History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 209

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 209

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Mr. Tuttle consulted with Hon. George W. San- derson, Mr. Gardner Prouty, Mr. Shattuck Hartwell and Mr, Nelson B. Conant, who held several meetings in regard to the matter and communicated with the unknown gentleman through Mr. Tuttle. Before mat- ters were in shape to lay before the town, Mr. Tuttle

was taken sick with what proved to be his final ill- ness, and in the latter part of the winter the people of this town mourned in his death the loss of a highly respected and valued citizen. Before his death he communicated to Mr. Nelson B. Conant his son-in- law the name of the gentleman making the offer and negotiations were then carried on through Mr. Conant.

After deciding on a plan to propose, a citizens' meeting was called for Monday afternoon, March 23, 1885, at which time the donor's offer and conditions were announced as follows : $10,000 to be appropri- ated by the town, $2500 to be raised by subscription, $10,000 to be given by a party (his name to be un- known), on condition that the library be called the Reuben Hoar Library, and that $5000 be invested in books, and $5000 be invested and kept as a fund of which the interest to be expended yearly in books to replenish the library.

None of the gift of $10,000 to be expended on the building. The books to be kept insured by the town and all expenses attending the running of the library paid by the town.

The library and its funds to be in charge of seven trustees, viz. : the pastor of the Unitarian Church and one layman, the pastor of the Orthodox Church and one layman, the pastor of the Baptist Church and one layman ; one of the selectmen.

The plan proposed by the gentlemen who called the meeting, that is the conference committee, was to accept the offer and to build, with the $10,000 to be appropriated by the town, a town-hall and library building combined.

Some opposition was manifested, as many desired to see the plan modified so that the town would not be required to expend so much money on a building, but the plan of the conference committee was carried out and resolutions favoring the acceptance of the offer were adopted.

The committee and others then began a canvass for subscriptions toward the $2500 to be raised in that way, and after sufficient progress had been made a town-meeting was held in Central Hall, Monday, June 8, 1885, to see if the town would accept the con- ditions of the gift and appropriate money for building a hall and library and other matters connected with the matter. After considerable opposition the offer and conditions were accepted and a building com- inittee chosen consisting of Gardner Prouty, Joseph A. Priest, George W. Sanderson, Edward Frost and Herbert J. Harwood, with instructions to report plans and location for a building at an adjourned meeting two weeks later. At that time the committee reported in favor of the location opposite the Unitarian Church, and showed sketches by Hartwell & Richard- son, architects.

The report was accepted and it was to build, and $10,000 appropriated.

The committee then went to work, but care and caution marked its proceedings, which were also pro-

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tracted by financial difficulties of the general con- tractor, so that it was two years before the building was completed and furnished.

For furnishing, the town made a further appropria- tion, which brought the cost of the building up to $11,000 or thereabouts.

The building was dedicated July 28, 1887, with an oration by ex-Governor John D. Long, addresses by Hon. George S. Boutwell and Hon. Charles H. Allen, a letter from the founder of the Reuben Hoar Library, and other appropriate exercises.

The founder wrote as follows :

" About fifty years ago a resident of Littleton became involved and was obliged to fail in business.

"Reuben Hoar being his largest creditor was made assignee. After looking over the assets and finding that if sufficient time was given they might realize just about enough to pay the debts in full, Mr. Hoar said to the man, 'I will make you my agent ; go on, collect and dis- tribute until you have paid all their just due, and if there is nothing left I will furnish you with capital to start again.'

"For some two years the business was managed with the most rigid economy, during which time Mr. Hoar proved wise in counsel and generous in help.

" When the estate had been settled, leaving a sufficient snrplus to pay Mr. Hoar his legal and proper commission as assignee, he refused all compensation.

" It is from the careful use of that small residne by two generations that the means have been acquired with which to found this Library in honor of Reuben Hoar. " By the donor."

In the mean time library trustees had been chosen on July 3, 1885, as follows : Rev. Robert G. Johnson, Rev. William I. Nichols, Rev. John C. Staples, Nelson B. Conant, Herbert J. Harwood, Hon. George W. Sanderson, Miss Hannah P. Dodge, who organized with Mr. Sanderson, chairman; Miss Dodge, secre- tary and Mr. Conant, treasurer; and proceeded to make a selection of books, and to invest the perma- nent fund. Miss Sarah F. White was chosen librarian, a position which she still honors.

