History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 164

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 164

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The people of Westford sprang from that stock, and while there is now no ringing war-whoop to summon them to arms, nor perils of wilderness to be encoun- tered or to call forth deeds of daring and endurance," yet the blood of heroes courses through the veins of the descendants, producing characters solid, symmet- rical, beautiful. How was it possible that the -settle-

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ment of Westford could be other than a success and its prosperity assured when men came here to do or to die, to hew their way in the New World as they cut the timber for their cabins, to make a highway for commerce as they blazed their path through the for- est ?

Men are influenced everywhere by their surround- ings, and here our fathers found everything without harmonizing with everything within. That which made Westford the favorite hunting-grounds of the Indian, on account of its picturesqueness (the nest- ling valleys, the smiling landscape, the stony brook, the quiet pond, the, conical hills), made it also a charm to the settler, calling forth in him the softer beauty of his life, as well as the rugged strength of purpose and will. The settler knew well that what was in such harmony with himself would be an aid in keeping his posterity loyal to the principles he loved so well. Westford has fully its share of wood- land and meadow, ponds, brooks, dale and hill, caus- ing it to be loved by every one who makes it his home, as well as by all who visit its attractive scenes. Few of our townships have seven ponds within their limits of the size and beauty of ours, and each of these has a charm of its own. Nabanussuck Pond, situated near Brookside, with its area of 123 acres, is fre- quented more than any other in the vicinity ; it has much to call forth the admiration of every beholder, and tempt him to linger in the groves that skirt its waters. One realizes that there is much in nature akin to himself as he reclines on the mossy bank and feels the quieting influence of the silent life around him. This stillness is vocal, and speaks in cadences of love to all. A boat-house has been erected at a point easy of access from the railroad, where a goodly number of boats are kept in readiness for the use of the many pleasure-parties that come here from Low- ell and the towns about. The other ponds are: Long- sought-for Pond, with its area of 107 acres ; Keyes Pond, 40 acres; Flushing, 20 acres ; Burges, 25 acres ; Grassy, 18 acres, and Ford Pond, though only a part of the latter is included within the limits of our town- ship, viz., 104 acres.

This pond has an important industry upon it, which will be described further on. It is noted also as a favorite " fishing-ground " for the people in the vicinity, thus furnishing amusement as well as pleas- ant food for the table to all who enjoy the angling sport. Many of the people of Westford not only train themselves in handling the rifle like their fathers, but also the rod and line; concerning the fas- cination of the latter the following anecdote will il- lustrate : "A minister, very fond of fishing, when away on his vacation often tried to persuade his wife to join him in a day's sport, but without success. She could see no pleasure in it. At last one day, to please him, she went. He prepared for her a rod and line and a carefully-baited hook. She had not held the rod long before it began to shake and bend,

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and with great excitement she landed a pickerel weighing five and three-quarter pounds. The minis- ter says that since that time it has been a difficult task for him to find time to go fishing often enough to satisfy his wife."

The hills of Westford constitute a part of its diver- sified scenery, though a few of them are slight eleva- tions only. These are Fletcher Hill, Nashoba Hill, Snake-Meadow Hill, Conscience, Spaulding, Oak, Flushing, Milestone, Kissacook, Cowdry, Providence and Francis Hills. The largest of all is situated near the centre of the township, and is more than 300 feet above the Stony Brook valley. The Indian name was Tadmuck Hill, which was afterwards changed to Prospect Hill, the view from its summit fully justify- ing the name, for, standing upon its highest point, the eye sweeps the whole horizon in a radius of twenty or thirty miles. The village of Westford is situated on the highland, just at the foot of the still higher elevation of Prospect Hill.

" The Central Village is beautiful ' for situation,' be- ing built on a commanding eminence, the northern terrace of Tadmuck Hill, which is 238 feet above the level of the railroad at Westford Station. The view of the distant mountains in clear weather is espe- cially attractive and inspiring. The stretch of the western horizon is broken into wavy lines by the sum mits of Wachusett, Watatic, Monadnock, the Tem- ple Hills, Kearsarge, Joe English Hill and the Un- canoouucks. The White Mountains of New Hamp- shire can be seen in favorable times. Its elevated po- sition and picturesque scenery entitle it to rank among the loveliest villages of Northern Middlesex. Here are the church edifices of the First Parish and of the Union Congregational Society, the Academy and the Town-House, a large building, two stories high, and furnished with modern conveniences for the town offices, a fire-proof vault and room for the town library ; also a large hall for public meetings and armory for the Westford Squad of Company F, Massachusetts Cavalry. The Common is a gem of rural beauty, not large in extent, but fringed with a double row of evergreen and deciduous trees. Here in the twilight of pleasant summer evenings the young and the old do sometimes gather to listen to sweet music, or in the spell of the witching moonlight the light-hearted sit and while the gladsome hours away. The main street is shaded with elms and maples, and the ample sidewalks tempt to evening promenades amid the perfumes of June or the golden sheen of October. To those who know there is a lane that leads to ' paradise,' where green mosses deck the border of the spring, and birds 'sing love on every spray.' Prospect Hill is within easy reach of the ad- venturous foot, and is often visited by those who wish to see the 'lovely and the wild mingled in harmony on nature's face.' The general intelligence and social re- finement of the people, the good influence of the Academy, and the healthfulness and general thrift

