USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Millbury > Centennial history of the town of Millbury, Massachusetts, including vital statistics, 1850-1899 > Part 30
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HOSEA CRANE
In 1849, Hosea Crane moved to Millbury, and established the business of manufacturing knit goods. At first this was con- ducted on a small scale, but it steadily increased and, in 1857, he took as a partner, Samuel A. Waters, thus making the firm of Crane & Waters. A year later Horace Waters succeeded to the interest of Samuel A. Waters, and a large and prosperous business was carried on for many years. This firm introduced the manufac- ture of knit underwear in this part of the country.
Mr. Crane was chosen a director of the Millbury Bank, in 1856, and was made president, in 1863, continuing in this position for sixteen years. He was also first vice-president of the Millbury Savings Bank. He was a man of strict integrity, and the confi- dence accorded him by his fellow townsmen is shown by the numer- ous offices of trust and responsibility to which he was called. He was once elected state senator, twice a representative, several times a member of the board of selectmen, and often chosen to other important offices. At the funeral service of Mr. Crane, the Rev. George A. Putnam, of the First Congregational Church, paid the following tribute: "He believed in God's Word, and was a keeper of the Christian Sabbath. He prized Gospel ordinances, and few are they who have so uniformly occupied their places at church, through a long series of years as he. Elsewhere he will be missed. Our manufacturers and bank officials have lost one of their most cautious advisers. Our town has lost an honorable and highly-esteemed citizen, and our own parish, one of its most able and benevolent supporters."
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JAMES M. CRONIN
James M., son of James and Bridget Cronin, was born in Brain- wood, Illinois, but his life had been spent in Millbury since a boy. He was in the general store business for twenty-five years, starting in a small way with his brother Thomas J. Cronin, in the Dudley Building on Elm street. After a few years he bought the interest of his brother, and was thereafter alone in the business, which grew under his management. He bought the building known as the Fairfield Block on Elm street, and later as Cronin Building. He sold the block in 1911 to James J. Grogan, but continued his store in one side of the building. He was a member of several fraternal organizations, and at the time of his death was on the school board. He died in Millbury Dec. 3, 1912.
WINTHROP R. CUNNINGHAM
Winthrop R. Cunningham, a well-known business man, was born in Spencer, Mass., in 1820. Coming to Millbury at the age of seventeen he entered the employ of Waters, Flagg and Harrington, then engaged in the manufacture of guns, with whom he worked for several years. He was afterwards engaged in the foundry business with Matthias Felton, and later with John Martin. Following this he dealt in stoves and hardware on the site now occupied by "The Millbury Journal" building, but later he bought the old Randall block (Main and Elm Sts.), and transferred his business there. His son, R. Clark Cunningham, afterwards be- came a partner. In 1895, the building was destroyed by fire. After a short interval the present block was erected by Mr. Cun- ningham and the business was continued. His son succeeded him in the business.
(See Genealogy.)
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CHAPTER XXX INDEPENDENT SKETCHES, D-H
JAMES DIKE
James Dike was a descendant of a family which early settled in Sutton. He was an old-time employee at the armory in Millbury Center, where he was engaged in welding gun-barrels. He was a very efficient workman, enjoying the confidence of his employers and the esteem of his associates. Among his fellow workmen were the Lilleys, who were also excellent iron workers. At his decease in his eighty-third year, Mr. Dike had been a resi- dent in Millbury for over fifty years.
JASON EMERSON
Jason Emerson, one of the old time manufacturers, is pleasantly remembered by the older citizens as one who took much interest in local affairs. He was greatly respected and filled an important place in the early activities of the town. The firm of Emerson & Brierly was located at Bramanville. His connection with the mill industry brought him prominently before the people of the county.
GEN. JOSEPH FARNSWORTH
General Farnsworth's name among business men appears in the early history of our town, and, before that, in the Sutton records. He was made a Brigadier-general of the First Brigade in the Seventh Division of Massachusetts Militia. He afterwards moved to the state of New York, where he died, in 1855. The name of Farnsworth has been conspicuous in all the various departments of life in Millbury, but, like that of many of the old families, it has disappeared, either by death or removal. Further records of General Farnsworth will be found elsewhere in this history.
