USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 1
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Mise.
Hurd, D. Hamilton History of Worcester Co. Any 13825 Val I
71. 2003 024.06567 E 11
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from
The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofworcest02inhurd
HISTORY
OF
WORCESTER COUNTY.
MASSACHUSETTS,
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF MANY OF ITS
PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN.
COMPILED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF D. HAMILTON HURD.
VOL. II.
ILLUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA: J. W. LEWIS & CO. 1889.
Copyright, 1889, BY J. W. LEWIS & CO. All Rights Reserved.
PRESS OF JAS. B. RODGERS PRINTING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA.
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
TOWN HISTORIES.
CHAPTER CXVII.
BOYLSTON .
SS5
Territory and Surface-Situation-Geology-Population
-Statistics-Public Library-Town Officers.
CHAPTER CXVIII.
BOYLSTON-(Continued)
888
Early Families and Settlements.
CHAPTER CXIX.
BOYLSTON-(Continued)
891
Civil and Political History.
CHAPTER CXX.
BOYLSTON-(Contiuned)
895
Ecclesiastical History.
CHAPTER CXXI.
BOYLSTON-(Continued)
899
Prominent Persons, College Graduates, Etc.
CHAPTER CXXII.
UPTON
902
CHAPTER CXXIII.
GRAFTON
92I
CHAPTER CXXIV.
GRAFTON-(Continued)
935
An Historical Address.
CHAPTER CXXV.
SUTTON
953
CHAPTER CXXVI.
SUTTON-(Continued)
957
Church History.
CHAPTER CXXVII.
SUTTON -- (Continued)
965
Educational.
CHAPTER CXXVIII.
SUTTON -- (Continued)
968
Manufactures.
CHAPTER CXXIX.
SUTTON -- (Continued)
972
Miscellaneous.
CHAPTER CXXX.
PRINCETON
981
CHAPTER CXXXI.
SOUTHBRIDGE
995
CHAPTER CXXXII.
ATHOL
IO2I
Location-Boundaries-Face of the Country -Produc-
tions-Ponds and Streams-Wild Animals, Etc.
CHAPTER CXXXIII.
ATHOL-(Continued) . I022 Loss of the Proprietors' Records - Efforts to Re-establish their Authority-Grant of the Township-Drawing for House-lots- First Settlers -Perils from Indians-First Meeting-House-Second Meeting-House-Call of Mr. James Humphrey to the Pastorato-Ordination-Pas- tor's lIome-Second and Other Divisions of Lands-Acts of the Proprietors.
CHAPTER CXXXIV.
ATHOL (1762-1800)-(Continued) 1028 Its Incorporation as a Town- Its Name-Its Organiza- tion-Civil History-Provision for Schools and Relig- ious Privileges-Patriotic Measures at the Opening of the War of the Revolution-Service in the War-Con- dition at the Close of the Century.
CHAPTER CXXXV.
ATHOL (1801-1888)-(Continued) 1034 Condition of the Town before tho Civil War-Excite- ment in 1861-Acts of the Town to Enconrage Enlist- ment of Soldiers-Enlistments-Bounties Offered- Military Companies Organized-Private Munificence to Obtain Recruits-Aid to Soldiers' Families-Number of Soldiers from Athol-Expense Account of the War.
CHAPTER CXXXVI.
ATHOL-(Continued) 1038 Public Schools-Early Provision for Them-Interest in Them Gradually Developed-Early School Commit- tees-Branches Tanght-Athol High School-Its Mas- ters-Census of Scholars-Appropriations-Athol Town Library. CHAPTER CXXXVII.
ATHOL-(Continued)
I043
Miscellaneous.
CHAPTER CXXXVIII.
WINCHENDON
1054
CHAPTER CXXXIX.
OAKHAM
IO79
CHAPTER CXL.
MILLBURY
1092
iii
iv
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER CXLI.
HARDWICK
CHAPTER CXLII.
1142
WESTMINSTER .
Origin-Settlement-Early Annals-Incorporation.
CHAPTER CXLIII.
WESTMINSTER-(Continued)
1149
Name - Location - Physical Characteristics - Ronds --
Industries.
CHAPTER CXLIV.
WESTMINSTER-(Continued) 1155
Education-Religion-Military Affairs-Miscellaneous.
CHAPTER CXLV.
HARVARD
1164
CHAPTER CXLVI.
