History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 103

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 103

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Another pewter flagon was found in a distant town, the owner having purchased it of a tin-peddler nearly fifty years ago. Its existence having become known to persons here it was purchased and is now in the possession of John M. Batchelder. It is inscribed, " The gift of the town of Sherbourn to the church in Holliston, a memorial of friendship, Anno Dom. 172%."

The condition of Dr. Tucker's health obliged him to ask for a dismission in 1867, and he gave a fare- well discourse on the 31st day of March. This ser- mon was printed and contains many facts of historical

value, relating to the church. Although he termi- nated his duties at that time, the formal act of dis- mission was not performed until the following November, by the same council which ordained his successor. He afterwards served as pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Chicopee, for about ten years, and has, since 1877, devoted his time to literary work. Hle has resided in Dorchester and in Andover, Mass., and is at present in the latter town.

Rev. William H. Savage was the tenth pastor of this church. He was born in Woolwich, Me., and graduated at Bowdoin College in 1858. He became Professor of Mathematics in Delaware College in 1859. He enlisted in the Seventeenth Maine Regi- ment in 1862, and was appointed captain of Company A, serving in the Army of the Potomac. He after- wards studied divinity at Andover, and was ordained minister of the church at Holliston, November 7, 1867. Rev. Professor Park, of' Andover, delivered the sermon, and Dr. Tucker gave the address to the peo- ple. Mr. Savage's pastorate continued but little more than two years, and was the shortest of any of the ministers of this church, whereas Dr. Tucker's was the longest since the time of Mr. Dickenson. Sub- stantial additions were made to the church, however, forty-one new members being admitted, one of whom, F. A. Warfield, soon commenced preparation for the ministry, and has since been pastor of Union Church, in Boston. He is now at Brockton, Mass.

Late in the year 1869, on account of the health of himself and family, Mr. Savage asked for a dismis- sion, which was granted December 30th of that year. He afterwards served as pastor of the Congregational Church in Jacksonville, Ill., and of the Unitarian Church in Leominster, Mass. He is now in the Uni- tarian Church at Watertown, Mass.

Ile was succeeded by Rev. Henry S. Kelsey, who was installed October 13, 1870, Rev. Jacob M. Manning, D.D., of the Old South Church in Boston, preaching the installation sermon.

"Mr. Kelsey was born at Evans Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y., graduated at Amherst College in 1855, and studied theology at the seminaries in New York City and East Windsor, Conn. Before entering the ministry he taught several years in Amherst College, and was professor in Beloit College, Wisconsin. He was ordained at Granby, Mass., in October, 1863, and installed at Rockville, Conn., in 1866."

In the year 1872, at the suggestion of Mr. Kelsey, the new parsonage was built-in part by subscription and in part by a portion of the Eames Ministerial Fund-and the deed was made to the trustees of that Fund. This bequest was made by Captain Aaron Eames, a member of the church and a resident of the north part of Holliston (now within the bounds of Ashland), who died about 1824. His farm and other property, to the amount of seven or eight thousand dollars, were given "to the Parochial part of the. town," for the support of evangelical preaching. The

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first trustees, chosen in a town-meeting in September, 1824, were Captain Samuel Bullard, Captain Abner Johnson, Dr. Timothy Fisk, Mr. Charles Marsh and Mr. James Cutler. They were directed to "draw a petition requesting the General Court, at their next session, to incorporate them into a body politic for the purpose mentioned above." Vacancies in this board are filled by vote of the parish.

Mr. Kelsey remained but a few months longer than his predecessor. Having received an invitation from another church, he asked to be released from his en- gagement here, and was dismissed March 6, 1873. He was installed at Woburn, Massachusetts, soon after, and has since acted as pastor of a church in New Haven, Connecticut.

