USA > Massachusetts > One of a thousand, a series of biographical sketches of one thousand representative men resident in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89; > Part 14
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BUCKINGHAM.
In the winter of 1841 he married Anne, daughter of Judge Rowan of Louisville, who had represented Kentucky in the United States Senate. Three sons and a daughter are living from this union.
In 1881 he married, for his second wife, Mrs. C. H. Decker, who has be- come distinguished in the practice of psychometry.
BUCKINGHAM, SAMUEL GILES, son of Deacon Samuel and Joanna Matson Buckingham, was born in Lebanon, New London county, Conn., November 18, 1812.
His great-ancestor in this country was Thomas Buckingham, one of the original members of the New Haven colony, and he comes down by direct descent from " Minister Buckingham" of Saybrook, Conn., one of the two moderators of the Saybrook Synod of 1808, and one of the two rectors of Yale College during the sixteen years it was located at Say- brook. Governor Buckingham, the " war governor " of the state of Connecticut, was his brother.
After the usual course in the public schools, he entered the academy at Plain- field, Conn., where he fitted for college and was graduated at Yale in the class of 1833. He immediately entered the Yale Theologi- cal Seminary, graduated in 1837, and was ordained and settled over the Second church in Millbury, in May of the same year, where he remained for ten years.
In May, 1847, he was installed pastor of the South Congregational church, Spring- field, Mass., where he still remains senior pastor, after forty years of ministerial ser- vice to this church, and after fifty years of service in the Christian ministry.
On the 10th of May, 1837, Mr. Buck- ingham was married to Harriet, daugh- ter of Rev. Dr. Nathaniel W. Taylor, pro- fessor of theology in the Yale theological school. His wife died in 1863, leaving him one child : Harriet Taylor Buckingham. He had also an adopted daughter : Maria Robeson, the wife of Rollin H. Loomis. Mrs. Loomis died in 1888, leaving four sons.
Dr. Buckingham has been for many years one of the trustees of Williston Classical Seminary ; is a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for For- eign Missions, and holds office in various other religious and charitable organizations, and throughout the fifty-one years of his ministry has been earnestly devoted to his work as pastor of the two churches that have been under his charge.
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BURDAKIN.
BUDINGTON.
BUDINGTON, JONATHAN, son of Jon- athan and Sophronia (Denison) Budington, was born in Leyden, Franklin county, De- cember 17, 1837.
He was educated in the public schools of Leyden, Shelburne Falls Academy, East Greenwich (R. I.) Academy, and Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham.
The principal business of his life has been farming. He was in commercial busi- ness in Gloucester a few years, also pro- prietor of a mill and box factory in West Leyden for some years. At present he is not in any business, on account of ill health.
Mr. Budington never married.
JONATHAN BUDINGTON.
He has been a member of the school board many years ; was a member of the General Court in 1881, being the third generation of the same name that has rep- resented Leyden in the Legislature. He was placed on the committee on agricul- ture, and served as clerk of same.
He is life member and trustee of Frank- lin County Agricultural Society ; was a member of the state board of agricul- ture from 1883 to '86, and for the same term was a member of the examining com- mittee for the Massachusetts Agricultural College.
He is steward and trustee of the M. E. church, having held this connection twenty-
five years. He has been for many years superintendent of the Sunday-school.
BULLOCK, AUGUSTUS GEORGE, son . of Alexander Hamilton and Elvira H. Bullock, was born in Enfield, Hampshire county, Conn., June 2, 1847.
His school days were passed at High- land Military Academy and Leicester Academy. He fitted for college with the late Elbridge G. Cutler, afterwards profes- sor at Harvard. Mr. Bullock entered Harvard College in 1864, and was gradu- ated with the class of 1868.
He made himself familiar with financial transactions by engaging a short time in the brokerage business, then read law in the office of Hon. George F. Hoar, and Hon. T. L. Nelson, now judge of the United States district court. He was admitted to the Worcester county bar and practiced law until January, 1883. At the annual meeting of the State Mutual Life Assur- ance Company of Worcester, in that month, he was chosen its president and treasurer, which office he still holds.
Mr. Bullock was married in Worcester, October 4, 1871, to Mary H., daughter of George and Josephine Rose Chandler. Of this union were four children : Chandler, Alexander Hamilton, Rockwood Hoar, and A. G. Bullock, Jr., the latter dying in infancy.
