History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 219

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

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 219

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In his early youth he was quiet, studious, and thoughtful. Of a naturally weak constitution, he was not much inelined to out-door sports, but very early showed a fondness for books. Although books were then comparatively few, he eagerly mastered all that came within his reach. Schools were rare and expensive, and taught only by private teachers. Such was the poverty of the country towns in the years of the Revolution and those immediately following that few men could afford the expense of a schooling for their children. His father, although owning his farm, could do but little for his youngest son. He, however, sent him to the school taught by Abner Alden, the author of " Alden's Spelling-Book," for six weeks. One week's more schooling under " Mas- ter" Asapha Churchill was all that he ever had. His early advantages were thus limited, but his habits of thought and reading formed at home on the farm ever followed him, and early manhood found him with a broad knowledge of affairs and a general in- formation surpassed by few. This, with his rare knowledge of men, his uniform affability, and strong common sense, gave him in after-life the great influ- enee he exerted in business circles and in the polities of the State. Although under the tuition of Master Alden for so short a time, the latter regarded him as a promising young man, and soon after recommended him as a " fit person to instruet youth," and for a few years before and after his majority his services were sought after as a teacher in schools, where he seemed to have considerable success.

But the teaching of private schools was not to his mind, and in 1794, taking what little money he had saved and a small sumn that he was enabled to borrow from a friend, he leased a blast furnaec in Carver, called Pope's Point Furnace, with the store connected with it, resolving that he would be a business man. In the revival of business after the close of the Revo-

Thomas Weston

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

lution the iron interests were the first to feel its effects, and at that time in Middleboro', Carver, Ware- ham, and Rochester were many blast furnaces for the smelting of iron and the casting of hollow-ware. His enterprise, his thorough business habits, his honesty, and his general good nature made his business suc- cessful. and after remaining there four years he re- moved to Middleboro', having amassed a considerable sum of money for those times.

About the year 1798 he purchased a portion of the | the Fresh Meadows. He was interested in the cotton-

estate at Muttock before Revolutionary times owned by Peter Oliver, chief justice of the highest King's Court in the colony. A few years later he purchased the remaining portion of it. Judge Oliver used to make this place his summer residence. and it was re- garded as the finest estate in the colonies. The bom- bardment of Boston was heard by him at Oliver Hall. and at night he and his family hurriedly left town, leaving everything in the house except their silver plate. He never returned. and the place was afterwards sold by the commissioners appointed to sell confiscated property of Royalists to Jessc Bryant, of whom Mr. Weston purchased a portion of the estate.

He was married to Abigail Doggett, a daughter of Simeon Doggett, Sept. 30, 1798, and resided from that time until his death upon this estate, in the mansion built by Judge Oliver for his son. The house is still standing, and after the death of Mr. Weston was owned and occupied by the late Earl Sproat. This house was full of historic associations. Here Governor Hutchinson and Thomas and Andrew Oliver used to pass their summers. Here Franklin stopped some time while passing through the colony. Here were welcomed illustrious guests from Old Eng- land on their tour through the New England, and here were planned and discussed some of the odious measures to subdue the rebellious colonists.

At the time he purchased a portion of the works at Muttock, including the forge and a large interest in the grist-mill, saw-mill, and rolling or slitting-mill, as it was then called. The business of these works, with a store, which he continued until his death, be- came quite extensive for those times. These works were formerly owned and carried on by Judge Oliver, and the rolling-mill was the second built in America. One important branch of his business was the making of wrought nails. The forge and rolling-mill were for the purpose of making nail-rods. These were taken by farmers and others and hammered into nails of the required length and size. At that time this business gave employment to a large number of inen in this and adjoining towns. In the early part of his business at Muttock, Gen. Abiel Washburn was asso-

ciated with him, and after that his son, Col. Thomas Weston, who continued with him until his death. This once large and profitable business, however, was supplanted in a few years after his death by the in- vention of the nail-machine. Now, here and there, upon the county farms the little nail-shops may still be seen as monuments of a departed industry. He always had a large store at Muttock. During this period of his life he carried on a forge and store at mill known as the Upper Factory in Middleboro', and quite largely interested in shipping at Wareham.

