USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > Historical sketches relating to Spencer, Mass., Volume IV > Part 8
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Mr. Green was emphatically a self made man, well en- dowed with the faculty or power of perceiving and in active business life was a man of more than ordinary ability. As an old-school man, he was among the foremost in his line of trade and noted for vigor, indomitable perseverance, and an iron will. His careful and judicious management enabled him to pass the several notable seasons of depression and disastrous failures, in the business community, commeneing with 1837, prepared at any time to meet all his liabilities with oneihun- dred cents on every dollar of his in lebtedness.
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JOSIAH GREEN.
For more than half a century he was closely identified with the business interests, growth and prosperity of Spencer, and it was a source of gratification , in his declining years to feel that he had been instrumental in contributing to such a grand result. "Learning the trade," in those days, meant a thorough knowledge of the business in all its details and when these were felt to be mastered, many of his workmen left his employ to engage in the business on their own account. Ac- cording to the laws of business some were a success, and some a failure. Of the former class the most successful of his ap- prentices were Charles E. Denny and Asa T. Jones.
Mr. Green was a frugal man in habits, but in no wise parsimonious and for the days in which he lived, his business ventures returned him an ample fortune. He had kindly feel- ings toward his help, for he always believed that "the laborer was worthy of his hire." He enjoyed his family, was a gener- ous provider and an indulgent parent.
ADAMS' ROCK ON DAVID'S HILL, SOUTH SPENCER.
David Adams from Medway was an early immigrant to Spencer and in 1734 settled on lot 65, a mile or more southwest from South Spencer on land now owned by Joseph Dumas. He was the ancestor of nearly all the numerous Adams families who have since lived in Spencer and Brookfield. David's Hill commands an extensive and beautiful view of country for miles around. As one ascends the hill from the North on its western slope there will be found two large rows of trees and under- brush running north and south. About midway between these rows of trees lies David's Rock, perhaps twelve to fifteen feet long, four to six feet high and six to eight feet wide, nearly flat on its top. This stone was utilized by Mr. Adams as the eastern side of his original cabin in which he lived about two years. A portion of the stone also served as the back side to his fireplace. It was in this cabin probably that the infant child, Margaret, of David Adams, died and from where it was carried to be the first person buried in the old cemetery. The land on this farm is said to be better for grass than any other in town. Rufus Adams, a grandson of David. lived here a long time and in addition to farming made a business of fatting cattle for the market. He acquired a competence and in 1850 was said to have been the wealthiest man in town. He was grandfather to Rufus Adams Sibley, proprietor of Moose Hill farm.
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
LARGEST APPLE TREE IN TOWN. ON LEWIS HILL PLACE, HILLSVILLE.
THE BIG TREES OF SPENCER
With the exception of the elms, the very large trees are all gone. The writer remembers a pine cut on the Daniel Whittemore farm that was said to have made twenty-five hundred feet of lumber. The largest pine standing in town probably is in a run on cranberry meadow brook before it reaches the railroad. This pine is about three feet in diameter, but shows the marks of age. The largest oak in town, hoary with age and showing decrepitude in all its branches, is on the Ruel Jones farm and measures fourteen feet in circum- ference. There is also on the place an unusually large white or paper birch for this section and time. The coon chestnut tree is also on this farm as shown in cut and has a girth of sixteen feet. The beautiful Wilson Elm is south east Spencer
LARGEST WHITE OAK IN TOWN. THE JOSHUA HILL PLACE IN DISTANCE ..
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
measures seventeen and a half feet in circumference and is still vigorous. The largest tree in town, an elm, is on the farm recently owned by Leonard Bisco. This measures twenty-one feet in diameter, but its great age is visible, in many places going to decay. The Hillsville Elm is said to have been set out by one of the early Hill settlers in that section and is in its prime. The largest white oak in town, some three feet in diameter, is on the road leading to the old Joshua Hill farm at Hillsville. The largest apple tree is on the Lewis Hill place at Hillsville.
HILLSVILLE ELM.
LARGEST TREE IN TOWN. ELM ON LEONARD BISCO FARM.
