History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 57

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 57

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took an early start, often several hours before sunrise. His route was over the old stage road from Boston to Keene, N. H. This "great road," which passes through the southerly part of Pepperell, was then the principal thoroughfare for travel and transportation, and was " fortified " by a tavern about every two miles throughout its entire length. The teamster, there- fore, had ample opportunities to vary the monotony of his slow journey by an occasional halt at one of these "wayside inns," where, while warming up his outer as well as inner man, he could also refresh him- self with the latest batch of news from the loquacious and cosmopolitan landlord. Having disposed of his merchandise in Boston, the farmer could easily secure a return load of goods for the home market] and sun- dry commissions from neighbors, thus making his homeward trip a profitable one.

Till within half a century the transportation of produce and merchandise between Pepperell and "the city" was almost wholly carried on by these farmer teamsters.

The farmer of these days was dependent mainly upon his own resources. His table was supplied from the products of the farm. He raised his own flax and wool, which was made into clothing by the female members of the household. The hum of the spin- ning-wheel was heard in almost every house, "filling its chambers with music," as in the days of John Alden and Priscilla; and no maiden considered her- self as ready to be married until she had with her own hands spun and wove linen and woolen fabrics suffi- cient to furnish the chambers and table of her new liome.

For many years the Centre with its meeting-house was the principal village of the town. The five roads that centred here were all laid out "to the meeting- house," which was the ecclesiastical and secular Capi- tolium of the municipality, while the Common was its Campus Martius.

A tavern was soon built where the Second Parish Church now stands. It was kept by John Mosher as early as 1769, and afterwards by Solomon Rodgers. Not long after the exploit of the women at Jewett's Bridge in 1775, an article was inserted in the warrant for a town-meeting : "To see what the town will vote or order to be paid to Mr. Solomon Rodgers for enter- taining Leonard Whiting and his guard." Mrs. Tileston's house was then a store, where was kept the post-office, with its weekly mail brought up from Groton. The hill on which it stood has since been cut down in front to the level of the street. Both the tavern and store property passed successively into the possession of William Braser, Esq., Samuel Chase, Lemuel Parker, Esq., and Captain Lemuel Parker. The latter converted the store building into a dwell- ing-house, and removed the business into the build- ing on the town-house corner, which had previously been occupied as a store by Captain Nathan Shipley, and afterwards by Luther Tarbell.

Rev. John Bullard's house was situated on Heald Street, just opposite the tavern, and facing the Com- mon. After Mr. Bullard's death, in 1821, Mr. Tar- bell purchased the house for a new tavern. Heafter- wards built an addition to the southerly eud, and opened a store therein. This tavern and store was kept up till 1859, when it was totally destroyed by fire.

Captain Parker associated with himself in the mercantile business And Emerson, a grandson of Rev. Joseph Emerson. Mr. Emerson's father was an eccentric man, and named his first three children Mary, And, Another. The last-named afterwards chose for himself another name, which was not Another; but " And " always retained his conjunctive prenomen, which, however, was often mistaken by strangers for the abbreviation of Andrew. The sign on the store building was "PARKER AND EMERSON." Mr. Emerson, having bought out his partner, simply painted out Mr. Parker's name and left his own name in full remaining.

The "Evangelical Congregational Society " upon its organization, in 1832, bought the old tavern lot, and the building was removed to give place to the new meeting-house. The old parsonage had been converted into the new tavern, and now, by the ad- justments of time, the old tavern was supplanted by the new church.

Captain Lemuel Parker had already built an ex- tensive addition to the Shipley store building, and upon the disappearance of the old tavern he opened a "Temperance House "-somewhat of a novelty then -on the corner; the store and post-office occupying a part of the new addition. A stage route had just been opened from Lowell to Springfield, and Pepper- ell was the first stopping-place for a relay of horses and breakfast. The stage left Lowell at five o'clock A.M. and went through to Springfield, a distance of ninety miles, in one day, which was at that time con-

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sidered "rapid transit." "Capt. Parker's" was se- lected as the stage tavern, and was extensively known as a first-class hostelry. The "tavern " in those days was an institution. There were no less than five in the little town of Pepperell, and all were well patron- ized.

