USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > History of Athol, Massachusetts > Part 35
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1870-Benjamin Estabrook, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1871-Edwin Ellis, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1872-Edwin Ellis, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1873-Solon W. Lee, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1874-Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven, Edmund J. Gage 1875-Abner G. Stratton, Washington H. Amsden, Gilbert Southard 1876-Washington H. Amsden, William W. Fish, Gilbert Southard 1877-William W. Fish, Gilbert Southard, Wilson D. Smith 1878-William W. Fish Gilbert Southard, Wilson D. Smith 1879-William W. Fish, Gilbert Southard, Wilson D. Smith 1880-Gilbert Southard, George W. Woodward, Josiah Haven 1881-Gilbert Southard, Orrin F. Hunt, Oscar T. Brooks 1882-Gilbert Southard, Henry Gray, Josiah Haven 1883-Gilbert Southard, C. Fred Richardson, Alpheus J. Nye 1884-C. Fred Richardson, Wilson D. Smith, Henry Gray 1885-Wilson D. Smith, Henry Gray, Jonothan W. Sloan 1886-Wilson D. Smith, Henry Gray, John M. King 1887-C. Fred Richardson, Ira Y. Kendall, Alpheus J. Nye 1888-C. Fred Richardson, Ira Y. Kendall, Henry Gray 1889-Gardiner Lord, Henry Gray, Orrin F. Hunt 1890-Gardiner Lord, Henry Gray, James Cotton 1891-George W. Bishop, James Cotton, Edwin W. Ellis 1892-C. Fred Richardson, Edwin W. Ellis, James Cotton
427
HISTORY OF ATHOL
1893-Wilson D. Smith, George W. Bishop, Herbert L. Hapgood 1894-Wilson D. Smith, Herbert L. Hapgood, William H. Mellen
1895-Wilson D. Smith, William H. Mellen, A. F. Tyler
1896-William H. Mellen, C. F. Richardson, Herbert L. Hapgood 1897-William H. Mellen, C. Fred Richardson, Herbert L. Hapgood 1898-William .H. Mellen, Herbert L. Hapgood, C. Fred Richardson 1899-James L. Hunt, Calvin Haskell, Herbert L. Hapgood 1900-James Hunt, Calvin Haskell, James Cotton
1901-James Cotton, Herbert L. Hapgood, Calvin Haskell
1902-Herbert L. Hapgood, James Cotton, Albert Ellsworth
1903-Herbert L. Hapgood, James Cotton, Herbert S. Goddard 1904-Herbert S. Goddard, Albert Ellsworth, Albert W. Tyler 1905-Albert W. Tyler, Albert Ellsworth, Herbert S. Goddard 1906-Herbert L. Hapgood, Albert W. Tyler, Albert Ellsworth 1907-Daniel P. Kimball, William H. Mellen, Herbert L. Hapgood 1908-Herbert L. Hapgood, Charles A. Carruth, Albert Ellsworth 1909-Herbert L. Hapgood, E. Warren Tyler, Winfield W. Woodward 1910-E. Warren Tyler, Winfield W. Woodward, Oren M. Lawton 1911-Winfield W. Woodward, Oren M. Lawton, George W. Clark 1912-Oren M. Lawton, George W. Clark, Winfield W. Woodward 1913-Oren M. Lawton, George W. Boutell, George W. Clark
1914-George W. Boutell, Oren M. Lawton, George W. Clark
1915-George W. Boutell, Winfield W. Woodward, George W. Clark 1916-Winfield W. Woodward, George W. Boutell, Albert Ellsworth 1917-Winfield W. Woodward, George W. Boutell, Albert Ellsworth 1918-Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles A. Carruth, Albert Ellsworth 1919-Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles A. Carruth, Albert Ellsworth 1920-Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles A. Carruth, Charles H. Cooke 1921-Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles H. Cooke, Charles A. Carruth 1922-Charles H. Cooke, Joseph J. Dearborn, Arthur H. Starrett
1923-Joseph J. Dearborn, Allen H. Noyes, Jared P. McClumpha, elected May 21; Charles H. Cooke. (Mr. Dearborn died April 27 and Mr. McClumpha elected at special election.)
