History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 160

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 160

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The young physician wisely located at this point, and allied himself with the new movement and with the pastor of the church.

He was a man of fine presence, and affable, though dignified manners, and every way calculated to make a favorable impression.

The inception of the plan for the establishment of a grammar-school of high order at the Centre-which soon was transformed into the Framingham Acad- emy-gave Dr. Kittredge the opportunity of ingra- tiating himself with the leading families, by further- ing in every wise way the new educational institution and drawing in pupils. He gave a hearty support to the movement; and his interest in the Academy and the public schools continued through his active life.

Undoubtedly the reputation of the family as physi- cians predisposed the public in his favor ; but he was a born doctor, and started with the determination of achieving success. He gave his time and his best work and leading interest to his profession, and made everything else subsidiary. And he had broad sym- pathies, which prevented favoritism. A family in humble circumstances was sure of receiving his kind attention and the most considerate treatment.

Technically, as judged by present standards, his medical education was defective. But practically, he was well equipped-by natural taste, by quick percep- tive powers, by the habit of elose observation, by the logical faculty of tracing cause and effect, as well as careful reading of the works then extant.

Perhaps his forte lay in his accurate diagnosis of disease. It may have been partly intuition ; but his careful analysis of symptoms, and study of temper- aments and habits of living, and family predisposi- tions, aided the natural perception.

And his cheery and hopeful demeanor in the sick- room was a powerful adjunet to the medicine he pre- scribed. " We'll have you out again in a few days !" was the inspiring assurance with which he was wont to bid good-bye to his patient.

His large practice brought fame and wealth. And

after his means became ample, he was greatly helpful to young men of good character and habits-particu- larly mechanics just starting in business on their own account-by loaning them money on their individual note. It was done not grudgingly, but willingly. The debtor felt that the lender took an interest in him and his success, and had confidence in his hon- esty aud ability ; and thus the loan was a powerful motive to diligence and economy, as well as a work- ing capital.

Dr. Kittredge died February 29, 1848. He married Mary Kellogg, daughter of Rev. David Kellogg, pas- tor of the church in Framingham. Their children were: 1. Ellen, who married Dexter Stone, a mer- chant of Philadelphia, and had two daughters, Mary, and Ellen K. ; 2. John T., who graduated at Amherst College 1828, studied medicine with his father, began practice in his native town, and died at the early age of twenty-six.

HOLLIS HASTINGS.

The subject of this sketch is descended from Thomas Hastings, who, at the age of twenty-nine, with his wife, Susanna, eame to New England in the summer of 1634 and settled in Watertown. lIe em- barked at Ipswich, England, April 10th of that year, in the "Elizabeth," William Andrews master, and probably arrived in May. He was admitted a free- man May 6, 1G35, and was a selectman of Watertown from 1638 to 1643, and again from 1650 to 1671. He was town elerk in 1671-77 and '80, and Representa- tive in 1673. His wife died February 2, 1650, and in April, 1651, he married Margaret, daughter of Wil- liam and Martha Cheney, of Roxbury. His children -all by the second wife-were Thomas, born July 1, 1652; John, March 4, 1654; William, August 8, 1655; Joseph, September 11, 1657 ; Benjamin, Angust 9, 1659 ; Nathaniel, September 25, 1661 ; Hepzibalı, January 1, 1663, and Samuel, March 12, 1665. He died in 1685, at the age of eighty.

Of the children of Thomas, John, born as above, in Watertown, married, June 18, 1679, Abigail, daugh- ter of John and Abigail Hammoud, of Watertown, and died March 28, 1718, only a few days before his wife, who died on the 7th of April following. He left eight children : Abigail, born December 8, 1680 ; John, baptized December 4, 1687; Elizabeth, bap- tized December 4, 1687; Hepzibah, baptized at same date; William, baptized July 13, 1690; Samuel, born 1695, and Thomas and Joseph, baptized July 10, 1698.

Of these children, Joseph married, October 2, 1716, Lydia, daughter of Abraham and Mary (Hyde) Brown, of Watertown, and had fourteen children : Elizabeth, born March 4, 1717; Lydia, November 26, 1718; Grace, April 2, 1720; Joseph, June 1, 1722; an infant unnamed, 1724; Luey, April 9, 1726; Josiah, Febru- ary 28, 1728; Jonas, September 15, 1729; Susanna, May 26, 1731 ; Eliphalet, October 10, 1734; Thank-

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ful, October 12, 1736; Sarah, November, 1737; an infant, 1739, and Lois, May 4, 1742.

