Taunton City (part 6 of 13)

The commanders in rotation have been Robert Crossman- (2d), Mason W. Burt, Edgar R. Sprague, Alfred M. Williams, Harrie A. Cushman, Abner Colenian, George E. Dean, Charles H. Orchard, Henry D. White, George H. Babbitt, Jr.,' William Watts, David H. Gaboon, Alfred B. Hodges, Charles S. Anthony, T. C. Lucas, J. W. Brewer, the present incumbent.

The object of the organization is to create a more fraternal feeling among those who fought side by side in the late rebellion, and help their disabled comrades and their families who are left dependent upon them for support.

The amount paid out for relief of members and their families since the Post was organized aggregates eleven thousand five hundred and seventy-six dollars.

Eclecticism and Eclectics in Taunton. - It may seem uncalled for to define the principles of eclecticism, for they have been before the public for three-fourths of a century, still manj' inquire how it

Early in the present century thei'e was a widespread dissatisfaction with the prevalent "heroic treatment" of disease. Tlie medical practice of that day consisted largely in the free use of mercurials, drastic purgatives, blisters, almost indiscriminate venesection, and other measures calculated to depress the vital forces. In 1825, Samuel Thompson advanced the theory that stimulants and relaxants were the true agents for the expulsion of disease. Five years later, Dr. Wooster Beach published an elaborate work called the " American System of Medicine," sharply criticising the system of depletion and introducing many new remedies, mostly American plants. Copies of his work were presented to several sovereigns of Europe. He received in return medals struck in honor of Dr. Beach, and testimonials eulogistic of the reformed practice.

In 1836, a college of reformed medicine was inaugurated in Ohio, and in 1845 a similar institution was chartered and built in Worcester, Mass. At .a meeting of the trustees of this institution the name "eclectic" was chosen as appropriate to the new school of medicine. Dr. J. S. Andrews, now of Taunton, was then a member of this board.

There are now in the United States six eclectic medical schools, twice as many State societies, a score of medical journals, and a literature embracing works on all the branches of medicine. In therapeutics especially eclecticism has added largely to the medical knowledge of the world.

One of the earliest standard-bearers of eclecticism in Taunton was Dr. S. P. Hubbard, who has a large and well-established practice. About 1860 Dr. Paul W. Allen entered upon an extensive and lucrative practice in this city. He gave it up to accept a professorship in New York College, and was succeeded by Dr. J. S. Andrews. Dr. Andrews was at one time president of the Massachusetts Eclectic Medical Society, an association of physicians if less in numbers yet equal in intellectual acquirements and professional standing to any in the country.

Chapter Lxix

always been known that one of the "signers of the Declaration of Independence" was a Taunton man, Robert Treat Paine; but long before that " Declaration" Taunton had a record which is highly creditable to her patriotism and valor, and more than one man was ready to sign that " Declaration" and stand to it. Fortunately, " the attic of Samuel Godfrey," grandson of Brig.-Gen. George Godfrey, was a safe repository of valuable papers, which came into possession of Mr. Edgar H. Reed, from which we are permitted to draw information concerning a portion of Taunton's share in the work of the Revolution.

" At a meeting of the commissioned officers of the East division of the militia of Bristol County held in Norton, Nov. 9, 1774, George Godfrey of Taunton was chosen Colonel - George Williams, Lieutenant Colonel - Nathaniel Leonard, P' major, Zephaniah Keith, 2'' major. This Division contained the companies from Taunton, Raynham and Easton. The captains of the various companies were as follows: Taunton, Capt. Nathaniel Leonard, Capt. Simeon Williams, Capt. John Reed, Capt. Cornelius White, Capt. James Leonard, Capt. Israel Dean, 2'', Capt. Ebenezer Dean."

" On monday, ye 2P' day of Nov. 1774, the East Division of the third Regiment in ye count)' of Bristol, met at Taunton and drawed up in a Battalion in Capt. Thomas Cobb's shed Lot so called, by ye Adjutant Major Abijah Hodges, in manner hereafter described, vis: Ye field officers came in on the right wing, vis, George Godfrey next to the Battalion and George Williams on ye right, N. Leonard on ye left and Z. Keith on ye right and so march* round s'" Battalion until we came to ye centre - 3 of s'' Field officers with their hats under ye arm and G. Godfrey, his hat on and paid his compliments to each captain."

The citizens of Taunton appointed an important committee, called " a Committee of Inspection and Correspondence," July 3, 1775, whose duty it was to promote the general safety, and that of Taunton in particular, and, fortunately, when the fire of 1838 consumed almost everything else in the town clerk's custody the records of this committee escaped. From these records we make liberal extracts.

"At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Taunton on Monday, July 3, 1775, said town made choice of George Godfrey, Esq., Capt. Henry Hodges, Lieut. Solomon Dean, Maj. Richard Godfrey, Capt. Simeon Williams, Insign Ichabod Leonard, James Williams, Jr., Lieut. Elisha Barney, Lieut. William Thayer, Lieut. Ebenezer Cobb, Mr. Elijah Lincoln, Lieut. Benjamin Dean, Jr., Dr. David Cobb, Mr. Nicholas Baylies, Mr. John Adam, Benjamin Williams, Esq., Mr. Josiah Crocker, Col. George Williams, Robert Luscomb, Esq., Lieut. Edward Blate, and Mr. John Keene as a committee of inspectiorj and correspondence for said town, and any seven to make a quorum.

"This committee met on Monday, July 10, 1775, and made choice of James Williams, Jr., for their clerk. Mr. Nicholas Baylies, Col. George Williams, and Capt. John Reed were chosen a committee to take into their care the effects and estate of Daniel Leonard, Esq., lying in Taunton, who has fled for protection to Boston, said committee to improve or let the same to the best advantage, and render a true account of the profits arising therefrom to this committee, or any other committee of corresi5ondence of this town that shall be (jhosen for that purpose.

" Voted, that George Godfrey, Esq., Capt. Simeon Williams, and Gol. George Williams be a committee to take into their custody the pork and grain now in the store of Dr. McKinstry, and send the same to the army as .soon as may be, and. take an account of the same and keep an account of the cost of transportation."

Daniel Leonard and Dr. McKinstry were such notorious Tories that Taunton was not considered a safe place for them, and they took refuge in Boston. Thomas Gilbert was another, or, as Gen. George Godfrey styles him, " the notorious Torie Gilbert." He considered it prudent to leave Taunton.

The Committee of Inspection and Correspondence held frequent meetings, and had much business on hand. "March 18, 1776, the committee met and proceeded as follows, viz. :

" In committee, March 8, 1776, Nathaniel Bird, a shop-keeper in this town, being convicted for refusing paper currency in his payments, the committee resolved to publish him to the world agreeable to the order of the Continental Congress, but said Bird soon after applied to the committee, desiring their pardon for his crime, and promising reformation for the future. They therefore have stopped all proceedings against him, and recommend him for the future to the good opinion of the Continental Congress on the signing the following paper." Which paper is given at length and embodied Nathaniel Bird's contrition for his offense and promise of amendment.

The report that eight hundred British soldiers had marched from Boston on the night of April 18, 1775, by order of Gen. Gage, under Maj. Pitcairn, to Concord, to destroy the military stores deposited there, and the firing upon a company of American soldiers at Lexington on their way, on the morning of the 19th, and killing eight men, spread rapidly over Massachusetts by couriers (they had no telegraphs or telephones in those days). It was the first blood shed in the Revolution, and it aroused the people to arm fully for their defense. The news arrived in Taunton on the evening of the 19th, and Capt. James Williams rallied a company and was on the march in a few hours, arriving at Roxbury on the morning of the 20th, and reported for duty. His lieutenant was Josiah King ; Abial Macomber, ensign ; John Shaw, John Hall, Abiathar Hathaway, and Daniel Briggs, sergeants; Eben Sumner, drummer ; Eben Pitts, filer. Privates Thomas Andrews, George Andrews, Jacob Burt, Richard Cobb, Richard Caswell, Job Caswell, John Caswell, Asahel Grossman, Job Dean, Nathan Dean, Ebenezer Dean, Micah Dean, Abijah Dean, Ebenezer Dean, Joseph Eliot, George Eliot, John Godfrey, Seth Godfrey, Peter Haskins, George King,

An interesting paper, which may be called a response to the " Declaration of Independence," was recently discovered in the attic of the late Henry Hodges Fox, among the relics left by his ancestor, Capt. Henry Hodges, a prominent ofiicer here a hundred years ago. It is called a " covenant," and evinces the spirit of '76 in Taunton, as follows:

" We, the subscribers, do each of us severally for ourselves profess, testify, and declare, before God and the world, that we verily believe that the war, resistance, and opposition in which the United American Colonies are now engaged against the fleets and armies of Great Britain, is on the part of the said Colonies just and necessary. And we do hereby severally promise, covenant, and engage to, and with every person of this colony who has or shall subscribe this declaration or another of the same tenor or words, thatAwe will not during the said war, directly or indirectly, in any w^iy, aid, abet, or assist any of the naval or land forces of the king of Great Britain, or any employ'd by him, or supply them with any kind of provisions, military or naval stores, or hold any correspondence with or communicate any intelligence to any of the officers, soldiers, or marines belonging to the said army or navy, or inlist or procure any others to inlist into the land or sea service of Great Britain, or take up or bear arms against this or either of the United Colonies, or undertake to pilot any of the vessels belonging to the said navy, or in any other way aid or assist them. But on the contrary, according to our best power and abilities, will defend by arms the United American Colonies and every part thereof against every hostile attempt of the fleets and armies in the service of Great Britain, or any of them, according to the requirements and directions of the laws of this colony that now are or may hereafter be provided for the regulation of the militia thereof."