MATTHIAS FELTON
Matthias Felton, of the firm of Felton & Co., was the son of Joel and Susannah Felton. He engaged in mechanical business first
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with his brother Newell at New England Village, now North Grafton. About 1840, he removed to Millbury and established an iron foundry which assumed considerable proportions. He conducted this successfully until his removal to Philadelphia, in 1861. He died, March 5, 1881. He was a public spirited citizen, much respected by his fellow-townsmen, having been one of the selectmen in 1855.
BENJAMIN FLAGG
Benjamin Flagg, a prominent manufacturer, was born in Worcester, Mass., in 1807. He was a descendant in the seventh generation of Thomas Flagg who emigrated from England as early as 1637 and settled at Watertown, Mass. He received his education in the schools of Worcester, and at the Academy in Hadley, Mass. He was early associated with Col. A. H. Waters in gun-work under the firm name of Waters & Flagg. A milling- machine for iron work was here invented by Mr. Flagg. Later its operation was extended to the working of wood. Mr. Flagg was a man of strong convictions and positive ideas. His con- nection with the Millbury Cotton mills in the firm of Waters, Harrington and Flagg may be found in the chapter devoted to business on the Blackstone.
SILAS M. FREEMAN
Silas M. Freeman was for many years a resident of this town, having come here from Sturbridge, Mass. He was one of the old time stage-drivers who drove at times from Sturbridge to Worces- ter and also from West Sutton to Woodstock, Conn.
At one time, while carrying several passengers in his stage-coach from Worcester to Sturbridge, one of his horses became balky, whereupon Mr. Freeman, knowing the horse's vicious disposition, gave him a hard lashing. One of the passengers remonstrated with him for using the whip so freely, but Mr. Freeman, knowing the disposition of the horse better than the passenger, was quite vexed with the action of the horse and with the man's interference, so he told the traveller to "shut up," or the whip would be put over him. Upon arriving at Sturbridge the passengers alighted and one of them said to Mr. Freeman, "Do you know who that man is whom you threatened to whip?" "No!" replied Mr.
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Freeman, "and I don't care; I'm running this stage. Who is he?" "That man," said the passenger, "is John Quincy Adams, Presi- dent of the United States."
At another time General Lafayette was one of his passengers. It was after his stage days were over that Mr. Freeman resided in Millbury, having charge of the town farm for several years. Upon retiring from this position he bought a small place, situated on the Old Common, where he passed the remainder of his days. In manner and appearance Mr. Freeman was rather gruff, but he was one of the best and most kind hearted of men.
DR. LEONARD GALE
Dr. Leonard Gale was born in that part of Sutton which became Millbury, July 25, 1800. He received his early education in the local public schools. Colonel Waters, who was an intimate friend of Dr. Gale, gave many years ago some interesting facts in regard to Dr. Gale's connection with Morse and the electric telegraph. He said that Professor Morse first took the idea from Dr. Jackson of Boston but, as Professor Morse was wholly lacking in scientific knowledge and training, his experiments were unsuccessful. In his extremity, he took Dr. Gale into his counsel, who, being a scientific man, and familiar with electricity, constructed the apparatus which made the telegraph a success. The studies and experiments by Prof. Joseph Henry, once of the Smithsonian Institution, also contributed greatly. Thus the real inventors were Dr. Jackson, Professor Henry, and Dr. Leonard Gale. Pro- fessor Morse only invented the dash and dot alphabet. To Professor Morse, however, belongs the credit of bringing the invention before the public, securing government aid in the con- struction of the first line between Washington and Baltimore, and so accomplishing its commercial success. The first line was constructed under the direction of Dr. Gale and was entirely suc- cessful. Dr. Gale occupied a professor's chair in several colleges, and was for many years an examiner in the patent office at Wash- ington.
MOSES D. GARFIELD
The old saying that "An honest man's the noblest work of God" may be applied to the subject of this sketch. Moses D. Garfield, son of Andrew B. and Hannah (Dwinnel) Garfield, was born in
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Auburn, Mass., in 1835. Except for a few years of early manhood which were passed in Sutton, from infancy until the close of his long and useful life, he resided in Millbury. His education was received in the public schools of this town and the events of his after life give evidence that he made good use of his opportunities. Upon reaching majority he entered the employ of Ezra Marble, senior, then engaged in the manufacture of shuttles and shuttle irons at Sutton, with whom he worked until 1863, when he became a member of the firm of Wilder, Searles & Garfield.
