History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 109

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

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The citizens of his native town of South Abington hold him affectionately in memory, not only for his sterling personal qualities, but also for his generosity

in presenting the town with a valuable picce of land comprising eleven acres, to be made a public park, and which bears his name. In coming years this will be counted a benefaction of inestimable valuc. He also remembered the Congregational society munificently in his will.

MARTIN S. STETSON.

Of the old representative families of Plymouth Colony the Stetsons rank among the first for business ability and worth. They are all direct descendants of Cornet Robert Stetson, one of the earliest settlers, and the only one known to have emigrated to the colony (see biography of Nahum Stetson, Bridge- water). Among the most prominent business men who have had large mercantile interests during the last half-century or more may be mentioned Martin Sumner Stetson, son of Barnabas and Lucy (Bar- stow) Stetson, born June 1, 1809, at East Abington (now Rockland). The line of descent is Cornet Robert1, Robert2, Isaac3, Peleg4, Ephraim5, Barnabas6, Martin S7. His great-grandfather, Peleg4, was the first Stetson to settle in Abington, 1738. His grand- father, Ephraim5, third son of Peleg, married Ruth Ford. He was deaeon of the Third Congregational Church from its organization until the infirmities of age indueed him to resign the office. He lived to the great age of ninety-six years with unimpaired faculties. His children were Mary, Barnabas, Lydia, Ephraim, Jr., and Ruth. Barnabas, born April 27, 1775, married, Oct. 10, 1802, Lucy, daughter of Daniel and Betsey (Tilden) Barstow, of Hanover. (The families of Tilden and Barstow are old and val- ued New England families, and prominent men are to be found in their number, among them Samuel J. Tilden. The Barstows are large ship-builders, and also extensively engaged in manufactures and mer- chandising.) Their children were Amos (died sud- denly, aged twenty), Lucy B., Martin S., Julia A. (Mrs. Samuel Blake, Jr.), Barnabas (deceased), and Lydia B. Mr. Barnabas Stetson was largely inter- ested in various branches of business,-merchandise, farming, and manufacturing briek. He was asso- ciated with his younger brother, Ephraim, with the firm-name of B. & E. Stetson, and carried on a large mercantile business, having one store at East Abing- ton (now Roekland), the other at Hanover Four Cor- ners. He was an active, energetic business man through life; honest himself, lie placed too much confidenee in the honesty of his fellow-men for liis own peeuniary interests.

Martin's scholastic education was acquired at the

Martin S Ition

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HISTORY OF SOUTH ABINGTON.

district school of his native town, supplemented by six months at an academy at Bolton, Mass. Wben twelve years old he entered the store of his uncle at Hanover, and stayed there some years, until, upon the death of an older brother, his services were re- quired at home by his father, where he remained until he was twenty-one. During this time, however, he taught school several winter terms at East Abing- ton and Hanover. In 1835 he commenced the manu- facture of boots and shoes in company with Samuel Blake, Jr. (his brother-in-law), with the firm-name of Stetson & Blake. The manufacture of boots and shoes, which originated in Abington, was then in its infancy, and this was one of the few first firms. They commenced their commercial career by manufacturing for Amasa Walker & Co., one of the oldest estab- lished firms in Boston. and whose successors still con- tinue the business. After a few years the firm of Stetson & Blake dissolved, and Mr. Stetson continued alone. In 1836-37 occurred tbe great financial crisis, and there were many failures of large firms ; nearly all the banks suspended specie payment, and a general demoralization and overthrow of business was the re- sult. During this time a number of manufacturers established houses at the South (New Orleans, Charleston, and Mobile, etc.) for the purpose of dis- posing of their goods. Mr. Stetson started a store in Mobile in 1840, and his brotber was placed in charge. In November, 1842, however, Mr. Stetson went South and spent the winter, continuing his manufacturing at the North and also selling on commission a large amount of goods from other manufacturers, and soon succeeded in building up an extensive business, the largest of the kind in Mobile. From that time for nineteen years (until the Rebellion) he passed eight months of every year in the South, having his family with him, returning North for the summer. We quote Mr. Stetson's own words as to the feeling of the business men at the North : " Up to the time of the attack on Fort Sumter the business men of the North firmly believed that some compromise would be effected between the two sections, that war would not ensue. Acting on this belicf, merchandise was shipped freely after many of the States had seceded. When the attack occurred it was too late to remedy the mistake." Before the commencement of hostili- ties, Mr. Stetson came North and passed most of the time during the war at South Abington, where lie had a pleasant home, purchased some few ycars pre- viously, and where he still resides, leaving his partner, Mr. James B. Studley, of Hanover, Mass., who was associated with him in business in 1850, with firm- name of M. S. Stetson & Co., to care for the business.

