History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 141

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

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 141

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The fiftieth anniversary of the ordination of the Rev. Elisha Fisk was celebrated on the 12th day of June, 1849. In the sermon preached by Mr. Fisk on that occasion he reviewed the events of his minis- try of fifty years, incidentally speaking of events in the history of the town. The sermon was published, | lord of the manor of Stodhaugh. There are in sev- together with an appendix prepared by Mr. Fisk's colleague, the Rev. Horace James, giving an account of the celebration. One passage is quoted : " The day of jubilee arrived. The weather was delightful. The church was filled to its utmost capacity. A multitude of the sons of Wrentham, and many connected with them by marriage or other agreeable associations, were gathered in their childhood's home to do honor to him who from their earliest recollection had ministered at the altar of God."

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WRENTHAM.

Jan. 24, 1707), David4 (born Dec. 17, 1759), Josiah | F. A. M., of Massachusetts, and for several years J.,5 the son of David and Eleanor (Jones) Fiske.

Hon. Josiah J. Fiske was graduated at Brown University, where he was a classmate and friend | of William L. Marcy, sometime Governor of New York. After leaving college, in 1808, he was for a short time preceptor of an academy in Maine; but he soon determined upon the law as a profession, and studied first in the office of the late Nathaniel Searle, LL.D., of Providence, and afterwards with Timothy Bigelow, Esq., of Boston.

Mr. Fiske developed marked ability as a lawyer, and soon found himself in the enjoyment of an ex- tensive practice. His office at Wrentham became a favorite resort for students ; perhaps few lawyers, un- connected with the law schools, have superintended the legal instruction of a greater number of young men. To strong powers of logic and analysis, Mr. Fiske added both quickness of perception and readi- ness in expression ; he had an energy of character, a perseverance in carrying out his plans, which no ob- stacles could discourage ; and if he had continued to doubt that he would have ranked among the most eminent in that profession. But he lived in the time when the great manufacturing interests of New Eng- land were just being founded. Early foreseeing their importance, he was tempted to devote to them much of his own energy, and during the latter years of his life his attention was given to manufactures almost exclusively. His own enterprises were located in his native town, Sturbridge, and the now flourishing vil- | lage of Fiskdale commemorates his name. He laid the foundation of the Sturbridge cotton manufactures ; his first mill was built in that town as early as 1827, and in 1834 he built another larger mill, containing ten thousand spindles and two hundred looms.

Mr. Fiske was of the stamp of man that leaves its impress on the day and generation. He was active, intelligent, strong ; strong in character and influence, strong in mind and judgment, with that enterprise | and public spirit which seeks not selfish ends alone, but labors for the good of all. He found his work to ; do in the world, and, doing it well, found also work for others. In public affairs he was prominent ; pos- sessing the well-won confidence of his fellow-towns- men, he was often chosen to positions of honor and trust. State senator from 1823 to 1826, inclusive, he was in 1831 a member of the Governor's Council. He was appointed upon the first Board of Railroad Commissioners created by the State, and, of many minor positions, was aide-de-camp to Maj .- Gen. Crane from 1823 to 1827, a member of the Grand Lodge

District Deputy Grand Master.

Like most active men, Mr. Fiske was in advance of the general thought and sentiment of his time. Subsequent developments have proved the wisdom of many of his views for the improvement of the towns of Wrentham and Sturbridge which may then have been deemed unwise or impracticable. In his manners he was always kindly and genial, and this virtue was above all conspicuous in his home life. His wife, Jerusha, was the daughter of Dr. Jenckes Norton, of Wrentham, and Jerusha Ware. He died Aug. 15, 1838, at Sturbridge, the place of his birth.

Two of Mr. Fiske's brothers were also graduates of Brown: David Woodward, who practiced law in Wrentham several years, but finally settled in Detroit, where he died in 1871, and Calvin Park, a physician, who spent nearly all his life in Sturbridge, and died in Chicago in 1874. Of the ten children of Mr. Fiske, Josiah J. and George Jenckes were well known as members of the Boston firm of James M. Beebe & Co., contributing largely, by their skill and energy in devote himself exclusively to the law, there can be little : the management of the business, to the great success of that firm. Josiah died unmarried in 1850. George died at Nice, in France, in 1868, leaving a widow, Frances Lathrop, the daughter of James M. Beebe, a son, George Stanley, born in Paris in 1867, and a daughter, Esther Lathrop, born at Nice in 1868.

