History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 82

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292

USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 82

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In 1830 a new meeting house was completed in a more eligible situation, one and a half miles north. Stillman Pratt preached in 1839, and in November of the same year Daniel H. Babcock was ordained, but was dismissed the next year. Solomon Hardy supplied for two years, and in 1842 Rev. Enoch Pratt was called. Edward W. Noble

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

preached from 1846 to 1849, and was succeeded by J. H. Wells and Stephen Bailey for two years. In 1851 Rev. Ebenezer Chase, the last minister of the society, assumed the pastorate and remained until 1859.

Rev. Mr. Shaw in 1802 made the record that " the people of Eastham are happily united in the same mode of religious worship as in the days of their fathers, there being not an individual in town that does not belong to the Congregational Society; " but his statement long ago was inapplicable, for, after a short term of disuse, the edifice was sold in 1864 for secular purposes, the greater part being used in the construction of the residence of John A. Clark.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized here in 1820. It then belonged to the Wellfleet charge, the pulpit being supplied by Rev. E. Wiley. In 1821 a meeting house was erected, and Rev. Edward Hide of the same circuit supplied the desk. Rev. L. Bennett and Mr. Perry preached through 1822, and in 1823 the church was made a sep- arate charge, with Rev. Nathan Paine pastor. At this time the mem- bership was one hundred. The successive pastors have been: In 1825, Rev. E. K. Avery; 1826, Benjamin Keath; 1828, Frederick Upham; 1829, Joel Steele; 1831, H. Brownson; 1833, Lemuel Harlow; 1834, T. W. Brown; 1836, Warren Emerson; 1838, Thomas Ely; 1839, Josiah Litch; 1841, E. W. Jackson; 1842, O. Robbins; 1844, Henry Smith; 1846, Joseph McReading; 1847, Samuel Fox; 1848, Dixon Stebbins; 1850, William Leonard; 1852, Anthony Palmer; 1853, Thomas D. Blake; 1854, William H. Stetson; 1855, George Burnham; 1857, Abel Alton; 1859, Edward Hinckley; 1861, B. K. Bosworth; 1863, C. Hammond; 1865, Benjamin L. Sayer; 1867, Francis A. Loomis; 1868, John L. Fish: 1870, Lawton Cady; 1871, George S. Macomber; 1872, Eben Tirrell, jr .; 1874, John Cooper; 1875, John S. Fish; 1877, Charles N. Hinckley; 1879, Philo Hawks; 1881, Frank Bowler; 1883, S. F. Harriman; 1885, Martin S. Braley; 18SS, Samuel Fox: The bell, which was presented by Moses Wiley some twelve years ago, is the only church bell in the town. The present edifice was dedicated November 28, 1851.

Early in 1SS9 steps were taken to establish a Universalist Society in Eastham. On the 12th of August twenty-three members made John E. Ryder their president, and organized the First Universalist Parish of Eastham. Rev. Donald Fraser, of Orleans, held services in the town hall during the summer, and in August a Sunday school of thirty-three pupils, with six teachers, appointed Luther B. Smith their first superintendent. Measures for erecting a place of worship were considered, Captain Edward Penniman heading a subscription list for the necessary funds and taking untiring interest in the completion of the edifice. A site was donated by W. E. Nickerson, on which a pretty church, forty by fifty feet, was built, and on the last Wednesday in

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TOWN OF EASTHAM.

January, 1890, it was dedicated. The membership of the society num- bered forty-nine at that time. I. F. Crosby of Brewster, John Ken- rick of Orleans, and others not residents of the town, gave cordial support to the movement, the result of which is a credit to the town of Eastham. The pastor in charge is Rev. Donald Fraser.

BURYING PLACES .- The town has four places of burial, of which the oldest-now more than 240 years old-is that laid out north of Town cove by the side of the first meeting house, and is not used. Two churches were erected near the old ground, and when the third was built another ground was laid out near it, and is the second one of the town. The Methodists next had one laid out by their meeting house-the third burial place of the town; and when the Congrega- tionalists built their last meeting house a fourth-the third for this society-was opened. These are all under the care of the town.

SCHOOLS .- No mention of a school is made in the records of Old Eastham until 1666, when Jonathan Sparrow was hired to teach a school, for which a small appropriation was made by the town, to teach reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. In 1700 some ad- vancement had been made, but there was yet only one school for the entire town. That year the town agreed to pay ten pence per week for each child, and the people north of the Town cove could have a sep- arate school if the people who wished it would pay the master. In 1713 the Town cove was made the dividing line between two schools, and from neither side of this line should the scholars attend the other. The school was to be located in a convenient place on the north side of the cove, being in the present territory of Eastham, and Peter Barnes was hired to teach. In 1714 Nehemiah Hobart was the mas- ter, with a salary of ten pounds extra for assisting Mr. Treat in the ministry.

