History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

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 31

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of Chief Justice Marshall," a rather large subject for so young a man, but which he sustained with such credit as to receive the warm approbation of such men as Judge Story and Charles Sumner, who were of the audience.

After graduation he was engaged one year as prin- cipal of the classical department of the Weld School, in Roxbury, then one of the most popular and flourishing boarding-schools in the vicinity of Bos- ton. After leaving this school he commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Sherman Leland, and subsequently, successively, in the offices of John C. Park and Rufus Choate. He was admitted to the bar in 1839, and opened a law-office in his native town. For thirty years he had a quite large and lucrative practice, principally in the county of Norfolk. He

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BRAINTREE.

then gradually withdrew from active pursuit of his profession, and devoted himself principally to the care and arrangement of his own ample estate and of the estates in trust of his friends who availed themselves of his services.

As a lawyer, in his business relations with his clients, he gave them his honest opinion upon their cases, derived from study, observation, and experience, whether that agreed with their own preconceived opinions or not, or whether it apparently promoted his own immediate business interests or not ; and it may be truly said that the amount and volume of litigation in the community where he dwelt was di- minished, rather than increased, by his influence. | He was in the habit of saying to his clients that " laws are highly needful for the welfare and preser- vation of society, but that individual law-suits should not be commenced except under the pressure of absolute necessity, as they were an expensive luxury, in which few persons could afford to indulge." If he saw any sign of undue excitement or heat of passion, his counsel, would be that a little delay would not prejudice his client's rights, and that a few nights' sleep and a few days of reflection might be highly beneficial. These suggestions and a little delay would most generally bring about a change of views, and avoid a long, troublesome, and, perhaps, comparatively fruitless suit.

He was particularly averse to what lawyers some- times call " fancy actions," designed to vindicate by legal process the personal character and repu- tation of the party. He told his clients that though there might be exceptional cases of outrageous libel or slander where a resort to the law might be not only commendable, but necessary, and where a jury would give, and rightly give, exemplary damages, yet in ordinary and the great majority of cases of this kind the party would be far better off to pass the slander by in silence, and trust to living it down, rather than make a spectacle of himself by entering the arena of litigation, where the worst and bitterest passions were sure to be aroused, and where the general public would take little interest, except as they would be interested in a gladiatorial combat, without regard to the moral or intellectual character of either of the combatants; that such a contest would be almost sure to degrade both parties to one common level. His theory and advice to his friends in matters of this kind was, that the common estimate of character entertained by the community where one dwells is in the end much more correct than we are apt to imagine ; and that, as a rule, it is better to rely upon this es- timate, more conducive to peace of mind and more

consistent with true manly dignity, than to invoke the aid and redress of the law; and that persistent and malignant slander very seldom, in the long run, hurts the object at which it is aimed, but is almost sure to recoil with redoubled force upon the head of the author of it.

Through life he has rather avoided than sought public office. He has acted upon the principle that no man has a right to pass through the world as a " deadhead," enjoying the benefits and privileges of society, but refusing to bear a fair share of its labors and burdens. Yet he held that the office should seek the man, and not the man the office. Soon after he commenced the practice of law in Braintree, he was twice elected to represent the town in the State Legislature. He has also filled most of the more important offices in the town,-selectman, assessor, overseer of the poor, and surveyor of highways. He was particularly interested in educational matters, and in the welfare of the public schools, holding that the educational department of the town, on account of its present and prospective influence upon the character of its citizens, is by far the most important department in the town. Uniformly he advocated the most liberal appropriations for educational pur- poses. For more than fifteen years he was a mem- ber of the general school committee, and for the greater part of that time was chairman of the board. At the present time he is president of the Braintree School-Fund Corporation, a corporation having in charge the real estate, public funds, and securities left to the town by will, and the income of which is specially devoted to the support of its public schools. For several years he has been president of the Wey- mouth and Braintree Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, and also a director and vice-president of the Weymouth Savings-Bank. He was a trial justice in the county of Norfolk for several years, and held that office till the change in the system of administering justice in this commonwealth by the creation of Dis- trict Courts. Early in life he was appointed brigade inspector of the State militia, an office which gave him the military rank of major. But having no great predilection for military life or glory, especially in time of peace, he resigned the office after holding it one year.

In early manhood he became a member of the Congregational Church connected with the parish, where he had been accustomed to worship. Like most thoughtful persons, his mind had frequently been turned to the serious consideration of the great problems of life, death, and immortality,-of his per- sonal relations to God as his Creator, preserver, and

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

final judge, and to Christ as his personal Saviour. He joined that particular communion as more nearly coinciding with his views upon these subjects than any other religious organization.

