History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 152

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 152

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The first pastor of this church was Rev. Corbin Kidder (A. C. 1828), ordained July 30, 1834; dis- missed October 25, 1837. His successors have been Rev. Isaac Hosford (D. C. 1826), ordained February 24, 1838, dismissed March 10, 1847; Rev. Birdsey G. Northrop (Y. C. 1841), ordained March 10, 1847, dis- missed November 6, 1857 ; Rev: Henry Allen (D. C. 1849), installed November 6, 1857, dismissed October 1,1859; Rev. John II. Pettengill (Y. C. 1837), in- stalled April 16, 1860, dismissed 1862; Rev. George E. Hill (Y. C. 1846), installed October 15, 1863, dis- missed 1870; Rev. Charles Jones (U. C. 1832), in- stalled October 4, 1870, dismissed 1879; Rev. Samuel Bell (D. C. 1866), was stated supply 1880 and '82 ; Rev. Theodore L. Day (Y. C. 1867), commenced his pastoral labors in March, 1883, and continued in office till his death, in 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. Moody A. Stevens, the present pastor.

A Universalist Society was formed November, 1829, and built a meeting-house, which was dedicated Sep- tember, 1832. The society employed ministers, who entered upon their pastoral duties without the form of a regular installation. After maintaining preach- ing for about twenty years, the society dissolved.

Catholic Churches .- Mission work was commenced at Saxonville by Rev. George Hamilton as early as 1844, which resulted in the organization of St. George's Parish and the erection of a church, which was opened for public worship September 14, 1845. The successors of Fr. Hamilton have been Rev. Edward Farrelly, Rev. John Walsh, Rev. Anthony J. Rossi, a graduate of St. Mary's Seminary, near St. Louis, Mo., and Rev. James E. Rogers.

In July, 1877, a new parish, known as St. Bridget's Parish, was organized, taking in Framingham Centre, South Framingham and Ashland.

This parish purchased the church edifice at the Centre, built by the Universalists, and later built a commodious church at the South Village, which is now known as St. Stephen's Church. Regular wor- ship is maintained at both places. This parish is in charge of Rev. John S. Cullen.

The South Framingham Baptist Church was consti- tuted March 17, 1854. A meeting-house was erected and dedicated March 15, 1855.

The pastors have been, Rev. Bradford II. Lincoln, installed March 30, 1854; dismissed Nov. 2, 1855. Rev. Samuel W. Foljambe, installed April 20, 1856; dismissed December 31, 1858. Rev. Theron Brown (Y. C. 1856), installed December 15, 1859; dismissed November 29, 1861, Rev. Samuel Brooks (B. U.

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1852), was here about two years. Rev. A. M. Ilig- gins (B. U. 1854), installed March 31, 1865 ; dismissed January 1, 1867. Rev. T. T. Fillmer (Roch. U.), in- stalled January 3, 1868; dismissed -. Rev. George R. Darrow, installed February 1, 1874; preached two years. Rev. Henry G. Safford (B. U. 1858), installed December 12, 1875; dismissed 1885. Rev. E. S. Wheeler.

St. John's Church, Protestant Episcopal .- On appli- eation of Charles R. Train, George Eastwood, T. C. Hurd, J. W. Brown, A. R. Esty and others, the parish was duly organized December 21, 1860; wardens, J. W. Brown, A. R. Esty ; clerk, T. C. Hurd. Services were held for a time in the town hall; then in the old Universalist meeting-house. In 1870 a tasty stone church was erected on the west slope of Bare hill, and first occupied on Easter Sunday, 1871. It was consecrated June 12, 1872.

A Methodist Episcopal Church wasgathered at South Framingham in February, 1869, and formally organ- ized at the Quarterly Conference held at the house of H. W. Carter, November 5, 1869. There were at this date about twenty members in full connection. Ser- vices were held in Waverley Hall till the autumn of 1873, when the Kennedy property was purchased by the society, and the hall since known as " Irving Hall" was fitted up for a place of worship. The dedicatory sermon was preached December 21, 1873, by Rev. William R. Clark, D.D. A new and hand- some church edifice has lately been erected.

