History of the Town of Acushnet, Bristol County, State of Massachusetts, Part 28

Author: Howland, Franklyn, 1843-1907
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New Bedford, Mass., The author
Number of Pages: 424


USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Acushnet > History of the Town of Acushnet, Bristol County, State of Massachusetts > Part 28


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THOMAS HERSOM, JR.


HERSOM, THOMAS, JR., son of Thomas (above) and Almeda T. (Bryant) Hersom, was b. in Acushnet Jan. 10, 1870. He was educated iu the public schools of New Bedford, where his father's family lived from 1876 to 1885. After finishing his school life he went into business with his father and for eighteen years has been travelling salesman for that firm. In 1897 he was elected on the School Committee of Acushnet and served three years. He belongs to the order of Masons and is a Knight Templar. Mr. Hersom m. Millie (see elsewhere) dau. of Capt. James R. Allen. They have two children : Allen Humphrey, b. July 7, 1901, and Katharine, b. Feb. 15, 1907, both born in Acushnet.


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HOWLAND FAMILY


The Howland families mentioned below are from Henry1, brother of John of the Mayflower. Henry1 and his brother Arthur1 were at Ply- mouth as early as 1624 and soon after became firm adherents of the principles of the Quaker sect. Most of their descendants for many genera- tions have been members of the Friends' society and those who were not themselves members could name Quaker ancestry. No religious denom- ination has had more Howland members than the Friends. Because of the fearful persecution of the Quakers as soon as Dartmouth offered a peaceful abiding place Henry's son Zoeth shook from his feet the dust of Plymouth and, with his family and perhaps his father's family as well, settled in Dartmouth in the neighborhood of Apponegansett village. Hunter an eminent English writer says: "The Pilgrims, too, came of an excellent stock. The soundest if not the noblest blood flowed in their veins." None took a more active, conscientious part in the early civil and religious life of our country than Arthur, Henry and John Howland. Their posterity has been large and many of them have been found in what is now New Bedford. Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven and Acush- net. This locality has been called the "Mecca of the Howlands." In 1884 there were ninety-six Howland names in the New Bedford city directory. In the extensive knowledge of the Howland race gained by the research necessary in writing their genealogy the writer has been gratified to note the freedom of their characters from crime and moral degradation. They seem to have been as a people, thrifty, economical and good managers of finance. They are found in the governor's chair, on the judge's bench, in the United States Senate, and well represented elsewhere in the higher walks in life. With very few exceptions all the Howlands born in Bristol county since 1662 are the descendants of Henry (see Franklyn Howland's Genealogy of the Howlands of America).


MATHEW HOWLAND


HOWLAND, MATHEW, son of (Thomas, James, Nathaniel, Zoeth, Henry.) and wife Ruth, dau. of Joseph (Mathew, Stephen, John) and Catherine Wing of Dartmouth, was born in Westport in 1751. He settled early in life at Long Plain in a house standing in front of what has since been known as the "Leach house" situated on the north side of Quaker Lane. He was a carpenter and builder and had a small farm which he worked. He had a shop near his house in which he made candle boxes, employing several hands in the busy season. He was an industrious, honorable citi-


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zen, and for many years was an active member of the Friends' Meeting near his home.


Mr. Howland married in 1774 Abigail Wing. Of their nine children born at Long Plain, Mathew was killed by a fall from the fore yard of the ship "George & Susan," belonging to his brother George, while in the act of reefing sail in a gale of wind.