BIG TREES.
LARGE CHESTNUT ON FARM OF THE LATE RUEL JONES. At top, though indistinct, is a noted coon hole.
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY
HAZARY WILSON FARM, SOUTHSIDE. BIG ELM.
THE SPENCER MUSEUM
A museum for Spencer was a conception of the writer. He interested Elias Hall, Dr. C. P. Barton, J. W. Temple and Nathan Hersey in the project and a meeting was called at Caucus hall in December of 1873, to devise ways and means. The writer and Mr. Hall only were present but at an adjourned meeting all five were present. Steps were then taken to pro- mote an interest in the subject and a circular of which the following is a copy was sent to everyone whom the committee thought might be interested in the subject :
To the Citizens and Former Residents of Spencer :
1. The object of this society is to collect and preserve, in a permanent manner and under suitable guardianship, all old and valuable Historical and Antiquarian Documents, Relies and Valuables.
2. It is hoped that the citizens of Spencer will consider it a pleasant DUTY to collect (or given information where .t may be collected,) any article that would be of interest to the Museum.
3. There are very many persons scattered over the coun- try, who do now, and ever will, claim an interest in the town of Spencer, for various reasons, and all such are specially in- vited to send contributions of such articles or relics as shall add to the interest of the collections already accumulating.
4. The kind of contributions desired are as follows, viz : (a) Ancient Books, Manuscripts, Deeds, Military Commissions or Documents.
(b) Indian Relics, Relics of Revolutionary and Indian Wars, and of the late Rebellion.
(c) Articles of Dress or Paraphernalia from the uncivilized portion of the earth.
(d) Specimens of Rare and Ancient Coins, Currency of "1775", and, also, of the late war, both Union and Confederate.
(e) Mineral and Geological Specimens or anything pertaining to Natural History.
(f) Rare Paintings, Engravings and Pictures or Statuary.
(g) In fact anything that will tend to make the collection valuable, instructive and interesting.
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
(h) This institution is intended, in time, to be placed under the supervision of the town and will be open at all hours to citizen and visitor, and if carefully fostered will prove valuable as an educator of the people.
(i) Autographs of prominent men of the town, from "ye olden tyme" to the present, and also of the prominent men of our country.
5. Contributions of every kind may at present be left with, or forwarded to HENRY M. TOWER, NATHAN HER- SEY, ELIAS HALL or J. W. TEMPLE.
Spencer, January 1, 1874.
One of the ante rooms at the Town hall was obtained for the exhibition of articles donated. One hundred dollars was secured by vote of the town to aid the work and in order to make the vote legal it was all voted "for shelves," although but a small portion was used for that purpose. It is now thirty years since the museum first took form and in that time a valuable collection of articles has been donated which are on exhibition in fine cases at the Public Library. Some of these are of priceless value as historical relics while a duplicate of the fine specimen of a buffalo head, contributed years ago by Luther Hill when buffaloes were plentiful could not now be purchased in the open market for less than five hundred dol- lars. What is now needed is a complete catalogue of articles in the museum, with history and names of donors. This would quadruple its value to the public. The writer is assured there are other articles of value which would find their way to the museum if there was more room and better facilities for exhibi- tion. What is needed for this purpose is a second story to the library building.
RUEL JONES
BY ALBERT WARREN, FORMERLY PRINCIPAL OF THE SPENCER HIGH SCHOOL.
In a local history there is a place not only for the lives, doings, and sayings of those who have greatly distinguished themselves in their several spheres in life ; but also of those who, though living in more humble walks, have exerted no little influence in the neighborhood, town, or locality in which they have lived. A narrative of such lives, is important, if not es- sential, to the proper presentation of the many subtle influences which bring about the events that go to make up what we call local history.
Among those, who for this reason are entitled to a place in the history of Spencer, is Ruel Jones.
He was the son of Josiah and Hannah Jones, and was born Jan. 20, 1813, about half a mile south west of the George Wilson old farm in the south east part of Spencer, where Mr. Jones lived for many years before his death, which occurred Apr. }. 1888. The cellar hole of the house where he was born still remains.
