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 29
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The following were the articles of agreement indented and between Jonathan Wheeler, Jr., of Grafton, on the one part, and John Warren, of Grafton, on the other part :-
" First of all, the said Jona. Wheeler, Jr. and John Warren have joined themselves to be co-partners together in the art of trade of all kinds of merchandize, between this and Charleston, S. C., or any other part we may judge advantageous to our co-partnership, and all things thereto belonging; and also in buying, selling, vending and retailing of all sorts of wares, goods and commodities belonging to the said trade of all kinds of merchandize between this and Charleston, S. C., or any other part we may judge advantageous to our eo-partnership, which co-partnership is to continue from the first day of September, one thou- sand seven hundred and ninety-six, for and during, and nnto the full end and term of one year from thence next ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended, and to that end and purpose he, the said Jona. Wheeler, Jr., hath, the day of the commencement of these presents, delivered in as stoek the sum of four hundred dollars, and the said John Warren the sum of four hundred dollars, with liberty of either of the said co-partners to make such additions to their stock as from time to time him or them shall think fit, with this privilege, that when either make an addition to his stock the other shall allow six per cent. per annum on one-half of the amount from the time such addition is made, which shall be made known by a book kept for the use of the said co- partners, and to be laid out and employed in common between them for the management of the said trade of all kinds of merehandize between this and Charleston, S. C., or any other part we may judge advanta- geous to our co-partnership, to their utmost benefit and advantage, and it is agreed between the said partners to these presents, and the said co-partners ask for himself respectively and for his own particular parts, and for his executors and administrators doth severally and jointly eov- enant, promise and agree to, and with the other partner, his executors and administrators, by the presents in manner and form following (that is to say) : That they, the said co-partners, shall not, nor will at any time hereafter, use, exercise or follow the trade of any merchandize be- tween this and Charleston, S. C., or any other part as foresaid, or any other trade whatsoever, during the said terms, to their private benefit or advantage, but shall and will, from time to time, and at all times during the said term (if they shall so long live), do their, and each of their endeavors, in and by all means possible to the utmost of their
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skill, power and cnnning, for their joint interest, benefit and advantage, and truly employ, buy, sell and merchandize with the stock aforesaid, and the increase thereof, in the trade of all kinds of merchandize be- tween this place, Charleston, S. C., or any other part or place aforesaid, without any sinister intention or fraudulent endeavors whatsoever, and all that the said co-partners shall and will, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, during the said terms, pay, bear and discharge, equally between them, the rent of the shops which they shall rent or hire for the joint convenience or managing the trade aforesaid, and that all such gain, profit and increase that shall come, grow or arise for or by reason of said trade, any joiut occupancy as aforesaid shall be, from time to time, during the term, equally and proportionally divided between them, share and share alike, and all such loss as shall happen in the said joint trade by debts, ill commodities or otherwise, without fraud or covin, shall be paid and born equally and proportionally between them. And further it is agreed by, and between the said co-partners, parties to these presents, that there shall be had and kept, from time to time, and at all times during said term and joint occupying and co-partnership together, as aforesaid, for first just and true books of account wherein each of the said co-partners shall daily enter and sit down, as well, all money by them received, paid, expended and laid out in and about the management of the said trade, as also all wares, goods, commodities and merchandize by them, or either of them, bought and sold by reason or means, and. upon account of the said co-partnership, and all other matter and things whatsoever to the said joint trade and the ma .- thereof, in any wise belonging or appertaining, which said book shall be used in common between the said co-partners, so that either of them may have free access thereof without any interruption of the other, and also that they, the said co-partners, once in three months, or oftener if need shall require, upon the reasonable request of one of them, shall make, yield and render, each to the other, or to the executors or admin- istrators of each other, a true, just and perfect account of all profit and increase by them, or either of them, made, and all losses by them, or either of them, sustained, and also of all payments, receipts, disburse- ments, and all other things whatsoever by them made, received, dis- bursed, acted, done, or suffered iu the said co-partnership, and jointly occupying, as aforesaid, and the same so made shall aud will clear, ad- just, pay and deliver, each unto the other, at the time of making such account, their equal share of the profits aforesaid, and at the end of the said term of one year, from the first of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninty-six, or other sooner determination of these presents, Be it, by the death of one of the said partners, or otherwise they, the said co-partners, cach to the other, or in case of the death of citlier of them, tbe surviving party to the executor or administrators of the par- ties deceased, shall and will make a true, just and final amount of all things as aforesaid, and divide the profits aforesaid, and in all things
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well and truly adjust the same, and that also upon the making of such final amount all of the stock and stocks, as well as the gain and increase thereof which shall appear to be remaining, whether consisting of money, wares, merchandize, debts, &c., shall be equally parted and divided between them, the said co-partners, executors or administrators, share and share alike; and it is further agreed, for the benefit of the said co-partners, that all obligations after this date of these presents, drawn by either or made payable, shall be under the firm of Wheeler & Warren, and shall be equally binding ou both.