The increase in population rendered two schools necessary in 1749, each having within its jurisdiction about one hundred families, and a committee for each was appointed. These two schools received more liberal support from the town funds, for in 1762 the schools were re- moved from private houses to school houses. In 1785 a grammar school was organized, and the following year a still better division of the two districts was effected.

After Orleans was erected, there were only two districts remain- ing in Eastham; but in 1800 another was created and a school house erected. In 1804 the town needed another district, and the four now had $120 for their yearly support. The increase in settlers and schol- ars was now more rapid than in last century, and adding the fifth dis- trict only accommodated the scholars of the town for a few years. In 1834 the town was divided into six districts, and three hundred dol- lars appropriated for the support of their schools. In 1844 these

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

schools had acquired a standing that compared favorably with sister towns. The report of the committee in 1858 shows the discontinu- ance of one. and the gradation of the pupils of the remaining dis- tricts: and in 1861 the first building for a graded school was erected in what was known as district No. 4. The state school fund was now adding to the growth of the school, and inducing a still better grade. A reduction of the districts to four, with a new house in No. 1. was made in 1862. In 1866 improvement was reported, and still further changes made in gradation and the books used in the schools. In 1867 four districts were supplying suitable accommodations for the scholars, with one male teacher in the principal village. In 1869 music was taught with good results. Much care was taken to have the most competent teachers, although the number of pupils gradu- ally decreased. The schools, during the winter of 1871-2, were taught by students of Dartmouth College, and the advancement in most of the schools was greater than usual. The strictness of these teach- ers and the flagellations necessarily imposed, led to strong discussions among the patrons as to the right to do so, which was very judiciously disposed of by the school committee.

In 1873 a new school house was urged in District No. 3, then using the old town hall, and during the year one was erected. In 1875 the town received a severe rebuke from the school committee for wishing the abolition of such officers, but the feeling which was consequently detrimental to the interests of the schools, soon abated. In 1876 nine teachers were employed, singing was generally taught, and the pupils were receiving advantages superior to those of any former year. In 1877 the meritorious scholars were reported by the committee, wall maps had been added to the rooms, and other improvements inaugur- ated to elevate the schools, so that the school year ending April, 1878, showed not only increased attendance, but a high standard of scholar- ship. The town paid in the year $1,185 for school expenses. In the school year of 1881-2 six teachers were employed. The truant law had been adopted, the visitors' list was published. a superintendent had been appointed, the schools were better graded, and the people were pleased with the progress. In 1883, the school committee was increased to six and the schools diminished to three. In 1885 there were in the public schools 125 pupils, and $1,158.41 was expended. For the school year ending April, 1888, the committee expended $1.182.54, receiving of this $306.44 from the state school fund, and employing seven teachers.

The condition of the schools in 1889 was much advanced. Regular lessons in music had been given, the attendance being eighty-four for the school year ending in April, but the percentage of attendance was increased from the previous year. The expenditures for the last school year were $1,160.34, which indicates that the children of East-

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TOWN OF EASTHAM.

ham are enjoying advantages in this respect, that have never been exceeded in the history of the town. They have now three good buildings, conveniently located, and containing every needed device for instruction.

VILLAGES .- This town does not contain the compact villages that are seen in sister towns, but the store, post office, mill, railroad station, town house and churches in the south part of the town form the nucleus of the village of Eastham. It is the largest centre of the town and embraces the territory upon which the pioneers erected their first dwellings in 1644. That the village is scattered across the southern portion of the town is due to the fact that the excellent quality of the soil has rendered rural pursuits the leading industry, in the absence of good harbors and commerce that would tend to develop a more compact business center. A rural, sparsely-settled New England village now greets the eye, with roads winding over knolls and around ponds. Thrift appears in the neat surroundings of the cottages, and the two towering church spires in the distance and whistle of the ap- proaching locomotive remind these aspiring denizens of their approx- imation to the title of villagers. The county road is embraced in the eastern part of the extended community, and west of this, between the railroad and the shore of the bay, is the most considerable portion of the community. Many residents of the southern part make Orleans their post office and business center.

