USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive and Biographical Record of Bristol County, Massachusetts (Volume 2) > Part 7
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In the eventful year 1854 Dr. Edward Sisson, who had studied with Dr. Manning B. Roche (before noticed), and a graduate of both the Berkshire Medical School and the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, began practice in New Bedford, in which he attained marked success.
Other physicians of this school of a comparatively early period were Drs. D. A. Babcock, Joseph W. Hayward, B. L. Dwinell, Thomas A. Capen, David W. Vanderburgh, and Drs. Stone, Finch and Walker.
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PART II. BIOGRAPHICAL.
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So Bigney
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S. O. BIGNEY.
SIDNEY OSBORNE BIGNEY is the son of James and Sarah Jane (Black) Bigney and a grandson of Peter Bigney, and was born in Went- worth, Cumberland county, Nova Scotia, November 4, 1854. On the paternal side he comes from old historic and distinguished ancestry, being a lineal descendant of Theodore Agrippa d'Aubigne, an emi- nent author and a brave and dashing soldier, who sided with the Huguenots in the religious wars of France, and who, after the capitula- tion of Rochelle, entered the service of Henry IV of Navarre, who bestowed upon him many high honors; he spent the latter part of his life in Switzerland in active support of the Protestant cause, and left many valuable works, including a universal history. Among the con- spicuous members of this noted family who are closely related to Mr. Bigney are Jean Louis Villain d'Aubigne, statesman; Pierre d'Au- bigne, the French miniature painter; Madam d'Aubigne (Amelia Dautel), the eminent portrait painter; Gaces de la Bigne, the poet; Margerin de la Bigne, writer, theologian, dean of the Church of Mans, and doctor of the Sorbonne; Charles Francois d'Aubigne, the French engraver and painter and pupil of Edme d'Aubigne; Mark F. Bigney, born in 1814, poet and formerly managing editor of the New Orleans Times; Dr. P. M. Bigney, of Cincinnati, a war veteran of 1862; and Major Thomas Oozsley Bigney, a Coloradan historian and poet, who distinguished himself in the Civil war, and who is a cousin of the sub- ject of this sketch. Charles Francois d'Aubigne, previously men- tioned, was associated with the famous Fontainebleau group of painters and belonged to a coterie of great masters of landscape painting. Jean Henri Merle d'Aubigne, D. D., was another noted member of this family, being an eminent Swiss divine, and ecclesiastical historian. He re- ceived the degree of D.C.L. from Oxford, was appointed court preacher
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at Brussels in 1823, and after the revolution of 1830 declined the post of tutor to the Prince of Orange, but became professor of church his- tory at Geneva in 1831 and filled that chair in the theological seminary until his death. His works of world-wide reputation are " Histoire de la Réformation au Siezième Siècle, 1735-53"; "Germany, Scotland, and a Vindication of Cromwell, " 1848; " Trois Siècles de Lutte en Ecosse," 1849; and "Histoire de la Réformation en Europe au temps de Calvin," 1862-78.
On his mother's side Mr. Bigney is of Scotch ancestry, being a lineal descendant of Adam and Charles Black, of Edinburgh, who are well known in connection with Sir Walter Scott's works. The first of the name to settle in Massachusetts were John Black, who was admitted a freeman in 1632, Richard Black in 1637, and Henry Black in 1645. The founder of his mother's family in America was William Black, who was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1727, emigrated to Haddersfield, England, and came thence in 1774 to Nova Scotia, where he settled on a farm near the town of Amherst, which is still occupied by some of his descendants. Mr. Bigney is a cousin of Senator William R. Black, of Taunton, Mass., a captain and veteran of the War of the Rebellion, and of Charles Allan Black, M. D., of Amherst, Nova Scotia, who was born in Salem, Cumberland county, Nova Scotia, August 23, 1844. Among others with whom he is closely related are Dr. Joseph Black, the celebrated chemist, who succeeded Cullen in the chair of chemistry at Edinburgh University; William Black, the noted English novelist, author of "Madcap Violet," "Macleod of Dare," "White Wings," etc. ; James Black, of Lewisburg, Pa., a nominee for president of the United States in 1872; Jeremiah Sullivan Black, the eminent jurist, United States attorney-general under Buchanan in 1857, and secretary of state in 1860, who exerted himself to prevent the government from falling into the hands of the secessionists; William Black, the Wes- leyan divine, who founded the Wesleyan Church in Nova Scotia and be- came general superintendent of Wesleyan missions in British America; John C. Black, soldier and commissioner of pensions; Rev. John Black, father of John C., a Presbyterian minister of Scotch-Irish extraction; and John Fisher Black, of New Orleans, of Scotch and English ances- try. Through his paternal grandmother Mr. Bigney is descended from the Leslie family, the original progenitor of which was a Hungarian knight named Bartholomew, who appeared in Scotland in 1667, during the reign of Malcolm Caenmore.
