USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 10
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Mr. Lewis Parkhurst of Fitchburg, 1880.
Mr. B. F. Brown of Fitchburg, 1881, 1882.
Mr. L. McL. Jackson of Bernardston, 1883 to 1886.
Mr. W. H. Terrill of Morrisville, Vt., 1886 to 1889.
Mr. W. J. Rushmore of Cambridge, 1890, 1891.
Mr. Geo. M. Strout, 1892, 1893.
Mr. F. C. Avery of Waterbury, Vt., 1894,
There have been employed as assistant teachers, twenty- two as follows : H. H. Sprague, 1858; James Oliver, Jr., 1860 ; Geo. A. Black, 1873 ; Emma L. Pierce, 1873 ; Annie Knapp Cheney, 1874 to 1876; Etta V. Cutter, 1876 to 1878 ; Mary Durkee Robinson, 1878, 1879 ; Ellen M. Bigelow, 1880, 1881 ; Kate Tower Pinney, 1882 to 1887; Elizabeth Bridgeford Amsden, 1887 to 1889. Since that date the teachers have been : Clara Preston, Fanny Bugbee Cobb, Grace G. Rickey, Henry A. Roberts, Mary Lang Strout, Janet G. Patterson, Cora Coolidge, Mary Epps, Helen M. Humphrey, Julia Strong and Anna Kitchel.
We give brief sketches of some of the principals who have recently served the school.
Benj. F. Brown was born in Lowell, Vt. in 1849. He removed to Fitchburg, Mass., in 1866, where he was fitted for college at the Fitchburg High school, and entered Am- herst College, from which he graduated in 1874. From the time of graduation until 1890, he was engaged in teaching in the following places : High school and Day Street Grammar school of Fitchburg, 1874 to 1881 ; Athol High school, 1881 to 1883 ; Montpelier Vt. High school, 1883 to 1885, and the Gibson School, Boston, 1885 to 1890. In 1890 he engaged in the development of a
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machine for automatically measuring, filling, and sealing packets of seeds, dyes. powders etc. The machine was perfected and put into successful operation the following year, and a company organized in Fitchburg to manufac- ture them, of which Mr. Brown is President and Manager. He was married in 1880 to Zephirine Normandin of Mil- ford, and their present residence is at Dorchester, Mass.
Mr. W. H. Terrill, who was principal of the High school for three years. beginning with September, 1886, was born in Morristown, Vermont. He prepared for Col- lege in the Academy of his native town, and entered Wes- levan University in the Fall of 1879, graduating in the class of 1883. He entered upon the work of teaching im- mediately upon graduation. For three years he filled the chair of Natural Sciences in the Vermont Methodist Seminary at Montpelier, Vt., resigning that position to ac- cept the Principalship of the Athol High school. Since leaving Athol, Mr. Terrill has held the position of in- structor in Greek and Latin in Phillips Academy, An- dover. Mass., where he is still employed.
F. C. Avery, the present Principal of the High school, was born in Tunbridge, Vt., April 14, 1861. His early education was received in the Grammar schools of Staf- ford, Vt. He was for three years at Kimball Union Acad- emy, Meriden, N. H., and graduated from Dartmouth Col- lege in 1888. After graduating he was Principal of Wells River High school and Superintendent of Grammar schools in that town for two years, and held the same position in Waterbury, Vt. three years, from which place he came to Athol as Principal of the High school in 1893.
*
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Under his charge the school is attaining a high rank among the High schools of the state. He was married in August, 1894, to Miss Mabel Ripley Hatch, of Stafford, Vermont.
The whole number of graduates from the school since a course of study was established and diplomas awarded, commencing with the Class of 1876, and including the Class of 1896, is 199. Of this number, divided among the twenty-one classes, more than forty have been engaged as teachers, some of them filling important positions. The largest class to graduate was the Class of 1896, with twenty-two members, and the Class of 1887 was the next in rank, sending out nineteen. Thirteen graduates have died.