The primitive stores of last century have passed away, and with them nearly every connecting tradition. During the first years of this century Colonel Samuel Stinson had a store and tavern near the present Methodist church. Others had stores about that time, among which that kept by Joseph Knowles on the hill by the old Congrega- tional meeting house was a favorite resort. He discontinued the busi- ness soon after another meeting house was built to the north of the old site, near which Thomas Crosby had opened a store, which inter- fered greatly with the most profitable branch of Mr. Knowles' trade. Peter Walker, a rhyming blacksmith of the time, who loved his gill of rum as well as any, used in the evening gatherings, to sing this truthful stanza:

" We're no such lengths to go, Nor wander far abroad- Crosby's set up keeping shop Close to the house of God."

In connection with the last meeting house built, and when Mr. Shaw was closing his labors with the declining society, another of Mr. Walker's store and workshop ditties was:

" A learned Treat, a pious Webb, And Cheever-all no more; Mr. Shaw then took the helm And run the ship ashore."

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

In 1837 Elijah E. Knowles and Mark Crosby took the store that Joshua P. Atwood had long before opened, near Salt pond. After one year Winsor Snow became a partner with Mr. Knowles and con- tinued another year, when the latter became the sole proprietor. He removed to Orleans in 1885, and the building he occupied as a store is now the storehouse of George H. Clark, near the railroad track. In the month of October, 1871, Edward Clark opened a general store in the present post office building, which he erected for the purpose. He sold the entire business to his son, George H. Clark, who is the pres- ent proprietor.

The only industry of recent years was instituted in 1866 by Ed- ward Clark, a currier by trade. He purchased the Congregational meeting house in 1864, the sills and some other timbers of which were used in 1866 in the construction of a large shop on the west shore of Great pond, where he carried on the currying business until 1880, since which date the shop has been used for farm pur- poses.

A pretty building, with its sitting room and offices for railroad purposes, is the center of attraction for sightseers and tourists. The first train of passenger cars passed though this village on the last day of December, 1870, and the depot was at once erected. Nich- olas P. Knowles was station agent until his death in 1883, when the present incumbent, Eldad Higgins, was appointed.

Across the track, in the store of George H. Clark, is the village post office, an institution established here January 1, 1798. William Myrick was the first postmaster, holding the position until October ], 1807, when Samuel Freeman was appointed, who held it until July 1, 1811. Harding Knowles was then appointed and was succeeded by Joseph Mayo, August 18, 1813, and he by Heman S. Doane. January 3, 1822. Elisha Cobb was the next, appointed March 15, 1827; held until April 13, 1841, when Elijah E. Knowles took the office to his store. August 14, 1843, George Seabury was appointed and September 19, 1860, Henry Knowles succeeded. Four years later Seth Paine as- sumed the postmastership, which he held until his death, and his widow was appointed in October, 1868, who, with Micah S. Paine, held it until the appointment of George H. Clark in 1878. The office re- ceives two daily mails from the train and accommodates a large ter- ritory.

The taverns of former times existed here as the wayside retreat along the county road, and of these that of William Myrick, in the south part, was the most important.

From the citizens of this village a number have been selected to fill government offices of trust, among whom was Elijah E. Knowles, who acted as assistant assessor of internal revenue from 1863 until the

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TOWN OF EASTHAM.

abolishment of the division; and the same person, with Obediah Doane, Abijah Mayo, and others, served as commissioner of wrecks for a term of years.

Here is the Eastham Library of several hundred volumes. an insti- tution established by individual munificence and now supported by the town, the citizens voting a sum yearly. Myrick Clark was its first president, continuing until his death in December last. Reuben Nickerson, Mrs. Isaiah H. Horton and Mrs. Julia Knowles have been the trustees since its organization. The town clerk, by virtue of his office, is treasurer, at present George H. Clark; and the librarian. MIrs. Herbert C. Clark. Every Saturday the library-in the hall over the store of G. H. Clark-is open to the public. One of the principal donors in the permanent establishment of the library was Augustus E. Denton, who gave one hundred dollars. Sixty dollars was voted by the town last year for new volumes and other expenditures.

North Eastham is the name given to the territory of the north part of the town, which embraces the community that centers at the stores and depot under the title above given. It is more level-has more the appearance of a plain-than the south part of the town. Its gen- eral productiveness has created broad farms, upon which the citizens more closely follow agricultural than horticultural pursuits. Cock's brook, named from Josiah Cook, one of the pioneers of 1644, empties into the bay to the westward, formerly forming a sufficient harbor for the fishing vessels of the town. and in the decline of the business, comparing the vessels of that day with the boats of the present, the harbor is still sufficient, notwithstanding the filling with sand. At the mouth of this creek the schooner Belvidere, of 101 tons, was built in 1812 for Elkanah Cobb, Michael Collins and the Doanes, by a mas- ter builder of Plymouth, assisted by Andrew Lincoln and others. The greater part of the timbers were cut upon surrounding territory, which, coupled with the fact that at present many sturdy oaks are seen in this part of the town, indicates to the reader the character of a por- tion of the soil. The salt-makers along the west shore of this terri- tory have been given.

