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 27
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Mr. Saunders left this company in September, 1833. Large numbers of the business men of Boston, in those days, and the students of Harvard University, as well as others, will remember him as the careful, gentlemanly, tee- total stage driver, who so often and so safely conveyed them to and from the town of Boston. His acquaintance, while engaged in that employment, and since he has been so suc- cessfully connected with manufacturing interests, and also while a member of our State Legislature, has been very ex- tensive. So much at home does he feel here in this cosy little village, that he has had so much agency in creating, that he has erected for his permanent residence a new and
* R. S. Rantoul, Esq., in Historical Collections of the Essex Institute.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
splendid mansion. It is three stories, with an observatory, all finished in massive black walnut, with panels in various places of chestnut, and containing all the modern conve- niences. It is situated near the bank of the river, and near his mill, and surrounded with pleasant grounds, artistically laid out, and filled with the choicest shrubs and flowers, ornamental and fruit trees, and elegant fountains-an estab- lishment that would grace any of the surroundings of a city.
Mr. Saunders was first married, July 21, 1825, at South Deerfield, Mass., to Minerva Boyden, daughter of Daniel and Lucy W. Boyden, and began housekeeping in Newburyport, Mass. Children :-
1. EMILY B., b. July 19, 1826; m. Oct., 1850, to William H. Jourdan, of Grafton. She d. Sept. 19, 1872, leaving one son, WILLIAM SAUNDERS. Mr. Jourdan was one of the first conductors on the Providence and Worcester rail- road, and for nearly ten years had the charge of the company's interest in Worcester. For a number of years past he has been engaged in the wholesale and retail coal business, having an office in the Lincoln House block. He has held important offices of trust and honor in the city in which he has resided most of the time since his marriage, and is one of its success- ful business men. His father still resides here in Grafton.
2. HARRIET M., b. Oct. 23, 1828; m. June, 1853, Jolin D. Chollar, who was born in Killingly, Conn., April 20, 1829. She d. Oct. 8, 1865. He resided in Worcester in 1849, as clerk in a store, and in 1857-8-9, he had charge of the store in Saundersville. He returned to Worces- ter where he has since resided and conducted au exten- sive furniture business. His only child was JOHN H.
3. MINERVA, b. Nov. 3, 1833; m. Sept. 12, 1855, Robert W. Taylor, d. Jan. 24, 1865. She d. Dec. 21, 1804, leaving one son, BRADFORD V. They resided in Providence, R. I.
Mr. Saunders m. 2nd., June 6, 1867, Margie R. White, daughter of Dea. Washington and Lydia White, of Saun- dersville, formerly of Northbridge.
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BUSINESS IN NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE.
SAUNDERS' MILL, AT SAUNDERSVILLE.
Business in New England Village.
In the year 1825, September 26th, William Hovey, of Worcester, conveyed to Darins B. Holbrook and Charles P. Dexter, merchants and co-partners, of Boston, and to Levi Merriam and Levi Brigham, merchants and co-partners, of Boston, the upper water privilege in New England Village, upon which Hovey had built a dam to supply the Blackstone Canal with water, then and now known as the Hovey Dam, together with abont one hundred acres of land, lying on both sides of the river. In the month of February, 1826, Holbrook and Dexter purchased the remaining water power and connected real estate, of Lewis Thayer, of Grafton, and Adam Harrington, of Shrewsbury, the privilege next below the Hovey Dam, now known as the Middle privilege, on which was a small " fulling-mill " of John Putnam, the
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
privilege on which now stands the Lower Stone Mill-then used as a saw and grist-mill privilege-of George W. Put- nam, the Scythe Shop privilege next below, now called the Grist-mill privilege, of Albert Stone, about one hundred and twenty-five acres of land adjoining the mill premises- and of Gardner Wheelock, certain land and buildings also adjoining.
On the 22d day of March, 1826, Holbrook and Dexter conveyed to the New England Manufacturing Company, from which corporation the Village took its name, all the property thus purchased of Hovey and others, and the eom- pany immediately proceeded to erect the stone factory building now known as the Upper Mill, and other buildings and tenement-houses. The mill was filled with linen machinery, and under the superintendence of Thomas A. Dexter, Esq., the manufacture of twines and bagging was carried on for some years.
UPPER MILL, AT NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE.
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BUSINESS IN NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE.
On the 30th day of April, 1831, the New England Com- pany closed up its business and conveyed all its property in the Village to the Grafton Manufacturing Company, a cor- poration created by special charter March 12th, 1830, " for the purpose of manufacturing at Grafton, cotton, woolen, linen and other goods." The persons named in the act of incorporation, were Samuel Cabot, Israel Thorndike and Robert G. Shaw ; Samuel Cabot was president, and Richard C. Cabot, treasurer.