This document committed tho.se who signed it in the " colony of Massachusetts Bay" to the Declaration of Iiidepcnileiice, and to it are attached in their own handwriting the signatures of Taunton men, as follows: John Godfrey, John Thayer, Henry Hodges, Jr., Abiathar Hodges, James Hodges, Jonathan Thayer, Stephen Haskins, Jr., Luther Haskins, John Holmes, Nathaniel Briggs, Abel Burt, Nedaliah Lincoln, Aaron Pratt, Ben Washburn, Timothy Hodges, Nehemiah Haskins, Jr., William Haskins (8d), Samuel Haskins, James Woodward, Daniel Briggs, David Stacey, Seth Hodges, Silas Axtell, Thomas Hodges, Morgan Cobb, William Hodges, Samuel Torrey; Nathaniel Briggs (2d), Jacob Burt, Abraham Burt, John Hodges, Simeon Cobb, David Burt, Peter Haskins, Isaac Burt, Isaac Burt, Jr., Ebenezer Cobb, Levi Harlow, James Codding, Aaron Knap, Gideon Hicks, Moses Knap, Edward Knap, Abiathar Knap, Ephraim Knap, James Tisdale, Daniel Short, Henry Briant, Nathaniel Dean, Abel Burt, Loren Tisdale, Benoni Tisdale, Simeon Cobb, Timothy Haskins, Pelatiah Estey, Samuel Hayward, Jonathan Harvey,/ Stephen Haskins, Philip Mason, Samuel Stacey, Samuel Stacey (2d), Job Stacey, Job Stacey, Jr., George Woodward, John Briggs, Amos Stacey, James Harvey, Ebenezer Willis, John Willis, Levi Torrey, Nathan Dean, Isaiah Reed, Zephaniah Hodges, Jonathan Barney, Jacob Barney, Nehemiah Dean, Samuel Gardner, Benjamin Williams, James Leonard, Zephaniah Gary, Seth Pollard, Joseph Harvey, Rufus Leonard, Oliver Dean, Enos Dean, George Reed, Jr., Frye Torrey, - eighty-seven names in all. Some names also appear to have been erased. Whether their courage failed them when came the tug of war or what was the reason we know not. Probably this was only one of several papers for signatures which has survived the wreck of time.

Immediately after the action at Concord and Lexington, April 19, 1775, the men of Massachusetts were put under a thorough military organization. A brigade was formed in Bristol County, consisting of four regiments, end placed under the command of Brig.- Gen. George Godfrey, of Taunton. The Third Regiment of this brigade was raised mainly in Taunton and vicinity, under command of Col. George Williams, of Taunton ; Lieut.-Col. Zephaniah Keith, of Easton ; 1st Maj. Abel Mitchell, of Easton ; 2d Maj. James Williams, Jr., of Taunton ; Adjt. William Seaver, of Taunton. The organization was perfected during March, 1776. On the 12th of September of that year the General Court, in compliance with a recommendation of the Continental Congress, had ordered one-fifth of the militia to be drafted, except in the remote counties and seaport towns, and when organized to be marched to New York.

The command of the Massachusetts troops was given to Benjamin Lincoln, who had been appointed majorgeneral May preceding, and in less than three weeks, October, 1776, Gen. Lincoln arrived in camp, Westchester County, with the Massachusetts troops, in which Taunton was represented.

Adjt. Seaver was detached from Col. Williams' regiment in a short time, and assigned to the position of aide-de-camp upon the staff of Gen. Heath, whom he had known in Roxbury prior to the war. While on duty at Westchester County Maj. Seaver was present at the battles of White Plains and Chatterton's Hill, Oct. 28, 1776. A diary kept by him a century ago has recently been published, giving interesting details of his camp-life. He was next transferred to Warren, R. I., as brigade inspector upon the staff of Brig.-Gen. Godfrey. He was promoted Aug. 3, 1779, brigade major. His reports on file at the State-House, Boston, show that service was performed by Taunton troops in Bristol County brigade in that vicinity.

Returning from that expedition, Maj. Seaver was detailed for special duty in different localities, one of which was under Count De Rochambeau at Newport, in August, 1780.

After the close of the Revolution, Maj. Seaver continued his connection with the State military, and for nearly thirty years was brigade inspector of Bristol and Plymouth Counties, serving in that capacity under Brig.-Gen. Godfrey, from 1776 to 1781 ; Gen. James Williams, 1781 to 1792; Gen. Silas Cobb, 1792 to 1802; and Gen. Thomas Lincoln, from 1802 to 1815. He was the oldest son of William Seaver, of Dorchester, born May 8, 1748, at the homestead of his great-grandfather, Robert Seaver, of Roxbury, and resided in Dorchester till 1772, when he came to Taunton.

Among the Godfrey papers referred to is the following : " Aug. 8, 1776, a list of the soldiei's under my command, enlisted by order of the Council to march to Dorchester Heights, from Col. Williams' regiment, in the county of Bristol. Edmund Rich-

Gen. Godfrey's papers show that another call was made upon him by the Council, Nov. 29, 177G, for one-fourth part of his men, who were to march immediately to the tow-n of Fairfield, Conu., to reinforce the Continental army at or near the State of New York, for the term of three months.

It appears from a memorandum-book kept by Gen. Godfrey that he and his whole brigade, on account of what he styles " the alarm at the State of Rhode Island," marched to Warren, Dec. 8, 1776, and were discharged the 31st of the same month.

The Godfrey papers give a " return of the names of the men enlisted from Capt. Joshua Wilbore's Company in Col. George Williams' Regiment, with the names of the colonel and captain enlisted under to the Continental service," dated Sept. 2, 1777. In the spring of 1778, Taunton contributed toward " raising troops to be sent to Fishkill, N. Y., to serve for the period of nine months."

A company was enlisted in to the service of the United States by Capt. Jacob Haskins, for Col. John Jacobs' regiment on duty in New York for one year from Jan. 1, 1778, as follows: Jacob Haskins, of Taunton, captain ; Lieutenants, Noah Pratt, Jacob French, Matthias McFornan, .Tonathan Fletcher ; Sergeants, Aaron Turner, John Law'rence, Jesse Ellis, Peter Smith, Benjamin Fuller, Elijah Fuller; Corporals, Jonas Humphrey, Daniel Chickering, Parker Earle, Increase Pond, Samuel Gushing, Daniel Cook ; Privates, John Smith, Christopher Smith, Asa Holbrook, Zach. Bimbo, Samuel Williams, Enoch Darling, Jeremiah Crocker, William Fuller, Joseph , Titus

Capt. Haskins raised another company after the above for Col. John Hathaway's regiment, to serve from the 13th of March to April 15, 1779, as follows: Jacob Haskins, of Taunton, captain ; Abiel Macomi He was one of the guard detached for duty at the execution uf Andre.

ton, Provideuce, and New York ; and the accommodations of the Old Colony Railroad, connecting Taunton with Fall River, New Bedford, Cape Cod, the South Shore, as well as with New York and Boston, brought about very much through the wise management of Mr. Crocker, one of its directors.

In politics, Mr. Crocker was a member of the old Whig party, and as such served as a member of the Executive Council in 1849, during the administration of Governor George N. Briggs. In 1853 he was elected a representative to Congress, and served in that body from Dec. 5, 1853, to March 3, 1855. He was on several committees, and won a good reputation as a wise counselor and a faithful representative. In local municipal affairs he has always taken an active and leading part. He has been a director in both the Bristol County and the Machinists' Banks of Taunton, and for several years a trustee of the insane hospital at the same place. He is at present a trustee of Brown University, and of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, located in New York City.

Although the direct descendant of an early Congregationalist minister, he early expressed a preference for the Protestant Episcopal Church, and he and his brother William erected about 1826 and virtually sustained for many years the first church of this order in Taunton. From the founding of the church to the present time he has acted in the capacity of either warden or vestryman, and has served as a delegate to the Diocesan Conventions at different times, and also has thrice been a member of the.General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The beautiful stone edifice of St. Thomas parish, the finest-finished church building in Taunton, has been erected largely through Mr. Crocker's instrumentality.

For sixty years Mr. Crocker has been an active and earnest advocate of temperance, and has delivered lectures on the subject to great acceptance in various localities. His influence has always been exerted in favor of this important reform, as well as in behalf of sound morals and practical religion.

William and Samuel L. Crocker married sisters, granddaughters of the distinguished Isaiah Thomas, of Worcester, Mass., founder of the American Antiquarian Society, and sisters of Judge Benjamin F. Thomas, of that city. The first wife of Mr. Samuel L. Crocker was ^annah Weld Thomas, whom he married June 15, 1825, and who died Nov. 22, 1827. His second wife was Caroline, sister of the first, whom he married April 13, 1830, and who departed this life Jan. 28, 1875. Their children are Mary Caroline, who married Gen. Darius N. Couch, commander during the late war of one of the grand divisions of the Army of the Potomac, and subsequently of the Department of the Susquehanna; Sally, wife of Edmund H. Bennett, for the past twenty-five years judge of probate and insolvency, and at present dean of the Boston University of Law ; and Ellen Louisa and Samuel L. Crocker, Jr. The latter graduated at Brown University in 1856, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1859, and has resided for many years abroad. (Since the above was written Mr. Crocker has passed away. He died in Boston, Feb. 10, 1883.)

Willard Lovering

Among the representative men of Taunton, those who have largely advanced her material prosperity, and left an impress never to be obliterated, we must mention Willard Lovering. He was son of William and Mehitabel (Claflin) Lovering, and was born in Franklin, Mass., Nov. 18, 1801. His father was a fiirmer, and his early years were passed in farm-work, and, toward his majority, his winters in teaching. He began his long and active business career by serving an apprenticeship in the City Mills at Franklin, where he was employed for several years, rising step by step, until he had charge of the entire establishment. He took charge of the business of the Blackstoue Canal corporation of Provideuce, R. I., in 1833, and remained in that position three years, retiring to take the agency of the Carrington Mills, at Woonsocket, R. I. Here he was for three years also. Then, in 1836, he removed to Taunton, and was manager of the Whittenton Mills, which position he occupied for over twenty years, until the failure of C. H. Mills & Co. in 1857. In 1858, associated with his sons, he purchased the Whittenton Mills, and successfully conducted it, much enlarging the works and business, until 1864, when failing health admonished him to retire, which he did, leaving the business to the sucj cessful management of his sons, the Lovering Broth- I ers of the present extensive manufacturing establishment. I Mr. Lovering represented Taunton in the State ] Legislatures of 1865-66, and was always interested in and consulted in all the important interests of Tauni ton during his entire residence here. He was twice I married, first to Susan Loughead, adopted daughter of John Croade, of Warren, R. I. They had two children, - Charles and William. Second, Jan. 1, 1839, to Sarah C, daughter of Governor Marcus and Charlotte (Hodges) Morton. They had two children, - Henry M. and Charlotte M. Mr. Lovering sustained ' a high rank as a manufacturer. A man of rare good ; judgment, executive ability, and systematic, practical business talent, he maintained a character of unblemished integrity through life, and died Dec. 15, 1875, sincerely mourned by an unusually large circle of friends of every rank in life. He was at one .time president of the Taunton Branch Railroad, and at his death was president of the Taunton Savings-

Bank. He was prominently connected with the Episcopal Church for nearly half a century, and in his latter years a devoted member of St. Thomas Church.

