USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive and Biographical Record of Bristol County, Massachusetts (Volume 2) > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
CAPTAIN HERBERT A. CLAR.K.
CAPT. HERBERT ALLEN CLARK, of Attleborough, who holds the position of regimental quartermaster in the United States volunteer army, is the only surviving son of Samuel W. and Charity H. (Cushman) Clark, and was born in Middleboro, Mass., Feb. 22, 1859. He is descended from the earliest Puritan stock, his maternal ancestor being Robert Cushman, the financial agent of the Plymouth Colony, who joined the Pilgrims in New England in 1621. His paternal ancestor, John Clark,
Digitized by Google
linkriver that converts.
Hetek W. Clark
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
718
BIOGRAPHICAL.
came to Plymouth about 1623, and besides these Captain Clark is re- lated by ancestral ties to several of the prominent families of the Mas- sachusetts settlements, including that of Gov. William Bradford. His grandfathers, Abisha T. Clark and Elias Cushman, were both respected farmers of Middleborough, where his father, Samuel W., followed the occupation of carpenter and builder until his death in 1883, at the age of sixty-two. His mother, Charity HI. Cushman Clark, still survives.
Captain Clark was educated in the Middleboro public and high schools, graduating from the latter in 1876. On the 31st of January, 1877, he went to Attleborough, Bristol county, and entered the jewelry manu- factory of Horton, Angell & Co., with which firm he has ever since been connected. This widely known firm was established in 1870 by Edwin J. and Gideon M. Horton and Benjamin J. Angell, under the present style of Horton, Angell & Co., and from the first has been suc- cessfully engaged in the manufacture of men's and women's gold plated goods, such as cuff and collar buttons, sets, etc., from the first quality rolled-gold plate. It has gained a national reputation for the high standard and artistic workmanship of its product. As an apprentice during a period of a little more than three and one-half years Captain Clark thoroughly mastered every detail and acquired a practical knowl- edge of the business, and in the autumn of 1880 was made superinten- dent. Ile filled this position for several years, becoming a partner in the firm on the 1st of January, 1886. Edwin J. Horton had died and had been succeeded by Major Everett S. Horton, his brother, whose sketch appears in this volume; Mr. Angell and Gideon M. Horton died in 1886, but the firm name has remained unchanged, the present part- ners being Major E. S. Horton, Capt. Herbert A. Clark, and Thomas S. Carpenter.
In politics Captain Clark is a staunch Republican, yet he has never sought nor accepted public office. He has, however, been somewhat active in local political affairs and is now (1898) a member of the Re- publican town committee of Attleborough. He is one of the most public spirited of citizens, taking a deep interest in all matters affecting the community at large, and liberally supporting every movement which promises reasonable benefit and general good. As a business man he has displayed ability and sagacity of a high order, and is a director of the Attleborough Savings and Loan Association and of the Attleborough Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Captain Clark has been prominently and actively connected with mil- 90
Digitized by Google
714
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
itary affairs during the past eleven years. He became a member and sergeant of Co. I, 5th Regt. M. V. M., at its organization in 1887, and was elected second lieutenant in 1889, first lieutenant in 1892, and cap- tain in 1895. In 1897 he was appointed inspector of rifle practice on the staff of Col. J. H. Whitney. The war between Spain and the United States brought him into the volunteer army as quartermaster of his regiment, which was mustered in as the 5th Mass. Vol. Inf., being ap- pointed quartermaster and mustered into service June 23, 1898. Cap- tain Clark is a thorough soldier, an excellent disciplinarian, and popular with his officers and men. He is a thirty second degree Mason, holding membership in Ezekiel Bates Lodge, King Hiram Chapter, and Attleborough Council, of Attleborough; in Bristol Commandery, K. T., of North Attleborough; in Aleppo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston; and in the Scottish Rite bodies to and includ- ing the thirty-second degree, which were conferred upon him at Provi- dence, R. I., in 1896. He is also a member of Orient Lodge and Gideon M. Horton Encampment, I. O. O. F., and of Pennington Lodge, A. O. U. W., all of Attleborough. Ile is unmarried.
ABIEL CODDING.