After purchasing, classifying and arranging about 2200 volumes, the library was opened to the public a few days after the dedication of the building.

A printed catalogue was issued in December, 1889, and at that time the library had grown to about 4500 volumes. The benefits of the library are fully appre- ciated by the citizens of the town, and there are few people of eligible age who do not either take out books or frequent the periodical table, so that the total circulation of books is over 7000 a year in a population of 1000.

The library is open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and Saturday evenings. A fine oil por- trait of the late Reuben Hoar, in whose bonor the library was named, hangs upon the wall of the read- ing-room, the gift of his daughters,-Mrs. Adelbert Mead, of West Acton, and Mrs. Isaac Wright, of Har- vard.

The library also received a bequest of $1000 by the will of Augustus K. Fletcher, formerly of this town, and has also been favored with many gifts of books and some pictures, as well as a valuable manuscript collection of historical and genealogical matter be-

longing to the late Samuel Smith and given by his heirs.

The town is also the owner of five shares in the Boston Athenæum Library, presented many years ago by Dr. Shattuck, of Boston, a relative of the first minister of the town, by the use of which books can be taken out by Littleton people.

The three churches have each a library of Sunday- school books, and that of the Unitarian Church is also quite general in its character, and contains books for people of all ages.

Littleton is principally a farming town, but has at the depot village a factory for canning and pickling fruit and vegetables, operated by E. T. Cowdrey & Co., the plant being owned by a company of Littleto men. There are two saw and grist-mills owned'and operated by Fred C. Hartwell,-one at the depot and the other at the old Warren mill-site. At the Com- mon Village are located the factory for manufactur- ing elastic webs and suspenders and the apple evap- orator, both owned and operated by Conant & Houghton. Conant & Co. have stores at the Common and depot. Thacher & Hazen, a new firm, recently succeeding A. W. & W. H. Sawyer, at the depot and C. C. Hildreth at the Centre.

A few years since a large and costly brick factory was built near the depot by the Avery Lactate Co., for the manufacture, by a new process, of lactic acid, but the company failed and the building and machin- ery stand idle, having been sold for taxes.

About the time of the War of the Revolution there was a factory for dressing cloth on the brook near the house of Peter S. Whitcomb ; it was owned by a stock company, which had, in 1779, seventeen shareholders, mostly residents.

The population of Littleton in 1776 was 918; in 1860, 1063; and in 1885, 1067. The number of polls is 305 and the valuation $849,273.

The town has been represented in the State Senate by Rev. Edmund Foster, Hon. Jonathan Hartwell, Hon. Joseph A. Harwood and Hon. George W. San- derson, and in the Executive Council by Hon. Joseph A. Harwood.

The State engineer of the Hoosac Tunnel, com- pleted in 1875, was Benjamin D. Frost, of this town.

Taverns have been kept in Littleton by Samuel Hunt, probably near Peter S. Whitcomb's house, mention of which is made in the early records of meetings held there as early as 1722; also by one Lawrence, probably Samuel, in the south part of the town as early as 1768, in the house now occupied by David Hall, of which previous mention has been made ; by John Fox and after his death by his wife, in the Centre about the time of the French and Indian War; also by Capt. Leonard Whiting in the Centre, previous to the Revolution ; by William Henry Pren- tice, in the Centre, where Everett E. Kimball lives, during the Revolution ; by Samuel Gilbert and after- wards about the beginning of this century by Captain

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Kidder, at the Common, called the Tremont House, which stood where the Baptist parsonage now is- the building continued to be used as a hotel until it was struck by lightning and burned in 1845; by Simcon Proctor, where Solomon S. Flagg now lives; by Madison Loring, who succeeded Captain Kidder, at the Common, in the house afterwards occupied as a dwelling by the late John W. Adams; by Samuel Smith, on the spot where Albert F. Conant's house stands, and later, in the same building, by J. M. Col- burn, William Chamberlain, Boynton Needham and others, and last by George D. Brown, who owned the place when it was burned, in 1878, but had not kept it open to the public for several years previous.

William L. Mitchel now keeps a public-house at the Common and has for several years.