Joseph Avilbar

Joseph Wilbar, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, w.is born in Easton, Mass., Dec. 13, 1792, and died at his residence in Taunton, Mass., .July 16, 1881. He was seventh in lineal descent from Samuel Wildbore, who with his wife, Ann, daughter of Thomas Bradford, of Dorchester, England, settled in Boston as early as 1633. The name is variously spelled (see sketch of Hon. Daniel Wilbur, Somerset, Mass.). Samuel Wildbore's second wife, Elizabeth, was admitted a member of the first church in Boston Nov. 29, 1645. Mr. Wildbore was admitted a freeman of Boston in 1634 (Boston records). He settled in Taunton at an early day, and became one of its largest landholders. He had residences in Boston and Taunton. He with some associates built and put in operation an iron furnace in that part of Taunton now Raynhani (see sketch of Theodore Dean). "He was a man of wealth for the times, and evidently of very respectable standing in society, exerting a wide influence in each of the places where he dwelt."

After the death of their father the children by common consent dropped the " d" in the first syllable and generally the " e" final, spelling the name " Wilbor."

Shadrach Wilbor, son of Samuel Wildbore, settled in Taunton (afterwards Raynham), on lands received probably from his father. He was evidently a man of wealth and influence in his time. He held several important trusts, representing his towa in the provincial government, and served as town clerk for thirty-five successive years. For lifting his voice, however, in opposition to the evils, as he deemed t1iem, in the government of Sir Edmund Andros, he was apprehended and imprisoned in Boston, Aug. 30, 1687, but it is not probable that he long remained there. He married Hannah , and had ten children, of whom Shadrach, Jr., born Dec. 5, 1672, was the third son and sixth child. He died in 1696 or 1697.

Shadrach Wilbor, Jr., son of Shadrach, was born in Taunton (now Raynham), and was a larmer by occupation. It is not known whom he married. He had five sons, viz.: Shadrach, Mcshach, Joseph, Jacob^ and Abijali. The first two sons settled in Taunton, but it is not certain whore the other three settled.

Meshach Wilbor, Sr., second son of Shadrach, Jr., was born in Taunton (now Raynham), married Elizabeth , who died Nov. 30, 1776, in the seventieth

The date of Meshach's death is not known. Nothing is known of George Wilbor, or Wilbur, as he now spelled his name, except that he settled in Titient parish, Bridgewater, Mass., and was a farmer by occupation. He had a son Geort/e, who settled in Easton, Mass., and followed farming. This George Wilbur was twice married, first to Betsey Packard, and had eleven children, of whom Joseph Wilbar, the subject of our notice, was one. Mr. George Wilbur married for his second wife Widow Mary Francis, by whom he had two children. The name began to be spelled with an "a" instead of a "u," thus " Wilbar."

Joseph Wilbae was of the sturdy New England yeomanry ; educated in the New England common schools of two generations ago, and starting out in life from thence to make his own way, he belonged to that great class which was so common fifty years since, but is fast passing into a traditional type as our civilization grows complex. In 1820 he married Elizabeth Capen, and two years later, at the age of thirty, came with her to Taunton. The following year his wife died, and in 1825 he was again married to Miss Huldah W. Briggs, who only survived her wedding-day a year and four months, leaving behind a daughter, Elizabeth AV., wife of Lovett Morse (deceased).

In August, 1827, he married Miss Fanny M. Lincoln, who survives him after a wedded life of almost fifty-four years. Of this union there were four children ; three died in infancy, one only, Joseph E., present register of deeds, attaining maturity.

During his earlier residence here his principal business was land surveying, by which he became familiar with the real estate of the town. He very soon became prominent in town affairs, and from about 1830 was on the board of selectmen, most of the time chairman, until he was appointed register of deeds in the spring of 1841. He was a leader, by the simple strength of his convictions, in the politics of the time, and his connection with the public interest increased constantly. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1852, with Governor Morton and Hon. Henry Williams. He held' the office of register of deeds for almost thirty-three years until the end of 1873. Familiar with the town affairs, with its real estate and its men, becoming widely known throughout the region, and as widely respected for his wisdom and sagacity, and trusted for his integrity, he found business increasing to the limit of his ability, and had he not been very moderate in his charges he might have reajied a rich pecuniary harvest. Probably no man has had so much to do with the settlement of estates and the adjustment of ditferences of opinion, or been so often called upon to .serve on boards of reference and counsel. From the beginning of the Bristol County Saving.s-Bank he was one of its pillars, his sagacity and knowledge of real estate proving of inestimable service. In 1865 he succeeded Capt. Silas Shepard as president, and retained the position during his life, his resignation a j'ear or two before his death being refused, not as a mere matter of courtesy, but because of the wortli of his name, even after his activity had ceased by reason of age and infirmity.

He united with the Broadway Congregational Church in September, 1826, at the age of thirty-four, although for some years previous he had been a steady attendant upon its worship. He never was able to fix the date of his conversion. Religiously educated, always serious and conscientious, his religious life began like the light of dawn, and grew and brightened as the years went by. Possessed of strong feeliug, he was yet not a man of superficial emotions ; he believed the truth, and quietly and decisively accepted it, opening all the windows of his soul Godward, and so the light that was in him grew and broadened ; but men never saw any flare of lamps or any flashing of lightning.

In August, 1828, he was chosen deacon, which office he held for almost fifty-three years, though foi' the last few years relieved from its active duties. This term far exceeds that of any other deacon of that church.

But his deaconate is measured by deeds, not years, long as it was. From the first he felt and accepted a heavy share of responsibility in the church. His post in the prayer-meeting wa.s not vacated. Week by week and year by year the church knew where to find him Thursday night. All his life he taught in the Sabbath-school until eighty-seven years old, and the influence he has exerted on the young men whom he has taught goes on now that he has fallen asleep.

For thirty years, until nearly eighty years old, he was treasurer of the society, and in that arduous and responsible position, if he expected others to do their duty, he spared himself least of all. Year after year, if a deficit occurred, he gathered a few on whom he could depend, stated the amount, and called upon them to make it up, his own subscription never lagging behind.

Joseph E. Wi/bar, the present register of deeds, is the only surviving son of Joseph and Fanny M. (Lincoln) AVilbar, and was born in Taunton, July 9, 1832. The line of descent has been as follows :

Mr. Wilbar received his education at the local schools in his native town. At the age of seventeen he entered the oflice of register of deeds as clerk for his father for the Northern District of Bristol County. He served in that capacity till December, 1861, when he was appointed postmaster of Taunton, and served for more than four years. He then again entered the register of deeds' oflSce, this time as clerk and assistant register of deeds, and continued in that relation till Jan. 1, 1874, when he was elected register of deeds to take his father's place. This position he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents till the present time (1883). He is Republican in politics, trustee of Bristol County Savings-Bank since 1874, and president since January, 1882. He is also a director in Bristol County National Bank.

He married Emma, daughter of Albert and Harriet (Ide) Barrows, of Norton, Dec. 26, 1861. Of this union there are five children, - Albert E., Arthur L., Charles B., Helen M., and Louise R.

Mrs. Wilbar was born in Norton, June 25, 1839. Her father was an agent for many years of Barrows' factory, at Barrowsville, in Norton. Her grandfather was named Carlos Barrows.

Edmund Baylies

EDMUND BAYLIES. The Baylies family in this country come of Quaker stock in England, where Nicholas Baylies appears on June 5, 1706, as a witness to the marriage of his son Thomas, and is described as "of the parish of Aloe- Church, county of Worcester." Thomas married Esther Sargeant, daughter of Thomas Sargeant, of Ffullford-Heath, in the parish of Soby-HuU, county of Warwick. He carried on iron-workg in England, first at Colebrook-dale, and afterward at some place on the Thames. With his son Nicholas and daughter E.sther he came to Boston from London in June, 1737, then returned, and the year after brought over his wife and two daughters. He settled at Uxbridge, M.ass., about 1738, and established iron-works there. His son Nicholas was interested in iron-works at Taunton, to which place he removed from Uxbridge, probably not earlier than 1745. He married Elizabeth Parks, of Newton, Mass., in 1738, and by lier liad seven sons and one daughter. He was a noted patriot at the time of the Revolution, and died in 1807. Two of his sons, William and Hodijah, were educated at Harvard College. The former was distinguished for eminent talent, both as a physician and for varied acquirements in other departments. The latter, born Sept. 17, 1766, was one of the same class at college as Rufus King and Judge Dawes, with whom, throughout their lives, he maintained a close and cordial friendship. On graduating from college in 1777, he obtained a commission as lieutenant of infantry, enlisted a company, and his first service after recruiting was on the Hudson, where he was attacked by a fever which nearly proved fatal. When Gen. Lincoln was appointed to the command of the Southern Department he selected Hodijah Baylies as one of his aides-de-camp, and in that ca- pacity he participated in the unsuccessful attempt to storm Savannah. When Gen. Lincoln capitulated at Charleston, May 12, 1780, Maj. Baylies became a prisoner of war, and as soon as his exchange was effected he rejoined the army, and in 1782 became one of the aides-de-camp of Gen. Washington, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel by brevet. He was with the commander-in-chief at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, where Wasliington appointed Gen. Lincoln to receive the English general's swoi'd. He remained in Washington's military family until the end of the war, after which he spent some time at Mount Vernon, and in 1784 returned to the North and married Elizabeth, daugiiter of Mary (Gushing) and Maj.-Gen. Lincoln.