There was nothing of narrowness or bigotry about him. Claiming the fullest freedom for himself, he willingly conceded the same to all others. Regarding religion as a personal matter between each man and his Maker, with which no other may authoritatively interfere, there was little in him of what might be called proselytism, or of that lingual activity and volubility which finds expression in public exhorta- tions and advice. He held that the best and most efficient lay preaching consisted in an exemplary Christian walk and life.

LUTHER OSBORN CROCKER.

Luther Osborn Crocker was born in West Dedham, Jan. 11, 1829. He was the son of Luther Harlow Crocker and Mary Osborn, and grandson of Daniel Crooker (now Crocker), being a descendant of Zenas Crooker, the first American ancestor. Daniel, the grandfather, was probably born in Pembroke. Luther Harlow Crocker, the father, was born in Pembroke in 1804. His advantages for obtaining an education were very limited. When very young, he was put to labor on the farm. Arriving at suitable age, he went to Randolph, and learned the trade of wheelwright, serving a regular apprenticeship. From there he went to West Dedham, and worked at his trade. While there he married Mary Osborn, a native of Hanson. He remained there until 1838, when he removed to Hingham. He engaged in various occupations. At one time he worked at shoemaking. Then he in- vested what little capital he had accumulated in the foundry business, but lost it through the fault of those connected with him. Naturally endowed with large inventive powers, and being very ingenious, he originated many inventions.

self. After being engaged in this business for about two years he received an advantageous offer from New Albany, Ind., which he accepted. Here he was engaged in making patterns for hemp and spin- ning machinery, " breakers," etc. After about two years the main factory was removed to Louisville, Ky. Thither he removed with his family, who had remained until this time in Hingham. This was about 1842. A few years after the firm failed, and Mr. Crocker started again in the manufacture of stoves, again making the patterns himself. He here

manufactured the same stove he did at Hingham (Andrews' and Austins' patent), having an oven at each end, with the fire between them. Various kinds of heaters were designed, originated, and manufac- tured by him. During the years from 1842 to 1849 he engaged in the manufacture of gas- and water-pipe, wagon-boxes, shaftings, pulleys, hemp-breaking and shackling machines, invented by himself, which pro- duced this result without injuring the hemp, the effort to produce which had previously cost hundreds of dollars, and that in vain. This was the crowning work of his life, and was patented by him. A cool- ing fan, to be placed in offices, dining-rooms, etc., run by machinery, which was wound up as a clock is wound, was also invented by him.

His brain teemed with positive and original crea- tions, and he was the inventor of many other ingeni- ous contrivances for utility and amusement. He made the machinery for the manufacturing of the hemp raised on the plantation of one Thompson. His agreement with him was that he should furnish machinery, keep it in order for one year, and receive one-half of the profits. He invested several thousand dollars in this enterprise, which, however, proved disastrous.

In 1849 he removed to Cincinnati, and was em- ployed by the gas company in making draughts and patterns for the necessary castings, pipe, etc., re- maining in their employ until 1855. During that year he removed to the Scioto Valley to take charge of a saw-mill, grist-mill, and a mill for reducing iron ore to pig metal, acting as overseer for a large and wealthy firm. In 1861 he returned to Cincinnati, again entering the employ of the gas company. With the opening of the civil war the firm engaged in the manufacture of shot and shell, Mr. Crocker remaining with them until nearly the close of the war.

While residing in Hingham he engaged in the manu- facture of stoves from original patterns made by him- | give his services. Like a true patriot, as he was, he

He was a member of a local military organization. When the rebels threatened Cincinnati the company was asked to volunteer as soldiers. Mr. Crocker was the first, and, with one exception, the only man to joined the army, and performed military duty both in camp and under fire. He was at this time over sixty years old, and from the exposure he contracted dis- ease from which he never recovered. He died at Hanson, Mass., in 1872. A man of marked and pos- itive character, he left the world wealthier for his having lived in it.

Luther O. Crocker was the oldest child of his par- ents. He inherited the inventive genius of his father, and early in life manifested it in numberless ways. Not caring for books, he neglected what opportunities

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were presented for obtaining an education. His attendance at school would not probably exceed six months, so that experience and observation have been his principal teachers. Inured to labor from early childhood, he was employed at various occupations until he was seventeen years old, when he began to run a stationary engine for one of his father's hemp- breaking and shackling machines. This business suiting his taste, he was employed as engineer in various places until 1865. During the war he was employed at the Bridgewater Iron-Works to run the engine and look after the machinery. Here was built the iron for the iron-clad " Monitor," made famous by its encounter with and victory over the rebel ram ' Merrimac."

