USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. I > Part 36
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The news of the declaration of peace after the last war with England was hailed with delight, and the selectmen drew their order on the treas- urer for twenty-six dollars to pay for sugar and rum used upon the Common on that joyous occa- sion. In 1817 the town by vote gave to the town of Fitzwilliam, in New Hampshire, fifty dollars on account of the loss of their church by lightning.
From IS11 to 1835 it appears from the records that the office of constable was sold at auction, and the person who would pay the highest price re- ceived the votes, the town realizing by the sale from two to thirty dollars ycarly. In 1834 the town "advised the selectmen not to approbate any person to retail distilled spirits." In 1837 Ashby received her share of the surplus revenue. It was all invested for the benefit of public schools, but the principal was subsequently used for other purposes. In 1842 the town instructed the selectmen not to grant approbation to any inn- holder or other persons to sell spirituous or fer- mented liquors. The same year it raised one hundred and thirty-five dollars to enable the several school districts, to establish libraries (re- ceiving an equal amount from the state). May 4, 1846, the town received three hundred dollars from Lewis Gould, Esq., on the condition that it should put a clock with three faces upon the Old Meeting-House, so called, the same to be kept in repair by the town. The gift was accepted, and the thanks of the town presented to Mr. Gould ; and though he has long since passed away, the citi- zens of Ashby, as they lift their eyes to note the passing hour, read upon the dial the donor's name. The following year the town received a commu- nication from Mr. Gould, stating that he had placed one hundred dollars in the hands of Dr. Alfred Hitchcock for the purpose of erecting a monument in memory of John Fitch, and the two soldiers, Blodgett and Jennings, who were killed on the morning of July 5, 1748, before the surrender of Fitch's little garrison, provided that the same be placed near the centre of the Common : this was accepted, aud a simple granite shaft erected bearing their names, to tell to those who come after, that
where they reap in joy their fathers sowed in tears.
On the breaking out of the Rebellion, at a legal meeting held May 1, 1861, the following action was taken by the town : -
" Resolved, That we pledge ourselves and our property to sustain the Constitution, the freedom and rights bequeathed to us by our fathers, aud that we will defend them to the last.
" Resolved, That the town raise two thousand dollars, and that fifteen hundred dollars be loaned to the state and made payable to the order of the Governor of Massachu- setts."
And at a meeting held July 22, 1862, it was
" Resolved, That in view of the sacrifices which men must now make, in being called from their business at this season, and in view of the perils and hardships they are called to undergo, it is just and proper that additional peeuniary inducements should be offered to those who shall enlist to constitute the quota from this town."
In consequence of this vote the treasurer was ordered to pay one hundred dollars to each vol- unteer for the town when he should be mustered into the service of the United States, and by a subsequent vote in 1864, the bounty was increased to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. April 3, 1865, " Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to procure recruits in number sufficient to make the surplus credited to the town fifteen." The number of soldiers furnished by the town was one hundred and nine. John Mayo, Eliab Churchill, and David Wares fell at Lookout Mountain, Albert Davis at Fredericksburg, Daniel Dailey and Amos Eastman at Antietam, while disease in camp and hospital carried off twelve or more.1 Far from home and friends they sleep " on Fame's eternal camping ground." Lieutenant Henry S. Hitchcock was severely wounded at Petersburg, Sanders at Fredericksburg, Wares in the battle of the Wilder- ness, Morgan and Ferguson at Dallas, Georgia, and Davis in some one of the many engagements during the war.
On the 4th of September, 1867, the town com- memorated its hundredth birthday with appropriate exercises. Rev. C. W. Wood of North Bridgewater gave the address, and more than a thousand guests
1 Henry Rice died from cruelty and neglect in the prison-pen of Andersonville, Daniel D. Wiley at Baltimore, Albert Shat- tuck at sea, Lyman W. Holt, John Gilson, and Benjamin H. Bigelow at New Orleans, Daniel Coffe and James Sullivan in Louisiana, John R. Wilder at Baton Rouge, Morton Gilson and John Sawin at home, from disease contracted in the army. George A. Hitchcock passed five months of suffering at Ander- sonville, and one or two others thirty days.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
partook of the hospitalities provided for the occa- sion.
July 4, 1876, the centennial of the nation was remembered ; a sketch of Ashby's Revolutionary history was given, and a collation served in a grove owned by Amos Wheeler when he fell at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, a little over a century before.
