USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 24
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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
*Only three now living in 1942.
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Coggeshall, Arabella
Gooding, Gertrude
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Usher, Sophie
Christie, James
Liscomb, Will
Warren, Lora
Church, Hezekiah
Luther, Martin
Weeden, Belle
Church, James
Martin, Jacob
Almy, Joe Devoll, George
Munro, Walter
Andem, Will
DeWolf, James
Pollock, John
Andrews, Morton
DeWolf, Lewis
Richmond, Martin
Babbitt, Charlie
Edwards, Charles
Tilley, George
Bradford, Mark
Hicks, Edward
Warner, Eugene
Cary, Charles
Knight, Frank
SKETCHES
SYLVIA ANDREWS, the third daughter of Robert S. Andrews, Supt. of Schools; (a Boston man who married a daughter of Prof. John D'Wolf) was an attractive Bristol girl; she had a lovable disposition, and was much regretted when she passed on so early in life.
ISOLINE BARNS, daughter of Horace M. and Hattie (Norris) Barns. After the early death of their mother, she and her sister Hattie lived with their grand- mother Norris, in the old homestead which stood on the site of the Y. M. C. A. building.
JENNIE BARRUS, graduated soon after I entered the High School in 1866. I was twelve years old at the time. She gave a party for the scholars at the time of her graduation at her home which stood on the west side of Water street. It was a large house with a high basement, and as I remember it there was an archway leading up to the front door. I think the house was built by Simeon Potter years ago.
JULIA BENNETT, daughter of Capt. Albert C. Bennett, who lived on Consti- tution street. She married James Hoar, a house-painter whose home was on the corner of "Cook Hill" and Wood street. One of her sisters married Capt. Charles Eddy, who after retiring from the sea erected a building on the corner of Church and High streets where he opened a grocery store, and occupied the upper part as his home.
MINNIE BENNETT, daughter of Messadore T. Bennett, Supt. of "Uptown Mill", lived in a large house at the corner of Bradford and Central streets. Their house was burned one 4th of July through the carelessness of a fire-cracker enthusiast.
NANNIE BLAKE, she and her sister lived with their father, Edward Blake, on the "Neck". She wore two rows of curls which were always bobbing during her active hours, which were considerable. She married the staid and retiring Sam Drury Wardwell.
ANNIE CAMM, daughter of Capt. Isaac Camm, who lived on Hope street, opposite Parmenas Skinner, Jr.
NELLIE CHURCH, daughter of Hon. Samuel W. Church; she married Charles B. Munro, who used to keep a boot and shoe store in town.
ARABELLA COGGESHALL, an A-1 scholar, became a teacher. At the time she was in the High School she lived in a house which stood alone, on a rocky knoll
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just inside the first gate on the road to Mount Hope. This led off what is now called Metacom avenue. We used to call it "Back Road".
EMILY COGGESHALL, lived in the brown cottage at the junction of Wood street and Ferry road. Married Jim Bullock, who used to drive the hearse for George Simmons.
EMMA COIT, daughter of David Coit, who lived on "Cook Hill". She married a man named Fairbrother and lived in Providence.
CLARA DEWOLF, daughter of Sydney DeWolf and Clara Diman, daughter of Gov. Byron Diman. She married Nathanael G. Herreshoff.
NELLIE DEWOLF, daughter of Maj. James F. DeWolf, on Gen. Burnside's staff in the Civil War. She married A. W. Archer of Richmond, Va.
HATTIE DODGE, daughter of Solomon Dodge, who for years was an engineer on the Providence, Warren and Bristol R. R. line. She was a sister of Walter Dodge, who in later years was a conductor on that line.
GERTRUDE EASTERBROOKS, daughter of George W. Easterbrooks. She mar- ried James C. Salisbury.
ANNIE, EMILY and SUSAN EDDY, daughters of Cyrus B. Eddy. Annie married Henry E. Paull; Emily married William H. Young, brother of Jed Young, the druggist. Susan died quite young.