COLLEGE GRADUATES .- The following persons, natives of Athol, have received a College education :
WILLIAMS COLLEGE .- Jesse Stratton, 1814; Joseph Es- tabrook, 1818; John Wiswell Humphrey, 1823 ; John Drury, Jr., Wm. La Roy Haven, 1864 ; Joel Drury Mil- ler, 1864, Frederick Eugene Stratton, 1871.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY .- Joseph A. Shaw, 1858 ; Henry H. Sprague, 1864 ; Maurice H Richardson, 1873 ; George A. Black, 1879, Albert H. Newman, 1895.
AMHERST COLLEGE .- Chas. H. Sweetser, 1862 ; Henry A. Simonds, 1883 ; Eugene T. Allen, 1887.
YALE COLLEGE .- Hollon A. Farr, 1896.
PRINCETON College .- Ward Talbot.
BROWN UNIVERSITY. Lucien E. Taylor, 1895.
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. - Louis Mills
-
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Norton, 1873 ; James P. Lynde, 1886 ; Walter J. Rickey, 1895 ; Mortimer A. Sears, 1896.
MILITARY UNIVERSITY, of Norwich, Vt .- Henry M. Phil- lips.
WELLESLEY College .- Arline Smith, 1895, Grace G. Rickey.
Louis M. Norton took his degree of Ph. D. at Gotten- gen University, Germany.
Eugene T. Allen, after graduating from Amherst Col- lege, also took a course at Johns Hopkins University, from which he received the degree of Ph. D.
Wm. H. Parmenter entered Yale College, and after two years in that institution entered the Harvard Law school.
Ralph W. Drury entered the Massachusetts Agricult- ural College. and left that institution to take an appoint- ment at the United States Military Academy, West Point. where he remained two years.
LIBRARIES.
Previous to 1830, the Athol Social Library had been in existence. as we find in a copy of Freedom's Sentinel of 1828, an advertisement of books belonging to that organi- zation for sale. During the decade between 1850 and 1860, three libraries were in existence, as follows: A " Ladies' Social Circle Library," organized in 1856, hav- ing 239 volumes, in charge of Miss Anna Cobleigh, and a " Ladies' Library Association," organized in 1857, having 270 volumes and officered as follows : President, Miss Clara Thorpe ; Vice President, Mrs. Geo. D. Colony; Sec- retary, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow ; Treasurer, Miss Emma J. Knowlton ; Librarian, Mrs. J. S. Parmenter, with the fol-
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lowing assistants: Mrs. Alvin Houghton, Mrs. Leander Cheney, Mrs. Geo. Sprague, Emma J. Knowlton, Miss Josephine M. Knowlton and Mrs. Susan Ainsworth. Another was " The Athol Agricultural and Mechanical Library Association," organized in 1858, "with the object of diffusing among the people a greater knowledge of the acts and sciences," having 150 volumes, and the following officers : President, L. W. Hapgood; Vice President, F. F. Amsden ; Secretary, J. I. Goulding ; Treasurer, C. B. Swan ; Librarian, J. I. Goulding.
The largest collection of books gathered by any Society was that of the Athol Library Association, which was or- ganized in December, 1878, with Hon. Chas. Field as President. This association collected a library of upwards of 1000 volumes during the three years of its existence ; the library room of the Society was at the residence of Joel M. Doane on School street, and Mrs. Eliza Doane was the librarian. In the spring of 1882, this association offered to make over to the town its library on conditions that the town should furnish a suitable place for the books, and appropriate money for the support of the library and the purchase of new books. This offer was accepted by the town, and at a town meeting held in April 1882, a library committee was chosen, consisting of Hon. Charles Field, Rev. H. A. Blake, Rev. J. H. Cox, E. V. Wilson, Esq., and L. B. Caswell.
Mr. Field was chairman of this committee, and Mr. Caswell the secretary and treasurer. The Athol Library Association then made over its library to the town, and the Free Public Library of Athol was established. Ar-
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rangements were made to continue the library room at the same place, and also to retain the services of Mrs. Doane as the librarian. During the first year that the library was open to the public 650 persons availed themselves of its privileges, and 8873 books were delivered.
