USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Truro > Truro-Cape Cod; or, Land marks and sea marks > Part 32
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
Captain Elisha Baker, a younger brother of Captain Rich- ard, died in New York, where he was engaged in business in 1862, aged about fifty-five. He was an intelligent gentleman and an active business man.
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LOMBARD.
LOMBARD : - In Mr. Damon's Register appears the follow- ing notice: " February 8, 1817, James Lombard, aged nearly 48 years. " His wife was Hannah Snow, daughter of David, who was taken from his boat and carried a prisoner to Eng- land, as herein stated.
CAPTAIN DAVID LOMBARD, of whom the accompanying en- graving is a good likeness, was born November 9, 1796; is the only living representative of this large family, and one of the oldest men in town. He married December 10, 1820, Anna Gross Lombard, a widow of his elder brother James. She died October, 1879, aged seventy-nine She was a crown to her husband, a blessing to her home and society.
The children by this marriage are James, born February 4, 1823, died December, 1878, at Somerville. Left wife and children. David Jr., born October 9, 1825, a bachelor, now lives in Truro. Lewis, born November 18, 1827, married Me- hitable A. Stevens ; lives in East Somerville. Malvina A., born November 2, 1829, married Nathaniel Harding, now his widow, lives in Truro. Angelia M., born October 26, 1831, married Horace A. Hughes ; both deceased: Benjamin Jr., born May 30, 1836, married 1858, in Greggsville, Ill., the eldest child of Benjamin Lombard Sr. ; resides in Galesburg.
The prominence of a majority of men in town and country depends upon their official capacity in civil and religious re- lations, or upon some accidental business patronage. A history of mediocrity prominent men could all be written from the same text. Men of strong party or sectarian leanings are apt to have strong sectional bias, and strong and weak points, of whom much good may be said and not a little evil. They have firm friends and bitter foes. Here is a man full of years and friends ; a landmark in the history of the town for more than threescore years ; that never held an office civil or re- ligious ; that never belonged to a church; that was never on the popular side in politics ; that controls no business and asks nothing from the public. It is safe to say that no other man has ever contributed to the town so much in all that consti-
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tutes a valuable citizen. Amid the perils and discouragements of the town he has never wavered in faith or allegiance. I question if there has ever been money enough outside to tempt him to leave the old town. He has honored the sanctuary, always been found in his place at public worship and cheer- fully contributed towards the support of all church institutions. He has liberally encouraged home enterprise and improve- ments. A lifelong Democrat, year after year, in the face of fearful odds and obloquy, he has marched calmly to the ballot- box and deposited his straight Democratic vote. Such con- sistency is a jewel.
Captain Lombard was the first to establish mackerel pack- ing in Truro. He carried on the business for many years successfully and was largely interested in navigation and in the growing enterprise of the town. In a green old age, sur- rounded by a devoted family, he waits in peace the summons to that land never trod by mortal feet.
Benjamin Lombard Sr. was the youngest brother of David. Born 1815. The long, even, conservative, contented life, and the restless activity, far-reaching enterprise, and eventful career of these brothers is in strong contrast. Ben- jamin's preparation for business was his youthful years at fish- ing and a short experience as schoolmaster, when the writer was one of his scholars. He went with the first considerable delegation from Truro to Illinois in about 1835. He first met with indifferent success, but began to prosper in the pur- chase of land, and soon became a quite extensive and bold operator. While living in Galesburg, he endowed the Lom- bard University, then struggling under another name and manifold misfortunes. In honor of his timely generosity, his name was adopted by the Institution. In about 1862 he moved to Chicago and embarked with eager enthusiasm in the splendid designs of that city. When Chicago was burned in 1871, Mr. Lombard was one of her most substantial and successful men. He was president of the Fifth National Bank, which he principally founded, was president of insur- ance companies, owned the Lombard Building, one of the most substantial blocks in the city, was interested in other great
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enterprises, and had a princely income. The fire and panic soon following, shattered his great estate. In the winter of 1881, I shared his hospitality at Galesburg, when he narrated many of the events of his life, and calmly reviewed the ca- lamities that swept away his vast possessions. Mr. Lombard died at Chicago, May 19, 1882; was buried in the family lot at Mount Auburn. He was twice married ; by his first wife he leaves Mrs. Benjamin Lombard Jr., Mrs. W. Arnold, and W. C. Lombard of Galesburg, and James L., a banker of Creston, Iowa. By his present wife, two boys; Benjamin and Charles. Other brothers of this family deserve mention. Captain Lewis, an honorable and most substantial citizen, died at Truro, May, 1879, aged about seventy-five years ; and Josiah, who with Marshal Ayers established the firm of Ayers & Lombard in Greggsville, Ill., later moved to Chicago and founded the Fourth National Bank of Chicago, now the Na- tional Bank of America, of which Isaac G. Lombard is presi- dent. Mr. Lombard died at New York, 1877, aged sixty-four. The house of Ayres & Lombard of New York is conducted by the sons of the old firm.
