Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 93

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 93

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Dedrick, Dr. Albert C., physician and surgeon, was born at Cranston, R. I., De- cember 10, 1864, a son of Dr. Albert C. and Sarah (Abbott) Dedrick. Early in life his parents moved to Centreville, R. I., where his father for thirty-five years was a successful physician. He was a graduate of the Albany Medical College in the class of 1857, and during the war was assistant surgeon of the 4th Regiment of Rhode Island Vol. Infantry. Dr. Dedrick was educated in the public schools of Centreville, and in Mory & Goff's English Classical School at Providence, R. I. After five years passed in the study of medicine under his father's instruction he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College at New York and graduated from that institution in 1888. He practiced for a few months with his father at Centreville and in June, 1888, j

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

moved to Fall River, where he has since resided and has won success in his profession. He is a member of the Board of Pension Surgeons at Fall River and is examining surgeon for the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company at Fall River; for the United Order of Workmen and the Pilgrim Fathers. He is also a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Sons of St. George. January 24, 1894, Dr. Dedrick married May Leslie Law of Fall River.

De Moranville, Dennis, was born in East Freetown, March 25, 1852, a son of Den- nis and Sarah A. (Braley) De Moranville. His father, who died in 1894, was a na- tive of East Freetown, born on the homestead, which has not been deeded out of the family for several generations. The family is of French extraction, descending from Louis De Moranville, who was one of the first settlers of what was called "Philip's Country." The subject of this notice was educated at the "Furnace School" near his birthplace in East Freetown and began work in New Bedford at an early age. In 1874 he purchased the farm in East Freetown on which he now resides and has ever since been engaged in farming. He also conducts a black- smith shop and is universally well known and respected throughout the section where he has spent the greater part of his life. He is a member of Middleborough Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. In 1873 he married Francina Reynolds, daughter of Calvin Reynolds of Freetown. Their children are Estelle V., Dora F .. Angeline A., Oscar D., Calvin J., Ethel M., Bertha E. (died February 17, 1892) and Morris A.

Denham Family, The .- One of the thirty-six owners of the town of Dartmouth (1652), which has since been divided into Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford and Fairhaven, was John Denham (also spelled Dunham and Donham). This John, who arrived at Plymouth before 1633, held several public offices, among which was that of representative. He sold his share in the Dartmouth purchase, and it was not till during the first quarter of the present century that Tilson Denham, sixth in descent from John, moved to New Bedford, with his family, after having lived several years in Rochester, where several of his children were born. Among his children was Tilson Bourne Denham, born April 5, 1813, who carried on the baking business dur- ing the palmy days of the whale fishery. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1854 and 1855, and was prominent in politics. The incorporation of the city of New Bedford was largely due to his exertions, he being one of the few who desired it, against the many who preferred the town government. He was instrumental in forming the New Bedford Guards and interested in the fire department, in his youth, and later in life accepted, after much solicitation, the position of captain of the first steam fire engine in the city, temporarily, or till the force of the opposition to this innovation had somewhat declined. His eldest child is Sarah M. B., wife of Andrew H. Potter; his second child is Thomas Mendell Denham, born February 2, 1840, who established the shirt factory in New Bedford in 1868, and who, like his father, is in- terested in politics, and like the first John has been a member of the State Legisla- ture, 1895-1898. During his term of membership he has served on the prison com- mittee (the same committee his father served on), and has made prisoners and refor- mations a special study and devoted much time to the study of woman's suffrage. A second son is Giles Leach Denham, now living in Flint, Mich., born October 3, 1842. The third son is Edward Denham, a partner in the shirt business. He was

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

born October 30, 1849, and is an antiquary and member of many historical societies in America and Europe. Cushing's Dictionary of Initials and Pseudonyms calls him "journalist." Besides carrying on a large correspondence with students and spe- cialists who seek his assistance, he has found time to make, for many years, the indexes of the publications of several historical societies, as well as other historical works. His article on the "Man in the Iron Mask " in Frey's Sobriquets and Nick- names has been highly prized both in this country and England. His summer vaca- tions have been spent in traveling with his camera over the localities made famous in American history and the result is a collection of valuable photographs, while as a student he has collected a very large private library which contains some rare books.

