USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 43
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steadiness that veterans might be proud of until they were ordered to retire a little to a more sheltered spot.'
you of the intense feeling of anxiety manifested in this community on receiving news of this battle. Many of your hearts were wrung with sorrow as each telegram announced the result. Two-thirds of the officers and one-third of the men were killed or wounded. The authorities of this town sent at once two of our citizens, George N. Johnson and Dr. E. A. Allen, to aid and render relief to the wounded and suffering, and to tenderly care for the dead. Their services were faithfully performed and gratefully ap- , preciated. We remember to-day the names of those whose lifeless forms were forwarded by them from the field of battle to their sorrowful homes, and the sad and solemn ceremonies observed by this whole com- munity in yonder church before conveying them to their final resting-place. Capt. Horace Niles, whose name stands at the head of this list, died of wounds received in this battle Sept. 27, 1862, just five weeks after he left this State for the seat of war. But he was not the only one who fell. I have not the time
second lieutenant, all of whose names appear on these | to call each by name, or to speak of them individually.
Seventeen others, whose names are found on these tablets, laid down their lives upon the altar of their country, who belonged to Company E, of the Thirty- fifth. This regiment afterwards performed important duty in Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. It has an honorable record of taking part in the battles of South Mountain, An- tietam, Fredericksburg, Jackson, Campbell Station, siege of Knoxville, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad, Vicksburg, Fort Sedgwick, Petersburg, and several others. * *
*
" While I have spoken particularly of the Fourth and Thirty-fifth Regiments, there are many other names recorded on these tablets, and whose graves you have visited to-day, who faithfully performed equally as meritorious services in different organiza- tions, each and all of whom fell while fighting for the preservation of the Union. From the commencement to the close of the war the town of Randolph, then including Holbrook, furnished nine hundred and nineteen men as its proportion required under the different calls of the President, leaving a surplus of thirty-one over all demands ; eighty-one of these fell in battle, or died of disease contracted while be- longing to the Union army. While the last living
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
link of the Revolution has long ago separated from us, it is not so with the Rebellion of 1861. Our neighbors, our friends, our relatives went forth from us to become soldiers and martyrs, but some of them returned. Let us not, therefore, forget those who assemble on these memorial days, having faithfully performed their duty to their country, who fortunately | escaped the perils of the camp and the dangers of the conflict, and returned to their peaceful homes, putting off the soldier's armor and again entering upon the duties of civil life."
" A. D. 1867.
Erected by the town of Randolph to perpetuate the memory of , its patriotic citizens who voluntarily entered and fell in their country's service during the war of the GREAT REBELLION."
Above these words are inscribed on the slab at the right of the stage the following names :
Horace Niles.
William F. Gill.
William Palmer.
Frederick M. Wortman.
George Henry.
Ephraim T. Cole.
John Dunton. Sidney A. Mann.
Richmond Blencowe.
Cornelius Desmond.
Seth C. Bean.
Stephen C. Yeaton.
Levi A. Brundage.
John A. Law.
Theodore Compass.
Charles D. Hodge.
Richard H. Cox.
John A. Kennedy.
Joel King.
Adoniram J. Townsend.
James Jones.
Henry Keily.
Cornelius Murphy.
Edward MeMahon.
John HI. Baker.
Albert M. May.
Elbridge G. Simpson.
Daniel Ricardon.
Herbert C. Blood.
John H. Gill.
Otis Crooker.
George S. Sloan.
George H. Croak.
Joseph V. Sloan.
Philip Donahoe.
Warren C. Turner.
John W. Heath.
Charles E. Hunt.
Maurice Twohig.
The companion tablet on the left of the platform bears the following names :
J. Wilson Ingell. John Foley.
George Washburn.
John D. Flynn.
Matthew Clark, Jr.
Alvan Faunce.
Cornelius Clark. Henry Keily, 2d.
William HI. Shed.
George W. Mann.
George B. White.
Thomas O'Halloran.
Edward MeLaughlin.
Charles L. Thayer.
