History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 156

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

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Ward Six .- Beginning in the middle of Main Street in Stoughton line, thenee southerly by the middle of Main Street to Court Street ; thenee east- erly by the middle of Court Street to the west line of the Old Colony Railroad ; thenee southerly by the west line of said railroad to Centre Street ; thenee easterly by the middle of Centre Street to the middle of the channel of the river ; thenee northerly by the middle of the channel of the river or pond to Court Street ; thenee by the middle of Court Street easterly to Abington line ; and thenee northerly and westerly to the point of beginning.

Ward Seven .- Beginning in the middle of Main Street, in Stoughton line, thence southerly by the middle of Main Street to Pleasant Street ; thenee west- erly by the middle of Pleasant Street to Easton line ; and thenee northerly and easterly by the town-line to the point of beginning.

Passed to be ordained July 24, 1882.

CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS.

1882.

Mayor, Hon. Ziba C. Keith.

Aldermen : Ward 1, Henry E. Lincoln ; Ward 2, Rufus P. Kingman ; Ward 3, George Churchill; Ward 4, George E. Keith ; Ward 5, Ward Thompson; Ward 6, Enos H. Rey- nolds; Ward 7, Bradford E. Jones.

City Clerk, De Witt Clinton Paekard.

Common Couneil: Ward 1, William H. Savage, William H. Tobey, Georgo M. Copeland; Ward 2, Sanford Winter, William L. Douglas, Isaiah A. Beals; Ward 3, George L. Knapp, Lemuel P. Churchill, Hiram A. Monk; Ward 4, Patriek MeCarty, Nathan Keith, John A. Howard; Ward 5, Martin T. Packard, Elbridge G. Hale, Daniel Connolly ; Ward 6, Charles H. Cary, Henry Southworth, Elbridge L. Brown ; Ward 7, George A. Paekard, Augustus T. Jones,. Edward Croeker. President, Augustus T. Jones; Clerk, Elbridge L. Brown. City Treasurer, Henry A. Ford.

City Solieitor, Jonathan White.

Auditor, Baalis Sanford.

Collector of Taxes, William Keith.

Superintendent of Streets, Henry B. Paekard.

Assessors, William Rankin (for three years), Ira Copeland (for two years), Noah Chesman (for one year).

Assistant Assessors: Ward 1, Francis B. Gardner ; Ward 2, Thaddeus E. Gifford; Ward 3, David IIervey ; Ward 4,. William A. Thompson; Ward 5, Isaae Kingman; Ward 6, David Burko; Ward 7, Ellis Brett.

Overseers of the Poor, Francis B. Gardner (for threo years), Henry A. Ford (for two yoars), Isaac Kingman (for one year).

School Committeo (Hon. Ziba C. Koith, chairman ex officio), Baalis Sanford, Jonathan White, David L. Cowoll (for three years), S. F. Packard, C. F. Copoland, Mrs. Martha

J. Farwell (for two years), Rov. S. L. Beal, Arthur E. Kendriek, D. W. C. Paekard (for one year).

Trustees of the Public Library, Jonathan White, Edward Parker, Jr., D. W. C. Packard (for three years), David L. Cowell, Alfred Laws, Warren T. Copeland (for two years), L. W. Puffer, Preston B. Keith, William W. Wilkins (for one year).

Water Commissioners, Walter F. Cleaveland (for three years),

William W. Cross (for two years), John J. Whipple (for one year).

City Messenger, Richard T. Sollis.

City Physician, Dr. E. A. Dakin.

Board of Health, Dr. E. A. Dakin, Henry M. Littlefield (for two years), Francis B. Gardner (for one year).

Fenee Viewers, David Hervey, Sylvanus Paekard, Charles S. Johnson.

Inspeetor of Milk, Henry M. Littlefield.

Sealer of Weights and Measures, George F. Perkins.

Surveyors of Lumber, Cephas Soule, Otis Cobb, Isam Mitchell. Measurers of Wood and Bark, Thaddeus E. Gifford, Horace Baker, Isaac Harris, Charles S. Johnson.

Engincers of the Fire Department, Davis R. Eldred, chief;

Nehemiah S. Holmes, Ist asst .; Zenas L. Marston, 2d asst. ; Henry A. Willis, 3d asst .; Charles Eaton, 4th asst. City Marshal, Uriah Maeoy.

