History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 81

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 81

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They have had eight children, four of whom are now living, viz .: Dr. George O. Allen and Henry F. Allen, both of West Rockbury, Mass .; Mary Abby, wife of George F. Sylvester, of Hanover ; and Fanny Florence, wife of John F. Simmons, Esq., of Han- over.

Mr. Allen's life was a constant sermon. His most distinguishing characteristics were his very self-sacri- ficing disposition, his great love of children, and deep and all-abiding fervor in his chosen profession. His sermons were always strong and logical, and were de- livered with a plain yet forceful simplicity, as if scorning any adventitious aid of fine oratorical or rhetorical effects.

He died of apoplexy, at his son's residence at West Roxbury, Mass., April 11, 1882, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and lies at rest in the cemetery at Centre Hanover, where a very appropriate marble tablet marks his grave.

The successor of Mr. Allen, Rev. William H. Dowden, preached to this society but a short time. His ministry was marked by a great increase in the ma- terial prosperity of the society. Under his direction, and largely by his inspiration, a society of home- workers was formed, and they with others, aided largely by contributions, fairs, entertainments of all kinds, and other well-directed efforts, succeeded in painting the church, both inside and out, frescoing the interior, getting a new pulpit and new organ, and all without getting into debt.

The present incumbent of the preacher's desk is Rev. Samuel E. Evans, who was ordained to the ministry in 1867.

Some of the entries upon the old records of this church seem to be of interest. For example, this one of May 7, 1742 : " The church took a vote to see if the society would sing in the new way, and it passed in the affirmative, nem. con. Then being de- sired to bring in their votes for a Tuner, Mr. Ezekiel Turner was chosen by a considerable majority." This marks the end of the old way of congregational sing- ing, wherein the deacon read each line before it was sung, pitching the tune himself.

Another entry, Oct. 21, 1805, " Voted to repair the base viol," shows that still greater innovations on old practices had occurred.

The present building is the fourth church which has stood upon the same spot. The first has already been described. The second was built in 1764 or 1765. During Mr. Baldwin's ministry it was de- signed to cut the old church in two and put in a piece, but this plan was reconsidered, and a new church, sixty-two by forty-three feet, and twenty-two feet between joints, was built, with a steeple. Like the first church this building faced south, and on the east side the women's porch, and on the west the men's porch extended to the eaves. The men's porch was surmounted by a tapering spire and weather- vane, which were both removed when in 1784 a bell was placed in the front steeple.

During or just preceding Mr. Smith's ministry this second meeting-house gave place to a third of smaller dimensions, which faced to the east. Directly in its rear, within about six feet of the wall, stood the town hall, facing south. In 1861 a fire destroyed both town house and church. The present church edifice was immediately erected. It returned to the old style and faced south, and a vestry upon the ground floor, with furnaces for heating the building, were for the first time introduced.

Second Congregational Church .- The Second Congregational Church at Hanover was originally one

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

with the Congregational Church situated at the centre of the town. A few persons believed it would be an accommodation to the inhabitants of Hanover, South Scituate, and adjoining towns to have a Con- gregational Society formed whose place of public worship should be near the Four Corners. Aeeord- ingly, Mareh 10, 1854, thirty-two members (thirteen gentlemen and nineteen ladies) were dismissed by the First Church to be organized as a religious society or parish by the name of the Second Congregational Society in Hanover.

In the year 1854 the voters of the ehurel peti- tioned Alexander Wood, Esq., one of the justices of the peace for the county of Plymouth, that a warrant be given them to warn the qualified voters to meet in their new meeting-house, lately erected on Back Street, for the purpose of choosing the necessary officers, and also to determine a way of ealling parish meetings in the future. The warrant having been granted, the church took measures to proeure a pas- tor. At a legal meeting in July of the same year thirteen new members were admitted to the church, and the church and parish united in extending a eall to Rev. William Chapman to become their pastor. He accepted, and remained one year, resigning on account of ill health. The salary paid at that time was nearly eight hundred dollars. After his with- drawal, Rev. Joel Mann, of Kingston, R. I., accepted a eall from the church, remaining from 1857 to No- vember of the next year, at a salary of six hundred dollars. Mr. Mann has just died in New Haven, Conn., at the advanced age of ninety-nine years.

The church then voted that Rev. James Aiken should fill the vacancy, and he was installed as pastor on the 16th of July, 1859. During his pastorate four new members were admitted into the church. Mr. Aiken was a man greatly beloved by the people during his pastorate of twelve years.