Mr. Studley had been first clerk for him from the commencement of his business, in 1842, and managed all affairs during his absence at the North, and was a most reliable, competent, and worthy man.

At this time the assets of the company were four hundred thousand dollars. There was no possibility of taking any of the money away, as all intercourse was suspended, and fifty thousand dollar bonds were required that not one dollar should be sent out of the Confederacy and no debt could be collected. Some three years after coming North, Mr. Stetson received the first news of his business in Mobile from a friend who had escaped from the South, who informed him of the death of his partner from fever caused by im- prisonment at a sickly season of the year in a filthy prison, for refusing to enlist in a military company when not liable to do military duty. Judge Jones, acting under the Confederacy, confiseated the prop- erty and appointed a receiver to take charge of it. Immediately on Lee's surrender, Mr. Stetson returned to Mobile, reaching there in ten days, to find his property gone and the Confederacy a thing of the past.

During his life in Mobile, Mr. Stetson attained a high rank in commercial circles, his business, whole- sale exclusively, extending to every hamlet in three or four of the Southern States, and his name was known to every merchant as a tower of financial strength and commercial honor. Although every- thing was changed at the South, and there still ex- isted great animosity against Northerners, yet as Mr. Stetson and his family had been associated for so many years intimately with the best elements of so- ciety, and he had always liberally contributed of his means to sustain every worthy object, and for years had been an elder of the Presbyterian Church,-the Southerners acknowledging his unblemished charac- ter, freely admitted him into the old confidential relations (for nothing but his New England birth and disbelief in slavery could ever be brought against him) when he, at the close of tbe war, engaged in trade in Mobile. He opened a large stock of goods, which, as the country was almost entirely destitute, was in large demand, and brought rich returns, his sales averaging three hundred thousand dollars per annum. In 1869 he transferred his business to his son, retiring from active life. In 1861, Mr. Stetson had established a branch store in St. Paul, Minn., but closed his interest there in 1865.

Mr. Stetson married, Nov. 14, 1836, Eliza A., daughter of John Thomas, of Troy, N. Y., where her father held the office of city chamberlain. Their children were John T. (deceased), Amos Sumner,

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Helen E. (Mrs. Alonzo Lane), Julia B. (deceased), and Virginia A. (deceased).

Mr. Stetson has been a great traveler in America, preferring to see first American rather than Euro- pean seenery. On the completion of the Union Pa- cifie Railroad (1870) he joined the first organized excursion-that of the Boston Board of Trade-to California, Yosemite, ete. This was one of the pleas- antest and most successful trips of the kind ever made. He is a director of the Abington National Bank ; never has entertained a desire for political office, or to be connected with society organizations or elubs. He has been strictly a temperance man from youth, and was president of the first young men's temperance society organized in Plymouth County.

Mr. Stetson retains the erect bearing, courteous grace, and dignified appearance which have eharae- terized him through life. An able business man, a genial companion, and a kind husband and father, he has given and derived much enjoyment during his diversified life. He has cheerfully given wherever charity was needed, and always heartily eo-operated with matters of publie interest. His social nature has made many friends. He is now enjoying the evening of an honorable and useful career in his pleasant home in South Abington, with his children and grandehildren near him.

OLIVER G. HEALY.

Oliver G. Healy was a native of Pembroke, Mass., where he was born Oet. 17, 1813. His early life was passed with an unele, a farmer in Pembroke. When about sixteen he came with a brother to South Abington to learn the earpenter's trade, after which he engaged in business as earpenter and builder, which he followed until his death, July 2, 1876, from fever eontraeted at Philadelphia while attending the Cen- tennial Exhibition. He married, July 17, 1834, Phebe, daughter of Philip and Mary (Taylor) Reed, who was a native of South Abington.

