USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 24
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The main shop is three stories high, 84 by 40 feet, and an addition was built on the shop in 1877, 40 by 30 feet, two stories high. The first floor is used for a wet and stock room, the second floor for whitening, fitting up and finish- ing, and the third story for a stuffing loft. The firm employ twenty-two hands, with an average pay roll per month of $1,200, and curry 1,200 sides and splits a week, on the aver- age, for A. M. Bigelow & Co., of Boston.
A. & A. Bigelow employ twenty-two hands, and nse the same amount of oil and tallow as L. W. Dodge & Son, with the same pay-roll per month, and enrry 1,200 sides and splits a week, on the average, for A. M. Bigelow & Co. Their shop is 163 by 32 feet, two and a half stories high, and was built about the year 1840.
CURRYING ESTABLISHMENT OF L. W. & J. A. DODGE.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
The two firms use, in the course of the year, 250 tons of coal for furnishing power and heating purposes. There is also connected with the engine two steam pumps for use in case of fire-one to each shop. At present the shops are running on full time.
There is a boiler and engine-house owned by L. W. Dodge & Son, and A. & A. Bigelow, 26 by 26 feet, with a chimney seven feet square at the base and sixty-five feet high. The engine is twenty-five horse power, and furnishes power for both shops.
The Indian Burying-Ground.
The Indian burying-ground, where the last remnants of the race were interred, is situated a few rods from the resi- dence of Fred. Jourdan, on the Farnumsville road, in a field belonging to the old Whipple farm. The burying-ground is covered with wild grass and loose stones. When the cross- road was cut through several of the graves were uncovered, and were found to contain kettles, pots, dishes, knives, tom- ahawks, etc., besides a few bones. A few years since, as I have been informed, as many as twenty or thirty graves were plainly distinguishable, though they have now almost wholly disappeared. Two of the graves were situated with- ont the bounds of the rest, and in a direction perpendicular to them; the former being from north to south, the latter from east to west. Many aged persons can remember when the last degraded remnants of the race, once inhabiting the soil we occupy, inclosed in rude coffins of rough boards, hastily put together, and without any religious ceremony, were conveyed to this repository of the dead.
Post-Offices and Postmasters.
The post-office was established in this town, March 12, 1811, with William Lamb as the first postmaster. The post- office was first kept in the old building known in its day as
319
NEWSPAPERS.
the " Fly Market," owned by David Sherman. The follow- ing is a complete list of the postniasters :-
Samuel Wood, Henry G. Grout, Major Otis Adams, Major Ebenezer Aldrich, Charles A. Pierce, H. D. P. Bige- low, Silas A. Pierce, Charles A. Pierce, Silas A. Pierce, Major J. Frank Searle, and Miss Susie E. Searle the present incumbent, who was appointed June 6, 1876. The post- office was formerly kept in the old Warren block.
The post-office at Saundersville was established February 19, 1851, and Gilbert C. Taft was appointed postmaster. He has held the office twenty-eight years.
The post-office at Farnumsville was established January 1, 1831, with Dr. Levi Rawson as postmaster. He was suc - ceeded by Alfred Morse, who was succeeded by Clark C. Willis, the present incumbent.
The New England Village post-office was established July 18, 1832, with Chandler M. Pratt as postmaster. The subsequent postmasters have been Robert W. Flagg, Samuel B. Dolliver, Joshua W. Harrington, Robert D. Chase, Simon B. Allen, and Mrs. Simon B. Allen the present incumbent.
Newspapers.'
The first Grafton newspaper was called The Sheaf. This was published and edited by B. Winslow Packard in the Warren block here and in Eagle block in Westborough, appearing in both towns on the same day of the week. The sheet was short-lived, whether on account of the want of brains in the editor or lack of subscribers we have been unable to determine. It was published in the year 1856.
The second and last newspaper started here was the Grafton Herald, established January 29, 1874, by Cook & Sons, of Milford. This paper is quite similar to the Mil- ford Journal, Natick Bulletin and Medway Gazette in make-up; all being published in the Journal office. At
·
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
one time the circulation of the Herald was claimed to be 300 by the publishers. This paper still exists.
The Blackstone Canal.