JOSEPH NORTON, the eldest son, and Elizabeth Stanley are the only surviving children of Josiah J. Fiske. Joseph Norton Fiske was born in Wrentham, March 4, 1814, and received his early education at Day's Academy. He had at first intended to take a collegiate course, but developed a strong inclination for mercantile pursuits, and in 1833 entered the count- ing-room of Shaw, Patterson & Co. as clerk, where he remained five years, and then became the confi- dential clerk of George B. Blake & Co. In 1841 he engaged in business for himself, but from 1844 to 1846 was obliged by ill health to remain inactive.

Mr. Fiske then became a member of the Boston Brokers' Board, and opened a banking-house on State Street. Though he began with a small capital, his business rapidly increased and became very lucrative. Continuing in it for twenty-four years without inter- mission, Mr. Fiske retired in 1870, and passed three years traveling in Europe with his wife. Since then his time has been occupied in the care of his own es- tate and various trusts. He married, in 1849, Char- lotte Matilda Morse, daughter of Dr. Elijah Morse, of Mount Vernon, Me., and grand-daughter of Dr. Jacob Corey, of Sturbridge.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

J. T. BACON.

Joseph T. Bacon was born May 21, 1818. He is the son of George and Avis B. (Fales) Bacon, and grandson of Ebenezer Bacon, one of the prominent men of his day in the town of Attleborough. He served as senator from his district, and being public- spirited and possessed of sterling qualities, was looked upon as a leader in opinion and enterprise by his fellow-townsmen. Edward Bacon, the father of Ebenezer, was one of the early settlers of Attle- borough.

Joseph T. Bacon, being the son of a farmer in moderate circumstances, had no special advantages afforded him for obtaining an education further than the public schools of his town offered.

At thirteen years of age he was placed to learn a trade with Robinson & Co., button manufacturers, and remained with this firm until he was eighteen, when, in copartnership with his brother Ebenezer, he en- gaged in the manufacture of jewelry at Robinson- ville, making a specialty of rings. Some two or three years later Edward Richards was associated with the firm. In 1838 or 1839, Mr. J. T. Bacon withdrew from the firm of Richards & Bacon, and moved to West Attleborough, where he formed a co- partnership with Lewis Holmes for the manfacture of jewelry, and the firm continued, under the firm-name of Bacon & Holmes, until about 1841, when Mr. Holmes withdrew, and Messrs. Hodges and Mason associated themselves with Mr. Bacon, and continued to do business at West Attleborough until 1844, when the firm moved to Plainville. Their first factory at Plainville was a small affair, truly, compared with their present large establishment, but they were suc- cessful, and gradually, but surely, built up a trade and retained it. About 1847, Mr. Mason withdrew, and later on Mr. Hodges also. In 1850, Mr. Bacon met with serious loss by fire ; his factory was burned, and he had no insurance. About 1850, Mr. Bacon formed a copartnership with Messrs. Draper and Tifft. The factory was rebuilt and the business resumed under the firm-name of Draper, Tifft & Bacon. John Tifft died in 1851, and Francis L. Tifft, his son, took his place as soon as he became of age. Josiah Draper retired, and his interest was continued by his son, Frank S. Draper. Mr. J. D. Lincoln was also ad- | mitted as a partner, and business was conducted under the firm-name of Draper, Tifft & Co. Later on Mr. Draper retired, and the firm became Lincoln, Tifft & Bacon. The business is conducted under the firm-name of Lincoln, Bacon & Co. Messrs. Bacon and Lincoln have in a measure withdrawn from the active superintendence of the business, leaving

the prosecution of the business chiefly in the hands of the younger partners. They now do a business of about two hundred thousand dollars per annum, em- ploying about one hundred and twenty-five hands. They make stock plate goods, chiefly ladies' ware.

Mr. Bacon is a liberal Republican in politics, but will not accept office of any kind. He shrinks in- stinctively from everything savoring of notoriety. He married Emeline M., daughter of Harland Hodges, of Maine. To them were born three children,- Harland G. (who is in business with his father), Charles B. (who was a brilliant, promising young man, but died in his seventeenth year), and a daugh- ter, Maria (who died at the age of five years).

JAMES DANIELSON LINCOLN.

James Danielson Lincoln was born in Brimfield, Hamden Co., Mass., March 30, 1823. His father, Dr. Asa Lincoln, was a native of Taunton, and his mother, Sarah (Danielson) Lincoln, was a native of Brimfield. When James D. was seven years of age his mother died, leaving a family of ten children. After her death he went to live with Fisher Thayer, an uncle by marriage, residing at what was then called " River End," in the eastern part of Franklin. Here his boyhood was spent, doing chores about the house and attending school from twelve to fourteen weeks each year. When he was seventeen years of age the family removed to Wrentham. His uncle was a manufacturer of thread, and young Lincoln had charge of preparing it for market. He attended Day's Academy two terms, not neglecting, however, his duties, in the shop. In 1850 he left Wrentham and obtained a position in New York, in the boot- and shoe-store of Howard Mann, where he remained about a year. Upon leaving Mr. Mann he was urged by Mr. John Tifft, of Draper, Tifft & Bacon, to con- nect himself with that firm as salesman, offering him either a small salary or one-quarter interest in the business.

