USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 42
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 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139
and Rebecca S. Williams. The limit of attendance was raised to forty, but applications were more numerous than vacancies. The success and popularity of this school excited jealousies, which, combined with older prejudices, led to its abolishment in 1829, when the Legislature made the high school law permissive instead of mandatory. The ad- herents of the school were led by Timothy G. Coffin and James B. Congdon, while the opposition was led by Dudley Davenport, and the question of its retention was hotly debated in the New Bedford Ly- ceum. Mr. Emerson at once opened a private institution, called the New Bedford High School, which had a successful existence of eight years.
The revised statutes of 1836 made high schools mandatory in places as large as New Bedford and steps were taken to re-establish "a school for the education of youth in the higher branches of learning." The second high school, styled the Public Grammar School, was opened June 19, 1837, in what was known as the Elm Street Academy, which stood on the south side of Elm street, above Pleasant. John F. Emer- son was principal and Amelia F. Baylies assistant, and sixty-two pupils were selected by examination from more than one hundred applicants.
In 1829 five schools were taught in the village of New Bedford. This year revealed a strong popular interest in lower schools. Addi- tional provision was made for infant schools, a separate school was opened for colored children, and plain sewing was introduced into one school by vote of the committee, which then consisted of nine mem- bers. In 1837 the "town system " of management superseded the old "district system," teachers' salaries were adjusted, and a course of study for the grammar schools was adopted. Other minor regulations were also put into force. In June, 1843, the public schools were or- ganized into four grades: "The Primary schools, for children between four and seven years of age; the Intermedial schools, for those be- tween seven and ten years of age; the Grammar or Common schools, for those over ten years of age; and the High School, or that provided by law for the use of the whole town, which receives all pupils over twelve years of age, who, upon examination, are qualified to enter it." The town then contained six primary, nine intermedial, and seven grammar schools, and one high school, and the School Committee com- prised thirteen members.
The first brick school house in New Bedford, situated on Middle street, was built in 1844-45 at a cost of over $10,000; it was enlarged
396
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
in 1868. The upper floor was first occupied by the High School and the lower floor by the Boys' Grammar School. The High School flourished here until 1876, when it entered its present building on Summer street, between Mill and North, which cost, including the site, $120,000. Since then the old Middle street building has been used solely as a grammar school. John F. Emerson continued as prin- cipal of the High School until 1861, when he was succeeded by Charles P. Rugg, who was followed by Ray Greene Huling in 1886. Charles Sturtevant Moore, the present principal, succeeded Mr. Huling in 1893.
One of the duties of the secretary of the School Committee down to 1844 was to visit the schools at stated intervals. From 1844 to 1847 this duty devolved upon the chairman, who was Thomas A. Greene. In the latter year sub-committees were organized to inspect the various grades. This system obtained until 1861, when the first superintend. ent was elected in the person of Abner J. Phipps. He resigned in 1864 and Rev. Henry F. Harrington, a man of uncommon ability, was chosen. Mr. Harrington filled this position and won a wide reputa- tion for himself and for local education until his death in September, 1887. In February, 1888, William E. Hatch, the present able superin- tendent, was elected.
With the incorporation of the city of New Bedford in March, 1847, there was ushered in a new era of advancement in local education. A system of better supervision was inaugurated, an enlarged committee was organized, and improved methods of teaching were instituted. A few secondary subjects had already been introduced, such as sewing in 1829, drawing in the High School in 1837, the systematic grading of the schools in 1843, and written examinations in 1845. In 1847 public evening schools for adults were authorized, and in December, 1848, two of these institutions were opened-one for males, 124 pupils, with H. W. French and Cyrus Bartlett as teachers, and one for females, 154 pupils, with Onslow Hemenway and Mary T. Congdon, teachers. These schools have never been discontinued. In 1897 there were five evening elementary schools with seventy-one teachers and an evening drawing school with three teachers. Music was introduced into the schools by Jason White in 1856. The Harrington Normal and Train- ing School was established in 1889, and public kindergarten schools (three in number) were opened in 1897. All of these departments are doing a noble work in their special lines.