GEORGE HOWLAND


HOWLAND, GEORGE, son of Mathew (see above) born July 11, 1781. He spent his boyhood days at his father's farm which contributed largely to the strong, healthy physique which he always possessed. The farm did not satisfy his ambition, however, and at the age of 16 he entered the office of William Rotch, Jr., who was a large shipping agent at New Bedford. Here he acquired a thorough knowledge of this business which he successfully conducted throughout the balance of his life. He soon gained the respect and confidence of ship owners and left Mr. Rotch's employ to become his prosperous rival in the business which was largely that of whale fishery. His accumulations after a generous life amounted to nearly one million dollars. His name was well known in every whaling port in the world. He shipped in the George & Susan, named for himself and wife, sailed a great many voyages from New Bedford and was in active service in 1835. He was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, holding for several years previous to his death the position of elder. His name is often found in the town meeting records. At the age of 35 he was president of the Bedford Commercial bank and held the position until his death, a period of nearly 35 years. He was a great friend of, and a liberal contributor to, the cause of education, especially for young ladies. He was a man of strong convictions, having a perfect abhorrence of duplicity or deception and was always ready to aid by counsel or in a more material way those who were striving conscientiously to help themselves. Among the benefactions provided for in his will was a be- quest of $50,000 to establish a school for young women at Union Springs, N. Y .; $15,000 to the Friends' School, Haverford, Pa .; and $5,000 for a school in North Carolina. Mr. Howland m. 1st, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Reliance (Shepherd) Howland, and 2nd, Susannah, dau. of Cornelius and Rhoda (Wing) Howland. Among the three children of Elizabeth was George, Jr., a well known business man, city official and philanthro- pist of New Bedford, of which city he was several times the mayor. One of the 14 children of Susannah was Mathew, of New Bedford, prominent in business, civil and church matters.


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CORNELIUS HOWLAND


HOWLAND, CORNELIUS, son of Mathew (see above) was born March 11, 1784, at Long Plain. He was a prominent and successful whaleman. While the embargo was on in 1812 he remained at his home at Long Plain. It is said that when the report reached him that the embargo was off he was working his mother's loom. He was so delighted with the news that he flung the shuttle to the floor and started at once to arrange for another voyage. He gained quite a competency in his chosen occupa- tion and settled in Long Plain Vil- lage where he built a house on the CORNELIUS HOWLAND east side of the road just south of the Rochester road, afterwards owned and occupied by his son, Capt. Alexander Howland. He m. Feb. 7, 1808, Deborah, daughter of Stephen Kempton, who lived on the Fairhaven road. Acushnet. They had two children, Caroline and Alexander.


WING HOWLAND


HOWLAND, WING, son of Mathew (see above) was b. Sept. 23, 1788, at Acushnet. He m. 1st, Nov. 28, 1810, Eliza, daughter of Paul (Joseph, Jashab, Daniel, John) and Deborah Clifton Wing of Acushnet. He lived and died in the Bradford-Braley place, so-called, on Quaker Lane, and was buried in the Friends' grounds near there. They had a son, Joseph Wing, who married Abbey Kelley. Joseph was a farmer and lived in Acushnet.


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CAPT. ALEXANDER HOWLAND


HOWLAND, ALEXANDER, only son of Cornelius and Deborah (Kempton) Howland (see above) was b. in New Bedford, April 24, 1811. When he was but three years of age his parents moved to Long Plain where he ever after made his home. He was educated in the public schools of the town and the Friends' School of Providence, R. I. After his school days he learned a cooper's trade and in 1829 began his sea life by sailing as cooper on the ship George and Su- san, owned by his uncle George How- land. He continued on this ship dur- ing the sixteen years of his sea-faring CAPT. ALEXANDER HOWLAND life holding the positions of second mate, first mate and captain. He made long and successful voyages. At the age of thirty-four Capt. How- land retired from the sea and purchased the homestead at Long Plain in 1845 where he lived to the time of his decease. Here he carried on the grocery business for fifteen years, from 1860 to 1876. He was interested in the welfare of the town and active in the effort to secure the setting apart of Acushnet from Fairhaven. He also served the town as school committee. Capt. Howland m., Sept. 15, 1833, Jane S. dau. of Hon. Nicholas and Ruth (Spooner) Davis of Long Plain. They had Ch. (1) Cornelius A. (see elsewhere) ; (2) Alden S. D. d. in California Nov. 6. 1896, aged 54; (3) William W. who for over thirty years has made his home in California and (4) Jane E. who m., Oct. 13, 1884, Rev. John S. Bell, a minister in the New England Southern conference, who preached at Long Plain in 1883 and 1884. Mrs. Bell now owns the old homestead and she and her husband both feel a deep interest in the welfare of her native town. Capt. Howland d. May 5, 1884. Both he and his wife were life long members of the Society of Friends,


