USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 78
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ANECDOTES OF REV. MR. GRAFTON .- On a certain occasion, Mr. Graf- ton preached the annual sermon before a Missionary Society, of which he was the Vice-President for many years, and afterwards, President. He took for his text, Matt. XVII: 26, 27. At the close of his sermon, as there was to be a collection in aid of the funds of the Society, he said, " And now let every gentleman feel in his pocket, and every lady in her purse, and see if there be not there a piece of money, as there was in the mouth of Peter's fish." The archness and naïveté with which this was said, produced general gratification, and secured a handsome donation to the funds of the Society.
In preaching a charity-sermon, he once remarked that some persons are always ready to give when they are asked; butthey are governed by impure motives, hoping for some sort of recompense. He said they were willing to " cast their bread upon the waters;" but they were careful to have a string tied to it, that they might be secure of drawing it back.
In his preaching, particularly in the latter days of his life, he tended to be, using his own term, "prolix." The sameness in his discourses - the infirm- ity of old age - sometimes rendered liim tedious; and though the " anèc- dote " with which he illustrated almost every principle, gave a life to his ser- mons, still the " once more," " one thought more," "finally," and " lastly," which led him still onward, in pressing the claims of religion, were some- times felt to be more than enough.
A lady of another communion having once heard him pray at a funeral, afterwards remarked, that she seemed to herself never to have heard a prayer before. The service made such an impression on her mind, that she affirmed she could never forget it.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
He was very apt in the quotation of the Scriptures. Once being attacked by neuralgia in the face, during service, he was obliged to shorten the ser- mon, and to give notice that he could not preach in the afternoon. As a supply could not be found to meet so sudden an emergency, the congrega- tion were left to go every one his own way. Though tortured with pain, he could not resist his ruling passion ; and so he finished his announcement by saying, " And this reminds me of the passage, 'I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.' "
Though he employed a part of his time on the little farm upon which he lived, he endeavored to make the hours spent in labor subservient to his great work as a minister of Christ. On one occasion, a person passing by and accosting him as he was raking hay, speaking pleasantly of his employ- ment, he said, "I get many lessons in my field, to be carried into the pulpit."
Going to preach on one occasion at a private house, a person who was a miller, and who acted as a kind of master of ceremonies, handed him a Bible, pointing out a particular verse, and asking him to preach from it as his text. Father Grafton replied, " When you have a quantity of corn to grind, do you not first look to see how the pond is?"
He spent little time in his study, but a great deal in pastoral visitation. There was scarcely a day, except in storms, when he did not ride abroad to see some of his parishioners. Much of his preparation for the pulpit was conducted in his chaise. Sometimes, when riding with a familiar friend, he has been observed, not only talking out the plans of his sermons, but actu- ally gesticulating, as if preaching them in his pulpit.
Though he had no particular enthusiasm as an observer of nature, he evi- dently felt the effect of its kindling influence. We have intimated that his chaise was his study. Besides, he might often be seen on a Sabbath morn- ing in summer, walking in his garden for more than an hour before the pub- lic worship, appearing by the motions of his lips and by his gestures to be preaching over in solitude the sermons which he was to deliver that day to his people.
In the old meeting-house the ancient square pews were generally furnished with one or two chairs, besides the permanent seats around the sides. On the Sabbath-noon, mnost of the families remaining during the intermission and bringing their lunch with them, the box of provisions was placed in a chair in the middle, and all the family helped themselves. Father G. uni- formly remained also, but brought no refreshment with him. He went round, however, from pew to pew, taking a piece of pie here, and of cake there, and an apple from another place, and going on, eating and conversing with his parishioners, like another Oberlin among his Alpine flock. At a suitable opportunity, all having had time enough, he used to say, "Come, friends, it is time to go to the prayer-meeting ;" and thus, in this simple and primitive way, the good old man went in and out among his people, as a good shepherd, knowing his sheep, and known of them.
He was very social in his disposition, and greatly enjoyed the companion- ship of friends. One Saturday evening, he had been conversing with a num-
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ber in his parlor until eight o'clock, when he pleasantly remarked, alluding to the members of the Theological Institution, that he had now a learned congregation to preach to, and must withdraw to his study to prepare for the Sabbath. Hc was absent only about twenty minutes, when, yielding to the strong temptation below, he came running down again, and spent the residue of the evening in friendly chat.