NELLIE EDWARDS, and her brother Charlie came to Bristol from some other town; they lived with relatives.
ANNIE FITCH, daughter of Robert J. Fitch. They came from the island of Nantucket. At the time her father was a cooper at the Sugar Refinery, and they lived in a house opposite the Franklin street depot, on Thames street. Later they moved to Bradford street and Mr. Frank G. Morley, the principal of the High School at the time, occupied a room at their house. Not long before Mr. Fitch died he built the house on Union street where Annie and her sister, Eliza, made their home.
MINNIE FREDERICKS, lived on "Cook Hill", south side, next Nehemiah Cole. Married John B. Pollock. She was organist at the Methodist church for years.
HATTIE FRISBIE, daughter of Hiram Frisbie, a house painter. She married Hez Church, the cashier of the old First National Bank.
ABBIE GIFFORD, daughter of Gideon Gifford, who lived at the southwest corner of Hope and Franklin streets. She was a senior at the time.
GERTRUDE GOODING, daughter of Josephus Gooding, the jeweler. Mr. Gooding utilized the ice ponds on his farm, which was on the east side of the town, and furnished ice to the townspeople during the summer months. Gertrude became a physician and lived in the Holmes house.
MARY GRAY, daughter of William B. Gray, who lived up on the Neck. She was an excellent scholar. She married George A. Peckham.
HANNAH GREEN, daughter of Nathaniel Green, Town Constable at the time. Her home was a cottage house on the west side of High street between Union and Burton streets. She married Capt. Horatio N. Perry, an artillery officer in the Civil War.
GERTRUDE GUITERAS (Tula, we called her). Her mother was a sister of Mary Ann Wardwell, a teacher, who lived in the old Wardwell house at the
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southwest corner of Hope and Court Sts. Gertrude later attended Dr. Gannett's School, in Boston. She was a real Cuban type, while her brother Ramon reverted to the Wardwells. I will mention here that a great many Cubans came to Bristol in the Summer season and found entertainment at Mrs. Fenner's Boarding House, on Milk St. She seemed to cater to them especially. The young men used to be fond of going out to the open spaces on Mount Lane to fly their fancy kites, which were especially pleasing to me, for mine were of the home-made variety ; effectual, but not so beautiful.
SARAH HORTON, daughter of Capt. Leonard Horton, lived on Wood street, west side; a house set back from the street, with an iron fence in front. Later Phil Brady's father bought the place. She married Horace Williams.
ABBIE INGRAHAM and ELIZABETH INGRAHAM, these girls were cousins; Abbie was a daughter of Daniel Ingraham, she married Chas. W. Young, who years ago was secretary of the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Elizabeth was a daughter of Capt. Davis Ingraham, who years ago lived in the house at the south corner of Hope and Summer streets. It was later moved to the north side of Summer street.
EMILY MANCHESTER, she was a good student, quiet, unobtrusive and de- voted to her church; her father William Manchester was a deacon of the Con- gregational Church. Their home was at Poppasquash. After I entered the High School she assisted in teaching Latin and I was one of her first pupils.
RACHEL MANCHESTER, daughter of Henry R. Manchester, lived in a little house on the south side of Oliver street. She was a sister of Henry Rhodes Manchester, who lived on the east side of lower Hope street.
LILLIAN MUNRO, daughter of John B. Munro, and sister of Prof. Wilfred Munro of Brown University, Dr. Walter Munro, Prof. Dana Munro of Prince- ton University, and Miss Annette Munro, Dean of Rochester University. Lillian was a teacher of languages in the Bristol High School for many years.
MARTHA NOYES, she lived with her grandmother, Madame Martial, whose home was a few houses north of Alex. Perry's on High street. Dr. Martin mar- ried her granddaughter and recently occupied the old house as a school. Martie married Ned Lucas, whose home was in New Bedford.
