History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 140

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

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664

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

succeeded Messrs. Mann, Swift & Co., continuing | son again resumed it. But he did not occupy it long, the business for a few years. A straw-manufactory | and eventually removed to Providence, R. I. It is was for a short time in operation in that part of Wren- tham which is now Norfolk, under the management of Mr. Allen and afterwards of Mr. Perry. not known that any other person engaged in the busi- ness at Plainville, either while Messrs. Shepardson and Richards were there, or subsequently, until Jo- seph T. Bacon, Esq., purchased the property and de- molished the old mill and built the large shop now (with important additions) occupied by Lincoln, Bacon & Co. The firm of Bacon, Hodges & Mason followed next after Messrs. Shepardson and Richards, in 1844. They continued together in the business

The value of the goods denominated straw goods now made (1884) in this town is estimated at $250,- 000 for the year. From the census report of 1880 we learn that the number of establishments in the straw business in Massachusetts was 33, having a capital of $2,361,960. The average number of hands em- ployed was, of males above sixteen years, 2531; of | for three or four years, when Mason retired. Then females above fifteen years, 5185; children and youth, 93. The total amount paid in wages in the year was $1,968,232 ; value of materials, $4,117,162; value of products, $6,898,628.

Messrs. Bacon & Hodges were the partners until 1850. At that date Mr. Hodges left, and Josiah Draper and John Tifft united with Joseph T. Bacon in the firm-name of Draper, Tifft & Bacon, and con- Jewelry .- Another industry having small begin- nings in this town has grown to be the controlling business. This is the manufacture of those kinds of goods that come under the general name of jewelry. Beginning early in the century in the neighboring town of Attleborough, it was certainly to be expected that it would spread into adjoining territory. In that part of Wrentham now known as Plainville, but at the early date above mentioned called Slackville, in honor of people named Slack who lived there, an old stone mill is remembered which was sometimes called Slack's mill. It was a small mill, but to the passer on the highway it was a conspicuous object, because it was almost the only object, save here and there a dwelling-house, to be seen between the wharf, ducted the business under this style until Mr. Tifft died, in 1851, when another change took place, and Frank S. Draper, son of Josiah, and Frank L. Tifft, son of John, and Joseph T. Bacon and James D. Lincoln formed a copartnership under the style of Draper, Tifft & Co., which continued until July, 1860, when Frank S. Draper retired, and the firm took the name of Lincoln, Tifft & Bacon. In 1863 or 1864 the manufacturing business at Plainville was carried on in the name of J. T. Bacon & Co., and the whole- sale business in New York in the name of Lincoln, Tifft & Co., the same gentlemen constituting both firms. In July, 1882, Messrs. Harland G. Bacon, son of the senior member, and Daniel O. Schofield, of New York City, became copartners, the style of so called, in Wrentham and the old Hatch Tavern in | the firm being Lincoln, Bacon & Co., both in New Attleborough. This mill, it is said, had a checkered York and in Wrentham. history, and its owners a fluctuating if not a money- Another large factory building was erected some years since by Mr. J. T. Bacon and his partners, which is occupied by the Plainville Stock Company and by Messrs. Wade, Davis & Co., and others. A large number of hands are employed by the companies engaged in the manufacture of jewelry and goods in that line,-the ten or fifteen hands of Mr. Shepardson in 1843 having increased to hundreds, and in place of his eight or ten thousand dollars' worth of goods, the amount now manufactured in that village alone, by the opinion of a competent judge, cannot be less than five hundred thousand dollars' worth annually. making business. It seems that, whatever in its ear- lier days may have been the business to which it was devoted, it was used for a grain-mill by the Slacks prior to its being occupied by George W. Shepardson, who seems to have been the first to introduce the manufacture of jewelry into Wrentham. He was at work there prior to the year 1843. His line of goods was chiefly buttons for vests and pantaloons, although we have placed him for convenience in the list of jewelers. He is said to have employed some fifteen to twenty hands, making some eight or ten thousand dollars' worth of goods per annum. He was there In 1880 the number of establishments in Massa- chusetts was one hundred and five; the amount of capital, $1,936,800 ; number of males employed above sixteen years, 2485 ; number of females above fifteen years, 743; children and youth, 37; total amount paid in wages during the year, $1,464,993 ; materials, $1,681,034 ; products, $4,265,525. about two years. He was succeeded by H. M. Rich- ards, Esq., of Attleborough, in March, 1843, who engaged in the business of making fine gilt jewelry, amounting to about twenty thousand dollars per year, as nearly as can now be ascertained. He employed from twenty-five to thirty hands. Mr. Richards oc- cupied the mill for about a year, when Mr. Shepard- Instead of a few scattering buildings that might

665

WRENTHAM.

have been seen some years ago at Plainville, there are now at least two hundred, some ten having been erected in the last year (1883).

