History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 77

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

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One who knew him well wrote of him soon after his death as follows: " No mer- chant of this city ever devoted himself more assiduously to business than Mr. Thomas, and none can leave behind a more unspotted reputation. No man could be more missed by the mercantile community, especially by the dealers in its great staple ; for no one was ever more active, bold and successful in the purchase and sale of oil. For many years his annual transactions in that article were immense, and the importers were of course greatly benefited by his energy and enterprise. His death is a severe loss to our city-the loss of a man of extraordinary perseverance, of public spirit, of great probity, and of most estimable character in all the relations he bore to his fellows. He was a good man, ever ready to aid in maintaining every good cause, and recognizing and dis- charging the obligations which increasing wealth creates."

The formation of many of the earlier manufacturing industries of New Bedford was due to a large extent to his influence and energy, even when his means were not directly

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

invested ; while in all matters pertaining to the prosperity of the city he was among the foremost. His career was based upon the principles of Christianity and he was long a member of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Thomas died on the 20th of Novem- ber, 1866.

He was married in 1840, to Agnes J. Martin, of Rehoboth, and they had three chil- dren ; S. M. Thomas, an attorney of Taunton; and two daughters.

C CLIFFORD, CHARLES W .- Charles W. Clifford, son of John H. and Sarah Par- ker (Allen) Clifford, was born August 19, 1844, at New Bedford, Mass., being on his father's side a direct lineal descendant of Governor Mayhew, of Martha's Vineyard, and on his mother's side of Capt. Myles Standish, of Plymouth. He was fitted for col- lege at the old " Friends' Academy," then in charge of the late T. Prentiss Allen. En- tering Harvard College at the age of seventeen, he soon won the respect and esteem of his instructors, as well as his fellows, and after having borne a prominent part in all the literary and social enterprises of his time, graduated with full honors in July, 1865.

Never, from his earliest years, having a doubt as to the choice of a profession, he at once began the study of the law, which he pursued under instruction from Hon. E. H. Bennett, of Taunton, Hon. John C. Dodge, of Boston, and at the Harvard Law School, and after being admitted to the bar, in New Bedford, at the June term, 1868, began practice in the office formerly occupied by his father. Here he practiced alone until February, 1869, when the firm of Marston & Crapo was formed, of which he continued a member until its dissolution in April, 1878, since when he has been an active partner of the firm of Crapo, Clifford & Clifford, one of the two firms formed principally from the members of the old firm of Marston & Crapo.

On May 5, 1869, he married Frances Lothrop, daughter of Charles L. and Elizabeth T. Wood, of New Bedford, who died April 28, 1872, and on March 15, 1876, he mar- ried Wilhelmina H., daughter of the late Governor Crapo, of Michigan, and a sister of his partner, Hon. William W. Crapo.

While a member of the firm of Marston & Crapo, he was constantly associated as junior counsel with Hon. George Marston in the trial of important causes, the prepara- tion of which was frequently intrusted to him, and the training and valuable experience derived from this association, soon bore its fruit in the recognition of a legal ability of a high order, and a maturity of thought and judgment, which rendered him a wise and valued counselor, and which led to his appointment as one of the commissioners to re- vise the judiciary system of the Commonwealth in 1876, an appointment received by the profession as one eminently fit to be made. In 189] he received the almost unan- imous support of the bar of Massachusetts for an appointment as Judge of the Cir- enit Court of the United States.

Loval to the principles of the Republican party, and earnest and energetic in main- taining its integrity and influence, he has ever been found in the front rank of its active supporters, and several times as chairman of the Republican City Committee of New Bedford, as delegate to, and assistant secretary of the Republican National Convention at Chicago, in 1880; later as a member of the Republican State Central Committee of

CHARLES W. CLIFFORD.

Massachusetts, and as manager of the campaign of Hon. William W. Crapo, for the gubernatorial nomination in 1882, has shown a readiness and ability to do whatever should be required of him as a supporter of Republican principles, and in these various positions has rendered valuable service to his party.

His association with the late Charles L. Wood, his father-in-law, and one of the lead- ing merchants of New Bedford, following upon an early inculcation of business habits and methods by his distinguished father, enabled him to obtain a practical education in affairs, such as is acquired by few lawyers, and this, coupled with a natural aptitude for business questions, has not only secured for him many chents among the business insti- tutions of New Bedford, but has been the means of his aid and counsel being sought for in the organization of new enterprises, and in the conduct and direction of those already established and secure.