In 1809 he was almost unanimously chosen as a representative to the General Court, and re-elected for five successive years. In 1815 and 1816 he was a member of the Senate, and elected to the House again in 1819. In 1820 he was chosen a member of the convention to revise the Constitution of Massa- chusetts. From 1823 to 1827 he was a member of the Governor's Council. He was a warm personal friend of Governor Eustis; with him on the Gov- ernor's Council was Marcus Morton, afterwards Gov- ernor. In public life for twenty-five years, his ac- quaintance with the men of his time was unusually large, and his general information, his sterling char- acter, his strong common sense, his uniform polite- ness, gave him a great influence upon the politics and men of his time. In polities he was a Democrat, and although living at a time when party politics were more bitter than at any other period of our political history, such was the esteem with which he was re- garded in his native town that, when he would con- sent to be a candidate for an office, in addition to the vote of his own party, he usually received more votes from the opposite party than their own nominee.

In 1822 he was nominated for Congress, at a time when a nomination by his party was equivalent to an election, but declined on account of his business, which was then quite extensive, and the Hon. Aaron Hobart was elected in his stead.

In 1828 the old Court of Sessions, which had come down as one of the famous tribunals of the olden time, was abolished, and a new Court of County Com- missioners established in its place. Mr. Weston was appointed by Governor Lincoln as its chairman, with Jared Whitman, of Abington, and John Collamore, of Scituate, as associates, which office he held until his death. At that time this was regarded as one of the most important offices in the county, and his ap- pointment was regarded as most fit. The members of this court took the title of judges, as did those of the old Court of Sessions, which title followed them for many years after. With the change of name of

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

the court came other changes in its practice and modes of procedure, which were largely of his sug- gestion. Although not a lawyer, he had a judicial mind, and was well read in the principles of common law. He was conscientious in his decisions, always endeavoring to do exact justice to all parties. He presided with dignity, and his court had the confi- dence and respect of the entire county.

He died, after a short illness, June 17, 1834, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. His wife died Aug. 11, 1830. He had nine children,-Col. Thomas Weston, of Middleboro', being the only surviving child. In 1834 he married for his second wife Mrs. Deborah Hathaway, of Freetown.

Judge Weston was a gentleman of the old school, dignified but always courteous and polite. Of Pil- grim stock, he inherited their sterling qualities, softened by Christian culture and the amenities of society. He was a man of strong character and firm principles, scorning everything mean or dishonest. As a merchant he was enterprising, careful, and of exact business habits. His word was always as good as his bond. His judgment on the ordinary matters of life was much sought after by his acquaintances, and the value of his strong, common sense early recognized. He was very happy in his domestic life, with a large family of children, most of whom he lived to see grow to manhood and womanhood and comfort- ably settled in life. His house was always open, and he entertained with a generous hospitality. His wide circle of friends and acquaintances brought many prominent men to his door, and rarely a day passed in the latter part of his life without the presence of some one as his guest. His wife, a lady of culture, presided with a quiet dignity over his household, and her rare conversational powers added mnuch to the pleasure of his guests. He was early identified with the First Church of Middleboro', and was one of its strongest supporters. The great objects of Christian charity and benevolence, that in his time were just coming into existence, he warmly espoused, and secmed fully to appreciate the great work they were about to do, and the strong hold they would ulti- mately obtain upon the Christian world.

WILLIAM W. COMSTOCK, M.D.

William W. Comstock, M.D., one of the most eminent physicians of Plymouth County, was born in Smithfield, R. I., March 23, 1801, and was the son of Dr. Ezekiel and Mary (Whipple) Comstock. Hc was a birthright Quaker, and both his paternal and

