USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 107
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the blessing, even life for ever more." Mr. Chicker- ing died March 12, 1812, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and the thirty-fifth year of his pastorate ; and his remains lie entombed near his people, and the children he loved so well. His successor, the Rev. William Cogswell, was born at Atkinson, N. H., June 5, 1787 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1811, and was principally guided in his theological studies by the Rev. Dr. Worcester, of Salem. During his ministry seventy-four became members of the church, sixty-eight were united in marriage, and for one hundred and sixteen he performed the last sad rite. Dr. Cogswell was a ready writer, and one of the ablest divines in the State. Many of his published sermons and addresses can be found in the parish, and so will make no quotations.
His " Assistant to Family Religion," a duodecimo volume of four hundred and four pages, in a few years passed three editions, and his " Theological Class Book," published and stereotyped in 1833, was republished in England. " A Catechism on the Doctrines and Duties of Religion," in two parts, passed through several editions. He was dismissed that he might take the general agency of the American Education Society.1
His successor in the ministry, Rev. Harrison G. Park, was ordained by the same council which dis- missed Dr. Cogswell. Mr. Park was born at Provi- dence, R. I., July 26, 1806 ; was graduated at Brown University in 1824. After leaving college he studied law two years with the Hon. Mr. Fisk, of Wrentham, and Bradford Sumner, Esq., of Boston. He studied theology with Dr. Wisner, of Boston, and at the Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J. His pastor- ate continued about six years. Mr. Park was a good sermonizer and an able man. After his removal from this place he was settled over the Second Society in Danvers,2 and subsequently at Burlington, and at
1 Leaving the parish where for fourteen years he had labored with great success, he entered June 27, 1829, upon his new duties. On the death of the Rev. Dr. Cornelius, in 1832, he was elected secretary and director of that society. After a period of twelve years of most incessant labor, on account of failing health, he tendered his second resignation, April 14, 1841. January 12th of this year, he had been elected a professor in Dartmouth College. He very soon established "The Northern Academy of Arts and Sciences," and in the course of three years he collected twelve hundred bound volumes and five thousand pamphlets, and secured some twenty-two thousand dollars to the funds of the college. Nov. 22, 1843, he was elected president of the Gilmanton Theological Seminary, and professor of Christian Theology. His last work was to edit the sixth volume of the New Hampshire Historical Collec- tions. He died April 18, 1850.
2 While at Danvers he was called to deliver a funeral dis- course in memory of the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Cowles, pastor of the First Church, who, with his wife, was lost at sea by the
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Burnardston. The last years of his life were passed in this town, where he took a deep interest in all that pertained to its welfare.
His successor, the Rev. Calvin Durfee, was born in Pittsfield, Mass., Oct. 6, 1797 ; graduated from Wil- liams College ; studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Woodbridge, of Hadley ; ordained at Hunter, New York; resigned in 1835 ; installed March 6, 1836, over the Second Parish in Dedham ; resigned in 1857 ; spent three years in Brookline, Ohio ; and on the resig- nation of the Rev. Dr. Peters was appointed financial agent of Williams College. Some of his sermons are preserved in the parish or pastors' library. Dr. Durfee's principal work is the " Annals of Williams," on which it is said he spent a quarter of a century. Dr. Irenaus Prime, in his introduction, speaks of it as one of the most extraordinary literary compilations of the present day. He died in 1879, aged eighty-two years.
Rev. Moses M. Colburn, sixth pastor of the First Church, was born at Fair Haven, Vt., Sept. 17, 1819 ; graduated from the University of Vermont ; studied theology at the Andover Seminary ; spent fourteen years of pastoral life in South Dedham ; re- moved to Waukegan, Ill., where he labored four years. In 1870 we find him at St. Joseph, Mich., where death closed his pastorate in 1876, in the fifty- seventh year of his age.
Mr. Colburn is spoken of as a faithful pastor and a good man, as one deeply interested in the youth of the town and parish, and admirably adapted to guide them in the way to honor and respectability. One printed discourse, the " Comfortless Christian," re- | mains in the society.
Rev. Ebenezer Fisher was born in Charlotte, Me. (then a part of Massachusetts), Feb. 15, 1815. It is said he was a lineal descendant of David Fisher, who was here as early as 1730, and died in 1791, aged seventy-four years. Mr. Fisher was licensed to preach in 1840 ; in 1841 was settled at Addison Point, Me .; May 18, 1747, was installed over the Univer- salist Church in Salem. This pastorate continued about six years. Oct. 7, 1853, resigned his charge on account of ill health; November, 1853, was in- stalled in due form over the Universalist Society in South Dedham. As a temperance man he pushed forward the good work Mr. Thompson had begun, and exerted a wholesome influence wherever he moved. April 15, 1858, Dr. Fisher was inaugurated professor and head of the Theological Seminary in
Canton, N. Y. During his connection of twenty- one years with that institution he had seen more than one hundred students, whose minds he had in a great measure moulded and fashioned, settled in the Universalist pulpits in our land. He died sud- denly Feb. 21, 1879, on his way to his recitation- rooms in the seminary.
