USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 104
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Matthews, Charles Henry, son of Alonzo and Eunice E. (Burdick) Matthews, was born in Nantucket, Mass., May 3, 1843. He attended the public schools of his native town and after finishing his schooling he made two voyages whaling, the first being for two years and the second voyage for fifteen months. He was then engaged in mackerel fishing for several years. Since 1892 he has been associated with Charles W. Howland in the coal business in South Dartmouth village. Mr. Matthews is one of four children; he has two sisters living: Mrs. Thomas L. Snow and Mrs. Andrew A. Butts. He is descended on both sides from old Puritan families.
Maxfield, Edmund F , a son of Edmund and Catherine (Clark) Maxfield, was born in New Bedford, May 4, 1841. His father, who died in New Bedford, in 1876, in his sixty-ninth year, was a prominent owner of whale shipping, a member of the Com- mon Council, under the mayoralty of Hon. Abraham H. Howland, 1851, and Hon. William J. Rotch, 1852, and one of the representative business men of the town for several years. He was a man of the strictest integrity and gained and maintained a high reputation. In early life he had been a whaling captain and the experience thus gained rendered him especially well fitted for the shipping business. He had amassed considerable property by the exercise of indefatigable energy and ability. Edmund F. Maxfield was educated in the private schools of New Bedford, and at an
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early age began to learn the machinist's trade, in the shop of Collis & Nightingale, at Providence, R. I. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he at once enlisted in the navy, being commissioned acting third assistant engineer, in which capacity he served fifteen months, and was then obliged to resign on account of ill health. Later he engaged in the transport service, which was fully as hazardous as service in the regular navy, and after the war he worked at his trade until the death of his father, when he took charge of the estate and has since managed it. Mr. Maxfield has always taken an active interest in the fire department and was well known to the old volunters. The Maxfield family were among the earliest settlers of the town of Dartmouth and have been prominent in local history. The family is of English origin.
Meaney, Thomas J., dealer in real estate, was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, July 12, 1844, a son of Daniel and Mary (Sexton) Meaney. His father was a steam - boat engineer on a line from Cork to Liverpool, and his mother conducted a variety store on King street in Cork for several years. His education was limited, being confined to a few terms in the Christian Brothers' school in Cork. When he was twelve years old he succeeded in making his passage to St. Johns, New Brunswick, and from there went to Boston, and later to Quincy, where he remained about two years. He then began to make fishing voyages to the Grand Banks, and in the win- ter season went South to work as an oysterman. In 1862 he went into the United States Revenue service, shipping on a revenue cutter, and in 1865 he went into the employ of the Armstrong & Hotchkiss line of packet ships to the West Indies, where he became a mate in the service. In 1868 he came to New Bedford and re entered the revenue service, remaining in it about four years. In 1872 he was appointed to the New Bedford police force and served one year in Mayor Dunbar's administra- tion, and later two years under Mayor Abram H. Howland. For the last sixteen years he has been in the real estate business. Mr. Meaney has been the architect of his own fortunes and, having come to this country a friendless youth, his success is all the more remarkable. He has always been a staunch Democrat and has been active in Democratic political circles, having been for several years district member of the Thirteenth Congressional District of the Democratic Committee. He repre- sented Ward 6 one time in the Common Council and he has served as president of the St. Lawrence Catholic Temperance Society for seven years, is a member of the Knights of Columbus and treasurer of the New Bedford Literary Association, and a member of the Irish American Historical Society. He married, in 1868, Mary Mc- Auliffe, late of New Bedford. Seven children were born to them, four of whom sur- vive: John J., Mary E., Alice C. and Agnes G.
Mitchell, John, was born in Scotland, October 17, 1858, a son of William and Ann Mitchell, educated in the common schools and at fourteen ycars of age became a seafaring man, which he followed until he settled in Orange, N. J., in 1884. Here he formed a partnership for the manufacture of rubber goods, with stores located in New York. In 1890 he moved to Mansfield and has since lived a retired farmer. He married Emma M., daughter of Julius and Caroline H. Felt of Jaffrey, N. H., and their children are Harold, William and Arthur Julius. Mrs. Mitchell is a gradu- ate of Jaffrey High School, Melville Academy and Bridgewater Normal, and taught five years in the Normal College, University of Nashville, Nashville, Tenn., and has
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traveled extensively in the old country. Mr. Mitchell is a member of St. James F. & A. M. of Mansfield and is actively interested in affairs of his town and county.