1924-Charles H. Cooke, Jared P. McClumpha, George W. Grant 1925-Jared P. McClumpha, George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke
1926-George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke, William K. Wheeler
1927-Charles H. Cooke, William K. Wheeler, George W. Grant 1928-Charles H. Cooke, William K. Wheeler, George W. Grant 1929-George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke, Ralph S. Stone 1930 -- Charles H. Cooke, Ralph S. Stone, George W. Grant
1931-Ralph S. Stone, George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke 1932-George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke, Ralph S. Stone
1933-Ralph S. Stone, George W. Grant, Warren C. Karner. (Mr. Karner elected to serve unexpired term of Charles H. Cooke, whose resig- nation became effective Feb. 6, 1933.)
1934-Warren C. Karner, George W. Grant, Ralph S. Stone
1935-George W. Grant, Warren C. Karner, Howard W. Cooke
1936-Warren C. Karner, Howard W. Cooke, Albert N. Ellis
1937-Howard W. Cooke, Albert N. Ellis, Warren C. Karner
1938-Warren C. Karner, Albert N. Ellis, Philip S. Perley
1939-Warren Karner, Philip S. Perley, N. Hastings Twichell
1940-Philip S. Perley, N. Hastings Twichell, Warren C. Karner
1941 -- N. Hastings Twichell, John W. Barker, Ravmond Fessenden. (John W. Barker elected for the unexpired term of Warren C. Karner, resigned.) 1942-John W. Barker. Raymond Fessenden, Frank W. Fuller. (Mr. Fuller died August 12, 1942.)
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POLITICAL
1943-Raymond Fessenden, John W. Barker, Thomas Kendrick 1944-Thomas Kendrick, John W. Barker, Alfred H. Brown 1945-John W. Barker, Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick 1946-Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick, Edwin S. Hersey 1947-Thomas Kendrick, Edwin S. Hersey, Alfred H. Brown 1948-Edwin S. Hersey, Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick 1949-Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick, Edwin S. Hersey 1950-Edwin S. Hersey, Thomas Kendrick, Alfred H. Brown 1951-Thomas Kendrick, Alfred H. Brown, Harold L. Dower 1952-Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick, Harold L. Dower 1953-Thomas Kendrick, Harold L. Dower, Roy W. Trenoworth
ATHOL'S TOWN CLERKS
When Athol first began business at the town meeting held March 29, 1762 there is no record of the election of a clerk. John Haven, Chairman of the Selectmen, made the entry on the records. As he was elected for eleven succeeding years, it is fair to presume that he was thus elected at our first meet- ing. Below is a complete list of the town clerks:
1762 - 1773-John Haven 1776 - 1777 1774 - 1775-William Bigelow 1778 - 1781-John Foster 1782 - 1787-Hiram Newhall 1788 - 1796-Thomas Stratton 1797 - 1817-John Humphrey 1818 - 1828-Theodore Jones 1829 - 1832-William H. Williams 1833 - 1840-Benjamin Estabrook 1841 - 1844-John W. Humphrey 1845 -Joseph E. Jones 1846 - 1849-Isaac Stevens 1850 - 1862-James I. Goulding 1863 - 1872-Thomas H. Goodspeed 1873 -Edwin Ellis 1874 - 1881-J. Sumner Parmenter 1881 - 1897-John D. Holbrook
1897 - 1899-C. Fred Richardson 1899 - 1913-George H. Foye 1923 - 1932-Daniel P. Kimball 1933 2 mos.)-William K. Wheeler 1933 - To Date-Walter E. Farnum
ATHOL'S TOWN TREASURERS
1762 & 1764-Nathen Goddard 1763 -William Oliver 1765 - 1774-Abraham Nutt 1775 - 1778-Hiram Newhall
1779 - 1786-Dr. Daniel Ellinwood 1787 - 1792-Dr. Joshua Morton 1793 - 1796-James Humphrey, Jr. 1797 & 1798-Thomas Stratton
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
1799 - 1802-Joseph Pierce
1803 - 1905-Joseph Crosby 1806 - 1820-Joel Morton 1821 - 1840-Henry Lee 1840 - 1849-Theodore Jones 1 850 - 1854-Benjamin Estabrook 1855 & 1856-Merrick E. Ainsworth 1857 & 1858-Charles C. Bassett 1859 & 1860-Abner G. Stratton 1861 - 1864-Sylvanus E. Twichell 1865 - 1874-Nathaniel Richardson
1875 - 1878-Thomas H. Goodspeed
1879 -Enoch T. Lewis 1880 - 1898-Samuel Lee
1899 - 1903-Henrie C. Fay 1904 - 1916-Lucien Lord
1917 - 1922-Clarence E. Deane
1923 - To Date-Charles W. Faulkner
OFFICE OF DEPUTY SHERIFF
Until the latter days of Mr. Goddard's incumbency, I believe that every Deputy Sheriff here was active in criminal as well as civil work. They outranked our local police and constables, and were looked upon as the head of our law enforcement.
