History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 156

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 156

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now manager of the paper, Mr. Blake being treasurer and general manager of the company. The Gazette has paid but little attention to politics, taking a neu- tral stand and aiming to make an acceptable home paper, free from offence on this score.

The Framingham Tribune was started October 27, 1883, by Charles J. McPherson, in a small office in Uuion Block. The type-setting was done here, but the paper's forms were sent out of town for the press- work at first, as the publisher had no presses. Mr. McPherson started the Sherborn Tribune at the same time, doing the work at the same office. In addition to these he had for some time, and still continued to publish The Walpole Star and The Norwood Review, which he had printed at Mansfield. The latter were eight-column folios, but the two Tribunes were seven column folios. But seven numbers of the latter were printed before more room was taken in the same block and a new Cottrell cylinder press was put in, on which No. S of Vol. I was printed. This was on December 14, 1883. A small steam-engine followed the press. No. 8 was an enlargement, the paper being eight col- umns to the page, instead of seven. Mr. Walter H. Davis, who had been doing a small job printing busi- ness in town, entered into partnership with Mr. Mc- Pherson, under the firm name of McPherson & Davis, and a small job printing business was added to the newspaper business. The partnership had lasted but a few weeks when another enlargementcame. A stock company organized under Massachusetts law with $5000 capital was formed, Messrs. McPherson and Davis owning a majority of the stock. "The Union Publishing Company " was the style of the new or- ganization, and it owned and printed at the start The Framingham Tribune, Sherborn Tribune, Walpole Star, Norwood Review. A little later The Medfield Bulletin was bought and published for two or three years, being afterwards sold again. Still later The Ashland Tribune, Southboro' Tribune, Sudbury Tribune were started and are still published by the company. The first number of the Tribune under the Union Publishing Company was ou April 25, 1884, being No. 27 of Vol. I. This number marked still another enlargement, the paper now appearing as a six-column quarto (eight pages of six columns each.) Mr. McPherson became general manager of the new company, and Mr. Davis, clerk, while both of them were directors. The former has been editor and manager from the beginning to the present time. At the time of the organization of the new company Wm. B. Jones, since deceased, became, associate editor for a short time. On June 19, 1885, the Tribune took on the form of an eight-column folio again. One half the paper had heretofore been printed in Boston, and was known as a " ready print," but by this last change all the printing was done at the home office, although a considerable quantity of stereotype plate general matter was used. From Jan- uary 1st to June 4, 1886, the paper was a seven-column folio, then an eight-column folio again until October

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

29, 1886, when it again took the eight-page, or quarto form which it has ever since retained, except when, as is often the case, it appears as ten pages. In March, 1886, after having twice previously outgrown and enlarged the office quarters, a removal was made to the new brick Liberty Block, where the third floor was taken, and a new boiler and engine put in. This, in turn, has been outgrown and other room in the building gradually taken, until now a removal has been made to specially prepared and convenient quarters in the new four-story brick "Tribune Build- ing." The Tribune has been independent politieally, striving to be first of all a first-class local newspaper. Its circulation is over 2000 copies.

On November 1, 1890, The Daily Tribune was lannehed, with a fair share of advertising patronage and support. The size of the daily is four pages of six columns each, the price being two cents a copy. It covers all the neighboring towns for news, and is independent politically. It is an offshoot from the Weekly Tribune, and is under the same management.

THE BANKS .- The Framingham Savings Bank was chartered io 1846, and did business at Framingham Centre until 1884, when it removed to South Fram- ingham. Its presidents have been Moses Edgell, Geo. Phipps, Charles Upham, Luther F. Fuller, Adolphus Merriam, Franklin E. Gregory. Messrs. Phipps, Upham and Merriam died in office. The treasurers have been Rufus Brewer, Edward Ilsley, Lorenzo Sabin, Coleman S. Adams, Luther F. Ful- ler. Walter Adams, Esq., is the bank's solicitor. The statement May 1, 1890, shows $1,860,734.14 de- posits, and it is undoubtedly oue of the strongest banks in. the State. At present the officers are: President, Franklin E. Gregory ; Vice-Presidents, Samuel B. Bird, J. Henry Robinson, Franklin Man- son ; Treasurer, Luther F. Fuller ; Trustees, F. E. Gregory, S. B. Bird, J. H. Robinson, F. Manson, L. F. Fuller, John S. Cullen, Adrian Foot, Walter Adams, Francis C. Stearns, Geo. C. Travis, Edward F. Ken- dall, Clifford Folger, Simeon H. Williams.

The Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank was or- ganized April 23, 1883, and opened for business June 4, 1883. Willard IIowe has been president, George E. Cutler treasurer, and Stearns G. Davenport elerk, from the start. To-day the deposits amount to $430,000. The bank has never lost a dollar, and has paid divi- dends of from four to five per. cent since the start. The vice-presidents are A. C. Blanchard, D. T. Bridges, J. R. Entwistle. The trustces are Willard Howe, 1I. L. Sawyer, James Fennessy, Jos. W. Bul- lard, Chas. D. Lewis, S. G. Davenport, Geo. E. Cutler, Franklin Enslin, Willis M. Ranney, Sidney A. Phil- lips, James R. Entwistle, Patrick Hayes, Jr. Sidney A. Phillips, Esq., is the hank's solicitor.

The South Framingham Co-Operative Bank was chartered April 18, 1889. The deposits now amount to over $28,000. A dividend of six per cent. was de- clared at the end of the first year's business. Charles

J. McPherson is president; Alfred M. Eames, vice president ; Harrie L. Davenport, secretary and treas- urer. Willis A. Kingsbury, Esq., is solicitor. The direetors are R. M. French, E. Goulding, J. J. McCann, Joshua Smith, W. A. Kingsbury, Alvah T Bridges, R. L. Everit, F. H. Fales, J. H. Goodell, J. B. Johnson, G. L. Whitney, J. H. Conway.

The Framingham National Bank was incorporated as a State bank in 1833, and changed in 1864 to a national bank. Up to 1864 it had paid out in divi- (lends a little more than $383,000. Since 1864, the time when the institution became a national bank, the dividends have considerably exceeded $500,000, and in all its history no semi-annual dividend has ever been passed. The capital is $200,000. The bank had always been located at Framingham Centre until 1888, when it removed to South Framingham, having bought out the business of the South Fram- ingham National Bank, James J. Valentine, who for twenty-six years had been elerk and cashier in the bank, is president ; Franklin E. Gregory is vice- president, and Fred. L. Oaks is cashier. The direc- tors are J. J. Valentine, F. E. Gregory, John B. Wal- cott, W. M. Ranney, Walter Adams, S. B. Bird, T. L. Barber.

The South Framingham National Bank was organ- ized June 14, 1880, and began business in July of that year, with a capital of $100,000. Although the bank did a good business and was prosperous, certain of the older stockholders looked with favor upon a proposition of the Framingham National Bank to as- sume their business, paying a good premium for the stock, and, although the bank had $150,000 on de- posit, and $200,000 worth of good loans, it went into liquidation in August of 1888, receiving from the old bank about $114 for each share of stock. The presi- dents of the bank were James W. Clark, Adolphus Merriam and Franklin Manson. The cashiers were F. M. Stockwell and Fred. L. Oaks.

CHURCHES,-In South Framingham there are seven churches,-Roman Catholic, Congregationalist, Bap- tist, Methodist, Universalist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, while at the other villages of the town most of the above denominations are represented, as well as the Unitarian. Brief sketches are given of the churches at South Framingham.

The Baptist Church is the oldest one in the village. Previous to the last month of 1851 the inhabitants of the village attended church at Framingham Centre, but the growth of the South village consequent to the establishment of the straw hat and bonnet industry demanded a place of worship nearer home. Oeca- sional meetings had been held at the various dwellings and in the village school-house, and for some time a Bible class had been conducted on Sunday evenings by Alexander Clark, and on week-days some portion of the Bible was read aloud in his straw shop. This was early in the forties. Not long after Revs. Apple- ton Belknap, of Framingham, and B. F. Bronson, of

