History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 143

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 143

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Charlestown was incorporated a city in 1847; he was elected its first city treasurer and collector of taxes, which office he held eight years, till the close of 1854. The first two years the office was a trying

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one; he followed an easy-dispositioned town treas- urer and collector, who took no pains to enforce the prompt payment of the taxes assessed. Mr. Stone, be- ing a systematic and prompt business man, proceeded in an energetic manner to collect the back taxes com- mitted to him, and all others when they were due ; many solid business men, who had been benefited by the former collector's indulgence, protested, but, find- ing Mr. Stone was in earnest, paid. One large rail- road corporation repeatedly refused to pay its taxes ; one afternoon, as an important train was about to leave the station, he attached the engine just before it was coupled to the train ; the result was a check for the amount due, with the costs, was handed to him, and the train allowed to depart. After a few such instances taxes were paid reasonably prompt.

In the fall of 1855 Mr. Stone was elected treasurer of the county of Middlesex, and held that office for thirty years, until January 1, 1886, when he declined a re-election. The following will show the public ap- preciation of his services :

" Mr. Amos Stone, who has held the important office of County Treasurer for Middlesex for some thirty years, having decided to retire on account of advanc- ing years, he being sixty-eight years of age, the County Convention for Middlesex, which was held this week, nominated for the office Mr. J. O. Hayden, one of the proprietors of the Somerville Journal. Mr. Hayden is every way qualified for the position and he will dis- charge the duties of the office with the fidelity and accuracy that has distinguished his predecessor for over a quarter of a century.

"The following resolution was unanimously passed by the Middlesex County Republican Convention, held in the city of Cambridge, October 7, 1885, as a testi- monial to the long services of its retiring County Treasurer, Amos Stone. The resolution was offered by the Hon. Selwyn Z. Bowman, of Somerville :

"Resolved, That we, the Republican delegates in County Convention assembled, desire to place npon record our appreciation of the character and services of Amos Stone, Esq., who for thirty years has so ably and acceptably performed the duties of Treasurer of this County of Middle- Bex. Ilis long term of service is the best evidence that he has per- formed those duties to the satisfaction of the people, regardless of party, und that he has had their confidence and esteem. We congratulate hint upon his long and honorable career in so prominent and responsible a position in which he has always shown himself a courteons gentleman. an able financier and a clear-headed business man, and, as he volunta- rily withdraws from the cares of public life, we can assure him that he takes with him the best wishes of the people that his remaining years may be full of happiness and prosperity."

In 1854 the Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank was incorporated. He took an active and leading part in its organization, and was elected one of its trustees and its first treasurer, which positions he has continuously held.

It has proved one of the most prosperous and suc- cessful banks in the Commonwealth. For more than ten years he, as treasurer, with the assistance of the president, performed all the labor of the bank without auy compensation to either.

In 1861 the Mutual Protection Fire Insurance Company was incorporated and organized, in which he took a leading part, and was chosen one of its di- rectors, and soon succeeded to the presidency, which position he now holds.

In 1863 he was elected a director in the Monument National Bank, and, on the death of Hon. James O. Curtis, was elected its president, which position he now holds.

He was one of the original shareholders of the Mystic River Company, a large landed corporation, and for more than twenty years has been its clerk and treasurer.

In the several positions held by him as treasurer, the has administered the duties with signal ability, allowing no waste of the public funds, and has con- ducted the business as though it was his own private affair, allowing no monies to be paid out except duly approved by the proper boards or officers, and in strict conformity to law.

His attention to business, great executive ability and physical endurance, enabled him to work six- teen hours per day, and to perform all the duties in the several offices that he held at the same time, and during the thirty years that he held the office of county treasurer, never employing a clerk or assist- ant during the entire term. The writer of this has frequently heard him say that he never wanted more than six hours of sleep out of twenty-four.

His strict fidelity and clear head have enabled him to perform all the duties without loss to himself or the several treasuries committed to his trust.

With all his cares and close application to business, he was ever ready to hear and give judicious advice and council to aid the poor and unfortunate to over- come their difficulties and tronbles, nor felt himself demeaned by so doing, some of whom .to-day rejoice in the beneficial results of the same, and in possessing a good business position and property through his advice and assistance. He was generous, and gave freely to relieve the wants of the distressed poor, dis- pensing his charities mainly in person, so that he could see to whom, where and in what manner his money was given and the results thereof.