BINNEY and ISRAEL LOMBARD, came to Boston when young men. Binney died in early manhood, leaving a good name, a moderate estate and an only son, the late Israel 2d of New- ton. Israel, with Mr. Charles O. Whitmore, established the house of Lombard & Whitmore, long and favorably known. In connection with their early business they carried on a branch of fishing and outfitting at Commercial Point, and built a number of first-class vessels, among which may be remembered the Dorchester, Neponset and Squantum. Some of the best fishermen of Truro were in their employ.
ISAAC SNOW GROSS
Men are bold, brave, energetic, capable, persistent, religious, maybe; but they are moody, or sullen, or morbid, or crabbed, or melancholy, or proud. While fortune smiles they will continue to be civil to those who smile upon them. There are comparatively few men that step bravely
ISAAC SNOW GROSS.
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out into the rugged paths of life, with an ever cheerful heart, and a strong arm to meet its changing fortunes, with a good grace. I might say few meet even the bright side of life with a good grace. Few men are born that have pushed their way through the world by sheer persistent energy, and met all its conditions with such a cheerful heart and ready hand as the man whose name stands at the head of this notice. He was the son of Captain Jaazaniah (mention of whom will be found in the life of Rev. Mr. Damon), and Anna (Lombard) Gross, born October 1, 1803, married April 8, 1823, Betsey, daughter of Captain Ebenezer and Azubah (Hinckley) Davis, in whose life have been beauti- fully blended the true Christian, wife, and mother.
Mr. Gross followed the trade of a carpenter, at home, till 1835, when, with a number of the enterprising young men of Truro, he moved to Illinois. He began merchandizing in Perry, Pike County, and built the first frame house in Perry. The hard times of '37 fell with crushing force upon that part of the West. Mr. Gross returned to Truro, and soon after was elected to the Legislature, about which time he moved to Boston. In 1841 he engaged in business in Quincy Market, which he pursued with success and unabated activity till he drew near to the close of life. In 1853 he moved to Somer- ville, where he resided till his death, April 16, 1873, sur- rounded by the comforts of life, and a large circle of relatives and friends. In these few lines are gathered the labors of a long and busy life, clustering with a rich share of generous sympathies, ardent attachments, and unchanging friendships. His children are Jaazaniah, born in Truro, April 8, 1824, suc- cessor to his father's business, and a resident of Somerville ; Sarah Elizabeth, born August 28, 1831, married Horace P. Hemenway, M. D., of Somerville ; Mary Ann, born in Illinois, died in Truro, aged four years.
CAPTAIN LEVI STEVENS.
[From the San Francisco Bulletin, Nov. 27, 1882.]
Flags are floating at half-mast at the Merchants' Exchange and other public buildings to-day in respect to the memory of Capt. Levi Stevens, who died at
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Fruitvale yesterday morning. Born at Truro, Mass., and reared in common with most of the young men of that locality to follow the sea, he very early acquired a command and followed the calling most successfully, until in his early prime he left his ship on one of her early voyages to this port and shortly after assisted in establishing the house of Stevens, Baker & Co., of which he remained the honored senior to the end. During his active business career he was noted for his enterprise, untiring industry and firm integrity. He was pure in thought, manner and speech. His influence was gentle, harsh words from his lips being unknown. He wished all his fellowmen well, never harboring or expressing unkind thoughts towards any one. He possessed a marked and active sympathy for all those in distress and was for a long time a very efficient president of the San Francisco Benevolent Association.
