USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Acton in history > Part 14
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After his former shoe-factory and the old church, which was used as a town hall, were burnt, he en- couraged the town to rebuild on the old site a new and commodious structure, offering to rebuild a shoe- factory which should be an ornament to the place, which he did as promised.
As early as 1815 he began an industry in the town, which, till within a few years, was of great advantage to the material interests. He early espoused the tem- perance cause, and became an earnest advocate of the principles of anti-slavery. His ardent support of the temperance cause cost the loss of a valuable orchard in 1843-destroyed by the girdling of his trees-and the same was repeated upon him a few years after- wards. When he became convinced that a certain course was right he gave himself to it heart and hand, with but little regard to the consequences to himself. In 1828 he, with his brother James, built the homestead, which till recently remained on the site now occupied by the Memorial Library.
Simon Hapgood died in Acton December 21st, agcd eighty-six years and ten months. He was one of the original founders of the Congregational Society, was for nearly forty years an exemplary member of the church, and for many years a teacher in the Sabbath- school; was one of the earliest advocates of temper- ance and emancipation, and was always identified with that which is for the best good of the community and the world at large.
Dcacon W. W. Davis was born in Harvard March, 1824; came to Acton April, 1861. He married Mar- tha Taylor, of Boston, April 7, 1853. She died De- cember 8, 1868. Children : William and Ada. He has taught school eigliteen terms. In 1861 he repre- sented the towns of Boxboro', Littleton, Carlisle and Acton in the State Legislature, being what was called the War Session. August 3, 1882, he married Abby
DEA. JOHN FLETCHER.
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R. Worthiley, of Andover. He has been seleetinau of Acton, two years; School Committee superin- tendent, three years ; Sabbath-school superintendent, fifteen years ; deacon of tlre Congregational Church since 1862. In politics the deacon has been uniformly a Republican. He has been a hard-working man, greatly improving his farm and lifting from himself burdens which at the beginning he had to assume.
Hon. John Fletcher was the son of Deacon John Fletcher; born in 1827. He was of the firm of John Fletcher & Sons till his father's death, in 1879. Sinee then he has been in the firm of S. T. Fletcher & Co., with his son, Silas Taylor, at 77 Clinton Street, Bos- ton. The business is that of butter and eggs commis- sion store. Though retiring in his habits, he has taken an active interest in public affairs, in parish, town and country. He has been chorister twenty years ; representative to General Court in 1862; in the State Seuate two years (1870-71); a director in the Lowell and Nashua Railroad; president of the Schu- bert Choral Union since its organization ; superin- tendent of the cemeteries ; on the Executive Coinmit- tee of the village improvement, and prominent in his activities for the home support of the Civil War. He married Martha Taylor, daughter of Silas Taylor.
UNIVERSALISTS .- The following extracts from an able sermon preached by Rev. I. C. Knowlton, D.D., at the dedication of the new meeting-house at South Aeton (1878) are given. In a recent note from Dr. Knowlton he adds, "I send you the missing links in your sketch of our folks in Acton. I spent much time and labor in preparing the sermon from which you copy ; I cannot go over the ground again. I think its statements are all correct."
The first Universalist sermons were preached in Acton by Rev. Hosea Ballard as early as 1814 or 1815.
January 19, 1816, the first Universalist Society of Acton was organized, consisting of eleven members.
In 1821 and 1822 Rev. Dr. Benjamin Whittemore preached one-half the Sabbaths in Acton in halls, school-houses and private residences.
January 27, 1821, the First Universalist Society of Acton was legally incorporated. It consisted of fifty paying members, two years after of sixty-one and eventually of over eiglity paying members.
December 17, 1833, a church of thirty-nine mem- bers was formed as the result of the labors of Rev. Joseph Wright, who, that year, became pastor of this society.
October 4, 1834, the Boston Association of Univer- salists met at Acton. During the next six years the religious services were in the First Parish Church and well attended.
June 29, 1836, Rev. Isaac Brown became the resi- deut ininister of the society and continued in this re- lation three years.
