USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive and Biographical Record of Bristol County, Massachusetts (Volume 2) > Part 51
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Ile is one of the conservative men of his town, taking an interest in school and church matters, and has ever advanced the best interests of his town and towns- people.
Ballon, Walter, was born in Cumberland, R. 1 , February 20, 1835. His father, . Preston Ballou, was a native of the same town, where the family were among the pioneer settlers. Preston Ballou married Harriet Brown and through life was a stone cutter by trade; he died in 1830. Walter Ballou was educated in the common schools and in 1851 learned the jeweler's trade with W. H. Robinson, was em- ployed by several firms, and in 1863 engaged in business for himself, continuing up to the present time. In 1856 he married Ann E., daughter of Rufus Briggs, and they have one son and two daughters: Walter B., Mrs. Myra A. Freeman and Ilelen G. Cutter. Mr. Ballou is one of the conservative men of his town, taking an intelligent interest in school and church matters and is a member of Bristol Lodge.
Barden, Hon. Frank I., was born in Franklin, Mass., December 4, 1857, a son of Thomas A. Barden. He was educated in the common schools and at the age of seventeen entered the store of his father, afterwards becoming a partner in the business, which through his influence was extended and moved to its present loca- tion. Thomas A. Barden retired and his sons, Frank I. and Walter, are at the pres- ent time the leading clothiers and dealers in gent's furnishing goods in North Attle- borough. In 1867 Frank I. married Harriet A. Warren, and they have one daughter, Mrs. W. F. Swift. Mr. Barden takes an active interest in all public affairs and in 1886 was elected to the Legislature.
Barnard, Frank Warren, was born in Wrentham, Mass., January 8, 1853, a son of Alfred and Sarah Barnard. He was educated in the common schools of Wrentham and Day Academy. When eighteen years of age he started to learn straw hat man- ufacturing, which he followed one year, and then entered the jewelry manufacturing business at Mansfield, continuing in that for three years. On account of poor health he returned to Wrentham and farmed for two years, when he returned to Mansfield and entered the firm of H. A. Williams & Co., jewelry manufacturers. In three months they were burned out, and in 1880 he started alone and continued for five years, selling his interest in 1886 to A. A. Harrington, and accepting a position as foreman. He resigned in 1888 and accepted a position with D. E. Spaulding & Co., which position he held until he was elected representative in 1890, and is now serv- ing his second term, and was the first man to receive the election for the second time in this district. He is also engaged in real estate and insurance. He has taken an active interest in town and county affairs, having held many offices. He is a member of St. James, F. & A. M .. and was active in the building of the Masonic building. He married Esther F., daughter of Avery O. and Harriet (White) Dunham, and they have three children: Mary Grace, Alfred Avery and Hazel Dunham.
Bartlett, Henry, son of Abner and Susan E. (Case) Bartlett, was born in Plymouth, Mass, December 25, 1858. Ilis parents removed to New Bedford when he was an infant, and where he received his education from the public schools and the New Bedford Academy. Ilis first business experience on his own account was in the re- tail fish business, which was established by his father. After twelve years of suc- cessful business pursuits he removed to his present farm, where he has since been
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engaged in market gardening. On October 17, 1883, he married Jennie B., daugh- ter of Jonathan and Julia (Gifford) Parker, and they have two children: Alice C. and Clair.
Bassett, Elton J., M. D)., was born in Taunton, Mass., February 5, 1845, a son of James T. and Caroline E. (Jones) Bassett. He received his early education in the public schools of Taunton, and after graduating from the High School went to the Lawrence Scientific School at Cambridge to study civil engineering, and afterwards went into the office of Dr. S. D. Presbrey and studied medicine with him for three years. He then entered Harvard Medical School and was graduated from there in the class of 1869. Dr. Bassett came to Taunton at once and in May of that year opened an office of his own for the general practice of medicine and surgery. He was married in May, 1869, to Caroline A., daughter of Timothy and Ruth (Chace) Codding of Taunton, and they have no children.
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Bates, J. M., was born in Wickford, R. I., August 2, 1837. His father, Benoni P. Bates, was a native of Wisconsin, and was identified as a contractor and builder. He married Abbie Congdon. J. M. Bates was educated in the public schools in Rhode Island and learned the jewelry business in Providence. On September 10, 1857, he came to Attleborough and established a business for himself, in which he continued for forty years. In 1855 Mr. Bates married Sarah L., daughter of Nicholas Gardner, and they have three children: Charles R., Frank M. and Mary L. Mr. Bates is one of the conservative men of Bristol county, is president of the First Na- tional Bank; erected the opera house block in 1886, and has ever been one of the citizens to expend his means in building up his town.
