USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 6
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The first pastor was Rev. James C. Parsons of Wal- tham, to whom a unanimous call had been extended on April 3rd, 1877, and who preached his first sermon as pastor the first Sunday in May, and was installed June 12, 1877. The installation was a memorable occasion, and was participated in by some of the most distinguished Unitarian clergymen of the State, including Rev. A. P. Peabody, D. D., of Harvard University, who preached the sermon, Rev. A. D. Mayo of Springfield gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. J. F. Moors, of Greenfield, the address to the people. The Society held its meetings in Starr Hall for over four years, until its present church edifice was built. Land was purchased in the spring of 1880, and the erection of the church was soon commenced, and was first opened to the public April 13th, 1881, at
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which time the choir gave an organ concert. The first religious services were held on Easter Sunday, and on the 7th day of September following, the church was dedicated free from debt, with interesting exercises, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Rush R. Shippen, of Washington, D. C.
. Mr Parson's pastorate was successful throughout, and under his efficient leadership the Society was rapidly built up. He was a man of culture and fine education, and actively promoted the intellectual life of the community. He was prominently identified with the organization of the Athol Library Association, that has since become the Athol Public Library, and to his labors much of the credit for its successful formation is due. He tendered his res- ignation July 17. 1881, to take effect October 1st of that vear. and has since been the popular Principal of the Prospect Hill School for young ladies at Greenfield.
The second pastor was Rev. Charles P. Lombard, who was installed April 11, 1882, Rev. Dr. Bartol, of Boston, preaching the sermon. Mr. Lombard was born in Boston, June 9. 1845, and attended the Mayhew Grammar School in that city, entering the Public Latin School at ten years of age. Preparing to enter college his health failed him, and it was several years before he regained strength to enable him to study for the ministry. He graduated from the Harvard Divinity School in 1878, and received a call to Ellsworth. Maine, where he remained three years, and then came to Athol. He remained as pastor of the church for six years. and then resigned to accept a call to the First Parish of Plymouth, which is the old historic society
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of the Pilgrim Fathers, established in England in 1606, and where he still ministers. During Mr. Lombard's pas- torate the handsome and pleasant parish building known as Unity Hall was built, and was dedicated June 11, 1885, with interesting services. Mr. Lombard's pastorate was eminently successful, and when he resigned it was deeply regreted, not only by his own church, but by the towns- people generally.
Rev. Charles E. Perkins, the third pastor, was born in La Porte. Ind., June 12, 1853. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Maumee City, Ohio, from the High School of which he graduated in 1867. He was for a time clerk in a dry goods store in Oswego, N. Y., and for eleven years was employed in the office of the Kingsford Starch Works of that city, which position he resigned to take the pastorate of the Universalist Churches in Clifton Springs and Geneva, N. Y., where he remained three years, resigning in May, 1888 to accept the call extended to him by the Second Unitarian Church of Athol. He was installed on the 29th of June of that year, the installation sermon being preached by Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D. D. He resigned the last of April, 1892, and in May went to Iowa City, Iowa, as pas- tor of the Unitarian church of that city.
During the summer of 1892, Walter Eustace Lane, of Saco, Maine, preached as a candidate on several occa- sions, with such general satisfaction that in September he was given a unanimous call to become pastor of the church, and was ordained and installed Nov. 17, 1892, Rev. Francis B. Hornbrooke, of Newton, preaching the sermon. Rev. Walter Eustace Lane, the present pastor
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of the Second Unitarian Society, was born in Gloucester, Mass., Sept. 6, 1866. His home, since he was six years of age, has been in Saco, Maine, where his parents now reside. In his early school life he conceived a desire to enter the ministry, but circumstances forced him to en- gage in journalistic labors, instead of fulfilling his plan of taking a university course. During several years of newspaper work he furthered his prospects and prepara- tions for the ministry, and in 1888 the way opened for him to enter the Meadville, Pennsylvania Theological school where he took a four years course graduating in the summer of 1892. His energy, enthusiasm and devotion have made him popular as a preacher and in the social life of the church.
The cost of the church property owned by this society, including the church edifice, Unity Hall and the parson- age has been about $23,000.
