Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 83

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 83

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Adams, Charles H., son of Zenas L. and Sarah C. (Hinckley) Adams, was born in Nantucket, April 30, 1843. His father, who died in New Bedford, November 17, 1883, in his seventy-fourth year, was for many years a successful master mariner and later in life became interested to a large extent in shipping interests in New Bed- ford. He was a native of Cape Cod and a direct descendant of Thomas Adams, brother of John of Quincy; of a retiring disposition and yet possessed of a fine ex- ecutive and business ability, he greatly endeared himself to all with whom he asso- ciated, and his death was sincerely mourned in business circles. Charles H. Adams was educated in the schools of Nantucket and in the East Greenwich Seminary at East Greenwich, R. I. After leaving school and before he was eighteen years of age, he had formed a copartnership with Otis Churchill in Waterford, Saratoga county, N. Y., and under the name of Churchill & Adams conducted a milling and lumber business Later this copartnership was dissolved and he engaged in the grocery business in New Bedford in company with his father and brother, Zenas, under the name, Zenas L. Adams & Sons, this copartnership being discontinued after a dura- tion of five years, when he engaged again in the lumber business, this time in Dighton and Swansea, Bristol county, Mass. Later Mr. Adams gave his attention to various mercantile enterprises in Westfield aud Pittsfield, and at the death of his

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

father he returned to New Bedford to take charge of his shipping interests. He has served in the Common Council one term, representing Ward 3; and is a member of Pacific Lodge of Odd Fellows. He married, in 1866, Nannie B., daughter of Jona- than Bisbee of Fairhaven, and they have one daughter, Alice, wife of Nathaniel C. Smith of New Bedford.

Adams, George A., was born in Springfield, April 3, 1850. His father, Gardner Adams, was a native of Franklin, Norfolk county, where John Adams settled in 1701. Gardner Adams married Eunice R., daughter of Alfred and Electa Darling, and through live was identified in mercantile pursuits. George A. Adams was edu- cated in the public schools, Harvard and Tufts Colleges, teaching school two years in Goddard Seminary, Barre, Vt. He was admitted to the bar May 8, 1873 at Ded- ham and opened his practice in Attleborough the same year. November 30, 1871, he married Clara I. Gowen, and they have one daughter, May S., and one son, Charles G. Mr. Adams is one of the conservative men of Bristol county, for nine years member and chairman of the School Committee; five years one of the Select- men; chairman for several years of the Prudential Committee of the fire district; and was representative in the Legislature in 1884-85, serving on the judiciary and probate committees.

Alden, Silas, was born in Newton, Mass., July 8, 1809, a son of Paul and Rebecca (Newell) Alden. His father was a farmer and died when Silas was a youth. Shortly after his mother removed to Dedham, Mass., where he was educated in the public schools, and when he was sixteen years old he began to learn the carriage trimmer's trade, which he followed for seven years, five years in Dedham and one year each in Boston and New Bedford. At the end of this period he entered a wholesale dry goods store in Boston as clerk, and remained four years. He then started in the re- tail dry goods business in New Bedford, locating on Purchase street, at the present site of Wing's store, and here he conducted a business for upwards of ten years. In 1848 he sold out and went to Worcester county, where he engaged in farming for five years. He then returned to New Bedford, where he has since resided. Mr. Alden has served as superintendent of the poor for seven years, six years as secre- tary of the board, and he has also served on the Board of Assessors for three years. In politics he has always been a staunch Whig and Republican. In 1840 he married Emily, daughter of Francis Howland of New Bedford, and of their three children, two survive: George N. and Ella, wife of James A. Baker of Fall River. Mr. Alden is a member of the most famous of the old Puritan families, being seventh of the line of John Alden.

Alger, Arthur Martineau, is a son of Rev. William H. and Anne Langdon (Lodge) Alger, and a direct descendant of Thomas Alger, who settled in Taunton about 1665. He was born in Boston, September 23, 1854; received his early education in the Boston Latin School, and was graduated from the Boston University Law School in the class of 1876. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar in June of that year, and immediately located for practice in Taunton. He was city solicitor of Taunton from 1886 to 1889 inclusive; aldernian in 1885; mayor in 1890; clerk of the First District Court of Bristol from 1879 to 1893. In the latter year he became registrar of probate and insolvency for the county of Bristol, and now holds that office. He has contributed articles to the American Law Review and the Harvard Law Re-

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

view, and is also the author of "A Treatise on the Law in Relation to Promoters and the Promotion of Corporations." April 22, 1882, Mr. Alger married Lelia C., daughter of George B. and Elizabeth S. Sanders, of Taunton, who died October 24, 1895, leaving two daughters: Mary Lodge and Anne Langdon.