J. Frank Poole. George Smith. Henry Snow.
W. Leander White. Seth M. Harris.
John P. Turner.
John Q. A. Sylvester.
C. Payson Thayer.
Daniel O'Niel.
Nelson L. Thayer.
William M. Hobart.
Thomas F. Whitmarsh.
Michael Kelliher, Jr.
Philemon White.
Garrett G. Barry.
Thomas E. Willis. James Hogan.
Edward K. Hobart. Job D. Harris.
William F. Hill. Patrick Hand.
Jerome R. Hodge.
Loring Taunt.
Alson W. Thayer.
Charles Weathee.
Zenas M. Hayden.
Post No. 110, Dept. of Massachusetts, G. A. R., was formed Oct. 29, 1869, the first meeting being held on that date in Good Templar Hall (the old meeting-house) on North Street. The charter mem- bers were fifteen in number, viz. : Edmund Cottle, Hiram C. Alden, Charles H. Greeley, James W. White, Richmond T. Pratt, Samuel R. Hodge, Joshua Hor- ton, James F. Dargan, Francis A. Belcher, S. Melvin Clarke, Joseph W. Thayer, Nelson Mann, George C. Spear, Samuel White, and Warren Thayer, Jr. At. this meeting the following officers were elected for the remainder of the year : Commander, Edmund Cottle ; S. V. C., Richmond T. Pratt ; J. V. C., James F. Dargan ; Adjutant, Hiram C. Alden ; Quartermaster, Charles H. Greeley ; O. D., James W. White; O. G., Samuel R. Hodge ; Surgeon, Samuel White ; Chap- lain, Warren Thayer, Jr. Another election of officers was held Dec. 31, 1869, but the roster was un- changed. At a meeting held Feb. 4, 1870, the name " Capt. Horace Niles" was adopted.
From this time the growth of the Post was vigor- ous, and new members were admitted at nearly every meeting. May 30, 1870, was the first Decoration Day observed, the Post parading with a band and an escort of firemen and some of the societies of the town. June 17, 1870, Hiram C. Alden was elected Commander. He appointed Warren Thayer, Jr., as his Adjutant, and at the meeting of July 1, 1870, ap- pointed the first charity committee. Aug. 19, 1870, a code of by-laws, drawn by George C. Spear, Charles Miller, and Warren Thayer, Jr., was adopted for the better governing of the Post, and in February, 1871, the first fair for the benefit of the Charity Fund was held in Stetson Hall, and additional by-laws to govern that fund were adopted. Dec. 15, 1871, Royal W. Thayer was elected Commander. He held that posi- tion four years. His Adjutants were Warren Thayer, Jr., to Dec. 20, 1872; William A. Croak, to Dec. 17, 1875. At the latter date Galen Hollis was elected Commander. He held the position for five years. His Adjutant was William A. Croak. In company with the Good Templars the Post moved their quar- ters to Alden's Hall, North Street. Dec. 3, 1880, William A. Croak was elected Commander. He ap- pointed Horace A. Drake his Adjutant. Dec. 2, 1881, Commander Croak appointed Lorenzo E. Wilbur his Adjutant. June 20, 1882, the Post, in company with
John F. Riley.
The tablets alluded to by the orator in the fore- going quotations are large and handsomely designed slabs of marble, placed on either side of the platform in Stetson Hall. Each bears this inscription :
Frederick Nightingale.
