Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 87

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 87

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Braley, Hon. Henry King, son of Samuel T. and Mary A. Braley, was born in Rochester, Mass., March 17, 1850. His early education was obtained in the common schools of his native place, at Rochester Academy, and at Pierce Academy, Middle- borough. He taught school for several years and studied law with Hon. Hosea Kingman of Bridgewater, being admitted to the Plymouth county bar in October, 1873. In December of the same year he began the practice of law in Fall River, being first associated with Nicholas Hathaway, as Hathaway & Braley, and later with M. G. B. Swift, as Braley & Swift. He was city solicitor in 1874, mayor in 1882 and 1883, and is now a justice of the Superior Court. He has been one of the vice-presidents of the Fall River Children's Home, a director of the Globe Yarn

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Mills, clerk of the Border City Manufacturing Company, and a trustee of the Fall River Savings Bank. He is past grand master of the I. O. O. F., of Massachusetts. April 29, 1875, he married Caroline W., daughter of Philander and Sarah T. Leach of Bridgewater, Mass.

Braley, Jasper W., who for more than thirty-seven years was one of the foremost retail grocers of New Bedford, was born in Rochester, Mass., in 1819, a son of Ezek- iel and Lucy (Allen) Braley, and his father, who was a farmer, was a lifelong res- ident of Rochester. During his boyhood Mr. Braley attended the schools of the vicinity and worked on his father's farm, and at the age of thirteen he went to Fair- haven and began the shoemaker's trade under John Manter, with whom he remained about three years. He then went to Randolph, Mass., to work in a shoe factory and a year later occupied himself, at his home in Rochester, in making shoes, which he brought from the Randolph factory partially finished and returned completed. In 1837 he followed the example of most of the boys of that period and shipped before the mast on the whale ship " Janus," making a voyage of eighteen months. This was his first and only whaling voyage, but he continued in the coastwise trade for several years, finally becoming a first mate. In 1849 he made his way to California and for two years remained in the northern mines on the American River, shortly after returning to New Bedford, where he engaged in the grocery business with Isaac Terry, under the name of Braley & Terry. They located at the corner of Smith and County streets and after two years Mr. Terry retired, Mr. Braley con- tinuing the business alone until his retirement. At different times the store was moved. first to the present site of Mr. Braley's residence, at the corner of Sycamore and County streets, and later to the corner of County and Maxfield streets, where it is now conducted by Jasper W. Braley, jr., who came into possession in 1890. On this corner the business has been located for upwards of twenty-five years and has become a landmark in this section of the city. Mr. Braley has never held any public office except that of common councilman, having giving most of his attention to the development of his business. He is a well known and highly respected man and a type of that class of hardy whalemen and " forty-niners" who afterwards became successful merchants. For over twenty years he has been a member of Acushnet Lodge of Odd Fellows and for many years of the First Congregational Church (Uni- tarian). He is a director of the Co-operative Bank of New Bedford. In 1851 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Nelson Allen of New Bedford, and they had eleven children, six of whom survive: Henry H., a practicing physician in Concord, Mass., Adra C., wife of Daniel Batchelder, of Centerville, R. I., Anna W., Elizabeth W., Jasper W., jr., and Jessie N.

