History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 75

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170

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WARREN LADD.

is descended from the family of Peter Easton, of Newport, R. I., one of the original purchasers of large tracts of land from the Indians. A portion of the Rhode Island shore is known as Easton's Beach.

LA ADD, HON. WARREN, was born at East Bradford, Mass. (now Groveland), July 21, 1813, was the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Ingersoll) Ladd, and grandson. of Nathaniel and Sarah (Noyes) Ladd. His line runs back, Warren 7, Nathaniel 6, Na- thaniel 5, Nathaniel 4, John 3, Samnel 2, Daniel 1, the emigrant, who took the oath of supremacy and allegiance to pass to New England in the Mary and John, Robert Sayres, master, 24th March, 1633-4, and was one of the original settlers of Haverhill, Mass. Sarah Ingersoll was the daughter of Col. Zebulon Ingersoll, who was born in Gloucester, September, 1757, and was a lineal descendant of Richard Ingersoll, who came from Bedfordshire. England, in 1627 and settled at Salem, Mass. Colonel Zebu- lon was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and at the close of the war settled at East Haverhill; was a merchant, a ship-builder, and an active and energetic business man. He married Ruth, daughter of Benjamin and Ann (Bradstreet) Moody, who was the daughter of Dr. Humphrey Bradstreet, of Newbury, who was a lineal descendant of Humphrey Bradstreet, who came from Ipswich, England, in the Elizabeth, William Anderson, master, in April, 1634. Sarah Noyes, was the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Follensbee) Noyes, of Haverhill, Mass, who was a lineal descendant of Rev. James Noyes, who came over in the Mary and John in 1633-4, and " was driven, (wrote Cot- ton Mather) out of the nation for his non-conformity to its unhappy ceremonies in the worship of God." The Rev. James Noyes was the son of the Rev. William and Ann (Parker) Noyes, of Choulderton, Wiltshire county, England, was born in 1608, and came to this country in 1633-4 and settled in Newbury, Mass. A short time before leaving England, he married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Brown, of Southampton. England.

Nathaniel Ladd, the father of Warren, was born in Haverhill, Mass., September 17, I786; he removed to East Bradford (now Groveland), in 1810. For many years he was chairman of the board of selectmen, a justice of the peace, secretary and treasurer of the Groveland Mutual Fire Insurance Company, deacon of the Congregational Church, postmaster for ten years, did quite an extensive probate business, and for abont sixty years was one of the most active and influential men in town and church affairs. War- ren Ladd was educated in the public schools and at Merrimac Academy in his native town. Coming to New Bedford on the Ist of July, 1840, he entered the employ of the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad Company as clerk in the freight office; was soon promoted freight agent and then to general agent at New Bedford. In 1862 he was appointed superintendent of the road, which position he held until 1877. His con- nection with the road continued from its opening in 1840, to its consolidation with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg, a period of about thirty-seven years. This long term of service is the highest possible compliment to his integrity, ability, and faithfulness. Though actively engaged in arduous and responsible duties, he found time for intellect- nal culture, and by a judicious course of reading acquired a general knowledge of sci- entific, mechanical and economical subjects. He took a deep interest in municipal af-