BOLTON
CHAPTER CXLVII.
1168
PHILLIPSTON
CHAPTER CXLVIII.
HUBBARDSTON . Settlement-The Pioneers-"Old Eph Grimes"-Fami- lies in 1800. CHAPTER CXLIX.
HUBBARDSTON-(Continued)
1172
Petition for Incorporation-Act of Incorporation-First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected-Various Votes.
CHAPTER CL.
HUBBARDSTON-(Continued) 1173
Response to Circular from Boston-Committee of Cor- pondence-Votes-Bunker Hill-Bounties-Deprecia- tion of Currency-Names of Soldiers.
CHAPTER CLI.
HUBBARDSTON-(Continued) 1177
Shuys' Rebellion-War of 1812-War of the Rebellion -Amount Expended by the Town-Number of Men- Names of Soldiers.
CHAPTER CLII.
HUBBARDSTON-(Continued) 1180
The First Congregational Church-The Evangelical Congregation-Methodist Church-The Williamsville Society-Schools-Libraries-Fire Company -Promi- nent persons-Centennial-Copperas Mines-Physicians -The Militia-G. A. R .- Soldiers' Monument - Post- Office-Manufacturing- Hubbardston Grange, P. of H. -Civil History-Town Officers.
CHAPTER CLIII.
WARREN
IIS5
CHAPTER CLIV.
I200
LEOMINSTER . .
Early History.
CHAPTER CLV.
LEOMINSTER-(Continued) .
1203
Ecclesiastical.
CHAPTER CLVI.
LEOMINSTER-(Continued).
1213
Educational.
CHAPTER CLVII.
LEOMINSTER-(Continued) .
Industrial.
CHAPTER CLVIII.
LEOMINSTER-(Continued)
.
1236
Military.
CHAPTER CLIX.
LEOMINSTER-(Continued).
Civil and Miscellaneous.
CHAPTER CLX.
MILFORD
I261
CHIAPTER CLXI.
MILFORD-(Continued) .
Boundaries-The Revolution.
CHAPTER CLXII.
MILFORD-(Continued) .
1279
CHAPTER CLXIII.
RUTLAND
1287
Indian Deed and Grant of Twelve Miles Square-Pro-
prietorships and Hardships of Early Settlers-Location
and Surface-Roads and Schools-Revolutionary War-
Encampment of Burgoyne's Army-Indians.
CHAPTER CLXIV.
RUTLAND-(Continued)
1294
Ecclesiastical History-Cemeteries-Physicians-Busi-
ness Enterprises-Civil War-Grand Army-Dedication
Soldiers' Monument-Eminent Men.
CHAPTER CLXV.
OXFORD
1306
CHAPTER CLXVI.
DANA
1322
CHAPTER CLXVII.
WESTBOROUGH
I33I
CHAPTER CLXVIII.
DUDLEY .
1360
CHAPTER CLXIX.
ROYALSTON
1370
CHAPTER CLXX.
HOLDEN .
1381
Location-Original Grant-Indian Deed-Division of
Lots-Settlement-The "Lime Lot"-First Survey-
Incorporation-Petition -Act of Incorporation-Names.
CHAPTER CLXXI.
HOLDEN-(Continued) .
1383
French and Indian War-The Revolution-Shays' Re-
bellion-The Civil War.
1224
1246
1266
1165
1170
1129
V
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER CLXXII.
HOLDEN-(Continued) . First Congregational-First Baptist-Roman Catholic.
1385
CHAPTER CLXXIII.
HOLDEN-(Continued) I387
Early Schools-Statistics of 1840-The Schools of 1888- School Committee-The Damon Memorial-Manufac- tures.
CHAPTER CLXXIV.
HOLDEN-(Continued) 1389
Physicians-Masonic-The Centennial Celebration- Town House-Distinguished Natives-Population-Val- nation.
CHAPTER CLXXV.
HOLDEN-(Continued) 1390
The First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected-List of Town Clerks from 1741 to 1889 - Selectmen-Assessors -Treasurers-Representatives- Delegates to Provincial Congress.
CHAPTER CLXXVI.
DOUGLAS
I395
Territorial-Early Grants-Boundaries-Topography- Geology.
CHAPTER CLXXVII.
DOUGLAS-(Continued)
1398
Early Settlements.
CHAPTER CLXXVIII.