His wife was Laurinda White, great grand daughter of Lieut. John White, who settled in Spencer as early as 1748 or 9 on Lot 68, having purchased the same of Jacob Shaw of Leices- ter for £400, "Lawful Bills of Credit." This was the place where Mr. Baxter Clark lived at the time of his death.
Ruel Jones was a country boy, born and brought up on a farm. His occupation in life was in the main that of a farmer. He worked some, however, at the carpenter's trade and en- gaged for awhile in the manufacture of wooden boxes. Having injured his hand in a saw mill he taught school for a winter's term in District No. 2.
What little education he had, he received at the district school. His own statement is : "I commenced school under Warren Hobbs in District No. 10, always after that term at- tending District No. 1. During the time I attended this school, my memory points to nine different teachers. From this re-
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RUEL JONES.
This is an excellent likeness of Mr. Jones in its general outlines, but the photograph from which the half tone was taken was so indistinct in detail that it would not have been used if a better one had been obtainable. The present picture was taken in his old age at his residence in the south east part of Spencer, as he was seated in a wagon ready to go to town.
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
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RUEL JONES.
mark, found in an address delivered at a reunion of the old scholars of District No. 1 some years ago, it is evident that his school privileges were quite limited. It was, however, what may be called a good. fair, common school education for that day, but would be entirely inadequate to the requirements of the present time. It should not be forgotten that there are other sources of education than school books, or school masters. The best and greatest opportunities for education come to a man after he has bidden good bye to the school room. The common school is the foundation; "graduation is the com- mencement" of a greater and broader education. From the school the student passes on to life's university. It was in this university that Ruel Jones received his greater education.
About the year 1840 there was in school District No. 1 a debating society or lyceum. Of this organization he was a prominent and active member. The writer has in his posses- sion fourteen well written arguments on various questions which were debated before the lyceum. Also an agricultural address delivered by him at one of its meetings.
It was here, without doubt, that he acquired that habit of ready speaking and quick repartee for which he was famous. Here he exercised his oratorical powers and developed his wonderful ability as a debater.
As an instrumentality for making good public speakers, nothing has yet been devised with all our modern improved methods of education, to take the place of, or to equal the old fashioned debating society or lyceum of our fathers: To this lyceum he himself attributed his success as a public speaker. I quote his own words, taken from one of these debates on the equality of all men : "We are links in a long chain, let us see that each takes care to inform himself and others to the extent of his ability. Dr. Franklin with three associates formed a debating club and drew from it such advantages that he recorded it among his privileges for getting informa- tion. and I can testify, although I know comparatively little, that a part of that little I got from a social lyceum. Where a number of men are in conversation together, one mind acts on another and an interest is awakened. Subjects long lain dormant are again planted fresh in our memory; and others, of which we have but little knowledge, are discussed and we become more acquainted with them; for there is no man whose abilities are so small. but what he will advance some new idea."
Nature endowed him with great oratorical talents, but the lyceum gave them development so that when he rose to speak
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
in public, he commanded the expectant attention of all ;* for he always had something to say, and an interesting way of saying it. His words still live in the memories of the older citizens of Spencer. If his environment had been different or, if he had not been lacking certain elements of character, he might have been one of the greatest orators of his day.
In politics he was a democrat and a fearless advocate of what he considered to be democratic principles. He was true to his convictions even during the war of the rebellion, when to be so, exposed him to the charge of disloyalty to the Union and the lawless treatment of the baser elements of society. For the frank avowal of his pinciples at that time, he was shamefully treated in an adjoining town* and charged with disloyalty in his own. He repudiated the charge. He was conscientious in his convictions. From his view point he was a loyal and patriotic citizen. On this subject we will let him speak for himself. After defining the loyal man as the man "who obeys the mandates of the Constitution and the laws pur- suant to it," and the disloyal man, as the man "who disobeys that instrument, or the laws under it," he says : "We find in every community a class of men who support no dignity of character and are quite lost to all sense of shame. They are always ready to show their loyalty by violating the law in regard to either property or person; and yet they get very sensitive and nice in regard to those who differ from them.