The twelfth minister was Rev. George M. Adams (afterwards D.D.). He was installed September 1I, 1873, Rev. Edmund K. Alden, D.D., of South Boston, delivering the sermon. Rev. Dr. Tucker, Rev. Mr. Kelsey and Rev. Dr. Dowse, of Sherborn, took parts in the ceremony, the latter assisting for the fifth time in settling a pastor over this church. Dr. Adams was born in Castine, Maine, was educated at Gorham A cad- emy, Gorham, Maine, and at Bowdoin College, where he graduated in 1844. He has been for several years a member of the Board of Examiners of that college. He studied theology at Bangor, Maine, Halle and Berlin, Germany, and Andover, Massachusetts. He was or- dained at Conway, Massachusetts, September 18, 1851, and was installed pastor of the Congregational Church in that town. He remained there until 1863, when he became pastor of the North Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, serving in that office until 1871. He then made an extensive tour in the Holy Land with his family. After his return he was installed pastor of the church in Holliston, as above noted.

In 1852 he married Miss Sarah Hills Crosby, of Bangor, Maine, who died in 1859. In 1862 Miss Lonisa Lord Dana, of Brookline, Massachusetts, be- came his wife. Dr. Adams is a very able man and possessed the respect and esteem not only of his own people, but of all the inhabitants of Holliston ; and it was with great regret that they learned of his decision to withdraw from the parish and the town.

He served for twelve years on the School Committee of this town, much of the time as chairman; and his removal was a great loss to the cause of education. He was also one of the trustees of the Public Library from its foundation until the year 1889; and his por- trait still looks upon the scene of his labors there, in which he took so much interest. Dr. Adams was dis- missed from the care of this church April I, 1889, but continued to supply the pulpit until May Ist.

Of his writings there have been printed an histor- ical discourse delivered July, 1871, at the two hun- dredth anniversary of the North Church, Portsmouth, New Hampshire ; and an historical discourse delivered at the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Congregational Church at Holliston.

Dr. Adams has, since his removal, resided at Au- burndale, Massachusetts, and Castine, Maine.

In July, 1890, the church and the parish each voted to invite Rev. Frank I. Wheat, of Franklin, N. Y., to settle here as the pastor. He was ordained and installed the thirteenth pastor by a council of clergy- men of this Conference, September 11, 1890. Rev. A. E. Dunning, D.D., of Boston, delivered the ser- mon, and Rev. L. R. Eastman, of Framingham, Rev. Dr. G. M. Adams, the predecessor of Mr. Wheat, and Rev. Dr. Dowse, of Sherborn, were among those who took parts in the service. The fine music added much to the interest of the occasion. It was rendered by a large choir, under the direction of Mrs. S. C. Stoddard, musical director, Miss M. S. White, organist, and Mrs. C. F. Thayer, soloist.

Mr. Wheat was born in Franklin, N. Y., in 1862. He was educated in the schools of the town, in Wil- liams College and Boston University, where he grad- uated in 1889. He studied theology also in Boston University and graduated in June, 1890. While a student he served as pastor of a church in North Bev- erly, Mass., for two years. He is the youngest pastor ever installed in this church.

A Society of "Christian Endeavor" is connected with this church and numbers about fifty members. The Sunday-school was first permanently organized during the pastorate of Rev. Josephus Wheaton. Deacon Timothy Rockwood was the first superintend- ent and the number of scholars was between forty and fifty. The first meeting-house was a very plain structure, without steeple or spire, and had a strong resemblance externally to a country school-house of the olden time, except that its dimensions were great- er. " In the year 1787 the meeting-house was enlarged according to the following votes :- ' Voted that there be an addition made to the meeting-house by putting fourteen feet into the middle.' 'Voted to build a Porch in the front of said house with two pairs of stairs in the same to go into the Galleries.' The gal- lery stairs up to this time had been in the audience- room, at each side, about one-fourth the distance from the rear of the church to the pulpit. It was voted to have the house painted inside and out, the outside to he an orange color, the inside to be a stone color. It was also 'Voted to appropriate the two seats in the front Gallery, on the Women's side, to the use of the singers.' 'Voted that Lieut. Josiah Hemenway, Sylvanus Johnson, Ensign Nathaniel Johnson, Ebenezer Littlefield and Isaac Foster be Quiristers.' These votes contain the first reference 1 have found to singing in the meeting-house in either town or church records." 1

When the new church was built in 1823, a bell of 1600 pounds weight, cast by Holbrook, of East Med- way, was placed in it; and this was the first church bell in town. The inscription on the bell reads: " I

1 George M. Adams, D.D., sermon before quoted.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to the church the living call, and to the grave do sum- mon all."