Of these, Eliphalet, horn in Waltham, as above, married, August 20, 1761, Susan, daughter of Samuel aud Anna (Bemis) Fiske, of Waltham. He was in the French and Indian War, and present at the cap- ture of Quebec, in 1759. He was also a soldier in the Revolution and died in Framingham in 1824. His children were Lucy, born September 30, 1761; Elias, February 13, 1763; Susanna, baptized in Feb- ruary, 1765; Louisa Ann, boru April 19, 1767; Wil- liam, September 12, 1769; Anna; Eliphalet, Novem- ber 22, 1774; Charles, September 22, 1776; Thomas, June 19, 1780; Samuel, November 14, 1782, and Susan, October 18, 1786.

Of these children, Thomas was born in Waltham, and married, April 3, 1803, Nabby, daughter of Sam- uel and Martha (Jennings) Abbot, of Framingham. He died August 22, 1864. His children were Sam- uel Abbot, born October 3, 1803, William, June 15, 1805; Hollis, May 8, 1807; Thomas, April 18, 1809; Eliphalet, July 31, 1811; Josiah, July 25, 1813; John Kittredge, March 17, 1816; Otis Fisk, Novem- ber 18, 1818, Dexter, August 4, 1822.

Hollis Hastings, one of these children, is the sub- ject of this sketch. He was born in Framingham, and received his education in the public schools of that town and of Weston. He learned the trade of harness and carriage-making, with Marshal Jones, of Weston, and during thirty-five years carried on that business in his native town. With sufficient means, the fruit of his industry and skill, he retired from active business, and has since occupied his time in the care of his property, and in satisfying his desires to see the world and learn something of his brother men in their varying conditions of climate, of govern- ment and social life. To this end he has visited every State in the Union, including those recently admitted when they were Territories, and has twice visited the Old World. The information acquired in his travels has expanded and strengthened a natur- ally active and receptive mind, and enables him to discuss with unusual intelligence the questions which on both sides of the ocean agitate the public mind. His independence of thought enables him to freely think out the problems of the day, and reach conclu- sions untrammeled by the shackles which too often keep men in old ruts after the purpose for which they were made has disappeared. In politics originally a Webster Whig, more recently an independent voter, he weighs questions as they rise, and votes with this or that party which the most readily meets in his opinion the demand of the hour. He believes that parties should be organized solcly to subserve the interests of the country, and not to perpetuate themselves, and that when a party begins to act solely for itself it is time for it to die. Brought up in the orthodox Congregational Church, he has con- tinued a member of that faith. While in Europe

his letters, written for the Waltham Sentinel, of which his brother was the editor, were full of interesting matter, aud marked by intelligence and thought in the discussion of foreign affairs. His interviews with Lord John Russell and others, in which he forcibly presented what are called the Alabama Claims, were especially interesting.

Mr. Hastings has never been a seeker for office, and, with the exception of a term on the School Board of Framingham, his life has been spent outside of the active political field. He married, May 2, 1832, Abigail White, daughter of Dr. Norton, of Framing- ham, who died March 8, 1880. His children have been, George, born January 31, 1833 ; Horatio Car- ter, March 11, 1834; Dexter, November 24, 1835 ; Emily Carter, December 31, 1836; Nancy Dean, Au- gust 10, 1839 ; Samuel Dean, March 15, 1841 ; Josiah, July 2, 1844; Richard Briggs, January 12, 1846, and Jane Elizabeth, January 29, 1848.

Mr. Hastings is still living at the age of eighty- three, with mind and body unimpaired, and in the management of his affairs exhibits no abatement of the shrewdness and skill which have characterized him through life.

REV. JOHN S. CULLEN.