IIe also made himself very interesting in society. The social element in his, character was strongly developed. His remarks were rather sparkling than profound. Whatever subject was broached, he had some apt and strik- ing thing to say. Yet with all his vivacity and sprightliness, he did not lower the dignity of the Christian minister ; and whatever theme was discussed, he found means to bring back the conversation, easily and naturally, to religion.
On a certain occasion, an exchange of pulpits had been arranged by him with the Rev. Dr. Sharp, of Boston; but, at the last moment, the plan was unavoidably broken up. When Mr. Grafton appeared before his congrega- tion, he explained the circumstances as an apology for his want of prep- aration, adding, " In music, every tune is either a sharp or a flat; and I am afraid you will have a flat to-day ;"- playing upon the name of Dr. Sharp. After this, he proceeded with his sermon.
If any case of church action required peculiar wisdom in its management, he took much pains in contriving how to present the matter in the happiest way to make a favorable impression. And by some fortunate turn of ex- pression, or by an apt observation, he would often restore harmony between brethren. His assistance was therefore often asked in ecclesiastical councils. In a certain church difficulty, which threatened the destruction of the har- mony of the members, he was called to be the moderator of a council con- vened on the case. A brother of the church, who had been deputed for the purpose, began, by request of the council, to state the grievances which were the matter in debate. Soon, a sister in the church thought herself called upon to interrupt him, and to correct somc statement. Father Graf- ton, who had heard enough to reveal to him the truc difficulty, said, " Ah, I see how it is,- the hens crow." By this apt remark, perhaps as dignificd as the case demanded, the whole matter was set in its true light, and the dis- sentients, ashamed of their quarrel, were restored to peace and good-will.
He was a great friend to singing schools, promoting them, when they were proposed in his parish, by all his influence, often going into the school, and showing his interest by some kind remarks. One winter, when a dancing school in the place drew away the attention of the young people, he pleas- antly imputed the prevention of the singing school by such means to Satanic agency, and remarked that " John, the Baptist, lost his head by dancing."
A conversation having once arisen in his presence on the subject of danc- ing, an amusement to which he was much averse, it happened that Mrs. Graf- ton, as if playfully advocating it, as, in itself, not sinful, remarked, " I used to dance, when I was young." Father Grafton instantly turned upon her in his arch way, and, as if asserting an authority which was always a gentle yoke as administered by him, replied, " Well, my dear, you won't do it again."
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Being once at a public dinner party, where his feelings were much annoyed by a young gentleman opposite him, who scarcely uttered a sentence with- out some profane oath attached to it, he rose in his place, and exclaimed, " Mr. President." When the president had rapped upon the table with his knife, producing silence and calling the attention of the guests, Mr. Grafton said, " Sir, I move you that no person at the table have permission to utter a profane oath, except my friend, the Rev. Dr. Homer." Such was the mut- ual intimacy of the two clergymen, and so well established was the charac- ter of Dr. Homer for piety, that no offence was taken, and the well-merited reproof had its designed effect. The young man swore no more.
NEWTON'S REPRESENTATIVES .- It is a singular fact that both Newton and Waltham have furnished two occupants of the Gubernatorial chair. Newton has also furnished three Representatives in Congress-Hon. William Jackson, Hon. Horace Mann and Hon. J. Wiley Edmands.
THEODORE PARKER .- The celebrated Theodore Parker, after an engage- ment of five years, married Miss Lydia D. Cabot, only daughter of Mr. John Cabot, who lived on Centre Street, corner of Centre and Cabot Streets. The house was removed after the death of Mr. Cabot; but the large trees, stand- ing on the lot, sufficiently indicate its location. The following forms an inter- esting item in his biography, and indicates some of the principles on which he depended for happiness in the marriage relation. The subjoined resolutions are entered in his journal on his wedding day :
1. Never, except for the best of causes, to oppose my wife's will.
2. To discharge all duties for her sake, freely.
3. Never to scold.
4. Never to look cross at her.
5. Never to weary her with commands.
6. To promote her piety.
7. To bear her burdens.
8. To overlook her foibles.
9. To love, cherish and forever defend her.
10. To remember her always, most affectionately, in my prayers. Thus, God willing, we shall be blessed.
MOUNT AUBURN .- Mount Auburn is indebted for its name to a native of Newton. The late Hon. George T. Bigelow, Chief Justice of Massachusetts, once told me that the mother of Rev. James Freeman Clarke, who was a daughter of General Hull, impressed with the singular beauty of the spot, in her girlish days spoke of it as "Sweet Auburn." The name clung to it. And when the Massachusetts Horticultural Society purchased it for a ceme- tery, the name was retained, excepting only that the word "Sweet" was changed to "Mount."