In politics he was formerly a Democrat-voted for Franklin Pierce-then he became a Republican and voted for John C. Fremont and has continued in that party since.

When the Rebellion was begun he was one of the first to come to the support of the Government ; be- fore the Government had made any provision for the soldiers enlisted, was one of the twenty-one persons who paid the expense of fitting out the first three companies from Charlestown to go to Washington to defend the Capital. Although exempt from draft by reason of age, he sent the first representative recruit from Charlestown at his own expense, also sent a colored recruit, and contributed hundreds of dollars during the continuance of the war for military pur-

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poses. Early in life he joined the Free Masons and is quite prominent in the order, and is now treasurer of two Masonie organizations.

He remained a single man until after he was fifty years of age ; he married Sarah E. Mills; they live in the town of Everett, Middlesex County, Massachu- setts, where they have a beautiful and pleasant home. They moved from Charlestown to Everett in 1872.

Until recently Mr. Stone has not taken an active part in town affairs in Everett, though a liberal con- tributor to all matters of public interest. In 1888, when a committee was appointed to consider the ques- tion of sewerage, he was appointed a member and was chosen chairman. On March 5, 1889, this com- mittee presented an able report, drafted by Mr. Stone, which was adopted by a vote of 267 to 1. A com- mission of five, of which Mr. Stone was chairman, was chosen to carry out the recommendations contained in the report. In March, 1890, to enable him more effectively to carry out these recommendations, he was elected one of the road commissioners of the town of Everett for three years, the first and only town office he has ever held.

JOHN C. SPOFFORD.1

One of the younger residents of Middlesex County, whose successful professional career is worthy of mention, is John C. Spotford, of Everett, Mass. Mr. Spofford has taken much interest in Masonry and Odd Fellowship and in the work of various fra- ternal societies ; among others in that of the Knights and Ladies of Honor of which he has been Grand Protector of Massachusetts. Mr. Spofford was born in Webster, Androscoggin County, Maine, November 25, 1854, where his early life was that of the American country boy : working on the farm in summer, and in winter attending the district school, where he first began to play with draughting tools, and to look forward to his present profession. Afterward, however, this education was considerably extended at Monmouth Academy, Mon- mouth, Maine, and at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, at Kent's Hill. Following the time-honored custom of New England students, Mr. Spofford at this period taught school for several terms. He has always since from Yorkshire, Eng., and settled at Rowley (now taken an active interest in educational matters, having served on the School Committee in his native town, and having been for four years a member of the Everett School Board.

At about this time also, Mr. Spofford worked a good deal at the carpenter and the mason's trades, and thereby acquired an actual knowledge of building construction, which has since proved of great service to him.

In 1879 he entered the office of H. J. Preston, in Boston, and began in earnest the study of archi- tecture.

In February, 1881, Mr. Spofford was engaged as a draughtsman by Messrs. Sturgis & Brigham, well- known Boston architects, and remained with that firm until 1886, having charge in that time of the construction of many important public buildings

and noteworthy private residences. Among these were the Commonwealth building, in Boston, the residence of H. H. Rogers, of the Standard Oil Com- pany, in New York City, and the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company's building, on State Street, Boston.

In March, 1887, Mr. Spofford formed a partnership with Mr. Willard M. Bacon, under the firm-name of Spofford & Bacon, but withdrew from this a year later and united with Mr. Charles Brigham, formerly of Sturgis & Brigham, in forming the present firm of Brigham & Spofford, who are well-known as the archi- tects of the alterations and enlargement of the Capitol buildings of Maine and Massachusetts.

Ofthe less important work that has issued from their office the following buildings may perhaps be considered especially noteworthy :- The City Hall at Lewiston, Maine ; the Town Hall at Fairhaven, Massachusetts ; the Memorial Hall at Belfast, Maine; the Episcopal Church at Meirose, Massachusetts; the Union Square Baptist Church at Somerville, Massachusetts; a church at Roxbury ; the residence of J. Manchester Haynes, at Augusta ; that of B. D. Whitcomb, at Elm Hill, Roxbury, and that of C. H. Souther, at Jamica Plain. The new stations at Stough- ton and Roxbury, on the Providence Division of the Old Colony Railroad, are also their work.