In witness whereaf, we hereunto set our hand and seal this first day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six.
JONATHAN WHEELER, JR. JOHN WARREN.
In presents of WILLIAM LAMB. EPHM. HARRINGTON.
The parties to the within indentures do agree to continue it in full for the term of one year longer, which will end the first day of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hand and seal this first day of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven.
JONATHAN WHEELER, JR. JOHN WARREN.
In presence of MOSES HARRINGTON. SAM. HARRINGTON.
1 Sept., 1798 .- It is agreed by the parties to this instrument that it remains in force until dissolved by consent of both parties.
JONA. WHEELER, JR. JOHN WARREN."
In 1815, Mr. Warren sold his interest in the firm to Elijah Case, father of Elijah Case, now of Athol, and purchasing a farm, now known as the Chestnut Grove farm, lately owned by Frank Wood, resided npon it until his death. Wheeler & Case were succeeded by Charles Pren- , tice, grandson of Rev. Solomon Prentice, in 1820, who eon- tinued the business until 1824 or 1825, when he sold to
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Samnel Harrington, who had previously been engaged by Mr. Prentice as clerk for three years, at a yearly salary of fifty dollars and his board. Mr. Harrington after continn- ing a few years sold ont to Jonathan D. Wheeler and Ebenezer Aldrich. Mr. Wheeler sold his interest to Jonathan Warren, and the business was continued a short time under the firm name of Warren & Aldrich. The stoek of goods was subsequently disposed of to Winthrop Faulkner, who remained here a short time and finally moved to his present building opposite the Unitarian Church. In 1843, Samuel Harrington again became the occupant of the building, and in company with Jonathan D. Wheeler continued the business for about ten years, until 1853, when Mr. Wheeler sold his interest to Mr. Harrington. He con- tinued the business until 1860, alone ; at this time he formed a co-partnership with his son-in-law, Dr. George K. Nichols. Mr. Harrington retired February 1, 1877, upon the results of a close application to business for fifty years, and the business is now conducted by Mr. Nichols.
" The history of a business house in a quiet country village seldom offers any unusual incidents, and generally goes on in its modest routine of patient application and industrious enterprise. And still the annals of a country store will be found to embrace very much of the social history of the region of the community in which it is located. Those were days before these rushing, steam driven times. Times, when the last batch of news that had worried its perilons way, for days, through mud or slush, in the teeth of storms that would shake everything but the granite hills of these New England towns, or plunging through snow-drifts more taxing still-that men would gather round the big box stove, red hot, yet inviting, with, perchance, the added stimulus of an occasional dranght from the last arrival down cellar, to disenss alike the policy of governments or the state of the markets. Men lived slowly ' them days,' and could afford to while away the long winter
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evenings at the store. The Green store was no exception. If its hard oak timbers could have spoken, they would furnish material for many an exciting discussion, and many a chronicle of the earlier times. Times are changed, and so are many of the manners of the people. In the place of the old time-honored green-painted store, with heavy, nail-studded shutters and hugely bolted doors, there is a fine three-storied, French-roofed block."
The building now owned by Mrs. Leander Stockwell, was built by Lovell Stow, in 1840, or thereabonts. The lower part was first used by Griggs Brothers (Salem and Thomas T.) for a store. Mr. Stow resided in the upper part. . After Mr. Stow's death his widow sold the property to Leander Stockwell, who carried on the tailoring business until his death in 1875. The upper part was used at one tinie as the office of the Grafton National Bank ; and sub- sequently as the residence of S. Swan.