Mr. Bullock is director in the Worcester National Bank ; director in the free pub- lic library ; in 1868 was private and mili- tary secretary to Governor Alexander H. Bullock, his father, with rank of lieuten- ant-colonel ; is a director in the Worcester Gas Light Company ; trustee of Worces- ter Lunatic Hospital ; trustee of Worces- ter County Institution for Savings ; presi- dent of the State Safe Deposit Company ; member of the American Bar Association; member of the Archaeological Institute of America ; member of the American Anti- quarian Society, etc.
BURDAKIN, JOHN H., son of John C. and Catharine E. Burdakin, was born in Cambridge, Middlesex county, November 3, 1840, and was educated in the schools of Cambridge and Boston.
At the age of seventeen he entered the office of William V. Thompson, Boston, remained there about three years, and then went into the Middlesex registry of deeds as a clerk under Caleb Hayden, the register.
In the early part of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the 22d regiment N. Y. National Guard, and was in the army at Harper's Ferry and other places in the
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BURDAKIN.
BURDETT.
Shenandoah Valley. After his discharge from the army, he came to Dedham in 1863, and was employed as clerk in the Norfolk county registry of deeds, under James Foord, the register.
JOHN H. BURDAKIN.
Early in 1873, upon the passage of the legislative act authorizing registers of deeds to appoint assistant registers, Mr. Burdakin was appointed assistant register for Norfolk county. At the election of 1873, Mr. Foord having declined a re-elec- tion, Mr. Burdakin was elected his suc- cessor, receiving the nomination from both political parties. He entered upon his new responsibility, January, 1874. He has always received the support of the majori- ties given him, not as a political candidate, but as a citizen accepting a public trust. This continued support is sufficient evi- dence of his fitness for the position.
Mr. Burdakin is a member of the G. A. R., of the New England Historic Genea- logical Society, and an active member of the Dedham Historical Society, of which he is librarian and curator. Being a lover of books, he has done much towards the col- lecting of the valuable historical library of the latter society.
He is one of the trustees of the Dedham Institution for Savings, and a member of the school board.
Mr. Burdakin was married November 18, 1874, to Ella L., daughter of Nathaniel Smith.
Of this union are two children : Leslie R., born September 16, 1884, and Lillian Burdakin, born August 5, 1887.
BURDEN, FREDERICK L., son of Charles and Julia A. (Daniels) Burden, was born in East Douglas, Worcester county, April 20, 1847.
The public and private schools of his native place gave him his early educational training.
His tastes induced him to adopt the medical profession, and having fitted him- self for the Harvard medical school, he pursued the course of study there, and was graduated in the class of 1869. He began the practice of medicine in North Attle- borough, 1870, and continues in the same place and practice at the present time.
Dr. Burden was married in North Attle- borough, June 5, 1879, to Emily, daughter of Daniel and Mary C. (Springer) Evans. Of this union is one child : Frederick E. Burden.
Dr. Burden was a member of the school board in 1872, and a member of the state Senate in 1884 and '85, when he served on the committee on education, was chair- man of the joint committee on public health in 1884, and a member of the Senate committee on rules in 1885. He was a member of the Republican state central committee in 1886, and its chairman in 1887 and '88.
Dr. Burden enlisted in 1861 in company E., Rhode Island light artillery, known as the 6th Rhode Island battery. He was honorably discharged March, 1862 ; re-enlisted in June, 1862, for three months in the roth Rhode Island battery, and was mustered out by reason of expira- tion of term of service in September, 1862. He is a member of Prentiss M. Whiting Post 192, G. A. R.
BURDETT, JOSEPH O., son of Joseph and Sally ( Mansfield) Burdett, was born in Wakefield (then South Reading), Middle- sex county, October 30, 1848.
His early education was received in the schools of Wakefield, where he fitted for Tufts College, which he entered in 1867, graduating second in his class, notwith- standing that he was compelled to be absent from college nearly one-half of his senior year in order to earn sufficient money to meet his expenses.
On his graduation he immediately com- menced the study of law in the office of
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BURDETT.
Judge Hammond, then city solicitor of Cambridge, and in the same year entered the Harvard law school.
He was admitted to practice, upon exam- ination, at the Middlesex county bar, April 19, 1873, and during the following year practiced law with Mr. Hammond. In 1874 he removed to Hingham, where he married Ella, daughter of John K. and Joan J. Corthell, of that town, and where he has since lived. He has three children : Harold Corthell, Edith Mansfield,and Helen Ripley Burdett.
