History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 189

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 189

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Upon the removal of Father Barry, Father Minetti, an Italian by birth, assumed charge April 23, 1870, remaining in charge until Oct., 1872, at which time he returned to Italy, giving place to Father Ryan, formerly assistant rector of St. Joseph's, Boston. Soon after the advent of Father Minetti the Boston diocese was divided, Springfield being the new See, with Right Rev. P. T. O'Reilly in charge. This left Hopkinton and Ashland as one parish, Westboro' and Cordaville having been included in the new diocese. It was not until August, 1877, that Hopkin- ton became a separate parish, at which time Rev. J. S. Cullen, present rector of St. Stephen's, South Fran-

ingham, and formerly curate to Rev. Father Ryan, was placed over a new parish, comprising the towns of Ashland and Framingham. Meanwhile, Hopkin- ton had thrived prosperously. Factories had been built, and the Catholic population, which a few years before numbered but a few hundred souls, steadily increased, until at the time of Father Ryan's arrival they numbered nearly two thousand seuls. This, together with the poor condition of St. Malachi's Church, called for a larger and more substantial place of worship. Accordingly, several meetings were held relative to the proposed new church, until at a meet- ing held in 1875, arrangements were completed for the erection of a granite edifice, to be known as the Church of St. John the Evangelist. The land on Church Street was purchased from the late Dr. Pratt, at a cost of $6000, and the laying of the foundation commenced in May, 1876, the first sod being turned by Father Ryan himself. Thence the work rapidly progressed, and May 15, 1877, we had the pleasure of seeing the corner-stone laid with imposing rites, by the Most Rev. John J. Williams, Archbishop of Boston. Rev. Fr. Marsden, of Lawrence, delivered the oration. No delay was now permitted, as the " Old Church " had become rather unsafe, and all were desirous of entering St. John's. At length the basement was completed, and Christmas morning, 1878, Mass was celebrated for the first time by Rev. Father Ryan, which my friend, Rev. Father J. J. O'Connor, now of Cleveland, Ohio, and myself had the honor of serving. What a Mass was that ! Never did the pealing anthems resound more joyously than did our heartfelt Alleluias on that happy morn. The very air of heaven seemed to re-echo with the joyous "Gloria in Excelsis," and the sublime strain of the " Credo." How happy was our beloved pastor that morning; how feelingly he spoke of the kindness and generosity extended him in the work he had undertaken, and the gratifying results which had attended his every effort; closing his admirable discourse by wishing us a merry Christ- mas and a happy, prosperous future. And wel Were we silent ? Never were more heartfelt prayers uttered than were poured forth that morning for the health and prosperity of our dear pastor, who had already begun to show signs of weariness from the mighty load with which he was over-burdened. Still he per- severed in his endeavor, overseeing the whole work himself, both at the church and at the quarry, until at length, broken-down by his persistent labors, he was forced to yield to the entreaties of his friends, and January 11, 1881, started to make a tour of the south for the purpose of recruiting his health, now very much impaired. Meanwhile, the building had been completed, except the interior upstairs, and the spire ; St. Malachi's had been torn down, the lumber dis- posed of, and the land sold.

The finances of the parish were in an excellent condition, Father Ryan having paid, during 1880,

799

HOPKINTON.

$13,000 of the debt, which in all amounted to searee- ly $25,000.

On the eve of his departure all the parishioners assembled at the chureb to bid him farewell, never thinking for a moment it was the last time they should ever see him, and presented him on that occa- sion with a purse of $700 as a slight token of their affection and regard for him. The next morning he departed, and during the following months of his ab- senee frequent letters told of his speedy recovery till we had been lured into the hope of seeing him return in perfeet health. Alas! how sad, on awaking Sat- urday morning, March 26, 1881, word was flashed over the wires announcing the death of our faithful pastor at St. Louis, of spinal meningitis, which he contract- ed during his brief sojourn there on his way home. He had spent the intervening time traveling through Florida, Nassau and Cuba, and was returning home much improved in health when the fatal disease seized him which terminated in his death. His body arrived on the 29th ; escorted from the station by the grandest funeral cortege ever witnessed in this vicin- ity. Two days he laid in state in the basement of the church, which was crowded day and night by the thousands who came to do honor to his memory.

