USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 37
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To the north stood the house of John Avery Parker, now a part of the Parker House. Spacious gardens were on the south and east of this, the house of one of the most successful merchants of his day. There were nine houses in this section bounded by North Second, Middle, Purchase and Elm streets.
Where now stands the North Christian church was the house of Thomas Swain, a brother of William W. Swain. Elm street contained but two houses, and in those early days extended a few hundred feet west of Sixth street. The broad section west of Purchase and between Middle and Union streets was open field and bush pasture, except the land occupied by the houses immediately facing the latter thor- oughfare and Purchase street. There are a number of our elderly citizens who in olden times picked huckleberries where now stands City Hall. Much of this land was owned by William Rotch, and portions of it were under cultivation. It was a patch of ground where City Hall now stands that Jehaziel Jenney proposed to plant " on halves," and the proposition was accepted by the proprietor. The harvest sea- son came and went, and as winter approached Mr. Rotch concluded that it was time a settlement of accounts was made. Meeting Jehaziel one day, he made inquiries
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THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
about the matter. "Why, haven't you got your half, Mr. Rotch? I got mine long ago," was the bland reply he received. On further investigation it was found that Jahaziel had sublet the contract to another party on the same terms. He had taken good care to receive his half and left the landed proprietor to look out for his own interests. Mr. Rotch accepted the situation good naturedly and quietly remarked as the interview closed, "Thee can have the land on the same terms next year, Jehaziel."
Where now stands Liberty Hall was the First Congregational church, the parent society of the Unitarian denomination in our city.
We will now go down to Water street and commence our observations south of William. On the corner where now are the stores of Messrs. Wood, Brightman & Co., stood the imposing residence of William Rotch, jr., his gardens extending to North Second street. The building is now the Mariners' Home, and stands on the hill north of the Seamen's Bethel-a gift to the New Bedford Port Society from Mrs. James Arnold, a daughter of Mr. Rotch. Center street was lined with buildings on both sides of the river, and many of them are still standing. The district north of this to Middle street was unoccupied, save three small buildings at the foot of Elm. Along the wharves south were scattered the warehouses, shops, and stores connected with the maritime business of the port. "Four Corners" (the intersection of Water and Union streets) was the stock exchange of the day; and about this locality the business men congregated for political and social gossip. On the southeast corner was the Bristol County House, and south of it was the warehouse and office of Isaac Howland. Next to these was the building in which was published the Morning Mer- cury. All these buildings are in existence to-day. The district north of Union and east of Water is interesting, and we cannot afford to leave it without a glance at some of the buildings. Those incorporated in the art establishment of Charles Taber & Co. are all of historic interest. The house on Union street next to the corner was the home of Benjamin Taber, the ancestor of the family which has held this property through successive generations. Rose alley, a narrow lane still in existence, south of S. A. Tripp's tin shop, furnished a well of delicious water to the neighborhood. Deborah Doubleday kept a tavern in the building now occupied by the Western Union Telegraph Co. This building has before been mentioned in connection with the American Revolution. During the war of 1812 military officers made it head- quarters. East of this section there were a number of warehouses and shops. It is evident that this part of the river front was the busy center for the fitting of ships. Union street was the main thoroughfare of the town, both sides being well occupied with residences of prominent citizens, the principal one being that of William Rotch, now the Mansion House. Poplar trees stood along the front, and his garden occu- pied nigh the whole square bounded by Purchase and William streets. Among other residents on Union street (which then terminated at County) were Dr. Fred- erick Reed, Col. John Coggeshall, Mr. Tobey, Benoni Aldrich, Mr. Mayhew, Isaac Howland, Dr. Spooner, Edward Pope, Caleb Greene, Roger Haskell, Dr. Perry, and J. Ricketson. These lived on the north side; while on the south lived Capt. Samuel Stall, commander of the artillery company. Mr. Russell, and Golden Howland, whose house was recently removed to make place for the Winslow building on the corner of Sixth street. On the southeast corner of Fourth and Union streets was located the Nelson Hotel, kept by Capt. Nathaniel Nelson, commander of the infan-
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try company. This tavern was the scene of many public festivities, and formed the headquarters for Fourth of July parades. East of the hotel was the home of Will- iam Russell, and below it was the homestead of Joseph Ricketson. The gardens of Messrs. Russell and Ricketson occupied the whole square bounded by Acushnet avenue, Spring and Fourth streets. The buildings are still standing.
