Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 84

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 84

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Babbitt, Isaac N., jr., son of Isaac N. and Almira (Morse) Babbitt, was born in Dartmouth, January 14, 1838. His father was a blacksmith by trade and conducted a business in Dartmouth for twenty-five years, later removing to Fairhaven, where he, in company with J. B. Morse, conducted a-large business on what was then called Rodman's Wharf, He is still living, having reached the advanced age of eighty- seven years. Isaac N., jr., attended the public schools of Dartmouth until fifteen years of age. When sixteen years of age he learned the blacksmith's trade under his father and followed the business for about six years. At this time he went to Provi- dence, R. I., and began to learn the machinist's trade in a shop owned by E. Shaw. During a part of the Civil war he worked in James C. Bradford's machine shop in New Bedford, building principally turret engines for monitors and other government work, including hydraulic apparatus. In 1865 he secured a position with the Fair- haven Iron Works Company, and for a period of fourteen years traveled for that cor- poration, setting up Fairhaven presses in printing offices in many of the States and in Canada. He then went into the retail stove and hardware business in Fairhaven, at No. 71 Main street, and continued successfully for twelve years, finally selling out to Forest & Long, who at present conduct the business. Mr. Babbitt's principal busi-

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

ness interest at present is in the Babbitt Brothers' Loom Crank Manufactory, of which he is treasurer, and associated with four brothers: John W., Hiram A., Joseph M., and James M. He is a charter member of Concordia Lodge of Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and enjoys an enviable reputation in the community in which he has spent his entire business life for honesty of purp se and strong character. He is a sincere and earnest advocate of total abstinence, and has been frequently nominated for State senator, State representative and other offices on the Prohibition ticket, in all cases receiving a strong vote, especially in his own town. Mr. Babbitt was married in 1865 to Elizabeth G , daughter of Samuel L. Ward, of Cambridgeport, formerly of Fairhaven, and they have two children: Samuel W., and Mary R.

Baker, Charles A., druggist, was born at Stafford Springs, Conn., February 17, 1833, a son of Henry Church and Eunice (Kingsley) Baker. His father began the business of furniture manufacturing at Stafford Springs, Conn., an enterprise in which he achieved considerable success and which is still conducted by his descend- ants. On the maternal side Mr. Baker is connected with the family of the Rev. Charles Kingsley of England. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at Monson Academy. He began busines as a druggist in the store of C. H. Grant in his native town, and two years later went to Hartford, Conn., and was a drug clerk under John H. Pitkin for some time, then entered the employ of Jo- seph T. Brown, the widely known and successful druggist of Boston. He began the drug business for himself on Harrison avenue, Boston. Owing to ill health and a desire to follow his occupation without keeping his store open on Sunday, he sold out his Boston interest in 1858, came to Fall River and opened a drug store at 67 South Main street, where he has since done a very successful business, his store hav- ing sustained a high reputation. He has always kept his store at Fall River closed for general business on Sundays. Mr. Baker was one of the first members of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy at Boston. He is a deacon in the Central Congregational Church of Fall River and deeply interested in church and Sunday school work. He was married in November, 1857, to Melissa D. Harding of Boston, and they have two children : Mary A. and Charles L. Baker, attorney at law.

Baker, Charles Lewis, attorney at law, son of Charles A. and Melissa D. (Harding) Baker, was born at Fall River, August 22, 1862. His father, Charles A. Baker, is one of the leading druggists of that city. Mr. Baker was prepared for college in the Fall River High School and entered Brown University, from which institution he was graduated in 1884, with the degree of A. B., receiving the degree of A. M. in 1887. He then entered Boston University Law School, where he spent two years in preparing for his profession. After completing his studies at that institution he returned home and was admitted to the Bristol bar at New Bedford, in June, 1888. Since then he has been engaged in the practice of law in Fall River. He is a mem- ber of the Fall River Bar Association.

