History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 153

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 153

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" The undersigned Selectmen of the Town of North Bridge- water, in accordance with a vote passed by the Town at a meeting held on the sixth day of February instant, hereby pe- tition your Honorable body to pass an Act changing the cor- porate name of our Town to ' Brockton.'

" ISAAC KINGMAN, " HENRY A. FORD, "W. H. WALES, " Selectmen of North Bridgewater. " NORTH BRIDGEWATER, Feb. 7, 1874."

After a hearing in the matter, during which sev- eral petitions were presented, and after much contro- versy, the result was as follows :

" COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

" HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 13, 1874.

"The Committee on Towns, to whom was committed the pe- tition of the selectmen of North Bridgewater that the corporate name of said town may be changed from North Bridgewater to Brockton; and the petition of C. C. Bixby and 1021 others, of Isaac Kingman and 33 others, and of George H. Gurney and 102 others, in aid of said petition of the selectmen; and also the petition of F. A. Thayer and 314 others, for a change of the name of North Bridgewater to Allerton; together with the remonstrance of Alpheus Gurney and 165 others, of Ly. man Clark and 162 othere, againat the change of the name

of North Bridgewater to Brockton, have duly considered the same and report the accompanying Bill.

" Per order,

" S. S. GINNODO."

"CHAPTER cxiii. of the Acts of 1874.

" AN Acr to authorize the Town of North Bridgewater to change its Name.

" Be it enacted, &c., as follows :

"SECT. 1. The town of North Bridgewater may take the name of Brockton, Allerton, or Avon.

"SECT. 2. A special meeting of the legal voters of said town sball be held on the first Tuesday of May of the current year, for the purpose of determining which of said three names shall be the name of said town. The voting shall be by ballot, and each voter may vote for one of said names only, and any ballot having thereon any other name or more than one of said names shall not be counted. The polls shall be opened at nine o'clock in the forenoon of said day, and shall be closed at seven o'clock in the afternoon of said day.

"SECT. 3. It shall be the duty of the selectmen of said town to certify and return, as soon as may be, the number of ballots in favor of each of said three names to the secretary of the Commonwealth, who shall immediately issue and publish his certificate, declaring the name which shall be found to have the most ballots in its favor to have been adopted by said town, and the same shall thereupon become and be the name of said town. "SECT. 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

" Approved March 28, 1874.

" NORTH BRIDGEWATER, May 5, 1874.

" To the Honorable Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts :

" The undersigned Selectmen of North Bridgewater hereby certify that in accordance with a recent Act of the Legislature a town meeting was held on this fifth day of May, 1874, for the purpose of choosing either 'Brockton,' 'Allerton,' or ' Avon' i as the future name of the town, their choice being by ballot. And we further certify that the whole number of ballots thrown at said meeting for that purpose was 1491. Of this number ten hundred and eighty (1080) were for 'Brockton,' and four hun- dred and eleven (411) were for ' Avon.'

" HENRY A. FORD, " ISAAC KINGMAN, " WELCOME H. WALES, " Selectmen of North Bridgewater."

Filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Feb. 6, 1874.

In accordance with the act above mentioned, on the 6th day of May, 1874, the secretary issued his proclamation declaring " Brockton" to have been chosen by the town.

City of Brockton .- The first effort made in the ! direction of obtaining a city charter was at an informal gathering of a few of the leading citizens of the town held in the office of Elbridge L. Brown, Esq., civil engineer, on Tuesday evening, Dec. 21, 1880. Au- gustus T. Jones (chairman), Baalis Sanford, Jr. (sec- rotary), Dr. Loring W. Puffer, Charles R. Ford, Lyman Clark, Charles W. Sumner, John J. Whipple, William W. Cross, Dr. Henry H. Filoon, Charles C. Bixby, Francis B. Washburn, F. B. Gardner, E. G. Rhodes, Bradford E. Jones, Lucius Richmond, O. O.

732

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Patten, George E. Bryant, and others took the lead in expressing their views, and arrangements were made for a full meeting to be held in the Opera-House, Dec. 29, 1880, at which, after remarks by several persons, George M. Copeland offered the following motion, which was carried without opposition, viz. :

"That the selectmen of Brockton be requested to issue their warrant for a town-meeting for the purpose of formally apply- ing in their corporate capacity to the incoming Legislature for a city chartor, said meeting to be held within ten days."