July 4, 1837, Rev. Isaac Brown was formally in- stalled as pastor of this church with appropriate ser- vices.
In 1842 au attempt was made to resuscitate the First Parish by uniting all the clements not affiliatiug with the Evangelical Church. At about this time there was a Methodist Church organized and there was Methodist preaching for a few years.
About 1850 our interest there, at Aeton Ceutre, peacefully expired.
From 1850-58 there was no regular Universalist preaching in Acton. In 1858 halls were provided in South and West Acton, and Rev. J. M. Usher preached in these two places for a period of six years. The parishes in South Acton and West Acton, al- though entirely separate, were started at the same time and have always worked together in perfect har- mony. The same pastors have officiated in each place. Rev. J. M. Usher, an energetic and well-read man, was really the founder of both.
After the retirement of Mr. Usher, in 1864, Rev. Edwin Davis became pastor of both these societies and continued until April, 1872; Rev. W. W. Har- ward, three years ; Rev. N. P. Smith, one year. Rev. I. C. Knowlton, D.D., assumed his charge in October, 1875, fifteen years, and is still occupying the pulpits, with acceptance, in his seventy-first year.
In 1868 the West Acton Society built, furnished and paid for a very pretty and pleasant meeting- house, which it has used and greatly enjoyed ever since.
In 1861 the South Acton Society moved into Ex- change Hall, a large and handsome auditorium, where it worshiped for seventeen years.
In the spring of 1876 a church of more than thirty inembers was organized at West Acton. Present number of members, about sixty in all.
On February 21, 1878, a handsome and completely furnished church edifice was dedicated, with appro- priate services, at South Acton.
Each parish, at the date of this writing, though de- pleted by the removal of many of its young people to eity centres, is enjoying a fair state of prosperity. Each meeting-house is pleasant and convenient, kept in good repair and occupied every Sunday.
THE BAPTISTS .- The Baptist Church is located at West Acton. It was organized July 10, 1846, with a membership of twenty-three persons. The present membership is over one hundred; the average con- gregations 200. The Sabbath-school has always been a flourishing adjunct of the church, now numbering one hundred and fifty. They have an attractive meeting-house, located centrally in the village, with all the modern contrivances to promote the interest and profit of the worshipers. They have a large and instructive library connected with the society, adapted to give general culture as well as religious instruction. The following is a list of the pastors and the length of their pastorates: Rev. Horace Richardson, seven years ; Rev. W. H. Watson, seven years; Rev. Jacob Tuck (2d), three years ; Rev. W. K. Davis, five years ; Rev. J. C. Boomer, four years ; Rev. J. R. Haskins.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Rev. C. L. Rhoades came to the West Acton Bap- tist Church, as its pastor, from the Lexington Church. He was a man of great enthusiasm, and during his pastorate of four and one-half years his hands were filled with work. He resigned in January, 1888, to go to the Fourth Street Church, of South Boston.
Rev. Frank A. Heath came direct from Hamilton Theological Seminary and was ordained June 7, 1888. He is now in the midst of his work, with able and liberal assistants in active co-operation, and with high hopes of a success in the future exceeding any record of the past. Their first meeting-house, dedi- cated July 19, 1847, was burned July 2, 1853; their second meeting-house was dedicated September 19, 1854.
DANIEL WETHERBEE, EsQ. (East Acton) .- Few men have held a more prominent position in Central Middlesex. From his youth he was acknowledged as a leader. His early education commenced and was continued in the old tavern situated on the "Great Road" from Fitchburg to Boston, of which he became proprietor in later years. Wetherbee's Tavern was known from the Canada line to our me- tropolis, and was a temporary Mecca of drovers and drivers of baggage-wagons for more than half a cen- tury preceding the advent of railroads.