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CORNELIUS A. HOWLAND


HOWLAND, CORNELIUS A., son of Capt. Alexander and Jane S. (Davis) Howland above, was b. in Acushnet (Long Plain) March 8, 1838, in the house now occupied by Richard Davis, Jr. He was edu- cated in the schools of his native town and then learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1863 Mr. Howland went west and carried on his trade in Gold Hill, Silver City and Vir- ginia, Nevada. Later he returned and settled at Long Plain. He m. Jan. 19, 1871, Alice Ricketson, dau. of Gideon7 and Susan (Gardner) Wilbur. The Wilbur line of descent is as follows: Samuel1, spoken of CORNELIUS A. HOWLAND in records of Boston as early as 1633, (see Wilbur Family), William2 and wife Martha had ten ch., their fifth son, Samuel3 and wife Mary (Potter) had eleven ch .; their " second son, Dr. William4 and wife Esther (Burgess) had twelve ch .; their eldest son, Dr. Thomas5 and wife Mary (Hoxsie) had five ch .; their third son, Isaac6 and wife Susannah (Wilcox) had nine ch .; their third son, Gideon7 was b. in Hopkinton, R. I., April 6, 1803, d. March 3, 1873. Susan Gardner was dau. of Joshua and Dorcas (Cross) Gardner, b. in Stonington, Conn., April 2, 1807, d. June 13, 1885. They had seven chil- dren ; Alice R. was b. in Acushnet Aug. 23, 1843. For many years Mr. Howland carried on the blacksmith business in Long Plain, where he bought of Ansel White, the house (built by Abraham Davis) which he occupied to the time of his death, and where his family still reside. He was a man of genial disposition, greatly interested in the welfare of his home, a kind neighbor and highly esteemed. He was a member of the Society of Friends. Ch: (1) Louise Bennett; (2) Alice Wilbur; (3) Susan Gardner; (4) Jane Davis. They were educated in the schools of Long Plain and the Friends' Boarding School in Providence, R. I. Mr. Howland d. Feb. 20, 1902.


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FRANKLYN HOWLAND


HOWLAND, FRANKLYN9, son of Stephen Russell and Lucy (Wash- burn) Howland, was born in Little Compton, R. I., June 27, 1843. The line of descent on the paternal side is Stephen Russell8, William7, Thomas6, Thomas5, James4, Nathaniel3, Zoeth2, Henry1. His g. father William7 m. Innocent, dau. of William Wilbor, who was b. in England in 1580 and whose son Samuel was one of the original proprietors of Rhode Island. His mother Lucy was dau. of Rev. Israel Washburn (see elsewhere). Very soon after his birth his parents moved to Westport, Mass., where they owned and occupied a large farm which is still in possession of some of the family. Here he spent his childhood and worked upon the farm with very limited opportunity for school education. He was in school but twelve months after his fourteenth birthday and that year was spent at East Greenwich Academy. At sixteen years of age he entered the employ of an importing house in New York city and continued there until the outbreak of the war in 1861. On his way home from business April ยข 19, 1861, he heard of the firing upon the Massachusetts troops in the streets of Baltimore. He enrolled himself that evening (being hardly eighteen years of age) as a private in the 14th N. Y. S. M. of Brooklyn, where he resided. The regiment was soon ordered to the front, passed through Baltimore and was first quartered at Washington in the Senate chamber of the Capitol. He served in the 14th and other New York regiments until 1864, when in consequence of total disability he was obliged to resign. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, served in the Army of the Potomac and in the Department of the South, where he was assistant Provost Marshal. Nearly a year continuously in the Confeder- ate prisons of Libby at Richmond, Va .; Salisbury, North Carolina, and New Orleans, so undermined his health that a severe illness ensued, resulting in a partial paralysis of the spine, which rendered him more or less helpless the remainder of his life. In spite of this great handicap he bravely surmounted difficulties and led an unusually active life. He was a U. S. pension attorney, justice of the peace, and probate attor- ney for nearly thirty years. He wrote and published an historical sketch of Seaconet (Little Compton), R. I .; The Genealogy of the How- lands of America, octavo 464 pages; a Centennial Souvenir of the Dart- mouth, Mass., Monthly Meeting, illustrated; and had in preparation and


