History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 104

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 104

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).

Dr. Spring died October 25, 1890, since the above was written.

Dr. Andrew J. Stevens was born in Haverhill, Mass., graduated at the Harvard Medical School, and settled in Provincetown, Mass. After remaining there about three years he removed to Holliston, about the year 1874, and practiced here for some thirteen years. He then removed to Malden, Mass., where he now resides. He was succeeded by Dr. Edward Roth, who remained for about one year, and transferred his practice to Dr. F. Grant Atkins, in September, 1888. Dr. Atkins, who is here in 1890, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1842. He was educated at Harrow and at King's College, London ; studied medicine at London and Edinburgh, and grad- ated at the latter college in 1869. He is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London, and a licentiate of the London College of Physicians. After practicing in Derbyshire, England, he came to this country, in 1888. Ile is married and has one son.

Dr. George W. Stearns graduated in Philadel- phia in 1851, and first came to Holliston in 1881. He has practiced here for five or six years, hav- ing lived elsewhere a portion of the intervening time. Ile is here and in practice, however, in 1890. In the summer season he resides and practices in Cot- tage City, Mass.

Dr. I. C. Pope was born in Westborough, Mass., in 1855, and was educated in the public schools and in Worcester and Wilbraham Academies. His medical education was obtained at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1888. After practicing in Waltham, Mass., more than a year, he came to Hoiliston in February, 1890. He was married, in 1880, to Miss Nellie V. Hall, of Mil- bury, Mass.

There are no other physicians who have lived here for any great length of time. Dr. George Wilkins

443

HOLLISTON.

was here for three years, and died May 2, 1826, aged thirty-two years, according to an inscription in the Central Cemetery. Drs. Heard, McClure, Page, Hitchcock, Barker and perhaps others were in town at different times during the past fifty years, but for short periods only.

For many years one or more members of the dental profession have been present in Holliston. Dr. G. L. Cooke, of Milford, came here every week for a long time, having an office in the town; and Dr. Hayes was settled here for a number of years. The only dentist at the present time is Dr. E. C. Stoddard, who has been iu practice in Holliston for about ten years.

The legal profession has been represented by sev- eral practitioners ; but of them, one only was long a resident of the town. George M. Woodward, Her- man Bragg, George C. Travis, J. Il. Ladd, W. A. Kingsbury (now judge of the District Court, at Fram- ingham); and, in 1890, J. P. Dexter, a student of Henry Hogan, have been here at different times.

Rev. George F. Walker, in his article before quoted, says concerning Esquire Bullard, "The first and only lawyer who had a permanent residence in Holliston was Elias Bullard : He was born in West Medway, December 30, 1799. He received a common-school education, and was aided in preparing for college by the venerable Dr. Jacob Ide, of West Medway, and graduated from Brown University in the class of 1823. He studied law with Elijah Morse, Esq., of Boston, three years; was admitted to the bar, and came to Holliston, October 7, 1826, commencing the practice of his profession. In 1834-35 and in 1870 he was elected to represent the town in the Legislature, the last time having the honor of calling the House to order, as the senior member. In the practice of his profession he has an unusual record of justice, and his counsels have ever been those of pacification. He was willing to assist those in trouble at a loss of his own pecuniary advantage. Had his life been spared through the remainder of another year, to October 7, 1876, he would have completed half a century of the practice of his profession in Holliston. He died No- vember 2, 1875. His funeral was largely attended by the citizens of the town, and from the surrounding towns. Ile was for several years before his death a consistent member of the Congregational Church,"

Esquire Bullard, as he was called by every one, was one of the most prominent and respected citizens of Holliston in his day, and during his life he was chosen to fill all the offices in the gift of the town. He originated the plan of a town library.