Desmond, John, collector of customs, is a son of Dennis and Mary (Desmond) Des- mond and was born in Fall River, August, 1857. He received his education in the public schools and was first employed in a provision store. He later engaged in that business for himself in Fall River. When the city store department for the relief of the poor was originated in Fall River, during the mayoralty of Dr. John W. Cough- lin, Mr. Desmond was elected to the office of superintendent. He remained in that position, doing excellent service, until he was appointed collector of customs for Fall River by President Cleveland in 1895. He has filled this position with great credit. Mr. Desmond was a member of the City Council in 1882 and 1883 from Ward 3.

Destremps, Louis G., architect, son of Louis G. and Agnes (Genereux) Destremps, was born in Montreal, Canada, May 9, 1851. He received his early educational training in his native city. In 1870 he came with his parents to Pittsfield, Mass., remaining there six months, when they moved to Woonsocket, R. I. In 1872 his- parents returned to Canada and Louis came to Fall River, where he followed the carpenter's trade for three years and engaged in contract work for one year. In 1875, when the great fire occurred at St. John's, Canada, he went there and followed his trade until 1881, in which year he went to New York and studied architecture in the Sixth Avenue High School, from which he was graduated, completing the course of four years. In 1885 Mr. Destremps, well prepared to pursue his occupation, came to Fall River and began business, first as an architect and builder, but since 1890 he has turned his entire attention to architecture. Hespent the years 1888 and 1889 at Newport, R. I., and while there was architect for the State Agricultural College at Kingston, and also built a private residence for Mr. Hodgson, the noted florist. Of late years he has been architect of many large structures in Fall River, including St. Matthew's Church; Notre Dame church, costing $350,000, and rectory ; St. Jo- seph's Orphanage, a fine building of five stories high, costing $225,000; Jesus of Mary Convent; Convent for Dominican Sisters; three large eight room public school buildings in Fall River; Convent school building and rectory for Notre Dame parish at Waterbury, Conn .; and was supervising architect of the magnificent St. Ann's church of Fall River built at a cost of $750,000, and one of the finest edifices in New England. He was also supervising architect of the Fall River armory recently built and has drawn successful plans for many other public buildings of Fall River. Mr. Destremps was married in 1874 to Celina Mayer of Fall River. They have six chil- dren: Louis E., Philias, Arthur, Victor, Charles and Albert.

Devoll, Daniel Tucker, lawyer, is the son of Pardon and Mary (Hathaway) Devoll, and a grandson of Capt. Pardon Devoll of Dartmouth, and was born in New Bed-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ford, Mass., May 3, 1857. On his father's side the family was long prominent in the whaling industry. His mother's ancestors were very early settlers of Fairhaven, her father, Samuel Hathaway, being a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Devoll was graduated from the New Bedford High School in 1875, took a two years course under a private tutor, and in 1877 entered the office of Stetson & Greene as a student at law. He was graduated from the Boston University School of Law in 1879, returned to Stetson & Greene's office, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1880. He began active practice in the office of his preceptors, and in 1882 became an office associate of A. Edwin Clarke, with whom he remained until 1894. Since then he has prac- ticed his profession alone. Mr. Devoll was a member of the City Council of New Bedford three years. In 1889 he removed his residence to Long Plain in the town of Acushnet, where he now resides, and where he was for six years chairman of the School Committee. June 20, 1889, he married Mary F., daughter of Adoniram Gil- more of Long Plain.

De Wolf, Alfred Ward, hardware dealer, was born in New Bedford, Mass., Febru- ary 4, 1856, and is the son of Charles De Wolf and Eliza M. Ward, and the grandson of Areli De Wolf of Acushnet. His father, who was born in Acushnet, Bristol county, was a carpenter and builder. Mr. De Wolf graduated from the New Bed- ford High School in 1874, and in September of the same year he went to Boston as a clerk in the hardware store of Benjamin Callender & Co. He remained there three years, and afterward spent a similar period in Woonsocket, R. I., having charge of the hardware establishment of G. Darling & Son. He returned to New Bedford in 1880, and in March, 1881, formed a copartnership with Mark T. Vincent, which still continues. The firm of De Wolf & Vincent purchased the old hardware store of Ambrose Vincent, on the corner of Union street and Acushnet avenue, on March 21, 1881, and on July 1, 1892, they also bought the store of Sullings, Kingman & Co., at 149 Union street, which had been founded by them July 1, 1845, and where they have since conducted the business of the combined establishments. Mr. De Wolf is past grand of Acushnet Lodge No. 41, I. O. O. F., a member of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Massachusetts; past chancellor and charter member of Union Lodge No. 7, K. of P., and a member of the Wamsutta Club. In 1891 he married Clara, daughter of David S. Bliss of New Bedford, and they have two children; Ward and Rachel.