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Ashland, and other ministers preached for a few Sun- days in Mr. Clark's shop, seventy-five persons or more attending these services. The writer is indebted to an historical address delivered on March 16, 1879, by Rev. H. G. Safford, for most of the information con- cerning the growth of the Baptist Church. He tells us that in 1844 Rev. I. N. Tarbox became pastor of the Centre Congregational Church, and in 1846 Rev. Jonathan Aldrich, of the Centre Baptist Church, and that soon after there was a revival of religious interest in town. A considerable number of the young men and women connected with the straw shops at South Framingham hecame interested and were converted. In 1851, Elias Howe, then of Boston, built Waverley Hall in the central part of the village, and during its building he spoke of holding meetings in it, and upon its completion, previous to the dedication ball, he in- vited Rev. Mr. Olmstead, a Baptist minister, and editor of the Watchman, then residing in Framing- ham, to preach upon a Sunday evening early in No- vember. Mr. Olmstead, being unwell, came with a substitute in the person of Rev. S. S. Cutting, another Baptist minister, associated with MI. Olmstead on the Watchman's editorial staff, also a temporary resident of Framingham, and he preached to a large and at- tentive company. At the close of this meeting a call was issued, inviting all who were interested in having stated religious services in the village to meet to con- sider the matter. This meeting was held in the depot on the evening of November 18, 1851. Hon. Joseph Fuller was chosen chairman, and it was voted to have stated religious meetings. The nearness of Newton Theological Seminary, where pulpit supplies could be easily obtained, was one principal reason why it was unanimously voted at this meeting that the preaching should be of the Baptist faith. Waverley Hall was hired for the meetings, and Messrs. Olmstead and Cutting were engaged to preach half the time, alter- nating with students from Newton Seminary. In two days the sum of $281.50 was pledged for these meet- ings, and the first service was held on Sunday, De- cember 7, 1851, Rev. S. S. Cutting preaching to a large and attentive congregation. On December 21st, a Sunday-school was formed, having thirty-nine scholars at the start. During these nearly forty years this Sunday-school has continued with but one brief interruption one summer. Elbridge Gale was the first superintendent, with Alexander Clark for assist- ant. The office of superintendent has since been filled by Alexander Clark for twenty-eight years, and for shorter terms by Deacons Edwards and Phillips, and Messrs. J. C. Clark, G. C. Travis, E. F. Phinney, Rev. E. S. Wheeler, A. M. Lang, Mr. Lang holding the office at present. The membership of the school at present is 200.

Preaching was continued in Waverley Hall during the first year, but on account of an advance in rent the regular services were then given up, but some months afterward Richardson's (afterwards Liberty, now Py-

thian) Hall was secured for one year. The services had thus far been carried on by the South Framing- ham Baptist Society. On March 17, 1854, the South Framingham Baptist Church was organized with twenty-two members. On Sunday afternoon, March 26th, the church was formally recognized by a council of the Baptist churches from the neighboring towns. Rev. B. H. Lincoln, of Bordentown, New Jersey, was the first regular pastor, commencing his labors on Suuday, April 9, 1854. In April, 1855, the deed was secured for the present church location, the lot cost- ing $1500. Subscriptions to the proposed new church edifice were generous, and a committee, consisting of A. Clark, F. Manson, Newell Clark and J. Hemen- way, was appointed to go ahead with the erection of a church edifice. A. R. Esty, of Framingham, was selected as the architect, and in December of 1854 the vestry of the present building was ready for dedi- cation, and this service was performed on the Satur- day evening preceding the first Sabbath in January, 1855. The whole house, upon its completion, was dedicated on Thursday afternoon, March 15, 1855.

In the spring of 1867 a bell costing $800, and weighing 1600 pounds, was put into the belfry. Early in 1869 a few of the families connected with the church aided in starting the new Methodist Church, and in January, 1873, the organization of a Congre- gational Church drew still further from this church. Early in 1878 the organization of a Universalist Church drew still a little more from the attendance ; but all these years the growth had been more than commensurate with the drains upon the church by deaths, removals and the formation of new ones. The pipe-organ was put into the church by Alexander Clark and son Willard, in 1861, and for nearly thirty years Mr. Willard E. Clark has served as organist.

The pastors of the church have been: Rev. Brad- ford H. Lincoln, 1854-55; Rev. Samuel W. Foljambe, 1856-58; Rev. Theron Brown, 1859-61; Rev. Samuel Brooks (acting), 1862-64; Rev. Alexander M. Hig- gins, 1865-67; Rev. Thomas T. Filmer, 1868-73; Rev. George R. Darrow (acting), 1874-75; Rev. Henry G. Safford, 1875-84; Rev. Edwin S. Wheeler, 1884-90, still pastor. The present church membership is 221. Connected with this church is the new Hills Chapel Mission at Lokerville, the handsome little chapel having been erected iu that rapidly-growing section of the village in 1888, largely through the gift of tho late Mr. Samuel Hills and wife. A Sunday-school is also maintained at Hills Chapel.