Allen, Henry K. W., was born on the homestead farm, North Attleboro, March 22, 1818. His father, Josiah Allen, was a native of the same neighborhood, and the family trace their descent from Ephraim Allen, who settled there about 1700. Josiah married Rowena, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Tingley. H. K. W. Allen was educated at Southampton, L. I., N. Y., and spent some three years in the South at Mobile, Ala. In 1843 he married Mary D., daughter of Jacob Blackinton, and they had five sons and two daughters: Henry B., Walter S., Charles J., George W., Albert L., Mrs. Mary E. Grant and Mrs. Frances M. Maxey. Mr. Allen is one of the practical and successful farmers of this town, serving as a member of the Legis- lature, justice of the peace forty-two years, justice of the Magistrate's Court eighteen years, selectman and assessor of taxes for several years.

Allen, James Eben, son of John and Eliza W. (White) Allen, was born in Dart- mouth, February 19, 1841. After completing the prescribed courses of the common schools of his native town, he entered Peirce Academy at Middleboro, and was grad- uated in the class of 1865. Mr. Allen has devoted his entire life to agriculture and is one of the best known farmers in this vicinity. He has always taken an active interest in politics in the best sense of the term, and has frequently been elected to public office. He was selectman of Dartmouth for six years and overseer of the poor for nine years. For the past six years he has served as road commissioner, and at present is a special county commissioner. In 1892-93 he represented his dis- trict in the State Legislature, serving on the fish and game committees, and as chairman of the committee on county estimates. Mr. Allen is a prominent Mason, a past master of Noquochoke Lodge, F. & A. M., of Westport; a member of Sutton Commandery of New Bedford, and Aleppo Temple, M S., of Boston. He married, in June, 1865, Adelaide A., daughter of Capt. James H. and Nancy (Allen) Slocum, of Dartmouth, and of their union four daughters were born: Eliza W., wife of Henry C. Pearson ; Abbie E., Nancy S., and Sarah T. For his second wife he married Lula A., daughter of Israel and Lydia (Slocum) Brightman, of Dartmouth.

Allen, Capt. James R., youngest son of Prince and Jane (Packard) Allen, was born in the town of Dartmouth, Bristol county, Mass., July 30, 1816. His father died when he was an infant, and his mother, with a family of six children, removed to the town of Acushnet, where she resided until her death. Captain Allen received his early education in the district schools, and at the age of fourteen he began the life of a sailor. His first voyage was as cabin boy on a whaling ship; he spent nearly forty years at sea, having served in all capacities, the last four or five voyages as master of the vessel. He has traveled all over the world, having made two or three trips around Cape Horn and Cape Good Hope. In 1868 Captain Allen returned home to his farm in Acushnet, where he has since lived a retired life. October 23, 1859, he married Pamelia daughter of Barnabas and Phoebe (Swift) Douglass, and they have four children : Josephine, wife of James L. Humphrey, jr. ; Sarah J., wife of Joseph T. Leonard: Mille D., wife of Thomas Hersom, jr .; and Leslie C., who resides at home. Captain Allen might have held public office many times, but has declined all

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

political honors, preferring to remain an independent citizen. Though well on in years, he is hale and hearty, and bids fair to enjoy for many years to come the uni- versal respect and esteem in which he is held in this community.