SCHOOLS .- In less than seven years after incorpora- tion the town granted money for the support of a public school, the education of the children being considered nearly or quite as important as the estab- lishment of church privileges. In 1738 three districts were formed, the North, West and Central, and it was voted to build a school-honse in each district, and that

£100 be assessed upon the inhabitants to defray the cost, and that each man have liberty to work out his part of the assessment. May 27, 1754, there was " Voted, Ten pounds For a Reading and Righting school This present year." In 1765, £25 were appro- priated for public schools, and were divided among the three districts. "The first school-houses were not magnificent in their dimensions or appointments. Those in the north and west were fourteen by eighteen feet, with 'seven-foot posts,' and the one in the centre, sixteen by twenty feet. They were doubt- less large enough to accommodate the scholars of those days, and being warmed in winter by fires in large open fire-places, the ventilation must have been good, with little danger of a too high temperature." 1

In 1801 eight school districts were formed and $334 were appropriated for the support of the eight schools. At the March meeting in 1807, a committee was chosen to have the general care of the schools, con- sisting of Dr. Timothy Fisk, Lt. Elijah Watkins and Capt. John Haven,; $500 were granted for schools. The appropriation for school purposes continued to increase with the increasing number of scholars. In 1830 it was $700, in 1875 it was $6000, and of late years $6800 annually. In 1846 the town took posses- sion of the property of the school districts.

The number of schools has gradually increased until, in 1890, there are, besides a high school, five grammar, one intermediate and nine lower schools, five of which are not graded. F. B. Gamwell is the superintendent of schools, and in his report pre- sented in March, 1890, he recommends a concentra- tion of schools by the conveyance of scholars, as allowed by law, to central points where the benefits of graded schools can be enjoyed by all the children of the town. This plan has been adopted by some towns in this State, to the manifest advantage of the pupils, while with judicious management the expenditures required of the town have not been increased.

A private high school was commenced in the town as early as 1831, under William Gammel, teacher. He was succeeded by Daniel Forbes, in 1833; Pardon D. Tiffany, in 1834, and Edward Stone, in the winter of 1835-36. The school was not kept continuously up to this time, but generally for one or two terms in a year, the fall term having the largest attendance.

In the spring of 1836 Rev. Gardner Rice was in - duced to take charge of the school for one term. So great was his success that by the wishes of all he con- tinued to occupy the place as principal for about eight and one-half years. When he commenced his labors the total attendance was seventy-six, but it soon began to increase, and continued to increase until the number of pupils in 1842 was 361, which was the largest number in any year. The aggregate attend- ance during the whole time of service of Mr. Rice and his assistants was 2140, comprising not only

1 Rev. Geo. F. Walker in Drake's " llistory of Middlesex County.".

1444

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

residents of Holliston, but of many surrounding and some distant towns. In 1836 Master Rice changed the character of the school somewhat by introducing the manual labor system, and, in 1837, the name of Holliston High School was changed to " Holliston Manual-Labor School.", The success of this insti- tution was such that, in 1839, it took the name of " Ilolliston Academy," and the following announce- ment, made at that time, will show the general character of the institution and the principles upon which it was conducted :

"The object of instruction at this institution is not only to communicate a knowledge of facts, but to fit the pupil for the duties of life, by developing and dis- ciplining the powers of the mind, enabling it to think and act for itself. The course of study is designed to he systematic and extensive, including all those branches which are requisite to prepare the pupil for the common business of life, or for a higher course of collegiate or professional studies.

" Since morality and virtue are essential to the peace and prosperity of this or any other institution, every reasonable precaution will be used to preserve and maintain in all departments of the school a strictly moral state of feeling.

"The discipline of the school is designed to be strictly parental, and in the administration of this discipline direct appeals to the better principles of the heart will be resorted to, rather than severe and disgraceful punishment. If, however, the conduct of a student render it evident that he is not susceptible of such influence, he will immediately, and if possible without unnecessary disgrace, be returned to his friends. Every effort will be given to those gentle- men and ladies who are calculating to teach, both in obtaining schools and in preparing them for their schools."

Master Rice secured the affection and respect of his pupils and aroused their enthusiasm, and they always looked back to their school-days under his tuition with the most pleasant feelings, as was shown in the year 1875, when some two hundred of them surprised him by a visit to his home in Shrewsbury, Mass.

The town-hall was used as a school-room for the High School until the year 1851, and the general ap- preciation by the town of the labors of Mr. Rice was demonstrated by a vote passed September 23, 1844, by which he was "exonerated from paying any claims which the town hold against him, incurred by his use of the Town-Hall for a High School." Mr. Rice re- tired from the academy in 184-1.