Mr. Bigney's father and grandfather were both respected farmers in
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Cumberland county, Nova Scotia, and, anglicizing the name, followed its present spelling. James Bigney, the father, was born in 1809 and died in 1871. He was a devout Christian, noted for his benevolence and generous hospitality, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all his neighbors.
Sidney Osborne Bigney was educated in the schools of his native town. At the age of eighteen, prompted by an ambitious nature, he determined to seek a wider field of usefulness, and coming to North Attleborough, Mass., he entered the employ of Draper, Pate & Bailey, which subsequently became F. S. Draper & Co. There he mastered the trade of stamping and tool making, remaining eight years. Under the most experienced workmen he acquired a thorough and practi- cal knowledge of the business. In December, 1879, with Charles A. Marsh, he formed the firm of Marsh & Bigney and began manufactur- ing jewelry at North Attleborough in the Stephen Richardson build- ing, which, eighteen months later, was completely destroyed by fire. Undaunted by this disaster they immediately secured a shop in the Robinson building at East Attleborough, and with new samples were in the market on the opening of the season's trade. From the first they displayed that foresight, energy and business capacity which laid the foundation of their subsequent success. In July, 1894, Mr. Bigney purchased his partner's interest and has ever since conducted the busi- ness under the style of S. O. Bigney & Co., he being the sole owner. The particular branch of the industry which commands his attention is the manufacture of ladies' and gentlemen's high-grade rolled-plate, gold-filled, and gold chains, embracing a large and complete line of original designs in guard chains, neck chains, gentlemen's vest chains, silk fobs, charms, etc., with dainty trimmings. These products have materially aided and made possible the proud position of Massachusetts and Rhode Island as the leading States in the Union in the manufac- ture of high-grade chains. The unique trade mark of the firm is a horseshoe with Mr. Bigney's initial B entwined, the whole being in- closed in a triangle, and is emblematical of that good fortune which has attended his fair dealings and business methods. It is so well known by all jobbers in the jewelry trade that it bespeaks a sufficient guaranty for the excellent quality of the goods. On May 18, 1898, the large and commodious manufactory on the corner of Union and Mill streets, Attleborough, was totally destroyed by fire, and in the incredi- bly short time of fifteen days Mr. Bigney established, in the Manufac-
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turers' building in Providence, R. I., a most conveniently arranged and modern factory, covering between 5,000 and 6,000 square feet of floor space, fully equipped with the latest improved machinery and appli- ances, and employing a full force of skilled operatives. He was the first of the several manufacturers to re-establish business after that dis- astrous conflagration in Attleborough, a fact that speaks eloquently of his indomitable energy, enterprise and courage, and which abundantly demonstrates his wonderful business ability and executive management.