After a short residence at Hingham he removed to Taunton, where he owned iron-works which be superintended, making bar-iron and afterwards anchors, and continuing this business until 1806. In 1785 he removed to Dighton, where he bought land, on which was a bouse which had been a hotel during the war, and which he remodeled. About that time he was appointed collector of the port of Dighton, and held this ofiBce for many years, resigning it in

1833. In 1810 he was appointed, by Governor Gore, judge of probate for the county of Bri.stol, and in 1814 he was elected by the General Court of Massachusetts a member of the Hartford Convention. In

1834, at the ageof seventy-eight, and in the full vigor of his mental faculties, he resigned the office of judge of probate, and retired from all public employments. He died April 26, 1843, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His wife died at Dighton in 1823. They liad three sons and one daughter: William, who was a graduate of Harvard College and died early ; Edmund, the subject of this sketch ; Amelia, who married Dr. Alfred Wood, of Dighton, and died without issue in 1862 ; and Benjamin L., who died in 1869. William and Benjamin never married. Edmund Baylies was born at Hingham, Sept. 22, 1787, and attended school there, and later at Dighton, until he was sixteen years of age, when, having no taste for a classical education, he went to Boston, entering as apprentice the commercial house of Cunningham Brothers. His first successful adventure was in 1805, as supercargo, in charge of a vessel for Hamburg with a cargo of sugar and colonial products, wbich he sold at high prices just before the battle of Austerlitz and the closing of the European ports by Napoleon. After this he made several voyages to Archangel, landing there goods which he undertook to have delivered in Paris, which he did in spite of Napoleon's police. He also took part of a contract for supplying flour to the English peninsular army under Wellington, and in carrying this out he went to Lisbon with a cargo of flour. He afterwards formed a partnership with Mr. Thomas B. Curtis, of Boston, for carrying on trade with Russia, and retired from business in 1836. In 1835 he purchased land at

Taunton, from Dr. Alfred Williams, and built on it a stone house. Up to this time he had resided in Mount Vernon Street, Boston, but in 1838 he removed to Taunton, generally passing the winter in the city and the summer in the country until 1848, when he sold the house in Boston and remained permanently at Taunton, with the exception of occasional trips to Europe. In 1819 he married Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Ruth (Larkin) and Phillips Payson, of Charlestown, Mass. Mrs. Baylies was born in 1799, and died at Boston, Oct. 10, 1846. She was possessed of great personal beauty, and was universally beloved for her kindness of disposition, her amiable manners, and her unaffected piety. Three cliildren were the issue of this marriage, - two daughters and one son.

Elizabeth, the eldest, married Wickham Hoffman, of New York, a lawyer, and a son of Judge Murray Hoffman. At the breaking out of the civil war he entered the army, and occupied many positions of distinction, first, on the staff of Brig.-Gen. Thomas Williams, at Hatteras, then with Gen. Butler at New Orleans, and afterwards as assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Gen. Sherman, and of Maj.-Gen. Franklin. In 1865 he held the same position on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Canby, resigned in 1866, and in the same year was appointed Secretary of Legation at Paris, where he remained for nine years under Ministers Dix and E. B. Wasliburne, and through the siege and the commune. In 1875 he was transferred to London, in 1877 to St. Petersburg, and in February, 1883, was appointed minister to Denmark.

The second daughter, Ruth, married Maturin Livingston, of New York, a grandson of Gen. Morgan Lewis, of Revolutionary fame, and of Gertrude Livingston, sister of Chancellor Livingston.

The son, Edmund Lincoln, married Nathalie E., daughter of Cornelia (Prime) and Robert Ray, of New Y'ork, and died at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1869, while traveling for his health. His widow now resides on the homestead at Taunton.

In early life Edmund Baylies belonged to the Orthodox denomination, but after his marriage he became a member of the Episcopal Church, and was for many years a vestryman of St. Thomas' Church at Taunton, as well as one of those who gave most liberally towards the building of the present .stone edifice. In politics he was an old-fashioned Whig, and when the war of the Rebellion broke out, he warmly supported the government; was in favor of active measures against the South, and being too advanced in years to serve his country in the field procured an able-bodied substitute, whom he sent to the front as his representative.

Of medium height and fine appearance, with clear blue eyes and a florid complexion, he strongly resembled the Duke of Wellington, for whom he has been mistaken in Europe. He retained his strikingly erect carriage until his death, in his ninety-first year. He was not more remarkable for his courtly manners than for his uprightness of character and invariable truthfulness. He was most liberal where his lieart and his judgment approved, but as unostentatious in his charities as in his manner of life. He always regretted not having been forced to go to college, was a great reader, had a wonderful memory, and was a charming conversationalist. A man of rare judgment and business capacity. As a director of the Taunton National Bank, the Old Colony Iron Company, tlie Taunton Copper Manufacturing Company, the Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Company, and other corporations, he gave wise and prudent counsel. He was for many years a trustee of the Taunton Public Library, and was a member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. His farm interested him deepl)', and he was especially successful in setting out trees, many hundreds of which, by their vigorous growth and commanding size, bear witness to his skill. At the death of his brother Benjamin, in 1869, the family estate at Dighton reverted to him, and he devoted himself to its improvement. He retained his faculties unimpaired until his death, which occurred at Taunton, May 16, 1878, after a short illness. His remains were interred in the family plot at Dighton, by the side of his wife, and near the other deceased members of his family.

Alfred Baylies, M.D.

Alfred Baylies, son of Thomas and Bethia (Godfrey) Baylies, was born in Dighton, Mass., Sept. 16, 1787. He was brought up a farmer, and retained a warm love for rural life and horticulture all his days. He attended private schools and studied medicine with his uncle, the celebrated Dr. William Baylies, in his native town. In those days the young student visited the bedsides of the sick from the first, and exi>erience and observation were instructors equal, if not supe^ rior, to those furnished by the most munificently-endowed college at the present day. His studies finished, about 1813, he commenced the practice of medicine in Taunton, and from the first had marked success. He married Rebecca Dennis, daughter of James Sproat, Esq., of Taunton, Dec. 4, 1813. They had four children, - Alfred S., who became a physician ; married, December, 1844, Jane Ingell Richmond, and died in August, 1847, leaving two children, - Alfred Wood and William Sargent (deceased); Amelia F., married Samuel Southgate; resides in Plymouth, and has two children ; Ann S. (Mrs. Charles R. Vickery) ; and Adaline S. Mrs. Baylies was born in 1789, and died July 24, 1843. Dr. Baylies married for his second wife Frances A., daughter of Abiathar and Nancy Dean Williams, Nov. 21, 1847. Their children are Maria W. and Esther S. He died July 2, 1873, in his eighty-sixth year. Dr. Baylies was one of the plain, unassuming gentlemen which we class as belonging to the old school. He was social, methodical, and systematic. By diligence and faithful though arduous endeavors he acquired a large and lucrative practice. The people had great confidence in him, and his presence in a sick room was a curative agent in itself. He despised all ostentation, and cared little for per.sonal appearance. He was of positive and determined nature, and fixed in his ways. He possessed such sound judgment that he was generally right, and was very popular. He was active in all society matters ; was an ardent Freemason, and held in high honor by the craft. He was secretary of King David Lodge, F. and A. M., of Taunton for over thirty years, and during the dark days of the Morgan excitement was the guardian of the charter of the lodge. The brethren at Weir named their lodge "Alfred Baylies Lodge," in honor of his masonic virtues.

He was very foud of pets, and never without some one of the lower animals on which to lavish attention. He was noted for his knowledge of horticulture, in the pursuit of which he built many green-houses. He grew many and rare varieties of grapes, and manufactured a large amount of wine. He was a great reader, keeping himself fully abreast of the times. His reading was solid and substantial, largely professional, historical, and scientific. Of sterling honesty, he never made an appointment or a promise of any kind that was not rigidly and promptly kept. His word was aS good as his bond, and neither was ever protested. He was an aflfectionate husband and a loving father, and he particularly enjoyed the happiness of the home circle, although he never murmured when called from it to face wintry storms for the relief of suffering. He gave his children advantages of good education, and was in favor of everything tending to improve, elevate, or instruct humanity. He was for years a trustee of Bristol Academy, and none did more hearty or valuable labor than he in the cause of higher education. He was Unitarian in religious belief, and Whig and Republican in politics. Although prized as a citizen and a social companion, his memory will be longer cherished as the "beloved physician," who for over half a century filled a place in Taunton and surrounding towns none other can ever fill. He was a man who, in all the walks of life, was of inflexible integrity. This was his pre-eminent characteristic. His object in all the varied demands of life was to ascertain his duty, and then to do it at whatever cost. No higher encomium on any man's memory could be written. Thus he honored his domestic relations, his professional position, his social and civic obligations, and exemplified the teachings and requirements of the church of his choice.

Hon. Charles Rice Vickery

HON. CHARLES RICE VICKERY. Hon. Charles Rice Vickery was born in Weir village, Taunton, Mass., Nov. 24, 1800, and died at hia residence in this city. Jan. 16, 1883. He was a son of Capt. David and Priscilla (Barnum) Vickery.

seventh minister of Taunton, who died in 1776, while on his way to join a regiment of Continentals as chaplain, soon after the outbreak of the Revolution.

JJir. Vickery was best known to the present generation by his years of service as cashier and president of the Machinists' Bank, but prior to those duties he was an energetic merchant, and one of the best auctioneers that ever wielded a hammer in Bristol County. Mr. Vickery was also an ,pld-fastiioned Democrat, and for many years an. active p'olitician and leader of that party in this county,. His service in State duties was as senator from this district in 1852. He was postnuister of Taunton for more than twenty years, and held .many , offices of trust. His geniality and pleasant manners made him a wide circle of friends during his long life.