Bates, William Clinton, superintendent of schools in Fall River, is a son of Dewitt C. and Sarah A. (Burbank) Bates. His father was, in early life, a teacher, and has been for more than twenty years chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Assessors of Hingham, Mass. The family is of old Puritan stock, Mr. Bates be- ing ninth of the line of Clement Bates, who came from England in 1635, and settled in Hingham. William Clinton Bates was born in Hingham, July 29, 1854. He was educated in the common schools of his native town and the Derby Academy; fitted for college at the Phillips Exeter Academy, and was graduated from Harvard, with the degree of A. B. in 1877. After graduation he accepted a postion as superintend- ent of schools at Hingham, later going to Canton and Easton in the same capacity. Mr. Bates was one of the first superintendents in New England to combine two dis- tricts, there being at that time only one or two like cases, while now there are over seventy-five. He resigned from this position to accept that of superintendent of schools in the city of Lawrence, Mass., where he remained three years, and then accepted the supervision of the Fall River schools. Mr. Bates is an educator of wide experience and holds an enviable position among the schoolmen of Massachusetts. He has been a frequent lecturer at teachers' conventions. He has been engaged in educational work in all its departments as a teacher, school officer, lecturer and writer, and is fully in touch with the advanced educational movements of the day. Mr. Bates is a man of pleasing personality and culture; he is a member of the Ma- sonic order and a member and president of the Bristol County Teachers' Associa- tion. He has also been secretary and later president of the New England Associa- tion of School Superintendents, and has been frequently honored by office in differ-
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ent counties and school districts in which he has served. Ilis administration of the Fall River school system, which consists of fifty school buildings and 350 teachers, has been marked by many improvements. In August, 1885, he married Edith E. Taggart, a daughter of Robert A. and Elizabeth T. (Beck) Taggart of Ashland, Mass., and they have two children: Effie Dorothea and Clement Taggart.
Battershall, J. W., M. D., was born in Troy, N. Y., May 1, 1843. His father, Lud- low A. Battershall, was a native of Canaan, N. Y .; he married Eustatia, daughter of Joseph Ward, and through life was a citizen of Troy, where he was identified as a wholesale grocer and president of the Union Bank for thirty years. J. W. Batter- shall was educated in Troy and graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of New York city in 1874. He then entered the Pacific Mail service; spent 1876 as sanitarian inspector in New York city; 1877 was appointed surgeon to the schoolship St. Mary; from 1878 to 1881 was in the British Emigration service, be- tween London and Sydney, Australia; then took a voyage from London to China, as surgeon; and in 1888 came to Attleborough, where he has been in active practice up to the present time. In 1887 he married Mary H., daughter of Robert Wolfenden, who was a graduate from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, in 1870, spending a year in the New England Hospital, in Boston, also a year in the Nursery and Child's Hospital at West New Brighton, on Staten Island, N. Y., and has been in active practice in Attleborough for the past sixteen years. Dr. Battershall is one of the progressive men of his town; is a member of the Board of Health; and has ever advanced the best interests of his town and townspeople.
Bennett, Gustavus L., is of Scotch-English descent, the first representative of the family being among the Pilgrims. He is a son of Leonard and Rebecca (Potter) Bennett, and was born in the town of Fairhaven (now Acushnet), Mass., November 26, 1836. He is a grandson of Joseph Bennett who was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war. Mr. Bennett was educated in the public schools of his native town, and when yet a boy shipped aboard a whaling ship for one voyage as an ordinary seaman ; he was promoted to second mate for one voyage; and during the Rebellion sailed aboard a steamer from New York to Aspinwall as quartermaster. After the close of the war he went to Chicago, but being dissatisfied, returned to Acushnet, where he has since resided on his farm. He married Sarah J., daughter of Thomas and Phoebe (Pierce) Davis, and they have three children: Charles D., Phoebe E. and Clara L.