Connected with the Baptist Church are the Young Christians' Association, Ladies' Missionary Society and the Ladies' Social Circle. The latter circle was organized in 1851, even before the church was organ- ized, and has been a powerful factor for good. Through it the church was originally furnished, the bell was bought, and many works of benevolence have been carried out.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- It was in February of

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1869 that some people of the Methodist persuasion first got together here with a view to forming a so- ciety. Meeting from house to house, they were form- ally organized at the house of Horace W. Carter on November 5, 1869, the Quarterly Conference being held there. Besides the other attendants there were at the start twenty members in full communion. Waverley Hall was used as a meeting-place until 1873, when the Kennedy property, adjoining, was purchased by the society, and Irving Hall became the place of meeting. Rev. William R. Clark, D.D., preached the dedicatory sermon December 21, 1873. By degrees, as the society grew, it was found that the hall was too small for its meetings, and the project of building a church was agitated. The Kennedy pur- chase had grown more valuable as the town grew, the hall was in demand for other purposes, and there was land enough adjacent to the Irving building, but a part of their original purchase, for a suitable church building. Under these favorable conditions the idea of building a meeting-house grew rapidly, and in 1883 Mr. H. W. Corson, of Natick, was employed to pre- pare plans and build the present meeting-house, which has a capacity for seating 250 in the audito- rium, with parlors in the rear which can be made a part of the auditorium by raising the sash partition, which is hung on weights. Other rooms are provided above and in the basement. The new church was dedicated February 21, 1884, and so much has the society since grown that it is often tested to its full capacity. Within a month of the time of writing, a handsome pipe-organ has been put into the church. The full church membership is now 135, besides twenty-five probationers. The Sunday-school now numbers 160, and is steadily growing under the super- intendency of Mr. C. T. Boynton, who has been su- perintendent the past four years. The pastors who have been stationed here since the society's formation are: Rev. F. B. Hampton, who died after preaching two Sabbaths, and Rev. J. M. Avann, 1869; Rev. Seth C. Carey, 1870-72; Rev. John Il. Mansfield, 1873; Rev. Joshua Gill, 1874-75, and 1879-81; Rev. D. K. Merrill, 1876; Rev. Phiuehas Sloper, 1877; Rev. John H1. Emerson, 1878; Rev. Almon F. Iloyt, 1882; Rev. William Full, 1883-85; Rev. George E. Sanderson, 1886-87; Rev. A. J. Hall, 1887-88; Rev. E. W. Virgin, 1890.

Grace Congregational Church .- The first steps leading to the formation of this church were taken July 11, 1872, when, by appointment, a prayer-meet- ing was held in the ante-room of Nobscot Hall, at which thirty persons were present. These meetings were continued week by week and increased iu at- tendance and interest. Nov. 5th it was decided to or- ganize a Congregational Church in South Framing- ham, and committees were chosen to take the necessary preliminary steps for the formation of the church and society or parish, also to see if funds could be raised to meet the expense of the first year.

On Dec. 1, 1872 the first regular Sabbath service was held in Nobscot Hall, at which Rev. L. R. East- man, Jr., pastor of Plymouth Church, Framingham Centre, preached. This hall, afterwards the District Court-room, continued to be the place of meeting of the church until the completion of the chapel in January, 1874.

The church was organized January 2, 1873, as the South Church of Framingham, with fifty-seven mem- bers, and recognized by a council of the neighboring churches held that day. Of those thus uniting, thirty - four were from Plymouth Church, Framingham, which may be called the mother church, both from this circumstance and from their active sympathy and help. The Home Missionary Society was repre- sented on the council, it being supposed that the church would need the help of this society ; but it did not, as it was self-supporting from the start.

In April, 1873, the church and society extended a call to Rev. David M. Bean to become their pastor. This call was accepted and he begau the duties of the pastorate May 4th, without installation.

In July of that year the society purchased of Frank- lin Manson the lot of land on which the church and chapel are situated, and steps were taken at once to erect a chapel. Jan. 29, 1874, " The Chapel " was dedi- cated, Rev. E. K. Alden, D.D., preaching the ser- mon. The cost of building and land was about $8100, fully two-thirds of which was raised before dedication, and the balance during the two years fol- lowing. The chapel was thirty-six by sixty feet, and would seat about 250 persons.

The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Bean was a very impor- tant period in the history of the church. It contin- ued until August 1, 1879, for a period of a little over six years. During this time the church enjoyed a steady and healthy growth. It increased in mem- bership from 67 to 133, 54 being received during this time on confession of faith.

In January, 1880, the place adjoining the church property on the east was purchased with the inten- tion of remodeling the house for a parsonage. The total cost of the parsonage property when these changes were made was about $5,500.

February 12, 1880, Rev. William R. Eastman was installed as pastor.

Soon after the establishment in the place of the Pará Rubber Shoe Company it was apparent that the chapel was too small, and about the 1st of January, 1873, the first steps were taken toward the building of a church. At this time the church had been or- ganized ten years and had a membership of 144. Mr. L. B. Valk, of New York, was employed as architect. The corner-stone of the building was laid August 31st, and it was completed in the following March and dedicated the 2d day of April, free of debt, the cost being about $10,000. The bell, costing about $500, was the gift of Mr. George M. Amsden. The church is about sixty by seventy feet and seats 490

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persons. The floor is bowled, and seats are arranged on circular lines.