Not wishing to connect himself with the proprie- torship of a business of which he knew nothing, he chose the salary, with the stipulation that he should have an interest in the business at any time he might desire. He went with this firm in March, 1851, and the following June Mr. Tifft, who had charge of the business in New York, died, leaving the entire busi- ness of selling the goods to Lincoln. When Francis L., son of John Tifft, became of age, a change took place in the firm. He and Frank S. Draper, son of Josiah Draper, took their fathers' interest in the busi-

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WRENTHAM.

ness, Mr. Lincoln was admitted as a partner, and the firm took its old name of Draper, Tifft & Co., Mr. J. T. Bacon and Mr. J. D. Lincoln being the " Co." From that time to the present, through the various changes of the firm,-Lincoln, Tifft & Bacon, Lincoln, Tift & Co., and now as Lincoln, Bacon & Co.,-he has continued to be a partner.

Messrs. Lincoln and Bacon now leave most of the active business to the younger members of the firm.

In 1880 he married Eliza Taylor Melcher, of La- conia, N. H. He has a pleasant home in Plainville, where they now reside. Mr. Lincoln, as a business man, has been successful and honorable, and in his intercourse is affable, courteous, and gentlemanly, im- pressing all with whom he comes in contact with the kindliness of his nature and the honesty of his motives.

WILLIAM SHERBURNE.

William Sherburne was born March 30, 1802, in Cumberland, R. I. He is the son of William and Sarah (Lovett) Sherburne, and grandson of Benja- min Sherburne. This Benjamin had a large family of children. William, his son, was born Dec. 25, 1760, and died Sept. 15, 1846, in his eighty-sixth year. His wife (Sarah Lovett) lived to be aged ninety-one years. Their children were Lucy, de- ceased (Mrs. Darius Cook) ; Amey, deceased (died unmarried) ; Henry, deceased ; Nancy, deceased (Mrs. Silas Metcalf); Sally, deceased (Mrs. George Gil- mon) ; Eleanor, deceased; William; George, de- ceased ; Eliza, deceased (Mrs. Bradbury C. Hill) ; Cornelia, deceased (Mrs. L. Tourtellott) ; and James.

his father having removed here when William was a mere lad. In his younger days he did military duty nine years as a member of the Franklin Artillery Company. Mrs. Sherburne died July 16, 1876. Mr. Sherburne is a Republican in politics, and a highly esteemed citizen.

RHODES SHELDON.

Rhodes Sheldon, the son of Roger and Huldah (Streeter) Sheldon, was born in Cumberland, R. I., July 21, 1786.

His ancestors came originally from England, where the family is an ancient and honorable one, and were among the early settlers of Rhode Island. Roger was by occupation a farmer and shoemaker ; during the war of the Revolution he made shoes for the colonial soldiers. He was a strong advocate of liberty, and from the signing of the Declaration of Independ- ence to the day of his death he advocated the aboli- tion of slavery.

He had quite a large family of children, and of course could give them only the ordinary common school advantages. Rhodes was brought up on the farm, but upon arriving at manhood he began boat- building,-small craft, such as ships, boats, etc. About 1823 he moved to West Wrentham, and established [ himself in this business, which he continued to the time of his death. He was very successful, and be- came quite a large land-owner. He was the leading spirit of his section, was public-spirited and benevo- lent, and it was almost entirely through his aid and instrumentality that the beautiful and thriving little village which now bears his name was built up. He always took great pleasure in assisting any worthy and industrious man in getting a home of his own, and he would build and furnish houses for his workmen and give them time to pay for the same by their labor.