WASHINGTON'S DEATH AND FUNERAL SOLEMNITIES IN THE FIRST CHURCH, NEWTON .- The writer, the child of a Newton participant in the battle of Lexington and Concord, has a distant remembrance of the first news of Wash- ington's death : "My father was reading a Boston paper. I was by his side.
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I was six years of age and was much impressed by the news. 'Moses,'a farmer, was introduced, as returning to his family, and saying, 'General Washington's dead !' and Moses' frock was wet with tears, and he took a piece of crape and tied it around his arm; his little girl, looking on, said, 'I too, papa.'
" At the funeral service in the First church, two large bass drums were placed below the pulpit, draped in black. Dr. Homer was in the pulpit, and others ; a great many people were there; every person wore as a badge of mourning, a strip of black crape around the left arm above the elbow. It was ordered by Congress.
"None of the services are remembered except the music, which was deeply impressive. A small collection was composed and published expressly for the occasion ; various persons contributed. One piece was extremely touching ; I will specify a part of it.
" 'Mourn, mourn, mourn, mourn,
O Americans, mourn !
Washington's no more-
Fair Liberty, in sables drest, With his lov'd name upon her urn, Washington - the scourge of tyrants past
And heir of princes yet unborn, Round him her faithful arms shall bend.'
" Colonel Joseph Ward, who was an aid to Washington, composed a poem to his memory."
PORTRAITS OF DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS .- In a meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, held May, 1876, Alderman C. D. Gilman offered the following order :
"Whereas, it appears proper and fitting, that long continued faithful ser- vices, rendered in the interests of our town and city, and also, that eminent public benefactors, who by their liberal gifts deserve lasting memorials, that such examples may prove incentives for others to do likewise, should be suita- bly recognized, therefore, be it ordered, that a life-size bust picture of the Hon. J. F. C. Hyde, Ex-Mayor, be procured, to be hung in the City Hall, and also a similar one of Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, to be hung in the Reading Room of the Newton Free Library ; that & sum not exceeding $150 be appro- 'priated in payment therefor, and that a committee of three be appointed to carry this order into execution.
POPULATION, POLLS AND HOUSES IN NEWTON, AT VARIOUS DATES.
Date.
Population.
Polls.
No. of Houses.
1810
1,709
382
201
1820
1,856
430
218
1830
2,377
554
293
1840
3,351
792
408
1846
1,079
519
1847
5,000
575
Mr. Davis says, " It is supposed that not a dozen houses existed in what now constitutes the West Parish, at the time of Mr. Hobart's death (August 25.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
1712), while there were nearly or quite as many in the southeast part of the town as at this time (1847).
" The number of houses in 1800 in the Lower Falls was 13; West Parish, within the area of two square miles, 15; Newton Corner, 13.
" In 1847, there were in the Lower Falls over 60 voters; at the Chemical Works, 20 voters ; in the West Parish, 90 voters."
In 1865 the population of the various villages was as follows :
Lower Falls,
485
Auburndale,
698
Upper Falls,
993
Newtonville, including North Village,
1,282
West Newton,
1,588
Newton Centre, including Oak Hill and East Newton, 1,694
Newton Corner, 2,238
Total, .
8,978
Of the 1,591 legal voters in 1865, 259 were naturalized voters.
According to the census, the total value of articles manufactured in New- ton in 1865 was $1,215,467; of which $363,180 was in the shape of cotton goods ; $166,500 hosiery ; $300,000 worth of iron passed through the Rolling Mill, Upper Falls ; dye-woods ground, $85,000; machinery made, $45,000; hollow ware and other castings manufactured, $18,000; paper manufactured, $86,900; piano-fortes manufactured, $8,000; hats and caps manufactured, $8,590 ; blacksmith's ware, $13,600 ; cabinet ware, $70,000; tin ware, $4,200; paper boxes $20,000 ; bread manufactured for sale, $15,000.
In addition, farm products of the value of $178,151 were sent to market from Newton that year. Also, dressed beef of the value of $71,800; dressed pork, $13,483, with smaller quantities of mutton and veal.
It is stated in the same report that for ten years, ending in 1866, the sum of $261,914 was spent for educational purposes in the town of Newton.