The stage-route, after a few years, was rendered unprofitable by the construction of railroads, and was discontinued. Captain Parker sold his whole hotel property to the firm of Cutter, Ames & Swasey, who also bought the store. They, however, continued in the business but a short time, and it passed into other hands. William S. Crosby, Esq., was the last propri- etor of the tavern and store combined. On his retire- ment, in 1838, the tavern business was abandoned, and the house thereafter was rented for a dwelling. The store was then occupied by Mr. John Loring, who, with his son, carried on an extensive and lucra- tive business for many years. Mr. Loring afterwards removed to the store now occupied by Mr. C. D. Hutchinson, where he remained until his death, in 1878. The old tavern-house was occupied by various parties for sundry purposes until 1873, when it was purchased by the town for a site whereon to build the town-house.

Dr. Nehemiah Cutter, a native of Jaffrey, N. H., a graduate of Middlebury, and afterwards from the Yale Medical School, commenced his practice in Pep- perell about the year 1818. He became a distin- guished physician and founded a private asylum for the insane-probably the first one of the kind in the conn- try. In 1848 he became associated in the management of the asylum with Dr. James S. N. Howe, the oldest son of Rev. James Howe. In May, 1853, the whole es- tablishment was burned to the ground, some of the in- mates barely escaping with their lives. Dr. Howe gathered his " family " together at his old homestead (now Colonel S. P. Shattuck's) and immediately com- menced the erection of a large building there, suita- ble for the accommodation of his patients. In a few years, his health failing, he relinquished the business, and Dr. Cutter resumed it at his residence, now Mrs. Jonas Fitch's. But a life of unusual care and vicis- situde had made him prematurely old. He had lost the vigor of his earlier days, and was soon obliged to retire from active life. As a man he was kind- hearted and courteous; as a citizen he was remarka- bly public-spirited and liberal, generally foremost in the advancement of all measures for the improvement and general welfare of the town. In his profession he was widely known and highly esteemed. He died March 15, 1859, aged seventy-two years.

Dr. James M. Stickney had charge of the asylum for two years, and then returned to the practice of his profession, in which he continued until his death, in 1889. Meanwhile the building that Dr. Howe had erected had been removed to the original site, on Main Street, and here, in 1865, Dr. Howe, having re- gained his health, re-established the asylum. Dr.

William F. Heald became the owner of the property in 1882, and, having greatly improved it, gave the in- stitution the name of the "Cutter Retreat for Nervous Invalids." It is at present under the management of Joseph B. Heald, M.D.

About the year 1817, Mr. Joseph Breck, a son-in- law of Rev. John Bullard, commenced the manufac- ture of carriages in Pepperell. He built the house now owned by Mr. C. D. Hutchinson, and also a shop just north of the house. His work was confined prin- cipally to the making of chaises, a two-wheeled vehi- cle then much in vogue. But he had a natural love for horticulture, and in 1832 he gave up his trade and removed to Lancaster, where he commenced the bns- iness that was more congenial to his taste, and which has since made his name a household word to every farmer and gardener. At this time and subsequently for several years Mr. John Durant did a large busi- ness in the manufacture of light wagons. His shops were situated on Townsend Street west of Colonel Al- den Lawrence's stables.

About three-quarters of a mile beyond the centre of the town to the westward is a small water-power on what is known as Sucker Brook. An unsuccessful attempt to start a button factory was made here early in the fifties. A few years later Aaron Burkinshaw, an enterprising Englishman, who had served his seven years' apprenticeship in Sheffield, bought the property and utilized the power for a cutlery factory which he established. He was a painstaking and industrious workman and a shrewd buyer and seller. He trained his own apprentices and employed only English workmen, who, locating here, soon formed an English hamlet in the vicinity of the mill, on the street named, by Mr. Burkinshaw, Sheffield Street. Finding that there was a demand for a fine grade of pocket-knives, Mr. Burkinshaw made that branch of the trade a specialty, and built up a good business, which since his death has been carried on by his sons under the name of Aaron Burkinshaw's Sons.

