History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

178 History of Swansea
1781, in Swansea, daughter of William Lawton and his wife Abigail. They
lived in Somerset, Mass., where all of their children were born. Mr.
Slade was an active, energetic man, influential and prominent in his community.
He held several offices of trust and responsibility. In the year
1826 he began to operate a horseboat across the ferry, and in 1846 a steamboat.
He was one of the purchasers in 1812 of the land upon which was
built the Pocasset Company's mill, one of the first two mills in the then
town of Troy (now Fall River), which were the substantial pioneers in the
cloth making industry there, established in 1813. He was one of the first
stockholders in the Fall Paver Manufactory. He was one of the eight
incorporators, in 1822, of the Pocasset Manufacturing Company, which
was a great stimulus to the cotton industry of Fall River. He was also an
original proprietor of the Watuppa Manufacturing Company. He died
Sept. 7, 1852, and Mrs. Slade passed away 18th of 3d month, 1874, in the
ninety-third year of her age. Their children, all born in Somerset, were:
Abigail L., born 22d of 1st month, 1811; Amanda, born 23d of 9th month,
1815; William L., born 6th of 9th month, 1817; David, born 4th of 9th
month, 1819; and Mary, born 30th of 9th month, 1821.
(VI) Jonathan Slade, son of William and Phebe, born 23d of 9th
month, 1815, in Somerset, Mass., married (first) July 13, 1841, Caroline
B., born Nov. 24, 1811, daughter of Dr. John Winslow, M. D., of Swansea.
She died Feb. 1, 1845, and he married (second) May 29, 1851, Emaline,
born Feb. 23, 1820, in Walpole, daughter of Salmon and Rebecca Hooper,
of Walpole, N. H. Mr. Slade in youth attended the common schools of his
neighborhood, and for a time furthered his studies at the Friends' School
in Providence, R. I. He was reared a farmer and continued in that vocation
through life. After the death of his father, in 1852, he became possessed
of the old ferry and operated it until it was superseded by the
Slade's ferry bridge, 1876. Following his father, both he and his brother
William L. became largely interested in and identified with the industrial
life of Fall River; he owned stock in several of the mills there and served
for years as one of the directors of the Slade and Davol Mills; was one of
the founders of the Slade Mill, and on the death of his brother William L.,
in 1895, succeeded him as president.
Mr. Slade was one of the prominent and influential men of his town,
and was often honored by his fellow townsmen as their choice for positions
of trust and responsibility. He represented Somerset in the General Court
of Massachusetts in 1849, and in 1850. He also served as selectman. A
Republican in politics, he was often a member of conventions. He was a
director of the Metacomet Bank at Fall River. Mr. Slade died Dec. 11,
1900, and Mrs. Slade died Feb. 7, 1905. One son, William W. Slade, was
born to the first marriage, and one to the second, David F. Slade, of both
of whom mention is made below.
(VI) William Lawton Slade, son of William and Phebe, was born
Sept. 6, 1817, in Somerset, Mass., and like his ancestors was reared a
farmer and a ferryman. He attended in boyhood the common schools of
his locality, and furthered his studies at the Friend's School in Providence,
R. I. He followed mainly, through life the vocation of farming, and in
time became possessed of several fine farms. In 1871 he purchased the
ferry property on the east side, of the Brightman family, and was the last
to operate the old Slade's ferry which had been carried on by his family for
more than two hundred years, and which the building of the bridge in 1876,
did away with. Mr. Slade became largely interested in, and prominently
identified with the manufacturing concerns of Fall River. He was one of
the first board of directors, and later president of the Montaup Mills
Company which was organized in 1871, for the manufacture of seamless
bags, duck and cotton bags, then a new industry in Fall River. He was one