Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 81

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 81

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).

JAMES M. ALDRICH, M. D.

JAMES MOTT ALDRICH, M. D., was not only a leading physician, but. for many years a foremost citizen of Fall River. He was named after the famous Quaker preacher, James Mott. He was descended from (1) George Aldrich, a tailor, born in Derbyshire, England, about 1600, and Catherine Seald, his wife, whom he married in 1629. In 1631 this couple came to New England and first settled in what is now Maine, but soon afterward removed to Mendon, Mass. George Aldrich was one of the original purchasers of that town. He reared eleven chil- dren, of whom (2) Jacob, born in February, 1652, had a son, (3) Moses Aldrich, born in April, 1691, who became an eminent minister of the Society of Friends, suffered many petty persecutions in Massachusetts, and finally moved to Rhode Island. Caleb Aldrich (4), son of Moses, was born in January, 1725, resided in Smithfield, R. I., and became a prominent judge of that State. In 1847 he married Mary Arnold, on whose tombstone is the statement that at the time of her death she had living nine children, ninety-seven grandchildren, and 170 great-grand- children, Their twelfth and youngest child, Arnold Aldrich (5), was born in August, 1773, resided in Woonsocket, R. I., and married Dollee Lang in January, 1796. They had seven sons and three daughters, the youngest and last survivor being the subject of this memoir.

Dr. James Mott Aldrich was born in Smithfield, R. I., October 30, 1817. From childhood he possessed a delicate and sensitive organiza-

780

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tion and never enjoyed the vigorous health shared by his brothers. He spent his early life on his father's farm, which was situated about one mile south of Union village, on the road to Providence. He at- tended the common and private schools of the neighborhood and the academy at Union village, then under James Bushee, and also taught select school for a time. As a student he gained the reputation of be- ing thorough and industrious. He was especially fond of ancient and modern history, of the standard poets, and of forensic action, and as a member of a debating club took an active part in its debates. On reaching manhood he identified himself with the opponents of slavery, intemperance, capital punishment, restricted charter suffrage, etc., and so firmly were these principles grounded in early life that his long and useful career was eminently pure, noble, and in every way honorable. He had always been afflicted with a gastric disease, which increased in severity until it assumed alarming symptoms. A change of treatment by a botanic physician resulted in better health, and also turned his attention to medicine. Early in the year 1839 he entered the office and infirmary of Dr. J. A. Brown, of Providence, R. I., where he re- mained until November, 1840, when he accepted an invitation to go to Fall River, Mass., to take the place of Dr. J. B. Woodward, who went south for his health. Dr. Woodward returned about a year later and young Aldrich resumed his medical studies, taking a course of lectures at the medical department of Harvard University and afterward a course at the Botanic Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received his diploma and was chosen valedictorian of his class.

Dr. Aldrich practiced a few months in Woonsocket, R. I., but in November, 1843, removed to and settled permanently in Fall River, Mass., where he again took the place of Dr. Woodward, deceased. Dr. Aldrich continued in the active practice of his profession until a few years before his death, becoming the oldest physician in Fall River and the oldest of his school in Bristol county. He steadily adhered to the same principles of sanitive medication, modified by experience and by modern and improved methods and medicine, and successfully com- bated medical intolerance and prejudice, until he established the high- est reputation for skill and ability. He was untiring in disseminating a knowledge of the reformed practice, and was widely respected and esteemed both as a physician and citizen. With Dr. T. W. Wood, A. M., of Middleboro, he published for one year (1846-47) the Medical Enquirer, a monthly which gained a good circulation. In 1867 he was elected president of the Massachusetts Eclectic Medical Society.

781

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Dr. Aldrich was from early life a prominent and active abolitionist of the Garrison type, and equally strong in his temperance proclivities. He was the principal physician and for several years president of the Fall River Children's Home Association, a member of the school com - mittee for over thirty years and and for a long time its chairman, and president of the Barnard Manufacturing Company. He successfully practiced his profession in Fall River for upwards of forty years, retir- ing only because of being thrown from his sleigh, in front of his office, in January, 1886. He was bedridden for nearly three years and an invalid from the effects of the spinal injury he received up to the time of his death, which occurred in September, 1896. He was of a cheer- ful and affectionate disposition, a kind husband and father, and a man of the highest integrity. He remained a birthright member of the Society of Friends until the New England yearly meeting decided to oppose the abolitionists. In 1871 he united with the Unitarian Society and later became a member of its standing committee.