ABIEI. CODDING has been for many years one of the foremost business men of North Attleborough. He was born in Rehoboth, January 29, 1817, a son of Abiel and Chloe (Daggett) Codding. The family has been well represented in this vicinity for many years and members of it were among the first settlers of Taunton, Mass. James, one of the first of the name of whom there is any mention, was born in Taunton and was a farmer and soldier in the Continental army. He married Joanna Eddy, and their children were three: David, Abigail, who mar- ried Wheaton Barrows, and Abiel, who was born in Taunton, October 27, 1792. He removed to Attleborough when about fourteen years old and worked on a farm for Seneca Sanford, where he proved himself to be industrious, frugal and temperate. " He became a well-to-do farmer in this town (Attleborough), where he lived more than sixty-three years, leaving an example of industry and sobriety well worthy the imitation of the present generation." At the outbreak of the war of 1812 he was among the first to volunteer his services. He died Octo- ber 3, 1881, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. His wife was Chloe,
Digitized by Google
715
BIOGRAPHICAL.
daughter of Elihu Daggett, and thirteen children were born of their union.
Their third born was Abiel Codding, the subject of this sketch, and about a year after his birth they removed to a farm in East Attlebor- ough. Here Abiel Codding was reared, surrounded by the influences of a New England farm home and receiving the advantages afforded by the schools of that period. He early exhibited a natural aptitude for mechanics and at the age of sixteen entered the jewelry factory of II. M. Richards, with whom he remained three years. At the end of this period, when only nineteen years of age, he began a jewelry busi- ness of his own in association with Stephen Richardson. They con- tinued but a short time and Mr. Codding returned to his trade as a journeyman. He gave his whole mind to the details of his work and made many valuable improvements in the different kinds of tools used in the business. In the mean time his old employer, H. M. Richards, had established a plant in Philadelphia and Mr. Codding went there tu take a position, but returned in a short time and entered the employ of Ira Richards & Co. In 1841 he became interested in this firm and so continued until it was dissolved-over thirty years.
Few men attained a greater degree of success than he. In the first place he was naturally a mechanic, and secondly he had to a remarkable degree the power of application. IIe made many valuable improve- ments in the system of manufacturing and was granted many patents. Although now in his eighty-second year he is still a vigorous man, and well retains his faculties. He was a director of the Attleborough Na- tional Bank of North Attleborough; is president of the North Attle- borough Gaslight Company, of which he was one of the first directors; and president of the Attleborough Savings Bank of North Attlebor- ough. In the estimation of his fellow citizens no man stands higher than he.
Mr. Codding has always upheld the principles of the Democratic party, but takes no interest in political affairs and has never sought political preferment. He married, October 28, 1841, Ann Maria Rich- ards, daughter of Calvin and Olive (Blackinton) Richards, of Attle- borough. Five children were born to them; three sons, Arthur E., James A. and Edwin A., all engaged in business in North Attleborough; and two daughters, both deceased.
Digitized by Google
:
716
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
HENRY H. CRAPO .- WILLIAM W. CRAPO.
Among the many citizens of New Bedford and Dartmouth who have achieved high honor and whose names are held in respect wherever they are known, are Henry H. Crapo, and his son, William W. Crapo. Born on a Dartmouth farm, from the sterile soil of which his parents could no more than wrest a livelihood, Henry H. Crapo showed his inborn attributes by closing his life in the highest office which the peo. ple of the State of Michigan could confer upon him. He was born in the northern part of Dartmouth on May 24, 1804, and his early years were full of toil. Boys in those times were made useful in some direc- tion at an earlier age than now. He probably developed manly qualities much more rapidly on account of his early labor and privation. With a native thirst for knowledge and perceiving that through the possession of an education he could rise above the circumstances that surrounded him, he made every sacrifice that would further his ambition. James B. Congdon records the fact that he has seen a dictionary in manuscript compiled (not copied) by him in his youth, and it is said that he fre- quently traveled the distance of eight miles from his home to New Bedford in order to learn the meaning of a word or phrase which had puzzled him. Unaided he made himself master of the theory of sur- veying and when there came the long-looked for opportunity to put his knowledge in practice he was not daunted by the fact that he had no compass, and going to a blacksmith shop, he fashioned a crude one for himself. Many other anecdotes are told of him, all of which bring into clear retrospection the great force of character and the native ability which he exhibited in surmounting unavoidable obstacles. In course of time he became competent to teach the village school and when a high school was to be opened he determined to apply for the principalship. He knew that the requirements of the law were rigid, and earnestly ap- plied himself to study in order to qualify for the position. J. H. W. Page, then, it is believed, a preceptor in the Friends' Academy, examined him and gave him a certificate of qualification. Mr. Page resided in New Bedford and to meet him the young student walked the distance one evening after his daily labor was finished, and when the thorough exam. ination was completed, trudged homeward the same night, happy in the possession of the coveted prize.