397
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
The following table gives a comprehensive summary of the public schools of New Bedford at the present time:
SCHOOLS.
NAMED FOR.
Material.
No. of Stories.
No. of School Rooms.
No. of Seats.
Year Completed.
Condition.
1 Acushnet
Avenue
Brick
2 10 490 1878 Good.
2 Acushnet
Location
Wood
2 3 114 1855 Good.
3 I. W. Benjamin
Isaac W. Benjamin
Brick
3 12 587 1891 Good.
4 Cedar1
Street
Wood.
6 294
Good.
5 Cedar Grove
Street
Brick
3 15 657 1883 Good.
6 Clark
Street
Brick
2 8 392 1897 Good.
7 Cannonville
Location
Wood
2 2 89 1853 Fair.
8 Clark's Point 2
Location
Wood 1
1 46 Poor.
9 Dartmouth
Street
Wood 2 8 343 1855 Good.
10 George H. Dunbar
George H. Dunbar
Brick
2 8 294 1897 New.
11 Fifth
Street
Brick
3 10 490 1860 Good.
12 Thomas A. Greene
Thomas A. Greene
Brick
2 10 398 1894 Good.
13 High
Grades
Brick
3 10 419 1876 Good.
14 Harrington Memorial Henry F. Harrrington Brick
3
8 370 1889 Good.
15 Sylvia Ann Howland
Sylvia Ann Howland
Brick
3 7 245 1893 Good.
16 Linden
Street
Wood 2 4 147
Old.
17 Middle
Street
Brick 3 9 423 1844 Good.
18 Merrimac
Street
Brick
2 6 279 1857 Good.
19 North
Location
Wood
1
2 72 1852 Good.
20 Parker
Street
Brick
3 12 568 1852 Good. 2 8 388 1897 New.
22 Plainville
Location
Wood
1 1 23
Fair.
23 Rockdale
Location -
Wood
1 2 59 1855 Fair.
24 Thompson
Street
Brick
3 10 388 1885 Good.
25 Mary B. White
Mary B. White
Brick
2 4 195 1881 Good. 2
26 Brock Avenue
Brick
8 1898 New.
21 Phillips
Avenue
Brick
The advancement of educational interests in New Bedford, as well as in other sections of the country, has been more rapid during the last decade than in any other period of the city's history. The schools have been organized upon a broader basis; the sanitary conditions of the school houses have been greatly improved; the standard of scholarship and professional training for teachers has been raised; more rational
1 The Cedar Street school house was enlarged in 1879.
2 The new Brock Avenue school house takes the place of the old Clark's Point building.
398
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
methods of teaching have been introduced; the study of nature, differ- ent forms of manual training, kindergartens, and other practical studies have been engrafted upon the general system. Under these innova- tions, fostered as they are by the support and liberality of all public spirited citizens, the progress of local education has kept pace with the most advanced schools in the country, and New Bedford to-day is not out-ranked, in this connection, by any city of its size in the Union. The city has been favored, however, in one particular respect, namely, by the existence of the Sylvia Ann Howland educational fund of $50, - 000, which was created by the estimable woman whose name it bears. This sum is so invested as to yield an annual income of $3,000, which is under the control of the School Committee to be "expended and used for the promotion and support within the city of liberal educa- tion." The trust has been administered with great wisdom for about thirty years.
The following statistics show the growth of the public school system of New Bedford since 1847:
-SCHOLARS.
Year.
Incidental Expenses. $ 16,830.35
Repairs. $3,740.82
New Buildings.
Enroll- ment.
longing.