Baker, Capt. George Orlando, son of Michael and Jane E. (Dixon) Baker, was born at Bakerville, Bristol county, Mass., April 6, 1835. When a mere boy he went to sea as a cabin boy and advanced from time to time until he became mate and then master of a vessel. Capt. Baker has followed the sea all his life; he has seen many hard experiences and has several times narrowly escaped death. He is a member

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

of the old school of sailor-captains who are rapidly becoming a mere memory. In 1864, while whaling in the North Pacific, his ship was captured by the rebel priva- teer, "Shenandoah," burned, and he with the rest of the crew were put in irons and carried to an island in the Pacific where they were kept prisoners for six months, being finally rescued by a United States boat. In 1890, after an active life in which he sailed on all the waters of the globe, he retired and took up his residence in South Dartmouth. Captain Baker has been a member for a number of years of Eureka Lodge, F. & A. M., of New Bedford. He is a trustee of the village library and has been registrar of voters for the past five years. In August, 1876, he mar- ried Mary E., daughter of John C. and Rebecca H. (Smith) Weeks, and they have two daughters: Jane R. and Alice T.

Baker, Michael Alexander, son of Michael and Jane Eliza (Dixon) Baker, was born in South Dartmouth, March 20, 1839, and is a member of one of the oldest " Cape Cod families," and his father, who died in the ninety-second year of his age, after an active life mostly spent at sea, was well known in this vicinity as a captain in the coastwise trade. Michael A. Baker, like his father and most of his brothers, chose the sea as an occupation, and, after attending the public schools of Dartmouth for a short time, he shipped on a whaler as a foremost hand, being at this time seventeen years old, and he rose by successive steps to boat steerer, third mate, mate and mas- ter. In this capacity he sailed for twenty years, part of the time from New Bed- ford, for Swift & Akins, and Jonathan Bourne; three years from Chili, South America, and the balance of the period for Wright, Boone & Co., James McKenna, and the Pacific Steam Whaling Company, all of San Francisco, Cal. Captain Baker retired from active service in 1895, having gained a reputation among owners as one of the most capable and reliable captains in the whaling business. He is a member of the Star in the East Lodge of Masons, and the Chapter and Council. He married, in 1883, Sarah S., daughter of John C. and Rebecca Weeks of Dartmouth, and they had two daughters: Helen E. and Hettie W. (deceased).

Baker, Timothy Crowell, dealer in stoves, tinware, etc., was born in South Yar- mouth, Mass., May 16, 1838, a son of Orlando and Harriet (Crowell) Baker. His early education was received in the public schools and in 1856 he came to New Bed- ford to learn the trade of tin and sheet iron worker, where he remained four years and came to Taunton in 1860 and went to work for I. B. Briggs in the same line. He remained with him until 1895, when he bought out Mr. Briggs and has since carried it on alone. He has added some new lines to the stock and is now one of the leading houses in kitchen furnishings in the city. Mr. Baker was the first master of Charles H. Titus Lodge, F. & A. M., is past high priest of St. Mark's Chapter, R. A. M., a member of New Bedford Council, R. & S. M., and of St. John's Command- ery, K. T. He married Rebecca W., daughter of John and Abby (Hammond) Jen- kins of Taunton, and they have two children: William C. and Charles M.

Ballou, Herbert A .; manager of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, a son of Warren S. and Sarah (Mowry) Ballou, was born in North Scituate, R. I., February 28, 1848. He attended the public schools of his native town and Rhode Island Sem- inary at North Scituate. After leaving school he was employed for three years as loom fixer in the cotton mills at Olneyville, R. I. In 1869 Mr. Ballou began his long and successful service with the Singer Company in the repair shops at Providence,

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

R. I., and was bookkeeper for one year there. July 15, 1873, he removed to Fall River, where he has since resided and for twenty-two years has had charge of the company's business. In 1886 his territory was increased and he was given charge of the office and business of the company in Newport, R. I., New Bedford, Mass , sev- eral smaller towns, and a part of Cape Cod peninsula. He has under his manage- ment twenty employees, and sells about 1,400 sewing machines annually. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Ballou was married in 1866 to Emma Ballou of North Scituate, R. I.

Bannister, Andrew, farmer and retired weaver and mill overseer, is a son of Will- iam and Mary Bannister, and was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, March 16, 1825. He came to this country in 1844 and settled in Fall River, Mass., where he learned the weaver's trade in the White Mill. Afterward he followed this trade in New Bed- ford and in Biddeford and Saco, Me., but finally returned to Fall River and for seven years was a loom fixer in the Massasoit Mill owned by Dr. Durfee. In 1860 he became overseer of a cotton mill in Dighton, near Fall River, and in 1861 ac- cepted a similar position in the Eagle Mill in Taunton, where he remained twelve years. In 1873 he came to New Bedford as second overseer of Wamsutta Mill No. 3, where he also remained about twelve years, after which he engaged in farming in Dartmouth. In 1893 he moved to a farm at Acushnet, New Bedford, where he has since resided. In politics Mr. Bannister is a Republican. He was a foundation member and one of the first wardens of St. James Episcopal Church, on the corner of County and Linden streets, New Bedford, and one of its building committee. In January, 1847, he married Charlotte, daughter of John Warren, a native of Scotland, and of their nine children three are living, viz .: John W., Mary (Mrs. George Spen- cer), and Sophia (Mrs. Hiram Hime), all of New Bedford.