5
GARDINER LORD 1824 - 1899
Toward the end of Chief Patrick J. Murphy's regime as Chief of Police, he gradually assumed the leadership.
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POLITICAL
This ancient office of importance has been held by the fol- lowing twelve men:
William Bigelow -
before 1784 probably
Joseph Pierce
1788 - 1807
James Oliver
1807 - 1828
Abijah Hill
1828 - 1838
John H. Partridge
1838 - 1859
Gardiner Lord
1859 - 1890
Albert W. Tyler
1890 - 1894
Roswell L. Doane
1894 - 1903
Herbert S. Goddard
1903 - 1933
Thomsa P. O'Laughlin
1933 - 1935
John E. Murphy
1933 - 1945
Marshall M. Day
1945 - To Date
TRIAL JUSTICES
Our local administration of all but felonies and other high crimes was by Justice of the Peace Court until 1850 when the Legislature provided for Trial Justice. The first Justice of the Peace to be appointed was Hiram Newhall, who received his commission on March 26, 1788 He was succeeded by-
APPOINTED
James Humphrey
Feb. 23, 1795
Josiah Goddard
Feb. 13, 1797
James Oliver
Feb. 13, 1810
George Fitts
Feb. 5, 1812
Joseph Pierce
Feb. 19, 1813
Eliphalet Thorpe
Feb. 24, 1823
Theodore Jones
Jan. 6, 1830
James Young
Jan. 27, 1835
Lincoln B. Knowlton
Sep. 13, 1835.
Isaac Stevens
Feb. 22, 1844
William H. Williams
Aug. 27, 1844
Elias Bassett
Benjamin Estabrook
Jan. 24, 1845 Feb. 9, 1852
After the change of the law which took away from the Jus -- tice of the Peace the authority to act as judge, trial justices, were appointed, the appointees who are remembered being:
* Isaac Stevens May 7, 1858
Franklin R. Haskell Dec. 4, 1866 Thomas D. Brooks Jun. 25, 1873
¡Samuel M. Osgood Jan. 4, 1876
Enoch T. Lewis Nov. 30, 1878
Edgar V. Wilson May 12, 1880
Lilley B. Caswell Jun. 13, 1883.
* Held office until his death Sept. 6, 1866
+ Resigned Dec. 31, 1878
On July 1, 1884, by legislative decree, First District Court of Northern Worcester was created and granted the usual Dis-
431
HISTORY OF ATHOL
trict Court jurisdiction over Athol, Dana, Gardner, Hubbard- ston, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Westminster and Win- chendon, with Court Rooms at Gardner and Athol.
Charles Field of Athol was named Judge of this Court with Julian P. Dunn of Gardner as Clerk. Subsequently Winchen- don was made a Judicial District of its own and Dana was sub- merged by Quabbin Reservoir.
At first the Court Room was in the Simonds Block, 456 Main Street, but in 1894 when Station 1 of Athol Fire Department
JUDGE FIELD 1815 - 1908
was completed, the Court became a tenant there to be re- moved to a vacant store in Academy of Music Block, in 1910 to the Fred W. Lord block at 494 Main Street, in 1934 to Rubin's new block at 502 Main Street which he named Court Block, and in 1941 to a portion of Academy of Music Hall, remodelled for it.