As before stated, the earliest cemetery in town was at Nashoba, and was plowed up a number of years ago. The second and oldest of the two present ceme- teries, the one at the Common, was laid out in 1721 and is described as having for its "East Corner an oak tree by King St. so called." The other cemetery was purchased in 1801, but was used only for the inter- ment of paupers until the year 1812.

The following epitaphs are to be found in the old cemetery at the Common :-

" Memento Mori.

Here lies the Body of Dr. Enoeh Dole, of Lancaster, Æ 33 yrs. 5 mos. & 3 days, he unfortunately fell with 3 others ye 0th of Mar, 1776, by a cannon Ball from our cruel & unnatural Foes ye British Troops while on his Duty on Dorchester Point.

No warning giv'n Unceremonious fate ! A sudden rush from life's meridian joys ! A wrench from all we are from all we love, What a eliange from yesterday ! Thy darling hope so near (Long labored prize), Oh, how ambition finshed Thy glowing cheek-ambition truly great Of virtuous praise ;

And Oh ! ye last (what can word express thought reach), ye last, last silenee of a friend.

Meaning his entrance into Boston which so soon took Place & on which his heart was much set."

" IIere lyes the hody of Isaae Powers, One of those sweet and pleasant flowers, Who in his Lifetime Lived well, But God did toll his mournful bell ; Let this be a eall unto the rest When God doth take from us tho best Who was a pattern to us all. But God ean give a loudor call All earthly parents now bohold ; The price of Grace is more than gold. Prepare to meet your children first At the Resurrection of the Just. Who died December 15, 1729, iu the 20th year of his age."

." Affliction sore, long time I hore Physicians was in vain, Till God did please And Death did soize To ease me of my pain."

" As you are uow, so once was I, Rejoicing in my bloom, As I am now, you soon must be, Dissolving in the tomb."

" Present useful Absent wanted, Lived desired And died lamented."

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HON. JOSEPH ALFRED HARWOOD.

In Littleton the number of old families living on farms which have been handed down from sire to son for many generations is remarkable, and among the oldest is the Harwood family, of which Hon. Joseph A. Harwood is the head.

Nathaniel Harwood, of English origin, was living in Boston in 1655, whence he removed to Concord. From there his son Peter and grandson, Captain Jo- seph Harwood, moved to Littleton and bought in 1737 the estate upon which the family now live.

Their first residence was in a lot since grown up to woods near the new road to Newtown from Littleton depot, and some half-mile east of Mr. Harwood's house.

The cellar-hole may yet be seen and the old well filled with stones, while a short distance away is a finespring which comes up through a hollow log set in the ground no doubt some 150 years ago. About 1754 a house was built near the present one by Captain Jo- seph Harwood, and his son, Captain Joseph Harwood, Jr., then a young man, set out the elm trees, of which two large ones are still standing, and under which Mr. Harwood's grandchildren, the seventh genera- tion on the place, to-day play.

The Harwoods have always been prominent in town affairs, and have been pioneers in all movements of reform and improvement.

Colonel Nahum Harwood, the father of the subject of this sketch, was one of the first Abolitionists, and a co-worker with Garrison and Phillips. He was also one of the projectors of the Fitchburgh Railroad. His wife, Mrs. Sophia Kimball Harwood, who lived to the advanced age of a few days less than ninety- four years, used to relate many incidents of the olden time, among them how she wore crape, when a girl, for the death of George Washington, reminiscences of the last slave owned by the Harwood family, etc.

The old house above referred to as built in 1754, was destroyed by fire in 1874, together with a great number of relics and heirlooms.

It was one of those substantial square white houses, with an immense chimney in the centre, standing un- der the broad elms on the sunny southern slope of a hill, the style of house which, though now becoming

RESIDENCE OF HON. J. A. HARWOOD, LITTLETON, MASSACHUSETTS.

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scarce, has always been the typical New England farm-house.

From its windows were seen the smoke of the burn- ing of Charlestown and the battle of Bunker Hill, and in its cellar the frightened inhabitants took ref- uge during the "dark day" of 1780. Many slaves were born and raised in the house, but the slavery was never like the Southern slavery, and the Har- woods were among the first Abolitionists.

