History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 106

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 106

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HISTORY OF ABINGTON.

maintained their ground with invincible courage and patriotic devotion until Capt. Peirce and nearly every one of his men were slain. "being called," as the early historian quaintly expressed it, "to imitate Samson. who was content to die with his enemies that he might overthrow them thereby."

The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Abington, and at the Mercantile Academy in Boston, and for a .short time was em- ployed in a shoe-factory, first at the bench and subse- quently as a book-keeper. When he was only twenty years of age (Oct. 14. 1861) he enlisted for the de- fense of the Union as a private in Company E, Twenty-third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and served with honor and credit continuously until the trinmphant close of the war. He shared the fortunes and privations of his regiment during its campaigns as a portion of the Burnside expedition, and while subsequently attached to the department of the South, the department of Virginia and North Carolina, the Army of the James, and the Army of the Potomac.

He was appointed commissary-sergeant Dec. 9, 1862 ; commissioned first lieutenant Sept. 1, 1863; appointed regimental quartermaster Jan. 3, 1864, and commissioned captain Sept. 20, 1864. He was appointed acting commissary of subsistence upon Gen. Harland's staff in April, 1865, and was dis- charged with his regiment at the close of the war, July 10, 1865. After his return home he was for a short time engaged in the business of insurance, but he was soon called to service by his former comrades- in-arms. Always, from the organization, an active mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, he was selected from time to time to serve in various official positions in that order, and in August, 1870, he was appointed by Gen. James L. Bates, then department commander, to the position of assistant adjutant-general of the department of Massachusetts. He discharged the dnties of the office with such admirable system and fidelity that he was annually reappointed by each suc- ceeding department commander until he was elected secretary of the commonwealth, in 1875.

He has always been the warmest, sympathetic, and practical friend of the deserving soldier. In 1870 he was appointed a member of the commission for the care of disabled soldiers, and, as its secretary and treasurer, the active portion of its work fell to his share.

The aid distributed by that commission afforded relief to a large number of cases, the merits and necessities of which he had personally investigated. He is a public-spirited member of the community

in which he resides, as has been frequently mani- fested by his inaugurating and aiding measures for the social, intellectual, and moral improvement of its citizens, and he is ever ready to embrace any op- portunity to advance the individual or collective interests of his townsmen, or to contribute to their entertainment and pleasure. He is prominent in many local organizations and enterprises, and is a trustee of the Abington Public Library, a director of the Abington Mutual Insurance Company, and one of the park commissioners.

His administration of the important and respon- sible office of secretary of the commonwealth has been governed by the principles which guide the suc- cessful business man in the conduct of his private affairs. His systematic methods have simplified the public business, and rendered its transaction more expeditious ; his careful economy has resulted in a large reduction of the expenses of the office; and his personal cordiality and courtesy to all who have occasion to visit the department have made him a very popular official, and caused the secretary's office to be regarded as a model public department ; that the citizens of the commonwealth appreciate his val- uable and faithful services is shown by his re-election to the office for the ninth time and by the very flat- tering popular vote which he has each time received, that of 1880 being the largest ever received by any candidate for any office in Massachusetts.

JOSEPH PETTEE.

Joseph Pettee was born in Salisbury, Conn., March 14, 1809 ; graduated at Yale College, class of 1833 ; after graduation entered the Theological School at New Haven ; became a member of the Orthodox Church quite early in life, and was much interested in spiritual subjects ; was interested in and benefited by the advanced views of Dr. Taylor and other teachers of that class; became attached to the writings of Swe- denborg, particularly by his doctrine of the sole divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, which doctrine is that the whole Trinity is embodied in Him. The adoption of the doctrine of the New Church made him undecided as to whether he should carry out his intention of becoming a preacher. On this account he did not continue his connection with the Theo- logical School, and spent several years in teaching, continuing, in connection, his reading of New Church theology. In the latter part of 1836, or early in 1837, by the advice of judicious friends, he decided

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

to prepare for the ministry of the New Church. In the latter part of 1837 he received a license to preach, and officiated at Portland, Bath, and Gardiner, Me., about three months. While at Gardiner received an invitation to preach for the society in Abington as a candidate for settlement. After a candidacy of six months, from January to July, 1838, was elected pastor, and was ordained the 25th of the latter month. Continued in this relation till July, 1875, thirty-seven years. The connection was dissolved for the reason that the Massachusetts Association, consisting of some

eighteen or twenty societies, desired his services as its presiding minister, and later as its general pastor.