Keeper of Loekup, Thomas Drohan.

Assistant Marshals, Henry M. Littlefield, Ist asst .; Thomas Drohan, 2d asst.

Policemen, Peter Davis, Zenas W. Lewis, Robert W. Smith, Andrew Jackson (2d).

Constables, Ahira S. Porter, Henry S. Porter, Andrew Jack- son (2d).

1883.

Mayor, Hon. IIenry H. Packard.

Aldermen : Ward 1, Edgar E. Dean ; Ward 2, Rufus P. King- man ; Ward 3, Preston B. Keith ; Ward 4, Isaac S. Emer- son ; Ward 5, George G. Snow ; Ward 6, Charles F. Por- ter; Ward 7, Abbott W. Packard.

City Clerk, D. W. C. Paekard.

Common Couneil: Ward 1, Dexter E. Wilbur, Elmer W. Walker, Charles W. Tilton; Ward 2, William L. Douglas, Henry S. Porter, Sewall P. Howard; Ward 3, Hiram A. Monk, Lemuel P. Churchill, Jonas Reynolds ; Ward 4, Patriek MeCarty, John Murphy, James O'Reilly ; Ward 5, Elbridge G. Hale, Martin T. Packard, Daniel Connolly ; Ward 6, Charles H. Cary, Elbridge L. Brown, Frederic A. Leavitt; Ward 7, Albert R. Wade, Benjamin F. Battles, Charles E. Stone. President, Elbridge L. Brown; Clerk, Daniel Connolly.

Joint Standing Committees.

Finance : The mayor and Aldermen Keith and Kingmau, the president of the Common Couneil, Couneilmen Churchill, MeCarty, Monk, and Reynolds.

Claims : Tho mayor and Alderman Kingman, the president of the Common Council, Couneilmen Cary and Iloward.

Accounts : Aldermen Emerson and Snow, Councilmen Doug- las, Howard, and Battles.

Public Proporty : Aldermen Packard and Emorson, Council- men Ilalo, O'Reilly, and Battles.

Wator: Aldormen Dean and Snow, tho president of tho Com- tuon Council, Counoilmon Connolly and Stono.

Fuol and Street Lights: Aldormen Koith and Paokard, Coun- cilmen Packard, Tilton, and O'Reilly.

Firo Departmont : Aldormen Emerson and Porter, Councilmen Churchill, Wilbur, and Portor.

S 0

Li- H St

743

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

Highways: Aldermen Packard and Keith, Councilmen Cary, Wade, and Porter.

Printing: Alderman Kingman, Conncilmen Hale and Stone. Ordinances: Aldermen Snow and Keith, Councilmen Monk, Connolly, and Walter.

Standing Committees of the Board of Aldermen. Police : the Mayor, Aldermen Porter and Emerson. Elections and Returns : Aldermen Porter and Dean.

Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions : Aldermen Keith and Snow.

Licenses : Aldermen Kingman, Porter, and Snow. Health : Aldermen Dean, Keith, and Packard.

State Aid and Soldiers' Relief : Aldermen Emerson, Snow, and Kingman.

Standing Committees of the Common Council.

Elections and Returns : Councilmen Douglas, Tilton, and Wade. Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions: Councilmen Walker, Leavitt, and Murphy. City Solicitor, Hosea Kingman, Esq. City Treasurer. Henry A. Ford.

City Anditor, Baalis Sanford.

Assessors, Noah Chesman (three years), William Rankin (two years), Ira Copeland (one year).

Assistant Assessors: Ward 1, Francis B. Gardner; Ward 2, Porter B. Hancock ; Ward 3, Zina Hayward; Ward 4, Wil- liam A. Thompson; Ward 5, Isaac Kingman; Ward 6, Henry Southworth; Ward 7, Ellis Brett.

Collector of Taxes, William Keith.

Water Commissioners, Charles C. Bixby (three years), Walter F. Cleaveland (two years), John J. Whipple (one year). Superintendent of Streets, Henry B. Packard.

Overseers of the Poor, Isaac Kingman (three years), Francis B. Gardner (two years), Henry A. Ford (one year)

School Committee (Hon. Henry H. Packard, chairman ex offi- cio), William Rankin, William A. Sanford, Arthur E. Kendrick (for three years); Baalis Sanford, Jonathan White, David L. Cowell (for two years); S. F. Packard, C. F. Copeland, Martha J. Farwell (for one year).

