whom died in young manhood at the age of
twenty-six years.
Samuel D. Shaw was of literary tastes and
bent and it was the intention of his parents
to give him a college education, but his pre-
carious health necessitated the abandonment
of this plan. They, however, started him out
in life the possessor of a gristmill, which soon
led to the grain business as an adjunct, and of
an apt business turn it was not long ere through
his enterprise, industry and the careful man-
agement of his affairs he was carrying on an
extensive wholesale business, as well as retail,
in grain and flour, and in all the requirements
of a country store. He also was engaged in
the lumber "business, controlling a mill for the
manufacture of building lumber. He, too, at
one time, was interested in the manufacture-
of tacks. And through his varied business
experiences he was successful, though many
times unfortunate in sustaining heavy losses
by fire, having had no less than half a dozen
damaging fires in his career.
It has been stated that Mr. Shaw was of a-
literary bent. He was all of this, and through
a busy, active life he was a student and espe-
cially gave much attention to the natural sci-
ences. In his political affiliations he was a-
Whig, until the formation of the Eepublican
party, when he became identified with that par-
ty, with which he ever afterward acted. He
was an earnest opponent of slavery. After
his retirement from active business he made
his home with his son, in Plymouth, dying
there Nov. 29, 1905, at the age of ninety-two-
years. His wife died in East Bridgewater,
where both are buried.
(VIII) John Joseph Shaw, M. D., son of
Samuel Dike and Wealthy Stickney (Estes)
Shaw, was born Aug. 11, 1842, in East Bridge-
water, Mass. He acquired his early education
in his native town, attending the William
Allen Academy, and the public schools, furth-
ering his studies in the celebrated State nor-
mal school at Bridgewater, from which institu-
tion he was graduated in 1863. Having a
taste for medicine he began his study in the-
LA^UC..*^^^^
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
867
year following his graduation. He was grad-
uated in 1867 from the Hygeio-Therapeutic
College of New York City. Later, in 1872,
he took a post-graduate course at the Harvard
Medical School, and after its completion locat-
ed in East Bridgewater in the practice of medi-
cine, remaining there two years. In October,
1874, he removed to the old historic town of
Plymouth, which has ever since been his field
of labor and operation, and there he has be-
come the "beloved physician," has grown into
an extensive and lucrative practice.
Dr. Shaw is a member of the Massachusetts
State Medical Society and the American Insti-
tute of Homoeopathy. He is an original
thinker, and a clear and forcible writer, and,
being a student, has kept abreast of the times
in the profession. Not a little has gone from
his pen to the medical press, and before medi-
cal societies. He is the author of the mono-
graphs entitled "The Scientific Basis of Homoe-
opathy" and "Why I am a Homoeopath." He
served for a period as town physician of Ply-
mouth.
He is a member of Patuxet Colony, No. 103,
Pilgrim Fathers, of which he is lieutenant
governor ; and belongs to Mayflower Lodge, No.
54, I. 0. 0. F., and to Plymouth Rock Lodge,
No. 84, A. 0. U. W., all of Plymouth. He
is local medical examiner for both the frater-
nities.
Dr. Shaw has traveled abroad to some ex-
tent, visiting Europe in the year 1896. He
went to London as a delegate to the Interna-
tional Homoeopathic Medical Congress, and
later visited Scotland, Belgium, Germany, the
Rhine, Switzerland and Paris. On his re-
turn to this country he took a special course
at the New York Poet Graduate Medical Col-
lege and Hospital. He again visited Europe
in 1900. In 1909, accompanied by Mrs.
Shaw, he made a trip over the American conti-
nent, including a visit to the exposition at
Seattle.
Dr. Shaw has been twice married, marrying
(first) Persis R., daughter of Alvin Kingman,
of Keene, N. H., and (second) Edith Luella,
daughter of Rev. Jeremiah Knight Aldrich, of
Warwick, R. I., and a direct descendant of
George Aldrich, of Derbyshire, England, who
came to this country in 1631, became a free-
man at Dorchester, removed to Braintree and
later, in 1663, to Mendon, Massachusetts.
Rev. Jeremiah K. Aldrich, the father of Mrs.
Shaw, among other charges served as pastor of
churches in Groton, Rye and Nashua, N. H.
He was the author of "The Day of Our Sav-
ior's Crucifixion."
One child was born to the first marriage of
Dr. Shaw, by name John Holbrook Shaw, who
was graduated in 1893 from the Harvard Med-
ical School and, in 1894, from the Boston Uni-
versity, and has since been actively engaged in
the practice of medicine in Plymouth, Mass.
He took a special course in diseases of the eye
and ear, to which he now devotes his entire at-
tention, practicing ih Plymouth.