He continues to reside in the parsonage at Abing- ton, but has his office and headquarters at the New Church Rooms, 169 Tremont Street, Boston.

He was married, Feb. 24, 1835, to Mary Pierce, of Salisbury, and has six children, five of whom are married, and, including four who have passed into the spiritual world, has had twenty-three grandchildren.

Mr. Pettec is one of the leading Swedenborgians in the United States.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH ABINGTON.

BY CHARLES F. MESERVE, A.M.

THIS is one of the most enterprising towns in the i patronized. Many large and elegant houses have been county. It was formerly a part of Abington and ereeted, and several bloeks of stores are now under contraet. East Bridgewater. and was incorporated into a town March 4, 1875. The history of South Abington, Among them is the fine bloek being built by a former eitizen of the town, who takes great pleasure in seeing his native place in such a flourishing con- dition, and no resident has taken a deeper interest in the improvement of South Abington than Jaeob P. Bates, Esq. His new block will not only be an or- nament to the town, but will refleet eredit upon his good taste and judgment. Plans and specifications have been made by Mr. John R. Hall, arehiteet, of Boston, and the building will be built under his im- mediate supervision. like that of Roekland, will be largely found in the artiele on Abington. There is here a spirit of push and enterprise that is seldom met with, and there is a greater variety of manufactures than in any other part of the town of which it formerly constituted a part. Coffins, caskets. steel shanks, paeking-boxes, boots and shoes, taeks, and nails are some of the artieles manufactured. South Abington is a pioneer in the taek and nail business, which is still earried on to a great extent by Messrs. Dunbar, Hobart & Whidden, and by D. B. Gurney, Esq. H. H. Brig- ham, now deceased, was for many years also exten- sively engaged in this business.

Benjamin Hobart, A.M., engaged in the taek business early in the present century, and has con- tributed much to the prosperity of this town. Mr. Hobart was a lawyer by profession, and a liberal- hearted, publie-spirited gentleman of culture. He will long be remembered as the author of Hobart's " History of Abington."

Probably no town in Plymouth County has grown more rapidly during the past five years than the beautiful town of South Abington.

Six large and elegant new factories have been erected, and are running to their full capacity. New avenues and sidewalks have been laid out and finished ; a large park has been laid out in the centre of the town; water has been introduced into all the princi- pal streets; a water-tower, built of iron, has been erected, which has a pressure of sufficient power to throw water over the highest building.

The tower can be seen miles away, and is a great ornament to the town.

A fire department has been organized, with four elegant hose carriages under command of Maj. Allen.

Two fine hotels have been built and supplied with all the improvements of a city hotel, and are well

The bloek will have a frontage of sixty-five feet on Washington Street, and a depth of seventy-five feet, and will be three stories high, and divided into three large stores well lighted and high studded. The second story will be devoted to offices ; the third story will be used for a hall with large anterooms and closets attached, all dadoed and finished in the best manner. The building will be supplied with all the modern improvements.

The outside will be built of pressed brick, iron eol- umns and Long Meadow brownstone from the Ohio quarries, with one large projection in the eentre. There will be five windows on each story, with earved eaps and finishing above the roof, with gable and ornamented pilasters, and under the gable four large round panels, with earved heads in stone, represent- ing different animals. Each end will be finished with projections, with large windows in the eentre and a eireular arch turned in faney briek work above, and finished at top with stone pedestals and panels between them.

The store fronts will be finished in eherry, and the glass in store-windows will be in one large light of Freneh white plate.

The building will be built both inside and outside of the best materials. The contraetors are Peasley & Bonney, carpenters, of South Abington, and Faunce

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Brothers, masons, of Wollaston. The stores are all let, and will be occupied about October 1st.