He was succeeded by Rev. F. D. P. Stone, whose labors with the church began in October, 1873, and continued until October, 1875. Besides his duties as a elergyman, he was also principal of Hanover Academy while he remained in Hanover.

The Rev. Henry Perkins was next invited by the church to serve them as their minister. He accepted the call, oceupying the pulpit from Jan. 1, 1876, to 1878.

After his removal the church had no settled pas- tor, but the pulpit was supplied by Rev. E. Porter Dyer, of South Abington. Mr. Dyer remained three years, when he was compelled to resign by siekness. His death took place recently at his home in South Abington.

After Mr. Dyer's resignation a eall was extended to Rev. J. W. Brownville, who is the present pastor.

Catholic Chapel .- Nearly opposite one end of Spring Street, on Broadway, stands the " Chapel of our Lady of the Sacred Heart," the first Roman Catholic Church edifice in town. For twelve years or more monthly services of the Roman Catholic Church had been holden in this vieinity by the Rev- erend Fathers of St. Bridget's Church at Abington, -first at the house of Mr. John Bannican, in Pem- broke, and later at Mr. Solomon Russell's house, near the rubber-works, in Hanover. In 1879, Rev. William P. McQuaid succeeded in purchasing this site and erecting this little chapel, where twice a month about one hundred Roman Catholics assemble in worship. The chapel is a plain building with a small steeple or eupola on the north or front end, and was built by Rawson & Higgins from plans made by J. H. Besariek. It is now a part of the parish of Roekland, and is under the charge of Rev. John B. Tiernay, of the Church of the Holy Family.

St. Andrew's Church .- This, the first Protestant Episcopal Church in Massachusetts to be consecrated by Bishop Griswold, and called St. Andrew's Church, was built in 1811, at a cost of about five thousand dollars. As the outcome of difficulties in the First Congregational Church in Hanover, some of its mem- bers left and joined St. Andrew's Church, the society then worshiping in its first church, which was located at Church Hill, in South Seituate. These new- eomers desired a church in a location more eonve- nient to them. Accordingly, it was voted, April 24, 1810, " that the Society are willing to attend public worship in Hanover, provided individuals will build a new church in said Hanover." The new church, the second in which this society had worshiped, was built, and the society moved. This ehureh edifiee sinee 1811 has been twiee remodeled. Onee the spire was changed, and recently, after a new chancel and other interior improvements had just been eom- pleted, a stroke of lightning burned and demolished the spire so much that a new one has been again ereeted. The present structure at the Four Corners is a good speeimen of the ehureh architecture of eolo- nial times.

The records of this church previous to 1780 are lost. Enough is gained from the careful and sehol- arly " Historieal Address," delivered at a service me- morial of St. Andrew's Church, Scituate, Sept. 3, A.D. 1882, by the Rev. William Henry Brooks, S.T.D. (its present reetor), to enable us to give with suffieicnt fullness the details of its earlier history.

Originally this ehureh was attended by the few

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HISTORY OF HANOVER.

Church of England people in all the neighboring towns. Its services were conducted by missionaries of the " Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," the oldest missionary society in the world. having received its charter June 16, 1701, from King William the Third of England.

Its first edifice was situated, as above stated, at Church Hill, and was opened Oct. 11, 1731, the Rev. Ebenezer Miller, S.T.D., officiating, and on that day baptizing eight children. It was a small wooden building. with a low spire and bell, and would accom- modate about one hundred and fifty people. The three windows. with diamond glass on each side, were shaped at the top like a Gothic arch.

Dr. Miller was not the first missionary from this old society to officiate at the services of this church. As early as July 28, 1725, Rev. Dr. Cutler, at the request of several of the inhabitants of the town of Scituate, conducted divine service in the Episcopal form in the North meeting-house in Scituate, near the harbor. This service, attended by some nincty persons, created no small stir among the good Congre- gationalists of the colony. It was even noticed in the Boston News-Letter, as "showing the doctor's fervent zeal and indefatigable pains to make proselytes to the cause, and promote ceremonies by destroying substantials in religion."

Dr. Miller died Sept. 11, 1763, having lived to see this society at Scituate for many years under a pastor of its own. The first settled minister was Rev. Ad- dington Davenport. He also was a missionary, sent out at a salary of sixty pounds per annum by this same Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He must have been established here about 1733, and remained here about three years.

During Mr. Davenport's ministry the feeling of the colonists ran high against this form of worship. The government was in the hands of the Congrega- tionalists. The greater portion by far of the inhab- itants hereabout was decidedly opposed to the church, and at the end of Mr. Davenport's residence he states that there were but three recipients of the holy communion.

