History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 90

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

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423

STOUGHTON.

the 'Massacre' (so called), March 5, 1770, when the British troops fired upon the inhabitants of Boston, one Christopher Monk, of Boston, an ap- prentice, seventeen years old, stood next to Gen. Joseph Warren, and was shot down by a bullet through one of his lungs. Gen. Warren, who was a skillful physician and surgeon, attended him every day for several years, without fee, until he finally recovered. What relation he was to the Monks, of Stoughton, is not now known. George Monk kept a ' famous tavern' on what is now Park Street, in Boston, in 1686. Another George Monk had his will proven Oct. 10, 1740. He was a shop- keeper in Boston. There were four Elias Monks, one of whom, great-great-grandfather to Elisha C., came to Stoughton about 1720, and since then the family has been quite numerous there. He settled in the southeastern part of Stoughton, was a farmer, and died in 1750. He left at least two sons,-George and William. William was a soldier in both the French and Indian wars of 1756, and the Revolution, and was at the battle of the Plains of Abraham, at the taking of Quebec, under Gen. Wolfe. George was born Feb. 10, 1734, in Stoughton, and died about 1814. I knew him very well. He was a farmer. His son Jacob was a farmer also. He was grand- father to Elisha Capen Monk."

George, father of Jacob, was a volunteer in the Revolution, receiving a bounty from the town, and served through the war. Jacob married Milly Ran- dall, of Easton, whose mother lived to the advanced age of one hundred and four years. Their children were Nathan, George R. Stillman, Jacob, Almira (married Isaac Blanchard), Eliza (died single), and Caroline (married Charles Stone, of North Bridge- water).

The Stoughton home of the family was in the south part of the town, near the " Old Colony" line, and has been held by the family from the first occu- pant until now. Jacob Monk was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a large man of fine presence, quiet and unostentatious, and although very modest, was of sterling worth. He lived to be sixty- seven. George Randall Monk, son of Jacob, born about 1799, had the educational advantages of the public schools of his day, became a manufacturer of boots and shoes in Stoughton about 1825, and con- tinued about ten years in that business, when he re- moved to West Troy, N. Y., and established himself in manufacturing, but after a four-years' stay he gave up business in consequence of a fall which produced paralysis of both legs. He then returned to Stough- ton, where he died Oct. 9, 1843, aged forty-four years.

He married Sarah, daughter of Deacon Elisha and Milly (Gay) Capen. (Milly Gay, previous to her marriage, spun and wove cloth from flax raised on her father's farm at Dry Pond, and herself carried it to Boston, and sold it for money to purchase her wedding- dress. Her father, Timothy Gay, was a minute-man in the Revolution, and was called out to aid in the defense of Roxbury. She was a woman of remarkable strength of character and physical endurance, and taught school before her marriage. She lived to be ninety- seven years of age.) They had five children who attained mature years,-George E., Elisha C., Harriet (deceased ; married Ephraim W. Littlefield, of East Stoughton, and left three children), Adelia A. (married, first, William H. Curtis, had one child ; sec- ond, A. A. Lamb ; they have had two children, and now live in Stoughton), Eliza F. (married D. S. Tol- man, lives in Brockton, and has two children).

Elisha C. Monk was fifteen years old at his father's death. He had a good common-school education, supplemented by the private teaching of Rev. Wil- liam Cornell (a successful teacher and pastor of the Congregational Church in Stoughton) in Latin, rhet- oric, etc. He learned the bootmaker's trade, and could make a good boot when eighteen. He continued at the trade ten years, and alone and with others con- ducted manufacturing of boots for twelve years, and was fairly successful financially. He became one of the incorporators, in 1872, of the Stoughton Boot and Shoe Company, and was its agent. This con- tinued eight years, doing an annual business of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, and although not a financial success, still it gave much employment to residents of the town, distributing large amounts of money, and benefiting the community by the conse- quent increase of its business. In 1870, Mr. Monk went West as one of the original corporation (" Union Colony") which established the town of Greeley, Col. He was one of the trustees the first year of the colony, and erected the first building in the new town. This colony was one of the most successful ever un- dertaken, and will ever be historic from the sagacity and shrewd wisdom of its founders. Mr. Monk has been financially interested in Greeley until the present year. For the last ten years, and until within a few months, he has been the senior member of the firm of Monk & Ingalsbe, transacting a mercantile business in Greeley and at Colorado Springs.