On the 31st day of August, 1831, the Grafton Manufae- turing Company sold to Cyrus Leland and Joseph Batchelder the saw and grist-mill privilege formerly owned by Jolin Putnam. Leland and Batehelder proceeded to erect the Lower Stone Mill and two blocks of tenement-houses.
The death of Mr. Leland soon after, resulted in the sale of this property to Edward H. Robbins, Esq., physician, of Boston, who filled the mill with eotton machinery, and continued the manufacture of cotton cloth until the premises were leased to A. F. Smith and C. M. Pratt in 1843. In 1844, Smith & Pratt leased the Upper Mill property of the Grafton Mannfacturing Company, which had previously been occupied under lease by Chase, Luther & Co., and Harvey and Samuel B. Chase, for the manufacture of cotton goods (the linen machinery having been previously taken out and sold)-and filled the mill with new cotton machinery. They continued the business at both mills, until the year 1854, when the Grafton Manufacturing Company assumed the business at the Upper Mill and continued it until 1857.
The property in 1858, passed into the hands of Lee Claflin, of Hopkinton, who continued the business. In 1862, the property was purchased by the Grafton Mills, a corpora- tion which carried on the business at both mills for about fourteen (14) years, until the fall of 1875. The Upper Mill property is now (1879) owned by Franklin Baldwin, of New England Village, and the Lower Mill property by the Washington Mills Emery Company.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
LLAMA
TEND EMERSON SE
WASHINGTON EMERY MILL, AT NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE.
ETHAN ALLEN, the well-known inventor and manufacturer of revolving fire-arms, first began business in New England Village in 1832, as a manufacturer of pocket cutlery, but soon engaged in making pistols. He preceded Colt in this business, and one of his earliest inventions was the " pepper- box revolver." He removed to Worcester and formed a co-partnership with his brother-in-law, Hon. Charles Thur- ber, and in 1837, their business was removed to Norwich, Conn. They returned to Worcester in 1845, and hired power and rooms of W. T. Merrifield, Esq. In 1854, they were burned out by the disastrons fire of June 14th. Dur- ing the latter portion of his life he was in partnership with his sons-in-law, Sullivan Forehand and H. C. Wadsworth, and their business was conducted with eminent success. By his inventive skill, his resolute perseverance and his nnwearied industry he accumulated a handsome property.
RESIDENCE OF JASPER S. NELSON, EsQ.
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BUSINESS IN NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE.
He once said to a friend : "Some persons envy me what they consider my prosperity. But they would not be will- ing to pay for it, what I have paid. I commenced business with a capital of $12. I often went hungry that I might save the price of a meal. I dressed as none of the mechanics, that I see about me, would do."
The manufacture of shoes at the "Depot," so-called, was commenced November 1st, 1848, by James S. Stone of Boston, a native and former resident of Grafton. Jasper S. Nelson, who had previously manufactured for three years in Shrewsbury, was employed by Mr. Stone to take charge of the manufactory here, which was at this time located in a building owned by Squire Allen, recently used for the manufacture of valentines by Messrs. Taft & Son. In 1850, Messrs. Stone & Nelson purchased the real estate formerly owned by Solomon Brigham, which had been erected for a livery stable, and which they converted into a shoe factory. The business was continued under the same management until November 1st, 1857, at which time Mr.
Nelson purchased the property and continued the manufac- ture of shoes at the same place. January 1st, 1869, George H. Rugg, who had been in Mr. Nelson's employ for a number of years, was admitted as partner. In 1873, Mr. Nelson's son, Charles H. Nelson, was also admitted to the firm. January 1st, 1877, Mr. Rugg disposed of his interest to the other partners, and the business has since been con- ducted by Jasper S. Nelson & Son.
The factory, which was originally 30x45, two stories high, has been enlarged by Mr. Nelson, as his trade has increased to a large extent. The present building being 30x104, three stories high, with French roof. The firm also use steam power, having put in a twenty-horse-power steam engine, of the Haskins Manufacturing Company's make, of Fitchburg. The firm gives employment to nearly 200 operatives. The Boston office is at 22 High street.
Mr. Nelson, the senior partner, who has so successfully
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
managed the business for this long time, was born in Shrews- bury, Junc 2, 1822, the son of Josiah and Sophia (Goddard) Nelson. Married in Shrewsbury, October 31, 1848, Mary E., daughter of Gardner Wheelock. (See Gencalogy Wheelock family). Their children :-
EMMA E., b. July 31, 1849 ; d. December 3, 1865. CHARLES H., b. January, 1852; unmarried; resides with his father. CARRIE G., b. September 24, 1855; d. July 9, 1869.