Mr. Healy was a man of quiet and reserved man- ners, of good shrewd judgment in business, and an honest and conscientious workman. The quick growth and prosperity of the village of South Abing- ton was largely owing to his energy and enterprise. He purchased land, laid out streets, and built numer- ous houses which he sold on easy terms to those who desired to acquire the ownership of a home. Any honest, industrious workman could be sure of Mr. Healy's sympathy and aid in this direction, and, while

at the same time advancing his own interests and prosperity of the town, he was still the benefactor of the poor man. In compliment to him for the develop- ment he has made, this elevated traet of land has been changed from " Mount Zion" to " Mount Olives." His business sagacity and industry were rewarded by a substantial financial prosperity which he was ever ready to share with any deserving case of charity or benevolent objeets.

Mr. Healy was deeply imbued with religion. In- deed, that seemed a vital part of his character. He was a valued member of the Congregational Church, a popular Sabbath-school teacher, and heartily gave his personal assistance and monetary aid to its chari- ties and support. He was especially interested in missionary work, and above every other object was he disposed to aid this important eause, bequeathing to this grand work the valuable property he had ae- quired after the faithful wife-the loved companion and colaborer of years-should no longer need its use. During his life Mr. Healy made numerous friends who were drawn to him by the many good qualities of his nature, and his life affords a good ex- ample to many a poor and struggling youth. With limited education, by honest integrity and industry he raised himself from humble eireumstanees to a comfortable position in society, and was enabled to do more for the advancement of his town than most others, and his memory is cherished by a large num- ber. In all his enterprises and charities he was heartily seconded by Mrs. Healy, who is now en- gaged in carrying out such benevolent work as would meet his approbation.

JACOB P. BATES.

Jacob Pratt Bates, son of David and Almeria Bates, was born in South Abington, Mass., April 7, 1843.

The surname Bates is derived from the old French name Bartholomew. The first American resident was Clement Bates, who came from Kent, England, in the ship " Elizabeth," in 1635, and settled in Hing- ham, Mass. He is the ancestor of the numerous family bearing his name in this section of New Eng- land.

Eleazer Bates, great- grandfather of Jacob P. Bates, was born probably in Abington before 1750. He was a blacksmith by trade, and one of those New Eng- landers, of Puritan stock, possessed of robust bodies and old-fashioned virtues, which have been transmitted to their descendants. He had numerous children, among them four sons,-Robert, Seth, Eleazer, and

Oliver & Hoaly

Eng ª by A.H. Ritchie

Jacob Bates

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HISTORY OF SOUTH ABINGTON.

John. All were of marked physical development, and all over six feet in height except John, who was short of stature. John was born in Abington about 1776. He married Milly Pratt, of Weymouth, and had but one child,-David. He died in 1841.

David Bates was born March 12, 1805, in Abing- ton, and has followed the making of boots and shoes from boyhood. His specialty has been fine custom- work, in which he has displayed much skill and taken great pride. He has now (1884) a pair of boots, which he made for his own use about 1854. They have been worn every year since and are good boots yet, needing no repair. He married, September, 1828, Almeria. daughter of Jacob and Hannah Loring Pratt, of South Weymouth. They have seven chil- dren, all sons,-David B., Edwin W., James E., Henry A., Charles, Jacob P., and Andrew,-all stal- wart six-footers. This family has a remarkable war record: five of these boys served the Union in the great civil war. As Mr. Bates would humorously say, " I have thirty feet of boys in the army." David, Edwin, James, and Charles served in the Thirty- eighth Massachusetts Volunteers for three years. Edwin was nearly starved in Libby Prison, where he was incarcerated for six months, and Charles was slightly wounded by a spent ball. These were their only casualties during the long and active service, and all are now well and strong. Mr. Bates is tall, erect, and vigorous, even at his advanced age. He is a social companion, and has a lively fund of humor. He is orthodox in religious belief, and Republican in poli- tics.

Jacob received his education in the public schools, and learned the shoemaker's trade of his father, with whom he worked most of the time until he was about eighteen years of age. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany E, Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, for nine months. This regiment went to New Or- leans, serving in Banks' expedition, at Brashear City, and Port Hudson. At Brashear City he was detailed as commissary's clerk, and while there was captured by the rebels, but at once paroled, and soon exchanged. He returned home in 1863, after serving nearly a year. The same year he went to Boston un- aided and alone, with only twenty dollars in his pocket, to seek employment. He commenced working for C. D. Cobb & Brothers, receiving at first but one dollar per day. He identified himself with his employers' interests, and, having good health, was enabled to per- form more than ordinary service. Before he had been in the employ of the firm three years he re- ceived, much to his surprise, an offer of an interest in the business. Mr. Bates remained with this firm