that are apparent, together with the neatness and tidiness of dwellings, gardens and enclosures, all conspire to make this a desirable place of residence for all who seek a home far from the mills and shops and counting-rooms of care-worn men."

The following description of the view from the bel- fry of the Unitarian Church has been kindly furnished by Mr. Leonard Wheeler, to whom credit is here given :

"The landscape visible from Westford Hill is al- ways praised by those whose tastes incline them to appreciate the beauties of nature. The undulating hills and valleys, the forest areas of mingled ever- green and deciduous trees, alternating with cleared tracts dotted with fertile farms, the peaceful New England villages perched on hill-top or built beside never-failing streams, turning the wheels of busy fac- tories ; pond and quarries, blue peaks of mountains in the background, with fleecy clouds of fantastic shape overhead, form a picture to be cherished in the memory of the beholder.

"The two most favorable points of observation are the top of Prospect Hill, a rise of land on the south- west part of Westford Hill proper, and the belfry of the Unitarian Church. The view southward from the belfry is obstructed by Prospect Hill and shade trees in the village ; otherwise the belfry seems to the writer the better point of observation.

"Looking south from either point, one sees, within the town limits, Bear Cathead and Nashoba Hills. Westward is Forge Village, at the foot of Forge Pond. Here can be seen T. Hittinger's ice-houses and mills of the Abbot Worsted Company. Turning toward the north, the town farm at the foot of a high hill can be seen. Northwest is Graniteville, with Snake Meadow Hill, dotted with granite quarries, behind. Plainly visible here are C. G. Sargent's Sons' Machine Shops and the original mills of the Abbot Worsted Company. North, about one and one-fourth miles, is Westford depot and the mill-pond used by Heyward and Bur- beck for their saw and grist-mills. At the far north extre mity of the town is Oak Hill, on which are quar- ries of granite. Northeast is Brookside, close beside West Chelmsford, where the ruins of the Eagle Mills are painful reminders of what has been. Turning eastward, Francis Hill covered with apple orchards, holds the eye. A little nearer repose many of our former citizens who have been gathered to their fathers. Farther east is Providence Hill, from whose foot Tadmuck Swamp stretches toward Bear Hill, our starting-point.

"The trains on the Stony Brook Railroad may be followed by the smoke nearly their whole route from Ayer to Lowell. The smoke of locomotives may also be seen on the Nashua and Acton ('Red Line'), Framingham and Lowell, Boston and Lowell (maiu line and Lexington branch) ; Fitchburg and Worces- ter and Nashua Railroads.

"Summer mornings patches of fog betray the course

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of the Merrimack and Nashua Rivers, and, within the town, Stony Brook and the location of several ponds.

" Acton Centre (not visible from the belfry), Little- ton Common, Princeton, Aver, church spires in Lu- nenburg and Groton, Ashby (a New Hampshire vil- lage that could not be identified by the writer), Tyngsboro', West, North, South and Centre Chelms- ford, Lowell, a bit of Lawrence, Tewksbury, Billerica and Bedford are visible.

"At night the reflection on the clouds of electric lights in Boston, Lynn, Salem, Lowell, Lawrence, Nashua, Fitchburg, Clinton and Waltham can be seen.

"Ronnd hill, in Ayer, Gibbett hill, in Groton, and Robin hill, in Chelmsford, are the principal elevations of land visible in adjoining towns.

"Looking now at more distant hills westward, Wachusett, in Princeton, is plainly visible. As the observer turns toward the north he may note succes- sively the highest points in Shirley, Lunenburg and Ashburnham, Watatic mountain, in Ashby, Monad- nock, in Jaffrey, N. H., then a range of mountains extending from New Ipswich to Francestown, com- prising Barrett and Kidder in New Ipswich, Spofford in Temple, separated from the preceding by Spofford's gap, Temple, Pack Monadnock in Peterborough, Pin- nacle in Lyndeborough and Crochet in Francestown. Next are two peaks, visible from the belfry only, and in fine weather, Bald Mt. in Antrim and Knight's hil! in Bradford. Joe English, in New Boston, is easily identified, as it is a solitary dome-shaped hill. Next are Black and Kearsarge mountains in Warner, then come thetwin Uncanoonucks in Goffstown. Di- rectly north at times of extreme visibility, preceding a storm, MIts. Jefferson and Washington can be seen. A little eastward Strafford hills are visible. Resting the eye for a moment on the forest-clad hills in Pel- ham, we leave the rugged New Hampshire moun- tains and turn toward the more level tract of Essex County in the Bay State. The most noticeable point here is the Insane Asylum in Danvers. Due south of the observer is Fay's Mt. in Westborough."