A fine, large school-house has recently been built and finished, so as to serve not only for the schools in that village, but with a hall convenient for public meetings and other purposes. The Grand Army of the Republic have also a commodious building for the purposes of their organization.

The spacious workshops can employ five hundred hands. The number actually employed varies as the business varies, " ranging probably from three hun- dred and seventy-five (375) in dull times to five hun- dred when business is good." Very marked progress has been made in this village in recent years, and the indications point to future prosperity.

It may be remarked here that before 1860 the manufacture of jewelry was commenced by Messrs. J. H. Sturdy & Co. at Sheldonville, and afterwards by the same firm at Wrentham village, where it was con- tinued some few years, employing a large number of hands and doing a large business.

Quite recently the firm of Cowell & Hall have es- tablished the business again in this village.

About sixty years ago Col. Rhodes Sheldon came from Cumberland, R. I., to the westerly part of Wrentham and commenced the business of building boats and transporting them to Boston for sale. This business he carried on for many years, and was suc- ceeded in it by his sons George and Orrin, the last named of whom still carries it on at the old place. In Col. Sheldon's time the usual amount done may have been about four thousand or five thousand dollars' worth per year. In the year 1845, or about that time, it went up to ten thousand dollars, and last year (1883) it was about seven thousand dollars. This in- dustry has been steadily continued until the present time. Under the administration of the elder Sheldon quite an impulse was given to that part of the town, manifested in an increased number of dwellings, in the erection of one church edifice, and in various other ways. Other parties have at different times en- gaged to some extent in boat-building, but they have long since abandoned it.

The business of manufacturing boots was carried on here at various times, a considerable amount being done in that line, giving employment to a good num- ber of men. The firms of Pond, Cook & Co. and Aldrich, Cook & Proctor were conspicuous in this line of business. It has now ceased altogether for some years, not being able to make headway against the sharp competition which other towns put forth.

While the jewelry business and the straw business

are larger than all others here, yet we must not for- get the manufacturers of fine wool shoddies, extracts, and yarns, and other manufacturers who are doing something each in his own line to employ himself and give employment to others. In the first-named busi- ness, it being estimated by one conversant with the subject that the amount of its annual products is about sixty thousand dollars, it would not be, perhaps, unsafe to say that the others make the amount up to one hundred thousand dollars.

The manufacture of cotton and woolen fabrics, of straw goods, of jewelry, and of other things by water- power or by steam-power began long after the occur- rence of the facts narrated in the early portion of this history. The usual mechanical arts have, of course, been prosecuted always, and in former days a con- siderable amount of business was done in the line of carriage building.

In an old house not now inhabited, but yet stand- ing near the station of the New York and New Eng- land Railroad Company at West Wrentham, known formerly as the Heaton place, Nathaniel Heaton many years ago set up a printing-press. Occasionally an old book has been seen purporting to have been printed there by him. His brother Benjamin, who graduated at Brown University in 1790, published a spelling-book and a preceptor which are supposed to have been printed by Nathaniel. Silas Metcalf, Esq., one of our oldest citizens, who has always lived in the westerly part of the town, well remem- bers the fact that printing was done in the Heaton house, and that he used to go there when a boy for books. Nathaniel removed (at what date is not now known) to Smithfield, R. I., and thus terminated the printing business in Wrentham.

Prior to 1815 all mail-matter for Wrentham Centre and also for Franklin was brought from the Druce tavern, so called, upon the turnpike,-Norfolk and Bristol. About that year a post-office was estab- lished in the village of Wrentham, and David Fisher, Esq., the landlord of the " Roebuck" tavern, was ap- pointed postmaster.

