Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 80

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 80

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Mr. Soule has many varied and important business trusts and inter- ests; he is a director and an ex president of the New Bedford Board of Trade; vice-president of the New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust

JOB SWEET.

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Company; president of the Dartmouth Mills; director of the City Man- ufacturing Corporation, the Bristol Mills, and the A. L. Blackmer Cut Glass Co .; president of the Acushnet Co-operative Bank; and director of the New Bedford Co-operative Bank, and the New Bedford, Middle. borough and Brockton Street Railway Company. He is a member of the Loyal Legion; past commander of R. A. Peirce Post No. 190, G, A. R .; and served as commander of the Bristol County Association of the G. A. R., 1897-98; a member of long standing and an ex president of the New Bedford Veteran Firemen's Association; and also a member of Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar, Adoniram Royal Arch Chap- ter, and Star in the East Lodge of Masons; of the Wamsutta and Dart- mouth Clubs of New Bedford, and the Yacht Club and Saturday Night Club of Hyannis, Mass., where he has a summer home.

Mr. Soule married, August 28, 1860, Miss Susan C. Nesmith, daugh- ter of Carver and Eleanor (Williams) Nesmith, of Brooks, Me. Their children are Margaret H., wife of Garry De N. Hough, M. D .; Lois M., wife of Alexander T. Smith; and Rufus A. Soule, jr., a senior at Brown University.

JOB SWEET, M. D.

DR. JOB SWEET is the eldest son of Dr. William and Martha (Tourgee) Sweet, and was born in Wakefield, South Kingston, Washington county, R. I., October 13, 1828. His father was a prominent bone-setter in South Kingston, and was called in his profession from various parts of the country; he died at the ripe old age of eighty-four.

Job Sweet, during his boyhood days, attended the schools in the vicinity and assisted his father in surgical cases, for which he had a natural liking, and decided very early in his career to follow this spe- cialty, and in order to have a wider field for his chosen profession, in 1847 he came to New Bedford, Mass., to assist Dr. Jonathan Sweet, his father's brother, who was in feeble health.

After his death he remained in New Bedford and has been in active and highly successful practice for over fifty years, and has acquired a distinguished reputation for his skill in saving cases of fractures, dis- locations, sprains, etc., which had been considered hopeless by other surgeons. His practice has required from one to two assistants; he now has for an assistant his grandson, John II. Sweet, jr., a graduate 97

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of Harvard in Medicine and Surgery, who will succeed him in New Bedford.

Dr. Sweet has been twice married-first, in 1849, to Sarah H., daughter of Alexander and Eunice Swain, of Nantucket, of which union two children were born; John H. and Kate Sweet. For his second wife he married Nannie P., daughter of Capt. William M. and Emeline Hadley Blye, of Bristol, R. I., and they have one daughter, Daisy A.

SYLVANUS THOMAS.

SYLVANUS THOMAS was a native of Middleborough, Mass., where he was born in 1818. After availing himself of the somewhat limited ed- ucational advantages of his native place, he began his business life in the store of Hon. Peter H. Pierce of Middleborough. But he soon (about 1838) removed to New Bedford, where his long business career was a marked success. Beginning trade in a small way in domestic goods he afterwards expanded into the West India trade. Later he engaged in the whaling business and maufacture of oil. For many years, and until the death of Colonel Pierce, that gentleman and Elisha Tucker of Middleborough were associated with Mr. Thomas in business, but the greater share of the burden of the extensive opera- tions of the firm fell upon the latter. He was eminently capable of fulfilling his trust and both of his partners had unbounded confidence in his capacity and his integrity.

One who knew him well wrote of him soon after his death as follows: " No merchant of this city (New Bedford) ever devoted himself more assiduously to business than Mr. Thomas, and none can leave behind a more unspotted reputation. No man could be more missed by the mercantile community, especially by the dealers in its great staple; for no one was ever more active, bold, or successful in the purchase and sale of oil. For many years his annual transactions in that article were immense, and the importers were, of course, greatly benefited by his energy and enterprise. His death is a severe loss to our city-the loss of a man of extraordinary perseverance, of public spirit, of great prob- ity, and of most estimable character in all the relations he bore to his fellows. He was a good man, ever ready to aid in maintaining every good cause, and recognizing and discharging the obligations which in- creasing wealth create."