Incorporation of Town .- The first movement made towards a separation from the old town was early in the spring of 1874, after the incorporation of Roekland, by the following persons : H. F. Whidden, S. N. Dyer, S. Dyer, C. F. Allen, William L. Reed, D. B. Gurney, G. A. Litchfield, F. P. Harlow, J. L. Corthell, C. H. Bonney, John Thompson, Horace Reed, A. Davis, and H. F. Copeland. At a citizens' meeting, May 2, 1874, these same gentlemen, with the addi- tion of A. S. Stetson, W. R. Vining, E. S. Powers, A. C. Brigham, Jacob Bates, Daniel Reed, J. E. Bates, O. G. Healey, D. S. Jenkins, Edwin Edes, C. D. Nash, J. H. Witherell, H. A. Bates, L. B. Noyes, Jr., Nathaniel Pratt, H. H. Brigham, J. Donovan, and J. S. Harding, were chosen a per- manent committee. This committee organized May 5th, with George A. Litchfield, chairman ; Samuel N. Dyer, secretary ; and Charles F. Allen, treas- urer, and was so active and energetic that they secured the incorporation of the town. The bill of incorporation was signed by Governor Gaston at twenty minutes past twelve o'clock March 4, 1875. The first town-meeting was held in Village Hall March 18th, under a warrant issued by William P. Corthell, justice of the peace, on petition of Hon. Wil- liam L. Reed. At this meeting, William P. Corthell was chosen moderator, and Samuel Foster, town clerk. Jacob Bates, Cyrus White, and William P. Corthell were chosen selectmen. At the last annual meeting George H. Pearson was chosen town clerk, and Wil- liam P. Corthell, William H. Reed, and Edward Keating, selectinen, assessors, and overseers of the poor.

The past year water has been introduced at an expense of about fifty thousand dollars, for which in- terest-bearing bonds have been issued. A fire de- partment has been established. The town is generous in appropriating money for schools, roads, and library, and indeed for every worthy objeet.

The following is a list of the town officers for the first year (1875) :

Town Clerk, Samuel Foster; Treasurer and Col- leetor, Albert Davis ; Selectmen, Assessors, and Over- seers of the Poor, Jacob Bates ( William P. Corthell), Cyrus White; Sehool Committee, B. F. Hastings (for three years), George A. Litchfield (for two years), E. L. Hyde (for one year) ; Road Commissioners, Enoch Powers (for three years), Lebbeus Gurney (for two years), E. B. French (for' one year) ; Auditors, Samuel Dyer, William R. Vining ; Constables, George E. Luzarder, James L. Corthell, Quincy T. Harding ;

Pound Keeper, Spencer Vining ; Field Drivers, Reu- ben Churchill, Hiram Pool, Calvin Porter ; Fence Viewers, James L. Corthell, Samuel Dyer, Nathan P. Gurney; Surveyors of Lumber, Gladden Bonney, Charles HI. Bonney, Quincy T. Harding; Measurer of Wood and Bark, Benjamin S. Atwood ; Represen- tatives (Twelfth Distriet), George W. Reed, Jesse H. Jones.

The manufacture of fine calf boots, which has been and now is the life of that part of South Abington known as Auburnville, was commenced by M. S. Reed in 1865, in a building which forms a part of the present factory. The annual product of the fac- tory at that time was one hundred thousand dollars, giving employment to about sixty hands. As the goods became known the amount produced annually increased, until the business had increased threefold in six years.

In 1876 it became necessary to enlarge the factory to meet the inereasing demands for the goods, and employment was furnished for one hundred and eighty- five persons, and the business of the factory amounted to four hundred thousand dollars.

In 1879, with a growing business, Mr. Reed took in a partner, and again enlarged the factory, employed two hundred and twenty persons, and produced goods to the value of five hundred thousand dollars.

In 1882 he sold the buildings and business to his partner, who ran the factory one year, and then sold to Messrs. Stetson & Coombs, the present occupants, who are running it successfully, giving employment to one hundred and eighty-five persons, yielding pro- ducts to the amount of four hundred thousand dollars aunually.

Atwood Brothers, manufacturers of boot-, shoe-, and packing-boxes. This business amounts to about sixty thousand dollars per year, and employs from forty to fifty men.

Cook & Paine commenced business Mareh 1, 1883, and employ about one hundred and fifty workmen, and the value of goods (boots and shoes) manufac- tured for their first year was about two hundred thousand dollars.

Jenkins Brothers & Co. commenced the manufac- ture of steel shanks in November, 1872, making about one hundred and fifty gross per day, and their sales amounted to about fifty thousand dollars per year. In 1876 they commenced the manufacture of caskets and coffins. They are now making from seventy thousand to ciglity thousand pairs of shanks per day, being the largest manufacturers in that line. Annual sales on shanks and caskets amount to about two liun- dred thousand dollars.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH ABINGTON.

