USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Ashburnham > History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts : from the grant of Dorchester Canada to the present time 1734-1886 with a genealogical register of Ashburnham families > Part 35
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I must write one sad piece of news, if you have not heard of it. Our coal mine, about eighteen miles from here, about a fortnight ago broke in and covered seventeen men which have not yet been found.
Give my respects to all your surviving family and enquiring friends. When I think of Ashburnham, it seems as though I was at home, being the place where I spent the prime and vigor of my days, and where there are now many of my near relations and dear friends sleeping in the dust. Peace to their ashes ; and peace to the town ; long may it continue to prosper; and may truth and righteousness grow and flourish.
Divine Providence, it seems, has so ordered that my body must return to dust in a strange land, that is, in a land far distant from where rest most of the ashes of my beloved relatives. Truly such would not have been my choice ; but why should we be anxious about the clay when the spirit has taken its flight to God who gave it? And blessed be God for the hope which is the anchor of the soul sure and steadfast, that we in his own time shall meet and worship him and his son Jesus Christ our Redeemer, joining in a new and never-ending anthem and song of redeeming love.
And here, dear sir, I must conclude my broken epistle ; and bidding you goodby, I remain your sincere friend,
JOHN ADAMS, aged one hundred and one years. MR. JOEL FOSTER.
Other letters and writings, treasured by his descendants, assert the vigor of an active mind, and those written when this aged man had lived an hundred years are without a
favorme W. Foler
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parallel. He died February 26, 1849. His descendants in this town have been and still are numerous and have ever been useful and prominent citizens.
COLONEL ENOCH WHITMORE, son of Isaac and Rebecca (Foster) Whitmore, was born in this town, September 8, 1796. He was a farmer and a manufacturer, and resided in the northwest part of the town. In early life he was an efficient officer in the militia and rapidly rose to the command of the regiment. Having held the commissions of lower rank he was commissioned colonel of the Fourth Regiment in 1829. In town affairs he was frequently called to positions of trust and was chosen to nearly all the offices within the gift of the town.
The anti-slavery cause early enlisted his sympathies and found in him an intelligent and steadfast support. With him the sentiment was not the offspring of emotional sympathy, bat a living principle of human right and justice. In this and in all questions of moment, Colonel Whitmore was a radical but not a fanatic. In his view the institution of slavery was wrong, and to oppose it with the force of a persistent nature was a natural sequence. For many years he was in the minority and during an age of strong political prejudices, his political views were a bar to promotion in public service ; yet his frequent election to office was a spon- taneous recognition of his worth and ability. In his daily life he was above reproach, and in his social relations he was generous and affectionate. He died September 13, 1860.
JEROME W. FOSTER, EsQ., son of Joel and Dolly (Wetherbee) Foster, was born in this town, December 15, 1810. He was a great-grandson of Jeremiah Foster, one of the early settlers of this town, and inherited in an eminent degree a firmness of character and soundness of judgment which had distinguished his ancestors. Mr. Foster was a
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man of varied employments and many trusts were safely confided to his efficient management. He was a civil engineer, a justice of the peace, for many years the superin- tendent of the post office and was frequently employed in the conduct of town affairs. He was also a trustee of Cushing Academy and a member of the committee of construction, and to his prudent and sagacious counsels the Academy is much indebted. For eighteen years he was town clerk. The records by him transcribed are expressed with precision and orderly arrangement. In every labor of an industrious life, Mr. Foster has left the impress of mature judgment and integrity of character. If he never sought the applause of his fellow-men and never suggested his own advancement he did not fail to receive the spontaneous confidence and un- qualified respect of all who knew him.
Mr. Foster was reserved in manner and conservative in his habits of thought, yet he never failed in the discharge of important trusts, nor in courage to maintain his convictions of right and duty. He was prominent in all measures per- taining to the welfare of the town and on questions of moment his advice was frequently sought, and in his loyal service the best interests of the community were encouraged and advanced. He died March 23, 1871.
