USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 18
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A fulling mill and grist mill were established in Norton as early as 1783 by Nathan and Edward Babbitt and Annes Newcomb, on Canoe River. After several changes the property passed to Thomas Danforth who, in 1811, sold to Jonathan Smith, Simeon Presbrey, jr., Daniel Presbrey, Stimson Austin and Alanson Cobb, reserving three eighths of a water privilege, and they built a cotton mill. This passed through several owners' hands down to 1822, when Nathaniel Newcomb bought the whole and made yarn and batting. The factory burned in 1831 and was rebuilt. The grist mill went out of use about 1814, and the fulling mill about 1820.
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FROM 1815 TO 1860.
Ansel Keith and Jonathan Smith began the hat-making business in 1808 and George Gilbert commenced making bonnets about the same time. Thomas Danforth 2d and Hiram H. Witherell were also engaged in the latter business from 1833 to 1844. In September, 1850, the Nor- ton Straw Manufacturing Company was organized by the Wheaton Manufacturing Company and others; the company dissolved in 1854 and the Norton Straw Company was formed. In 1855 by another change the Norton Manufacturing Company was formed; the business ceased in 1857. In the last year named the manufacture of matches was begun by Austin Messinger; he did the work by hand and sold his prod- uct about the country. The business rapidly increased and was soon carried on by power. Andrew H. Sweet took an interest and attended to the sales.
The Wheaton Female Seminary, in Norton, was founded in 1834 by Laban Wheaton in memory of his daughter. The endowment fund was. increased by his son, Laban M. Wheaton, and after his death his widow made large additions. While not a large institution, this seminary has always exerted a healthful influence upon the cause of education in the vicinity.
In the town of Easton the Methodist movement began in 1790, but the first church was not organized until 1796, in the northeast part of the town. The first Methodist church was built on Washington street on the site of the later one; it was occupied until 1830 and was then replaced by a new one. The first regular pastor was Nehemiah Coy. About 1843 a part of the congregation, who had become dissatis- fied with the Episcopal part of the church government, withdrew and formed a Protestant Methodist Society. In 1861 the older church was divided, the pastor, Rev. L. B. Bates, going with those who preferred to have services held in the village. This body built a church on Main street and worshiped there until 1876, at which time they moved into the building formerly occupied by the North Easton Unitarians, which was presented by Oliver Ames. These Methodist societies were subse- quently united.
The first Catholic church in Easton was built in 1850 on land donated by Oliver Ames & Sons. It was called "the chapel." The present church was built in 1865. The North Easton Unitarian Society was organized in 1857 and for a number of years only transient services were maintained. Rev. William L. Chaffin was called in 1868. In August, 1875, the society first occupied the beautiful church built and presented by Oliver Ames.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Some of the early iron industry of this town has received notice. When the town was incorporated in 1725 there were two, possibly three, forges in operation-one at what was known as Cranberry- Meadow Pond and the other the well-known Leonard forge at North Easton. There were also the usual number of saw mills in various parts of the town, which gradually went out of use as the timber dis- appeared. There was at least one grist mill. The forge first named continued in operation to about 1750, when a saw mill took its place, and about the same time a furnace was established at Furnace Village. There Capt. James Perry made cannon and balls for the Revolutionary army. It subsequently passed to Gen. Shepard Leach. In the north- east part of the town the iron business continued through the last century and before its close two forges were in operation. In 1775-6 Eliphalet Leonard, as before noticed, began the manufacture of steel in Easton. He was grandson of James, the founder of the first forge, and was led to experiment in steel working by the demand for that article in the manufacture of firearms. In 1787 Jonathan Leonard, son of James, erected a furnace capable of making three tons of steel at one operation, and in 1808 he built another with three times this capacity. The Leonards also made firearms.
Other early industries of this town were the linseed oil factory of Calvin Brett, 1792; a saw mill operated by Josiah Copeland at South Easton about the beginning of the century; the factory for making cotton yarn and afterwards of cloth, established about 1805, which continued until 1834, when E. J. Morse & Co. began making cotton thread there.