At the age of twenty-eight years he removed to New Bedford and became a land surveyor, sometimes acting as an auctioneer. He was
Digitized by Google
717
BIOGRAPHICAL.
soon elected town clerk, treasurer, and collector of taxes, and held these positions about fifteen years, or until the form of the municipal gov- ernment was changed, when he was elected treasurer and collector of taxes, holding the office two years. He was also police justice many years, served on the Board of Aldermen, was chairman of the council committee on junior education, and in this capacity personally prepared the report upon which was based the order for the establishment of the Free Public Library of New Bedford. Upon its organization he was chosen one of the first trustees. In this connection it may be noted that a local newspaper printed the following: "No man connected with the municipal government ever had to a greater extent than Mr. Crapo, the confidence of the people. He was exact and methodical in all matters of record; conscientious and laboriously persistent in the discharge of every duty; clear in his method and statements in all that appertained to his official transactions with the town and his towns- men, leaving at the close of his long connection with them, all that belonged to his department as a financial or recording officer so lumin- ous and complete that no error has ever been detected or improvement made upon his methods." In later life, after he had attained the ex- alted positions he was destined to occupy, Mr. Crapo often referred to the training he received in New Bedford civic meetings and offices, and averred that but for this he could not have succeeded in the loftier and more honorable offices which his fellow citizens of Michigan be- stowed upon him. While in New Bedford he was engaged to some extent in the whaling industry, a fine bark, of which he was part owner, being named in his honor, "The H. H. Crapo." He was president of the Bristol County Fire Insurance Compary, and secretary of the Bed- ford Commercial Insurance Company. He was an earnest worker in the State militia and for several years held a commission as colonel of one of the regiments. While an officer of the municipal government he compiled and published the directories of the place for 1836 and 1845. He organized the Horticultural Society of New Bedford and was its first president. In the cultivation of fruits and flowers he was actively interested, and as his position in life grew more secure, de- voted much attention to the cultivation of every kind of fruit and or- namental trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. At horticultural fairs in Boston and elsewhere he exhibited from his grounds one hundred and fifty varieties of pears of his own propagation, and one hundred and twenty varieties of roses. He became a regular contributor to the New Eng-
Digitized by Google
718
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
land Horticultural Journal and gained a wide reputation as an authori- ty. After his removal to Michigan he came into possession of a farm of 1,100 acres, most of which he redeemed from swamp by a system of drainage perfected by himself. He engaged in breeding and importing fine blooded stock and in 1863 was elected president of the Genesee County Agricultural Society. During the late years of his life he be- came a regular contributor to the Country Gentleman, and after his death an affecting eulogy of himself was pronounced by the president of the National Horticultural Society at its meeting in Philadelphia in 1869. His removal to Michigan, which took place in 1856, was due primarily to investments in pine lands. He took up his residence in Flint city and engaged largely in the manufacture of lumber; inter- ested capital and built railroads, becoming one of the largest and most successful business men in the State. He at once took an active inter- est in the municipal affairs of Flint and was elected mayor after a resi- dence there of only five years. In 186% he was elected a State senator to represent Genesee county and ranked with the leading men of Mich- igan in the war Senate. In 1864 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for governor and was elected by a large majority. He was re- elected in 1866, holding the office two terms and retiring in January, 1869. Governor Crapo's administration was remarkably efficient and especially characterized by his vetoing railway aid legislation and his firm refusal to pardon convicts, except upon overwhelming proof of their innocence or excessive sentence. During his last term he was attacked by the disease which terminated his life within one year. Few men would or could have withstood the intense suffering which he bore and still attended with unceasing zeal, energy and industry to the du- ties of his position. The press paid many tributes to his worth, the Detroit Tribune of July 24, 1869, closing an obituary notice as follows:
In all the public positions he held Governor Crapo showed himself a capable, dis- creet, vigilant and industrious officer. Ile evinced wonderful vigor in mastering details, and always wrote and spoke intelligently on any subject to which he gave his attention. Michigan never before had a Governor who devoted so much personal attention and painstaking labor to her public duties as he did. His industry was literally amazing. He was not a man of brilliant or showy qualities, but he pos- sessed sharp and remarkably well developed business talents, a clear and practical understanding, sound judgment and untailing integrity. In all the walks of life there was not a purer man in the State. So faithful, so laborious, so conscientious a man in office is a blessing beyond computation in the healthful influence which he exerts in the midst of the too prevalent corruptions that so lamentably abound in the
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
..
