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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A
DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
BRISTOL COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTS
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF
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THE
FALL RIVER NEWS
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AND
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THE
TAUNTON GAZETTE
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WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
HON. ALANSON BORDEN
OF NEW BEDFORD
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THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
1899
PART II
BIOGRAPHICAL.
William Frederick Drown
WILLIAM FREDERICK DROWN, who died at his home on County street, New Bedford, in the
seventy-sixth year of his age, on February 18, 1891, was one of the leading business men of that city. He was born
in Rehoboth, December 4, 1815, only son of Ezra and Sally (Lindsey) Drown. The family is of good old Puritan stock,
its advent in America dating back to early in the seventeenth century. Mr. Drown's father was born in Rehoboth,
February 1, 1788, and was by occupation a farmer. His mother was also a native of Rehoboth, born February 20, 1789.
They had seven children, six daughters and a son. Mr. Drown's grandfather, Colonel Frederick Drown, also of Rehoboth,
was a prominent man in his generation, a soldier of the Revolution, and a man much esteemed by his fellow citizens.
For twenty years he held commissions in the military. He served the town of Rehoboth as selectman and overseer
of the poor twenty-three years and as assessor fourteen years. He also represented the town in the General Court
for eleven years, viz., 1787-1791, and 1799-1804. He died in the latter year of typhoid fever, having reached the
age of sixty.two years.
William Frederick Drown spent the earlier years of his life in Attleborough, whither his parents had removed shortly
after his birth. Here he was educated in the public schools, and in 1838 removed to Middleborough and engaged in
the cotton business. Mr. Drown came to New Bedford in 1843 and opened a retail grocery store, which he conducted
alone successfully for five years and then formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, Sylvanus Thomas, under
the firm name of William F. Drown & Company. They branched out into a wholesale business and met with abundant
and merited success, for both were men of the highest qualities and natural ability. In 1861 Mr. Thomas withdrew
from the firm and the business was conducted by Mr. Drown until 1868, when he retired from active service and during
the remainder of his life enjoyed a well earned freedom from the cares and responsibilities of active business.
Mr. Drown was one of those men who inspire every one with whom they come in contact with trust, and there was not
a particle of trickery or deceit in his composition. By his own energy, thrift, perseverance and good management
he built up a competency. He never inherited a single dollar and was entirely the architect of his own fortunes.
He had the gift of successful executive management to a large degree and this, combined with sterling good judgment
and fine acumen, made him an unusually competent merchant.
Mr. Drown was always ready to aid any cause which he thought would contribute to the intellectual and moral advancement
and to the material progress of his adopted city. In politics he affiliated with the Republican party, but being
of quiet and retiring disposition, never sought political preferment. He was a prominent member of the North Congregational
Church, and liberal in his support of its interests. He was one of the first members of the New Bedford Young Men's
Christian Association. His character was based upon principles of uprightness, business honor and sterling integrity,
and in all things his influence was to be found on the side of humanity and justice. To a marked degree Mr. Drown
won the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens and maintained an enviable position as a high minded and
honorable man throughout his entire life.
Mr. Drown was a man of extremely modest tastes. His chief pleasure he found at the domestic fireside, which possessed
for him the most sacred and delightful associations. He was a devoted husband and the tenderest of fathers. His
wife, who survives him, was Harriet Jackson Smith, of Rehoboth. They were married October 14, 1839, and three children
were born to them: Harriet Jackson, born May 19, 1845; died August 20 of the same year; William Frederick, born
July 6, 1852; died October 18, 1856; and Harriet Maria, born March 17, 1847, now the wife of Charles E. Benton,
of Sharon, Conn. They have one child, Harriet Jackson Benton, born December 8, 1885.
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