The formation of many of the earliest manufacturing enterprises of

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New Bedford was due in a large measure to his influence and energy, even when his means were not directly invested; while in all matters pertaining to the prosperity of the city he was among the foremost. His career was based upon the principles of Christianity and he was long a member of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Thomas died on the 20th of November, 1866.

He was married in 1840 to Agnes J. Martin of Rehoboth, and they had three children: S. M. Thomas, an attorney of Taunton, and two daughters.

GEORGE A. WASHBURN.

GEORGE ALBERT WASHBURN, president of the Taunton National Bank, is the son of George and Diana Northam (Mason) Washburn, and was born in Swansea, Bristol county, Mass., February 5, 1836. He is a lineal descendant of John and Margaret Washburn, who came from Stratford-on-Avon, England, to Duxbury, Mass., in 1632, and who were the ancestors of all the Washburns in this State, and also of the noted family, children of Israel Washburn, of Maine. John Washburn was a member of Capt. Myles Standish's military company, and one of the original proprietors of ancient Bridgewater. Isaac Washburn, grandfather of George A., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and moved from Middleboro to Taunton, where he established a furniture business that has ever since remained in his family. He died Novem- ber 2, 1832. He was married three times and had eighteen children, of whom George was a son by the third wife, Elizabeth Richmond, daugh- ter of William Richmond. of Providence, R. I. George married Diana Northam Mason, a direct descendant of Sampson Mason, a soldier in Cromwell's army, who, on the ascent of Charles II to the throne of England, fled to this country and settled in Rehoboth, Mass. Sampson Mason's descendants were known for 108 years as the " Mason Elders," and during that period served continuously in the pastorate of the first Baptist Church in Massachusetts.

Mr. Washburn thus represents two of the oldest and most prominent families in New England. In 1841 he removed with his parents to Taunton, where he has ever since resided, and where he received a good public and private school education. When sixteen years old he became a clerk in the hardware, iron, and steel store of Albert G. Washburn; afterward he entered the employ of Wood & Washburn, who were en- gaged in the same business. In 1857 he was admitted as a partner in

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the firm, which was known as Hunt, Harris & Co .. and later as John Hunt & Co. He gained a valuable experience in these capacities, and laid the foundation for a substantial and successful career. His mer- cantile life ended, however, on the breaking out of the war of the Re- bellion, which at once aroused his patriotic spirit and caused him to promptly offer his services to the Union. On April 16, 1861, he left his business and responded to the first call for troops, enlisting in Co. G, 4th Mass. Vols., which arrived at Fortress Monroe April 20. This was the first company to leave Taunton, and also the first company of the first regiment to leave Massachusetts for the front. By a singular coincidence his paternal grandfather, Isaac Washburn, a "minute- man," was in the first company to leave Taunton in the Revolutionary war, departing, April 20, 1775, just eighty-six years before. Mr. Washburn went out as a sergeant, served three months, or until the expiration of his term of enlistment, and immediately re-entered the service as first lieutenant in the 22d Mass. Vols., for three years, Col. Henry Wilson, commanding. Attached to the First Division, First Brigade, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, he was wounded at the battle of Gaine's Mill, Va., June 27, 1862, and taken prisoner, and for some time suffered the terrible confinement of Libby prison. He was promoted captain to date from July 11, 1862, and was mustered out of service to date from January 5, 1863.

Mr. Washburn received official notice of honorable discharge March 8, 1863, and the next day was elected treasurer and collector of taxes of Taunton, which office he filled with great credit and satisfaction for twenty-nine consecutive years, resigning December 24, 1891. Since then he has been president of the Taunton National Bank. He was also clerk of the Overseers of the Poor from 1865 to 1882 inclusive, a member of that body from 1883 to March, 1891, clerk of the Board of Assessors from 1869 to 1875, and member of the City Council in 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895,1896 and 1897. He was secretary and treasurer of the Board of Sink- ing Fund Commissioners of Taunton from 1878 to 1892, and secretary from 1892 to 1898 and in January, 1898, was elected its chairman. He is also a trustee of the Morton Hospital and of the Taunton Savings Bank, a member of the investment committee of the last named insti- tution, and a director of the Taunton Street Railway Company. Mr. Taunton is an able business man, a public spirited, progressive citizen, and a worthy representative of one of Taunton's oldest and most re- spected families. His long and valuable services as treasurer and tax

John Westall

Teg 24 E. G. Westhams & Bro. A)

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collector established his reputation for industry, honesty and faithful- ness, and won for him a large circle of friends. In every capacity he has efficiently and satisfactorily discharged his duties, and enjoys the confidence of the entire community.

