Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Chapter 24, 1884

Chapter 24

Brockton aa a City - The Inauguration of tlie First Muiiiuiiiul Government of the City - Inauguration Proocudiiigs - City Charter - City Seal - Wards of the City - City Government and OSicem.

Brockton as a City. - In the history of Brocktou we have given the incorporation of the original town of Bridgewater, the incorporation of the North

Parish, as well as the incorporatiou of the town of North Bridgewater, and, as this town and Brockton are now in cooimoD, it is proper to give a brief account of the present municipality known as the city of Brockton.

From 1821 to 1870 the territory within the limits of Brockton was known as North Bridgewater. During the year 1870 a large number of the citizeus began to consider the expediency of a change of name, substituting a shorter name, and one not so easily confounded with other localities similar in their pronunciation. The reasons given were many, - some very good, others of but little account. In the early part of 1871 various names were suggested as being appropriate, among which was the Pilgrim name of " \Vin^low." At an informal meeting of the friends of a proposition for changing the name, held in the selectmen's room Monday evening, Jan. 23, 1871, several names were suggested, and one or two ballots were taken. The following were among the many proposed : Standish, Madison, Pyroia, Oriole, Langdon, Gaston, Aberdale, Aidcn, Moutello, and Norwood, a decided preference being given to the last mentioned. This meeting ended without definite action.

The next move was a petition signed by nearly two hundred and fifty persons in favor of a change, headed by the name of Hon. Edward Southworth, Jr., and asking for a public meeting, which was held in Murray Hall, Friday evening, Jan. 27, 1871, for a discussion of the whole subject. The town voted February 8th to petition the Legislature to change the name to Standish, as follows :

" Tu the Ifoii. Senate and House of JieprenentativeH of the CvmtiiuuioettUh «/ MaHHaeltuneltn^ in Genei-al Court amienibled : "The undcrsigneij, in ubcdicDce to a vote passed at a townmeeting, held on ihe Stb day of February, 1871, respectfully peliliuii yuur honorable body Co chitnge the oorporute name of our town from North Bridgewater to Stundish, and, as in duty bound, will ever pruy.

A numerously-signed petition was also presented to the Coiumiltee on Towns of the Legislature, by Welcome H. Wales, Ksq., then tlie representative of the town, in aid of the above petition, as follows :

" The undersiijne'l legiil volers of the town of North Bridgewater endorno the action of the town at a legal uit-eting held on the Sih of February, insrant, in voting to petition the Legislature to chungu the name of the town,

And afterwards, on the 20th of March, the town reconsidered the vote, and substituted the name of " Stanton," by a vote of 136 for Stanton and 77 for " Standish." A public hearing was held before the legislative committee March llj, 1871, and at that time it seemed as though the name of " Standish" would be adopted. But at a meeting of the committee held later a new name was suggested, and a meeting was called to act upon a new name. This meeting was held March 20, 1871, and the following article (9th) was taken up and acted upon as follows :

"To see if the Town will vote to sub:;titute, in the petition already presented to the Legislature for 'Standiah,' some more simple and desirable name as the nauie of the Town."

"The undersigned, Legal Voters of the Town of North Bridgewater, respectfully pray your honorable body to substitute the name of ' Amburg* in place of Stanton, in the petition already presented to the Legislature for a change in the Corporate name uf North Bridgewater.

A hearing was bad, with all these petitions and the original petition of the scleetmen, by vote of tlie town before them, and, after all parties had been heard, they took the view that as the town had originally voted for " Standish," they thought a petition from a corporate body in public town-meeting, duly notided, was of more weight than a lot of petitions handed uruund for signatures, and therefore reported a bill, uf which the following is a copy :

" Sect. 2. This shall not take olTect unless uucepted by a majority of the legal voters of said town, present und voting thereon by ballot, at a special meeting held upon notice given at least seven days before the time of said uieeting, and the polls shall be opened at nine o'clock in the tureuoon of said day, and shall not be closed before four o'clock in the afternoon of said day, nor remain open longer than six o'clock in the afternoon of said day.

ia favor of the acceptance of this act, and the nuiuber or baU loLi n<;:Liii»t the acccptaoce uf the same, to the Secretary of tUo i Cooiiiioitweiilth ; and if it shall appear that a majority of such i ballots ia in ftivor o{ the acceptance uf this act, the Secretary I shall imaiciliately issue ;iDd publish bis eertiticate declaring | this act to have been duly accepted.

The citizeus of the town were not a little surprised at the result of the committee's conclusions. However, at a town-meeting held on Tuesday, May 9, 1871, the number of votes passed upon the acceptance or rejection of the act, entitled " An Act to change the name of the Town of North Bridgewater," was 887, of which 460 were for acceptance and 427 for rejection.

" To the Ilttiiuriible Senate atid Ifoiitie of Represfntativti of the CoiiiiiniiitDct.itth of MuHnachitHetta in General Court amienibled : "The undersigned Selectmen of the Town of North Bridgewater, in accordance with a vote passed by the Town at a meeting held on the si.xth day of February instant, hereby petition your llonunible body to pass an Act chauging the corporate name of uur Town to ' lirockton.'

House ok Uei'Rksestatives, March 13, 1874. "The Ouiuniittee on Towns, to whom Wiis coinniittcd the petition uf ilie selectmen of North Bridgewuter that the corporate iianicuf >aid town may be changed from North Bi-idgewater to Brockton; and the petition of CO. Bixby and 1U21 others, of Isaac Kingiuun and 33 others, and of George II. Gurncy and 102 others, in nid of said petition of the selecttuen ; and also the petition of F. A. Thayer and .'!14 others, for a change of the name of Noi'tli Bridgewater to Allerton ; together with the reuioristrance of Alpheus Gurney and IftS others, of Lyman Clark and 16:2 others, against the change of the name

'- Sect. 2. A special meeting of the legal voters of said town shall be held on the first Tuesday of May of the current year, for the purpose of determining which of said.tlirec names shall bo the name of said town. The voting sh.all be by ballot, and each voter may vote for one of said names only, and any ballot having thereon any other name or more than one of said nauie^ shall not be counted. The polls shall be opened at nine o'clock in the forenoon of said day, and shall be closed at seven o'clock in the afternoon of said day.

"ciECT. 3. It shall be the duty of the selectmen of said town to certify and return, as soon aa may be, the number of ballots in favor of each of said three names to the secretary of the Commonwealth, who shall immediately issue and publish his ccrtilicate, declaring the name which shall be found to have the most ballots in its faVor to have been adopted by said town, and the same shall thereupon become and be the name of said town.

" The undersigned Selectmen of North Bridgewater hereby certify that in accordance with a recent Act of the Legislature a town meeting was held on this fifth day of .May, 1874, for the purpose of choosing either 'Brockton,' 'Allerton,' or 'Avon' as the future name of the town, their choice being by ballot. And we further certify that the whole numbir of ballots thrown at said meeting for that purpose was 14'JI. Of this number ten hundred and eighty (1080) were for ' Brockton,' and lour huudicd and eleven (411) were for ' Avon.'

In accordance with the act above mentioned, on the 6th day of May, 1874, the secretary i.s.sued his proclamation declaring " Brockton" to have been chosen by the town.

City of Brockton. - The first effort made in the direction of obtaining a city charter was at an iiitbrmid gathering of a few of the leading citizens of the town held in the office of Elbridge L. Blown, Ks(|., civil engineer, on Tuesday evening, Dec. 21, ISSO. Augustus T. Jones (chairman), Baalis Sanfuid, Jr. (secretary), Dr. Loring W. Puffer, Charles R. Ford, Lynian Clark, Charles W. Sumner, John J. Whipple, William W. Cross, Dr. Henry H. Filoon, Charles C. Bixby, Francis B. Washburn, P. B. Gardner, E. (1. Rhodes, Bradford E. Jones, Lucius Richmond, 0. O.

Patten, George E. Bryant, and others took tlie lead ill expressiuj; their views, and arran)j;enient3 were made tor a full meetiiii; to be held in the Opera- House, Dec. 29, 1880, at which, after reiuarlcs by several persons, George M. Copelaiid offered the t'ullowing Uiotiun, wliich was curried without opposition, viz. : iVgreeably to this vote, the selectmen called a townmeetiiiy; on lO'.li day of January, 1881, at which it was voted that the selecunen be instructed to petition the Le^^islatuie for a city charter.

*^ lletijiect/ittti/ i-epreitent the undersigned Selectmen of the Town of Brockton, tliat at a legal meeting of the initabitaiitd of said town, held on the tenth day of January, 18S1, it was voted, -

'* Wherefore, the undersigned respectfully petition your Honorable bodies to grant tu said ioliabitants aCharter whereby the Town of Brockton may become the City of Bruekton, and establish a city form of government.

Agreeably to the terms of the act, the inhabitants of the town of Brockton met in the Opera- House, on Monday, the 23d day of May, 1881, at two o'clock I'.il., and voted on the acceptance of the act of the Legislature for 1881, chapter one hundred and ninctyiwo.

The Inauguration of the First Municipal Government of the City of Brockton. - Brutktuu had a splendid day for her first iiiaugurutioii, the brilliant sunlight reflected on the freshly fallen snow setting everything in a glory of liglit, while the crisp, bracing air seciucd specially designed to raise the spirits of every citizen up to the standard of the day. At half-past seven o'clock in the inoriiiiig the bells uf the First and Porter Coniiregational Churches at the north end, atid the South Cungregatiuuul and Methodi>t Churches at Campello united in merry peals fur half an hour to celebrate the happy event.