In his relations to his family, of whom he leaves a widow and two grief- stricken daughters, he was most affectionate, generous, sympathetic and kind. Indeed, in all relations of life was one of Nature's true gentlemen.
[From the San Francisco Alta.]
We notice with regret the death of Capt. Levi Stevens, of the firm of Stevens, Baker & Co. Capt. Stevens came here as master of the ship Southern Cross, arriving on Sept. 22d, 1852, when he resigned command and started in business, and has continued ever since as one of our principal merchants. There were few in the community more universally esteemed than the deceased gentleman, as he was always an earnest advocate of all matters appertaining to the public good, and it will be long before we shall see his like again.
[From the Oakland Tribune, the home of Capt. Stevens.]
The funeral of Capt. Levi Stevens took place this afternoon at two o'clock, from the Hamilton Street Church, Rev. H. Stebbins officiating. The attendance was very large and the floral tributes were numerous and beautiful. The fu- neral sermon was an impressive and fitting tribute to the memory of a worthy man and good citizen.
The following acted as bearers : Hon. M. C. Blake, mayor of San Francisco, T. L. Barker, W. W. Montague, R. G. Sneath, Michael Castle, D. B. Hinckley, P. F. Marston, R. G. Bugbee.
Other notices testify to the character and position of Cap- tain Stevens in his adopted home. A brief reference to his early life is only necessary to so complete a manhood. His training and education was no different from other boys of his time. He was born in 1812. I presume he went a fish- ing or tended salt-works when ten years of age and acquired his education from the district school three months a year till perhaps eighteen. When about twenty-one he began his career in the merchant service at the foot of the ladder, but soon found his way up. He married in about 1836, Olive White, a noble and generous woman, Made his home in Truro
CAPT. LEVI STEVENS.
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till about the time of beginning business in San Francisco. A marble shaft and two symmetrical mulberry-trees mark the dust of their only son and two daughters, who died within a few weeks or months of each other. They were the first interred in the yard known as "Steven's Cemetery," where he built the first tomb in Truro. The loss of all their children at that time fell with crushing effect and left its mark upon their lives.
CAPTAIN EDMUND BURKE was many years the popular mas- ter of the Boston and Fayal packet Azor, known, while sailing under the British flag, as Fredonia. On New Year's Day, 1866, on his passage to Boston, in latitude 41, longitude 53, discovered the ship Gratitude, with two hundred and seventy- five passengers from Liverpool to New York, in a sinking con- dition. After learning her condition, Captain Burke threw overboard his between-decks' cargo, and transferred every soul, including women and children, safely on board his bark.
Owing to the large number, they were obliged to be put upon an allowance of bread, water, and oranges. They ar- rived in Boston Sunday, the 14th. The arrival in mid-winter of a shipload of half-starved and suffering men, women, and children, produced no small excitement. The city govern- ment took charge of the passengers, and nothing was spared toward their comfort.
Captain Burke found himself a hero. He had done only what every man ought to do, and what every humane man would do ; but he had done his duty with an indifference to the results which might have proved disastrous to his business Interests. In consideration thereof the merchants of Boston, in recognition of his noble conduct, generously contributed, and presented him, the sum of five thousand dollars. The British government presented him with a chronometer watch, suitably engraved. Generous and sympathetic the Captain may be, but possibly he may have the fear of consequences before his eyes, and sometimes allows his better impulses to be overruled by a craven spirit. To all such the history of Captain Burke is a noble example of untrammeled generosity, and its reward. He moved from Truro to Somerville, where he died, 1876, aged fifty-three.
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ISAAC RICH.
Deacon John Rich, born 1665, in Eastham, who married Mary, daughter of Reverend Samuel Treat, and Richard, the first of the great Truro family, were brothers. John settled in that part of Eastham now known as Wellfleet. From his eldest son Robert we pass on just one hundred years through four generations to the fourth Robert, born 1778, married 1800, Eunice Harding. From this marriage was born Oc- tober 21, 1801, Isaac. The father died in 1820, leaving six sons and five daughters. Their house stood about half a mile westerly from the South Wellfleet depot. If it is a good start to be born poor, Isaac started with a good capital.
