USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Acton in history > Part 13
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" Resolved 2d, In passing this vote we wish to express to Mr. Wilde- in hehalf of the present inhabitants of the town ; in behalf of all future generations who may be resident here, and participants in the henefits to he enjoyed ; in hehalf of the soldiers of the War of the Rebellion, whose memory and valor he has so tenderly cherished in the name and arrangement of the structure-our profound appreciation of his gener- ous gift."
" We assure hin of our hearty thanks for remembering the place of his birth by a memento so enduring and so befitting the past history and future needs of the towu.
" We assure lim or our cordial co-operation in doing what in us lies to perpetuate the intentions and possibilities of the trust.
" We tender to him, his companion and his children our hest wishes for their life, health and prosperity, aud our prayer that the donation, In whieli they each have a personal share and honor, may contribute to their mutual and lasting enjoyment."
The selectmen and the whole Board of Trustees were authorized to make all necessary arrangements for the dedication of the building.
The trustees chosen by the town at the March meeting, 1890, are the following : William D. Tuttle for three years, James Fletcher for two years, Howard B. White for one year.
Mr. William Allen Wilde, the donor, was born in Acton, Mass., July 11, 1827. He is now resident in Malden, Mass., and does business as a publisher, his office being at 25 Bromfield Strect, Boston. His father, Joseph Wilde, lived in Southeast Acton, married Saralı Conant, of Stow, sister to Abraham and Simeon Conant, of Acton. He died in Acton, in the eighty- second year of his age. Their children were : Mary, now living in Moultonboro', N. H .; Silvia, deceased ; Sarah, living with Mary ; John, who was drowned ;
HON. WM. A. WILDE.
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Josepli, living in Natick, with seven children and prospering in business ; Willliam A .; and George, living in Somerville.
Benjamin4, the father of Joseph Wild5, died when fifty-six years old, of yellow fever. He married Sil- via Thayer, of Boston. She died two days after her husband and was buried in Acton. Her daughter, Silvia, died of yellow fever two days after her mother and was buried in Acton.
William Wild3, the father of Benjamin4, lived in Randolph, Mass., and died when eighty-seven years old.
William2, the father of William3, lived in Brain- tree, Mass., and died in his eighty-seventh year.
William Wild1, the father of William2, landed from England in 1632, and lived in Randolph, Mass., which was then a part of Braintree.
William A. Wilde6, the son of Joseph Wild5, married, first, Loise A. Mace, of Pepperell, Mass., without issue. Married, second, Lydia Jane Bride, of Berlin, Mass. Children : Jennie, born September 7, 1854, deceased at sixteen years of age ; Carrie, born October 12, 1856, deceased at seven years of age ; Wil- liam Eugene, born in Acton September 12, 1858, mar- ried, in 1885, Effie Jean Dresser, of Portland, Me. Mar- ried, third, Celestia Dona Hoyt, of Wentworth, N. H. Children : Alice Elizabeth, born June 12, 1869 ; Al- len Hoyt, born April 29, 1874.
Mr. Wilde was educated at Groton and Pepperell Academies. He has taught school twelve years, been superintendent of the schools of the city of Malden ; five years chairman of the Water Board when large and expensive water-works were being constructed.
He represented Malden two years in the Legisla- ture, and was chairman of the House Committee of Education. He has been trustee of the Malden Li- brary eight years, and is now one of the Prison Commissioners of the State of Massachusetts.
OUR HONORED DEAD (Tablet List). BY JULIAN TUTTLE.
Luke W. Bowers; he enlisted in Aug., 1862, Co. E, 33d Mass. Reg. ; died of wounds May 1, 1864, at Resaca, Georgia.
Albert Conant, enlisted Dec., 1861, in Co. F, 30th Mass. Reg. ; he died at sea Jan., 1864, on the voyage liome.
Elbridge Conant, enlisted Aug. 18, 1862, in Co. E, 6th Mass. Reg. ; died Feh., 1863, at Suffolk, Va.
Eugene L. Hall, enlisted Feb., 1864, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg. ; killed Sept., 1864, at Winchester, Va.