The South Congregational Church, composed largely of members dismissed from the church at the Centre for that purpose, was organized at Sonth Framing- ham, January 2, 1873. The first meetings were held in Nobscot Hall. A commodious chapel was built and dedicated in 1874. A large and imposing church edifice was erected in 1883. The original number of members was 57; number January 1, 1889, 239. Rev. 1). M. Bean (Y. C. 1858), was aeting pastor, 1873- 79; Rev. Wm. R. Eastman (Y. C. 1854) was in- stalled February 12, 1880, dismissed 1888; Rev. Frederick E. Emrich was installed January 29, 1890.

The First Universalist Society of South Framingham was organized April 28, 1878; re-organized under the statute April 5, 1882. The original number of mem- bers was twenty-seven. A neat church edifice was built on Franklin Street, and dedicated Nov. 9, 1882.

.1 Presbyterian Church was organized at South Framingham two years ago, which has worshipped in a hired hall. A contract has just been made for building a church on the corner of Hollis and Win- throp Streets. Rev. J. W. Flagg is pastor.

CEMETERIES,-The Old Burying-Ground. As was customary in those days, the first burials of the dead were in the grounds immediately surrounding the meeting-house. And as these grounds were inelnded in the "Meeting-house Lands " reserved by Mr. Danforth, there was a manifest propriety in nsing them for this sacred purpose.

This ground was fenced in with "a good four-foot wall " in 1805-06; but it was much neglected, and cows and sheep were pastured thereon. About the year 1850 a system of improvements, in charge of Mrs. J. J. Clark and Jos. G. Bannister, was be- gun, and has been carried on more recently by Dexter Hemenway. The walks have been graded and graveled; the head-stones righted up or buried on the top of the graves, and the grounds generally put in order. The expense of these improvements has been borne in part from the avails of the " May Fes- tival," originally started by some publie-spirited la- dies as early as 1849, and continued annually to the present time.

South Burying-Ground .- This small plot of land, one-half acre, was set apart for burial purposes in 1824. January 24, 1824, Joseph Haven executed a deed of this land, to Levi Metcalf, Obed Daniels, Elias Grout, John Wenzell, and others, "proprietors of the South Burying Ground in Framingham." In 1874, the surviving proprietors deeded the land to the town.

In 1883, Willard Howe donated to the town the sum of $250, to be known as the " Howe Cemetery Fund," the annual income of which is to be used " for the care of the South Cemetery in Framingham, and especially of Lot No. 14."

Saxonville Cemetery. This Burial Lot, then com- prising one acte, was purchased by the town of Charles Fiske, in 1838. In 1865, Mr. Fiske sokl to the town another acre, on the easterly side.

The Catholic Cemetery, consisting of about five acres, was consecrated in 1856.

Edyell Grore Cemetery .- June 27, 1846, the town appointed a committee, consisting of Moses Edgell, N. S. Bennett, Warren Nixon, l'atten Johnson and Dexter Esty, to procure a lot of land near the Centre village for a new burial place. In 1848 nine and a half acres of woodland, lying northwest of the Com- mon, was purchased of Colonel Edgell, and formally consecrated by appropriate ceremonies. In 1858 three acres additional, lying on the southwesterly side, were purchased of James W. Brown ; and about three acres on the northerly and northeasterly sides, were by deed of gift, made over to the town by Colonel Edgell at his decease. April 30, 1862, James W. Clark do- nated to the town eight and a half aeres, lying on the southwest side, and in 1876 gave a deed of the land lying upon the southeastern line of the original grounds. Other lands have been purchased, so that the present area is twenty-eight acres.

