History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 203

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 203

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During his whole mature life Mr. Capen has been a frequent contributor to the public press of the country on all subjects, scientific, literary, and politi- cal. Among the many and varied subjects to which he has devoted years of study and reflection, and in which he is an acknowledged authority, may be men- tioned the subject of the importance of the usury laws. As early as 1849 he wrote a series of articles on the subject of the currency and the usury laws, demonstrating the necessity of such laws, and setting forth clearly and conclusively the evils that are sure to befall the community which neglects to protect itself by their rigid enforcement. By the influence of letters and documents from him, the State of Vir- ginia was enabled to preserve her usury laws unaltered, and Governor Wise declared that for this Virginia owed Mr. Capen a greater debt than to any other liv- ing man. In 1855 the leading members of the Legis- ture of Massachusetts addressed him a letter of thanks for the information he had communicated on the subject. Among his active and increasing labors In 1850, Mr. Capen began what may be considered the most important work of his life, "The History of Democracy, or the Political Progress Historically Illustrated from the Earliest to the Latest Period." This work was undertaken at the request of some of the most distinguished Democrats of the day. The first volume was published in 1875, and he has nearly ready for the press the second, third, and fourth volumes, which will be ready for the electrotyper in 1884. Mr. Capen has ever been a true, consistent, and un- wavering Democrat. His lucid and well-trained mind has enabled him to comprehend clearly the great prin- ciples of the Democratic faith, which he has adhered to with constant fidelity, and defended by speech and pen on all proper occasions. In 1857 he was made by Mr. Buchanan postmaster of the city of Boston. He did not seek the office, nor did he wish to accept it, as it interfered with his life-work, " The History of Democracy," but he did so at the urgent advice of his friends. The appointment was unanimously ap- 1 In 1874 "The Washington and Lee University," of Vir- proved by the Senate and by the press of all parties. . ginia, conferred upon Mr. Capen the degree of Doctor of Laws.

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In a biographical sketch of Mr. Capen by Ed- mund Burke, published in New York, 1858, he says, " A full and complete biography of a man like Mr. Capen would fill a book, and must be reserved for an- other pen, and on an occasion more appropriate than this."

HON. CHARLES H. FRENCH.

The family of French-those bearing that name in Canton-are descended from John French, who re- sided originally in Dorchester, and was admitted a freeman in 1639. He subsequently removed to Braintree with his wife Grace, where he was a resi- dent in 1655, and where many of his children were born. From him are descended most of the Norfolk County families who bear the name of French.

Thomas, one of his descendants, was born in Milton, Oct. 2, 1742, and died in Canton, April 22, 1819. He married Salome, daughter of Nathaniel and Abigail (Pitcher) Babcock. She was born Nov. 26, 1749, and died March 3, 1802. Mr. French came to Canton before the breaking out of the Revo- lutionary war. After the surrender of Burgoyne, he was one of the soldiers who guarded the captured army at Cambridge in 1778. He cultivated a farm at the extreme northerly part of the town, which now forms a part of the celebrated Blue Hill farm of Col. C. W. Walcott. The site of the cellar on which his house stood can still be discerned. In this retired place, far from meeting or school-house or the marts of trade, he brought up a family of nine sons and two daughters, some of whom, in spite of the meagre advantages which they were possessed of in child- hood, in after-years were to bear honorable testimony to the diligence with which they had employed even the slight resources at their command.

Ansel, the youngest, graduated at Brown University in the class of 1814 with the highest honors. Thomas was during his long life not only influential in school, parish, church, and municipal affairs in his own town, but was prominent in the politics of the county and State. He was chosen representative, senator, and was a member of the Council during the administra- tion of Governor George N. Briggs. Nathaniel, though strongly opposed to his brother in political matters, was so decided in his opinions, so excel- lent in judgment, so much interested in the public affairs, that he was one of its most honored citizens and represented this town in the Legislature.

Alexander, another brother, who died May 12, 1826, at the age of forty, married Dec. 5, 1813, Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (With-

ington) Howe. She died July 25, 1816. Mr. French occupied the house on Green Lodge Street lately owned by Capt. William Shaller, and here, on the twenty-first of September, 1814, his son, Charles Howe French, was born.