He was twice married, first to Rebecca Church, and had four sons,- - Charles 0., John M., Benjamin C, and James E., - all of whom were born in Taunton, grew to maturity, and all died before their father. Mr. Vickery married for his sc^cond wife Ann S., daughter of Dr. Alfred Bay.lies,of Taunton, Nov. 30, 1858. She survives him. "'

Mr. Vickery was for many years a promiuept member of the First Congregational Society, and' a member of the building committee of the 'present church, i

Mr. Vickery was a man of unblemished -characier;.- spotless integrity, sound .and discriminating judgment, keen foresight, and conservative in all his views. He lived respected and died regretted.

Theodore .Deait

Theodore Dean is a lineal descendant in the seventh generation from John Deane, wlio came from Chard,. England, in 1637, and settled in Tauuton, then called Cohannet. The line of descent from John Deane.(fo'rmerly spelled with an " e" final) to Theodore Dean is as follows : John^ and Alice Deane had several children, the second son of whom was Thomas', born 1642, died 1690. He married Katharine Stephens, who died in 1726. Their second son was Thomas", born 1673, died Sept. 10, 1747. He married Mary Kingsley, of Milton. She died Feb. 1, 1740, aged seventy-four years. Their second son was Josiah*, born 1699, died March 28, 1778. He married, in 1737, Jane, daughter of Capt. Nehemiah Washburn, of Braintree. She was born in 1715, and died in 1790. They had children, the fourtli son of whom was Hon. Joskih', born March 6, 1748. He was member, of Congress from 1807-9; died Oct. 14, 1818. He married Sarah Byram, who was born in 1750, and died Jan. 13, 1849, at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. They had eight children, the seventh of whom, Elhtb Bi/ram, born 1788, died Nov. 2, 1871. He married Charlotte Williams, of Taunton, and had twelve children, one of whom is Theodore. For a more complete history of John Deane, the ancestor, see "Pioneer History of Taunton."

Etiab Bi/rani. Dean' was a native of Raynhani, was a manufacturer of iron in early life, but toward the close was a farmer. He was a Whig and Republican, but never an aspirant for political honors. For more than fifty years he was a deacon of the Congregational Church in Raynham, and his faithful wife was a member until her death.

, Theodore Dean was born in Raynham, Dec. 31, 1809. He received a common school and academic education at Bristol Academy, Taunton, Mass. At eighteen he commenced teaching, and taught four winters with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He was reared a farmer and manufacturer of iron, and continued with his father until 1848, when he purchased his father's interest in the " old iron forge" at Raynham, and continued to conduct a successful business until 1873. This forge was the first in the Old Colony, and one of the first in America, those at Lynn and Braintree having been esta'blished at an earlier date. This forge or bloomery was establislied by Messrs. Henry and James Leonard and Ralph Russell as early as 1656. "The forge at Raynham was the great joint-stock company of that cvicinity and period.'' These works w'ere undoubtedly ;very profitable, and the records say that " my share" lOr " shares iti the iron-works" were transmitted from father to son, or other heirs, for several generations. This old forge is now (1883) owned by Theodore Dean. It has been several times remodeled, and was in successful operation for more than two hundred years. Mr. Dean is also a desceiwlant from the Leonards on his father's side and through his grandmother, Sarah Byram, daughter of the Rev. Eliab Byram.

Mr. Dean removed to Taunton, Aug. 15, 1866, and has continued to reside here since. He is a Republi«irl in politics, and represented Raynham and Easttm in the State Legislature in 1866, serving on the Committee of Banks and Banking. In 1851 he was chosen a director of Bristol County Bank, and, September, 1853, was chosen its president, and has served in that capacity till the present time. In 1865 the name of this bank was changed to " Bristol County National Bank." He is a director in various manufacturing interests both at home and abroad, and in all of his varied interests has been successful. Mr. Dean is one of Taunton's most respected and wealthy citizens. He is a man of energy and decision of character, with strong convictions, which he does not lack the courage openly to avow, and in all matters of business and finance his rare judgment and sagacity are unquestioned. He married Lydia A. Lord in November, 1854. They have had three children: (1) Florence, born Nov. 13, 1856, married, Oct. 25, 1876, Charles D. Stickney, of Fall River, and has two children, - Harold D. and Adelaide L. ; (2) Charles Theodore, born March 1, 1860, and died Aug. 27, 1865; and (3) Bertha, born Sept. 15, 1866.

William Mason

William Mason, tlie founder of the Mason Machine- Works at Taunton, Mass., belongs to that class of intelligent and vigorous mechanics who, in spite of early disadvantages and by the force of native genius, leave their impress upon the age in which they live. New England has been especially fruitful in such men, and they in turn have rewarded her by making her the pride and glory of America. The following sketch of the life of Mr. Mason is taken mainly from " The History of American Manufactures," by J. Leander Bishop, A.M., M.D., and " Representatives of New England," by J. D. Van Slyck, published respectively in 1864 and 1879.

William Mason was born at Mystic, Conn., in 1808, and was the son of a blacksmith and small farmer. His boyhood was passed in his father's shop and on the farm two-thirds of each year, and the remainder in the country school. When he was three years old the family removed to a small island at the mouth of the Mystic River. Here they remained for three years, and then removed to Stonington, where the father cultivated a small farm and worked at his trade as a blacksmith. William's mechanical aptitude early manifested itself. He fashioned his toys himself, using his father's jack-knife, and when eight years of age made jew's-harps, afterwards .some skates and sleds. He also succeeded in making musical instruments of various kinds.

At thirteen years of age he left home, and going to Canterbury, Windham Co., Conn., he entered the spinning-room of a small cotton-factory as an operative. William worked at cotton-spinning for about four years, spending one year at Lisbon in a cottonthread factory. While at Lisbon, one of the more complicated machines needed repairs, and it was found that young Mason alone could make them. This fact becoming known at East Haddam, where a mill for the manufacture of thread was about to be established, he was sent for to start the machines, though only fifteen years of age. While employed at cotton-spinning at Canterbury he amused himself by making a "hurdy-gurdy." This instrument is still retained by Mr. Mason as a memento of his early mechanical recreations.

At seventeen he entered the machine-shop attached to the cotton-mill at Canterbury to learn the details of machine-work, and devoted himself to it three years, when he closed his apprenticeship and went to New Hartford, near Utica, N. Y. Here he obtained work in a machine-shop, but within a month the company failed and the shop was closed. The business, however, was soon started again, though on a more limited scale, and young Mason was re-engaged. After having been there about six months he returned to his old employer at Canterbury, and soon had finished and set up the first power-loom used in this country for the manufacture of diaper linen. He also constructed an ingenious loom for weaving damask table-cloths, the figures of the middle and borders being interwoven ; but this machine, unfortunately, had a short career, as his employer soon failed. Mr. Mason, who had always possessed a taste for art, especially for the art of painting, established himself for a short time as a portrait-painter. This, however, was not to be his life-work.

In 1832 he received an order from John Hyde, of Mystic, for some diaper-looms. He had neither shop nor means to warrant his taking the contract, but obtaining an advance on the job, he contracted for the necessary frames at a shop in Willimantic, with the privilege for himself and assistant of working there. Thus he realized a profit of about ten dollars a day. This was the turning-point of his career, and he thenceforward devoted himself to the manufacture of machinery.

The reputation gained by the fulfillment of this contract with Mr. Hyde was the means of securing for Mr. Mason an engagement with Asel Lanphear, who had. a machine-shop in Killingly, Conn., and was at work on a new device for spinning, which has become well known as the ring and traveler, or ringframe. It was the invention of John Thorp, of Providence, R. I., by whom it was patented Dec. 31, 1828. This invention had been attempted several times before, but without success. Mr. Lanphear soon failed, and Mr. Mason took charge of the establishment on account of the creditors, receiving a percentage on the business. In the ring-traveler, undeveloped and unskillfully made as it was, he saw the germ of a most important irapijbvement, and he at once constructed a machine for making it more perfectly and of an improved form. He remodeled and perfected the " ring," and designed a new and tasteful iron frame in place of the clumsy affair previously made. There was at first a limited demand, owing to the prejudice created by the failure of the old machine. The new device, however, soon acquired a reputation which it has retained to the present time.

Having remained at Killingly two years, Mr. Mason entered the employ of Crocker & Richmond, then doing a large business in the manufacture of cotton machinery at Taunton, Mass. For the next twelve months he worked steadily on his ring-frames. Ill the financial crisis of 1837 Crocker & Richmond failed, and were largely indebted to Mr. Mason. Not discouraged, however, by this disaster, he at once devised a "speeder" or " roving-machine." Shortly afterwards the old machine-shop of Crocker & Richmond was started up again by Leach & Keith, and Mr. Mason was emf)loyed as foreman, with his patented speeder as a specialty. The building of this machine soon gave way to the manufacture of the great invention of his life, the "self-acting mule." On this he experimented about two years, and received his patent Oct. 8, 1840. About the sa.me time the machine known as the "Scotch mule" was introduced into this country, and a more formidable rival appeared in 1841 in tlie "Siiarp & Roberts mule," imported by Maj. Bradford Durfee, and patented in this country Oct. 11, 1841. Tlie latter machine was in some respects superior to that of Mr. Mason, and lie set himself to make an entirely new mule. In this he succeeded, receiving a patent, Oct. 3, 1846, for what is known among cotton manufacturers as Mason's self-acting mule. Just before completing this machine, in the winter of 1842, he was taken ill, and, to add to his trouble. Leach & Keith failed, owing him a large amount.