The opera-house was nearly tilled .loine time bel'me the exercises were begun, and suou after the piugramme was opened all the seats of the parquet and nearly every one in the gallery were occupied, and not a few found standing-room in the outer aisles. The centre section of the parquet seats were reserved for the members of tlie new City Council and the invited guests of the occasion, while the stage was occupied by tlie out-going town officers, distinguished guests, and the band. In the foreground of the |ilatfuriu on the left sat chairman H. H. Packard, and his a«ociates on the board of selectmen, llev. Warren Goddard, Hon. Jonathan White, cs-Selectmen Whipple and Cross, llev. H. L. Kelsey, Judge IV'rkins, and Bradford Kingman, Esq. On the right were ranged, as honored guests of the day, some of the venerable citizens of the town, including Father Simeon Packard, the only man present who voted at the first townmeeting held after North Bridgewater was incorjiorated, Josiah W. Kingman, Esq., Capt. Henry French, Augustus Jones, Deacon Galen Pratt, William Faxon, Addison Shaw, Daniel Ford, Elbridge G. Lincoln, Deacon Elbridgo H. Packard, Lyman Clark, Deacon Cary Howard, Frederick Howard, Deacon Alphcii.s Alden ; in the centre sat Governor Long and Mayorelect Keith, who were greeted as thi-y came iipnn the platform with a strain of " Hail to the Chief" from the band, and enthusiastic cheers from the audieiiee. Inauguration Proceedings. - Promptly at lo o'clock Chairman H. H. Packard rose, and, calling the assemblage to order, said he held in his hand the act of the Legislature incorporating the city of Brockton, which was accepted by vote of the town on the 23d of May last, and which began a elian'.;e from a town to a city form of government, whieh was now about to be consummated by the inauguration of the officers elected under its provisions. Before bidding adieu to the town guvernment, the speaker said it seemed fitting to glance at some jioints in the history of the town whieh were of peculiar interest at this time. This Mr. Packard did in a very interestiug manuer, reviewiog briefly the history of tlie tuwu from its eatablishmeat, ia 1821, to the eleciioQ of its first city goverameot, presenting in detail some of the most important salient events in the interval.

At the close of Mr. Packard's address the band played the overture, *' L'Espoir de L'Alsace," after which Rev. H. L. Kelsey, of the First Congregational Ciiurch, offered an earnest prayer, fervently imploring the divine guidance and blessing upon the young city, and the members of the new government, to the end that the best good of the people may be conserved, and God's will be done through their ministrations.

Henry A. Ford, Esq., the clerk of the retiring Board of Selectmen, then read the record of the vote at the first city election, showing that the total vote for Ziba C. Keith, for mayor, was 1371, and for all others 1075. The votes for members of the City Council were similarly given.

Chairman Packard next called the list of aldermen and common councilmen-elect, who, as their names were called, rose to their places in the front sections of the orchestra seats. The chairman then escorted the mayor-elect to the front of the stage, and his introduction of him to the City Council as the first mayor of the first city of Plymouth County was received with cheers. He then placed in his hands the charter of the city, and with it the interests and future weliare uf the young city, hoping that under his administration it might increase in prosperity and add new lustre to its name.

Judge J. R. Perkins then proceeded to administer the oath of office to the mayor first, then to the aldermen, and last to the common councilmcn, the ceremony being performed in so solemn and impressive a manner as to leave a deep impression upon the audience, who listened to it with the most rapt attention. This ceremony over, the mayor and City Council resumed their seats, and after the playing of '' The Flowers of Alsace," by the band, Mr. Keith proceeded to read liis inaugural address, which follows in full:

Mayor Keith'S Addkess

** As \vu uru iibuut to aj^aumu the iiutic:i impOHcd upon us by the surtV:i;^c3 of our fellow-citizcns, it is behttiu^; that we ^should raisti our tltuDk-offering for tho prutspertty uf our town (iuvlng these tlircc:icorc yeai:i, and that we should invoke tho Divine blchsinjj fur the fuluro welfare of our city.

" As this day marks a new t:ra in our luuDicipal career, it may not be unprofitable to review in u brief manner tho hibtory of our town trom the period of its settlement to the present time, to mark tlie great eliaoges which two centuries have wruugiit, and thereby prepare ourselves the more fully to realize the trusts and respunsibiUties committed to our hands.

*' On a small rocky hill, anciently called Sachem's Rock, a little south of the former site of Whitman's milt, in the present town of East Bridgewater, on the 23d of March, \6i\), were assembled a party of m«n representing on the one side ilie proprietors of a plantation granted them by the Old Culuny Cuurt at Plymouth, on the other the Indian sachem Ousamequin, afterward and better known as Massasoit, who was present lu execute a deed of a tract of land called Satucket, described in this instrument an * extending in the length and breadth thereof as fulluwcth, that is to say : from the wear [weir] at Satucket seven utiles due east, and from the said wear seven miles due west, and from the said wear seven uiites duo north, and from the said wear seven miles due south, to have and to huld to Miles Staudish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, in ' behalf of alt the townsmen of the town of Duxbury, to them and their heirs forever. In consideration of this bargain and sale. Miles Standisb, Samuel Nash, and Constnnt Southworth bind themselves to pay for the same seven coats (a yard and a half in a coat), 9 hatchets, 8 hues, 20 knives, -1 moose skins, lUA yards of cotton/ This, then, was the original price paid fur what now constitutes Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Brockton, and a part of Abington.

" Eleven years later, in June, Kiati, Bridgewater was incorporated into a distinct township, being the hrst interior town in the Old Colony. Each settler had at lirst a grant of a houselui uf six acres on the Town River, the first lots being talien in what is now \Vest Bridgewater, where at^^o the tirst houses were built and the tirst improvements made. Hardly had ttiis settlement made a beginning when the war, known as the King Pliilip's, burst upon them. Being wholly an interior buttleuient, and remote from their friends on the seaboard, they were strongly urged to desert their dwellings and repair to the better protected towns by the coast. This, however, they resoiutL-ly refused to do, but kept their ground, defended their homes, and encouraged and assisted other towns to do the same.

'' In early times the history of the chuich was the history of the town, hence the frequent reference io early records to parishes and precincts. Previous to 1716 Bridgewater had but une place of religious worship, but in Juno of that year the (jeneral Court incorporated a new parish, which was called the Soulli. From this time the old parish took the name of the North, and comprised the territory of what is now Brockton and West Bridgewater.

" No settlements are known to have been made in the ptesuiit city of Brockton prior to the year 1700, hut very soon after this period settlements began to extend northward, and had increased to such an extent that in 1738 54 individuals belouging in tho northerly part of the parish, feeling that * by reason of tho groat distance but few of their families could attend public worship in the West Precinct,' sot forth their grievances in a petition to the General Court praying that ' they might be set ort' as a distinct and separate township,' which petition was so far granted as to allow them tho powers and privileges usually given to parishes. For fifty-tive years thereafter tiie people uf the North Parish remained apparently contented in their cuhucction with the other parishes of the town. In IT'J^J, however the desire to become a separate township became so strong that steps were taken looking towards the incorporation of a town, including, as was proposed in this instance, the West and North Parislies. This failed, as did similar attempts in 1811 and 1^1 ti.

" At a meeting held May 5, 1818, the tjuestion of a divisiun of the old town uf Bridgewater was practically settled by a vote of 112 in favor to lU against, nnd at a meeting held March 26, 1819, the parish voted to petition 'the next scssiuu uf the Legialature for a division of tho town.' This petition was duly presented, and an act to establish the town of North Bridge- w;iter waa puiied June 15, 1321. Tlie lirat town-meeting after the incorporation was held July 4, 1S21. Josepli Sylvester, Esq., waa chosen moderator, and Cul. Edward Southwortli, town elerk. Abel Kinguiun, Esq., Howard Cary, Esq., and Capt. Zaeliariah Gurney were chosen selecluieu. One at least who took part in that tirst town-rucetinj; sixty yeara ago, and a few otIiLM-i who were old enough to be present, are with ua to-day. Proud are we to welcome them to this platform, men whose interest in the welfare and improvement of our beloved ttiwn has ever been active, and which, in 18SI, is still unabated ! Uut how few! Many, so many, have fallen by the way until not a score remain. Yet we know these hearts thrill with pride and gratitude that a sparing mercy has permitted them to see this day and allowed theui to witness these inaugural ceremonies.

" .-is to-day we ])art with all the=e old township ;u-3ociation3 and assume a place in the slsterhuotl of cities, let us renew from the heart the oath which our lips have just uttered.

" Letua retrace our steps lor a moment to consider our growth in population which these yeara have developed. The fact that Urid*'e\vater waa an interior settlement, and her soil not the most productive, induced many families during the twenty-five years preceding 1764 to emigrate to the western part of the State, while not a few Ibuud homes in the State of Maine, then a part of ilassachusetts. Notivithstaoding this emigration, (he Census of 1704 showed a population of S.'iU ;

'' Reference to these statistics shows that not until 1840 did there seem to be any unusual growth. Previous to this date it had been alow and steady, due doubtless to the fact that we were more an agricultural tiian a manufacturing people. From this point our progress and material prosperity has been more rapid and substantial.

"Of our industrial pursuits, the manufacture of boots and shoes stands pre-eminently at the head. Commencing in l.SU with the tirst shoes mauufactured by Micab Faxon, who was wont to t.kke a load of shoes on horseback to Boston and return with material for the manufacture of more, we find this industry had grown to such an extent that the census of 1845 showed the total nuuiber of pairs of boots and shoes manufactured in this town as being 200,187, at an eslimated value of $179, 710; those of 1855, 761,716, estimated value $724,827 ; those of 1865, 1,112,766, estimated value, Sl,4fl6,0U0, while those for 1875 showed a production the eslimated value of whioli waa $5,587,- 465. A comparison of these statistics shows that the growth of this induatry haa more than kept pace with our increase in population.