He was first married, May 24, 1844, to Mary Ann Allen, a teacher, of Dedham, Mass., who died, without issue, December 18, 1857. Sep- tember 23, 1862, he married Louisa G., youngest daughter of Hon. Nathaniel B. Borden. She succeeded her husband as a member of the Fall River school committee, in 1880, and died in October, 1897, leav- ing two children: Mary Louise, wife of Edgar J. Rich, of Winchester, Mass., and Nathaniel Borden Aldrich, M. D., of Fall River.

Nathaniel Borden Aldrich, M. D., the only son of the late Dr. James Mott and Louisa G. (Borden) Aldrich, was born in Fall River, Mass., February 12, 1866. He received a public and high school education in his native city and also attended the Mowry Goff Classical School at Providence, R. I., and in 1886 entered the medical department of Har- vard University, from which he received the degree of M. D. in June, 1889. In September of the same year he began the active practice of his profession in Fall River, where he has already achieved eminence as a successful and talented physician. He is a member of the Harvard Alumni Medical Association, of the Fall River Medical Society, and of the staff of the Fall River Emergency Hospital. In June, 1892, he married Miss Ella M., daughter of A. L. Adsley, of Fall River, and they have one son, Norman A.

782

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ROBERT THOMPSON DAVIS, M. D.

HON. ROBERT THOMPSON DAVIS, M. D., physician and former mem- ber of congress, is a native of County Down, Ireland, where he was born August 28, 1823. His father, John Davis, was of Presbyterian ancestry and his mother, Sarah Thompson, a member of the Society of Friends. His parents came to America in 1826 and settled at Ames- bury, Mass., where his father resided for half a century. Dr. Davis received a thorough preparatory education in the Friends' School at Providence, R. I., and at Amesbury Academy, and began the study for his profession under Dr. Thomas Wilbur, then one of the leading phy- sicians of Fall River. He passed two years in Tremont Medical School (Boston) and then entered the medical department of Harvard, from which institution he was graduated in 1847. After a brief experience as a dispensary physician in Boston, he went to Waterville, Me., where he practiced his profession for three years. In 1850 he came to Fall River, where he has won honorable distinction both as a physician and as a public spirited citizen. Early in his career he achieved success in the practice of medicine and soon took high rank among the leaders of his profession in southeastern Massachusetts. He was the youngest physician to be elected president of the Bristol County Medical Society and was re-elected to that position several times. For many years he has been a prominent member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of the American Medical Association, and of the National Public Health Association.

Dr. Davis inherited the strong characteristics, the lofty patriotism and the public spirit of the Scotch-Irish people, and consequently was early led to take an active interest in the affairs of his city, State, and country. When quite a young man he was a bold and earnest advo- cate of the anti-slavery cause, and in 1851 delivered an eloquent and impressive speech in favor of instructing the State representatives from his district to vote for Charles Sumner for United States senator. When the vote was taken in harmony with his patriotic efforts, the representative from Fall River cast the ballot which decided the elec- tion of Sumner. . Dr. Davis was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1853, and in 1858 and 1861 was State senator, in which capacity he won distinction for his support of wise measures and for ability as a public speaker. He was a member of the National Repub- lican Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for president in

783

BIOGRAPHICAL.

1860, and was a delegate to the convention that nominated Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. Governor Andrew, in 1863, appointed him a mem- ber of the State Board of Charities, and in 1869, upon the creation of the State Board of Health, he was appointed a member of that body by Governor Claflin; and when the two boards were consolidated he was appointed a member thereof by Governor Talbot and held that position until he was elected to Congress. In 1873 Dr. Davis was elected mayor of Fall River without opposition, and during his administration many valuable improvements were added to the city, including a plan of sewerage, new engine houses, police stations, and the erection of several large school houses. One of these, the Davis School, was named in honor of him. He gave his salary while mayor for the bene- fit of the Children's Home of Fall River. Dr. Davis has always been an ardent supporter for the cause of public education and has used his best efforts to advance the interests and increase the efficiency of the school system of his city and State. During his administration as mayor, and largely through his instrumentality, the city of Fall River began the method of furnishing free text books to all pupils of the public schools, being the first city in the State to accept the provisions of the free text-book law. Dr. Davis has delivered numerous addresses on public occasions. He was elected to Congress in 1882, was re- elected in 1884 and 1886, and took a prominent part in the discussions of that body. Subsequent to his service in Congress he was appointed by Governor Ames a member of the Metropolitan Sewerage Commis- sion, then just established.