Agrecably to this vote, the selectmen called a town- meeting on 10th day of January, 1881, at which it was voted that the selectmen be instructed to petition the Legislature for a city charter.

The following is a copy of the petition as presented to the Legislature :

" To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in Gen- eral Court assembled :

" Respectfully represent the undersigned Selectmen of the Town of Brockton, that at a legal meeting of the inhabitants of said town, held on the tenth day of January, 1881, it was voted,-

"To instruct their Selectmen to petition the Legislature to grant to the inhabitants of the town of Brockton a City Char- ter.

" Wherefore, the undersigned respectfully petition your Hon- orable bodies to grant to said inhabitants a Charter whereby the Town of Brockton may become the City of Brockton, and estab- lish a city form of government.

" WILLIAM W. CROSS. " HENRY A. FORD. " HENRY H. PACKARD. " WILLIAM S. GREEN. " HENRY E. LINCOLN.

" Selectmen of Brockton.

" BROCKTON, Jan. 29, 1881."

" COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

"SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT, Boston, Nov. 1st, 1884.

" A true copy.

" Attest,

" HENRY B. PEIRCE,

" Secretary of the Commonwealth."

A bill was reported, Feb. 28, 1881, and the aet of incorporation of the " City of Brockton" passed April 9,1881.

Agreeably to the terms of the act, the inhabitants of the town of Brockton met in the Opera-House, on Monday, the 23d day of May, 1881, at two o'clock P.M., and voted on the acceptance of the act of the Legislature for 1881, chapter one hundred and ninety- two.

DeWitt Clinton Packard, Esq., town elerk, filed the following vote in the office of the secretary of the commonwealth, viz. :

Yes. 729

No. 240

Whole number of ballots 969

The Inauguration of the First Municipal Gov- ernment of the City of Brockton .- Brockton had a splendid day for her first inauguration, the brilliant sunlight reflected on the freshly fallen snow setting everything in a glory of light, while the crisp, bracing air scemed specially designed to raise the spirits of every citizen up to the standard of the day. At half-past seven o'clock in the morning the bells of the First and Porter Congregational Churches at the north end, and the South Congregational and Metho- dist Churchcs at Campello united in merry peals for half an hour to celebrate the happy event.

The opera-house was nearly filled some time before the exercises were begun, and soon after the pro- gramme was opened all the scats of the parquet and nearly every one in the gallery were occupicd, and not a few found standing-room in the outer aisles. The centre section of the parquet seats were reserved for the members of the new City Council and the invited guests of the occasion, while the stage was occupied by the out-going town officers, distinguished guests, and the band. In the foreground of the platform on the left sat chairman H. H. Packard, and his associ- ates on the board of selectmen, Rev. Warren God- dard, Hon. Jonathan White, cx-Seleetmen Whipple and Cross, Rev. H. L. Kelsey, Judge Perkins, and Bradford Kingman, Esq. On the right were ranged, as honored guests of the day, some of the venerable citizens of the town, including Father Simcon Pack- ard, the only man present who voted at the first town- mecting held after North Bridgewater was incorpo- rated, Josiah W. Kingman, Esq., Capt. Henry French, Augustus Jones, Deacon Galen Pratt, William Faxon, Addison Shaw, Daniel Ford, Elbridge G. Lincoln, Deaeon Elbridge H. Packard, Lyman Clark, Deacon Cary Howard, Frederick Howard, Deacon Alpheus Alden ; in the eentre sat Governor Long and Mayor- elect Keith, who were greeted as they came upon the platform with a strain of " Hail to the Chief" from the band, and enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

Inauguration Proceedings. - Promptly at 10 o'clock Chairman H. H. Packard rose, and, calling the assemblage to order, said he held in his hand the aet of the Legislature incorporating the city of Brockton, which was accepted by vote of the town on the 23d of May last, and which began a change from a town to a eity form of government, which was now about to be consummated by the inaugu- ration of the officers elected under its provisions. Before bidding adieu to the town government, the speaker said it seemed fitting to glance at some points in the history of the town which were of peculiar interest at this time. This Mr. Packard did in a

733

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

very interesting manner, reviewing briefly the history of the town from its establishment, iu 1821, to the election of its first city government, presenting in de- tail some of the most important salient events in the interval.