Whilst employed as engineer at the Boston Flax Mills, in East Braintree, he invented the now so well known ticket-punches for the use of railroad conduc- tors. This punch was invented in 1865. The first one made was placed in the hands of Conductor Osborn, one of the oldest conductors on the Old Colony Railroad, for trial. Finding it worked well, after devising various improvements, he obtained a patent April 30, 1867. During his spare moments he made several punches, when his eyes were opened to what might be done by devoting his whole time to their manufacture, by unexpectedly receiving an order for a large number of his punches from Chicago. As his entire bank account at this time was only seventy- five dollars, and he had his family expenses to meet, the outlook was not very promising. Inquiry was made about this time by a person-he having seen one of the punches in use-who the inventor was and where he lived. Learning his name and address, he called upon Mr. Crocker, and offered to take joint interest in the patent and furnish capital for their manufacture. This proposition being accepted, the patent was issued to them as joint owners. This gentleman soon endeavored to manufacture by himself in another State, which caused Mr. Crocker to resort to legal measures to secure his rights. This he did by invalidating the first patent, and procuring one in his own name. This patent was dated Sept. 21, 1869.

years he was so thoroughly prostrated as to be unable to read or even to hear so much as the rustling of a news- paper. To-day the machinery for his manufactory is run by an eight horse-power steam-engine, and he keeps five men constantly employed in the manufacture of these punches. Their reputation is "A 1." They are in use on all the principal railroads in this country and the civilized world, as well as in all places where and for all purposes which canceling punches are used. The punch used on the first through train of the Union Pacific Railroad was manufactured by him. He made two "Anchor" punches for the well-known and popular author Charles Dickens; also one for Duke Alexis, of Russia, which cut out all his armorial bearings. He was awarded a medal by the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' Association in 1869, and a silver medal by the National Exposition of Railroad Appliances, at Chicago, in 1883, as being the best punch manufactured. He manufactures over one thousand different designs, all of which are orig- inal with him.

He bought the site upon which his house and shop now stand when it was a barren ledge of rocks, but through his taste and skill it has been transformed into one of the handsomest places in the town of Brain- tree.

Mr. Crocker was married, Aug. 15, 1854, to Olive, daughter of Capt. Cyrus Munroe, an officer in the war of 1812. Her mother's name was Deborah Thomas. Their children are Oscar Munroe, mar- ried Anna L. Noyes (he is employed as telegraph operator in the office of the general manager of the Old Colony Railroad Company at Boston) ; and Luther O., who is connected with his father in manufactur- ing. Luther married Jennie Pratt. They have one son,-Fred.

Mr. Crocker is in politics Republican, an attendant at the Congregational Church, and a member of Delta Lodge, F. and A. M., Weymouth, Mass.

CHAPTER XV.

Mr. Crocker soon began their manufacture himself, but in a very short time his buildings, tools, and stock BELLINGHAM. were destroyed by fire,-a total loss. Although he had lost all, nothing daunted, he at once commenced BY RUFUS G. FAIRBANKS, LL.B. to build up his business. Aided by his strong physique and indomitable pluck, he succeeded in PREVIOUS to the 17th of November, A.D. 1719, that tract of land now known as the town of tion of the town of Dedham, which town then ex- building up a permanent and lucrative business by | working from sixteen to eighteen hours a day. His | Bellingham existed merely as an. unimportant por- over-exertion and mental anxiety soon told the strain to which his system had been subjected, as for several | tended from Mendon line to the line of Providence,

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

R. I., by way of the Petucket River; thence to Attleborough and Wrentham, in our own State, and then running its northern boundaries, which serve no purpose in our present work. That portion of this area lying between Mendon and Wrentham first came to particular consideration on the 27th of October, A.D. 1713, when the Dedham proprie- tors granted thirty-five acres of it to one Jacob Bartlett, who was found already settled on the prem- ises. At this early period so vast and extensive was the territorial area that acquiring land by purchase was almost altogether unknown. As a matter of record, the first public gathering on the above-named tract was a meeting of the settlers called by virtue of a crown warrant, the return upon which was as fol- lows :

"In pursuance of a warrant to me directed by John Chand- ler, Esquire, one of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, These are to give Publick notice that a meeting of the proprietors of that tract of land belonging to Dedham lying between Wrentham, Mendon, and Providence is appointed to be held and kept at the house of Deacon Thomas Sanford, in Mendon, on the eleventh day of March next ensuing, at eight o'clock in the morning, then and there to agree upon a division of land and what relates thereunto, of which all persons concerned are to take notice and give their attendance accordingly. Dated this twenty-fifth day of February, A.D. 1714. JONATHAN WIGHT, Constable."