It has not been ascertained that there was any mail-carrier employed by the government to supply Wrentham and Franklin from this solitary post-office on the turnpike. People went to that distant tavern for their mail- matter. Capt. Charles W. Farring- ton, now one of our oldest citizens, was often sent there when a boy for letters and newspapers, as he informed the writer. And he further says that the good people who came this way from the neighbor- hood of the office would bring along such letters and newspapers as belonged here, and on Sundays Maj.

666

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Druce, the postmaster, would do likewise when he came over to attend meeting.

War of 1812 .- The part which Wrentham took in the so-called French and Indian war has been related, and also more at length the patriotism the people displayed and the hardships they bore during the long conflict of the colonies with the mother- country. In the later war of 1812 we fail to find that many of the inhabitants engaged. It is known that some went to the forts in the harbor and to other places perhaps considered most exposed. These were probably drafted or ordered out for short terms of service. As all the muster-rolls of the officers and men who served in the second war with Great Britain are at Washington, it cannot be shown what service was performed unless with great labor and expense.

But one eminent man we know went from this town as a surgeon and served throughout the war as such,-Dr. James Mann.1 He was born in Wren- tham, and was the son of David Mann, who was a son of Pelatiah, who was a son of the Rev. Samuel Mann. He was born in 1758, graduated at Harvard Uni- versity in 1776, and received the degree of M.D. at his Alma Mater, and also at Brown University and at Yale College. He was a practicing physician in his native town at the breaking out of the war. He enlisted as a surgeon in the army of the United States, and, it is understood, was on the Niagara frontier in 1814, and in the performance of his duty as a surgeon at the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, and continued in the service for many years after the end of the war. He died in 1832.

The Civil War .- In regard to this conflict we are not left so much in the dark. Evidence of its having existed and traces of its effects encounter us on every side. Moreover, no contest on this side of the At- lantic ever was honored with so many histories, or ever had such full and careful records. Indeed, it is a matter of some difficulty to know what to select out of the great mass for a history like this. It would be impossible for the writer to describe the spirit which was aroused by the first attack of the seceders upon a national fort. The story has often been told.

1 In Drake's "Dictionary of American Biography" it is stated that Dr. Mann was three years a surgeon in the Revo- Jutionary army, and in 1812 was hospital surgeon of the United States army and head of the medical staff on the Northern frontier. In 1818 he was post surgeon ; in 1821, assistant sur- geon. He obtained the Boylston prize medal for the year 1806 for a dissertation on dysentery, and subsequently received another prize for a medical dissertation. He also, in 1816, pub- lished " Medical Sketches of the Campaigns of 1812, 1813, and 1814, with Observations on Military Hospitals and Flying Hos- pitals Attached to a Moving Army."

What was true of other towns in Massachusetts was undoubtedly true of Wrentham. It is not the place here to give a history of the several regiments and companies in which our townsmen served; that has been done elsewhere. But it falls within the plan of this sketch to relate the action of the town regarding the war of 1861. Sumter was fired upon on the 13th of April, 1861. Soon afterwards, viz., on May 6, 1861, a town-meeting was held at the old vestry of the centre meeting-house (so called), which was very fully attended. At this meeting, after warm and patriotic utterances, a preamble and resolutions were passed. The first resolution was as follows, viz. :

" Resolved, By the legal voters of the town of Wrentham, in town-meeting assembled, that the sum of ten thousand dollars be and the same hereby is granted for the support, encourage- ment, and relief of those of our fellow-townsmen who have gone and of those who may hereafter go into the service of the United States as soldiers, and of their families.

"Second. That the money thus appropriated be expended by the selectmen, to be assisted by a committee of three, if neces- sary, of whom the treasurer shall be one.

" Third. That each volunteer shall receive from the town while in active service an amount sufficient, with the govern- ment pay, to make his monthly pay twenty-five dollars; and the further sum of one dollar a week be paid to the wife and for each child under fifteen years of age, and one dollar a day for each day spent in drilling previous to being mustered into the United States service.

"Fourth. To provide suitable uniforms, and all necessary equipments and clothing not provided by the government, to each citizen of Wrentham who shall enlist in the military service.

