Edward M. Slocum (1871–1949)

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Headley and Reed, photographer (New Bedford, Massachusetts), Ed M. Slocum, ca. 1890; privately held by the Faulkner–Hull Collection, Massachusetts.

Edward Manchester Slocum was born on 27 February 1871 in Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts to Captain Frederick Slocum, a master mariner, and Lydia Ann Jones, the second wife of Frederick Slocum.¹

[Open Endnotes in separate tab]

Edward’s father first married Sarah A. Smith in 1844 in Providence County, Rhode Island.² Two children were born to Frederick Slocum and Sarah A. Smith: Frederick E. Slocum, who died in 1852 at the age of five, and Henry S. Slocum, who died at the age of 17 in 1863.³ Both are buried in Riverside Cemetery on Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁴

Sarah A. Smith Slocum died on 28 June 1859 at the age of 41 in Honolulu in what were then called the Sandwich Islands, now called Hawaii.⁵ A monument, most likely a cenotaph, exists for Sarah in Riverside Cemetery on Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts.⁶

“Died, Sarah Slocum,” obituary, The Friend (Honolulu, Sandwich Islands [Hawaii]), 15 July 1859, p. 56, col. 3. — “Died, Sarah Slocum,” obituary, *The Friend* (Honolulu, Sandwich Islands [Hawaii]), 15 July 1859, p. 56, col. 3.

Edward’s father, Frederick, married second to Lydia Ann Jones in Claremont, Sullivan County, State of New Hampshire on 29 October 1860.⁷ The couple had four known children, Abram, Almira “Myra,” Edward, and Frederick.⁸

Capt. Frederick Slocum died at the age of 63 on 29 Jan 1885 in New Bedford.⁹ He is buried in Riverside Cemetery on Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹⁰

“Died, Capt. Frederick Slocum, 63,” death notice, Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, Massachusetts), 30 Jan 1985, p. 3, col. 4. — “Died, Capt. Frederick Slocum, 63,” death notice, *Fall River Daily Evening News* (Fall River, Massachusetts), 30 Jan 1985, p. 3, col. 4.

At the time of Capt. Slocum’s death, the family was living at 247 Fourth Street in New Bedford, where Edward’s brother, Abram, mother, Lydia, and sister, Myra, resided until about 1904, when Lydia and Myra moved to New Hampshire.¹¹ Edward attended Fifth Street Grammar School, then New Bedford High School, and was a member of the High School Cadets.¹²

"Edward M. Slocum Wins Silver Medal and Red Ribbon, New Bedford" newspaper article, Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, Massachusetts), 26 May 1887, p. 2, col. 4. — “Edward M. Slocum Wins Silver Medal and Red Ribbon, New Bedford” newspaper article, *Fall River Daily Evening News* (Fall River, Massachusetts), 26 May 1887, p. 2, col. 4.

Following high school, Edward served as a corporal in the City Guards, E. Company, leaving the service in 1894.¹³

"Corporal Edward M. Slocum Leaves Service," newspaper article, Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, Massachusetts), 26 Jun 1894, p. 4, col. 4. — “Corporal Edward M. Slocum Leaves Service,” newspaper article, *Fall River Daily Evening News* (Fall River, Massachusetts), 26 Jun 1894, p. 4, col. 4.

On 14 September 1897, Edward married Eleanor V. Tripp in New Bedford and the couple’s first child, Lois, was born in 1899 in New Bedford.¹⁴ A second child, Frances, joined the family in 1903.¹⁵

By 1903, Edward, Eleanor, and their children were living at 18 Sherman Street in New Bedford and Edward was working as a draftsman for the city engineer’s office.¹⁶ The family enjoyed visits to Eleanor’s parents and Edward served on the regatta committee at the New Bedford Yacht Club.¹⁷

"Edward Slocum Family Visit Mr. and Mrs. Tripp, Westport Point," newspaper article, The Evening Herald (Fall River, Massachusetts), 16 July 1912, p. 7, col. 3. — “Edward Slocum Family Visit Mr. and Mrs. Tripp, Westport Point,” newspaper article, *The Evening Herald* (Fall River, Massachusetts), 16 July 1912, p. 7, col. 3.

