USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > Historical reminiscences of the early times in Marlborough, Massachusetts : and prominent events from 1860 to 1910, including brief allusions to many individuals and an account of the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town > Part 10
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Dr. Hildreth enjoyed disputations and was almost a constant attend- ant at the Lyceum which met weekly in the old Academy where Uncle Caleb Witherbee presided so impartially and where the Revs. Morse, Greenwood and Bucklin joined with Lawyer Farwell, Preceptor Albee, Alden Brigham and William F. Barnard who were teachers of district schools, and sometimes the Academy scholars took a hand in discussions of the general and local questions of the day. Like Goldsmith's school master, the old Doctor " vanquished he could argue still, " which made rare sport for the younger portion of the audience assembled. Dr. Hil- dreth's wife was a motherly matron and is remembered for her kindness and generous impulses. She was born in Concord, Mass., and was a daughter of Captain Brown who led his company on the 19th of April 1776, against the British red coats to defend their native soil. The Doctor's children took great pride in their ancestors and often boasted that their grandfather, Captain Brown, fought the battles of the Revolutionary war under the great Washington.
In front of the Hospital stands the Corey Mansion.
The name of Thomas Corey stands for one who held the esteem of Marlborough people to a remarkable degree. Generous to the poor and the unfortunate, upright in all his dealings, his death was deplored and he was greatly missed when at the age of fifty-two he passed away, Jan- uary 4, 1875. Born in Ireland in 1823, he came with his parents in early life to this country, and by energy and integrity raised himself to partnership with Samuel Boyd, and for nearly thirty years continued as member of the leading Marlborough shoe company-of the firm Boyd & Corey. They built the brick shop later known as "Central House." Previous to 1838 he worked in Southborough and learned the shoe trade of Harvey Newton Thomas Corey was a quiet, unobtrusive and reti- cent business man, far-reaching in his plans, undemonstrative in his actions. At the time of his death he was treasurer of the board of trus- tees of the Public Library, which was draped in mourning, and all the stores were closed in token of respect. He married Eliza Jane, daughter
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of Mark Fay, and built the fine house in which were born their three children : Edwin [m. Mary Goodyear, ch. Emma, Maud]; Eliza [m. Horace S. Crowell, ch. Marguerite, Fay ] ; Blanche [m. Charles F. Hol- yoke, ch. Thomas, Corey, Charles F., Mary ].
ESQUIRE FARWELL, OR JOHN O'CONNELL HOUSE, MAPLE STREET.
Richard Farwell, Esq., built this house. He was a lawyer and graduate of Harvard College. He married Caroline M. Brigham, daughter of Joseph Brigham, Esq., the first settled lawyer in town. The house had, as to-day, an air of aristocracy. In earlier years there was a pretty pond in front, from the brook running through the grounds.
Fifty years ago Mr. John O'Connell bought this estate. This fine old Irish gentleman, respected and admired by all who had ever known him, was 83 years old when he passed away, August 20, 1909, and the flag on City Hall was placed at half-staff. His life reads like a romance. He was born at Middleton, Ireland, June 24, 1826, and was one of six children of William O'Connell and Ellen Barry. He had an excellent education, attending private schools in his native town and in Cloyne until he was nineteen years of age, when he entered as clerk the store of Mrs. Edwards, remaining there two years. Learning of the discovery of gold in California, he was fired with ambition and longed to go to
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America. He sought the advice of his spiritual director, Rev. Stephen Coppinger, who approved and encouraged his ambition. He reverently asked his father's blessing, and being well equipped for those days, John took passage in the " Globe Richmond " for Boston, where he arrived in May, 1847, alone and in a strange land, where he had nobody to advise him, no one to extend the guiding hand. But he needed no prop on which to lean, and there was but one favor which he asked, which was -work ; choosing any kind of honest labor rather than idleness.
One day in Boston, after he had purchased his ticket for California, he met handsome Bridget Kelleher, daughter of Jeremiah Kelleher, mer- chant of Queenstown, and California and the gold mines were then all forgotten. Promptly he sold his ticket and decided to settle in Marl- borough. Never for a moment did his love waver for the woman he had looked upon as his future wife, and on May 27, 1851, Father O'Donnell married the young couple at Lawrence, Mass. ; and quoting an elderly lady, " A lovelier bride ne'er came to Marlborough." All through their life these two worked together, not only for advancement in material interests, but for Christianity as well. With others they arranged for successful lecture courses upon religious and patriotic sub- jects to be given for them and their fellow emigrants. (Among the noted lecturers was Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher. ) While both deeply loved and never forgot their mother country, they were always patriotic Americans. Mrs. O'Connell was an ardent lover of the best in literature and amid many cares always found time for study.