1847
2,547
2,063
1848
21,718.89
2,939.73
2,461
2,017
1849
20,245.01
2,509.79
1850
22,426.77
2,565.38
2,929
2,514
1851
22,517.38
2,590.20
$5,666.61
3,419
2,312
1852
29,172.05
1,700.76
6,424.54
3,365
2,447
1853
28,938.10
2,875.72
8,533.47
3,623
3,177
1854
30,760.31
3,589,07
1,355.33
2,378
1855
35,693.79
3,607.20
13,744.61
2,780
1856
39,197.92
3,551.53
6,781.41
2,840
1857
39,958.40
3,399.27
3,920.38
3,036
1858
42,021.78
4,315.64
3,127
1859
42,235.49
2,114 11
17,454.43
3,002
1860
30,727.06
2,863.03
13,605.84
3,928
3,587
1861
39,083.45
970.88
3,869
3,405
1862
31,317.41
837,18
3,898
3,447
1863
34,364.84
5,252.17
3,654
3,238
1864
39,245.35
948.06
3,515
3,007
1865
48,321.83
3,058.12
3,532
3,063
1866
49,295.27
2,126.54
3,651
3,277
1867
53,791.68
2,867.26
3,720
3,305
1868
57,492.22
4,797.37
15,193.90
3,669
3,326
1869
59,262.60
3,129.87
3,628
3,215
Average No. be-
399
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
1870
62,382.76
4,163.99
3,534
3,229
1871
68,819.80
6,576.78
3,098.76
3,642
3,092
1872
59,884.02
3,186.22
3,634
3,025
1873
71,442.75
4,729.13
3,584
3,204
1874
77,732.98
1,935.77
16,830.67
3,725
3,288
1875
78,527.06
2,067.46
70,478,28
3,599
3,372
1876
81,374.83
3,893.29
44,608.42
3,832
3,520
1877
84,119.31
2,999.80
13,422.01
4.122
3,752
1878
75,341.15
2,859.02
8,561.50
4,422
3,754
1879
70,762.04
5,389.87
4,695.85
4,321
3,748
1880
61,504.70
2,587.59
11,003.13
4,259
3,747
1881
75,756.64
2,977.11
5,972.65
4,449
3,868
1882
77,565.61
3,802.23
20,071.38
4,656
3,959
1883
84,088.90
181.56
4,850,20
4,470
3,977
1884
93,907.70
3 888.06
4,000 50
4,640
4,107
1885
92,308.90
4,499.56
24,431.00
4,683
4,272
1886
99,262.48
5,206.86
4,586
4,044
1887
98,946.83
3,750.93
4,500.00
4,492
3,994
1888
106,292.89
4,150.09
28,928.11
5,477
3,988
1889
113,181.97
4,626.20
31,337.57
5,696
4,220
1890
115 189.65
8,749.00
26,127.53
5,853
4,609
1891
120,830.36
6,978.93
25,064.73
6,383
5,024
1892
129,278.22
12,781.53
25,722.55
6,713
5,379
1893
138,059.09
6,210.44
63,431.05
6,884
5,543
1894
145,645.04
5,140.55
44,275.65
7,426
5,751
1895
150,447.43
9,377.87
25,115.30
7,860
6,005
1896
163,181.65
12,667.10
64,431.58
8,298
6,526
1897
166,274.89
14,974.74
52,731.64
8,671
7,081
Total enrollment of pupils for 1897: Day schools, 8,671; evening schools, 1,849; evening drawing school, 107. School census, 11,439.
In addition to the public schools of New Bedford there are in the city fifteen private and parochial schools, many of which have long ex- erted a powerful influence for good upon the community. The follow- ing table gives the enrollment of these institutions during the year 1897:
Total enrollment for year. Boys. Girls.
NAME OF SCHOOL.
St. Joseph's Parochial
411
442
St. Mary's Parochial
280
313
St. Mary's Home
38
37
Sacred Heart Parochial
390
429
Guardian Angel.
153
170
French.
212
189
St. Hyacinth
268
291
1
1
400
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Total enrollment for year. Boys. Girls.
NAME OF SCHOOL.
Mr. Charles E. E. Mosher's
36
26
Aimwell School
13
19
Miss Leonard's.
15
6
Miss Bonney's
11
8
Miss Gardner's
29
17
Mrs. E. E. Waite's
19
33
Business University
84
62
The Friends Academy
21
52
4074
GRAND TOTALS.