Probably the most central point in town during the earlier days was the old Half-way House, which stood nearly on the site of the present residence of Henry F. Wing. Here the mail-coach used to stop, which ran over the post road from Providence to Worcester, and here the passengers and horses were refreshed. At this time this was the only inn or tavern in the town. During the latter years of its existence it was kept by Francis Barnes, and owned by " the Dr. Wood." Barnes first came from Marlborongh, and kept the Hassanamisco House. He was brother-in-law to Dr. Wood; they married sisters ; he removed to Phila- delphia. The house was then owned by Jabez Brigham and by Philip Wing, who erected the present building, now owned by his son, Henry F.
The house now owned and occupied by Silas A. Pierce was formerly the law office of Harry Wood. At that time it was one-story high and contained two rooms. When Mr. Wood died the property was bought by William Brown and
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Sullivan Newton. It was used by Dr. Burnstill, a homco- pathic physician, for his office. He subsequently removed to Boston and became quite noted for his skill. Benchley & Eddy, of Millbury, now purchased the property and laid out the land into building lots. It was through their instrumentality that Church street was laid out. They gave the land on which the Catholic Church now stands to the society. Eddy bought out Benchley and leased the office to William Mecorney, in which he manufactured clothing and carried on the tailoring business. He after- wards moved to Warren Block. Eddy sold this property to Col. Charles Brigham and Nathaniel Smith. Col. Brigham made repairs and changed the building into a dwelling- house and sold it to Silas A. Pierce, who has made two additions since that time.
This town has always had its share of physicians. Prior to 1800, there were two Doctors Joseph Wood, residing here. One was known as "Dr. Wood " and the other as " the Dr. Wood." We have found nothing as yet to guaran- tee the assertion that the latter was a skilled physician. The former resided in a red honse on the corner of what is now Pleasant street, on land now owned by Silas A. Pierce. He kept a store in which he sold West India Goods, and according to several accounts some of the goods were wet and in a liquid form. This building stood nearly on the site of the present Evangelical Congregational Church. Then came his barn and another house of his known as "the Dr. Parker honse." Between this latter house and the house of Perley Goddard in Centerville there were but three houses, and Dr. Wood was the owner of nearly all the intervening land. By the death of Dr. Wood, the prop- erty came into possession of Harry Wood, his son, who resided on it until his death in 1838, when the property was purchased by Col. Charles Brigham and Nathaniel Smith. The latter resided in the house until his death in 1854. His widow sold it to her son-in-law, Silas A. Pierce,
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who disposed of it to Rufus E. Warren. It was moved to North street, and now stands fronting the street adjoining the school-yard.
One of the three honses previously referred to between Dr. Wood's and Perley Goddard's, was the Capt. Samuel Hall house. This was formerly owned by Dr. Wood, who sold it to one Forbes. Capt. Samnel Hall purchased the honse in 1815, of Mr. Forbes, and resided in it for a short time, when lie built the house now standing, in which he lived for about fifty years, until his death.
Where the house now stands which was formerly owned by Caleb Wood, there stood an old building which was used as a Distillery for the manufacture of apple brandy. Ihave been unable to ascertain the name of the owner of the building (probably Dr. Wood), but a man by the name of Sherman carried on the business for the proprietor.
There was formerly, prior to 1800, an old red house which stood abont on the site of Hon. Jonathan D. Wheeler's resi- dence, owned and occupied by John Knox. Here he mar- ried his second wife. Colonel Wheeler purchased the property about 1806, and erected a new and handsome house.