The early life of Mr. French did not differ from the ordinary life of a farmer's boy in those days. He worked upon the farm in the summer, and in the winter attended the Blue Hill School. The loss of his mother and father at a tender age deprived him of that counsel, advice, and love which he so much needed at this critical period of his life. The hap- piest hours of these days were passed in the home- stead of General Nathan Crane, who had married his grandmother, who then resided near his home. He was for a year or two placed with a gardener and farmer at Watertown, and daily drove a load of veg- etables to Boston market. Soon after he was placed with his uncle, Calvin Howe, at that time preceptor of the Milton Academy, where he hoped to remain and obtain a good education. But this hope was dissipated by the death of his uncle, who died after young French had been with him about a year.

At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed, as was the custom in those days, to Mr. Jabez Comey, a millwright, at Dedham. With him he gained a thorough mastery of the science and practice of me- chanics, a knowledge which afterwards was the chief source of his success in business life. After fulfill- ing his indentures, Mr. French was asked to assist Mr. William S. Otis in the building of one of the marvels of that day, a machine afterwards known as " The Otis Patent Steam Excavator." Mr. French accordingly came to Canton, and in a building which stood near what is now known as the Upper Silk Factory, the massive machine was begun and com- pleted. As Mr. French thoroughly understood its mechanism, he was the man selected to superintend its transfer and to put it in working order. He ac- cordingly went with it to Worcester, and entered the employ of Carmichael, Fairbanks & Otis, who had a contract to build a portion of the road now known as the Boston and Albany. Mr. Otis, at the early age of twenty-six years, while engaged upon this work, died Nov. 13, 1839. Mr. French's knowledge and experience rendered him the only man competent to fill the place left vacant by the deceased inventor. He was at once invited to join the firm, and the style was changed to Carmichael, Fairbanks, French & Dillon. Mr. Dillon in after-years became president of the Union Pacific Railroad. Mr. Fairbanks went to Russia with the celebrated engineer, Whistler, and assisted in building railroads for the emperor. Mr.

Charles Me. From.

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CANTON.

Oliver S. Chapman, many years an honored resident of Canton, and well known to all railroad men, was also engaged on this work at this time.

This work having been completed, a copartnership was formed between Mr. Carmichael and Mr. French. The first-named gentleman had been the head of the former firm, and had large experience as a contractor. They received overtures from the Canadian govern- ment to undertake the widening of the Welland Canal. At the end of a year Mr. Carmichael took a contract at Brooklyn, N. Y., and the whole responsi- bility of the canal contract devolved upon Mr. French. In this arduous undertaking he was engaged five years, but so well had he performed his duty, and so honest had he been in his dealings with the engineers having in charge the work, that the Canadian author- ities invited him to visit Montreal, and he was in- duced to spend another five years of his life in the same enterprise. At the end of this time his reputa- tion as a skillful, accurate, and honest engineer, with a practical business knowledge, was fully established, and he returned to his native town.

His townspeople would not, however, allow him to remain idle. They offered him the presidency of the Neponset Bank, which office he accepted, and the duties of which he has performed from 1851 to the present time, with honor to himself, with the approval and hearty commendation of the stockholders and the townspeople. Throughout his management, and owing mainly to the confidence reposed in his judg- ment, the stock of the bank has continually increased in value, and no investment has been more eagerly sought for than the stock of this corporation.

In 1852 he was chosen president of the Savings- Bank, and has continued in that office until the time of this writing.

In politics Mr. French was a Whig as long as that party had an existence. He was a member of the General Court in 1853, and appointed on the Com- mittee on Railroads, the same year a member of the Constitutional Convention, and in 1854 he was again elected to the Legislature, and was placed upon the Committee on Banks and Banking. On both occa- sions he was supported by his political opponents, showing that the man was of far more importance than the party. It is needless to write that Mr. French appreciated this compliment, and it must have been a proud and happy moment for him when the result of these elections was announced, and he found that his friends had broken their allegiance to party to vote for one whom they loved and hon- ored.

In 1873 and 1874 he was elected to the Senate,

where he was placed upon the Committee on Banks and Banking, also on Street Railroads.

Mr. French has had some experience in the militia : he was chosen colonel of the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, and continued as its commander about five years.

At the breaking out of the war Mr. French was active in every good work to assist in suppressing the Rebellion ; his heart and purse were always ready at the call of his country. He was one of the famous committee of "One Hundred" who were summoned by Governor Andrew to take measures to insure supplies to the Massachusetts troops who went to the front at the breaking out of the Rebellion.