1980
2094
The oldest and most noted of these is the Friends Academy, which had its origin in the following extract from the records of a meeting held September 17, 1810:
A number of Friends at an interview having taken into consideration the great difficulty attending the youth of the society called Quakers, in obtaining an educa- tion in the higher branches of useful literature in this part of the country, without endangering their moral and religious principles, and feeling an anxious desire that a remedy may be provided for that inconvenience to the rising generation, we, the subscribers, have agreed to contribute the sums respectively affixed to our names, for the purpose of establishing and endowing an institution for the instruction of Friends' children, and such others, as it may appear hereafter, as may usefully and safely be admitted therein, in the knowledge of the languages, or mathematics and philosophy, and such other branches of useful literature as hereafter, upon experi- ment, may be found within the compass and means of the institution usefully to teach. The said institution to be governed by such rules and regulations as the subscribers hereto by themselves, or by their trustees-that may hereafter be ap- pointed for that purpose and for the superintendence of the institution-may from time to time establish:
NEW BEDFORD, 17th of 9th mo., 1810.
Wm. Rotch, the house and lot, also two thousand dollars $ 2,000
Wm. Rotch, jr., five thousand dollars 5,000
Sam'1 Rodman, two thousand dollars 2,000
Sam'l Elam, one thousand dollars. 1,000
Thomas Arnold, five hundred dollars
500
James Arnold
1,000
$11,500
In 1810 William Rotch purchased a lot on the southwest corner of County and Elm streets, where he built a two-story wooden structure, 70 by 26 feet, surmounted by a belfry. This building was familiar to at least two generations as the Friends Academy. The institution was
401
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
chartered February 29, 1812. At the first meeting of the trustees, held October 9, 1812, John Maitland Brewer, a graduate of Harvard in 1804, was appointed the first preceptor. It was the principal design of the patrons of the academy " to diffuse useful knowledge among the mem- bers of their own religious society, to guard the morals of the youth placed there for an education, and, as much as may be, to encourage piety and religion in their progress in literature." Such students were preferred as might be members of or make profession with and attend the meetings of the Society of Friends, "whether they be members of said society or not," and "none others" were to "be admitted to the exclusion of such." The first officers were Samuel Rodman, secretary ; William Rotch, jr., treasurer; William Rotch and James Arnold, visit- ors. At the annual meeting held May 21, 1813, these officers were re- elected, William Rotch was chosen president, Elisha Thornton was added to the number of visitors, and the office of librarian was created. In 1813-14 the academy received a number of books, including about 1,000 volumes bequeathed by Samuel Elam, of Newport.
Owing to the war of 1812-15 and its influences the number of schol- ars grew less and less until on May 23, 1817, it was voted to close the school temporarily. It was reopened September 22, 1817, but was again closed March 10, 1820, and did not again reopen till August 13, 1827, when John H. W. Page was made principal. On May 17, 1839, a course of study extending over five years was adopted. May 13, 1844, the trustees voted that scholars " from and after the next quarter, ex- ceptions being permitted under certain prescribed conditions, should be females only," but the next year boys and girls were both admit- ted. In 1846 a school was kept in the building by Caroline and Deb- orah Weston, assisted by William P. Atkinson, and in 1847 the acad- emy proper was reopened. In 1855 an entire change of management was inaugurated, and on September 18 the school was opened with the boys' department on the first floor and the girls' on the second. In 1856 a lot on Morgan street was purchased and a new building erected, and the dedication took place May 7, 1857, with impressive ceremonies. In 1860 an addition to the new school was made, the lower story was fitted up for the boys' department, and the old building was abandoned, removed, and converted into a tenement.