He has been twice married, first to Elizabeth Gordon Pratt, daughter of Nathan and Lydia Pratt, and second to Ellen Dutton Reed, daughter of Edgar Hodges and Ellen Augusta Reed, all of Taunton. He has four children : Harriet Mason, wife of Charles A. Austin, of Brockton ; Edgar Reed; Elliott, a practicing physician; and Charles Godfrey, a graduate of the Boston University School of Law, and member of Bris- tol county bar.

REV. JOHN WESTALL.

REV. JOHN WESTALL, A. M., was for half a century one of the most useful, most influential, and most beloved citizens of Fall River, Mass. No man ever held a higher standard of humanity and genuine benevo- lence than he exerted in the community. In history as in life his name stands for all that is noble, and pure, and true, yet the limited space devoted to this memoir can but inadequately embrace the salient points in his long and honorable career.

Mr. Westall was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England, on the 25th of September, 1816, and laid the beginnings of a thorough self education in his native country. In 1830 he came with his father to America, settling first in Lowell, Mass., where he remained seven years. Afterward he spent about a year in Providence, R. I. During this period he devoted much of his leisure to study, developing a taste for literature which continued through life. In June, 1838, he removed to Fall River, where he ever afterward resided, and where he was for thirty-six years a designer at the American Print Works.

It was in the work of the ministry, in the cause of education, and in the advocacy of the common interests of humanity that he achieved distinction. Having enjoyed few of the advantages offered by the primitive schools of his youth, he educated himself with a zeal and thoroughness that characterized the man and made him a prominent example of what may be accomplished by individual effort. He was an ardent lover of all that was beautiful in nature, art and poetry. Originally he intended to prepare himself for the Episcopal ministry, but the works of Emanuel Swedenborg attracted his attention, and

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he accepted the theology of that leader in the new field of thought and became conversant with its doctrines and tenets. When the Church of the New Jerusalem was first established in Fall River he was made a lay reader. The force of his zeal and eloquence was felt for years in the New Church associations and conventions wherever they were held. His heart and soul were in the work, and he did much to ad- vance the principles of that faith. Though actively engaged as a de. signer in the print works, he continued to carry forward the work of his society, remaining always its self denying, energetic and trusted leader, and contributing largely of his means to its support. Many times he was solicited to devote all his time to the Christian ministry, but he felt that he could be more useful as he was. In 1862 Mr. West- all visited England, France, Italy, Switzerland, and other European countries. He again went abroad in 1874-75, extending his travels into Egypt, the Holy Land, Turkey, Greece, etc., and on his return the society again requested him to become their pastor. Accordingly he took a second course of study at the New-Church theological school in Waltham, now located at Cambridge, and was ordained pastor of the parish on October 11, 1877, and was pastor emeritus at the time of his death.

Mr. Westall was also, throughout a long and useful life, a valuable contributor to the literature of the day, and when the Weekly News was established by Almy & Milne he assumed the editorial leadership, which he continued for several years. As a writer he was noted for his fine subtlety of thought. He possessed a rare poetic temperament, excelled as an essayist rather than a critic, and was neither aggressive nor sarcastic in his style. Some of his poems are very fine specimens of lyric composition, and the pages of many periodicals are enriched by his articles. He enjoyed an intimate acquaintance with men of letters both here and abroad. When Kaulbach's Era of the Reforma- tion was first exhibited in Fall River he was chosen to explain it, and the lecture was afterward repeated in Boston. In politics he was an Abolitionist and later a staunch Republican, and for many years served as a delegate to the State and county conventions, but could never be induced to accept a political office. He was closely identified with the educational interests of the city until failing health compelled his re- tirement, and his helpful and inspiring talks on school examination days became a feature which is well remembered. He served as a member of the General School Committee for many years, and was also a trustee

THOMAS WILCOX.

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and an earnest promoter of the Public Library, a trustee of the Fall River Athenæum, and a member of the Oriental Society. He devoted much of his time to the interests of the public schools of the city, one of which is named after him in grateful appreciation of his valuable work in this department. He was also deeply interested in the cause of temperance and in all reforms that tended to the elevation of his fellowmen. He was a talented violinist and composer of music. About 1880 Brown University conferred upon him the honorary degree of A. M.

