History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 201

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 201

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John Phelps, 1839, '40.

Hollis Loring, 1841, '51, '53, '64, 156.

George Brigham, 1855. Winslow M. Warren, 1867-

Benjamin F. Underhill.

Nahum Witherhee.

Alb& C. Weeks.

Patrick J. Conway.

REPRESENTATIVES TO TIIE GENERAL COURT.

Willianı Ward, 1GGG.

Samnel Ward, 1679. Abraham Williams, 1679-82, 191, '93-96.

Joseph Rice, 1683. Obadiah Ward, 1689, '90. Henry Kerley, 1689, '93, 1703. John Brigham, 1689, '92.

George A. Howe, 1887.

Geo. E. Manson, 1860.

Wm. H. Wood, 1862.

846

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Jobo Barnes, 1692.

Samnel Brigham, 1697-99, 1705.

Thomas Howe, 1700, '01, '04, '06, '11, '13, '17-19. Thomas Benmao, 1707, '08, '12. Peter Rice, 1709-11, '14, '29, '21, ›28-30.

Thomas Rice, 1715, '16.

William Ward, 1722.

Caleb Rice, 1723-25, '27. Nathan Brigham, 1726, '30.

Joon Sherman, 1731, '32. Joseph Rice, 1733-36, '39. Ebenezer Witt, 1737. Sanivel Brigham, 1741. Sammel Witt, 1745-49, '51-60, '62- 70.

James Woods, 1750.

Joho Warren, 1761, '63.

Peter Bent, 1771-75.

George Brigham, 1776, '77, '81.

Edward Hunter, 1777.

Paul Brigham, 1777.

Simon Stow, 1778-82.

Winslow Brigham, 1783, '84.

Edward Barnes, 1787, '92-98.

Jonas Morse, 1790.

William Morse, 1791

Jonathan Weeks, 1800-02.

Daniel Brigham, 1803, '10, '12-19.

Johu Loring, 1801-08, '12-14.

Ephraim Barber, 1810, '11.

Samnel Gibbon, 1817.

Joel Cranston, 1820, '21.

William N. Davenport, 1884-85.

Silas Felton, 1822, '24, '25.

Timothy J. Harris, 1886.

Daniel Stevens, 1828-31, '33.

Arthur A. Brigham, 1887.

Eli Rice, 1830, '34-36.

I. Porter Morse, 1888.

State Senators .- Joel Cranston, Eli Rice, Stephen Pope, Obadiah W. Albee, Charles M. Howe, Semnel N. Aldrich, William N. Davenport, John W. McDonald.

Delegates to the Provincial Congress .- Peter Bent, Edward Barnes, George Brigham.

Delegates to the Convention for Framing the Constitution, 1779-80 .- Ed- ward Barnes, Moses Woods, Winslow Brigham.

Delegates to the Convention to Ratify the Constitution of the United States .- Jonas Morse, Benjamin Sawin.

Delegate to the Convention in 1820 to Revise the Constitution of Massachu- setts .- Joel Cranston.

Delegate to the Convention in 1853, to Revise the Constitution of Massachu- sette .- Isaac Hayden.

Assistant Treasurer United States .- Samnel N. Aldrich.

County Commissioner .- William S. Frost.

POPULATION.

1660, 55; 1670, 210; 1700, 530; 1750, 1000 ; 1800, 1635; 1840, 2135 . 1850, 2941 ; 1860, 5910 ; 1870, 7855 ; 1872, 8941 ; 1875, 8424 ; 1880, 10,- | 127; 1885, 10,941 ; 1890, 13,788.

VALUATION.

Number of polls assessed 3,875

Personal Estate.

Valuation, excluding resident bank stock . $850,170

Resident book stock 165,348

Total .

$1,015,518

Reul Estate.

Value of buildings, excluding land . . . $2,905,840

Value of land, excluding buildings . 2,363,280

Total

$5,269,120

Total valuation of assessed estate . $6,284,638 Divided as Follows :

Persotinl property owned by residents, exclusive of bank stock and corporation property $697,470

Personal estate owned by non-residents 64,350

Real estate owned by residents . 4,842,650 Real estate owned by non-residents 248,145

Resident bank stock .