GRANITEVILLE .- This village takes its name from the quantities of granite quarried there. It is com- paratively a new village, for, while there were but few houses and some quarrying done prior to 1854, it was during that year that Mr. C. G. Sargent settled there, and from that time the development of the place has been rapid, its population outnumbering, at the pres- ent writing, that of the Central Village. Eighty-five years ago there were but two saw-mills, one grist-mill and but three dwelling-houses in the place, occupied by Messrs. John Reed, Jacob Abbot and Robert Wil- kinson. Forty-two years ago the Stony Brook Rail- road was built, while forty years ago there were but eight houses in the place. In one decade, ending in 1880, over sixty buildings were erected, including a church, school-house and depots, since which time

the place has continued its growth. The village was called "Stone Quarry " till about 1856, when the name was changed at the suggestion of Mr. Sargent. It is situated on both sides of Stony Brook, in the valley between Snake Meadow Hill and the high- lands of the Centre. Standing upon these highlands and looking down upon it, we see it nestling in the basin between the swelling eminences. The neat chapel church and new school-house are seen stand- ing prominently out in the foreground, while beyond are the long buildings of the manufactories and dwellings on the terraces of Snake Meadow Hill. In the early evening the light in the long rows of win- dows in the manufactories shine out in the darkness, telling us of the busy hands engaged in the important industries in the place.

The site is picturesque, and Graniteville is a vil- lage attractive to the workingmen and their families and to all others who have made it their home. Be- sides the buildings already noted, there are two rail- road stations, a tin-shop, club-house, post-office, mil- liner's shop, machine-shop, worsted-mill and a few stores.

FORGE VILLAGE .- This is a pleasant place, situated on the margin of Forge Pond, and contains a rail- road-station, a school-house, an ice-house, post-office, store and Abbot & Co.'s large woolen-mill.

Captain David Prescott Lawrence furnished Mr. Hodgman these items, which we quote :

"'On the west side of Beaver Brook near the bridge was located a house, known as the Cogswell place. It was afterward occupied by Cal- vin Green, and later by Charles Reed. It was once a hospital for small- pox patients, it being customary at that time for people to go there and be vaccinated for small-pox. Following the road to the villago we find the next house, called the Kent place, at the corner of the road leading to Westford Centre, wbere was also a blacksmith shop. Within my re- membrance there lived in the house one Isaac Durant, a revolutionary soldier, who was hlind and was guided about the village by a little grandson. Afterward it was owned by Ebenezer Blood, who was noted for telling very improbable stories. Next it was owned by Charles Miner, who was a soldier in the last war and never returned. Sonie years ago the buildings were burned by an incendiary, and the place is now owned by D. P. Lawrence. Next was the Patch house, occupied hy Isaac Patch and Elisha Kent. The latter had two wives and five children ; the last wife being a sister of Asa Wright. The house where George Wright now lives was built and occupied by Amos Heywood, who married Lydia Buck. The house nearly opposite was built and occupied hy Eben Prescott, who had three wives and a large family. The next house was owned by Col. David Goodhue, the father of Imla Goodhue, who married a sister of Judge Locke, of Lowell. The house nearly opposite was owned by Eben Prescott, but was occupied by Elea- zer Wright, a blacksmith, and after by one Pushee, and still later by Horatio Clark, a blacksmith. The next dwelling-house was the " garri- son house," so called on account of its being built for defence against the attacks of the Indians, having a brick wall between the woodwork. The house was occupied successively by four generations of the name of Ebenezer Prescott, the last being an uncle of Lutber Prescott, and who died where Mr. Sprague now lives. The next bouse stood where George Henry Prescott's house now stands, and was occupied by Joseph Prescott (a son of Eben Prescott), who was father of several children, one of whom was Avery Prescott, who built the house where Edward Prescott now lives at Westford Centre ; and another son built the house where Samuel Blodgett died, now demolished. The next house we find at the extreme west end of the village, occupied hy Jonas Prescott, great-grandfather of Oliver Prescott, who also lived there and who mar- ried Bethiah Underwood. He had four sons and eight daughters; was farmer and inn-keeper. At that time Ann Lee had founded a society of Shakers at Harvard, Massachusetts. Through her influence the mother

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and five daughters were Induced to leave home and join them. This circumstanco so wronghit upon tho mind of the deserted husband and father that he beenmo demented, and continued so to the end of liis life. Three of tho daughters lived and died with the Shakers. The others left at different times and had families. The eldest son removed to Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where ho had a large family. The second son went to Whitestown, now New Hartford, New York, when that country was a wilderness; he also had a large family. The third son, Abram, remained at home, and in the ycars 1808-'9 built the hrick house near the site of the old one. His first wife was Polly Fletcher, of Westford ; the second Olive Adams, of Chelmsford. He was captain of a military company ; was a representative to the General Court several years in succession ; was a deacon of the First Church, town clerk, and held various civil offices.

