History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 97

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 97

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

To extraet from this iron ore the pure metal the only means then probably known, or at any rate the only method put in sueeessful praetiee, was to place it when heated under the strokes of a heavy trip-ham- mer, and thus divest it of dross, and finally drawing it into merehantable bars, that in some parts of this country were for a time deelared a " legal tender" in paying a specified proportion of debts.

Carver not only abounded with this valuable ore, but it was also equally and as readily supplied with fuel to heat the erude material, and water-power to put in motion the heavy trip-hammer, so essential in giving the finishing strokes to the enterprise. In- deed, it is doubtful whether the far-famed " milk and honey" of aneient Canaan, with its " eorn and wine," were more effeetual in eausing its settlement by the " children of Israel" than was the rich iron ore, the abounding wood, and never-failing water of Carver in seeuring as its oeeupants the " sons and daughters of the Pilgrims."

There has not, even to the present time, been any signs of exhaustion in the iron ore, or failing in Car-

457

HISTORY OF CARVER.

ver's numerous streams of living waters, but in the fuel there is not now a supply equal to the demand of " blooming" or " smelting" iron, thus showing that " these three were" in demand essentially " one" in that early industry of manufacturing iron from the raw material. The quantity of heated ore placed at one time under a trip-hammer was called a " bloom," the act of thus working the ore desiguated as " bloom- ing." the building where done knowu as a " bloomery," and the operator a " bloomer." In later years the place was called a " forge," and the operator a " forge- man." Succeeding the bloomery, or forge, was the blast-furnace. Smelting being deemed an improve- ment upon blooming, and the furnace business prob- ably greatly exceeded in the amount of labor done at Carver all that had preceded it in the bloomery or forge enterprise, for while at the bloomery iron ore was only made into " merchantable bars," the blast-furnace brought the ore into " pigs," and then converted the "pig-iron" into pots and kettles, spiders and skillets, with various other articles of domestic use, under the then general and comprehensive name of " hollow- ware." It is a fact worthy of notice that in the early years of the furnace business at Carver it was ex- pressly understood that manufactured articles should at least in part be received by the workmen engaged in payment for their labors performed and services rendered, and the latter were not unfrequently com- pelled to turn peddlers of hollow-ware before they could realize the fruits of their labors as furnacemen in the form of " clean cash."

Fuel becoming comparatively scarce, the old blast- furnace was succeeded and supplanted by the cupola- furnace, that could not smelt the iron ore, but instead melted the pigs made by the smelting process, and furnished castings of as many and perhaps even more kinds than had been produced by the blast-fur- nace.

With the abandonment of the old blast-furnaces, of course had to be given up the use of iron ore found in Carver, and pig-iron brought from afar made to take its place.

Blast-Furnaces .- The " Federal Furnace," says one and apparently reliable authority, " was erected in 1794," while tradition has claimed for it an origin or beginning coeval with the commencement of the war of the American Revolution, but the first authority cited is probably the nearest true. Drs. Thacher and Hayward, of Plymouth, are said to have been prin- cipal among its earliest proprietors and managers, to whom was ere long added Maj .- Gen. Nathaniel Good- win, also of Plymouth, who had served as an officer in the patriot army in the war of the American Revo-

lution, and is thought to have been referred to in the lines of the original " Yankee Doodle :"

" Father and I went down to camp Along with Captain Goodwin,

Where we see the boys and girls As thick as hasty pudding."

Succceding the proprietors already named in the agency and management was Mr. Friend White, whose immediate successor was Brig .- Gen. Sylvanus Lazell, of Bridgewater, founder of the iron-works at Bridgewater, so long carried on under the name of Lazell, Perkins & Co. Sylvanus Lazell, as a brigadier- general, commanded all the local militia of the county of Plymouth (save the town of Hingham) during all the years of the " last war with England," being, as he was, the immediate successor of Israel Feaning, of Wareham, in that office, and being succeeded, in 1816, by Abiel Washburn, of Middleboro'.