Trustees of the Public Library, William W. Wilkins, Loring W Puffer, M. R. Dustin (for three years); Jonathan White, Edward Parker, Jr., D. W. C. Packard (for two years) ; David L. Cowell, Alfred Laws, Warren T. Cope- land (for one year).

City Physician, Dr. Jonas E. Bacon.

Board of Health, Harvey F. Bird (two years) ; John W. Porter (one year) ; Dr. J. E. Bacon.

City Messenger, Richard T. Sollis.

Engineers of Fire Department, David R. Eldred, chief; Nehe- miah S. Holmes, Ist asst. ; Zenas L. Marston, 2d asst .; Wil- liam H. Jacobs, 3d asst. ; Charles Eaton, 4th asst.

Superintendent of Fire Alarm, Richard T. Sollis. Inspector of Milk, Porter B. Hancock.

Sealer of Weights and Measures, George F. Perkins.

Measnrers of Wood and Bark, Isaac Harris, Thaddeus E. Gif- ford, Horace Baker, Hovenden L. Howard, William L. Holmes.

Surveyors of Lumber, Cephas Sonle, Charles S. Johnson, Otis Cobb, Isam Mitchell.

City Marshal, David S. Brigham; First Assistant, George Thatcher; Second Assistant, George M. Tower.

Policemen, Francis E. Allen, Zenas W. Lewis, Sidney H. Packard, Peter Davis, Oliver D. Appleton, Robert W. Smith.

Constables, Ahira S. Porter, Frank F. Porter, Andrew Jackson (2d).

Keeper of Locknp, Solomon Leighton.

1884.

Mayor, Hon. Ziba C. Keith.

Aldermen : Ward 1, John J. Whipple; Ward 2, Rufus P. King- man ; Ward 3, Preston B. Keith ; Ward 4, Isaac S. Emer- son ; Ward 5, George G. Snow ; Ward 6, Charles H. Cary ; Ward 7, Albert R. Wade.

City Clerk, D. W. C. Packard.

Common Council : Ward 1, Elmer W. Walker, Charles W. Til- ton, Oliver O. Patten ; Ward 2, Sewall P. Howard, Henry S. Porter, Lucius Richmond; Ward 3, Hiram A. Monk, Jonas Reynolds, John F. Cooper ; Ward 4, James O'Reilly, George W. Cobb, Lyman E. Keith; Ward 5, Oliver F. Leach, Gideon F. Swain, Everett E. Joyce; Ward 6, John W. Porter, Harrison Morse, Edwin Sawtell; Ward 7, Ben- jamin F. Battles, Charles E. Stone, Eugene Lineham. President, Elmer W. Walker; Clerk, George W. Cobh.

Joint Standing Committees.

Finance : The mayor, Aldermen Kingman and Keith, the presi- dent of the Common Council, Councilmen Reynolds, Leach, Howard, and Richmond.

Claims : The mayor, Alderman Kingman, the president of the Common Council, Councilmen Monk and Patten.

Accounts : Aldermen Wade and Whipple, Councilmen H. S. Porter, Linehan, and Joyce.

Public Property : Aldermen Whipple and Cary, Councilmen Tilton, Leach, and O'Reilly.

Water: Aldermen Cary and Wade, the president of the Common Council, Councilmen Sawtell and Keith.

Fuel and Street Lights : Aldermen Keith and Emerson, Coun- cilmen Battles, Patten, and Cooper.

Fire Department : Alderinen Emerson and Whipple, Council- men H. S. Porter, Stone, and Tilton.

Highways: Aldermen Keith and Cary, Councilmen J. W. Porter, Morse, and Swain.

Printing : Alderman Emerson, Councilmen Battles and Cobb. Ordinances : Aldermen Snow and Wade, Councilmen Richmond, Linehan, and Joyce.

Sewerage and Drainage: Aldermen Whipple and Kingman, Councilmen Howard, Stone, and Monk.

Standing Committees of the Board of Aldermen.

Police : The mayor and Aldermen Kingman and Cary. Elections and Returns : Aldermen Wade and Keith. Enrolled Ordinances : Aldermen Snow and Emerson. Licenses : Aldermen Cary, Keith, and Kingman.

Health : Aldermen Whipple, Keith, and Kingman.

State Aid and Soldiers' Relief : Aldermen Emerson, Whipple, and Wade.