Allen, Walter S., son of Frederick S. and Susan (Gardner) Allen, was born in New Bedford, July 16, 1858, and is a member of one of the oldest of New England fami- lies, one which has been well represented, and, in fact, always located in this sec- tion. The first of the name was George Allen, from whom Mr. Allen is a direct de- scendent in the eighth generation. George (1), Ralph (2), Ebenezer (3), James (4), Prince (5), James (6), Frederick S. (7), and Walter S. (8). George Allen, who was · the progenitor of most of the name in this section, sailed from Weymouth, England, in 1635, and, after remaining a short time in Lynn, removed to Sandwich, of which place he was one of the first settlers. Some of his children bought land in Dartmouth and thus the family took root in this section. Many of them were members of the Society of Friends, and five of the sons of George were collectively fined £280 for holding or attending Quaker meetings. On the maternal side Mr. Allen descends from the Nantucket Gardners, also Quakers, who were among the first settlers of the island of Nantucket. Mr. Allen's father, Frederick S., was a native of New Bedford, and a prominent and successful merchant, having been engaged in the whaling business for over fifty years (firm of Swift & Allen). He served at various times in the city government, was a director in numerous manufacturing corporations, and was counted one of the leading business men of the city. For several years he was vice-president of the Five Cents Savings Bank. He died May 10, 1896, in the eighty- fourth year of his age. Walter S. Allen was educated in private schools and at the Friends Academy in New Bedford, and later he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston, and took the B. S. degree with the class of 1879. In the same year he went abroad to continue the study of chemistry at the University of Leipsic, where he remained two years and then returned to become a special student at Harvard, remaining one year. At the end of this period he accepted a position as instructor in chemistry in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he filled until 1885, when the State Board of Gas Commissioners was created, and he became secretary of the board. In 1892 he resigned to enter the employ of the Bos- ton Gas Light Co., as assistant to the treasurer and general manager, and served in that capacity until the fall of 1896. Mr. Allen has for many years been a student of the question of municipal ownership of street railways and gas plants, and has made several European trips to investigate the workings of the different systems in the cities of England and the Continent. In 1897 he became the secretary of a special committee created by the Legislature to investigate the relation of street railroads and municipal corporations. The report of this committee was adopted by the Leg. islature substantially as recommended, the first time recorded when a special com - mittee obtained a bill embodying its recommendations from the Legislature to which it made its report. Mr. Allen is an active worker for the interests of the New Bed- ford Public Library and has been a member of the board of trustees since 1892. He is a member of the Wamsutta Club of New Bedford; the St. Botolph and University Clubs of Boston, and the University Club of New York.

Almy, Giles Pardon, son of Giles and Aeria (Slocum) Almy, was born in the town of Dartmouth. Bristol county, Mass., December 14, 1856. His parents were natives

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

of Dartmouth and his father died when he was but two weeks old. Mr. Almy was educated in the common schools of his native town and at an early age was thrown on his own resources. He has always been engaged in farming and is now one of the most successful and enterprising in the county. Everywhere he is recognized as a liberal and public-spirited man who takes a deep interest in the development of his native town.

Almy, Norman L., son of Warren W. and Sarah Louise (Gray) Almy, was born in Tiverton, R. I., May.2, 1872. He is a member of a family which, for several gener- ations, has been of prominence in this vicinity. His father, who still resides in Tiv- erton, is a well known and respected citizen of that place. Mr. Almy attended the schools of Tiverton until he was fifteen years old and then came to New Bedford to complete his education in the New Bedford High School. In 1889 he entered the crockery store of Purrington & Brown as a clerk, in which capacity he continued for a period of four years. For two years following he was employed by the reorgan- ized firm of Purrington, Brown & Richards, and then went into the employ of C. F. Wing, in the wall paper department. In 1896 Mr. Almy married Henrietta C., daughter of the late Samuel P. Burt of New Bedford. They have one daughter, Madeline Eleanor, and one son, Roger Warren.

Amiot, Joseph Edward, son of Joseph and Therese (Leroux) Amiot, was born at St. Simon, P. Q., Canada, January 24, 1853. He is of French extraction and a de- scendant of Jean Marie Amiot. His father was a notary public, and also owned several farms in St. Simon. As a young man he attended the parish schools of his native town and St. Hyacinthe College. After leaving school he engaged in farming for about two years and then came to the United States, being at that time but six- teen years of age. He settled in Forestdale, R. I., and learned the weaver's trade. He removed to Fall River in November, 1871, and found work at the Mechanics' Mill, later being employed in the Union Mill. When he first came to Fall River he was obliged to sell a portion of his wearing apparel in order to pay for board. After working in the mills for some time he began to learn the carpenter's trade, but in a short time accepted a position in a grocery store. In May, 1873, Mr. Amiot entered the employ of Louis Reeves, a baker, and a year later started a bakery of his own on William street, conducting it three years and then selling out to engage in the meat market business, which business he conducted for about two years and then started another bakery on Pleasant street, above Mason. In 1886, realizing that he could do better in a business which afforded larger opportunities for the exercise of his ability, he started his present hardware and paint store at 1392-1396 Pleasant street. Mr. Amiot has been very successful. For the past nine years he has paid more taxes than any other French-Canadian in the city. In 1895 he was elected to the Common Council from the Sixth ward, being re-elected in 1896. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the Knights of Pythias, and St. John the Baptist Society. Septem- ber 29, 1874, Mr. Amiot married Marie Emma, daughter of Peter J. Johnson, of Fall River, and they have thirteen children.