Bentley, Louis E., son of Loring T. and Elizabeth (Colburn) Bentley, was born in Cambridge, Vt., October 11, 1861, and attended school until he was thirteen years old, when he went to work in a cotton mill, but for several years continued his edu- cation in the night schools. Mr. Bentley's entire life has been spent in cotton manu- facturing, and his first experience as overseer was in the Grinnell Mills, in New Bed- ford, where he remained about seven years. Previously he had been a second hand for some time in the Grinnell Mills and in the mills of the Slater Manufacturing Company of Pawtucket, R. I., and in March, 1880. he severed his connection with the Grinnell Mills to accept his present position as superintendent of the Bennett Mill No. 1; he has served on the School Committee two years. Mr. Bentley. in 1885, married Esther J., daughter of John Smith of New Bedford, aud they have two children: Milton J. and Bessie M.
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Bessette, Claver, is one of the representative French Canadian citizens of New Bedford, where he has resided for the past fifteen years. He was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, in the little village of Grezne, a son of Narcisse and Clavie (Nolin) Bessette. His father was a farmer and he was reared on the farm, attending the parish schools part of the year and assisting in the farm work during the balance of the time. However, as the family was a large one, his schooling was limited, and when eighteen years old he left home and came to the United States, settling first in Connecticut. He afterwards returned to his native village and thor- oughly learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1888 he settled in New Bedford and has since been engaged in carpentering and contracting. In this latter line of work he has been very successful and affords an excellent example of what may be accomplished by industry. In 1875 he married Adeline Dirn, also a native of Canada, and they have nine children: Joseph, Clarinda, Phillias, Claudea, Claver, jr., Antoinette, Eddy and Romeo.
Bicknell, Capt. George F., was born in Seekonk, Mass., May 4, 1830, a son of Joseph P. and Louisa (Allen) Bicknell, and was educated in the district school in Barrington, R. I., where his parents removed at the time he was seven years old. In 1851 he went to North Attleborough, Mass., and learned the jeweler's trade with the firm of E. I. Richards & Co. In 1854 he came to Attleborough, Mass., and en- tered the employ of 'Thompson, Hayward & Co., and in the same year went to Prov- idence, entering the employ of S. M. Lewis, where he remained until 1857. IIe went to Pawtucket, where he remained until the fall of 1857, when he established his business in Central Falls, R. I., and in 1859 returned to Attleborough. In 1862 he went to his old home in Barrington, R. I., and in connection with Col. Henry Staples was active in drilling the militia for active service in the field, he enlisting the quota for that town to fill up the 7th R. I. Infantry. He also was active in filling the sec- ond quota for Barrington, which was assigned to the 13th R. I. Infantry; enlisting in that regiment himself, he was promoted to first lieutenant and assigned to Co. E, went with the regiment to the front, was transferred to Co. C, went with the regiment to Fredericksburg, when he was discharged December 80, for reason of disability. On his way home from Washington, hearing that an engagement was imminent be- tween the contending forces, he stopped off at Baltimore, Md., and tendered his services as volunteer to General Tyler, which were accepted, and he was placed in command of the barricades in the defenses of Baltimore during the battle of Gettys- burg, the 8th Mass., 7th New York, and Home Guards of Baltimore reporting to him for duty. Returning in 1863 to Providence, he was authorized by Gov. James Y. Smith to open a recruiting office in Providence for the 3d R. I. Cavalry, was appointed and commissioned as first lieutenant of Co. B of that regiment, and on December 21, 1863, was promoted to captain, assigned to Co. C, and on December 81, 1863, em- barked for New Orleans, La., the regiment reporting to Gen. N. P. Banks, com- manding the Department of the Gulf. The regiment, which was attached to the 5th Cavalry Brigade, Colonel Gooding commanding, was assigned to General Franklin's Corps on the Red River Campaign, and was engaged April 9th in the battle of Pleasant Hill. On the morning of the 9th Captain Bicknell was ordered with a de. tachment to make an advance on the Texas Road, which was duly executed, he advancing General Banks's lines over three miles, which was farther than they were
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advanced that day, thereby capturing the enemy's advance pickets. After the battle he returned with his regiment to Alexandria and from there to New Orleans, taking part in all the raids and skirmishes during the retreat. On the 27th of September, 1864, he marched with his company and part of the regiment to Napoleonville, La., in the La Fourche District, at which place the regiment made its headquarters for nine months. Captain Bicknell was detached on court martial for three months, which was convened at Thibodeaux, after which he joined his regiment at Napoleon- ville. He was then with his company ordered to Homma, Louisiana, acting as pro- vost marshal for the parish for three months, at which time peace was declared. Returning with his command to the regiment and the war being over he tendered his resignation and was discharged June 20, 1865. After the close of the war he re- turned to Attleborough in 1866 and engaged in the jewelry business, remaining in that business until 1894, when he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, in which he is now engaged. In 1854 Captain Bicknell married Angenette Wilmarth, and they have one daughter, Mrs. Emily B. Shaw. Captain Bicknell has been a director of the Attleborough Savings and Loan Association for twenty-eight years and was its vice-president for two years, declining to serve longer, and is chairman of the board of trustees of the Attleborough Tri-Centennial Fund.