This canal, which extended from Worcester to Providence, a distance of forty-five miles, passed through this town. It was eighteen feet wide at the bottom and thirty-six at the top of the banks. It was built alternately on both sides of the Blackstone River, and passed nearly all the great manu- facturing establishments in the valley of the Blackstone. The first boat which passed through the whole extent arrived at the upper basin October 7, 1828. The expense of the work was about $750,000; of this amount more than half a million of dollars was paid by the citizens of Rhode Island. The canal was more useful to the public than to the proprietors ; the amount of transportation, low- ever, increased during the following years, but was of short duration as it was superseded by
The Providence and Worcester Railroad Corporation
In 1847. This road follows nearly the same route as the canal and has two stations in this town, one at Saundersville and the other at Farnumsville. William H. Jourdan, Esq., of Graf- ton, now of Worcester, was one of the conductors on the first train, and had for a number of years the charge of the depot and company's interests in Worcester.
The Boston and Worcester Railroad
Was incorporated June 23, 1831. The road extending forty-four miles eastward, was first laid with a single track of edge rails, on cast iron chairs, resting on wooden sleepers, bedded in trenches filled with stones. The cost of construc- tion was $1,500,000, including land, labor, cars, engines, and buildings. At that time passenger trains went in each direc- tion three times daily during the warm months, and twice in
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RAILROADS.
the cold season, except on Sundays. This road was con- solidated with the Western road, forming a line from Boston to Albany, N. Y. At the present time the road is one of the best managed and equipped roads in the country, having a double track of all steel rails. The company a few years ago erected a new passenger station in Grafton, on the site of the old freight depot and opposite the old passenger station, which is standing at the present time and used for storage purposes.
The Grafton Centre Railroad,
Narrow gauge, which runs from the depot of the Boston and Albany railroad in New England Village, is three miles in length and was completed in the fall of 1874. The road is at the present time cquipped with two dummy engine passenger cars made by Jerome Wheelock, of Worcester, a native of this town, also freight cars operated by the same motive power.
At the annual meeting last January the following officers were elected :- President, Jonathan D. Wheeler; clerk, A. A. Ballou ; treasurer, Henry F. Wing ; superintendent, Edward P. Capron ; directors, J. D. Wheeler, Winthrop Faulkner, G. K. Nichols, G. F. Slocomb, S. A. Forbush, Franklyn Baldwin, Alden M. Bigelow, J. A. Dodge, J. B. White, Reuben Taft. The gross receipts of the road for the year were $3,995.07; total cost of running the road, $3,202.45 ; net income, $792.62. During the year the number of passengers carried was 22,327. A freight depart- ment has been added within the past five months, at a cost for construction and equipment of $375.39 ; its earnings for the time have been $511.90. The cost of fuel per day was. $1.38. Winthrop Faulkner, Esq., who has been intimately connected with the enterprise from its beginning, and for some years its superintendent, has resigned his office. It is but justice to say that the success of the road, whether as an accommodation to the public or financially, is
41
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
very largely owing to the judicious personal care he has so faithfully exercised over its interests. Mr. Capron, his suc- cessor, has been the efficient conductor of the road from its beginning, and will bring his experience to promote the future efficiency of this popular line of travel.
The only fatal accident on the road occurred in 1878. The engineer, Mr. Daniels, saw something on the track and gave two whistles, but there was no movement. As he neared the object it proved to be a boy lying on his face with his neck across the rail. . It being down grade he passed over the body, cutting the head entirely off. The boy was twelve years old, named Thomas Conners, and was working for one Sullivan and had not been from the house over five minutes when killed. He was subject to fits, and one of them is supposed to have been the indirect cause of his death.
The superintendents have been Hon. J. H. Wood, E. P. Capron, Winthrop Faulkner and E. P. Capron.
Buildings.
Since the present century came in the vast increase of wealth in Grafton has effected a inarked improvement in its buildings of every description. In 1800 the only considera- ble public edifice was the old church on the common ; and that though then capacious enough to accommodate the people in their weekly worship, was erected without steeple and had nothing of elegance to recommend it. And as to the private dwelling-houses of the town at that period, though, generally speaking, they were substantially built, neat and convenient, yet there was nothing beautiful or attractive about them. But now we see scattered in all parts of the town, and quite thickly in the centre, large and costly residences, beautiful to look at. We see a convenient town hall instead of a church vestry to hiold town meetings in. We see elegant school-houses, which are ornaments and do honor to the town. We see five churches and three
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POWERS MURDER, GRAFTON BANK ROBBERY.
hotels, all respectable in appearance and well adapted for their intended use. And here we see farms all in fine cul- tivation, with farm-houses which are among the best in Wor- cester County.