Amsden, Henry H., M.D., was born in Concord, N. H., July 15, 1872, a son of Charles H. and Helen A. (Brown) Amsden. He was educated in and graduated from the Concord High School, and in 1896 graduated from Boston University School of Medicine. He began his practice that same year in Attleboro, and is one of the

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

progressive men of his profession; he is medical examiner for the Pilgrim Fathers. Dr. Amsden takes an active interest in educational and religious institutions, and has ever received and merited the respect of his associates.

Angell, William Henry, was born in Lonsdale, R. I., May 17, 1845, a son of Will- iam W. and Annie D. (Hobbs) Angell. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Providence. At the age of five years they moved to Foxboro, where he received the education given by the public schools, and supplemented this at the local academy known as the "Foxboro English and Classical School." In his nineteenth year he was graduated at the Schofield Business College. After teaching school several terms he engaged in the building business in Providence. In 1869 he was married to Eliza A., daughter of Thomas A. and Lynthia C. Lawton, and they have had three children: Nettie W. (deceased), Annie J., and Mattie M. In 1872 he moved to Mansfield. For fifteen years he engaged in the lumber business, together with con- tracting and building. Since then he has continued his lumber business and dealt extensively in real estate. Mr. Angell was particularly interested in the organiza- tion of the fire department, and was its first chief. In 1890-91 he was a member of the Board of Selectmen. In the following year he was elected on the School Board, and served five years, four as chairman; and during his term of office was indefatig- able in promoting the welfare of the public schools. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and his fervent love of church and Sunday school is shown by his unceasing activity in the work.

Anthony, Everett F., son of Caleb G. and Margaret (McNelly) Anthony, was born in Fall River, April 17, 1857. He obtained his education in the public schools and the Fall River High School, and during part of the time he was attending school was a live and energetic carrier boy for the Fall River Daily News. After leaving school he worked for George H. Hawes, a cloth broker, for one year. In 1874 he became an errand boy for the Old Colony Railroad Company. Being attentive to duty he soon won promotion and passed onward from one post of duty to another until he reached the head of the freight department of the road. In July, 1893, when the Old Colony Company and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad were consolidated, he became local agent for that company and the Old Colony Steamboat . Company, and has since held that position. During his term of service the amount of freight business has greatly increased owing to the rapid growth of Fall River. Mr. Anthony is a member of King Philip Lodge of Masons, Royal Arch Chapter and Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery. He is also a member of Pocasset Council of the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Anthony was married to Hannah Davis, of Fall River, in October, 1893. They have one daughter, Elsie D. Anthony.

Anthony, James Yale, was born in Taunton, Mass., July 14, 1846, a son of James H. and Harriet M. (Yale) Anthony. He received his early education in the public schools and Middleboro Academy and then attended a commercial school in Prov. idence, R. I., for a business education, graduating from the latter place in 1866. He immediately went to work for his father as an accountant and surveyor in the lumber business, where he remained until 1868, when he engaged in the tack busi- ness with Mr. Cushman, under the firm name of Anthony & Cushman, which firm continues at the present writing. Mr. Anthony was married in 1876 to Ella W.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Hersey of New York, who died in December, 1885, leaving two children, Ralph, now in Harvard, and Mildred M.

Arden, Thomas Hill, was born in Fall River, Mass., February 16, 1861, a son of William and Sarah Jane (Hill) Arden. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Fall River and at the close of his school life he entered a clothing store as a clerk, where he remained about four years. He then went to the Durfee Manufacturing Company, and stayed about eight years, when at this time he re- ceived an offer from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York to go to work for them, and was appointed an agent for that company in May, 1886, and appointed assistant superintendent in May, 1888, and in 1890 came to Taunton and took charge of the office here and has increased the business every year. July 17, 1884, he married Jennie Ann Bayley of Fall River, and they have two children: Thomas Hill Arden, jr., and Ella Myrtle Arden.