165,348

Corporation property taxable 292,175

Total . $6,310,138

Less amount entitled to exemption 25,500

$6,284,638

Number of horses assessed, 1122; gaio 197.

Number of cows assessed, 1025; loss, 6. Number of neat cattle assessed, 178 ; loss, 7.

Number of sheep assessed, 41; loss, 32. Number of owive assessed, 128 ; gain, 23. Number of dwelling-houses assessed, 2006 ; gain, 135. Taxes apportioned as follows :

On personal property $16,451.39

On real estate . 85,359.75

On polis,

Male . 7,654.00

Female . 24.00

Rate of taxation per thousand $16.20

CHAPTER LXIII.

MARLBOROUGH-(Continued).

Odd Fellowship-Celebration of Two Hundredth Anniversary of Incorpora- tion of Town-War of the Rebellion-Societies, etc.

ODD FELLOWSHIP.1-Marlborough Lodge, No. 85, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted November 28, 1845, in the building now numbered 242 Lincoln Street. Among the names of those who instituted the lodge may be mentioned, Lewis T. Frye, Edward A. Gay, John Chipman, David Brown, Thomas Corey, Lambert Bigelow (2d), Joseph Boyd, William Morse (2d), Samuel A. Chipman, Leander Bigelow, Chas. Dana Bigelow and Sullivan D. Baker.

The first officers were: Noble-Grand, Edward A. Gay; Vice-Grand, Samuel A. Chipman; Secretary, Leander Bigelow.

Among those who soon after were admitted to membership were, William Barnes (2d), Chas. L. Fay, Lewis Felton, Elbridge Howe, David L. Brown, Thomas E. Hapgood, Burleigh Morse, David Barnes, Lorriman HI. Russell and Frederick Jewett. Most of these will be recognized as being among the most prominent men in Marlborough, during the past forty years.

The Lodge continued to hold its meetings in the building where they organized, until October, 1846, when they occupied a hall over Lambert Bigclow's store, corner of Lincoln and Pleasant Streets. They afterwards occupied a hall at the corner of Lincoln and Mechanic Streets,

Abont 1856, the Lodge began to decline from vari- ous causes, chiefly, the payment of too large sick bene- fits in proportion to their income, and the financial depression from which the town was then suffering. No increase was made in their membership for some time, and they finally surrendered their charter to the Grand Lodge, on July 23, 1858.

1 By John S. Fay.

Levi Bigelow, 1831, '32. '34, '39. Sylvester F. Bucklio, 1835, '36. Isaac Hayden, 1837, '39-41. Ezekiel Bruce, 1840, '42. Abel Rice, 1843, '44.

Lambert Bigelow, 1845. David Goodale, 1847, '48. Obadiah W. Albee, 1849, '51, '61. Francie Brigham, 1850, '52. Abraham W. Rice, 1854. Lewis T. Frye, 1855. Hollis Loring, 1856, '57.

Leonard E. Wakefield, 1858. John Phelps, 1859. Horstio Alger, 1860. O. W. Albee, 1861.

Francis Brigham, 1862.

Samuel Boyd, 1863.

Henry O. Russell, 1864.

Nahum Witherbee, 1865-66.

Hugh R. Bean, 1867.

Frederick H. Morse, 1868.

Edward L. Bigelow, 1869, '71, '72. Samnel Howe, 1870.

Francis C. Curtis, 1873, '74, '88, 189.

| Wm. A. Alley, 1875. James T. Murphy, 1876.

S. Herbert Howe, 1877. Daniel S. Mooney, 1878. James W. McDonald, 1879.

Timothy A. Coolidge, 1880-81. Samuel N. Aldrich, 1882. Michael J. Buckley, 1883.

847

MARLBOROUGH.

About the year 1873, some interest being mani- fested in the order, a petition signed by Burleigh Morse, Lyman W. Howe, Tileston Brigham and Frederick Jewett, former members of the old lodge, and four other resident Odd Fellows, was presented to the Grand Lodge, who restored the charter, and the Lodge was re-instituted November 6, 1873. William Barnes and Sullivan D. Baker, former mem- bers of the old lodge, united with them at this time, making a total of ten members. Interest in the or- der soon spread. The Lodge has prospered, until, at the present time, it numbers 174 members. From the date of its re-institution, November 6, 1873, the Lodge occupied jointly with the Masonic Lodge, the Masonic Hall situated on Main Street. This hall was destroyed hy fire, December 7, 1883. They then held their meetings in the Pythian Hall, until the completion of their present quarters, in Corey Block, which were dedicated with appropriate ceremonies October 1, 1888.