In the following year he established his office in Boston, where he has since con- tinued to practice law. By his industry and attention to business he has developed a very large and lucrative practice, but, although devoted to his profession, he has ever found time for many public duties as a citizen. For the last fifteen years he has been a member of the school board of Hingham, and for the last ten years he has been chairman of that body. He has always been interested in all public matters,
JOSEPH O. BURDETT.
and in everything that promotes the inter- est of his adopted town. At present he is one of the foremost among those interested in introducing electric lighting there. Mr. Burdett is also president of the Rockland Hotel Company, which owns the beautiful
BURGESS.
hotels Nantasket and Rockland House, together with a large part of Nantasket Beach. He represented the towns of Hingham and Hull in the House of Repre- sentatives, in 1884, in which body he filled the important position of House chairman of the committee on public service. He reported the present civil service bill, and it is largely due to his earnest and intelli- gent labor that that bill became a law, it being most persistently fought at every stage in its passage. The following year he was re-elected, and, while retaining his position as chairman of the public service committee, he was also a member of the judiciary committee. He took an active part in many of the more important debates of that year. Mr. Burdett has long been actively identified with the fortunes of the Republican party, and has contributed not a little to its success by his earnest and intelligent work in its behalf. He has been a member of the Republican state central committee since 1886, where his services have been recognized by those in a position to judge of them, and upon the organization of the present committee he was unanimously elected chairman of that body.
BURGESS, EDWARD, son of Benjamin F. and Cordelia W. (Ellis) Burgess, was born in Sandwich, Barnstable county, June 30, 1848. His grandfather and father were well known as among the largest traders in West India goods in the eastern states.
He early developed a fondness for yachting, but he little dreamed in his boy- hood's days of ever achieving the world- wide renown which so honorably came to him in later years. He was fitted for college in Mr. Epes S. Dixwell's private Latin school ; he entered Harvard, and graduated in the class of 1871, receiving the degree of A. B. In 1888 Harvard conferred upon him the degree of A. M., honoris causa.
In 1872 he was elected secretary of the Boston Society of Natural History, and continued the study of natural science until 1883, publishing various scientific memoirs. From 1879 to '83 he was in- structor in entomology in Harvard Univer- sity. He entered business as a naval architect and yacht broker in 1883.
Mr. Burgess was married in Boston, June 2, 1877, to Caroline L., daughter of the late William Starling and Caroline E. (Sutton) Sullivant, of Columbus, Ohio. Their children are: William Starling and Charles Paine Burgess.
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BURNETT.
BUSH.
He was a member of the United States Naval Board to award prizes for the de- signs of cruisers and battle ships in 1887, and in 1888 he was appointed permanent chairman on the board of life-saving appli- ances in the United States Life Saving Service.
But his most distinguished service, which a grateful country will ever hold in re- membrance, was the timely and successful work in designing the Puritan, the May- flower and the Volunteer - the three illus- trious defenders of the " America's Cup" in the international yacht races of 1885- '86-'87. Mr. Burgess was also the designer of the well-known racers, Sachem, Titania, Pappoose, Baboon, Nymph, Wraith, Sprite, Saracen, Rosalind, Chiquita, Marguerite, and many others-over one hundred in all, including the steam yachts Shearwater, Sapphire, Unquowa, Jathniel, etc., and the well-known "flying fishermen," Carrie E. Phillips, Nellie Dixon and Fredonia.
BURNETT, EDWARD, son of Joseph and Josephine Cutter Burnett, was born in Boston, March 16, 1849.
His foundation studies were pursued in St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H. Fitting for Harvard College, he passed the full course and was graduated in 1871.
His tastes inclining towards rural life, he chose the vocation of farmer, and lo- cated in Southborough, where he resides, surrounded by a loved and loving family, an esteemed member of the community.
Mr. Burnett was elected member of the 50th Congress, as a Democrat, from the 9th district, and served one term, being appointed upon the committee on agricul- ture, labor, and mileage.
He was married in Cambridge, April 4, 1872, to Mabel, only child of James Russell Lowell. Of this union are three sons and two daughters : James R. L., Joseph, Francis L., Esther L., and Lois D. Burnett.
BURR, HEMAN MERRICK, son of Isaac Tucker and Ann Frances (Hardon) Burr, was born in Newton, Middlesex county, July 28, 1856.