JENNIE PECK, a niece of Messadore, Martin, and Capt. Albert Bennett. She died young.
HATTIE PECKHAM, daughter of Benjamin Peckham. She was a sister of Mrs. Seth Paull and of Josiah Peckham, who kept a stable on Court street.
JOSEPHINE PERRY, second daughter of Alexander and Lavina Howe Perry. She was a sweet, lovable girl, bright and attractive. Mrs. Perry was a sister of Mrs. Theodore P. Bogert. Josephine married Will Gardner of New York. They moved to Colorado.
LUCINDA M. PIERCE, daughter of David A. Pierce, they lived on Mount lane.
MAGGIE POLLOCK, a sister of John B. Pollock, who was a pupil in the High School at the time. They lived on "Cook Hill".
ADA SIMMONS and GERALDINE SIMMONS. On "Simmons Lane", as we used to designate the blind street just opposite the old vault of the East Burial Ground on Mount Lane, lived the family of Charles Simmons, who, with his brother, Leonard, had a wheelwright shop on Church street opposite the Common. They
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SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
were the sons of old Doctor Simmons, who was said by some to deal in "bread pills". Ada always held high marks in her studies; she married a man by name of John Lawton. Geraldine, her sister, was a very conscientious student, and being of a very sensitive nature a failure was a tragedy. Her life was short.
SALLY SIMMONS, daughter of Luther Simmons, and sister of Joe and Jim Simmons, who lived on the Ferry Road.
ELLA SLADE, daughter of John Slade, master-builder, one of the best in town. He and Thomas Pearse were outstanding. Houses in those days were not con- structed "by the job", but by "the day", and that meant substantial work. Our home on High street, now owned and occupied by Judge Lindemuth, was built by John Slade in 1876. The Slades lived on the north side of Constitution street, near Hope, next west to John Burgess.
JULIA TAFT, she was an orphan, lived with the Talbee family (Henry) on Constitution street. Married Nathaniel Maxfield of Warren.
AGNES TOYE, daughter of William Toye, a gardener, who lived on upper Wood street. She married John Blanchard of Providence.
SOPHIE USHER, youngest daughter of Capt. Allen Usher. She married and lived in New York. Tom Frank, a brother, lived on Hope street two doors north of the Ruth B. DeWolf house, which became the rectory of the Trinity Church.
LORA WARREN, came to Bristol when a young girl. She married James Allen Newman, son of Capt. Allen M. Newman.
BELLE WEEDEN, daughter of John S. Weeden, the undertaker, who had his cabinet-making and undertaking shop on his home premises on Church street, opposite the Common. Belle distinguished herself as Buttercup when H. M. S. Pinafore was played by local talent years ago.
The girls in the Bristol High School quite outnumbered the boys; the following list covers the boys I remember attending the school during the time I was a student.
JOE ALMY, was an out-of-town boy.
WILL ANDEM, son of Rev. James Andem, the Baptist clergyman in 1867. He was a very fine student ; quiet, unassuming and considerate; always courteous.
MORTON ANDREWS, was a Boston boy. Come to Bristol to live with his uncle, Robert S. Andrews, Supt. of Schools, who had become his guardian. Morton inherited a comfortable fortune. He studied Law and later settled in Boston, where he married.
CHARLIE BABBITT, son of Rev. Benj. Babbitt and grandson of Maj. Jacob Babbitt. He was a nephew of Edward S. Babbitt.
MARK BRADFORD, son of William Bradford; he was a younger brother of LeBaron Bradford, who was treasurer of the Providence Institutions for Savings for many years.
CHARLES CARY, son of Martha Cary, a widow, living on Union street, next east of James T. Freeborn's home, corner of High and Union streets. He was a house-carpenter.
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SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
JAMES CHRISTIE, a short, thickset chap who became a priest. He was brother to John J. Christie, one-time Postmaster of Bristol.