By his will, Col. Moses Edgell bequenthed the sum of $20,000, a part of which is to be expended in build- ing within the grounds, a chapel ; and the remainder is to constitute a permanent fund, the income of which is to be expended in the care and improvement of the cemetery. George Phipps bequeathed the sum of $500, the income of which is to be applied, 1, in the proper care of the donor's own lot; 2, for the

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general benefit of the cemetery. There is also a fund of about $500, the income of which is at the disposal of the trustees. There is also a fund, now amounting to $6010, contributed by owners of lots, the income of which is to be applied to the perpetual care of the said lots. And it is worthy of record that from the avails of the annual " May Festival," organized May 1, 1848, and managed by the ladies, there have been expended for improvements in this and the old ceme- tery, not less than $9500.

INDUSTRIES .- Such was the situation of the town, and such the character of the inhabitants and such the facilities of obtaining water power that the chief dependence of our people from the first, was on home productions and manufactures. Wool and flax for garments, corn and the smaller grains for food, grist and saw and fulling-mills, tanneries and most of the mechanical trades came with the early settlers, and grew in numbers and scope with the growth of popu- lation.

Stone's corn-mill at the Falls, built in 1659, and the saw and fulling-mills there before 1735, have al- ready been noticed. Savil Simpson built grist and saw-mills on Hopkinson River in 1707 ; and Col. Jo- seph Buckminster put in a grist-mill on the brook near his house about the same date.

The mechanical trades essential to the wauts of everyday life were introduced early. Most of the first comers had some practical knowledge of the use of carpenter's and shoe-makers' tools. Some men had a smattering of several trades. Thomas Eames, a settler in 1669, was mason and brickmaker. Isaac Learned, cooper, was here in 1679; John How, car- penter, 1689; Isaac Clark, carpenter, 1692; Caleb Bridges, bricklayer, Benjamin Bridges, blacksmith, the wife of Joseph Trumbull, weaver, were here in 1693 ; Jeremiah Pike, spinning-wheel maker, 1696; Joseph Buckminster, tanner, 1703; Jonathan Rugg, blacksmith, 1704; Jonas Eaton, carpenter, brick- maker and tanner, 1706; John Singletary, cooper, 1709; Dea. Moses Haven, shoemaker, 1710 ; Eben- ezer Hemenway, weaver, 1711; Jonathan Maynard, weaver, 1713; Joseph Haven, shocmaker, and Eben- ezer Boutwell, tinker, 1721. William Ballord, the tailor, and Thomas Temple, the cabinet-maker, came later, but before the old French War. Professional weavers made only the better class of dress goods, woolen and linen, and linsey-woolsey ; the mother of the family usually had a spinning-wheel and loom, and made the common clothing goods.

Forges were established by Andrew Newton on Hopkinton River in 1745, and by Ebenezer Marshall on the same stream, at the site of Cutler's mills in 1747. These turned out axes, hoes, scythes and farm- ing tools generally. Later a forge was put in on the river, north of Addison G. Kendall's.

Manufactures .- It was not till after 1800 that the water-power of Sudbury River and its main affluents was fully utilized for manufacturing purposes.

The Revolutionary War taught our people to de- pend on themselves for the necessaries of life, and the rude machinery of the household and the fulling- mill met the demaud. But the return of peace and prosperity created new wants which these primitive appliances could not supply. Immense importations from abroad were made; and foreign luxuries became home necessities. This state of things was suddenly arrested by the breaking out of hostilities between England and France, and the restrictions placed upon commerce by these governments aimed directly against each other, but indirectly affecting our conn- try. The cmbroilment of our government led to the embargo act of 1807, and the interdict of commercial intercourse with England and France of 1809, and culminated in the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812. This embroglio threw our people again upon their own resources for supplying the need of clothing and commodities. Extensive man- ufacturing establishments were started for almost every sort of merchandise.

The dams already constructed on the Hopkinton and Sudbury Rivers and Cochituate Brook were brought into use for new and more complicated ventures.