** A comparison of the valuation of the taxable property in ISJO (the central date in our town's history) with that of 1S80, the amount raised by ta.\ation on the same, as also some statistics in relation to our schools, may prove interesting, and are given herewith :

"These comparisoaa show that io material neultU uuil schoul appropriations we have aJvanceU, quite ;La rajnUIy as iu population and manufactures.

'* North Bridgewater reviewed would be incotuidctc without relerenue to her military history, - the part she bore in tlie strug-jlc:! through which the nation haa pii,-sed, and we refer with pride to those who in times of danj^er rallied to their country's call, and in a measure made thi.s growth and pro.-^- perity jiosaible. In the old French and IrnJian w:ir> the North Parish furnished her share of men and means for the defense of the settlers. In the Uevolutionary war a L'om[tany of fifty men, under the command of Capt. Josiah HayUcu, u-as furni>hed from thi;? part of old liridgcivater, bc-idus uiaiiy who enlisted in other organizations, for a detailed account of wliich I refer you lo Kingman's ' History of North Uridgewater.'^ In the war of the llcbellion we recall tlic spirit and p;itrioti.-^ni wliich the attack on Fort Sumter inspired in the heart.-' uf thu people, and how, on the evening of April 21, ISO I, in yonder church vestry, more than one hundred lucii, the very Ihnver of our then thriving town, came forward and unlisted in the service of their country. Nor shall we soon forget with what feelings wo bade the comrades of Company F, Twelfth Mas.«achusetts Uegiment, God-speed on their way to the front, from which so few returned; of Company I, First Massachusetts Uegiment of Cavalry, Capt. Lucius Uichmond, a company which we had su often admired on parade, then more admired because of their voluntary response tu the call of duty; to the hundreds of others who under other commands and in other tielda did honorable service for their country. All these we hold in grateful remembrance. Never again as a town can wo allude to these heroes or do them honor for their tidelity and patriotism. And as to-day we seal her hiatory, shall we not resolve to do all in our power to perpetuate their names and fame ?

" Much might be said in a review of the ecclesia:>tical, the educational, and the biographical history of Brockton, but timo will not permit. H'itli (he past passing in review, shall we not thereby be stimulated to zealous endeavors still to maintain for our city the name and fame she has now as a town for her business enterprise, and as zealously guard her educational and moral interests, that in them she may oxecl, if po.s^ible, her industrial fame ? Before closing tliis book of tho past we desire to express our thanks to the retiring Board of Selectmen for the cure and pains taken in preparing the way for the election and organization of the new guvornment, and they may well feel satisfied that in this transition tho work has been su smoothly and correctly accomplished.

** Let us now consider for a moment the duties that confront us to-day. As the forthcoming report uf the Board uf Selectmen will present and cover the business of tho past year, I shall anticipate very little in that direction, but shall in a measure duler to their judgment, which I have been allowed to avail myself of.

*' In thu judgment of your town officers, as expressed heretofore in their annual reports, there seems to be a necessity tor increased auoommodations and improved facilities for the care of the pour at the almshouse. I therefore call your attention to this subject, believing that in tho duly which we owe to tho unfortunate poor, sympathy should have eonaideratiun us well as economy.

'* Our highways generally are in a very good condition, but by reason of recent changes in the grade of Main Street, with no suitable material at band with which to reconstruct, it is at present iu a very bad condition, and will demand prompt at- tcntion, uhiub in my judguteDt can only be perinuneutly douo by mueutliiuiizin;^ or paving ;i portion of this street. Couaidering the iiiiprove»i cuiiJition of tliid our main thoroughfiiie, the extensive* iiuproveuient of Pond Street conteuiplutcd by our couuty cuuiiiiinsiontirs, tho building of streets already laid out, liberal :i|ipropriutiun:!i will be required at your liand^.

"Our .^cho»ils were never, as a whole, in a more satisfactory condition than at the present time, and their hij^li ehanicter, we believe, has contributed largely to tiie rapid and vigorous growth of our towu. The amount appropriated in this department shows in what estimation our ediualiunal privileges are lield, and a determination on the part of the people that ::upport shall not be wanting to secure the best result attainable.

"The protection wliich the introduction of water aR'ords, as i well as the comfort and convenience provided for our people^ in its Use fur domestic and other purposes, mark this enterprise as a wise and necessary measure, and notwithstanding the heavy outlay, the numerou:; applications for water service indicate that it will soon become self-supporting. Intimately connected with this subject is that of sewerage.

" At no very diaJant day the question of drainage and sewerage will force itself upon us, and I would suggest that immediate steps be taken to investigate this matter, that whatever is best may be sought out and ajjplied, when made a necessity.

** Our tire department is in a most satisfactory condition, and is regarded by our people with honest pride, not only for etlicient services rendered, but for the manly conduct of its oHicers and men. While we have been remarkably exempt from destructive Ures in the past, no ctl'ort should be spared to keep this depai tment in its present etlicient condition.

"The position of pulice uthcer is one of great responsibility, calling fur courage, judgment, sobriety, and honesty, and no such force cau be made effective unless harmony prevails among its members; they should know no party, no friend, no foo; know and obey only the call of duty iu the execution of all laws, firmly yet fairly and impartially. As a force it is strong, being clothed with the authority of the lav?, yet weak and inelhuicnt without tho support of tho people.

** Tho position which our new city takes on the ([ucatlon of license fur the sale of intoxicating liquors is positive and plain, and indicates not ouly a desire but a purpose to curtail this trallic, which has been a discredit to our people, and a reproach upon the good name of our town. I trust, with this expression of the pojmlar will and with officers who should be iu sympathy with the execution of the liquor as well as all other laws, that jur hrst year's history as a city shall not be marred by the cuutinuaDee of this evil, which now so threatens our welfare. '- The bonded debt of the city, Dec. 31, 1881, was as follows :

**0r the water loan of 1880, about $10,000 remains unexpended. Considering the demand which a rapid growth like ours makes upon the treasury for the construction of waterworks, for the building of new roads, and the widening and improving of the old, for the support and improvement of a tire department, for the building of new school-houses, and the many other expensive luxuries which a city implies, we ought to congratulate ourselves that our burden of debt ia so light, and yet it ought not now to be increased unless urgent necessity requires.

" In conclusion, I congratulate you that our business interests have been prospered the past year, that in substantial growth the past has fur exceeded that of any previous year in our history. Go in whatever direction you will, cosy and couifortubic dwellings and business structures are to bu seen in process ut' erection. Many have thus provided themselves with homes the past year, and doubtless many more will tind homes and etnployment within our borders during the year to come. And now that the horizon of our city's future is clearing of the smuUc uf tlio recent municipal campaign, do wo not discover rising ucfore us interests against which those of party weigh us notliing ; interebts which are dear alike to every citizeu of Ui ockton f And does not the outlook reveal to you the necessity lor harmony in council, zeal for tho promotion of whatever is best calculated tu secure and advance the welfare uf all its citizens, tor ecunoiny in expenditure, and fidelity to true business principles in llie management of its business affairs ? Gentlemen of the City Council, to your hands do the people of this city ' commit this trust.' "

After the conclusion of his address, the mayor, in a few fitting word.s, introduced Governor Loni:, who was greeted with enthusiastic applause, and .-said, -

Governor Long'S Address

GOVERNOR LONG'S ADDRESS. '* I should think it fitting for the governor of Masaiichusctts to be present iu any ease when a part of one of lier uneieut towns takes on the form of a city. But to-day I come not merely in an ofhcial capacity, representing the commouwi'alth, but as an Old Colony descendiint, and a resident of Plymouth County, to witness the inauguration of tho hrst mayor elected within her border?. It is an event which, tranr-furming vuur town into a city of 15,000 inliabitants, with a valuation of nearly $7,UUU,000, marks the rapid growth and the centring uf great manufacturing and business interests. It is a cause at once of pride and of solicitude - pride in the swift progres> of which it is a uiark, and solicitude for the welfare of those whum it will hereafter concern. A city is not a result : it is .-imply a means, - the means by which the convenience of its citizens, no longer promoted by the old forms, seeks new ones. For tho town-meeting, in which every voter has a voice, it substitutes a system o( representation, and removes the administration of utVairs one step further from tho people. Its risks aie those of less economy, and the tendency to let the public interest dritt out uf the public scrutiuy into the hands of sellish cunibiiiatioiis. I congratulate you, Mr. Mayor, my former associate in the House of Representatives, upon the great honor of being the tirA to hold the otfice, which you owe to your integrity and high character, and which baa just been so gracefully transferred to you by the chairman of the retiring. board of selectmen : and I congratulate the city of Brockton upon starting with so excellent a government in all itfl branches. But the history uf all cities warns us that the time ia almost certain to come in future years whcu,witb the attention of your citizens withdrawn from public affairs, they will wake to Rnd themselves atlUcted with the same evils that have befallen their older sisters. There will then be overturn and renewed popular interest and added safeguards, and all will of course be well again. All progress and perfecting come from discipline. Meantime, however, let the lessons of other municipalities warn us of the necessity of constant vigilance, of prudence in expenditure, of boKling ulheials to sharp accountability, and of sustaining them when tbcy assume tho responsibility and du right in spite of all obstacles, of fearless independence in city affairs, of electing only true mt:n, and of tho application of business principles. Then shall wo have the full benefit of the advantages of the city system, - tho growth, the activity, the generous abundance, the wholesome amusements, the literary, culture, the schools, the churches, the halls, the charities, the great life of a great, well-governed, aud

Kull-guvcruing body of people. Then shall he be worthy of the Uld Colony, worthy of our ancient Plymouth County, worthy of its commonwealth, worthy of j;ranJ oM Brid^ewatcr, a town unsurpassed in the worth of its stock of men, in the character of iU people, in the contributions it has made to every department of tho intelligent progress of Massachusetts. In this hope, and with the moat cordial interest in this occasion, and in the opening future of the new city of Brockton, I bring to it and to you and its citizens, for the commonwealth and myself, a happy New Year, and many a happy New Year following this."