At the close of Mr. Packard's address the band played the overture, " L'Espoir de L'Alsace," after which Rev. H. L. Kelsey, of the First Congregational Church, offered an earnest prayer, fervently imploring the divine guidance and blessing upon the young city, and the members of the new government, to the end that the best good of the people may be con- served. and God's will be done through their minis- trations.

Henry A. Ford, Esq., the clerk of the retiring Board of Selectmen, then read the record of the vote at the first city election, showing that the total vote for Ziba C. Keith, for mayor, was 1371, and for all others 1075. The votes for members of the City Council were similarly given.

Chairman Packard next called the list of aldermen and common councilmen-elect, who, as their names were called, rose to their places in the front sections of the orchestra seats. The chairman then escorted the mayor-elect to the front of the stage, and his in- troduction of him to the City Council as the first mayor of the first city of Plymouth County was re- ceived with cheers. He then placed in his hands the charter of the city, and with it the interests and future welfare of the young city, hoping that under his ad- ministration it might increase in prosperity and add new lustre to its name.

Judge J. R. Perkins then proceeded to administer the oath of office to the mayor first, then to the alder- men, and last to the common councilmen, the cere- mony being performed in so solemn and impressive a manner as to leave a deep impression upon the audi- ence, who listened to it with the most rapt attention. This ceremony over, the mayor and City Council re- sumed their seats, and after the playing of "The Flowers of Alsace," by the band, Mr. Keith proceeded to read his inaugural address, which follows in full :

MAYOR KEITH'S ADDRESS.

" Gentlemen of the City Council :

"As we are abont to assume the duties imposed upon us by the suffragez of our fellow-citizens, it is befitting that we should raise our thank-offering for the prosperity of our town during theze threescore years, and that we should invoke the Divine blessing for the future welfare of our city.

" As this day marks a new era in our municipal career, it may not be unprofitable to review in a brief manner the history of our town from the period of its settlement to the present time, to mark the great changes which two centuries have wrought, and thereby prepare onrselves the more fully to realize the trusta and responsibilities committed to our hands.

"On a small rocky hill, anciently called Sachem's Rock, a little south of the former site of Whitman's mill, in the present town of East Bridgewater, on the 23d of March, 1649, were assembled a party of men representing on the one side the pro- prietors of a plantation granted them by the Old Colony Court at Plymouth, on the other the Indian sachem Ousamequin, afterward and better known as Massasoit, who was present to execute a deed of a tract of land called Satucket, described in this instrument as ' extending in the length and breadth thereof as followeth, that is to say : from the wear [weir] at Satucket seven quiles due east, and from the said wear seven miles due west, and from the said wear seven miles due north, and from the said wear seven miles due south, to have and to hold to Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, in behalf of all the townsmen of the town of Duxbury, to them and their heirs forever. In consideration of this bargain and sale, Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth bind themselves to pay for the same seven coats (a yard and a half in a coat), 9 hatchets, 8 hoes, 20 knives, 4 moose skins, 10} yards of cotton.' This, then, was the original price paid for what now constitutes Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridge- water, Brockton, and a part of Abington.

"Eleven years later, in June, 1656, Bridgewater was incor- porated into a distinct township, being the first interior town in the Old Colony. Each settler had at first a grant of a house- lot of six acres on the Town River, the first lots being taken in what is now West Bridgewater, where also the first houses were built and the first improvements made. Hardly had this settle- ment made a beginning when the war, known as the King Philip's, burst upon them. Being wholly an interior settlement, and remote from their friends on the seaboard, they were strongly urged to desert their dwellings and repair to the better protected towns by the coast. This, however, they resolutely refused to do, but kept their ground, defended their homes, and encouraged and assisted other towns to do the same.

"In early times the history of the church was the history of the town, hence the frequent reference in early records to par- ishes and precincts. Previous to 1716 Bridgewater had but one place of religious worship, but in June of that year the General Court incorporated a new parish, which was called the South. From this time the old parish took the name of the North, and comprised the territory of what is now Brockton and West Bridgewater.