Two children blessed the second marriage of
Dr. Shaw: Lillian Estes, born Oct. 13, 1881,
died May 16, 1895. Joseph Henry, born
Oct. 9, 1886, graduated from Rock Ridge
school, at Wellesley Hills, Mass., and then
spent a year and a half as a student at the
Massachusetts School of Technology, at the end
of wliich time he was obliged to give up his
studies on account of ill health; he is now pro-
prietor of the Samoset Garage, of Plymouth.
WALTER COPELAND BRYANT. The
name of Bryant has been of record in New
England for nearly two hundred and eighty
years, while since the early settlement of the
North parish of Bridgewater, now Brockton,
members of the family have played a promi-
nent part in the development and growth of
this section of Massachusetts. While the fam-
ily is not an exceptionally numerous one, it
has, nevertheless, sent forth into the world
distinguished sons and daughters, none of
whom, perhaps, gained a more renowned repu-
tation than the late William Cullen Bryant,
the poet, who although born at Cummington,
Mass., Nov. 3, 1794, was really a North
Bridgewater product, as his father, Dr. Peter
Bryant, a physician, and his mother and
grandfather. Dr. Philip Bryant, were born in
North Bridgewater, where William Cullen
Bryant himself lived in 1814 and 1815, at the
home of his grandfather. No. 815 Belmont
street, less than a mile from the Brockton fair
grounds on the trolley line to Taunton. This
house is still known as the William Cullen
Bryant house, and it was here the young man
came to live in June, 1814, to study law with
Judge Baylies, of West Bridgewater, going
back and forth to his studies on horseback.
"Thanatopsis" was written and published in
rough draft a short time before he came to
North Bridgewater, and he brought the manu-
script with him. "The Inscription for the
Entrance to a Wood," one of his best poems,
was written here, and "Yellow Violets" was
written just before leaving North Bridgewater,
the latter being composed there but written out
during a short visit to Cummington; "Thana-
topsis" in its finished form with the last verse
868 SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
added and complete, as we know it, emanated Natlian, Setli, Job, Gamaliel, Phebe, Ruth,
from the North Bridgewater house. "The Sarah, Anna and Prudence. The father of
Waterfowl," his best poem in the estimation these children died Nov. 22, 1759, and the
of many, was composed there, even if not put mother March 27, 1777, aged seventy-five,
down on paper, the actual writing taking place (IV) Job Bryant, son of Ichabod, married
just after he left North Bridgewater, its tlieme May 3, 17G4, Mary Turner, and their children
having been prompted by the thought of being were: Anna, born in 1764; Nathan, 1766; Cal-
a young lawyer and wondering how he would vin, 1768; Job Staples, 1772; Thirza, 1774;
get his living. On Aug. 15, 1815, William Oliver; Clement; Samuel; Asa, and Harriet.
Cullen Bryant left North Bridgewater with (V) Oliver Bryant, son of Job, married in
his credentials as an attorney of the common 1804, Nabby (otherwise Abigail), daughter of
pleas in his pocket, having lived in the town Timothy Ames, and their children were : Ziba,
from June, 1814, a little over a year and two born Oct. 16, 1804; Danville Ames, July 19,
months. His grandfather. Dr. Philip Bryant 1806; Theron Carver, May 17, 1808; George
(died in 1816), and his grandmother. Silence Washington, Aug. 4, 1810; Abigail Carver,
Bryant (died in 1777), are buried in the little March 1, 1813; Timothy Ames, Aug. 30, 1815;
graveyard just west of the Brockton fair Jane, Jan. 19, 1820; Charles, July 25, 1822;
grounds, near a large clump of white birch and Edwin Clark, Feb. 10, 1825.
trees, their gravestones still standing. In later (VI) George Washington Bryant, son of
years William Cullen Bryant revisited the old Oliver, was born Aug. 4, 1810, in North
home, the guest of his kinsman, the late Bridgewater, now Brockton, in that section of
George W. Bryant, grandfather of Walter C. the town now known as Brockton Heights.
Bryant, and took great pleasure in viewing He married Lucy Washburn, daughter of Bil-
again the scenes of his younger days in the dad Washburn, of Kingston, Mass. Mr. Bryant
town. The poet's brother, John Howard was a manufacturer of marble work in the
Bryant, who was also a gifted poet, visited the town of North Bridgewater, Mass. He was
late Henry L. Bryant several times and talked justice of the peace and trial justice for Ply-
at length of William Cullen's year in the mouth county, and one of the prominent and
North parish of Bridgewater (now Brockton), influential citizens of his native town. The
It is the purpose of this article to treat of children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were:
the branch of the Bryant family to which be- George Edward, who married Elizabeth C.
longed the late Henry Lyman Bryant, in his Holmes, and is now deceased ; Henry Lyman,
lifetime one of the progressive and enterprising mentioned below ; and Abby Jane, who married
citizens of Brockton, and his son, Walter Fred Hanson, of Brockton, where she died.