Mr. Monk has ever been in the foremost file of political progress. He was a member of the organiza- tion of Sons of Temperance in Stoughton for twenty years, and until the dissolution of the lodge. He early became connected with the Free-Soil movement,

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and was elected on that issue and ticket to represent Stoughton in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1856. As this movement gathered strength, and the great civil war was forced upon the country, Mr. Monk gave his heartiest efforts to the maintenance of the Union and the success of the Republican party. He gave much of his time in filling the quota of Stough- ton in the numerous drafts made upon her for soldiers in the field, and the promptitude with which she re- sponded to them was largely due to his exertions. As a Republican he represented his district in the Senate of Massachusetts in 1866-67, and served with credit on important committees. In religious belief he is a Universalist.

Mr. Monk married, Jan. 13, 1851, Sally B., daugh- ter of Ethan and Sarah (Wentworth) French. She was born in Stoughton, Aug. 23, 1835. Their chil- dren are Bertha L., George, and Eunice C. Bertha married Isaac V. Marston, a member of the manufac- turing house of Farrell & Marston, Stoughton, and has one child,-Isaac Bertram. Mr. Monk ranks | old, and his father when he was about eight. He was among the successful men of whom Stoughton is worthily proud. Conservative, yet actuated by con- victions, he has never been a hindrance to true prog- ress, but one of its most earnest assistants. Pleasant and unrestrained in social intercourse, faithful in all the relations of life, those who have known him longest are his strongest friends.

LUCIUS CLAPP.

Thomas Clapp (1), the first American ancestor of Lucius Clapp, was born in Dorchester, England, in 1597, and came of an old Devonshire family of Danish extraction. He came to this country probably in 1633, as in 1634 his name appears on the town records of Dorchester, in which town he was admitted a freeman in 1638. He afterwards removed to Wey- mouth, next to Scituate, where he was deacon of the church in 1647. He was an enterprising, energetic, and useful man ; was deputy in 1649, and overseer of the poor in 1667, serving the first term of the ex- istence of those offices in the town. He married Abigail - - , had nine children, and died April 20, 1684, greatly respected. His third child, Samuel (2), married June 14, 1666, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Gill, of Hingham. He inherited his father's resi- dence ; was a distinguished man, and notably so in Scituate, his native town, which speaks well for his ability, as it then contained some of the ablest men in the colony. He was eight years deputy of Plymouth

chusetts Colonies, he was representative to the General Court of Massachusetts fourteen years. In many other and important ways, he served his town and colony with zeal and fidelity, and died at an advanced age. He had ten children, of whom Joseph (3) was second, and was born Dec. 14, 1668. He married and lived all his days in Scituate, where he owned land. He had twelve children. His son Joseph (4), born July 15, 1701, was deacon, inherited his father's estate ; married, first, Hannah Briggs; second, Sarah Perkins, and reared a family of fifteen children. His eldest son, Joseph (5), born in Scituate, Feb. 21, 1734-35, married there Eliza Turner, and spent the latter portion of his life elsewhere. He had six chil- dren, one of whom, Barnard (6), born in Scituate, married Lydia Packard and settled in Braintree, where he died in 1803, leaving two children,-Charles (7) and Lydia (married Daniel Holbrook). Charles, born in Braintree, Jan. 10, 1795, was early an orphan, his mother dying when he was scarcely two years

taken by his uncle, Nathan Packard, a farmer of North Bridgewater, with whom he remained until his majority. He acquired sufficient education to enable him to teach several terms of school in early life, and in which he gave great satisfaction. He married Sally, daughter of Nathaniel and Betsey Manley, who was born in North Bridgewater, and shortly after set- | tled in North Easton as a farmer. In 1821, he came to Stoughton, purchased seventy-five acres of land, which, with additions, now is the farm occupied by his son Lucius, and was ever after a resident there. He died Jan. 16, 1838, a quiet, unostentatious man, of good repute. He held the various town offices of im- portance with credit, and was called out to defend the coast in the war of 1812. His children were Lucius (8), and Charles, who died, aged nineteen, in 1846. He was a young man of more than ordinary ability, | quiet and unassuming in his manners, honorable and upright in his life, making friends of all who came in contact with him. He was a good scholar, having, beside his common-school education, studied several terms at an academy, and was engaged in a course of studies at the normal school in Bridgewater, prepar- ing himself for future usefulness, of which he gave great promise, when he was prostrated by consump- tion.