Mr. Nelson, by his close attention to business, strict in- tegrity, and enterprise, has succeeded in accumulating a handsome property. He was selectman for two years, and representative to the General Court in 1870-71. His residence, shown in another part of the book, is one of the handsomest and finest in town.
Business in Centreville.
A mill was erected here by a stock company, composed of Hon. Samuel Wood, Joseph Batchelder, Royal Keith, Colonel Mason of Medfield, and a son-in-law of the latter, named Tucker. Before the mill was entirely completed Gerry Putnam, of New England Village, used the lower floor, in which he manufactured satinets. Thomas Tucker was superintendent here several years, while the mill was run by the stock company. In 1844, or thereabouts, the company sold the mill and privilege to Waterman A. Fisher, who disposed of it to Leander S. Pratt and Benjamin Kings- bury, in 1846. In the spring of the following year, 1847, a division was made of the property, Mr. P. taking the mill and privilege, and Mr. K. the grist and saw-mills. In 1860, or thereabouts, Mr. Pratt purchased the mills of Mr. Kings- bury. The saw-mill was taken down prior to 1870, and the grist-mill was used as a waste-house until it was consumed by fire. The mill, at this time, contained thirty-two looms
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BUSINESS IN CENTREVILLE.
and preparation ; its ntmost capacity being 7,000 yards per week; but by changing and adding more machinery this amount was increased to 10,000 yards per week. This wooden building was destroyed by fire in April, 1861. The following year, 1862, the present brick building was erected. This is 82 by 44, four stories high. In 1875, a new brick pieker-honse was built, 40 by 22, one story. In September, 1877, a new dam was built in place of the old one. At this time most of the old machinery was taken ont and replaced by that of new and improved manufacture from the Whitins' and Lowell machine manufactories. The present capacity of the mill, known as Pratt's mill, on Quinsiga. mond river, the outlet of Quinsigamond lake, is nine feet head and fall, with American turbine wheel, built by Stout, Mills & Temple, of Dayton, Ohio ; seventy-five horse power ; sixty-four forty-inch looms and preparations, producing 80,- 000 yards per month of thirty-seven and thirty-eight and
THE PRATT MILL, AT CENTREVILLE.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
one-half inch goods, known as "Quaker " sheeting, 38,000 yards of which, in red, white and blne, were used to decorate the Coliseum building in Boston, at the World's Peace Jubilee, in 1872.
Fisherville.
The first start in manufacturing, at this place, was made by Timothy MeNamara, who, having purchased the land where the mills now stand of Moses Sherman, and the water power rights of Austin Holbrook, in 1830 began work npon the dam, building it jointly with the Blackstone Canal Com- pany, they nsing it as a feeder for their canal. At this point, in 1831, he sold his rights to a company composed of Peter Farnum, Luther Wright and Daniel Pitts, called the Canal Cotton Company, who at onee began building the factory, a four-story brick building, 84 by 44, which was completed and in full operation, with sixty looms and the necessary preparation, in the fall of 1832. It was operated by this company nntil 1842, when Peter Farnum and W. A. Fisher, who had been connected with it from its first start, bought the property of the company and run it jointly until 1845, when W. A. Fisher bonght ont Peter Farnum's inter- est, and the same year sold Erastus Fisher one-quarter, and the following year a second quarter. They, as W. A. Fisher & Co., continued until 1857, when E. Fisher bought the re- maining one-half. In the following spring he sold one- quarter interest to Henry D. Fisher. Up to this time no changes had been made in the buildings or machinery. In 1859 they built an addition to the mill, 44 by 25, two stories, and on the site of the canal locks a building which was used as a grist-mill until 1864, when this machinery was removed and replaced by cotton machinery, and the number of looms increased from 60 to 106. In 1868, E. Fisher transferred one-quarter each to George W. Fisher and Albert L. Fisher, the firm name being E. Fisher & Sons. In 1869, the frame mill was enlarged to its present size, 100 by
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BUSINESS IN FARNUMSVILLE.
55, three stories, and the capacity increased to 160 looms and the necessary preparation. The annual consumption of cotton is 400,000 pounds, producing 1,500,000 yards of cloth.
FISHER'S MILL.
Business in Farnumsville.