A Sunday school was organized June 23rd, 1877, with Mr Lucien Lord as superintendent, who has contin- ued to serve in that capacity to the present time. The annual fair, held by the ladies of this society, has become one of the social events of the year and the average net receipts of these fairs during the last twelve years has been over $500.
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
According to Whitney, the historian, there was one family of Episcopalians in Athol in 1793, but we have no record of religious services being held by this denomina- . tion prior to June 1864, at which time the Rev. P. Voorhees Finch, now of Greenfield, officiated. The meet-
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ings were then held in the Town Hall where Rev. Dr. Huntington and others continued to hold occasional ser- vices up to the time of the formation of the parish. On September 3, 1866, St. John's Parish was organized and on the third of December following was incorporated. Rev. James D. Reid was at once chosen as rector of the new parish, but after laboring for about a year he removed from town and for several years thereafter few services were held. In the autumn of 1881, however, Rev. J. S. Beers was elected diocesan missionary and under his faithful labors interest in the work of this organization was revived and prospered and in December, 1888 a suc- cessful effort was made to reorganize the parish. Regular meetings were held in the Town Hall until March of the following year, when Temple of Honor Hall was secured where the meetings continued to be held. On March 10, 1889 a Sunday school was established and March 18, a call was extended to Rev. C. J. Shrimpton of Ridgeway Pa., to become the rector of the parish. The call was ac- cepted and on the 7th of April following Mr. Shrimpton began his labors.
At that time there were about sixty communicants, and the pressing need of a suitable house of public worship was so apparent and the desire for a permanent church home so generally felt that steps were immediately taken to secure an eligible site for a church edifice. The house and lot of Hollon Farr on the corner of Park Avenue and School Street and extending to Allen Street was purchased, and in June 1890 ground was broken, and the erection of a building begun, the corner stone of
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which was laid June with appropriate and interesting exercises. It is a unique structure the interior of which is tastily and beautifully arranged and furnished; the cost of the building was $3,500, and it was first occupied on Sun- day, Oct. 5, 1890. The church was consecrated Oct. 22, 1891 by Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks, and was one of his first official acts after assuming the duties of Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts.
The present number of communicants is seventy. Rev. C. J. Shrimpton, the present rector, was born in Montreal, in 1835. He was educated in Woodstock Institute, Woodstock, Canada, and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1861, serving churches at Stratford, Canada, and at Stillwater and Ithaca, N. Y. He was ordained a priest of the Protestant Episcopal church, at Fayetteville, N. Y., in 1878, and was in charge of parishes in Galesburg, Ill., and at Ridgeway, Pa., until coming to Athol in April 1889.
SECOND ADVENT CHURCH.
Those who have given historical sketches of the churches existing in Athol at the time of the great Millerite excitement which swept over the country in 1842 and '43 allude to its effect upon their societies. Rev. S. F. Clarke in his Centennial discourse of 1850 says, "the two most remarkable excitements experienced in town were those which were felt more or less over a large portion of our country, and which were very similar in their nature, -- the one known here, in popular phrase, as the "Foote," the other as the "Miller" excitement. Upon either of these we forbear comment, or even an attempt at descrip-
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tion. We would be charitable in our judgment, especially of the latter." Rev. D. H. Stoddard in his history of the Baptist Church delivered in 1873 says, "The vagaries of Millerism also brought discord and division to this church as to many others. At one time fifteen members having been led to believe that the church as it then existed was Anti-Christ, went out from the church." And Rev. H. A. Blake in his historical address of the Evangelical Congre- gational church delivered on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary in 1880 said, regarding the converts of Evan- gelist Foote. "Some were intemperate, some altogether indifferent and many were drawn into the excitement and error of the Adventist movement of 1843." Evidently there was a great searching and shaking up in the churches while the agitation attending this movement was in progress.
In 1842 the Millerites, as they were called. held largely attended camp meetings in a grove not far from the south end of Pleasant Street, and these meetings were kept up for years by a few of the faithful who accepted these doctrines.