Briggs, Abram Taylor, was born in Taunton, December 17, 1848, a son of Abra- ham and Betsey (Wright) Briggs. He received his early education in the public schools of Taunton, and at the close of his school days he went to work for his father to learn the mason's trade in all of its branches. He remained with him for several years and on the death of his father succeeded to the business and has car- ried it on alone up to the present time. November 25, 1879, Mr. Briggs married Mary Ella Wrigley of Brockton, and they have four children: George W., born Feb- ruary 17, 1881; James A., born September 29, 1887; Rufus W., born January 19, 1889; Howard, born May 12, 1890.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Briggs, Charles Henry, merchant, is descended from (1) Clement Briggs, who came from England to Plymouth in the ship Fortune in 1621, settled in Weymouth, and had six children ; (2) John Briggs, who removed to Portsmouth, R. I .; (3) Job Briggs, who had nine children ; (4) Jeremiah Briggs, born 1721, died September, 1764, married August 5, 1745, Anna Taylor, and had five children, Thomas being the youngest; (5) Thomas, a major in the Continental army in the Revolution, born July 18, 1757, died April 29, 1822, married in 1778 Lucy Shaw, and had four children, Jeremiah being the eldest; (6) Jeremiah Briggs, born October 24, 1778, died December 28, 1856, married, first, March 9, 1806, Sally Almy, and second, June 2, 1810, Diana Coe (died May 12, 1869), and had Sallie Almy (Mrs. Sylvester H. Burgess), born April 6, 1811; Alfred C., born May 25, 1813; Susan Church (Mrs. Jesse Gardner), born May 22, 1818: Betsey Coe (Mrs. Joseph Hicks), born September 10, 1820; and Thomas born June 16, 1822. Alfred C. Briggs learned the trade of cooper in New Bedford, but soon returned to his native town, Little Compton, R. I., and died on his farm in April, 1886. He married first, November 7, 1837, Mary V. Harlow, who died Octo- ber 14, 1839. He married, second, April 12, 1843, Mrs. Elvira M. Cornell, of War- ren, R. I., who died about 1850, leaving two children: Charles Henry, born in Little Compton. R. I., February 13, 1844, and Mary Elvira, born March 26, 1849, who mar- ried Nathaniel Church of Little Compton. Charles Henry Briggs was educated in the common schools of his native town. When seventeen he came to New Bedford and learned the carriagemaker's trade with George L. Brownell. September 26, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E. 3d Mass. Vols., and served nine months; in the fall of 1863 he re-enlisted in the 19th Mass. Vols., unattached, and was discharged at the close of war as orderly sergeant. Returning to New Bedford he resumed his posi- tion with Mr. Brownell until 1869, when he engaged in the furniture business on a small scale. In 1878 he formed a copartnership with James L. Lawrence, which has since continued under the style of Briggs & Lawrence. They added carpets, dra- peries, etc., to their furniture trade, and now have the largest and best store of the kind in the city, at 197 and 203 Union street. Mr. Briggs is a member of the Vet- eran Firemen's Association, of Acushnet Lodge and Annawan Encampment of Odd Fellows, and of Post 190, G.A R. April 30, 1866, he married Frances A., daughter of Edwin R. Russell of New Bedford.

Briggs, George Alfred, civil engineer, is the son of George Briggs, jr., and Cynthia Jones, and was born in Dighton, Bristol county, January 6, 1820. According to tra- dition there came from Yorkshire, England, John Briggs, who settled in Dartmouth, and afterward in Norton; Richard Briggs, in Taunton; and Clement Briggs, on Cape Cod. Mr. Briggs's great great-grandfather, David Briggs, lived in Berkley ; his great-grandfather, Nathan, and grandfather, George Briggs, sr., resided in Dighton, where the latter was especially prominent in settling estates. His mater- nal grandfather, Salathiel Jones, was a captain of militia. Mr. Briggs received a common school education, and through his own efforts secured a thorough and prac- tical knowledge of civil and hydraulic engineering, which he practiced during a portion of his early life, as assistant engineer in making surveys and the construction of railroads, under his uncle, Seth H. Ingalls, one of the foremost structural engineers and architects of his .day. In 1845 Mr. Briggs became assistant engineer on the construction of the Bridgewater division of the Fall River & Boston Railroad. Fol-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

lowing this he was successively principal assistant engineer on the surveys for the railroad through West Randolph in 1846; principal assistant engineer in charge of the preliminary surveys for the New Bedford & Fall River and the Taunton & Mid- dleboro Railroads in 1847; assistant engineer and draughtsman in charge of the surveys for the New Haven & New London Railroad in 1848; assistant engineer on the New Haven & Northampton, and principal engineer in charge of the construction of the Old Town (Me.) extension of the Bangor & Old Town Railroad in 1849; en- gineer and master carpenter on the construction of a wooden bridge, single span, 105 feet long, for this road, and assistant engineer in charge of the State surveys for the European & North American Railway from Bangor to Calais, Me., in 1850; assistant engineer on the location and construction of the New Haven & New Lon- don Railroad from 1850 to 1852; and division engineer in charge of the preliminary surveys, location, and construction of the Clinton Line Railroad in Ohio from 1852 to 1855. In 1860 he became assistant engineer on the preliminary surveys for the New Bedford water works, and in 1865 was principal engineer on further surveys for this enterprise; when the location and construction were commenced in 1866 he was made chief engineer, which position he held until 1871. From 1871 to 1874 he was chief engineer on the construction of the Fall. River water works, completing them as he had completed, in 1869, the New Bedford system. Since then he has been engaged in the general practice of his profession in New Bedford and Fair- haven, having resided in the latter place since 1877. From 1861 to 1868 he also served as city engineer of New Bedford, and was selectman and chairman of the board of Fairhaven from 1879 to 1884, and chief engineer of the Coggeshall street bridge between these two places. Mr. Briggs is one of the oldest and best known civil engineers in the southern part of the State. In 1844 he married Sarah Ann, daughter of Nathaniel Stetson, of Fairhaven. She died at Cleveland, Ohio, Decem- ber 16, 1888, leaving Roswell Emmons Briggs, a graduate of the Rensselaer Poly- technic Institute at Troy, and now a civil engineer of Denver, Col .; Emma O., wife of Daniel A. Wightman, general manager and superintendent of the Pittsburg (Pa.) Locomotive Works; and Mary Louisa S. (Mrs. Edward Knowles), of Cleveland, Ohio.