DOUGLAS-(Continued) . 1410 First Congregational Church-Second Congregational Church-Reformed Methodist-Methodist Episcopal- Catholic - Manufactures - Educational - The Willis Fund-Masonic-G. A. R .- The Press-The Revolution -The Rebellion.
CHAPTER CLXXIX.
WORCESTER
1412
CHAPTER CLXXX.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1432
Civic and Political History from the Close of the Revo- lution to the Present Time.
CHAPTER CLXXXI.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1453
Ecclesiastical History.
CHAPTER CLXXXII.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1491
Public Libraries.
CHAPTER CLXXXIII.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1509
Educational History.
CHAPTER CLXXXIV.
WORCESTER-(Continued) . J521
Societies, Associations and Clubs.
CHAPTER CLXXXV.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
The Newspaper Press. J538
CHAPTER CLXXXVI.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1542
The Drama in Worcester.
CHAPTER CLXXXVII.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1546
Baoking and Insurance.
CHAPTER CLXXXVIII.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1554
Medical History-Individuals-Societies-Hospitals.
CHAPTER CLXXXIX.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1574 Homoeopathy.
CHAPTER CXC.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1576
Military History.
CHAPTER CXCI.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1592 Early Encouragement of Manufactures-Saw and Grist- Mill-The Silver Mine-Potash-Timothy Bigelow- Early Manufacture of Cloth-Paper-Mills-Character of Business prior to 1-20 - Trades-people Discontented with Heavy Taxes Public Men Appear in Home-made Cloth-Worcester Honorable Society-The First Exhi- bition of the Worcester Agricultural Society.
CHAPTER CXCII.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1598 Streams and Mill Privileges-Population of Worcester -Blackstone Canal-The Railroads-The First Ex- presses-The Old Coal Mine-Peat-Stage Lines.
CHAPTER CXCIII.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1605
Textile Fabrics and Machinery for Making Them- Early Manufacture of Cloth-Condition of Woolen Manufacture-John Goulding-Manufacture of Cotton and Woolen Machinery-Card Clothing-Looms-Car- pet-Thread.
CHAPTER CXCIV.
WORCESTER -- (Continued)
.
1617
Foundries - Machinists' Tools - Agricultural Imple- ments-French'6.
CHAPTER CXCV.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1625
Wire-Wire-Workers-Copperas.
CHAPTER CXCVI.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1632
Carriages and Cars-Wood-Working Machinery-Musi-
cal Instruments-Envelopes.
CHAPTER CXCVII.
WORCESTER-(Continued)
1637
Fire- Arms-Iron and Steel Business-Screws-Steam
Engines-Boilers.
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER CXCVIII.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1644
Boots and Shoes-Bigelow Hecling. Machine-Leather Belting-Boot and Shoe Machinery-Lasts-Dies.
CHAPTER CXCIX. WORCESTER-(Continued) 1649
Paper Machinery-Razors-Holyoke Machine Company -Norton Emery- Wheel Company-Corsets -Skates- Chairs-Gas-Contractors and Buiklers - Summary of Industries not heretoforo Mentioned.
CHAPTER CC.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1654
Reasons for Worcester's Prominence as a Manufac- turing City-Room with Power for Bent - Merrifield Building-Iley wood Building-Estabrook Building- Enterprise of Worcester Business Men-Mechanics' Association-Worcester Polytechnic Institute-Wash- burn Shops-The Laboring Classes-Evening Schools - Worcester's Rapid Growth-Heart of the Common- wealtb.
CHAPTER CCI.
WORCESTER-(Continued) 1658
Worcester County in the Free-Soil Movement.
CHAPTER CCII.
WORCESTER - (Continued)
1669
The Settlement of Kansas.
APPENDIX : BENCH AND BAR 1749
Hon. John D. Washburn.
BERLIN
1745
Business Men.
NEW BRAINTREE
1745
Soldiers who served in the French War and the Revo-
lution.
MILLBURY .
1746
Sketch of Leonard Dunnell Gale.
HOLDEN .
1747
The Damon Memorial.
DOUGLAS
1748
List of Soldiers, continued from page 1141.
HISTORY
OF
WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
TOWN HISTORIES.
CHAPTER CXVII.
BOYLSTON.
BY GEORGE L. WRIGHT.
Territory and Surface-Situation- Geology-Population- Statistics- Public Library-Town Officers.