Lucius Clapp is the eighth in direct descent from Thomas, the emigrant, and was born in North Bridge- water (now Brockton), Mass. He was educated at common and private schools ; was reared a farmer ; took pride in agriculture, and has always followed Colony. After the union of Plymouth and Massa- . that avocation, and is to-day one of the representative

Gracias Glapp

Robert

Porter

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STOUGHTON.

farmers of this progressive age. He has always re- sided on his father's homestead ; has been successful in business, and has used the funds Providence has given into his care wisely, and done much to make him remembered as a liberal and kind-hearted man- He married Emily, daughter of Lewis Waters, July 14, 1847. Formerly a Whig, Mr. Clapp has been identified with the most progressive political creeds. He was one of the original Free-Soilers, and chairman of the first Free-Soil meeting held in Stoughton. Since its organization he has supported the Republi- can party. He has been member of school commit- tees several years, and selectman of Stoughton seven years, and now (1883) holds that position. He has always been pronounced in advocacy of temperance, and has been connected with every movement for the betterment and advancement of his native town. He is an attendant and supporter of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

We might write much of the esteem in which he is held by the better element of the community in which he has passed his entire life, but we forbear, fearing that we might wound a modest, retiring na- ture, when we only sought to do justice. We must, however, give the remark made by a prominent citi- zen concerning him, " He is a selectman in the fullest and highest sense of the term, an able man, and honest and faithful as able."

ROBERT PORTER.

Robert Porter is (eighth) in direct descent from Richard Porter, who with others came over from Weymouth, England, in 1635, and settled at Wey- mouth, Mass. In the years 1648, 1654, 1663, and 1668 grants of land were made to Richard Porter. He was continually in office as selectman, constable, and upon committees ; was a member of the original church,-" Brother Richard Porter" often occurs on the old records. The name of his wife was probably Ruth, and he was doubtless married after arriving in this country. He died between Dec. 25, 1688, the date of his will, and March 6, 1689, the date of the inventory of his estate. The commencement of this will is quaint, and worthy a place in this history. " I, Richard Porter, of Weymouth, in New England, being apprehensive of my near approaching departure out of this world, and being through the mercy of God of a short memory and disposing mind ; trust- ing in the mercy of God through ye Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life : Do make this my last will & testa- ment." The line from Richard to Robert, of whom

we write, is Richard (1), John (2), Samuel (3), Samuel (4), Joseph (5), Robert (6), Robert (7), Robert (8). John Porter (2) is mentioned in the Porter genealogy as one of the most enterprising men of his time. He had many land grants, and was a large purchaser of lands in ancient Bridgewater. In 1693 he built the first saw-mill in what is now South Abington, at " Little Comfort," and was a useful, honored citizen, holding all the various town offices at different times. Joseph (3), born June 10, 1730, lived in Bridgewater and Stoughton, moving from Bridgewater to Stoughton in 1777. He and his wife were admitted to the North Bridgewater Church, of which his uncle, John Porter, was the minister in 1780. He was a lieutenant in the militia in the time of the Revolutionary war. Robert Porter (6), son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Burrill) Porter, born in Bridgewater, March 30, 1762, was a farmer, and re- sided in Stoughton ; married Elizabeth Gay, June 5, 1794 ; he had several children, among them Robert (7). Mr. Porter was an active, energetic man, was captain of militia, and served his day and generation well. He died Aug. 18, 1835. We come now to Robert, father of the present Robert Porter. He was born in Stoughton, Dec. 19, 1798; married first, Fannie B., daughter of Uriah Capen, of Stoughton, Aug. 20, 1822 ; second, Eunice Freeman, of Orleans, June 24, 1832 ; third, Mrs. Caroline P. Ames, of Milton, June 5, 1875. His children numbered thir- teen, Robert being the oldest. He died Nov. 9, 1876, aged seventy-eight. He was a farmer and large real-estate owner, and for more than fifty years owned and lived upon the land where the town hall now stands. He laid out and built Porter and Canton Streets as far as the Catholic Church, also School Street from Pearl to same point, thence westerly over his land nearly to Water Street. He also extended Canton Street to the line between him and his son Robert (8), being nearly a mile in the whole, selling the lots to the first builders and dwellers thereon. He was a " road-builder" from his early days, having built the road through Ames' Pond about 1830, also the road through the old mill-pond at the head of the present Brockton reservoir, in 1838. In the latter he had a partner, Mr. Samuel Capen. His trade was that of stone-masonry, and he used to say that he " had stoned wells enough to measure three miles." He got out hardwood timber, and inaugurated the wood and lumber business now carried on by his son Robert. He held several town offices, such as col- lector, constable, etc., was at one time deacon of the Universalist Church, but afterwards connected himself with the Congregationalists.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROBERT PORTER (8) was born in Stoughton, on the Uriah Capen (his grandfather's) place on Pleasant Street, Dec. 6, 1823, married Mary Holmes Drake, daughter of Luther Drake and Catherine (Pope) Holmes, his wife, Nov. 16, 1848. Mrs. Porter was born in Sandwich. Their children are Mary Emma (1), died young; Mary Emma (2), born Dec. 26, 1850, died Dec. 25, 1877; Theresa Jane, born March 17, 1853; Robert D., born July 29, 1855; | unpromising beginning, Mr. Porter, by expenditure Ellis B., born April 28, 1860 ; and A. St. John Chambré, born Sept. 27, 1867.