Several other teachers followed,-Mesara. Cutler, Hoitt, Peterson, Gleason, Graves, Sears, Washburn, Parker, Pond, Kingsbury, Choate, Stiles, and Baker, and the school was continued. In the year 1850 Deacon Timothy Walker, who had removed from Medway to Holliston, creeted a building on the south side of Jasper's Hill for the use of this school, the land, a lot of nine acres, being provided by the

subscriptions of individuals. It was called Mt. Hol- lis Seminary, and that hill has since been generally known as Mt. Hollis. It was dedicated in June, 1851, the address being delivered by Rev. J. P. Cleve- land, D.D., then of Providence, R. I. Rev. George F. Walker, now of Hampdeu, Mass., a son of Deacon Walker, was the principal at this time. In 1856, when Dr. 1. Il. Nutting had the charge, the town, through a committee, made arrangements with him to receive the pupils of the town qualified to enter a high school; and this contract was continued until the town purchased the Seminary building and estab- lished a public high school there. The building was destroyed by fire October 25, 1871. Another high school-house was built on the same lot in 1874 and has been occupied to the present time. The principal for 1889-90 was Carl E. Holbrook, who, for the pur- pose of continuing his studies, resigned his position at the close of the spring term of 1890, to the great regret of the School Committee and the citizens. C. H. Marshall has been appointed to succeed him.

We now return to the civil history of the town. Dr. G. M. Adams, in his historical discourse, allnding to the early days of the colony, remarks : " We can better understand the changes which a century and a half have wrought, and can better enter into the ex- perience and life of the good men who laid the foun- dations for us, if we glance at the condition of the country in 1728. The number of inhabitants in Hol- liston did not, probably, exceed one hundred and fifty. There was no village. About thirty farm- houses were scattered all over the town. The towns of Milford, Natick and Upton were not yet incorpor- ated. There was no church in either of those places, nor in Southboro' nor Grafton. Worcester, in 1718, had 'fifty-eight humble dwelling-houses,' some of which were furnished with windows of diamond-glass and others were lighted through oiled paper. There was probably no academy nor High School in Massa- chusetts. There were three colleges in the country, -- Harvard, Yale and William and Mary's College, in Virginia. Massachusetts had about one hundred and seventeen thousand inhabitants, a small proportion of what Boston has now. In what is now the United States there were, besides Indians, six hundred thou- sand inhabitants, less than the present population of Philadelphia. But of course there were then no United States. There were ten English Provinces along the Atlantic coast ; Florida was Spanish, Loui- siana, including the valley of the Mississippi, belonged to France. Benjamin Franklin was struggling to carn his living as a printer in Philadelphia; Wash- ington and Lafayette were not yet born." And Dr. Edmund Dowse, in his centennial address, says: " This condition of things in the homes and business continued essentially the same for a long period. The people were engaged as a whole in reclaiming and tilling the lands. The shoemaker, blacksmith, car- penter and storekeeper were regarded only as adjuncts

445

HOLLISTON.

to society. It was convenient to have just enough mechanics and tradesmen to meet the wants of the people, and they desired no more. Even these did not pretend to live by their trades, but in addition cultivated their lands. Under these conditions the population continued to increase slowly from year to year, and the outward circumstances of the people to improve. At the end of the first century the popu- lation had grown from one hundred to thirteen hun- dred.1 During this period the town was healthy, with one exception, of short duration. Between the 18th of December, 1758, and the 30th of January, 1754, a distressing and fatal sickness prevailed (called The Great Sickness), that resulted in the death of fifty-three persons, it being more than one-eighth of the population at that time. This sickness, both in its nature and cause, appears to have been involved in mystery. That it had a natural cause I do not doubt, but, as it was confined to the limited period of four or six weeks, having never appeared before or since, it does not militate against the healthfulness of the locality. The average number of deaths annually, during the first century, was seven. This includes the period of the great sickness." If we deduet the deaths from that epidemie, the average would not ex- ceed six and a half. The same disease appeared in Sherborne about the same time, but its duration was greater, extending into the month of April, when there had been twenty-five deaths. In that town it was called " The Memorable Mortality."