The mayor then introduced Bradford Kingman, Esq., the historian, who had prepared an elaborate account of the town from its first settlement, containing much new and interesting material concerning the growth and prosperity of tiie old town of Bridgewater, showing its relations to the " Old Colony of Plymouth," but owing to sudden illness was unable to proceed with his address.

Hon. Matthew H. Gushing, of Middleboro', member of tho Executive Council, was introduced, and made an extremely happy and pleasant speech. He said he took great pleasure in being present at the first inauguration ceremonies of the oldest city in Plymouth County, though tho youngest in the commonwealth, and he extended the heartiest congratulations of himself and his town. He was glad the town had not hastened to put off the childish garments of town government and assume the dignities of a city. He loved the old town-meeting, which had fitly been termed the poor man's congress, in which he could vote as liberal a supply for the education of his children as the man who pays the largest taxes. He was glad the town had allowed itself to develop till it had grown too populous for tho town system, and was obliged to take on the larger form of government. He compared Brockton with Southern towns, where abundant water privileges wore running to waste, while in Brockton the people not only used all their water, but most of it to make steam, and he believed their water board had urged them not to use too much of it as a beverage I This, however, he understood to be a matter of economy. He compared the growth of Brockton with that of IMiddleboro', and repeated that Middleboro' sends to Brockton her kindliest greetings.

The baud played a lively galop, and before it was finished Congressman Harris came in, ami was greeted with applause. As soon as the music was ended, Hon. Benjamin W. Harris, member of Congress, was then introduced by Mayor Keith, and said he had not come to make a speech, and if he had he couldn't very well, as he had just driven over in tho cold from I East Bridgewater, and had not fully thawed out. He congratulated the new city on her present prosperity ' and future prospects, and said that she had a right to be proud, but we on the borders must not be ignored. We were a part of the same ancient Bridgewater. Only as long ago as 1700 Brockton had not an inhabitant in her territory. She settled her first minister in 1780, over a congregation of twenty-five members. He did not want to imply that Brockton was not entitled to honor, but to show that while behind at the start, she was ahead of all her sister towns at the present time. All are proud of it. lie alluded to the slow increase of population up tu ISGU, and showed bow it had increased with rajiid strides, till in 1880 it had reached thirteen thousand six hundred and eight, and was now God knows how many. It was like a city rising out of the dust, and few towns even in the West have had an equal growth in ten years. He begged the citizens of Brockton in their just pride not to forget those who are of kin and participate in the benefits of their progress. He told them that, having thrown off the form by which every individual participated in the government, they had reached a point where they could exercise a power and control over municipal affairs no less important, and even more responsible. He referred to the prosperity of the nation, and said tiiore were a thousand municipalities rising as great and happy as Brockton in the general prospi.rity. Tlie country was at peace, and had no army, no navy, - 1/ we need one. He had a notion that when wo put the navy on wheels we should bring it to Brockton, where everything on wheels goes well. He continued for some time, finally exhorting the people to be always what they are to-day, - happy, rich, prosperous ; lie knew that they would be distinguished for education, refinement, and intelligence, and that they would continue in the future as they have been in the past, a law-abiding, country-loving people.

The mayor then announced that the invited guests would be served to a collation in the theatre building at twelve o'clock, and the large audience dispersed to music by the band. The collation, which was served up in McLeod's best style, was partaken of by about sixty of the invited guests, including Congressman Harris and others, and was an extremely enjoyable affair.

Act To Establish The City Of Biiockton

Stjcr. 1. The inhabitants of the town of Brockton shall continue to be a body politic and corporate under the name uf the City of Brockton, and as such shall have, cxerci-e, and enjoy all the rights, immunities, powers, and ]>rivilege3, and ;hall he subject to all the duties and obligations, now incutiibent u[>on and pertaining to the said town us a munici[)at corporation.

municipal affairs uf tho suid city, with the guverninunC tliereof, sb:ill be ve:*tcJ in one otticer, stylefi the mayor, odo council of seven tu be called the board of aldermen, and one eouneil of twenly-oue tu be called the commoti euuncil, wiiicli boards, in their joint capacity, ^hail be denouiiuated the city council ; and thr rueuibera thereof shall be sworn tu the faithful performance of their ^e^pective dutie.->. A majority of each board shall eoostitute a i[uoruui for the transaction uf business, iind no meiiiberof either board shall receive any coiniiensation for bis services. Sllt. ^. The elecliou of city and ward otficers shall take place on the Tuesday next after the first Monday* of December of each year; and the municipal year shall begin on the first Monilay of January followinjj.

S£rT. 4. It shall be the duty of tlie selectmen of said town, a^ .^uou aj- may be after the passage of tliis aut and its acceptance as herein provided, to divide said town into seven wards, =iO tlmt tliey shall coutiiin, as nearly as may be consi>tent with well deli tied limits to each ward, an equal number uf voters in each want, which division may be revised by the city council within four years from the passage hereof. The city council ma}', in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-five and in every fifth 3'ear thereafter, make a new division of said wards, so that they sliall contain, as nearly as may be consistent with well defined limits to each ward, nn equal number of voters in each ward, according tu the ccnsu? tu be taken in the months of May or June in said years.

Sklt. it. On the Tuesday next after the first Monday of December, annually, there shall bo elected by ballot, in cacii of said wards, a warden, clerk, and three inspectors of elections, who shall be ditVercnt persons, residents in the ward, who shall hold their othccs one year, and until others are ehu^cn and qualified in their stead. Said wardens shall preside at all ward meetiugs with the power of moderators in town meetings, and if at any meeting the warden ia not present the cleric shall preside until a warden pi-Q Uvipure is elected by ballot; if both the warden and clerk are absent, tlio senior in age of the inspectors present shall preside until a warden jno tempore \i elected; and if all said otficcrs are absent any legal voter in said ward may preside until a warden pi-u tttupore is elected. AVhen any ward otlicer is absent, or neglects to perform his duty, his ortice shall be filled pro ttmpore. The clerk shall record all the proceedings and certify the votes, and deliver to his successor in ollice all such records and journals, together with all other documents and papers held by him in his said capacity. The inspectors shall assist tho warden in receiving, assorting, and counting the votes. All said otlicers shall be sworn to a faithful discharge of their duties; said oath to be admiuidtered by the clerk tu the warden, and by the wardeu to the clerk, and to the inspectors, ur tu cither of said oflQcers by uny justice uf the peace: a certificate of such oath shall bo made by the clerk upon the ward records. All warrants for meetings of the citizens for muoicipal purposes shall be issued by tho mayor and aldermen, and shall be in such form, and served and returned in such manner and at such times as the city council shall direct. The compensation of the ward othcers shall be fixed by concurrent vote of the city council.

Sk(.t. li. The mayor and aldermen are authorized, when no convenient ward room fur holding ward meetings of the citizens uf either uf the wards uf the city can bo had within the territurial limits of such ward, to appuint and direct, in the warrants for calling the ward meetings uf such wards, the said meetings to bo held ill sume convenient and proximate place within the limits of any other of the wards of said city ; and for such purposes the place so assigned for the meeting of such ward shall bo deeiutrd and taken to be included id and part of said ward, as though the some was within the territorial limits thereof.

Sklt. 7. The mayor shall be elected by and from the qualified voters of the city at large, voting in their respective wanU, and shall huld his othce for the municipal year next following his election, and until another shall be elected and qualified in his place.

Skct. 8. One alderman and three common councilmen shall be elected by and from the voters of each ward, and shall at the time of their election bo residents of the wards respecti\ely in which they are elected; they shall hold their othees fur the municipal year next following their election, and until a majority of the new board shall be elected and qualified in their places.