During the year 1895, 13,869 books were delivered. The Library was continued in its first quarters, a room in the dwelling house of Joel. M. Doane on School street, and in charge of the same librarian, Mrs. Eliza F. Doane, un- til April. 1887. when it was removed to its present quart- ers. and the present librarian, Mrs. Mercie S. Doane was engaged. The appropriation by the town the first year was $300, and from that time until 1894, it was $500 each year. since which time it has been $1000 per year. Special attention has been paid to making the library an aid in school work, and in the selection of books care has been taken to secure a goodly number of such works as would be of value and service to teachers and scholars in their daily work, and the library committee every year in- cludes one or more members of the School Committee.
The Library now contains 5000 volumes. The organi- zation of the Library Committee has been as follows :
1882, Charles Field, Chairman, Lilley B. Caswell, Rev H. A. Blake, Rev. J. H. Cox. Edgar V. Wilson.
1883, Charles Field, Chairman, Lilley B. Caswell, Henry M. Humphrey, Daniel A. Newton, Lucien Lord.
1884, Charles Field, Chairman, Lilley B. Caswell, Thomas H. Goodspeed, Mrs. A. H. French, Henry M. Humphrey, Rev. Charles P. Lombard, Mrs Sarah H. Smith.
1885, Lilley B. Caswell, Chairman, Robert Brookhouse, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Thomas H. Goodspeed, Rev. Chas. P. Lombard, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, William F. Thomas.
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1886, Rev. Charles P. Lombard, Chairman, Sidney P. Smith, Rob- ert Brookhouse, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Augustus Coolidge, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith.
1887, Rev. Charles P. Lombard, Chairman, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Robert Brookhouse, Almond Smith, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Edgar V. Wilson.
1888, William H. Terrill, Chairman, Edgar V. Wilson, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Rev. H. W. Stebbins, Almond Smith, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith.
1889, Edgar V. Wilson, Chairman, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Rev. Chas. E. Perkins, Almond Smith, Rev. H. W. Stebbins.
1890, Edgar V. Wilson, Chairman, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Rev. Chas. E. Perkins, Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, Almond Smith.
1891, Edgar V. Wilson, Chairman, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Rev. Chas. E. Perkins, Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, Almond Smith.
1892, Edgar V. Wilson, Chairman, Mrs. Saralı H. Smith, Rev. H. F. Brown, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, Almond Smith.
1893, Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, Chairman, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Mrs. Clare H. Burleigh, Lucien Lord.
1894, Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, Chairman, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Lueien Lord, Mrs. Clare H. Burleigh.
1895, Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, Chairman, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Lucien Lord, Mrs. Clare H. Burleigh, Rev. S. W. Sutton.
1896, Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, Chairman, Mrs. Sarah H. Smith, Miss Ellen M. Bigelow, Lueien Lord, Rev. S. W. Sutton, Lilley B. Caswell.
CHAPTER X.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
"Loyal to country ! Brothers dear, be true Unto the right. in whatsoe'er ye do ! And He who died for man will care for you !
With armor golden, free from sinful dross, Bearing the glorious banner of the cross, In the last conflict, ye shall fear no loss !"
EFORE THE organization of a Grand Army Post in Athol, some of the old soldiers became members of Abraham Lincoln Post, now the General Sedgwick Post, No. 17 of Orange. Early in 1870, a move- ment was started for the formation of a Post in Athol, which resulted in the organization of one during the summer.
PARKER POST, NO. 123, G. A. R.
Parker Post was organized June 8, 1870, with sixteen charter members. The Post was named in honor of James C. Parker, who enlisted in Co. A., 21st Regiment Mass. Volunteers, which left Athol for the seat of war, Aug. 22, 1861. Mr. Parker was born in Stickney, C. E., in the year 1826, and was thirty-five years of age at the
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time of his enlistment. He went with his regiment to North Carolina, and was sick at the time of the capture of Roanoke Island, and on board a transport. In the bat- tle of Newbern he was in the thickest of the fight, and was mortally wounded.