One of the greatest sources of trouble to the Epis- copalians was the church taxes, which all were obliged by law to pay, regardless of their religious belief. Episcopalians were thus taxcd to help sup- port other churches. Frequent arrests of Episco- palians are noted for non-payment of this tax, fol- lowed in some cases by imprisonment. Later a yearly rebate of these taxes was made to Episcopalians.

Mr. Davenport's interest in this society was so strong that on his decease he gave to the "Society

for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," in trust forever, for the use of the ministers of St. Andrew's Church in Scituate, his residence here, con- sisting of seven acres of land, with dwelling-house, barn, and other buildings thereon. By authority of the Legislature this land was sold in 1817, and the sum of $466.69 was realized therefor. This fund was added to a fund for the support of religious worship in the Episcopal society of St. Andrew in Hanover, and was also increased by $183.82, realized by the sale of the old church building. This fund was then sold for $1274.20. Additional gifts of $1315.70 increased it to $2589.90, which was used in building a rectory, which was first occupied in 1849 (July 13th). This rectory is a plain, substantial dwelling-house, and is situated on the southwest side of Washington Street, in Hanover, nearly opposite the junction of Back Street.

Mr. Davenport's successors were as follows : Charles Brockwell, 1737; Ebenezer Thompson, 1762-75; Edward Winslow, 1775-76; Samuel Parker, 1780- 83; William Willard Wheeler, 1783-1810.

During Mr. Thompson's ministry here the church edifice was enlarged. " It is said," in a letter from Henry Caner, D.D., to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, " that the death of the Society's faithful and very worthy Missionary, Mr. Thompson, of Scituate, was owing partly to bodily disorder, and partly to some un- civil treatment from the rebels in his neighborhood."

These were troublous times for the Church of England people in the colonies. Their litany taught them to pray morning and evening for the king and the royal family. 'The " rebels" were in a vast ma- jority in this neighborhood. Feelings which prompted the colonists to such tremendous sacrifices as werc endured by them in defending their rights and liber- ties, eould not brook open sympathy with their arch oppressor. It is not, therefore, strange that the min- isters who did not yield, and the people of their flocks who still maintained their adherence to the crown, should have been derided and persecuted. This all-controlling passion of patriotism is enoughi to explain the conduct of colonists toward their oppo- nents in their midst.

The rectors of this parish since the removal of its church to Hanover, in 1811, were Joab G. Cooper, 1811-16; Calvin Wolcott, 1818-34; Samuel G. Appleton, 1835-38; Eleazer A. Greenleaf, 1839-41; Samuel Cutler, 1841-72 (this was Mr. Cutler's only pastorate,-he died July 17, 1880) ; William H. Brooks, 1872, who is its present rector.

Dr. Brooks came to Hanover April 14, 1872, from

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Webster, Mass. He graduated at the Theological Seminary of Virginia in 1852, and has since received the honorary degree of "S.T.D." His various charges have been in their order at Newark, Del., Lenox, Mass., Brockport, N. Y., Plymouth, Mass., Oxford, Mass., Webster, Mass., and Hanover. The latter has been his longest pastoratc. He is highly respected and much beloved in his parish. He is deeply interested in matters historical pertaining to the church. His researches have succeeded in bring- ing to light one interesting document which illustrates the truth of the old adage we used to see in our copy- books, " Times change and men change with them." It is a subscription-paper, with a long list of names, the " sums set against" which are for the purpose of purchasing lottery tickets, the proceeds of which, if fortunate, are to go towards the support of the Gos- pel in St. Andrew's parish. Under Dr. Brooks St. Andrew's is flourishing, and is slowly but steadily gaining in numbers and strength.

The Baptist Society .- The Baptist is the only society in town still worshiping in its original church edifice. On Main Street, facing Walnut Strcet, stands this building. It was raised and a vestry placed under it in 1859, but has undergone no other substantial changes since it was built, in 1812. This is the First Baptist Church in Hanover. It is an offshoot of the Baptist society in Marshfield, and is now prosperous. The date of its establishment as a separate organiza- tion is 1806 (February 11th). Its first pastor was Rev. Barnabas Perkins. The list of its pastors is as follows after Mr. Perkins : William Curtis, 1807-9; John Butler, 1810-24. From 1824 to 1833 the church had no settled minister for much of the time. Darius Dunbar, 1833-35 ; Robert B. Dickie, 1834- 36; Horacc Seaver, 1836-38; Nathan Stetson, 1839- 40; Thomas Conant, 1840-42; Nathan Chapman, 1845-46; B. N. Harris, 1846-49; William N. Slason, 1849-53; Caleb Benson, 1853-54; Thomas Conant, 1854-56; J. M. Mace, 1856-57; Jacob Tuck, 1857-61 ; W. H. Stewart, 1861-63 (entered the United States service as chaplain); Andrew Read, 1863-82; C. D. Swett, 1882-84.