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the Knights of Honor, moved into Shankland's Hall, on Main Street, the two societies hiring it together. To this date (January, 1884) the Post has borne on its roll one hundred and forty-seven names. Of this number some have died, some have been transferred to other Posts, and the usual per cent. dropped. The membership is now fifty. Since the formation of the Post there has been expended for relief, by the direc- tion of the various relief committees, a little over four thousand dollars. Of this sum three thousand one hundred and twenty-three dollars and twenty-two cents was drawn from what is known as the relief fund, being money given the Post as donations, or raised by the fairs which have been held yearly for the benefit of the fund. This money can be spent in no other way. The remainder was drawn from the Post fund, and is money contributed by the members which they can spend as they please. The Post had on hand in its relief fund, on Jan. 1, 1884, nine hundred and forty dollars and twenty-three cents, in the hands of three trustees, viz .: Hiram C. Alden, Horace A. Drake, and Samuel White. There is also a fund known as the " Grandmother Spear Fund," amounting to fifty dollars. This grew from the one dollar note given the Post by an old lady (eighty-nine years), Mrs. Capt. Otis Spear. This is kept as a separate fund for the present. The Post fund is ample for all present wants. The officers for the year 1884 are: Commander, William A. Croak ; S. V. C., Horace A. Drake ; J. V. C., William R. Roberts ; Adjutant, Lorenzo E. Wilbur; O. D., Myron W. Hollis ; O. G., Marcus M. Poole ; Quarter- master, Galen Hollis; Surgeon, Lewis A. Hunt; Chaplain, Francis A. Stanley.
Public Buildings .- The town hall (known as Stetson Hall) is a handsome and commodious edifice, located nearly opposite the Congregational Church, in the centre of the town. It is built of wood and cost ten thousand dollars. It is named in commemoration of the late Hon. Amasa Stetson, who presented it to the town, and was dedicated in 1842. Within it is to be seen a life-like portrait, by Frothingham, of Charlestown, of the generous donor of the building. In the lower portion of the edifice is located the high school, which is partly supported by the income of a fund of ten thousand dollars, left for the purpose by Hon. Amasa Stetson, and partly by taxation. Mr. | Stetson was born in Randolph, March 26, 1769, being the son of John and Rachel (Paine) Stetson. He married Rebecca Kettell, of Boston, Aug. 21, 1798. Beginning life as a poor boy, he learned the trade of - a shoemaker, and, upon going to Boston, where he associated himself with his brother Samuel in the
shoe business, succeeded, by strict economy and close application, in laying the foundation of his large for- tune. In the war of 1812 he was appointed by President Madison to the office of commissary for the district of Massachusetts, and was also elected by the Democrats to the State Senate. During his life he manifested his liberality by his donations to his native town, and also to the town of Dorchester, his adopted home, where he presented the Rev. Mr. Hall's church with a handsome clock costing seven hundred dollars. In the town of Stetson, Me., which was named for him, he had a church built for the use of all denom- inations. His death occurred Aug. 2, 1844. He was aged seventy-five years, four months, and six days, and was buried at Dorchester. He died without issue, leaving a fortune of over five hundred thousand dol- lars. In addition to his previously mentioned dona- tions to Randolph, he gave the town one hundred dollars to build a face wall around the old North Cem- etery, where his parents lie buried.
The Turner Public Library occupies a handsome stone building just north of the Congregational Church. It was completed and occupied early in 1875. The building, independent of the land, cost forty thousand dollars, and the lower rooms on the ground floor are occupied by the national and sav- ings banks and by a grocery store. The library was the gift to the town of Seth, Royal W., Mary B., and Abby W. Turner, and Anne M. Sweetser. Fol- lowing are the essential portions of the deed of gift :
" Know all men by these presents, that we, Seth Turner, Royal W. Turner, and Abby W. Turner, of Randolph, in the County of Norfolk, and Anne M. Sweetser, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, widow, all in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, heirs-at-law of Royal Turner and Maria, his wife, late of said Randolph, deceased, in consideration of one dollar to us paid by the Inhabitants of the Town of Randolph aforesaid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby remise, re- lease, and forever quitclaim unto the said Inhabitants of Ran- dolph, a certain lot of land, with the new stone building thereon, containing ten thousand four hundred and ninety-seven and one-half feet, and bounded and described as follows, viz. : [De- scription given at length.]
"Said grantors hereby also give to said grantees the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), which shall constitute a fund for the purpose hereinafter set forth.
"TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same to the said inhabitants of Randolph forever, but upon the following conditions and trusts, viz. :
" FIRST .- Said land and building, together with the fund aforesaid, shall be under the control of a Board of Trustees consisting of fifteen (15) members, of which Board the Select- men of said town for the time being-not exceeding three (3) in number-shall be ex officio members; and should said Board of Selectmen at any time be composed of more than three members the town shall, at a meeting called for that pur- posc, designate which of them (not exceeding three, as afore-
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
said) shall act as said Trustees. The Board of Trustees so con- stituted shall manage and improve said real estate and fund for the uses and purposes of a Free Public Library for said Town of Randolph forever, subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as said Trustees shall from time to time adopt.
[The second condition designates the manner in which the trustees (exclusive of the selectmen) shall be chosen, and va- cancies filled, etc. The third proviso is that the trustees "may in their discretion apply the whole or any part of said fund in furnishing the library, reading, and trustees' rooms in said building, and the purchase of books therefor"; and the fourth section permits the leasing of a portion of the building, the proceeds to go to the library.]
" FIFTH .- Said Town of Randolph shall defray the expenses of keeping said building, with the books, furniture, and fix- tures belonging to said library, at all times properly insured against loss by fire, for an amount to be determined by the trustees, and shall also keep said building in thorough repair.
"SIXTH .- Should said building be destroyed by fire, the pro- ceeds of any insurance thereon shall be applied to rebuilding the same.
"SEVENTH .- If at any time hereafter said land and building should, from any cause, cease to be used for the purposes here- in designated, the same shall revert to the grantors, or their heirs."
The Hon. Seth Turner, upon his death, left by a provision in his will the additional sum of ten thou- sand dollars, the income of which is to be applied to the uses of the library, and to be known as the Turner Fund. This sum has been paid by the ex- ecutors of the will to the trustees of the library, who are as follows: J. White Belcher, acting president ; Royal W. Turner, treasurer ; Gilbert A. Tolman, secretary ; Rev. John C. Labaree, Rev. Joseph C. Foster, D.D., Royal T. Mann, John B. Thayer, Rufus A. Thayer (the three latter being selectmen of Randolph, and trustees ex officio), Benjamin Dick- erman, Daniel Howard, John V. Beal, Nathaniel Howard, John B. Thayer, J. Winsor Pratt, Edwin N. Lovering. Dr. Charles C. Farnham is librarian, and Miss Margaret W. Boyd assistant librarian. The number of volumes Jan. 1, 1884, was eight thousand three hundred and forty-five.
The Hon. Seth Turner died at his home on Main Street at about 1 o'clock A.M., April 8, 1883, after gradually failing in health for several months. On the evening previous to his death, while bathing, he fainted and fell, coming in contact with the bath-tub. He was found in an unconscious state, and so re- mained until he died. He was born in Randolph, July 29, 1821. He received his education at the Randolph Academy, then a flourishing institution, and entered the Randolph Bank as clerk at its organ- ization in 1836. His father, Col. Royal Turner, was cashier, and when the latter became president (at the death of his predecessor) Mr. Turner succeeded his father as cashier. Col. Turner died in 1861, at which
time Mr. Turner was elected president of the bank. A few years later he was elected president of the Shoe and Leather Bank, of Boston, a position which he retained until about two years prior to his death, when, on account of the manifold duties devolving upon him, his health became impaired and he ten- dered his resignation, which was accepted. In poli- tics he was a stanch Republican, and was twice elected to the Legislature, also to the Governor's council in 1873, 1874, and 1875. He was one of the trustees of the Thayer Academy at South Brain- tree, treasurer of the Randolph Savings Bank, secre- tary of the Stetson School Fund, and at different times held many other important positions of trust in various financial institutions. He was not only locally popular and respected, but his name was widely and favorably known in the principal financial circles of the country. His funeral, which was conducted by the Rev. J. C. Labaree, was very largely attended, and resolutions of tribute to his memory were passed by several of the institutions with which he had been identified.
Banks .- The Randolph Bank was incorporated in 1836 with a capital stock of $150,000. Subsequently it was reorganized under the National Bank Act with a capital stock of $200,000, and at the present time has a surplus exceeding its capital. Its present officers are : President, Royal W. Turner; Cashier, Charles G. Hathaway ; Directors, David Burrell, J. Winsor Pratt, E. Everett Holbrook, Thomas White, J. White Belcher, Benjamin Dickerman.