The funeral took place Wednesday, preceded by a Solemn High Mass of Requiem, in which Rev. J. S. Cullen, a former curate, was celebrant; Rev. T. Ma- ginnis, of Jamaica Plains, Deaeon ; and Rev. P. A. MeKenna, Marlboro', Sub-deacon. An eloquent pan- egyric was preached by Rev. Jno. M. Kremmer, of Southbridge, a life-long friend of the deceased. Over 150 priests from all parts of the State were present at the obsequies, the church was heavily draped, the whole town in mourning and business generally sus- pended.

In the words of Hamlet, of him we can say : "He was a man, taken for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again." He had devoted his time, labor, ay ! even his life to promote an enterprise which shall ever stand a monument to his untiring energy. Fa- ther Ryan was born in Boston, December 26, 1845. The greater part of his youth was spent at Lawrence, Mass., whither he went with his parents while yet a mere boy. At an early age he entered Montreal Col- lege, when having completed his collegiate course he entered Troy Seminary, and was ordained to the holy priesthood December 25, 1865. His first charge was St. Joseph's Parish, Boston, where he remained until transferred to Hopkinton, in November, 1872. Would that it were permitted ns to give in detail the edify- ing history of his labors while in our midst; and yet! where is the need? Though ten years have passed since he was laid to rest his memory still lives in the hearts of the people, who will ever hold him in lov- ing remembrance.

After the demise of Rev. Father Ryan conjecture was rife as to his probable successor. Rev. F. J. Glynn, of Brockton, Mass., then curate here, retained

full charge until a pastor should be appointed. Nearly every priest in the diocese was mentioned as the next reetor; nor was it a matter of slight import- ance, as the condition of affairs needed an able admin- istrator. Here was a costly church half finished, with quite a debt when the size of the parish-about 2000 souls-is taken into consideration. Some little time elapsed, however, before the appointment was made, and it was not until the Sunday after Easter, April 24th, that Father Mohan, who had been selected to fill the vacancy, arrived. Up to this time he had been reetor at Ayer, Mass., but, obedient to his Bish- op, cheerfully resigned a flourishing parish to accept one which required the work of years and care before he could hope to enjoy the fruits of his labors. Yet Father Mohan was not a man likely to become alarmed at the enormity of the work laid out for him, nor dis- heartened at the well-nigh hopeless task of complet- ing the church.

The financial strain under which the people had been laboring prior to his eoming had necessitated a cessation of the same at least for a brief period, and accordingly Fr. Mohan contented himself by renewing the Church Debt Society instituted some years pre- viously by Fr. Ryan.

This was a society formed for the purpose of liquida- ting the debt on the church by equalizing the bur- den so that all should pay a monthly assessment which, though small, amounted to quite an item in the year's income. During the next few years it thrived, but afterwards gradually fell away, until fin- ally in 1888 it ceased to exist altogether. Having permitted one year to pass without calling on the peo- ple for any subscription aside from the ordinary rev- enues of the church, Fr. Mohan thought it time to make some endeavor to remove altogether the debt which he had been steadily diminishing. But ere he began, a calamity as direful as it was unexpected be- fell the town, which for the time being paralyzed the business interests and delayed for a considerable time all prospects of completing the cherch. The morning of April 4, 1882, was a dark one indeed for Hopkinton. About 2 o'clock A. M., we were awakened from our beds to find the very heart of the town, where stood our principal factory, enveloped in flames. Aid was quickly sent from the surrounding towns, but vain were all endeavors to check the onward rush of the flames which now presented one vast wall of fire extending from the cemetery to Walcot Street. Dark, very dark seemed the future of Hopkinton to that grief-stricken throng gazing upon the ruins on that fatal morning ; utterly hopeless seemed every prospeet of ever again attaining the prosperity which up to that time we had enjoyed. Then spread forth the rumor, discouraging indeed to those who had depended for their liveli- hood upon that factory, that the company would not rebuild. It was verified but too soon, as a few months later the firm of Bridges & Co. commenced the erec- tion of a new factory at South Framingham. That

800

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

was a severe blow to Hopkinton, one from which the town never fully recovered. All thought of complet- ing the church was now at an end, and it was deemed impracticable to attempt to pay off the old debt. The people generally were in poor circumstances with no prospect of brighter days to which they might look forward, and accordingly it was thought advisable to let matters rest for a while at least and allow them time to recover from the effects of the sad calamity which had befallen them. As in the previous year Fr. Mohan contented himself with the proceeds of the Church Debt Society calling for no subscriptions un- til the following spring when a collection was taken up which reduced the standing debt considerably. Early in June, 1885, he was transferred to Everett, be- ing succeeded by Rev. M. D. Murphy, our present pastor. During his ministration here he had endeared himself to his people by his modest, kindly bearing and exceptional piety. He was an earnest advocate in the cause of temperance and was charitable beyond measure. As a testimony of the appreciation with which his many good qualities were received on the eve of his departure he was presented with a large purse by his parishioners, who assembled in the base- ment of the church to bid him farewell and wish him a hearty God Speed. The altar boys at the same time presented him with a beautiful gold pyx.