Dexter, Everett O., was born in Rehoboth, February 21, 1863, a son of Otis S. and Maria A. (Bowen) Dexter. He was educated in the public schools and in 1882 came to Attleborough, where he learned the mason's trade and for some years has been engaged in contracting and building. In 1885 he married Flora M., daughter of Stephen H. Davis, and they have three children : Russell L., Alice E., and Ethel L. Mr. Dexter is one of the self-made men of his town, taking an intelligent interest in school and church matters and has ever advanced the best methods of his town and town's people.

Dolan, William Andrew, physician and surgeon, was born in Shirley, Mass., July 28, 1858, a son of Andrew and Jane (McBride) Dolan. His father was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and his mother a native of Portobello, Scotland. When he was quite young his parents moved to Fall River, where he attended the public schools. He later entered St. Joseph's College, in affiliation with Lavalle University at St.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Joseph's, New Brunswick, and was graduated in 1879. The same year he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he received his medical degree March 15, 1882. The following year Dr. Dolan was house sur- geon to St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, N. Y. In 1883 he returned to Fall River, where he has since conducted a large practice. Since 1892 Dr. Dolan has been medical examiner for the Third Bristol District, being appointed by Governor Rus- sell. By virtue of this position he was the medical officer in charge of the noted "Borden Murder Case." He is visiting surgeon to the Fall River Hospital and St. Vincent Orphan's Home; and is also examining surgeon for several life and acci- dent insurance companies. He is a member of the Boston Life Underwriters Asso- ciation. Dr. Dolan has been a justice of peace for several years. He is a member and ex-president of the Fall River Medical Society, and of the Massachusetts Medico- legal Society, the Clover Club, the order of Elks, and Knights of Columbus. May 29, 1883, he married Nellie B., daughter of Thomas Hussey of Fall River. They have four children: Thomas A., Nellie B., William A., jr., and Mary Annunciata.

Doran, Thomas W., son of William and Ann (Lowe) Doran, was born in New Bedford, Mass., May 12, 1857. When he was ten years of age his parents removed to Dartmouth, where he received his education in the public schools. Mr. Doran has devoted his entire life to agriculture. March 17, 1891, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Leonard Rider of Dartmouth, and they have two sons: William L. and Ralph C. Mr. Doran is an active member of the Christian Church.

Drake, Albert Bailey, civil engineer, is a lineal descendant of Thomas Drake, who settled in Weymouth, Mass., in 1653. He is the son of Jonathan E. and Mary E. (Bailey) Drake, and was born February 24, 1859, in Mansfield, Bristol county, where he attended the public schools. In May, 1868, he came with his parents to New Bedford and finished his education in the High School of that city. In May, 1874, he entered the office of the New Bedford (then the Acushnet) Water Works as a clerk and draftsman, and also acted as assistant to the city land surveyor. He remained there until January, 1881, when he entered the employ of the Atlantic & Pacific (now a part of the Santa Fe) Railroad, on the line between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and "The Needles" on the Colorado River in Arizona. He was transitman on the location of the road across Arizona, division engineer in charge of construction, and for six months assistant in charge of the field engineering work on the entire length of the road, a distance of 560 miles. Returning to New Bedford in May, 1884, he was elected city land surveyor and held that office until May, 1893. He was also superintendent of the Board of Public Works from the formation of the board in 1889 until 1895, and at one time served also as city forester and super. intendent of parks. Mr. Drake has successfully practiced his profession as a civil engineer in New Bedford since 1884. He was one of the seven charter members of the Massachusetts Highway Association. He is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a member of the Boston Society of Civil Engi- neers, the New England Water Works Association, and the Wamsutta and Dart- mouth Clubs. October 19, 1887, he married Minnie Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary (Neely) McAfee of New Bedford, and they have one son, Edward.