Some quarter of a mile below Burkinshaw's the stream affords another water-power, which, a century ago, was employed by Captain Nathaniel Sartell for a grist-mill, and also for a shop wherein were manu- factured wooden ploughs, the only kind then known. The captain was succeeded by his son Deacon Na- thaniel, who changed the grist-mill into a lumber-mill. The deacon's youngest son, Levi Sartell, now owns the property, and has built a new mill, into which he has introduced additional power by steam.

About two miles north of the centre, at a small " privilege " on Nissittisset River, a settlement was early commenced. A grist and saw-mill was erected, a store and tavern followed, and the little village was for a time quite a centre of business for the vicinity.

In course of time a carding and clothier's mill was established by Mr. Farewell Farrar, who carried on a prosperous business for many years. But by the dis- continuance of wool-growing, the local supply and de-

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mand ceased, and the larger manufactories absorbed the general trade. The mill was afterwards bought by Samuel S. Davis and used for the manufacture of cotton batting, and later of shoddy while that article was in demand but its usefulness in this direction was suddenly terminated by an untimely fire; and a second mill devoted to the same purposes shared the fate of its predecessor.

In 1866 Mr. Davis built a paper-mill on the site of the old mills. This was burned in 1872, and was im- mediately rebuilt; but, after having proved an unprof- itable investment to several owners, was also destroyed by fire in 1884, and the business was then abandoned.

The place now reminds one of " the deserted vil- lage." The mills have never been rebuilt, the dam has broken through and been carried away, and most of the houses are tenantless. Its remoteness from the railroad is a serious disadvantage to the improvement of the " privilege."

Upon an eminence, near by, commanding an exten- sive and beautiful prospect, stands the old mansion built by Colonel William Prescott, and which still re- mains in possession of the family, having descended to the son, Judge William Prescott, to the grandson, William H. I'rescott, the historian, and to William G. Prescott, Esq., the great-grandson, who is the pres- ent owner and occupant. It was built in the conven- tional style of the old New England farm-houses. Here was born the son, who afterwards became an eminent jurist, and who invariably spent the summer months of each year at the old homestead. An addi- tion to the west end of the house was made by him for the purposes of a study and library, in which it is said the grandson, during his annual sojourns in Pep- perell, wrote considerable portions of those histories which have immortalized his name. The building is a plain, unpretending structure, with no especial claims for notice, except the many interesting associa- tions with which it is connected.

Not long after the settlement of the parish, a grist- mill was erected on the Nissittisset, at the East Vil- lage. A store was afterwards built, and then a tavern ; and the village was generally known as "the Lower Store." At, one time considerable business was done there in the manufacture of tinware by Colonel Wil- liam Buttrick. In 1832 Captain Fred. F. Parker, who then owned the store, built the large building still standing on Nissittisset Square, and opened therein a tavern, which he named "The Nissittisset House." A part of the building was occupied for a store. The old store, that had stood nearly in the middle of the square, was removed. After the death of Captain Parker, in 1841, the tavern was discontin- ued. The property was sold and a portion of the building, enough to make two dwelling-houses, was moved to the opposite side of Hollis Street. The store, however, was kept up by various owners, until within a few years. The East Pepperell Post-Office was established here in 1847, J. A. Tucker, Esq.,

who then owned the store, being the first postmaster ; but in 1858 the office was removed to the Depot Vil- lage, and has now become an office of the third class.

The mill privilege was for many years owned by Dr. Ebenezer Lawrence, and the business was eon- ducted by two of his sons, Joseph and E. Appleton Lawrence. In 1835 it was bought by Deacon L. W. Blake, who, in company with Mr. Luther Ballard, es- tablished a machine-shop. Mr. Ballard, in 1840, relinquished his interest in the business to his part- ner, and went West. Deacon Blake's large family all had a remarkable aptitnde for mechanics. The oldest son, Deacon Gilman Blake, took charge of the saw and grist-mills, while the five remaining sons, as they successively grew up, were associated with their father in the machine business. The two daughters, even, became the wives of prominent machinists. After the death of the father in 1864, the firm was changed to " Blake Brothers," and in 1884 again changed to " Henry Blake & Son." In addition to the ordinary work of a machine-shop, they mannfacture a " belt- fastener," and "Blake's Turbine Water-wheel," both patented inventions of members of the family.