It is a remarkable fact that in these first days of toil the young man who was afterwards to become a large employer of men, the man who was to become the large holder of property interests, the man who was to be the head of one of Massachusetts' most thriving communities, the man who was to be a vast power in Marlborough, toiled from morn until night for the munificent sum of fifty cents per day. However, he pur- sued his way with the same devotion to duty that characterized his after life. Men who were fellow laborers with him in those first days say that he possessed a cheerful spirit and had the same unassuming manner that shone so prominently in his after life. The thrifty spirit which was the foundation for the fortune that he afterwards accumulated was laid in those days of toil and sacrifice.
The future, however, never looked dark. Marlborough at that time commenced to show itself as a shoe producing community. The old primitive methods in the manufacture of shoes were used, but the spark was there, and it needed only men like John O'Connell to fan it into
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a flame. He felt that there was a future in the business for him, an although he had not great means, he nevertheless had the ambition. His first experience in the shoe business was when he secured work in the shoe factory of William Dadmun, Pleasant street. Later he took out work from the Boyd-Corey factory, and as a member of one of the old style teams, did considerable labor for that concern. It was not until 1854 that he determined to go into the manufacturing business. With Richard Mansfield, he embarked in business with a shop at what is now 104 Howe street. The new firm made a sixty-pair case a day, and sold their wares in very modest lots. The partnership was not of long dura- tion, and dissolved to the satisfaction of both men. Mr. O'Connell bought the structure now numbered 108 Howe street, and began the manufacture of shoes there. Five sixty-pair lots were turned out daily at first, but the business had increased to such a degree that in 1869 a new factory was built. .
Mr. O'Connell had the distinction of being the first Marlborough man to locate a factory on the spur of a railroad. The saving of freight bills on account of the proximity of railroad facilities is only one of the many incidents of his life in which his business acumen and progressive- ness stood forth prominently. Things prospered at the new shop. Shoe making machinery had made its appearance in factories, and Mr. O'Con- nell was one of the first to take advantage of the new methods which brought fortune to the shoe manufacturers.
Mr. O'Connell took his sons into partnership and William J., John A. and Daniel F. were admitted to a share in the concern. Both Wil- liam and Daniel retired, leaving John A. in the firm. The factory was burned May 1, 1890, but it was not long before a handsomer and better structure in every way was built in its stead. The O'Connell shoes found a ready sale and the business increased until 350 hands were employed and 2500 pairs of shoes turned out daily. Mr. O'Connell retired from business about the time of his last illness.
Shoe manufacturing was not Mr. O'Connell's only care. For a number of years the firm of John O'Connell & Son was in the coal busi- ness, and is still being carried on under the direction of John A. O'Connell. Mr. O'Connell was the owner of much property on Main street and other prominent thoroughfares in the city. Among the holdings of real estate listed to his credit in the assessors' books are the Middleton block, built in 1882, and named after the place of Mr. O'Connell's nativity ; Franklin block and many dwelling houses scattered throughout the city.
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Ile was one of the incorporators of the Peoples' National Bank and served as vice-president and director of that institution, holding the former position while the late D. W. Hitchcock was president. For 25 years Mr. O'Connell was a member of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Marlborough and was the first person of Celtic blood to hold such a position. The interests and welfare of the town was always his chief concern and the same methods so successful in his private business was a noticeable feature in his public service.
When the question of introducing a water works system into Marl- borough was considered, he was one of the first to announce his adherence to the project, and although there was no little opposition to the idea, Mr. O'Connell and his associates carried the day. He was a member of the committee that constructed the system and nobody in Marlborough was more joyful than he when its completion was a reality.
He served as Mayor of Marlborough during the year 1893, but one year was sufficient and he retired from office with many friends and few, if any, enemies. In fact the administration of John O'Connell will go down into history as one in which the chief executive of the city always pleaded for good nature and harmony.