Rev. John S. Cullen was born in the town of Old- castle, County of Meath, Ireland, on Christmas Day, December 25, 1848. He came to this country with his parents in the early part of 1852, settling at Black- stone, Mass., where he attended the public schools until about eleven years old, when he was sent to St. Joseph's College, in Susquehanna County, Pa. There he stayed from the fall of 1860 to 1863, when he en - tered Ifoly Cross College, Worcester. He remained there three years. From there he went, in 1866, to Nicolet College, near Three Rivers, P. Q., staying there one year and graduating. In 1867 he went to Grand Seminary, Montreal, to study theology, remain- ing there uutil December 31, 1871, and being ordained there as a priest. On Jan. 15, 1872, he came to Hopkinton, Mass., as assistant pastor, and remained in that position six years, when he was appointed to take charge of the missions at South Framingham and Ashland. He lived in the latter town about eight months, removing to South Framingham in May, 1879. About this time St. Bridget's Mission was es- tablished at Framingham Centre, and added to his care. During his ministrations the uncompleted church at Ashland was finished, and in January of 1885 that town was made an independent parish and given to Rev. M. F. Delaney. The work grew so at South Framingham that an assistant was soon necessary, for in addition to the growing St. Stephen's Parish there, the mission at St. Bridget's was main- taining in addition to the regular Sunday services at the Woman's Reformatory at Sherborn. The corner- stone of the new St. Stephen's Church edifice was laid in December, 1883, and the structure was occupied on

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Christmas of 1884. The parish now numbers about 3000 souls and Father Cullen is sincerely beloved by all. During his residence in Hopkinton he served four years on the School Committee of the town, and he has been a member of the Framingham School Board as well as one of the trustees of the town library , for nearly six years, usually receiving the hearty sup- port of all parties and a unanimous election. He has been a trustee of the Framingham Savings Bank for about ten years, and has served on various town com- mittees. His interest and labor in the work of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors has been a power for good among the people of his parish and of the town generally. Among the young people and children he has especially loved to promote pure living and abstinence from profanity and other bad habits. It can truly be said that he is respected by all his townsmen and beloved by many besides his own people. He is now building a handsome and comfortable parochial residence, and all wish him many years of comfort and usefulness in it.

JAMES R. ENTWISTLE.

James R. Entwistle was born in the village of Sax- onville, town of Framingham, in 1845, and here he has ever since made his home, with the exception of two years spent in the West. He was educated in the town schools, and at an early age worked in the Saxonville Mills, and also in the store of Hunt & Fuller in the village. In 1863 the young man went to Boston to work in the jobbing shoe trade, but the following two years he spent in the West, being located at Evansville, Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio- Returning to Boston, he entered the employ of Hos- mer & Winch, boot and shoe jobbers, and since 1875 has been a member of the firm of Hosmer, Codding & Co., of that city, jobbers in boots, shoes and rub- bers. This firm is enterprising and well-known and is doing a large business.

Mr. Entwistle's business capacity has been rccog- nized in his selection as president of the Framingham Electric Company, which supplies the town with light, as a secretary and a director of the Framing- ham Union Street Railway Company, and it is not too much to say that he has been a prominent factor in the success of that company. He was an incor- porator and is a trustee of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank of South Framingham. His church affiliations are with the Congregationalists, being a contributor to the support of that denomination. He is also a member of the Edwards Parish at Saxonville. He is a prominent member of the Ma- sonic Fraternity and has been for years a member of the Royal Arcanum. That his capacity for good service has been appreciated by his townsmen is shown by the fact that he was for several years upon the School Committee of the town, was chosen the first auditor of the town's accounts, served on the

Board of Selectmen of the town in the years 1877 and 1878, and represented the town in the Legislature in 1882 and 1883. He was a member of the Sewerage Committee which had in charge the construction of the town's sewerage system, and has been for some years chairman of the Board of Registrars of Voters. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1888 he was a delegate to the National Convention at St. Louis, which nominated Mr. Cleveland for President. Self- made, popular, in the prime of life, any biography made of Mr. Entwistle at this time must be incom- plete.

ALEXANDER CLARK.

