History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 199

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 199

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942

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

bill, Mr. Samuel's bill, and perhaps others; it is also expected that there will be some extra charges by Messrs. Clark and MeKendry, for work done by them not specified in their re- spective contracts.

" Third. They further state that the proceeds of sales from the old meeting-house amounts to about 8200, which in the opinion of the subscribers will cover all demands against the parish for building the new house, not presented to us, and that the cost of said house will not vary essentially from our first enleulation of $4927.96.

" CANTON, 4th January, 1825. "THOMAS FRENCH, " CHARLES TUCKER, " LEONARD EVERETT, " JAMES BENT, Clerk."

" A true copy.

Baptist Church .- The first Baptist sermon in this town was preached by Elder Joel Briggs, of Ran- dolph, and April 14, 1812, occurred the first baptisms, those of Ezra Tilden and wife Bethial, his brother Abner Tilden, and Enos Upham. The old Baptist society was organized April 27, 1812, with the fol- lowing persons : Samuel Blackman, Nathan Tucker, S. Tucker, Jr., Ezra Tilden, Nathan Kinney, Ben- jamin Gill, Jr., Enos Upham, Abner Tilden, Ben- jamin Lewis, Jabez Cobb, Samuel Canterbury, Elijah Jordan, Elijah Hawes, Spencer Wentworth, Na- thaniel Billings, Jr., Jacob Wentworth, Jabez Bil- lings, Thaddeus Churchill, Seth Wentworth, Oliver Wentworth. Isaac Mann.

The present church was organized June 22, 1814, with thirty-five members, as follows : Nathan Tucker, Friend Crane, Jason Houghton, Lemuel Fuller, Jr., Andrew Fadden, Abner Tilden, N. T. Davis, Ezra Tilden, Jr., Oliver Houghton, Benjamin Gill (2), Elijah Hawes, Wales Withington, Enos Upham, Samuel Tucker, Jr., James Wentworth, Hannah Tucker, Caty Tucker, Abigail Hill, Abigail Bird, Ruth McKendry, Ruth Houghton, Lucy Allen, | Milla Tucker, Eliphal Wheeder, Ruth Buss, Abigail Gill, Bathsheba Fuller, Bathiab Tilden, Mary Morse, Rebecca Crane, Caty Houghton, Lucinda Gill, Mary Houghton, Olive Tucker, Eliza Tucker.

The pastors from that time to the present have been as follows:1 Revs. Henry Kendall, George Evans, Elisha S. Williams, Edmund Billoon, Thomas Bar- rett, Henry Stanwood (licentiate), Ferris Moore, Samuel Adams, Moses Curtis, Hiram Gear, Asaph Marriam, Charles O. Kimball, Henry Clark, Lewis Holmes, T. C. Tinglay, David B. Ford, P. R. Rus- sell, G. W. Hervey, Theron Brown, J. H. Hartman (in whose time the meeting-house was enlarged), Clifton Fletcher, N. B. Jones, Jr., E. S. Ufford. Rev. G. L. Lewis was installed in 1883, and is the present pastor.

The first church building was completed in 1820,

and dedicated Jan. 14, 1821. The second building was commenced late in 1835, and dedicated June 13, 1837. This building was remodeled in 1862.

The First Universalist Church was originally known as " The Norfolk Universalist Society" in the town of Canton, and was organized Jan. 26, 1819, at the house of Mr. George Downs, with eighty-eight members from Canton, and also a number from Stoughton and Sharon, and one from Milton and one from Dedham.