On the following March the scattered populace assembled as above, having previously divided the land into three divisions, containing lots of from twenty to sixty acres each, and, having chosen Capt. John Ware, of Wrentham, moderator, and Thomas Sanford clerk, they proceeded to draw slips of paper from a box. On each slip of paper was a number corresponding to a lot of land, and he who drew a number became the owner in fee-simple of the tract, the numbers running as high as one hundred and twenty-one, thus showing one hundred and twenty- one settlers located or about to locate. From the year 1714 to 1719 the chief, and, indeed, the only, public business consisted in the laying out of land to new-comers and the granting of additional territory to those already settled. In the year 1719 the people became exceedingly restless over the difficulty expe- rienced in attending church at Dedham Centre and the performing of town business there. Accordingly, as the outgrowth of this agitation, a petition was drawn up,-

"To his Exclency Samuel Shute, Esq., Capt. General and Governor in Chieff in & over his Majesties Province of ye Massachusitts Bay, in New England, & to ye Honourable Coun- cil & House of Representatives in General Court conveined at Boston.

longing to Dedham, westward of Wrentham, and ye Inhabitance of a Considerable Farm adjoyning thereto and ye Inhabitance of a small Corner of Mendon ajacent Thereto (to ye number of four families) Humbly Shewette : That Whereas ye above Sd Inheritance are Scituated at a Remoat Distance from ye Respec- tive Towns where they at present belong : (viz.) The Inhabit- ance of the Town of Dedham, to ye number of three and 20 Families are about Twenty miles Distance from the Town where they belong and Doe Deuty, & being very Remoate from ye Public worship of God, & The Inhabitance, to the number of thirteen families of ye above Sd Farme being Six or Seven miles Distance from ye place of Public worship : & ye Inhab- itance of Mendon afore Sd being about four miles Distance ; and Considering our Remoateness & ye Inconveniancys we La- bour under by Reason of the same: and that ye uniting and Incorporating of ye above Sd Tracts together & making of Them a Town may put us in a way in Some Convenient Time to obtain ye Settlement of ye Gospel among us &c (the uniting of ye Above Sd Tracts of Land, Together will make a Town of aboute seven Miles Long & three miles & half wide) and Fur- ther Considering what ye Inhabitance of ye above Sd Tract of Dedham Land & the Farme are already Incorporated into a Training Companie and that they have little or No Benefit of Town Privelidges or having No benefit of ye Schools we do Re- spectively Pay to. The whole Number of Families belonging to ye above Sd tracts being forty & Lands enough already Laid ont to accommodate 20 or 30 more: The Inhabitance of Ded- ham Land being voated off by ye Town for that end.

"Our Prayer Therefore is that your Honours would Gra- ciously plese to consider our Diffeculty Circumstances and grant us our petition, which is That ye above Mentioned Tracts of Land (as by one Platt hereto affixed & Described) may be in- corporated togeather & made a Town & Invested with Town Preveliges. That we may be Inabled in Conveniant Time to obtain ye Gospel & public worship of God settled, & our Incon- veniances by Reason of our Remoateness be Removed: granting us such Time of Dispence from Public Taxes as in wisdom you shall think Conveniant, & in your so doing you will greatly oblige us who am your Humble petitioners : and for your Honours, as in Consciance we are Bound, Shall forever pray. Dated ye 17th Day of November 1719.

" John Darling

Daniel Corbet

Nicholas Cook William Hayward

Pelatiah Smith James Smith

Tho. Burch

Nicolas Cook, Jr

John Thompson Jonathan Hayward

Ebenezer Thayer

Seth Cook

Cornelius Darling

Samll. Thompson

Samll. Hayward Samll. Darling

John Marsh Joseph Thompson

Oliver Hayward

Nathaniel Weatherby

Samll. Rich

Samll. Smith

John Thompson Jr The Inheritance of Mendon

Isaac Thayer .John Holbrook

Ebenezer Thompson

John Corbet

Richard Blood

Peter Holbrook

Joseph Holbrook

Eliphalet Holbrook.

Zuriel Hall

" In the House of Representatives

" Nov. 26, 1719 Read &c.

" Ordered that the Prayer of the Petitioners be Granted & That a Township be Erected & Constituted according thereunto & the Platt above : Provided They Procure and Settle a learned or- thodox Minister within the Space of three years now coming.

" And That John Darling, John Thompson & John Marsh be

" The Petition of The Inhabitance of a Tract of Land be- | Impowered to Call a Town Meeting any time in March next to

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choose Town Officers & manage ye other prudentiall affairs of ye Town. The name of the Town to be called Bellingham. "Sent up for Concurrence

" JOHN BURRILL, Speaker.