The first of the new enterprises was the cotton- factory on the Hopkinton River, at what is now Ash- land Centre. January 23, 1811, Samuel Valentine, Jr., bought the privilege of Samuel Clark, and in con- nectiou with Aaron Eames, Elias Grout, Fisher Met- calf and others, organized the Middlesex Manufac- turing Company. Buildings were erected and the manufacture of cotton goods commenced. The enter- prise had a varied history till 1828, soon after which it came into possession of James Jackson, a man of energy and business tact, through whose influence the village of Unionville sprang up, which flourished and grew into an important centre. Mr. Jackson sold the property in 1852. It is now owned by the Dwight Print Company.

Cotton Factory at Saxonville .- The starting of this enterprise was only a few months later than the one at Unionville. In the same year Hopestill Leland, of Sherborn, bought the Deacon Brown privilege on Cochituate Brook, of Ebenezer Brown, aud crected a cotton-mill. February 6, 1813, Calvin Sanger, Aaron Leland, Joseph Sanger, Leonard Deartlı, Benjamin Wheeler, Luther Belknap, Hopestill Leland, Jr., Comfort Walker, Moses Adams, Lewis Wheeler, Micah Adams, Joseph L. Richardson, Phillips Clark and Elias Whiting were incorporated as the Fram- ingham Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of manufacturing wool and cotton, with power to hold real estate to the value of $30,000, and personal estate to the value of $50,000. The next year, Mr. Leland sold six acres, with corn and grist-inills, to this com- pany, and thirty-two acres to Calvin Sanger -- all the interest of the new enterprise. Mr. Walker located here, and the company started with energy and soon

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

gathered a considerable number of families, having children old enough to work in the mill, opened a store in charge of Samuel Murdock, employed a blacksmith (Joseph Prichard) and did a large, though not profitable, business for a number of years. The property eventually passed into new hands repre- sented by I. Mclellan, of Boston. The factory build- ing was burned in 1834. In July, 1844, this privi- lege 'was sold to William H. Knight, who put up a building and set up machinery for spinning woolen yarns. Mr. Knight sold to the city of Boston.

Woolen Factory at Saxonville .- April 5, 1822, the following persons, viz., Jere. Gore, John S. Harris, Stephen Gore, Jr., Ephraim Jones, all of Boston, and Abner, Benj. and Eliphalet Wheeler, of Framingham, bought of Charles Fiske, Isaac Dench, Josiah Stone, Abel Eaton, Abner Stone, and others, the land on both sides the river, together with the water privilege and buildings, dwelling-houses, etc., at the Falls in Saxonville, and the next year built the first woolen- mill. February 4, 1824, the parties above-named were incorporated under the name of the Saxon Fac- tory Company, for the purpose of manufacturing wool in the town of Framingham, with power to hold real estate, not exceeding the value of $100,000, and capi- tal stock to the amount of $200,000. May 8, 1824, Jere. Gore and his associates sold the entire estate and water rights, for $20,000, to the Saxon Factory. The canal had been dug and a mill erected in 1823.

February 8, 1825, the Saxon Factory and the Lei- cester Factory were, hy act of the Legislature, "made one corporation, for the purpose of manufacturing wool, cotton and machinery in Leicester and Fram- ingham."

June 11, 1829, Joseph Head, Henry Gardner, Ed- ward Miller, H. H. Jones and others were incorpor- ated as the Saxon Cotton and Woolen Factory, for the purpose of manufacturing cotton and wool in the town of Framingham.

February 16, 1832, the name of the company was changed to that of the Saxon Factory. The statistics of this company April 1, 1837, were: Woolen-mills, 5; sets of machinery, 11; wool consumed, 744,000 lbs .; cloth manufactured, 268,640 yards ; value, $311,- 800; males employed, 105 ; females, 141; capital in- vested, $415,000.