HON. OMO WHITNEY, son of Ohio and Mary (Bolton) Whitney, was born in Ashburnham, June 9, 1813. . He was honorably connected in direct and collateral branches of his family. In early life he was an apprentice with Josiah White, a carpenter of this town, and sub- sequently he was foreman with Mr. Tower of Worcester, a few years. Returning to his native town at the age of twenty-six years, he was mainly employed as a contractor and builder through the earlier years of an active and useful life. He was engaged at different times in many business
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Ohio Whitney for
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enterprises, and especially those in which the prosperity of the town was more immediately involved. But he was best known and is more conspicuous in the annals of this town as a public-spirited, loyal citizen. With him the fame and growth of Ashburnham was not merely a series of sudden impulses, enlisting his energies for a day, but rather a con- trolling and ever renewed inspiration which neither failed under discouragement nor suffered abatement under oppos- ing obstacles.
Every commendable enterprise has found in Mr. Whitney unfailing encouragement and to the aid of very many his willing service has been summoned. For many years he was a trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank and a vice- president of the Ashburnham Savings Bank, and an original director of the Ashburnham National Bank. He was presi- dent of the Worcester North Agricultural Society in 1864 and 1865, and an active member of the Fitchburg Board of Trade. His efficient service in behalf of Cushing Academy, is mentioned in another chapter.
In the affairs of the town he was much employed. His service in this direction was efficient and cheerfully rendered. Eighteen years he presided over the annual March meetings and was frequently elected to the board of selectmen and assessors and upon important committees. In 1856 he represented the town in the House of Representatives, and the following year he was a member of the Senate.
But such enumeration of public services fails to suggest the characteristics of the man. In this direction others have earned equal honors, but few have served the public with equal acceptance and efficiency. In his intercourse with his fellow-men he was affable and charitable. He bore malice to none. In the inner walks of his daily life his affections were constant and his friendships enduring. He died February 6, 1879.
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PERSONAL NOTICES. - To the following notices are appeuded brief sketches of Governor Isaac Hill, Thomas Parkman Cushing and Hon. Milton Whitney. While they removed from this town in early life they were members of Ashburnham families ; Mr. Cushing and Mr. Whitney were natives of this town.
HON. ISAAC HILL, eldest son of Isaac and Hannah (Rus- sell) Hill, was born in Cambridge, now Arlington, April 6, 1788. The family removed to Ashburnham in 1798 and here found many ties of kindred. The mother of this dis- tinguished man was a grand-daughter of Captain Thomas Adams who removed to this town in 1775 and a sister of Thomas Russell who removed here about 1790. The parents continued to live and died in this town, and three of the daughters became the wives of Ashburnham men. Assist- ing in the management of a farm and attending the primitive schools of this town a few weeks in each year, Mr. Hill remained here until December, 1802, when he was appren- ticed to Joseph Cushing, the publisher of the Farmers' Cabinet at Amherst, New Hampshire. Mr. Cushing was a son of Captain David Cushing of this town.
Having improved every opportunity for the acquisition of knowledge, he left the employ of Mr. Cushing and went to Concord, New Hampshire, April 5, 1809, the day before he was twenty-one years of age. In the autumn preceding the American Patriot, a small weekly paper, had been established in Concord and at this time Mr. Hill purchased the establishment. On the eighteenth of April he became a citizen of Concord and entered upon a career enlivened by many weighty and brilliant achievements. He was an able controversial writer and for many years the vigorous editor of the New Hampshire Patriot. Through the columns of this paper he won a national reputation and became the
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acknowledged leader of the Democratic party of the State. He was a rigid partisan, ready at all times to give and to receive vigorous blows; and if he was strong and some- times scathing in attack he was generous and noble in all his personal relations with his fellow-men. His friendship was unfailing, he was frank, sincere and honest and his character was above reproach. It is easily within the limits of con- servative estimate to assert that Isaac Hill had a more numerous personal following and firmer adherents than has fallen to the lot of any man in New Hampshire.
In the course of an active life he was called to numerous positions of trust and responsibility and in this varied service his integrity and ability were conspicuous. He was a di- rector of several local monetary organizations; twice the clerk of the State Senate, a member of both branches of the Legislature and in 1829 he was appointed by President Jack- son second comptroller of the Treasury Department. He was chosen United States senator for a full term commencing March, 1831. Having been elected governor of New Hamp- shire in the spring of 1836 he resigned his seat in the Senate a few months before the completion of the term. In 1837 and 1838 he was reelected governor, and in 1840 he was appointed sub-treasurer of the United States at Boston.