The Powers Murder.
The Supreme Court of the State met, by special assign- ment, in Worcester, June 14th, 1836, for the trial of Jona- than Brooks, a cordwainer, charged with the murder of Henry Powers, laborer, in the employ of Mrs. Eunice Hay- den, in this town, October 30th, 1835. Judges Barton and Allen defended the prisoner. The following facts were brought out during the trial :- The parties resided on George Hill, and had some conversation relative to Powers throwing apples at Brooks' boys. The conversation ended in blows, and in Brooks' stabbing Powers in the shoulder, from the effects of which he died. After a very lengthy and exhaustive trial of nearly three days, the jury, after an absence of an hour and a half, returned a verdict of man- slaughter, and the court sentenced the prisoner to the State Prison for six years at hard labor, and one day solitary con- finement.
Grafton Bank Robbery. .
The First National Bank of Grafton was robbed of every- thing contained in its safe, on Tuesday night, October 25, 1870, by burglars, who left ample evidence that they were professionals. They were tracked to Worcester, to which city they went, in a team which they stole from Mr. Far- well, in New England Village. Everything showed that it was a deliberately planned affair-a job put up by some one who had made hinself familiar with the premises ; and the forces were so distributed that the work went on safely, even while people were moving about the street, for one of them was left outside to inform those at work of the approach of any one, by means of a cord under the door. It was the
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
. most daring and extensive robbery that ever oeenrred in this section. The greatest excitement prevailed among the citi- zens, and throughout the day and evening following the rob- bery erowds of them gathered about the door of the Bank to talk over the robbery that seriously affected many of them. The following persons were subsequently arrested and tried before the Superior Court, Pitman, judge, June 1, 1871 :- Reuben Perris, Samuel Perris, Daniel Docherty alias Daniel Potter, Charles Gleason and James M. Welch. After a two days' trial the court found Docherty, Gleason and Samuel Perris guilty. Reuben Perris was found not guilty, and he was subsequently indicted for participation in the erime.
The Old Burying-Ground.
The original Grafton burying-ground is situated near Goddard's Pond, and bounded by the old Worcester and Valley roads. The action first taken in relation to this was in 1734, November 26th, when Nathaniel Sherman, Joseph Willard and Thomas Pratt were chosen "a committee to stake out a burying-place or field." In 1735, this committee were instrueted to stake out three acres for the lot. The committee reported :-
"YE BURYING LOT.
September ye 5, 1737 .- Laid out one acree and one hundred and thirty rod of land, by order of the comtte., for a burying-place, bounded as follows : Begining at the southeast corner of said land, by the high- way leading to the mill called Ward's mill, and running west thirty- eight degrees north seven rods and an half to a white oak, to the land of Nathaniel Sherman. Then south thirty-seven degrees west by said Sherman's land thirty-one rod to the land belonging to the Biglo's. Then east thirty-three degrees south ten rod by said land to the high- way. Then by the highway to the first corner mentioned.
Surveyed, &c.
JAMES CUTTER, THOMAS PRATT, Comtte."
NATHANIEL SHERMAN,
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POOR FARM.
Poor Farm.
April 7, 1834 .- The town purchased, through a commit- tee, a farm of Benjamin Kingsbury, in the westerly part of the town, containing nearly one hundred acres, on which to support the town's poor, for $3,086.73.
This old poor farm was located on Brigham Hill, and when the present poor farm, formerly the farm of Col. Cyrus Leland, was purchased, this farm was sold. Previous to this time the town's poor were boarded in private families.
During 1853, there were twenty-one persons supported on the farm at an average cost of twenty-four cents a week. 1854, there were eighteen. The overseers reported as follows :-
"Agreeable to a vote of said town, in March last, said Overseers have contracted for a barn to be erected on said town farm, which is now iu process of building, and will probably be completed about the middle of June next. Said barn is 40 feet by 80, with 18-feet posts, and to he made convenient for from 20 to 30 head of cattle, and calculated to hold a sufficient quantity of hay for the same. Said Overseers, hav- ing the two old barns on the farm left to their disposal, have concluded to remove one of them on to the north end of the new barn-yard, there to he used for a barn or a shelter for carriages, carts, farming tools, &c., &c., as is most needed, and to sell the other at public or private sale to the highest hidder. Said Overseers also report that said town farm is now in no better condition for agricultural purposes than it was when the town first purchased it. Therefore they would recommend that the farm be improved hereafter, annually, by removing large quan- tities of meadow mud or peat, from the low lands, to the harn cellar and yard, there to he manufactured into manure, and large quantities of earth or ground from the high lands on to the low, to improve the same for grass, as the nature of the two soils is such that both may be very much improved hy a mixture of the same. They would still further re- port that said farm should be managed and used for a milk farm, making the proceeds of nearly all its sales to consist of cash, received each month for milk."