When cotton manufacturing received a new impetus after the Civil war, Dr. Davis became one of the foremost in the organization of com- panies to engage in that industry. He has been active and influential in fostering and promoting the development of cotton manufactories in Fall River; and is president of the Wampanoag and Stafford Mills, a director in the Merchants' and Robeson Mills, and president of the Algonquin Printing Company.

In the fall of 1848 Dr. Davis married Sarah Congdon Wilbur, daugh- ter of Dr. Thomas Wilbur, of Fall River. She died in 1856, and in 1862 he married Susan A. Haight, daughter of Moses Haight, of West- chester county, N. Y. They have one son, Robert C. Davis, born in 1875, who was graduated from Harvard College in 1897 and is now a student at Harvard Law School.

784

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

JONATHAN SLADE.

JONATHAN SLADE, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Somerset, is a lineal descendant in the sixth generation from William Slade, who was admitted a freeman in Rhode Island in 1658. The family is of Welsh origin. In 1680 William Slade, removed to Swan- sea, now Somerset, Bristol county, Mass., where he became a large land owner, some of which is now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. He was the first white man to own and operate Slade's ferry, which, tradition says, was previously run by the Indians. This ferry crossed the river between Somerset and Fall River a short dis- tance above the present Slade's ferry bridge, and was operated by the Slade family for nearly two hundred years, or until the bridge super- seded it in 1876. William Slade married Sarah, daughter of Rev.

Obadiah Holmes, of Rehoboth, and had three sons and seven daugh- ters, the former being Jonathan, Edward, and William, jr. He died several years later, leaving 535 descendants. Edward Slade (2) was a member of the Society of Friends, and had a son Samuel (3), a native of Somerset, who received the historic ferry from his uncle, Capt. Jon- athan Slade. Samuel Slade was also a farmer and blacksmith, and by his wife, Mary Buffum, of Salem, had nine sons. Jonathan Slade (4), the eldest, was born about 1743 and died in 1811. He married Mary Chace, and their children were Jonathan, William, Nathan, 'Mercy, Patience, Lydia, Annie and Phebe. William Slade (5) was born in Somerset, then Swansea, in July, 1780, and was a farmer and also owned and operated Slade's ferry until his death, which occurred Sep. tember 7, 1852. He placed a horse-boat on the ferry in 1826 and re- placed this with a steamboat in 1846. He held several town offices, and was one of the original proprietors of the Pocasset and Watuppa Manufacturing Companies of Fall River. He married Phebe, daugh- ter of William Lawton, and their children were Abigail L., Lydia A., Amanda, Jonathan, William L .; David and Mary, all born on the an- cestral farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this article. Mrs. Slade, died March 18, 1874, and like her husband was a member of the Society of Friends.

Jonathan Slade, eldest son of William and Phebe (Lawton) Slade, was born in Somerset, where he now resides, September 23, 1815. He attended the common schools of his native town and also spent a few months at the Friends Academy in Providence, R. I., and has always

Gubelman Photo-Gravure Co.

Stephen A Brownell

785

BIOGRAPHICAL.

followed the ocupation of a farmer, residing continuously on the an- cestral homestead. He also continued to operate the ferry from the time of his father's death until it was superseded by the bridge in 1876. With his brother, William L., and others, he became one of the found- ers of the celebrated Slade Cotton Mills in Fall River in 1871, and served as a director of the corporation until his brother's death July 29, 1895, since which time he has been president. He was also one of the original directors of the Davol Mills, and is now a director of the Meta- comet National Bank of Fall River. In politics he is a consistent Re- publican, and for many years took an active part in the affairs of his party, serving his town as selectman, assessor, overseer of the poor, and school committeman. He also attended county and other Repub- lican conventions, and in 1849 and 1850 served with great ability and efficiency as a member of the lower house of the Massachusetts Legis. lature. He is a public spirited, patriotic, and enterprising citizen, a man of strict integrity and great force of character, and a typical New Englander, represesenting that old school of thought and culture which laid the foundation of modern progress and prosperity.