As a citizen Mr. Westall was universally esteemed and beloved. He was a delightful companion, appreciative and interesting, always a courtly gentleman, and ever tolerant of the views of others. In busi- ness he was scrupulously honest and upright. He was charitable, kind hearted, patriotic and lovable, and in the highest sense a true Christian. As a scholar, poet, pastor, and active man in public affairs he achieved lasting distinction and honor. His death occurred in Fall River on March 25, 1890.

Mr. Westall was twice married. He is survived by a widow, Julia Westall, and two daughters: Mrs. Lemuel Pettee, of Newtonville, Mass., and Mrs. Jefferson Borden, of Fall River.

THOMAS WILCOX.

THOMAS WILCOX is descended from (1) Josiah Wilcox of Tiverton, R. I., who was born in 1701; (2) William Wilcox, the seventh son of Josiah, who was born February 12, 1731, in Tiverton, and died January 20, 1813; (3) Thomas Wilcox, the eldest of William's seven children, who was born there August 28, 1757, married Keziah Bennett, and died May 26, 1843. Thomas Wilcox was the last survivor of an adventurous band of forty men who, under Colonel Barton, captured General Pres- cott, a British officer, in Rhode Island during the Revolution, and con- veyed him safely to Warwick. This was on July 9, 1777. Mr. Wilcox was stationed at Tiverton, near Howland's Ferry, during most of the war, and afterward engaged in farming. He had eleven children: Captain Joseph, born December 18, 1782; Philip, a ship carpenter of New Bedford; David Bennett, a stove and tin plate dealer and later a grinder and dealer in paints in New Bedford; John, who moved to Kentucky; Thomas, a tin plate worker of New Bedford and later of Fall River;

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Daniel, of Tiverton; Robert, of Pawtucket; Maria, who died early ; and Annie, Mary and Sarah, all of Tiverton.

Capt. Joseph Wilcox, soon after 1800, removed to New Bedford, where he died October 13, 1868. He became a whaling master, and in 1834 built the house occupied by his son Thomas at 202 Middle street. He married, first, Rebecca, daughter of Henry Perkins, a Revolutionary soldier of Boston, who subsequently removed to Dartmouth, who bore him two sons: Joseph, jr., and Henry; the latter died in infancy. For his second wife he married her sister, Elizabeth Perkins, who died No- vember 3, 1881, being five months less than 100 years old. Their chil- dren were Henry P., who died in infancy; Thomas, born July 10, 1822, in New Bedford; and Rebecca Perkins, born August 26, 1826, married Mark S. Palmer and died July 23, 1850.

Thomas Wilcox was educated in the New Bedford public and private schools and Friends' Academy, and became a clerk in a whaling and ship chandlery store. About 1844 he engaged in whaling and con- tinued in that business until 1860. Since then he has been connected with various enterprises. He has long been a member and director of the Liberty Hall Association, and is a director of the Mechanics' Na- tional Bank and a member of the board of investment of the New Bed- ford Five Cents Savings Bank. He was for two years a member and one year a president of the Common Council, and two years a member of the Board of Aldermen. December 12, 1866, he married Emily K., daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Wilcox of Tiverton, R. I.

JOHN C. MILNE.

JOHN C. MILNE is a native of Scotland, born May 18, 1824, at Mill- field. His parents died when he was very young, and he came under the care of his grandparents, with whom he emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1832. Here, at the age of eight years, he entered the printing office of an uncle, and soon became a rapid and accurate compositor. He came with his grandparents to Fall River in 1835, and found employ- ment in a calico factory conducted by Andrew Robeson & Sons. These gentlemen maintained a factory school for the benefit of the working boys in their employ, which he attended. He also attended a private evening school. In 1838 he resumed work in a printing office and with the exception of about six months spent at Pierce Academy, Middlebor-

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ough, and a short time in a printing office in New York city, remained there until 1845.

During all this time, with indefatigable zeal, he had continued his studies, his hours being arranged so as to afford time for both study and work by Thomas Almy, the proprietor of the office, his lifelong friend and subsequent partner in business. He was aided in his studies by Rev. George M. Randall, who became bishop of Colorado, and under him prepared for a college course, the completion of which was the goal of his ambition. Owing, however, to a lack of means, he found it nec- essary to abandon this purpose.