The most thickly settled portion of the town was south of Union, yet Madison street was the actual limit, there being but few houses beyond. Among these were the homes of Job Eddy, James Arnold, Sands Wing, B. Howland, F. Howland and Cor- nelius Grinnell-familiar names to many readers. On the west side of Water street, south of Union, we find the residences of Messrs. Hill, Blackmer, Shepherd, J. How- land, Whippy, Fitch, Pardon Howland, Tuckerman and James Allen; on First street, those of Parker, Howland and Card; on Second street, J. Davis, Caleb Congdon and Mr. Barstow, and on Third street-now known as Acushnet avenue-lived William Meader, Mr. Gardner, Allen Case, Benjamin Taber, J. Barker, Caleb Jenney and Job Otis.
Fourth and Fifth streets ended at School street, and the area south of Union be- tween Seventh aud Third consisted of open fields. The gunhouse stood on the square southeast of the Friends' meeting-house on Spring street. On Seventh lived the Thorntons, Congdons and Nortons; on Walnut, Lemuel Williams and C. How- land.
All the section west of County street was a forest, the only buildings being Gilbert Russell's residence at the head of Walnut street, Abraham Russell's at the head of Union, the Friends' Academy (where now stands the County Street Methodist Epis- copal Church), and the Kempton House at the head of North street.
The whole town contained 506 houses in 1815. Walnut street was the southern border of the village-beyond it dense woods, only broken by the county road that led to Clark's Cove.
New Bedford suffered considerably from the great gale of September 29, 1815, which swept over the whole of New England, doing great damage. The gale began early in the day and continued until midday. The tide rose ten feet above high-water mark and four feet higher than ever before, and so rapid was the rise that merchants along the river front were compelled to abandon their goods. The salt works belong- ing to Caleb Russell in the south part of the town were carried away, and the ropewalks of William Rotch, jr., Griffin Barney and Butler & Allen were partially destoyed. Many other shops and warehouses, with several dwellings, were more or less wrecked. The Bedford and Fair. haven bridge and the one at the Head-of-the-River were carried away and sixteen vessels that had been moored were blown adrift and thrown ashore at various points. A woman known as Temperance Perry, and William Macy, Marmaduke Tinkham, and a son of the latter were drowned. The two latter were from Fairhaven.
The Bedford Bank, the organization of which has been noticed, closed
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THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
business with the expiration of its charter in 1812, and the village was without a bank until 1816, when the Bedford Commercial Bank was organized on the 31st of May, with Joseph Ricketson, John Avery Parker, Gideon Howland, jr., Cornelius Grinnell, Thomas Nye, Samuel Rodman, jr., Seth Russell, jr., James Arnold, and George Howland, directors; the latter was elected president. The capital was $100,000, which was increased in 1821 to $150,000; in 1825 to $250,000; in 1831 to $400,000, and in 1851 to $600,000. Mr. Howland continued as pres- dent until his death in 1851, when he was succeeded by Edward Mott Robinson. Thomas Nye, jr., took the office in 1860, and was succeeded by Thomas S. Hathaway in 1868, and he by Francis Hathaway in 1878. On the 19th of December, 1864, the institution was reorganized under the name, National Bank of Commerce. In 1874 the capital was in- creased to $1,000,000. Francis Hathaway died January 21, 1895, and was succeeded in the presidency by Charles W. Clifford. This bank is now closing its affairs, in liquidation. There was no further addition to the banking facilities of the village until 1825.'
1 During the period embraced in this chapter several other banks were organized. The Mer- chants' Bank began business in July, 1825, with capital of $150,000; increased in 1828 to $250,000; in 1831 to $400,000, and in 1851 to $600,000. The first directors were John Avery Parker, Samuel Bor- den, Job Eddy, Abraham Barker, Joseph Bourne, William H. Allen, David R. Greene, John Cogge- shall, jr., and Alfred Gibbs. Mr. Parker was the president until his death in 1853; Charles R. Tucker then held the office until his death in 1876; Jonathan Bourne followed him until 1889, when Gilbert Allen was elected. February 14, 1865, the bank was reorganized as the Merchants' Na- tional Bank of New Bedford, and in 1869 the capital was increased to $1,000,000.