Mr. Slade was married in July, 1841, to Caroline B., daughter of Dr. John Winslow, of Swansea, Mass. She died February 1, 1845, aged thirty-three, leaving one son, William W., now a farmer in Swan- sea. May 29, 1851, he married for his second wife Emaline, daughter of Salmon and Rebecca Hooper, of Walpole, N. H., born February 23, 1820. They have one son, David F. Slade, born November 5, 1855, who was graduated from Brown University in 1880 and from the Bos- ton University Law School in 1883, and is now a successful lawyer in Fall River.

STEPHEN A. BROWNELL.

STEPHEN ALLEN BROWNELL, one of the most prominent citizens of New Bedford, was born in Westport, Mass., January 5, 1844. He was a grandson of Jirah and Sarah (Kirby) Brownell and a great grandson of Benjamin Brownell and Abigail Milk. Ezra P. Brownell, his father, was born in Westport on the 10th of August, 1819, attended the com- mon schools and Pierce Academy, and died September 6, 1870. He was a member of the school committee of Westport for nineteen years from 1845 to 1866, a member of the auditing committee, selectmen of

786

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the town ten years, chairman of the board seven years, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for nine years between 1857 to 1869, State senator in 1861, and county commissioner from 1865 to 1868. His wife's maiden name was Ann Maria Allen.

Stephen A. Brownell attended the common schools of his native town, was graduated from Pierce Academy at Middleborough, and afterwards taught country school for four terms. From 1864 to 1870 he carried on a general store in Central Village in Westport, serving also as postmaster, and subsequently for six years he was engaged in the live cattle trade, to which was soon added the business of butchering. In April, 1878, he came to New Bedford and entered the wholesale meat house of Pardon Cornell as manager, which position he held for six years, when he became a partner under the firm name of P. Cornell & Co. In 1890 he succeeded to the business of this firm, becoming the New Bedford agent for P. D. Armour & Co., of Chicago, under the style of Stephen A. Brownell. In the fall of 1897 a spacious new build- ing was completed on the east side of Front street, between Union and Central streets, and in October of that year John W. Bannister, who had been connected with the business for sixteen years, was admitted to partnership under the present firm name of S. A. Brownell & Co.

Mr. Brownell not only represented the largest wholesale meat estab- lishment in New Bedford, but was also prominently and actively identi- fied with various other enterprises of more than local importance. He was a director of the New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust Company, the New Bedford Co-operative Bank, the Strange Forge Drill and Tool Company, of which he was at one time president, and was a director for three years of the Dartmouth and Westport Electric Railroad Com- pany, and declined re-election. He was also president of the New Bed- ford Board of Trade, and from 1895 until his death one of the proprie- tors of the Mansion House, his partner being Benjamin Dawson. This famous and popular hostelry was originally the residence of William Rotch. It was opened as a hotel December 18, 1828, by J. Webster, and was enlarged in 1887 and again in 1891.

Mr. Brownell's political career began when he was a resident of West- port. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representa- tives in 1870-71. Afterward he took an active interest in public affairs, and his ability and sagacity as a leader won for him both distinction and honor. In New Bedford he was a member of the Com- mon Council in 1886 and 1887, a member of the Board of Aldermen in

787

BIOGRAPHICAL.

1888, 1890, 1891 and 1892, and mayor of the city in 1894. In all these positions he not only exhibited the highest qualities of leadership, but served with great fidelity and credit, gaining an enviable reputation as an honest, conscientious, and faithful official. He was justly called the father of New Bedford's extensive public park system, and did more to develop public sentiment in this direction and accomplished more in locating and improving the public parks than any other citizen. And the result of his efforts in this respect during the last fifteen years reflects great credit upon his untiring energy and excellent foresight. In 1898 he was president of the Common Council of New Bedford, and as such he was a member of the School Committee, the Board of Public Works, the Finance Committee, and the Park Board, and a trus- tee of the Free Public Library, and during his term as mayor he was president or chairman of these same bodies. Early in December, 1898, he was again elected to the City Council, and died in New Bedford on the 13th of the same month.