In 1845 friends encouraged him to undertake the publication of a weekly newspaper and the outcome was the Fall River Weekly News, which he started in company with Mr. Almy. Their first number was a diminutive sheet, but as time went on it grew in size and influence, and fourteen years later, 1859, they started a daily which their field seemed to warrant. When first started the paper was an exponent of Dem- ocratic principles, but at the surrender of the party to the slave holders of the South, it took a stand of independent Republicanism, which it has since rigidly maintained. Mr. Almy died in 1882 after a copartnership with Mr. Milne of thirty-seven years, and in 1864, Franklin L. Almy entered the firm, which continued under the old name of Almy & Milne.

For many years Mr. Milne has taken a prominent part in Republican politics, and has been honored at different times by nominations to municipal and State offices. He has served five terms in the City Council and has represented the city and district in the State Legis- lature for five consecutive years, 1884 to 1888 inclusive. During his terms in that body he served on several prominent committees and was House chairman of the committees on Public Charitable Institutions and on Banks and Banking during the later years of his service. He has been a director of the Pocasset National Bank since its organization in 1854, and is president of the Citizens' Savings Bank, and chairman of its board of investment. He is also a director in the Slade, Osborn and Stafford Mills.

A man destined from boyhood to be a journalist, and possessing years of experience in the mechanical as well as the editorial depart- ments of a newspaper, his editorial work bears the stamp which force of character and mature judgment, born of experience, alone can give. Mr. Milne was married in 1849 to Abby A., daughter of George W. and Betsey (Howland) Gifford of Fall River, and they had nine chil-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

dren, five of whom are living: Mrs. Mary J. Fenner, Joseph D. Milne, Mrs. Abby G. Carr, Mrs. Jennie D. Remington and Mrs. Hannah E. Chadwick.

FRANKLIN L. ALMY.

FRANKLIN L. ALMY, printer and publisher, was born in Little Comp- ton, R. I., July 2, 1833, the youngest of eleven children of Benjamin and Ruth Almy. His father served in the war of 1812, holding a lieu- tenancy and a captaincy ; and receiving his appointment from Governor Jones, was confirmed by the Rhode Island Legislature. The son, Franklin, came to Fall River by the removal of the family in 1837, and in 1845 at the age of twelve years, became a carrier of the "Weekly News," then but a few weeks old. In the following September he entered the office as an apprentice, serving five years, at the end of this period continuing as a journeyman, and in 1854 becoming a partner and the business manager of the firm. On the death of his senior part- ner, Mr. Thomas Almy, John C. Milne and he purchased Mr. Almy's interest in the "Fall River News" and the firm name of 1845 was re- tained. Mr. Almy is still the business manager of the paper, having been connected with it continuously since the year named.

Mr. Almy was married in 1862 to Charity R., youngest daughter of Israel Buffinton, who died in May, 1886, leaving three daughters and two sons. His present wife was Mary K. Cotton, daughter of John S. Cotton, one of the early business men of Fall River.

Although he has been closely and steadily identified with the life of the city for fifty-three years, Mr. Almy has never sought political or public business honors; he was, however, a member of the Common Council in 1866-67, and has been in the direction of the Flint and Wampanoag Mills for many years. Mr. Almy is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Citizens' Savings Bank. His religion is of the liberal type and his politics Republican. He combines, in business affairs, the strictest principles of honor with keen penetration into the firm grasp of those forces which command success, and he is recog- nized as a successful and influential citizen.

& Mo. Aldenich

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WILLIAM REED, JR.

WILLIAM REED, JR., was born in Newburyport, Mass., December 2, 1842, a son of William and Sophia (Ladd) Reed. He prepared for college in public schools and was graduated at Harvard in 1864-one of the prize men of his class. For several years he was a high school teacher and then entered journalism. He has been connected with various papers, among them being the Providence Herald, Montana Daily Herald and the Fall River Daily News. In 1872 he bought the Taunton Gazette and has since published and edited it. Mr. Reed has served in both branches of the State Legislature and in various city offices. He married, December 26, 1870, Katharine T. Hale, daughter of George W. Hale of Newburyport, Mass. Their children are four.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 80

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub Publication date: 1899 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company Number of Pages: 1399

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399