The first paper-mill in Pepperell was built at the lower privilege on the Nissittisset, in the year 1818, by Mr. Ben. Lawrence. Paper at that time was manu- factured principally by hand labor, requiring some three weeks', time between the "beater " and the finishing-room. This mill . was operated by several paper-makers, prominent among whom were Ed- ward Curtis, Col. Buttrick, And Emerson and J. A. Wilder. While owned by the latter, in 1841, it was burnt down, but soon after rebuilt. About 1864 it was bought by Ilenry A. Parker, again burnt and again rebuilt ; it is now used for the manufacture of sheeting paper and leather board ; and, together with a lumber-mill and a grain-mill, is known as “The Nissittisset Mills," the business being conducted under the firm name of H. A. Parker & Co.

Abont the year 1834 And. Emerson built a paper- mill at Babbitasset Falls on the Nashua. The privilege is one of the best on the river, and had been early utilized. It appears by the records of the town of Groton, that ata town meeting held October 24, 1726, it was voted " to give liberty to any person or persons that should appear to do the same, to build a mill on Lancaster River at a place called Babbitasset Falls. Provided the person or persons be obliged to build and constantly keep in good repair a good and sufficient corn-mill for said town's use ... and to do the same within the space of two years after the date hereof, the person, or persons to have the liberty of said stream so long as he or they keep said mill in good repair and no longer." There is also a record of the laying ont of a road in 1730 past (lilson's grist-mill at Babitas- set Falls.

In course of time a forge and small foundry was set up, and the place thereafter went by the name of "The Forge." About the same time Dr. Ephraim

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Lawrence commenced the manufacture of powder, concerning whose quality some amusing though rather disparaging traditions are still extant. After- wards a fulling and a carding-mill were built and occu- pied, the former by Samuel Tenney, the latter by Isaac Bennett. Mr. Tenney died in 1825 and was succeeded in the business by Joseph Tucker, and not long afterwards Mr. Bennett relinquished his business to Earl Tenney, son of Samuel. Both the mills gave place to the new paper-mill. At this time there were but five dwelling-houses in the village, three of which were cottages. One of these is the cottage on Mill Street now owned by Mrs. Harper. Three still stand at the juncture of Main Street with Mill and Canal. The Adam Ames house, which occupied the present site of A. J. Saunders' store, was removed and is the dwelling of Mrs. Gleason on Canal Street.

With the establishment of this paper-mill, a new era in the industrial history of the village began. Mr. Emerson introduced the Fourdrinier machinery, and commenced making paper with a rapidity that fairly astonished the old paper-makers. The business prospered for a time. After a few years, however, the mill was destroyed by fire. A new building was erected, but when this was also burned, Mr. Emer- son's financial embarrassments were such that he was forced to abandon the business. The property passed into other hands. New mills were built, which dur- ing the next twenty years were occupied successively by different firms with varied success, or want of it. At one time there were three separate mills, with as many owners, each competing with the others, and all dependent upon the same water supply. At length, in 1862, H. M. Clark, who was connected with the firm of S. D. Warren & Co., obtained possession of the en- tire property and immediately began to develop its capacities. For the past ten years the business has been under the control of the Fairchild Paper Co. The plaut consists of two first-class mills, which give employment to about two hundred and thirty opera- tives, and mannfacture daily twenty tons of the best quality of book paper and of government paper.

The Champion Card and Paper Co. commenced operations in 1880 as an adjunct of the Fairchild Paper Co. But three years later it was established as an independent company, being incorporated under the laws of New Hampshire, with a capital of $50,000. A mill, one hundred and twenty-five feet wide and five hundred feet long, was built near the covered bridge and fitted up with the most approved machinery and furnishments. Under the able and energetic management of its president, C. M. Gage, and treasurer, P. A. Hammond, it was so successfully conducted that in 1887 the capital stock was increased to $150,000, and the company was re-incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts. Its manufactures consist principally of glazed and colored papers and card-boards of the finest quality, lithographic-plate paper being a specialty.