In 1837 the New England Worsted Company pur- chased the entire property of the Saxon Company and removed their worsted machinery from Lowell to Framingham. The main business since then has been the manufacture of worsted carpet-yarns and woolen-blankets. In 1858 this entire property was bought by M. H. Simpson and Nathaniel Francis, and the name changed to the Saxonville Mills. No change was made in the kind of goods manufactured. During the late Civil War the company filled large orders for blue Kersey army cloth. The statistics for 1865 were: Number of mills, 4; sets of machin- ery, 25; pounds of sconred wool consumed, 2,000,000;

gross value of stock used, $800,000 ; yards of blanket- ing manufactured, 1,500,000; valne, $900,000 ; pounds of yarn manufactured and not made into cloth, 600,- 000; value, $300,000; yards of army cloth made, 150,000 ; value, $200,000; males employed, 393 ; fe- males, 390. Statistics for 1875: Mills, 2; capital, $800,000; valne of goods manufactured, $850,000; males employed, 263; females, 268. In 1878 the company commenced the manufacture of hair-clotlı, in imitation of seal-skin; but the move was not a success. The mills were burnt in 1883, and re-built on a different plan-a large single story edifice.

Carpet Factory .- In 1829 Mr. Wm. H. Knight bought of Col. James Brown the old fulling-mill privilege on Cochituate Brook, changed the cotton-thread machin- ery and immediately commenced the manufacture of carpets. His means were limited, and not at all commensurate with his skill. At first he would pur- chase wool only sufficient for a single piece of car- peting, work it up, take the piece to Boston, and from the proceeds buy more wool. The business prospered, and in 1839 Mr. Knight bought the "bridge lot," eighty rods below the fulling-mill site, where he put in a dam, erected new buildings and started large carpet works. In 1844 he purchased the old cotton- mill privilege, where he put in machinery for spin- ning woolen yarn. Controlling and using these three water-powers, which embraced the whole fall of the stream, his business rapidly increased, so that in 1845 -only fifteen years after his humble beginning-the returns show : Amount of wool annually consumed. 465,000 pounds; yards of carpeting produced, 199,037 ; value, $149,530 ; males employed, 191 ; females, 41.

Mr. Knight sold all his property and water-rights on Cochituate Brook to the city of Boston, June 25, 1846. The buildings connected with the bridge lot works were burnt on the morning of March 20, 1847.

Paper-Mills .- In 1817 Dexter and David Bigelow erected a mill on the Hopkinton River, for the man- ufacture of writing-paper ; and in 1828 Calvin Shepard and Son purchased the site of the Dench Mills, on the same stream, and put in paper-making machinery. These privileges are now in Ashland. In 1837 the stock manufactured was 278 tons ; value of paper, $46,000 ; males employed, twelve; females, eleven ; capital invested, $50,000.

Book-Bindery .- Otis Boynton established a book- bindery here in the spring of 1822. In 1833 John J. Marshall joined the concern, and a book and station- ery store was opened. The business was carried on till February, 1864.

Hatters .- Daniel Bridge, felt-maker and hatter, built a shop in the Centre in 1781, and remained here a few years. In 1823 Silas Hunt and Ira Mitchell established a hat manufactory, where is now Otis Childs' dwelling-house. In 1845 four hands were em- ployed, and the net income of the business was $2500. The business was given up in 1852, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Jones removing to Milford.

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Tanneries .- Colonel Joseph Buckminster and Jonas Eaton built tan-works very early. Joshua Eaton, soon after 1723, established & tan-yard near School- house No. 7. David Stone and Jonathan Hill had a tannery north of Saxonville before 1769. They sold to John Stone, of East Sudbury, who sold March 17, 1788, to Elijah Clayes, who carried on the business till March 27, 1790, when he sold to Micah Fiske, by whom and his son Charles it was conducted for half a century.

Isaac Warren bonght the John Fiske Tannery of Eli Bullard in 1797, and carried on the business till his death.

In 1780 Thomas and Ezekiel Williams of Roxbury, tanners and curriers, bought the Mixer Tannery, on Roaring Brook, near Sonthborough line, where is now the brick-yard, which they sold in 1790 to Benjamin Eaton, Jr., who continued the business, and died there.