The Orthodox Congregational Church was or- ganized June 12, 1776. In those dark and try- ing days the fathers of the town looked up, and entered into covenant with Him who "loosetli the bands of kings" and "leadeth princes away spoiled." The first pastor of the church was Rev. Samnel Whitman. He was ordained and installed August, 1778, and dismissed in 1783. He was succeeded by the Rev. Cornelius Waters, of Goffs- town, N. H., June 14, 1797, whose pastorate closed February 15, 1816. Owing to difference in religious opinions, the church withdrew from the town in 1818, and for a year and a half worshipped in the house of Jonathan Blood. Its first meeting- house (now the academy building) was dedicated December 13, 1820, when the Rev. John M. Put- nam was ordained and installed the same day ; his pastorate lasted about five years. The Rev. A. B. Camp was ordained and installed January, 1827, and dismissed March 28, 1832. His successor, Rev. Orsamus Tinker, was installed January 1, 1834. The present house of worship was erected in 1835, and dedicated January 1, 1836. This pastorate was closed by the death of the pastor, October 13, 1838, in the thirty-seventh year of his age. Rev. Charles W. Wood was ordained and installed October 30, 1839, and dismissed January 7, 1858, his pastorate extending over a period of eighteen years and two months. Rev. James M. Bell was
ordained and installed July 12, 1858, and dis- missed June 21, 1864.
Rev. Horace Parker was installed May 23, 1865, and dismissed February 4, 1870.
Rev. J. M. Bacon was installed November 4, 1870, and his labors were closed by death March 5, 1873.
Rev. G. F. Walker was installed June 11, 1873, and dismissed November 18, 1875.
Rev. F. E. Mills, the present pastor, was or- dained and installed November 13, 1878.
Unitarian Church. - Rev. E. L. Bascom was installed January 2, 1821, over the church and congregation worshipping in the house erected by the town in 1809. Mr. Bascom retained his relation with his people until his death, though unable for the last few years of his life to perform the active duties of his office. He died in 1841. His col- league and successor, the Rev. Reuben Bates, was installed May 13, 1835, and dismissed August 14, 1845.
Rev. W. P. Huntington was installed January 14, 1846, and dismissed November 20 of the same year.
Rev. T. P. Doggett, stated supply, commenced his labors February 24, 1847, and closed them April 23, 1853. Rev. J. S. Brown supplied the desk from April 1, 1855, to April 27, 1857. Rev. N. Gage commenced his ministerial work June 5, 1858, and death closed it May 7, 1861. Rev. Charles Bugbee was called November 1, 1861, to supply the place thus made vacant; but July 7, 1865, he too passed away, leaving a mourning people. Rev. William T. Phelan followed as a supply for two years. April 16, 1868, the present pastor, Rev. G. S. Shaw, commenced liis ministry.
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ASHLAND.
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ASHLAND.
BY W. F. ELLIS, ASSISTED BY ELIAS GROUT.
HE town of Ashland, Mass., is situated in the southwesterly part of Middlesex County : the centre of the town, or railroad depot, being in North Lati- tude 42° 153', and 23' 29" west of the meridian of the State House at Boston.
The town is bounded north by Southborough and Fram- ingham, east by Framingham and Sherborn, south by Holliston and Hopkinton, and west by Hop- kinton and Southborough. It is four miles in length from east to west, three miles wide from north to south, and contains twelve and five eighths square miles.
Ashland was incorporated March 16, 1846, being set off from Framingham, Hopkinton, and Holliston ; about one fifth part of the new town was taken from Holliston, and the remainder, in nearly equal parts, from the other two towns. The centre of Ashland is four miles from Hopkinton, the same distance from Framingham, and five miles from Holliston. The name of the village previous to its incorporation was Unionville. It will be seen that the location was such as to make the formation of the new town both a matter of convenience and necessity.
The history of its people previous to the act of incorporation will for the most part be found in the annals of the mother towns, yet there are a few points in the early settlement of the place that deserve a passing notice .. A branch of the Nip- muck tribe of Indians lived on Magunco Hill, which is situated about one mile west of the vil- lage. Here Eliot had a band of Praying Indians, and this territory was included as a part of Natick settlement. The colonial legislature from time to time made various grants of land to distinguished individuals for services rendered. A person named Russell appears to have received the first of these grants west of Waushakum Pond, including the present town-farm.