The Friends Academy, though deriving its name from the faith of its founders, has never been known as an exclusive sectarian institu- tion. Its doors have always been open to all students of all denomina- 51
402
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
tions, and for upwards of three quarters of a century its wholesome and elevating influence for good has been felt throughout southwestern Massachusetts. Its principals have been as follows:
John Maitland Brewer, 1812-17; Moses S. Moody, 1817-18; Thomas A. Greene, 1818-20; John H. W. Page, 1827-29; William Howe Sanford, 1829-31; William Mosely Holland, 1831; David Mack, 1831-35; Isaac N. Stoddard, 1835-37; John V. Beane, 1837-45; Simon Barrow, 1845-46; Abner J. Phipps, 1847-58; Edward A. H. Allen, 1858-69; T. Prentiss Allen, 1858-64, (male department); John Tetlow, 1869- 78; Andrew Ingraham, 1878-87; Thomas H. Eckfeldt, 1887 to date.
The Aimwell School was established by Mrs. Drucilla P. Knight on the 4th of March, 1861, and has always been well sustained.
The Swain Free School was opened October 25, 1882, in what had been the residence of the Swain family, on the corner of County and Hawthorn streets, and is named from its founder, William W. Swain.1 His will, dated April 7, 1857, bequeathed his property, upon the death of his widow, to a board of trustees, consisting originally of Lincoln F. Brigham, William W. Crapo, Edward D. Mandell, Andrew G. Pierce, John H. Clifford, John Weiss, Edward L. Baker, Joseph G. Grinnell, Charles R. Tucker and Joshua C. Stone. The last six had died before Mrs. Swain's decease, and in 1880 Charles W. Clifford, William J. Pot- ter, Charles H. Pierce, Edmund Grinnell and George H. Dunbar (an original appointee designated in the will as the "mayor of the city") were chosen members of the board The school was incorporated March 18, 1881, and Francis T. Aikin and C. B. H. Fessenden were elected to complete the number of trustees originally specified. These trustees, under the guidance of Rev. William J. Potter, laid the foundation of the school by placing special stress upon the study of the English language, together with French, German, drawing and painting. The first teach- ers were Francis B. Gummere, Ph. D., master, teacher of English phi- lology and history; Samuel Lepoids, teacher of French, and Arthur Cumming, teacher of industrial and decorative art. The school opened with eighty pupils; in 1883-84 the number had increased to 120. In the latter year three new branches were introduced: Normal methods, under Louisa P. Hopkins; Latin and Greek, under Andrew
1 William W. Swain was the sixth of nine children of Thaddeus and Martha (Hussey) Swain and a grandson of David Swain, and was born January 20, 1793, in Nantucket. In November, 1800, he came with the family to New Bedford. He became the agent for James Temple Bowdoin, the owner of the island of Naushon, and in 1843, in company with John M. Forbes, of Milton, pur- chased that property. He was also interested in oil and shipping. His death took place Septem- ber 20, 1858. In 1818 he married Lydia, daughter of Gilbert Russell, who survived him until De- cember 25, 1878, when she died at the age of eighty-five.
403
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Ingraham; and chemistry, under Nathaniel Hathaway. In June, 1887, Andrew Ingraham succeeded Dr. Gummere as master.
Besides the courses named others have been added, lectures have been provided from time to time, and altogether the institution has worthily carried out the high ideals of its benefactor, as expressed in the following extracts from his will:
My hope is that the provision herein made will be sufficient for establishing and supporting a school of high character, where the pupils may receive a thorough edu- cation upon the most liberal and enlightened principles, free of any charge of tuition.
My intention is that the school shall never be in any form or degree exclusive, either religiously or politically, but open for the admission of all whose good character and condition entitle them to share in its benefits, and of this the trustees are to be the sole judges.
My wish is that this class of scholars (i. e., those whose parents cannot afford to send them to our most expensive schools) have precedence in admission, leaving the decision on each individual application to the trustees, who alone are to decide thereon.
NEWSPAPERS OF NEW BEDFORD.