Nothing he loved better than to meet some friend of the old days, when he was fighting his way, and talk over the incidents of those early times. He was a man who cared nothing for membership in societies. Home he felt was the place for a young man rather than the club. John O'Connell was a man of very democratic spirit. Modest and unassuming, anybody not knowing him would hardly believe him to be one of the leading men of the community. He had a deep sense of humor which sparkled forth in a steady, flowing stream, when the occasion called it forth. Square dealing was a cardinal principle with him and to this he owed no little of his success. He would frequently exclaim : "There is a good deal of religion in paying 100 cents on a dollar."
And now while we speak of Hon. John O'Connell with pride as a townsman, let us not forget his good wife, remembering, " the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." She was indeed a helpmate and a companion. She died April 2, 1882, leaving nine child- ren, eight of whom are still living : William J .; Water Commissioner John A. ; Ellen A. (past prominent teacher to whom belongs the distinc- tion of being the only woman elected to the school board in the history of Marlborough) ; Daniel F., Mary J., David H., Mrs. A. W. Fitzgerald and Dr. Delia M. (Hannah A., wife of M. J. McCarthy, died in 1886)
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ESQUIRE SHERMAN, OR ADOLPHUS PARMENTER HOUSE.
Adolphus Parmenter was postmaster for years, and a long time sheriff of the County. When he died his widow became the wife of Dr. Williams by whom she had two children and a large family by her late husband, one daughter being the only survivor. Through both marriages Mrs. Parmenter came into possession of considerable property. She was well educated and a queenly woman in personal presence, indentified for years with the Methodist church. Her daughter, the late Mrs. Willard, was the mother of Mr. Sumner P. Willard, a prosperous dental surgeon, Mrs. Mabel Tourtellotte, originator and past president of the popular Woman's Club of Marlborough (one child, Frances), C. Franklin, past instructor Institue Technology, Boston, now in Patent Office, Washing- ton, D. C., and Alice, who married A. E. Dorr, Dorchester, Mr. Samuel Boyd, whose daughter married Mr. Samuel Darling, purchased this place and made the old colonial house one of Marlborough's hand- .some landmarks.
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MICAH SHERMAN, OR WINSLOW BARNES HOMESTEAD.
Many will remember the above old house at Marlborough Junction, nearly opposite the fine residence of Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Walker [Mr. Walker was born in Southborough ; he married from New Hampshire Mary A. Eastman] ; and not far away from the very lovely residence of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Burke. The latter was Florence E. Wiley. The former a short time since very generously donated $1,000 toward our Public Library, and also-to the pleasure of both parents and children- lately donated a grand playground of five acres of land with fountain and seats. On the day of the dedication of this last gift, June 26, 1909, nearly 3,000 people, among whom were prominent citizens, visited the grounds. The exercises commenced at 2 p. m. with a parade of the school children, headed by the Marlborough Brass Band, and led by Superintendent of Schools O. A. Morton from the High school to the new playgrounds. The latter made the introductory address and Thomas Curley of Waltham made the principal speech and explained the importance of the play- ground idea and the effect it had on school children. He praised the gift and the generosity of the donor. "There are men who give churches, " he exclaimed, " and men who give libraries and other public buildings, but seldom do we find a man thoughtful and generous enough to donate a playground of five acres of beautiful land for the benefit of the youth. "
Micah Sherman built the house, which was torn down but a few years since, somewhere in the seventeen hundreds. His grandfather was
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the John Sherman on the Farms who in the Indian days was one of the band of neighbors assigned to the Joseph Morse garrison. Micah mar- ried Susanna D. Frost and when she died he married Lydia Cogswell. She in her widowhood married Colonel Joseph Davis of Northboro. Micah Sherman was a prominent citizen and justice of the peace. On this spot he carried on his small farm and a store for family supplies, also a tailor shop in the south rooms of the house. Under the tree nearby or below, he had a large wheelwright shop where he employed many journeymen and apprentices. Winslow Barnes learned the trade of Mr. Sherman and was his successor to the farm and the business, adding a blacksmith shop which stood close by to the old mile stone on which we can still read " 28 miles to Boston; right hand road to Worcester ; left hand to Grafton. " Here " Uncle" John Cotting set up housekeeping with his pretty bride, Augusta Barnes, the daughter of Winslow Barnes and Nancy Newton. John was made postmaster and kept a store up town where later they moved into the Cotting Tavern, a part of which had been built by John's father (the John Cotting who married Sally Brigham). Here they remained until they built and moved into the at the time palatial house this side of Holy Trinity church where resides Eugene Brigham, station agent on N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., whose wife is daughter of John and Augusta (Barnes) Cotting. Eugene is son of Charles H. Brigham, his mother Jane Felton, sister of Cyrus.