Alexander Clark, Jr., was born in Framingham, November 7, 1811. His father was the village black- smith and the son worked for him in the same busi- ness, afterwards engaging in it for himself, and later, in company with his brother Newell, starting a shop in South Framingham, where now is the drinking fountain in Irving Square. This was about 1831 ; hut when the square was opened, the shop was removed to the site on which afterwards grew np Charles E. Bradley's carriage-manufacturing business. Selling their business, Alexander and Newell went into the manufacture of straw bonnets in 1838, under the firm-name of A. & N. Clark. This firm was suc- ceeded later by that of A. Clark & Son, Alexander's son, Willard E., being associated with him. Front bonnets this firm went to making palm-leaf hats and Shaker hoods in 1853. These had an immense sale all over the country and the firm cleared many thou- sand dollars, but the hoods afterwards went out of style, and shop and machinery lay idle. The firm then fitted np a factory for the manufacture of shoes, but soon gave up the business. Alexander retired from active business some fifteen or twenty years ago, since which time until his death, which occurred August 11, 1890, his attention has been given to the care of his real estate, of which he possessed consid- erable. In 1853-54 when the town Fire Department had just been organized, Mr. Clark was third assist- ant engineer of the Department, being in charge of the South Framingham Division. lle lived to see the tiny village grow almost to the dimensions of a sınall, bustling city.

Mr. Clark was always deeply interested in religious work. Before 1840 there was no church at South Framingham, and he conducted Bible readings at his house on Sundays, and read the Bible alond in his shop on week-days. Sunday services were afterwards held in his shop, with preaching by neighboring min- isters. Ile was foremost in starting the Baptist Church in 1851, was its first treasurer, and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school at the start. When the church edifice was built he was chairman of the building committee, and for thirty years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school, being for

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many years also a member or leader of the choir. For years he officiated as undertaker in the village.

Mr. Clark was three times married,-on June 23, 1835, to Naney Daniels, who died December 5, 1838 ; on April 7, 1840, to the widow Abbie Blake Adams, to whom was born one son, Willard E. ; on April 17, 1889, he took for his third wife Nettie Ashbrook Steeves, of Moncton, New Brunswick, who survives him.

CHAPTER XLIV.

BELMONT:

BY THOMAS W. DAVIS.

IT was said, somewhat irreverently, by an earnest advocate of the Hoosac Tunnel, before that wonderful triumph of modern engineering had become an ac- complished fact, that the finger of God marked the valleys of the Deerfield and Hoosac Rivers for the lo- cation of a great railroad, and the full force of the re- mark is readily grasped by any one who, stand- ing on the ridge which separates those streams, observes the line of deeper green which in- dicates the descent of the hills on either hand to the course of the waters below. The objeetion was at once offered that, to make this argument avail, the finger should have pierced the mountain, and thus have made the route complete. Human enterprise has now supplied that which was lacking, and from the Atlantic plain of the Mystic and the Charles, across the valleys of the Nashua and the Connecticut with its tributaries, under and between the highlands of the Green and Taconic Ranges, the iron horse makes his regular journeys to meet the waters of the Iludson at Troy, It is interesting to note how, in its advance from one river system to another, the railroad has seized upon a depression here in the mountain wall of separation, a sloping upland there, and to observe again how communities spring into being all along the lines that help to tie the opposite ends of the land together. No town in New England, unless it be a railroad centre, owes its existence as a distinct municipality more directly to railroad enterprise, than does the town of Belmont. Its struggle for birth ended happily in the same contest that determined the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel, and there was a peculiar fitness in the union of the friends of the town and the advocates of the Tunnel in their efforts.

In the gradual growth of the ice trade, which was for so long a period of years an important factor in the development of Boston as a leading port of com- merce, a railroad had been built from Charlestown to Fresh Pond, for the purpose of carrying its ice to tide- water. An extension of this road to the westward was projected. To pass from the valley of the Mystic to that of the Charles the most feasible route was found

to be between Fresh and Spy Ponds, and thence along the southern border of Wellington Hill. At the western extremity of the hill, a slight elevation turns Beaver Brook from a southerly to a westerly direction, and causes it to empty its waters into the Charles River at Waltham, and the location of the railroad followed the brook in its westerly course. Aside from the advantages of this route, as determined by the topographical survey -- advantages so great that another highway to the West has since taken the same outlet- it was an additional recommendation that the valley at the base of Wellington Hill was sparsely populat- ed. It formed the outskirts of two old towns, Water- town and West Cambridge (now Arlington), and was, by reason of its remoteness from the centres of those towns, occupied exclusively by a farming population. In 1843 a charter was obtained for the Fitchburg Railroad, and it was opened to Waltham in Decem- ber of that year. At the crossing of Concord Turn- pike was placed the station of Wellington Hill, des- tined to make the centre of the charming surburban town of Belmont. At this time there were about one hundred and twenty-five families residing upon the territory now included within the limits of the town. Improved facilities for communication with the neigh- boring metropolis led to a steady growth in numbers. The increase was not rapid. There was no place of public worship nearer than West Cambridge or Watertown, no store, post-office, nor public hall. The policy of the railroad in respect to train accommoda- tions and rates of fare was a fluctuating one, as, indeed, it continued to be for many years. The roads and the schools were not such as to offer special attractions to those seeking a residence.