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nearly completed at the time of his death a Centennial history of the Acushnet M. E. Church and the History of Acushnet. He also did a great amount of other literary work, writing for papers and magazines and being for more than a quarter century Agricultural Editor of the New Bedford Standard. In the Fall of 1887 he was elected to the Mass. Senate from the third Bristol district, where he served on the Com- mittee on Engrossed Bills, and Chairman of the Committees on Woman's Suffrage and Agriculture. Captain Howland was greatly interested in educational and religious work. He was for a number of years chairman of the school board of Westport and served as Superintendent in Sunday Schools of Little Compton, R. I., Westport, and New Bedford. He was president for a time of the New Bedford Sunday School Association and for a quarter century of the Acushnet Sunday School Association, which position he held at the time of his death.' For many years he was a member and official of the Methodist church in Little Compton, R. I., and later the Methodist church at Acushnet, of which town he became a resident in 1874. He was a charter member of the South Bristol Farmers' club and president from its organization. He became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic the year after it was established and in 1870 joined the King Philip Lodge of Free Masons in Fall River. Capt. Howland m. Jan. 1, 1874, Emma Harvey, dau. of Capt. James Harvey and Emily (Goodspeed) Hallett of Barnstable, Mass. Capt. Hallett7 was son of Harvey6, (William5, Jonathan+, David3, Jonathan2, Andrew1). In a bundle of MSS. found in the Public Records office in London in 1870 was a list of passengers "bound for New England," dated "Waymouth ye 20th of March 1635." Entry number 102 on the list was "Andrewe Hallett and his s'vaunt." He is recorded elsewhere as "Andrew Hallett Gentleman." This was a title given to few in Plymouth Colony. It indicates that he was possessed of good estate and was of some note in his native land. Emily, wife of Capt. James7, was dau. of Capt. Charles and Sophronia (Marston) Goodspeed of Marstons Mills, Barnstable, Mass. Capt. Howland was taken from this sphere of his activities very suddenly by a stroke of apoplexy on Aug. 27, 1907. Although not long in years his life was remarkable for what he accomplished. A memorial sketch prepared by one who knew him long and well appears at the beginning of this History.


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LEROY ALBERT HOWLAND


HOWLAND, LEROY ALBERT10 son of Franklyn9 (Stephen R8, William7, Thomas6, Thomas5, James4, Nathaniel3, Zoeth2, Henry1) How- land, and wife, Emma Harvey (James7, Harvey6, William5, Jona- than4, David3, Jonathan2, Andrew1) Hallett of Barnstable, Mass., was born in Acushnet July 6, 1879. At a very early age he began to show a love for study and to express a desire to fit himself for a college course. Studying at home under the tuition of his parents until twelve years of age, he then entered the Friends' Academy in New Bedford, where he prepared for college. He passed the Harvard University examinations before the age of seventeen and entered Wesleyan LEROY ALBERT HOWLAND University at Middletown, Conn., September, 1896. Early in his college course he decided to make a specialty of mathematics, in which he had shown good ability. He was graduated in 1900 with honors in general scholarship and special honors in mathematics. For a number of years much of his time during his vacations was employed in tutoring. In the fall of 1900 an instructorship in mathematics was offered him at Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, and this position he held for three years. Feeling the truth of the old adage, "There is plenty of room at the top," Mr. Howland had been looking forward to more advanced study, and in the fall of 1903 he entered Harvard University for post-graduate work, receiving at the close of his first year the degree of Master of Arts. After still another year's study at the same university he was called to Wes- leyan, his Alma Mater, to take charge of the department of mathematics during a year's absence of Professor E. B. Van Vleck. At the end of the year a traveling fellowship was granted him from Harvard, and in the summer of 1906 he went abroad for still further study. He remained in Berlin for a time, making a special study of the German language, and in the fall of 1906 entered the University of Munich, Germany .. During the summer of 1907 he traveled extensively through parts of England, Ger- many, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland. He is now continuing his studies at Munich, and expects to make teaching in college or