Davis Gurney & Co., manufacturers of boots and annual value of goods manufactured amounts to three hundred thousand dollars. The trade of the house extends to every section of shoes, employ one hundred and fifty persons. and the the United States, including large shipments to the Pacific coast, and their goods are also in demand in Canada, England, South America, British Colonies, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

Smith, Stoughton & Payne commenced manufac- turing men's fine and medium grade boots and shoes in this town March 1, 1884. About one hundred and fifty men and thirty-five girls are employed. Cases manufactured for the past four months, four thousand ; pairs, forty-eight thousand ; value of goods manufactured annually, one hundred and forty thou- sand dollars. This business was removed from Cin- cinnati, Ohio.

The Commonwealth Shoe and Leather Company (formerly C. H. Jones & Co.) manufacture twenty thousand cases per year, and the value of the annual product is from six hundred and fifty to seven hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars.

The factory of Dunbar, Hobart & Whidden, manu- facturers of tacks, brads, and small nails of all descrip- tions, is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the country. Its founder, Mr. Benjamin Hobart, began the manufacture of tacks in 1810, when the old hand process was still in vogue, but upon the ap- pearance of the invention known as the Reed and Blanchard machines, he was the first to put it into extensive operation, and by its aid his business rapidly increased. In 1849 his son became associated with him, under the firm-name of Benjamin Hobart & Son, the partnership continuing until 1857, when the senior partner retired from active participation, and was suc- ceeded by Messrs. Dunbar & Hobart, who carried on the business under the firm-name of B. Hobart & Son until the formation of the present firm, in 1865.

The manufacturing plant located on the Plymouth Division of the Old Colony Railroad, from which a branch track runs directly past the factory, covers an area of several acres, upon which the present works were erected, in 1864, at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars.

Another feature of this business is the manufacture of heel- and toe-plates for boots and shoes of all descriptions.

Owing to the immense quantity of boxes consumed in the shipment of their goods, the firm decided to include their manufacture in their already extensive business, and in 1870, at the cost of about fifteen thousand dollars, erected on the site of the old tack- factory, which was destroyed by fire in 1859, a sub- stantial frame building as a box-factory. Here are not only manufactured all the boxes requisite for this firm's business, but large quantities are furnished the shoe manufacturers and others in the vicinity.

The individual members of the firm are Messrs. William H. Dunbar, Henry Hobart, and H. F. Whid- den. The senior member has been for many years identified with the boot and shoe trade, and the two last-named gentlemen have had an experience of fifty and forty years respectively in the tack-making busi- ness, Mr. Whidden having also patented many inven- tions which have contributed largely to the excellent reputation of the articles manufactured.

The South Abington Water-Works were built in 1883. The water is pumped from the Hobart Pond into an iron tank or reservoir twenty feet in diameter and one hundred and five feet high, surmounted with a wrought iron top thirty-five feet high, making a total height of one hundred and forty feet above the foundation, and when full contains two hundred and forty thousand gallons of water.

The reservoir is located on one of the highest points, and nearly in the centre of the town. The average head of water is about one hundred and thirty- five feet. There have been laid about eight miles of pipe made of wrought iron coated inside and out with asphaltum, and lined bothi inside and out with cement. The iron plates used in building the reservoir are made of the best refined iron, and guaranteed to stand four thousand pounds tensile strength to the square inch. The bottom and first twenty-five fect arc made of iron five-eighths of an inch in thickness ; second twenty-five feet of one-half inch; third twenty-five feet, thrce-eighths ; and fourth, one-fourth inch. Sixty-six hydrants have been set, which cover all the thickly-settled portions of the town, also much of the outskirts. The average head of water through the town gives sufficient force to throw hydrant-streams over any of the largest buildings.

The town pays twenty-five dollars for the use of each hydrant. The whole cost of the works is fifty thousand dollars.

The South Abington Fire Department was organ- ized about the 1st of January, 1884, by the appoint- ment of seven engineers, viz. : C. F. Allen, Rufus Cass, B. C. Reed, B. S. Atwood, D. A. Walker, E. B. French, M. C. French. The above-named engi- neers organized three hose companies of fifteen men each, and one hook-and-ladder company of twenty-five men. The above companies are organized as follows : Foreman, first and second assistant foremen, clerk, and steward to each company.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

The town has built three houses, with a fifty-feet hose-tower in each, for the storage of their fire de- partment equipage, with a fine room furnished in the second story for the convenience of the firemen.