The next in charge of the management of the Federal Furnace was Col. Bartlett Murdock, Mr. Nathaniel Bonney, Mr. John Bent, and Capt. Tim- othy Savery ; and while the last war with England was progressing, in addition to casting hollow-ware, quite a large contract with the United States govern- ment was filled in the making of cannon-balls, to which circumstance last named was attributed the in- condiary attempt to destroy this furnace by fire while a British fleet was lying off the coast near Plymouth. Their blast furnace was succeeded by a cupola furnace that was operated by the firm of Holmes & Allen, of Plymouth, who were succeeded by Bowers & Pratt, until in November, 1841, when the dam broke, and this put an end to the enterprise.

The Ellis Furnace, or Ellis Foundry, was built by Bartlett Murdock and Benjamin Shurtleff, and by them for a time operated. In 1804 the management passed into the hands of Benjamin Ellis & Bartlett Murdock, Jr., and the latter was succeeded by Na- ·thaniel Standish, John Savery, and Jesse Murdock, It is now owned by Miss Susannah Murdock and oper- ated by the Ellis Foundry Company.

It is by Carver people claimed that here is where the first iron tea-kettle was cast in America. Quite a number of different patterns of stoves have been made here. The firm of Bent, Griffith & Co. com- menced manufacturing at Carver in 1854. The firm consisted of George W. Bent, Thomas B. Griffith, Jesse Murdock, and Matthias Ellis, and cast parlor grates, registers, mantel-pieces, fenders, ctc. In 1858 the name was changed to that of Murdock & Co., and the partners made to consist of Jesse Murdock, Thomas B. Griffith, Matthias Ellis, and Samuel Shaw, and thus continued until the death of Jesse

458

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Murdock, that occurred in 1875, since which time it has been a stock company, with Maj. Thomas B. Griffith as president and Samuel Shaw as treasurer, having their sales-rooms at No. 18 Beacon Street, Boston. The concern gives employment to about sixty men, and in addition to iron castings, now pro- duce also the same in brass, in bronze, and in copper, and, beside the strictly useful, now manufacture much of the ornamental.

A furnace was for a time run in that part of Carver known as " Pope's Point," and among the operators were Mr. John Bent, who was succeeded by Mr. Eddy, of Middleboro'. From the running of Pope's Point Furnace, Mr. John Bent appears to have trans- ferred his labors to what has already been considered under the name of the " Federal Furnace," where, for a time, he had a partner in the person of Capt. Timothy Savery.

Col. Benjamin Ward, in or near the year 1825, erected a furnace in Carver that subsequently came to be operated by Mr. Lewis Pratt, Jr. The site is now occupied by the facing-mill of Thomas & Swift.

Wenham Furnace was erected by Mr. Lewis Pratt, about 1830, and it was run by him till destroyed by fire, and then rebuilt by Lewis Pratt, Jr. Near by have been two other furnaces, one put up by David Pratt and the other by Benjamin Cobb.

Slug Furnace, so called, was built on " Slug Brook," in or about 1814. Lewis Pratt was the builder, pro- prietor, and operator.

Concerning forges, the evidence appears that where Mr. W. S. Cushing's mill stood was, at an early date, located a " bloomery," known as " Benson's Forge," and this at one time was operated by Mr. John Bent. He left to run the Pope's Point Furnace, and was succeeded as operator of the forge by a Mr. Weston, of Middleboro'. It was at the site of this forge that the first cut nails were manufactured in Carver. These nails were cut in one machine and headed in another. Mr. Joshua Leach was the successor of Mr. Weston. Mr. Leach put on quite extensive repairs, but he left it about a half-century, perhaps more, ago.

The water-power here has long been used for a box-board mill.

Upon the stream that operated the wheel of the " Federal Furnace" have been located a grist-mill, saw- mill, shingle-mill, stave-mill, and a shoe-string factory.

Herring Fishery .- In March, 1791, the town made choice of " Joseph Vaughan, Isaac Cushman, and Abijah Lucas, who were sworn as a committee to take care of the fish called Alewives for the ensuing year."

At the March mecting in 1793, " Made choice, Bartlett Murdock, Ensign Barnabas Cobb, and En- sign Caleb Atwood as a committee to join with the committecs of Rochester and Wareham to take care of fish called Alewives." Also at or near the same date chose Francis Shurtleff, Esq., John Sherman, and Nehemiah Cobb to be a committee to petition the General Court for the privilege of disposing of the fish called Alewives for the use of the town, and sub- sequently voted to join with the towns of Roclicster and Warcham for that purpose.