Stores were opened here early, but subsequently to those in the south part. The earliest we find to have been established prior to 1800 were those of Michael Collins and Elkanah Cobb, and later that of David Brown. Abraham Horton had a store about 1830, which he continued many years, in what is now known as the Nauset House. In 1881 Arthur H. Cobb erected a building and opened a store adjoin- ing Millenial Grove. George P. and Samuel F. Brackett purchased the business in 1SS6, and are yet there engaged in a general mercan- tile business. In 1SS6 Robert R. Horton engaged in the grocery business in a new building near the depot, and after one year sold the

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

goods to S. S. Dill, who transferred the trade to Alfred H. Gill in the autumn of 1889.

The reader will expect to find the inn with the old stores, but tra- dition gives no definite data of any prior to that of Abraham Horton, which was the usual stopping place for the early stages to and from the lower extremity of the Cape. He continued until his death, and the old tavern has since been open as the Nauset Hotel, with John Horton proprietor. In the large hall of this hotel the only society of North Eastham meets. In the large building near the depot is Excelsior Hall. In 1886 Robert R. Horton, Caleb Haley, Philip and Reuben Smith, as a company, erected this building, the first floor for store purposes and the large hall on the second floor for a skating rink. The rapid decline of this pastime induced R. R. Horton and Frank Duchman to start a pants factory, which, after four months, was discontinued, and the hall is now kept for rent.

The first postmaster at North Eastham, appointed March 28, 1842, was Cushing Horton, who was succeeded December 15, 1845, by David C. Atwood. September 4, 1871, Abram W. Horton was appointed, keeping the office in the old tavern until 1882, when the present official, Robert R. Horton, was appointed, and removed the office to the depot. The depot was built in 1871, Cushing Horton being the first agent until his death, when his son, Winslow T., assumed the duties. The present agent, R. R. Horton, has been in the employ of the railroad company since 1877.

Longfellow Council, No. 89, of the Order of Home Circle, was insti- tuted April 1, 1885, with twenty-five charter members. Heman S. Gill was the first leader, and was reelected in the December election of 1889. The intervening rulers were Everett G. Dill and Louise H. Ellis.

In this village resides H. Osborn, the superintendent of the French cable, and the office of transmission, near the lighthouse, properly belongs within its limits. The company's main office is in France, from whence the cable was laid, landing at North Eastham in Novem- ber, 1879. In the office here three relays of competent men-three operators, every eight hours-are constantly employed, and often more. One must receive the message across the ccean, one check, and another transmit the same to New York city. The buildings are ample, furnished with sleeping apartments, billiard room and every convenience. The principal operators employed the past few months were: Chief A. F. Toovey. J. D. B. Stuart, George S. Hall, John Chapman, Frederick Sugg and Ernest Horton. What would be the astonishment of the aborigines of Nauset or the pioneers who purchased and settled their territory if they could see this office, from which lightning messages between the Old and New

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TOWN OF EASTHAM.

Worlds are received and sent by a submarine cable formed of seven copper wires, insulated and protected from the waters of the sea ?

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Scatter P. Bangs, son of Seymour and Annie M. (Cobb) Bangs, grandson of Seymour, and great-grandson of John D. Bangs, was born in 1837. He learned the carpenters' trade when a boy. He re- turned to Eastham in 18SS, after having been away twenty-six years. He married Julia, daughter of Hatsel Nickerson. They had one daughter, Lois F., born iu Eastham in 1858. died 1862.

Alonzo N. Bearse, son of George and Penina (Bassett) Bearse, and grandson of David Bearse, was born in Chatham in 1842. He fol- lowed the sea from 1854 until 1884, since which time he has been on the Nauset life saving station, and since 1887 he has been keeper there. He married Abbie T. Brewer. who died, leaving three children: Lin- nie O., Jessie C. (Mrs. R. W. Horton) and Washington I. Mr. Bearse was in the late war from August, 1862, until July, 1863, in Company E, Forty-third Massachusetts Volunteers. He is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post, G. A. R., and of Fraternal Lodge, I. O. of O. F.