" No settlements are known to have been made in the present city of Brockton prior to the year 1700, but very soon after this period settlements began to extend northward, and had in- creased to such an extent that in 1738 54 individuals belonging in the northerly part of the parish, feeling that ' by reason of the great distance but few of their families could attend public worship in the West Precinct,' set forth their grievances in a petition to the General Court praying that 'they might be set off as a distinct and separate township,' which petition was so far granted as to allow thein the powers and privileges usually given to parishes. For fifty-five years thereafter the people of the North Parish remained apparently contented in their connec- tion with the other parishes of the town. In 1793, however the desire to become a separate township became so strong that steps were taken looking towards the incorporation of a town, including, as was proposed in this instance, the West and North Parishes. This failed, as did similar attempts in 1814 and 1816.

" At a meeting held May 5, 1818, the question of a division of the old town of Bridgewater was practically settled by a vote of 112 in favor to 19 against, and at a meeting held March 25, 1819, the parish voted to petition ' the next session of the Legislature for a division of the town.' This petition was duly presented, and an act to establish the town of North Bridge-

734

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

water was passed Juno 15, 1821. The first town-meeting after the incorporation was held July 4, 1821. Joseph Sylvester, Esq., was chosen moderator, and Col. Edward Southworth, town clerk. Abel Kinguian, Esq., Howard Cary, Esq., and Capt. Zachariah Gurney were chosen selectmen. One at least who took part in that first town-meeting sixty years ago, and a few others who were old enough to be present, are with us to-day. Prond are we te welcome them to this platforur, men whose in- terest in the welfaro and improvement of our beloved town has ever been active, and which, in 1881, is still unabated ! But how few ! Many, so many, have fallen by the way until not a score remain. Yet we know these hearts thrill with pride and gratitude that a sparing mercy has permitted them to see this day and allowed them to witness these inaugural ceremonies.

" As to-day we part with all these old township associations and assume a place in the sisterhood of cities, let us renew from the heart the oath which our lips have just uttered.

" Let us retrace our steps for a moment to consider our growth in population which these years have developed: The fact that Bridgewater was an interior settlement, and her soil not the umost productive, induced many families during the twenty-five years preceding 1764 to emigrate to the western part of the State, while not a few found homes in the State of Maine, then a part of Massachusetts. Notwithstanding this emigration, the census of 1764 showed a population of 833;

that of 1810, a population of 1,354, a gain of 521

1820,

1,480,

126

1830,

1840,

2,094,

66 141

1850,

3,939, ¥ 1845

1860,

6,384,

2445

1870,

8,007,

1623

1880,

13,608,

66 1601

" Reference to these statistics shows that not until 1840 did there seem to be any unusual growth. Previous to this date it had been slow and steady, due doubtless to the fact that we were more an agricultural than a manufacturing people. From this point our progress and material prosperity has been more rapid and substantial.

"Of our industrial pursuits, the manufacture of boots and shoes stands pre-eminently at the head. Commencing in 1811 with the first shoes manufactured by Micah Faxon, who was wont to take a load of shoes on horseback to Boston and return with material for the manufacture of more, we find this indus- try had grown to such an extent that the census of 1845 showed the total number of pairs of boots and shoes manufactured in this town as being 200,187, at an estimated value of $179,716; those of 1855, 761,716, estimated value $724,827 ; those of 1865, 1,112,766, estimated value, $1,466,900, while those for 1875 showed a production the estimated value of which was $5,587,- 465. A comparison of these statistics shows that the growth of this industry has more than kept pace with our increase in population.

" A comparison of the valuation of the taxable property in 1850 (the central date in our town's history) with that of 1880, the amount raised by taxation on the same, as also some statis- ties in relation to our schools, may prove interesting, and are given herewith :

" Valuation of taxable property in 1850, $1,293,000

1881, 6,876,407

" Amount raised by tax in 1850, 9,781.75

1880, 104,885.00

" Number of schools in 1854 was 16 with 1124 scholars. 1881 was 48 with 2457 scholars.

" Amount appropriated for schools in 1850, $2,000 66

1880, 25,500

"These comparisons show that in material wealth and school appropriations we have advanced quite as rapidly as in popu- lation and manufactures.