Mr. Clifford's success as a lawyer is due not less to his natural and acquired ability than to the fact that his sphere of life was determined by himself and his parents from the beginning, and it may be truly said, that he commenced the study of his profession in his earliest boyhood. To a clear, discriminating, and capacious mind and the results of earnest study under the best of teachers, he adds an enthusiastic love of the law, most vigorous and efficient action in the understanding of his causes, scrupulous fidelity to his clients in all emergencies, and a chivalrous sense of professional and personal honor. Among the younger members of the bar he preserves all the freshness and humor of boyhood, and among the seniors he sustains the dignity of a recognized equal, and his social qualities render him a most delightful companion and friend.

Mr. Clifford was Civil Service Commissioner of Massachusetts, November, 1884 to July 1888, being one of the original board which devised and established the present system in Massachusetts. He is a commissioner of the United States Circuit Court ; a member of the Standing Committee upon Commercial Law, American Bar Association ; one of the Standing Examiners of Applicants for admission to the Bar, Bristol County ; one of the Committee of Arrangements of the 250th Anniversary of Harvard College. Mr. Clifford is president of the Southern Massachusetts Telephone Company, and of the Masonic Building Association ; chairman of the Assessors of the First Congrega- tional Society ; vice-president of St. Luke's Hospital, and of the Harvard Club of New Bedford; trustee of the Swain Free School, the Wamsutta Club, New Bedford Insti- tution of Savings, and of several estates; director of the National Bank of Commerce, New Bedford Manufacturing Company, Howland Mills, N. B. Copper Company. Rotch Spinning Company, Potomska Mills, Oneko Woolen Mills, Davis Coast Wrecking Com- pany. He is one of the Advisory Committee of the Association for the Relief of Aged Women, and the Ladies' Branch of the N. B. Port Society. Mr. Clifford was the first president of the N. B. Opera House Association. IIe delivered, April 30 1889, an oration in the Rink at the celebration of the Centennial of the Inauguration of George Washington as president of the United Stats. He made an eloquent address at the meeting of the Bristol County bar, on the death of George Marston, and delivered an address at the organization of the John Henry Clifford Sons of Veterans. He has read papers before the Unity Club upon the " McKinley Tariff" and upon " Reciprocity. " and before the National Civil Service League upon " The Registration of Laborers."

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Gov. John Henry Clifford, the father of the subject of this sketch, married, January 16, 1832, Sarah Parker Allen, daughter of William H. and Ruth (Parker) Allen, the latter a daughter of Hon. John Avery and Averic (Standisb) Parker, who was in the sixth generation from Capt. Myles Standish. Nine children were born of this mar- riage, as follows: Ruth (born 1833, died 1843). Mary (born 1836, died 1842), Anna (born 1838), Edward Everett (born 1840, died 1842), Robert Winthrop (born 1842, died 1843), Charles Warren (born 1844), Ellen (born 1846). Walter (born 1849), Arthur (born 1851, died 1881). Arthur, M.D .. Dartmouth 1878, left a son, Charles P. (born 1880). Walter has children, as follows: John H. (born 1879), Rosamund (born 1881), Hilda (born 1883), Randall (born 1889).

T "ABER, GEORGE HATHAWAY, was born in Fairhaven October 29, 1808. His ancestor, Philip Taber, came to Massachusetts in 1633-4, and settled in Watertown. In 1639 he moved to Yarmouth, Cape Cod, and was a representative to the General Court at Plymouth.

fu 1650 moved to New London and from 1655 to 1663 he resided in Portsmouth, R. I., and afterwards lived in Tiverton R. I., where he died.

His wife, Lydia, was the daughter of John Masters, of Watertown, by whom he had five children, John Thomas, Philip, Joseph, Lydia.

His son, Thomas Taber, lived in Dartmouth as early as 1672. He was much em- ployed in town affairs, and served as selectman, surveyor of highways, town clerk, and captain of militia. He was twice chosen as representative to the General Court, His house was burned by the Indians during the King Philip War 1675. Soon after he huilt the stone house in Oxford village, the ruins of which are still in existence.