maternal ancestors were of noble and distinguished families. The Comstocks trace their origin back through England and the Norman Conquest to the sixth century in Germany, where Baron von Kom- stock, the first recorded progenitor, was a large land- holder. His maternal grandfather was Commodore Abraham Whipple, United States navy, from whose flag-ship " Providence," under his command, was fired the first gun against the British, thus leading off in the gallant efforts to dispute England's supremacy on her favorite element. Bold, daring, and intrepid, he enjoyed the friendship and companionship of Paul Jones, Franklin, and Washington, and in some respects was the most remarkable of the naval officers of the Revolution. His first cruise was probably never ex- celled in naval history, appearing more like romance than reality. Its prize money amounted to over one million dollars. The most eccentric and daring of his exploits was in July, 1779, when he encountered the homeward bound Jamaica fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, convoyed by several British men-of-war, among them a seventy-four gun-ship. Commodore Whipple concealed his guns, joined the fleet as if one of their number, and sailed in their company for several days, each night capturing a vessel, which he manned with a prize crew, who steered to a different point of the compass, so as to be out of sight of the fleet in the morning. From this fleet he captured ten richly-laden vessels, eight of which arrived in Ameri- ean ports. This gallant officer died at Marietta, Ohio, in 1819, aged eighty-five years. Upon his monument is this inscription :

"Sacred to the memory of Commodore Abraham Whipple, whose name, skill, and courage will ever remain the pride and boast of his country. In the late Revolution he was the first to hurl defiance at proud Britain, gallantly leading the way to wrest from the mistress of the ocean her sceptre, and there to wave the star-spangled banner. He also conducted to the sea the first square-rigged vessel ever built on the Ohio, opening to commerce resources beyond calculation."

Commodore Whipple had two daughters, Katha- rine and Mary. Katharine married Col. Ebenczer Sproat, of Middleboro'. Col. Sproat was one of the pioneers of Ohio, acquiring by his bravery much honor, was called " Buckeye" Sproat, and it is said that by him, and through him, Ohio received the ap- pellation of the " Buckeye State." Dr. Comstock studied medicine with his father, a prominent physi- cian, and commenced the practice of his profession iu New Bedford, Mass., but removed to Buckfield, Me., about 1829. He soon developed those qualities of a successful physician for which he afterwards was so noted, and made many and warm friends, among the most intimate of whom was the father of ex-Governor

Tr. Fbomnsi

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

John D. Long, of Massachusetts, and was elected to represent Buckfield one year in the State Legislature. In 1845 he removed to Wrentham, Mass., where he built up a fine practice. Previously, in 1826, he had married Saba, daughter of Thomas and Sally Sturte- vant, of Middleboro'. One of the oldest physicians in Middleboro', and of one of its most reputable fami- lies (which, however, have ceased to exist in the town), was Dr. Thomas Sturtevant. He had a lucra- tive practice, and was highly esteemed in the com- munity, living to a hale old age. He had several sons, among them Thomas (father of Saba) and George, also a prominent physician, but who died in the prime of life. In 1851, at the time of the last illness of Dr. George Sturtevant, Dr. Comstock vis- ited him and treated him, and, after his death, re- ceived an urgent invitation to settle in Middleboro', which he did. From 1852 until his death, Oct. 20, 1878, Dr. Comstock was one of the leading, most ac- tive, and successful physicians in Plymouth County. His practice was extensive, and his advice as counsel was sought by the best practitioners from Province- towu to Providence. He was ever an enthusiastic and hard-working member of his profession. Always a student, he kept pace with the rapid advances and discoveries of medical science. He had many stu- dents, the first being Dr. Thaddeus Cushman, of Randolph, Mass. These have done credit to his in- structions, and among them we name Dr. George F. Bigelow, Boston ; Dr. Abiel W. Nelson, New Lon- don, Conn .; Dr. N. M. Tribou (deceased), Mystic, Conn .; Dr. George W. Snow, Newburyport ; Dr. Albert Sprague, and Dr. H. Willard, Providence, R. I .; Dr. Benjamin F. Wilson, New Bedford; Dr. Henry H. Sproat, of Assonet ; Dr. J. G. Cowell, Wrentham, Mass. ; and Dr. George L. Ellis, Middle- boro' (formerly assistant physician of Taunton Insane Asylum). Dr. Comstock was a member of the Mas- sachusetts Medical Society, of which he was coun- cillor for many years ; a prominent member of the American Medical Society, of which he was a delc- gate from Massachusetts to its annual meeting at De- troit. He was also a member of the Bristol South District Medical Society. His personal character was the very purest, his manner was winning and gracious, his life was one of the strictest integrity, and in his record of seventy-seven years he left the testimony of an honest and conscientious man. This motto, which he had printed on slips for his grand- children, will serve to indicate his nature,-" Power of Thought is the only true measure of Intellect, as Force of Principle is the only true measure of Moral Greatness."