Mr. Bigney has been actively and prominently identified with the growth of the town of Attleborough for more than twenty years, being one of its most loyal and patriotic citizens and public spirited men. He was a founder and is now president of the Attleborough Co-operative Bank, is president of the Manufacturers' Agricultural Association and of the Odd Fellows Building Association, and was chairman of a com- mittee to organize a board of trade. During the tariff agitation in 1897 he was chosen by his business contemporaries as chairman of the tariff committee of prominent Attleborough and Providence jewelers, who successfully prepared explanations of the classifications of jewelry under the Dingley law and rendered a universal service by securing an increase of the tariff rate from 35 to 60 per cent., and also valuable assistance to the New York custom house appraisers in regard to cer- tain importations of jewelry. Much of this was the result of Mr. Big- ney's personal, untiring efforts, and won for him the gratitude of jewelry manufacturers and dealers everywhere. Mr. Bigney is a staunch Republican and has repeatedly declined to become a candidate for election to the Massachusetts Legislature, though frequently urged to accept the honor. Arduous and pressing demands of business have kept him from entering the political arena. He is, however, intensely patriotic, progressive, and enterprising, and active in several fraternal organizations, holding membership in Orient Lodge and the Encamp- ment of the I.O.O.F. of Attleborough and the rank of colonel in the military division of the Knights of Pythias. He has passed through all the chairs in Pythagorus Lodge, K. of P., and is a member of the Grand Lodge. He is an ardent admirer of nature and of horses, sym. pathetic and kind hearted, responding promptly to the calls of distress and injustice, and liberally encouraging every commendable enterprise. As chairman of the literary committee of Attleborough's Fourth of July celebration in 1888 he made, prior to the introduction of Prof. Alonzo Williams, of Brown University, as orator of the day, an in-
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teresting and thrilling speech, which stamps him as a public speaker of no mean ability.
Mr. Bigney was married, June 17, 1876, to Miss Henrietta, adopted daughter of Benjamin Stevens, of Wentworth, Nova Scotia, and they have one son, Harold Osborne Bigney, born in January, 1886. The family attend the Congregational Church, to which, as well as the Attleborough Young Men's Christian Association, Mr. Bigney generous- ly contributes.
ALANSON BORDEN.
ALANSON BORDEN was born in the town of Tiverton, R. I., near to the Massachusetts line (now in the latter State), on the 7th of Janu- ary, 1823. His father was Isaac Borden, who was a farmer, as was also his grandfather and earlier ancestors, all being of English de- scent. His mother was Abby Borden, a member of a different fam. ily and not related. When he was nine years old his father and grand- father removed with the family, to Venice, Cayuga county, N. Y .; where they lived many years, the father and mother, however, finally returned to Massachusetts, and both died in New Bedford. Down to the time of the removal of the family to New York State, Alanson at- tended the school near his home, and after the removal he attended the district schools until he was seventeen years old, when he entered the Academy at Groton, N. Y. A few months later he changed to the Aurora (Cayuga county) Academy, which he attended about two years. It had been his cherished intention to go through college, and during a period of teaching after leaving the Aurora Academy, he began preparation for his college course; but a combination of circumstances rendered it impracticable for him to carry out his plans, and his further educational advantages were restricted to one year in an academy at Ithaca, N. Y., which he left with an excellent academic education, which was much enhanced by subsequent private study.
In 1846 Mr. Borden went to live in New Bedford, resolved to enter the legal profession. He began his studies in the office of Elliot & Kasson and remained there two and one-half years, when he was ad- mitted to the bar and at once opened an office. He has ever since practiced here, though very much of his time and talent has been given to the duties of public office. He was appointed special justice of the
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Police Court in 1856, and resigned the office in 1859; then he was elected to the State Legislature, serving in that body two years, with the ap- proval of his constituents. Following this he accepted the office of trial justice for juvenile offenders, which was established in New Bed- ford by special statute. In 1864 he was appointed judge of the City Police Court and held the office until 1874, when all of the police courts of the county were abolished and the county was divided into three districts with a judge for each. Judge Borden received the appoint- ment for the Third District, embracing the city of New Bedford, and the towns of Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, Acushnet and Free- town. In the fall of 1864 he became the law partner of the late Judge Robert C. Pitman, and this connection continued for several years, and until the appointment of Judge Pitman to the bench of the Superior Court. In 1876 Judge Borden was elected to the mayoralty of the city and gave his constituents an excellent administration. He has been a member of the school board for many years and was its chair- man three years.
Judge Borden has been three times married and is now a widower. His first wife was Mary C. Topham, daughter of Capt. Wm. H. Top- ham, of New Bedford. His second wife was Mary F. Kent, daughter of George Kent, of Washington, D. C. His third was Annie R. Com- merford, daughter of Patrick Commerford, of New Bedford. His children are a son and a daughter by his first wife. The son, William A. Borden, is now in charge of the library of the Young Men's Insti- tute, in New Haven, Ct. The daughter, Laura E., is the wife of Charles H. Lobdell, of New Bedford. Judge Borden has always been especially attached to his home, finding his chief happiness in the family circle around his own fireside. It is very largely from the beneficent and inspiring influences of his domestic life that he attributes whatever measure of success he may have attained in his public career.