He died November 11, 1730, in his eighty-sixth year. Thomas Taber was twice married, his first wife being the daughter of John Cooke, the last male survivor of the passengers in the Mayflower. She died in 1671-2. They had two children.

His second wife was Mary, dangliter of John Thomson, of Middleboro, and first cousin to his first wife. (Her mother was sister of Jolin Cooke.)

They had ten children, one of whom, Jacob Taber, was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

Jacob Taber was born July 26, 1683 aud died April 4, 1773, in the ninetieth year of his age. He married Sarah, danghter of Stephen and Mercy West (daughter of John Cooke.) Jacob Taber and his wife Sarah, were, therefore, second cousins.

They had four sons, Bartholemew, Jacob, John and Stephen.

Bartholemew had three sons, John, Jacob and Bartholemew.

John Taber was the father of George Hathaway Taber, whose portrait may be found in these pages. John Taber died in 1847. and his wife, Mary Hathaway Taber, in 1858.

George Hathaway Taber was born October, 1808, in the house where he has lived during his entire life. The house was built by his father, John Taher, on land that has been held by the Taber family for more than two centuries. The original deed is still in possession of Mr. Taber and it is one of the rare historic papers of colonial times. It bears the signatures of John Cooke and John Alden, famous names in our New England history. The following is a verbatim copy.

GEORGE H. TABER.

To all to whome these presents shall come John Cooke of dartmouth in the Jurisdic- tion of new plim[oth] in new England yeaman sendetli greeting : and know yea that I the said John Cooke for and in consideration of the full and just sum of ten pounds of cur- ant mony of new England to me in hand payd before sealing and delivering of these presents by Thomas tabor of the same towne and Jurisdiction aforesaid mason with which said sum of ten pounds I the said John Cooke doe acknowledg my self fully sat- isfied contented and payd and thereof and of euery part and persel thereof doe exhon- orate aquit and descharg the said Thomas tabor his heires executors and administrators for euer and haue by these presents freelly abosolutely bargained sold allinated enfeoffed and confirmed and by these presents doe bargaine sell enfeoff and confirme from me the said John Cooke and my heires : unto him the said Thomas tabor and his heires and asignes for euer : all that my whole sixt part of one whole sbare of lands both upland and meddow denided and undeuided setuate lying and being within the township of dartmoth aforesaid : with all and singuler apurtenances and priueledges thereunto be- longing or any wais apertaining with all my right and title of and into all and euery part and percell thereof to haue and to bould the aforesaid one sixt part of one whole share of lands both upland and medow land within the township of dartmoth aforesaid with all my Right and title therin or there unto the said Thomas tabor he his heires and asignes for euer to the proper use and behoofe of him the said Thomas tabor he his heires and asignes for euer to be houlden acording to the maner of east greenwich in the County of Kent in the Relme of England in free and common soccage and not in capity nor by Knights servis by the rents and servises thereof dew and of Right acus- tomed without the least hendderence or molestation of me the said John Cooke my heires executors and administrators allso the said John Cooke doth couenant and prom- ise to and with the said Thomas tabor that it shall and may be lawfull for him the said Thomas tabor either by him selfe or his autorney to Record and inrole or cause to be Re- corded and inroled these presents in his maiestis Court at new plymoth aforesaid acord- ing to the useuall maner of Recording and inroling deeds and euedences and for the full and absolut confermation of the same and every perticuler aboue spesified doe frely set to my hand and seale this twenty and Eaight day of nouember: one thousand six hundred Eaighty and two.

Signed Sealed and delivered In the presents of

John Cooke [SEAL. ]

Samuell Spuner S his marke

Jonathan Delano

the ahouesaid John Cooke

apeared and acknowledged

this Instrument aboue written to be his act and deed this: 51 :

of march 1682

John Alden Assist

This deed is recorded according to order in ye Book of Euidences of land Enrowled See page 388

pr Nath" Clarke Secretary

George H. Taber received such limited education as the primitive schools of his boy- hood furnished, and at the age of seventeen he sailed on his first whaling voyage in the

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

ship Missouri. The vessel was gone eleven months and Mr. Taber received $100 as his part of the venture.

He then went into the merchant service and worked his way up till in 1832 he was given the command of the brig Fornax.

He carried cargoes of oil to Sweden and brought Swedish iron from that country.

He made several voyages out of New York both as officer and captain of different ships till 1842, when he retired from a maritime life.