When this building was dedicated, Mr. Wheaton says in his sermon, " There is a propriety therefore in erecting suitable houses of worship when circum- stances require. It is not necessary to wait until the house is ready to crumble into ruins. In such circumstances, when it becomes old and incom- modious, it is proper that a new house should be erected and in a style corresponding with the dignity of the purpose for which it is designed." The church clock on the interior gallery was the gift of Nathaniel Johnson, Esq .; the tower clock was purchased by the society.

The old meeting-house was taken down and the materials sold in parcels at auction. The broad pine panels which formed the front of the singers' gallery were bought by the late James White, father of Wil- liam White, and were placed on the side of a room in a new house which he built about that time. It is said that the central panel had painted on it the date of the completion of the meeting-house, 1728, the date of its enlargement, and a much earlier date, probably that of the first settlement of the town. "But in an evil hour for our interests," says Dr. Adams, " an over-tidy servant scrubbed off the time- worn figures and left the panel clean."

Mr. White also bought the broad door-stone of the church, some five and a half feet square, and cutting it in the middle, made two stones for the entrances to his house.

The meeting-house was refitted and painted in 1845, and in 1850 it was repaired and enlarged by cutting it in the middle and inserting a piece of suffi- cient length to allow the building of four additional pews in each row, or twenty-four pews in all. The chandelier was the gift of Elial Littlefield.

Since the remodeling of the edifice in 1859, already noticed, the church is in the highest degree conven- ient for every religious and social meeting which it is desired to hold there.

In the year 1831 publie worship was commenced in the Town Hall by persons of the Methodist faith, and a church was organized, Rev. Jonathan Cady being the first minister. " From an early date," says Rev. Dr. Dowse, "there were some citizens of the town who belonged to this denomination, and these were increased by the influx of population from abroad, so that it was deemed expedient to organize a separate religious enterprise. The society was small and fee- ble at first, but it has grown in numbers and wealth until it long since has not only become a fixed fact, but a great moral and Christian force in the commu- nity."

The first sermon preached by a Methodist minister was delivered by Rev. Mr. Bonsil in 1794, in the barn of Mr. Ebenezer Cutler, and others followed occasion- ally; but some persons had previously attended ser- vices at Hayden Row in Hopkinton, near the borders

of Holliston. The meeting-house was built here in 1833 and dedicated September 18th of that year. It was repaired and remodeled in 1874 and rededicated February 3, 1875. The society was incorporated, ac- cording to law, December 27, 1850. There have been altogether thirty-four pastors to this church, whose times of service have varied from a few months to three years. The present incumbent is Rev. John H. Emerson. The present parsonage, which is con- venient to the church, was purchased in 1850; but there was a parsonage before that time, on Norfolk Street, built about 1848, chiefly through the efforts of Jonathan Cutler, Esq. There has been a Sabbath- school connected with the church from the begin- ning. It then numbered fifty scholars and the first superintendent was I. G. Rawson. The superintend- ent now, in 1890, is D. C. Mowry and nearly 150 per- sons attend it. An auxiliary society for Christian effort is the Epworth League, consisting of fifty-five members in its adult branch and thirty-five in the junior branch.

May 31, 1836, sixteen persons were legally organized as the Universalist Society of Holliston. This society at first held its services in the town-hall. Two years after its organization a meeting-house was built, which was dedicated January 9, 1839. In 1854 it was raised up and stores were built under it. The society was served by seven ministers during the twenty-four years of its regular existence which terminated in 1860. Services have, however, been held since that date, and are still conducted in 1890. The Baptist Society occupied their meeting-house from 1864 until the close of the year 1867, when their own vestry was ready for use. In 1867 the Univer- salist Society 'voted to sell their meeting-house, and it came into the possession of the Catholic Society. They held it until 1870, when it was moved away, and the land was used. by the latter society as a site for their new church. The Universalist Society has lately been re-incorporated, and holds service every Sunday afternoon in Reform Club Hall, gen- erally conducted by a clergyman from the Milford Church.