Bigney, James A., was born in Wentworth, Cumberland county, N. S., July 22, 1861, a son of James Bigney, of the French Huguenot line D'Aubigne, the celebrated divine and historian. James A. Bigney was educated in Nova Scotia, and in 1879 came to North Attleborough, Mass., where he learned the jeweler's trade. In a few years he became foreman for the firm of Marsh & Bigney, which position he held until 1888, when he resigned his position and started in business for himself, the firm name being Regnell, Bigney & Co., making a specialty of ladies' jewelry and novel- ties. Iu 1883 Mr. Bigney married Chloe R., daughter of Thomas W. Carpenter of Rehoboth, Mass., and they have five daughters: Louise M., Bertha C., Mabel S., Edythe D., and Florence L. Mr. Bigney is one of the conservative men of his town; takes an active interest in school aud church matters, and has ever received and merited the respect of his associates.
Black, William Rufus, was born in Searlstown, P. E. I., August 28, 1830, and re- ceived his early education in the provincial schools. In 1850 he left the island for the United States and came to Taunton in 1852, where he began work as a carpenter and continued about five years; he then went to driving a baker's team, which he followed until the breaking out of the war in 1861. Mr. Black enlisted in the 4th Regiment, M. V. M., and on the call for troops in April, 1861, went to Boston and from there to Fortress Monroe. In 1862 the regiment was ordered to New Orleans under General Banks and remained there nine months, receiving his discharge in August, 1863. He then engaged in cotton trading in North Carolina until 1868, when he returned to Taunton and for two years was traveling salesman, and then began business as a contractor, which he still follows. In 1878 and 1878 Mr. Black was a representative to the Legislature, and in 1896 was elected to the Senate. He has been superintendent of streets and highways for four years. January 11, 1855, he married Elizabeth Dark of Devonshire, England, and they had one daughter. Emma Louise, born January 11, 1858, died September 12, 1885.
Blackinton, Roswell, was born in Paterson, N. J., September 80, 1881. His father, R
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Virgil Blackinton, was a native of Wrentham, where his father, William Blackinton, was one of the pioneers of the town and served in the war of the Revolution. Virgil married Hannah S., daughter of Obed Robinson, and for a short time lived at Pat- erson, returning to North Attleborough in 1832. Before going to New Jersey he was a member of the firm of Robinson, Jones & Co., button manufacturers, and he with others built a large button factory at Paterson, N. J., but after 1882 was identified at North Attleborough He died in 1838 in his forty-third year. Roswell Blackinton was educated in the common schools and learned the gilt button trade with R. & W. Robinson, and afterwards learned the jewelry trade with his brother Virgil, of the firm of Guild & Blackinton. He spent some years in New Jersey as salesman; also was in the employ of Freeman & Co. In 1868 he established business for himself in which he still continues. In 1861 he married Hattie Claflin, who died in 1862; later he married Hattie Read, who died in 1864, and in 1871 he married Caroline 'T. Price, and they have one son, Roswell Blackinton, jr., and one daughter, Alice A.