Here they occupy an elegant suite of rooms, fitted specially for them, and furnished throughout in first- class shape, at an expense of about three thousand dollars. The present officers, (October, 1890) are: Noble-Grand, Arthur J. Clifford ; Vice-Grand, Charles T. Berry ; Recording-Secy., Percy F. Munsey ; Treas- urer, Charles H. Marston ; Permanent Secy., Alexan- der Berry.

On May 15, 1889, on a petition of members of Marl- boro' Lodge, No. 85, and lodges in neighboring towns, King Saul Encampment, No. 69, was instituted in Odd Fellows' Hall. The present membership is eighty-nine. The present officers are: Chief Patri- arch, Dr. C. S. Jackson ; Senior Warden, Herbert W. Brigham ; Scribe, Alexander Berry; Financial Scribe, P. F. Munsey ; Treasurer, Charles F. Holyoke.

March 11, 1890, Star of Hope Degree Lodge, No. 86, Daughters of Rebekah, was instituted in Marlboro'. They now number one hundred and twenty-five mem- bers. The present officers are : Noble Grand, Mrs. Herbert W. Brigham ; Vice-Grand, Mrs. J. F. Tur- ner; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Austin B. Howe ; Treasurer, Mrs. Joseph E. Warren ; Financial Secre- tary, Mrs. John S. Fay.

In March, 1888, there was also instituted in con- nection with Marlboro' Lodge, No. 85, The Odd Fel- lows Relief Association of Marlboro', Mass. The mem- bership is confined to members of Marlboro' Lodge, No. 85, and its object is to relieve sick and disabled brothers by paying a weekly sick benefit of five dol- lars per week ; this being in addition to any benefits obtained from the lodge, the association being main- tained by assessments from its members. The present board of officers is as follows : President, Oliver E. Howe; Vice-President, Herbert W. Bringham ; Sec- retary and Treasurer, Charles H. Marston. Direct- ors,-The president and vice-president, and secretary- treasurer, and P. G. George A. Pratt, P. G. Horace Hastings, P. G. E. Irving Sawyer and Fred. L. Felton.

CELEBRATION OF TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF INCORPORATION OF TOWN .- The town celebrated its two hundredth anniversary of incorporation June 13, 1869. The officers of the day were as follows :

President, Francis B. Fay.

Vice-Presidents, Henry Rice, Jabez Rice, Stephen R. Phelps, Dwight Witt, Isaac Hayden, Lambert Big- elow, Solomon Weeks, William L. Howe, Stephen Pope, John Goodale, Ezekiel Bruce, Alden Brigham.

Chaplain, Rev. Horatio Alger.

Treasurer, Samuel B. Maynard.

Chief Marshal, William H. Wood.

Assistant Marshals, Sylvester Bucklin, Henry O. Russell, Winslow M. Warren, John Chipman, Edward A. Gay, Francis Brigham.

Toastmaster, Hollis Loring.

The services were held on Ockoocangansett Hill, and opened by an invocation by Rev. Joseph Allan, D. D. of Northborough ; a poem written by Wm. C. Bry- ant was then read, followed by prayer by Rev. Horatio Alger. Hon. Francis B. Fay at the close of a few re- marks introduced Hon. Charles Hudson, who deliver- ed an historical address. Following the address of Mr. Hudson an original ode by Horatio Alger, Jr., was sung. After these exercises dinner was served, plates having been laid for 1600 persons. A blessing was invoked by Rev. William Morse, of Tyngsborough. At the close of the dinner an original ode by William F. Allen was sung.

The toastmaster of the day was Hollis Loring, and the toasts were as follows :

1. This Centennial Gathering of the Borough Families .- Ao occasion consecrated to grateful recollectione, to cherished anticipations, and to social, fraternal and Christian greetinge.

2. A cordial welcome home to our eldest Daughter, Westborough, -wbo, Doe bundred and forty-three years ago, received our western horder for her inheritance ; whose precepts and examples have been a noble Re- form School, even to the present generation.