Below are listed the Presiding Justices and Special Justices who have served this Court:
JUSTICES
Charles Field 1884 - 1908 Frederick J. Dunn 1908 - 1916
George R. Warfield 1916 - 1940
William S. Duncan 1940 - 1944 1944 -
M. Alan Moore
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POLITICAL
SPECIAL JUSTICES
James A. Stiles
·1884 - 1910
Sidney P. Smith
1884 - 1902
Edgar V. Wilson
1902 - 1923
George R. Warfield
1910 - 1916
A. Foster Hamilton
1916 - 1922
Owen A. Hoban 1922 - 1927
William S. Duncan 1923 - 1940
Austin E. Livingstone
1927 - 1944
M. Alan Moore
1940 - 1944
A. William Plotkin 1944 -
As the volume of business before this Court has increased the Special Justices have been called more frequently to pre- side at its sessions. This has been especially true since 1944, as a great portion of the Athol business has been before Judge Plotkin whose services have been most satisfactory to Athol people.
Judge Field was for many years the Grand Old Man of Athol, while we greatly respected Judge Duncan as we do Judge Moore.
Police Department
The Police Department was slow in developing into an organ- ized force. From early days constables were elected by the town and those officers considered themselves the police force of the community. Considerable criminal work was done by the several deputy sheriffs who acted in perhaps the capacity of the Chief of Police.
On a stormy Thanksgiving Night in 1889 burglars broke into the home of Henry R. Stowell on School and Allen Streets and carried away a very considerable amount of his life's accumulations. There was at once a great demand for more adequate police protection. The Selectmen acquiesced in this idea and forthwith employed John B. Jacques who had come to Athol recently from North Dana with the Osgood Soapstone Company. Mr. Jacques for a number of years was in effect the Chief of our Police Force, but even he was mildly subservient to the Deputy Sheriff.
Soon after the appointment of Mr. Jacques as night patrol- man in the lower section of town, there was a demand that there be a night watchman put on at the Center and to this request the town agreed. From that day there have been reg- ular night patrolmen on duty, but for many years the day service was rendered by officials who answered only emergency calls.
433
HISTORY OF ATHOL
In those days the election of town officers was by strip ballot, and a man who stood the best chance of becoming elected constable was the one whose name appeared on the most popular ballots distributed at the election.
There were at first only three constables elected. Then some contestant felt his chances of election were not too good and he succeeded in the early hours of the town election in getting a vote passed increasing the number of constables to four. This was done with more or less regularity until even- tually there were nine constables elected.
When the town adopted the Australian system of electing town officers in April, 1894, a prerequisite of establishing that system was to determine what town officers should be elected, the number of members of each board, and the term of office for each. Then the town reduced again the number of constables to three. That has been the number elected since, the police officers being appointed by the Selectmen. In the absence of an appointed Chief of Police, the Chairman of the Selectmen technically held that office. This procedure fol- lowed for many years until December 9, 1911, when Patrick J. Murphy was appointed Acting Chief of Police.
Following Mr. Murphy's death on July 17, 1938, William J. Callahan was appointed to the office and he is the present incumbent. In 1916 the town placed all of its full-time police officers under Civil Service, but at that time the position of Chief was left subject to appointment and removal at the will of the Selectmen, and so it remained until a new general code of by-laws was enacted when by them the Chief was also included under the Civil Service regulations. Although enacted some time before, the by-laws were not actually in effect until approved by the Attorney General on March 1, 1951. In ad- dition to the present Chief, a Sergeant, ten Patrolmen and two Reserves who are on the force, there have been through the years many appointments of special police for service at theatres, dance hall, at various industries, and in isolated sec- tions of the community.
Special tribute should be paid at this time to a group of members of the American Legion who with the local police force were depleted by enlistments and draft into the U. S. Army in World War II. Willingly they undertook the job of assisting our Chief in any emergency. They took pride in their uniform which was adopted and approved. An invaluable aid to the law enforcement officers in recent years, they stood ready for all special occasions and any sudden emergency.
434
POLITICAL
Special mention is made of the honor which came to Chief Callahan, he having served as President of the New England Police Chief's Association during 1952.
Post Office
Prior to 1800 the two nearest post offices to Athol were at Worcester and Greenfield. With the beginning of the nine- teenth century we were part of a mail coach system connecting at Leominster with mail stages for Boston. Those coaches left Leominster at six in the morning and arrived by way of West- minster, Templeton, and Athol at Greenfield by 7 p.m. In other words, it took thirteen hours to go a distance of about sixty-five miles, now only a little over an hour's run by automobile or train.