In each of the houses they have placed a light hose-carriage fully equipped with all the appurtenances and six hundred feet of hosc. In the house of Hosc No. 1 (centre of the town) they have placed a hook- and-ladder truck fully equipped.

Public Library .- Immediately on sccuring a sep- arate municipal existence the people of South Abing- ton began to work for a public library. In 1879 the friends of the movement secured an appropriation of five hundred dollars. By gifts of books and pur- chase a collection of fourteen hundred volumes was obtained, with which the library was opened in August of that year. In 1880 the town gave to that object seven hundred dollars. Since then it has received without opposition an annual appropriation of one thousand dollars.

At this date (July 1, 1884) the library contains about five thousand volumes, with an annual circula- tion of more than twenty thousand volumes. Its great need now is a suitable building and a reading-room.

The public school teachers in South Abington are as follows : High School, Horace E. Henderson, principal ; Mrs. Henrietta B. Blake, assistant ; Gram- mar, Miss Deborah A. Partridge, Miss Florence Blanchard, Miss Emma R. Nash, Miss Joanna F. Fullerton, Miss Flora M. Shurtleff, Miss Maria F. Eddy ; Primary, Miss Emily B. Peterson, Miss Emma R. Maloy, Miss Effie M. Edes, Miss Lizzie B. Bosworth, Miss Grace E. Cooper.

Webster Lodge, No. 113, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted on Friday evening, Oct. 6, 1882. The follow- ing charter members were present and obligated : Lewis Goulding, Edward B. Peterson, Clarence A. Randall, Andrew N. Bates, Roland W. Chase, Ben- jamin F. Churchill, James C. Wood, Christopher B. Capen, John G. Higgins, E. Willard Shaw, David A. Walker, Samuel G. Capen, Francis A. Gurney, Rufus F. Wright, Stephen Griggs, J. Thomas Doten, Wil- liam H. Dudley, Benjamin F. Peterson. It has lost one member by death.

Names of persons who have been voters fifty years or more : Charles Bates, Cyrus Bates, David Bates, Robert Cook, Sherebiah Corthell, Samuel Dyer, Daniel M. Fullerton, Davis Gurney, Lebbcus Gur- ney, Walter S. Harding, Reuben Churchill, Luke B. Noyes, John Noyes, James W. Osborne, Marcus Reed, Aaron Reed, Melvin Reed, Gibbens Sharp, Martin S. Stetson, Orange Wilkes, Horatio Williams.

Massasoit Lodge, No. 684, Knights of Honor, was

organized July 5, 1877, a charter having been granted by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to the following persons : L. D. Robbins, C. D. Nash, C. W. Bradbury, J. E. Bickford, Joseph Pettec, Jr., Josiah Churchill, E. H. Atwood, Edward Keating, A. W. Bates, A. C. Brigham, E. S. Shepherd, Bela Alden, M. E. Brown.

The lodge was instituted on that date, and held its meetings in Grand Army Hall until April, 1881, when it removed to American (now Odd-Fellows') Hall, where it still holds its regular meetings.

The first application for membership was received from B. S. Atwood, who was initiated Dec. 3, 1877.

The first death, which occurred Nov. 27, 1879, was that of Millard E. Brown. Brother Brown was the first reporter of the lodge, which position he filled in a very acceptable manner, and his loss was a serious one to the lodge as well as to the community.

May 22, 1884, seven members, resident in East Bridgewater, withdrew by card and became charter members of Sachem's Rock Lodge, No. 3093.

Massasoit Lodge has initiated and received by card over fifty members, in addition to the original charter members, and is in a healthy condition.

The following members became Past Dictators by virtue of office : L. D. Robbins, C. D. Nash, C. W. Bradbury, B. S. Atwood, and M. L. Harlow.

Brothers Robbins and Nash served each one term ; Brothers Bradbury and Atwood two terms each, and Brother Harlow four terms. The present reporter, Brother Ferguson, has served the lodge in that capacity since January, 1880.

Officers for the year 1884 are Past Dictator, M. L. Harlow ; Dictator, J. E. Jenney ; Vice-Dictator, E. V. Clift ; Assistant Dictator, B. F. Winslow ; Re- porter, H. C. Ferguson ; F. R., Edward Keating; Treas., H. A. Whiting; Chaplain, H. M. Soule ; Guide, C. P. Reed ; Guardian, W. W. Josselyn ; Sen- tinel, C. S. Churchill.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 106

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706