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

fairs, and gave his influence and active effort to the promotion of every measure which in his judgment promised to increase the growth and prosperity of the city. For this reason he was repeatedly called to the service of the city : for five years as member of the Common Council, and one year as its president; for five terms a member of the Board of Aldermen; November, 1868, was elected a member of the School Committee for three years, but before the expiration of the first year he concluded to resign his po- sition, which he did, in a letter to the chairman, dated November 1, 1869. As indicat- ing the motive which governed his action, we give the closing paragraph of his letter: " Believing most sincerely, that no man has a moral right to accept and hold an office, who has not time, not only to become conversant with its duties, to faithfully, intelli- gently and promptly discharge them; and feeling, knowing, that without conflicting with other duties, I have not the leisure which will enable me to continue to discharge the duties devolving upon the office, with satisfaction to myself, or with that fullness and faithfulness which my constituents have a right to expect and require, I respect- fully resign my place upon the committee, to take effect at the close of the present municipal year." He was for many years one of the trustees of the Free Public Library, of which he may rightly be called the father. At the laying of the corner-stone of the present library building, Mayor Howland, in his address referring to the origin of the library, said: "On the 8th of the seventh month (July), of the same year (1851), Warren Ladd, a member of the common council from ward one, introduced an order into that branch of the city government, 'for the raising of a committee to consider the expediency of establishing in this city a Free Public Library.' This order was adopted in the common council, but was non-concurred in by the board of aldermen. This ia believed to be the first order ever introduced into any representative body for the es- tablishment of such an institution, and to this gentleman must, and does, belong the honor of having taken the initiatory step toward the establishment of a library for the public by the people themselves." Mr. Ladd was an earnest and persiatent advocate of the introduction of water, and one of the three commissioners under whose direc- tion the water-works were built. As showing the breadth of his views and his terse- ness in stating them, we quote from a report (written by him) of a committee which had the matter under consideration : "Your committee are fully of the opinion that the introduction of an ample supply of pure water into the city is an imperative necea- sity and one which should not be much longer delayed. It is the part of wise states- manship to look at the future, to anticipate its wants, and guard against its casualties. Cities, like men, flourish and prosper only by their own exertions, and it becomes those whom the people have placed in power to be equal to the present emergency. We have the interest and the honor of the city in our hands. We know its wants and necessi- ties, and can comprehend the crisis in our affairs. Shall we grasp and control the cri- sis, turn it with a steady hand to our interest and prosperity, or allow it silently and timidly to pass by and float beyond our reach ? Shall we legislate only for to-day, and shrink from looking the great future in the face; or shall we, knowing the necessity and perceiving the remedy, fearlessly perform our duty ?" He was a member of the committee to whom was referred the question of introducing gas; was an earnest ad- vocate for the construction of common sewers, and introduced into the common coun-

WARREN LADD.

cil the first order for the appointment of a committee to consider the expediency of purchasing a steam fire-engine. The enlargement and improvement of the city com- mon was in a great measure due to his influence and exertion. In the late civil war he was a member of the committee on enlistments, and took an active part, as its rec- ords show, io every effort made by the city to aid the national government in putting down the rebellion. He has been connected as director with several corporations, and was one of the original directors of the New Bedford and Fairhaven Street Railway Company, and a member of the committee who had charge of building the road. In April, 1877, he was elected its president and superintendent, which position he held until the surrender of its charter, at a stockholders' meeting, called for that purpose, April 22, 1887. At this meeting, Hon. William Crapo, one of its directors, offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted by a rising vote. " Resolved, That the stockholders of the New Bedford and Fairhaven Street Railway Company hereby express and place on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the corporation during the past ten years by Warren Ladd, its president and super- intendent; they recall that when the management was intrusted to him its shares were nearly valueless, that its credit was seriously impaired, that it yielded no income to its stockholders, and that the accommodations it offered to the public were meagre and un- satisfactory ; that it was by his energy and fidelity, his sagacity and painstaking atten- tion to details, and his thorough devotion to the interest of the corporation that the shares rose to nearly double their par value, that its dividends from earnings were large, its mileage greatly extended, and the public convenience promoted by largely increased facilities of travel. We recognize the ability and faithfulness which have characterized his administration ; and in retiring from the official service of the corporation, upon the surrender of its organization, the stockholders tender to him their thanks and good wishes." He is a trustee of the Five Cents Savings Bank and forty years has held the commission of justice of the peace. Naturally conservative, Mr. Ladd has none of that blind reverence of the past which prevents one from keeping abreast with the spirit of the age, and adopting any new device and improvement that genius and enterprise may invent and discover. In politics, originally an ardent Whig, he early became an equally earnest and active Republican ; has been chairman of the Republican City Com- mittee, and in 1876 was presidential elector from the First Congressional District. He has written largely for the press; was for many years the New Bedford correspondent of the Haverhill Gazette over the signature of " Warren" and has contributed many able articles to the New Bedford papers over the non de plume of " Julius." He is a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the Webster Historical Society and the Old Colony Historical Society. His children : I, Herbert Warren, born October 15, 1843, married Emma F. Burrows, May 25, 1870 ; 2, Sarah Ella, born September 1, 1845, married Charles S. Davis, July 9. 1874; 3, Florence Kingman, born October 1, 1846, married Charles A. Munger, May 25, 1882; 4, Anna Winthrop, born Septem- ber 23, 1850, married R. Roscoe Drummond, September 21, 1876; 5, George Milton, born October 3, 1853, married Mrs. Lydia (Springer) Durfee, May3, 1888.

