spirit which won, not the fact that it was America in which it was exhibited; it would have won anywhere.
Fred W. Steele was born in Lonsdale, Rhode Island, June 27, 1878, son of William R. Steele, born 1852, died 1905, who was a mill overseer, and his wife, Elizabeth J. (Anderson) Steele, born in 1856, died in 1899. In 1884 the family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where the lad was attending the public schools until grammar school courses were com- pleted. He then became a mill worker, and later entered a night class at New Bedford Textile School, continuing until his purpose in entering was effected. From the Howland Mill he went to the Grinnell Mill as second hand in the carding room, there remaining until appointed over- seer of the West Boylston Company Mill at Easthampton, Massachu- setts, in charge of the carding department. From Easthampton he went to the Burgess Mill, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, again as overseer of card- ing. then was for a time selling agent for the Howard & Bullock Com- pany, mill machinery, that position followed by his appointment as super- intendent of Weypoyset Mill, Central Falls, Rhode Island. His next service was with the Fisher Manufacturing Company, of Fisherville, Massachusetts, as agent, a position he held until March 12, 1916, when he returned to New Bedford as treasurer and agent of the Booth Manu- facturing Company, manufacturers of plain and novelties, having two mills employing six hundred hands.
As a member of Battery E, First Regiment, Heavy Artillery, Massa- chusetts National Guard, Mr. Steele served an enlistment period of three years, retiring with an honorable discharge. His business journeying around the State, as indicated, has involved frequent change of residence, his Masonic memberships being acquired as legal residence was gained
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in the different cities. He is a master Mason of Abraham H. Howland, Jr., Lodge, New Bedford, Massachusetts ; a companion of Tyrian Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons, Millbury, Massachusetts; a cryptic Mason of Hiram Council, Worcester, Massachusetts ; and a sir knight of Worces- ter County Commandery, Knights Templar, also of Worcester, Massa- chusetts. He holds the thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Massachusetts Consistory, of Boston, and is a noble of Palestine Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Providence, Rhode Island. His social club is the Wamsutta. He is a director of the Southern New Eng- land Textile Club, a Republican in politics, and an attendant of the Bap- tist church.
Mr. Steele married in New Bedford, March 19, 1902, Lillian M. Bailey, born in New Bedford, August 24, 1881, daughter of William and Mary (Tuckerell) Bailey, both now residents of New Bedford. Mr. and Mrs. Steele are the parents of Allen C., born September 1, 1903; Donald A., born March 5, 1905; Dorothy K., born October 9, 1910.
CHARLES HAYDEN ROBBINS.
When Mill No. 3 of Manomet group went into commission it made that corporation the largest employer of labor in the New Bedford mill section, two thousand four hundred hands being the number employed in the manufacture of combed cotton yarns. The opening of Mill No. 3 also brought in clearer view Charles H. Robbins, who was chosen to superintend the new mill, that, however, not being a new rank for him, for since 1909 he had been superintendent of Mill No. 2, of the Manomet trio, coming to New Bedford from Holyoke, Massachusetts, and the American Thread Company. He is a native son of New Jersey, his an- cestors long seated in that State.
Charles Hayden Robbins was born in Newark, New Jersey, Novem- ber 26, 1865, and was there educated in the excellent grade and high schools of the city. At the age of sixteen he began his long connection with cotton manufacturing, his start being made as an office boy with the Williamantic Linen Company, Willimantic, Connecticut. From office boy he advanced to clerk, then mastered draughting and passed to the mechanical engineering department, finally becoming chief engi- neer. Through his years of preparation for high position Mr. Robbins refused no task that came in the way of duty and gained an expert knowledge of every process of thread manufacture. Eighteen years were passed with the Williamantic Thread Company, the novice of six- teen passing out the expert of thirty-four. From the Willimantic Com- pany he went to the Hadley Mill at Holyoke as superintendent, that mill then having passed under the control of the American Thread Company. He remained in Holyoke ten years, until 1909, his last posi- tion, superintendent of Merrick Mill No. 5. In 1909 he came to New Bedford to enter the employ of the Manomet Mills, that corporation then
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having two mills, Mr. Robbins becoming superintendent of Mill No. 2. In 1917 Mill No. 3 was completed and the company capitalized at $3,000,000, becoming in point of hands employed the greatest in the dis trict. As superintendent of the new No. 3 Mill, Mr. Robbins has a perfect, modernly-equipped cotton mill under his direction and the mill a thoroughly modern, capable superintendent.
BENJAMIN WOODSOME.