THOMAS PARKMAN CUSHING was born in this town, Octo- ber 7, 1787. He was the youngest of the eight children of Rev. Dr. John and Sarah (Parkman) Cushing. In lineal descent this family is not represented in this town at the present time, but the name is crystallized in the annals of Ashburnham. It will live for ages and will be read in fair characters, both in the prolonged and useful pastorate of the father and in the life and benevolence of the son. At the age of thirteen years he entered the store of an elder brother in Boston. This engagement was interrupted by the death
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of his brother. In 1809 he became one of the firm of Tuck- erman and Rogers, subsequently known as Tuckerman and Cushing and as Cushing and Wilkinson. In this firm he was actively engaged until he retired from business a few years previous to his death.
In an address delivered by Rev. Josiah D. Crosby at the dedication of Cushing Academy, 1875, appears the following outline of the business life of Mr. Cushing.
"The knowledge, varied, extensive and valuable, necessary to conduct such establishments successfully, is almost an education of itself. Besides, the habits of the man of busi- ness in respect to order, punctuality. observation, large generalization of facts, of close and consecutive thinking, of decisive and instant action, conjoined with honorable dealing, are of high value.
"Not unfrequently men, so trained. have stepped into the highest offices of the country, and have filled them with great profit to the people, as well as honor to themselves. Mr. Cushing seems to have applied himself with a character- istic enthusiasm to a thorough mastery of all the knowledge connected with his business, and much more than this, as will appear farther on. He went abroad for business pur- poses early in life, and made good use of his opportunities for general improvement. But all this was incidental to his main purpose, that is, success in business. Abont 1812, he formed the purpose of going to Europe to purchase goods to be put upon a bare market after the war. He was defeated in his first attempt, but finally reached England through Halifax. He remained in Europe to the close of the war. He bought his goods, and they came upon the market at a favorable time, with much advantage to himself from his venture.
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" Mr. Cushing was an upright and honorable merchant of the old school. He guided his conduct by principles, and not impulses. His gains were not from speculation, dash or reckless movements, but were the results of fair trade. His morals were pure and his habits good. Though a man of great energy and persistency, yet he was a quiet, noiseless man, especially pleased with home and domestic scenes. His relief from toils of business was not in the gatherings of men, but in reading, many times till late at night. It may suffice to say, that by good conduct, untiring industry and excellent judgment, he gained for himself an ample fortune in the sense of his time, and achieved a place among the solid men of Boston."
In his youth the exterior educational advantages of Mr. Cushing were limited, but the influences of his home in childhood gave direction to his habits of thought and his manner of life. He was a student always and with an ex- acting employment of his leisure hours he became a master of English literature and acquired a fair knowledge of French and Spanish.
By attentive reading, by observation and through the asso- ciation with persons of similar tastes, Mr. Cushing fully comprehended the enlargement of education and the progress of art and the sciences that have attended the age in which he lived. In these habits of thought and in such employ- ments, stimulated by a thirst for knowledge which his early advantages could not satisfy, the foundations of Cushing Academy were wisely and firmly laid.
Concerning his manner in his daily life the affectionate hand of a daughter has written :
" My father had a remarkably even temper, and rarely gave way to anything like excitement in tone or look. He had a quick sense of humor and enjoyed telling and hearing
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a good story. His manners were ever those of a highly bred gentleman, his voice naturally low, and uniform urban- ity and courtesy distinguished him in his family as abroad. He had a fine musical ear; in younger days was a good singer and played the flute well. Even to the last year of his life, it was a delight to him to accompany the piano with his favorite instrument, and our evenings were often spent in music and singing.
"He was also fond of art, and though never in Italy, was familiar with her treasures of sculpture, architecture and painting, and possessed many fine engravings of the same."