Let us retrace to 1660. When Marlborough was incorporated there were about 1,000 acres granted to 38 parties, from 15 to 50 acres in each home lot. Among the latter was the minister's lot of 30 acres and
the blacksmith's lot of the same number. Solomon Johnson was here at the opening of Philip's War when at the attack on Marl- borough the population numbered not much more than fifty, of whom hardly forty men were fighting men; and among the 38 parties in the laying out of house lots in the earliest day of Marlborough, to him was assigned 23 acres of land. He was voted selectman and was prominent in all business transactions. In 1662 his son, Jonathan Johnson, had the smith's lot of 30 acres which was south and southeast of the old common on the south side of the brook. It was given to him on condition that he should " reside in town seven years and do the town's work as a smith, and also if he at the seven years' end leave the town and endeavor to settle another smith in his room, both of which if he do, the said land is his forever." A few years after, Mr. Johnson sold the southeast half of his lot (15 acres) bounded northeast by the brook, to Thomas Barnes. The next year after Mr. Johnson came to town, in October 1663, he married
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Mary Newton, daughter of Richard Newton, of Marlborough, and this was the first marriage recorded in Marlborough's Town Records.
Mr. Johnson was the schoolmaster of the town several years between 1699 and 1708. His son, Jonathan Johnson, Jr., was a blacksmith and resided at South Marlborough, they tell us " near or where Micah Sherman, Esq., carried on the blacksmith and wheelwright business. " He was killed by the Indians on or near Jericho Hill in 1708, and undoubtedly it was his " widow Johnson " who came under No. 6 of the 26 respective forts or garrisons, i. e., Israel Howe's garrison. Often we query, in this time of almost constant wars with the savages, why did the young man and his young wife venture to set up their dwelling so far from the centered village, and so exposed to incursions by the Indians ? The distance from the meeting house by the nearest travelled path was not less than three miles. The nearest house was his brother-in-law Matthews. War alarms were almost constant. The usurpation of the Colonial government by Andrus and the virtual suspension of civil authority, which just then occurred, paralyzed all municipal power. The French authorities in Canada took advantage of this disturbed condition of things to stir up the Indians to renewed depredation on the frontiers which resulted in a few months in the declaration of war between England and France, known in history as "King William's War." It required courage at such a time to strike out into the distant outskirts and there must have been some strong motive to induce one to run the hazards.
The house lots which were assigned to the original proprietors of Marlborough in 1660, contained from 15 to 50 acres and were devoted to dwellings, orchards and tillage ; and as nearly all the settlers depended mainly on agriculture for subsistence, it was necessary to provide forage for their cattle elsewhere. And so in the course of the first winter, meadow lots as they were called, were assigned to each settler. These meadows were the alluvial lands upon the borders of streams, and the basins among the hills were the bursting out of springs and the wash of the higher grounds gave growth to abundance of grass. All such meadows were then free from underbrush and mostly bare of trees. Indeed, the whole country, except the swamps were free from under- brush. Men on horseback could ride anywhere, so they kept clear of miry swamps and deep water. For in order to give themselves good hunting, the Indians were accustomed to burn over the whole country annually, after the fall of the leaves in autumn, which effectually kept down the young growth and left only the old timber standing. The rank
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growth of thatch and other native meadow grasses made fierce fires which entirely consumed vegetation. The meadows were thus all ready for the scythe and the quality of the grass was much better than most lands now produce. Having assigned meadow lots to each householder, then came the important matter of summer pasturage for cattle, and this led to the setting apart of what was termed the " cow common. " This took in all the uplands immediately surrounding the house lots, forming a belt of about one and a half miles wide, bounded southerly by Stony brook, westerly by Stirrup brook, northerly by Assabet river, etc. And it was ordered that : this immense tract shall "remain a perpetual cow common for the use of the town, never to be allotted without the consent of all the inhabitants and proprietors thereof. " This included all that is now Southborough Centre. And this order led to the early settlement of so many families at Fayville and elsewhere to the south of Stony brook, for the uplands suitable for farm homesteads must be sought out- side of these " cow commons. "
THE HARRINGTON, OR WILLIAM WALKER HOME.