Since residing in Canton Mr. French has been con- nected with the ancient parish ; he has been its main support, its chief pillar. For many years he has been its treasurer, and whether the coffers were full or empty the parson always received his pay promptly. Without him the organization would long since have been abandoned ; by his words of encouragement, by his counsel, and by his generosity the house of God has been kept open and the gospel preached. He was the largest contributor towards the erection of the parsonage and " The Parish Hall."

In 1858, Mr. French purchased one of the ancient mill privileges in Stoughton, and took into partner- ship Mr. Henry Ward, who had a practical knowledge of knitting machinery and the manufacture of fancy knit goods. Beginning in a small way, the business has gradually increased, and is now one of the largest in- dustries in Stoughton, employing nearly three hundred persons.

On Oct. 10, 1880, a fire was discovered in the base- ment of the main building, which, extending to those adjoining, soon destroyed the entire property, includ- ing a new mill, eighty by thirty feet, three stories in height; all the machinery was destroyed. The total loss was one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, on which there was insurance amounting to fifty-five thousand dollars. Thus in a night was swept away the accumulation of years. Mr. French was now sixty-six years of age, and it was a gigantic under- taking to again begin from the foundations, but with that courage and pluck which never fails him he made up his mind to go on, and immediately com- menced to rebuild. To-day "the end crowns the work," a new building, better adapted to the purposes of the business, has taken the place of the conglomera- tion of former days, the busy hum of wheels and the whir of machinery is again heard, and hundreds of busy men and women look to Mr. French for their daily bread, and thank God that he had the courage

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and public spirit to place the business on its old basis.

Soon after Mr. French returned to Canton he pur- chased about forty-five acres of land, being a portion of the original grant to the Indians from Dorchester. In a delightful situation, a short distance from the old road which formerly ran between Massachusetts and Narragansett Bays, he erected in 1854 a substan- tial stone house, where he now resides. He married, July 27, 1837, Almira, daughter of Deacon Leonard and Almira (Kimball) Everett, a Canton lady, whose father was a prominent and highly-respectable citizen of this town.

Mr. French has not hoarded his honestly-acquired gains, his hand has been ever open to the calls of charity, and many are the families that have been either entirely or in part supported by his bounty. A cause that is just, a case of suffering, always receives assistance from him. Whenever a subscription paper is started for a worthy or charitable purpose, he is always asked to head the list.

He has been active as a citizen, taken any part that was assigned him. In school matters, on the board of selectmen, as moderator of the town-meetings, he has done all he could for the interest and advance- ment of the town.

OLIVER SMITH CHAPMAN.

Oliver Smith Chapman was without doubt de- scended from Ralph Chapman, born in England in 1615, and who, at the age of twenty years, being then a resident of the parish of St. Saviors, South- wark, County Surrey, emigrated to America, as will appear upon consulting the list of passengers who passed from the port of London for the year ending at Christmas, 1635. Upon his arrival in this country he probably settled at Duxbury, although no mention is made of him until 1640. Ten years afterwards he became a resident of Marshfield, and lived there until the time of his death, which occurred in 1671. He had a daughter Mary, who married, in 1666, William Troop. This name, though variously spelled, occurs in | the family of Oliver S. Chapman many times. His great-grandfather Throop, when he was a boy, he well remembered seeing. This ancestor, at the age of ninety-one, rode on horseback from Reedsborough, Vt., to Belchertown, in this State, to visit his rela- tives. Throop Chapman had a number of children, among others William, who, in turn, had, among others, Daniel, the father of Oliver, who was born Dec. 23, 1782, and died at Canton, April 12, 1867. ' native town, and there remained for two or three He married, May 25, 1809, Nancy Smith, who was years. It was during these years (Jan. 3, 1844)

born in Walpole, Mass., Jan. 9, 1790, and died March 9, 1838. Their eldest son, Oliver S., was born at Belchertown, in the county of Hampshire, Aug. 18, 1811.

His early life was passed in his native town, where he learned from his father the trade of a wheelwright, and soon became a skillful mechanic, obtaining that practical information which enabled him in after- years to become so successful a man. Before he ar- rived at his majority he had erected with his own earnings a saw-mill.