The New Bedford Institution for Savings was organized in June, 1825, with thirty-one incor- porators, citizens of the place, viz .: William Rotch, jr., Gilbert Russell, Cornelius Grinnell, Andrew Robeson, Haydon Coggeshall, Benjamin Rodman, John A. Parker, Eli Haskell, Richard Williams, George Howland, Joseph Bourne, Abraham Shearman, jr., William W. Swain, Thomas Rotch, Thomas A. Greene, Charles W. Morgan, Samuel Rodman, jr., John B. Smith, William C. Nye, Thomas S. Swain, William H. Allen, Lemuel Williams, jr., John Howland, jr., Charles H. Warren, William P. Grinnell, Joseph Ricketson, Charles Grinnell, Nathan Bates, John Cogge- shall, jr., James Howland 2d, and Gideon Howland. The first president was William Rotch, jr .; Abraham Shearman, jr., treasurer; John B. Smith, secretary. This staunch institution has been most successfully and prudently managed, and its deposits now amount to about $12,662,606.00. It has never missed paying a semi-annual dividend. The institution finished and occupied a splendid stone banking house in 1897, on the corner of Union and Purchase streets.
The Mechanics' National Bank was organized under State laws October 3, 1831, with the title, "The President, Directors and Company of the Mechanics' Bank of New Bedford." The original capital was $200,000; increased in 1854 to $190,000, and in 1857 to $600,000. William Rodman was the first president, resigned in 1851, and was succeeded by Thomas Mandell; in 1870 he was succeeded by William W. Crapo. The institution became a National bank June 3, 1864, but continued busi- ness as a State bank until March 31, 1865.
What is now the First National Bank was organized April 3, 1832, as the Marine Bank, with capital of $200,000, and Joseph Grinnell, Nathaniel Hathaway, Kimball Perry, Joseph S. Tilling- hast, Alexander H. Campbell, Ephraim Kempton, Benjamin Russell, Joseph R. Anthony, and William W. Swain, directors. Joseph Grinnell was the first president. The institution was or- ganized as the First National Bank in 1864, the first in the city to take the step and one of the earliest in the country to adopt the national system. Joseph Grinnell continued as president
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
New Bedford was prompt in recovering from the effects of the war and its business interests were soon flourishing. A list of the mer- chants of 1820 includes the following :
Isaac Howland, jr., & Co., flour, iron hoops, etc .; William James, ship stores; H. Taylor, shoes and dry goods; Oliver Swain, boots and shoes; George Sisson, crock- ery and glassware; Jonathan Ellis, plows; Caleb Green, drugs; T. T. Churchill, W. & G. Allen, J. R. Shiverick, Perry & Tobey, Joseph Bourne, Henry Tucker & Son, dry goods; Nye & Grinnell, groceries; Hussey & Allen, leather, flour, etc. ; Seth Russell & Son, iron; Samuel Rodman, jr., cordage, duck and oil; John A. Parker, iron; Thomas S. & N. Hathaway, hemp, duck, iron; Gorham & Parker, groceries and provisions; A. Sherman, books and stationery; Harvey Sullings, hardware; Samuel W. Heath, crockery; Isaac Manchester, leather and shoes; Job Baker, groceries; Green & Tillinghast, dry goods; Randall & Haskell, grocers and ship chandlers; Barney Cory kept a tavern at the "Sign of the Swan;" Benjamin Pitman opened a silver manufactory in June, 1821.
The manufactures of the village were for many years limited in num- ber and largely pertained to such articles as were needed for the pro- motion of shipping interests and the preparation for market of the rapidly increasing oil product. Several early ropewalks were among these and have been mentioned. The date of establishing the first cord- age factory, or ropewalk, is not known, but it was very early, and it was burned by the British in 1778. The later development of this in- dustry is noticed a little farther on. When Joseph Russell began to accumulate blubber from his early whale fishery he brought it on shore and tried out the oil; but in course of time different methods came into use. Between 1825 and 1830 a number of oil factories were established in the village, among the first ones being that of Samuel Rodman, who occupied a building on the corner of North Water and Rodman streets. Humphrey Hathaway also had a factory in early years on the north side of School street west of Fourth, while westward of that was the factory of Isaac Howland, jr. On the site of the gas works stood the old Marsh candle works, supposed to have been built by Francis Rotch and Charles W. Morgan. At a later date John James Howland built a candle works on the corner of Water and Middle streets. Soon after- ward James H. Howland (son of John J.) and George Hussey built a candle factory at the Smoking Rocks; another was built on the north side of Middle street by William W. Swain. Andrew Robeson built a factory on Ray street, which was later operated by Edward Mott Rob-
until January, 1878, when he was succeeded by Edward W. Howland. William Watkins was the next president and was succeeded by Edward S. Taber. The capital was increased in 1833 to $300,000; in 1851 to $500,000; in 1855 to $600,000, and in 1860 to $1,000,000.