as partner until 1870, when, severing his connection with it, he became one of the founders of the well- known house of Cobb, Bates & Yerxa. This firm began in a small way, with but little capital. Their business has steadily and rapidly increased, until they now are the largest grocery house in New England, transacting a business of about three million dollars per annum, their main store, on Washington Street, occupying an entire block of five stores five stories in height, with branch stores at Fall River, Taunton, and Chelsea. Active, energetic, and in the prime of life, much of the direction of the business falls on Mr. Bates, and he is apparently possessed of vitality enough for many years of active labor. Mr. Bates married in September, 1867, Helen A., daughter of Hon. Horace Reed, of South Abington. They have had five children, only two of whom are living,- Carrie A. and Mabel F. Mr. Bates is a member of Park Street Church, Boston ; is Republican in politics, and belongs to threc Masonic bodies, Puritan Lodge, South Abington, Pilgrim Chapter, Abington, and Boston Commandcry, Boston, and is a director in the National Bank of the Republic, Boston.

Although a resident of Brookline, Mr. Batcs takes a great interest in his native town, and has consider- able money invested there. He is now constructing a brick block of stores ; is the owner of Hotel Bates, and a generous contributor to all that promotes the progress and welfare of the town. He is in the full vigor of life, and with the prospect of many years of commercial activity before him, is a good type of the pushing, successful business man of the nine- teenth century.

BENJAMIN S. ATWOOD.

Centuries ago, when men had but one name, they were usually distinguished from each other by the place where they lived, or by some characteristic. The name " At the Wood" was given to one John (?), who lived where there was much land, and he was called John " At the Wood." After a time it was condensed to " Attwood," which spelling some hold until the present writing ; some branches of the fam- ily have dropped one "t," and spell it " Atwood," while many others retain only the last syllable, and are called " Wood."

John Wood, or Attwood, the first American an- cestor of the numerous family of Atwood, came from England to America not long after the landing of the Pilgrims, and settled in Plymouth. Tradition has it that he had four sons; one settled at Cape Cod, one

520

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

took the name of Wood, one died at Plymouth, and the other, whose name was Nathaniel Atwood, settled in that part of Plymouth which in 1707 was set off and incorporated as the town of Plympton. But in 1790 this same land, once part of Plymouth, then Plympton, was again set off and named, for the third and last time, Carver. This land, occupied then by an Atwood, is still owned and occupied by those bearing the name.

Nathaniel Atwood2 was a deaeon of a church in Plymouth, and married Mary, daughter of Jonathan Morey. They had four sons,-John, Nathaniel, Barnabas, and Isaae. The following ineident will give an idea of the primitive state of the country at that time: " Before they had almanaes, and teams were searee, the deaeon lost the run of time, and went eight miles with a grist on his shoulders to mill on Sunday, and when he found out it was Sunday he carried the bag of grain to the meeting-house."

Lieut. Nathaniel 3 married, first, Mary Adams, of Kingston, Mass .; seeond, Mrs. Abigail (Shaw) Lueas. They had a large family of children. Na- thaniel was a lieutenant in the militia.

Ichabod+ was born in Plympton (now Carver), 1744; married Hannah Shaw, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Shaw, a descendant in the fourth genera- tion from Jonathan Shaw, the emigrant. (Her brother was Lieut. Joseph Shaw, of the militia. He carried the same sword in his military service which his grandfather used in the French war, and his father also used in the Revolution.) They had twelve children, all of whom lived to middle age.

Nathaniel 5, son of Iehabod and Mary (Shaw) At- wood, was born April 28, 1782, at Middleboro'; married Zilpah, daughter of Franeis Shurtleff, Esq., of Carver. They had three children attaining ma- turity,-Flora (Mrs. Elijah Haekett), Ichabod F., and Renel. (Ichabod F. Atwood, of Middleboro', to whose courtesy we are indebted for the foregoing an- eestral history, was born Mareh 13, 1820; he has served in various military, town, and church offiees, and been a justiee of the peaee over thirty years. He married Abigail T., daughter of Harvey C. and Han- nah C. Thomas. Abigail's great-grandfather, Cobb, lived to be one hundred and seven years and eight months old.)

Renel6 married Abigail Tillson. Their children are Reuel G., Luey C. (Mrs. Nelson Thomas), Flora M. (Mrs. Charles Cole), Zilpah S. (Mrs. Lorenzo Curtis), Benjamin S., Elijah H., and Lafayette, who is employed in his brother's business.