The Baptist Society was formed in 1860. It held its first public religious meeting in the town-hall on February 12th and the church was organized on the 28th day of the following August, a council being convened at that time. It consisted of nineteen members. The first preacher was Rev. J. D. E. Jones, of Worcester, and Rev. B. A. Edwards (1860) was the first regular supply. Revs. J. L. A. Fish, Geo. W. Holman, R. G. Johnson, A. A. Bennett, F. L. Sullivan, E. L. Scott and E. D. Bowers have followed him, and the present pastor, in 1890, is Rev. M. N. Reed, installed in 1889.

The society continued to hold services in the low- er town-hall until 1864, when it hired and occupied the meeting-house of the Universalist Society until 1867. They commenced to build a new meeting-

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house in 1866, and on December 29, 1867, the first service was held in the vestry. Work was continued on the house amid the difficulties incident to the be- ginning of a new enterprise, and it was finally com- pleted, and was dedicated January 26, 1870. It is a commodious and tasteful building. The church and society are now well established and their future is promising. The Sunday-school was organized February 20, 1860, with nineteen members, A. G. Fitch being the superintendent. The membership in 1890 is 142, and the present superintendent is George W. Leland. A Society of Christian Endeavor is connected with the parish.

This church celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of its foundation on the 10th day of September, 1890. The event had been anticipated with pleasurable ex- pectations, and they were fully realized.

" In response to invitations, past pastors, former resident members and the local members assem- bled in the main audience-room, together with the general public, to unite in celebrating the attain- ment of thirty years of church prosperity. The auditorium was finely decorated, a motto ' 1860-1890 ' being conspicuously displayed on the wali. An ad- dress of welcome was given by the pastor, Rev. M. N. Reed, a most graceful and fitting prelude to the exercises of the day. Rev. A. A. Bennett, of Japan, and Rev. E. D. Bowers, of Sharon, represented the former pastors, and gave pleasing reminiscences of their counection with the church, and congratula- tions at the present and prospective prosperity of the society."1 Letters were read from other pastors and friends. Rev. A. A. Bennett presented the church with portraits of Rev. F. L. Sullivan, Rev. E. L. Scott, Rev. E. D. Bowers and Rev. M. N. Reed, the gift of W. H. Clark. These, in addition to the portraits already possessed by the church, make the collection complete. A fitting response was made by George W. Leland, in behalf of the church. A social evening was passed in the vestry, where old friend- ships were renewed, and memories of former days were recalled. The music was fine, and appropriate to the occasion, under the direction of E. W. Colburn. Prof. G. F. Rice presided at the new and excellent organ, which had recently been obtained. Altogether it was a red-letter day for this prosperous society.

An Episcopal society was formed in Holliston in 1864, Rev. Benjamin T. Cooley being the first rector. When public services first commenced, there was but one communicant in the town ; but after five years or a little more, when the services were discontinued, there were about forty members. They worshipped in the lower town-hall. The society purchased of the towu a lot of land on Mt. Hollis, and laid the founda- tion for a church, but they never reached a condition when they could erect a building. In the great fire in May, 1875, the records of the society, together with

a silver communion service, the gift of Bishop Huntington to the church, were destroyed. The parish still has a legal existence, and the meeting of the wardens and vestry is held annually. Occasional services are also held.

Catholic services had been held in the town-hall for a considerable time, conducted by priests from neighboring parishes, when in the year 1870 a new parish was formed, and Rev. R. J. Quinlan was appointed rector. He has remained in that position to the present day, and a large church has been gathered from the population of this and the neighboring towns. As before stated, this society purchased the old meeting-house of the Universalist Society ; and in 1873 they commenced the erection of a church-building on that lot. Services were first held on Christmas of that year, in the vestry, before the completion of the church. It has since been completed and is a substantial edifice, well adapted to the wants of the parish. A Sunday-school, of which the rector is superintendent, is connected with the church. Rev. Mr. Quinlan has for several years been a member of the School Committee.

The permanent physicians of Holliston have been few in number. During many early years of its his- tory the people were probably served by physicians from neighboring towns, and after 1772, Dr. Jonathan Tay (familiarly called Dr. Toy), who lived in Sher- born, not far from the IIolliston line, included this town in his circuit. He lived until 1827.