This sickness occurred in Holliston during the min- istry of Rev. Joshua Prentiss, and he appears to have observed it and to have taken notes of the symptoms in quite a scientifie manner. A full record, taken from the notes of Mr. Prentiss, is given in Mr. Fitch's Century sermon.

This was a grievous blow to the young community. Many families were broken up entirely and the popu- lation was almost decimated. They were obliged to apply for assistance; and Tuesday, April 9, 1754, the following entry appears in the Journal of the House of Representatives of the Province: " A Petition of the Selectmen of the town of Holliston, representing the distressed circumstances of said town, by reason of the grievous sickness and mortality there, praying for the compassionate consideration of this Court, for the reasons mentioned. Read and committed to Cap- tain Joseph Williams, Captain Ashley and Mr. Green- wood, to consider and report thereon." The report of the committee was accepted and the sum of twenty- six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence was granted, to be paid out of the public treasury to the selectmen, "and by them to be applied for the use and relief of such poor and indigent persons as may most need the same."

I Morse, in his " History of Sherborn and Holliston," says that the population was 1304 in 1830, 1782 in 1840, 2428 in 1850 and about 3100 in 1856. In 1890 it is 2650. In 1812 there were but thirteen houses on the main street.

As before intimated, the business relating to the church was, during many years, transacted in the same town-meetings in which the regular business of the town was conducted; but after fifty or sixty years a distinction was made. Then, all the legal vo- ters were called to the town-meetings, while only those who paid a ministerial tax were called to the "town-meetings for parochial business." All the records were kept by the town clerk in the same record-book, until 1836, when a separate parish was organized, with its own meetings and records. It was also the custom for the ministers to receipt for their salaries in the town record-book, and these signatures are scattered through the records until the last one appears, April 1, 1829. The first town clerk was Captain John Goulding, who served ten years, from 1724 to 1734; and the last one is George B. Fiske, who is now filling his thirteenth year in that office. Johu M. Batchelder is the present town treasurer, and is serving his eleventh year in that capacity.

Until 1825 the town meetings were held in the meeting-house ; but during that year a town house was built, the upper story of which was used for the town hall, while the lower story was occupied by the church for a parish hall. This house was situated on the Common, near the road and adjoining the ceme- tery lot. It was used for town and parish purposes until 1855, when it was sold and moved off. It was replaced the same year by the present town house, which was set farther back from the road. The lower hall in this building has been used for meetings of the various parishes and other societies. Edwin Payson, of Bostou, was the architect, and S. & W. L. Payson the contractors for the new town house.

Aaron Phipps, afterwards deacon and treasurer of the church, and a superior man, was apprenticed to Dea. James Russell, a blacksmith; and during that time, 1747 to 1751, planted the magnificent elms in front of the Col. Whiting house. The large trees standing before the Congregational meeting-house, which were cut down in 1876 when the road was wid- ened, were set out by the Rev. Mr. Dickenson, not far from the year 1800.

The French and Indian war occurred about the middle of the eighteenth century. We find no record of men who went to that war from Holliston, but probably there were a few. There were always ad- venturous spirits in every town who were ready for such expeditions.

It was not long after the cessation of those hostili- ties that the feelings of dissatisfaction with the mother country began to arise, which culminated in the war of the Revolution. When her oppressions became too onerous to be borne, this town was prompt in declar- ing its convictions. As early as 1768 a committee was chosen "to join with the committee of the Town of Boston, as well as with the committees from the several towns of the Province, in a convention, to be held at Faneuil Hall, in Boston, aforesaid, on ye 22d

146

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of this Instant, in order that such measures may be consulted and advised as His Majesty's service and the peace and safety of this Province may require." They were evidently not then ready to throw off their allegiance to the Crown, but were resolved to main- tain their rights and prepare for future contingencies, as the next vote, passed on the same day, will show : "To recruit the Town stock of ammunition by pur- chasing a barrel of gunpowder, one hundred French flints and one hundred and lifty weight of balls." March 5, 1770, it was voted "that we will not by our- selves, or any, for or under us, Directly or Indirectly, purchase any European Goods of those persons Termed Importers. ... Neither will we have the Least Dealings whatever with any Country Shop Keeper who shall purchase any Goods of Said Import- ers, and that we will use the utmost of our Endeavor to Encourage and assist those applauded Merchants of the Town of Boston in their non-importation agree- ment, to whom this Town Vote their sincere and hearty Thanks for these Late Measures pursued by them for the Good of their Country, and that the moderator of this Meeting Transmit a Copy hereof to the Committee of Merchants in Boston."