Standing Committees of the Common Council.

Elections and Returns : Councilmen Cooper, Keith, and H. S. Porter.

Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions : Councilmen Reynolds, Sawtell, and Swain.

City Treasurer, lIenry A Ford.

Anditor, Baalis Sanford.

City Solicitor, Hosea Kingman.

City Physician, Fred. J. Ripley.

City Messenger, Charles C. Rogers. Superintendent of Streets, Henry B. Packard.

Water Commissioners, Walter F. Cleaveland, Charles C. Bixby, Francis B. Gardner.

Engineers of Fire Department : Davis R. Eldred, chief ; Zenas W. Marston, 2d asst. (for three years); Nehemiah S. Holmes, Ist asst., Charles Eaton, 3d asst. (for two years) ; William H. Jacobs, 4th asst., Alexander Fanning, 5th asst. (for one year).

744

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Inspector of Milk, Petroleum, und Vinegar, Portus B. Han- eock.

Sealer of Weights and Measures, George F. Perkins.

Measurers of Wood and Bark, Isaac Harris, Horace Baker, Ilovenden L. Howard.

Surveyors of Lumber, Cephas Soule and Charles S. Johnson. Assessors, William Rankin, Noah Chesman, Elbridge G. Hale. Assistant Assessors : Ward 1, Francis B. Washburn; Ward 2, Charles E. Lambert; Ward 3, Zina Hayward; Ward 4, Daniel Dunbar; Ward 5, Isaac Kingman ; Ward 6, David Burke; Ward 7, Ellis Brett.

City Marshal, George A. Wheeler.

First Assistant Marshal, George M. Tower.

Second Assistant Marshal, Uriah Macoy.

Policemen, Oliver D. Appleton, Roswell C. Amsden, Peter Davis, Zenas W. Lewis, Robert W. Smith, Oliver L. Joy, Sidney H. Packard.

Constables, Ahira S. Porter, Frank F. Porter, Thomas Drohan. Overseers of the Poor, Henry A. Ford, Isaac Kingman, Francis B. Gardner (clerk).

Board of Health, Harvey F. Bird (chairman), Elisha H. Joslyn, Fred. J. Ripley.

School Committee, Hon. Ziba C. Keith (chairman ex officio), S. Franklin Packard, Cyrus F. Copeland, Martha J. Far- well (for three years), William Rankin, William A. San- ford, Arthur E. Kendrick (for two years), Jonathan White, Baalis Sanford, David L. Cowell (for one year).

Trustees of the Public Library, David L. Cowell, Alfred Laws, Warren T. Copeland (for three years), William W. Wil- kins, Loring W. Puffer, M. R. Dustin (for two years), Jonathan White, Edward Parker, Jr., D. W. C. Packard for one year.

Representatives from Brockton since the formation of the city :

William L. Douglas, 1882-83; Enos H. Reynolds, 1882-83.

Among those who have been instrumental in ad- vancing the city's prosperity and in an official capacity served its interests, are Franklin Ames, Ziba C. Keith, and W. H. Wales.

No history of Brockton, or sketch of the lives of those men who have contributed to the advancement of the social and material growth of this locality would be complete with the name of the late Hon. Franklin Ames omitted.

- He was born iu North Bridgewater, now Brockton, Sept. 30, 1806, and with the exception of a brief absence resided in his native town during his entire life.

Mr. Ames was a man of marked prominence in this town. Possessing a genial and affable disposition, a taste and an ability for the discharge of public duties, a judgment well balanced and almost uniformly cor- rect in its results, and an integrity of character that was never touched by whisper or reflection, it is not strange that he was selected even early in life by his fellow-citizens as one fitted to assume and administer public trusts in a variety of town relations. For ncarly twenty years, commencing in 1836, he was practically the postmaster of the town, performing all

the dutics belonging to that position, though the office itself was held by Edward Southworth, Jr. In 1838 he was chosen town clerk and treasurer, and was re- clected almost without opposition to both offices, as also collector of taxes, until 1855, a period of sixteen years ; and nowhere in the public records are cvidences of greater care and accuracy than through the volumes where his broad and beautiful handwriting is found. In 1856 he was called by his fellow-townsmen to a position of still greater responsibility, being elected that year as one of the selectmen, and by vote of his colleagues as chairman of the board. By this action, and in accordance with the usages of the times, almost the entire administration of the public affairs of the town was placed in his hands, and that he proved equal to the place is shown in the fact that he was annually re-elected till 1864, when he accepted a posi- tion offered him through the intervention of Governor Andrew, as paymaster in the United States army with the rank of major.