While a native son of New Hampshire, Mr. Woodsome, superin- tendent of the New Bedford Cotton Mill Corporation, came when a lad to New Bedford, attended her public schools, and since his seventeenth year has been a worker in her cotton mills, beginning as clerk and rising through many promotions to his present position, superintendent. He is a son of Wallace and Marietta (Nourse) Woodsome, of Bethlehem. New Hampshire, and New Bedford, Massachusetts, his parents now residing in the last named city.
Benjamin Woodsome was born in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. September 7, 1885, and obtained his education in the public schools of Boston and New Bedford, Massachusetts. At the age of seventeen years, in 1902, he entered manufacturing life as a clerk in the offices of the New England Cotton Yarn Company, there remaining two years, but transferring to the factory department. In 1904 he went to the Nonquitt Mill as "third hand" in a department, remaining with that mill four years. He came to the New Bedford Cotton Mill Corporation in 1908 as "second hand," and after promotion to the post of overseer, and proving his quality was advanced to the position he now holds, superin- tendent, in September, 1913. The corporation operates one mill in which seventy-three thousand spindles, one thousand four hundred looms and six hundred and fifty hands are engaged in the manufacture of fine cotton goods. Mr. Woodsome came to his position through high merit, has fairly earned and ably fills it and is highly esteemed by management and operatives. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic order and of the Dartmouth Club, enjoys life in the open and with gun and rod usually spends his vacation periods in the "wild places."
He married, in August, 1910, Ada Morehouse, daughter of James and Margaret (Taylor) Morehouse, of New Bedford. Mr. and Mrs. Woodsome are the parents of a son, Dana, born August 16, 1912.
EDWARD EVERETT FRANKLIN POTTER.
At the age of eighteen, after graduation from high school, Mr. Potter began his business life as a Western Union employee. From that time he has been continuously in good position in New Bedford, the city of his birth, education and business experience. He is a son of
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Edward Et Voter
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Warren S. Potter, of Westport birth, and a grandson of Restcome Pot- ter, born in Tiverton, Rhode Island, this branch descending from Na- thaniel Potter, born in England, who was admitted an inhabitant of the Island of Aquidneck, April 30, 1639, and died before 1644. From Rhode Island the family came to the town of Dartmouth, Bristol county, Massachusetts, an important branch settling there. Restcome Potter was of the Tiverton, Rhode Island, branch, but joined his relatives in Westport where his son, Warren S., was born. He was a farmer and carpenter, a strict church member and a good man. He died June 27, 1864, aged seventy-seven years, eleven months, twenty-one days. He married Edith Gifford, who died March 3, 1872, aged eighty-two years, ten months. Children: Charles, Lyman, Rachel, Warren Sherman, of further mention ; Pardon, Perry, Delilah, Clarinda, Edwin R., Elias.
Warren Sherman Potter was born in Westport, September 11, 1817, and died in New Bedford, Massachusetts, June 2, 1876. He was an expert mechanic, equally so as a worker in wood or metal. He was a carpenter, gas fitter, steam fitter, engineer, and for several years was engineer at the old Gosnold Rolling Mills in New Bedford. He married Margaret Potter, born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, January 3, 1825, died in New Bedford, December 31, 1916, daughter of Holder Potter, who died August 24, 1870, aged eighty-one years, seven months, and his wife, Hannah Potter, who died August 4, 1876, aged eighty-two years, five months, both members of the Society of Friends. Children of Warren Sherman and Margaret (Potter) Potter: Charles W. H., born November 3, 1844, residing at No. 47 Chestnut street, New Bedford; Herbert; and Edward E. F., of further mention.
Edward E. F. Potter, youngest son of Warren Sherman and Mar- garet (Potter) Potter, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 22, 1858, and has ever been a resident of his native city, honored and respected as boy and man. He passed through all grades of the public schools, finishing at high school, graduate of class of 1876. In the autumn of the same year he entered the service of the Western Union Telegraph Company, at their office at the southeast corner of Water and Center streets, and there remained nearly ten years, resigning May I, 1886, to take a position as meter man with the Edison Electric Illumi- nating Company, the company offices being on Middle street. A year later he became a bookkeeper for the same company, and also kept a set of books for the New Bedford Cooperative Bank, and when the Acush- net Cooperative Bank was formed under the same management added to his labors the books of that institution. When in 1890 the elec- tric and gas companies consolidated as the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company, Mr. Potter continued with the consolidation as bookkeeper and so continues, having been with the company and its predecessor a period of over thirty-one years, May 1, 1886, August I, 1917. In addition to the duties of his position Mr. Potter, as stated.
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was for years engaged in clerical service and has long served the New Bedford Cooperative Bank as a director and vice-president, and the Acushnet Cooperative Bank as a director. He is a member of the Star of the East Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of Acushnet Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Stetson Club, of the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company, the Brooks and the Pilgrim clubs. He is a Republican in political prefer- ence, but has never desired nor accepted public office. For twenty-seven years he has made his summer home at Bay View, where he built a cottage, and in motor boating and fishing finds great enjoyment.