Passing down the " Farms " we come to the above home, adjoining the Sherman Farm, of Captain William Harrington. He was a tall, straight, fine looking man, living on a good farm, surrounded by an interesting family. But with all his ability a cloud of debts came hang-
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ing over him and he gave up his farm and moved to the village, where he supported his family by laboring at his trade as carpenter and joiner. Mr. William Walker of Sudbury purchased the farm, to where he moved and lived to time of his death. His widow still resides there.
In early days the military training was great entertainment for both young and old. The Common, where now stands our High School Building, was the centre of attraction. Often there were seen three Marl- borough Infantry Companies, and one Company of Troopers ; the latter made up from this and neighboring towns. The East Company was commanded by Capt. Samuel Warren ; North Company by Capt. Jedidiah Wood; West Company by Capt. Abraham Howe ; and the Troopers by Capt. William Harrington. One of these companies was disbanded to give place to the Rifle Company formed about 1813. This last was commanded by Capt. Stephen R. Phelps. At one time when this Com- pany came out to practice they shot rather wild of the mark. Among the bystanders was Uncle Jess Ames. One of the Company asked Jess : " How should you like to be set up as a target ?" The reply came quickly : "Well, I guess that is the safest place in the neighborhood." In Spring Hill Cemetery two age-discolored stones mark the spot where the Harrington soldiers of the Revolution lie buried, ancestors identified with Marlborough since the days of the Colonists. The beautiful Elm tree near the house sprung from a seed brought by Lady Walker from her old home in Westborough. Sometime in 1870 through the energetic efforts of Lavinia Howe, afterwards wife of Prof. Phelps, a society called the " Shenstone " was organized in the West Parish of Marlborough, the principal object of which was to " set out shade trees for the beautifying of the streets." Our city to this day shows the results of this example worthy of emulating.
Riding on we come to the farm of Winslow Arnold, 2d, a good farmer who passed on his successful ideas to his son-in-law, George Sherman, the jovial and genial man welcomed all over the town with his early Sherman cider and vegetables, and who, marrying one of Mr. Arnold's daughters, remained on the home place. Before the town of Marlborough was settled by the English the Indians cultivated the apple, and Gookin, in describing the Indian planting field, speaks of the apple orchards whose fruit in every period of Marlborough history has been conspicuous. As early as 1676 the Indians showed their appreciation for this fruit, and never failed to injure the orchards belonging to their enemies. In 1752 Henry Barnes, Esq., the loyalist, set up a distillery in the center of the town for the manufacture of cider brandy which he ex-
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ported in great quantities. Nineteen years later the assessors returned to General Court for the purpose of taxation 3,297 barrels of cider as the product of their orchards. One hundred years ago every considerable farmer had a cider-mill on his premises and made his own cider. In fact, such a mill was regarded as one of the necessary buildings upon a farm. Many would team cider to Boston three or four times a week in the fall, and the custom lasted until the Temperance Reform threw this beverage into the shade, when orchards were engrafted and converted into winter fruit. But though the distilleries have for the most part disappeared, those of the present day still remember the Sherman cider.
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CHAPTER VII.
OLLERTON, OR BAGULEY HALL, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND.
There are so many of the descendants of the Bigelows and Warrens in and out of Marlborough, we believe a written sketch of same will be of interest.
" The Bigelows can be traced to a remote period in England, even to the reign of Henry III., when the name was written Baguley, and was derived from the place where they dwelt. Richard at that time was lord of Baguley, and his descendants took the name of the place. In the reign of Henry VII., Ralph de Baguley was lord of Ollerton Hall, and died 1540, leaving Randall and Nicholas. Randall died 1556, and his sons, Phillip and Robert, divided his estate. Robert died 1582, leaving Randall and John, both of whom moved to Suffolk. Randall died 1626, leaving two sons, Francis and John. Francis died 1657, and gave by will a portion of his property to his brother John, then in New England, who was baptized in England 1617."
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