Mr. Porter had only the advantages of the common schools, and as he was early put to labor, his oppor- tunities for education were very limited. When four years old, in the summer of 1828, he rode and drove horse to plow, continuing this for his father and others until his next younger brother was old enough to supersede him. When about eight years of age he began to accompany his father on his trips to Boston and drive team, and from that time to the present has been an active laborer in various depart- ments of business. As soon as he was old enough to ride, he was set to ride horse in plowing out corn, and when nine years old " held plow and drove for him- self." He remained with his father on the farm and doing stone-mason work until he was twenty-one. He established himself in business in 1845, by pur- chasing a timber lot in Easton, from which he removed the timber and wood and also made charcoal. He has dealt in wood and timber ever since, about forty years. He did everything that came in his way to make an honest day's work, drove team, stoned cel- lars, dug wells, laid stone walls, and has always been proficient. Among other things, selling and carting (with some aid in loading) fifty cords merchantable oak and chestnut wood four miles, on twelve and one- half consecutive days, the loads, many of them, being divided between three and four purchasers. This was hauled on an eight-foot wagon, and one load of heavy oak contained nineteen and five-twelfths cord feet, and was so high that sometimes a hind wheel would rise upon the road. This was in 1847 or 1848, and when fifty years of age cut seven cords of pine wood in one day; at another time, one and three-eighths cords in seventy-four minutes, of which witnesses are now living. When thirteen years old he practiced tending windlass for well-digging, and lowered tubs of stone into wells for his father to lay. At one time, when near the bottom, the tub got the start, overbal- ancing him, as he weighed less than one hundred pounds, throwing him over the windlass. He shrunk from no productive employment, but never strove to make a dollar dishonestly. He purchased the place

where he now lives June 15, 1852. This was origi- nally forty-five acres, and to this he has added by pur- chase until he now has in this place one hundred and two acres, and altogether about three hundred acres. When Mr. Porter purchased this place it was much run down, having scarcely a rod of good fence and a few " tumble-down" walls, and he could only cut three tons of English hay on the entire place. From this of great time and labor, has changed it from a barren waste to a rich, productive farm. It has been said that " he who made two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, was a public benefactor." How much more applicable is this term to Mr. Porter. The farm was almost covered with wood, through which one could scarcely see a house. He cleared off the wood, extirpated the stumps, and laid out a private road across his farm, along which and the public highway be has set out fine shade-trees, being about a mile of distance. He has constructed hun- dreds of rods of drainage, open, stone, and tile. One drain, a rod in width, is over eighty rods in length. Also stone walls of great beauty and solidity, and developed a charming scene of pastoral beauty from the primitive wilderness by his energy and taste. Mr. Porter is a model farmer, cuts more than sixty tons of fodder, follows no specialty, but engages in all departments of agriculture applicable to this section. He was the first to establish the coal business in Stoughton, which he has carried on for more than a quarter of a century. In this he disposes of from three to four thousand tons per annum. By the stringency of the panie times, in 1877, Mr. Porter was compelled to compromise with his creditors at sixty cents on the dollar. That his honesty and in- tegrity was not impeached by this is evidenced by the fact that, immediately after settlement, his cred- itors offered to advance him funds to continue his business. In public and private life Mr. Porter takes a high moral and religious stand, and holds the most advanced positions. His political life has had three stages, Free-Soil, Republican, and Prohibition. Having no aspiration for office, he has only accepted that of chairman of selectmen, one term (1854). He has, however, allowed his name to run in connec- tion with senatorial and other offices on Prohibition tickets, merely as the representative of a principle, and enjoyed the satisfaction of running ahead of his ticket. He is an industrious, hard-working citizen, and enjoys the esteem of the community.