A large number of newspapers published during the village history of New Bedford, and nearly all of which were short-lived, have been noticed in preceding pages. Of the living journals the New Bedford Mercury is the oldest. Its first issue bore the date of August 7, 1807; it was a sixteen-column folio, and was published by Benjamin Lindsey, a practical printer who had been working in the office of the Palladium in Boston. The Mercury office was on Water street, and the subscrip- tion price was $2 a year. In his address to the public the editor said : " It is our wish and intention to publish a useful, and so far as our re- sources will permit, an entertaining journal, embracing all those ob- jects which properly fall within its scope." In politics the Mercury espoused the principles of Washington's farewell address, " being con- vinced that all Americans are alike interested in their support." The first number of the paper contained a proclamation by Thomas Jefferson, and several local advertisments, among which were those of Abraham Shearman, jr., Peter Barney & Sons, John Alexander, William James, Howland & Grinnell, Congdon & Taber, and Josiah Wood.
Mr. Lindsey conducted the Mercury with success until 1826 when he associated with himself his son, Benjamin Lindsey, jr., and for five more years father and son continued the business. During this period of almost a quarter of a century the Mercury gained a large circulation
404
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
for that period, exerted marked influence within its sphere, and Mr. Lindsey was recognized as an able editor. In 1831 the father and son started the Daily Mercury (the first daily paper published in New Bed- ford), and soon afterward the senior member of the firm retired and the whole management of the two papers devolved upon the son. On Monday morning, October 3, 1842, the Daily Mercury appeared in en- larged form, to meet the increasing demands of advertisers upon its columns and give its readers a more generous supply of reading matter. Thirty-five years had then passed since the date of the first issue of the weekly paper, and speaking in its own behalf, the editor happily said :
During the whole of that long period-in times of adversity and prosperity, in sunshine and in storm-it has enjoyed the confidence and support of the community, in a degree flattering and substantial. It has grown with the growth of New Bed- ford, and strengthened with her strength. It has outlived many of its best and earliest patrons, and has chronicled the marriages of nearly two generations.
Mr. Lindsey was appointed United States consul at St. Catharines, Brazil, in 1861, and finding it impracticable to continue the duties of editor longer, he disposed of the newspaper establishment to C. B. H. Fessenden and William G. Baker, who took charge of the paper on the eve of the Civil war, July 15, 1861. The new proprietors had only a limited amount of capital and were deficient in knowledge of the prac- tical details of the business; but they were ambitious, energetic and industrious, and the Mercury was kept abreast of the times .. It was one of the earliest papers to advocate arming the slaves in the war, and at all times ardently supported the principles of the Republican party and the cause of the Union. It was also an earnest advocate of the project of giving New Bedford an ample supply of pure water, and of supplementing the loss to the city through the inevitable decline of the whale fishery, with new manufacturing industries in other lines.
On May 1, 1876, the Mercury passed into possession of Stephen W. Booth, Warren E. Chase, and William L. Sayer. Mr. Booth had been for a number of years in the employ of Fessenden & Baker as clerk and business manager. Mr. Chase was a practical printer, and Mr. Sayer had already shown excellent ability on the editorial staff. The pub- lishers conducted the business under the name of The Mercury Pub- lishing Company, which continues to the present time. The present company consists of George S. Fox, William L. Sayer, and Benjamin H. Anthony.
The Evening Standard and the Republican Standard were founded
405
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
by Edmund Anthony, a native of Somerset. He learned the news- paper business in Taunton and published several papers in that place, among them the Bristol County Democrat, which he continued many years, and the Daily Gazette. In 1865 he founded the Springfield Union. The Standard was first issued in February, 1850, and ever since has held its rank among the leading journals of the State. In politics it has always been staunchly Republican and its editorial col- umns have advocated and supported all the great reforms of half a century and spoken clearly in the cause of morality and progress. From a four-page sheet of twenty columns, the Standard grew to its present modern proportions, with a circulation that is entirely satis- factory to its publishers. It now occupies its splendid building in which is a modern printing and publishing plant embodying ever facil- ity for the business. Upon the death of Edmund Anthony, his sons, Edmund, jr., and Benjamin, succeeded to the business and are still at its head. The firm was incorporated January 1, 1891, under the name of E. Anthony & Sons, and is comprised of the following: President and managing editor, Edmund Anthony, jr .; treasurer, Benjamin An- thony; clerk, Benjamin H. Anthony; manager of advertising, George S. Fox.
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.