The historian of the 21st Regiment says : "Parker was one of our many men who went into the fight with an un- serviceable gun, but stood courageously in his place, though unable to fire a shot. He and Wm. H. Johnson died in the field hospital on the 15th of March. Parker's and Johnson's names are engraved on the brass rebel cannon belonging to a battery of flying artillery which was silenced by a bayonet charge of the 21st Reg- iment Mass. Volunteers, under Lieut. Col. Clark, at the battle of New- OF RE bern, N. C., March 14, 1862. This cannon was presented to Amherst College in memory of Adjutant UNGRAND TER Stearns. Mr. Parker was buried at Newbern, leaving a wife and three children in Athol. A daughter married Monroe F. Gage.
The Post has expended in charity during the twenty- six years of its existence upwards of two thousand dollars, and many a veteran and his family have had cause to bless the organization for the fraternal sympathy and needed relief of which they have been the recipients in times of trouble and sickness. The following is a list of those who have been Commanders :
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Farwell F. Fax, 1870, '71 ; Geo. H. Hoyt, 1872, '73, '76: H. M. Burleigh, 1874, '75; Charles Gray, 1877; Henry T. Morse, 1878 ; Geo. R. Hanson, 1879; Roswell L. Doane, 1880; E. J. Shaw, 1881 ; James Oliver, M. D., 1882, '83. '86; Samuel N. Gould, 1884, '85 ; Chas. E. Taft, 1887 ; Henry W. Harris, 1888, '89, '91 ; Benj. W. Spooner, 1890; Wm. H. Heustis, 1892 ; James Oliver, 2d, 1893 ; Hiram A. Bancroft, 1894, 95.
Sketches of Commanders Fay, Hoyt, Burleigh and Dr. James Oliver will be found in other chapters of this work.
The fourth Commander was Charles Gray, a son of Alexander and Elvira Gray. He was born in Athol, Aug. 19, 1841. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B., 27th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, and was ap- pointed sergeant soon after enlisting, which office he held until discharged from the service, June 26, 1865. He participated with his regiment in the battles and sieges in which it was engaged in North Carolina and Virginia, among which were Roanoke Island, Kingston, Goldsboro, siege of Washington, N. C., and Drury's Bluff, Va., in the latter of which he was taken prisoner and confined in the rebel prisons of Libby, Danville, Andersonville, Savannah and Millen, being exposed to the weather for over seven months without a change of clothing. Soon after his re- turn from the war he was married Aug. 11th, 1865, to Hattie N. Horton of Athol. He was a member of the Athol Fire Department for twenty-five years, having joined first in the spring of 1860, and was for ten years the chief engineer ; he also served the town as one of its constables
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for eighteen years, and was for several years one of the truant officers.
Henry T. Morse, the fifth Commander, is the oldest son of the late Laban Morse, and was born in Athol, Jan. 11, 1840. He received his education at the common schools of the town, and then went to work in the shop of his father. He enlisted in the 27th Regiment band and went with his regiment to North Carolina. When the regimen- tal bands were discontinued in Aug., 1862, he returned home, but reentered the service in 1863, in the band of the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Army Corps, and was three months at Harper's Ferry, and afterwards in the bat- tles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Coal Harbor, and before Petersburg. On the consolidation of his Brigade, Nov. 11, 1864, he was discharged and re- turned home. In 1865, with his brother Leander, he en- gaged in business with his father, under the firm name of L. Morse & Sons. This continued for about a year, when he went to California, where he remained two years, and then returned to Athol, which was his home until 1881. when he removed to Boston, and has since been engaged as an inventor. He was the inventor of Morse's folding settee, and one of his latest inventions is Morse's rotary engine. While in Athol he was connected with the fire department for a long time, being the foreman of the Athol Steamer Co. when it was first organized. He mar- ried Helen S. Sibley of Athol.