Barker, John W., son of John and Amy (Howland) Barker, was born in the town of Dartmouth, Bristol county, Mass., May 21, 1819, and was educated in the schools of his native town. After finishing his schooling he entered the employ of Simeon W. Clifford, who was engaged in the meat business in Fairhaven, and with whom he remained for three years. He then accepted a position with the firm of Gifford & Whiting, who were engaged at that time in the meat business in New Bedford. He remained with them for a period of five years, and then accepted a position with his uncle, Isaac Barker. After a service of seven years he formed a copartnership with Samuel Gifford, and under the firm name of Gifford & Barker, conducted a meat business in New Bedford for over thirty years. This partnership continued until 1895 and was then dissolved by mutual consent. In 1867 Mr. Barker married Ruth Pierce, and they have four daughters.

Barker, Richard J., lumber merchant, was born in Tiverton, R. I., January 27, 1849, a son of Benjamin and Catherine Jackson (Dennis) Barker. When he was six years old his parents removed to Olean, N. Y., and he attended the public schools of that town until ten years of age, when his parents returned to Tiverton. He then successively attended the Friends' School at Providence, R. I .; Eagleswood Military Academy at Perth Amboy, N. J., and the Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y. After spending a short time in the office of Nichols & Barker, lumber mer- chants, of Albany, N. Y., he came to Fall River and established the lumber firm of Barker & Company, which still continues. At first the business was mainly retail,

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

but since 1888 has been wholesale. The firm have an extensive trade and deal largely in Southern yellow pine. They have supplied the lumber for forty-one of the cotton mills built in Fall River since 1870, and for numerous other mills in Taunton and New Bedford, Mass., in Burlington, Vt., and Warren, R. I. Mr. Barker was married in 1873 to Eliza H .. daughter of Moses T. and Elizabeth (Tillinghast) Law- ton, of Tiverton, R. I. One son has been born to them, Richard J. Barker, jr., who is engaged in the retail lumber business in Fall River.

Barney, Edwin Luther, who died in New Bedford on the sixth day of April, 1897, was mourned as one of the ablest lawyers of the Bristol bar, and at the time of his death, in the seventy-first year of his age, was the oldest practicing attorney in the county. He was a native and lifelong resident of Bristol county, born in Swan- sea, April 1, 1827, a son of Edwin and Abby (Luther) Barney. He was reared on his father's farm and gained a good education in the country schools and at Brown Uni- versity, where he spent one year in the class of 1850. He studied for the law at Yale Law School and in the office of Timothy G. Coffin, of New Bedford, and was ad- mitted to the bar in Taunton when twenty-three years of age. He settled in New Bedford, began earnestly to apply himself to his profession, and being thoroughly instructed in the law and a vigorous, hard worker and reader, soon gained a large clientage. As his name became more prominent he had several law students, most of whom attained success, the most notable example being Mr. Knowlton, who be- came attorney-general of Massachusetts. Mr. Barney was always a Democrat, and during the war a staunch War Democrat, and he served two terms as senator in the Legislature (1866-1867), and was judge advocate on General Butler's staff from 1869 to 1875. He was president of the New Bedford Bar Association from its organiza- tion and held that office until his death. For over forty-five years he was a Mason and had taken all the degrees up to the thirty-second. He was possessed of great tact and skill in presenting a case to a jury, and was associated in the conduct of some of the most famous criminal and damage cases tried in the history of the Bristol bar. He was also a man of dignified mien and sterling personality, being held in the highest esteem by his brother barristers and by the entire community. He married, April 15, 1856, Mary, daughter of Zachariah Hillman, and they had four sons: the two oldest, Benjamin Butler Barney, the present city solicitor of New Bed- ford, and Edwin L. Barney, jr., are members of the Bristol bar, and the latter is assistant clerk of courts, and was born in New Bedford, April 14, 1870, and prepared for College in the New Bedford High School; after three years of private tutoring he entered Boston University School of Law, was admitted to the Bristol bar in May, 1892, and took the degree of LL. B. in June of the same year. He began practice in association with his father and brother, Benjamin Butler Barney, and was appointed assistant clerk of the courts in May, 1896, and has since retained that position. In 1897 he married Annie C. Lincoln, daughter of Francis T. Lincoln, of Providence, R. I.