The Randolph Savings Bank was incorporated in April, 1851. The amount of deposits Jan. 1, 1884, was $800,952. The officers are J. White Belcher, president ; Royal W. Turner, first vice-president ; Thomas White, second vice-president ; Hiram C. Al- den, treasurer ; Trustees, J. White Belcher, Royal W. Turner, Thomas White, Alfred W. Whitcomb, Richard Stevens, Sidney French, Charles Harris, Nathaniel Howard, J. Winsor Pratt, Daniel Howard, Charles H. Howard, John T. Flood, George B. Bryant, Benjamin Dickerman, Jonathan Wales, Wales B. Thayer.
Newspapers .- On Saturday, March 14, 1857, appeared a " specimen number" of the Randolph Transcript and Norfolk County Advertiser. It was a small four-page sheet, five columns to a page, and was sold for " one dollar per year . . . in advance in all cases." Samuel P. Brown, the editor, in an edi- torial headed " Our Terms and Intentions," said that the " specimen number" was issued as a sample of " the paper which it is proposed to publish weekly in this place, if it is recognized by the public as sup-
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RANDOLPH.
plying a want which we are told exists here." There was little or no local news in the " specimen number," its reading-columns being mostly filled with miscel- laneous selections. Among other paragraphs was one relative to the inauguration of President Buchanan, and another giving a list of the members of his cabi- net. As usual with old newspapers, the advertise- ments of the Transcript are more interesting to one | who glances over its faded and time-stained pages than is the reading matter. The local "ads." are those of B. G. Veazie, who apparently not only dealt in newspapers, stationery, etc., but also in " some of the best three- and one-cent cigars ;" James Maguire & Co., boot manufacturers ; P. Gifford, tailor ; C. Morton, Jr., dealer in dry-goods, etc. ; Seth Mann, 2d, insurance agent ; E. A. Allen, M.D .; George Fowkes, harness-maker ; Daniel Howard, boot manu- facturer ; J. Litchfield, Jr., " dealer in groceries and ready-made clothing ;" J. Clark, market; S. White, dealer in papers, periodicals, and " confectionary ;" Darius Payne, auctioneer ; A. Townsend, dealer in dry-goods; James E. Nash, jeweller ; William Cole, Jr., expressman ; J. L. Brown, painter. An adver- tisement headed " Randolph Liquor Agency" an- nounced that the selectmen had " appointed Dr. E. A. Allen as town agent for keeping and selling spirituous and intoxicating liquors for medicinal, chemical, and mechanical purposes only." Two pe- titions to the selectmen for the laying out of new streets were also published.
Apparently Mr. Brown met with encouragement in his new venture, for "Vol. I., No. 1," of the Transcript appeared promptly on the following Sat- urday,- March 28, 1857. This was the first news- paper venture, so far as known, ever made in Ran- dolph.
On April 2, 1859, Mr. Brown changed the name of his paper to the Randolph Transcript and New England Advertiser, and also increased the yearly subscription to one dollar and fifty cents. It con- tinued to be published by this title until April 7, 1860, when the original name was once more placed at the head of the first page From June 14, 1862, only small supplements were issued for seven weeks, but not numbered in the volumes, which again began regularly on Aug. 2, 1862, with No. 12, Vol. VI. ; but on August 23d of that year Mr. Brown announced its discontinuance. On August 31st of the same year it was revived, under the name of the Randolph Advertiser, and printed on a small sheet at fifty cents a year. It was enlarged April 4, 1863, and on October 10th of the same year it was discontinued. Its valedictory was as follows :
"Six years and six months we have published this paper, though never a source of profit. In taking leave of our patrons, we will say that as much has been done by some of them for the encouragement of a local paper as is done in any place. They have been more than just,-they have been gen- erous. By words and deeds they have cheered and helped us, and we shall never forget them. As to the community gen- erally with whom we have come in contact, we have had from it our share of commendation and condemnation ; probably of the former as much as we deserved-the latter we will forget, or try to, as much as cannot be made beneficial for us all to remember."