THIS town is situated in the easterly part of Wor- cester County, about seven miles northeast from Wor- cester and about thirty-five miles in a nearly due west line from Boston. It is bounded on the north by West Boylston, Sterling and Clinton ; on the east by Berlin and Northborough ; on the south by Shrewsbury ; and on the west by West Boylston. The boundary lines of the city of Worcester come within about one mile of the present town lines. The total area of the town is twelve thousand six hundred and eighty acres, of which eleven thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven acres are taxable, and three hundred and twenty-five acres are covered by water. The surface is broken and un- even, but not hilly. There are three swells or undula- tions of land extending through the town. One of them extends across the southeast part of the town and is a part of the range of highlands reaching from Bolton to Shrewsbury, and bere, with another range of hills in the southwest part of the town, forms a portion of the water-shed between the Nashua, Assabet and Blackstone Rivers. The third range of hills is situated in the northwest part of the town, and extends into West Boylston and Sterling, and on this range, just over the town-line in Sterling, near the Waushacum Ponds, was once the Indian town and residence of Sholan, the sachem of the "Nashaways." On these swells are some of the strongest lands in the town, and they are especially adapted to grazing purposes. In the southwest part of the town the soil is lighter and largely plain land, well adapted to the cultivation of the different kinds of grain and market produce, and good crops are raised with comparatively little labor. On Muddy Brook there is a large tract of valuable meadow land, a portion of which, now covered with water, is known as the "Dover Ponds," and furnishes power for the saw-mill of Asa Bee at Scar-bridge.
On the intervales of the Nashua River lies some of
the most fertile land in Worcester County, equally adapted for grazing or arable purposes, and producing abundant crops of the various productions common to this section. The soil in the remaining portions of the town is heavier and more broken, but is capable, under a proper state of cultivation, of producing large erops. The highlands are wooded with the different kinds of oak, walnut, chestnut and pine. Along the intervales of the Nashua River the oak, walnut, maple, elm and buttonwood grow in luxuriance. The scenery from the highlands of the town is magnificent. On the north, Mt. Wachusett, with the picturesque village of Princeton nestling at its base and surrounded by the lesser highlands of Worcester and Middlesex Counties, terminating in the extreme northeast in the Monad- nocks and hills of New Hampshire, and dotted here and there with pleasant villages, lakes, winding streams and wooded hills and valleys, offers a fitting background to a most charming picture of nature. From the high- lands in the southern portion of the town a fine view can be had of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worces- ter, Lake Quinsigamond, and portions of the Black- stone Valley, and from the easterly parts of the town fine views may be had extending over some of the pleasantest towns of western Middlesex County. There are four natural sheets of water in the town, the largest of which lies in the easterly part, near the Northborough line, and is called Rocky Pond, on ac- count of the innumerable granite boulders with which the bottom is covered. This pond contains forty-five acres, according to a survey made by Gardner Smith under a resolve of the Legislature in 1830.
An outlet flowing southeasterly from this pond passes into Cold Harbor Brook, in Northborough, and thence into the Assabet River. Sewall Pond is in the south- erly part of the town and is a part of one of the grants made by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay to Judge Samuel Sewall, after whom it received its name, and contains ahout eleven acres. This pond is noted for its great depth. Adjacent to it and flowing into it is Pout, or Mud Pond, which contains according to Mr. Davenport, in his history of the town, about twenty- three acres. An outlet flows from Sewall Pond south- erly through a part of Shrewsbury into Lake Quinsig- amond. On this outlet is situated a saw and grist-
885
886
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
mill, Jong known as Banister's Mills. Spruce Pond, the only other remaining sheet of water, is also situated in this part of the town, and contains abont five acres.
The south branch of the Nashua River enters the town on the west, about one and one-half miles east of the confluence of the Quinnepoxet and Stillwater Rivers in West Boylston, and flows in a circuitous course nearly six miles, through the northerly portion of the town to the Clinton line. There are also num- erous brooks and rivnlets in every section of the town, the most important of which is Muddy Brook, called in the early records Malagasco Brook, which rises about one-half mile easterly of Boylston Centre, and flows in southwesterly, westerly and northeasterly courses into the Nashua River at Scar-bridge. Another brook rising within a short distance of the one above- mentioned, and called on the early records Spring Garden Brook, flows into Sewall Pond, near the house of Sumner Moore. On this stream was formerly a saw-mill, known as Locke's Mill.