Here was born Joseph Alfred Harwood, March 26, 1827. He attended the district school and afterward the academies at Westford, Groton, and Exeter, New Hampshire. It was intended to send him to college, but his father dying when he was fifteen years old, he came home to take charge of the farm.

Many old heads predicted failure for a boy with a large farm on his hands, and a fondness for fine horses and cattle, but the boy had a level head and managed well. He made many improvements on the farm " making two blades of grass grow where one grew be- fore," draining old bogs and making them produce, heavy crops of fine English hay, plowing up huckle- berry pastures and planting orchards, and similar things. Meantime he paid his bills, rent and interest on the portions of the farm belonging to the other heirs, and finally bought and paid for the whole. He found time to teach school for a number of winters, and was noted for his good discipline, and the ease with which he maintained it. A school in a neigh- boring town, containing a number of full-grown schol- ars, men in size, who had driven away two or three teachers, and vowed vengeance on the next who . should come, was turned over to Mr. Harwood, when he was only seventeen years of age, to complete a term. He held his place without resorting to harsh measures, and left the school orderly, obedient and respectful.

The stock on Mr. Harwood's farm has always, since under his management, been of the best. He intro- duced among his cattle the first thoroughbred animals ever brought into Littleton, and by frequent additions of new blood has not only improved his own herd, but the stock on all the neighboring farms. He devoted himself almost exclusively to agriculture until 1868, when, in partnership with his younger brother, Na- hum, under the name of J. A. & N. Harwood, he commenced the manufacture of leather board, their factory being at North Leominster, on the Nashua River, and their salesroom in Boston. The great Boston fire of November, 1872, found the firm mov- ing a large stock of goods from one store to another ; both were burned, but by good fortune and good judgment combined-for they always go together- their insurance was divided among a number of out- of-town companies and was all good.

During the panic of 1873 the firm stood its ground, while many of its neighbors succumbed.

On April 1, 1884, the Leominster factory was de- stroyed by fire, causing a loss to the firm and a fur-

ther indirect loss by crippling the business during rebuilding, but by good management all liabilities were promptly met and the business continued. A fine new factory was built, the firm was made into a corporation under Massachusetts laws, by the name of the Harwood Manufacturing Company, and has continued the same business, branching out somewhat in the manufacture of patent fibre chair-seats and chairs, and settees for churches, theatres and halls. Joseph A. Harwood is president and treasurer.

In all matters, both of public and private business, Mr. Harwood's policy has been liberal and expan- sive, encouraging all improvements such as new roads, public buildings or any project which will increase the business and prosperity of his town, and also in the improvement and adornment of his estate. After the old house was burned he built a large and ele- gant new one on the top of the hill, a few rods from where the old one stood. The wood-cut opposite gives an accurate idea of the house and surroundings. The view from the house in all directions is very fine, covering the park with its walks, drives and ponds, all planned and laid out by Mr. Harwood, who is in- teusely fond of landscape gardening, beyond which the eye passes over a large expanse of hills and valleys to Mounts Wachusett, Monadnock, Watatick and the Peterboro' hills.

Mr. Harwood has in his farm about 240 acres, a considerable part of which he has added within a few years by the purchase of land extending in the direc- tion of Littleton depot, on which is located the United States Cattle Quarantine Station, which was moved from Waltham in 1885, as a result of his efforts and against much political opposition stimulated by those who wanted it elsewhere.

Mr. Harwood was postmaster of Littleton for about twenty years, and during the greater part of the time accommodated the citizens by sending the mail at his own expense to sub-offices at the Centre and Old Common, previous to the establish- ing of a regular office at Littleton Common. Through his influence a telegraph office was established in con- nection with the post-office, which could be done only in that way, and by his bearing a part of the expense of a clerk for both offices.

In 1873 Governor Washburn appointed Mr. Har- wood on his staff, and he was re-appointed by Lieut. Governor Talbot when acting Governor for the unex- pired term after the election of Governor Washburn to the United States Senate. Col. Harwood was elected to the State Senate in 1875 and re-elected the following year and was an active, practical and influential legislator. He served in his first year as chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, and also on the Committees on Agriculture, and on En- grossed Bills, and in the following year was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and a member of the Committee on Public Charitable Institutions.