I can learn nothing of his boyhood. Boys as poor as Isaac Rich don't have much boyhood. It is childhood and man- hood. Captain Joe Higgins, a neighbor, a considerate man, and perhaps a relative to his mother, gave the boy his passage to Boston. When he landed, he was probably fifteen or six- teen years old. A Wellfleet oysterman furnished him an ex- ceedingly small amount of money, which he invested in fresh codfish, and taking his whole stock in his hands, commenced business. Soon as possible, he bought a wheelbarrow, which he stocked with fish, and moved his market from house to house among the poorer class of people near the wharves. His next venture was a handcart.
In winter evenings, and sometimes on cold days, he bagged oysters through the streets. Once, as he was trudging along crying "Oys! oys ! buy any oys !" a young man either through ignorance or malice, threatened him with a drubbing if he didn't shut up. Isaac lay down his bag, caught the fellow and rubbed his face in the hard snow till he cried for quarter. Some years later, when he began to make his mark among the market fishermen, somebody asked, "What kind of a looking fellow is Rich?" This was the answer: "You go down on to Commercial Wharf early in the morning, and the most imperdentist man you see there, will be Isaac Rich." If this was true, it was as true that he was also the most modest- est of men. In this poise of character - this measuring of
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himself and even balancing, lay his strength. He probably never studied the Greek oracle, "Know thyself," but few men ever practised it better. The most venturesome of men, he never ventured beyond his depth in trade, in conversation, or in any department of life.
If the boldest and loudest on the market or wharf, he was docile and unaffected in social life. If dogmatic and arbitrary in driving a bargain, he was affable and courteous in the every-day walks of life. A ready and sharp talker, he never ventured to express himself in public. A dictator in the realm of business which he understood, he sat a humble list- ener wherever knowledge was dispensed. His voice was often heard in the committee room or caucus, but never in the forum. A chaffener for quarter cents on the wharf, he gave like a prince where his sympathies were enlisted by an intuitive or systematic sense of fitness, along certain lines, towards an objective point. He said in practice, "Don't waste powder on every noise you hear in the bushes, but wait till you see game worth your fire."
His social and religious life was marked by the same lines. His mother belonged to the Methodist Church, was a sensible, Christian woman. He sought her church and people ; they welcomed him to their humble sanctuary with a cordial Chris- tian grasp. They welcomed him as a poor boy, not as the founder of a great university, whose fame should fill the land.
As wealth and position increased, he clung to the Church of his mother and the plain sanctuary, and the plain people who gave him a kind hand, when he had nothing to give. The Church and people that had lifted him up should in turn be lifted up by him. Unlettered, he was the patron of learn- ing and the associate of scholars. Untravelled, he read the letters and listened with delight to those who saw the world through his liberality.
He never paraded his wealth, but quietly and becomingly accepted the changed conditions of life. He sought no new social channels or friends. To the last he was faithful and attentive to those whom he had best known in his youth and obscurity. It is not on account of his large fortune, or his
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humble beginning that the name of Isaac Rich has received so much attention. There are men who make more money in a year than he made in a long life of close application and economy ; and there are men dying every week who leave more property, whose names are scarcely mentioned. But it is the character of the man, and the use he made of his property, that has attracted attention, I do not hesitate to say, around the Christian world.
By will, nearly the whole of his estate was given in trust for the endowment of the Boston University. The largest amount I think ever devised in this country by one individual towards a single enterprise. This magnificent endowment by no means indicated great liberality. I do not think Mr. Rich was so much a liberal as a sagacious man. He built wisely. Few have done as well, none better. He could not carry his estate beyond the grave. He had no children or grandchil- dren. His own people were well-advanced in life and required only a limited amount, which he provided ; more than this would have been unwisdom. So he built his monument in the Boston University, which as well could have borne his own name ; another instance of his delicacy of feeling and far-see- ing sagacity, discriminating between the influence of a private and a public name. In carefully amassing, guarding and directing this great work, it is not impossible he left some Christian claims unmet.
Mr. Rich was rather under the usual size : symmetrical, graceful, and of rare personal beauty. He dressed with great care, neatness and taste. We have stated that he was born in Wellfleet, but through his business, was well-known to everybody in Truro, where his wife, Sarah Andrews, known in her youth as Sally Andrews, was born, in 1803. There are several men and women now living who were her associates at school and church and remember incidents in her early life. Mr. Andrews, her father, sold his house in about 1820 or '21, to Nehemiah Rich, and moved to Boston, where she was shortly afterwards married. They had a large family, all of whom died comparatively young ; one daughter only was married, who died childless.