William Sherburne had but limited advantages in his youth. His father was a blacksmith, and young Sherburne had to work in shop and on farm at the age when he should have been at school. He, however, laid the foundation for a strong and healthy physique. At twenty-two years Mr. Sheldon was a man of robust and vigorous physique, peaceable and kindly disposed, and by his benevolence and friendly spirit endeared himself to all who knew him. He was not only a successful man, but an eminently useful man to the community in which he lived. In politics he was a Whig and Re- publican, and a Baptist in religious belief. He was twice married. His first wife was Prusha, daughter of | Stephen and Huldah Inman, of Cumberland, R. I. Their children were Stephen, deceased ; Huldah, de- ceased; Mariette; Nathaniel; George; Orin; William, deceased ; and Willard, deceased; the two latter of age he hired out at two shillings per day to work on the farm which he now owns, and where was born the woman who afterwards became his wife. This was Lydia Jenks, daughter of Luke and Roby (Ar- nold) Jenks. They were married April 16, 1828. Their children were Roby M., Eliza E., Alice J. (deceased), William J. (deceased), Alice A. (de- ceased), Marion L. Immediately upon his marriage Mr. Sherburne hired a farm and began farming for himself. Through persevering industry and prudent management he prospered, and about 1860 he pur- chased the farm on which he now resides. He has | twins. All of whom were born in Cumberland, R. been a resident of Wrentham nearly eighty years, | I. Mrs. Sheldon died Jan. 3, 1850. Mr. Sheldon

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

married, as his second wife, Mrs. Catharine Tilton ; by this latter marriage there was no issue. He died Dec. 15, 1866.

Of the children, Stephen died in his nineteenth year. Huldah married Milton Grant and died, leav- ing two children. Mariette married George Wellman, of Sheldonville, and is still living.

George, who pays this tribute to his father's mem- ory, married Amy A. Aldrich, by whom he had one child, which died in infancy. Upon the decease of his first wife he married Mrs. Mary J. Thayer ; they have four children.

All of the sons of Rhodes Sheldon have been en- gaged more or less in boat-building. Nathaniel gave it up and is now engaged in butchering. George re- tired some years ago from active business. Orin still continues the business in connection with William Sheldon, George's son. They have the original shop in Wrentham where Rhodes Sheldon successfully prosecuted the business for so many years, and also a boat store in Boston for the disposal of their goods.

HORACE L. COOK.

dren,-Charles (deceased), Martin (now residing in Madison County, Ohio), and Lucy A. E. (now Mrs. Cook). Horace L. Cook is a Republican in politics, is a prosperous farmer, resides on the old homestead in West Wrentham first settled by his grandfather, and has a beautiful home, the result of his industry and prudent economy.

JABEZ FISHER.

Hon. Jabez Fisher was born in Wrentham, Nov. 19, 1717. He received only a common-school education, but was distinguished for ready and strong common sense, and for intuitive perceptions of the proper adaptation of means to the ends proposed. He was | sound and practical, at the same time able to detect sophistry and baffle cunning. He was remarkable for an inflexible adherence to principle. He was cour- teous in manners and strongly desirous of being useful. He represented the town of Wrentham for a number - of sessions in the Provincial Assembly. In 1774, in October, he was a member of the House of Dele- gates, which met at Salem and formed themselves into a Provincial Congress, also of the Second Con- gress, which met at Cambridge, and also of the Third, of which Dr. Warren was president. This last Con- gress remained in session until July 19, 1775, when the representatives who had been elected under the provisions of the province charter assembled. Mr. Fisher was also a member of this body, and was one of the renowned twenty-eight who were then elected councilors, to act as a distinct branch of the Legis- lature and to exercise the executive powers of the government. John Adams, Samuel Adams, Thomas Cushing, Robert Treat Paine, and John Hancock were among those elected. Mr. Hildreth, from whose biographical sketch of Mr. Fisher the foregoing is condensed, continues, " No member of that honorable board was in labors more abundant than he. No one's judgment was more highly estimated. No one's firm- ness less distrusted." He was regarded as the special watchman of the country part of Suffolk (then in- cluding Norfolk), and relied upon to bring into action all the force, moral and physical, of that section. He never disappointed expectation nor failed in any pur- pose which he deliberately formed. No man knew better what was practicable, and no man deliberated more thoroughly. He was a delegate to the Conven- tion of Massachusetts for the adoption of the Consti- labored and voted. He died in 1806, aged eighty- nine years.