During the succeeding years meetings were held and preaching enjoyed in Leavitt's Hall, and in the old town house in Canton, until, in 1847-48, an eligible spot of land containing a quarter of an acre was ob- tained in the heart of the South Canton Village on the easterly side of the old Bay road, on which they built a meeting-house. The society was growing with the growth of the town, and it was found expedient, if not necessary, to make a change in the name of the society, and on Jan. 20, 1849, a petition was presented to Ellis Ames, Esq., one of the justices of the peace within and for the county of Norfolk, by fourteen members of the society "commonly known as the First Universalist Society in Canton," for him to issue his warrant requiring the qualified voters of said society to meet to organize themselves as a corporation and select a corporate name, etc. This petition was signed by Daniel Tisdale, Jona. Messinger, John Cram, Samuel Chandler, Uriah Billings, Samuel Leonard, William Mansfield, C. S. Fowler, F. W. Deane, J. S. Shepard, Lawton Smith, V. J. Messinger, John Fanning, V. A. Messinger.

Pursuant to Mr. Ames' warrant, directed to Law- ton Smith, one of the applicants for a warrant, a meeting was duly and legally called, and held in the meeting-house of the First Universalist Society in Canton, on Saturday the 3d day of February, 1849, at six o'clock in the afternoon.

The following qualified voters of said society ap- peared : Uriah Billings, John Cram, John Hall, Lawton Smith, Charles S. Fowler, Charles Leland, - William Mansfield, Samuel Chandler, Charles Mel- len, Daniel Tisdale, James S. Shepard, Vernon A. Messinger, Lorenzo R. Smith, Jonathan Messinger, Joel Holmes, Francis W. Deane, William Morse, Stephen F. Tillson, C. H. Harlow, Virgil J. Messinger.

Ellis Ames, Esq., having read the warrant and the return thereon, called for the voters to elect a clerk, and Mr. Virgil J. Messinger2 was unanimously chosen,

2 Mr. Virgil J. Messinger, who was the first clerk chosen by the First Universalist Parish of Canton, has been annually re- elected its clerk for thirty-five consecutive years, and is the present clerk.

1 Many of these were supplies.

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CANTON.

and the oath of office having been administered to him by Ellis Ames, Esq., he took the chair and called upon the meeting to elect a moderator, and Samuel Chandler was unanimously chosen.

Upon motion of Uriah Billings it was then voted that this society do organize themselves as a corpora- tion or parish, with all the powers given to corpora- tions by the forty-fourth chapter of the " Revised Statutes," and with all the other powers, etc., ex- pressed in the twentieth chapter of the "Revised Statutes," under the name of the First Universalist Parish in Canton.

Jonathan Messinger, William Mansfield, William Morse were chosen assessors ; Francis W. Deane, treas- urer ; James S. Shepard, collector ; Uriah Billings, Charles S. Fowler, Lawton Smith, standing com- mittee.

The meeting-house was built in shares, of which there were sixty-five; all the shareholders subse- quently conveyed their rights and interest in the house as distinct from the pews to the parish, which assumed and has retained control of the house as a religious corporation. A committee of three was chosen to appraise the pews and to appoint a day for leasing the same, and William Mansfield, Uriah Bil- lings, James S. Shepard were chosen, who appointed Saturday, April 14, 1850, at four o'clock P.M., as the time, and in accordance therewith all the pews belonging to the parish. thirty-one in all, were put up at auction to be leased to the highest bidder above the appraisal, of which twenty-one, appraised collectively at one hundred and eighty-eight dollars, were leased for the sum of $243.50. " Samuel Bradley Noyes, Esq., by request officiated as auctioneer."

Several gentlemen of Canton who were members of or interested in the First Congregational Parish and in other societies, had furnished money for the build- ing of the meeting-house, one of whom is thus men- tioned in the records of a meeting on March 9, 1852 : " It was moved and unanimously voted that the thanks Lincoln, Esq., for his very liberal and generous dona- tion to this parish of his two pews, and all interest in the house and land owned by said society."

of this parish be and are hereby tendered to F. W. | 1879. Dec. 19, 1881, Rev. E. A. Read was invited

The pulpit was supplied by various ministers until Dec. 27, 1854. Rev. Joseph Crehore was installed as pastor of the First Universalist Parish in Canton. Rev. Hosea Ballou read the Scriptures; Rev. - Lovejoy made introductory prayer ; Rev. E. G. Brooks, of Lynn, preached the sermon; Rev. W. H. Ryder, of Roxbury, gave installation prayer ; Rev. E. Fisher, of South Dedham, charge to pastor; Rev. J. W. Dennis, of Stoughton, right hand of fellowship; Rev.