In fraternal circles Mr. Brownell was universally popular. He was a prominent thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in Non- quochoke Lodge, F. & A. M., of South Westport, which he was chiefly instrumental in organizing, becoming a charter member and its first secretary, and being one of its past masters. He was also a member of the Cryptic, Capitular, and Chivalric bodies of New Bedford, being at the time of his death generalissimo of Sutton Commandery, K. T., and a member also of Aleppo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and Massa- chusetts Consistory thirty-second degree, of Boston. He was a mem- ber of Acushnet Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Stella Lodge, Daughters of Re- bekah, of the A. O. U. W. and the Club of Legislature of 1870. As a citizen he was widely esteemed and respected, public spirited, benevo- lent and popular.

Mr. Brownell was married in 1865 to Miss Mary L. Sisson, daughter of Charles R. Sisson, of New Bedford, who, with two children, Albert R. and Mabel W., survive him.

THOMAS MANDELL.

THOMAS MANDELL, who was for many years one of the leading citizens and business men of New Bedford, was born in Fairhaven on August 9, 1792, and died in New Bedford, February 13, 1870. In his early

788

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

life he served for a time as clerk in a store at the Head-of-the-River, and before he reached his majority he engaged in business as partner with the late Caleb Congdon in New Bedford. Soon afterward he took entire management of a mechanics' store, which he conducted with signal success. While thus employed his exceptional business qualifi- cations attracted the attention of the firm of Isaac Howland & Co., and they offered him an interest in their house. He became a member of the firm in 1819, and it is no more than just to state that to his business ability and industry was largely due the unqualified success enjoyed by that firm for more than half a century. The late Edward Mott Robin- son joined the firm about 1833 and within a short time thereafter the membership consisted of Mr. Robinson, Mr. Mandell, and the late Sylvia Ann Howland.

The new partner brought into the business a spirit of bold enterprise and rare sagacity, and the operations of the house were soon greatly extended. At the same time the sound judgment and the wise fore- thought of Mr. Mandell were powerful factors in building up the wealthy establishment. Differing widely in their personal attributes and on most subjects outside of business affairs, the two male partners in the firm were perfectly harmonious in their ideas of business integ- rity and of the policy that must underly all successful operations. Be- sides his great responsibility as a member of this firm, Mr. Mandell for more than a quarter of a century had the entire management and care of the estate of the late Sylvia Ann Howland, and her appointment of him as sole executor of her will was a just recognition of his integrity and business ability. Her bequest to him of $200,000 was only an expression of her high regard for the value of his services and a fair remuneration for his labor and responsibility in connection with the estate.

Mr. Mandell was not a seeker for public office of any kind, but he was many years ago one of the Selectmen of the town, and was the first to introduce the keeping of the records of the board. He was a member of the Legislature for the years 1830-36 inclusive and in that body did excellent service for his district. These were the only polit- ical offices held by him. While he sought no public station, he was, nevertheless, never without proofs of the confidence reposed in his probity and discretion, as shown by the various positions of trust and responsibility to which he was called. One of the greatest compliments that can be paid to any man was eminently applicable to him-he was

789

BIOGRAPHICAL.

trusted to the fullest extent by all who knew him. A merchant of the old school, he knew nor sought no road to success but that of upright and honorable dealing. Modest and unobtrusive in his intercourse with others, he was still most tenacious of his opinions and beliefs when once convinced that he was right. He was a benevolent man in the truest sense, dispensing his own bounties whenever and wherever he saw they were needed, and never with a flourish of publicity. He never wished to be addressed concerning his numerous charities and his unfailing good deeds were most often hidden from all but their recipients. " He may be forgotten as the honorable and successful merchant, but his memory will live in the hearts of those who have been sustained and cheered by his unostentatious and gentle charities."

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.

Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 81

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