An important matter that was carried through the

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Senate largely through his influenee and efforts was the building of the State Prison at Coneord. During his second terni occurred the celebration of the Lex- ington and Concord Centennials, and Mr. Harwood was made chairman of the joint special committee having the whole matter in charge for the Legisla- ture, ineluding the entertainment of President Grant and his eabinet.

General Grant, on his return to Washington, wrote him an autograph letter as follows :-

" EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Apl. 27, 1875.

" IION. J. A. HARWOOD, Chairman Legislative Committee.

" Dear Col. :- Permit me through you-the chairman of the con- mittee of the Mass. Legislature, appointed to meet the Cabinet and myself on the occasion of the late centennial celebration of the bat- tles of Concord-Lexington, and convey to us the invitation of the State to be its guests for the time- to tender my tbanks, and the tbanks of the accompanying Cabinet Ministers for the courtesies received from bis' Excellency the Governor of the state, and staff, your committee and citizens generally. Nothing was left undone to make our sbort stay in the state most pleasant. With great respect,

" Your obt. svt., " U. S. GRANT."

At the expiration of Mr. Harwood's second term in the Senate, he was elected to the Executive Couneil from the Sixth Councilor District, and served in that eapaeity three years-the first two in Governor Riee's and the last in Governor Talbot's.

The first year he was on the Committees on Par- dons, on Penal Institutions, on Military Affairs and chairman of the Committee on Accounts; in the two succeeding years he was on the two first-named eom- mittees, also on the Committee on Railroads and the Hoosae Tunnel, and chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs. During his third year he was one of the senior members of the Council and was con- sidered Governor Talbot's right-hand man in that ad- ministration, which has been celebrated for its careful and business-like management and strict integrity.

In 1879 and again in 1882, Mr. Harwood was a prominent candidate for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant-Governor, and in the convention of the former year received 181 votes and of the latter 283.

He has always been a staunch Republiean, and prides himself on having invariably voted the straight tieket in both State and national affairs.

In his whole career, both in business and politics, determined persistence has marked his course and has been the cause of his success.

He is now president and treasurer of the Harwood Manufacturing Company, president of the Live Stock Insurance Company, director in the Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association of New York, trustee of the New England Agricultural Society, trustee of the Middlesex Agricultural Society, trustee of Westford Academy and trustee of the Massaeliusetts Agricultu- ral College. He has always been an active member of the Unitarian Society and Church, and was at one time a president of the North Middlesex Conferenee.

In personal appearance Mr. Harwood is tall, with

iron gray hair and beard, a full face and a sharp eye ; he walks with a long stride and very fast. He is very eordial in manner and makes and holds many friends.

In 1852 Mr. Harwood married Luey Maria Hart- well, of Littleton, daughter of Hon. Jonathan and Elizabeth Briard (Walker) Hartwell.

Two sons have been born to them-Herbert Joseph, who graduated from Harvard College in 1877, and is now associated with his father in business, also, with his wife and five children, living with his father and mother at the old place, and Edward Alfred, who died in infaney.

WILLIAM KIMBALL.

William Kimball, son of Deaeon James and Rachel Hartwell, Kimball was born in Littleton December 6, 1817. The greater part of his life was spent in his native town, in which, for about twenty years of his early manhood, he kept a store, and during a portion of this time was postmaster. For many years lie was justice of the peace. In 1845 he married Mary Adams Lawrenee. Of their six children, four -survive,- George A., William L., Myron A. and Mrs. Mary K. Harlow, the first and last living in Somerville, Mass., William L. and Myron A. residing in Littleton.

At the semi-centennial of the church of which Mr. Kimball had been a member, his pastor, in alluding to him, said : " His pleasant countenance was an in- spiration."

The following resolution from the town records shows the esteem in which he was held by the eiti- zens :

" Resolved: That in the lamented death of William Kimball we greatly mourn our loss of an exemplary and honored citizen, an experienced, efficient and upright official. Living most of his life of sixty-six years in his native town, by his sterling traits of character, his kindly spirit, his babitual courtesy, his modest manliness, his firm principles and proved integrity, his genuine and ready support of the public interests, and his earnest, simple, Christian faith and life, he gained and held the confidence and esteem of his townsmen, as shown in the continuous and unanimous choice of him to be their town clerk for more than a quarter of a century."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 209

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