Deacon John Everett, son of Capt. John Everett, and grandson of Richard Everett, one of the original founders of Dedham, settled in that part of Stough- ton which was annexed to Dedham. He married Mercy Brown, Jan. 3, 1700. In the act of incorporation of the precinct, he is named as a " principal inhabitant." On the organization of the church, in 1736, he was elected the first deacon. From the records of the church and parish, he appears to have been an active, intelligent, and pious man, laboring for the good of all. He died March 20, 1751, aged seventy-five years.
Deacon Ebenezer Everett, son of Deacon John, was born Aug. 5, 1707 ; married Joanna Stevens ; was chosen deacon Nov. 30, 1760 ; died June 19, 1778. He was the father of the Rev. Moses Everett, ninth minister of Dorchester, and the Rev. Oliver Everett, fourth pastor of the New South Church, Boston, and grandfather of the Hon. Alexander H., and the illustrious orator and statesman, Governor Edward Everett.
Capt. and Deacon Ebenezer Everett was born Oct. 7, 1734 ; Dec. 16, 1756, married Abigail Bacon. He was a veteran of the French war; enlisted May 7, 1755 ; marched with Capt. Fales through the wilder- ness to Albany, from thence to Lake George, and was undoubtedly in the battle of September 8th, as his company was engaged and lost heavily. He was chosen deacon July 30, 1778 ; died Oct. 1, 1808.
Willard Everett, grandson of Deacon Ebenezer (2), was chosen deacon Jan. 14, 1834; died March 17, 1851, aged fifty six years.
Willard Everett (2) was chosen deacon Oct. 28, 1852; died Nov. 27, 1857, aged thirty-five years. In the midst of an active and highly useful life he passes from us ; " but the righteous shall be in ever- lasting remembrance."
When Ezra Morse was driven from his mill-seat, on Mother Brook, the town " gave him a grant of forty acres of land near the Neponset River, or at the old saw-mill,1 or at Everett plain, where he might find it most to his satisfaction." He also had leave to erect a saw-mill on Hawes Brook on the way leading
foundering of the " Hope," which was published by request and is still preserved in this parish.
1 This was probably built about 1664 by Joshua Fisher on the 'Neponset River.
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NORWOOD.
to the south meadow. His son Ezra was born Jan. 28, 1671. On the formation of the church, 1736, he was chosen deacon, and subsequently gave to the church the meadow-land they now hold, and died Oct. 17, 1760, aged ninety years, honored and respected.
Mr. Jonathan Dean, chosen deacon July 18, 1736, continued to fill that office till March 28, 1870, at which time he passed away in the fullness of a ripe old age, numbering ninety-three years.
Deacon Nathaniel Sumner, son of Edward Sumner, of Roxbury, born April 10, 1720, was a graduate of Harvard, class of 1739. Studied theology, but never took upon himself the ministerial office ; Oct. 18, 1752, was chosen deacon ; 1768, was sent as a dele- gate to the convention held in Faneuil Hall. Repre- sentative to the General Court for the sessions of 1756-57, 1762, 1769, and - 1770, and a member of the Board of the Selectmen for nineteen years. Died Dec. 23, 1802, aged eighty-two years.
Willard Gay, Esq., was born Jan. 3, 1818, ap- pointed justice of the peace in 1858, postmaster in 1861. These offices he continued to hold to the close of life. Assistant assessor United States from 1861 till the district was abolished; after that, assistant collector till a further alteration was made, and the number of officials reduced. A member of the Board of Selectmen of Dedham for several years, and also of Norwood during the first three years of its exist- ence. On the organization of the Universalist Church, in 1856, he was chosen deacon and treasurer, which offices he continued to hold while his valuable life was spared.