In 1662 the Hon. William Crown received a grant of land which is described as follows : "Laid out in the year 1662 by mne underwritten, and ex- actly measured as to rules of art, the 500 acres of land granted unto Hon. Wm. Crown at a place near the Cold Spring near unto the road which leadeth from Sudbury on to Connecticut (known as the Conn. Path) on the south side of a branch of Sudbury River, being about nine miles from the town of Sudbury at a place called by the Indians Magunco hill, at the south side of said hill : and from thence upon a line N. E. point 300 r. butting on a branch of Sudbury River : and from thence upon a line S. S. E. point by the river side 360 r. and from thence a circular line by the said river and a brook 160 r. a line from said brook a W. N. W. point 240 r. by meadow, and from thence a line upon a S. S. W. point 150 r. and from thence a line upon a W. N. W. point 134r. ending where we begun." This grant would cover almost the entire village of Ashland. Crown never lived on this land, but in 1678 - 79 sold it, with 131 acres more, to Colonel Savill Simpson, cordwainer, of Boston. He probably built and lived in a house on the south side of Union Street, opposite the former residence of Mr. Benjamin Homer. Simpson built a grist-mill just above the railroad bridge (near the residence of Charles Alden). Colonel John Jones succeeded to his mill property and lands on the north of Union Street between 1725 and 1730, he having married a daughter of Savill Simp- son. Jones built a grist-mill, saw-mill, and full- ing-mill all on the north side of the road, and near where the grist-mill of the Dwight Print Com- pany now stands. Colonel Jones was of the 3d Mas- sachusetts regiment, and held a commission as justice of the peace from George II. Isaac Dench became possessed of the land on the south side of Union Street. He lived in the old "Mansion House," so called.
The grandfather of Benjamin Homer and an- other had planned to build another mill, near the railroad bridge, below the emery-mills; but Isaac
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Dench, hearing of it, went slyly to work in mid- winter and began laying his mud-sill for a new dam at the site of the present emery-mills dam, thus cutting off the elder Homer from building his mill below. This mill, erected by Dench, was bought by Major Calvin Shepard, who moved from Natick and built a paper-mill on the site about the year 1828. It was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt by Calvin Shepard, Jr. The manufacture of paper not proving successful, the property passed into the hands of Lee Claflin, who sold it in 1856 to Charles Alden. He established the manufacture of emery, which was of great service to the country during the war, and a source of considerable profit to Mr. Alden.
The Connecticut Path, referred to in the descrip- tion of Crown's grant, was the track or path made by Hooker and his followers, consisting of one hundred and sixty persons and about the same number of cattle. Hooker and his party started from Watertown for the Connecticut River, in 1635: they came up through what is now Saxonville, in Framingham, crossing Cochituate Brook at the old Colonel Brown place, and then following nearly the line of the present road to South Framingham ; then their route turned to the south, in the direction of Sherborn, the object be- ing to avoid Farm Pond, Wanshakum Pond, and the low swampy land lying between the two, which would have been impassable for their cattle; fol- lowing the road to Sherborn, they crossed what has ever since been known as Beaver Dam Brook, on a beaver dam ; thence, past the Reuben Cozzens place in Sherborn, to the road near the house of the late Timothy Twichell ; thence, past the house of William Eames, in what is now Ashland, the Holliston Poor Farm, and following the old road to the vicinity of Cold Spring Brook, which they crossed at the ford-way near the Main Street Bridge, they entered upon and crossed Crown's grant.
We will now return to the grist-mill and fulling- mill built by Colonel John Jones, which deserve more attention than the rest, for around this spot cluster the early enterprises which developed into a village and a town. In 1811 this property was sold to a party of gentlemen who were incorporated into a stock company under the title of the Middle- sex Manufacturing Company. Ou account of the war of 1812 a factory was not erected in time to be in operation before 1815 : connected with this factory building was a store first kept by Mr.
Homer Tilton. The weaving of cloth did not commence until about 1820. The cotton-gin had not come into so general use in the cotton states as to make the article cheap, and the manufactur- ing business, being still in its infancy, was little understood, consequently amid all these embarrass- ments the enterprise was unsuccessful. The prop- erty was sold October 1, 1827, to Jonathan W. Trull, Oliver Eldridge, Edward Eldridge, and Isaac Danforth, for $15,000. The Middlesex Union Factory Company was incorporated Feb- ruary 2, 1828. Mr. James Jackson, who had been connected with the first company for several years, was the agent of the new company.