While the Boston and Providence Railroad was in process of construction Mr. Chapman paid his first visit to Canton, where he was engaged upon a piece of work near the viaduct, and occupied with his em- ployés the very house of which he died possessed. It was about this time that his friend and cousin, William Smith Otis, married (June 22, 1835) Eliza- beth, the daughter of Deacon Leonard Everett, of this town. Mr. Chapman was present at the cere- mony. The happiness of their wedded life was of short duration, for on the 13th of November, 1839, at the early age of twenty-six years, Mr. Otis died at Westfield, having invented and perfected in these short years one of the marvelous mechanical inven- tions of the age,-" The Otis Steam Excavator."

Mr. Otis and Mr. Daniel Carmichael both had con- tracted to do work on the Providence road. The latter gentleman induced Mr. Chapman to go with him to Worcester, and near that city he was for a time engaged in constructing what is now a portion of the Boston and Albany Railroad. Again a short time in Canton, and then Mr. Chapman went to a place near Greenwich, in Rhode Island, where he took a contract to construct portions of the Providence and Stonington Railroad. In 1836 he went to Philadelphia, where a ship canal was in process of construction ; upon this he labored. Subsequently he was at New Worcester for a short time. During the year 1837 he took contracts on the Eastern Railroad at Chelsea, Lynn, and Salem. It was on the 18th of September this year that he was married to Miss Olivia, the daughter of Reuben and Chloe Cook. His next employment was upon the Boston and Albany Railroad, in 1839. Here, in connection with Carmichael, Fairbanks & Otis, he was employed in excavating a most difficult passage through a solid rock, the sides of which, when com- plete, were sixty feet on the one hand and eighty on the other. This work, now known as the Summit Cut, was completed in 1841. But his health at this time failed him, and he returned with his wife to his

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that his wife died. On the 23d of March, 1845, he was married, for the second time, to the widow of Mr. William S. Otis. The following year he placed a steam excavator on the Vermont Central, at Windsor, and was at work at Claremont, N. H., and Burlington, Vt. About this time he had an interest in the lumber business in Saginaw County, Mich. The renewal of the patent on the excavator furnished Mr. Chapman for some time with occupation in building the machines and selling the right to use the same.

In 1845 he came to Canton, and in 1858 pur- chased the Marcus Clark estate, on what is now Chap- man Street, making it his residence. Since that time he was more or less connected with railroads and with railroad men. In 1850, in company with his brother Wellington and Sidney Dillon, he was engaged in a contract on the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad. He had contracts at Jacksonville, on the New Jersey Central, at Girard (1858), on the Lake Shore, and at Council Bluffs, on the Union Pacific. Of the latter corporation he was for some time a director, as also of the Canada Southern Railroad. He was at one time interested in a contract for filling the lands of the commonwealth on the " Back Bay," in the city of Boston, and possessed large tracts of land in the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. In 1863- 64 he was sent as representative to the State Legis- lature from the Eleventh Norfolk District. In 1856, | Mr. Chapman was chosen one of the directors of the Neponset National Bank of Canton.

On Thursday morning, Feb. 8, 1877, Mr. Chap- man, apparently in his usual health, took the morning train for Boston. Soon after reaching the city he | went to the store of J. V. Kettell, for the purpose of having his watch, which had stopped the evening be- | fore, attended to. He removed it from the guard, | and Mr. Kettell turned to the window to examine it. Mr. Chapman called his attention to some difficulty with the case, and immediately afterwards sank upon a chair and fell to the floor. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, life was extinct. The physician who was first summoned pronounced the cause of death to be ossification of the heart, but the coroner, Dr. O. G. Cilley, said that it was apoplexy, caused by the extraordinary exertion of ascending the stairs.

The funeral services took place at the Unitarian Church, in Canton, on Sunday, the 11th.

The lesson of such a life as his should be deeply written on our hearts. Let us be thankful and proud in the consciousness that there is goodness and hon- esty in the world,-goodness without ostentation, and honesty without cant. These were the distinguish-

ing characteristics of Mr. Chapman's life. Possessed of ample means, he made no display. He never sought official position, but when public honors were bestowed upon him, he bore them meekly, ever re- membering that it was a trust he received from his constituents, and not an occasion to display himself. During the thirty years of his residence in Canton he was ever active in all measures pertaining to the im- provement and embellishment of the town. He was more than a good citizen ; he was an active and ener- getic public man, always ready to give more than his share of time and money to benefit his townspeople. He was ready to serve on any committee where the public welfare was concerned. If a school-house were to be built, there was no one so well qualified to superintend its erection as Mr. Chapman. Day by day he was at his post, directing, guiding, and taking a part himself if the work flagged. During the dark days of the war he sustained the government, and by his influence induced others to do so who were dis- posed to be lukewarm. He was to be seen at all public meetings, and though it was seldom that he spoke, he was ever ready to contribute his time and his money to encourage those who were less sanguine than himself. No one watched the course of events during those gloomy years with more interest than he, and no one was more pleased and gratified at the final result.