The small stream running through his ancestral domains he at once improved and enlarged, till Weth- erbee's Mills comprised one of the most important points in the illustrated map of the county. Of public life he had his full share. He was town clerk, assessor and selectman for many years, and five years a representative to the Legislature. He was largely instrumental in establishing the State Prison at Con- cord Junction. He became one of the originators of the Lowell and Framingham Railroad, and a perma- nent director. He married Clarissa Jones, daughter of Abel Jones. He died July 6, 1883, aged sixty- eight years, leaving a widow and seven children.
THE AMERICAN POWDER - MILLS .- These mills, incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts, having their business office in Boston, are located in the corner of four towns-Acton, Sudbury, Maynard and Concord. They cover an area of 401 acres. The capital is $300,000. The annual production is in the range of $240,000.
These mills were started by Nathan Pratt, in 1835, and they were run by him till 1864; then the prop- erty was sold to the American Powder Company, and that company was formed by the union of Massachu- setts Powder-Mills, located at Barre, Mass., and in- corporated under the name of the American Powder Company, 1864.
They did a very successful business, and went out of business in 1883, and were succeeded by the Amer- ican Powder. Mills. About sixty men are employed at the present time. They are doing a large and suc- cessful business.
The patriotic emergencies of Acton have always
had at hand a bountiful supply of the very choicest quality of powder, and at reasonable rates.
SOUTHI AGTON .- Fifty years ago the principal business at South Acton was done at the Faulkner Saw and Grist-Mill.
The houses within a quarter of a mile of the depot were those of the tavern, for many years the residence of Aaron Jones; the house of Abel Jones, his son, across the road opposite, on the hill, and that of Col. Faulkner.
Besides these there was a small school-house, a few barns, cooper-shops, stables and out-buildings. Now there are over a hundred pleasant residences, a num- ber of mills, stores and factories, a fine church, assembly hall, chapel, a commodious school-house, large store structures, railroad facilities for traffic and travel, and a village noted for its comfort and neigh- borly and social culture.
Tuttle, Jones & Wetherbee .- On the rise of ground facing the Fitchburg Railway track stands the central structure of the vicinity-the hub of trade for years of this section of country. This firm is composed of these gentlemen, in the order of their connection with it: James Tuttle, Varnum Tuttle, sons of Francis Tuttle, Esq .; Elnathan Jones, a grandson of Aaron Jones, and J. K. W. Wetherbee, each marrying sisters of James and Varnum. No other than these have ever been in the partnership. The present name was adopted February 8, 1867, when Mr. Weth- erbee was admitted. Mr. Jones joined about 1852, and between these dates it was James Tuttle & Co. From 1843 to 1852 it was J. & V. Tuttle. James Tuttle began trade on his own account in 1839. A year or so here and three at Acton Centre, and he was ready to start with his brother at the South Vil- lage, which had just been reached by a railroad from Boston. Then the lower part of the building now occupied by jeweler Baldwin was constructed, a single story, with its basement, for the beginning of these operations. The house of Mr. James Tuttle is to the rear of this enlarged structure. These young men of twenty-five and twenty-one started with good pluck and with a will to succeed, but with little idea of the possibilities of their future. The railroad terminus was then at West Acton. All things seemed at the time to favor that village. Long after they started no little trade went past them to the prosper- ous concern of Burbeck & Tenney. That was then called Horse-power Village, and this nothing but Mill- corner, where merged a half-dozen roads from Box- boro', Acton Centre, Westford, Sudbury and Stow. That was a stage, this only a saw and grist-mill centre.
In a few years they won the good start which is half the battle.
In those early days they did a business of $25,000 per year. This gradually grew until it reached a quarter of a million, with appliances to match the growth. In 1850 they mored to their new store on
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the site of the present grocery. This building con- sisted of bascment, a full story above and an attic floor. Shed, carriage-house and barn stretchied from it back along the Concord pike.
James Tuttle has always been a shrewd and jolly helmsman, and when he set his craft on these waters he was bound to steer straight to the destined port. This store was burned January 20, 1866. Within a year the restored building was ready for a new launch, and it has floated safcly on its way ever since.
The large dry-goods store on the hill was built in 1860. It is 70 by 38, and 60 feet high, with a central tower on front.