....
W. W. Enpo -
Digitized by
719
BIOGRAPHICAL.
public service. We have often thought that, in his broad and sterling good sense, Governor Crapo closely resembled the lamented Lincoln. He was a man of the people and most worthily represented them. His decease is an occasion for public mourning and the State has very few men like him and can ill afford to spare such an eminently useful citizen. His death will be profoundly deplored throughout our Commonwealth and a general sympathy will be sincerely extended to the bereaved family.
Mr. Crapo was a member for many years of the Christian Church. He married, June 9, 1825, Mary Ann Slocum, of Dartmouth. His wife, who shared his earlier struggles with him, was a devoted woman and possessed a strong character, combined with hopefulness and courage. They had ten children, a son and nine daughters.
William W. Crapo, only son of Gov. Henry Howland Crapo, was born while his parents resided in Dartmouth, May 16, 1830. His early edu- cation was obtained in the New Bedford public schools; he prepared for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, and was graduated from Yale College in 1852. Very early in life he decided to make the legal pro- fession his life work, and after leaving college began to read in the office of Gov. John H. Clifford, of New Bedford, and later continued at the Harvard Law School, Cambridge. Like his father, he possessed in abundance those qualities of energy and perseverance which aid in making the successful student and his preparation for the legal profes- sion was most painstaking and thorough. He was admitted to the bar in 1855, at once began practice in New Bedford and has, therefore, now completed a period of forty-three years as a practitioner. Very soon after his admission to the bar Mr. Crapo was appointed city solicitor and held the office twelve years, giving the most conscientious and thorough attention and devotion to all his official duties. His first real work in politics was in behalf of John C. Fremont, the first candidate of the Republican party for president, and during the campaign he won a brilliant reputation as an orator. In the same year (1856) Mr. Crapo was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and in the following year declined to become a candidate for State senator, desir- ing to give more attention to his increasing legal business. It was somewhat remarkable that he so soon attained a leading position at the bar, a success which was in large measure due to his exhaustive legal knowledge, his patient industry and unfailing self-reliance. His qual- ifications rapidly gained recognition and he won to an exceptional de- gree the confidence of the citizens of New Bedford. All measures
Digitized by Google
.