Time and space do not permit us to give the credit due to each one of the different curates who so ably seconded the efforts of their pastors in the interest of God and religion. Would that it were permitted us to dwell on the records of the past, giving to each his full share of praise, so richly deserved, from the time of the advent of Fr. Barry, first resident-pastor, to the present time; but we must be content to remember them as we knew them.

Below are given the names in the order of their succession : Rev. Fr. Le Bretin, Angust to October, 1869; Rev. Fr. O'Farrell, October, 1869, to Novem- ber, 1870; Rev. Fr. McNamara, May, 1871, to Decem- ber, 1871; Rev. Fr. Cullen, at present pastor at South Framingham, December, 1871, to August, 1877 ; Rev. Fr. Glynn, of Brockton, November, 1878, to Decem- ber, 1881 ; Rev. Fr. Whalen, December, 1881, to Feb- ruary, 1883; Rev. Fr. McManus, of Salem, April, 1883, to November, 1885; Rev. Fr. Fagan, December, 29, 1885, to the present time.

In the summer of 1885 the Rev. M. D. Murphy re- ceived his appointment as pastor of this parish, which was already encumbered by a heavy debt. This was entirely liquidated in a short period of time, and the church, which remained for years in an unfinished condition, with no prospect of completion, dedicated with the most gorgeous details of ceremonial ever witnessed in New England. it is a noteworthy fact that the two great ecclesiastical dignitaries on this occasion were the same who were selected to act in a similar capacity at Baltimore, on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of

the hierarchy of America. Mt. Rev. J. J. Williams, D.D., Archbishop of Boston, celebrant, and the Mt. Rev. P. J. Ryan, D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia, orator.

Our sketch ends here, as it is Father Murphy's desire that this work, and not the pen of any indi- vidual, bespeak his praise.

Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Hopkinton was first settled in 1710 or '12. There were some peculiar facts in the settlement of the place, which had an effect on the character of the people. The first settlers did not come in colonies, as in other places, nor by the way of relationship or acquaint- ance, but single and alone, seeking a home. They came from almost as many different places as there were individuals; the most of the first settlers came from Sudbury, Framingham, Sherborn, Concord, Needham and Marlborongh. There was one element that entered largely into the character of these set- tlers. They must have had some knowledge of the place where they were to make their homes ; there were rocks, hills and an almost unknown and un- broken forest. The soil was rich, but required the hardest possible labor for its cultivation. To over- come such obstacles one must have indomitable courage and energy, a self-reliance and a will- power that never tires, and only those who had such qualities would seek here a home. Early in 1719 the town received an important addi- tion by the settlement of some Scotish families. A century before their ancestors had emigrated from Argyleshire, in the west of Scotland, to the counties of Londonderry and Antrim, in the north of Ireland, where they and their descendants shared largely in the persecutions of the Protestants, in the reign of Charles the First and James the Second. Burdened with rents and tithes, and thirsting for the enjoy- ments of civil and religious liberty, three Presby- terian ministers, with many of their congregations re- solved on removal to this country, of which they had heard flattering reports. In the autumn of 1718, 120 families arrived, some in Boston and some in Port- land. Some eighteen families of the 120 in the spring of 1716 came to Ilopkinton.

Among this number was Hugh Black, William Montgomery, James Collier (one of the first select- men elected in the town), Samuel and James Walk, John, Robert and Patrick Hambleton, Robert McFar- lane, Robert McCook, Robert Hustons, William Don- aghy, Samnel Crooks and Joseph Young, the ancestor of Brigham Young.

Among the first settlers were Joseph Bixby, the father of Abner Bixby, born August 30, 1712, and is the earliest recorded birth to be found on the records. Captain John Wood, elected on the Board of Select- men in 1724, and "died Augt ye 21, 1725 ;" Henry Mel-

801

HOPKINTON.

len, who, it is said, built the first house in what is now Hopkinton, near the Sheffield place ; "Samuel Comins, one of ye builders of ye meeting-house," who came to this place with his wife, Lydia, and six chil- dren, from Needham, in 1716; John How, in whose house the meetings were held previous to the build- ing of the meeting-house, and others.