Joseph Estabrook, our second minister, was our first Post- master, appointed on October 1, 1802. He held the position six months when he was succeeded by a young lawyer, Solomon Strong, who had just located here.
For many years the only office was located at Uptown part of Athol. In 1849 the first post office in the lower village, known as Athol Depot, was established, the first Postmaster being Joseph W. Hammond, appointed August 4, 1849.
About 1870 the ambitious Depot Village desired to have its office named Athol and the older office, Athol Center. Then followed a most acrimonious agitation of the matter. State and national officials were asked to become involved in the contest and all public matters made subservient to this all engrossing topic. Once the change was made only to be reconsidered and the old names re-established, but finally in the early months of 1875 a post office inspector, Mr. W. H. Bigelow, came here and gave extensive hearings in Starr Hall and Music Hall, both factions being represented by counsel. Mr. Bigelow decreed that the change was advisable and his findings were ratified by the Postmaster General on April 13, 1875, to take effect in June.
Following are noted the dates and changes of our various post offices, together with the names and dates of appointment of our postmasters:
ATHOL
Established as Athol Depot on August 4, 1849. Name changed to Athol on April 22, 1873. Name changed to Athol Depot on August 6, 1873. Name changed to Athol on June 8, 1875.
435
HISTORY OF ATHOL
POSTMASTERS
Joseph W. Hammond-appointed August 4, 1849. The of- fice was in his tailor shop at about 612 Main Street.
Sylvanus E. Twichell-appointed August 7, 1851. Had the office in the Pequoig House at 416 Main Street. Held office until his death, October 27, 1864.
Howard B. Hunt-appointed November 1, 1864. I think Mr. Hunt moved the Post Office to his insurance office which I believe at that time was about 378 Main Street.
Lucien Lord-appointed April 21, 1869. Appointed by President Grant, Lucien Lord's tenure of office (19 years) was the longest of any incumbent of this position. At his own ex- pense on December 6, 1880 he placed a mail box at the depot for the convenience of the people who heretofore had been obliged to go to the post office with their outgoing mail, or wait at the depot and hand it to the mailman on the train. Mr. Lord first maintained the office in an old building which stood at about 423 Main Street, and later moved back to the rear of what was later numbered Webb Place. When he built his Masonic Block in 1874 he took the office into the westerly
WILLIAM W. FISH 1832 - 1907
436
POLITICAL
store in that building in connection with his stationery store and newsstand which was at about 431 Main Street.
William W. Fish-appointed January 16, 1888. Commis- sioned in the latter months of President Cleveland's first term, Mr. Fish realized that President Harrison would not reappoint him and as the entire office equipment was lost in the fire of December previous, and the postmaster was required by law to furnish his full equipment at his own expense, he did not think it wise to make so large an investment considering the few months of his term remaining and he resigned February 12, 1891.
This disastrous fire of December 21, 1890 destroyed both the Masonic Block and the Central Block. The post office was for a time in the front room of the "Aunt Sally Fish House" until a temporary building, now a part of the Athol Printing Company plant, could be built where Burns & Vaughn now operate.
Arthur C. Longley-appointed February 14, 1891. Mr. Longley moved to the same location that Mr. Hunt had oc- cupied and there the office continued until the present post office building was completed.
Justin W. Clayton-appointed March 1, 1895, by President Grover Cleveland. Mr. Clayton came here a few years before to work in the Goddard and Manning piano case factory and at once took an aggressive interest in Athol affairs. By April, 1895 Postmaster Clayton had placed several mail boxes in the business section and personally collected the mail from them several times a day, the first outside service except the box at the depot rendered by an Athol Post Office. Undoubtedly this action accentuated the demand for free delivery which was inaugurated on November 1, 1897. The carriers were Charles A. Perry, Josiah P. Bigelow, Irwin L. Knowlton, and Harry L. Doane, with C. Eugene Tandy and Charles S. King as sub- stitutes.
Having failed of re-appointment by President Mckinley, Mr. Clayton left town on April 3, 1899 to take up his residence in Texas.