In the minutes of the Old Colony Association of 1859, it is recorded of this church that it " has re- modeled its house of worship by building underneath it a vestry and other commodious rooms, and has otherwise improved the whole structure." In 1867 a pipe organ was placed in the church. The spire was raised to the improvement of the building's architec- tural appearance.

Rev. Andrew Read's pastorate of nearly twenty years demands more than a passing notice, if for no

other reason than its long continuance in the midst of so many of short duration. During his residence here he identified himself with the interests of the town in many ways, among others serving for many years on the school committee. One of his children (Gracc) was for several years a faithful and efficient teacher in her own district, and was a girl of much in- tellectual ambition and activity.

Universalist Society .- The church of the Uni- versalist society is situated about two rods northerly of the northerly line of the town in Assinippi village. While this edifice is outside of the town limits, so many of the society reside in Hanover that it is thought best to insert some history of this church here.

Its present, is its second church building upon this spot. It has been built a little more than half a cen- tury. During that time its interior has been remod- eled. The pulpit was lowered, and a more modern one substituted. Its singers' seats also were lowered, and a fine organ added. Its pews werc newly painted, and the entire interior handsomely frescoed. It stands upon an eminence, back some distance from Wash- ington Street. Here stood also the old church. It had no steeple, and no plastering. Its interior was not warmed by a stove for many years. A gallery surrounded three sides of it, and its pulpit was large and lofty. The seats in the gallery were mere benches, while pews filled the floor. The roof pitched east and west. The front porch extended from the ground to the roof. Midway on each side of the building was a doorway. Here were often heard the voices of the old apostles of Universalism, Hosea Ballou and John Murray.

This society, one of the first of this denomination to be established in the county, did not enter upon its existence without a struggle. Its first petition to be set off as a separate parish came from the inhabitants of the northerly part of Hanover. This petition was renewed in 1767, and the town of Scituate opposed it by a committee especially chosen for the purpose. The petition was again presented unsuccessfully in 1771 and 1796, and it was not until 1812 that it was granted. The act of incorporation is dated June 18, 1812, and the members of the society whose names appear therein are Enoch Collamore, Peleg Simmons, Jr., Josiah Witherell, Seth Stoddard, Samuel Sim- mons, George Litchfield, John Jones, Elisha Gross, Reuben Sutton, Theophilus Corthell, Edward F. Jacobs, Elisha Barrell, Loriug Jacobs, Elisha Bar- rell, Jr., Ichabod R. Jacobs, John Jones, Jr., Calvin Wilder, James H. Jacobs, Charles Totman, Charles Jones, Isaac N. Damon, Joshua Bowker, James Ja-

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HISTORY OF HANOVER.

cobs, Abel Sylvester, Stephen Jacobs, Charles Sim- mons, William Hyland. David Turner. Samuel Ran- dall, Jr .. Joshua Damon, Samuel Randall, Ebenezer Totman, Jonathan Turner, Enoch Collamore, Jr., Benjamin Bowker, John .Gross, Edward Curtis.

Its ministers have been David Pickering, Samuel Baker, Abner Kneeland, Elias Smith, Joshua Flagg, Benjamin Whittemore. Robert L. Killam, 1829-38; H. W. Morse, 1838; John F. Dyer, 1839; J. E. Burnham, 1840 ; John S. Barry, 1841-44; M. E. Hawes, 1844-15 ; Horace P. Stevens, 1846-47 ; Robinson Breare, 1849-52.

Lewis L. Record, Henry E. Vose, 1856; Edward A. Perry, 1867 ; James B. Tabor, Augustus P. Rein, Jacob Baker, B. F. Eaton.

CHAPTER III.

THE BENCH AND BAR, AND MEDICAL PROFESSION.

The Bench and Bar in Hanover .- The first lawyer to settle in Hanover was Hon. Benjamin Whitman, born in 1768. He came here in 1792, and in 1806 followed the tendency which is supposed to be entirely modern, and moved to Boston, where he was justice (chief ) of the Police Court for many years. He graduated at Brown University in the class of 1788, and settled in Pembroke, in this county. During his entire residence in Hanover, he lived at or near the Four Corners. In 1799 he built the elegant mansion now occupied by Horatio Bige- low, and formerly the residence of Seth Barker, near North River bridge, on the high ground overlooking the river. Barry, in his history of the town, speaks of him as an " able lawyer ; a man of great business en- terprise ; an active politician." He seems to have been successful as a politician, for he was for years post- master at Hanover, and, after moving to Boston, was representative from that city. Among his students was Barker Curtis, son of Simeon Curtis, of Hanover, who emigrated to Maine after having an office in As- sinippi village, in the northeasterly part of the town, for a short time. John Winslow, a direct descendant of Gov. Josiah Winslow, and a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1795, settled in Hanover about 1810. He lived at the " Four Corners" until his death, in 1830. His practice is said to have been very extensive, and he was called a thorough lawyer.