The career of Judge Borden has been for many years a moral force in the life of his adopted city. He has been deeply interested in the questions of the day and prominent always in those reforms having for their aim the well being of men, and his influence has seemed largely independent of his official position.
He will, however, at least by his professional brethren and by public men, be best remembered as the judge of the local court of New Bed- ford and its vicinage. To the bench he brought a thorough knowledge of the principles and practice of law, a fondness for legal research, a
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sound judgment and a rare kindliness of manners. Few criminals could run the gauntlet of his cross-examination, but heavy fines and long confinements were always held in disfavor, and if there was a gleam of hope of reformation, Judge Borden was always the first to detect it.
During the administration of Judge Borden as mayor, every munici- pal service was raised to its highest efficiency and politics as an inci- dent to such service was almost entirely obliterated.
In professional practice since his retirement from the bench in the summer of 1897 Judge Borden's attention has been given mainly to cases in the probate and insolvency courts, and in the settlement of estates his counsel and assistance are always in request. He is at this time president of the New Bedford Bar Association.
SIMEON BORDEN.
SIMEON BORDEN, for thirty two years the clerk of the courts of Bristol county, was born March 29, 1829, in Fall River, Mass., where he spent his entire life. His first English ancestor went over to England from Bourdonnay, Norway, as a soldier under William the Conqueror, and after the battle of Hastings (in A. D. 1066) was assigned lands in County Kent, where the family afterward became wealthy and influential, the village where they resided being named Borden. Early in the seven- teenth century John Borden moved to Wales, where his sons Richard and John were married. These sons returned to Borden, in England, and in May, 1635, embarked for America. Richard (1) settled in Ports- mouth, R. I., in 1638. The line of descent from him is (2) John, (3) Richard, (+) Joseph, (5) Abraham, (6) Simcon, and (7) Nathaniel B., who was the father of the subject of this memoir. Nathaniel Briggs Borden was born in Freetown (afterward Fall River), Mass., April 15, 1801. The house in which his birth occurred stood on the west side of South Main street, nearly opposite the south end of the Pocasset Mill, and was celebrated in local annals from the fact that two British sol- diers were shot and killed at its eastern door when the English attacked the village in the Revolutionary war. Simeon Borden (6), father of Nathaniel B., was born in Freetown in 1759, removed to Tiverton, R. I., in 1806, and died there November 27, 1811. His wife, Amey Briggs, a woman of superior business ability and sterling character,
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was one of the founders of the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manu- factory, in 1814, and died May 26, 1817, leaving five children. Na- thaniel B. Borden was one of the organizers of the Pocasset Manu- facturing Company on August 15, 1821, and served as its clerk and treasurer until 1838. He was president of the Fall River Railroad from 1847 to 1854, and also of the Fall River Union Bank and the Fall River Savings Bank for several years prior to his death, which occurred April 10, 1865. He was for many years town clerk, selectman, assessor, and highway surveyor; a member of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1831, 1834, 1351, and 1864, and of the State Senate in 1845 and 1847; and was elected to Congress in 1834, 1836 and 1840. IIe was also mayor of Fall River in 1857 and an alderman from 1859 to 1865. He was four times married: first to Sarah Gray, second to Louisa Gray, third to Sarah G. Buffum, and fourth to Mrs. Lydia A. (Slade) Wilbur.
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Simeon Borden, the eldest son of Hon. Nathaniel B. and Sarah (Gray) Borden, was of the eighth generation from Richard Borden, the original immigrant. He was the great-great grandson of Capt. Nathaniel Briggs; the great grandson of Col. Pardon Gray, an officer of the Revolution; a nephew of Simeon Borden, a foremost civil engineer and mathemati- cian; and a kinsman of Job Durfee and his son, Thomas Durfee, both chief justices of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. After attending the public school Mr. Borden prepared for college under that eminent instructor, Mr. Belden, of Fruit Hill, near Providence, R. I., and in 1846 he entered Harvard, from which he was graduated with honor in 1850, being the first native of Fall River to graduate therefrom. Among his classmates were Charles Hale, editor of the Boston Adver- tiser, consul general to Egypt, and assistant secretary of state; Everett C. Banfield, assistant secretary of the treasury; Rev. Dr. Joseph H. Thayer, Bussey professor of sacred literature at Harvard and professor at Andover Theological Seminary; Hon. T. Jefferson Coolidge, U. S. minister to France; Hon. James C. Carter, of the New York bar; Gen. William A. Burt, postmaster of Boston; and a number of others who have won distinction in civil and professional life. On graduating from. Harvard Mr. Borden entered the Cambridge Law School, from which he received the degree of LL. B. two years later. He then spent a year in the law office of William Brigham, of Boston, and was admitted to the bar in 1853 and began active practice in Fall River.