During the war of the rebellion, when the price of shuttle-eyes was high, the importation of porcelain shuttle-eyes, which pre- viously had come from Europe, was diminished, so that manufac- turers were obliged to use those taken from old worn-out shuttles. A shuttle-eye is small, but the millions of shuttles, plying back and forth in the almost countless number of looms throughout our country, make considerable wear and tear on the eye of the shuttle, so that this diminutive article becomes one of considerable impor- tance in its construction, baking and glazing. The unsatisfactory method of using old eyes gave Mr. Garfield his opportunity. This quiet, unassuming man said little, but thought much, and, like Thomas Blanchard, he became impressed with an idea. He believed that shuttle-eyes could be made in this country as well as in Europe. He severed his connection with his partners, in 1864, and began to carry his idea to completion, having purchased a location on Tainter Hill, in Millbury. After many experiments, his endeavors proved to be a complete success and he had almost a monopoly in the manufacture of these goods, producing a shuttle- eye that was of such superior merit that no other manufacturer was ever able to equal him in the enduring quality of his product.
The secret of manufacturing these articles of porcelain did not die with Mr. Garfield, but it was imparted to his daughter, Eliza- beth M. Garfield, who, since his death, has continued the business founded by her father.
In addition to his constant labors in these lines of manufacture, Mr. Garfield did much surveying, in which he was careful and proficient. No man was better acquainted with the lines, metes and bounds of old estates hereabout.
IRA NATHANIEL GODDARD 1830 - 1914
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IRA N. GODDARD
In 1853, Ira N. Goddard was chosen town clerk and he continued to hold this position, so that the centennial year marked the sixty-first in his term of office, and at the time of his death he had been elected for the sixty-second time. No other town clerk in the Commonwealth can show such long continued service and it is doubtful if another can be found in the entire country who is able to equal it.
Mr. Goddard started his business career in partnership with his father as a retail dealer in boots and shoes and at the latter's death he continued the business alone for several years. In addition to his duties as a town clerk he also built up a large business in fire insurance. His familiarity, also, with the records of the town made his assistance valuable to all who had occasion to delve into the transactions of past days, for since his occupancy of the office of Town Clerk great changes had taken place in the town, but he was responsive and efficient amid all the demands which were made upon him.
Although not a lawyer by profession yet Mr. Goddard's intimate connection with local affairs and his familiarity with the statutes relating to them caused many people to seek his advice in legal matters. He was instrumental in securing pensions for many soldiers, for he ever took a warm interest in the welfare of those who enlisted for the defence of the Union. He was a representa- tive to the legislature in 1905, but he declined a re-election. Young in appearance, even in his latter days, genial and courteous to all, few men who have held public office so notably have laid claim to the good will and endorsement of such a host of friends. For many years Mr. Goddard was a member of the Second Congre- gational church. In 1897, he was elected president of the Millbury Savings Bank.
(See Genealogy.)
NATHANIEL GODDARD
Nathaniel Goddard came to Millbury from Royalston, Mass., in 1819. He immediately engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes for the local trade. In 1826, his brother, Danforth, became a partner with him, and they carried on the business under the firm name of N. & D. Goddard for eight years, after which Dan- forth retired. Abner Rice then went into partnership with Mr.
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Goddard and they continued the business under the firm name of Goddard & Rice. Trade increased with them from year to year and soon they had a good southern and western business. In 1841, George H. Rice became identified with the company, which then became Goddard, Rice & Co. and, in addition to the making of boots and shoes, they began the currying of leather. In 1844, Abner Rice retired and the company name became again Goddard & Rice. In 1851, the firm dissolved and Ira N. Goddard became a partner with his father, so that the firm became N. Goddard & Son. This company retailed boots and shoes, and kept for a long time the only store of the kind in town. Mr. Goddard attended daily at his store, until 1887, the year of his death.