Copeland Bryant, who for a number of years (VII) Henry Lyman Bryant, son of George
was associated with his father in various busi- Washington, was born in the old towti of
ness enterprises. The genealogy of the family, North Bridgewater, in the old Bryant home,
as given below, is in chronological order, be- which stood on Main street, near West Elm
ginning with the first American ancestor of street, the present site of the Homestead build-
the family. ing (whence the latter takes its name), May
(I) Stephen Bryant, the progenitor of the 11, 1835. He received a common school edu-
Bryants in and about the Bridgewaters, came cation, all that was given the average boy of
from England and settled at Plymouth, Mass., his day. He inherited the ambition, industry
as early as 1632, and there married Abigail and thrift that had characterized his Puritan
Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, who came from ancestors, and he was determined to work for
England with him. Their children were : himself. One of his first aspirations was to
John, Mary, Stephen, Jr., Sarah, Lydia and succeed in business. He wanted to be a self-
Elizabeth. . made man, and as the years rolled on he most
(II) Stephen Bryant (2), son of Stephen assuredly realized his dream, and his fortune
and Abigail, married Mehitable, and their chil- was all of his own making. As a small boy
dren were : Stephen, David, William, Hannah, he started out as a newsboy — the first in his
Ichabod and Timothy. town — sending to Boston and having sent him
(III) Ichabod Bryant, son of Stephen (2), each Saturday two copies of the Boston Bee,
was born July 5, 1699, in Middleboro, Mass., Boston Daihi Star and Boston Daily Mail.
whence he moved to the North parish (after- He sold his first paper to Benjamin Kingman,
ward North Bridgewater, and now Brockton) who admired his grit and energy, and by hard
during the early settlement. He married Ruth work he disposed of his first consignment by
Staples, and their children were: Philip, the following Tuesday night — there not being
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
S69
then the frantic desire for news of the world
evinced by later generations. This was the
beginning of his business ventures, and in a
short time he had built up a profitable paper
route. His optimistic spirit did not let him
stop here. When twenty-one years old he went
to Randolph, then quite a town compared with
North Bridgewater, and opened a clothing
store, but conditions were not good and he
soon gave it up. Returning then to North
Bridgewater, he and his brother George E.
purcliased of the late Henry W. Robinson his
entire stock of clothing, and under the firm
name of G. E. & H. L. Bryant established the
first exclusive clothing store in the town, their
business being located at Main and Centre
streets, where the Bryant building now stands.
At that time the structure consisted of three
wooden sheds, so connected in front as to look
like one building. The brothers had the south
and middle rooms, and they built up a good
business, continuing some years after the war.
Late in the sixties Mr. Henry L. Bryant sold
his interest in the business to his brother.
Mr. Bryant purchased the property at Main
and East Elm streets, and although warned by
others that his plan was rash, he determined
to put up a large brick building. On the
property were three houses, in one of which
his son Walter Copeland was born. He had
infinite faith in the future of Brockton, how-
ever, and moving the three houses away
erected, in 1871, the Opera House building,
or Music Hall, as it was generally known.
This was the third brick building in Brockton.
It contained the largest hall in the town, and
there some of the most important events in
the history of the town took place. As the
town grew the needs for a larger hall became
manifest, and Mr. Bryant altered and rebuilt
the property as the Brockton Opera House, he
liimself becoming the manager. His interest
in amateur theatricals led him into the busi-
ness as theatrical manager. In the early days,
as a member of the Jackwood Dramatic Club,
formed in 1865, and named from their first
play, "Neighbor Jackwood," he attained note
as an actor. The second play of the club was
the old Southern drama, "The Octoroon," and
his characterization of Wah-No-Tee, the In-
dian, left so vivid an impression that it was
talked of for a quarter of a century afterward ;
and every time that play was revived, even as
late as in the eighties, he was a conspicuous
figure. While he played in some half dozen
plays he was usually the business manager,
and the unfailing success that attended the
efforts of the Jackwoods was largely attributed
to his management and advertising. During
his career as manager Brockton was given the
best the country afforded in the theatrical line.