On his recovery he determined to engage in business on his own account, and through the friendly assistance of James K. Mills & Co., of Boston, he became the principal owner and manager of the works. The prosperous times which succeeded the tariff of 1842, and the confidence of cotton and other manufacturers in his mechanical abilities at once established a business which in a very few yearsenabled him to erect, after his own design, the noble buildings known as the Mason Machine- Works, the largest, it has been said, ever erected at one time for the manufacture of machinery. The main shop was three hundred and fifteen feet long and three stories high, but addition after addition has been made to accommodate a constautiy increasing business until now the buildings cover an ar^ of ten acres. His business for many years comprised the manufacture of cotton and woolen machinery, ma- - chinists' tools, blowers, cupola furnaces, gearing and shafting, but the branch in which he was especially successful was the manufacture of cotton machinery. In this department he labored indefatigably to devise and introduce those various improvements which have contributed to increase the production, extend the consumption, and diminish the price of cotton fabrics.

In 1852, having placed his business as a manufacturer of cotton and woolen machinery and of the iron-work just named on a solid basis, he resolved on a new and additional enterprise. The first locomotive was brought into this country from England early in 1830 by Horatio Allen, of New York ; and the first American mechanic to engage successfully in their manufacture was Matthias W. Baldwin, of Philadelphia, who built the first engine in 1832, and was followed by Thomas Rogers, of Paterson, N. J., in 1837. Both of these mechanics made important improvements in the details of their locomotives. These, however, were still built on the general plan and model of the English locomotives. Mr. Mason determined to contrive a new model, and in 18.53 he brought out his first locomotive, which at once attracted attention for its beauty and taste, as well as for its workmanship. The general form, as well as numerous improvements in details presented by him, has since been adopted by locomotive-builders throughout the country. He had erected in 1852 additional buildings, and he now entered vigorously into this new field.

One of the improvements introduced by Mr. Mason was the casting of truck-wheels for locomotives and tenders with hollow or tubular spokes and rims, instead of the plate or solid wheels then in use. This secured greater strength to the truck-wheels, and made them uniform with the driving-wheels of the locomotives. The first locomotives brought out by Mr. Mason in 1853 were furnished with these improved truck-wheels.

In 1857 the Boston firm with which Mr. Mason was connected in business failed, and for a short time he was obliged to suspend payments. He, however, soon started again on his own account, and conducted the business alone until 1873, when an incorporated company was formed for the purpose of perpetuating the business in the hands of his heirs and successors. It has since been known as the Mason Machine- Works.

In 1879 there was added to the other works the manufacture of the Campbell printing-press, for the accommodation of which the capacity of the shops has been greatly enlarged, and new machinery put in adapted to that branch. The works produce an . average of one press a day, and employ in all departments about a thousand hands. The officers of the 'company are William Mason, president; William H. Bent, treasurer; Frederick Mason, agent.

The family of Reed, spoiled variously Eeade, Rede, Reid, Read, and Reed, traces its lineage back to the Norman conquest. Among the names contained on the muster-roll of William the Conqueror in 1050 was John Rede, or John of Rede. (See biography of Henry C. Read, of Attleborough.)

William Reade, supposed to be the son of William Reade and Lucy Henage, was born in 1605, and sailed from Gravesend, in the County of Kent, in the "Assurance de Lo" (Isaac Broomwell and George Persey, masters), in 1635. He settled in AVeymouth, Mass., and was made freeman Sept. 2, 1635. He bought a house and land of Zachary Bicknell, for seven pounds, thirteen shillings, and four pence, in 1636.

Mr. Reade was among the early settlers of Weymouth, it having been made a plantation May 8, 1635, and Rev. Mr. Hull and twenty-one families settled there. He was representative from Weymouth in 1636 and 1638.

John'-, son of William', of Weymouth, was born in 1649, married Bethiah Frye. Their children were John, William, Thomas, George, Mary, Ruth, and Hannah.

have been a man of considerable property and an extensive dealer in land. Tbe records describe about a dozen pieces of laud bought by him in Taunton, and several parcels sold by him. He was quite a business man in Taunton, but removed from there to Dighton, where he died Jan. 13, 1720-21. His wife died Oct. 20, 1730. They were buried in Dighton, on Burying Hill, between Upi)er and Lower Four Corners. He was the ancestor of tlie Taunton Reeds.

William' (John=, William'), of Taunton, married Mary Richmond, June 8, 1721. Their children were John, William, Mary, and Abigail. He was a pious man. He died in 1734. The homestead is owned and occupied by one of his descendants at the present time (1SS3).

His widow niarried Stephen Andrews, Nov. (3, 1738, a man of learning and piety, known by his neighbors as " St. Stephen," who lived to the age of nearly one hundred years.

John* (William^ John^ William') was born in 1722. He was a blacksmith by trade, and a man of considerable business; was one of the Committee of Inspection and Correspondence in the Revolution, and was also a religious man. He was above the middle stature, and rather stern in his manners. He married, Dec. 30, 1746, Dorothy Pinneo. Their children were Ruth, Lois, John, Mary, Dorothy, Hannah, Zilpah, Enos, and Lydia.

He married for his second wife, Jan. 9, 1771, Mrs. Hannah Austin. Their children were Nathan, Phebe, David and Jonathan, twins. Mr. Reed's first wife, Dorothy, was the daughter of James Pinneo, a French Huguenot, who had escaped from France during the persecutions of that pious and devoted band, and after having been secreted in dens and caves in France, he finally made his way to America and settled in Lebanon, Conn. The Rev. Bazaliel Pinneo, of Milford, Conn., is his great-grandson. Mr. Reed died December, 1788.

John* (John*, William', John'-, William') was born March 29, 1752. He was above the middle stature, athletic, and uncommonly regular in his habits ; was known in public life, having been selectman and representative several years. He was often chosen as arbitrator between parties, and was known as Esquire Reed. He was likewise distinguished for piety, and filled an important place in the society to which he belonged. He married Mary Godfrey, Nov. 21, 1775. Their children were Joltn, born Aug. 11, 1776 ; William, born Oct. 6, 1778 ; Polly, born Aug. 31, 1782; Dolly, born May 31, 1785; Marshall, born Jan. 17, 1788; Hodges, born June 3, 1790; Sophia, born Sept. 2, 1792; Zilpah, born Dec. 22, 1796. Mr. Reed died Feb. 24, 1841, and his wife died Oct. 12, 1843. She was a woman of superior sense and practical piety.

John" (John^ John*, William', John", William') was born Aug. 11, 1776. He was a merchant in Taunton more than fifty years. He married Rebecca

Henry G.' (John", John^ John*, William^ John^ William') was born July 23, 1810. He attended the public schools, and afterward the academy in Taunton. During school vacations he helped his father in his store. In his early life he made a collection of wood-working tools, and spent much of his leisure working with them, making useful articles for the family and neighbors, and miniature vessels and other toys for his mates. When eighteen years of age he entered the shop of Babbitt & Grossman as an apprentice, and continued with that firm and its successors until he attained his majority in 1831.

During his apprenticeship he had become the master of his trade, so that, continuing in the employ of the Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Company as a journeyman, working at first at the lathe and afterwards in various departments, he was in time intrusted with the oversight of the work of others, and was appointed time-keeper and superintendent. These relations he sustained when, in 1835, the firm was compelled to suspend operations, and the managing agent contracted with him and Mr. Barton to continue the business. He began the manufacture of britanniaware, in connection with Charles E. Barton and Gustavus Leonard, in 1837, employing twelve hands. The business now is chiefly the manufacture of electroplated silver-ware, and in times of ordinary prosperity eight hundred people are employed in the mills. There is no plate-ware which has a better reputation. The company is at present composed of Henry G. Reed, Henry H. Fish (deceased), and George Brabrook.

Mr. Reed has been a director in the Taunton Bauk twenty years, trustee in the Taunton Savings-Bank nine years, a director in the City Mission ten years, and president of the Reed Association five years. He is a very conscientious man, of generous sympathies, and a valuable citizen.

He married for his first wife Clara, daughter of Isaac White, of Mansfield. She died Sept. 27, 1847. His second wife, Frances L., daughter of Jared Williams, of Dighton, died May 9, 1857. He married, Oct. 27, 1858, Delight R., daughter of Christopher Carpenter, of Rehoboth. His children are Clara I., Henry A. (deceased), Ida F. (deceased), Fannie L., and Henry Francis.

The Brabrooks

THE BRABROOKS. Connected with the firm of Reed & Barton - the elder as a traveling agent, and the younger as a partner - are the two brothers, Alfred and George Bra- brook. These gentlemen are now widely known as having been many years efficiently connected with the business, and having developed qualities which render their services of great value. Both entered the employ of the company young, and both have attained to large spheres of trust and responsibility in their respective departments.

Of the ancestors of the family in this country little is known, except that they are believed to have emigrated from Scotland. Joseph Brabrook and Thomas, his brother, were of Concord, Mass., in 1669. From Joseph have descended all who bear the name in America.

The progenitors from Joseph' were Josejih^, Benjamin', Benjamin', and Joseph-'. The last-mentioned was the father of Alfred and George Brabrook; also of Joseph Adams Brabrook, of Lowell, Mass., o^f Kev. Benjamin F. Brabrook, a Baptist clergyman, who died June 9, 1853, at Davenport, Iowa, and of Sarah E. A. Brabrook, of Taunton, Mass. Their mother's maiden name was Sally Adams.

Alfred Brabrook entered the service of Reed & Barton as early as 1837, and subsequently secured a place for his brother George. It is only justice to the former to say that he has been a most efficient and active worker for the interest and prosperity of the house for nearly fifty years, and that his agency has contributed in no small degree to extend its busine.ss in the cities where he has traveled. Alfred maitied Martha Dorrence, and has two daughters living.

George Brabrook, whose portrait appears oil another page, was born at Acton, Mass., Nov. 9, 1828. He was brought up on his father's farm at Acton, and received his education at the common schools. He remained on the farm until he had attained his majority, and in 1850 became an employ^ in the shippingroom of Eeed & Barton, the firm with which he is at present connected. It would hardly be worth while to enter into details here of the different positions since filled by Mr. Brabrook. He has devoted himself to business in whatever branch he has pursued with untiring diligence and energy, and it is not too much to say that his success and the honors which are accorded him, both by employes and associates, are commensurate with his exertions and with the intelligence and genius which he has displayed in his work. After being in the employ of the house a short time, he traveled and sold goods as their agent. In 1859 he became a partner in the business, and so remains' at the present time.