Frank Ilandley, enlisted Sept., 1861, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg. ; died July, 1862, at Fort St. Philip, near New Orleans, La.
Augustus W. Hosmer, eulisted Sept., 1861, iu 26th Mass. Reg. ; band ; died Nov., 1861, at Acton, Mass.
Eli Huggins, enlisted Sept., 1861, in Co. A, 26th Mass. Reg. ; died Oct, 1863. at New Orleans, La.
Samuel C. Hanscom, enlisted Dec., 1862, in Co. A, 2d Mass. Cavalry ; killed July, 1864, at Aldie, Va.
James P. Hanscom, enlisted May, 1861, in Co. E, 1st Minnesota Reg. ; died Nov., 1862, at Portsmouth Grove, R. I.
John A. Howard, enlisted Aug., 1862, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Rog. ; died Dec., 1863, at New Orleans, La.
John S. Harris, enlisted June, 1861, in Co. F, 11th Mass. Reg. ; killed May, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va.
Francis Kinsley, enlisted Sept., 1861, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg. ; died April, 1861, at Acton, Mass.
Thomas Kinsley, Jr., enlisted Fob., 1864, in Co. E, 26tlı Mass. Reg .; died Nov., 1864, at Washington, D. C.
Georgo Warren Knight, enlisted Oct., 1862, in Co. E, 53d Mass. Reg. ; died April, 1863, at New Orleans, La.
Henry W. Lazell, onlisted Sept., 1861, iu Co. E, 26tlı Mass. Reg. ; died Ang , 1863, at New Orleans, La.
James R. Lentell, enlisted Sept., 1861, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg. ; died Nov., 1862, at New Orleans, La.
William Il. Loker, eulisted in Sept., 1861, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg. ; (lied April, 1863, at Acton, Mass.
Marivan Miner, enlisted Ang., 1862, in Co. I, 26th Mass. Reg. ; died Feb., 1863, at New Orleans, La.
Matthew McKinney, enlisted Aug., 1863, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg. ; died Sept., 1863, at Berwick City, La.
William B. Reed, enlisted Aug., 1862, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg. ; died Jan., 1864, at Franklin, La.
Warren R. Wheeler, enlisted Sept., 1861, in Co. E, 26th Mass, Reg. ; died July, 1862, at Fort St. Philip, near New Orleans, La.
James M. Wright, onlisted Nov., 1861, in Co. B, 32d Mass. Reg. ; died Sept., 1862, at Philadelphia, Penn.
John 1I. P. White, enlisted Sept., 1863, in Co. E, 26th Mass. Reg; died July, 1863, at New Orleans, La.
Samuel E. Wilson, enlisted in 1864, in Co. K, 7th California Reg. ; died Feb., 1866, at Fort Yuma, Cal.
Daniel A. Lovering, enlisted Aug., 1862, in Co. H, 13th Mass. Reg .; killed June, 1864, at Cold Harhor, Va.
Luke Robbins, enlisted in Boston, Mass., June, 1864, as a seaman for two years; served ou board the " Ohio" and "Seminole ; " was killed on the "Semiuole" at Galveston, Texas, May, 1865.
Frank J. Barker, enlisted in Co. C, 118th Ill. Rog., Ang., 1862; died at Milliken's Beud, La., April, 1863, aged 19.
Eben Barker, enlisted in Co. F, 50th Ill. Reg., Aug., 1861; died at Quincy, Ill., Jan., 1862, aged 22.
Cyrus E. Barker, enlisted July, 1861, in Co. H, 13th Mass. Reg. ; dis- charged Jan., 1863, for disability ; afterwards eulisted in Co. C, 59th Mass. Reg. Ho was at the battle at Weldon Railroad ; was taken prisoner, and after seven months was exchanged; died at Aunapolis, Md., April, 1865, aged 22.