Mr. Brown, on Jan. 7, 1865, issued a new series of the Transcript and Advertiser, and on July 8th enlarged it. The price per year at that time was one dollar and fifty cents. On October 1st the paper changed hands, Mr. Joseph Jones becoming editor and proprietor. He changed the name to the East Norfolk Register, and fixed the price at two dollars per annum. July 5, 1867, Elmer W. Holmes suc- ceeded Mr. Jones; March 19, 1869, Stillman B. Pratt and David S. Hasty became editors and pro- prietors, under the firm-name of Pratt & Hasty ; April 22, 1871, E. Marchant assumed control ; Aug. 19, 1871, it passed to Ichabod N. Fernald ; Jan. 20, 1872, E. Marchant again took charge ; Oct. 5, 1872, Charles M. Vincent became editor and proprietor, and remained as such until March 15, 1873, when he was succeeded by Mr. Daniel H. Huxford, who changed the name to the Norfolk County Register and Holbrook News, and who still remains " at the helm." Under his management the Register has been twice enlarged, being now a handsomely-printed thirty-six-column sheet, and has become prosperous, newsy, and entertaining. A well-managed " Holbrook department" is one of its features.
Societies .- Freemasonry in Randolph dates back to the beginning of the present century. Rural Lodge, the pioneer Masonic organization of the town, was organized June 8, 1801, and of Masonry 5801, A. L. From the original charter (signed by John Boyle, Senior Grand Warden ; John Soley, Junior Grand Warden; and John Proctor, Grand Secretary ) the following extract is made :
" Know ye, therefore, that we, the Grand Lodge aforesaid, reposing special trust and confidence in the prudence and fidel- ity of our beloved brethren above named, have constituted and appointed, and by these presents do constitute and appoint them, the said William P. Whiting, Thomas B. Wales, Jona- than Wales, Jr., Thomas French, Jr., Joshua Niles, Elihu Bates, Isaac Walker, Eleazer Beals, Ephraim Wales, John Turner, Theophilus Wentworth, Isachar Snell, and William French, a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title and designation of the Rural Lodge, hereby giving and granting unto them and their successors full power and author- ity to convene as Masons within the town of Randolph, in the
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
County of Norfolk and Commonwealth aforesaid, to receive and enter Apprentices, pass Fellow Crafts and raise Master Masons, upon the payment of such moderate compensation for the same as may be determined by the said lodge. Also, to make choice of a Master, Wardens and other office-bearers, annually or otherwise, as they shall see cause ; to receive and collect funds for the relief of poor and distressed brethren, their widows or children, and in general to transact all matters relating to Ma- sonry which may to them appear to be for the good of the craft, according to the ancient usages and customs of Masons."
The lodge was temporarily organized on the even- ing of the day when the members received their charter, as follows : W. M., William P. Whiting; S. W., Jonathan Wales, Jr .; J. W., Thomas French, Jr. ; S. D., Joshua Niles. At this meeting a com- mittee was chosen to purchase jewels and other necessary articles for the lodge. The next meeting was held June 23d, and the lodge completed its per- manent organization. A short time after a contro- versy arose respecting the building of a hall, and as a result a majority of the members withdrew in January, 1802. This action decreased the lodge to some seven or eight persons. During 1803 some four new mem- bers joined ; but just as the lodge seemed to have new life imparted to it it again became embarrassed by the un-Masonic action of the Master, and Jan. 31, 1803, he was expelled. At a meeting held April 4, 1803, a new code of by-laws was accepted, and the mem- bers who had previously withdrawn rejoined the lodge, " having become satisfied that the lodge would now act in harmony." A new choice of officers was made, as follows: W. M., Jonathan Wales, Jr .; S. W., Thomas French, Jr .; J. W., William French ; Treas., Jacob Niles ; Sec., Simeon Alden.
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