Hon. Joseph Day was born in Walpole July 25, 1807. His education was such as the common dis- ! trist school afforded sixty years ago. At the age of sixteen years he left home to learn the currier's trade. When twenty, he came to South Dedham and en- gaged as a journeyman in that same business for the late John Smith. He was absent some four years, engaged in the same business, and then returned to South Dedham, and joined Isaac Ellis in erecting a paper-mill for the manufacturing of wrapping-paper, on the spot where Isaac Ellis' mill now stands. In two years he returned to his old business of tanning, and opened a shop, where he continued ten or eleven years. In 1844 or 1845 he established, in connection with Mr. A. L. White, the house in Boston now known as Day, Wilcox & Co. In about eight years Mr. White withdrew from the firm, and Mr. Day re- ceived as partners D. W. Wilcox, Lyman Rhoads, and his son Lewis. In 1864 he withdrew from the firm. He served some years as one of the assessors of Ded- ham, a director in the Dedham National Bank, a
representative to the General Court in 1843 -- 44, a senator from Norfolk County in 1856-57 (serving as a member of the Committee on Prisons and Reforma- tory Institutions).
Deacon Curtis G. Moore, born Dec. 18, 1805, contributed seventeen hundred and seventy dollars towards the erection of the Baptist meeting-house, but as his left hand knew not what his right hand did, it is impossible to make any estimate of his benefactions. On the organization of the church, in 1858, he was chosen deacon, and continued in office till his death. He left by will two thousand dollars to the church, the income to be used for the support of the gospel.
Joel M. Baker, born Sept. 9, 1808, was connected with the Baptist Society, and was largely instrumental in building up the same. His gifts, when their meeting-house was in process of construction, amounted to two thousand eight hundred and ninety-five dollars, and from 1858 till the time of his death (May 21, 1878) he must, at least, have contributed, besides the above gifts, twenty-five hundred dollars more, for his hands were always open and ready to balance the accounts of the society at the end of the year.
We will now pause in our narrative and turn back to the time when the cohorts of slavery unfurled the black flag of treason and marshaled their untaught hordes for carnage and strife, and to the gathering of freemen to save the Union and the priceless heritage for which our fathers fought.
From this parish went forth for three years,-
James Pinney, Co. F, 2d Regt .; enl. May 26, 1861; must. out May 25, 1864.
James M. Pond, sergt., Co. F; enl. Aug. 24, 1861; pro. Ist sergt .; pro. Ist lieut. Jan. 15, 1864; re-enl. October, 1864, and trans. to 32d Regt.
Joseph W. Pratt, sergt., Co. F; enl. Aug. 24, 1861; disch. in 1861 for sickness.
Elias W. Adams, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861; disch. in 1862 for wounds received at second Bull Run; re-enl. and must. out July 12, 1865.
George W. Brigham, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861; pro. corp. in 1861, sergt. in 1862 ; prisoner at exp. of service.
Sumner A. Ellis, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861 ; disch. in 1862 for wounds received at second Bull Run ; re-enl. Jan. 12, 1864; disch. for disability June 17, 1865.
Franklin Fisher, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861; disch. in 1863 for sickness.
William P. Fairbanks, Co. F, enl. August, 1861; re-enl. Jan- uary, 1864, and trans. to 32d Regt.
Henry L. Hayford, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861 ; re-enl. January, 1864: trans. to 32d Regt.
Chester R. Lawton, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861; pro. corp. in 1862 ; re-enl. January, 1864 ; disch. under G. O. in 1864.
Patrick Mears, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861; disch. in 1863 for wounds received at second Bull Run.
William J. Marsh, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861 ; disch. in 1861 for sickness.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
George E. Pond, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861; disch. in 1861 for sickness ; re-enl. in Co. D, 42d Regt., Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Austin E. Pratt, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861; disch. in 1863 for wounds received at Gettysburg.
Charles G. Rogers, Co. F, enl. Aug. 24, 1861 ; pro. corp. in 1863; | must. out Sept. 2, 1864.
Henry R. Ellis, musician.
Julius Bockme, Co. B, 20th Regt. ; enl. July 26, 1861 ; re-enl. Feb. 23, 1864; wounded in May, 1864.
Charles J. Haas, Co. B, enl. July 26, 1861 ; must. out Aug. 1, 1864.
Edward R. Pond, Co. I, 24th Regt .; enl. Oct. 8, 1861; disch. | April, 1863, for disability.
Charles D. Pond, sergt., Co. I; enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out June 9, 1865.
Ferdinand Steiner, corp., Co. I; enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out June 9, 1865.
Charles D. Force, corp., Co. I; enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out June 9, 1865.
John G. Dymond, corp., Co. I; enl. Aug. 16, 1862; died at Hampton, Va., March 29, 1863.
Ephraim A. Roberts, fifer and bugler, Co. I; enl. Aug. 16, 1862; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps in 1864.
Clinton Bagley, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; pro. corp., sergt., Ist sergt., and sergt .- maj. ; pro. 2d lieut. Sept. 8, 1864, declined commission ; must. out June 9, 1865.