Briggs, Seth R., was born in Rochester, Mass., February 19, 1849, son of Benja- min S. Briggs, who was born in Mansfield. The family trace their descent from Clement Briggs, who settled in Easton in 1694 (being the grandson of Clement Briggs, sr., who arrived in Plymouth in the ship " Fortune " in 1621); his son, Seth, being a pioneer in Mansfield. Benjamin Briggs married Caroline, daughter of Jon- athan Cowan, and he was one of the old Quaker stock. S. R. Briggs was educated in the public schools and at Mansfield private schools, afterward learning the ma- chinist's trade. In 1872 he learned the jewelry business and in 1882 bought the hotel property, now known as the Briggs' House, adding the annex and Capron Cottage. In 1872 he married Martha, daughter of Thomas and Matilda Shepard, and they have five children: Frank L., Walter E., Martha S., Caroline L. and Grace H. Mr. Briggs is one of the conservative men of his town; is deputy sheriff; a member of Ezekiel Bates Lodge of Masons, and Knights of Pythias; and is recog- nized as a man of sterling integrity, who has ever advanced the best interests of his town and town's people.

Brightman, Abner Potter, son of Samuel and Esther G. (Gifford) Brightman, was

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

born on the old Brightman homestead about eight miles southwest of the city of New Bedford, in the township of Dartmouth, March 28, 1828. His father was born and reared in Westport, as was also his mother. Mr. Brightman has devoted his entire life to agriculture and is a sagacious and successful farmer, greatly respected in the community. January 25, 1855, he married Helen E., only daughter of William and Abbie B. (Macomber) Howland, and they have six children: Zelotes A., William A., Abbie, Norah, Stella M. and Harold W.

Brightman, Charles, son of Thomas and Emily D. (Manchester) Brightman, was born in Fall River, Mass., May 8, 1848. After finishing his education in the public schools of his native city he was apprenticed to the iron moulder's trade and continued to follow this calling, in the employ of others, for nine years. He then engaged in the poultry business which he carried on until 1894, when he removed to Westport and rebuilt the grain mill at that place and has since conducted a large and growing business. On December 24, 1884, he married Annie, daughter of Archibald and Catherine (McAulay) McDonald, and they have seven children: Alice M., Oliver T. Omar D., Irvin A., Walter D., Henry and an infant.

Brightman, Charles Oliver, contractor and builder, is the son of Oliver P. Bright- man (which see), and was born in New Bedford, Mass., March 28, 1853. He was educated in the public and high schools of his native city and in 1870 went to Provi- dence, R. I., where he learned the carpenter's trade, remaining five years. After- ward he spent three years in Hartford, Conn., and in 1878 returned to New Bedford, where, in 1879, he engaged in the stair building business, which he had previously learned in addition to his trade. In 1881 he became a general contractor and builder, a business he has since followed with success. Among the numerous structures erected by him are the Wamsutta block, the Haskell & Tripp stores, Adelphia rink, House of Correction, St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford Five Cents Savings Bank building, the Emerson building, the Union for Good Works building, the Unitarian Chapel, the Parker House addition, the Slocum building, the Howland and Rotch Mills, the Bennett Mill No. 2, the Columbia Spinning Mills Nos. 1 and 2, and the Samuel P. Richmond, Clarence A. Cook, Charles M. Tripp, Charles S. Kel- ley, Edmund B. Wood and other residences, all in New Bedford; the U. S. Fish Commission buildings at Wood's Holl; the Globe Yarn Mill No. 3 in Fall River ; and many other dwellings, blocks, public buildings, etc. He is one of the leading build . ers in southeastern Massachusetts. Mr. Brightman was elected to the City Council in 1887, was for three years a member of the Board of Public Works, served as sec- retary of the New Bedford Republican City Committee for several years, and has been a member of the Massachusetts State Central Committee since 1892. He is also one of the commissioners appointed by the governor to build the new jail in Fall River. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in all the bodies, and is also a member of the Elks and the Wamsutta and Dartmouth Clubs of New Bedford and the Quequechan Club of Fall River. In May, 1876, he married Anna Cronan of Brooklyn, N. Y., and their children are Oliver C., Ella D., and Mar- shall C.