GUGELMAN PHOTO GRAVURE CH.
Sylvanus Thomas
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THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
inson. George Howland had a factory on Howland's wharf, and Will- iam T. Russell carried on the business at 96 First street. Davis Cof- fin had a factory at 96 First street, and Charles W. Morgan another at 82 South Water street. Samuel Leonard was at one period engaged in this industry more extensively than any other person in the country, his works being situated on Leonard street east of Water. Nehemiah Leonard also had a factory near that of Samuel. Among others who were engaged in the business at later dates were Eben Milliken, George T. Baker, Oliver and George O. Crocker, Charles H. Leonard, Cor- nelius Grinnell, Joseph Ricketson, the Hastings Brothers, Sylvanus Thomas & Co., and others. From this list it will be readily perceived that oil refining and the manufacture of sperm candles was once the leading industry of the village.
Ezra Kelly began making clocks in New Bedford in 1818 and was the first to apply fish oil to the lubrication of clock machinery. He passed his long life in the place. In the later years of his life he was engaged in the manufacture of fine lubricating oil, which found market throughout the world, a business still conducted by his son-in-law, John Wing.
The inhabitants of New Bedford during the first half of the present century, as well as in later years, were of a high average of intelligence, a fact that is demonstrated by the attention given in early years to the formation of societies for the promotion of literary culture, the pursuit of intellectual studies, and the general advancement of educational affairs. For example, the Dialectic Society was formed in 1811, its ob- ject being " intellectual culture and social intercourse." The exercises consisted chiefly of debates upon previously-named subjects. Among its very early members were William Sawyer Wall, Abraham Shear- man, jr., John Howland, jr., Jeremiah Winslow, Samuel Rodman, jr., Thomas Rotch, John Summers Russell, James Arnold, Thomas A. Greene, Lemuel Williams, jr., John Mason Williams and William Baker.
A Bible Society was organized June 27, 1817, and has ever since con- tinued its beneficent work, being reorganized in 1891. Daniel K. Whit . aker opened a classical school April 22, 1821. On June 6, 1825, Ben- jamin Lindsey opened a reading and news room, which during more than sixty years was a much frequented resort for business men.
The Lyceum Society was organized December 8, 1828, and the fol- lowing persons were elected the first officers: Stephen Merrihew, pres- ident; Abner Bourne, Benjamin Rodman, vice presidents; Charles W.
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Morgan, Thomas A. Greene, Joseph Congdon, curators; Orville Dewey, J. H. W. Page, committee of arrangements; Francis Rotch, correspond- ing secretary; William T. Hawes, recording secretary; W. C. Taber, treasurer. The society is still in existence.
The Mozart Musical Society was organized in 1824 for study and practice of sacred music. and on December 2, of that year, gave a pub- lic performance in Dr. Dewey's meeting-house; it was under leadership of R. B. Holland. Among early members of this organization were Victor Williams, William Crandall, James Staples, Stephen Potter, John Bryant, Ephraim Billings, all instrumentalists; and Mr. and Mrs. Gideon Sawyer, Ebenezer Hervey, Mrs. Benjamin Gage, Rhoda Bassett, Ann Wood, three members of the Quimby family, Mr. and Mrs. George Clark, Clarissa Burt, Dr. Alexander Read, Joseph Bourne, Abbie Kendrick, Susan Graham, Joseph Allen, Samuel Ward, Henry P. Willis, Edward L. White, Thomas B White, Calvin Staples and Mahala McFarlin, all sing- ers. This society had an existence of thirteen years.1
It now becomes necessary to tell in brief the story of the so-called ark riots which took place in the village in 1826. At that time there stood just above high tide on Water streets, near High street, the hull of an old whaler, the Camillus, on the deck of which a house had been built, and occupied by families; it ultimately became a disreputable brothel. In August, of the year named, some boys found the body of a man who had evidently been murdered near Kempton street, west of the
1 New Bedford has always been noted for the number and excellence of its musical organiza- tions and the enthusiasm shown in maintaining music of a high order in the churches of the place/ In February, 1838, the name of the Philharmonic Society, which had been previously organized, was changed to the New Bedford Haydn Society. After several public appearances during that year, the society in the fall opened a juvenile school for gratuitous instruction in musical science, with William Nutting, instructor. The society closed its existence with that year. .