Hon. Edward Mellen responded.

3. Our Fair Daughter, Southborough .- Although she resides at the South, yet we are glad to know that she agrees in sentiment with her Mother ; that she goes for " free eoil, free speech and free men."

Response by Rev. William J. Breed.

4. Northborough, our only Grandchild- Worthy, as such, to be re- garded with especial favor by her venerable Grandmother.

Response by George C. Davis.

5. The Early Clergy of Marlborough and the Marlborough Association. Response by Rev. Joseph Allen, D.D., of North- borough.

6. The Legislature of Massachusetts -Ever mindfulof our material interests, yet never forgetful of our persoual rights and liberties.

7. The Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons.

This sentiment was responded to by Francis C. Wbiston, who exhibited an apron worn by Lafayette at the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument, June 17, 1825.

8. The Founders of Marlborough True to the Old Sazon Motto,-" Per- gonal Liberty the antecedent, National Glory the consequent."

Response by O. W. Albee.

9. Our Pilgrim Fathers .- " They built institutions for men, not men for institutions."

848

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Responded to by Rev. Peter Parker, D.D.

10. The Orator of the Day .- Marlborough may well he proud of euch sons.

Response by Charles Hudson.

11. The Present Clergy of Marlborough .- Though their ranke are now sadly thinned, yet a remnant is left that will never be found want- ing to the cause of sound learning, of unshackled freedom, of vital piety and practical righteousness.

Responded to by L. E. Wakefield.

12. The Memory of the Recent Dead .- Goodale, Field and Bucklin.

" We sympathize with those who weep, Whom stern afflictione bend, Despairing o'er the lowly sleep Of kindred or of friend ; But they, who Jordan's swelling breast No more are called to stem, Who in the eternal haven rest- We mourn no more for them."

Dirge by the band.

13. Our Spiritual Guides of Other Days .- We gladly welcome them from their distant fields of labor, to our Festival of Commemoration.

Response by Rev. George E. Day, D.D.

14. The First Settlers of New England .- It fell to their lot to estab Hsb Civilization and Christianity in a savage land. They laid the fovoda- tion of our prosperity ; let them be gratefully remembered by their chil- dren.

William Brigham responded.

14. The Memory of Hon. John Davis .- The only Governor of the State and United States Senator, the Borough towne ever produced.

Response by A. McF. Davis, Esq., of Worcester.

The following sentiment was proposed by Colonel Dexter Fay, of Southborough, and read by Dexter Newton, Esq. :

" Marlborough, a Wonderful Mother .-- With children more than a hun- dred years old, and a Grandchild fourscore-years-and-ten, sitting on the maternal lap, and not yet weaned."

Sentiment, by Edward Wilkins:

"Our Fathers and Mothers of 1660 .- Could they see and know what we do to-day, they would be filled with admiration, like that of the Queen of Sheba, when she Beheld the splendor of Solomon."

Among other sentiments read, were the following : "The Venerable Men who are with us to-day .- With age, the common excitements and warm blood of youth pass away ; but the heart of the wise man, the older it grows the warnier it feels."

"The Sons and Daughters of Temperance .- In the practice of their prin- ciples, may the Daughters be as pure as the crystal fount, and the Sons as constant as the Waters of Niagara."

"Our Firemen : the Minute. Men of Modern Times .- Like the Minute- Men of old, they subdne their enemy by the use of their arme ; but, like them too, they often find one fire which conquere them-the fire of a lady's eye."

Among the letters of regret from gentlemen not being able to be present at the celebration, were those from Hon. Henry Wilson, Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., R. W. Emerson, F. B. Sanborn, Frederick A. Pack- ard, Hon. Charles Francis Adams, Hon. Charles R. Train, Hon. John G. Palfrey, John Laughlin Sibley, Hon. E. R. Hoar, Hon. Levi Lincoln, and Hon. Em- ory Washburn.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.1-The part Marlbo- rough took in the War of the Rebellion was fully abreast of her sister towns throughout the State. The Board of Selectmen were thoroughly imbued with the

spirit of loyalty that everywhere prevailed, and by calling town-meetings from time to time, as occasion seemed to demand, the will of the citizens found ex- pression in raising money to defray the expenses of enlisting men for service in the army, under the sev- eral calls from President Lincoln. War meetings followed each other, and the fires of patriotic ardor burned brightly to the end.