Thomas Parkman Cushing died November 23, 1854. His will which had been written a few years, making ample pro- vision for an institution of learning in his native town, was then announced. The wisdom and the liberality of the bequest have received willing tributes of commendation, but no one can present a clearer picture of the man or give a better interpretation of his thought than are revealed in the pages of his will.
MILTON WHITNEY, EsQ., son of Captain Silas and Hanual: (Cushing) Whitney, was born in this town, October 9, 1823. In an exact use of an ambiguous term, Mr. Whitney was a self-educated man. His only educa- tional privileges were found in the public schools in this town and at a time before high schools and academies presented an opportunity for an advanced course of study. At an early age he entered the law office of Torrey and Woods, Esqs., of Fitchburg. He was an attentive student and was admitted to the Worcester county bar about 1845. After a brief practice in Fitchburg, he removed to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1850. There, as if awaiting his arrival, the laurels of conquest abundantly crowned his industry and earnest efforts. His ability as a lawyer and his power as an
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advocate were promptly recognized, and he early secured a large and lucrative practice. In 1854 he was chosen county attorney for the county of Baltimore, and at the completion of his term in 1858, he was reelected. In the conduct of this office, he manifested both ability and courage. He in- stituted a fearless and vigorous prosecution of a disorderly element of the population, and liberated the city from a reign of terror which had prevailed for many years. With unrelenting energy he brought men of high and low degree to feel the power of offended law, and gave to human life and property a security unknown in former years. In this direction his success was brilliant and substantial. Often he labored in the midst of an adverse public sentiment and wrested a verdiet against crime from a sympathizing jury.
In 1860 he resigned an office in which for six years he had won unusual distinction and had secured the merited regard of his fellow-men. During the remaining years of his life he conducted many trials that are historie in that State.
The national government recognizing his ability, confided to his care several important cases. In one of these he secured a verdict of three million dollars on a claim of the Post Office Department against a delinquent contractor. This successful issue attracted considerable attention from the fact that the defendants had successfully resisted all former proceedings against them. But he was best known and won the highest distinction as a criminal lawyer. With the training he had received as a prosecuting attorney, with an intimate knowledge of criminal law and the ability to summon every energy for instant use he was as successful in defence as he had formerly been in the prosecution of persons accused of crime. He was frequently brought into com- petition with men of the highest legal attainments and ability as advocates, but on all occasions he sustained
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himself with credit and honor. ITis intellect brightened in the contest and each encounter added to his fame.
In the midst of his greatest achievements his strength failed him and he sought his native town for rest and in the hope of amended health. Surrounded by friends and visited by the acquaintances of his youth, his courage triumphed over his weakness, yet he found no relief and lived only a few weeks.
Mr. Whitney was of medium height and of slender form. Sudden and nervous in his movements, he was yet affable and inviting in his manner. In his clear blue eye beamed the light of restless force and the tone of his voice gave accurate expression to the ardor of his emotions. Modest and unassuming, he seldom referred to his achievements or appeared conscious of the magnitude of his labor. He died in Ashburnham, September 3, 1875, and was buried in Baltimore, Maryland.
COLLEGE GRADUATES. - The following list of college graduates both in number and ability is highly creditable to the town. All of them are either natives of Ashburnham or removed hither in early childhood. A few are included who did not graduate, although they substantially completed a collegiate course of study.
ASA STEARNS, son of William and Lydia (Davis) Stearns, was born in Ashburnham, October 14, 1784. Graduated at Harvard University, 1807. He was a young man of promise. His early death is recorded by Rev. John Cushing : - Asa Stearns, A. B., a candidate for the gospel ministry, died December 19, 1809, E. 25."
REV. OLIVER GREEN, son of Oliver and Dorothy Hildreth Green, was born in Pepperell, July 4, 1781. Oliver Green, Sen., was a native of Pepperell and resided there until about 1782 when he removed to Ashby. The year 1799 he
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resided in Westford, and in 1800 he removed to this town where he died May 15, 1834. Oliver, the son, was nineteen years of age when the family removed to Ashburnham. He graduated at Dartmouth College, 1807, and studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Samuel Austin, of Worcester. He taught at New Salem from June, 1807, to October 1808, and at Saratoga Springs, New York, from October, 1808, to September, 1809. In the autumn of the last year he removed to Sparta, New Jersey, where he was pastor of the Presbyterian church and a teacher. He died at Sparta, October 24, 1810.