In 1827, Peter Farnum & Sons built a stone mill 74x36, four stories high, with a wooden ell 40x30, two stories high. The main mill was filled with four sets of satinet machinery, and the ell was used for manufacturing shuttles. Very soon a company was formed called the " Grafton Woolen Company," composed of Farnum, Wright & Pitts; Peter Farnumn, agent. In 1830, the mill was burned and a brick structure took its place 84x36, four stories high, with four sets of machinery; sixteen satinet and twelve broad looms, and was run April 1, 1831, by the Blackstone Woolen Com- pany, Messrs. Farnum, Wright & Phillips; C. B. Long,
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
agent. This company failed in the fall of 1842. The mill was started up again by Farnum & Houghton ; S. Hough- ton, agent, who run it till December 31, 1842, when the mill was again burned. In 1844, the mill was re-built of brick 42x100, four stories high, and filled with cotton machinery, seventy-five looms, and started up by Messrs. Honghton, Wright & Buffum.
Soon after Alfred Morse bought the interest in the prop- erty of Messrs. Houghton & Buffum, and run under the firm name of Wright & Morse till 1857, when they bonglit the mill of John Farnum, and continued the business till 1860, when A. Morse bought out Wright and run the mill till 1870. He then took into partnership with him, his son, James A. Morse.
A. Morse died very soon after this but the business was continued by James A., under the firm name of A. Morse & Son, till the fall of 1873, when owing to the " hard times " and consequent financial embarrassment, the mill was stopped.
In September, 1874, the mill was bought at auction by Peter Simpson, Jr., John Rhodes and William H. Andrews, who formed a company nnder the name of the "Farnums- ville Cotton Mills," William H. Andrews, president ; John Rhodes, treasurer ; P. Simpson, Jr., agent, by whom the mill has since been operated.
This company have built an addition of 100 feet to the mill, making it 200x42 feet, four stories, with ell 30x50 feet, two stories. Eight thousand spindles, 200 looms, being the present running capacity.
Lawyers.
ERASMUS BABBITT .- Probably the first lawyer who ever practised in this town was Erasmus Babbitt, who was the son of Dr. Thomas Babbitt, the son of the second praetising phiy- sician in Sturbridge. Erasinns was born in Sturbridge, July 2, 1765, and entered Harvard University, from which institu-
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LAWYERS.
tion he was graduated in 1790. He married Mary, the seventh daughter and ninth child of Thomas and Lucy (Smitli) Saunders, of Gloucester. He removed to Boston from Grafton, and died June 30, 1816, leaving two daugh- ters; Mary Eliza, one of the daughters, married Elkahan Cnshman, and her eldest child was Charlotte Saunders Cushman, the celebrated actress.
HARRY WOOD was born in Grafton, and died here August, 1838. He did not receive a collegiate education, and for somne time resided in Maine. He finally returned to this town and practised law until his death. His office is now the residence of Silas A. Pierce. He served the town in many offices of trust and honor, and was representative a number of years.
JOSEPH B. CALDWELL, graduated at Harvard University in 1802, the son of William Caldwell, Esq., sheriff of Worces- ter County from 1793 to 1805, was born in Rutland ; studied with Hon. Nathaniel Paine ; practised in Grafton in 1803; Worcester in 1810; Rutland in 1812. He returned to Worcester in 1813, and died there in that year.
CHARLES A. HOLBROOK was born in Grafton, December 6, 1827, and received as thorough an education as could be obtained in the schools in the vicinity ; studied law with Lorenzo Leland, Esq., and afterwards entered the office of Calvin E. Pratt, Esq., of Worcester, and was admitted to the bar December, 1857, when he formed a co-partnership in business with Mr. Pratt, which continued for one year. He practised in Worcester until his death in May, 1876, with success.
WILLIAM ELIJAH GREEN was a son of Dr. John Green the first, of Worcester, by his second wife, Mary Ruggles, a daughter of Brigadier-General Timothy Ruggles, of Sand- wieh, afterwards of Hardwiek.
He was born at Green Hill, in Worcester, January 31, 1777. He married first Abigail Nelson, daughter of Josialı
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
Nelson, of Milford ; second, Lucy Merriam, daughter of Deacon Joseph Merriam, of Grafton ; third, Julia Plimpton, daughter of Oliver Plimpton, Esq., of a section of Stur- bridge now included in Southbridge ; fourth, Elizabeth D. Collins, a widow. Mr. Green survived his last wife, but she is now dead. He was first called William, and after the death of his brother Elijah he assumed the middle name. By his first wife he had one child, the late Judge William Nelson Green, of Worcester; by his second marriage one child, Miss Lncy Merriam Green, who was born in Grafton, and was for many years teacher and proprietor in connec- tion with her sister Mary, of a young ladies' seminary, No. 1 Fifth Avenue, New York ; and by his third marriage nine children, of whom seven survive.