Mr. Potter married, in New Bedford, September II, 1882, Ellen Francena Woodward, born in East Providence, Rhode Island, December 27, 1861, daughter of Frederick Bayles Woodward, a shoe manufacturer of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and his wife, Sarah Cordelia (Harvey) Woodward, both born in Taunton, Massachusetts.
WANTON MARTIN GLADDING.
When Mr. Gladding came to the Morse Twist Drill & Machine Company in 1903, he brought the wide experience of the mechanic, trained in technical school, private manufacturing works and government shops. He had served a regular apprenticeship as machinist and tool maker, his mechanical skill was of the highest order and he had the mental ability which made his mechanical skill doubly effective. It was his combination of mental and mechanical ability which marked him for promotion, and as superintendent of the great plant of the Morse Twist Drill & Machine Company at New Bedford, he has demonstrated his capacity for managerial position. He is a native son of Rhode Island, son of Henry G. and Matilda (Wilkey) Gladding, of Newport, his father a boat builder and sail maker.
Wanton M. Gladding was born in Newport, Rhode Island, January 10, 1874, and there obtained a public school education. Early deciding upon his career he entered an evening technical school at Providence, Rhode Island, there graduating in 1893. During the period, 1891-93, he was also working as an apprentice in the Brown & Sharpe Manu- facturing Company's shops in Providence, and there continued for two years after graduation from technical school, completing a four years' term and emerging a skilled worker in metals, his legal freedom coming the same year. He had progressed very rapidly and during his last year was practically a journeyman, performing all tasks, even the most difficult. From the Brown & Sharpe Company, he entered govern- ment service at the Newport Naval Station in the manufacturing depart- ment. There he was employed as a machinist for eight years, 1895- 1903, leaving to accept appointment as foreman of a department of the Morse Twist Drill & Machine Company's plant at New Bedford. He
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continued in that position three years, until 1906, when he was appointed superintendent of the entire plant, being but thirty-two years of age when he accepted that heavy responsibility. Eleven years have since intervened, and as the company has enlarged and expanded so has Mr. Gladding grown and developed, the superintendent's office being one of strong, well managed departments of a wonderful manufacturing busi- ness, founded in New Bedford in 1865, by Stephen A. Morse, whose principal capital at that time was a United States patent for the making of a twist drill. All the civilized world is now a market for the products of the company, and frequent extra dividends are the lot of the stock- holders. The position Mr. Gladding holds has been fairly won by him, and great as are its responsibilities he fully measures up to its require- ments. Mr. Gladding is a lover of the out-of-door sports, motoring, boat- ing and golf, his clubs, the New Bedford Yacht, Country, Brooks and Julian. He is a Republican in politics, attends the Trinitarian church, the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of associations of a business and technical nature, among which is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and wherever known is highly esteemed.
He married in Newport, Rhode Island, February 18, 1897, Sadiean K. Kaull, daughter of Henry Augustus and Frances (Stevens) Kaull. Mr. and Mrs. Gladding are the parents of a son, Wanton Elgar, born October 26, 1901, a student at high school, and a daughter, Sadiean Kaull, born September 4, 1906.
WILLIAM T. READ.
The same self-reliant spirit which led Mr. Read, a boy of fifteen, out into the world, remained with him during his four years' absence from New Bedford, and has ever been one of his valuable assets. He has never retreated from any duty assigned him or voluntarily assumed, and in the hard school of experience has developed his resources of mind and body. He in one of the men who constitute the official personnel of that great New Bedford corporation, the Morse Twist Drill and Ma- chine Company, has risen from the grade of clerk to the important post of purchasing agent. He is a son of Clement and Mary C. (Johnson) Read, his father an instructor and chemist.
William T. Read was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, April 8, 1883, and is yet (1917) a resident of his native city. He attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, then went to Richmond, Virginia, where he spent four years in clerical work. He returned to New Bedford, in 1902, and entered the employ of the Morse Twist Drill and Machine Company, as clerk, his association with that company still continuing. Through sheer ability he impressed himself upon the busi- ness to an extent that could not be overlooked, and within a few years
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he was advanced through other grades to the post of purchasing agent, a promotion both earned and deserved. Mr. Read is a Democrat in political preference, an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal church, member of the Wamsutta and Country clubs.
Mr. Read married, July 19, 1909, Sarah Hicks, daughter of Herbert E. and Clara E. (Allen) Hicks. Mr. and Mrs. Read are the parents of a daughter, Mary Hicks, born in New Bedford, February 19, 1911.
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