W. H. Ryder, address to the people. On the 4th day of August, 1857, Rev. Joseph Crehore resigned the pastorate.

The parish met on the 17th of the same month, and resolved that they " desire that he will reconsider the reasons which have induced him to tender his resignation," and if he would " continue his labors as our pastor we unreservedly pledge him our most cordial co-operation, sympathy, and support." This vote was communicated to him by the standing com- mittee. Mr. Crehore replied that he " felt constrained to adhere to the decision" heretofore communicated to the parish. The parish then by vote accepted his letter, and his pastorate closed Oct. 31, 1857.

Rev. Henry Jewell succeeded Mr. Crehore as pastor in September, 1858. He remained seven years and five months, when he resigned, and accepted a call in a Western State. He was universally respected and be- loved by the parish and through the town. His pas- torate closed February, 1866.

March 26, 1866, at a meeting of the parish, " Hon. Charles Endicott made some remarks in regard to the expediency of uniting the Universalist and Unitarian Parishes in this town, whereupon it was voted that a committee of three be chosen for that purpose, to confer with a committee of that parish, and Charles Endicott, F. W. Deane, James S. Shepard were chosen as that committee, which committee at a meeting of the parish held Nov. 12, 1866, reported verbally that it was inexpedient.

Rev. George W. Perry was ordained pastor of the First Universalist Parish of Canton by the Massachu- setts Universalist State Convention, Feb. 24, 1868, and on July 9, 1868, by ordination services at the meeting-house in Canton. Mr. Perry resigned Nov. 12, 1869, and his resignation was accepted to take effect Dec. 31, 1869. Rev. Edmund Davis was en- gaged as pastor and commenced his labors December, 1870, and resigned Feb. 1, 1873; was re-engaged July 1, 1873 ; resigned April 9, 1879 ; left July 1, to preach ; resigned Nov. 18, 1883.

The Evangelical Congregational Church was organized July 3, 1828, at the house of Mrs. Katie Hartwell. There were present as council Dr. Cod- man, of Dorchester, Dr. Coggswell, of South Dedham (now Norwood), Jonathan Curtis, of Sharon, Samuel Gile, of Milton, Dr. Hitchcock, of Randolph, Dr. Burgess, of Dedham. Dr. Park, of Stoughton, was moderator. There were only ten in number who sought the organization of a church, and these be- came the first members,-Deacon Ebenezer Crane, Stephen Thayer, Tilly Flint, Hannah Crane, Betsy

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Crane, Frances Crane, Judith Albee, Abigail Kollock, Mary Kollock, Jane H. Kollock.

For a year and a half there was neither a house of worship nor settled pastor; but the old record says that in the mean time " meetings were regularly held at Mrs. Hartwell's, who freely opened the doors of her house to their preaching, although from the first she had kept the door of her heart shut against their doctrine."

In 1830 a church edifice was dedicated, and Rev. William Harlow was ordained pastor. Rev. Joy H. Fairchild preached the ordination sermon from John xviii. 38, " What is truth ?" Rev. Mr. Harlow re- mained two years. Rev. John Turner succeeded him as stated supply ; he was followed by Rev. Erastus Dickinson, who was ordained in 1835, and gave two years of an ardent youth to the service of the church. Succeeding his ministry were seven years of preach- ing by supply ; Rev. H. G. Park and Rev. John S. Kidder supplying most of the time.

On the 5th of June, 1844, Rev. William B. Ham- mond was ordained and installed pastor. He remained | distance north of the railroad station in South Canton. seven years. Succeeding him, Rev. Solomon Clark was installed Nov. 12, 1851 ; he also had a pastorate of seven years, and the church moved on steadily pro- gressing.