Sect. 9, On tho Tuesday next after the first Monday of December, annually, the qualified voters in the several wards shall give in their votes by ballot for mayor, aldermen and common councilmen, in accordance with the provisions of this act, and all the votes so given shall be assorted, counted, declared and recorded in open ward meeting, by c&using tho nauies uf per- S'lns voted fur, and the number given for each, to be written in the ward record at length. The clerk of tho ward, within twenty-four hours thereafter, shall deliver to the persons elected members of tho common council certificates of their election, respectively, signed by the warden jind clerk and a majority of the inspectors of elections, and shall deliver to the city clerk a copy of the record of such elections, certified in like manner : pioc'uled, however^ that if the choice of members of tho commun council shall not bo elfoeted on that day in any ward, the meeting in such a ward may be adjourned frum time to time tu cumplctc such election. The board of aldermen shall within ten days thereafter examine the copies of the records of the several wards certified as aforesaid, and shall cause the jicrson who shall have been elected mayor to be notified in writing uf his election ; but if it shall appear that there is no choice, or if the person elected shall refuse to accopt the office, tho board shall issue warrants for a new election, and the same proceedings shall be had in all respects as are herein before provided for the election of mayor, and from time to time shall be repeated until a mayor shall be elected and shall accept said otlice. In ease of the decease, resignation or absence uf the mayor, or of his inability to perform the duties uf his office, it shall be the duty of the board of aldermen and common council, respectively, by vote, to declare that a vacancy exists, and the cause thereof; and thereupon the two boards shall meet in cunveutiun and elect a ruayor to fill such vacancy ; and the mayor thus elected shall hold his office until the inability causing auch vacancy shall be removed, or until a new election. Each alderman shall be notified in writing of his eleetiun by the mayor and aldermen for the time being. The oath prescribed by this act shall be administered to the mayor by the city clerk, or by any justice of the peace. The aldermen and coniuion councilmen elect shall on the first Monday of January, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, meet in convention, when the oath rcc|uirerl by this act shall be administered to the members uf the two boards present, by the mayor, or by any justice of tho peace, and the certificate of such oath having been taken ^hall be entered on the journal of the mayor and aldermen and of the common council by their respective clerks. And whenever it shall appear that a mayor has not been elected previous tu the first Munday uf January aforesaid, tho nmyor and aldermen for the time being shall make a record of that fact, an attested copy of which the city clerk shall read at the opening of tlie convention to be held as aforesaid. After the oatli h;LS been aduiinistered as aforesaid, the two boards shall separate, and the common council shall be organized by the choice of a president and clerk, to hold their otficea respectively during the pleasure uf the common council, the clerk to be under oath faithfully to perform the duties of lii^j said ulBce, und his cuiu{>eii::atiun shall be lixed by concurrent vote of the city council. lu case of the al^sence of the uiuyor elect on the first Monday of January, or if the mayor shall not then have been elected, the city council shall ori^anize itself in the inannei- heieiu before provided, and may proceed to business in the ?aine manner, as if tho mayor wo^i present; and the oath of oUice may, at any time thereafter, in convention of the twu boards, be admini^^tered tu the mayor and any member of the city council who nmy have been absent at the organization. The board of aldermen umy choose a president who shall preside at all meetings of the board and in joint convention of the city council in tho absence of the mayor. Each board shall keep a record of its proceedings and judge of tlie election of its own members ; and in case of failure of election, or in ea?o of vacancy declared by either board, the mayor and aldermen shall issue their warrant for a new election.

Sect. 10. The mayor shall be thechief executive officer of the city. He shall eoforce the laws and regulations of the city, and have a general supervision of all the subordinate officers. And lie may, whenever in his opinion the public good may require, remove, with the consent of the appointing power, except as provided in section twelve, any officer over whose appointment lie has, in accordance with the provisions of this charter, exercised the puwer uf nomination. Tie may call special meetings of the boards of aldermen and coiumon council, or either of them, when in his opinion the intere^ts of tlie city require it, by causing notice to be left at the usual place of residence of each member of the board or boards to be convened. ILc shall, from time to time, commuDicate to both boards such informatiuu and recommend such measures as tho business and interests of the city may io his opinion require. He shall preside in the board of aldermen, and in convention of the two boards. His salary for the ftrst live years, under this charter, slitill be fixed by the city council, but shall not exceed the sum of five hundred dollars per annum. Afterwards it shall be lixcd by the concurrent vote of the city council. It shall be ])ayable at stated periods, but shall not at any time be increased or diminished during the year for which he is chosen. He shall receive uo other compen:fation.

Sect. 11. Every ordinance, order, resolution or vote to which the concurrence uf tho board of iildermcn and of tho common council may bo necessary, except on a question of a convention of tho two braoehes or the election of an officer, and every order of cither branch of tho city council involving tho expenditure of money, thall be presented to the mayor. If he approves thereof he shall signify his approval by signing the same ; but if he does not approve thereof, he shall return tho ordinance, order, resolution or vote, with his objections in writing, to the branch of the city council in which it originated. Such branch shall enter the objcctious of tho mayor at large on its records, and proceed to reconsider said ordinance, order, resolution or vote; and if, after such reconsideration, two-thirds uf that brunch, present and voting, notwithstanding such objections, agree to pasa such ordimince, order, resolution or vote, it shall, together with the objections of the mayor, be sent tu the other branch of the city council, if it originally rt-quircd concurrent action, where it shall also be reconsidered ; and if approved by two-thirds of the members present ami voting, it shall bo in force; but iu ail caaes the vote >hall be determined by yeas and nays; and if such ordinance, order, resolution or vote is not returned by the mayor within ten days after it lias been presented to him, the same shall be in force.

Sect. 12. The executive power of said city generally and the administration, with all the powers heretofore vested in the selectmen of Brockton, shall be vested in and may be exercised by the mayor and aldermen us fully as if the same were herein specially enumerated. The mayor and aldermen sliall have full and exclusive power to iippoint a cunstable ur constables, and a city marshal and assistantd, with the powers and duties of constables, and all other police uHiceis, any of whom the mayor may remove, and fill the vueancy or vucaiicies so mado, by appointment ; but at the next meeting of tiie board of aldei - men he shall nominate as provided in ibis act. And tlie Uiayor and aldermen may require any pcrsun, wbii may be appointed marbhal or constable of the city, to give bonda fur the faitht'ul discharge of the duties of the olHce. with such security auvl to such amount as they may deem reasonable and pioper, upon which bonds the like proceedings and remedies may ho had us are by law provided in ease of cuiistublcs* bonds, taken hy the selectmen of towns. The compen?a[Iun of the pulicc aud other dubordiuatc officers shall be fixed by concurrent vote y>i' liie city council.

Sect. 13. In all cases in which appointments are directed to be mado by the mayor or aldermen, the mayor shult have tho exclusive power of nomioutiun, being subject huwevei tu confirmation or rejection by the board uf aldermen ; but if a person so nominated shall be rejected, the mayor >hall make :inotber Domination within one mouth from the time of such rejection. No person shall be eligible by appointment or election to any ofiico uf emolument the salary of which i.-: payable out of the city treasury, who, at the lime of such appuiniment or election, shall be a member of the board of aldernit-n or of the common council. All sittings of the mayur and aldermen, of the common council and of the city council, shall be puldic when thoy are not engaged in executive busiue.-s.

Sect. 14. The city council shall annually, as soun after their organization as may be convenient, elect by joint ballot, in convention, a city clerk, treasurer, collector of taxe«, <inc or more superintendents of streets, city solicitor, city pbyaician, and city auditor, who shall hold their offices respectively for the term uf one year, and until their successors shall be ehoscn and {|ualitied; provided, hoicever, that either of the ollicers named in this section may be removed at any time by the city council for sutheient cause. Vacancies occurring in the above named uHiecs may be filled by joint ballot. of the city council at any time. Tho compensation of the olficers iiientiunoii in tliis -cction <Ua\\ be fixed by concurrent vote of the city council.

Sect, 15. The city clork shall be sworn to thr faitlifnl discharge of the duties of his office. He shall liavc charge uf all journals, records, papers, and documents of the cily, sign ;it[ warrants issued by the mayor and aldermen, and do su<-li other acts in his said capacity as the city council may hiwfully and reasonably require of him; and shall deliver all journals, records, pajiers aud documents, and other things intrusted to him as city clerk, to his successor in office. He shull al.-o perform all the duties and exercise all the powers by law incutnbenl upon or vested in clerks of towns uf this Comniunwealtli. He shall be clerk of the board of aldermen ; shall attend saiil bo.ud when the same is in session, and keep a journal of its act^, vote.-', and proceedings; also of the city council when in cunvcutiuii. He shall engross all the ordinances jiassed by the ciLy cuiiiuil in a biiok ])rovided for that purpooe, aud shall luUi prujtcr indexes, which book shall be deemed a public record of such ordinances; and he shall perform such other duties a.-i shall be prescribed by the board of aldermen. In case of the temporary absence of the city clerk, the mayor, by and with the :idvicc and consent of tho board of aldermen, may njqioiut a tlerk y/o tempore, who shall be duly quulilied.

Sect. 16. The board of overseers of the poor in the city of Brockton shall consist of tliree members, residents of the city, and of the mayor and city marshal who shall be tx uyiciu members of the board. The mayor shall be t.i ''Jjicii* chaiiman uf the buui'J. The city council ahall elect by j</iDt ballot, in codvenlion, as soon after their ori^anization as may be convenient, three persons lo be members of the board of overseers of the poor, one for one year, one for two years, auJ one for three ycar:>; anU thereafter the city council shall annually, as ::oou after their organization as may be convenient, elect in the same muunrr one [terson to boM utlice for the term of tliree yeard. But no uiure than one nf the three members so to bo elected, shall be uligibte from any one ward of said city. Vacancies occurrinj; in the board may be Ulled by joint ballot of the city cuuucil at any time, the members so elected to hold otfice only for the unexpired teiiu of the member who has ceased to hold olliee. The city council may at any time remove members uf said board from otlicu for cause. The board shall bo organized annually on the third Monday in January. The compensation of the overseers of the poor shall be fixed by concurrent vote of the city council.

Skcf. 17. The uity council elected in December, in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-one, shall, as soon after their organizutioD as may be convenient, elect by joint ballot in convention threo persons to be assessors of tuxes, onu for three years, one for two years, and one for one year ; and thereafter the city council shall annually, aa soon after their organization OS may be convenient, elect in the same manner one purson who shall hold his office for the term of three years next ensuing, ami until another shall be elected and qualified in bis stead. The persons no elected shall constitute the hoard of assessors, and shall exercise the powers and be subject to the liabilities and duties of as:»t.'Ssors in towns. Vacancies occurring in the board may be filled by joint ballot of the city council at any time, the members so elected to hold office only for the unexpired term of the member who bad ceased to hold office. All taxes shall be assessed, ap])ortioned, and collected in the manner prescribed by the general laws of the Commonwealth : provided, however, that the city counoil may establish further or additional provisions for the collection thereof. The compensation of the assessors shall bo fixed by concurrent vote of the city council.