Henry Bauer, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; pro. corp .; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps in 1863.
John II. Birch, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; died of fever Aug. 15, 1863, at Overton Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.
Michael Colbert, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; killed at Petersburg Mine July 30, 1864.
George V. Dean, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; disch. in 1862 for | sickness.
Francis Donley, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out June 9, | 1865.
Moses W. Downs, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; disabled by wounds
received at North Anna River May, 1864; trans. to Vet. 1 Sanford O. Morse, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July Res. Corps in 1864. 30, 1863.
Albert Ellis, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; pro. corp .; must. out June 9, 1865.
Alfred Ellis, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; pro. corp. and sergt .; must. out June 9, 1865.
Warren Ellis, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; must. out June 9, 1865. 1 Henry Fisher, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; taken prisoner at Pop-
lar Grove Church Sept. 30, 1864; exchanged in 1865; must. out June 9, 1865.
Alfred T. Hartshorn, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; disch. in 1863 for sickness.
John Hyde, Jr., Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out June 9, 1865.
Canrad Kril, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out June 9, 1865. Henry Kril, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; must. out June 9, 1865. Albert G. Ober, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out June 9, 1865.
Conrad Rausch, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862: disch. in 1862 for wounds received at Antietam.
Conrad Schneider, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; disch. in 1863 for sickness.
Hiram Shufelett, Co. I, enl. August, 1862 ; pro. corp. and sergt .; disch. for wounds received at the Petersburg mine.
John L. Smith, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; pro. corp., color corp., sergt., and Ist sergt .; pro. 2d licut. Jan. 9, 1865 ; not mus- tered ; must. out June 9, 1865.
Charles H. Sulkoski, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; killed at An- tietam Sept. 17, 1862.
William J. Wallace, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; taken prisoner at Poplar Grove Church Sept. 30, 1864; exchanged in 1865 ; must. out June 9, 1865.
Joseph P. White, Co. I, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; killed at Antie- tam Sept. 17, 1862.
NINE MONTHS' MEN, FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
Alvin Fuller, sergt., Co. D; enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
E. Phineas Guild, corp., Co. D; enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Elbridge P. Boyden, corp., Co. D; enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Frank D. Hayward, musician, Co. D; enl. Sept. 12, 1862; re- enl. U. S. Signal Corps March, 1864; must. out Aug. 17, 1865.
Willard Babbitt, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Jarvis G. Fairbanks, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Edwin E. Fisher, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
William H. Gay, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Clarence M. Guild, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862 ; must. out July 30, 1863.
Charles J. Guild, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Charles E. Hartshorn, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; disch. April 25, 1863, for sickness.
Francis P. Ide, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
A. Mason Morse, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Charles HI. Morse, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Joseph E. Morse, Co. D, eni. Sept. 12, 1862 ; must. out July 30, 1863.
George E. Pond, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862 ; must. out July 30, 1863.
Edwin Pratt, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862 ; must. out July 30, 1863. William H. Randall, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
George A. Rhoads, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
George L. Rhoads, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30. 1863.
Joseph II. Richardson, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Bennett O. Richards, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Charles H. Shackley, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
James F. Shepleigh, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Alfred M. Shepleigh, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862 ; must. out July 30. 1863.
Henry A. Shaw, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862 ; must. out July 30, 1863.
George H. Smith, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
William R. Tibbetts, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Albert G. Webb, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
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NORWOOD.
James M. Wood, Co. D, enl. Sept. 12, 1862; must. out July 30, 1863.
Ithamar W. Copeland, Co. K, 44th Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1862; disch. Jan. 14, 1863, for sickness.
James T. Holmes, Co. C, 61st Regt. (one year) ; enl. Sept. 17, 1864; must. out June 4, 1865.
Henry M. Fales, 16th Battery, Light Artillery (three years) ; enl. March 11, 1864 ; must. out June 27, 1865.
Lewis P. Baker, Sherman's U. S. Battery.
Henry Smith, Co. B, 1st Cav. ; enl. September, 1861; disch. Dec. 25, 1862, for disability.
Samuel Patterson (Stoughton), Co. I, enl. Sept. 14, 1891 ; trans. to 4th Cav.
John E. Richardson, Co. B, enl. Feb. 21, 1863; died in rebel prison Aug. 17, 1864.
Charles E. Barrows, enl. August, 1863; served five years in U. S. Navy.
Willard S. Rhoads (son of Deacon Lewis S. Rhoads), enl. in Co. B, 1st Mich. Cav. ; pro. com .- sergt. 2d Cav. Brigade ; killed near Centreville, Va., by guerrillas, Nov. 3, 1863.