Harding R. Barber-appointed February 15, 1899. On January 28, 1899 a caucus was held in Athol to determine the choice of voters for Postmaster. Harding R. Barber had 388 votes, Festus G. Amsden 201 votes and Herbert S. Goddard had 198 votes. Seven ballots were rejected as invalid. Mr. Barber
437
HISTORY OF ATHOL
held this office until his death in 1903. One incident of this tenure was the beginning of Rural Free Delivery from this of- fice in 1902.
Festus G. Amsden-appointed June 18, 1903.
Before 1908 it became apparent that increasing business re- quired more adequate quarters than the room it had occupied some seventeen years and which was a rectangular space de- signed for use as a store.
Congressman Gillett was interviewed and through his efforts assurance came that the U. S. Treasury Department would erect a Federal Building here.
Then came the question of location which government agents stated must be a corner lot. Bids were called for and three sites offered. Mr. L. S. Starrett offered the "Richardson Corner" where the Y. M. C. A. now stands, Fred W. Lord and Lizzie Cardany Mann offered the Lord lot, 486-496 Main Street, and with it Mrs. Mann offered the property east of it upon which stood a two tenement house with land to widen Market Place just east of her holdings. Charles F. Amsden of- fered his home place at corner of Main and Church Streets with the Dr. Lindsey lot next west.
Public sentiment, especially uptown, strongly favored either the Lord or Starrett locations, but a small and influential group urged the Amsden site as an inducement to mercantile business to expand to the west, and the government agents who came here likewise preferred the Amsden lot as it was level and had an established street making a right angle with Main Street. On January 5, 1909, a largely attended mass meeting strongly opposed the Amsden location but regardless of all kinds of pressure exerted the Amsden site was eventually chosen.
Mr. Amsden removed his own residence to 28 Church Street where, elevated one full story, it now stands. The Dr. Lindsey house was removed to 147 Ridge Avenue and other buildings were remodelled into the two houses standing in the rear of 18 Church Street.
March 3, 1913 the new building was first occupied. Pre- ceding this by three months came the beginning of the Parcel Post service.
Edward J. Hayden-appointed April 12, 1914. In less than fifteen months after Mr. Hayden assumed the office, Federal officials advanced the rating of the Athol office to First Class. A slight recession in business reduced this rating in 1915, but .a year later it was again rated First Class.
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POLITICAL
Clarence E. Deane-appointed February 14, 1923. Steady increase of business demanded a larger clerical force and more carriers during the first few years of this incumbency.
Richard P. Mullen-appointed July 1, 1936 is the present incumbent. During his term he, with thousands of others throughout the nation, was given Civil Service rating and thus removed from political interference. Mr. Mullen has served Athol most acceptably, always seeking to improve the ef- ficiency of the office.
ATHOL CENTRE
Established as Athol shortly before October 1, 1802. Name changed to Athol Centre on April 22, 1873. Name changed to Athol on August 6, 1873. Name changed to Athol Centre on June 17, 1875. Discontinued on January 31, 1901 and office became Station A of Athol.
POSTMASTERS
Joseph Estabrook-appointed October 1, 1802. Athol's second minister and our first postmaster.
Solomon Strong-appointed April 1, 1803. He was the first attorney at law to locate in Athol. Born in Amherst on February 3, 1780, a graduate of the college there, he was admitted to the bar in November, 1801. Mr. Strong first considered locat- ing in Royalston but quickly decided that Athol had more pos- sibilities for a young lawyer. He lived in the house now owned by Jennie E. Lawton at 1591 Main Street and had an office directly in the rear of the house fronting on Chestnut Street, both of which he acquired of Dr. Samuel Rice. He held the office of Postmaster here until 1805 when he removed to Westminster where he spent the rest of his life.
James Humphreys-appointed April 1, 1805. A native of this town, son of its first pastor, he was for years a leader here. He inherited his father's homestead at 989 Pleasant Street, and in 1788 opened the first general store in town, south of that house. He was our Representative ten years and our State Senator in 1817-1818, being the first Athol citizen to sit in that body. As the local Justice of the Peace, he sat for years in the "sessions," the County Commission of those days. His military title of General came from his long connection with the State Militia.
Joseph Proctor-appointed February 11, 1809.
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
Nathaniel C. Estabrook-appointed September 13, 1822. Clough R. Miles-appointed March 24, 1824.
Lincoln B. Knowlton-appointed February 25, 1835. William H. Williams-appointed August 24, 1837.
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