He attended the public schools of New- ton, was prepared for college, entered Harvard in 1873, and was graduated in the class of 1877. He pursued his legal studies in Harvard law school, and was admitted to the practice of law in June, 1884. He is now a practicing attorney in Boston, with residence in Newton.
Mr. Burr was married in Boston, Novem- ber 29, 1881, to Mary Frances, daughter
of Samuel T. and Mary Hartwell (Barr) Ames. Of this union are two children : Roger Ames and Hardon Burr.
Mr. Burr was a member of Newton common council 1887 and '88-its presi- dent the latter year. In 1889 he was elected mayor.
He is prominently identified with the Republican party in Newton, and, although a young man, bids fair to follow rapidly in the honorable and successful steps of his father, so long and well known in the business and financial circles of the city of Boston.
BURT, GEORGE L., son of Holland and Nancy (Watkins) Burt, was born in Walpole, Cheshire county, N. H., November 3, 1829.
He received his education in the public schools and academy of his native town.
Mr. Burt began business as contractor and builder, in 1850, in company with his brother, John H., and one year later they associated with them another brother, Sumner A., who remained with them until his decease in 1886.
Mr. Burt was married in Walpole, N. H., August 8, 1852, to Ellen Augusta, daugh- ter of Steven and Mary A. (Jennings) Darby. Of this union were two children: Waldo Cushing and George Edward Burt.
Mr. Burt was a member of the Boston common council, 1870, '71, '72 and '73; trustee of Mt. Hope Cemetery ten years; member of House of Representatives, 1880, '81 and '82; member of state Senate, 1884 and '85, and trustee of Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, 1888 and '89. Mattapan, Ward 24, Boston, where he has resided since his marriage, is his pres- ent address.
Mr. Burt is the youngest of four brothers, all of whom have been successful in main- taining the family prestige, and who have been honored by their fellow-townsmen by repeated elections to positions of honor and trust.
BUSH, JOHN L., son of Eleazer B. and Sarah (Howe) Bush, was born in North Brookfield, Worcester county, October 21, 1819.
He received a common school education, attending the district schools until he was fifteen years of age. Time not spent in school or on the farm was utilized in mak- ing shoes for the old firm of T. & E. Batcheller, at starvation prices.
When Mr. Bush became of age, in 1840, being fond of horses, he went to Boston and entered the employ of a livery-stable keeper, at twelve dollars per month. He
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BUTLER.
BUTLER.
spent some three years in Boston as hostler and coachman. But the life became dis- tasteful, and with a cousin he went to Spencer, and for a while kept the old " Jenks Tavern." He sold out his interest in the tavern in 1846, and in company with Jeremiah Grout began the manufacture of boots. In 1866 Mr. Grout retired, and Mr. Bush conducted the business alone, until Horace A. Grout united with him, and they increased their business until they were widely known as extensive manufacturers. Mr. Bush continued in this business until 1881, when he retired from active manufacturing, though he has been and still is interested in various local enter- prises and public improvements.
Mr. Bush was married in Spencer, June 8, 1847, to Eleanor P., daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Nye) Grout. The issue of this marriage was two daughters: Ella Frances and Clara Maria Bush.
Mr. Bush is trustee of the Savings Bank and director in the National Bank; has been deacon of the Congregational church twenty-five years, and was a member of the lower branch of the Legislature in 1859. He is a staunch friend of the temperance cause, and a firm and unyielding supporter of the authorities engaged in the suppres- sion of the liquor traffic. He is a true and steadfast lover of humanity, an honored exemplar of a true man and a good citizen.
BUTLER, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, son of Captain John and Charlotte (Elison) But- ler, was born in Deerfield, Rockingham county, N. H., November 5, 1818. His father was of the 2d regiment light dra- goons in the war of 1812, and served under Gen. Jackson at New Orleans, and his grandfather, Captain Zephaniah Butler of Woodbury, Connecticut, fought under Gen. Wolfe at Quebec in 1758.
The district school helped him to many things taught from books until he was nine years old, when he entered Phillips Acade- my, Exeter. At that time his mother re- moved to Lowell with her boys. Here Benjamin entered the high school, where he prepared himself for college. He was graduated from Waterville College (now Colby University), Maine, in the class of 1838. His fertile mind was not content with what he learned from books. Of phe- nomenally quick perception, and memory that pigeon-holed the most minute detail, he had acquired a fund of classified knowl- edge of the world that later stood him in good stead.