In Aug. 1888, the subject of this sketch succeeded the Hon. Ainsworth R. Spofford (the libarian of Con- gress) as president of the "Spofford Family Associa- tion." At that time seven hundred members of this family gathered from all parts of the United States to commemorate the fact that 250 years before in the year 1638, John Spotford and Elizabeth Scott came Georgetown,) Mass. Mr. Spofford is also connected with the well-known Wentworth family, being a lineal descendant of that John Wentworth who held by Queen Anne's appointment the Lieutenant-Gover- norship of the Province of New Hampshire, from 1717 to 1730. Captain JJohn Wentworth, Mr. Spof- ford's grandfather's great grandfather fought on " the plains of Abraham," at the Battle of Quebec, and helped to carry Wolfe to the rock beside which he died.

The character of a certain eminent man was once summed up in these words :

" He could toil terribly."

The writer has known Mr. Spofford from his earliest childhood and feels sure that no one who has met him often, either in the hay-field, or in the school-room, or at the draughting table, will be disposed to dispnte his ability to do, when necessary, two days' work in one, and come back next morning ready for another

1 Contributed.

Johnlesprofond

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day of the same sort, and his friends, relying on the marked ability to withstand the wear and tear of life which his kins-people have shown, hope from bis hand and brain in the future much good architectural work.

In tbe longevity below mentioned there is some- thing curious.

How few of us can look back upon a child- hood spent in a house wherein dwelt five generations of our own kin.

Some sneering foreigner once said that very few Americans could tell their great-grandfather's name. However that may be, it is very certain that there are uot in any land many living who can call back, as a thing seen with their own eyes, the form and features of their grandfather's grandfather. At the age of four- teen Foster Wentworth, the great-great-grandfather of Mr. Spofford, entered the Revolutionary Army as a waiter for his father, the Capt. John Wentworth men- tioned above. When he died, at the age of ninety- nine John C. was about 7 years old.

Mr. Spofford married, on the 7th of July, 1881, Miss Ella M. Fuller of Turner, Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Spof- ford soon after removed to Everett and made it their permanent home. They have one child, Mabel Fuller Spofford, born April 11, 1883.

CHAPTER XLII.

FRAMINGHAM.

BY REV. JOSIAH H. TEMPLE.

FRAMINGHAM is situated in the southwestern part of Middlesex County, midway and on a direct line between Worcester and Boston. The old turnpike between these cities ran through the Centre village; the Boston & Albany Railroad runs through the South village ; the Old Colony Railroad, Northern Division, from New Bedford to Fitchburg, and to Lowell, runs through both the South and Centre villages.

When the act of incorporation was granted in 1700, the town was bounded easterly by Sudbury, Cochitu- ate Pond and Natick lands ; southerly by Sherborn and the Indian lands ; west by Marlborough and north by Sudbury. Its present boundaries are, northeasterly oy Wayland, easterly by Natick, southeasterly by Sherborn, southwesterly by Ashland, west by South- borough and Marlborough, and north by Sudbury.

As originally laid out, the Plantation contained about 20,500 acres. Subsequently several tracts, of greater or lesser extent, were transferred to other towns. Simpson's Farm of 500 acres was set to Hop- kinton, wheu that town was incorporated in 1715. Holliston took off a point of the southern extremity of the town in 1724. In 1727 Southborough took in the long strip of land known as Fiddle Neck. The Leg was annexed to Marlborough in 1791. By these

subtractions the area of the township was reduced to 18,976 acres. In 1846 a tract of about 3000 acres was set off to form, with parts of Hopkinton and Hol- liston, the new town of Ashland. In 1871 a tri- angular piece of land was taken from the town of Natick and annexed to Framingham. The present area of the town is 15,930 acres.

The more striking natural features of the territory are the range of high hills on the north, near Sud- bury line, known by the names of Nobscot, Doeskin Hill and Gibbs' Mountain ; the four ponds lying in a cluster near the southern border ; Cochituate Pond, on the eastern border ; and the Sudbury River, which flows diagonally through the town from southwest to northeast. The view from the top of Nobscot is broad and diversified; and the prospect from the Normal School, on the westerly face of Bare Hill, is one of great variety and rare beauty.