"' Retracing our steps through the village we come to the house where Levi Prescott recently died, now occupied hy liis son, Nelson L. Pres- cott. Here was formerly a house inhabited hy Jonas Prescott, great- grandfather of Levi. He had threo wives and nine children. Passing toward Graniteville, at the railroad crossing was the old school-house of the village. Where the poor house now stands was an old house owned and occupied by Dea. John Prescott, son of Jonas, above named, who exchanged property with John Read, and Read sold it to the town. Next was an old house at David Reed's, owned hy Timothy Prescott, also son of the ahove Jonas, and afterward occupied by his two sons, Isaiah and Amos.

" 'Ahout fifty five years ago Forge Village was in a very prosperous condition. It had a store, hotel, three iron forges, two blacksmith's shops, two wool-carding machines, oue clothier's mill, a grist-mill, and a wheelwright's shop, all located near the new worsted-mill.'

" To these interesting statements of Captain Lawrence, it is pertinent to add that this village is situated ou one of the great thoroughfares of travel from Vermont to Boston. The great road, as it was called, from Bellows Falls to Boston, passed through Groton to Groton Ridges, where there was a choice of routes to Boston, one road leading through Forge Village, Carlisle, Bedford and Lexington, the other through Littletou, Acton and Concord. As all merchandise was theu transported in heavy wagons drawn by horses or oxen, the amount of travel on hoth roads was very great. One man now living says he has counted seventy teams in a line on the road through Forge Village; and another affirms that he has seen a hundred teams on the road in the south part of the town.

" There were numerous taverns in town to accommodate the wayfarers, five or six in all. They preferred the route on which they found the hest entertainment. In winter, when the snow was deep, the people, encouraged and rewarded (with plenty of the 'good creature,' it is said), turned out to make a path for the teams ; and there was a strong com- petition hetween the people living on the two routes for the travel. Sometimes tho party from Westford would reach the tavern at Groton Ridges by dayhreak, and thus tempt the snowhound teamsters through this town. Taverns were kept at Forge Village, at the house now occu- pied by Capt. Jacoh Smith, at George Yapp's house, Henry P. Ruggles' house and at Dupee's Corner. Among thie landlords, whose names are remembered, are Willard Reed, who was at Capt. Smith's, and after him Joseph Bailey ; Seth Reed at Mr. Yapp's, and Timothy Hartwell, who came from Concord, and was the last one in the business there. He sold to Leonard L. Gibson. John Raymond and Josiah Ilayward, who came from Concord, were on the Ruggles place; and Solomon Woods, Sammel Wright, Josiah Boynton, Samuel Lancy and William Dupee (from Dedham) were at Dupee's Corner. These are only a few of the men who were in that husiness. A living witness testifies that he has known seventy or seventy-five teams to 'put up' for the night at the three taverns severally called Reed's, Raymond's and Hartwell's. The times are changed, and the wayside inn is rapidly hecoming a thing of the past in this Commonwealth."

In looking over some old records at Forge Village the following papers were found, which are, perhaps, of sufficient interest to be recorded here. One reads thus :

"Province of the Massachusetts Bay. In the House of Ropresenta- tives, Sept. 10th, 1730 :- A Petition of Jonas Prescott, Ehenezer Prescott, Ahner Keut, and Ebenezer Townsend, Inhabitants of the 'l'own of Gro- ton, Praying that they and their Estates contained in the following Boundaries, viz., Beginning at the North West Corner of Stonoy Brook Pond, from thence extending to the North West Corner of Westford,

commonly called Tyng's Corner, & bounded Sontherly hy said Pond, may be set off to the Town of Westford for thelr greater convenience in attending the publick Worship. Read & Ordered with the Petition within naned with their Estates, according to the hounds recited, be and hereby are to all intents and purposes set off from the Town of Groton and annexed to the Town of Westford. True Extract from the Records of the Geul Court. Attest,

" JOHN AVERY, D. Sect."

Another paper reads :

"At a Town-meeting Novr. 19th, 1673. By the agreement of the Town, Jonas Prescott is to grind the Town Coru for the Town every second day and cvery sixth day in, every week. A true Copy from the hook of Re- cords for Groton.

"Attest OLIVER PRESCOTT, Town Clerk."

[Of course this was the set off.]

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 164

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226