Ashley, Jarvis Tabor, son of Tabor and Elizabeth (Woodell) Ashley, was born on the old homestead in the town of Dartmouth, Mass., October 12, 1821. He is a mem- ber of one of the oldest and most respected pioneer families of Bristol county. His education in the schools was meager and confined to the elementary grades. Mr. Ashley began his present life when a boy and has always followed farming as his chosen vocation. In April, 1851, he married Mary A. West of Dartmouth, and they have three children: Merton B., Annie M. and Elizabeth E., wife of George F. Mery. Mr. Ashley has held the office of road surveyor almost continuously for twenty years.

Austin, Frederick Ellsworth, was born in Taunton, Mass., August 6, 1865, a son of James and Sarah A. (Godfrey) Austin. His early education was obtained in the Taunton public schools; he fitted himself for Harvard, but on account of ill health was obliged to leave after having been there one year. In 1890 he entered the law office of Charles A. Reed and continued his studies so that in October, 1892, he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice for himself in Taunton, where he still continues to practice. He was in the City Council 1889 and 1890, and for five years was chairman of the Republican city committee; he was also a representative to the Legislature in 1893 and 1894. November 12, 1896, Mr. Austin married Hattie Win- slow, daughter of Charles L. and Ella M. (Ashley) Johnson of Taunton.

Austin, Loring M., third son of Reuben W. and Jane W. (Robertson) Austin, was born in the town of Fairhaven, July 18, 1852. After receiving his education from the public schools of his native town, he embarked in the tanning and farming busi- ness, which he followed for fifteen years. He then took up the stone mason's trade, which vocation he has since successfully followed. On August 14, 1871, he married Eunice J., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Tinkham) Ellis, and they had five chil- dren: Myra F. (deceased); Albert L., born August 19, 1874; Frederick L., born February 22, 1882; Minnie F., born July 17, 1886; and Frank (deceased).

Ayer, George A., superintendent for ten years of the City Manufacturing Corpo- ration of New Bedford, was born in Chicopee, Mass., February 8, 1855. He was a son of Albert and Sarah (Ayer) Ayer, both of whom died before he reached the age of sixteen years. Most of his early boyhood was spent in South Hadley, where he worked on a farm in the summer and attended the district schools in winter. He b

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

was obliged to take entire care of himself, and had few friends to help him. When nineteen years old he decided to learn a trade, and with this end in view went to Holyoke and entered the employ of the Merrick Thread Company in the repair de- partment, where he remained four years and thoroughly learned the machinist's trade. He then went into the thread and yarn department of the same mills, and advanced by successive steps until he became a second hand. He was now offered a position as overseer in the Elizabeth Mills at Hills Grove, R. I., and after a service of three years there went to the Globe Yarn Mills of Fall River to take a similar po- sition, in which he remained two years, and was then made assistant superintendent. One year later he went to Easthampton, Mass., to take charge of the Williston Mills as superintendent, and in 1889 came to New Bedford to accept his present posi- tion of superintendent of the City Manufacturing Corporation. Mr. Ayer is a thor- oughly practical manufacturer, and well equipped by training and natural ability for the responsible duties which devolve upon him. He is a Free and Accepted Mason, a member of Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar. In 1876 he married Melora A., daughter of John and Abby Thayer, of Belchertown, Mass., and they have two children, Albert J. and Sadie M.

Babbitt, Francis Sanford, a son of George H. and Seraphene S. Babbitt, was born in Taunton, December 22, 1843. He was educated in Taunton public schools and Bristol Academy, and at the age of nineteen he enlisted in the 39th Reg., M. V. M., and served from that time (1862) until the close of the war in 1865. On his return from the war he engaged in the manufacture of machinery in Taunton, and contin- ued in this business until 1890. He was a representative in the Legislature in 1882 and 1883; on the Board of Aldermen in 1887; and county commissioner from 1887 to 1893 inclusive. In the fall of 1890 he was elected mayor of the city of Taunton, and served the city in this capacity in the years 1891, 1892, and 1893; was appointed chief of police of the city in 1897, which position he now holds. Mr. Babbitt was married to Abbie L. Hitch, of New Bradford, in 1870, and she died in 1892, leaving one daughter, A. Louise Babbitt.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 83

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