To Mr. William J. Wallace I am indebted for fore- going names of soldiers who went from this parish.
The town of Norwood contains some six thousand two hundred and thirty acres of land fit for cultiva- tion, with a population of about twenty-five hundred; distant from Boston fourteen and a quarter miles, with easy communication by the New York and New England Railroad. It has four churches already defined, one hotel, three dry-goods stores, six grocery stores, apothecary-shop, three markets, a bakery, and everything to make it a desirable place for residence.
The first meeting of the citizens of the South Parish, in Dedham, interested in the formation of a town was held in Village Hall, Dec. 22, 1871, at which measures were adopted to secure that end ; and a committee was chosen to appear before the Legisla- tive Committee on Towns, and support the petition of George B. Talbot, and two hundred and fifty-one other legal voters within the limits of the old parish lines, which were adopted with but little variation, for the boundaries of the new town of Norwood, except the reception of a small territory, and a few persons from Walpole, whose business and family interests connect them with us. Feb. 23, 1872, the act was approved, and March 6th, the citizens celebrated the birth of their town. His Excellency, Governor Washburn, graced the occasion, and remarked that he thought it unnecessary to call upon any one outside of their number to give them advice. On looking around the room he saw among the mot- toes, " Economy, Responsibility," and he thought by the report of the Committee that that motto was very appropriate.1 He said " each one partook of the repu-
tation of his town, and the character of a town par- took of the character of its individuals. It becomes of the greatest importance that whatever we possess, whether of wealth or education, should all be conse- crated to work for the community's good." Senator Thomas L. Wakefield, of Dedham, " spoke of the rela- tions of the old town of Dedham to the new town of Norwood." He said, " since the year 1635 they had lived together in harmoney, and now they parted without a disagreement. There had been no objection on the part of Dedham, not because they wished for the separation, but because they thought it due to the new community."
The Board of Selectmen of Dedham were repre- sented by A. B. Endicott and Benjamin Weatherbee, Esqs. The warrant for the first meeting of the town was drawn by Willard Gay, Esq., and made re- turnable March 11th. Mr. Gay presided till the clerk was chosen and qualified. Deacon George Lovis was chosen moderator, and the following board of town officers were elected : Samuel. E. Pond, J. Edward Everett, Willard Gay, Esq., selectmen ; Ty- ler Thayer, Caleb Ellis, George H. Morse, assessors ; Francis Tinker, clerk ; L. Waldo Bigelow, treasurer ; Hon. J. C. Park, Francis O. Winslow, Rev. E. A. Wyman, school committee; Capt. C. W. Strout, James Engles, constables,-and Norwood's legal life commenced ; and their first act, after expressing their grateful acknowledgment to the committee who had served them faithfully (Hon. John C. Park, J. Warren Talbot, and Caleb Ellis), was the following : " Resolved, That the citizens of Norwood, in town- meeting assembled, recognize with grateful pleasure the readiness and courtesy with which the citizens of Dedham and Walpole have assisted us in the inaugu- ration of our new Town; and that the clerk be in- structed to present a copy of this resolution to the selectmen of Dedham and Walpole." In 1769 the town of Dedham appropriated to the South Parish, as their proportion of the school money for that year, the sum of eighteen pounds and ten shillings (or fifty-five dollars and sixty-seven cents), which was di- vided by the parish assessors between the five schools, according to the number of scholars in each. The first appropriation of money made by the town of Norwood was six thousand dollars for the support of her schools ; and, during the twelve years of her ex- istence as a town, she has taxed herself for the benefit of her children and youth the sum of sev- enty-eight thousand six hundred and fifty dollars, besides erecting two new school-houses, which, with the alterations and improvements in and around the ! others, and supporting a public library of some three
1 The petitioners did not employ counsel ; the expense was simply for such legal advertisements as were required by the statute.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
thousand volumes, swells the sum to one hundred thousand dollars. Her poor have been well cared for, and comfortable tenements provided, and so clothed that none would suppose they were the wards of the town. Thirty-two thousand two hundred dollars have handsomely smoothed her streets, and seventeen thousand more have opened ways for new and happy homes. Highland Cemetery, contain- ing some seventeen acres, has been consecrated as the last resting-place for her departed ones. One hundred and fifty-five new dwellings have been erected, and three hundred and seventy-two thousand dollars added to the value of her estate. Six hundred and twelve have joined her population by birth, two hun- dred couples united in marriage, while the icy hand of death has robbed us of some four hundred, many of whom welcomed with us the birth of our town, and with whom we took sweet counsel in all the way of life, and whose names will be long cherished and re- membered.
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