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

L ADD, HON. HERBERT W., is a New Bedford boy who has won honors for him- self in our sister State as well as at home. He has been twice elected governor of Rhode Island, in which State he has lived since 1871, and was insured a third elec- tion had he not declined the urgent demand of his party (Republican) to head the ticket for a third term.

Governor Ladd is the son of the Hon. Warren and Lucy Washburn (Kingman) Ladd, and was born in New Bedford, October 15, 1843. He was sent when quite young to an excellent private school taught by Miss Elizabeth Wood; then to the public school in Jesseville and later to the Parker Street Grammar School. He entered the High School June 9, 1856, and graduated May 18, 1860. Soon after, he entered the whole- sale dry goods house of Tucker & Taber, where he remained until July, 1861, when he entered the employ of Fessenden & Baker, editors and proprietors of the New Bedford Mercury. This, the early days of the Civil War, was a time, particularly in newspaper offices, of intense excitement. "How precisely it came about," writes the senior edi- tor of the Mercury, "I cannot now recall; but young Ladd, though only a boy and ex- pected to fill a boy's place, soon developed remarkable capacity and tact, and became a valuable assistant, not only in the business department of the paper, but in the editorial room, as a reporter and then as a correspondent. It is true, he came to the office well equipped for work, having been educated in the public schools of New Bedford, than which there were and are none better in the State, and with a home training which had piqued and stimulated his curiosity and kept his mind constantly on the alert. The newspaper office was an admirable school for such a youth, and he easily embraced all its opportunities. As a reporter, he was clear, accurate and graphic; and his letters to the Mercury from various points in the South and West. to which he was sent during the progress of the war, were of exceptional merit and interest. We parted with him with sincere regret, not alone an account of our personal loss, but at his leaving a pro- fession which he was so well fitted to adorn, and in which we felt sure he would achieve a brilliant success." On October 22, 1862, the steamers Merrimac and Mississippi sailed from Boston for North Carolina with three Massachusetts regiments, the Third, Forty- fourth, and Forty-fifth for Foster's command. In less than a week after their arrival these regiments were in an engagement with the rebel forces, and young Ladd's account of the same was sent home and published in the Boston Journal, and copied in New York papers, before the New York Herald's correspondent got in his account. The first Sunday paper ever published in New England outside of Boston, was an extra Mercury which young Ladd got out to announce the battle of Fredericksburg.

His attention was early turned to the dry goods business by the fact that he had an uncle who was a member of the firm of George W. Warren, Barry & Co., but who died in 1860, and a cousin, Mr. A. W. Kingman, who at that time was with Jordan, Marsh & Co. Having decided to return to the dry goods business, he, on the 7th of January, 1864, accepted a position in the house of White, Brown & Co., Franklin street, Boston. He remained with them until February 9, when he had a sudden attack of lung fever, from the effects of which he did not recover for several months. Under the advice of his physician, who felt some out-of-door occupation would be of great benefit, he went to look after certain interests of some New Bedford gentlemen in the oil regions of

H. W. LADD.

West Virginia and Southeastern Ohio, where he spent some two and a half years. Re- turning, he again entered the dry goods business with an importing house in Boston, where he remained until the spring of 1871, when he embarked in the retail business in Providence, R. I., and " The H. W. Ladd Co.," of which he is the head, has for years had a wide reputation among retail dry goods houses catering to high-class trade. Mr. Ladd had remarkable taste in selection of styles and material, and early in the course of his business career developed surprising tact in management, and with constant devotion to his business his success was at once attained. "While Mr. Ladd's success has been great," said a New York commission merchant, " his name will always be known as the leader in this country in applying and showing what thorough system in the retail business will do."