Moran, William, son of John K. and Margaret (Baker) Moran, was born in Lan- cashire, England, September 6, 1855. When he was an infant the family removed to this country, settling in Fall River. Mr. Moran attended the public schools for a short time and then began work for the American Printing Company, and after a three years' service in the print works went into the mills as weaver, which occupa- tion he continued at until 1877. At this time he began to learn the barber's trade under Edward Connell, with whom he remained two years and then established himself in the business which he still continues, being located on Rodman street. Mr. Moran has always been active in political circles. He has served for two years as secretary and for two years as permanent chairman of the Democratic City Com- mittee. In 1893 he was elected representative from the Fall River district and re- elected in 1894. During these terms, 1894-95, he served in 1894 on the committee on federal relations and in 1895 on the committee on labor. In 1896 he was elected by a large majority State senator and was re elected in 1897, serving in his first term on the committee on labor and insurance, and in his second term on labor, insurance, and public charitable institutions. During his long residence in Fall River he has gained a host of warm friends and is held in high estimation by all who know him. He is an ardent and sincere advocate of temperance and has done much to aid the cause of total abstinence.
Moore, Charles Sturtevant, principal of the New Bedford High School, born in Boston in 1852, was the son of the Rev. E. D. and Harriet J. Moore. His paternal grandfather was Dr. Aaron Moore of Winsted, Conn., and his maternal grandfather, the Rev. Elisha Fiske, for fifty-two years the Congregational minister of Wrentham, Mass. His father, a Congregational minister, preached in Kingston, Barre, Natick and Boston, and was the first editor of "The Congregationalist," then known as " The Recorder," and was on the staff of the first anti-slavery paper published in Massachusetts. He was on the staff that edited the State republication of the Mas- sachusetts and Old Colony Records. He contributed many of the articles in the "Cyclopedia of Missions," was the author of " Life Scenes in Mission Field," and constant contributor to the Congregationalist and the Evangelist. Mr. Moore's mother was the author of several works which reached their fortieth thousand- among them " The Golden Legacy " and " Anna Clayton." She wrote a number of temperance stories which had a large sale and contributed many articles for gift books and for the current periodicals. The Hon. Henry Wilson, when he came to Natick a poor boy, received substantial help and encouragement from the Rev. Mr. Moore, who directed his studies and opened to him his library. Mr. Wilson through- out his public life was a warm friend of the Rev. Mr. Moore and his wife and was a constant visitor in their home. Mr. Moore prepared at the Boston Latin School for Harvard, completing the six years' work in four years. Graduating from Harvard in 1873, he accepted a position in the Private Classical School of Mr. John P. Hop- kinson in Boston, where he remained four years. During the first two years, in pur- suance of a desire to study medicine, he took several courses in physics and chemis- try at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and studied in the laboratory of the Harvard Medical School under Prof. Jackson. Deciding, however, to make
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teaching his life work, he accepted, in 1877, the principalship of the Taunton, Mass., High School, going thence, in 1885, to the head mastership of the Cathedral School of Saint Paul, in Garden City, L. I., an endowed private school upon the model of West Point, where he remained until 1893, when he came to his present position in New Bedford. A member and officer of numerous educational associations, Mr. Moore is the author of many addresses and papers, mainly upon educational topics. For two years he was chairman of a committee of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Associa- tion to procure greater uniformity in college admission requirements, and was one of the founders of the Bristol County Teachers' Association. He is second vice-pres- ident of the Y. M. C. A., a vestryman of Grace Church and also clerk of the parish ; trustee of the Teachers' Annuity Guild and vice-president of the Teachers' Benefit Association and member of many literary and religious clubs. Mr. Moore is mar- ried and has two daughters.