For half a century Mr. Taber has been prominently identified with the affairs of his native town. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen during the years 1851-52- 63-64-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79 and 87, and chairman of the board for more than half of these terms.

He was assessor for fifteen years, and overseer of the poor for two years.

He is president of the Fairhaven Savings Bank, and for thirty years has been one of its board of investment.

Mr. Taber is now eighty-four years of age, in good health, and of vigorous mind, and he is still actively engaged in local business affairs.

In spite of his years, Mr. Taber has not grown old, and he retains that good nature and cheerfulness that has always brought to him the affection of childhood and the sin- cere respect and esteem of the people.

Mr. Taber was married in 1859 to Eliza Parker Bates. They have two children, George Hathaway and John Huddleston.

UTTLESTON, HENRY. The earliest mention of the name Huddleston (other- - wise spelled Huttleston) in American history, is in connection with a painful ex- perience of Plymouth Colony in 1622. The colonists were in a most distressed con- dition, and one-half of their original number had fallen victims to the hardship and suf- fering that had been common to them all. The month of June found them on the verge of starvation; for six months they had lived on half allowance, and their store- house was empty. The shellfish on which they mainly subsisted was a poor substitute for bread and meat. Their sufferings were extreme, and the outlook gloomy and dis- couraging. Such was the condition of affairs when the shallop of the Sparrow arrived in Plymouth harbor. The Sparrow was one of a fleet of some thirty English vessels then engaged in fishing on the Maine coast. The shallop brought letters to the colonists from England, and one from John Huddleston, master of one of the fishing vessels from the east. He was an entire stranger to them, but in his letter he notified them of a terrible massacre of 347 settlers in Virginia, which but for the exposure of the plot by a friendly Indian, would have resulted in the annihilation of that colony. Captain Huddleston urged the Pilgrims to be ready for any emergency. When the shallop re- turned to the coast of Maine, Winslow (afterward governor) went at the same time to purchase provisions. He was kindly received by Captain Huddleston. The latter, however, could spare but little from his stores; although such as he could furnish he gave promptly. and refused any remuneration. He gave Winslow a letter with many expressions of regard, to the other captains on the coast, who nobly followed his ex-

H. HUTTLESTON - C. L. WOOD.

ample and contributed what they could. The supply of provisions obtained by Wins- low was sufficient to allow each colonist four ounces of bread per day till harvest- time.

The Huttleston family is of English origin, and their name is given to one of the villages of England. Valentine Huttleston came from England to America in the early part of the seventeenth century to Newport, R. I., and ultimately settled in Dartmouth (Fairhaven). He was one of the original proprietors, and his name is at- tached to the confirmatory deed of William Bradford, November 13, 1694. He is first mentioned in the Dartmouth records in 1681. He died in June, 1727, in the ninety- ninth year of his age. He had two sons by his wife Catharine, Henry, born Septem- ber 21, 1673, and George, born September 28, 1677. From one of these (Henry prob- ably) was no doubt the Henry of whom we write.

Henry Huttleston was born in Fairhaven in 1768, at or near the reaidence of the late John A. Hawes. His father, Peleg Huttleston was a man of good circumstance and repute in his day, a land owner and a valuable citizen. He was born in 1741 and died in 1801. His wife, Tabatha, was born in 1743, and died in 1790. Henry Hut- tleston, although of limited education, early manifested great business ability. He be- came owner of numerous vessels, and was extensively engaged in fitting out ships for the European trade. He was a merchant for many years in his native town. He was a man pleasant to meet, of winning manners and a general favorite for his benevolence and sympathy toward suffering. During the Napoleonic wars and embargoes, and the perilous times connected with the War of 1812, he lost heavily, numbers of his ships being captured or destroyed by the belligerent European powers. He had at the time of his death several claims against the Spanish, French and English nations for captured vessels, yet only one of these claims-one against the French government-ever realized anything for his heirs. He married Rhoda Merrihew, of Fairhaven. They had seven children, Henry (deceased), Nancy (deceased), Betsey (Mis. Charles Stoddard), Jane (deceased), Killey (deceased), and Mary, who married Rowland Rogers, March 31, 1833. She is still living in Fairhaven and is the mother of H. H. Rogers. Mr. Huttle- ston died in January, 1831. He was Unitarian in religion and Whig in politics.