These faithful few on May 17. 1863, effected a church organization with twenty-eight members. This first church roll contains the following names: Addison Cutting. Daniel Ellinwood. J. F. Sawtell. Geo. A. Streeter, Ensign A. Marsh, LaRoy Ellinwood, J. F. Crawford. Daniel W. Ellinwood, Henry W. Stratton, Persis F. Cutting, Jane Sawtell, Caroline Stratton, Mary E. Streeter. Hannah Stratton, Lydia W. Kendall, Hannah Whitman, Lutherea Weaver. Fannie M. Stratton. Sarah T. Ellin-
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wood. Hannah Ellinwood, Sarah R. Stratton, Martha J. Crawford. Anna E. Kendall, Sarah Hager, Lydia Cook. Diantha Stockwell, Wealthy J. Stockwell, Laura M. Stratton. Meetings were at first held in the school house, near the Drury farm. on the Petersham road, and in 1870 the hall of the engine house at the Upper Village was engaged and services were held there until 1872. In January of that year the church was reorganized with 54 members a tract of land was purchased on Main Street. nearly opposite the Town Hall, and during the year 1873 the present neat church building was erected at an ex- pense of about $3000. Soon after the new church was occupied Rev. Roland D. Grant became the pastor and served the society from Jan. 5. 1876 to Nov. 1, 1876. Mr. Grant has since become one of the most eminent Baptist preachers of the state. serving churches at Beverly and Boston and is now pastor of a church in Portland. Oregon, with a salary of $4000. Dr. James Hemenway, who has been the acting pastor of the church most of the time since its organization, was born in Framingham in 1823. and began to work in a mill in that town when only seven years old. He educated himself outside of working hours and rose to the position of overseer. He removed to Concord in 1840 and became superintendent of the woolen department of Damon's factory which position he held until 1844, when he was converted and soon began travelling as an independent evangelist. He was ordained in 1859 by the Rhode Island Advent Christian Conference, serving societies in Danielsonville, Conn., Dover, Me .. and other places. and came to Athol in 1864.
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Mr. Hemenway has practised dentistry much of the time since he has resided in Athol, and at one time had a Boston office in connection with his Athol office. He was or nearly four years business agent and treasurer of the Advent Publication Society, and largely increased its bus- iness during his connection with it. He has also devoted much time to a study of the pyramids of Egypt, upon which he has lectured successfully in many places. Dr. Hemen- way has been for several years president of the Advent Camp Meeting Association at Springfield, and is one of the leading men of his denomination. He has been active in temperance and other reformatory work, and was the can- didate of the Prohibition party for Representative to the Legislature in 1893.
ST. CATHERINE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Previous to 1850 the Catholics of Athol had no reg- ular services, but were visited occasionally by priests from different places. After this time Rev. M. W. Gibson, of Worcester, held services here, and in 1853 purchased the old Baptist Church in the Upper Village, which was the church home of this denomination for thirty years. In 1855 Rev. Father Turpin, of Fitchburg, took charge of Athol as a mission. About 1862 Otter River in Temple- " ton became a parish, and Athol and Orange were attached to it. For several years Rev. Father Bannon, the resident pastor of Otter River, visited Athol monthly and held services. Following him were Rev's. William Orr, two by the name of McManas, R. J. Donovan and Robert Welch. Rev. Joseph Coyne for several years held services three times each month, until 1882, when Athol became a
-
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parish. and Rev. E. F. Martin was appointed as the first resident pastor.
Rev. Edward F. Martin was born in Barre, Mass., in 1844. His early life was spent in Worcester. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in the United States Navy, and served on board the "Canandaigua" and "Miami," and was captured at Fort Temple, Sept. 8, 1863. He spent fourteen months in Andersonville and other Southern prisons, and was discharged from the service in 1865. He soon after took up college studies at St. Charles. Maryland, and was ordained at St. Joseph's Sem- inary, Troy, N. Y. He was first stationed at Lee and Adams, in this state, as assistant, and was appointed pastor of St. Catherine's Parish in 1882. The old church build- ing soon proved too small to accommodate the Society, and meeting swere held for a time in the Town Hall. In 1883 the valuable real estate known as Drury's Grove, contain- Ing about four acres, and situated between the villages, was purchased, and in 1884 a commodious basement was built and roofed over where the church services have since been held. The next year a fine parochial residence was erected. The Society numbers about nine hundred souls. In addition to ministering to this large number, Father Martin also holds services every Sunday at Orange, which is attached to the Athol Parish.
CHAPTER VI.
ATHOL IN THE REVOLUTION.
"Few were the numbers she could boast, But every freeman was a host, And felt as though himself were he On whose sole arm hung vietory."