English adventurers explored these lands as early as 1633, and became acquainted with the features of the country ; but the Colonial government took no action intended to promote a settlement bere till 1640, when a considerable grant, within its limits, was made to the widow of Rev. Josse Glover. In 1633 a company of four men started from Watertown to go to the Connecticut River. The party consisted of John Oldham, Samuel 11all and two others, who went to look out a place for a new settlement at that then dis- tant point.

The only way from Cambridge to Hartford, where the path would not cross any considerable stream of water, was up the northern bank of the Charles River to Waltham Centre; thence to the northerly end of Cochituate Pond; thence, following a southwesterly course through the village of South Framingham, into what was the northwest part of Sherborn ; then turning more west, through Hopkinton, and follow- iug the upper south slope of the water-shed of the streams that ran into Narragansett Bay and the Sound. The route was somewhat circuitous, but comparatively safe.

The Oldham party probably had a limited knowl- edge of the geography of the country, and followed, in the main, an old Indian trail. The chronicle of the time says that Mr. Oldham "lodged at Indian towns all the way." This trail was followed in 1636 by Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone, and their large company, on their journey from Cambridge to Hart- ford, and was known in contemporary records for two generatious as "The Old Connecticut Path."

In the earliest notices of the territory now embrac- ed in this town, it is described as Wilderness Land lying north of the path from Sudbury to Nipnox. Later (1662) it is called " The tract of waste lands be- longing to Thomas Danforth, Esq., lying between Marlbury and the Old Connecticut Path;" and still later (1693), " A Plantation situated between Sud- bury, Marlbury, Sherborn, and the Indian Plantation at Natick, and westerly is the wilderness." A con-

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siderable part of these lands, viz. : those which lay on the easterly side of Sudbury River, was disposed of by the General Court to individuals and to the Natick plantation, between the years 1640 and 1660. In 1660-62 the Court granted to Thomas Danforth, Esq., the larger part of the lands on the westerly side of the river. To this granted land Mr. Danforth added, by purchase, the tract situated west and south of Farm Pond, extending as far as the old Sherborn line. The combined gitt aud purchase covered about two- thirds of what constituted the township ; and the place was, for many years, officially designated as " Mr. Dauforth's Farms."

No record has been discovered of any act of the General Court by which these lands were created iuto a plantation. Settlers came on slowly and were much scattered. Until 1675 all the adults were members of the church in Sudbury ; and most of them had home-ties there, aud did not desire and were not able to bear the burdens of separate civil and eccle- siastical charges. When Sherboru was organized into a township, the inhabitants living in the south part of our territory "had privilege and did duty " there, the statute providing that " for all sneh places as were not yet laid within the bounds of any town, the same lands : with the persons and estates thereupon, shall be assessed by the votes of the town next unto it; the measure or estimation shall be by the distance of the meeting-houses." A few families dwelling in the northwesterly part of the plantation went to meet- ing and paid taxes in Marlborough.

INDIAN OCCUPATION .- The natural features of the country included in the limits of the original town grant mark it as a desirable ahiding-place of the native red man. The swamps abounded in beaver and other fur-bearing animals ; the ponds were stop- ping-places of migratory fowl, and the breeding- places of shad and salmon ; the several falls, and the mouths of the smaller streams running into Sudbury River and Stoney Brook, were excellent fishing- places; the higher hills sheltered the larger sorts of wild game, and were well covered with chestnut trees to furnish a store of nuts; and the plains sup- plied rich and easily-tilled planting-fields.

The Indian had a faculty of adapting means to ends, and uniformly pitched his tent, and chose his village site, with a view to take advantage of natural facili- ties for securing food, game and fish in their season, corn and nuts for the late summer and fall supply.

Looking at our territory, and taking the natural advantages of location as a guide, we should expect to find Indian villages of considerable size at three distinct points, viz., at the outlet of Cochituate Pond near the falls at Saxonville, and around Farm Pond. All the conditions requisite to Indian congregate life are found at these localities. And the probability arising from these natural indications, is made a cer- tainty by the existence at these several points of un- mistakable Indian remains, and by historical records.