"There is another class who, at least, make a show of manhood and would not openly trample upon the laws, or violate the rights of others simply to avenge a difference of opinion ; yet they will silently countenance the acts of the former. They are devoutly loyal, and all that are opposed to them are the reverse. Now, for my part, I would as soon think of a man's meriting salvation by being a faithful disciple of the devil, as I would think of his becoming a loyal man by approving of the unlawful acts of others."
*This was literally true. In his prime silence reigned in town meetings when
he arose to speak. for all were anxious to hear what he had to say. While bis thoughts were well worth listening to and fluently spoken, his natural and unaf- fected gestures were even more potent in holding his audiences, and would have given vitality and strength to the most ordinary language. He never appeared to speak with animosity, however much he differed from his opponents or however keen the shafts of wit or ridicule hurled against him. In fact he always seemed to be in perfect equipoise of mind and in admirable good feeling, albeit he often spoke with profound gravity. His arguments were generally preceded by a pecu- liar smile which at once put the audience in a sympathetic frame of mind and in the best of humor and this condition prevailed until the end. It was often said and generally believed that Luther Hill, a notice of whom appears elsewhere, feared him more in open debate than all other opponents combined and as the two men in general held diametrically opposite ideas in regard to town affairs, a forenic en- counter between the two at each annual town meeting was looked forward to with interest by many of the citizens.
*See Historical sketches Vol. 2, Page 131.
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RUEL JONES.
In most matters he was conservative rather than ag- gressive, but in school matters he was of the progressive sort. Though he had no children of his own to educate, he was anxious that the children of others should have all the ad- vantages of the best schools. His views on this subject are thus expressed : "As the time approaches for our schools to commence. those parents who have heretofore neglected to send thei: children to school, should bear in mind, that it is the pur- pose of those who pay the money for schools that all the chil- dren shall receive the benefits of it, and that no scattered plants of ignorance shall be allowed to grow up in our midst to cast their baneful influence upon the doings of those who have elevated their minds by study and prepared themselves to act well their part in those duties that will shortly devolve upon them."
As a matter of historical interest, it may not be out of place to refer again to the famous lyceum mentioned above. As conversation is an index to the heart and mind of a man, so the subjects of debate and the thoughts expressed before a society are an index to the character and quality of its meetings and also of its individual members.
The following are some of the questions debated : The possibility of holding a congress of nations for the settlement of international differences; proof of immortality without the aid of divine revelation; on the limiting of the elective fran- chise to native-born citizens; necessity of revelation to a know- ledge of God; the greater evil, slavery or intemperance; and others of like character.
Before closing this article, I wish to give a few extracts from the writings of Mr Jones. Most of them are from de- bates delivered before the lyceum. The following extract showing his respect and reverence for the Bible, is from a de- bate in which he argued the knowledge of immortality without the aid of the Bible : "To lay aside that blessed volume, which we are bound to respect and obey, a volume whose illus- trations extend far into the bounds of antiquity. a volume on whose sacred pages are founded the rights and privileges of mankind, a volume which has such an ennobling effect on all who live under its diffusion, a volume which stands para- mount to all others in the sublimity of its contents, its style and adaptation to the literate and the illiterate.' would seem, at first thought, to lay aside all proof of immortality of the soul. But such is not the case; for God has written all over his universe in golden letters. sufficient proof of the soul's immortality."
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
On another debate on another subject he said : "Put the Bible out of question and incredulity with its evening shadows will collect and brood over the imagination, until it will be hemmed in on every side by embarrassments and ob- structions which no human wisdom can remove."
On slavery he said : "If we look at slavery, we shall at once discover, that the master is allowed to govern his slaves only by a sacrifice of self-government. This contributes to their mutual degradation and infuses itself into all their insti- tutions, which produces a sickly state of government that will in time sop the whole foundation and leave the structure to decomposition."