Morton, Charles H., president of the First National Bank of Fairhaven and treas- urer of the Fairhaven Institution for Savings, was born in Fairhaven, October 15, 1841, a son of Charles F. and Hannah (Slade) Morton. His father was a cooper and farmer, and a respected citizen of Fairhaven for many years. For some time he was a director of the First National Bank. During his boyhood Mr. Morton attended the schools of his native village, and studied privately. His first business experi- ence was as a carpenter, which trade he began in New Bedford under John M. Foster, and completed in Fall River. He then went to Kingston, N. Y., where he worked at his trade for a short time and then returned to Fairhaven. At the out- break of the Civil war he was one of the first to enroll his name, joining the 7th Mass. Vols. As this time he was under age and his father, who held Quaker views, protested so strongly with the authorities that he was rejected. In 1862 he re-enlisted in Co. D, of the 3d Mass. Vols., under Capt. A. D. Wright and served nine months. Returning at the end of this time he was commissioned second lieutenant and be- came adjutant for the superintendent of recruiting in Norfolk county, stationed at Readville. He served in this capacity until the organization of the 58th Mass. Vols., in which regiment he was commissioned first lieutenant of Co. G. He served through- out the Grant campaign and in September, 1864, was taken prisoner and held at Libby, Salisbury, N. C., and Danville, Va., until exchanged in February, 1865. Soon after he was commissioned captain of Co. C, of the same regiment, and served until the regiment was mustered out at the close of the war. About this time the oil fever in Pennsylvania was at its height and Captain Morton went to the oil regions, but not being able to gain a satisfactory foothold, returned in a few months. He now engaged in various mercantile pursuits, conducting a real estate business in Boston for some time, and also serving on the State police. In 1873 President Grant appointed him postmaster at Fairhaven and he served his town faithfully in that . capacity for a period of fourteen years. In 1878 he became a trustee and member of the board of investment of the Fairhaven Institution for Savings and in June, 1886, was made treasurer of the institution. He is still serving in that capacity. He is also president of the First National Bank, with which he has been connected for a number of years as director and president. Mr. Morton is deeply interested in the welfare and public good of Fairhaven, and has been prominently identified with many projects designed to promote the best interests of the community. Ile
t
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has served for eight years on the School Committee. Mr. Morton has married twice; first, he married Anna M., daughter of Capt. Joseph W. Black, and of this union four children survive: Charles H., jr., Anna B., Linnaeus W. and Helen T. His second wife was Adeline L. Alden, daughter of Seth Alden of Fairhaven. The Morton family is of old Puritan stock, Mr. Morton being ninth of the line of George Morton, who settled in Plymouth in 1623.
Morton, James M., jr., attorney at law, was born in Fall River, Mass., August 24, 1869, a son of Hon. James M. and Emily (Canedy) Morton. He obtained his pre- paratory education in the schools of his native city, graduating from the High School in 1886, and from Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, in 1887. He then en- tered Harvard College and was graduated cum laude from that institution in 1891. He passed the succeeding three years in Harvard Law School and received the de- grees of LL. B. and A. M. in 1894. At the Harvard commencement that year Mr. Morton was the law orator, being selected as the representative of the Law School on that occasion. He was admitted to the Bristol county bar at the April sitting of the Supreme Court at Taunton in 1894, and began the practice of his profession at Fall River in July following, forming a copartnership with Hon. Andrew J. Jennings under the firm name of Jennings & Morton. June 10, 1896, Mr. Morton married Miss Nancy J. B. Brayton, and they have one son, James M. Morton, the fourth of that name.
Neill, Hon. Joseph O., son of William and Margaret (Grenough) Neill, was born in Calais, Me., January 31, 1838, and obtained his education in the public schools. He was engaged in various pursuits as a young man, at one time (1857) making a voy- age to Cuba in the ship Plumas. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G, 4th Mass. Vols., Captain Gordon. This was the first regiment to reach Virginia, landing at Fortress Monroe. He was discharged July 22, 1861, but re-enlisted from Taunton, in Co. F. 29th Mass. Vols., on November 21, 1861. In this company he was first sergeant, second lieuten- ant and first lieutenant, resigning from the latter office to return home and raise a company for the 60th Mass. Regiment under Colonel Wass. He was commissioned captain of Company D, from Fall River, in July, 1864. In civil life Mr. Neill has long been prominent in the official and business circles of Fall River, where he set. tled in 1865. He was first employed by Mr. P. D. Conant, a hardware dealer on Second street, where the post offce now stands. Some years later he was admitted to partnership and when Mr. Conant retired in 1886 he succeeded to the business, which had been moved to its present location on Bedford street. Mr. Neill was a candidate against Robert Howard of Fall River, for State senator in 1886, 1887, 1889, 1890, 1891 and 1893, but was defeated. In 1888 he received a certificate of election over Mr. Howard, but the seat was successfully contested on the ground of a mis- spelled ballot. He was senator from the Second Bristol district in 1894, 1895 and 1896; was chairman of the committee on Federal relations and a member of the committees on public charitable institutions and woman suffrage in 1894; chairman of the committee on harbors and public lands, and a member of the committees on printing and charitable institutions in 1895; chairman of the committee on charita- ble institutions, and a member of those on harbors and public lands and public ser- vice in 1896; House chairman of the committee on public charitable institutions and a member of the committee on street railways in 1897. Mr. Neill was a member of
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the Fall River Common Council in 1867, alderman in 1878 and 1879, and water com- missioner in 1891, 1892 and 1893. He is a member of Mt. Hope Lodge, Fall River Chapter and Council of Masons and of Fall River Lodge No. 219. I. O. O. F., also past commander of Richard Borden Post No. 96, G. A. R. He is a director of the Metacomet Bank. In July, 1863, he married Mary J., daughter of P. D. Conant, and their children are Jessie, wife of Sidney W. Bateman of Newport, R. I .; Jennie L., wife of William N. Emery of Jacksonville, Fla. ; and Lena May,
New Process Twist Drill Co., The .- The inventor of this process of manufacturing twist drills was Edwin O. Williams of Taunton, and after perfecting his patents and machines, he formed a company for their manufacture and started in business in February, 1884. The peculiarity of the manufactures of this company is that their drills are hot forged, and not milled. The company claim that they are the only concern in this country, and, they believe, the only one in the world making hot forged twist drills, and that other companies have tried to do this over and over again but without success. The present officers are B. L. Dwinell, president; Peter H. Corr, treasurer; John M. Goodwin, general manager; Arnold C. Hopkins, super- intendent of works.