Occupied as he is and has been with a constant and rapidly growing business, Mr. Ladd yet found time to take an active interest in public matters. He was one of the originators of the Providence Congregational Club, and the father of the Providence Commercial Club. His interest in social clubs is evidenced by his membership in the Hope Club, the Squantum and Pomham Clubs, the Press Club, and other organizations. The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children early selected him for its president, and to him is due the present systematic organization of that phil- anthropic society, and its splendid home, equal to any kind in the country. For two years he was vice-president of the Board of Trade, and is a director in the Atlantic Na- tional Bank of Providence. He early took an active part in the movement for obtain- ing enlarged and better terminal railway facilities in Providence, and the plan finally adopted and now about to be carried out, is almost identical with that advocated by him six years ago ; and has given his aid and influence to every effort for the material, intellectual and moral improvement of the city.

His two administrations as governor of Rhode Island were notable for the energy and progressiveness which he infused into them. Thoroughly acquainted as a business man with Rhode Island's status in the commercial world, Governor Ladd appreciated the possibilities for greatly enhancing her importance, and his official efforts were largely directed toward arousing public attention to the natural advantages possessed by the State for inviting commerce and trade. Simultaneously with these propositions for developing the railroad, shipping and business interests of his State, Governor Ladd successfully inaugurated radical movements for the benefit and development of the agricultural interests, secured a commission to revise the State's laws and to devise an improved judicial system; and urged the necessity of adequate measures for increasing the State's revenues, through the taxing of railroads and other corporations and thus relieving the people of as much.of the burden of direct taxation as possible. The need of public works and highway improvements, in the interest of which he secured the ap- pointment of a legislative commission and the building of a new State House, on the plans and site for which a commission, of which he was made chairman, has recently reported, have had his close attention ; and a proposition is now (1892) before the people of Rhode Island to hond the State for $1,500,000 to build a State Capitol and to im- prove the roads. He also secured the submission to the people of a proposition for biennial elections, Rhode Island being the only State except Massachusetts that retained

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

annual elections. The proposed change is about the most important ever made to the constitution of the State. An acute insight into educational matters and a broad grasp of the conditions as they existed made the governor a valuable ally to Rhode Island edu- cators, and the public school system of the State in various departments received a distinct benefit from his two administrations. His re-election to the presidency of the Rhode Island School of Design, on retiring from the governorship, was a tribute to his efforts in behalf of public education. During his first term in 1889 Governor Ladd had the honor of entertaining at his summer residence at Newport, R. I., the president, Benja- min Harrison, and ex-President Grover Cleveland. He gave to Brown University, an institution in which he has taken a deep interest, an observatory fully equipped with instruments and apparatus for astronomical research and study, the commencerrent din- ner, June 19, 1889, at which Governor Ladd was an official guest, being the occasion for the announcement of this magnificent gift. The observatory bears the donor's name, and will stand as a monument to his liberality, interest in the cause of education, and public spirit. It was in recognition of his distinguished services that, at commence- ment June 22, 1892, Brown University conferred the degree of " A. M." on ex-Governor Ladd.

He married, May 25, 1870, Emma F., daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth (Holmes) Burrows, of Providence, R. I., who died April 13, 1889. His children: 1, Clara S., born August 3, 1871, died August 13, 1872; 2, Lucy Kingman, born November 15, 1872, died August 26, 1881; 3, Elizabeth Burrows, born October 15, 1875; 4, Emma Louise, born May 10. 1877, died August 24, 1881 ; 5, Herbert Warren, born February 25, 1880, died August 20, 1881; 6, Hope, born October 15, 1882.

T OMPKINS, ISAAC B. JR., son of Isaac B. and Abby D. Tompkins, was born in Westport, Mass., August 27, 1849, where for many generations his ancestors lived. The family is of good New England stock, and the name of Isaac Tompkins is among those of the sons of Dartmouth enrolled as soldiers in the American Revolution,

Isaac B. Tompkins was for many years a successful whaling captain, and brought in many profitable cargoes ; among the more notable ones were those of the ships Young, Phenix and Twilight. Captain Tompkins was the efficient chief of the New Bedford Police Department during the administrations of Mayors Morgan, Rotch and George Wilson. He represented the city of New Bedford in the State Legislature of Massa- chusetts in the years 1888 and 1889. He is now sixty-six years of age, in good health, and is highly respected for his sterling character, by his fellow citizens.