The happy termination of the war soon after gave to him but a brief period of service, but the prompt- ness and fidelity with which he discharged his duties in this capacity won for him the special commenda- tions of the officers of the army with whom he was associated.

A notable incident occurred during the time he was paymaster, illustrating the confidence reposed in him by the government. He was commissioned to take $4,000,000 from New York and Philadelphia to New Orleans. He accepted the trust, and unaccompanied by an escort, conveyed this large sum of money safely to the " Crescent City." He was also United States Assessor and a member of the Governor's Council.

Returuing to civil life, he became interested in a slate quarry in Pennsylvania, which promised to be of value, and in 1865 decided to remove thither with his family. The severance of social ties which bound him to his native town cost him many a struggle, and he brought himself to it only by cherishing the hope and expectation that after a temporary absence he and his might return to their old home again.

They returned to their native town in April, 1881, and three months later, August 1st, Mr. Ames passed away in the seventy-fifth ycar of his age, leaving a wife and two children.

He married May 20, 1832, Martha Kingman, daughter of Capt. Thomas Thompson, and their chil- dren werc as follows : Thomas Franklin, born July 19, 1835, died March 8, 1854, drowned at sea ; Martha Augusta, born May 12, 1844; died at the age of sixteen ; Charlotte Thompson, born May 14, 1847, married Joel P. Bradford, of Fairhaven, Mass. ;

Franklin Ames

Fibre le. Keith

745

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

Lizzie Strawbridge, born July 22, 1851, married S. J. Gruver, M.D., and resides in Brockton.

Franklin Ames left behind him a name and record unsullied by any questionable transaction in all his public and official career, while in private life he was a citizen commanding the universal esteem and confi- dence of his fellow-men and a Christian whose life exemplified the principles of the gospel.

Ziba C. Keith was born in 1842, in the old home- stead at the junction of Main and Plain Streets and the East Bridgewater road, Campello, under whose roof-tree six generations of the family have lived and died. His father was Capt. Ziba Keith, the well- known commander of a company of militia years ago, in the days of old-fashioned musters. In boy- hood Mr. Keith attended the schools in his native town, and afterwards the Pierce Academy at Middle- boro'. Entering upon a business life, he was for five years book-keeper and salesman in the office of his brother, Martin L. Keith, in Boston. In 1864 he returned to Campello, and in partnership with Embert Howard (now of the firm of Howard & Caldwell) opened a general store for the sale of every- thing, from groceries to dry goods. The firm was known as Howard & Keith. After a couple of years he sold out to Jonas Reynolds, buying the business back again at the end of six months. For a year or two H. N. P. Hubbard conducted the dry goods de- partment of the business, then Mr. Keith purchased the entire control, and continued the business until 1882.

In 1875, Mr. Keith was a successful competitor with Hon. Jonathan White for the honor of being the Republican nominee for representative. The re- sult was quite close, and intense interest shown, some eight hundred ballots being cast. Mr. Keith was elected, served his term, and was re-elected the fol- lowing year. In 1879 he was elected and served as a member of the board of selectmen.

He was elected the first mayor of the city in 1881. He was renominated and defeated by six votes. He again received the nomination in 1883, and was elected by over six hundred majority, and is the present mayor.

Mr. Keith has never been a lay figure in the social or business circles of the town. He is a member of the South Congregational Church, and prominently identified with commandery, chapter, and lodge of the local Masonic fraternity. He was largely instru- mental in organizing the Campello Co-operative Bank, which has done so much to build up that part of the town, and foster among workingmen an ambition to own and occupy homes of their own, and is now

treasurer of the association. Mr. Keith is also vice- president of the Brockton Savings-Bank, and a director in the Brockton National Bank ; also treas- urer of the street railway company. He has also been largely interested in building movements at the South End.