Oct. 25, 1860, Mr. Brabrook was united in marriage to Eliza H. Knowles. She is a descendant on her mother's side of Rev. Samuel Danforth, the fourth minister of Taunton, and came to Taunton from her native city of Boston when quite young. They have two sons, - Carleton and George Hale.

Maj. Henry Hudson Fish

Maj. Henry Hudson Fish was the son of Isaac and Sarah Barker Fish, and was born in Providence, June 5, 1807. He first attended school in Providence, and was then sent to the academy at Wrentham, Mass., and then to the school of Rowland Greene, in Plainfield, Conn. On leaving school he entered the store of Frederic Carpenter, of Providence, and after the death of Mr. Carpenter he became a clerk of Mr. Henry Barton. He then went to Boston, into the auction and commission store of Whitewell, Bond & Co., where he remained until 1827, when he went to Fall River, where he formed a copartnership with W. H. Hawkins in the drygoods business, one of the earliest houses established there in that business.

After several years of prosperous business he was elected treasurer of the Fall River Savings Institution, and while holding this office was in 18.36 elected cashier of the Fall River Bank. In this way he was connected with the business interests of the city for nearly forty years.

After about two years' rest and travel, with improved health he went into active business with 'Reed '& Barton, of Taunton, Mass., in which concern he had been a partner for many years.

From that time he resided in Boston and Taunton until October^ 1881, when he went to Fall River, making his home-there with one of his married daughters.'

Soon after becoming a citizen of Fall River, he was elected ensign in a rifle company there, and subsequently was elected major of the regiment. He became a member of the infantry Sept. 9, 1824.

He was much interested in music, and was very instrumental in forming the first military band and in introducing the first organ, and formed a society for the study and practice of church music.

He was a Sabbath-school teacher over fifty years, and maintained to the last a warm interest in all philanthropic efforts, particularly the education of the freedmen and Indians.

Abiel B. Staples

ABIEL B. STAPLES. A. B. Staples was born in Taunton, Mass., Jan. 19, 1819. He is the son of Ebenezer and Susannah (Booth) Staples. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also named Ebenezer. The ancestors for several generations have resided at or in the immediate vicinity of Taunton. His father was by occupation a brick-maker, and reared quite a numerous family. His cliildren were Benjamin F., Susaunali P., Ebenezer P. (deceased), Abiel B., Fanny M., Salome, Lydia M., Charity, John H., Henry B., Ann G., Edward W., and Silas L. ; all living except Ebenezer, and all in Bristol County. Ebenezer, the father, was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and one of seven who founded the First Baptist Church in Taunton. The family for several generations have been Baptists.

The only educational advantage enjoyed by A. B. Staples in his youth was an attendance of about three months of each year at the common school of his town, the other nine months he worked in his father's brick-yard.

In April of the 'year in which he attained his majority (1840) he started business for himself He began in a small way making brick, and from that time to the present this has been his business. From year to year he added to his facility, and increaseli his capacity for manufacturing until he is now one of the largest brick manufacturers in the town. He is also quite a large contractor, and sells a great many brick for other parties, as the demand upon him frequently exceeds his capability for making. It is worthy of remark that Mr. Staples has never stopped his business on account of hard times or financial depression, and never discharged his men because his business was not at that particular time remunerative, but every season he has worked the season through. From the first it was his ambition to excel in the quality of his goods, and to this 'ambition tfiky be attributed the very favorable reception his bricks meet with at the hands of all masons using them.

Mr. Staples was for several years a member of the City Council of Taunton, but has never sought political office. He has chosen to devote himself earnestly and entirely to his business. He is a shareholder, in two or three coasting vessels, is a charitable man so far as his means allow, and a liberal supporter of the church.

He married April 20, 1842, Mercy J., daughter of Haven and Hannah Spooner, of Bari-e, Worcester Co., Mass. She was born Jan. 3, 1818. They have had four children, - Abiel W., died in infancy; Mary J., now Mrs. Levanseller, of West Washington, Me., she has one child, Clinton W. ; Emma, died in infancy ; Hannah F., now Mrs. Anthony Hall, of Taunton ; she has two children. Flora F. and Albert A.

William H. Phillips

From the best data at hand we think that Capt. William H. Phillips is a lineal descendant from one William Phillips, who was one of the first purchasers in Taunton in 1637 or 1638. But little is known of him. In his will, dated April 16, 1654, he calls himself threescore and ten years of age. He gives out his small estate to his wife Elizabeth and sou James,

This James Phillips had children, however, but their uames are not known to the writer. He probably liad a son William, and certainly a grandson William, who was a native of Martha's Vineyard. He married Lucy Holly, a native of Nantucket. Their children were John, grandfather of Capt. William H., another son died young, and four daughters, who obtained maturity.

John. Phillips, son of William, was born in Taunton, Mass., March 20, 1781, and died in March, 1824. He married Deborah Phillips. She was born in Taunton, Dec. 11, 1781, and died Oct. 6, 1840. From the best information obtained the writer is of the opinion that this John Phillips was a cousin to the father of the well-known Wendell Phillips, and this corresponds to the tradition of the family.

John Phillips was a brickmaker at one time at Daversport, but finally returned to Taunton in December, 1812, where he carried on that business quite extensively, and was somewhat engaged in farming also. He was a very energetic man, a great worker, and called by his friends "working John." He was a soldier for a short time in the war of 1812. His children were William Stoddard; Lucy A., wife of Benjamin Stevens, of Pawtucket, K. I. ; Robert, lost at sea when a young man ; James ; Sarah W. and Ann M. (twins); Sarah W., wife of Reuben Pratt; and An-n M., married Eben Paull.

Capt. William H. Phillips is also a great-grandson, on his Brother's side, from Jacob Haskins, who was born June 20, 1786, and on the 6th of April, 1759, we find liim an enrolled soldier in "His Majesty's servi-ce" against the French and Indians. They marched from Taunton on the 16th of April, 1759, to Boston, and then took ship on the 10th of May for Louisburg, arriving there on the 24th. He served with distinction through that and all subsequent wars till his death, Jan. 4, 1819.

The first of his ancestors that we know of was one William Haskins (or Hoskins, as the name was sometimes spelled). He was at Scituate, Mass., in 1634, afterwards at Plymouth. We know but little of him. His children were William, born Nov. 30, 1647; Samuel, Mary, Sarah, Benjamin E., and Elizabeth.

William (the second) was the one who settled in Taunton; married, July 3, 1677, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Casewell, and had children, - Ann, Sarah, William, born June 30, 1681 ; and Henry, born May 13, 1683.

Their children were Betsey, and Hannah, born Dec. 13, 1774, and died May 11, 1843. She married Enos Burt, born Sept. 3, 1760, and died April 4, 1822. Of their ten children, Hannah, born May 12, 1799, i was the third child. She became the wife of William

Stoddard Phillips, and mother of Capt. William H. Phillips; Hannah M. ; John M., whose portrait and biography are in this work ; James O. ; Enos B. ; Frances D., died in inlanc)' ; Deborah F. ; Jacob, who died young ; and Mary E.

William H. Phillips, the subject of this sketch, is a son of William Stoddard and Hannah (Burt) Phillips. On the paternal side he is the grandson of John Phillips, of Boston, who came to Taunton and married Deborah, a daughter of Capt. Jacob Phillips, a well-known and highly-respected citizen of Taunton, who carried on an extensive trade by means of coasting vessels with the neighboring seaport towns. John Phillips, the grandfather of William H., and also his father, William Stoddard Phillips, were manufacturers of brick, and followed the coasting business, principally in vessels of their own. They were enterprising and successful men, particularly the latter, who accumulated considerable property.

William H. Phillips, on his mother's side, is descended from the Burts of Taunton. His maternal great-grandfather was Stephen Burt, born .Tan. 26, 1722, and died August, 1760. His wife's name Was Abigail. She survived him till March 15, 1791, when she died in the seventieth year of her age. Enos Burt, born Sept. 3, 1760, died April 4, 1822, and Hannah, his wife, born Dec. 13, 1774, died May 11, 1843, were the parents of Mr. Phillips' mother. The latter was Hannah Burt, born May 12, 1790, and died Dec. 13, 1872.

William H. Phillips was born on an island in the Blackstone River, at or near Central Falls, R. I., March 20, 1825. When he was a child his parents returned to their native town (Taunton), and here William was brought up and attended the common schools till the age of fourteen. At this period he began to go to sea in coasting vessels owned bj' his father, trading at Providence, Fall River, New Bedford, and other neighboring seaboard towns. William took charge of one of the vessels as captain before he had attained the age of eighteen. He continued to go to sea until 1857, when, on account of the increase of his business, he left the water and associated himself with Capt. S. N. Staples, of Taunton, under the firm-name of Staples & Phillips. They, have since been engaged in the shipping and handling of coal and iron, and in general commercial business.

As a shipmaster, Capt. Phillips was eminently successful. Since his association with Capt. Staples the firm have carried on a large and increasing business, notwithstanding heavy losses in consequence of the monetary panic of 1873. They have, however, by their characteristic energy, surmounted their difliculties and met all their obligations. Few local firms are more prosperous than they are at the present time.

last municipal election he took strong ground in favor of prohibition, and with the friends of the temperance cause had the satisfaction of seeing their representative, Hon. H. L. Cushman, elected mayor of Taunton. He was an active worker in securing the charter for the city government of Taunton, and was a member of the first City Council. He and his partner have taken an active interest in all measures looking to the growth and prosperity of the city. Among other interests may be mentioned their activity in behalf of the horse railroad which runs through the heart of the city, connecting Weir village and Whittington.

In religious faith and practice, Mr. Phillips is an earnest and devoted Methodist, and his zeal and liberality in behalf of the cause have been evinced in the enlargement of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Weir village, and the founding of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Taunton.