George R. Hanson, the sixth Commander, was born in New Salem. He enlisted when nineteen years old in the 27th Regiment, and was one of the band accompanying the
JAMES C. PARKER.
HENRY M. BURLEIGH.
CHARLES GRAY.
HENRY T. MORSE.
ROSWELL L. DOANE.
HENRY W. HARRIS.
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regiment to North Carolina in Burnside's expedition. On the discontinuance of regimental bands he was discharged Aug. 30, 1862. He reenlisted July 14, 1863, in Co. A, 2d Mass. Heavy Artillery. Was on detached service for six months with Capt. Geo. W. Bartlett, 27th Mass. In- fantry, was provost marshal at Beaufort, N. C., and clerk at regimental headquarters of the 2d Mass. Heavy Ar- tillery for nearly a year, and held the office of Sergeant in this company. Was commissioned First Lieutenant in the 14th U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, June 21st, 1865, and Nov. 7, 1865, was commissioned as Captain in the same. He was discharged from the service Dec. 11, 1865.
Roswell L. Doane. the seventh Commander, was born in Phillipston, Jan. 26, 1843. He attended the schools of his native town and the Templeton High school, leav- ing the latter to enlist in April, 1861, and was mustered into Co. A, 21st Regiment Mass. Infantry in July of that year. He went with the Burnside expedition, and was with his regiment in all the battles in North Carolina, at the second battle of Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, in the latter of which he was shot in the right hip, the bullet remaining in him to the present day. He was discharged from the service June 1, 1863, and after six years spent in Worcester and other places, came to Athol in 1869, which has since been his home. He carried on the slating business for ten years, and was also extensively engaged in the teaming business for many years. On Jan. 1, 1893, he was ap- pointed deputy sheriff. Was on the staff of department commander Richard F. Tobin in 1886, and accompanied
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him to the National Encampment at San Francisco. A prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, he was elected in 1893 to the office of Lieut. Col. of the First Regiment Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, and has held the office of Judge Advocate General, on the staff of Brigadier General John H. Abbott, of the Mass. Brigade, with the rank of Colonel. He was married Oct. 10, 1864, to Miss Mercie S. Gray of Templeton.
E. J. Shaw, the eighth Commander, was born in St. George, New Brunswick, July 11, 1840. In 1855 he went to New York City, where he attended school four years, after which he learned the druggist business, and in January, 1860, opened a drug store in company with his brother, who was a graduate of the New York University Medical College. In September, 1861, he was appointed Surgeon's Steward in the United States Navy, and or- dered for duty to the U. S. S. "Montgomery", under Sur- geon David T Lincoln of Cambridge, Mass. The vessel sailed from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Sept. 29, 1861, and joined the Gulf Squadron under Admiral Farragut.
Mr. Shaw was proprietor of a drug store in Worcester from 1864 to 1868, when he sold out his business and came to Athol to take the position of agent and superin- tendent of the cotton mill, owned by his father-in-law, W. A. Fisher. He held this position until the fall of 1881, and since that time has been in the hotel business, being now proprietor of the Central House at Plymouth, Mass.
Samuel N. Gould, the tenth Commander, was born in Abington, Conn., Jan. 20, 1830. He came to Massachu- setts when about sixteen years of age and learned the car-
E. J. SHAW.
S. N. GOULD.
CHAS. E. TAFT.
WM. H. HEUSTIS.
B. W. SPOONER.
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penter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1853 he married Miss Sally M. Davis, who died in early life, leaving one son, and in 1857 he married Miss Phobe S. Davis. He enlisted from Templeton, July 19, 1861. as musician in Co. A. 21st Regiment Mass. Vol- unteers, and followed the fortunes of his regiment through its term of service, being discharged Aug. 30, 1864. He came to Athol in 1874. and entered the Athol Machine Co., where he was employed until the time of his death. Feb. 24, 1892. Soon after coming to Athol he became a member of Parker Post. served as adjutant three years, and was elected as commander for 1884 and 1885, always maintaining a deep interest in the Grand Army.