Selt. is. The qualified voters of each ward, at their respective annual ward meetings for the choice of officers, shall elect by ballot one person in each ward, who shall be a resident of said ward, to be an assistant assessor; and it shall he the duty of the persons so chosen to furnish the assessors with all necessary infoimation relative to persons and property taxable in their respective wards ; and they shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duty. Their compensation shall bo fixed by concurrent vote of the city council.

SEtT. 19. The city council elected in December in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, shall, as soon after their organization as may bo convenient, elect by joint ballot in convention three persons to act as water commissioners, one for three years, one for two years, and one for one year; and thereafter the city council shall annually, as soon after their organization as may be convenient, elect in the same manner one person who shall hold his office for the term of three years next <:n:suing, and until another shall be elected and qualified in his stead. Vacancies occurring in the commission may bo filled by joint ballot of the city council at any time. The city council may at any time remove any member of said commission from oflico for cause. The compensation of the water commissioners shall be tixed by concurrent vote of the city council.

Sect. 20. The city council may establish a tire department for said city, to consist of a chief engineer, and of us many assistant engineers, eugine-men, hose-men, hook-and-Iadder-men and assi.'^tants, as the city council by ordinance shall from time to time prescribe ; and said council shall have authority to fix the lime of their appointment and the term of their service, to define their office and duties, and in general to make :uch regulations concerning the i)ay, conduct, and government of such department, the management of fires, and the conduce of persons attending fires, as they may deem expedient, and may fix such penalties fur any violation of such regulations, or any of them, as are provided for the breach of the ordinances of said city. The appointment of all the officers and members of audi def>artment shall be vested in the mayor and aldermen exclusively, who shall also have authority to remove from ofiice any officer or member, for cause, in their discretion. The engineers soappointed shall be the fire wards of the city, but the mayor and uldeiinen may appoint additional fire ward-. The compensaLiuQ of the department shall be fixed by concurrent vote of the city council.

Sect. 21. The city council shall, in such manner as tliey shall determine, elect or appoint all other subordinate officers, fur whose election or appointment other provisions are not herein made, define their duties and fix their compensation.

.Sect. 22. The qualified voters of the city, voting in their respective wards, shall on the Tuesday next after the first Monday of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, elect by ballot, nine persons to be members of the school committee, three to be chosen for three years, three lor two years, and three for one year from the first Monday in January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two ; and thereafter ttiree persons shall be chosen at eacfi annual meeting, for the term of three years from the first Mondiiy of January ne.\t ensuing, and the persons so chosen shall, with the mayor, constitute the school committee, and have the care and superintendence of the public schools. The mnyor shall be tx oj/icio chairman of the board, aud all the rights and obligations of the town of Brockton in relation to the grant and appropriation of money to the sujiport of the scliouls, and the special powers and authority heretofore conferred by law upon the inhabitants of said town, to raise money for the support of schools therein, shall bo merged in the powers and obligations of the city, to be e.xcrcised in the same manner lis over other subjects of taxation ; and all grants and appropriations of money for the support of schools, and the erection aud repair of schoolhouses in said city, shall he made by the city council in the same manner as grants and appropriations are made for other city purposes. Vacancies occurring in the board may be filled by the joint ballot of the city council and school coiiimittue, in convention, the members so chosen to hold ofiice only for the remainder of the municipal year.

Sect. 2.1. Should there fail to be a choice of members of the school committee or u:)si8t&nt assessors on the day of the annual ward meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned from time to time until the election shall be completed.

Skct. 24. All city and ward officers shall be held to discharge the duties uf tho offices to which they have been respectively elected, notwithstanding their removal after their election out uf their respective wards into any other wards of tlie city ; but :i permanent residence out of the city shall cause a vucaucy to exist in the offices to which they were elected.

Sect. 23. The city council shall take care that no money :^hall be paid from the treasury unless granted or appropriated, anti shall secure a just and proper accountability by requiring bondf, with sulUcieut penalties and sureties, from all persons intrnstdl with the receipt, custody, or disbursement of money. They shall have the care and superintendence of the city buildings aud the custody and management of all city property, with power to let or to sell what may legally be let or sold, and to purchase property, real or personal, in tho name and for the use of the city, whenever its interests or convenience may, in their jut-lj^ment, require it. And tliey shall, ns often aa once a. year, cause to be published, lor the use of the inhabitants, a particular account of the receipts and expenditures and a schedule of city property ancl of the city debts.

Selt. 26. The city council shall have the same powers in relation tu the laying out, acceptance, altering, or discontinuing of streets and ways, und the aascsiuient of damages, wliicb selectmen and inhabitants of towns now have by law, all [letitions and ([ucitions relating to the bame, however, being tirdt acted on by the mayor r.nd aldermen. Any person aggrieved by any proceedings of the mayor :ind aldermen, or of the city council, under this provision, shall have all the rights and )>rivilegc3 now allowed in appeals from the decisions of selectmen or the inhiibitants of towua. No street or way shall lieieafter be opened lu the city of Brockton over any private land by the owners thereof, and dedicated to and permitted to be used by the public, of a less width than forty feet, except with tiie consent of said mayor and aldermen in writing, first had and obtained for that purpose.

Skct. 27. The city council may make ordinances, with suitable penalties, for the inspection and survey, measurement iind sale of lumber, wood, bay, coal, and bark, brouglit into or exposed in the city for sale, and sliall have the same powers as the town had in reference to the suspeusion of the laws for the protection and preservation of useful birds, and of all other j laws, the operation or suspension of which is subject to tiie action of the towns thereon. The city council may also make all -Mieb salutary and needful by-laws as towns, by the laws of this Commonweatth, have power to make and establisli, and to annex penalties, not exceeding twenty doUais, for the breach | thereof, which by-laws shall tuke etfeet and be in force from and after the time therein res[)eetively limited: protidcil, /luwtvtr, that all laws and reguhitions in force in the town of Brockton shall, until they expire by their own limitation, or are revised or re]»ealcd by the city council, remain in force, and all fiucs and forfeitures for the breach of any by-law or ordinance shall be paid into the city treasury.

St;cT. 2S. All elections of n:UioniiI, state, county, and district officers, who are voted for by the jtcople, shall be held at meetings of the citi/.ens i|ualilied to vote ut such elections, in tlieir rpypuutivc wards, at the time fixed by law for these elections respectively.

Skct. '2'J. Fifteen days prior to every election, the mayor and aldeiineu shall make out listd of all the citizens of each ward i|^uitlitied to vote in such elections, in the manner in which selectmen of towns are rei{uiied to make out lists of voters, and for that purpose they shall have full access to the assessors' books and li^ts, and are empowered to call for the assistance of the assessors, assistant assessors, and other city olHcers, und they shall deliver the lists so prepared and corrected to the clerks of the several wards, to be used at such elections, and no jjcr^on shall be entitled to vote whose name is not borne on such li.tt. A list of the voters in each ward shall be posted in one or more public ]daces in each ward.

SlXT. oU. All power and authority now vested by law in the board of health of the town of Brockton, or the selectmen thereof, shall be transferred to and vested in a board of health to be appointed by the mayor and aldermen, as jirovided in eh:ipter one hundred and thirty-three of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, who shall have and exercise all the powers and duties therein granted.

Si:(.T. ul. The power and authority vested in said town of Brockton by chapter one hundred and twenty-four of the nets of the year eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, entitled "An Act to supply the town of Brockton with pure water," and by the vote of said town accepted, in accordance with the provisions of said act, shall continue in force. The powers thereby conferred shall be exercised by the city council.

SiiCT. 32. General meetings of the citizens qualified to vote may from time to time be held to consult upon the jmblic good, to instruct their represenatives, and to take all lawful means to obtain redress for any grievances, according to the right secured to the people by the con.>^titution of this Coninionweaitb, and such meetings may and shall be duly warned by the mayuiand aldermen, upon the request in writing, setting luith tlie jiurposes thereof, of fifty qualified voters.

Skct. ZZ. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed: pruviiltd, hoivcverj that the repeal of the said acts shall not atfect any act done, nor any riglit accruing or accrued or established, nor any suit or proceeding had or commenced in any civil case, before the time when such repeal shall take effect ; anil that no offense committed, and no penalty or forfeiture incurred, under any act hereby repealed, und before the lime when such repeal shall take effect, shall be affected by the repeal j and that no suit or prosecution jjeiuling at the time of the said repeal for uny offense committed, or for the recovery of any i>enalty or forfeiture incurred under said acts, shall be affected by such repeal; und pruciiUii, iiL->o, that all persons who, at the time of said repeal taking effect, shall hold any office under the said acts shall continue to hold the samo until the organization of the city government contemplated by this charter shall be effected completely.

Sklt. 34. For the purpose of organizing the system of government hereby established, and putting the same in operation in the first instance, the selectmen of the town of Brockton, for the time being, shall issue their warrants seven days at lea^t previous to the Tuesdny next after first Monday of December of the present year, calling meetings of the citizens of each ward on lh:it day, at such place and hour as they may deem expedient, for the purpose of choosing a wanlcn, clerk, and inspectors of each ward, and all other oUicers whose election is provided for in the preceding sections of this act; and the transcript of the records in each ward, specifying the voles tiiven for the several olHcors aforesaid, certified by the warden and clerk of the ward at said first meeting, shall be returned to gaitl selectmen, whose duty it shall bu to examine ^tnd compare the same; and in case such elections ^houM not b<- completed at the tirst meeting, then to issue new warranto until such elections shall be completed, and to give nntice thereof in manner before provided to the several persons elected ; and at said first meeting a list of voters in each ward, prepaied and corrected by the selectmen for the time being, shall be delivered to the clerk of each ward when elected, to be uscil as herein before provided. After the choice of the city officers as aforesaid, or a majority of both boards, the selectmen shall appoint a place for their first meeting, and shall, by written notice left at the place of residence of each member, notify them thereof. And after this first election of city otBcers, and this first meeting fur the organization of the city council, according to the [>rovisioni of section nine of this act, as jirovided for in this ^^eetlon, the day of holding the annual elections und the day and liour fur the meeting of the city council for the purpose of urganizaliuit shall remain as provided in said ninth section of this act. It shall be the duty of the city council immediately after the first organization to carry into effect the several proviiious of this act.