In April, 1861, the town voted to raise and appro- priate $10,000 for war purposes. This was followed by other sums, until the town had expended, in all, $51,584.11, of which $45,368.45 was repaid by the State. Men enlisted and joined the first regiments that left the State. Company G, of the Ninth Infan- try, was mainly recruited from this town, and was. mustered in June 11, 1861. Companies I and F, of the Thirteenth Infantry, also recruited here, were the next to leave, being mustered in July 16, 1861. Other enlistments followed, and the town was repre- sented in almost every regiment that left the State. Company I, Fifth Infantry-nine months-was most- ly from this town, as also Companies I and E, of the same regimeut, for one hundred days. Other regiments that contained a nucleus of Marlborough men, were: Company I, of the Thirty-sixth Infantry, had 23 men ; Company K, Fifty-seventh Infantry, had 25. The Ninth and Sixteenth Light Batteries contained many Marlborough men, as also the Second and Fourth Cavalry. In all, Marlborough had 869 men engaged -574 for three years, 91 for one year, 108 for nine months, and 96 for one hundred days.

John A. Rawlins Post 43, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized and chartered, January 15, 1868. Its first commander was Charles F. Morse, and its present (1890) commander, Francis C. Curtis. The first public observance of Memorial Day was in 1869, in connection with the dedication of the Sol- diers' Monument. The ceremony of decorating the graves of deceased soldiers took place in the A. M., and the ceremonies attending the dedicatiou of the monument, which had been erected by vote of the town, in the P. M., by a public parade of the civil and military organizations of the town. The exerci- ses took place on the High School Common. The formal delivery of the monument to the town was by William S. Frost, chairman of the Building Commit- tee. Received on the part of the town by Hon. S. N. Aldrich, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, fol- lowed by an oration by Hon. Henry Wilson. Since 1871-with the exception of one year-the town has appropriated a sum of money to be expended under the direction of Post 43, for the observance of Memo- rial Day. After the first few years, the sum has been fixed at $150.00. The Post is made up of good men, to the number of one hundred and sixty, is well offi- cered and stands well in the community.

A Ladies' Relief Society, in connection with the Post, was organized December 6, 1870. It stands among the first, if not the first, society of the kind

1 By J. W. Barnes.

111

849

MARLBOROUGH.

ever organized in this department. It has been the strong right arm of the Post, and its work is so blend- ed with the Post that the history of the one is the history of the other. It has been independent of State Corps, and its members, made up of the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of the soldiers, have demonstrated by their twenty years of successful ex- istence, that judicious management and harmonious home rule is more essential to success than an expen- sive membership in a State Corps.

SOCIETIES .- Marlborough has a large number of societies and organizations. Among these may be mentioned Knights of Labor ; Knights of Honor ; Knights of Pythias; Marlborough Grange; Cold Water Temple of Juvenile Templars; Spring Hill Lodge, I. O. G. T .; St. John's Total Abstinence Society ; Young Men's Catholic Total Abstinence Society ; Catholic Lyceum Association ; Clan-na-gael Association ; Emmett Association ; Grattan Associa- tion ; Houp-la Club; Lincoln Club ; Royal Society of Good Fellows, No. 84 ; St. Jean Baptist Society ; Union Club; Union Dramatique; Marlborough Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F .; Star of Hope Degree Lodge, No. 86; Daughters of Rebekah, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; John A. Rawlins Post G. A. R .; F. C. Curtis, Cauip, No. 94; Hudson Relief Society, connected with Post 43 ; Co. F, Sixth Regi- meut, M. V. M. ; American Legion of IIonor; Ancieut Order of Hibernians; Ockoocangansett Tribe, No. 25, Improved Order of Red Men ; Court Marlboro' 7703, Independent Order of Foresters; Daughters of Liberty ; Ladies' Branch, O. U. A. M. ; Taconic Lodge, No. 13, Order of the United Friends ; Board of Trade, E. R. Alley, president; Marlborough Gas Light Company, S. H. Howe, president ; the Marlborough Electric Campany, Lorren Arnold, presi- dent.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

SAMUEL BOYD.1

The history of a New England town is often largely made by some one man, who, born and always living within its limits, impresses himself upon its social and industrial life, so that the life of the town is truly the life of that man.