On the Dean grist mill site was started a forge about 1810 by Elijah Howard & Co .; a destructive fire closed the business, but the same company engaged in making nails, continuing to about 1823. About 1825 Elijah Howard and Capt. Barzillai Dean established a cotton fac- tory; after Captain Dean's death in 1848 the building was occupied for a machine shop. On the next privilege below was a saw mill, a card- ing mill and a fulling mill in early years. Later on satinet cloth was made and cotton yarn. Asa R. Howard made hoes there at one period, and in 1848 Solomon W. Morse bought the whole privilege and engaged in the manufacture of cotton cloth. He subsequently sold to E. J. Morse.
At about the beginning of the century at Furnace Village Gen. Shep- ard Leach successfully operated a furnace. In 1837 Capt. Lincoln
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FROM 1815 TO 1860.
Drake established a malleable iron works under the firm name of A. Boyden & Co. In 1840 Daniel Belcher, who had superintended the business of Mr. Drake, bought the property and continued the business many years. Near by was the foundry of L. S. and A. L. Drake, who succeeded Capt. Lincoln Drake in 1872. An oil mill was in operation here about 1830, and in 1854 Keith, Rotch & Co. operated a thread fac- tory. In 1844 Lewis and Edward D. Williams built and operated the first belt saw mill in this vicinity.
In the south part of the town, in 1828, J. and H. M. Poole began making mathematical instruments. The excellence of their work gave them extended reputation. John M. Poole succeeded in 1878.
Shoe manufacturing has been carried on to a considerable extent in this town. Guilford White engaged in it in 1850; Horatio Thayer and Nathaniel R. Packard later, and Lewis Thayer from 1856 to 1870; Irving and Emory Packard began in 1864.
Early in this century there were several industries in the northeast part of the town, among them a grist mill, a knife shop, run by John Ames, and a hoe shop by Nathan Pratt in later years. Near the site of the Ames office was a grist mill and still lower was the cotton man- ufactory of the Easton Manufacturing Company. At the lower end of Stone's Pond steel manufacturing was conducted at the beginning of the century, and a grist mill and nail factory were established later. William G. Andrews and Elijah Howard began making cotton yarn and afterwards made sheeting. Gurdon Stone and Jason G. Howard were later connected with the latter business. In 1839 the making of tacks was begun there and subsequently E. J. W. Morse made knitting cotton ; in 1852 Mr. Howard sold the property to Oliver Ames and it became a part of the great shovel works.
At the lower end of what has been known as Shovel Shop Pond there were in early years a dam and grist mill, a nailer's forge and an iron forge and trip-hammer. This property was purchased by Oliver Ames, the founder of the shovel business. He built a new dam there and continued the line of manufacture he had previously carried on in a small way some years before farther up the stream. Mr. Ames pur- chased also land farther up the stream, and in 1852, when the factory at the lower end of the pond proved too small for the growing business, he built a two-story building five hundred and thirty feet long, and additions and other structures were subsequently made. The property of the first Oliver Ames passed to his sons, Oakes and Oliver, reserving
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
a life interest and a share in the profits; it was then that the firm of Oliver Ames & Sons was formed. Oliver Ames, sr., died in 1863. In 1876 the firm reorganized as a corporation with the name, Oliver Ames & Sons Corporation. The business is one of the most important in Bristol county.
In 1854 the firm of E. W. Gilmore & Co. was organized (Oakes and Oliver Ames being partners), for the manufacture of strap and T-hinges, occupying the building formerly occupied by the Ames company. In 1871 Mr. Gilmore purchased the Ames interest and built the large works since occupied by him. In 1851 the firm of A. A. Gilmore & Co. was formed at North Easton for the manufacture of fine calf-skin boots; the business continued to 1879. In 1855 William Andrews be- gan shoe manufacturing with Ward L. Foster, but the business failed in 1857. Pratt, Foster & Co. manufactured in the same building for a period. George Brett was also engaged in the same line for about ten years. In 1865 John B. King and P. A. Gifford began making shoes; in 1871 Mr. King bought his partner's interest. Later manufactures here are noticed in the Gazetteer.