DR. SAMUEL SCOLLAY, son of Grover and Rebecca (Harris) Scollay, was born in Harvard, January 21, 1781. The family removed to Ashburnham when he was a child of three or four years of age. He fully improved the public schools of this town and labored upon the farm of his father until he became of age and was at full liberty to direct his future course. He then pursued a liberal course of study and was graduated at Harvard University, 1808. After teaching a short time, he studied medicine with Dr. Samuel J. Cramer, of Charlestown, Virginia, and in the spring of 1816, he received his degree from the University of Pennsyl- vania in Philadelphia. He entered upon the practice of his profession in Smithfield, Jefferson county, Virginia, now West Virginia, and there remained in active labor until his death. He was a man of superior ability, and in his pro- fession he merited and enjoyed an excellent reputation. He acquired a substantial estate, but the memory of his spotless character and excellent qualities of mind and heart was the richer inheritance of his children. He died January 11, 1857.
REV. JONATHAN DAVID WINCHESTER, son of Henry and Lois (Phelps) Winchester, and a grandson of Rev. Jonathan
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Winchester, was born in Ashburnham, April 28, 1781. Graduated at Middlebury College, 1809. He read theology with Rev. Holland Weeks, of Abington. After preaching a few years at Madrid, New York, he was pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Madison, Ohio, from 1826 to 1828, and of the Second Presbyterian church in that place 1830-31. He was a noted biblical student and devoted considerable time to a critical study, but a literal interpretation of the prophecies concerning the restoration of the Jews. He believed in their early return to Jerusalem with their Mosaic rights and ceremonies and that their conversion to Christianity would immediately follow. Until his death he labored assiduously to direct the attention of the Christian public to this subject, and also to convince the Jews of the general truths of Christianity. Imbued with these senti- ments and improving every opportunity to give them ex- pression, he travelled extensively in this country and also visited England where he was engaged several months in active labor. With a lofty faith and courage unabated, he was contemplating a journey to the shores of the Medi- terranean, in a hope that he might render more signal service in preparing a way for the return of Israel to their ancient Jerusalem, when death overtook him. He died at Madison, Ohio, August 17, 1835.
HENRY CROSBY, son of Frederick and Martha (Maynard) Crosby, was born in Shrewsbury, July 18, 1785. The family removed to this town 1795. He graduated at Dart- mouth College, 1810, and read for the profession of law in the State of New York, where he practiced several years. Subsequently, he removed to Middlebrook Mills, Mont- gomery county, Maryland, where he was engaged in teach- ing many years. About 1838, it is supposed, he removed to Missouri and his subsequent career is unknown.
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ASA GREEN, M. D., son of Oliver and Dorothy (Hil- dreth) Green, was born in Ashby, February 11, 1789. He entered sophomore elass of Williams College and graduated 1813. In college he held a good reputation as a scholar and was distinguished for wit and vigor of thought. IIe practised medicine in Lunenburg, Townsend and North Adams, and while residing in the last named place he con- ducted a paper for a short time. Later, he removed to New York city and published a readable work of fiction which was intended to ridicule quackery in medicine. He received his degree of Doctor of Medicine from Brown University. Ile died in New York, 1839.
HON. PHINEHAS RANDALL, son of Phinehas and Sarah (Crosby) Randall, was born in Ashburnham, June 5, 1787. About 1810 the family removed to Williston, Vermont, and while a resident of that place he entered the University of Vermont where he graduated in the class of 1813. He was principal of the academy in Cherry Valley, New York, for a short time and was early admitted to the bar. He was successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Bowman's Creek, later known as Ames, in Montgomery county, New York, until 1851, when he removed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he died 1853.
In 1828-9, he was a member of the New York Legislature and was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Montgomery 1839. Among his children are included Hon. Alexander W. Randall, governor of Wiscon- sin, and Hon. Edwin M. Randall, Chief Justice of Florida. The family record is continued in the Genealogical Register.
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