Of the 9,984 acres of land taxed in Newton in 1877, 5,421 were located in the two Wards of the Southern section of the city (Five and Six); leaving for the five other Wards only 4,553. Ward Six contains about one-third of . the taxable land in the city. Of the Northern Wards, Ward Four had the largest number of acres of taxable land, Ward Three coming next. Ward One had the smallest number of acres, 355, or about one twenty-eighth part of the entire amount, Ward Seven, close behind, with only 489 acres. The land in these two Wards had a large taxable value.
Ward Two contained the largest number of houses, 528, Ward Four com- ing next, followed close by Wards Six and Three. Wards One and Seven, combined, had 743. The two Wards of the Southern section of the city had together 863, against 2,194 in the Northern section of the city.
The two Southern Wards, pre-eminently the agricultural portion of the city, possessed 330 cows, or approaching one-half the whole number; Ward Seven having only 47, out of a total of 734. The Southern Wards predomi- nated in the number of horses.
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REMINISCENCES.
The total number of buildings erected in the city during the year ending May 1, 1877, was fifty-three, the smallest number for several years. The most rural portion of the town, the southeastern part, has felt, least of all, the influence of modern enterprise.
U. S. TAX COLLECTED IN NEWTON IN ELEVEN YEARS. - The figures given below, are not mathematically correct, but very nearly so. In conse- quence of rulings of different Commissioners, some erroneous assessments were made, and taxes, after being collected, refunded; but the total amount could not have exceeded the sum of $15,000, thus showing, that after mak- ing all allowances possible, the citizens of the town paid into the Treasury of the United States, between September, 1862, and May, 1873, the sum of over one million one hundred and forty-four thousand dollars ($1,144.192.30).
The United States internal Revenue Laws or Income Tax very nearly ceased to exist in 1873.
The sums under the name of Annual, embrace incomes, pianos, billiard tables, silver, watches, licenses and carriages. The Monthlys consist of taxes on manufactures, legacies, successions, and such incomes, licenses or special taxes, as were omitted, for various reasons, in the annual lists. In the collection of this great sum, there was not a single levy and sale of any property in the town of Newton; a record, of which any and all its citizens may be justly proud.
The following are the assessment lists of Newton from October, 1862, to April 30, 1873, inclusive :
Licenses, Silver and Car-
riages, 1862, $1,920.00
Monthly in 1862 and 1863, 11,589.39
Annual in 1863, 44,157.85
Monthly in 1863 and 1864, 25,632.72
Annual in 1864, 61,640.54
Special War in 1864, 83,554.95
Monthly in 1864 and 1865, 61,568.99 Annual in 1865, 193,786.23
Monthly in 1865 and 1866,*95,217.31
Annual in 1866, 140,207.24
Monthly in 1867, 47,206.07
Annual in 1867, 79,331.55
Annual in 1868, 64,421.86
Monthly in 1868, $29,608.46
Annual in 1869, 72,928.60
Annual in 1870, 72,820.75
Annual in 1871, 22,491.71
Monthly in 1871, 9,919.54
Annual in 1872, 29,433.99
Monthly in 1872 and 1873, 11,754.55
$1,159,192.30
Less amounts refunded, 15,000.00
$1,144,192.30
* In 1865-6 the total amount paid was $350,572.53.
RAILROAD TO NEWTON .- The Worcester Railroad was opened for the con- veyance of passengers from Boston as far as West Newton, April 16, 1834. A locomotive ran from Boston to Newton and back three times a day, with from two to eight passengers each trip. The engine used was the Meteor, built by Mr. Stephenson, of England. The cars commenced running on the Hartford and Erie Railroad,- then called the Charles River Road, extending from Brookline to Needham, - in November, 1852. At first, season tickets by the year, between Boston and Newton Centre, were sold at $35. Previous to this time, passengers were conveyed from Newton Centre to Newton
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Corner, and from Newton Upper Falls to West Newton, by omnibus or car- riage, to take the cars of the Boston and Worcester Railroad. A daily stage ran from Newton Upper Falls, through Newton Centre, to Boston and back; fare between Newton Centre and Boston, 37} cents.