Barney, Frank P., was born in Bristol, R. I., October, 1847, son of John and Nancy Louisa Barney. His father was a butcher and a farmer throughout his life. Mr. Barney was educated in the public schools of Bristol, and also studied and worked with his brother, Charles E. Barney, of New Bedford, Mass., on railroad work for four or five years, starting his business life in the jewelry trade, which he pursued for nineteen years, wherein he was four or five years associated with W. H.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Wilmarth & Co., of Attleborough, Mass., and where he received a practical knowl- edge of the business and afterwards supplied several patents for the manufacturing of jewelry, as well as on machines for the manufacture of chains, etc. In 1878 he married Ellen F., daughter of Charles D. and Fanny H. Lane, and they have four children: Mildred E., Earl M., Charles F., and Ruth L. Mr. Barney is one of Norton's progressive citizens; his magnificent house and barn, equipped with the very latest of modern appliances, makes his home one of the most desirable and attractive places in the town; it is on the land which is historically known as the Devil's Foot Prints, which is plainly to be seen now on a few large rocks just back of his residence. His farm is a beautiful one, some one hundred acres or more, and his barn also has accommodations for a dozen horses, box stalls, etc. He takes an intelligent interest in school and church institutions and his town and townspeople.

Barrows, H. F., was born in Attleborough, July 22, 1827. His father, Alfred Barrows, was also born in the same town, where his grandfather settled about 1760, and took part in the Revolutionary war. His son, Milton, was a prominent man in South Attleborough. Alfred Barrows married Louisa, daughter of Sylvester Everett, and moved to North Attleborough in 1838, where he engaged in farming and hotel keeping. H. F. Barrows was educated in the common schools, and in 1853 began the manufacturing of jewelry and was one of the pioneers of the trade in developing fine goods. In 1886 he turned the business over to H. F. Barrows, jr., and Ira Bar- rows, and in 1885 organized and founded the North National Bank of Attleborough, of which he has been president since its foundation. In 1855 he married Henrietta T., daughter of Ira Richards, and they have two sons and three daughters: H. F., jr., Ira, Fannie, Louise and Harriet.

Bartlett, Andrew Harrison, second son of Seth S. and Annie C. (Bartlett) Bartlett, was born at Plymouth, Mass., October 23, 1839. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools, and he was graduated from the latter in 1858. Soon after he shipped aboard a merchant vessel for two voyages as mate. He then went to Lynn, Mass., to accept a position as finisher in a leather house, and remained seven years. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. L, 4th Mass. Infantry (changed to artillery), and served one year. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned to New Eng- land and was engaged in the wholesale fish business for thirty years. In 1895 he removed to the farm in Dartmouth where he has since resided. Mr. Bartlett is a member of New Bedford Post No. 190, G. A. R. In June, 1874, he married Annie C. Golden, of New Bedford.

Bartlett, George F .- The business reputation of the firm of this name has extended to, practically, all points where shipping is an interest; and the name itself was of prominence in the business life of New Bedford for over half a century. Ivory Hovey Bartlett, with his young wife, came to New Bedford in 1819, and established a livery business. He soon gained a good foothold in the town, which at that time offered high advantages to a man of energy, and in a few years he started in the grain trade at the foot of Union street, and this led to his assuming an interest in shipping, which gradually increased to large proportions. It would be well before proceeding to pay some tribute to Ivory H. Bartlett, the man. Throughout his en- tire life he remembered the precept, "The poor ye have with you always." In the