Brightman, Charles P., city treasurer and tax collector of Fall River, was born in that city August 5, 1848, a son of Horatio Nelson and Rebecca Loraine (Drake) Brightman. His first American ancestor came from England to Rhode Island early

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

in the seventeenth century, and soon moved to the site of Fall River, being one of the first settlers in that vicinity. He was a prominent man among the colonists, being a member of the governor's staff. According to the old records he was made a free- man in 1670. Mr. Brightman attended the public schools and while pursuing his studies in the high school, enlisted, in 1864, in the 21st Unattached Company, M. V. M., in the three months service. When his term expired he returned to school and at the age of eighteen began to learn the trade of a machinist in the shops of Gifford & Houghton in Fall River, following that occupation five years. Through the in- fluence of Congressman Buffinton he was appointed to a position in the city post- office, where he remained thirteen years, having in the mean time been promoted to the place of chief clerk. In 1886 he was elected by the City Council to the office of city treasurer and tax collector, which office he has since held by annual re-elec- tion. By virtue of this office he is treasurer of the trust and sinking funds of the city, and he is one of the trustees of the Fall River Savings Bank, Mr. Brightman was married twice, first, to Susie Harrison, who died fifteen months after marriage. His second wife was Abbie J., daughter of David Albert of Fall River. They have two children: Harold and Gladys Loraine Brightman.

Brightman, Philander H., son of Elias P. and Dianna A. (Manchester) Brightman, was born June 22, 1839. He attended the district schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to learn the trade of pattern maker, where he remained for a short time, and forming a dislike for this business, resigned his position and shipped aboard the brig Kate Cory, under Captain Weston Tripp, and was twenty-two months on a whaling voyage. In 1861 he returned home and went to California and en - gaged in mining for ten years, when he returned again to Westport and for five years ran a yacht boat. He then established himself in the lumber business, which he conducted until 1884, when the present firm of Brightman Brothers was formed, which copartnership continues as it was then organized. October 30, 1884, Mr. Brightman married Elizabeth A., (born April 2, 1862), daughter of John W. and Elizabeth M. (Hall) Babbitt, of Fairhaven, and they have two children, Ralph H., born August 4, 1885, and Guy L , born June 13, 1887.

Brown, John Peaslee, was born in Raymond, N. H., October 12, 1833. His early education was obtained in the country schools and at Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., afterwards graduating from Dartmouth in the class of 1860. After spending a year in the south as a private tutor, Dr. Brown came north aud entered Harvard Medical School, graduating from there in the class of 1865. He was immediately appointed assistant physician at the Asylum for the Insane at Concord, N. H., re- maining there until March, 1878, and then came to Taunton to take charge of the Taunton Lunatic Hospital. March 16, 1865, Dr. Brown married Caroline A. Ste- vens of Mount Vernon, N. H., and they have one daughter, Gertrude S.

Brownell, Charles H., son of Alanson P. and Mary A. (Sherman) Brownell, was born in Westport, April 23, 1838. His father was also a native of Westport and with the exception of the last two years of his life always resided there, being engaged in farming and in the wholesale and retail meat business for many years, and a prominent and respected citizen. For a considerable period he served as collector of of taxes and held other minor offices at different times. In the main Charles H. Brownell is self-educated for he attended the schools of the vicinity but a short time

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

and then began to learn the carriage-making trade under Holder White with whom he remained three years. The very day his time was out he started in husiness for himself and continued for twenty-one-years. At different times he added carriage painting and undertaking to his business enterprises. Mr. Brownell removed to New Bedford in 1879 and established himself in the meat business, and out of this his present grocery business grew. For some time he conducted three stores, but now has only two, one of which is the largest and best appointed retail grocery in the city, and employs a force of several clerks. He has been an intelligent and hard worker in building up his business, for which he is well fitted, having a natural capacity for making friends and for handling men. Some of his present employees have worked for him over twenty years. For some years Mr. Brownell was a mem- ber of Star of the East Lodge, and was a charter member of Noquachoke Lodge, South Westport, but now holds membership in Eureka Lodge, F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Chapter and Commandery and of Vesta Lodge of Odd Fellows. For two years he represented Ward 3 on the Board of Aldermen. July 20, 1860, he married Mary A., daughter of Benjamin F. Tripp of Westport, and three children have been born to them: Elmer W. (deceased), Elmer W., and Ulysses G., both in business in New Bedford.