W JOOD, CHARLES L. Captain Charles L. Wood, of New Bedford, was born in Dartmouth, March 17, 1813. He was educated in the public schools of that town and at the Academy at Sandwich. At an early age he went to sea making his first voyage to New Orleans in a merchant-ship commanded by Captain James Rider. He then went as boat-steerer in the whale-ship Braganza, of which his father, Captain Daniel Wood, was master. His next voyage he took as mate with his brother, Captain James B. Wood, master, in a whale-ship sailing from St. John, New Brunswick. At the age of twenty-four he took command of ship Elizabeth, offDartmouth, a whaler, the youngest member of the crew, and upon his return in 1842, he abandoned the sea, formed a partnership with his brother under the style of James B. Wood & Co., and became largely interested as owner and agent of whale-ships. For more than thirty years they continued in active business, and no firm ever stood higher in the confidence

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

of the business community, or gave more unvarying and entire satisfaction to their co- owners, and few were more uniformly successful. He died in New Bedford July 13, 1861.

For many years Captain Wood was a director in the insurance offices of the city, in the Bank of Commerce, and in tbe Wamsutta Mills, one of the Board Investment of the New Bedford Institution of Savings, and for three terms was a director on the part of the State of the Boston and Albany Railroad. In all these positions he rendered efficient and valnable service.

He was possessed of practical good sense, of cool, deliberate and rarely erring judg- ment, and while cautious and prudent was tenacious of a purpose thoughtfully formed. He was a wise and safe counselor, and many men greatly his seniors were glad to avail themselves of his judicious advice. That he filled no public positions was not due to any lack of the public's appreciation of his worth or of desire to honor him, but to his own modest estimate of his abilities and his utter aversion to anything like display.

No man was more respected and beloved, for he was one of nature's noblemen-a man of large and tender heart, quick to sympathize, and as quick to aid. Frank, sincere and true, he had troops of friends, and not a single enemy.

KOOLLOCK, LEMUEL MARSELLUS. The families of this name in America are all descended from two brothers who emigrated here some time in the last century. One Cornelius Kollock, settled in Massachusetts, and the other in Delaware. The parents of these brothers were French Huguenots and the family name was spelled by them "Colloque," but when driven by persecution to Germany, the present orthography was adopted by them. The Kollock who settled in this State was by profession a sea- captain, and while journeying from Newport, R. I., to Boston, stopped at Billing's tavern in Sharon and ultimately married the inn-keeper's daughter there. From these two the family of Kollocks are descended.

Lemuel M. Kollock was born in New Bedford, March 30, 1830. His father was Lemuel, and his mother Melissa Kollock, of Canton, Mass., and his grandfather was Thomas Kollock, of Sharon. His father was a ship agent, and the first president of the Gosnold Mills, incorporated in 1848, in which office he served until 1865. He was a prominent and energetic man of affairs. Lemuel M. was educated in the public schools and high school of New Bedford and the Friends' Academy. His first business engage- ment after leaving school was that of treasurer of the Gosnold Mills, in which position he developed business qualities of good character. In 1865 Mr. Kollock made an im- portant business change by his removal to New York City, where he entered largely into the coal trade, and continued it there for eight years with gratifying success. Re- turning to New Bedford in 1873, he continued in the same business here, acting as agent for the New Bedford Coal Company and Garfield Proctor. In this capacity he continued until his death.

Mr. Kollock was not at all conspicuous in politics, though he was public spirited and felt a deep interest in the prosperity of the city. He was chosen to the Common Council, where he served several years, and he was one year in the Board of School Commissioners. He was very active in connection with the fire department, and a

L. M. KOLLOCK - F. BUCKMINSTER. 65

long time prominent in the New Bedford Protecting Society. His well known busi- ness ability and integrity led to his being placed in the Board of Directors of the New Bedford Five Cents Savings Bank about 1880, which office he held until his death. Besides his coal interests here Mr. Kollock associated with his father in the whaling industry and they acted as agents for several vessels, in which they were also part owners, and they built one ship-the Helen Mar. In all of these relations with his fellow citizens Mr. Kollock never failed to win their regard and confidence. He was open-hearted, of a cheerful temperament, and kindly nature, and drew around him many warm friends who deplored his death while comparatively in the midst of his usefulness. He died on the 3d of October, 1887.

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 77

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