He studied law with William Smith for two years, when he was admitted to the
bar, upon examination, in September, 1840, and began practice in Lowell at once. Much of myth and legend is connected with the first years of this young lawyer ; but the results of his early training, and of his gleaning of practical knowledge from his first years of court practice, are too clearly evidenced in the mature Benjamin F. Butler, for the public to care for the truth or the falsity of those details. More- over, he is to-day too prominently before the world, too well known to the American citizen, to require eulogy or criticism from the pen of his biographer. No man has warmer friends, and no man cares less for
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.
enemies. Loyal to his client, and faithful to his friend, he never forgets the fang- stroke of an enemy, though the venom fail in its work.
He was married in Lowell, May 14, 1844, to Sarah, daughter of Dr. Israel and Dolly Jones Hildreth. Mrs. Butler died in Boston, April 8, 1876. Of this union were three children : Blanche, Paul, and Ben-Israel.
In 1853 Gen. Butler was a member of the House of Representatives, and the Con- stitutional Convention of the same year. In 1859 he was elected a member of the state Senate. In 1860 he was a delegate to the national Democratic convention
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BUTLER.
which met in Charleston, S. C. When a portion of the delegates re-assembled at Baltimore, he declined to participate fur- ther in their deliberations, first on the ground that the body of delegates was not competent, and secondly, because he refused to sit in convention where the African slave-trade was approvingly advocated.
In April, 1861, when President Lincoln called for troops, he held the position of brigadier-general of militia. On the 17th of that month he marched to Annapolis with the 8th Massachusetts regiment, and was placed in command of the district of Annapolis, which included the city of Bal- timore. On the 13th of May, 1861, he entered Baltimore, occupied the city with- out opposition, and on May 16th was made a major-general, and assigned to the com- ยท mand of Fortress Monroe and the depart- ment of eastern Virginia. Here he refused to return to their masters some slaves who had come within his lines, declaring them to be " contraband of war." Hence arose the designation of "Contraband." In August he captured forts Hatteras and Clark on the coast of North Carolina. He then returned to Massachusetts to recruit an expedition for the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi. He took possession of the city of New Orleans May 1, 1862. His administration was marked by great vigor. He instituted strict sanitary regulations, armed the free colored men, and compelled rich secessionists to contribute toward the support of the poor of the city. The seeming severity of his policy, although inspired by his unflinching patriotism, ex- cited strong resentment among those who were too far removed from the scene of action to understand the situation. It is worthy of notice that during the adminis- tration of General Butler at New Orleans, disbursing millions of dollars, under cir- cumstances that brought unavoidable com- plications, it was found that not one penny had been paid out but had its competent voucher, and his accounts, audited by the finest experts in Washington, were declarcd correct in every detail.
December 16, 1862, General Butler was recalled, and near the close of 1863 was placed in command of the department of Virginia and North Carolina. His force was designated as the army of the James. October, 1864, he was sent to New York with a force to insure a quiet election. In December he conducted an expedition against Fort Fisher near Wilmington, N. C., and soon afterward was removed from command by General Grant.
BUTLER.
In 1866 he was elected by the Republi- cans a member of Congress, where he re- mained till 1879, with the exception of one term, 1875-77.
In 1868 he was chief manager for the House in the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. He was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor of Massa- chusetts in 1871, and in 1878 and '79 was the candidate of the Independent Green- back party, and one wing of the Democrats, for the same office, but was again defeated. In 1882 the Democrats united upon him as their candidate, and he was elected, though the rest of the state ticket was de- feated. During his administration he insti- tuted some sweeping reforms, and brought charges of gross mismanagement against some public institutions. In 1883 he was renominated, but was defeated. In 1884 he was the candidate of the Greenback party and Anti-Monopolist party for the presidency.
General Butler now resides in Lowell, where as a citizen he is much beloved. While his professional labors are herculean, and his varied manufacturing interests are not neglected, he still finds time for deeds of charity, and for making himself better ac- quainted with the needs of the unfortunate and oppressed.
BUTLER, JOHN HASKELL, son of John and Mary J. (Barker) Butler, was born in Middleton, Essex county, August 31, 1841.
He obtained his early educational train- ing in the district schools of Groton and Shirley, high school, Shirley, and Lawrence Academy, Groton, where he fitted for Yale. He was graduated from this college in the class of 1863. He chose the profession of law and prosecuted his legal studies with Griffin & Stearns, Charlestown. He was admitted to the bar at Cambridge, in Octo- ber, 1868.
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