Ziba C. Keith is as universally liked and esteemed as any man in town. No one could meet him and know him without being impressed with his sterling integrity of character, while admiring his frankness and kindly bearing towards every one, irrespective of station or nationality. Mr. Keith has acknowledged executive ability. While in the Legislature, Mr. Keith always sided with prohibitory measures. As a member of the license board of selectmen of 1879 he was one of the minority, voting against the grant- ing of licenses. 'While he is in favor of all possible restrictions of the liquor traffic, he still believes that spirituous liquors should be sold at some place or places for medicinal and mechanical purposes. He favored the Gothenberg plan, during its continuance, as an improvement upon indiscriminate or general licensing. He is a temperance man, but not a radical prohibitionist.

Dec. 31, 1865, Mr. Keith united in marriage with Miss Abbie F. Jackson, and has one son, William C. Keith.

- Welcome Howard Wales, son of John and Olive (Howard) Wales, was born in North Bridgewater (now Brockton), Jan. 20, 1821, at the old Wales homestead, which was located on the site now occu- pied by the residence of R. P. Kingman, Esq., corner of Main and Belmont Streets. During the years which immediately followed his majority, Mr. Wales engaged in machine manufacture, and continued in this business until the year 1862. At the town election in March, 1862, he was chosen to the office of town clerk, a position for which he was especially adapted. Upon assuming control of the office he determined to diseharge its duties with an eye single to the public welfare, and how faithful he was to the trust imposed is evidenced by the fact that he was re-elected annually for a period of sixteen successive years, and oftentimes by a substantially unanimous vote. His sphere of usefulness, however, was not confined to this office alone. In 1864 he was chosen collector of taxes, and held the position until his death, and so well did he discharge the delicate and difficult duties of this office that he was designated as the " model collector." He represented the town in the Legislature in 1869 and 1871, and in 1873 was chosen a selectman, and re-elected each succeeding year. He was also chairman of the selectmen several

716

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

years. It was his constant aim to please those with whom he came in contact, and to perform in a con- scientious manner the various trusts which devolved upon him.

In his death the town lost an experienced and valued servant, and the public one who was ardently interested in all that pertained to the advancement of the various interests of Broekton.

Oet. 16, 1845, Mr. Wales united in marriage with Lois, daughter of John W. and Almira C. Kingman, and their family consisted of one child, Abbie Penn, born Aug. 28, 1848, and died Feb. 8, 1866. Mr. Wales died July 2, 1879.

CHAPTER XXV.

BANKS.

North Bridgewater Bank-North Bridgewater Savings-Bank -. Brockton Savings-Bank-Security Co-operative Bank-Cam- pello Co-operative Bank-Home National Bank-Brockton National Bank.

THE business of the town of Broekton had in- creased to such an extent, and the wants of the people were such, as to induce a few publie-spirited indi- viduals to petition the Legislature for a charter to do banking business, which was granted to Messrs. Bela Keith, Benjamin Kingman, and Jesse Perkins, March 28, 1854, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each. The bank was organized under the name of the North Bridgewater Bank, with the following officers, namely : Martin Wales, of Stoughton, presi- dent; Rufus P. Kingman, cashier ; Benjamin King- man, Frederick Howard, Chandler Sprague, William F. Brett, Ebenezer Tucker, and Pardon Copeland, directors. In 1857, Mr. Brett resigned his office, and in 1860, Elijah Howard, of Easton, was elected to fill the vaeaney.

The first bills were issued from this institution Sept. 4, 1854. For some years it was in successful operation, and proved a valuable addition to the busi- ness facilities of the town, and a mark of the enter- prise of her citizens. Previous to the establishment of this bank the business people, wishing banking accommodations, were obliged to go out of town for the same.

This bank ceased doing business in 1866.

North Bridgewater Savings-Bank .- The benefi- cent spirit of the present age is in nothing more re- markably displayed than in the combined energy with

which individuals of the highest rank in society are laboring to promote the welfare of the lower order. The advantages that have arisen, both to the indi- vidual contributors and the public, by these institu- tions have been great. The first attempt made to give effect to a plan for enabling the laboring poor to provide support for themselves in sickness, as well as old age, was in 1789. Again, in 1808, a bill was introduced in the " House of Commons" for promo- ting industry among the laboring classes, and for the relief of the poor, which was as follows :

" WHEREAS, such of the laboring poor as are desirous of making out of their earnings some savings, as a future provis- ion for themselves or their families, are discouraged from so doing by the difficulty of plaeing out securely the small sums which they are able to save; and believing it would tend to promote habits of industry and frugality, and encourage the poor to make a provision for themselves and their families, if an establishment was formed in which they might invest their money with security and advantage."

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 156

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