The first regularly educated physician who settled here was Timothy Fisk, M.D., a graduate of IHarvard College in 1801. He was born in Holliston, Novem- ber 3, 1778, the tenth child of David and Sarah (Bul- lard) Fisk, and a descendaut of John and Lydia (Adams) Fisk, who came from Watertown to Sher- born (now Holliston) soon after the year 1700. Dr Fisk commenced the practice of medicine in his na- tive town, and for about sixty years was the valued and trusted physician of a large number of inbabit- ants. He was a man of the highest character and a valuable member of the community. "For forty years," says Walker, " he was a member of the Con- gregational Church and one of its most faithful sup- porters. He died suddenly in his chair, dressed as for his usual duties, December 17, 1863, from conges- tion of the lungs. His funeral was largely attended, and his name will live in grateful and endeared re- membrance." He married Rhoda, daughter of Isaialı and Abigail Daniels, of Medway. They had five children, of whom two survived their father, Frederick and Ferdinand.

Sewall G. Burnap, M.D., was also a prominent physician and citizen of the town. He was born in Temple, N. H., March 12, 1802, studied med- icine at Dartmouth College and graduated in 1826. He settled at once in IIolliston and practiced here for forty-eight years. He was an excellent physi- cian, and possessed the esteem and attachment of

1 J. F. Fiske, in the Milford News.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

his patients. Ile had also a good standing among his brothers In the profession, and at one time served as president of the Middlesex South District Medical Society. He was also several times appoint- ed in his turn a counsellor of the Massachusetts Med- ical Society, and occupied that place at the time of his death. To him the present writer is much in- lehted for counsel and advice in the earlier years of his practice.

Dr. Burnap was a prominent and useful citizen and highly respected by his townsmen ; was for many years a member of the Congregational Church, and was a director of the Hollistoo Bank from its forma- tion. Hle died October 16, 1874. Not long after com- ing to this town he was appointed postmaster, and held that office for sixteen or seventeen years, using the small building attached to his residence for that pur- pose. He married, in 1832, Betsy Brown, of Holliston, who died in 1851. He afterward married Elizabeth S. Blanchard, who still resides here. He left no children.

lliram Lake, M.D., has been a physician in Holliston for forty-four years and has enjoyed a large practice. He was born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, August 25, 1820, and was educated in the public schools of that town and in the academy at Providence, R. I., where he was prepared for admission to the Medical College. Ife graduated in medicine at the college in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1846, and settled here in the same year. He is a genial man, a good citizen and has identified his interests with those of his adopted town. In addition to his medical practice, in which he has seenred the regard and good will of his patients, Dr. Lake has filled many offices of a public character. Ile has for years been a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; treasurer of various temperance societies ; chairman and secretary of the Board of Health for twenty years; and treasurer of the lodge of F. and A. Masons. He is a member of the Lodge and En- campment of the I. O. O. F., and is a trustee and au- ditor of the Holliston Savings Bank.

Charles C. Jewett, M.D., was born in South Ber- wick, Maine, in November, 1831, settled in Holliston as a physician about 1854, and practiced here about seven years. July 2, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry Volun- teers, and when the regiment was completed, he was made its surgeon. Hle afterwards served as surgeon- in-Chiefof the Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Army corps. Returning in 1864, he remained for a while in Boston and then resumed practice in Hollis- ton. But after a short residence he removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., and died in that city.

Charles E. Spring, M.D., was born in Grafton, Yt., November 19, 1812, and came to this town as a phy- sicinn in 1871. He was educated in the common schools and in Burr & Burton Seminary, at Manches- ter, Vt., and graduated at the Albany Medical Col- lege in 1864. He was then immediately appointed an

acting assisting surgeon U. S. A., and was stationed for about one year at Hampton Ilospital, Va. After the close of this service he settled as a physician at Jamaica, Vermont, where he remained until he re- moved to Holliston. While at Jamaica he married, in January, 1867, Viona M. Adams. They have had five children, of whom four are living. Dr. Spring has been highly successful as a physician, and holds a high rank as a citizen. Ile represented this district in the Legislatures of 1888 and 1889, has been a mem- ber of the Board of Health during nearly the whole time of his residence here, a member of the School Committee for about fourteen years and secretary of that board for a portion of that time. Failing health admonished him to seck rest and recuperation in his native State, and he passed there the whole of the summer months of 1890, his absence being greatly regretted by his numerous friends in this town. In September of that year he returned home and re- sumed practice to a limited extent.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 103

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278