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LELIG JACOB SLEEPER HALL
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
01
YOUNG MEN'S STUDY.
JACOB SLEEPER HALL- BOSTON UNIVERSITY. DEPARTMENTS.
College of Liberal Arts, - 12 Somerset St., - W. E. Huntington, Ph.D. Dean. College of Music, - Franklin Square, - Eben Tourjee, Mus. D. . Dean. College of Agriculture, - Amherst, Mass., - J. C. Greenough, A. M. Pres.
School of Theology, - 36 Bromfield Street, - J. E. Latimer, S. T. D. . Dean.
School of Law, - 36 Bromfield Street, - E. H. Bennett, LL.D. Dean.
School of Medicine, - East Concord Street, - I. T. Talbot, M. D. . Dean. School of All Sciences, - 12 Somerset Street, - W. F. Warren, LL. D. Dean.
YOUNG LADIES' STUDY.
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MATTHIAS RICH.
The men who make cities, come from diverging paths in life, each having in themselves much of interest by contrast. Given fifty years ago fifty men from the Cape, it would be safe to say, "Till ten, in summer -a barefoot boy, tough, wide awake -- hoes, clams, fishes, swims, gues to the red school- house taught by the village schoolmarm. After ten, on board a fishing vessel cooking for nine or ten men; at thirteen a hand; goes to the same schoolhouse three months or less every winter till seventeen or eighteen ; graduates. At twenty- one, marries ; goes skipper ; twenty-five buys a vessel and builds a house, or has been looking around in the world to make a change. Whatever may be the experiences of after life, the early history of Cape Cod boys could be summed sub- stantially as stated.
Matthias Rich, whose name heads this paper, and of whom a perfect portrait is here presented, is the fourth generation of that name, and the fifth from Richard, the first settler of Truro; is the son of Captain Matthias and Delia Pike, born June 8, 1820. At twelve he commenced his education as cook of a fisherman ; attended the red schoolhouse at Longnook, when Captain Barnabas Paine, that prince of ye ancient school- masters, taught reading, writing, cyphering and the ten com- mandments. At eighteen attended the Murray Institute and Normal School at Gloucester. At nineteen was skipper of a fisherman and taught school at Provincetown. In 1841, he married Sarah Ann, daughter of Joshua and Mary (Polly) Knowles, possessed of womanly and wifely qualifications es- sential to a cheerful home ; was a member of the Truro School Board when the new districts and schoolhouses were first agitated. When sailing out of Gloucester in 1844, introduced manilla cables, which have long since superseded hemp.
In 1846 he concluded to make teaching a profession, and entered the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham as a student. The result of that influence marked and shaped his future career. He came to Boston in 1847 and engaged in the grocery business in which he still continues. The first seven
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years in Boston he was superintendent of Father Streeter's Sunday-school at North End, then one of the large schools of the city. From 1857 to 1871 he was most of the time connected with the city government, part of the time an active member of the School Board and several years in the Common Coun- cil. In 1871 he was elected president of the Council. It was a year of great responsibility and labor, which with his private business so impaired his health that he was obliged to resign all public work at a time when the path seemed fairly open to more honorable positions. Mr. Rich carried to his public duties the best of qualifications, and discharged them with conscientious fidelity that secured the full confidence of his fellow citizens. No man was better acquainted with the business of the city government, or better understood its growing influence and commanding position. By years of faithful service and industry he acquired familiarity with the city institutions and the various departments, with their requirements, incumbents and necessary appropriations, just as men do with their own business.
His connection with the School Committee covered a long term, during which many new features were added and large outlays required. New measures were introduced and radi- cal changes made during these years. Larger schoolhouses were built, great attention was paid to ventilation, improved school furniture and general convenience. The most capable teachers were employed at advanced salaries, and the Boston Public School system stood without a rival. To him, perhaps, more than any other, these important interests were submitted. He has been in active fellowship with the Universalist Church, during his business life, being at present a deacon of the Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea. Of his children, Matilda E., born 1842, at Truro, married Horatio N. Bradstreet, now living in New York. William Penn, born at Boston, August, 1849, a partner with his father. An infant daughter died young. Sarah Anna, born 1851.
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