The old record says, " Upon his dismissal it be- came apparent to the church and society that a more attractive house of worship would promote their pros- perity." The result of their deliberations and labors and sacrifices was a new and commodious church ded- icated, and the last bills upon it paid Aug. 22, 1860.

Rev. Rufus W. Clark, D.D., preached the sermon. Rev. I. P. Langworthy made the consecrating prayer, and at the same time Rev. Ezra Haskell was ordained | pastor. Rev. R. G. Vermilye preached the sermon. Rev. H. B. Hooker made the ordaining prayer. Mr. Haskell was dismissed April 27, 1865.

Rev. Rowland H. Allen was ordained Nov. 1, 1865. Professsor E. A. Park preached the sermon. Rev. Jonathan Edwards made the ordaining prayer.

Rev. William E. Dickinson was called, and sent his letter of acceptance to become pastor Nov. 27, 1867. He remained as pastor until April, 1870.

Feb. 27, 1867, Rev. J. F. Jennison was called to supply the pulpit, and stayed until Aug. 1, 1874.

Rev. J. W. Savage was hired to supply the pulpit from the third Sabbath in October, 1874, and con- tinued to do so until Nov. 14, 1880; and later than that date, with the exception of one year's supply by Rev. Mark Taylor, the church has sat under the preaching of various clergymen of the faith.

The present officers of the church are: deacons, Edward R. Eager and Elijah A. Morse; John How- ard, treasurer.

St. John's Roman Catholic Church .- About the year 1854 Rev. Father Strain, of Chelsea, came to Canton and began to preach in the "Stone Factory Chapel," in West Canton; with him came Rev. Terence Fitzsimmons, of St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Broadway, South Boston ; the building of a church was begun on " Chapel Hill," so called, a short It was opened for service in 1855. Rev. P. F. Lin- don succeeded Fitzsimmons, attended by his assistants, Mr. Callaher and Mr. Hatley, till 1861, when the lat- ter, Rev. John Hatley, came to reside in Canton, and | under his auspices, by the Lord's help, the present church was built, and was dedicated in 1868. It will seat, including the choir, seven hundred and seventy- five persons. There are two services on each Sunday, the average attendance on each of which is eight hun- dred. The number of communicants is over fifteen hundred. It cost about sixteen thousand dollars, and was dedicated by Archbishop Williams. Connected with the church is a parsonage, and a capacious hall and vestry. It is in contemplation to enlarge the present church or to build another.

CHAPTER LXXIIL.

Up to that date the pastors have been Rev. William CANTON-( Continued). Harlow, ordained 1831, dismissed 1832; Rev. John Tucker, engaged 1833, dismissed 1834; Rev. Erastus THE PRESS, MANUFACTURES, BANKS, ETC. Dickinson, ordained 1835, dismissed 1837; Rev. The Canton Journal-Early Manufactures-The First Cotton- Factory-Present Manufactures-Memorial Hall-Military Record-Number of Men Furnished-Amount of Money Raised-Various Votes in Relation to Bounties, etc .- Roll of Honor-Revere Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic - The Neponset National Bank - Canton Institution for Savings-Representatives from 1776 to Present Time. Harrison G. Park, engaged 1839, dismissed 1841; Rev. John S. Kidder, engaged 1841, dismissed 1842 ; Rev. William B. Hammond, ordained June 5, 1844, dismissed Jan. 2, 1851 ; Rev. Solomon Clark, installed Nov. 12, 1851, dismissed Jan. 19, 1858; Rev. Ezra Haskell, ordained Aug. 22, 1860, dismissed April 27, The Canton Journal .- For about twenty years there had been no local newspaper in Canton, no one 1865 ; Rev. Roland P. Allen, ordained Nov. 1, 1865. Ilis pastorate ended with this church in March, 1867. I seeming to have any desire to embark in such an en-

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CANTON.