HEZEKIAH CHURCH, son of Hon. Samuel W. Church; he was cashier of the First National Bank. He was twice married.
JAMES CHURCH, son of Hon. Samuel W. Church, and brother of Hez Church. He was treasurer of the City Savings Bank of Providence. He was twice married.
GEORGE DEVOLL, son of Obediah Devoll, who kept a grain and feed store in the west end of the old Church Street House building. Their home on the northeast corner of High and Union streets, was later purchased by Judge Bullock for his sister, who lived there until her death.
JAMES DEWOLF, son of Maj. James H. DeWolf, an officer of the Civil War; a member of Gen. Burnside's staff.
LEWIS DEWOLF, son of Sydney DeWolf; he married Kittie Herreshoff.
CHARLES EDWARDS, and his sister, Nellie, came to Bristol from some other town; they lived with relatives.
EDWARD HICKS, came from over on the Island and was an excellent scholar.
FRANK KNIGHT, was a Providence boy, of the Knight family. I remember one instance in which he figured, showing his facility in meeting an embarrassing situation. The pupils were required to relate each morning some fact of special interest to the public in general; unfortunately Frank had forgotten to prepare himself, and when it became his turn to enlighten the school of some important happening he was staggered, but only for a moment before he was on his feet and announced in a very convincing way that "Scup has come".
WILL LISCOMB, son of William C. Liscomb, the photographer. They lived on the east side of High street, between Church and Constitution streets. Mr. Liscomb had his studio on the home premises.
MARTIN LUTHER, brother of Ellen R. Luther, who was the Assistant Principal of the High School at that time.
JACOB MARTIN, son of Dr. Martin, who practised in the town years ago. Dr. Briggs, Dr. Martin, and Dr. Drury were the leading physicians at that time. Dr. Martin removed to the west and some years later Jake, his son, returned to Bristol and lived with his aunt, Mary Babbitt Greene, in the old homestead on
WALTER MUNRO, son of John B. Munro and brother of Prof. Wilfred H. Hope street while attending school.
Munro. He became a noted physician and surgeon.
JOHN POLLOCK, he lived on "Cook Hill". Married Minnie Fredericks. They were Methodists.
MARTIN RICHMOND, son of Gen. Lewis C. Richmond, whose wife was a sister of Gen. Mauran, of Providence. Their home was a large brown house set flush to the street, on Hope street just at the point of Fort Rounds. Joshua Wilbur purchased the property and erected the house now occupied by Francesco DeWolf. Martin died while a student at the High School.
GEORGE TILLEY, son of Benjamin Tilley, was a fine looking boy; he later attended a military school in New York State. He died before graduating. His brother William became a Methodist clergyman, but after a time changed to the Episcopal Church. Benjamin F. Tilley, another brother, was a noted naval
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officer. An older brother, Henry, was clerk in the Navy Department at Wash- ington years ago.
EUGENE WARNER, son of Frederick A. Warner, a tailor who had a shop on Hope street just above George W. Easterbrooks' store. Their home was on the east side of High street, next to Otis Munro's.
In the year 1875 the Y. M. C. A. Library was located in the old Mount Hope building, near the corner of Hope and Ward- well streets. The entrance was direct from the street, and the room was on the ground floor. In the same building was Josephus Gooding's jeweler's store and Marmaduke Mason's shoemaker's shop.
Dr. George A. Pike was librarian at that time and Miss Mary Thompson was the acting librarian. She was one of the twins, so called, and a dear little woman; we were all very fond of her. Later, I think, she went over to the Rogers Free Library, across the street, and was assistant to George U. Arnold. Many pleasant hours were spent in the limited quarters of the old library. Saturday afternoon was the time when a certain number of us used to gather there watching out for any new books that might have come in during the week. You would usually find Mathilda Church, a daughter of Sam Church; Miss Maria Shepard, daughter of "Parson" Shepard; Hattie Frisbie, who later married Hezekiah Church (she was a school teacher at the time); Miss Brayton, daughter of Capt. Brayton, who lived in the stone house on High street; and Mrs. North, who was a member of the Seagrave family of Providence (they purchased the house now owned by the Wyatt sisters on the north side of State street from Judge Bullock, who built it).