Mr. Bryant was a personal friend of such
actors as Joseph Jefferson, Lawrence Barrett,
Frank Mayo, Nat C. Goodwin, John B. Mason,
George Rignold, Signer Brignoli (the singer),
Margaret Mather, Lotta, Maggie Mitchell and
many others. As these nearly all in those days
were with the road companies, he was success-
ful in having them visit Brockton. The Opera
House was destroyed by fire in 1886, and that
ended his career as a manager. A new build-
ing was erected on the ashes of the old, and
while it still retains the name it is used for
commercial purposes. In the early eighties
Mr. Bryant erected the Crescent block, corner
of Main and Crescent streets, and in 1885 the
Church block (adjoining the Opera House
block on Main street), and he was also inter-
ested in other property. For many years he
was one of the largest taxpayers in the city.
Mr. Bryant's beautiful home was erected on
West Elm street in 1878, and was one of the first
of the attractive homes on that street. Although
he was devoted to his home, Mr. Bryant was
also fond of travel, in which pleasure he in-
dulged extensively, not only in this country
but among foreign countries as well. Four
times he had crossed the Atlantic, and had
visited France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland,
England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Aus-
tria, Belgium, and other countries. Rome
especially held many attractions for him, and
her wealth of historical associations wrought a
lasting impression upon him. He was one of
the oldest members of the Church of the New
Jerusalem, though for some years before his
death he attended the Church of the Unity.
He belonged to no fraternal organization, and
took but little interest in politics, never aspir-
ing to public office. His political affiliations
were with the Republican party. For several
years he was a member of the Commercial
Club, of Brockton.
Mr. Bryant was three times married. On
May 11, 1856, he married Rebecca Porter
Copeland, who was bo.rn Nov. 27, 1838,
daughter of Marcus and Rebecca (Porter)
Copeland, of North Bridgewater, who was also
a descendant of historic New England ances-
try, she being of the seventh generation from
Lawrence Copeland, of Braintree, Mass., and
also a granddaughter of Maj. Cyrus Porter, of
Stoughton, Mass. This union was blessed with
two sons: Henrv Shelton, born Jan. 29, 1858,
died Jan. 31, "'1858; and Walter Copeland,
born Oct. 8, 1867, is mentioned below. Mrs.
870
SOUTHEASTEEN MASSACHUSETTS
Bryant died Nov. 15, 1875. Mr. Bryant mar-
ried (second) July 2, 1877, Lizzie Jane Wash-
burn, daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth Alma
(Kingman) Washburn, of North Bridgewater,
and she died Jan. 28, 1881, without issue. On
Feb. 8, 1882, Mr. Bryant married (third)
Helen B., daughter of William and Ann Bur-
gess, of Thomaston, Maine, who survives him.
Throughout his last illness, which lasted for
some months, Mr. Bryant never lost his inter-
est in affairs, and at no time did he seem to
despair, being cheerful to the last. His busi-
ness matters were left in perfect condition, but
order was characteristic of him always. He
loved Brockton, delighted in telling of its early
flays, and all Brockton loved him. He passed
Bway at his home April 23, 1908 — a man who
commanded the respect and esteem of the com-
munity in which his long and useful life had
been passed.
(VIII) Walter Copeland Bryant, son of the
late Henry Lyman and Rebecca Porter (Cope-
land), was born Oct. 8, 1867, in North Bridge-
water, and after attending the common and
high schools of his native town took a special
business course at Beckers & Bradford's busi-
ness college, Boston. After leaving school Mr.
Bryant established himself in the crockery and
household furnishings business, in which he
continued for about two years under the firm
style of W. C. Bryant & Co. Disposing of
his interests in the business he formed a part-
nership with his father, under the name of
H. L. & W. C. Bryant, engaging in the bro-
kerage and real estate business, and thus con-
tinued until the father's death, since which
time Mr. W. C. Bryant lias conducted the same
business alone, together with attending to the
management of his father's estate. Mr. Bry-
ant is a supporter of the principles of the
Eepublican party, but like his father has never
aspired to public office.
On Jan. 21, 1891, Mr. Bryant was married
to Maria 0. Robinson, daughter of the late
Capt. Edwin A. and Amelia (Waldo) Robin-
son, of Thomaston, Maine. Capt. Edwin A.
Robinson was a sea captain, for a number of
years master of a fast clipper ship engaged
in the China trade, and for several years prior
to his death was president of the Thomaston
National bank. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have
been born two children : Waldo Robinson, born
Oct. 6, 1892 ; and Mildred Copeland, March 7,
1896. Mr. Bryant and his family reside in a
pleasant modern home at No. 374 West Elm
street, which lie erected in 1893. Like his
father, he is of a retiring nature and is un-
assuming in his manners.