When Samuel Boyd, at the end of his seven years' apprenticeship in the tanning establishment of Colo- nel Joseph Davis, at Northboro', was urged by a son of his master to remain in the place where he had learned his trade,-a town which then had its two cotton factories and its two tan-yards,-and when warned that the farming town of Marlboro' was no place for him, his ambitious reply was, that other men in other towns had stayed at home and helped

build up their native place and that that was what he proposed to do.

When he came home from Northboro', there was not a single manufacturer in what is now the town of Marlboro', and with the exception of himself and brothers, there was but one young man between the age of fourteen and twenty-five years, who was not either at work upon a farm or absent from the town, for the purpose of carrying on business or learning a trade elsewhere.

For more than half a century Samuel Boyd has stayed at home and done his life-work, and built up his native place, so that everybody who had known of him aud of his connection with the business and development of the town, freely conceded the justice of the compliment, when, in a leading article of one of the Boston dailies, he was characterized as the "Father of the town."

He was one of a family of eleven children of John Boyd and Sophia Phelps. His paternal grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. Born June 3, 1815, under the noble elms that now overlook the estate of Mr. O. P. Walker, in the southern part of the town, he was reared and educated in the strict prin- ciples and stern experiences of a hardy New England home. A'ter serving an apprenticeship at the tanner's trade, he directed his attention to the manufacture of boots and shoes. The business was conducted on a small scale in the L part of what is now kuown as the Josiah Bennett house, and here was originated the idea of subdivision of labor in the manufacture of boots and shoes. A little room, 20x30, sufficed for the purposes of the business there, and the employ- ment of four men, or a "team," as it was called, to do the work, was the first step toward that multiplied de- tail which now characterizes the business. Succes- sive changes and increase in the volume of the business brought Mr. Boyd and his partners to the erection of " the Big Shop" (so-called), in 1871, a mammoth fac- tory, covering an area of more than one and one-half acres, and believed to be the largest boot and shoe manufactory under a continuous roof in the United States.

The development of the business is simply wonder- ful. In 1845 the total value of the product for the entire town of Marlborough was $92,932; the usual product of Mr. Boyd's factory alone is $1,500,000. Mr. Boyd's relations with his workmen have always been considerate and just. He has never forgotten the days when he labored with his own hands.

In 1888 he conceived the idea of cutting up an estate of sixty acres at Chestnut Hill into house lots for his and other workmen, and of building an electric street railway, that in addition to other advantages, should make it possible for them to take their meals at home. At his own cost, he embarked in these enterprises and the result has not only been a bless- ing to the workmen and in fact the whole town, but has resulted in profit to himself. Long before this,

1 By Samuel C. Darling.

54-jii

850

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Mr. Boyd had identified himself prominently with the steam railroad interests of Marlborough. The construction of the Agricultural Branch Railroad was delayed for some years from lack of sufficient capital. Framingham, Southborough and Northbor- ough had each pledged $50,000 to the enterprise. The president of the Boston & Worcester Railroad felt the importance of having Marlborough upon the line of the Agricultural Branch, and his company offered to guarantee six per cent. upon the sum of $60,000 stock, if that sum could be raised for that purpose, but not a cent at the time of this offer had been raised in Marlborongh. It was then that Mr. Boyd1, foreseeing the value of connecting the road with Marlborough, seconded the president's efforts by guar- anteeing himself to raise $15,000 in Marlborough, which he did, subscribing himself largely to the fund. The result was the construction of the road to the centre of Marlborough, and had Mr. Boyd's subse- quent efforts for a trunk line for Marlborough been fully crowned with success, the tracks which had thus been constructed to the centre of the town, would have been continued onward from that point to Northborough and Clinton, and the town would have been spared the inconveniences of the present branch to the Y.

Mr. Boyd has never sought or cared for public honors. In 1864 he was prevailed upon to allow his name to be used as a candidate for the Gen- eral Court and was elected and served. Once, with- out nomination for the office or consultation with him, he was elected selectman, but he has always felt that he could serve his town better in his business as a manufacturer, than in political position. In more instances than one has he shown a noble public spirit.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 201

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