Exchange Hall, up three flights from the ground at front, has been devoted to public uses from the outset. The Universalists worshiped there until the new church was occupied in February, 1878. Every sort of gathering and entertainment has been held within its walls. Its dances, socials, concerts, lec- tures, campaign meetings, caucuses and conventions have made it well and widely known.
The prosperity of the firm rests npon its equity, Yankee sagacity and thrift. The gentlemen con- nected with it, many and various, stand high in the regard of their fellow-townsmen. The senior, Mr. James Tuttle, has been selectman, assessor, overseer of the poor, chairman of committee for building school-house, church and other public buildings. Mr. Jones has been prominent in town affairs. Mr. Varunm Tuttle has been a stanch pillar of the chapel enterprise. Mr. Wetherbee has been for fif- teen years postmaster at Acton, town treasurer for years, which office he still holds ; selectman for many years, and trustee and executor of mauy private estates.
J. W. Tuttle & Sons .- Mr. Joseph Warren Tuttle, brother to Francis Tuttle, Esq., was the senior mem- ber of this house, and lived in one of the finest man- sions at Sonth Acton. The business is a wholesale commission-merchant's for the sale of all kinds of country produce; office, No. 16 and 18 Clinton Street, Boston. An honorable and successful career of forty- five years has given the house a high standing in the great thoroughfares of trade. The business was founded in 1843 by J. W. Tuttle.
In 1848 Mr. George W. Tuttle was admitted to partnership, in 1874 Charles Jones, in 1875 Charles H. Tuttle, and 1883 Herbert A. Tuttle.
J. A. Bowen .- The shoddy enterprise at South Acton, now in charge of Mr. Bowen, is one of import- ance. The privilege and land were first obtained of Abel Jones for a woolen-mill during the war, by S. S. Richardson, by whom the first dam was erected. The amonut of the shoddy and extract productions for a year is now estimated in the vicinity of $100,000 per year. The business has been profitable and em- ploys over thirty hands. Mr. Bowen, the proprietor, is a gentleman of quiet habits, of enfeebled health, yet an intelligent, reputable and liberal citizen of the vil-
lage, whose enterprise in the successful management of the interest, and whose generous contributions in the way of public improvement are appreciated by the community.
Charles Augustus Harrington. - He was boru in Shrewsbury, Worcester County, Mass., December 22, 1814, where he lived the first thirty years. He mar- ried, May 31, 1866, Mary J. Faulkner, daughter of Colonel Winthrop E. Faulkner. Hc came from Wis- consin to Acton in 1867, and has resided in town most of the time since. Though interested in public affairs he has never sought or held official positions of responsibility except to act as assessor for Acton four years. He is an earnest Republican in politics and liberal in his support of enterprises for the benefit of the community. He has been largely instrumental in giving to South Acton its new impetus towards a prosperity exceeding all previous records. He built his own elegant mansion which overlooks towards the west, the Faulkner house and the water scenery of the "Big Brook," and the fine mansion recently built on the western and northern slopes of the vil- lage; the retreating low-lands of the New England settlement are also seen in the distance, with clusters of comely dwelling-houses.
The thirty daily incoming and departing trains which pass on the Fitchburg Railroad help the ef- fectiveness of this panorama of beauty as seen from the windows of Mr. Harrington's home. He has re- built and enlarged the Fanlkner Mills, put in an ice- house, storc-house, barn and an elevator for the flour and grain business at an expense of $17,000. He re- built the piano-stool factory which was burnt Novem- ber 9, 1886, putting in steam at an expense of $10,000. The estimated productious of this factory, run by Mr. Chadwick, annually are $75,000, which are shipped to all States east of the Mississippi and to Canada.
At the grain and flour-mills, now in charge of F. J. Hastings & Hezzleton, a very heavy business is now carried on. No place in this region has a more com- plete stock for feed, fertilizing, garden seeds, farming tools; flour comes in and goes out by the car-load. It is the heaviest grain business between Waltham and Fitchburg; estimated annual amount, $150,000.