THE INDIAN VILLAGE OF WASHAKAMAUG .- When Thomas Eames took up land, and built a house at the north end of Farm Pond in 1669, the lands to the east and southward were owned by John Awassamog ; and most of the Eames farm was subse- quently purchased of him, or his children. How this tract came into Awassamog's possessiou, is stated in legal instruments bearing his signature. lu a pa- per duly executed, appointing his son his successor, and dated December 1, 1684, he recites :

" Jolin Awassamog, of Naticke, Dot Dow like to continue long before his decease, nod putable to looke after the Indian title that yet do remain unpaid for by English proprietors, do horeby acknowledge Thomas A wassamog, my natural son, my oatural heir, and betrust and empower him io my stead to sell, bargaine, and alienate any of that land tbe Indian title of which do yet belong to me, according to the sagamore title

Ilis marke. John O Awosomng." 1

In a deed dated January 21, 1684-85, in which his sons and other blood-relations joined, conveying the title of his Framingham and other lands to the said heir and successor, John Awassamog recites as fol- lows:

" Know all muen by these presents, that we, Jolin Awassamoag, Samnel A wassamoag, Jobn Mouqna, Peter Ephraim, Eleazer Pegan and Joshua Awessamoag, Indians of Natick, jo the conoty of Middlesex, in New England, fur reasons us thereunto moving, have given and granted, and (lo by those presents grant, aliene, enfeoffe, assigne, make over and con- firm unto Thomas Awassamog, Indian of the same town and county aforesaid, all that our whole native title, right and interest in that tract of land lying, situate and being betweene the bounds of Natick, Charles river, Marlborough, aod a point of Blackstone'sriver beyond Mendon- all of which said right, title and interest in the said land (that is not already legally disposed of) we, the said Jobn Awassamoag, Sanmel A wassamong, Joshua Awassamoag, John Mooqua, Peter Ephraim and Eleazer Pegan, do hereby avonch and declare to be, at the delivery of these presents, our own proper estate, and lawfully in our power to aliennte and dispose of,-it being our natural right, descending to us from the chiefe sachen WUTTAWUSHAN, uncle to the said John Awnssa- moag, Sen., who was the chiefe suchem of said land, and nearly related to us all, as may he made to appear." 2

This deed carries the title and ownership of the lands iu question back to "the chief sachem WUT- TAWUSHAN, unele of John Awassamoag, Sen.," and fixes approximately the time of his occupancy here. This date could not vary much from 1620-30.

At any rate, the records make it clear, that about 1630 the lands lying between Farm Poud and the Natiek line, and indefinitely southward, were owned by the chieftain Wuttawushan, and that the title descended to his nephew Awassamog, who was living on our territory in 1649-50, and till 1684, and through whom the title passed to the Eames family.

About the year 1635, Awassamog married Yawata, thedaughter of Nanepashemet, chief of the Pawtucket tribe, whose possessions extended trom Chelsea and Lynn ou the coast, through Middlesex County to the Pawtucket Falls (Lowell) on the Merrimack River. The young couple lived for a time at Winnisimet (Chelsea), where their oldest child Muminquash (known afterwards as James Rumneymarsh) was born.

1 Mnes. Cul. Records, v. 531. " Mass. Cul. Records, v. 531, 532.

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Their other children were known as John Awassa- mog, Jr., Samuel Awassamog, Joshua Awassamog, Thomas Awassamog and Amos Awassamog.

When the apostle Eliot began his labors with the Indians at Nonantum, Awassamog appears to have been living at Mistiek (Medford), and sometimes at- tended Mr. Eliot's preaching.

Awassamog died in the early part of 1685. That his last years were spent near his Framingham home is made evident from the reeital in the deed given by his sons to the sons of Thomas Eames, of the fact, that " for sundry years until his death, he, the said Thomas Eames, did give relief to John Awassamog, chief proprietor of these lands."

His widow was alive in 1686, when she signed a deed of lands of her tribe in Salem. She probably died at the house of her son, James Rumneymarsh, in the bounds of Natick.

INDIAN VILLAGE AT COCHITUATE .- This word is spelled in official documents, Wachittuate, Coijcha- wicke, Catchchauitt, Charehittawick, Katchetuit, Cochichawanke, Cochichowicke, etc. As is so common with Indian place-words, modern usage has changed the original application of the term. Neither the In- dians nor the early English settlers applied the name to the pond, but to the high bluff just south of the outlet. The exact Indian use of the term is given by Thomas Mayhew, Peter Noyes and Edmund Rice, in their record of the laying out of Mrs. Glover's farm in 1644: "The southwest bounds are the little river that issueth out of the Great Pond at Cochituate."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 143

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