Skct. 35. This act shall be void unless the inhabitants of the town of Brockton, at a legal meeting called for that purpose, to be held within one year from the passage of this act, shall, by a vote of a majority of the voters present and voting thereon, as hereinafter provided, dotcrmino to ado|it the same. At said meeting the votes shall be taken by written or printed ballots, and the polls shall bo kept open not less than six liours. The setectiucn shall preside in said meeting, and in reeeivin;^ said ballota ?liall use the check-lists in the :^aiDe manner as they are used in tlie election of state ofiicers,

The City Seal. - The seal of the city is circular in form, within which is a ring inclosing a shield, on which is a representation of " Sachem's Rock," with Miles Staudish and Massasoit treating for the purchase of the Bridgewaters, and beneath which representation ia the inscription, "Sachem's Rock, 1049;" across the upper and central portion of tlie seal, and crossing said ring and shield, the words, " Education," " Industry," " Progress ;" at the top of the whole design, and crossing said ring, a keystoneshaped escutcheon bearing the device of a bee hive ; ou the right, across said ring, a rectangular shield on which is represented the electric light ; and on the left a similarly-placed and shaped escutcheon with the globe for a device ; the upper portion of said ring having the inscription, "Settled, 1700," on the left, Town, 1821;" on the right, and on the lower portion of the same, the words, " City of Brockton, 1881."

]Vard One. - Beginning in the west line of the Old Colony Railroad, in the middle of Court Street, theuee westerly by the middle of Court Street to Blaiu Street ; thence across Main Street to the middle of Pleasant Street; thence westerly by the middle of Pleasant Street to Easton line ; thence southerly by the town-line to Torrey Street; thence easterly by the middle of Torrey Street and the middle of Belmont Street to the middle of the northern terminus of Ash Street; thence northerly in a line parallel with a private way known as Byron Avenue to u point intersected by a line drawn from Arlington Street westerly through the middle of Elm Street ; thence easterly from said point by the line so drawn and by the middle of West Elm Street and East Elm Street to School Street ; thence easterly by the middle of School Street to the west line of the Old Colony Railroad ; and thence northerly bv the west line of said railroad to the point of beginning.

Ward Two. - Beginning in the west line of the Old Colony Railroad, in the middle of Lawrence Street, thence westerly by the middle of Lawrence Street to Main Street; thence southerly by the middle of Main Street to Winthrop Street; thence westerly by the middle of Winthrop Street to Pond Street ; thence westerly to a point in Ash Street forty-two rods southerly from the middle of Belmont Street

(measuring by the middle of Ash Street) ; thence northerly by the middle of Ash Street to Belmont Street; and thence northerly by a line parallel with a private way known as Byron Avenue to a point intersected by a line drawn from Arlington Street westerly through the middle of Elm Street ; thence easterly from said point by the line so drawn and by the middle of West Elm Street and East Elm Street to School Street; theuee easterly by the middle of School Street to the west line of the Old Culony Railroad ; and thence southerly by the west line of said railroad to the point of beginning.

Ward Three. - BcKioninir in the middle of Main Street at West Bridgewater line, thence northerly by the middle of Main Street to Winthrop Street; thence westerly by the middle of Winthrop Street to Pond Street; and thence westerly to a point in the middle of Ash Street forty-two rods southerly from the middle of Belmont Street (measuring by the middle of Ash Street) ; theuee northerly by the middle of Ash Street to Belmont Street ; thence westerly by the middle of Belmont Street to Torrey Street ; and by the middle of Torrey Street to Easton line ; and thence southerly by Easton line and easterly by West Bridgewater line to the point of beginning.

Ward Four. - Beginning in West Bridgewater line, in the middle of Main Street, thence northerly by the middle of Main Street to Lawrence Street; thence easterly by the middle of Lawrence Street to Montcllo Street, and across Moutello Street in the same course to Salisbury River ; thence southerly by the channel of the river to a point due west from the middle of the western terminus of Hammond Street ; thence due east to the middle of the western terminus of Hammond Street ; thence easterly by the middle of Hammond Street to Thatcher Street ; thence southeasterly by the middle of Thatcher Street to East Bridgewater line ; and thence southerly, westerly, northerly, and again westerly, by the town-line to the point of beginning.

Ward Five. - Beginning in the middle of Lawrence Street, in the west line of the Old Colony Railroad, thence by the west line of said railroad northerly to Centre Street ; thence by the middle of Centre Street easterly to the middle of the channel of the river; thence northerly by the middle of the channel of the river or pond to Court Street; thence easterly by the middle of Court Street to Abington line ; thence southerly by the town-line to Thatcher Street; thence northwesterly by the middle of Thatcher Street to Hammond Street ; thence westerly by the middle of Hammond Street to East Street, and thence due west to Salisbury River; thence northerly by the clianuiil of the river to a point iutersecteJ by a lino drawn easterly through Lawrence Street ; iheuce westerly from suiJ point by the line so drawn, and throuiih the middle of Lawrence Street, to the point of beginning.

Ward S(M. - Begiuniut; in the middle of ^Ltin Street in Stoughton line, thence southerly by the middle of Jlain Street to Court Street; thence easterly by the middle of Court Street to the west line of the Old Colony Railroad ; theuce southerly by tlie west tine of said railroad to Centre Street ; theuce easterly by the middle of Centre Street to tlie middle of the channel of the river ; thence northerly by the middle of the channel of the river or pond to Court Street ; thence by the middle of Court Street easterly to Abington line ; and theuce northerly and westerly to the point of beginning.

Ward St-ven. - Beginning in the middle of Main Street, in Stoughtou line, theuce southerly by the middle of Main Street to Pleasant Street; thence westerly by the middle of Pleasant Street to Easton line ; and thence northerly and easterly by the town-line to the point of beginning.

City Government And Officers

Common Council: Ward 1, William H. Savage, William It. Tobey, George M. Copeland ; Ward 2, Sanl'ord Winter, William L. Douglas, Isaiah A. Beala ; Ward J, George L. Kna|ip, Lemuel P. Churchill, lliram A. Monk ; Ward 1, Patrick McCarty, Nathan Keith, John A. Howard; Ward 5, Martin T. Packard, Klbridge G. Hale, Daniel Connolly ; Wurd fi, Charles H. Gary, Henry Southworth, Elbridge L. llrowu ; Ward 7, George A. Packard, Augustus T. Jones, Edward Crocker. President, Augustus T. Jones; Clerk, Elbridge L. Drown. City Treasurer, Henry A. Ford. City Solicitor, Jonathan White, Auditor, Baalis Sant'ord. Collector of Taxes, William Keith. Suiierinteudoot of Streets, Henry B. Packard. Assessors, AVilliam llankin (for throe years), Ira Copeland (for two years), Noah Chesnmn (for one year). Assistant Assessors: Ward 1, Francis II. Gardner; Ward 2, Thaddcua E. Gilford; Ward 3, David llorvey; Ward 4, William A. Thompson; Ward 5, Isaac Kingman; Ward 0, David llurke ; Ward 7, Ellis lirctt. Overseers of the Poor, Francis B. Gardner (for three years), Henry .\. Ford (for two years), Isaac Kingman (tor one year). School Committee (Hon. Ziba C. Keith, chairman i.t njJU-io), Haalis Sanford, Jonathan White, D:ivid L. Cowell (for three years), S. F. Packard, C. F. Copeland, Mrs. Martha

J. Farwell (fur two years), Rev. S. L. Deal, .\rthur E. Keudrick, D. W. C. Packard (for one year). Trustees of the Public Library, Jonathan White, Edward Parker, Jr., D. W. C. Packard (for three years), David L. Cowell, Alfred Laws, Warren T. Copeland (for two J cars), L. W. Puller, Preston B. Keith, William W. Wilkius (for one year). Water Commissioners, Wjilter F. Cleavehuid (for three years). William W.Cross (for two years), John J. ^Vhipplc (lor one year). City Messenger, Richard T. Sollis. City Physician, Dr. E. A. Dakin. Board of Health, Dr. E. A. Dakin, Henry M. Litllellcld (l'..r

Johnson. Inspector of Jlilk, Henry M. Littlclield. Scaler of Weights and Measures, (icor;;c F. Perkins. Surveyors of Lumber, Cephas Soule, Otis Cobb, isam .Mitchell. Measurers of Wood and Bark, Thaddcus E. Gitlbrd, Horace

Finance: The mayor and Aldermen Keith and Kingtuan, the president of the Common Council, Councilmcu Cbuicliill, McCarty, Monk, and Reynolds.