Mr. Goddard was a deacon of the Second Congregational Church for fifty years. Throughout his long business life, he was ever found to be a man of truth, honor and integrity. He was a strong anti-slavery man and sought to do away with the liquor traffic. Genial and kind in his manner, respected by all, he made friends on every hand.
REV. JOSEPH GOFFE
The following article is taken from extracts of a manuscript prepared by the Rev. Joseph Goffe, near the close of his life. He died at the age of seventy-nine, six years after this was written.
The Rev. Joseph Goffe was born in Bedford, N. H., near the western bank of the Merrimac River, August 6, 1766. His father's name was John Goffe, and his mother's maiden name was Jemima Holden of Groton, Mass. They had a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom he was the sixth son and eighth child in succession. His father was a farmer by profession, but bore military commissions under both George II. and George III. and served in the wars with the Indians and French in Canada. His father was usually called Major John Goffe, and he was the only son of Col. John Goffe of Derryfield (now Manchester), N. H. His grandfather was the only son of John Goffe, Esq., who was the son of John Goffe who fled to this country from England in 1662- 63. This last named John Goffe was without doubt related to William Goffe, the regicide, who was a general in Cromwell's army, and was appointed by him as one of the judges who condemned King Charles I. to die on the scaffold, in January, 1618, and who, upon the restoration, together with his father-in-law, Whalley,
BISHOP WILLARD FRANCIS MALLALIEU 1828 - 1911
REV. JOSEPH GOFFE 1766 - 1846
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another of the regicide judges, fled to this country as outlaws, whither they were pursued by the King's officers, but were never overtaken.
He went to Dartmouth College, was received into the Sopho- more Class, and graduated in 1791, with a class of nearly fifty students, the largest class that then had ever been in that college. His next step was to apply himself to the study of the Bible and to systematic theology. Accordingly, immediately after leaving college, he put himself under the care and instruction of the Rev. Dr. Burton of Thetford, Vt., with whom he lived and studied about three months. In May, 1792, he went to New Haven, Conn., and put himself under the guidance and instruction of Dr. Jonathan Edwards (the younger Edwards) with whom he studied about six months. In December of the same year he was called to Sutton.
The terms of his settlement at the North Parish were five hun- dred dollars, two hundred fifty dollars yearly salary, and ten cords of wood annually. With this small salary he maintained himself and family, and laid up a little every year, for about fifteen years, when, on account of the depreciation of the currency, the parish added one hundred dollars to his yearly salary, making it three hundred fifty dollars, which was the most he ever received.
After preaching to this people as candidate and pastor for the space of thirty-eight years, after witnessing seven distinct seasons of special revival, and after receiving nearly four hundred members into the church he was released from the stated labors of the ministry at the age of 64 years, and retired under comfortable circumstances into the more private walks of life.
The chief instrumentality he used for the instruction of his people and the promoting and conducting of revivals was a plain and simple exhibition of divine truth. His great aim was to address the understanding, judgment and conscience of his auditory and, if possible, make them enlightened, judicious and consistent Christians. His system of doctrines was generally that taught by the Edwards, father and son, Bellamy, Hopkins and Emmons. His sermons were not hasty effusions of the moment, nor were they thrown together on the spur of the occasion, but were well and carefully studied and written out in full. More than nine- tenths of his sermons were double, that is, two from the same text, one for the forenoon and one for the afternoon of the Sabbath, and he attributed to this method no small part of this success.
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He assisted in instituting the present American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions for he was a member of the General Association, which met in Bradford in 1810, and was made chair- man of the committee of overtures. His old friend, the late Dr. Spring, of Newburyport, aided by the professors of Andover and several others, had formed and matured the grand design of insti- tuting such a Board, with a view to the conversion of the whole world to Christ. The good doctor desired him to put some notice of it on his minutes, as he did, and laid it before the Association for their consideration and action. The Association adopted the plan, and proceeded to choose the first Board of Commissioners, in which he acted by his voice and by his vote.
He wrote and published nearly two thousand sermons written out in full, with a variety of addresses, tracts, dissertations and essays all in manuscript with a small volume of "Lectures on the Millennium."
On the 20th of December, 1796, more than two years after his ordination, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Waters, daughter of Ebenezer Waters of Sutton. They lived very happily together for more than forty-two years. She died on the 26th of January, 1839, aged sixty-eight years. They had five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to come to maturity.