The churches were organized in the town of Westport during the period now under consideration. The earliest of these was the First Christian Church which was formed under ministration of Elder Daniel Hix at the Head-of-the-River. The house of worship was built in 1823-4. This ancient church is now closed. From it sprang the Sec- ond Christian Church, which was organized in 1838 and soon built a meeting-house; this was replaced by a new one in 1876. The society is still in existence. The Third Christian Church is at Central Village, and was organized in 1830; the meeting-house was built in 1842. There is also a Christian Church at Brownell's Corner, which was or- ganized in 1843, and the meeting-house was dedicated on July 4 of that year. The First Christian Church at North Westport was organized in 1858, under Elder William Faunce. The meeting house was completed a little before the organization of the society.
The Pacific Union Congregational Church at the Head-of-the-River was formed as a result of preaching in 1852 by Rev. J. B. Parris in Washington Hall; he had already preached in the old Christian church about two years. He continued his ministry in the hall until Decem- ber, 1855, when the Union church building was finished. In March, 1864, a meeting was held and the articles, confession of faith and cove- nant of a Congregational church were adopted. The edifice was built
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FROM 1815 TO 1860.
by subscription to stock, and cost about $4,000. The site was donated by James B. Congdon. At a meeting held in April, 1859, a committee was appointed with authority to sell to the Pacific Union Society the house of worship and site. This was done and the formal organization of the church society took place May 31, 1858.
In the town of Swansea there is little to record here excepting the formation of several churches. The earliest one was the Six - Principle Baptist, organized about 1820 by Elder Philip Slade. The society is practically out of present existence.
The Union Meeting, which dedicated its house of worship about 1830, was subsequently dissolved. Rev. D. McCoy began preaching in Swansea village in 1845 and continued to 1847. He was rector of the Church of the Ascension, Fall River, and it was due to his labors that Christ Church was organized, on January 7, 1846. The church edifice was built largely by subscriptions from outside of the community and was consecrated December 2, 1847.
The Universalist Church of Swansea and Rehoboth has been in exist- ence nearly forty years at Hortonville. Services have never been regu- lar for any long period together.
The Baptist Church in Raynham was organized in 1839 and the house of worship built within a few years. Rev. Ebenezer Briggs was the first regular pastor. In 1828 was formed what was called the Second Congregational Society, which was governed by the Unitarian form and included twenty-five members of the older Congregational society. After worshiping for a time in a hall a meeting-house was erected on land given by Elias Hall, and Rev. Simeon Doggett was engaged as pastor. After about ten years the services were discontinued.
The Baptist Church in Raynham was organized in 1811, meetings being held at the house of Asa King. In 1815 Rev. Ebenezer Briggs, of Middleborough, began preaching here one-fourth of the time, and thus continued for fifteen years; from 1830 to 1843 he preached here half of the time. In 1842 the meeting-house was built. The church was legally organized April 6, 1837. A parsonage was erected in 1855.
The Union Church at North Raynham was organized in 1875, and received a liberal bequest from Martin Luther Hall, of Brookline, a native of this town. A handsome edifice was built in 1876.
The town of Fairhaven passed through a period of prosperity and growth during the first half of the century. In 1832-3 there was a large advance in building operations and many substantial residences
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
were erected in the village. In the latter year William, Walnut and Green streets were accepted, and Washington and Union as far east as Green. The first fire engine was purchased in 1836. In 1850 River- side Cemetery, a beautiful burial place, was presented to the public by Warren Delano, jr. In 1854 the Fairhaven Branch Railroad was opened. While the whaling industry was profitable the village was a busy place, but with its decline, population and wealth decreased. In 1832 was incorporated the Fairhaven Institution for Savings, which has had an honorable existence ever since.
The Washington Street Christian (Unitarian) Church of Fairhaven was formed by a few persons who became dissatisfied with the prevail- ing Calvinistic doctrines; they were under the leadership of Elder Moses Howe. Meetings were held in Academy Hall and the organiza- tion took place on November 30, 1820. In the next year Elder Charles Morgridge was ordained pastor. On December 7, 1832, the church was organized as the Washington Street Christian Church, and on De- cember 15 of that year the meeting-house was dedicated. Among early pastors were Elders William H. Taylor, Joseph H. Smith, David Mil- lard, Charles Galligher, Thomas Danes, and others. In 1841 thirty- three persons left the church to unite with several Methodists and form the nucleus of the Second Advent Society. In 1865 a reorganization of the church took place, in which the Scriptures were declared to be a sufficient rule for faith and practice. On December 28, 1829, a number of Fairhaven Methodists who had attended the New Bedford Church, requested the building of a chapel. The request was granted and the house was opened in June, 1830. The society continued as a branch of the New Bedford Church until 1832, when it became a separate or- ganization. The meeting house was used until 1849, when the edifice of the Center Congregational Church was purchased and subsequently greatly improved.