It was said that every time the old jurist looked up at the tall spire of the Methodist church (next door to him), he was so scared that some day it would blow over in his direction he finally decided to sell the place and move out of the neighborhood.
Marmaduke Mason in those days was considered an expert in his trade; he made many pairs of boots and shoes for my father and brothers, and I remember how proud I was of a pair of brown cloth, high-laced boots he made for me. He and his wife were staunch Methodists and every Sunday they could be seen, arm in
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arm, wending their way to church in their Sunday attire; he in his broadcloth suit with flowered waistcoat and stovepipe hat, and Mrs. Marmaduke with her voluminous black silk dress with fancy shawl-lace in the summer season-bonnet with nodding plumes of flowers-and a dainty parasol above all. Some irre- pressible boys seemed to think the name of Marmaduke was worthy of acclaim, and consequently could not refrain from chanting "Why don't you Marmaduke round!"* It was rather embarrassing and hardly conducive to a peaceful state of mind.
Directly on the corner of Hope and Wardwell streets, across from the Mount Hope building, stood the old Finney homestead which was later purchased by J. Elkanah French, cashier of the Eagle Bank. Mr. French moved the old house back from the street, giving a lawn in front and making it an attractive home when he brought his bride-a second wife-there to live. The place finally passed into the hands of Herbert F. Bennett, the town clerk, and after "Pom" Colt secured that corner, I learned the house was moved up Bradford street, and is now occupied by Mr. Bennett's daughter's family.
These reminiscences of my early life would not be complete without mentioning the annual Church Bake (St. Michael's) which was eagerly looked forward to, each August, as something not to be missed. Dan Tanner was the "king" that day, for his bakes were beyond question; his reputation extended far beyond the precincts of Bristol. The picnic-wagon awaited the trains and took the joyous crowds up to the entrance of Fox Hill in De Wolf lane, so called. The DeWolfs owned all that property at the time. Mr. Alexander Perry used to act as auctioneer of the "remains" at the close of festivities. It was always a happy occasion.
*This "Marmaduke round" business had me puzzled for a long time-then one day the fog suddenly lifted. Buried in an old issue of the Phenix was an account of the Fourth of July celebration in Bristol back in the year 1850: "The rising tide of patriotism ran full blood as the Artillery company came marching down 'Pump Lane' with Col. Wm. R. Taylor at their head, and the band playing that soul,inspiring air 'Why Don't You Marmaduke Round Here'."
(C.O.F.T.)
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The words of Longfellow are true expression of my feelings for dear old Bristol. There is nothing more agreeable to me than passing up and down the streets from one end to the other, re- newing acquaintance with the occupants of each house as I go along; reviewing events, and living over the old days when Bristol was just "our town".
Among the notable personages who come to mind is Messa- dore T. Bennett, who presided over our town meetings for so many years. He was a man of medium height, dignified in bear- ing. His "Dundreary" whiskers gave him a most distinguished appearance. His manner was cordial and kindly. He was a de- voted member of the Congregational church, and at one time was superintendent of the Sabbath school. Martin Bennett, his brother, was cashier of the First National Bank; he was some- what taller, conservative in appearance, quiet and unassuming, and always dependable. I knew the Bennett family from child- hood.
Then there was Robert S. Andrews, who was Superintendent of Schools all during my school days. He was tall and slender, with smooth light hair; refined in feature and manner. "A gentleman", describes him well.