Mr. Jackson was quite successful, buying up the shares from time to time as he found means and opportunity, until he became the company, and acquired a competence. He sold the factory about 1852, and it was destroyed by fire in 1854. Mr. Jackson was a very prominent man in all efforts to promote the welfare of the community. He was the first representative to the legislature from the new towns, representing them in 1851 and in 1852. He died November, 1864. His widow and son still live upon the old homestead.
Under the energetic and skilful management of Mr. James Jackson, mechanics, artisans, and strangers of varied tastes soon gathered here, work- ing in the factory, or at their various trades out of it ; so population increased. A singing-school and Sunday-school were established in 1828, the latter being in charge of a Mr. Barton, who now kept the store connected with the factory. The school- honse for this district was old, and situated on the road to Hopkinton, a mile away. After a not unusual controversy in such cases, it was decided to build a new house and locate it on the site of the present town-hall. This was in 1832. The Factory Company added, by permission, a second story to be used as a chapel for religious worship, - thus carrying ont a custom, and following the example of the Puritan fathers, of connecting the church and the school-house with every new enter- prise, to insure its success.
The Boston and Albany Railroad, which passes through the centre of the town (twenty-four and one fourth miles from Boston by the road) travers- ing it from east to west a distance of four miles, was built to this place and opened for travel Sep- tember 20, 1834, and a formal opening of the road was celebrated at that time. Hon. Calvin Shep- ard, Jr., received the president and directors, with
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ASHLAND.
an appropriate speech of welcome. A large con- course of people from the place and surrounding towns assembled to witness the novel sight. Mili- tary companies were present, and a salute of artil- lery was given on the arrival of the train. The assembled multitude were addressed from the upper balcony of Captain Stone's hotel by Governor John Davis and ex-Governor Levi Lincoln. The hotel was new, and first opened for that occasion.
At that time there were not more than twelve or fifteen dwelling-houses in sight from the depot, which is located in the centre of the town. New streets were laid out to make the depot accessible from other places, particularly Hopkinton, and on these new buildings sprang up quite rapidly. James Jackson, Michael Homer, and Captain John Stone's farms embraced most of the land on which the village stands. They very soon found that their land was worth far more for other pur- poses than for farming, and began to sell it in small parcels for building-sites.
The next event of public importance was the establishment of a post-office in January, 1835, with Matthew Metcalf, Esq., as postmaster, -the Hon. William Jackson of Newton, then representa- tive in Congress from the Ninth Massachusetts District, kindly giving his aid and influence in favor of the measure.
The influences resulting from the establishment of a Sabbath-school in 182S, and the building of a chapel for religious worship in 1832, now com- menced to yield their legitimate fruit, and resulted in the formation of the Unionville Evangelical Society, February 17, 1835. Preaching was first commenced in April, 1834, by Rev. James MeIn- tire of the senior class in Andover Theological Seminary, in accordance with a resolve of the in- habitants " statedly to have preaching and gospel ordinances," passed at a meeting held Fast Day eve, April 3, 1834. The number of inhabitants within the circle that would be reached and accom- modated by these " ordinances " was given at that time as four hundred and fifty. In the spring of 1835 they commenced to build the Congregational Meeting-House, and it was dedicated January 21, 1836. At the same time Rev. James McIntire was ordained as pastor of the church and society. He was from Maryland, and was a remarkably genial and sympathetic man, one whom everybody loved. He remained about two years, when his wife died, and he asked a dismission, which was granted. He returned to his native state, where he still lives
in the enjoyment of that ease and quiet which his advanced age demands. He took an active part in 1861 in keeping his state in the Union. At a semi-centennial celebration of the Sabbath-school held here last September (1878) Mr. McIntire returned by invitation, after an absence of some forty years, and was warmly welcomed by all who had previously known him. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Haven, Jr., who came from Andover Seminary to the society, and remained with them seven years. He was ordained in November, 1839, and was a man of rare talent as a writer, thorough and exhaustive in the treatment of every subject he took up. He outgrew the limited field which had seemed to him at first sufficient, and after two brief settlements in larger places finally found his " sphere " as Professor of Mental Philosophy in Chicago Theological University, which place he held at the time of his death.