A recent work by C. F. Adams, Esq., on the history of the Boston and Worcester Railroad gives the following interesting sketch :
"But it was upon the Worcester road, and towards the latter part of March, 1834, that the first locomotive ever used in Massachusetts was set in motion. On the 24th of the month Mr. Hale, the president of the company, advised the readers of the Advertiser that ' the rails are laid from Boston to Newton, a distance of nine or ten miles, to which place it is proposed to run the passenger cars as soon as two locomotives shall be in readiness, so as to insure regularity. One locomotive, called the Meteor, has been partially tried, and will probably be in readiness in a few days ; the second, called the Rocket, is waiting the arrival of the builder for subjecting it to trial, and the third, it is hoped, will be ready by the first of May.' The last named locomotive, the Rocket, was built by the Stephensons, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 'the builder ' whose arrival was looked for must have been an English engineer, sent out to superintend the work of putting it in operation. No allusion is made in the papers to the trial of these locomotives ; but we have the impres- sions which one who claims to have been an eye-witness of it long afterwards gave.
""' The Boston and Worcester Railroad Company imported from Newcastle- upon-Tyne one of. George Stephenson's locomotives, small in stature but symmetrical in every particular, and finished with the exactness of a chrono- meter. Placed upon the track, its driver, who came with it from England, stepped upon the platform with almost the airs of a juggler, or a professor of chemistry, placed his hand upon the lever, and with a slight move of it, the engine started at a speed worthy of the companion of the Rocket, amid the shouts and cheers of the multitude. It gave me such a shock, that my hair seemed to start from the roots, rather than to stand on end.'
"On the 4th of April, a Friday, by the way, a locomotive was first em- ployed on a gravel train, upon which occasion, as the Advertiser the next day assured its readers, ' the engine worked with case, was perfectly manageable, and showed power enough to work at any desirable speed.' Three days later, on Monday, 7th, we are informed that a locomotive ran on the railroad, for the first time, ' as far as Davis' tavern in Newton, a distance of eight or nine miles, accompanied by a part of the directors and fifty or sixty other persons, for the purpose of making trial of the engine and examination of the road. The party stopped several times for various purposes, on the way out. They returned in thirty-nine minutes, including a stop of about six minutes, for the purpose of attaching five cars, loaded with earth. The engine travelled with ease, at the rate of twenty miles an hour.' The next day, a larger party went over the ground, the directors inviting about one hundred and thirty gentle- men on the excursion. It would not appear to have been a very successful affair ; for, 'after proceeding a short distance, their progress was interrupted by the breaking of a connecting-rod between two of the cars. This accident
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REMINISCENCES.
caused a considerable delay, and, unfortunately, a similar accident occurred three or four times during the excursion.' So, after a short stop at Newton, the party came back, quite cross, apparently, and did not get home until half-past six in the evening. On the fifteenth of the month, a yet larger party, consisting of about one hundred and twenty ladies and gentlemen, in six cars, went out to Newton and back, making the return trip in less than half an hour. The cars began to run regularly next day, making two trips each way to Newton and back, leaving Boston at 10 A. M. and at 3.30 P. M. The regular passenger railroad service in Massachusetts, on this road, dates, therefore, from the 16th of April, 1834. Already, four days before, there had appeared in the adver- tising columns of Mr. Halc's paper a new form of notice. At the head was a rude cut of a locomotive and part of a train of cars,-the cars being of the old stage coach pattern, mounted high on wheels with spokes in them, and divided into compartments which were entercd through doors at the sides. The brakemen, sitting on a sort of coach boxcs, regulated the speed by the pressure of their feet on levers, just as is still done with wagons on hilly roads. The notice was headed, 'Boston & Worcester Railroad,' and read as follows :
"' The passenger cars will continue to run daily from the depot near Wash- ington Street, to Newton, 6 o'clock and 10 o'clock A. M., and at 3.30 P. M.
" ' Returning, leave Newton at 7, and a quarter past 11 A. M., and a quarter before 5 P. M.
"' Tickets for the passage either way may be had at the Ticket Office, No. 617 Washington Street, price thirty-seven and a half cents each; and for the return passage, of the Master of the cars, Newton.
" ' By order of the President and Directors.
"' F. A. WILLIAMS, Clerk.'"
The following extract from the Directors' Report, submitted at the annual meeting of stockholders, June 2, 1834, announces the opening of the road to the public :
" The railroad was opened for the conveyance of passengers between Bos- ton and Newton (the West village), a distance of eight and a half miles, on the 16th of April last. A locomotive engine has been run three times daily to Newton and back, with from two to eight passenger cars, each trip. The . passage each way is usually made in about twenty-eight minutes, an average rate of speed of eighteen miles an hour. The passages have been made by the ' Meteor' engine, which was built by Mr. Stephenson, of England."
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