The names of Acton men who served in the War of the Rebellion, and who survived that war :
Colonel, William H. Chapman ; Captains, Aaron C. Handley, Daniel Tuttle, Frank H. Whitcomb ; Lientenants, Silas P. Blodgett, Henry Brown, Aaron S. Fletcher, Elias E. Haynes, Isaiah Hutchins, George Willard Knights, James Moulton, George W. Rand, William F. Wood ; Privates, Frank W. Ames, George T. Ames, George E. Barker, John F. Blood, Charles H. Blood, George F. Blood, William H. Boss, Henry L. Bray, Daniel R. Briggs, Charles A. Brooks, Samuel R. Burroughs, Hiram Butten, Patrick Callahan, George Fay Camphell, Waldo Chap- lin, William Chaplin, Jr., William D. Clark, Robert C. Couant, Simon T. Conant, J. Sherman Conant, John Conway, George B. Cran, John B. Cran, Waldo G. Dunn, Oscar Dwelley, Abel Farrar, Jr., Daniel H. Far- rar, Winthrop H. Faulkner, James W. Fiske, John W. Fitzpatrick, Charles W. Fletcher, Aaron J. Fletcher, Ephraim B. Forbush, Channey U. Fuller, Meldon S. Giles, Henry Gilson, Nathan Goss, William B. Gray, William H. Gray, Delette H. Hall, George Ilandley, Charles Handley, William S. Handley, Ahram Handley, Charles A. Hanscom, Marshall Hapgood, Henry Hapgood, Francis E. Harris, Forestus D. K. Hoar, J. Sherman Hoar, Walter O. Holden, Gilman S. Hosmer, Judson A. Huggins, Eri Huggins, Jr., Sylvanus Hunt, Loring M. Jackson, Mortimer Johnson, George A. Jones, Edwin A. Jones, Chiarles Jones, George Jones, Richard Kinsley, Jonathan W. Loker, Emory D. Lothrop, Lewis J. Masten, William Morrill, Charles Morse, Charles H. Moulton, Albert Moulton, Augustus P. Newton, George B. Parker, Henry D. Parliu, George E. Peck, George N. Pierco, George M. Pike, Michael Powers, Oscar E. Preston, John Putuam, William Reed, Levi II. Rob- bins, Joseph N. Robbins, Elhridge J. Robbins, Luke J. Robbins, Varnum F. Robbins, Albert Rouillard, George Rouillard, George W. Sawyer, Andrew J. Sawyer, George H. Simpson, Benjamin Skinner, Dennis Shohan, Luke Smith, George D. Smith, Silas M. Stetson, Emory A. Symonds, Edwin B. Taft, Edwin Tarbell, Daniel G. Taylor, Warren L. Teel, Daniel L. Veasey, Robert Wayne, John Wayne, James Wayne, Hiram W. Wetherbee, Addison B. Wheeler, Lincoln E. Wheeler, Everett Wheeler, William F. B. Whitney, Samuel E. Wilson, James H. Wood, Eben F. Wood, Charles H. Young.
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290
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- This church and society was launched upon its mission amid great religious commotion. The times were full of sharp and heated controversy upon doctrinal points. The lines were rigidly drawn, and neutrals were at a dis- count.
The worship was first in a chapel, built for the pur- pose, now occupied by Mr. Julian Tuttle. This was the scene of many earnest gatherings. It was where Mr. Woodbury began his most effective preaching, and it being a time when all this section of country was marked by great religious awakenings, the events are easily recalled by those still living, cotempora- neous with those early dates.
The church was organized by a council March 13, 1832, and a house of worship fifty by forty-four feet, built the next year. Many of the important members of the old church united with the new in its first forma- tion. Rev. James Trask Woodbury was ordained and installed March 13, 1832. After preaching twenty years, he was dismissed at his own request June 23, 1852, and was afterwards settled in Milford, Massa- chusetts, where he died January 15, 1861, aged fifty- eight years.
Rev. Benjamin Dodge, of Wilton, Maine, was his successor. He was installed October 28, 1852, and dismissed April 17, 1855.
Until September, 1855, the church was supplied by Rev. Messrs. Alvord and Francis Horton.