Mill or French Brook rises in the easterly part of the town, in East Woods (so-called), and flows westerly, for a distance of nearly four miles, into the Nashua River. On this stream several saw and grist-mills have stood at different periods of the town's history. There are also several smaller brooks in the westerly, north- erly and easterly portions of the town. The ponds are well stocked with fish, and the brooks furnish some of the best trouting places in Worcester County.
The geological formations consist of Merrimack schist, calcareous gneiss and the St. John's group. Sulphate of iron is found in different sections of the town. On Diamond Hill, about one-half mile south- west of Boylston Centre, are found large and beautiful specimens of crystallized quartz, and which, according to Rev. Peter Whitney, the historian of Worcester County, gave the name to the hill from their similarity in size and shape to diamonds. Coal, resembling that found in Worcester, has been discovered in the north- westerly part of the town. In the easterly part, about two miles from Boylston Centre, on the road to Berlin, extensive gold-mining operations were carried on un- der the lead of the late Rev. Andrew Bigelow, D.D., of Southborough, a native and former minister of Boylston. A shaft about forty feet in depth was sunk, and considerable quantities of ore taken out and trans- ported to New York for analysis. The precious metal is said to exist in paying quantities ; but the work was abandoned upon the death of Rev. Dr. Bigelow, in 1882, and nothing bas since been done. In this section of the town, upon the farm of Israel L. Barnes, is a val- nable quarry of building stone. Excellent clay for the manufacture of brick is found in several places, and a spot of clay ground on the farm of Charles G. Allen, about one mile from Boylston Centre, was set apart by the proprietors of Shrewsbury in 1728 for the common use of the settlers in the manufacture of their pottery- ware and kitchen utensils. The manufacture of brick is now quite extensively carried on by George Hazard, about two miles from Boylston Centre.
The town is well accommodated with very good roads; there are nearly fifty miles of highways within its limits. The Nashua River is spanned by three iron
bridges, all of which have recently been erected by the towh at a cost of about $7,000. The present county road to Clinton was built about 1860, at a cost of nearly $4,000. Mr. Davenport, in his history of the town published in 1830, says the principal road at that time was the county road, which passes through the north- westerly, northerly and northeasterly portions of the town to Berlin, and crossing the Nashua River at Saw- yer's Mills. At that time a stage passed over this road three times a week from Boston, and Mr. Davenport says the road was then thought to be the most direct and level route for a road from Boston to Northampton, and a petition was presented about that time to the County Commissioners for the location of a road from the line of Worcester County at Ware Factory Village through Barre, Rutland, Holden and West Boylston to the Middlesex County line,-a fact interesting as the beginning of the project of communications between Boston and Northampton now carried out by the Cen- tral Mass. R. R., and being the same route taken by that railroad, which passes through the town from east to west, and has two stations within the town limits,- one, called South Clinton, is in the northeast part, near the Clinton line; the other is known as Boylston, and is situated at Sawyer's Mills. There are two post-offices in the town, the older of which is known as Boylston, and is located at Sawyer's Mills, and supplies the postal wants of that village, the population of which is largely made up of operatives in the cotton-mills there and a few farmers in the northerly part of the town and the southeasterly part of Sterling. Thomas C. Sheldon is the present postmaster. The other and principal post- office is located at Boylston Centre, and supplies the wants of nearly three-fourths of the town. At this village is located the town-hall, Congregational Church, public library, etc., and it consists of about thirty dwelling-houses. John Tucker is the present post- master. There is a small village situated in the south- east part of the town near the Northborough and Shrewsbury lines, called "Straw Hollow," and it was at one time largely the property of David T. Moore & Sons, who carried on extensive farming interests, to- gether with a large cider and vinegar refinery. In 1878 there were furnished from this place for the Boston market, 55,224 quarts of milk and 17,603 quarts of cream, selling for $6,165.13; 19,801 bushels of apples were made into cider, producing 866 barrels. The cider and vinegar refinery and the home buildings of the late D. T. Moore were destroyed by fire several years since and have never been rebuilt. A portion of the farm is now called the Adelphia farm, and is operated by Clapp, Moore & Co., who do an extensive creamery business.