" North Bridgewater reviewed would be incomplete without reference to her military history,-the part she bore in the struggles through which the nation has passed, and we refer with pride to those who in times of danger rallied to their country's call, and in a measure made this growth and pros- perity possible. In the old French and Indian wars the North Parish furnished her share of men and means for the defense of the settlers. In the Revolutionary war a company of fifty inen, under the command of Capt. Josiah Hayden, was fur- nished from this part of old Bridgewater, besides many who enlisted in other organizations, for a detailed account of which I refer yon to Kingman's ' History of North Bridgewater.'1 In the war of the Rebellion we recall the spirit and patriotism which the attack on Fort Sumter inspired in the hearts of the people, and how, on the evening of April 21, 1861, in yonder church vestry, more than one hundred men, the very flower of our then thriving town, came forward and enlisted in the ser- vice of their country. Nor shall we soon forget with what feel- ings we bade the comrades of Company F, Twelfth Massa- chusetts Regiment, God-speed on their way to the front, from which so few returned; of Company I, First Massachusetts Regiment of Cavalry, Capt. Lucius Richmond, a company which we had so often admired on parade, then more admired because of their voluntary response to the call of duty; to the hundreds of others who under other commands and in other fields did honorable service for their country. All these we hold in grateful remembrance. Never again as a town can we allude to these heroes or do them honor for their fidelity and patriotism. And as to-day we seal her history, shall we not resolve to do all in our power to perpetuate their names and fame ?

" Much might be said in a review of the ecclesiastical, the educational, and the biographical history of Brockton, but time will not permit. With the past passing in review, shall we not thereby be stimulated to zealous endeavors still to maintain for our city the name and fame she has now as a town for her business enterprise, and as zealously guard her educational and moral interests, that in them she may excel, if possible, her in- dustrial famc ? Before closing this book of the past we desire to oxpress our thanks to the retiring Board of Selectmen for the care and pains taken in preparing the way for the election and organization of the new government, and they may well fcel satisfied that in this transition the work has been so smoothly and correctly accomplished.

" Let us now consider for a moment the duties that confront ns to-day. As the forthcoming report of the Board of Selectmen will present and cover the business of the past year, I shall an- ticipate very little in that direction, but shall in a measure defer to their judgment, which I have been allowed to avail myself of.

" In the judgment ef your tewn officers, as expressed hereto- fore in their annual reports, there seems to be a necessity for inorcased accounmodations and improved facilities for the care of the poor at the almshouse. I therefore call your attention to this subject, believing that in the duty which we owe to tho unfortunate poor, sympatby should have consideration as well as economy.

" Our highways generally aro in a very good condition, but by reason of recent changes in the grado of Maiu Street, with no snitable matorial at hand with which to reconstruct, it is at present in a vory bad condition, and will demand prompt at-

1 A work of six hundred and ninety-six pages, published in 1866 by Bradford Kingman, Esq.

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735

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

tention, which in my judgment can only be permanently done by macadamizing or paving a portion of this street. Consider- ing the improved coudition of this our main thoroughfare, the extensive improvement of Pond Street contemplated by our connty commissioners, the building of streets already laid out, liberal appropriations will be required at your hauds.

" Our schools were never, as a whole. in a more satisfactory condition than at the present time, and their high character, we believe, has contributed largely to the rapid and vigorous growth of our town. The amount appropriated in this depart- ment shows in what estimation our educational privileges are held, and a determination on the part of the people that sup- port sball not be wanting to secure the best result attainable.

"The protection which the introduction of water affords, as well as the comfort and convenience provided for our people, in its use for domestic and other purposes, mark this enter- prise as a wise and necessary measure, and notwithstanding the heavy outlay, the numerous applications for water service indicate that it will soon become self-supporting. Intimately connected with this subject is that of sewerage.

" At no very distant day the question of drainage and sewer- age will force itself upon us, and I would suggest that immedi- ate steps be taken to investigate this matter, that whatever is best may be sought out and applied, when made a necessity.

" Our fire department is in a most satisfactory condition, and is regarded by our people with bonest pride, not only for cffi- cient services rendered, but for the manly conduct of its offi- cers and men. While we have beeu remarkably exempt from destructive fires in the past, no effort should be spared to keep tbis department in its present efficient condition.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 153

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