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university his profession. He is a member of the Psi Upsilon College Fraternity and of the graduate fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa. The renowned Mayflower of 1620 brought to America at least eight persons from whom Mr. Howland is a lineal descendant, namely: 1, Francis Cooke; 2, Isaac Allerton; 3, Mary Norris Allerton; 4, Mary Allerton (dau. of Mary 3) ; 5, John Tilley ; 6, Elizabeth Tilley; 7, John Howland; 8, Samuel Fuller.


MAX FRANKLYN HOWLAND


HOWLAND, MAX FRANKLYN10, son of Franklyn9, (Stephen R.8, William7, Thomas6, Thomas5, James4, Nathaniel3, Zoeth2, Henry1) How- land and wife, Emma Harvey, (James7, Harvey6, William5, Jona- than4, David3, Jonathan2, Andrew1) Hallett of Barnstable, Mass., (see Franklyn, and Leroy Albert), was born in Acushnet Aug. 6, 1881. His boyhood was spent upon his father's estate, and in the home he studied under the care of his parents until the age of twelve, when he entered the Friends' Academy in New Bed- ford to prepare for college. Grad- uating from the academy in the Spring of 1899, he entered Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in the Fall of the same year. There he pursued a very successful four years' MAX FRANKLYN HOWLAND course and was graduated in June, 1903. He was a member of the Psi Upsilon College Fraternity and the C. & C., S. & S., and O. N. E. Societies. Mr. Howland had looked for- ward to a professional life, preferably medical, but trouble with his eyes which increased with prolonged study made it advisable for him to abandon this preference and, having from childhood, a love and ability for business, he chose a mercantile life. Immediately upon finishing his college course he entered the training school of the Library Bureau in Bos- ton, a business which was incorporated in 1879 and has branches in all the principal cities of America and Europe. After a course of study, Mr. Howland was engaged by the concern and was assigned to the manage- ment of the Bureau's business in the southeastern states, with office at Atlanta, Ga. He remained there three years and was then transferred to


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the New York office of the corporation. In the Fall of 1907, Mr. Howland was put in charge of the Boston sales store of the firm and is again settled in his native state. He is vice president of the Wesleyan Young Alumni of Boston.


JENNY FAMILY


The "First Comer" of the Jenny family of this section was John, who came to Plymouth in the Fannie in 1623, with his wife Sarah, who was a Carey. They had Ch. Samuel, Abigail, m. Henry Wood, Sarah m. Thomas Pope in 1646, John, and Susanna. He was a man of consider- able importance at Plymouth, where he served as a Representative and was on the Governor's Council. John had various business interests at Plymouth, one of which was a windmill for grinding corn. Sarah con- tinued to run this. Evidently she and her employee were not as careful about the work as they should have been, as at the court of August 20, 1644. "Mris Jenney vpon the psentment agst her pmiseth to amend the grinding at the Mill, and to keepe the morters cleane, and baggs of corn from spoyleing and looseing." "Mris Jenney" apparently had considerable business capacity and nerve and some means, as, after the death of her husband in 1644, she conducted the enterprises he left at Plymouth and in 1652 boldly entered the syndicate that purchased old Dartmouth, thereby obtaining possession of a part of the tract. Her sons John and Samuel inherited a part at least of her purchase, and later settled on that portion of it located near Acushnet village. Their mother doubtless was here with them. John Jenne, Jr., gave land out of his holdings for the Precinct meeting house and cemetery near Parting Ways a copy of which Act is given under the heading of the Precinct Meeting House.