Dr. Lamb sold the lot, on which the Forbush house was built, to James Whipple, who subsequently sold it to Joseph Wood and Amaziah Howard. They erected the frame for a house, which stood without being covered for nearly three years, when it was completed. When the frame was raised the timbers used were new, but rotten. The carpenter who did the work said :- " I have put up all sorts of frames, but never before have I put one up in the shape of a letter F." The building, when completed, was used as a hotel, and was kept by Collester Wood, then by Joseph Duncan, his brother-in-law. At this time the Hassanamisco House was kept by Samuel Wood, who was anxious to be the only inn- keeper in the Centre, and when the property was sold at
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auction he purchased it, so as to prevent there being another hotel. Calvin W. Forbush next owned the house. In the east part there were manufactured boots and shoes, by Wood, Kimball & Co. This firm dissolved, and Samuel Wood continued the business until he failed. During this time a West India goods and grocery store was kept and known as the White store. The firm also used the base- ment of the Baptist Church for their business. Noah Kim- ball removed to Westborough, Calvin W. Forbush con- tinued the business, and sold the vestry of the Baptist Church to the society. He subsequently removed to Lan- easter, and formed a co-partnership with Edward Forbush, his nephew, and continued manufacturing, having an office in Pearl street, Boston. Prior to his removal to Lancaster, he sold out to Forbush & Wheeler, who continued for a while, when Silas A. Forbush sold out to Willard D. Wheeler. He continued manufacturing and keeping the store until the war broke out, when he was appointed pay- master in the army. Silas A. Forbush went to Buffalo and was employed by Forbush & Brown a short time, until they came here and purchased Hancock's Block, and began the manufacture of boots and shoes. Since then he has had charge of their business here. During some of the time this house has been used as a hotel, and was at one time kept by Timothy Bosworth. John Wheeler purchased the house, which is still occupied by his widow.
Some time after the Rev. Solomon Prentice, of Cam- bridge, was ordained minister of the town, he built a house near the present residence of George F. Slocomb, Esq., and between that and the Forbush house. He besides being a clergyman, was also an extensive farmer. After his death the house was occupied by Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, then by Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, and finally by Dr. William Lamb. When Dr. Lamb bought the property of Mr. Grosvenor, he only partially paid for it, and gave Mr. Grosvenor a mort- gage on the real estate for the balance, which he left with
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the doctor to be recorded. This he neglected, or purposely failed to do, although he claimed it had been done. This controversy finally led to a law-snit, in which the doctor figured as defendant, and the clergyman as plaintiff. The latter came out victorious, and consequently Dr. Lamb re- linqnished the property, or a portion of it, reserving the house, which he finally disposed of to Charles Prentice. This house was finally moved down "Congdon Hill," and formed the front of the present house of Henry Prentice, a relative of Rev. Solomon, its first owner.
The house which was owned and occupied by David Sher- man stood next to the Baptist meeting-house, on land which was formerly used as a barn-yard by Dr. William Lamb. The building he occupied was very large. In the front part of the lower floor he kept a dry goods and grocery store, and in the rear part he manufactured boots and shoes, em- ploying some fifteen hands. He resided in the upper part of the building. The land on which his building stood he purchased of Dr. William Lamb, who resided on the oppo- site side of the street. Some time after the purchase the parties had some dispute relative to the bounds of the land, and Mr. Sherman took down the front part. The ell part was removed and formed the house on " Congdon Hill," now owned by Benjamin Kingsbury. This building was known in its day as the " Fly Market." He removed to Farnums- ville, and resided in the Samuel Sherman house. He died in New Bedford.
Dr. Lamb's barn was on the opposite side of the road from his house, and his barn-yard extended from the Baptist meeting-house to the house of Mr. Daniel Gibbs. After the death of Mrs. Lamb the doctor went to Rhode Island, and resided for a while with his son, but finally returned to this town where he was supported by his friends, and finally died, very much broken down.
Joseph Leland purchased the land on which he built his
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residenee, now owned and occupied by his widow, of the heirs of Elijah Case:
Between the Charles Prentice house and the honse of Dr. William Lamb stood the house of Elijah Bruce. This was near the site of the present house of John W. Bigelow. After Mr. Bruce's death his widow resided in it. She sold it to Moses Adams, and he took it down and erected the house of Mr. Bigelow.
The old house which stood near the site of the house now owned by Lovell Baker and occupied by A. M. Bigelow, was formerly owned by Benjamin K. Moulton. This was known as the " Charles Prentice house," and was ocenpied from time to time by Charles Prentice, Captain Ephraim Har- rington, Samuel Leland, John Warren, Elijah Case and Jonathan Wheeler, Esq. The latter and John Warren were in company in the old " Green Store," and one resided in a house which stood where the Warren Block now stands, and the other in the Charles Prentice house, and vice versa. Elijah Case died in this house. He married twice : Sarah Leland, daughter of Phineas Leland, Jr., who died in 1808, and Elizabeth Merriam, daughter of Joseph Merriam, Jr After Mr. Case's death she married Charles Prentice Elijah Case, Jr., born in 1807, married Lauremia Stone. They had Sarah L., born 1831; Jane L., born 1833; Har- rison E., born 1835; Julia E., born 1837. He died in Athol in June, 1879. The old honse was purchased by Rufus E. Warren and removed to North street, on the opposite side of the street from his honse.