In those days Alexander Perry, who lived in the large house at the northwest corner of High and Union streets, was one of the important men in the town. In appearance he was portly, pom- pous, always carried a cane, and always made a striking appear- ance when on the street. He had many wealthy and influential friends, among them the Goddards, Lippitts, Dyers, Belmonts, and many others of prominent social standing. He was popular at dinner parties, large and small-bright, witty, and entertain- ing. His home in those days was looked upon as one of the lead- ing social centres of the town.
Now just a word before closing about the famous purveyor (of clambakes) of those days, Dan Tanner. For many years Dan was a popular barber in the town; he gave up his barbering busi- ness and went into the lunch business, making bakes on the side. In both he was rated as an expert. Abounding in good nature, like
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so many of his race (when you called him black you made no mistake), he was of a decidedly spherical model. Two girls of the family were quite noticeable for their good looks, and wore their clothes with an air many of the white girls might have envied. One of the girls (Lou) became the leading dressmaker in the town fifty years back, and her expert services were in great demand by old and young.
All of these have been most pleasant memories. When you consider I was born in Bristol in 1854, you can realize my mem- ory reaches far back when the town was just "dear old Bristol" --- where we lived as neighbors-with personal interest in all. It was a dear old town in those days.
TOWN MEETING IN 1875
By A. McLEAN HAWKS
DO ANY of you readers remember "Town Meetings" of 50-70 years ago? The most democratic form of government ever known. A place where everyone had the right to "make a mo- tion" or "introduce a question"; where every town officer had "to give an account of his stewardship" and stand being "heckled" by any voter.
Messadore T. Bennett was Moderator at all those meetings which I attended. Do you remember him? A man of very easy manners, quick-witted, dignified, and very good-looking, with his thick hair and abundant beard. He handled the meeting with great impartiality. The "big bugs" and "poor chaps" were no different to him. This was shown by the way he treated the town's nitwit, who, every year, rose in the gallery to shout "Mr. Moderator." "The Moderator recognizes Mr. W-" "Mr. Moderator, I make a motion clear to Boston to put out the fire. Toot! Toot!" "The motion being duly made and seconded, the motion will be duly forwarded to Boston" (and, amid cheers from small boys in the gathering, G. W. would sit down with the
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remembrance of his feat to cheer him for a whole year). "What is the next business to come before the meeting?"
My real reason for going to town meeting was to listen to Uncle Tom Holmes' speech. He rarely said a word until the tax bill came up for passage. One must have known him, and known, also, that in his boyhood days (1820-30) Bristol was still a sea- port of great importance, with many whalers and clippers regis- tering in the Custom House, and he spent many hours along the wharves and acquired much "sailor talk". (I remember one day when walking with him we met Mrs. Nancy Leigh. She was a handsome, middle-aged lady, always dressed "just so". She had three little "bob-curls" peeping from under her bonnet, and was carrying one of those tiny, black silk parasols. "Damn your soul to hell, Nancy Leigh, you're looking well today." Whereat Mrs. Leigh "dropped a curtsey" and replied "Thank you Thomas. I'm pleased to hear you say that.")
Even at that time, taxes were always growing heavier. There were the customary items "for town expenses, for care of the North Burial Ground, for care of the East Burial Ground, for care of the Common, etc. Then came the new items: new side- walks, new gutters, gravelling new streets-to all of which he would offer objections in "strong" language. "Tax our damn heads off." "Keep this up and you'll drive away all of our heav- iest taxpayers"; and to this yearly threat the meeting would listen very attentively because at that time there was a nefarious State law which permitted anyone to claim residence in any town by staying two weeks in that town. And it was common knowledge that Uncle Tom met with "the powers" and "dickered" for the amount that they would assess for taxes against his very rich sis- ters, cousins, nephews and nieces; so, they realized that if Mr. Holmes advised these rich relatives to claim residence elsewhere, the town would lose this "easy money". Therefore various items would be lopped off or cut down until he expressed satisfaction at the result-and the next summer the usual crowd would come to Bristol to stay with Mrs. Gardner at her beautiful place on Ferry Hill (next to the also handsome home of the "Architect of
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