As before noted, the Second Advent Society was formed in 1842, the first meetings being held in a dwelling What was known as Swain's Hall was purchased later and transformed into a house of worship.
Although there were many Friends in this town from the earliest times, there was no meeting house within Fairhaven limits until 1849, when the plain structure on Bridge street was built.
In the town of Dartmouth several churches have been organized which have not been noticed. The South Dartmouth Baptist Church was formed as a branch of the New Bedford Society in 1831, and a
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FROM 1815 TO 1860.
meeting-house was built. The society is now out of existence. The Second Christian Church was organized in February, 1836, and for many years the society flourished; but internal dissension and other causes led to its substantial extinction.
A Methodist class was formed at the head of the Aponagansett River in November, 1837, and in the following year a church was organized as a branch of the Allen Street Church, New Bedford. Preaching in recent years has been maintained only a part of the time. The Smith Mills Christian Church was formed in December, 1838, previous to which date the meeting-house was built. The society is small and serv- ices transient. The Christian Church at Bakerville was organized in April, 1865, the meeting-house having been erected the year before.
The industrial and trade interests of this county passed through their severest financial struggle in 1857, when the whole country experienced a stringency in money and business centers that has been unparalleled since. Many mills in the cities of Fall River, New Bedford and Taun- ton were closed and failure of business firms was common. That those cities could rise from such a period of depression as they did and so soon recover their former prosperity and activity was due to the daunt- less business courage and enterprise of their citizens and the very ex- tensive manufactures therein established.
A law of 1856 authorized the county commissioners to borrow on the credit of the county, in addition to the amount of debt already author- ized, not more than $60,000 to be expended in enlarging and improving the House of Correction, or in building a new one.
By an act of April 8, 1856, jurisdiction was ceded to the United States over Egg Island Shoal, in New Bedford harbor, and also over any of Clark's Point that might be acquired by the government for building forts, arsenals, dock yards, wharves, etc.
By an act of April 4, 1860, the charter of the Fall River and Warren Railroad, issued in 1857, was revived, and the company required to have one track laid by May 1, 1863. In the same year the North Attle- borough Branch Railroad Company was incorporated by E. Ira Richards, William D. Whiting, Josiah D. Richards, and Stephen Richardson 2d. The capital was placed at $100,000. This road was constructed under that act.
On April 3, 1860, the Taunton Steamboat Company was incorporated by George Godfrey, Charles R. Atwood, J. S. Rounds, Allen Presbrey, and their associates. The capital stock was $25,000.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
On the 14th of April, 1862, an act was passed incorporating the Bristol County Central Agricultural Society, giving it authority to hold $25,000 in real estate.
CHAPTER VII.
FROM 1860 TO 1898-THE CIVIL WAR, AND LATER HISTORY.
Bristol county was prompt to act in loyal support of the government in the great civil war for the preservation of the Union. While every town in the county contributed its full share to the armies in the field, the three cities of Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton were, of course, the centers of military activity during the struggle. The principal events that took place in relation to the war in those places are properly noticed in succeeding chapters. In New Bedford on the morning of April 16, 1861, only four days after the attack upon Fort Sumter, the New Bedford Guards, Co. L, Third Regiment of Massachusetts Infan- try, were ready for the field. This regiment arrived at Fortress Mon- roe on the 20th of that month to begin its term of three months' service. Among its field and staff officers from New Bedford were the colonel, the major, the adjutant, the surgeon and others. In Taunton, likewise, on the 16th of April, 1861, Co. G of the Third Regiment marched from Taunton, and on the 19th another company was enrolled which subsequently became Co. D of the Seventh Infantry. In Fall River similar action was taken and a war meeting was held on the 19th of April, where patriotic resolutions were passed and speeches made. On the 24th the city appropriated $10,000 for the aid of soldiers for three months' service and their families. Meanwhile enlistments were pro- gressing. Fall River was third in the list of applicants in the State to Governor Andrew for permission to raise military companies. On the 29th of April the mayor was requested to apply to the State authorities for two hundred muskets for the two companies already formed. These companies were mustered into the service June 11, and became A and B of the Seventh Regiment, commanded by Colonel D. N. Couch, of Taunton, and Lieut .- Col. Chester W. Greene, of Fall River. In the Third Regiment, before mentioned, there was, besides the New Bed-
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FROM 1860 TO 1898.