"Fifth. That the treasurer be authorized to borrow on the credit of the town such sums of money as shall be ordered by the selectmen, not exceeding ten thousand dollars."

After this meeting the citizens held a number of impromptu meetings in different parts of the town, which were enlivened by music and patriotic songs, and by occasional speeches. Volunteers began to come forward, and soon a company was under drill upon the common. This company was joined with others, and organized as the Eighteenth Massachu- setts Regiment of Volunteers, and soon were away in the vicinity of Washington. Some Wrentham men had previously enlisted in the three months' regiments. In March, 1862, the military committee made a re- port. And in July, 1862, the town voted that the selectmen be authorized to pay a bounty of one hun- dred dollars to each volunteer who should enlist for three years, and be credited to the quota of the town ; also that the treasurer be authorized to borrow money to pay said bounties ; and the clergymen, selectmen, and all good citizens are earnestly solicited to encour- age and stimulate, by public meetings and otherwise, the prompt enlistment of the requisite number of

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WRENTHAM.

volunteers from the town, that our fellow-citizens already in the service may be cheered and sustained by accession of numbers and strength, the Rebellion crushed, and peace and prosperity soon smile upon our common country. Aug. 28, 1862, the selectmen having paid the sum of one hundred dollars to each volunteer in addition to the bounty voted by the town in July, the town at this meeting ratified that pro- ceeding, and voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist for nine months, and be credited to the quota of the town on or before the second day of September next. The treasurer was authorized to borrow money. On De- cember 8th the vote restricting the time for enlist- ment was reconsidered, and the doings of the selectmen and treasurer were approved.

In 1863 there were no votes passed by the people in town-meeting in relation to the war.

At the March meeting in 1864 the town voted that payment of State aid should be continued. In April it was voted to raise by direct taxation eight thousand dollars for recruiting purposes, and to refund to citizens money which they had contributed for the encouragement of recruiting.

In August the bounty to each volunteer for three years' service who should thereafter enlist and be credited to the quota of the town was one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay the same.

it was also voted to pay the recruiting officers of the town two dollars a day and ten cents a mile for travel while they have been, or shall be, engaged in pro- curing volunteers for the town.

August 14th the town voted to reimburse to. the citizens " such sums as they have paid for the purpose of filling the quotas of the town during the past year."

Wrentham furnished three hundred and thirty-six1 men for this war, which " was a surplus," as appears by a report of the adjutant-general, "of seventeen over and above all demands." Ten were commis- sioned officers. The whole amount of money, exclu- sive of State aid, expended by the town on account of the war was $31,531.23.

In 1870 Wrentham again lost a part of its territory and a large number of its inhabitants. A new town was incorporated by the name of Norfolk, taking from Wrentham seven thousand one hundred acres, eight hundred and fifty people, and one hundred and forty

voters, and property valued at three hundred and fifty- seven thousand four hundred and seventy-five dollars. This was done with the assent of the old town.

By a colonial census made in 1776 the population of Wrentham was 2879. In 1790, after the setting off of Franklin and also of a part of the town of Foxborough, the population was 1767.

By the census of 1800 it was

2061

1820

2801

1830

2698

1840 66

2915

66 1850

3037

"State census of 1855

3242

1860

3406

66 1865

3072

1870

2992

66 1875

2395

1880

2481

In 1790 the number of houses was two hundred and forty-three ; the number of families was two hun- dred and seventy-eight ; the number of free white 1 males sixteen years of age and upwards was four hun- dred and seventy-one; the number of free white females, nine hundred and seven ; number of free white males under sixteen years, three hundred and eighty- seven ; the number of all other persons was two.

In 1800 Wrentham was the third town in the county in population, being exceeded by Roxbury and Dorchester only ; and in 1810 and in 1820 it held the same relative rank.

In 1832 a bank was incorporated with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and in 1836 this was Philo Sanford, Robert Blake, John Tifft, Calvin Fisher, Jr., Daniel A. Cook, and Otis Cary have been its presidents. Calvin Fisher, Jr., and Francis N. Plimpton have been its only cashiers.