Sitiiidinij Cuuiinittee* of (he Board of Aldermen. Police: the Mayor, .-Vldermen Porter and Emenjon. £lectioD:j and Returns: Aldermen Porter and Deun. Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions: Aldermen Keith and

Snow. Licenses: Aldermen Kiograan, Porter, and Snow. Health: Aldermen Dean, Keilb, and Packard. State Aid and Soldiers' Relief: Aldermen Emerson, Snow, and

Standimj Comiititteet of the Common Council, Elections and Returns: Councilmen Ouuglus, Tilton, and Wade. Enrulk'd Ordinances and Resolutions: Counoilmen Walker,

Loavitt, and Murphy. City Solicitor, Hoaea Kingman, Esq. City Treasurer. Henry A. Ford. City Auditor, Baalis Sanford. Assessors, Noah Chesman (three years), William Rankin (two

F. Cleaveland (two years), John J. Whipple (one year). Superintendent of Streets, Henry B. Packard. Overseers of the Poor, Isaac Kingman (three years), Francis

B. Gardner (two years), Henry A. Ford (one year) School Committee (Hun. Henry II. Packard, chairman ex ojjieio), William Rankin, William A. Sanford, Arthur E. Keodrick. (for three years); Baulis Sanford, Jonathan White, David L. Cowell (for two years); S. F. Packard,

W Putfer, M. R. Dustin (for three years); Jonathan White, Edward Parker, Jr., D. W. C. Packard (for two years) ; David L. Cowell, Alfred Laws, Warren T. Copeland (for one year).

Engineers of Fire Department, David R. Eldred, chief; Nehomiuh S. Holmes, 1st asst. ; Zenas L. Marston, 2d asst. ; William H. Jacobs, 3d asst. ; Charles Eaton, 4th asst.

Standing Commilleet of the Board of Aldermen. Police: The mayor and Aldermen Kingman and Cary. Elections and Returns : Aldermen Wade and Keith. Enrolled Ordinances : Aldermen Snow and Emerson. Licenses: Aldermen Cary, Keith, and Kingman. Health : Aldermen Whipple, Keith, and Kingmiin. State Aid and Soldiers' Relief: Aldermen Emerson, Whipple, and Wade.

Trustees of the Public Library, David L. Cowell, Alfred Laws, Warren T. Copeland (for three years), William W. Wilkins, Loring W. Puller, M. R. Dustin (for two years), Jonathan White, Edward Parker, Jr., D. W. C. Packard for one year.

Among those who have been instrumental in advancing the city's prosperity and in an ofEciul capacity served its interests, are Franklin Ames, Ziba C. Keith, and W. H. Wales.

No history of Brockton, or sketch of the lives of those men who have contributed to the advancement of the social and material growth of this locality would be complete with the name of the late Hon. Franklin Ames omitted.

He was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, Sept. 30, 1806, and with the exception of a brief absence resided in his native town during his entire life.

Mr. Ames was a man of marked promioencc in this town. Possessing a genial and affable disposition, a taste and an ability for the discharge of public duties, a judgment well balanced and almost uniformly correct in its results, and an integrity of character that was never touched by whisper or reflection, it is not strange that he was selected even early in life by his fellow-citizens as one fitted to assume and administer public trusts in a variety of town relations. For nearly twenty years, commencing in 1836, he was practically the postmaster of the town, performing all the duties belonging to that position, though the oflSce itself was held by Edward Southworih, Jr. In 1838 he was chosen town clerk and treasurer, and was reelected almost without opposition to both offices, as also collector of taxes, until 1855, a period of sixteen years ; and nowhere in the public records are evidences of greater care and accuracy than through the volumes where his broad aud beautiful handwriting is found. In 1856 he was called by his fellow-towusmen to a position of still greater responsibility, being elected that year as one of the selectmen, and by vote of his colleagues as chairman of the board. By this action, and in accordance with the usages of the times, almost the entire administration of the public affairs of the town was placed in hia hands, and that he proved equal to the place is shown in the fact that he was annually re-elected till 1864, when he accepted a position offered him through the intervention of Governor Andrew, as paymaster in the United States army with the rank of major.

The happy termination of the war soon after gave to him but a brief period of service, but the promptness aud fidelity with which he discharged his duties in this capacity won for him the special commendations of the officers of the army with whom he was associated.

A notable incident occurred during the time he was paymaster, illustrating the confidence reposed in him by the goverijment. He was commissioned to take $4,000,000 from New York and Philadelphia to New Orleans. He accepted the trust, and unaccompanied by an escort, conveyed this large sum of monej' safely to the " Crescent City." He was also United States Assessor and a member of the Governor's Council.

Returning to civil life, he became interested in a slate quarry in Pennsylvania, which promised to be of value, and in 1865 decided to remove thither with his family. The severance of social ties which bound him to his native town cost him many a struggle, and he brought himself to it only by cherishing the hope and expectation that after a temporary absence he and his might return to their old home again.

They returned to their native town in April, 1881, and three months later, August 1st, .Mr. Ames p;isscd away in the seventy-fifth year of his age, leaving a wife and two children.

He married May 20, 18:i2, Martha Kingman, daughter of Capt. Thomas Thompson, and their children were as follows : Thomas Franklin, born July 19, 1835, died March 8, 1854, drowned at sea; Martha Augusta, born May 12, 1844 ; died at the age of sixteen ; Charlotte Thompson, born May 14, 1847, married Joel P. Bradford, of Pairhaven, .Mass. ;

History Op Brockton

Fninikliu Ames lefc beliind him a name and record unsullied by any questionable transaction in all his public and official career, while in private life he was u citizen commanding the universal esteem and confidence of his fellow-men and a Christian whose life exemplified the principles of the gospel.

Ziba C. Keith was born in 1842, iu the old home- .stead at thejuuctiun of Main and Plain Streets and the Ea»t Bridgewater road, Campello, under whose roof-tree six generations of tiie family have lived and died. His fatlier was Capt. Ziba Keith, the wellknown commander of a company of militia years ago, in the days of old-fashioued musters. In boyhood Mr. Keith attended the schools in his native town, and afterwards the Pierce Academy at Middleboro'. Entering upon a business life, he was for five years book-keeper and salesman in the office of liis brother, Martiu L. Keith, in Boston. In 1364 he returned to Campello, and in partnership with Embert Howard (now of the firm of Howard & Caldwell) opened a general store for the sale of everything, from groceries to dry goods. The firm was known as Howard & Keith. After a couple of years lie sold out to Jonas Reynolds, buying the business back again at the end of six months. For a year or two H. N. P. Hubbard conducted the dry goods department of the business, then Mr. Keith purchased the entire control, and continued the business until 1882.

In 1875, Mr. Keith was a successful competitor with Hon. Jonathan White for the honor of beins the Republican nominee for representative. The result was quite close, and intense interest shown, some eight hundred ballots being cast. Mr. Keith was elected, served his term, and was re-elected the following year. In 1879 he was elected and served as a member of the board of selectmen.

He was elected the first mayor of the city in 1881. He was renominated and defeated by six vot*s. He again received the nomination in 1883, and was elected by over six hundred lyajority, and is the present mayor.

Mr. Keith has never been a lay figure in the social or business circles of the town. lie is a member of the South Congregational Church, and prominently identified with commandery, chapter, and lodge of the local Masonic fraternity. He was largely instrumental in organizing the Campello Co-operative Bank, which has done so much to build up that part of the town, and foster among workingmen an ambition to own and occupy homes of their own, and is now treasurer of the association. Mr. Keith is also vice- I president of the Brockton Savings- Bank, and a director in the Brockton National Bank ; also treasurer of the street railway company. He has also been largely interested in building movements at the South End.

Ziba C. Keith is as universally liked and esteemed as any man in town. No one could meet him and know him without being impressed with his sterling integrity of character, while admiring his frankness and kindly bearing towards every one, irrespective of station or nationality. Mr. Keith has acknowledged executive ability. While in the Legislature, Mr. Keith always sided with prohibitory measures. As a member of the license board of selectmen of 1879 he was one of the minority, voting against the granting of licenses. While he is in favor of all possible restrictions of the liquor traffic, he still believes that spirituous liquors should be sold at some place or places for medicinal and mechanical purposes. He favored the Gothcnberg plan, during its continuance, as an improvement upon indiscriminate or general licensing. He is a temperance man, but not a radical prohibitionist.

Welcome Howard Wales, son of John and Olive (Howard) Wales, was born in North Bridgewater (now Brockton), Jan. 20, 1821, at the old Wales homestead, which was located on the site now occupied by the residence of R. P. Kingman, Esq., corner of Main and Belmont Streets. During the years which immediately followed his majority, Mr. Wales engaged in machine manufacture, and continued iu this business until the year 1862. At the towu election in March, 1862, he was chosen to the office of town clerk, a position for which he w;is especially adapted. Upon assuming control of the office he determined to discharge its duties with an eye single to the public welfare, and how faithful he was to the trust imposed is evidenced by the fact that he was re-elected annually for a period of sixteen successive years, and oftentimes by a substantially unanimous vote. His sphere of usefulness, however, was not confined to this office alone. In 1864 he was chosen collector of taxes, and held the position until his death, and so well did he discharge the delicate and difficult duties of this office that he was designated as the " model collector." He represented the town iu the Legislature in 18C9 and 1871, and iu 1S73 was chosen a selectman, and re-elected each succeeding year. He was also chairman of the selectmen several years. It was his coustaiit aim to please those with whom he came in contact, aod to perform in a conbcieiitious manner tlie variuus trusts which devolved upon him.

In his death the town lost an experienced and valued servant, and the public one who was ardently interested in all that pertained to the advancement of the various interests of Brockton.

Oct. IG, 1845, Mr. Wales united in marriage with Lois, daughter of John \V. and Almira C. Kin;.^nian, and tlicir family consisted of one child, Abbie Penn, bu.n Aug. 28, 1S4S, and died Feb. 8, ISCG. Mr. Wales died July 2, 1879.