terprise until December, 1876, when N. T. Merritt, | which had become crowded by advertisers. It is now of Dorchester, a gentleman of considerable newspaper in its eighth volume, steadily increasing its army of - experience, established the Canton Journal. This readers, and still aiming to a higher point in the paper was started as an eight-column folio. The journalistic world. progress of the paper under Mr. Merritt's manage- Manufacturing Interests .- Perhaps it may not be generally known that the first cotton-factory by machinery in Massachusetts was located at Canton in 1803. ment was not such as to guarantee success, and at the end of four months he was obliged to step down and out. D. S. Hasty, of Easton, proprietor of the Easton Journal and Stoughton Sentinel, thereupon took the paper in charge, appointing E. B. Thorndike, its present publisher and proprietor, local representative. Mr. Thorndike opened an office in the post-office building, and at once went to work with the deter- mination to place the paper upon a sound basis. From this point it became apparent that his labors would be crowned with prosperity, and that a perma- nent local paper for Canton was an established fact. In the path to success in journalism, as in the other walks of life, there are obstacles to overcome, and unexpected events often present themselves, which seem for the time to retard progress, and to this the Canton Jour- nal was to experience its share. A few weeks after assuming control of the paper the proprietor, Mr. Hasty, was removed by the hand of death, and thus necessitated another change. At the settlement of Mr. Hasty's estate, A. P. Smith, of Stoughton, pur- "Said Abel Fisher shall advance four hundred dollars. chased the printing-office located at Stoughton, and " Said Lemuel Bailey shall advance four hundred dollars. known as the Sentinel office, the several papers there printed, and the good-will of the entire business. Mr. Thorndike continued with Mr. Smith until November, 1880, at which time he purchased the good-will and title of the Canton Journal, and removed the com- posing-room to Canton, opening in the upper story of Meserve's building, on the corner of Washington and Rockland Streets. Type, presses, and material were ! added from time to time, until the business had grown to such an extent that a larger printing-room was inevitable.

On the 19th of November, 1881, just one year after the purchase of the Journal by Mr. Thorndike, he secured the services of J. T. Geissler, of Sharon, as editor, who still holds that position. The first of May, 1882, found the establishment in the more com- modious quarters on Church Street, known as the " old school-house," where it still remains. Upon entering these new apartments large additions to type, materials, etc., were again made. New presses, including a Camp- bell cylinder, a power paper-cutter, a steam-engine, and boiler, were put in, and the town of Canton for the first time could boast of a steam printing-office within its borders. On the 27th of October of the same year the size of the Journal was increased to nine : columns folio, thus giving more space for local matter, ;

From papers of the late James Beaumont we ex- tract a portion of the agreement entered into by the company :

" James Beaumont, Abel Fisher, and Lemuel Bailey agreed to enter into Partnership to begin and carry on the Cotton- spinning Business, and, on the 14th day March, 1803, they agreed in a manner which the following copy of the writings will best explane.

" Be it Known that we James Beaumont, Abel Fisher and Lemuel Bailey having provided a Building and Machinery for Spinning Cotton Yarn upon the eastern branch of Neponset River in the town of Canton, in the county of Norfolk, Do enter into the following articles of agreement.

" 1st .- We shall be known and transact Business under name of James Beaumont & Co.

" 2nd .- That the Stock shall amount to twenty four Hundred Dollars and be advanced by each one in the following propor- tion, Viz .-

"Said James Beaumont shall advance sixteen hundred dol- lars.

" Making the whole stock to amount to Twenty-four Hun- dred dollars as afores'd.

" 3rd .- It is agreed that the whole Cost of erecting s'd Build- ing, and procuring the Machinery shall be considered as part of money advanced towards Stock, and each one shall be cred- ited as he has advanced and that the privilege of water, and also of land on which s'd Building is erected, or any additional Improvement that may be made and other convenient necessary Room for carrying on s'd Business or manufactory shall con- tinue five Years from the date hereof."

The partnership was to continue five years, and James Beaumont was to have the sole direction of the business.

It was also " agreed that the work people may be boarded by the partners in proportion to their respective rights in Stock provided nevertheless, that the place of board be conveniently near the factory, and the food and Drink be of such a Quality as is fit and necessary to comfort and invigorate people employ'd in s'd Business and that the rate of Board allowed each partner shall be similar in similar Circumstances.

