Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-08

Peter Brent Brigham, one OF the most
noted men Of Boston for the past so years,
died in that city May 9th. He was born
in Bakersfield, ~. in 1907, and was the
youngest Of six sons. His parents were
natives of Massachusetts, and moved TO
Vermont in 1899. His palornal ancestors
were Of the Brighams of Westboro' and
Marlboro, and his maternal ancestors of
the Fays, Of Southboro'. At AN early age,
by the death of his father, he was left to The
sole guidance Of his mother, one of the
most remarkable women OF the time, and
while yet a youth Of tender years ho de-
termined TO relieve his mother of the bur.
den of his support. lie went to Boston IS
years ago, starting Off on an old gray horse,
with pair Of saddle bags, stores Of lunch
con, stout will, big hopes and s14 in mon
ey. The horse was TO be sold, and the
money for it, with the saddle bags and bril-
die, sent TO his mother. The animal, wolk
kneed, broke down at TyngsbOrough. Pc.
ter snapped with the minister of the town
for an old mare aud $50 boot; sold the mare
little further on for SIS aud watch got
aboard freight boat on the Middlesex ca
hdls 81 NuihlllH MS why W AuhI lNbllN lie
His first night in Boston he lodged in Bow
doin square. Next day he footed ii to
Marlboro to see some uncles, stayed with
them ten days aud returned TO see Levi
Lincoln take his seat on the Common as
Governor. Amer the show was over, he at
once sought woTk, and hired himself in a
grocery store in Sea street. Thrown out of
employment in the winter, he went home
to his mother. Returning in the spring of
1896 he took a job Of selling Holsters at $40
month, at street corner, in South Bos-
ton. His employer, finding that he goner-
ally sold his whoclbarrow full, promoted
him in 1897 to the Faneuil Hall stand and
soon after to Concert Hall street corner.
These busy spots opened his eyes to chances
for trade and made him acquaintances. SO,
in 1873, getting the good will Of Mr.. Eaton,
who kept Concert Hall, lie hired little
shop on Hanover street side, on condition
that lie should live with the Eatons, and
| opened an oyster shop. Working carly
and late, resisting all manner Of lempla-
| lions, among them offers to 20 into the lob
ser business with his first employer, &C.,
&c, he had earned and got, by 1896, Sl5,-
| 900 Then he took the whole establish
ment of Concert Hall. For forty years his
| business career was in that one spot. Here
was made, night and day, the bulk Of a
great fortune. Peter Brigham and Concert
Hall were one and the same expression for
nearly two generations of Boston people.
Mr.. Brigham never married, and was a
man Of very positive opinions on all mat
| tiers, not excepting religion, for he never
was n regular attendant at church, but had
| original opinions on this a. On other mat
tiers. lie was one Of the originator, Of the
Hoosac tunnel, and labored assiduously
for its completion. Largely Interested in
railroads, at the time of his decease he &C.
cupied the position of President of the
Nashua, Acton aud Boston railroad, and
also as director OF the Fitchburg railroad.
The latter pre-eminently absorbed his in
| teres and claimed his time and attention.
As man interested in all the social &C =
vancemen,s be was pre- eminent. While he
! conducted the greatest restaurant in Boston
| for years, and fought the temperance at
tenpts TO break him down, he himself was
a strict teetotaller, aud it was one of his
| 'H"@'' 'H"N "S hNNNi a grass VI l1
uor in his life. His opposition to the tenn
| perance agitation Of his day was that sump-
tuary laws could never be enforced, and
were Incompatible with the rights Of cit
izen aud a taxpayer.
lie leaves brothers and sisters, uephews
and nieces. lie was a close observer of
human nature, but though always kind aud
ready with advice, never, so far as known,
| held public office. In 1912 he Joined a
Masonic lodge, but withdrew few years
| laier.
Mr.. Brigham's will devotes nearly three
fourths OF his whole estate TO a hospital, in
Boston, for the sick poor of Suffolk county
Twenty-Five years will elapse before the
bequest can lie applied. which, besides 9TH
or contingent property, will then, if moth
ing happens, be equal to three million dol
lars. To Mrs. Jacobs, his sister, the will
gives $1,000 annual income (; to a nephew,
Albert J. Brigham, s., 900; TO his early es-
teemed friend, Joshua b. Smith, he gives
$1,000; to employees of his household, and
elsewhere, $4,000 is distributed to the
town of Bakersfield, VT, so, 0OO, three-quar-
tiers of which is for school purposes md one
| quarter TO keep in order the burial ground
| Of the town, where are the graves OF his
| father aud mother and family.
|