THE ACTON LIGHT INFANTRY was organized in 1805 and then consisted of forty-one members, includ- ing officers. The following gentlemen previous to 1830 commanded this company: Paul Brooks, Simon Hosmer, Abijah Hayward, Silas Jones, James Jones, Aaron Hayward, Jonathan Hosmer, John Fletcher, John Handley, Jr., Simon Davis, Abel Furbush, George W. Tuttle and Thomas Brown.
The following is the list of town clerks : Thomas Wheeler, 1735-36 ; Simont Hunt 1737-43 ; Jonathan Hosmer, 1744-55; John Davis, Jr., 1756-57; Jona- than Hosmer, 1758-61; Francis Faulkner, 1762-96 ; Aaron Jones, 1797 ; John Edwards, 1798-99; David Barnard, 1800-07; John Robbins, 1808-17; Joseph Noyes, 1818; John Robbins, 1819-20; Joseph Noyes,
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
1821; Abraham Conant, 1822; Francis Tuttle, 1823- 27; Silas Jones, 1828; Stevens Hayward, 1829; Fran- cis Tuttle, 1830.
Deacon Ephraim Robbins and Asa Parlin, Esq., were of Carlisle when it was a district of Acton.
Captain Daniel Fletcher was chosen a delegate to the convention in Boston, 22d September, 1768; Francis Faulkner and Ephraim Hapgood to the Pro- vincial Congress in Concord, October, 1774; Josiah Hayward to Cambridge, February, 1775, and again in May ; Francis Faulkner to the convention in Cam- bridge, for formning the Constitution, September, 1779; Captain Joseph Robbins to the convention in Con- cord, to regulate the prices of articles of produce, etc., October, 1779; Simon Tuttle and Thomas Noyes to Concord 23d of May, 1786; and Asa Parlin to the convention in Boston in 1788, to ratify the Constitu- tion of the United States.
REPRESENTATIVES .- Nathan Brooks, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1840; Phineas Harrington, 1841-42; Ivory Keyes, 1843, 1846; Daniel Wetherbee, 1844, 1845, 1848, 1853, 1857 ; Rev. James T. Woodbury, 1850-51; Moses Hayward, 1852; Joseph Noyes, 1854; Aaron C. Handley, 1855, 1863; William D. Tuttle, 1856 ; John Fletcher, 1861; Luther Conant, 1866, 1886; George W. Gates, 1870; George C. Wright, 1873 ; Moses Taylor, 1881; Charles Wesley Parker, 1884; Aaron C. Handley, 1889; Daniel Fletcher, 1768; Josiah Hayward, 1774-75 ; Mark White, 1776; Simon Hunt, 1780; Francis Faulkner, 1782, 1785; Thomas Noyes, 1787, 1789; Ephraim Robbins, 1790 ; Jonas Brooks, 1791, 1802; Asa Parlin, 1803: Jonas Brooks, 1804; Samuel Jones, 1805-06 ; Jonas Brooks, 1807-11; Stevens Hayward, 1812; Joseph Noyes, 1813-18; Joseph Noyes, 1821; Francis Tuttle, 1823-27 ; Steven Hayward, 1828-29; Francis Tuttle, 1830-31.
Forty-four years during the ninety-five since incor- poration the town was not represented in the General Court.
SENATORS .- Stevens Hayward, 1844, 1845; Win- throp E. Faulkner, 1853, 1854; John Fletcher, 1870, 1871.
TOWN CLERKS .- Francis Tuttle, Esq., 1830-32, 1834, 1835 ; Silas Jones, 1832-33; J. W. Tuttle, 1836, 1838 ; Daniel Wetherbee, 1839-54; William D. Tut- tle, 1855.
GRADUATES OF COLLEGE .- Nathan Davis, son of Samuel Davis, born November 30, 1737 ; graduated at Harvard College 1759; ordained minister at Dracut 20th November, 1765 ; dismissed in 1785 ; removed to Boston and was appointed chaplain at Fort Indepen- dence, and a review officer ; died March 4, 1803, aged 65.