Charles E. Taft, the eleventh Commander, was born in Fitzwilliam. N. H .. Aug. 9, 1846. He enlisted in Co. A. 21st Mass. Regiment, and joined his regiment early in 1864. going into service in Virginia ; was first under fire at the explosion of the mine in front of Petersburg, July 30, 1864, and was also in the great battles near Peters- burg, in April 1865. Since his return from the war, Mr. Taft has been a resident of Athol; in 1870 he kept a billiard hall at the Lower Village, was for a time engaged in canvassing for various papers, and has for many years been employed at the furniture works of L. Morse & Sons.
Henry W. Harris, the twelfth Commander, was born in Petersham, July 28, 1845. He enlisted from New Salem in 1863, in the 4th Mass. Cavalry, and also served in Co. H, 4th Mass. Heavy Artillery. His service was mostly in Virginia. In his early life he was a shoemaker, but most of the time since his return from the war he has been en-
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gaged in the meat and provision business. He has been prominently identified with the Grand Army, and was on the staff of Department Commander Myron P. Walker. He is a member of various Odd Fellow and Masonic or- ganizations, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Governor Ames. He was married Jan. 19, 1893 to Lizzie Eldridge of Maine.
B. W. Spooner, the thirteenth Commander of the Post, was born July 8, 1837, at the old Spooner homestead in Petersham, where his father and grandfather were also born, and which has always been his home. He was mar- ried Jan. 1, 1862, to Fanny M. Grout of Westminster, Vt., and in September of the same year he enlisted in Co. F, 53d Regiment Mass. Volunteers, under Capt. J. G. Mudge, and was with his regiment during its term of ser- vice in Louisiana. After he returned from the army he engaged in the meat business in connection with his farm- ing, and continued it for fifteen years, when he gave it up, and devotes his entire time to his farm, on which he has made many improvements. He has five children, four daughters and one son.
Wm. H. Heustis, the fourteenth Commander, was born in Boston, May 5, 1841, and attended the public schools of that city. He removed to Leominster when about eigh- teen years of age, and on the breaking out of the war went to Annapolis, Md , where he was in government employ un- til September, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. C, 53d Mass. Volunteers, and was appointed corporal. He was wound- ed at Port Hudson June 14, 1863, and was discharged from the service Sept. 2, 1863, after which he re-enlisted
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in the Atlı Regiment Heavy Artillery, and was honorably discharged from the same. Mr. Heustis has been promi- nently identified with the Grand Army, having joined Timothy Ingraham Post May 3, 1872, and was transferred to the H. V. Smith Post, No. 140, of which he was the third commander. and later to Parker Post, No. 123, of which he is still a member. He has served on the staff of Department Commander Geo. L. Goodale, and on the staffs of National Commanders John Palmer and John J. B. Adams. He has been prominent in the Masonic frater- nity, having been made a Mason in 1864 in Wilder lodge of Leominster ; he has held many of the prominent offices of the local lodges, having been Master of Star lodge and Eminent Commander of Athol Commandery, and is also a member of many of the higher orders of the fraternity, in- cluding the Massachusetts Consistory 32d degree, and Aleppo Temple Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a prominent Odd Fellow, and has held the office of High Priest in Mount Pleasant Encampment and Captain of Canton Athol. He came to Athol in September, 1873, which has since been his home.
James Oliver. 2d, Commander in 1893, was born in Royalston Sept. 29, 1832, and came to Athol in 1849, working at first in the cotton mill. He worked in various machine shops until 1862, when he enlisted in the 27th Mass. Regiment. and was in the various battles in which his regiment was engaged in North Carolina. In Decem- ber, 1863, he was detailed as Regimental Armorer at Norfolk, Va., and later was detailed as nurse in the hos- pital, and also as carpenter. He was discharged from the service Sept. 27, 1864.
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