720
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
tending to advance the interests of the village, even during his earliest endeavors to secure a firm professional foothold, found in him an earn- est and unselfish supporter. He was chairman of the commission who were in charge of the first public water supply, and from 1865 to 1875 was chairman of the Water Board. With the breaking out of the Civil war he entered heartily into all measures for the support of the gov- ernment, and during the close of the struggle he gave freely of his time, energy and means for the welfare of the cause. Mr. Crapo has never been a man whom the people were disposed to leave out of public service, and he was elected to the Forty fourth Congress to fill a vacancy, and was re-elected to the Forty-fifth, Forty sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses, declining in 1882 to longer accept the nomination. While not attempting in this brief notice to give an adequate account of his work as a legislator, it may be stated that he early took a prominent position in Congress; was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Forty- fifth Congress, and of the Committee on Bank- ing and Currency in the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh. During his last term he was chairman of the last-named committee and much has been said and written in praise of the skillful and efficient manner in which he managed the bill for extending the charters of national banks, a bill which was successfully carried through under his leadership, and against formidable obstacles. In the tariff legislation through which the tax on the capital and deposits of banks was removed, his famil- iarity with the subject was of great service and secured the direct application of the law to the national banks. Mr. Crapo's value in the legislation of the country during the incumbency of the office of con- gressman was recognized not only by his constituents but by the nation. In a short review of Mr. Crapo's life and public services published some time ago, the biographer said:
At the age of fifty Mr. Crapo finds himself well started in political life, in the full maturity of his powers and possessing what some politician has so neatly termed the pecuniary basis. In person he strongly resembles his father, a man of hardy intel- lectual physiognomy. The family is of French origin, regarding which there is a romantic tradition. Both father and son have the style of face which is French rather than English. The strong mental as well as physical resemblance of the son to the father is a striking illustration of Galton's doctrine of heredity.
Mr. Crapo has achieved remarkable success as a lawyer of finance, and as guardian or trustee of individual estates his high character and business talents have brought to him more interests and cases than he
Digitized by Google
.
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
781
BIOGRAPHICAL.
could attend to. In nearly all of the more prominent business enter- prises of New Bedford his name is found in some capacity, and in the conduct of each his mature advice, his rarely erring judgment and fore- sight, and his entire trustworthiness have been sought and fully appre- ciated. Mr. Crapo has served as president of the Mechanics' National Bank for more than a quarter of a century. He has been prominent in the boards of direction of numerous manufacturing industries, and for many years has been president of the Flint and Pere Marquette Rail- road Company, as well as actively associated with the management of several other railroads. To many other departments of business indus- try he has at some period of his life devoted attention, gaining the ripe experience that comes to men of broad powers. He has always been a Republican and an earnest and influential supporter of his party. That he has not in recent years received the nomination for governor of Massachusetts is due more to his reluctance to the employment of the political methods of the day than to any other cause. He is now in his sixty-ninth year, a man of brilliant intellectual ability, high scholarship, comprehensive legal and business knowledge and enjoying to the larg- est degree the confidence and admiration of the people. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by Yale College in 1882. Mr. Crapo married, January 22, 1857, Sarah Ann Davis Tappan, and two sons were born to them: IIenry Howland Crapo and Stanford Tappan Crapo.
WILLIAM FREDERICK DROWN.
WILLIAM FREDERICK DROWN, who died at his home on County street, New Bedford, in the seventy sixth year of his age, on February 18, 1891, was one of the leading business men of that city. He was born in Rehoboth, December 4, 1815, only son of Ezra and Sally (Lindsey) Drown. The family is of good old Puritan stock, its advent in America dating back to early in the seventeenth century. Mr. Drown's father was born in Rehoboth, February 1, 1788, and was by occupation a farmer. His mother was also a native of Rehoboth, born February 20, 1789. They had seven children, six daughters and a son. Mr. Drown's grandfather, Colonel Frederick Drown, also of Rehoboth, was a prom- inent man in his generation, a soldier of the Revolution, and a man much esteemed by his fellow citizens. For twenty years he held com-
91
Digitized by Google
723
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
missions in the military. He served the town of Rehoboth as select- man and overseer of the poor twenty-three years and as assessor four- teen years. IIe also represented the town in the General Court for eleven years, viz., 1787-1791, and 1799-1804. He died in the latter year of typhoid fever, having reached the age of sixty two years.
William Frederick Drown spent the earlier years of his life in Attle- borough, whither his parents had removed shortly after his birth. Here he was educated in the public schools, and in 1838 removed to Middle- borough and engaged in the cotton business. Mr. Drown came to New Bedford in 1843 and opened a retail grocery store, which he conducted alone successfully for five years and then formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, Sylvanus Thomas, under the firm name of William F. Drown & Company. They branched out into a wholesale business and met with abundant and merited success, for both were men of the highest qualities and natural ability. In 1861 Mr. Thomas withdrew from the firm and the business was conducted by Mr. Drown until 1868, when he retired from active service and during the remainder of his life enjoyed a well earned freedom from the cares and responsibilities of active business.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.