(See Genealogy.)
CAPT. JOSEPH GRIGGS
Thomas Griggs came from Brookline to Sutton and bought what was then known as the White place, which is still in posses- sion of his descendants. July 4, 1776, a day memorable in the history of our country, Thomas Griggs led to the altar as his young bride, Mary Goddard, of Grafton. Three children were born to them, among the number being Joseph, the subject of this sketch, whose birth was at the old homestead in Sutton, Nov. 3, 1786. After spending his childhood upon his father's farm, as a young man he went to Charlton, and learned the tanner's trade of Colonel Bacon, a famous tanner of those days. Associated with him at that time in learning the trade, was Calvin Crane, who was after- wards employed by him at West Millbury. Young Griggs worked at his trade in Northampton, Mass., but when business became dull and the employer stated to his workmen that he should be obliged
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to reduce the number of his men, without waiting for any one to be named as among those to leave, Joseph volunteered to be among the number.
He returned to Sutton and went to school and later he taught school in Millbury. Soon after this, he went to Providence and worked at his trade but soon returned to Sutton. Near the farm- house of Charles Halberg in West Millbury, Mr. Griggs maintained a tannery with Colonel Fay, of Westboro. Some time after this a tannery was begun on the water privilege located just below the wool-scouring mill now operated by A. D. Windle at West Mill- bury. The persons associated with Mr. Griggs at that time, and later, were Mr. Abbot, Benjamin Whitney, Lieut. John Jacobs, Colonel Fay and other West Millbury people. A stock company was formed but one member after another withdrew, so that the company remained Griggs, Abbot & Whitney. Meeting with financial reverses Mr. Abbot assumed the debts of the company in Rhode Island, and Mr. Griggs those in Massachusetts. Thus he showed his integrity and his high sense of honor for the debts which he assumed were paid in full, principal and interest. He resumed business, and was associated for a short time with the late Capt. Amasa Wood.
The coolness with which Captain Griggs met every disaster, was well shown at the time his tannery was burned, many years ago. As related by Mr. William G. Davidson, Captain Griggs, when informed of the fire, calmly dressed himself and started to do what he could to save his property, without the excitement char- acteristic of most men at such a time. Fearing that a tall chim- ney, which was left standing, would fall, he requested the people assisting, to leave his property to suffer, rather than risk their lives for his benefit. Suddenly, Mr. John C. Davidson was missed by Captain Griggs, who expressed much solicitude for him as he was to be found nowhere about the scene, and the captain went home, to look for him there. Soon Mr. Davidson appeared, and the captain was so overjoyed at his coming, that he fell upon his knees and thanked God for his friend's safe keeping, praising his Maker, that amidst all the calamaties that had befallen him, the life of his friend had been spared. As described by one who heard it, "the prayer was the most fervent and effectual one he ever heard."
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Captain Griggs was a member of the Baptist church in Millbury. He assisted in its organization, and labored ever to advance its interests. It is related of him that when on one Sunday a man called at his door, and wished to transact some business, Captain Griggs told him plainly that he never transacted business on the Sabbath, and the man left.
He took great interest in the schools of the town, at all times seeking to advance the cause of education. He was also a good singer, and took great interest in that part of religious exercises. He was a man much respected in the community, having great influence with the help he employed. The young stood in awe of him yet they loved and respected him. Every industrious man that wanted work was furnished with it if it was a possible thing for him to do. It is related of the captain that, when a man whose note he held was taken sick and in need of assistance, Cap- tain Griggs immediately went to him, gave him the note and inside of it several dollars to help him in his misfortune. He was prom- inent in the anti-slavery cause, and ever looked forward to the time when all in the country should be free.
Captain Griggs was a large man and of commanding presence. He was commissioned as captain in the Massachusetts Militia. He married a daughter of Jonathan Trask, of West Millbury, by whom he had several children, among whom were Almira, and Mary T., wife of Mr. Jonathan Munyan, of Worcester. After the death of Lieutenant Trask, his large farm came into the pos- session of Captain Griggs, who occupied it for many years, until his removal to Worcester, where he died Dec. 6, 1852, respected and honored by all who knew him.
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