CHARLES H. KENYON


KENYON, CHARLES H., son of Charles and Julia Kenyon, was born in New Bedford Oct. 23, 1861. He received a public school education in New Bedford and Acushnet, the family moving into this town in 1872. He was with his father, who conducted a sales stable business in the village, till July 1, 1896, when he purchased the grocery business of George H. Gifford on the corner of Mill and Main streets and the house opposite where he resided. He was appointed U. S. postmaster of Acush- net on the 21st of the same July. There he conducted a suc. cessful business and acceptably filled the office till his death, May 18, 1904. Mr. Kenyon was greatly handicapped by an asthmatic affliction, but this discouragement was bravely met with application, industry and integrity. He m. Dec. 9, 1898, Abbie L., dau. of Hananiah and Helen Collins of Acushnet. (See elsewhere.)


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EBENEZER LEONARD


LEONARD, EBENEZER, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Philips) Leon- ard, was b. April 10, 1814, at Taunton, where his father was engaged in agriculture. When 18 years of age he began learning the 1 trade of boatbuilding at New Bed- ford, where he was employed several years. Then he purchased a place on the Middle road in this town and engaged in the business on his own account, teaching his two sons the trade, and they engaged in it with their father as long as he lived. supplying boats for vessels at New Bedford engaged in the whaling fishery. Mr. Leonard was held in EBENEZER LEONARD high esteem for integrity and square dealings by his business associates and by his townsmen, who re-elected him many times as selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor. He was a Democrat in politics and a regular attendant of the M. E. church at Long Plain, of which his wife was a member. He d. May 24, 1891, and Mrs. Leonard Oct. 7, 1898. Mr. Leonard m. Nov. 29, 1835, Mary J., dau. of James and Mary P. Henley, b. in Barnstable Oct. 26, 1817. Children : (1) Thomas W .; (2) Daniel; (3) Eben F. (see elsewhere), (4) Charles F .; (5) Adeline G., b. Nov. 4, 1850. m. 1st Benjamin T Peckham; m. 2nd, William F. Tirrell; (6) Mary E.


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EBEN F. LEONARD


LEONARD, EBEN F .. son of Ebenezer above, was b. at New Bed- ford July 25, 1845, and six years later became a resident of Acushnet with his father's family. He at- tended the public schools till he was eighteen, when he began to learn how to construct whaleboats in his father's shop, opposite the home- stead. He continued here till the death of his father, when he and his brother, Charles F., went on with the business until the shop was burned in 1900. Eben F. then opened a shop in the "Joseph Taber house," so-called, on Middle road, where he EBEN F. LEONARD continues the business alone, still finding a ready sale for all his boats in the New Bedford market. He has been entrusted by the town with the office of selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor continuously since 1894, and represented his district in the State Legislature of 1904. Mr. Leonard m. Nov. 8, 1866, Adaline D., dau. of James and Phebe P. (Spooner) Gracie. They have one child, Ida F. (See elsewhere.)


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JOHN LUMBARD


LUMBARD, JOHN, son of Capt. Joseph (whose father Samuel served in the Revolutionary war) and Lu cinda (Savery) Lumbard, was b. in Rochester, Feb. 22, 1816. Joseph died when John was but seven months old. Lucinda afterwards m.


James Taber of this town and John came here, where he ever afterwards lived. He commenced to learn a car- penter's trade at the age of 17, and after working at this a few years he engaged in manufacturing wooden boxes on his own account, being one of the first in this town to engage in the business, which he carried on in the rear of his dwelling on the JOHN LUMBARD west side of Long Plain road, a few rods north of Parting Ways, which he built in 1847. He continued in this business till ill health compelled him to retire. Mr. Lumbard was interested in the welfare of the town, but could never be persuaded to accept public office. He became a member of the Congregational Society at Lund's corner in his boyhood, before they had a church building, and worshipped in the schoolhouse just west of the bridge. He remained a useful member until his death in 1903. By industry, good business ca- pacity and uprightness in all his dealings, he made a success of his busi- ness and his life. Mr. Lumbard m. in 1854 Susan Eliott, dau. of Edward Pope Spooner. Children b. in Acushnet : (1) Charles E. (see elsewhere) ; (2) Joseph E. (see elsewhere.)




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