Draper, O. M., was born in North Attleborough, September 3, 1840, a son of Virgil, a native of North Attleborough. Virgil married Ann W., daughter of Sam-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

uel Origen Draper, who was one of the pioneers in the jewelry business. He was of a decided mechanical turn of mind and invented a die of steel surrounded by iron. O. M. Draper was educated in North Attleborough and in 1862 began busi- ness under the name of O. M. Draper & Co., being associated with E. I. Richards. In 1868 he purchased Mr. Richards's interest and has continued the business up to the present time, making a specialty of fire gilt chains, and was the first in town to manufacture what was known as swedged goods. He is one of the largest manufac- turers of rolled plate chains in Massachusetts. In 1865 he married Reliance G., daughter of Henry Russell; she died in 1876, leaving two sons and one daughter. Mr. Draper afterwards married Hettie A. Woodard of Akron, O., and she died in 1895, leaving one son.

Drown, Hezekiah Luther, son of Samuel and Ann (Luther) Drown, was born in Warren, R. I., August 9, 1830. His father was of English descent and his mother of Scotch extraction. Mr. Drown received his early training in the public schools of his native town and at the age of eleven his parents removed to Swansea, Bristol county, Mass., where he attended school in the winter months and worked on a farm in the summer until sixteen years old. In 1846 he returned to Warren, where he served three and a half years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. He then re- moved to Fall River, Mass., and for sixteen years was employed at this trade. In 1861 he removed to the town of Westport, Bristol county, to take charge of a milk business for Samuel T. Sanford, in whose employ he remained until 1865, when he bought the farm he now lives on. September 15, 1853, he married Hannah M., daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Brownell) Brownell, and they have two sons: Charles H. and Edwin F. Mr. Drown has always been an earnest advocate of tem- perance, and his own whole hearty manhood in old age is itself an impressive sermon in favor of total abstinence. He has never used tobacco or liquor in any form. For many years he has been a prominent worker in the Washington Total Abstinence Society of Hicksville, serving as president, secretary and treasurer at different periods.

Dubuque, Hugo Adelard, attorney at law, was born in Canada, November 3, 1854, a son of Moise and Esther (Mathieu) Dubuque. His granduncle was the founder of Dubuque, lowa. His father was one of the early explorers and pioneers of the far west, living in California and Montana from 1840 to 1850, and who died at St. Louis, Mo., on his return from a trip to Montana in 1865. Hugo Adelard obtained his pre- paratory education in the common schools and was graduated from the college at St. Hyacinthe, P. Q., in the class of 1870. That same year he removed to Troy, N. Y., where he was employed for a few months in a shoe store. He came to Fall River in the autumn of the same year and was a clerk in a grocery and drug store until 1874. In the mean time he diligently studied and prepared himself to enter Boston Univer- sity Law School, where he completed the full course, and was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1877. He was admitted to the Bristol county bar the same year and began the practice of his profession in Fall River, where he has since won dis- tinction as a lawyer. Mr. Dubuque has been honorary president of the Cercle Sala- berry, a literary society; and Ligue de Patriotes, a benevolent society. He is active in politics as a Republican, and has taken special interest in education; he was a member of Fall River School Board from 1883 to 1889. During the years 1897-98 he

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, and took a leading part in the dis- cussion of important questions, being on the committee on judiciary. Mr. Dubuque is the author of a " Historical Sketch of French Canadians," and of an article on the same subject in the French language in the "Guide Canadian Francais" in Fall River. He is one of the leading representatives of the French-Canadian people in New England. May 15, 1881, he married Anne M., daughter of William and Abbie (Maley) Coughlin of Fall River. They have three daughters: Pauline, Helene and Marie.

Dunbar, William Everett, is a son of Peter and Esther A. (Stevens) Dunbar of Taunton, and was born in Taunton, October 16, 1857. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Taunton and Bristol Academy. On leaving the acade- my he entered immediately on mercantile life. October 18, 1897, Mr. Dunbar was appointed by President Mckinley, postmaster of the city of Taunton,