"New Bedford Skippers," newspaper article, Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 8 Apr 1911, p. 6, col. 7. — “New Bedford Skippers,” newspaper article, *Boston Globe* (Boston, Massachusetts), 8 Apr 1911, p. 6, col. 7.

Sadly, in 1913, Edward and Eleanor’s daughter, Frances, died at the age of 10 in 1913.¹⁸ Frances is buried in Rural Cemetery in New Bedford.¹⁹

Edward’s brother, Abram, a master mariner, was lost at sea in March of the following year.²⁰ A cenotaph for Abram is in Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven.²¹ Edward’s mother, Lydia Ann Jones Slocum, died on 23 March 1920 in the town of her birth, Claremont, Sullivan County, State of New Hampshire.²² Lydia is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven.²³ Edward’s sister, Almira L. “Myra” Slocum, died in 1933 in New Bedford and also is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven.²⁴

Edward and Eleanor remained in New Bedford for the remainder of their lives.²⁵ Their daughter, Lois, like her Uncle Frederick, earned a Ph.D. in astronomy and had a distinguished career teaching and serving as chairman of the department of astronomy at Wilson College. Lois died in 1951.²⁶

Smith College Class Book 1921 (Northampton, Massachusetts, 1921), p. 82, Lois Tripp Slocum.

"New Bedford Woman Gets Lick Fellowship," Lois T. Slocum newspaper article, Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 12 May 1927, p. 13, col. 2. — “New Bedford Woman Gets Lick Fellowship,” Lois T. Slocum newspaper article, *Boston Globe* (Boston, Massachusetts), 12 May 1927, p. 13, col. 2.

"Dr. Lois Tripp Slocum," obituary, Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania), 26 May 1951, p. 2, col. 2. — “Dr. Lois Tripp Slocum,” obituary, *Public Opinion* (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania), 26 May 1951, p. 2, col. 2.

Edward and Eleanor attended the 45th New Bedford High school reunion of the class of 1890 in 1935; Eleanor is fifth from the left in the second row and Edward on the very right in the back row.²⁷

“New Bedford High School Class of 1890 at their 45th Reunion, New Bedford, MA,” 14 July 1935; photograph held by the New Bedford Free Public Library photograph collection, New Bedford, Massachusetts; published at Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collection Online. — “New Bedford High School Class of 1890 at their 45th Reunion, New Bedford, MA,” 14 July 1935; photograph held by the New Bedford Free Public Library photograph collection, New Bedford, Massachusetts; published at *Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collection Online*.

New Bedford High School Class of 1890 Reunion, New Bedford, MA, 14 July 1935, Mrs. Edward M. Slocum, back row, 5th from the left.

New Bedford High School Class of 1890 Reunion, New Bedford, MA, 14 July 1935, Edward M. Slocum, back row, on the right.

Edward’s last surviving sibling, Dr. Frederick Slocum, died in 1944 and is buried in Indian Hill Cemetery in Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut.²⁸

Edward Manchester Slocum died at the age of 78 in 1949 in New Bedford.²⁹ Eleanor Victoria Tripp Slocum died on 15 August 1966, also in New Bedford.³⁰ Edward and Eleanor are buried with her parents, her brother and his wife, and their daughters in Rural Cemetery in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts.³¹

Endnotes

1. Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Births Register 1871, p. 100, no. 39, Edward M. Slocum, 27 Feb 1871. Parents: Frederick Slocum, born in Dartmouth, and Lydia Jones, born in Claremont, New Hampshire. Father’s occupation: Mariner.

For full name: Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Masons Membership Cards 1733–1990, Atlantic 31 Lodge, Block Island, Rhode Island, Edward Manchester Slocum. Birth: 24 Feb 1871, Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Occupation: Civil Engineer. Residence: New Bedford.