Rev. Charles Rockwell then commenced his labors as a stated supply. On his leaving in July, 1856, Rev. Martin Moore, of Boston, and others, supplied the pulpit until January, 1857, when Rev. Joseph Garland was hired two years.
From January, 1859, to May of the same year the pulpit was supplied by various clergymen.
Rev. Alpha Morton was then engaged for four years successively, resigning May 1, 1863, to accept an en- gagement with the church at West Auburn, Maine.
Rev. George Coleman was ordained and installed November 12, 1863, and was dismissed in May, 1869.
The Rev. Franklin P. Wood was ordained July 24, 1871, and installed as pastor October 10, 1872, and dismissed December 17, 1884.
During Rev. Mr. Woodbury's pastorate two houses of worship were erected.
The following is a description of the present house as found in the church records in Mr. Woodbury's handwriting :
"1847, January 1st. The new meeting house erected on the spot where stood the former one was duly dedicated to Almighty God, Son and Holy Ghost, Dec. 16, 1846, Wednesday at one o'clock P.M. House 75 feet by 50, with a basement story of stone with 82 pews; Cost about $6000, exclusive of the fresco painting of the interior and the cushions, carpets, lamps, clock, communion table and chairs, Bible and hymn books, which all cost $700, and were all absolute gifts to the church and the house, not to be put upon the pews.
" The bullding Committee were : Dr. J. M. Miles, Samuel Hosmer (24), Simon Tuttle, John P'. Buttrick, Col. Winthrop E. Faulkner, and they did their duty faithfully and are entitled to the lasting gratitude of the church."
More than six hundred different persons have been members of this church.
Some repairs and alterations were made in the early part of 1867, and a fine organ introduced at a cost of $1320. The deacons and officers of this church, have been as follows: Deacons Silas Hosmer and Phineas Wheeler, died in 1838, aged sixty-five, chosen at the organization ; Deacon Hosmer died in 1872, eighty years old ; Deacon Stevens Hayward, chosen April 3, 1835, died in 1868, aged eighty-one ; Deacon John Fletcher, chosen December 7, 1838, died in 1879, aged eighty-nine; Deacon Abraham Conant, chosen February 3, 1843, died in 1861, aged seventy- seven ; Deacon John White, chosen February 3, 1843, died in 1860, aged seventy-five ; and Deacon Samuel Hosmer, Albert Hayward, William W. Davis, and Joel F. Hayward, chosen January 1, 1864.
March, 1885, William Davis Tuttle chosen. He has been superintendent of the Sabbath School, also Deacon Davis.
Rev. George M. Stearns is the present pastor, in- stalled September 23, 1887.
Deacon Silas Hosmer was clerk of the church from its organization to his death.
Rev. James T. Woodbury was born in Frances- town, New Hampshire, May 9, 1803, and died at Mil- ford, Massachusetts, January 16, 1861, aged fifty- eight. He married Miss Augusta Porter, of Medford, daughter of Jonathan Porter. His father, Honorable Peter Woodbury, was a pioneer merchant, and for many years a practical farmer in the upper division of old Hillsborough County. His father was dis- tinguished through his whole life for his strong, plain, common sense, great energy of character, as well as for his uncompromising integrity. He was for a great many years a member of one or the other branches of the New Hampshire Legislature, commencing almost with the first session after the adoption of the Consti- tution by that State and being at the time of his death a member of the Senate. His father and his mother, whose maiden-name was also Woodbury, were of dif- ferent distantly related families of Beverly, of this State, and they could both trace their origin to the ancient town of Woodbury, in Devonshire, England. His mother was a woman of rare ability. James T. Woodbury was a younger brother of Honorable Levi Woodbury, an eminent jurist and popular and able public officer, for years a judge of the United States Supreme Court. There were twelve children. James T. was graduated at Harvard University in 1823. He began a course of legal studies under the direction of his distinguished brother at Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire; was admitted to the bar in his native state in 1826. He at once opened an office for practice as a lawyer in Bath, Grafton County, New Hampshire. No young man for many years had come to the bar with fairer prospects. With a thorough education, with talents of the liigliest order, with an unblem- ished character, with great natural physical and in-
REV. JAMES T. WOODBURY.