HE ANNALS of the town leave no doubt as to the patriotism of Athol in the dark days of the Revolution, and the records of the frequent town meetings held through the years of the war bear testimony that the town was not behind her sister towns in resisting the oppres- sion and tyranny of Great Britian, and in furnishing food and clothing for the suffering armies of freedom, while the families of her citizens who were taking part in the great struggle for liberty were kindly cared for. As early as May, 1770 a vote was passed granting "six pounds to pro- vide a stock of ammunition for the town." When the news of the order for closing the port of Boston was re- ceived, we find the men of Athol gathering at a full meet- ing of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town July 7, 1774, with Deacon Aaron Smith as Moderator, and
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unanimously agreeing to enter into a "League or Covenant binding ourselves to renounce the use and consumption of all goods that shall arrive in America from Great Britain from and after the last day of August next ensuing, until the act for blocking up the Harbor of Boston shall be repealed and us restored to the free use and enjoyment of our national and charter rights, or until other measures shall be adopted by the body of the people or the General Congress of the Colonies that are soon to meet shall be thought more likely to afford deliverance." A Committee of Correspondence was also chosen consisting of Dea. Aaron Smith. Wm. Bigelow, Josiah Goddard, Capt. John Haven, Ephraim Stockwell, James Oliver, Abner Graves, James Stratton, Jr. and Daniel Lamson, to correspond with similar committees in other towns of the Province.
At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabit- ants of the town duly assembled and convened, on the 25th of August following, seven patriotic resolutions were unanimously passed.
The 1st. of these resolutions points to a closer and firmer bond of union between the colonies.
The 2d. acknowledges the loyalty of the people to King George the Third, so long as he shall rule and govern agreeable to the English constitution and our chartered rights, but no longer.
The 3d. condemns the blockade and plunder of Bos- ton.
The 4th. complains of the injustice involved in the practical repeal of the charters of the colonies.
The 5th. is a pledge of resistance to the unjust meas- ures pursued by the British Government.
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The 6th. signifies their approbation of a County meet- ing that is to be held at Worcester, and appoints William Bigelow and Daniel Lamson to attend said meeting.
The 7th. is as follows: "Resolved, that if any person shall accept any commission or post of office to serve under the new establishment, he ought to be looked upon and treated as an enemy to his country; as he, thereby, is joining with, and lending a helping hand to those who are endea- voring to enslave us." Such were the sentiments of the men of Athol in the days of the Revolution.
The votes passed at the various town meetings show that the voters of Athol were determined that as far as they were concerned, the rights of freemen should be pro- tected at any cost.
At a town meeting held on the 29th of September 1774 it was voted "to enlist thirty men exclusive of officers to send in case of alarm," and also "to have two companies of militia in town," one on each side of the river. At the same meeting William Bigelow was chosen a delegate to attend and represent the town "in the Provincial Congress to be holden at Concord on the second Tuesday of October" ensuing. He was also chosen as a delegate to attend at Cambridge and "join with the Provincial Congress at their first sessions if the Continental Congress breaks up and the members that went from this province return home."
Jan. 11, 1775, the town voted "that we do approve of and will adopt the non importation agreement recommend- ed by the Continental Congress." And on March 6, 1775 the last town meeting is warned in his Majesties name. On the 15th of the following June it is voted to raise a Minute Company consisting of 25 men commissioned offi-
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cers included. Who were these minute men ? Geo. Wm. Curtis in his address at the Centennial anniversary of the battles of Concord and Lexington most truly describes them :
"The minute man of the American Revolution, who was he! He was the husband and father who, bred to love liberty, and to know that lawful liberty is the sole guaranty of peace and progress, left the plow in the furrow and the hammer on the bench, and kissing wife and child- ren marched to die or to be free. He was the son and lover, the plain shy youth of the singing school and the village choir, whose heart beat to arms with his country, and who felt, though he could not say, with the old English cavalier :
"I could not love thee, deare, so much, ‘ Loved I not honor more."