John Chapman was born in England in 1853, and came to Eastham in 1879, where he has since been operator for the French Atlantic Cable Company. He married Ada B., daughter of William and Annie (Hamilton) Hopkins.

Sara M. Chipman, daughter of Freeman D. and Abigail (Mayo) Hatch, married Barnabas H. Chipman, son of Ebenezer and Martha (Higgins) Chipman. They had three children: Abbie F. (Mrs. John H. Smart), Arthur C. and Edgar W., who is supposed to have died in Texas. Mr. Chipman was a sea captain for twenty-six years prior to his death in 1874.

George H. Clark, oldest son of Edward C. and Rachel (Collins) Clark, grandson of Edward C., great-grandson of Benjamin, and great- great-grandson of Lot Clark, was born in 1847. He has been a mer- chant at Eastham since 1877, town clerk and treasurer since 1878, and is now postmaster at Eastham. Edward C. Clark married Jerusha", daughter of Elkanah Cobb (Jonathan', Jonathan3, Samuel?, Elder Henry Cobb1).

Roland D. Cobb, son of Thomas and Priscilla M. (Doane) Cobb, and grandson of Thomas Cobb, was born in 1831. He is a farmer. He married Maria H., daughter of David and Sally (Swain) Higgins. They have one daughter, Sarah M.

Austin E. Cole, son of Joshua and Sophia (Cobb) Cole, grandson of Joshua, and great-grandson of Timothy Cole, was born in 1859. He is a farmer. He married Eulalia A., daughter of James and Han- nah R. (Higgins) Savage. They have one daughter, Minnie C.

740

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Josiah M. Cole, son of Joshua and grandson of Timothy Cole, died in 1866, aged thirty-six years. He was a farmer. He married Mary E., daughter of Knowles and Mary (Knowles) Doane, granddaughter of Jesse, and great-granddaughter of Jesse Doane. They had three children: Wilber S., Elsie F. and Josiah A. Wilber S., was born in Eastham, January 29, 1858.

Ezekiel Doane, born in 1812, is a son of Obed and Phebe (Atwood) Doane, and grandson of Sylvanus Doane. He is a farmer, having owned the Governor Prince farm since 1842, where with his two sons, Charles T. and Abealino, he now lives. He married Rachel, daughter of Dawson Lincoln. She died in 1881, leaving seven children: Obed, Josephine, Charles T., William P., Georgiana, Rachel and Abealino E.

Russell Doane®, born in 1837, is a son of Isaiah' and Temperance (Knowles) Doane (Heman®, Isaiah®, Simeon4, Samuel3, John“, John Doane1). Mr. Doane followed the sea from 1850 until 1877, and since that time he has been engaged on the Nauset life saving station. He married Lucinda A., daughter of Thomas Paine.

Henry K. Harding, son of Prince S. and Nancy B. (Knowles) Hard- ing, and grandson of Ephraim Harding, was born in 1829. He fol- lowed the trade of carriage making with his father until 1864. He was afterward twenty years in Tiverton, R. I., engaged in menhaden oil manufacture. He is now living, retired, at his old home in East- ham. He married Betsey F., daughter of Alvin and Eliza (Gould) Smith. They have one son-George M .- and an adopted daughter- Susie W.

David Higgins, son of Joshua and Mercy (Mayo) Higgins, grand- son of Elkanah, and great-grandson of Ebenezer Higgins, was born in 1804. He is a farmer. He married Sally, daughter of Walter P. Swain. They had six children, three of whom are living: Maria H. (Mrs. Roland D. Cobb), Asa and Levi W.

Peter Higgins, born in 1838, is a son of John W. and grandson of Benjamin, whose father, Elkanah, was a son of Ebenezer Higgins. Richard Higgins was born in England and came to Plymouth, Mass., soon after that town was settled, as his name appears in the list of freemen of 1633. He married Mary Gates of Plymouth. He was chosen deputy in 1649, 1661 and 1667, and was selectman three years. His son Jonathan was married to Elizabeth Rogers in 1660, and had eight children. From these have descended all the families of the name in Barnstable county. Peter Higgins is a farmer and fisherman. He served in the civil war from July, 1862, to June, 1865, in Company I., Thirty-third Massachusetts Infantry, and is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post, G. A. R. He was in the lighthouse service four years and has held several minor town offices. He married for his first wife, Harriet E. Baker, who died leaving one son, Henry F. His second

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 82

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: New York : Blake Number of Pages: 1292

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292