Believing that they could govern themselves and provide for their needs as citizens more satisfactorily than was possible while they continued in the towns of which they formed a comparatively unimportant part, a large majority of the residents near Wellington Hill and in the village which had been begun around the station at Waverley, applied in 1854 to the Gen- eral Court for an act of incorporation as a town. This petition was signed by Charles Stone and 127 others. Remonstrances were presented by citizens of Waltham, from which a few acres were asked ; of Watertown, which would lose half of its already cir- cumscribed territory ; of West Cambridge, whose " Flob End " suddenly acquired new value, and a few voters in the proposed new town ; the land companies, two in number, owning real estate in Waverley and at Strawberry Hill also opposed the peti- tion, and by concurrent vote of the two Houses of the Legislature, the petitioners had leave to withdraw.

In 1855 petitions, headed by Jacob Hittinger, David Mack, Albert Higgins and Leonard Stone were received in the Senate and referred to the Com- mittee on Towns. Remonstrances from the towns, whose territory was affected, were also presented, and from citizens of Watertown whose residences were in

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the proposed town. After several hearings a bill was reported, which did not go beyond the house first taking action upon it, heing refused a third read- ing in the Senate by a vote of nine to four.

Immediately after the adjournment of the Legis- lature, measures were taken by the appointment of committees and subscription of money for expenses, to keep alive the interest of the people in the project, and a petition from Jacob Hittinger and 101 others was presented to the Legislature of 1856. Remon- strances were also presented. The Committee on Towns reported leave to withdraw, but a bill was sub- stituted, which passed the Senate and was defeated in the House. In 1857 a petition was presented, signed by Jacob Hittinger and 129 others, the usual remon- strances being offered. After a careful and exhaus- tive examination into the merits of the enterprise, the Committee on Towns were unanimous in report- ing a bill, which was defeated in the Senate.

The petition of 1858 was signed by Jacob Hittin- ger and 201 others. The remonstrants, like the peti- tioners, were more numerous than in previous years, as the possibility of favorable action upon the peti- tion became greater. Leave to withdraw was re- ported, and a substitute bill was introduced in the Senate only to meet with defeat. In 1859 the peti- tioners, again headed by Jacob Hittinger, were 203 iu number. The usual remonstrances were presented. A majority of the Committee on Towns reported a bill which, after long and careful consideration, passed the House, and the struggle was at last ended by the favorable action of the Senate and the approval of the Governor, Hon. Nathaniel P. Banks, which was given March 18, 1859.

The towu, as incorporated, took from Waltham 429 acres, from West Cambridge 1773 aeres, and from Watertown 1446 acres, making a total of 3648 acres, or 5.75 square miles. Arlington bounds it upon the north, Cambridge upon the east and Watertown on the south. Its western boundary touches Lexington, Waltham and Watertown. Its town-hall is six and a half miles W.S.W. from the State-House. The pop- nlation in 1853, when the first petitions for incorpor- ation were circulated, was 1004, which was increased to 1175 at the date of incorporation. The valuation in 1859 was $2,036,077.

The first town-meeting was held March 28, 1859. At this meeting the act of incorporation was accepted, and Mansur W. Marsh, Jacob Hittinger, J. Varnum Fletcher, Jonas B. Chenery and Joseph Hill were elected selectmen, and Mr. Marsh was subsequently chosen chairman of the board ; J. Oliver Wellington, Josiah Bright, Edwin Locke, William J. Underwood and H. R. Fillebrown were elected assessors; Samuel P. Hammatt, town clerk, and George S. Adams, treasurer and collector of taxes. The first town tax was $12,500.85, which was raised by a levy of $5.11 on $1000, and a poll tax of $1.50 on 325 polls. One hundred and twenty-six regularly called town-meet-

ings have since been held, and thirty-six adjourned meetings.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 160

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