There was a tannery north of the Albert G. Gibbs honse, known as the Dench Tannery, but by whom started is uncertain. In 1809 Joseph Bennett sold it to his son Nathaniel S., who sold April 21, 1817, to Lewis Keyes and Francis Dana, who sold December 8, 1818, to Aaron and Henry HI. Hyde, who carried on the business for many years. These tanneries were operated on the cold process, requiring at least six months to properly cure the hides. The introduction, elsewhere, of the hot liquor process, and modern machinery, broke up the business in this town.

Straw Braid and Bonnet Manufacture .- In 1799 or 1800, the wife of Joseph Bennett and her daughter, Betsey, commenced the plaiting of grass and rye straw, which material was made into hats and bonnets; and thus a profitable business was started, which con- tinued for some years. The bonnets were trimmed around the edges with nipping braid made of three strands.

The following memorandum shows that Mrs. Mary Rice, wife of Capt. Uriah, started a like business at nearly the same time: "Oct. 2, 1800, we began to work on straw bonnets and trimmings ; and cleared $340." Mrs. Rice carried on the business for about fifty years. Her trade was principally in Boston, Salem, Gloncester and Portland.

Maj. Benj. Wheeler went into the straw braid and bonnet business in 1807. His trade was largely with the South, and amounted in some years to $30,000. About 1813, Capt. J. J. Clark commenced the bonnet business, which he continued till 1830. The wife of Joseph Sanger was also engaged in the manufacture of straw bonnets.

The starting of this business in town created a new and profitable family industry. The braid was made by the girls and boys at home. The winter rye was cut in June; the straw scalded and cured. That part which grew within the sheath was cut in uniform lengths, and whitened by brimstone fumes, and split on a hand machine, coarse or fine, according to the

demand and the skill of the braider. The fine braid was known as " Dunstable." A smart girl would braid 10 to 12 yards per day of the fine, and 18 to 24 yards of the coarse. Fine braid was sold at 3 to 3} cents per yard. Store-keepers took it in payment for goods. They sold their goods for two prices, cash price and straw price ; the latter being considerably higher than the other.

The wife of Lovell Eames commenced manufactur- ing bonnets in 1825; and abont 1830, her son Horace took charge of the business, and added a distinct de- partment of bleaching and pressing, for himself and the bonnet makers in this and the neighboring towns. Franklin Manson commenced working for Mr. Eames in 1836; and in 1840, Mr. Manson took the business into his own hands. In 1844, Mr. Manson entered into partnership with George Richardson, for the manufacture of straw bonnets. Their straw shop (now Liberty Block) was built in 1845. The partner- ship was dissolved at the end of two years; and soon after Mr. Manson built a shop, and carried on bnsi- ness on his own account, till 1864.

Alexander Clark commenced the manufacture of straw bonnets, as a distinct business in 1838, and with his brother Newell continued till 1853, when he began the manufacture of palm leaf hats and shaker hoods, which he and his son kept up till a late date.

After leaving Mr. Manson, George Richardson and his brother Augustus carried on the bonnet business till 1860.

Augustus Richardson built a new shop, where he manufactured straw goods to a large extent, for some years; and was succeeded by George P. Metcalf and H. K. White.

Curtis H. Barber succeeded to the business of Mr. Manson in 1864, and now has a large manufactory of his own, near the Baptist meeting-house.

The statistics of this industry in this town, are : 1836. Straw bonnets manufactured, 2950; value, $5350. 1845. Number of bonnets manufactured, 31,000 ; value, $20,100. The cost of the braid was $450. 1855. Number of straw bonnets made, 107,- 000; straw hats, 60,000; males employed, 25; fe- males, 300. 1865. Number of straw bonnets made, 120,000; value, $180,000. Number of straw hats made, 120,000; value $12,000. Number of males employed, 50; females, 800. Number of palm leaf hoods manufactured, 230,000; value, $65,000. Num- ber of males employed, 6 ; females, 40. 1875. Value of straw goods manufactured, $830,000. Capital in- vested, $255,000.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 152

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