Brownell, David, jr., son of David and Ruth (Sisson) Brownell, was born at Ports- mouth, R. I., April 21, 1822. After being educated in the public schools, he worked on his father's farm until 1849, when he took a steamer for California, which trip consumed about six months' time; after a short stay in California he returned to Massachusetts and engaged in farming, which he has since followed. September 24, 1855, Mr. Brownell married Caroline A., daughter of Christopher and Susan (Sanford) Almy. Mrs. Brownell's ancestors were of English descent, and she was born July 13, 1843, in the town of Dartmouth, Bristol county, Mass .; they have five children : Deborah Alma, wife of James T. Wilbur; Carrie Anna, wife of John F. Little, David, George and Edith.

Brownell, Ezekiel J., third son of George H. B. and Nancy O. (Rounds) Brownell, was born in Tiverton, R. I. (now Westport, Mass.), October 7, 1854. His first busi- ness experience after leaving school was in the meat business with his father in Fall River, where he was employed for five years. He then engaged in teaming, which he carried on for a short time, when he was offered a position in a mill as fireman and remained there for about a year. He then spent some three months in Florida, after which he returned to Westport and has since been engaged in farming. On January 23, 1878, he married Mary E. (born in the town of Blackstone, Mass.), daughter of Charles O. and Elizabeth (Fuller) Taft, and they have three children: Vilola W., Nellie M. and Grace R.

Brownell, Pardon Cornell .- Prominent among the representative citizens of Bris- tol county is the subject of this notice, who is a son of Ellery and Phoebe (Cornell) Brownell, and was born in the the town of Dartmouth, Bristol county, Mass., April 14, 1824. His first business experience after leaving the public schools was aboard a whaling vessel, and he was engaged in that occupation for five years. In 1849, dur- ing the gold excitement in California, he spent a year in that State, after which he returned east and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed. Mr. Brownell has always taken an active interest in public affairs, but has never aspired

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

to public office; he was, however, road surveyor of the town for a time. He has been twice married; his first wife was Ruth M. Tucker, and of this union were two chil- dren: James Ellery and Mary Almy. His second wife was Ruth J., daughter of David Brownell.

Bryant, Thomas Ruggles, jr., son of Thomas R. and Nancy (Sturtevant) Bryant, was born in New Bedford, Mass., February 22, 1828. After obtaining a liberal edu- cation in the public schools he shipped aboard the whaling bark "Herald" for one voyage, then before the mast on the " Elizabeth," with Capt. Michael Baker, for one voyage, and as third mate for one voyage on the same ship. He then shipped as third mate on the bark "Stafford," and later with Capt. Obed Pearce on the bark "Catalpa." During this voyage he was promoted to the position of second mate, and sailed as such until 1871. He then returned to Dartmouth and engaged in farm- ing and in the production of milk for market. He has for many years carried on an extensive milk business and is well known in New Bedford. Mr. Bryant has always been a staunch Republican. He was one of three children, having two sisters who reside with him at the old homestead, near the village of Smith's Mills. The family is an old Puritan one, the first representatives in America settling near the present site of Plympton, Mass., about 1635.

Bryson, G. S., D. D.S., was born at Portsmouth, N. H., May 24, 1871, and was educated in the public schools and at Becker's Business College, Worcester. He then entered the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, from which he was grad- uated in 1896. He practiced his profession for five years in Worcester before grad- uating, and acquired a high reputation in that city for dental skill. He opened his office in Fall River, October 1, 1897. He is a member of the C. N. P. Dental Society and of the Royal Arcanum Dr. Bryson's parents were Robert S. and Emily F. (Tallman) Bryson. The family is American for generations back, and of Scottish origin.

Buck, Augustus Walker, M.D, was born at Slatersville, R. I., February 7, 1866, a son of Rev. E. A. Buck and Elmira Walker, his wife. Shortly after his birth the family removed to Fall River, and he has since resided in that city, being now one of its most prominent and successful physicians. He secured his preliminary educa- tion in the public and high schools of Fall River and then entered Williams College, from which he was graduated in 1888 with the degree of A. B. Following his col- lege course he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania and was graduated in 1892 with the degree of M. D., shortly after was appointed resident physician to the Methodist Episcopal Hospital at Philadelphia, in which capacity he served one year, returning at the end of that time to Fall River to en- gage in active practice. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Fall River Medical Society, of which he served as president for one year; also a member and chairman of the city Board of Health. In 1897 he was appointed city physician for a term of three years. This office he resigned in 1898, having been appointed medical examiner for Bristol county by Governor Wolcott. Dr. Buck was married in April, 1896, to Jennie, daughter of Rev. O. T. Lanpher, of Beverly. He is a member of the staff of the Fall River Hospital and visiting physician to the Emergency Hospital.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 87

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