Newell, Fred A., was born in Franklin, August 8, 1845. His father, Hiram Newell, was a native of Cumberland, R. I., and the family were among the early settlers. Hiram Newell married Clarissa Scott and through life was engaged in boat building at Franklin and was the pioneer of that industry; he died April 26, 1859. Fred A. Newell was educated in the public schools and for a time was engaged in the straw business. In 1874 he engaged in the jewelry business and at the pres- ent time Watson & Newell are the leading manufacturers in the two Attleboroughs. In 1892 Mr. Newell married Alida, daughter of Capt. Samuel D. Walden. Mr. Newell is one of the self-made men of Bristol county, conservative and entirely un- assuming and has ever taken an intelligent interest in educational and religious institutions. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. G, 5th Mass., and was one to answer the last call of Abraham Lincoln for volunteers.
Nichols, John B , was born in Rehoboth, Mass , December 1, 1859, a son of Charles B. and Sarah A. (Nichols) Nichols. As a boy he attended the district schools and worked on his father's farm. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the plumb- ing and tinsmith trade with George H. Davol & Co. of Fall River, and in June, 1893, purchased the business of A. C. Wyatt, who was located at the corner of Third and Rodman streets, and has since conducted it at this location with success, dealing in stoves, glass, tin, and woodenware and conducting a general plumbing business. He has made a speciaity of installing heating apparatus and has placed plants in many public and private buildings in the city, notably the plant in the Episcopal church on Rock street, and that in the Emergency Hospital. Mr. Nichols married Elvira B., daughter of Frank W. Eddy, a well known citizen of Fall River. They have five children: Sarah F., Nettie W., Alton A., Mildred B. and Milton B.
Nicholson, John G., son of James and Agnes (Greenhill) Nicholson, was born in London, England, August 24, 1865. He is, however, of Scotch descent, both of his parents having been natives of Scotland. During his early youth he attended pri- vate schools and later for two years the City of London College. Having completed
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his schooling he entered a London broker's office when but fifteen years of age and remained there until he reached his twentieth year. At that time he came to this country, settling first in Norwich, Conn., where a cousin was conducting a large re- tail dry goods store. He worked in this store as a clerk for a period of two years and then went to Fall River to engage in the life insurance business. Leaving Fall River within a year he accepted a position as bookkeeper for William H. Washburn, a dealer in builders' supplies, and in this position gained an extensive knowledge of the lumber trade, and in 1892, with Elzeard Fournier, formed a copartnership for the conduct of a general planing mill business under the name of Fournier & Nicholson. They started the enterprise in a small way, with little capital and machinery, and having met with a large measure of success are now carrying a large stock and op- erating a plant of the first class. During his business career in New Bedford Mr. Nicholson has gained many friends. He is a member of Eureka Lodge of Masons, and the Chapter, Council, Commandery and Shrine. In 1898 he was appointed a member of the Cemetery Commission for a term of three years by joint convention. He married first, Annie M. Priestley, daughter of George Priestley of New Bedford; his second wife, Helen E. Priestley, was also a daughter of George Priestley.