ford Guards, the "Assonet Light Infantry," from Freetown, commanded by Capt. John W. Marble. This organization was mustered out July 23, 1861. Companies D, E, I and M, re-enlisted for three years and remained at the front. When the call for troops was made in 1862, to serve nine months, the remainder of the regiment volunteered and left Boston for Newbern, N. C., on October 22, 1862, under command of Col. Silas P. Richmond, of Freetown. After its period of honorable service, participating in the battles of Kingston, Whitehall and Golds- boro, the regiment was mustered out June 26, 1863.
The same promptitude shown in the cities at the beginning of the war was seen in the villages and rural districts of the county. The sound of martial music was heard on every hand, and shops and farms were left by the stalwart men of every community to join the swelling ranks of the army. Meanwhile organizations for relief of soldiers' fam- ilies and for the mitigation of hardship in the field were rapidly formed. A Ladies' Soldiers' Relief Society was formed in New Bedford soon after the departure of the first company, which continued in existence until about the close of the conflict and accomplished a vast amount of good. In Fall River as early as April 27, 1861, a Ladies' Sewing So. ciety was organized for the benefit of soldiers and their families, of which Mrs. Richard Borden was president, with a committee of arrange- ments including twenty two prominent women of the city. This society retained its organization until July 28, 1865, and during that period re- ceived more than $3,000 in cash, which was judiciously expended for materials to be made up for soldiers. Similar societies with different names, but all animated by the same purpose, were formed at other points in the county.
In the Seventh Regiment of Infantry were many full companies from this county. Companies A and B were from Fall River; C, D and F from Taunton; G from Easton; H from Mansfield; I from Attlebor- ough. A large portion of the field officers were also from Bristol county. The regiment was mustered in on June 15, 1861, and served to June 27, 1864, when it was mustered out at Taunton, having been given a royal welcome home.
The Eighteenth Regiment contained many Bristol county men, most of Co. B being from Taunton. Its term of three years' service, begin- ning August 27, 1861, was an honorable one. Co. C of the Twenty- Second Regiment was also mainly from Taunton and the regiment had quite a number of other Bristol county men; it was mustered in on October 5, 1861, for three years.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The Twenty third Regiment had Co. D from New Bedford and a considerable number of other enlistments from this county; it served three years from November, 1861. In the Twenty-sixth Regiment was Co. G of Fall River and other separate enlistments; it was mustered in on October 18, 1861, for three years.
While the Twenty ninth Regiment was not made up of Bristol county men, excepting to a small extent, it went out under command of Brig. - Gen. E. W. Peirce, of the Massachusetts volunteer militia, and left an honorable record. General Peirce was a native of Assonet village, and is still living.
The Thirty-third Regiment had Co. I, from New Bedford, and about forty men from Taunton, with smaller numbers from Fall River and other points in the county. It went out under command of Col. A. G. Maggi, of New Bedford, and was mustered in August 5, 1862.
The Thirty-eighth Regiment, mustered in August 24, 1862, for three years, contained one company, H, raised mainly in New Bedford, Dart- mouth and Westport, with small numbers from elsewhere in the county. Co. F, of the Thirty-ninth Regiment, was from Taunton, and there were individual enlistments in other companies. The regiment was mustered in on September 4, 1862, for three years.
The Fortieth Regiment contained one full company from this county ; it was Co. H, raised mostly in Attleborough. Small numbers of enlist- ments were made in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and other towns. It was mustered in for three years on September 5, 1862.
Co. A of the Forty-first Regiment was raised in New Bedford and commanded by Capt. John F. Vinal. It was mustered into the service November 1, 1862. In June, 1863, the regiment was transformed into a permanent mounted regiment and was thenceforward known as the Third Massachusetts Cavalry.
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