Blackmer, Arthur L., who is one of the leading manufacturers of cut glass in this country, was born in Rochester, Mass., March 18, 1865, a son of Charles M. and Emily (Sears) Blackmer. He was one of three children, and belongs to one of the oldest families of this section, his ancestors being among the founders and most prominent settlers in the old Wareham and Rochester townships of colonial times. His father, a well known farmer of Rochester, died when he was a youth and the family removed to New Bedford. [Iere in the public and high schools he completed his education, and later took a business course in Scoffield's Commercial College at Providence, R. I. Shortly after the completion of this course he obtained a position in the employ of the Old Colony Railroad, and remained in it one year. He was then engaged in various mercantile pursuits until 1885, when he went into the em- ploy of the Mt. Washington Glass Co. Here Mr. Blackmer gained a thorough knowledge of the business of manufacturing and putting on the market cut glass products, his term of service covering a period of nine years, four years in the ship- ping department, and five years as paymaster and general assistant. In 1804 Mr. Blackmer saw a good opportunity to engage in business on his own account, and at once proceeded, with characteristic enterprise to establish himself in the trade. For the time occupied the growth of the business has been wonderful, and this is largely due to Mr. Blackmer's personal efforts. He aims to manufacture only the best prod- ucts, and caters only to the highest class of trade. Traveling personally, he covers the territory embracing nearly the whole of the United States. In the factory and warerooms on North Second street, employment is given to a large body of men, the majority being higly skilled mechanics. Mr. Blackmer is a steward of the County Street M. E. Church, a member of Star in the East Lodge of Masons, of Adoniram Royal Arch Chapter, and Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar. He has always taken an active interest in municipal politics and has represented Ward 2 in the Common Council four years, 1894-95-96-97. In 1896 he was elected to the presidency of this body, and was a member of the different boards and committees of the city government. In 1887 Mr. Blackmer married Susan A., a daughter of William H. Gardner of Acushnet. They have one daughter, Gladys Blackmer.
Blackmer, Herbert Albert, druggist, is the son of John and Betsey (Hall) Black- mer and a grandson of Allen Hall of Acushnet, and was born in Rochester, Mass.,
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July 6, 1856. His father, a farmer, served for several years as selectman of Roches- ter, and in 1870 moved with his family to New Bedford, where he died in November, 1885. Mr. Blackmer finished his education in the New Bedford public schools and when sixteen entered the drug store of Charles H. Church, with whom he re- mained fourteen years, having charge of his Purchase street store during the last five years. In October, 1885, he purchased of Herbert E. Hicks the drug store on the corner of Purchase and North streets, which he has since conducted. Mr. Black- mer is a member of Star in the East Lodge, F. & A. M., of Adoniram Chapter. R. A. M., and of Sutton Commandery, K. T., all of New Bedford, and of Aleppo Tem- ple, N.O.M.S., and of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, both of Bos- ton. For seven years he was a member of the New Bedford Board of Registra- tion. In 1883 he married Louise C., daughter of Charles H. Church of New Bedford.
Blake, Jacob A., was born in Wrentham, Mass., October 14, 1826, a son of Jacob and Roxa Blake. He started in life for himself at six years of age at general farming, and at sixteen years he learned the basket making trade. At seventeen he started manufacturing for himself which he followed until 1864, since which time he has lived retired. April 15, 1851, he married Eunice W., daughter of Amasa and Sally Pratt, and they had two children: Charles A. and Lizzie J. Mrs. Blake died and Mr. Blake married for his second wife a sister of his first wife, Sarah, and they have one daughter, Agnes E., who is a school teacher. Mr. Blake has been active in town and county affairs, has been tax collector for twenty-four years, constable twenty-five, deputy sheriff ten, and selectman nine years. He is a member of St. James, F. & A. M.
Blake, John E., was born in Easton, Mass., April 24, 1862, son of John and Ellen Blake, and was educated at the public schools of Easton. He soon afterward started in the shoe business, in which he was engaged for fourteen years, and in 1895 he was appointed postmaster at North Easton, Mass., which position he now holds." He was married, in 1802, to Mary E., daughter of Cornelius and Ellen Sweeny, of Can- ton, Mass. He is a member of the Massachusetts Catholic Order of M. C. O. F., of Easton, and is chief ranger of that order. Mr. Blake is one of North Easton's pro- gressive and highly respected citizens and takes an interest in school and church in- stitutions and has ever advanced the best interests of his town and townspeople.
Blandin, Lester Duane, selectman in Norton, Mass., was born in Norton, March 15, 1857, a son of Lucius D. and Lucy A. (Dean) Blandin. IIc attended the public schools in early life, finishing his education in a private school and then went to work for J. L. Leavitt, in Norton, who manufactured cotton batting, with whom he remained about five years, and then went to Kingston, Mass., where he engaged in the manufacture of match cards, remaining here about seven years, when he returned to Norton, where he has been ever since. In the spring of 1893 he was elected one of the selectmen of the town and has succeeded himself ever since and is now serving his sixth year. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. Mr. Blandin was married, November 22, 1881, to Eliza J. Ford, of Pembroke, daughter of Ketelm and Abby (Sampson) Ford, and they have four children: Gertrude A., Harry W., Edith A. and Kenneth F.
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