Hanover at this time boasted two lawyers in the same village. Almost opposite the house which Mr. Wins- low built for himself, and which was afterwards occu-

pied by Capt. John Cushing, lived Jotham Cushman, Esq.

Isaiah Wing, another Hanover man, and a pupil at the academy, practiced law for a short time at Han- over before liis removal to Ohio. He was a student of Mr. Winslow.

Hon. Aaron Hobart, the author of " An Historical Sketch of the Town of Abington," came to the Four Corners about 1812. He graduated at Brown Uni- versity in 1805. In 1820, while living here, he went to the Massachusetts Senate from Plymouth County. He was in 1826-27 a member of Congress. Soon after his removal to East Bridgewater he was ap- pointed judge of probate for Plymouth County, a position which he held until his death, in September, 1858, at the age of seventy-one. His public services were long-continucd, and always carefully and up- rightly performed. His little historical sketch of Abington is a classic in its way, and a geni among local histories.

Alexander Wood, Esq., came to Hanover from Middleboro', before 1830, and opened an office in Hanover at the Corners, which seems to have been the favorite part of the town for attorneys. He studied law at Middleboro', with Hon. Wilkes Wood, judge of probate, and father of Hon. William H. Wood, recently deceased, also judge of probate and insolvency of Plymouth County.

Alexander Wood practiced law but a short time. He became a store-keeper at the Corners, and died there some years since.

Hon. Perez Simmons, a native of Hanover, and gradnate in 1833 of Brown University, is still living at Assinippi, in the practice of his profession. His biography appcars elsewhere.

His son, John Franklin Simmons, born in June, 1851, lives with his father at Assinippi. He is a graduate of Harvard University, class of 1873, and was chosen by the class as their orator on class day of that year. After being at the Harvard Law School for a year and a half, in February, 1875, he was admitted to the bar at Plymouth. He went at once to Abington, in this county, where he opened an office with Hon. Jesse E. Keith, the present judge of probate and insolvency for this county. His partner- ship was dissolved in 1883, and Mr. Simmons imme- diately formed a new business connection with Harvey H. Pratt, Esq., of Abington, who had been a student in his office. In addition to his Abington office, Mr. Simmons has had much practice from and in Han- over, which his residence in the latter town has nc- cessitated. He has been for the past six years a member of the board of school committee of the town.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Physicians in Town .- The first physician to settle within the limits of the town was Dr. Jeremiah HIall, who came here in 1749. Then we have records of Dr. Lemuel Cushing (who was a surgeon in the Revolution), Dr. Peter Hobart, Dr. Marsh, Dr. Mel- zar Dwelley, Dr. Cartier, Dr. Joshua Studley, Dr. Ezekiel D. Cushing (a most distinguished man in his profession), Dr. Henry Wade, Dr. Jacob Richards, Dr. Calvin B. Pratt, Dr. Joseph B. Fobes, Dr. Ben- jamin Whitwell, Dr. Alfred C. Garratt, Dr. John O. French, Dr. Downes, Dr. Woodbridge R. Howes, and his son, Dr. Clarence L. Howes. Of these there are now living,-Dr. Fobes, at Bridgewater (a most successful physician), Dr. Jobn O. French, and the two Drs. Howes, all three of whom are settled at Hanover Four Corners in active practice.

CHAPTER IV.

MILITARY HISTORY.

Early Wars-The Revolutionary War-War of 1812-The Civil War-The Soldiers' Monument-Grand Army of the Re- public.

IN the early times, about the period when the territory of this town was first settled, it is prob- able that the settlers in common with the early pio- neers everywhere throughout the colonies were of necessity skilled in the use of arms. The constant presence of unseen foes, the necessity for being perpetually on the alert, made soldiers of the farmers and fortresses of their houses. Even at the pres- ent day houses are standing whose wooden walls are filled with brick, which, while sufficiently ac- counted for by the added stability and warmth thereby acquired, tradition with its love for the romantic also attributes to the necessity of guarding against the bullets of the red man.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 81

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