According to the census of 1845 the following sched- ule shows the agricultural product of the town :

Indian Corn

8,400 bushels, value

6,300 dollars.

Rye

1,235

940

Barley

677

457

Oafe

4,226

1,378

Potatoes

17,417

4,353

Other Vegetables

600

450

Hay

1334

tons

17,238

Fruit

40,155 bushels

5,366

Butter

31,915

4,676

Cheese

11,397

590

POPULATION .- 1776, 1134 ; 1790, 1317; 1800, 1372 ; 1810, 1345; 1820, 1655 : 1830, 1809 ; 1840, 2245; 1850, 2801 ; 1855, 3934 ; 1860, 4340; 1865, 4132 ; 1870, 4419 ; 1875, 4503 ; 1880, 4601 ; 1885, 3922 ; 1890, 4063.

Boot and Shoe Manufactory .- The cause of the rapid increase of the population from 1840, when it was 2145, to 1860, when it was 4340, notwithstanding the loss of Unionville in 1850, a loss of nearly 1000, : Bales & Barker, in the upper story of the old Coffee- was the successful prosecution of the manufacture i house store on Main Street. The firm was dissolved of boots and shoes. To this town belongs the credit in 1853. Mr. Thompson continued the business in the same place until 1857, when he removed to his new shop, and the business has been carried on under the present firm-name until the present time. Mr. Thomp- son died in January, 1885 ; since that time the busi- ness has been carried on by his sons. of showing to the world that the bottoms of a boot or shoe might be put on by wooden pegs. In 1820 Joseph Walker, a descendant of Thomes Walker, the first "clark of the markit, which office he held for one fifty years," in Hopkinton, made the discovery that he could, instead of sticking ou the sole of a boot or shoe, as had been the practice heretofore, fasten the parts together by inserting rows of pegs, discovery has produced a great and wonderful revo- Jution in the manufacture of boots and shoes in the New England States. Mr. Walker with his five sons long carried on the business in this town. He died January 9, 1852.

The factory is 40x120, four floors, machinery run by steam and has a capacity of 1200 cases per day. A. Coburn commenced business with W. F. Claflin, cut from well-seasoned hirch or maple wood. This , brother of the ex-Governor, in the Woodard shop on Hayden Row Street, in 1855; the firm continued until 1870, when it was dissolved, and a new firm formed under the name of A. Coburn Son & Co. A new factory was built on the site of the old factory in 1859, which was destroyed by fire . Aug. 27, 1889, which was re- placed by a factory on the same site, forty by one hundred and eighty, with an annex twenty-seven by thirty, four floors, and is the best constructed factory in the town and has a capacity of 1200 pairs per day.

In 1826 two of his sons, Leonard and Lovett set up for themselves, and for a number of years continued to carry their boots and shoes to Boston and Provi- dence in a one-horse wagon. The work at that time was done by hand, and in small shops attached to or near by the dwellings of the workmen. By degrees division of labor was introduced in the business, and machinery driven by steam-power required larger shops. Our manufacturers then had the privileges and were proud to stamp their names on their works. But not so in this day of improvements.

business about this time. Claflin, Coburn & Co., com- menced the business in the old meeting-house pre- vious to 1847, on Main Street, where they remained until their new shop was built, in 1850. The business was removed to Framingham, in 1883. S. & A. Crook commenced the business in 1849 in the J. Walker shop on Hayden Row Street, where they remained until 1853, when then removed into the old meeting- house on Grove Street, and remained there until March, 1860, when they removed into their present quarters, the third if not the second largest boot and shoe factory in the State, containing over sixty-five square feet of floorage; the machinery is driven by a one hundred horse-power engine, the capacity of the establishment being thirty-six hundred pairs per day.

The Messrs. Crooks are natives of Hopkinton and descendants of Samuel Crook, who came from London- derry, Ireland, and settled in this place in 1719.

Erastus Thompson & Co .- Mr. Thompson came to Hopkinton and commenced the boot and shoe busi- ness in 1846, under the firm-name of Thompson,

G. & F. W. Wood & Co., of Woodville, a part of Hopkinton. They commenced business in 1867, in a building on Wood Street, 25x50, four floors. Em- ployment was given to about |forty persons, the ontput being 1200 cases the first year, the result of hand-work alone. In 1870 they bought of their father, Colonel Albert Wood (a descendant of Captain John Wood, one of the first Board of Selectmen, elected in 1724, and died August 21, 1725, and from whom the village received its name), the stone mill formerly used by Colonel Wood as a cotton factory, floors, the extensive machinery being run by water- power, the total capacity of the whole establishment being 1100 pairs per day.