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tellectual powers, married to an amiable and highly accomplished wife, beloved by a large circle of friends, all looked that he should rival the fame of his elder brother, who had even then reached the highest honors within the gift of his native State. But in the midst of his apparent worldly prosperity his ambition was suddenly checked and his whole course of life was suddenly changed. Under the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Sutherland, a Scotch clergyman of Bath, familiarly known as Father Sutherland, he became a sincere con- vert to the religious creed in which he had been edu- cated by his pions and excellent mother. After a long struggle with himself, and against the advice and remonstrances of many friends, he relinquished his profession as a lawyer, and all his hopes and dreams of future greatness and worldly glory, and devoted himself to a course of theological studies. As soon as this course was completed he was ordained over the Evangelical Church in Acton, where he remained from 1832 to 1852, when he became a pastor of the church in Milford, and remained a pastor till the time of his death.
No person conld stand for twenty years in any com- munity, holding the relations which were held by Mr. Woodbury in Acton, without making a deep im- pression npon the public mind. He had a personal presence, traits of character, mental peculiarities and forces, which took him ont of the ordinary line of influence, so that when he left town, not the parish simply, but the whole community and neighboring towns felt the change.
By a large majority this change was lamented and is to this day, even by some who were his opponents while here.
As a preacher Mr. Woodbury was especially noted. Why so noted ? It was not because of his rare theo- logical training. In this he was confessedly deficient, and at times even boasted of the fact that he had not been to Andover, or any of the other celebrated schools of the day. It was not because he had a natural theological acumen, which would supplement the de- ficiency of school discipline. His most ardent admir- ers admitted this, and some were glad of it. It was not because of his labored preparations for the Sab- bath effort. Few have carried into the pulpit prepa- rations apparently so meagre. His discourses were seldom written, and when partially so, were for some cause the least effective. He liad simply the lawyer's brief, a small bit of paper, which none but himself could decipher, and he with difficulty at times.
But he had a large, commanding person-a character- tic of the Woodbury family. He had a clear-ringing, variable voice, which he could modulate to any cir- cumstances, grave or comic, to any andience-room, large or small. He had a quick, susceptible nature which flooded his face with tears, sometimes of tender sympathy and sorrow, of sudden humor or contagious passion. He would cry when others had no thonght of it. It was all the same to him. He had a rare gift
of descriptive narrative. Not often did he finish a dis- course, however impressive, without telling some anecdotes which, told in his blunt, quaint style, would raise a smile through the house and causc one to look to his neighbor as if to say, "That is just like him and nobody else." He had a fondness for nature in all her varied forms, human nature not excepted, which, bubbling np like water from a living spring, gave a freshness to his words and sentiments and bearing before an audience.
There was a frankness and boldness and what some would call a rashness in uttering his convictions which provoked approval and opposition, and he did not seem to care which. People gave him credit for meaning what he said, even if they did not agree with him.
His emotional conception of every subject which he treated, whether in the pulpit or on the platform, gave him a power which he wielded with wonderful effect on great occasions.
The monnment which stands upon our village green never would have graced the spot nor extend- ed the patriotic fame of the town but for his memora- ble address to the Legislature.
His only enkindled emotions transferred into the membership of the House thrilled them for a moment into a patriotic ecstasy.
They could hear again the rattle of the musketry at the North Bridge, and the shriek of Captain Davis as he fell at the head of the advancing column.
The 19th of April was back with all its parapher- nalia of stir and fire and blood.
In this gush of excitement it was easy for them to vote yea when they had thought and purposed to vote nay on the appropriation.
As a reformer Mr. Woodbury's gifts were conspic- uous on the platform. His humor and pathos and passion and wit, his bluntness, quaintness and oddi- ties, his independent honesty and high purpose gave him at one time a foremost rank as an anti-slavery and temperance advocate.
In all the region around about and in many distant places his efforts when in happiest moods will be re- membered as sparkling with telling points and a burning oratory.
The whole town revived under his manly strokes. The houses and farms and shops and roads and schools, which had languished under the blight of intemper- ance now took on a new lease of prosperity.