The experience gained by long and faithful study, combined with a naturally judicial temperament, soon won for Mr. Borden the respect
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and esteem of both his fellow citizens and his legal associates. He was the associate counsel and prepared with great ability the case before the legislative committee defending the constitutional line, which sub- sequently became the present boundary line between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He was also one of the counsel in the important Allen Mason will trial, which he prepared with remarkable skill and care. He was a member of the common council of Fall River two years and its president one year, a member of the board of aldermen for seven con- secutive years, city solicitor two years, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives two years, a trustee of the Fall River Free Library for seventeen years, one of the commissioners of the sinking fund, a trustee of the Fall River Savings Bank, a trustee of the Taun- ton Lunatic Hospital, and a member of the old fire department, being foreman of Niagara Engine Co. Upon the resignation of John S. Brayton as clerk of the Bristol courts in January, 1864, Mr. Borden was appointed by the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court to fill the vacancy until the annual election, when he was elected for the unex- pired term, and by repeated re elections he continued to hold that office until his death on the 9th of March, 1896.
Mr. Borden carried into the performance of public duties the same conscientious spirit and high standard which he exhibited in those of a private nature. IIc illustrated in civil life the very best New England examples. Possessing a sound . legal training, his ability, fidelity, in- tegrity, and unfailing courtesy with which he discharged the arduous and exacting responsibilities of the office of clerk of the courts for nearly a generation, won the unstinted praise and approval of the judi- ciary, the bar, and all with whom he came in contact. He was justly called the model clerk, " and was without an equal in the Common- wealth." "His records, while elaborate, were simple and concise, and were expressed in clear, vigorous English. Beyond the required duties of his position, by 'nis care and industry, the office has thirty bound volumes of exceptions and briefs of counsel in cases which have been argued before the Supreme Judical Court." He was largely instru- mental in establishing the valuable law library at Taunton. Among the resolutions a lopted by the bar of Bristol county immediately after Mr. Borden's death, the following extracts are quoted:
"Devoted to the best traditions and loyal to the highest standards in the profession of the law, it was the lifelong purpose and constant effort of our friend and brother to uphold, in connection with the courts
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of the Commonwealth, the highest conception of professional honor and the noblest type of professional character.
"Always glad to welcome to the practice of the profession the young men at the opening of their careers, it was a delight to him to contrib- ute from the abundance of his knowledge and wisdom in order to make the pathway for them easier and pleasanter, asking for and thinking of no return for the help and assistance rendered other than the satisfac- tion which he derived in gratifying his own sympathetic nature."
He was a public spirited citizen, taking a deep interest in all worthy movements, and liberally supporting every charitable enterprise. In politics he was a strong anti-slavery advocate and a Republican. He was the first president of the Harvard Club in Fall River. Upon his death he was succeeded as clerk of the courts by his son, Simeon Bor- den, jr.
Simeon Borden, only son of Simeon and Irene (Hathaway) Borden, was born in Fall River, June 27, 1860. He attended the public schools of his native city and prepared for college in the high school, from which he was graduated in the class of 1878. The same year he en- tered Brown University and in 1882 was graduated with the degree, A. B. Shortly after graduation he became a clerk in his father's office, and continued in that capacity until 1888 when he was appointed assist- ant clerk of courts. He held this position at the time of Simeon Bor- den's death and was appointed to fill the vacancy until the next election. At this time he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of clerk of courts and was elected by a large majority. He has many of the personal characteristics which endeared his father to all who enjoyed his sterling friendship, and is held in high esteem by all of those with whom, by virtue of his public position, he comes in contact.
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