John Swift, born November 18, 1741 ; graduated in 1762; settled as a physician in Acton ; died in 1775.
Asa Piper, son of Josiah Piper ; graduated in 1778, and was ordained at Wakefield, New Hampshire, 1785; was a retired pastor in that place after leaving his pastoral charge.
Solomon Adams, son of Lieutenant John Adams ; born March 18, 1761; graduated in 1788; ordained pastor at Middleton, October 23, 1793; died Septem- ber, 1813, aged 53.
Daniel Brooks, graduated in 1794; settled as a trader in Westmoreland, where he held the office of justice of the peace ; died at Springfield, Vermont.
Thomas Noyes, son of Thomas Noyes, born Febru- ary 5, 1769; graduated in 1795; ordained pastor of Second Church in Needham, July 10, 1799; dis- missed in 1833, after a faithful discharge of his official duties thirty-four years. To his clerical brethren he set an example of diligence, punctuality and perseverance. As a preacher he was respectable, grave and sincere, practical rather than doctrinal. He brought beaten oil into the sanctuary. He was a de- scendant of the Puritans and a consistent Congrega- tionalist.
Luther Wright, born April 19, 1770 : graduated in 1796; ordained pastor of the First Parish in Med- way, June 13, 1798 ; dismissed September, 1815; in- stalled at Barrington, Rhode Island, January 29, 1817 ; dismissed July 5, 1821 ; he resided at Holliston afterwards.
Moses Adams, son of Rev. Moses Adams; born November 28, 1777 ; graduated in 1797 ; settled as a physician in Ellsworth, Maine, and was sheriff of the county of Lincoln.
William Emerson Faulkner, son of Franc's Faulk- ner, Esq .; born October 23, 1776; graduated 1797 ; read law with his brother-in-law, the Hon. Jabez Uphamn, of Brookfield, with whom he formed a part- nership in business; he died October 1, 1804, aged 28, and left a most worthy character.
Josiah Adams, son of the Rev. Moses Adams ; born November 3, 1781 ; graduated in 1801; read law with Thomas Heald, Esq. ; was admitted to the bar, June, 1807, and settled in Framingham. He delivered the Centennial address in 1835.
Luther Faulkner, son of Francis Faulkner ; born May 7, 1779 ; graduated in 1802; was a merchant in Boston.
Jonathan Edwards Scott, a native of Nova Scotia; a resident in Acton before he entered college; grad- uated in 1802 ; commandcd a vessel at sea.
Joseph Adams, son of Rev. Moses Adams; born September 25, 1783; graduated in 1803; settled as an attorney in West Cambridge ; died June 10, 1814.
John Ruggles Cutting, son of William Cutting ; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1802; ordained at Waldoborough, Maine, August, 1807; dismissed March, 1812, and was afterwards a teacher of youth.
Henry Durant graduated at Yale College, 1828; was a tutor in Yale; all these, excepting the two first and the last, were prepared for college under Rev. Mr. Adams.
Rev. James Fletcher .-. He was born in Acton, Septem- ber 5, 1823, and was the son of Deacon John and Clarissa Jones Fletcher. He fitted for college at
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Leicester Academy, Massachusetts, and New Ipswich Academy, New Hampshire. He graduated at Dart- moutlı College in 1843, at Andover Thcological Sem- inary in 1846, and was a resident licentiatc a year ; pastor of the Maple Street Congregational Church, Danvers, fifteen years ; principal of the Holten High School, Danvers, five years ; of Lawrence Academy, Groton, six years; of Burr and Burton Seminary, Manchester, Vt., three years. He has taught forty- nine terms in all; been committeeman eighteen years and superintendent of schools six years. He married in Andover, Mass., October 10, 1849, Lydia Middleton, daughter of Rev. Henry Woodward, mis- sionary to Ceylon, granddaughter of Prof. Bezaleel Woodward, of Dartmouth College, and adopted daughter of Hon. Samuel Fletcher, late of Concord, New Hampshire.
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