The house now owned and occupied by Silas A. Forbush, was purchased by him of the Rev. Thomas C. Biscoe, who built it. The house which stood on the land now ocenpied by this house was owned by John Bennett, who married a daughter of Jeremiah Flagg. Mr. Bennett was a hatter, and carried on the business in a small shop which stood north of and very near his house, only a narrow passage-
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way being between the two. The house ended on the line at Rev. John Miles. Mr. Bennett owned ten acres of land on the opposite side of the road, which he subsequently sold to Rev. Mr. Miles. When Mr. Biscoe purchased the property, the old house, or part of it, was moved back and converted into a woodhouse. Rev. Mr. Biscoe was born July 18, 1810, the son of Thomas Biscoe. His ancestor was Nathaniel Biscoe, " the rich tanner," who was in Water- town as early as 1642. In that year he wrote and circulated privately a pamphlet "against the way of supporting minis- ters," that gave great offence, and for which he was fined £10. In that year, his barn, with leather and corn, amount- ing to £100, was destroyed by fire. He was so dissatisfied with the prevalent ecclesiastical intolerance that he returned to England about the end of 1651, or early the next year. He had four children whom he left in Massachusetts. He descended from Nathaniel as follows : John2, Thomas3, John4, Thomas5, Josiah6, Thomas7, Rev. Thomas C.8
There was formerly an old house which stood near John Bennett's house ; this was owned by Nathaniel Dexter, who subsequently sold it to Captain Liberty Wood, and he resided in it until he built his house on North street. The old house was finally sold to Rufus E. Warren, who moved it to North street, and converted it into a shop. Austin Holbrook resided in this house at one time. The house of the late Hon. A. M. Bigelow was erected near the site of this old house.
Next comes the residence of Thomas Thurston Griggs, M. D., who was born in Sutton in 1818. He was the son of Lientenant John Griggs, "a man of much public spirit, possessed of every moral excellence of character, and iden- tified with all enterprises designed to promote the interests of the community." His grandfather, Thomas Griggs, Jr., went from Brookline to Sutton, where he died. Dr. Griggs came into possession of the estate by the death of his
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father-in-law, Delano Pierce, M. D. Dr. Pierce when he first came to this town, resided in the house now owned and occupied by Charles A. Pierce. This house was formerly owned by Ephraim Wilson. Dr. Pierce came into posses- sion of the Miles honse by the foreclosure of a mortgage which he held upon it. The house was sold to Wood, Warren & Co., by the Rev. John Miles, once " the minister of the town." Mr. Miles owned sixteen acres of land, six in the rear of the house, and ten across the road, which was reached by a lane between the Lesure honse and Charles A. Pierce's house. When he owned the property, the dwelling was very small, but when Dr. Pierce came into possession of it, the house was entirely remodeled. The old house formed the ell and in front he built two stories with large dorie pillars, then the most fashionable and expensive. Before the alterations were made by Dr. Pierce, while the house was in possession of Wood, Warren & Co., it was leased as a tenement-house.
The house was owned prior to 1794, by Dr. William Lamb, who sold it April 17, 1795, to Royal Keith, who resided in it for two years, and subsequently sold it to Rev. John Miles.
The old house now occupied by Joseph Bruce, was erected by his father and grandfather, Joseph and Simon, in 1789, nearly a century ago. The barn was built a few years after the house. When this honse was built there were but few honses between this and town. There were none on the opposite side of the street. The present owner, Joseph, is now in his 90th year, and still retains all his faculties. His memory is thoroughly stored with incidents and narratives relating to the older inhabitants of the town, and the com- piler is greatly indebted to his kindness and uniform courtesy in relating them and giving much other valuable informa- tion. The following copy of an old paper relates to the Bruce farm :-
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