Many a man headed for the drunkard's grave re- versed his steps, thanks to Mr. Woodbury's eloquent appeal. Peace be to his ashes !
His oft-repeated wish to be buried in Acton, with the dear people to whom he had ministered in the buoyancy and strength of his best years, has been gratified. He sleeps in Woodlawn Cemetery, by the granite shaft which he erected in memory of his beloved son, James Trask, Jr., by the side of his Angusta, as he was wont so fondly always to call her,
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the companion, stay and grace of his entire married life.
Extracts from an ordination charge by Mr. Wood- bury to a young pastor :
" My Son, I have begotten you in the Gospel, so I call you my son!
"My Son. Ist. Get your sermons from the Bible, the closet and the fields.
"2d. Be brief. You are a short man and the people will not expect loug sermons from you, my Son. Uuless you deem yourself a very elo- quent man. Be brief ! be brief !
"3d. If it rains, let it rain! The rain may do good. If you try to stop it, it may rain so much the harder. My Son, let it rain!
". 4th. Throw physic to the dogs! They may not like, but they might as well live it as you. Yon don't need it. Air, exercise, good food and plenty of it, are better than physic. Let the dogs have it.
" 5th. Trust in God and keep your powder dry. If your powder is wet it will not be of any use, Trust in God, but you must have dry powder or your shooting will not hit the mark. My son, God bless you and your people. AMEN."
Reminiscences .- One hot summer morning in July, quite early in the day, there was heard a loud shout- ing from a carriage which had stopped in the street opposite : "I say ! I say ! ! I say ! ! !
Hurrying to the door, Mr. Woodbury, of Acton, some thirty miles distant, was recognized sitting in the carriage alone, stripped all but his pants and shirt. He was not expected. His first salutation was, " I say ! have you any milk ?" other questions followed, but the first thing to be settled was milk; he was thirsty.
Why Mr. Woodbury liked to live outside the vil- lage. "Because," he said, "he could shout as loud as he pleased without disturbing his neighbors."
Why he wore a broad-brimmed hat, loose-fitting coat and pants of blue color, carried a blue umbrella, instead of black, had boots with sole leather project- ing a half-inch beyond the upper leather, drove his oxen through the village in a farmer's frock, with pants in his boots. Because he had a mind to.
Why he liked the Acton choir. Because it was a large choir and made up of ladies as well as gen- tlemen, and Augusta stood for years a prominent and graceful singer among them. He got tired of this all gander music when in college.
Deacon John Fletcher was born in Acton July 21, 1790, and died July 16, 1879, in his ninetieth year. He was the son of James, the son of Timothy, the son of Timothy, the son of Samuel, the son of Francis, the son of Robert, who came from England to Con- cord, Mass., in 1630, when thirty-eight years of age. He was at the time of his death the oldest person in Acton. He was nine years of age when George Washington died, and remembered distinctly the sensation which that event made throughout the country. In his boyhood all the territory west of the Hudson was a wilderness.
He married Clarissa Jones, the youngest of eleven children, all but one of whom lived to mature life, whose father was Aaron Jones. She died in her scv- enty-sixth ycar (February 8th), after being marricd over fifty years, the mother of seven children. He
united with the church, together with his wife, No- vember 3, 1833, and was for many years one of its deacons.
In his early life he was captain of the Davis Blues, and was familiarly called Captain Fletcher. He was clerk of the company when it went to Boston in the War of 1812. He held the office of special commis- sioner for Middlesex County for several years. He was for a long period of years the veteran boot and shoe manufacturer of this region, and in company with his sons, John and Edwin, carried on the busi- ness up to the time of his decease. He was consci- entious in his dealings with his patrons, stamped lis name upon his work, and made it good, if at any time there was a failure. He was largely interested in the general appearance of the Common, in the planting of the noble elms which now give dignity and beauty to the village, and but for his exertions and those of Francis Tuttle, Esq., they would have perished in the severe drought of 1840, after they were set out. He was interested in the erection of the public buildings of the Centre.
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