Isaac B. Tompkins, jr., was educated in the public schools, and in the academy at Westport. graduating with a full commercial course of instruction at the East Green- wich Academy, East Greenwich, R. I. At the completion of his studies he entered, June 11. 1866, the office of Jonathan Bourne, one of the most successful New Bedford merchants engaged in the whaling business.

December 26, 1870, he entered the employ of Messrs. Driscol, Church & Hall, and on January 1, 1881, he was admitted into partnership. By his ability and devotion to its interests, Mr. Tompkins has contributed largely to the success that has attended this

I. B. TOMPKINS - WM. WATKINS.

flourishing business house. While he has given rigid attention to his commercial duties, Mr. Tompkins has been called to many responsible positions in this community. It does not often fall to the lot of a man of his years to occupy so wide a sphere of use- fulness.

For seven years, 1878 to 1884, inclusive, he was a member of the Common Council of New Bedford, and for four successive years was its president, to which office he was each term chosen by a unanimous vote.

In 1885 he was elected a member of the School Committee, and during the same year was elected one of the trustees of the Free Public Library.

In 1882 he was chosen a trustee of the Institution of Savings and in 1888 was made president of the Board of Trade.

He still holds these positions of honor and performs the duties of each to the great satisfaction of his fellow citizens. As an illustration of the faithfulness which character- izes all the public service of Mr. Tompkins, it may be said, that during the entire term of his official relation to the Common Conncil, he was never absent from its meetings, and during his long service as a member of the School Committee, he has been absent twice.

Mr. Tompkins is in the prime of life, and has established an enviable reputation for ability and integrity. He is a public spirited citizen, and is interested in all matters that relate to the commercial and intellectual advancement of the city of New Bedford.

W ATKINS, WILLIAM, son of Thomas and Mary (Davis) Watkins, ,was born in the village of Westport Point, Westport, Mass., June 22, 1814. His educational advantages were limited to the village schools of that day. In 1828, soon after passing his fourteenth year, he came to New Bedford and entered the commission and grocery store of Jacob Parker, continuing in his employ until March, 1832, when he was offered and accepted a situation as clerk with Elisha Dunbar & Co. (Edward C. Jones), a firm of high standing, ship chandlers and importers, and dealers in bar iron ; also managing owners and agents of ships in the whaling business. During the eight years of his em- ployment with this firm, Mr. Watkins was their book-keeper and mainly in charge of their merchandise business, having a partial interest in the profits of that department for the last three years. The senior partner, Capt. Elisha Dunbar, one of New Bed- ford's foremost and most highly respected citizens, and shipmaster in the merchant service before adopting mercantile life, died in November, 1839. At the close of its business year, February 1, 1840, the firm was dissolved, and, as previously understood, the junior partner, Mr. Jones, continued the business, more especially the whaling in- terest, with a view of increasing it largely ; this purpose he carried out during thirty years of close application, using great caution in selecting officers for his ships, with ex- ceptionally profitable results. Mr. Jones made fair proposals to Mr. Watkins to join him in partnership; but as the latter had not capital to invest in shipping, he decided to follow business with which he was familiar, and hence established himself in the ship chandlery and iron trade in April, 1840. This was continued until 1878, during twelve years of which his brother, George D., was associated with him as partner, the

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

firm being W. & G. D. Watkins (1851 to 1862 inclusive). During the first thirty years of this period several whaling vessels were added to the business. In 1878 Will- iam Watkins disposed of his stock in trade to Watkins & Handy. He began selling out his whaling interest in 1873, and disposed of the last ship in 1880. There is not a blemish upon this long and successful career, and its close found Mr. Watkins with a standing in the community, as well as beyond its limits, that was, and has ever since re- mained, of the highest character.

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 75

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170