In 1855, twenty-six were supported on the farm. During this year the barn was completed at a cost of $2,331.57. During 1856, twenty-two were supported at a cost of $2.25
324
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
. most daring and extensive robbery that ever oeeurred in this section. The greatest excitement prevailed among the citi- zens, and throughout the day and evening following the rob- bery erowds of them gathered about the door of the Bank to talk over the robbery that seriously affected many of them. The following persons were subsequently arrested and tried before the Superior Court, Pitman, judge, June 1, 1871 :- Reuben Perris, Samuel Perris, Daniel Docherty alias Daniel Potter, Charles Gleason and James M. Welch. After a two days' trial the court found Docherty, Gleason and Samuel Perris guilty. Reuben Perris was found not guilty, and he was subsequently indicted for participation in the crime.
The Old Burying-Ground.
The original Grafton burying-ground is situated near Goddard's Pond, and bounded by the old Woreester and Valley roads. The action first taken in relation to this was in 1734, November 26th, when Nathaniel Sherman, Joseph Willard and Thomas Pratt were chosen " a committee to stake ont a burying-place or field." In 1735, this committee were instructed to stake out three aeres for the lot. The committee reported :-
"YE BURYING LOT.
September ye 5, 1737 .- Laid out one acree and one hundred and thirty rod of land, hy order of the comtte., for a burying-place, bounded as follows : Begining at the southeast corner of said land, by the high- way leading to the mill called Ward's mill, and running west thirty- eight degrees north seven rods and an half to a white oak, to the land of Nathaniel Sherman. Then south thirty-seven degrees west by said Sherman's land thirty-one rod to the land belonging to the Biglo's. Then east thirty-three degrees south ten rod by said land to the high- way. Then by the highway to the first corner mentioned.
Surveyed, &c.
JAMES CUTTER, THOMAS PRATT, Comtte." NATHANIEL SHERMAN,
325
POOR FARM.
Poor Farm.
April 7, 1834 .- The town purchased, through a commit- tee, a farm of Benjamin Kingsbury, in the westerly part of the town, containing nearly one hundred acres, on which to support the town's poor, for $3,086.73.
This old poor farm was located on Brigham Hill, and when the present poor farm, formerly the farm of Col. Cyrus Leland, was purchased, this farm was sold. Previous to this time the town's poor were boarded in private families.
During 1853, there were twenty-one persons supported on the farm at an average cost of twenty-four cents a week. 1854, there were eighteen. The overseers reported as follows :-
" Agreeable to a vote of said town, in March last, said Overseers have contracted for a barn to be erected on said town farm, which is now iu process of building, and will probably be completed about the middle of June next. Said barn is 40 feet by 80, with 18-feet posts, and to be made convenient for from 20 to 30 head of cattle, and calculated to hold a sufficient quantity of hay for the same. Said Overseers, hav- ing the two old barns ou the farm left to their disposal, have concluded to remove one of them on to the north end of the new barn-yard, there to be used for a baru or a shelter for carriages, carts, farming tools, &c., &c., as is most needed, and to sell the other at public or private sale to the highest bidder. Said Overseers also report that said town farm is now in no better condition for agricultural purposes than it was when the town first purchased it. Therefore they would recommend that the farm be improved hereafter, annually, by removing large quan- tities of meadow mud or peat, from the low lands, to the barn cellar and yard, there to be manufactured into manure, and large quantities of earth or ground from the high lands on to the low, to improve the same for grass, as the nature of the two soils is such that both may be very much improved by a mixture of the same. They would still further re- port that said farm should be managed and used for a milk farm, making the proceeds of nearly all its sales to consist of cash, received each month for milk."