He married Fanny W., daughter of Joshua and Sally (Richmond) Shaw, of North Middleborough, Mass., Jan. 17, 1848. She was born Oct. 13, 1823, in North Middleborough, Mass. Their children were Henry S., who died in infancy, and Isadore L., born Aug. 20, 1852. She married John F. Montgomery, of Taunton, Jan. 27, 1875. They have three children, viz.: Fanny W., Hugh, and Mary P.

John Marshall Phillips

John Maeshall Phillips, a younger brother of William H. Phillips, was born in Taunton, Mass., April 8j 1829. He was brought up partly on the farm and partly as a sailor on coasting vessels belonging to his father, and began to go to sea at about twelve years of age. Up to this time he had been a regular attendant at the common schools; but between twelve and twenty his time was divided between sailing in summer and going to school in winter. During this period of his seafaring life he developed much independence of character, and was a mate at seventeen and a captain at nineteen years of age.

In 1849, at the age of twenty, he was among the first adventurers to California, making the voyage thither ria Cape Horn in the brig "Triumph," commanded by his uncle, Capt. Hiram Burt. It required two hundred and sixty days to make the voyage. His life of two years in the mines was comparatively uneventful, or at least partook of those characteristics of mining life w^hich are now commonly understood and familiar to most readers. During his sojourn in Camp Saco, a Mexican town, an incident deserving of record occurred. Cajjt. Phillips observed that among the flags floating from the buildings in the* mountains there was no flag of the United States, to whom the country belonged, and he determined to raise the symbol of America in the town. There was no American flag to be found.

and no materials to make one of could be procured short of a distance of one hundred and seventy-five miles; yet such was the ardor and patriotism of Capt. Phillips that these difficulties were not considered too great; the distance was traveled, the materials procured at whatever cost, and in due time a " star-spangled banner," made by his own hands, with the assistance of his partner, was flung to the Pacific breeze and floated proudly among the emblems of other nationalities. This was the first American flag ever raised in that town.

Returning home, Capt. Phillips purchased a vessel and engaged in the coasting trade. This business he has since followed, with varying fortunes and incidents, till within a few years past. He has built several vessels of late years, among which may be mentioned the " Calvin P. Harris," launched at Bath, Me., in August, 1871, and the "Alfred Brabrook," launched in October, 1873, from the same yard, - that of Goss, Sawyer & Packard, Bath, Me.

He owns an interest in a number of vessels, and is part owner and master of the new excursion steamer " Empire State," plying in Boston and adjacent waters as a summer excursion boat;. " The Hand-Book of Boston Harbor" speaks of this steamer thus :

" One of the chief features of the summer pleasure of Boston is the immense three-decked steamer ' Empire State,' of seventeen hundred tons, with a length of three hundred and twenty feet, and eighty feet beam, and spacious and beautiful saloons, diningrooms, promenade deck, and other luxuriant appurtenances." : .- .. .

Capt. Phillips is a self-made man, and is noted for his liberality, being free to bestow of his means upon charitable and worthy objects. He and his family are members of the Universalist Church, of Taunton, Mass.

He married, Jan. 15, 1854, Martha E. Moiton, daughter of Isaac and Hannah Morton, of Gorham, Me. They have had five children, three sons and two daughters, the latter, viz., Agnes L. and Minerva R., are living; two sons died in infancy, and M. Walter, the second son, died at the age of twenty-three, March 1, 1881. He had, three years previous to his death, been clerk of the steamer " Empire State."

KEV. MORTIMER BLAKE, D.D.> Rev. Mortimer Blake, D.D., was born in Pittston, Me., June 10, 1813, the son of Ira Blake, a native of Wrentham, and descendant of John Blake, of Sandwich, who removed to Wrentham with the returning settlers after its destruction in King Philip's war. The mother of the subject of our sketch was Laura Mowry, descendant of Nathaniel Mowry, one of the first settlers of Providence, R. I. The parents met and married in Maine, where the father was teaching, and returned thence to Franklin, Mass., when the son was about four years old, and there they spent the remainder of their days. The father was a bright, clear-headed man, given to books, and the mother a woman of keen, quick intellect, remarkable memory, fond of old ballads and poetry generally.

Their son Mortimer had a strong passion for books, and devoured all the libraries within his reach. When about ten years old he fell in with a Latin grammar, and began study without any teacher. His grandfather Blake, a good deacon of the church, for the encouragement of the lad, offered to pay the minister if he would hear him recite. A bargain was soon made with Rev. Mr. Smalley (afterward Dr. Smalley, of Worcester), and the boy mastered Virgil and Cicero, and was all ready to start out on Greek before the thought of college had entered his mind.

When fifteen, a German Jew, by the name of Seixas, visited the place to form a class among the ministers of that region for the study of Hebrew. He occupied a" part of Dr. Emmons' house. Young Blake was invited to join the class. He consented, not without fear and trembling among so many ministers. But Seixas was a fine teacher, and those lessons, taught by a new method, on written sheets, inhere to this day. All this time there was no college visible ahead. But the good grandfather had it in mind, and he, a man of faith and prayer, was hoping and expecting a minister might come of all this. And so when Abijah R. Baker (afterwards Rev. and D.D.) opened an academy in Medway village, young Blake was sent there with the purpose of fitting for college, with the full consent of his parents and all concerned. He entered Amherst College in 1831, and graduated in 1835. It was in the winter of 1834 he became a decidedly Christian man, and thus answered the prayer of the godly grandfather, who had his education so much at heart. In his college course, which the writer well remembers, being only in the class before him, those rare qualities of mind and heart were developed which have done so much for the ministry and the church. As is not uncommon with college students, the graduate of 1835 turned aside for a season to teach. He had tried his hand at this in Hopkins Academy, Hadley, for a term in his senior year. His many friends in Franklin urged him to open a school there. A stock company erected a large building for the purpose, and in the course of three years nearly a thousand different scholars came under his instruction, many of thear now well known in the pulpit and at the bar. Meanwhile he was studying theology with the pastor of the Franklin Church, Rev. E. Smalley, and he w;w approbated to preach by the Mendon Association, April 24, 1838.

This same year (1838) he received and accepted a very urgent invitation from the trustees of the Hopkins Academy, Hadley, who remembered his teaching qualities in 1835, to take charge of their institution. He served them only one year. He was beginning to be hungry for tins ministry, to which he had been set apart. His first pastorate was witli the Congregational Church in Mansfield, Mass., where he was ordained and installed Dec. 4, 1839. The church was young and struggling, a missionary church, but during the sixteen years' pastorate of their minister was built up in knowledge and good doctrine, and well established in the sisterhood of churches. It was a trial to tliem when, in 1855, Dec. 4, Mr. Blake, having accepted a call to the Winslow Church, Taunton, was installed their pastor. But the removal was not to a distance, and no minister has a warmer greeting in the Mansfield pulpit than their pastor of 1839-55.

The record of the long and most useful ministry of already eight-and-twenty years (with promised continuance) in Taunton is not yet complete. Its finished history cannot be writtten. Enough is known of it, however, to warrant the assertion that not only has one church felt the quickening iDfluence of such a protracted pastorate, but all the" churches of every order, and the entire%city as well as the adjoining towns, have been reached and blessed by it. The church conferences, the Sabbath-school conventions, the ministerial associations, the public gatherings of every name have become accustomed to the presence, and feel lost without the wise coun.sel and easy direction of this one man. The young find in him. a sympathizing, helpful friend in all their attempts to iniprove time and get knowledge. The Agassiz Club, organized by young students to promote the study ofmineralogy and natwal, science, has no more active, whole-souled membei'^han Dr. Biake. The Wheaton Female Seminary at Norton'leans upon the president of its board of trustees more than any one else for sympathy and advice. -The State' societies of the Congregational order iiave appreciated the valUe of Dr. Blake's services, since for several' years he was one of the executive committee of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society iCad of tlie Congregational Board of Publication (its secretary 'at the time of the union of the latter with the Massachusetts Sabbath-School Society under the new name of the Congregational Publishing Society, and since that union one of the managers and now the secretary of the new society). Amherst College, his Alma Mater, honored herself as well as her son in conferring, in 1868, the honorary degree of D.D. upon this graduate of 1835. It was a just recognition of services rendered, of attainments made, and eminence reached by the Franklin boy of 1817.

The publications of Dr. Blake have been, in 1844, a 16mo volume entitled "Gethsemane and Calvary," which has passed through several editions ; in 1853 a 12mo, " Centurial History of the Mendon Association ;" in 1878 an 8vo, " History of the Town of Franklin," beside several pamphlet sermons and magazine publications. Dr. Blake has the reputation of being a zealous and accurate historian, has long been a member of the New England Historical

He married, Feb. 21, 1837, Miss Harriet L., daughter of Joseph and Susan (Fisher) Daniels, of Franklin, Mass., a descendant of .Toseph Daniels, of Medtield.

(1) Evelyn Laura, married to Bradford F. Morse, of Franklin, and now engaged in the straw business in Taunton. They have two daughters, with their parents, church members.

(2) Percy Mortimer, married to Miss Phebe Sheffield, of Lyme, Conn., who resides in Hyde Park, and is actively employed as sanitary and civil engineer in introducing pure water into cities and towns. They have three children.

(3) Lucien Ira, a graduate of Amherst College in 1877, and of the Eoyal University of Berlin, Germany, where he has received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. He is about returning to the United States, and has already overtures from several literary institutions regarding a professorship.

(4) Harriet Daniels, a graduate of the Wheaton Seminary, Norton, in 1878, and a teacher of private classes in natural science and literature.

REV. SAMUEL HOPKINS EMERY.> Rev, Samuel Hopkins Emery was born in Boxford, Mass., Aug.' 22, 1815, and is the fifth son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Welcll) Emery, a descendant of John Emery, of Newbury, who cauie, with his brother Anthony, from Romsey, England, in 1635. His mother w'as daughter of Col. Joseph Welch, of Plaistow, N.H., a commander of New Hampshire troops in the Revolution, and 'a friend of Washington. He lived to be ninety-seven, and his daughter, Mrs. Emery, ninetytivo.' Mr.- Emery's protonym was given from his mother's high regard for Rev. Dr. Samuel Hopkins, of Newport, R. I.