Judging from the names we read on the boots and shoes manufactured in Hopkinton at the present time, one would imagine that the first settlers had left, and the Dutch and Greeks have taken their places. Mr. Lee Claflin, father of ex-Governor Claflin, commenced | and in 1877 they built a new building, 36x90, four the making of boots and shoes in Hayden Row in 1840, employing L. H. Bowker to do the work, while he himself attended to the sale of the goods in Boston. Mr. Bowker was afterward of the firm of Phipps & The Wood brothers are natives of Hopkinton and the pioneers of the business in their native village. Bowker. The firm of Davenport & Gibbs commenced 51-iii

802

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

In 1850 there was eleven boot and shoe factories in Hopkinton.

In 1855 the value of boots and shoes manufactured in Hopkinton amounted to $1,058,820; males em- ployed, 1233 ; females, 88 ; total, 1321.

In 1885: value, $1,562,837 ; males employed, 737; females, 164; total, 901, showing an increase in valu- ation of over $500,000, and a decrease of over 400 hands, the effect of machinery in thirty years.

John Young, a descendant of Joseph Young, who came from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled in Hop- kinton in 1719, was born in Hopkinton, March 7, 1763. He was the father of Brigham Young, the Mormon. He moved from Hopkinton to Whittingham, Vt., in January, 1801, where Brigham was born, June 1st of the same year. John returned to Hopkinton and lived on Saddler Hill.

Walter McFarland, son of Ebenezer McFarland and descendaut of Robert McFarland, born in 1749. He represented the town in the Legislature for twelve years and served in the Senate for the year 1787. He held many important positions of public trust. By occupation a farmer and civil engineer. Died in 1827.

Lee Claflin, son of Ebenezer and Sarah Claflin, was born in Hopkinton, November 19, 1791, and died February 23, 1871. Mr. Claflin was the architect of his own fortune. He had no ancestry to boast of and no one to help him so much as he helped himself. He was the first president of the Hopkinton Bank and through his influence, with that of Colonel Val- entine, D. Bucklin and others, the Hopkinton Academy was instituted. He was in his day and time prominent in the boot and shoe business and a great friend of the Methodist Society and served one term in the Senate.

John Barrett, grandson of Samuel Barrett, the first settled minister in Hopkinton was born in Hopkinton in 1769, and died April 4, 1821. He was the author of an English Grammar, which was published in 1819. He was remarkable as a teacher of the Classic Lan- guage and was one of the teachers of Horace Mann.

Col. Joseph Valentine, son of Samuel Valentine, born in Hopkinton, November, 1776, and died March 26, 1845. He possessed fine business capacity and was for a long time one of the most prominent men, of the town. He was a delegate in the convention for the revision of the Constitution in 1820, and represented the town in the General Court for six years, and served as chief marshal at the consecra- tion of Bunker Hill Monument.

Col. Albert Wood was born in Hopkinton, August 1, 1801, and died in 1887. Possessed of sterling common sense, he for the long period of his life was one of the most prominent men of the town. He was previous to 1845 in the manufacture of cotton cloths and twine. The statistics of the cotton industry for 1815 show the following facts: Cotton consumed, 280,000 pounds ; manufactured, 612,000 yards ; value, $30,500; twine manufactured, 20,000 pounds; value, $2,800; batting manufactured, 30,000 pounds ; value,

$1400; males employed, forty ; females employed, fifty. This industry was carried on in Massachusetts by M. Wood, who was the father of Woodville.

The machinery was run by water-power supplied by White Hall Pond.

He represented the town in the Legislature in 1856 and 1857, and held many other town offices, and was a man of sterling integrity.

Capt. Daniel Shays, the leader of Shays' Rebell- ion in 1786-87, son of Patrick Shays, was born in Hopkinton, at the "Shays place" on Saddle Hill ( where at the present time the old well and cellar can be seen), in 1747, He left Hopkinton when about twenty-one years old, and served in the Army of the Revolution, He raised a company of which he was appointed captain, and was wounded in the service. After the war he settled in that part of Pelham now Prescott. He finally settled in Sparta, where he died poor September 29, 1825. He was of Scotch descent, and the name on the early records is spelled Shea, Sha, and sometimes Psha.

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

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 189

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