Benjamin S. Atwood, seventh generation from John Atwood, the first of the family to settle in

Plymouth, son of Renel and Abigail (Tillson) At- wood, was born in Carver, Mass., June 25, 1840. He received a common-school education, and at the age of fifteen went to work in a lumber-mill in Mid- dleboro', afterwards in Plympton, from which town he enlisted, April 17, 1861, in Company H, Third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, under President Lineoln's eall for seventy-five thousand men for ninety days. He re-enlisted for nine months in Company B, same regiment. His regiment was engaged in burning Gosport Navy Yard, and his company was on pieket the night of the famous Big Bethel repulse. He was mustered out with his company, and returned to Plympton, where he remained until 1866. He then, with his brother, Elijah H., under the firm- name of " Atwood Brothers," engaged in the manu- facture of wooden boxes at North Abington, which business they removed to South Abington in 1872. In 1879, Elijah retired from the firm, and Benjamin S. still earries on business under the old firm-name.

Mr. Atwood married, Sept. 20, 1862, Angelina F., daughter of Lewis and Mary Weston, of Plympton. They have three children,-Winthrop F. (a student at Harvard University), Bertrand W., and Mabel F. Mr. Atwood is Republican in polities, and aetive in politieal work ; has been for several years a mem- ber of and now is chairman of the Republican town committee. He is a member of Puritan Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, South Abington ; Pil- grim Royal Areh Chapter, Abington; and Old Colony Commandery of Knights Templar. He has been elected to all the offices of his post, No. 73, G. A. R., Abington, filling them acceptably, and has just been honored for the third time with an elee- tion as commander of Plymouth County Division, G. A. R.

Mr. Atwood is a progressive and energetie man, in- terests himself in all the publie affairs of the town, and warmly advocates all measures tending to the growth and improvement of his ehosen place of resi- denee, and gives liberally of his time to forward them. He has been an ardent advocate for the introduction of water into the town ; has been chairman of the committee on water-works from its organization ; and the speedy and satisfactory progress and comple- tion of the works is in no small measure due to him. He is an industrious, persevering, and successful manufacturer, a loyal and patriotie eitizen, a generous, warm-hearted, and genial companion and friend ; de- serves and enjoys a large circle of appreciative ae- quaintanee, and ranks worthily among the representa- tive and self-made meu of this prosperous and thriving town.

521

HISTORY OF SOUTH ABINGTON.

HORATIO F. COPELAND, M.D.

Horatio F. Copeland, M.D., son of Horatio and Delia (Nye) Copeland, was born in Easton, Mass., Nov. 15, 1842. He is a direct descendant of Law- rence Copeland, the emigrant, who came to this coun- try from England in early colonial days, married Lydia Townsend. and died in 1699, at a hale old age, which is said to have been one hundred and ten years. The line to Dr. Copeland is Lawrence 1, William 2 (married Mary Webb), Jonathan 3 (married Betty Snell, settled in East Bridgewater, and died at ninety years), Elijah 4 (married Rhoda Snell and resided in Easton), Josiah 3 (married Susannah Hayward, of West Bridge- water), Horatio 6 (married Mrs. Thomas Howard, née Nye), Horatio F .?

Horatio Copeland was a merchant and manufac- turer, and a stirring man of business. He was con- nected with cotton-manufacturing both in Easton, Mass., and in North Carolina, in which State he was probably the first man to put in operation a cotton- gin.

Dr. Copeland was fitted for college at Thetford (Vt.) Academy, and, after studying medicine with that justly celebrated physician, Dr. Caleb Swan, of Easton, attended Harvard Medical College, where he was graduated in 1865. His country needing his ser- vices as an assistant surgeon, he received his degree in advance of the regular graduation, and at once (January, 1865) took the position of acting assistant surgeon in the United States service, and was placed in charge of the post hospital at Bermuda Hundred, and also of the large smallpox hospital located at that post. Acquiring valuable experience, and doing faithful service, he remained until June of the same year, when he returned to Massachusetts, and located in the practice of his profession at South Abington, in which he has been constantly and successfully en- gaged. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medi- cal Society, and a diligent student and thoughtful observer of whatever transpires in the realm of medi- cine, keeping his knowledge fully to the front of the latest and approved medical discoveries, and thor- oughly and patiently investigating the pathology of various cases coming under his personal observation, and comparing his conclusions with others. He has devoted himself to his profession, and stands high in the esteem of his medical brethren.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 109

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706