In November, 1886, the property adjoining the church on the south was purchased by Elbridge E. Rice for $5500. An extension was added to the church in the rear of the pulpit and a pipe-organ placed therein at a total cost of about $3800.

May 20, 1888, Rev. W. R. Eastman presented his resignation as pastor, to take effect September 1st. He was regularly dismissed by a council held July 9th. During the eight and a half years of his pastor- ate seventy-four persons were received on confession of faith and the church increased in numbers from 132 to 245.

The Rev. Frederick E. Emrich commenced his la- bors as pastor February 7, 1889, the church having ex- tended him a call to become their pastor for one year. December 19, 1884, the church incorporated as (trace Congregational Church, and the property of the society was soon after transferred to the new organiza- tion. January 29, 1890, Rev. F. E. Emrich was installed by council as the pastor of the church. As the result in part of a series of special meetings forty- one persons were received into the church on confes- sion of faith from January 1, 1890 to the July commun- ion, and the total membership has increased from 251 to 313. The attendance at the church services has so increased that there is a great demand for more sittings, and a movement is now on foot (July, 1890) for enlarging the church and providing better accommodation for the Sunday-school, for which purpose it is proposed to raise $10,000.

The seats in the church have always been free (that is, not sold or leased), and the expenses have been met by a system of voluntary offerings. Four- fifths of the seats have been assigned to those desiring regular seats, the balance being reserved for strangers.

The following have served the church as deacons : Andrew Coolidge, 1873-80; Simeon H. Williams, 1873-81; Benjamin T. Thompson, 1878-80,-'82-85,'87 ; Charles H. Emerson, 1880-82; Edwin A. Freese, 1880-83 ; Fred. L. Oaks, 1881-84, 86, '89 ; Frederick J. Stevens, 1883-86, '88-Fred. W. Taft, 1884-87,'S9- Sampson Bridges, 1885-88, '90.

The Sunday-school was organized as soon as the church was started. Its present membership is over 450. The average attendance in 1889 was 244, and for the first half of 1890 over 280. The present sup- erintendent is Dr. George Rice. A full list of those who have held the office is as follows: Wm. W. Wood, 1873 ; Geo. I. Clapp, 1874-75; Frank A. Day, 1876 and Jannary to September, 1880; Geo, B. Over- hiser, 1877 ; Dr. George Rice, 1878-79, 1889-90 ; Fred. L. Oaks, September to December, 1880, 1881-82, 1887- 88; Frederick J. Stevens, 1883-86. Other societies connected with the church are as follows: the Ladies' Association, a social and home missionary organization, formed April 14, 1874; the Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society, organized February 10,

1875; the Young People's Society of Christian Endeav- or, organized December 4, 1883; the Junior Society of Christian Endeavor, organized October 27, 1884; the Gleaner, a children's missionary society, organ- ized in 1884.

Roman Catholic .- St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church is the largest and handsomest in the village. The first movement to provide a place of worship in this village for Roman Catholics was in 1876, when meetings were held in Waverley Hall, Rev. A. J. Rossi, of St. George's Parish, Saxonville, being in charge of the movement. As a result, the old Sax- onville Parish was divided, and St. Bridget's Parish was established in July, 1877, the church edifice at Framingham Centre, built by the Universalists and afterwards used by the 'Episcopalians, being pur- chased. This still left South Framingham Catholics without a local place of worship, all attending St. Bridget's Church at the Centre. In 1878 Rev. John S. Cullen, who was rector of St. Bridget's, started a mission in Waverley Hall, the Catholic population then in the village numbering about 300 souls, in- cluding infants. The meetings were well sustained, and as the village grew, so did the parish. The es- tablishment here of the Para Rubber Shoe Co.'s busi- ness in 1882 bad an electrical effect upon this parish, as indeed it had upon the whole village, and the hall accommodations were soon inadequate to the demands upon them. The new St. Stephen's Parish was set off from St. Bridget's, and formally organized by it- self in May, 1883. A centrally located church site was purchased of Augustus Richardson, on Concord Street, and plans were made for a new church edifice. The corner-stone was laid December 16, 1883, in the presence of 1000 people, the stone being blessed and laid by Vicar-General Wm. Byrne, D.D., Archbishop Williams being at the time in Rome. The sermon was preached by Rev. P. A. Mckenna, of Hudson.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 156

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