Durfee, George T., son of David and Eleanore (Brayton) Durfee, was born in Tiverton, R. I., December 11, 1850. His father was a farmer and a lifelong resident of Tiverton. As a boy George T. worked on his father's farm and attended the dis- trict school, later attending the Holmes Commercial School in Fall River. His first business experience was in the conduct of a retail grocery on Stafford Road, Fall River. He associated with S. H. Hambly in this enterprise, this partnership con- tinuing about ten years, when Mr. Hambly retired and Mr. Durfee conducted the business alone for a period of four years. He then engaged in the wholesale gro- cery and commission business with H. Francis Lawton and Herbert Chapin under the firm name of H. Francis Lawton & Company. He retired from this firm in 1898. Mr. Durfee has been several times before the people as a candidate for office and has always attained a majority. He was a member of the Common Council for three terms and a member of the Board of Aldermen for three terms from the First ward. In 1895 he was elected county commissioner on the Republican ticket. He is a mem- ber of King Philip Lodge, F. & A. M., Chapter, Council, Commandery, and Shrine. He is also a member of Friendly Union Lodge of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Knights of Pythias. In 1871 he married Ida T. Hathaway, daughter of Embert Hathaway of Fall River, and they have three children: Jessie H., George W , and Hazel.

Dwight, James Edwin, son of Leonard and Minerva Dwight, was born in Will- iamsburg, Mass., May 19, 1834. When he was ten years old his father removed to New Bedford and engaged in the meat and grocery business, locating at 90 South Second street. After a residence of forty-five years in New Bedford, he removed to Acushnet, where he died in 1879, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. James E. Dwight attended the common schools of New Bedford and, after leaving school, went into his father's business, succeeding him in 1865, and still conducts the busi- ness at the old location, being now one of the oldest groceries in the city. With his father and alone Mr. Dwight has been in business for upwards of forty-eight years, and it is needless to say that his store has become a landmark in that section of the city. Leonard Dwight died in his seventy-eighth year. Mr. Dwight married, in 1855, Emily B., daughter of Stephen and Phebe Gifford of North Dartmouth, and of their union five children were born, only two of whom survive: Minerva B., and Myrtilla M., wife of C. H. Millett of Salem, Mass.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Eckfeldt, Thomas Hooper, principal of the New Bedford Friends Academy, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 5, 1853, a son of Adam and Sarah M. (Hooper) Eck- feldt. His genealogy is somewhat remarkable from the fact that members of the family have been connected with the United States mint since its establishment. His great-grandfather was the first chief coiner of the United States mint at Phila- delphia, Pa. Professor Eckfeldt received his preliminary education in the public schools of his native city, and was prepared for college under private tutors. He entered Wesleyan University in 1877 and was graduated A. B. in 1881. In the same year he became assistant principal of the Middletown (Conn.) High School, where he remained two years, and then was for one year employed as a Greek tutor at his alma mater. Following this he went abroad, studying one year in Athens, Greece, and one year in Munich, Germany, and upon his return in the fall of. 1886 entered the graduate department of Harvard University, where he remained one year. Pro- fessor Eckfeldt came to New Bedford in 1887 to take the principalship of the Friends Academy and has now completed eleven highly successful years at the head of this old institution. He is a man of scholarly attainment and one well adapted to the profession of teaching. In 1896 Harvard conferred the degree A. M. upon him. He is a member of the American Philological Association; Archaeological Society of America; Association of New England Colleges and Preparatory Schools; Massa- chusetts Classical and High School Teachers' Association; Bristol County Teachers' Association; and the Schoolmasters' Club of Boston. Professor Eckfeldt has been a vestryman in St. Martin's church for a number of years and has been identified with the society since its organization. He married, in June, 1889, Grace P., daugh- ter of Alonzo S. Weed of Newton, Mass., and they have three children: Margaret Weed, Roger Weed and Thomas Hooper Eckfeldt. jr.

Eldridge, John, jr., son of John and Annah H. (Matthews) Eldridge, was born in New Bedford, June 27, 1841. His father, who died in New Bedford in 1880, in the sixty-second year of his age, was foreman for over thirty years of the New Bedford Cordage Company's plant, and esteemed as an honorable, upright man. Mr. Eldridge was educated in the common and high schools of New Bedford. After completing his schooling he was employed for a short time as a clerk, and then for two years in the works of the New Bedford Cordage Company. In 1861 he enlisted in an engi- neer corps and served his country faithfully for three years with the Army of the Potomac, and upon his return he resumed his old position in the employ of the Cordage Company, becoming in 1879 superintendent of the plant. Mr. Eldridge's term of service with the corporation covers a period of thirty-four years. He is a man of good executive ability and is possessed of a thorough knowledge of his busi- ness. He has always taken an active interest in municipal politics; has served in the council from Ward four for four terms, 1881-82-83-84, on the School Committee six years, and at present is a member of the Board of Public Works. He is un- married.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 93

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