The first of this branch of the Cook family of whom we have authentic record was Elder Josiah Cook, | who preached in Cumberland, R. I., in the days of its early settlement. He was a man of stern moral- ity and rigid uprightness of character. His wife was Mary Staples. Their son, Abner Cook, was a farmer, and married Rhoda Thompson, by whom he had chil- dren, one of whom was named Horace, who was also a farmer, and married Lucretia Bates, by whom he had Amory B., Delilah O., Ely E. (deceased), Senah A. (deceased), Lucretia (deceased), Senah A. (2d, deceased), Martha A., Horace L., Rhoda T. (de- ceased), Mortimer C., Massena A., Warren F., and Alonzo. Horace L. was born Aug. 26, 1816, was brought up a farmer's son, and had the advantages only of the common schools of his town. He mar- ried, Jan. 23, 1845, Lucy A. E. Hawkins, daughter of Rufus and Anna (Ballou) Hawkins. She was born in Cumberland, R. I., Sept. 8, 1826. Their children are Eldora L., born Dec. 7, 1845 ; died Aug. 1, 1847. Frederick H., born Dec. 15, 1848; died Jan. 23, 1869. Everard R., born March 6, 1854, and now resides with his parents. Mrs. Cook is de- . scended from Andrew and Rebecca (Robinson) Haw- kins, of Smithfield, R. I. Their son, Darius, was born in that town, and was a farmer by occupation. | tution of the United States in 1788, for which he He married Esther Haskall, and had four children,- Rufus, Sally, Amos, and Polly. Rufus was a car- penter by trade, married Anna Ballou, and had chil-

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FOXBOROUGH.

CHAPTER LVI.1

FOXBOROUGH.

Incorporation of Town-Early History-The First Settler --- Jacob Shepard-List of Early Settlers-Early Votes-The Pioneer Schools-The First Town Clerk-Church History- Early Votes-Manufactures, etc.

FOXBOROUGH was incorporated June 10, 1778. The title reads, " In the year of our Lord 1778. An Act for incorporating certain lands in the County of Suffolk, formerly belonging to the town of Dorches- ter, but now to the towns of Wrentham, Walpole, | of Dorchester. When the question was before the Stroughton, and Stoughtonham, with the inhabitants town of Dorchester, thirty-four voted in favor of the partition, twenty-nine against it. living thereon, into a town by the name of Fox- borough."

The act recites that the lands formerly belonged to Dorchester, but such portion as was previously in- cluded within the limits of Walpole had never been a part of Dorchester.

Walpole, incorporated Dec. 10, 1724, had before been a part of Dedham, incorporated 1636, which had heretofore been called " Contentment." But by far the largest part of this territory was once Dor- chester.

The original Dorchester, incorporated 1630,- " Mattapan,"-comprised only the little region be- tween the Neponset River, the town of Boston, and the bay; but in 1636 the General Court granted to the Dorchester Plantation the " Unquety Grant," con- taining some six thousand acres, from the south bank of the Neponset to the top of the Blue Hills, from which was carved Milton, incorporated in 1662; and in the following year the court annexed to Dorchester the " New Grant," so called, being all the territory, | borough ; and a most respectable antiquarian has not before granted, between Dedham and the line of the Plymouth Colony, about which line there was a dispute long unsettled.

The southern boundary line of Dorchester was first marked in 1664. It was run again by the agents of Dorchester from " Angle Tree," upon the line of Attleborough, to " Accord Pond," on the borders of Hingham, Abington, and Scituate, " twenty-five and a half miles and twenty rods." This old boundary line was confirmed to Dorchester by the General Court in 1720. Dorchester then extended from Dorchester Point (now South Boston) to within one hundred and sixty rods of the line of Rhode Island ; about thirty-five miles as "ye road goeth."

The dismemberment began in 1724, when the southwest portion of the South Precinct was set off to Wrentham, formerly a part of Dedham, incorpo- rated in 1673. The petitioners gave for cause, " that they lye thirty miles from the old meeting house, and fifteen from the southern meeting house of Puncapaug, so that they are under great disadvantages for attend- ing the public worship there." The part thus set off to Wrentham was larger than one-half of the present town of Canton. Two years later the remainder of the "New Grant" was set off, and incorporated as Stoughton, so called for Governor William Stoughton,

The first precinct or parish of Stoughton, being the northerly portion, was, in 1797, incorporated as Can- ton. Previously, however, ¿. e., in 1765, the northerly portion of the west part of Stoughton, or Massapoag, had been. incorporated as a district by the name of Stoughtonham ; and by the provisions of the general act of 1775 that district became a town to all intents and purposes.

In 1783 it became Sharon, Stoughton remaining a town by itself. Thus, from Dorchester came Canton, Stoughton, and Sharon entire, Foxborough substan- tially, and a large portion of Wrentham.

When Foxborough, as such, was created, all this territory belonged to the county of Suffolk ; but it was all set off to the present county of Norfolk when incorporated, March 26, 1793. John Shepard was born Feb. 25, 1705, and died April 3, 1809, aged one hundred and four years, one month, and six days. He was born in what was then Dorchester, now Fox- recently once more given currency to the story that he had been (through legislative changes) a resident of three different counties and five different towns, and yet lived in the same house all the time.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 141

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