A strong friend, a beloved and faithful physician, he maintained, by his daily walk and actions, and with an unfailing courtesy, the dignity of a true gen- tleman of the old school. The children of Dr. Com- stock were William E. (a very promising youth, who died at the age of seventeen), Adelia B. (married F. P. Mulvey, merchant, of Chicago, and has three children,-William C., Caroline B., and Fannie L.), Katherine A., and Agnes (who married Dr. Nahum M. Tribou, of Middleboro'. Dr. Tribou settled at Mystic, Conn., where, after a few years' residence, he died, leaving two children, a son, Nahum M. (who furnishes the accompanying portrait of Dr. Comstock ), and a daughter, Mary C., who married Dr. Henry Scudder Drake, of Westboro'. They have one child, Agnes K.). At a meeting held by the councillors of the Massachusetts Medical Society the following was adopted :

"The Massachusetts Medical Society having, by the death of the late Dr. William W. Comstock, lost an aged and one of its most honored members, who was for many years an associate of this body, we deem it just and fitting to place upon record our recognition of his virtues and abilities. Through all his long and arduous career of service in a noble and humane profession, it is not too much to say that, hy untiring devotion to medical duty, hy the constant exercise of care, patience, fidelity, and skill in the daily exercise of a pursuit so important to humanity, and by his unvarying kindness and courtesy to his medical brethren, he illustrated the best qualities of a physician and earned the increasing respect and final reverence of the profes- sion, and that crown of a good man's life, the love and gratitude of the community which witnessed and were benefited by his life and labors. He was a wise, benevolent, conscientious, and public-spirited man and citizen, whose example and influence were beneficent in all the relations of life, and whose memory will he gratefully cherished. It is to the high honor of our profession, as it is an incentive to a just ambition, that, in each generation and in every community such men are found, who are venerable, not in years only, but in the long and amply- bestowed respect and confidence of their fellow-men."

One of the councillors, Dr. D. H. Storer, a personal friend of Dr. Comstock, in a speech expressing grati- fication at this resolution, gave him this noble tribute : " From an acquaintance, a friendship of more than forty years, I shall ever associate with his memory perfect professional integrity." Dr. Dwelley writes thus of him : " Although having responsibility of a large and widespread country practice on his hands, he nearly always managed to be present at the county and State meetings of the societies, often riding late at night and before dawn to accomplish it. . .. He was truly a gentleman of the old school, strictly punc- tilious in every duty, calm and considerate, affable and polite, though firm and positive in his convictions, and no person ever failed to receive his services by day or night on account of being too poor to recompense him." He died with his armor on, only ccasing his

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

labors with his last short illness. His virtues are cherished as a valuable legacy by his posterity. and assert for him an honorable place in the records of the community adorned by his life.

II. S. B. SMITHI, M.D.

Henry Sutton Burgess Smith, M.D., son of Perley Dennison Smith and Louisa Burgess, his wife, comes from early New England families on both paternal and maternal sides, and was born in Bridgeton, Mc., July 12, 1838.

Thomas Smith was one of the earliest settlers of Gloucester, and a proprietor. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was, in 1645, one of the king's commissioners. From him and his three sons (one of whom, Thomas, settled in Ipswich) de- scended the most of the Smiths in Northeastern Massachusetts. A direct descendant from him in the fifth generation was Isaiah Smith, who was born about 1774, married Mary Chapman, of one of the early families of Ipswich, Mass., and in 1803 drove his own team of oxen from Ipswich to his new home in a forest wilderness (now Bridgeton), in the theu district of Maine. Hardy, resolute, and energetic, he was well calculated to endure the toils and pri- vations of pioneer life, and by his exertions and in- dustry transformed the wildness of the woods into a pleasant and productive farm. He built a large house and barns, which are yet standing. He had much to do with public affairs in the new settlement, and was captain of the militia. Of his eleven chil- dren eight were born in Maine. He died in 1845, aged seventy-one years. He, in common with his neighbors, was imbued largely with the importance of education, and even during the first years of their settlement they had established an academy. Perley, his son, was born May 1, 1805, received an academic / education, "and was distinguished as a mathema- tician." He married, in November, 1832, Louisa, daughter of Joshua Burgess, of Oneida County, N. Y., where she was born, April 25, 1813. Mr. Smith settled on a farm near his father's, and united the avocations of land-surveyor and farmer. His death occurred Nov. 16, 1846, at the age of forty- one. He had four children,-Isaiah P., Henry S. B., Andrew R. G., and Joshua V. The eldest was ten years and the youngest only fourteen months old at the time of their father's death. The mother devel- oped qualities of more than ordinary ability. Her strong maternal love kept the children together in an unbroken home-circle, and by her care, diligence,