427

HOLBROOK.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

HOLBROOK.

BY A. E. SPROUL.

ELSEWHERE in this volume Holbrook is alluded to as the daughter of Randolph. Technically, this is correct enough ; practically, however, the distinction between the West and East villages of the present town-now respectively the towns of Randolph and Holbrook-was as marked for many years previous to the division as it has ever been since. The centres of the two villages were nearly two miles apart, and although there was a well-built highway extending al- most in a straight line between them, the communities did not grow together, and to this day the street al- luded to is but scantily settled for the greater part of its length.

General History .- The division of the town of Randolph, by a line running in the vicinity of the Cochato River, had been a topic of conversation, es- pecially in East Randolph, for many years previous to the autumn of 1871, when the first really decisive steps were taken. In January, 1867, two meetings to consider the subject were held, at which it was evident that a majority of the citizens of East Ran- dolph were in favor of the formation of a new town east of the Old Colony Railroad line ; but there was not the harmony and unanimity which seemed desir- able, and the matter was dropped. Early in the au- tumn of 1871, however, it seemed to some that the time for a successful effort in that direction had come, and preliminary work was begun, culminating in a citi- zens' meeting held on the evening of Tuesday, Decem- ber 5th. This meeting was largely attended, and great enthusiasm prevailed. It was called to order by Mr. William Gray, and organized by the choice of Mr. L. S. Whitcomb as chairman, and Mr. E. Frank Lincoln, secretary. The following resolve, offered by Mr. Frank W. Lewis, was, after a full discussion by several of the most prominent citizens, accepted and adopted by a rising vote, only one negative vote being recorded :

" Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that it is ex- pedient that the portion of Randolph lying east of the Old Col- ony and Newport Railroad be set off from the main town and incorporated as a new town."

meeting, held on Saturday evening, December 9th, was made noteworthy by reason of the proposal by Mr. E. N. Holbrook, there advanced, to give to the new town, in the event of its incorporation, the sum of fifty thousand dollars-of which twenty-five thousand dollars were to be expended for a town hall and library | building, ten thousand dollars for a public library, and the remaining fifteen thousand dollars for the pay- ment of the town debt, or some kindred object. The idea which still remains current to a considerable ex- tent, more particularly outside the borders of the present town, that Mr. Holbrook made his munificent | gift conditional upon the proposed town being named for him, deserves emphatic contradiction at the hands of the present writer, based upon the most reliable contemporary testimony. At the meeting where the generous proposal was made, the citizens assembled at once brought forward the name " Holbrook" for the new town, and it received almost unanimous approval by the townspeople. The name was adopted not so much in honor of any one man, as in recognition of a family of old residents, who had become wealthy in the prosecution of legitimate business, and who had always shown themselves enterprising and public- spirited, and alive to the interests of the community with which they were for so many years identified. At the meeting of December 9th, therefore, it was immediately voted that the Legislature be petitioned to name the new town Holbrook, if incorporated, and three cheers were given for the name, and three more and a vote of thanks for Mr .. Holbrook. Petitions and subscription papers were actively circulated, fre- quent meetings of the executive committee were held, and the Hon. E. W. Morton, of Boston, was en- gaged to act as counsel for the advocates of division. About Jan. 8, 1872, the first petition was pre- sented to the Senate by Senator Carpenter, of Fox- boro'. Up to this time the project had been regarded by the citizens of West Randolph as visionary ; but they now saw that it must be met in a serious spirit. On January 18th a town-meeting was held in Stetson Hall, West Randolph, " to take action on the petition of E. N. Holbrook and others," at which it was voted to appoint a committee to oppose the division of the town, and to instruct the representative to the Legis- lature, Mr. Ludovicus F. Wild, of East Randolph, to carry out the expressed wish of the town, or resign.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 90

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