The fourth meeting-house erected near the spot occupied by its predecessors was dedicated in Septem- ber, 1834. The old church building at West Wren- tham gave way some time afterwards to a convenient house for religious purposes erected by the Baptist denomination at Sheldonville. A house for religious services was built by the Universalist society upon the site of the old Baptist meeting-house at West Wrentham. There is a chapel for the use of the Congregational society connected with the main building. This commodious and useful building was the gift of Braman Hawes, Esq., a native of Wren- tham, and is denominated " The Hawes Chapel." The Roman Catholics have also a chapel for their religious uses, and there is also a chapel at Plainville under the charge, it is understood, of Independents. The Epis- copalians a few years since established a church and erected a fine church building here.

Some years since the town erected a large and con-

1 This appears to be erroneous. The list of names appended foots up two hundred and thirty-six that were in Massachusetts regiments.

1810

2478

In January, 1865, the same bounty was voted, and | increased to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

venient building in Wrentham Village, for the accom- modation of the high school and a grammar and a primary school. It was also provided with a spacious and convenient hall for the transaction of its public business ; and the town bade adieu to the vestry of the meeting-house in which, and in its predecessors, it had held its town-meetings for more than one hun- dred and fifty years. School-houses have also been built at Sheldonville, Plainville, and at West Wren- tham within recent periods, and the accommodations are ample thoughout the town for the children and youth who go to them for instruction. The first school-house of the fathers, which was to be " sixteen foot," with allowance for a chimney, and was also to be for a " watch house," would be regarded as a myth did not the sober record fully attest it.

Twice since the incorporation of the town the events above related have been commemorated,-once in 1773 by the century sermon, so called, of the Rev. Mr. Bean, and again in 1873 by the historical ad- dress of the late Judge Wilkinson. The sermon was delivered Oct. 26, 1773, and " printed at the earnest request of the hearers for the preservation of ancient things to future posterity."

This was not on the Sabbath day, and, it may be presumed, was honored by a large attendance.

In the second case, notwithstanding the day was very stormy, a large audience gathered in the meet- ing-house which succeeded that one in which Mr. Bean preached his commemorative discourse one hun- dred years before. The interesting event had in- duced a good number of people from other towns and places to brave the violence of the storm. One of these, Professor George P. Fisher, of Yale College, a native of Wrentham, participated in the exercises. The address was delivered from short notes and was not published.

Conclusion .- In concluding the " Annals of Wren- tham," the writer would say he has followed the course adopted by him in the preparation of some historical sketches, published in a newspaper in 1873, namely, he has let the records, from which the early history is mainly derived, tell their own story, with only such change of form as to make them narrative, and such comments as seemed needed for explanation. Judge Wilkinson, in his address, pursued a similar course, taking his facts chiefly from the same sources, so far as he proceeded, but covering much less ground than the present narrative embraces. His manuscript (which I have kindly been permitted to inspect) is unfinished, consisting of notes and memoranda which he probably intended at some time to put into form. The Rev. Dr. Blake, in his historical address at Franklin, June 12, 1878, also has given from the same sources so much of the ancient history of Wrentham as was needed to introduce the history of Franklin, whose centennial was celebrated on that day

Let it be hoped that this attempt " to preserve (in the language of Mr. Bean) these ancient things" may not be altogether unsuccessful.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. JOSIAH JONES FISKE.

Josiah J. Fiske was born in Sturbridge, Mass., Nov. 28, 1785. His ancestors were among the ear- liest settlers of Watertown, and came from Weybread, County of Suffolk, England, in 1642. As early as the eighth year of the reign of King John (A.D. 1208) we find the name of Daniel Fisc, of Laxfield, appended to a royal grant which confirmed a deed of land in Digniveton Park, made to the men of Laxfield by the Duke of Lorraine. This grant is in the public record office in London. Simon Fiske held land in Laxfield early in the fifteenth century, and was eral churches monumental tablets and brasses bear- ing the arms of the family, which seems to have been prominent in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. Col. F. S. Fiske, of Boston, has in his possession an interesting copy of the " Confirmation of Arms and Grant of Crest from College of Arms, London," issued to the Fiske family in 1635. Nathan Fiske was the first American ancestor, and from him the I line of descent to the subject of our sketch is as fol- lows : Nathan2 (born Jan. 23, 1671), Henry3 (born

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 140

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534