In 1855, twenty-six were supported on the farm. During this year the barn was completed at a cost of $2,331.57. During 1856, twenty-two were supported at a cost of $2.25
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
per week. One of the old barns was sold this year for $70. 1857, one hundred and fifty-one were supported on the farm, at a cost of $2.86 per week. 1858, two hundred and nineteen were supported. 1859, four hundred and twenty were supported. During the year one of the inmates died, leaving but four at the farm, who were apparently in a com- fortable and contented condition. In 1860, there were three hundred supported. In 1861, four hundred and fifteen. During this year a wagon, harness and robe were stolen from the barn on the farm.
The number of persons who were inmates of the alms- house during the year 1865 was 10. Six were discharged. One was temporarily absent. The present number was three. "We have re-engaged the services of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Landers to superintend the almshouse and farm for the ensning year, at a salary of five hundred dollars ($500). They are to furnish all the help in the house at their own expense." The number of persons who were inmates of the almshouse in 1866 was seven. Two died. Two were discharged. The present number, three. "We have re engaged the services of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Landers, at a salary of six hundred dollars ($600), they to furnish all help in the house at their own expense. We have been much pleased with the management of the farm and almshouse the past year." The number of persons at the farm in 1867 was four ; families lodged, 148 ; number in almshonse, seven; discharged, two. Whole number supported or assisted on the farm during 1868, 252. Num- ber of weeks board, 110. The number of persons at the almshouse, seven. Died during the year, two : George T. Clark and Roland Cobb. " We have contracted with Mr. and Mrs. Landers to remain at the town farm one year from April 1st, 1869, at the same salary as the previous year." The town farm consists of about 286 acres of land and has on it 500 cords of wood or more, has been appraised at $6,000 and can be sold for $8,000 or more. Whole num-
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POOR FARM.
ber supported or assisted on the farm during 1869, 158. Number of weeks' board, 238. Number of persons at the almshouse, four. In consequence of the Act passed by the legislature in 1868, "in relation to the settlement of paupers," it has cost the town about $400 more by their gaining a settlement. Whole number supported or assisted on the farm during 1870, 248. Number of weeks' board 306. Number of persons at the almshouse at the present time, 11 : Charles Hayden, Mrs. Elijah Harrington, Henry Prentice, his wife and five children, and two Jennings boys. We have paid some large bills for aid away from the farm, which could not be avoided, in cases of sickness and death. Mrs. Jen- nings and Shepard Cooper, who are in the insane hospital at Worcester, will probably cost the town $400 per annum. Deborah Warren, who died last fall, had been aided annually for twenty-four years. We have put up two hundred and thirty-eight vagrants or traveling paupers the year past,- some of them did not forget to call the second or third time. Whole number. of tramps put up in 1871, 518, and 260 more had meals without lodgings. Number of persons at the almshouse at present time, six. Whole number of weeks' board, 368. Whole number supported or assisted on the farm during 1872, 304; of this number 195 have been lodged and 102 have had meals. Number of weeks' board, 209. Number of persons at the almshouse at the present time, six : Charles Hayden, Mrs. Betsy Harrington, Joseph B. Duncan, Daniel F. Brooks, Ellen Brooks and child. Whole number of tramps put up in 1873, 180, and 137 more have had meals. Number of persons at the almshouse at present time, six. Whole number of weeks' board, 274. Whole number of tramps put up in 1874, 837, and 298 more had meals without lodgings. Whole number of persons at the almshouse at present time, six. Whole number of weeks' board, 388. The following persons who have been aided by the town have died :- John Jennings, Betsy Harrington, John Aldrich, Zebina O. Lincoln, Jane
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
Jourdan and Michael Horgan. Whole number of tramps put up at the almshouse in 1875, 616, and 110 have had meals without lodgings. Whole number of persons at the almshouse at the present time, 10. Whole number of weeks' board, 568. Whole number of tramps lodged and fed at the almshouse in 1876, 585. Whole number fed at the alınshouse without lodgings, 150. Whole number of tramps lodged and fed at the lockup, 168. Total, 903. Whole number of tramps lodged and fed at the almshouse in 1877, 526. Whole number fed without lodging, 135. Whole number fed at the lockup, 642. Total, 1,303. Cost per night at the lockup, 163 cents each. Whole number of persons supported during the year at the almshouse in 1877, 12. Number of persons now at the almshouse, 10. Whole number of weeks' board of paupers at the almshouse, 355. There have been three deaths of persons who have been assisted by the town the past year. The cost of supporting panpers at the farm is $2.11 per week. The overseers would recommend that the almshouse be painted the coming year.
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