"Voted that ye Town Clerk post up the names of the above S' Importers at ye most public place in the Town."

This meeting was held on the day of the Boston Massacre, Ilenry Prentiss, a son of Rev. Joshua Prentiss, was an eye-witness of the scene and he wrote a long letter to his father, giving a graphic de- scription of the same. It was found among the papers of Mr. Prentiss and is quoted in full by Rev. George F. Walker in his article.

May 23, 1774, the Town chose a committee of cor- respondence with Boston and the other towns in the Province. July 4, 1774, " voted to double the town stock of Ammunition." November 17, 177.1, " voted to post up the names of all who shall sell or consume any of the East India Teas." At the annual town- meeting in March 1775, before proceeding to the election of Town officers, it was " voted that no man shall serve in any Town office or place wherever, who shall refuse or neglect to subscribe their consent to and compliance with the advice and assotiation of the last Continental Congress and that they shall be treated with neglect." A similar vote was passed be- fore the annual elections of officers in 1776, 1777 and 1779. The following instructions were given to Ma- jor Abner Perry when he was chosen representative to the tieneral Court, May 20, 1776. After rehears- ing the resolve of the last General Court, which re- quested towns to advise their next representative as to the support which they would give to Congress, in case that body should declare the Colonies inde- pendent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, they say : " To which the Inhabitants of the town of Holliston, Being Legally assembled, would humbly Reply (viz.) that the Said Honble. Congress are (under God) the

most Competent Judges of matters of such Vast Im- portance to these Colonies ; We would therefore Re- fer it to their Wisdom, and do Solemnly Promise & Engage with our Lives and Fortunes to support them in the measure, if they, (whom we look upon as the Guardians of our Liberty) shall judge it to be best."

From year to year each representative was instruct- ed by vote of the town to stand by the Continental Congress and the liberties and rights of the Colony. July 5, 1776, the day following the Declaration of In- dependence, the town voted to raise £11 to be paid to " Each man that shall Inlist to go as aforesaid, and do a turn for this town as a hired man." The Declara- tion of Independence is written out in full in the town records, as it also is in the records of Sherborn. January 5, 1778, the town voted their full approba- tion of the articles of confederation of the United States as "Sent to the said Town by the Gen" Court of this State."

" But perhaps the most convincing evidence," says Dr. G. M. Adams, " of the thorough patriotism of the town is seen in the large sums of money which were voted and paid for carrying ou the war. In the year 1776, the town granted four hundred pounds for the defence of the country. This was when all the other expenses of the town, including the Minister's salary, were less than two hundred pounds. It is recorded that at a town-meeting in September, 1776, " the Rev- erend Mr. Prentice, personally appeared and gener- ously gave ten pounds to the town, towards defraying the charge that has arisen in this town by the present war." In 1777 the town granted for war expenses, one thousand one hundred and forty-nine pounds, all other town expenses being one hundred and seventy pounds. In 1778 the war appropriation was £2191. In 1779, currency had begun to depreciate, and the town granted for war expenses more than £4000, which was equal to about £2000 in silver. In 1780, currency was not worth more than one-thirtieth or one-fortieth of its nominal value, and the town ap- propriated for the war, seventy-two thousand pounds, which was still equal to about £2000 in silver. In 1781 the war appropriations were £24,750 old cur- reney and £600 silver money, equal to about £850 in silver.

The names of the men trom Holliston who served in the Continental army are recorded on various mus- ter rolls in the archives of the State, and did time permit a thorough search, we could give very nearly the exact number. Col. Simeon Cutler served under Washington, and Col. Abner Perry, Maj. Jacob Mil- ler and Capt Daniel Eames were conspicuous among the officers of that army. "They contended for the right, aud they won and rejoiced in their achievements, but they had no conception of the great and glorious results as we see them to-day."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 104

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