" In Council Nov. 27, 1719

" Read and Concurred

" JOSEPH WILLARD, Sec.

" A true copy examined

"P. J. WILLARD, Sec."

Why or how the name happened to be Bellingham cannot be told, although it was undoubtedly borrowed from Sir Richard Bellingham, an early colonial Gov- ernor. As will be noticed from the order of incorpo- ration, Bellingham never had a corporate charter, but came into existence solely on the proviso that a learned orthodox minister was settled in three years, and this being complied with, she took her stand among the sister towns of the colony. In accordance with the allowing of the petition, the citizens came together at the house of John Thompson, and organized a town- meeting. Thus it was on March 2, 1720, the first town-meeting was held in Bellingham. The action of that meeting was the election of Pelatiah Smith moderator ; Selectmen, John Darlin, Pelatiah Smith, John Thompson, Nathaniel Jillson, and John Corbet ; Town Clerk, Pelatiah Smith ; Treasurer, John Hol- brook ; Tithingmen, John Marsh, Nicholas Cook ; men for the due observance of swine, Samuel Darling, Oliver Hayward ; Constables, William Hayward and Nicholas Cook. The matter of a house for public worship being considered, John Darlin, Nicholas Cook, Sr., John Corbet, John Holbrook were chosen a committee to find a suitable place to locate the building. John Corbet, Pelatiah Smith, Nathaniel Jillson, and Nicholas Cook were chosen a committee to build the house, so far as covering and inclosing was concerned. At a meeting called in May, it being desirous to have funds, it was " Voted that no inhabit- ant shall take in any cattle from any outside town without first paying twelve pence per head into the town treasury, this vote to stand in full force for the term of one year." In the 14th of November meet- ing at John Thompson's house the town decided " That the meeting-house should be sett whare thare Is a stake Standing Near Weatherlys corner with a heap of stones Laid about said Stake and a pine-tree marked Said Stake Standing In an old Road that goes from mendon to wrenthan, the Demension of the meeting-house Voted to be : fourty foott long thirty foott wide, Eighteen foott Between Joynts. The Stated price for the Laborers for a Narrow axx man finding himself tow shillings and a sixpence pr Day, Broad axx man three shillings pr day, finding them- selves." It was also decided at this same meeting 10

that forty pounds be raised for the town expenses for that year. The location of the building is fixed in the vicinity now known as Crimpville, near the resi- dence of Albert Burr. At a meeting held Nov. 23, 1721, the vote was passed that the meeting-house should be lathed and plastered with white lime, also an " alley-way" should be left four feet wide through the centre and an " alley-way" four feet wide between the ends of the seats and the sides of the building. In January, 1772, seventy-four pounds were received from the Great and General Court as a part of the fifty thousand pound bank. A very common practice in our town at this early period was the allowing of swine to go at large during the late fall and winter months, sometimes extending the time even so late as June. On one occasion in particular the town de- clared any rams found at large between July and November might be taken up by any one, and the owner obliged to pay three shillings for each offense, but nothing was to be paid unless the ram. was first captured. In April, 1720, the inhabitants laid out sixty-six acres of land about the meeting-house for a training-field. On a survey the area measured seventy- seven acres, the records saying eleven acres were for bad land. In January, 1723, the town decided to grant fifty acres of land to the first minister settling in town, and shortly afterward Thomas Smith entered upon his duties. In this same year a difficulty arose with Wrentham on account of the dividing-line be- tween the two towns, and considerable spirit was man- ifested by the people before the line was amicably adjusted, Bellingham going so far as to choose a com- mittee to go before a court of law, and a tax was levied on cows to defray the expense thereof. The town after- ward sold one hundred and fifty acres of common land, and realized one hundred and forty pounds, which was expended in surveying and other incident- als connected with establishing the final line. April 22, 1726, a town-meeting was called, in which it was decided to have a new minister, Rev. Mr. Smith hav- ing left and Rev. Mr. Sturgeon then acting as pastor. In the following meeting it was fully decided to dis- miss Mr. Sturgeon, and pay his board-bill of twenty- six shillings and his bill for firewood at the same time. In the following winter Rev. Jonathan Mills was ordained. A familiar and common practice among our early settlers was to warn people outside the town lines. Numerous instances occur, and we give a form as showing how the end was accomplished : "Suf- folk SS. To the constable of the town of Bellingham Greeting. In his Majesties name you are required forthwith to warn - his wife and children out of our town of Bellingham within fourteen days as the

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

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