" In Testimony of our mutual Consent and confirmation of every clause and article of the foregoing, we the parties afore- said have herounto set our hands and Seals this fourteenth Day of March in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and three.

" Signed Sealed and delivered each partner in presence of ELIJAH DUNBAR, THOMAS DUNBAR.

" JAMES BEAUMONT,

" ABEL FISHER, " LEMUEL BAILEY."

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Reminiscences of James Beaumont .- The follow- ing reminiscences of manufacturing in Canton from 1803 to 1813 were written by the late James Beau- mont, when in his eightieth year :

"I was engaged in a nominal partnership with two men, Abel Fisher, and Lem1 Bailey, they owned. the Millprivelage called the old Everton place, it had been occupied in earley times as a forge and grist-mill, but when I first saw it the water was running, down in its natural bed. my partners ingaged to build the dam. & Factory building, and due time I got the Ma- chinery to work (with some assistance) which consisted of 3 Cards, a drawing and roveing, frame and a Mule of 144 spin- dles, I had made with my own hands, the drawing and roving Cans, and other tin work, in a coppersmiths shop in Boston. we first began to make, Wick yarn for the Candle makers the first. lot was made from sea Island Cotton, and was very smooth and beautiful ; I took a sample of it. to a well known, Firm in Ros- bury. Aaron Davis & Co.

" Mr. Ezra Sampson was a partner and active manager in the soap, and candle, department, he pronounsed the wicking firstrate, and they gave me a large order and agreed to give me 75 cents ? 1b for it. the stained sea Island Cotton had cost me. about 23 or 24 cents 2 1h but Mr. Sampson surmised that the white Georgia Cotton would be whiter. and more suitable if not so smooth, so I used it the price of upland Cotton at that time. was from 16 to 18 Cents ) 1b).

" A year or two after this, the Messrs Davis & Co.s Candles, got into such request. especially the moulders, that I worked up for them eleven (11) Bales of Cotton into wicking in one year they then furnished the cotton and they gave 25 Cents } 1b for working it-I likewice, made wicking for other candle makers. in less degree.

"when the machinery had got well gated-we began to make warp & filling yarn for domestick cloth ; the first Piece was for sheeting this was made from seaisland Cotton was warped on out of the size tub myself hand over hand. Tattershall, an English weaver, made good cloths of it. Thus, in 1802 was the first piece of Cotton cloth ever. made in America from Mule yarn. either all or in part I sold such cloth at 50 cents ? yard and shirting from 35 to 42 Cents }) yard.

"I put a sample of my first. sheeting in the Museum at Lowell 7 or 8 years ago. Mr. Kimball, of that establishment who had been a manufactor said he had no doubt of the au- thentisity of the relek, after examining it.

" My partners in business, Fisher & Bailey, I found out was not desirous to continue with me their only object from the first was to dispose of the Everton place, and they had not Money to carry on with, so they gave me a bond for a Deed I not as yet being naturalized so I had it all to myself my little concern was so successful that I had several offers from Gentle- men of cappital to become partners ; amongst the rest was I. Smith Boyce of Dorchester he proposed that I should sell out at Canton, and he would furnish me with funds and have a Fac- tory built at Dorchester on a large scale. we had had several conflabs about it. I had had so much toil and care in getting my little concern at Canton underway that I had no desire to . move

" However Mr Boyce being an extreamly industrious active man, he did get a Factory agoing say about the year 1807 or S. this was without doubt the most prosperous and Profitable con- cern of the kind ever established in the Vnion

"There were made Bedticks, Ginghams, shirtings & sheet- ings in large quantities in the time of the Embargo and 1812 War; and long after.

" In the embargo Cotton got down to 8 or 9 Cents but when war was declared it rose to the enormous price to 40 Cents and once to 48 the seacoast was blockaded, but it was found that Cotton could be brougt by teams, all the way by land so that it could be afforded at the first mentioned price or less

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 199

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