The success of the Champion Co. was so apparent that it stimulated competition. In 1889 another company was organized and incorporated under the name of the Pepperell Card and Paper Co., with a capital of $50,000, H. C. Winslow, Superintendent ofthe Fairchild Mills being elected president, H. A. Parker, treasurer, and J. M. McCauseland, superintendent. A mill, 60 by 160 feet, comprising two stories and basement, with an engine-house and boiler-room adjoining, was erected " at the most convenient place near Jo Blood's fordway," and was soon in active operation. The thorough knowledge of the trade and the business tact and ability possessed by the managers are a guaranty for the success of the new enterprise.

The beginning of the shoe business in Pepperell was made about the year 1824, by John Walcott, a native of Danvers, who married a Pepperell woman and afterwards settled in Pepperell, on the farm now owned by Roland H. Blood. His sons, as they grew up, went to Natick, and became pioneers in the shoe business in that place.

At the time Mr. Walcott came to Pepperell divi- sion of labor was just being introduced into the shoe manufacture. Previously the entire shoe had been made by one man, who first carefully measured the foot of his customer, and then proceeded to cut out, put together and finish up the pair of boots or shoes ordered. The shoemaker was often an itinerant work- man, carrying his kit of tools under his arm. Mr. Wal- cott, taking advantage of the new departure, employed his winter leisure in making shoes. He obtained from Danvers his stock already cut and fitted, completed the work and returned the finished shoes. This kind of work required but a short apprenticeship. Soon more than one kitchen resounded to the tap of the hammer upon the lap stone, and the uumber of fire- side shoemakers increased, until some began to think that a shop for cutting and giving out the work would be a good business venture. The prospect was allur- ing; the capital required was small; the plant con- sisted of only one or two rooms furnished with cut- ting-boards, patterns and knives. Here the work was cut out and then distributed to be made up by tlie employees at their homes or in small shops where sev- eral neighbors could work together. These "brogan shops," in time, became quite numerons throughout the town. The first to set up a cutting-shop was Put- nam Shattuck, who established one in the North Vil- lage, abont the year 1834. Eight years afterwards he removed his business to the Centre. By this time he had a number of competitors. But, feasible as the business at first appeared, it was often found to re- quire an amount of knowledge and foresight that had not been anticipated ; hence failure was a common result. One impediment in the way of success was the sharp competition with the lower towns. At one time so much work was done for outside firms that it required the time of one man as carrier between the

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" brogan shops" in town and the business centres " down below," as the local phrase was.

Albert Leighton, a native of Westford, came to Pep- perell in 1848. He was a shoemaker from boyhood, and had been associated with Edward Walcott in the introduction of the shoe business into Natick. He erected one of the first buildings in the Depot Village, (now the Prescott House), and there established a business that eventually became one of the leading interests in town. Five years later, having disposed of his business to Charles Hutson, he followed in the wake of the gold-miners, and spent three years in California. Returning to Pepperell, he built a new shop on Leighton Street, in which he carried on a successful business for ten years. He then went West, but, after a year spent in Racine, Wis., he again returned to Pepperell, and erected, on Main Street, a third building, which was occupied by him- self and his sons as a shoe-factory until it was burned, in 1879. As a result of the fire, the firm of Leighton & Sons was dissolved, Mr. Leighton retiring from active participation in the shoe business, although he still continued an efficient citizen of the town whose interests he had already done much to promote, and to whom much of the present prosperity and many of the recent improvements of the lower villages es- pecially are due. He has not only held the highest offices in town, but has twice represented his district in the State Legislature.

Immediately after the burning of the old building the business was reorganized by Mr. Leighton's son, Frank. Plans were made for a new factory, the corner-stone of which was laid June 17, 1879, and the work was carried on so energetically that the build- ing was ready for occupancy in the fall. The existing firm, Leighton Bros., was formed in 1884, and consists of Messrs. Frank, Elbert and Charles Leighton, the latter having charge of their Boston office. Their commodious and well-arranged factory, furnished with all the most approved styles of machinery, affords em- ployment to 350 operatives, and has a capacity for 5000 pairs of brogans per day.

The mineral resources of Pepperell are not abund- ant. Two clay heds, one near Boynton Street, the other in the southerly part of the town, have furnish- ed the material for the manufacture, at various times, of a few kilns of brick, the one in South Pepperell be- ing still operated by Jerome T. Lawrence.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 57

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