" His life was private; safely led, aloof From the loud world, which yet he understood, Largely and wisely, as no worldling could For he by privilege of his nature proof Against false glitter, from beneath the roof Of privacy, as from a cave, surveyed With steadfast eye its flickering light and shade, And gently judged for evil and for good. But while he mixed not for his own behoof In public strife, his spirit glowed with zeal, Not shorn of action, for the public weal, For truth and justice as its warp and woof, For freedom as its signature and seal."

WILLIAM MANSFIELD.

William Mansfield, son of John and Sarah (Pritch- ard) Mansfield, was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 20, 1803. His father, John Mansfield, was born in Hingham, Oct. 24, 1765. When a young man he went to Boston, where he resided until May, 1803, when he came to Canton. He was a builder and carpenter by trade. He married Sarah, daughter of Lieut. Samuel and Martha (Blowers) Pritchard. Lieut. Pritchard was an officer in the navy during the Revolutionary war, and was killed on the frigate " Alliance" in an engagement. John Mansfield died

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

section of the country. This copartnership existed until 1849, when Mr. Mansfield purchased the prop- erty known as the Presbrey thread-mill, and engaged in the manufacture of thread and twine until 1858, when he relinquished it, and was succeeded by his Louisa (deceased), married Capt. Thomas W. Baker, sons, George H. and Preston R. Since then Mr. of Dennis ; George (deceased) ; Emeline, married Alexander Beaumont, of Canton, now of Stoughton ; Caleb (deceased) ; John (deceased) ; and Edward, a resident of Dorchester.

Sept. 29, 1835. Sarah, his wife, was born in Boston, above. The "Ruggles Press" found its way into every Nov. 27, 1776, died 1855.

They had twelve children,-Sally (deceased), mar- ried Judah Hawes, of Stoughton ; Mary (deceased), married Abner Tilden, of Canton; Nancy (deceased) ; John (deceased) ; Sampson (deceased) ; William ;

William Mansfield acquired the rudiments of his education at common schools, supplemented by a short attendance at a private school. His early life, like most of the boys of his age at that period of our his- tory, was passed on his father's farm. At the age of sixteen he commenced his apprenticeship at the car- penter's trade with his father, remaining with him until he was about twenty-two years of age. Oct. 8, 1826, he married Phebe, daughter of Jonathan and Priscilla (Faunce) Tillson. She was born in Carver, Mass., Jan. 11, 1808. Their children were Winslow B. (deceased), Horace H., George H., Sarah J., Preston R., M. Adelaide (married Wisner Park), Frederic W., and Herbert T. (deceased). In 1826, Mr. Mansfield went into the Bolivar Manufacturing Company's machine-shop as general repairer, and con- tinued with them until Jan. 1, 1829. His enterprise and mechanical skill, combined with great accuracy, enabled him to mount the ladder of success. He established himself as a builder of machinery and printing-presses, building for the Perkins Institution for the Blind, of Boston, many articles requiring fine workmanship. This brought him the acquaintance and friendship of S. P. Ruggles, the inventor, who was then its superintendent. Mr. Mansfield's fond- ness for mechanism here found an active field. He made the large globe, four feet in diameter, now in use in that institution, also the first embossing-press used in this country, and did other work for the institution for several years. In connection there- with he manufactured cotton and woolen machinery. His machine-shop stood where the lower silk-mill of Seavey, Folsom & Bowman is now located. In May, 1843, he removed to Hingham and engaged in the baking business, returned to Canton, November, 1846, where he formed a copartnership with Jedediah Morse, and built a shop on Walnut Street, surveying and laying out a water-privilege just above that of the silk-mill, heretofore mentioned, and engaged in the manufacture of printing-presses, under the firm- name of Morse & Mansfield. These printing-presses were the invention of the Mr. Ruggles spoken of

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 203

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534