During his ministry the Baptist society was formed, and quite a number of those who had always worked with the First Church withdrew and united with that whose creed was more in harmony with their views. Mr. Haven took a strong in- terest in the formation of the new town, which occurred near the close of his ministry. A vigorous opposition was made to the act by Hopkinton, and it was only carried through by the most faithful and vigilant watchfulness of its friends. A week or two afterwards Mr. Haven preached a sermon to the people of the new town one Sunday evening, in which he recounted all the advantages they expected to reap from their new condition, pictured vividly how they had to plan by night and by day to meet the machinations of the enemy, and wound up by saying, "It will make no difference with any one of you whether you die in Ashland or in a place called by some other name, but it will make a difference whether you wake in heaven or hell." Rev. C. L. Mills was settled over the society at the time Mr. Haven left. He was succeeded in 1849 by Rev. William M. Thayer, who was pastor in every sense of the word for seven years. He en- deavored to educate the people to the discharge of all their duties as Christians, as townsmen, as hus- bands and wives, fathers and mothers, or as neigh- bors and friends. He made it his duty to be famil- iar with the character, the wants, and the feelings of his parishioners, and in quiet and discreet ways to regulate and correct whatever he found to be wrong in morals or opposed to the spiritual wel- fare of the people. He gained the respect of both
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
religious societies, and was chosen by the town to represent them in the legislature of 1855.
His voice failing him, he was dismissed, at his own request, in 1856, and afterwards became noted for his labors as a temperance advocate. He now resides in Franklin, Mass. Rev. T. F. Clary fol- lowed Mr. Thayer, and remained until the spring of 1859, when he was dismissed at the desire of the society. Rev. Horace Parker supplied the pulpit for two years, - 1860 and 1861,- and many were added to the church during his ministry. Rev. A. H. Currier was ordained in December, 1862, and remained till 1865. He was a man whose presence and influence were felt throughout the town ; quiet and unassuming, 'scholarly and gentlemanly to a remarkable degree. By unremit- ting study he prepared himself to fill a much larger field, and being invited to the Second Congrega- tional Church in Lynn, he accepted the invitation, and still remains in that city.
Rev. George G. Phipps supplied, in 1866 and 1867, to the acceptance of the people. Marshall M. Cutter was settled in December, 1868, and continued with the society until 1873. Mr. Cut- ter was a very social man, and endeared himself much to the young people and to the singers, being very fond of music. He was dismissed at his own request. Then Rev. E. P. Tenney sup- plied the pulpit until June, 1876, at or about which time he was chosen President of Colorado College, - a position which he now holds. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Morong, the pres- ent pastor, who, after supplying the pulpit about two years, was settled over the society in June, 1878. Two other societies have been organized in town since the Unionville Evangelical Society began. (The name was changed to " First Parish in Ash- land " in 1846.) Each new society formed drew from it to a considerable extent, so that, on the whole, it has just abont held its own position, having nearly the same number of communicants now as thirty years ago.
The Baptist society was formed November 8, 1843. Its members for the most part, np to this time, had attended the Congregational Church, a few going to the Baptist Church in Framingham Centre. Their first pastor was the Rev. Zenas P. Wilde, who was settled March 2, 1845. Then fol- lowed: Rev. Benjamin F. Bronson, December 17, 1846 ; Rev. Henry Day, March 1, 1851 ; Rev. N. Medbury, 1853; Rev. Kilburn Holt, June 3, 1856; Rev. W. W. Ames, February 26, 1860; Rev. D.
F. Lamson, April 20, 1861; Rev. R. B. Moody, April 22, 1866; Rev. George B. Potter, May, 1868; Rev. W. R. Maul, January, 1871 ; Rev. John L. Meeson, October 5, 1873; Rev. N. B. Wilson, November 1, 1875.
Mr. Wilson left in the spring of 1878, and the society is without any permanent minister at the present time. The meeting-house was built in 1849- 50, and is the largest and best in town. Among those ministers whose influence was felt and appreciated by the whole town may be named B. F. Bronson, Henry Day, D. F. Lamson, and George B. Potter.
Mr. Lamson was the contemporary of Mr. Cur- rier, and was a courteous and dignified citizen, as well as minister, always ready for any mental effort, and, whatever might be the occasion, if called upon, acquitting himself with honor, and meeting the expectations of those who heard him. He had frequent occasion to address the citizens of the town during the Rebellion, and was held as a firm and hopeful patriot. He is now settled in the city of Worcester.
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