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

first winter of his residence in New Bedford, when he himself had hardly gained a start, it is said that he collected over $500 and distributed it personally among the poor, which he continued to do every winter for about forty years, and later he es- tablished soup houses and various like enterprises, in many instances supporting them largely out of his own pocket. When he went to his reward the people realized that they had suffered a great loss. He was always a firm advocate of temperance and refused to allow the sale of intoxicants in his buildings, although this course often meant a loss of money. For many years he was an active member of the North Congregational Church and afterwards of the old Pacific Congregational Church. He died in 1871, having reached his seventy-seventh year. The possession of these qualities did not interfere with the fact that he was essentially a man of business and his various interests developed rapidly. In 1847 he took his second son, Ivory H. Bartlett, jr., into the business and the firm name became I. H. Bartlett & Son, and so continued until 1854, when his third son, George F. Bartlett, was admitted a partner, and it was changed to I. H. Bartlett & Sons. Two younger sons, William H. and Robert W., were also connected with the business for many years. His old- est son, Abner Bartlett, was in charge of the Astor real estate in New York for many years. The commission business of the firm started in 1839, when a representative of the London firm of Langton & Bicknall came to New Bedford to secure a repre- sentative at this port to buy oil. He stopped at the Bartlett residence, selected Mr. Bartlett to execute his commissions, and this was the beginning of a large commis- sion business, as well as of a fifty years' connection with the house above mentioned, for which I. H. Bartlett & Sons frequently purchased as many as ten thousand bar- rels of sperm oil in a year. After their father's death the sons, I. H. Bartlett, jr., and George F., continued the business and later, upon the death of I. H. Bartlett, jr., in 1880, George F. Bartlett continued under the old name until 1894, when he advertised the dissolution of the firm.

George F. Bartlett, third son of Ivory H. and Betsey (Clark) Bartlett, was born in New Bedford in the old Ricketson house, at the southwest corner of Acushnet avenue and Union street. He attended the public and high schools of New Bedford and Phillips Academy at Andover, and, like his brothers, he entered his father's office at an early age and was trained for the position he was to occupy as partner. He is to-day one of the best known of the older business men of the city, but has never held public office, with the exception of six years, 1891-1897, as a member of the Board of Public Works, and a director in the Merchants' National Bank since 1866. He is an industrious and enthusiastic student of geneaology and history and has a carefully preserved collection of historical relics, which will sometime pass into possession of the city. It will be remembered that this firm owned the famous old ship Progress, which figured in the "Arctic disaster of 1871," sailed with the "Stone Fleet," and was finally sold by Mr. Bartlett to Henry E. Weaver of Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition, where it was exhibited. Mr. Bartlett married, in 1852, G. A., daughter of Gideon Nye of Acushnet, and of their eight children, only three are now living. The genealogy of the Bartlett family is interesting, the original Bartlett in America, Robert, by name, having come to Plymouth Colony in 1623, in the ship Anne. He married Mary Warren and thus joined the two families. His descendants lived in the vicinity of Plymouth several generations, and Betsey

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Clark, who married Ivory H, Bartlett, was also directly descended from Puritan stock, having been the granddaughter of Israel Clark of Manonset Ponds.

Bassett, John Seabury, was born in Taunton, April 1, 1842, a son of Charles Jar- vis Holmes and Emeline Dean (Seabury) Bassett. He received his early education in the public schools of Taunton and in 1857 went into what was then the Tauuton Bank as clerk. He remained there two years and then went to Boston as a clerk in a jobbing woolen house, where he stayed five years and then came to Taunton and en- gaged with Davenport & Mason in the express office as clerk; this was in 1864 and Mr. Bassett has been in the present location ever since and at this writing (1898) is one of the proprietors, his service with that company being a continuous service of thirty-four years. He is a member of Ionic Lodge, F. & A. M. October 10, 1867, Mr. Bassett married Marianna C., daughter of Henry C. and Abby F. (Crandell) Perry, and they have one daughter, Kate M.

Bates, John T., was born in Boston, November 25, 1831, a son of Ezekiel and Lois (Daggett) Bates. His father was a contractor in Boston, retiring from active work in 1849 and moved to Attleborough, where he died March 17, 1871. John T. Bates was educated in Boston, learned the hardware business and on June 1 came to Attleborough, where he remained on his father's farm until 1862, when he was ap- pointed assistant assessor of internal revenue. In 1869 he was elected secretary of the Attleborough Loan Association; in 1876 was elected secretary and treasurer of the Attleborough Savings & Loan Association; in 1871 was elected to the Legisla . ture; in 1889 was appointed town clerk, which office he has filled for eleven years; and in 1887 was elected town treasurer. In 1865 Mr. Bates married Sarah S., daughter of Nathan and Margaret Hawes. Mr. Bates is one of the conservative men of the town, taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious institu- tions and has ever advanced the best interests of his town and town's people. He is a member of Bristol Lodge; Attleborough Council; King Hiram Chapter; Bristol Commandery ; Eastern Star; and of the Old School Boys' Association.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 84

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