The Choral Union was organized in 1856, with Andreas T. Thorup, conductor. He was a thor- oughly-educated musician who came from Copenhagen and in 1848 was appointed organist in a prominent church in Boston. The Union had an active existence until March 13, 1862, during which period a number of very successful and meritorious concerts were given.
The Gentlemen's Amateur Glee Club had a brief existence in 1868, and in the following year its membership was largely transferred to the Choral Association, which was called into exist- ence to supply an efficient chorus for the great Peace Festival in Boston. Permanent organiza- tion was effected June 28, 1869, and the following principal officers were elected : President, Leon- ard B. Ellis; vice-presidents, Wendell H. Cobb, James I. Church, Stephen Crowell; treasurer, Gardner T. Sanford; librarian, B. F. Jenney ; musical conductor, Josiah Eaton, jr. From this organization a chorus of seventy-four voices was sent to the great festival, and a still larger one to the' Peace Festival of 1872. The association has continued its prosperous and beneficial exist- ence to the present time and has given numerous public entertainments of a high order.
Besides the foregoing musical organizations, the Schubert Club was organized September 30, 1880, with Dr. W. H. Taylor, president ; Charles T. Bonney, jr., vice-president ; James W. Allen, secretary ; George Richards, librarian ; Louis H. Eaton, conductor. A splendid chorus was formed and various entertainments given ; the club closed its work in October, 1883.
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baseball park site. The ghastly find renewed the memory of the dis- appearance of a ship carpenter about that time. The locality where the body was found was called " Hard Dig," and was occupied almost wholly by a vicious class who made it unsafe for respectable persons to venture in the vicinity in the night. This murder was at once laid at the door of the dwellers at Hard Dig and a mob was promptly organ- ized with a determination to take the law for its punishment into their own hands. Gathering that night at the Kempton street corner, plans were discussed and the work began. Proceeding to the house of Jake Peterson, one of the leaders of the vicious element, the mob pulled down his house; other dwellings in the vicinity were soon demolished and fired, and in two hours the whole disreputable neighborhood was cleansed. During the progress of their work a proposition was made to raid the Ark; but action in that direction was postponed until the following evening, when a similar determined party assembled and in spite of showers of missiles, and boiling water, the objectionable struc- ture was demolished and burned.
A second Ark soon appeared, situated farther west than the first and on the south side of Ark lane. It was occupied by a wholly vicious element and became a positive terror to respectable people. All ordi- nary measures for abolishing the nuisance failed. When finally a fire in the Elm street Methodist church was believed to have been started by some of the inmates of the Ark, it was resolved that the nuisance should be destroyed. In the last days of August a meeting was held in the town hall at which about two hundred persons were present. While there did not appear to be any definite organization, it was evident to the few conservative citizens present that plans were well laid for the destruction of the Ark. Timothy G. Coffin read the riot act and re- spectable persons discountenanced the proposed outbreak, but all to no purpose. At 9 o'clock a shout arose, " Hurrah for the Ark," and away rushed the mob. In Ark lane was found the hook and ladder truck, which was stripped of its ladders and hooks by a company of twenty- five men in fantastic uniforms, and the building was assaulted. The work of destruction was soon finished and the wreckage set on fire. Several small houses near by were also burned.
It is difficult for the reader of to-day to understand a condition of affairs characterized by such proceedings as these. Amid the gener- ally peaceful recent years, when the strong arm of law and good order is felt among all classes in the city, it seems incredible that there could
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have passed a period of a year or two when the village was terrorized by vicious and immoral persons, the only remedy for which was found in the riotings of a mob.
On June 30 a town meeting was held, the purpose of which is thus expressed :
To see if the town will take into consideration the expediency of adopting meas- ures to prevent the further destruction of property by riotous assemblages, and also to see if the town will think it proper to take any further measures to secure the safety of the town, in consequence of the recent burnings of dwelling houses in the vicinity, agreeable to a petition of J. A. Parker and ten others.
This matter was referred to a committee of nine leading citizens, who made a conservative report and at its conclusion recommended the ap- pointment of a large "Committee of Vigilance," to be instructed to report to the Selectmen the designs of evil-disposed persons, and to be ready to act promptly in the maintenance of good order, under direc- tion of the municipal authorities, whenever called upon. This com- mittee was appointed and consisted of one hundred and ten men. This Vigilance Committee was the parent organization of the later and pres- ent efficient Protecting Society, which has had an uninterrupted exist- ence of nearly seventy years.
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