Nickerson, Capt. Henry O., was born in Fall River, January 23, 1845, and began sailing at the age of twelve. In March, 1862, he enlisted in the 3d Rhode Island Artillery and served for three years. After the war he returned to sailing, which has been the occupation of his life. He has been on the Fall River Line of steamers for over thirteen years, the last ten years of which he has been a captain. He has been a captain of the steamer Pilgrim for four years. Capt. Nickerson is a member of Narragansett Lodge, F. & A. M., Chapter, Council and Commandery, and of Rich- ard Borden Post, No. 46, G. A. R., of which he has been senior vice-commander. November 16, 1877, he married Ida M. Innis and they have one son, Benjamin O. Capt. Nickerson's father was Benjamin Nickerson, his mother Bersheba (Young) Nickerson. Benjamin Nickerson was the son of Benjamin, who was the son of Ben- jamin, son of Benjamin, son of Samuel, son of Samuel, son of William Nickerson, who came from Norwich, Norfolk county, England, and landed at Plymouth in 1637. He is frequently mentioned in the old records of Plymouth Colony and became owner of all the land in and about Chatham. He was also in the militia with Miles Stan- dish, and his son William participated in King Philip's war.
Nickerson, John Wesley, deputy sheriff of Bristol county for the past thirty years, is one of the oldest and best known citizens of New Bedford. He was born in Plym- outh, Mass., May 5, 1818, a son of Israel and Rebecca (Young) Nickerson. During his boyhood he worked on the farm and attended school the usual three months which were accorded to a boy in those days, and he also worked at the carpenter's trade under his father, who was a practical carpenter and a respected citizen in Plymouth for many years. When he reached the age of seventeen he came to New Bedford and found employment as a clerk in a grocery owned by Jonathan Bourne, with whom he remained about two and a half years, and then found a similar posi- tion with the dry goods firm of Barney & Head, where he remained an equal length of time. He then engaged in the dry goods business for himself, locating on South Water street, where he remained in business for about five years and at the end of this time he sold out; made a voyage of six months in a merchant vessel, and when
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he returned formed a company and bought a ship in which he sailed as supercargo and part owner for eleven years, mostly in the trade with Brazil, Africa and the Cape Verde Islands. A short time after the ship had been sold he was appointed deputy sheriff of Bristol county, which position he has ever since held, and he has also held commissions as deputy sheriff of Plymouth, Barnstable and Dukes coun- ties. Mr. Nickerson has been a member of the Star in the East Lodge of Masons for some years and is also a member of Adoniram Chapter and was a charter mem- ber of Pacific Lodge of Odd Fellows. He was first a Whig and has been a staunch Republican since the organization of that party, serving at different times on the city committee and as delegate to State and county conventions. He represented Ward 2 in the Council for two terms and Ward 4 a like number of times, being a member of the first Council elected after the incorporation of the city. In the ad- ministrations of Mayors G. H. Dunbar and Abram H. Howland he served as chief of police. Mr. Nickerson descends from a hardy settler of Cape Cod, William, by name, who came from England in 1730. In 1838 he married Mary G. Chase of Nan- tucket, and of their eight children only three survive: Elizabeth R., wife of James W. Herrey, of New Bedford; Thomas, and Louise, wife of P. F. Brownell, of Otta- wa, Canada.
Nooning, William B., who died in New Bedford, May 30, 1874, was one of the promising young business men of the city, and noted as well for a most charitable and benevolent spirit. He was born in Bristol, Mass., January 31, 1836, a son of Jonathan and Eliza (Bowler) Nooning, educated in the schools of the vicinity and very early in life learned the sailmaking trade under his father. At this trade he continued until 1865, when he removed to New Bedford and in a small way started a millinery business on Purchase street. To this he gave all his energy and ability and had soon increased the business to considerable proportions. He was a trustee and valued member of the Pleasant Street Methodist Church and one of the origin- ators of the Young Men's Christian Association movement in New Bedford. Fra- ternally, he was a member of the Eureka Lodge of Masons, Sutton Commandery and Acushnet Lodge of Odd Fellows. He was a faithful friend of the poorer classes and in a quiet, unassuming way did much to improve the condition of cases which came under his notice. Mr. Nooning married, in 1857, Hannah H. Sherman, daugh- ter of Justice and Clarissa (Gifford) Sherman, and they had three daughters, one now survives, Clarissa, wife of James H. Gorham of New Bedford. The millinery busi . ness which Mr. Nooning established on Purchase street is still continued at the same location by Mrs. Nooning.
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