In the northeast part of the town there is a tract of land extending into the southerly part of Clinton, known by the name of the "Six Nations," and so called according to the tradition of there having once lived families of six different nationalities at one time within the territory. In this section of the town is a high wooded, rough tract of land, called in the early records Rattlesnake Hill, and said to have once been a great haunt for these reptiles. It is said that the other sections of the town were much infested by them during the early settlement and that it was not
887
BOYLSTON.
uncommon for them to enter the houses of the settlers. East Woods, a large wooded and rocky tract of land in the easterly part of the town, was said to be another favorite haunt of the reptiles.
It is perhaps known to but few of the present inhab- itants of the town that a search was ever carried on here for buried treasure. Mr. Davenport, in his his- tory, says, about the time of the incorporation of the town, in the autumn of the year, twenty or thirty per- sons from the towns of Northborough, West Boylston, Hubbardston and Brookfield, upon the authority of dreams, began to break the earth on land of Nathaniel Davenport, E-q., now belonging to the estate of the late Nathan L. Daggett, where they continued their labors, occasionally, for several weeks, until they had made an excavation eight or ten feet in depth, and perhaps forty feet in circumference. The labor was principally performed in moonlight evenings, with a table on the ground, with an open Bible and rusty sword upon it, one man at the same time sitting upon the bank, with sweet apple-tree or witch hazel rods in his hands, to inform the workingmen in what particular spot the money was, as it was believed the money had the power of locomotion, and was, therefore, uncer- tain whether it would remain stationary for any length of time. The money was supposed by the searchers to have been placed there by pirates, and that some person was murdered and buried there to take care of ยท it. To appease the manes of this person a dove was one day procured by one of the party and bled over the spot where the treasure was supposed to have been buried, and the blood sprinkled about the excavation. Pro- found silence was required to be observed while searching for the treasure. One evening a man, while at work alone, struck the point of a bar, as he report- ed, under the bale of the kettle which contained the money, and heard distinctly the sound of the specie, but hearing at that moment a discharge of musketry, looked and saw upon the summit of the hill an army firing upon him. Just then the bale of the kettle slipped off the point of the bar and could be found no more. This is said to have been the nearest attain- ment to securing the coveted prize.
From its high elevation Boylston is essentially an agricultural town, and offers but little opportunity for manufacturing or other industries, but as a farming town it takes a high rank with the other towns of the county, both in the industry and prosperity of its inhabitants and in the cultivation and appearance of its farms. From the assessors' returns for the present year it appears that the valuation of the town is $523,573; rate of taxation, $15 per $1000. There are 160 dwelling-houses, 20S ratable polls, 224 horses, 820 neat-cattle and 147 swine in the town. Its dairy products are extensive, and it has some of the best orchards in the county. According to the Massachu- setts State Census of 1875, there were produced in the town during the year ending May I, 1875, 20,930 barrels of apples, valued at $8,100; 4,639 bushels of
corn, valued at $4,706; 18,689 bushels of potatoes, valued at $11,847 ; 2,240 tons of hay, valued at $37,- 053; 148,415 gallons of milk, valued at $22,211; 43,500 pounds of pork, valued at $4,521; 49,425 pounds of beef, valued at $3,876. The total value of all agricultural products for that year was $147,537. The only manufacturing interests in the town are situated at Sawyer's Mills, where there is a cotton-mill owned and operated by the Lancaster Mills Company, of Clinton. The resident superintendents of the mills have been Deacon Moses Brigham, Levi Holbrook, James A. Weeks, Edmund C. Forbes and Thomas C. Sheldon.
The people of the town have always been noted for their healthfulness and longevity. For a period from 1797 to 1830 there were thirty-four deaths of persons over eighty years of age. Miss Betsey Stone, a descendant of one of the oldest families, died June 30, 1868, at the great age of one hundred years and eight months. Abel Farwell, a pensioner of the War of 1812, died September 1, 1888, at the age of ninety- seven years, and was at the time of his death the oldest person in the town. Ezra Ball, now in his ninety-fourth year, at present enjoys that distinction, and is the oldest resident member of the Congrega- tional Church, an honor which was enjoyed by his grandfather at the time of the settlement of Rev. Mr. Hooper in 1794, and by his father when Rev. Mr. Sanford became pastor of the church in 1832. The population of the town, according to the last census, is eight hundred and thirty-four, and it has not varied very much from this number at any period of the town's history. The greatest number of inhab- itants at any one time was in 1808, the year of the incorporation of West Boylston as a separate town, when it was ten hundred and thirty. In 1885 there were fourteen persons in the town above eighty years of age.
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