Mr. Bryant has, up to the present time
(1911), made four voyages to Europe, going
on the various journeys from Naples to Nor-
way and Ireland to Vienna, and has traveled
on this side of the Atlantic from St. John,
N. B., to San Francisco, Cal., and from Hud-
son Bay Post, Quebec, to Kingston, British
West Indies. During the past fifteen years he
has formed a collection of works of art by
modern American masters, representing
Dwight W. Tryon, Homer D. Martin, Alex.
H. Wyant, Edmund C. Tarbell, Thomas W.
Dewing, Charles H. Davis, Thomas Eakins,
Winslow Homer, James McN. Whistler, Wil-
liam M. Chase, Theodore Wendel, J. Alden
Wier, Childe Hassam, John J. Enneking, John
H. Twachtman, Kenyon Cox, Abbott Graves,
Louis Kronberg, and others; also a collection
of Japanese works by Hokusai and his school.
In this work Mr. Bryant has been greatly
assisted by the refined taste, skill and judg-
ment of his wife, who has visited with him
many of America's well known artists, and she
has traveled with him on two voyages to
Europe. Mr. Bryant has also composed con-
siderable music for our national musical in-
strument, the banjo, including a suite, "The
Rain," "The Wave" and "The Pine Trees."
He has also published a set of studies for the
banjo. He is a member of the Copley Society
of Boston.
JACOB BAKER HADLEY. For nearly
seventy years the Hadley family has been
prominently identified with New Bedford's
business interests, and while Hadley is not
an old Dartmouth name it is an ancient one in
the Commonwealth, and of historic interest
inasmuch as it was represented at the outbreak
of the Revolution at Lexington as well as in
the ranks throughout that struggle. Jacob
Baker Hadley, a well-known and highly re-
spected citizen and business man of New Bed-
ford, was born in Newton, Mass., July 10,
1814, and it is with the branch of the family
of which he was a member this article will
deal.
One George Hadley, planter and yeoman,
appears early at Ipswich, of which place he
was a proprietor before 1639. He removed to
Rowley about 1655. The surname of his first
wife was Proctor. He married (second) in
1668 Deborah Skillings. His children were:
John, Samuel, Martha, Abigail and Elizabeth.
It is from this George Hadley that Dr. Hadley,
president of Yale University, is descended.
The Hadley, or Headley, name first appears
in the Lexington (Mass.) records about 1740,
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
871
but from what place the family came to that
town seems uncertain. Thomas Hadley mar-
ried April 15, 1741, Ruth, daughter of Samuel
and Elizabeth Lawrence. He is said by Hud-
son to have probably been a son of Benjamin
and Mehetabel Hadley, and was of Groton,
Mass., born Aug. 11, 1712. He died July 15,
1788, aged seventy-five years. Hudson re-
marks that the records of the family are very
imperfect and that tradition but poorly sup-
plies the defect.
This Thomas Hadley, of Lexington, was a
member of the gallant band who appeared un-
der Captain Parker in 1775, and it would seem
that all of his sons, saving the youngest, who
was not old enough, entered the Revolution
and served pretty much throughout the war.
One of these, Samuel Hadley, died for free-
dom on the first morning of the Revolution,
at Lexington, April 19, 1775, and his memoi^
is enshrined in the hearts of his countrymen.
The children of Thomas and Ruth (Law-
rence) Hadley were: Elizabeth, born May 11,
1742; Thomas, July 3, 1744; Samuel, July 9,
1746; Ruth, May 15, 1749; Ebenezer, May 5,
1751; Thomas (2), July 8, 1754; Benjamin,
July 25, 1756; Ruth, June 1, 1759; Simon,
July 26, 1761; Sarah, Nov. 26, 1764; Mary,
May 20, 1767; and John, Aug. 6, 1770. The
mother of these lived to the advanced age of
Binety-four years, dying May 26, 1819.
John Hadley, son of Thomas and Ruth,
born Aug. 6, 1770, married Elizabeth Baker.
He became a well and favorably known busi-
ness man of Boston or vicinity, engaged in
the manufacture of shoes. He died at Cam-
bridge in 1818. To John and Elizabeth (Ba-
ker) Hadley were born: Humphrey; William;
John; Thomas; Albert; Jacob Baker; and
George, who died in New Zealand in Septem-
ber, 1905.
Jacob Baker Hadley, son of John and Eliza-
beth, was born July 10, 1814, in Newton,
Mass. His father dying when he was but four
years of age, he went to live with his maternal
grandparents, farming people, to whom he was
indebted for his early training. As was then
the custom of the boys of the general farmer
young Hadley assisted with the farm work in
season, and attended the neighborhood school
through the winters during his early boyhood.
When perhaps twelve or thirteen years of age