and energy she brought from the new, rough, and slightly-improved farm the means to carry her chil- dren through college. How this was done only she and the All-Seeing One could tell. She worked early and late, planned, managed, and contrived. Personal comfort and luxuries were things not even to be dreamed of, and she infused her spirit into her chil- dren, and also the dauntless Christian faith and strength which sustained her under all her depriva- tions and exhausting labors, so that they cheerfully aided her in all ways. She lived to see them well educated and college graduates, her death occurring in 1872. They all graduated at Bowdoin College,- Isaiah in 1858, Henry in 1861, Andrew in 1863, and Joshua in 1867. Isaiah became a Congregationalist clergyinan, and settled in Worcester. Andrew re- ceived the degree of M.D. from Dartmouth College in 1866, and located at Whitesville, Me. He has held prominent public positions, served one term as State senator, was re-elected, but was " counted out" on technicalities, the certificate of election being given to another. He brought suit against the Secretary of State, and the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the board, and he served a second term as senator. Joshua graduated at Maine Medical School in 1871, became a resident of Richmond, Mc., where he prac- ticed medicine until 1875, when he moved to Mel- rose, Mass., where he now resides.

His older brother, while a youth, was fceble, and Henry early became the active helper of his mother and leader in the farm work. Winter and summer he was engaged in either cutting the massive hem- lock-trees into saw-logs, stripping the bark for sale to tanneries, hauling the logs to inill, or putting in or gathering the crops. Before he was fifteen years old he had many a day done a man's work, laboring from early dawn till long past sunset. In such circumstances and with such a mother it is not strange that he should improve to the utmost his educational advantages. He entered Bowdoin Col- lege in 1857, aud was graduated therefrom in 1861. After graduation he became a teacher iu Brunswick, Me., and was principal of both the grammar and high schools. While teaching he studied medicine, and in 1864 had attained so much knowledge of that profession that, after passing an examination for that purpose, he was commissioned, April 20, 1864, as- sistant-surgeon Thirty-second Regiment Maine Vol- unteers, and at once accompanied his regiment to Virginia. They immediately went to the front, and participated in the bloody battles on the James, Petersburg, Cold Harbor, and the Wilderness. At the close of the war, July 26, 1865, he was mustered

一

J. W. P. JENKS.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

out of service. and returned to Maine, where he at- tended a course of lectures at Berkshire Medical Col- lege, and received his diploma of M.D. from that institution Nov. 8, 1865. Shortly after beginning the practice of medicine he located at Bowdoinham, Me .. where he built up a large and successful prac- tice. and remained until Nov. 1, 1878.

The hard labor which had devolved upon him in his youth had undermined his constitution, and the extreme changes of the harsh climate of Maine de- veloped pulmonic disease, which necessitated a change of residence. The death of Dr. W. W. Comstock afforded an opportunity for a change by opening a field in Middleboro', and Dr. Smith established himself here Nov. 1, 1878. He married, Aug. 26, 1862, Ophelia, daughter of Jason and Mary J. (Cheney) Ripley, born in Hillsboro', N. H. Their surviving children are Owin Ripley and Arthur Vincent. During his residence in Middleboro', Dr. Smith has built up a large and lucrative practice. He devotes his time entirely to his profession, is a diligent student, and keeps pace with the rapid pro- gress of medical science. He was formerly a mem- ber of Sagadahoc County (Maine) Medical Society and always in some official position connected there- with, and for some years was its president. - He is now a member of South Bristol Medical Society, Masssachusetts Medical Society, and American Medi- cal Society, and attends their meetings.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 219

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