Among his writings are two lectures on temperance, one of which and probably both were delivered before the Washing- tonian society. Like many another man whose practice does not conform to his honest convictions of right and wrong, he had clear and positive views on the sale and use of intoxicar- ing liquors. He placed the responsibility for the continuance of the rum traffic and rum drinking largely upon the friends and advocates of temperance. To this class he said : "But you with ample means stand by idle and see the work of destruction carried on; perhaps just muttering over a little sympathy for the poor murdered victim and expressing your sorrow that he should be so callous to his own welfare as to lose his life in such a manner. Murdered ! yes, murdered! Although there is no outward gash or mangled flesh to strike us with dread, yet there is an inward wound made, from which trickles and flows continually the life blood until the work of death is surely consummated. Yet we only pity the foolishness of the man who dies. We look with composure upon the deadly weapon without offering to remove it or punish the as- sasin that used it."
Ruel Jones had his faults. He had likewise many virtues. The remembrance of these is sufficient reason for granting his request as expressed in his own words to the rising genera- tion who he was addressing: "I ask you to deal gently with your memories. Spread kindly over us the broadest mantle of your charity ; gathering all that we may have done that is use- ful, and turning it to some valuable account, but lay beside us in the tomb our every fault."
IRRIGATION
Irrigation was practised to some extent in Spencer be- tween the years 1815 and 1850. The practice by that time seems to have been largely abandoned, but why is not known. So far as appears, the water in each case was applied wholly to grass lands and it is said with good results. On the Pliny Allen farm, about half a mile above the mill dam on the Brown- ing pond brook was a dam built across the river by the Allen family and called the fordway. From the small pond thus made some fifteen to twenty acres of grass land on ths east side of the bank was irrigated. This tract was known as the water-land and under the above treatment is said to have pro- duced large crops of hay.
On what was long known as the Daniel Whittemore farm near Pine Grove cemetery, there was a large water-ditch, por- tions of it still to be seen, running from below the bridge at Proutyville, along the southerly banks of Seven-Mile river to the knoll north of the Whittemore house. This ditch was from three-eighths to half a mile long and was the most extensive plant of its kind in town. The late John Cutter remembered seeing the ditch full of water and in active service. On the Moose pond stream, near the upper end of Ruel's pond, was a dam and irrigating canal, some portions of which are now to be seen between the pond and Wire Village road. This canal led around the hill and passed along above the present greenhouse of Frank J. Prouty on Lincoln street, irrigating the grass lands below. A smaller ditch also led from a dam on the same stream below the pond, and ran around the hill, crossing Lin- coln street, near house of John W. Bigelow. Doubtless there were other irrigating ditches in town, but if so their location has not been ascertained.
SPENCER GOLD HUNTERS, OR FORTY-NINERS
BY JOSEPH W. TEMPLE.
In the early '40's of the nineteenth century, California seemed, to the people east of the Rocky mountains, to be a country contiguous to China and about as difficult of access. Commercially, it was only reached by a long, circuitous and dangerous voyage around Cape Horn. But notwithstanding this difficult process for reaching this far-off land, before '43 enough American emigrants had settled there to make state- hood possible. In fact it was admitted, as a state, into the Union, two years after the previous date, or on September 9, 1850, although it had been regarded as an uncertain depend- ency on account of its comparative isolation, but the discovery of gold, on the property of Col. John Augustus Sutter, in Feb- vuary, 1848, and later widely distributed discoveries, settled, at once and forever, its important position among the states of the Union.
The year '49 marked an exciting epoch in the history of California. Exaggerated reports of marvelous finds of gold were on the wings of the wind and soon people began to flock there from Mexico, South America, the Atlantic states, Europe and even China. Enough early information, confirming these reports, had been gathered throughout the states, to create an excitement that very soon culminated in a craze and staid, sober men made hasty preparations to leave their places of business ; artisans their shops and laboring men, in the field, the spade and plough, to join the mad rush for gold, gold, gold.
Thousands gathered together their small savings, dis- posed of household belongings, gave up lucrative business, left family and friends, in the hope of being in the "diggings," first to amass a fortune and first to return to deserted homes, if not with the wealth of Croesus, yet with enough to cheer and make happy, family and dependents.
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