When the decisive moment came and "the shot heard round the world" was fired, the minute men of Athol were ready to respond to the Lexington alarm, and among the musty old records preserved at the State House in Boston, we find their names recorded on "A Muster Roll of ye Comp. that marched on ye 19th of April under ye com- mand of Capt. Ichabod Dexter in Col. Doolittles Regt. Ichabod Dexter, captain, Benja. Death, 66
Ephraim Stockwell, lieutenant,
Abner Morton,
Abner Graves, lieutenant,
Joshua Morton,
Thomas Lord, sergeant,
Moses Ball,
Simon Goddard, sergeant, Caleb Smith, sergeant, Asa Smith, corporal,
Isaac Ball, Jonathan Train, John Dike,
John Stockwell, corporal,
Kimble Woods, “
Joseph Cummings, corporal,
Zebulon Stratton,“
Joseph Fay,
Ezra Hudson, private, Robbart Young, "
Ebenz. Goddard, “
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
Samuel Young, "
Reuben Graves,
William Young, "
Samuel Hall,
Benja Townsing,“
Jonathan Biglo,
Robbart Oliver, " Asa Hartness, 66
Most of these were in service 13 days and their travel was 160 miles.
Ichabod Dexter, Athol's first captain in the Revolu- tion, who led the minute men in the Lexington Alarm, ' was a son of Samuel Dexter, who is supposed to have come to Athol in 1736 and settled on what was called West Hill, in the vicinity of the old fort. Samuel was a son of Benjamin Dexter who was born in Rochester, Mass. in 1670 and married Sarah Arnold, daughter of Rev. Samuel Arnold the first minister of Rochester, and was a descend- ent of Thomas Dexter who came from England in 1630, being one of the 1500 that came with Winthrop.
Ichabod was a young blacksmith and according to tradition was in the French and Indian war, and was at the taking of old Fort Ticonderoga when all the men in line on both sides of him were shot down and his clothes were riddled with bullets, but none happened to draw blood. He and his brother Samuel were also out as scouts at one time, and were taken prisoners by the Indians, who started with them for Canada, but as they were camped one night the brothers woke up and finding their captors were all asleep they sent the whole company to the happy hunting grounds, and started through the wilderness for Athol, which they barely lived to reach, being obliged to kill and eat their dog which was with them. He was one of the early Selectmen of Athol and held other town offi- ces.
Sometime before 1781 he moved to Hardwick, for
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ATHOL IN THE REVOLUTION.
according to the records of that town he was one of the Selectmen of Hardwick in 1781, 1782 and 1785 and re- presented that town in the General Court in 1782 and 1783. He was an active promoter of Shay's Rebellion in 1786 and his name with Samuel Dexter was among a list which the Sheriff of Worcester County in a letter to the Governor says are "the names of a number of their princi- pal leaders and commanders," but he afterwards made his peace with the Government.
He died of apoplexy Feb. 13, 1797, being at the time of his death 59 years, 7 months and 19 days of age. On the settlement of his estate in April 1798, shares were allotted to seven children. After returning from the Lexington Alarm it seems that Capt. Dexter soon led another company to the field, for we find a muster roll of a company under command of Capt. Ichabod Dexter in Col. B. Ruggles Woodbridge Regt., to Aug. 1, 1775, most of whom enlisted the last days of April or first of May. On the roll appear the names of seven who were in the first company that marcbed, while eighteen new recruits appear.
Another Athol captain was Capt. Thomas Lord, who was Sergeant in the first company that marched and was afterwards captain in several different companies. "A Continental Pay Roll of Capt. Thomas Lord's company in Col. Nathan Sparhawk's Regt., of Militia from Athol in State of Mass. Bay to Bennington including the time to return" contains the names of thirty-one men including the Captain. This company enlisted Aug 21, 1777, and was discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Their distance from home was 96 miles, and the time of service including time to return, ten days.
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Another continental pay roll of Capt. Thomas Lord's company in Col. Job Cushing's Regiment of Militia from the state of Mass. Bay, including the time to return home, contained the names of forty-five men, most of whom marched a distance of 220 miles from home, and were ten or eleven days in service. . The name of John Oliver also appears on some of the muster rolls at the State House as an Athol captain.
A statement in the town records of 1777 shows that Athol had furnished soldiers who were distributed throughout the Continental army, at Cambridge, Roxbury, Dorchester, Nantastick, York, Ticonderoga, Tarrytown, the Jerseys, Rhode Island, Bennington, Saratoga and Fort Edward.
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