Among the latter are Hon. Andrew Haswell Green, late comptroller of the city of New York, and Dr. Samuel Fiske Green, for many years a missionary physician in the service of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in the Island of Ceylon.
Mr. Green graduated at Brown University in 1798, and after visiting the city of New York studied law with Judge Edward Bangs, of Worcester. He was admitted to the bar in 1801, and began to practice at Grafton, where he resided. Returning to Worcester he became a partner in the practice of the law with Judge Bangs. This partnership continned until the appointment of the latter gentleman to a place on the bench, in 1811. Mr. Green was afterwards connected in the law practice with Edward D. Bangs, Esq., until 1816.
As a lawyer he was well read and astute in developing the strong points of causes entrusted to him.
During the latter portion of his life, Mr. Green was not in active practice.
He continued, with an occasional visit to other parts of the country, to reside at his farm at Green Hill, npon which were exhibited the results of a marked fondness for farming.
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LAWYERS.
His experiments with new fertilizers and new implements were at the time the subject of very wide interest. He is believed to have been the first to nse plaster in the county as a fertilizer, and had it drawn by teams from Boston, and reduced on his farm to a fit form for use.
Mr. Green was one of the foremost promoters of the Blackstone Canal.
He was for many years captain of the Worcester Light Infantry, and a volunteer of the war of 1812.
He was one of the earliest advocates of the temperance reform, and a zealons worker for the establishment and elevation of the public schools.
He was alike affable to those of all conditions, most per- severing in the accomplishment of his purpose, and nnsub- missive to what he deemed nnjust.
He died at Green Hill at the age of 88 years, in the room in which he was born, and is remembered as a man of wide hospitality, and of great geniality and cheerfulness.
SAMUEL H. ALLEN was born in Mendon, Mass., in the year 1790, and studied law in his native town. After his admission to the bar of Worcester County, he commenced the practice of law in that part of Mendon called Millville, now a part of the town of Blackstone, and continued to reside there nntil 18-, when he removed to the town of Grafton, where he resided and pursned his professional labors until his decease, April 21, 1864.
Mr. Allen was a well read lawyer, and pursued his labors with great industry, and was persistent in pressing his canses to the last. He seldom gave up a canse until snecessful, or, until he reached the " last ditch " if unsuccessful. He was enabled by industry and frugality to accumulate a consider- able property.
Mr. Allen lived and died a bachelor.
He was fond of literary pursuits and took a lively interest in the lyceum, when that institution was looked upon as a publie educator, and frequently served on committees on
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
lectures and books. He was conservative in his political, social and literary views and opinions. He eschewed mod- ern books, especially if they partook of the nature of so-called " light literature." Addison and Lord Bacon were favorite authors of his. He was especially fond of T'he Spectator, and of the essays and legal writings of Lord Bacon, and would cite the latter with great reverenee with a " My Lord Bacon says."
Mr. Allen had a ready wit, and at times would rival "Lord Bacon's apothegms." On one occasion he served on a lecture committee of the lyceum with a Mr. B. and others. Mr. B. was the opposite of Mr. Allen in his views generally, being radical where the latter was conservative. It was at a time when the appearance of a lady on the lecture platform was a novelty, to say the least. The ques- tion arose, when the committee came to consider the subject of making up their list of lectures for the course, whether they would invite a lady as one of the lecturers. Mr. B. favored it, and Mr. Allen opposed with much warmth. As the discussion went on it partook of something of a per- sonal character, in which the single life of Mr. Allen was alluded to as having something to do with his opposition, and in a way that provoked a laugh at his expense. Mr. Allen complained that he was not treated just as he ought to be, when his opponent accused him of beginning the personalities, and said "you began to throw swill"-to which Mr. Allen replied as quick as thought, "I never throw swill unless I see bristles." This equalized the langh, in which Mr. B. engaged as heartily as any one, and the com- mittee were enabled to go on with their labors pleasantly again.
This tendency of Mr. Allen occasionally brought him in conflict with the court before whom he was trying causes, especially a magistrate's court. On one occasion the court ruled against him as to the admissibility of certain testi- inony, but, notwithstanding this ruling, Mr. Allen persisted
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LAWYERS.
in introducing the excluded testimony, when his honor remarked with some sternness, " Mr. Allen, I have ruled that that evidence is inadmissible." Mr. Allen remarked aside, but so that the court heard the remark, " that is owing to the supreme ignorance of this court." But this time the thrust came near costing something, as it was only by a generous apology that he saved himself the penalty of a contempt of court.
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