In 1796, " Nathaniel Atwood, Jr., John Lucas, and Joseph Ellis, chosen to join a committee of Rochester and Wareham to make regulations with reference to the fish called Alewives, and take care that none take them contrary to regulations."

1798. " Chose Mr. Isaac Cushman, Lieut. Caleb Atwood, and Lieut. Joseph Shaw, inspectors of Ale- wives in Weweantie River."

1802. " Voted to join with Rochester in petition- ing for an amendment to fishing laws."

At a somewhat later date Ezra Thompson, John Savory, Esq., and Joseph Barrows were by the town of Carver chosen to confer with committees of Roch- ester and Wareham, to see what measures were neces- sary to be taken to " preserve" the fish called Ale- wives in Weweantic River, and soon after Ezra Thompson, Seth Morton, and Dr. Samuel Shaw were empowered to employ counsel to protect the rights of Carver in that fishery.

Temperance Reformation .- At a town-meeting holden in March, 1825, voted to instruct the select- men of this town to use their influence and exertions in their official capacity to suppress the evil of in- temperance as the law directs.

In 1827 the town made choice of Ezra Thompson, Samuel Shaw, and Thomas Adams, a committee to enforce in behalf of the town the statute laws of this Commonwealth respecting taverners and retailers, so far as the same may apply to the taverners and re- tailers of Carver. That committee subsequently favored the legal voters of Carver with a written re- port in which they said, " We have viewed with grief the increased progress of dissipation in the town of Carver, and feel anxious that some arrangement might be made which will come within the limits of the authority of the town to check the progress of that cvil, which in our opinion is the principal cause of the multiplied erime and poverty which thic inhabit- ants of this town are becoming noted for, and your committee are of the opinion that these cvils are pro- moted by a want of duc observance of the laws by the licensed houses and stores in town."

Перемика

459

HISTORY OF CARVER.

In 1829 the town elected a committee to confer together with reference to what persons should be put under guardianship on account of common drunken- ness. and not long after voted to recommend to all persons who may be called upon to officiate at funerals to abstain entirely from the use of spirituous liquors on such occasions.

In 1832 voted to instruct the selectmen to post up the names of all such persons as misspend their time and property by the excessive use of intoxicating liquors.

In 1843 voted to disapprove of any one selling ardent spirits in or around the meeting-house on town- meeting day.

Among the celebrities of this town it is proper to mention John Maxim. who was born Jan. 24, 1795, and died in the same house in which he was born Aug. 24. 1883 ; this habitation of his long life having afforded human shelter one hundred and seventeen years. and was erected by his father, whose Christian name he bore. This house stands in what one would be led to think anything else.than a poetic locality, as that part of Carver has long been familiarly known as '. Huckleberry Corner," and yet here it is where were composed and written by our John Maxim, the au- thor. those very popular and far-famed political songs that so electrified the public mind from one end of our great country to the other in the noted " Harri- son Campaign" of 1840 ; and Maxim's "Log-Cabin Songster," put forth in book-form and subscribed to by him in the nom de plume of "Bemis," was not among the least of those potent influences which contributed to effect that great political revolution, and secured the wonderful victory then achieved by " Tippecanoe and Tyler too." Maxim was not only a poet but considerable of a musician, for he could make songs and set to music the songs he had made, and then discourse both to the public with thrilling effect. Few people can sing their poetic compositions, and a still smaller number can compose the music of their songs and sing the same,-these three faculties being really quite distinct .- and yet in " Bemis" the three were made one, and wrought wonders accord- ingly.

John Maxim was four times married, and the pa- rent of ten children. He gave practical heed to the pious exhortation, "Turn ye, oh. turn ye, for why will you die;" for in religious matters he turned and turned and kept continually turning, being at different periods of his life an Orthodox Congregationalist, a Universalist, a Methodist, and an Adventist ; and to those who rallied or joked him concerning his insta- bility and changeableness, he replied that " a wise

man sometimes changes his mind, but a fool never does."

Over the signature of " Bemis," he corresponded quite extensively for the local newspapers.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. JESSE MURDOCK.

Jesse Murdock, only son of Jesse and Susannah (Ellis) Murdock, was born in Carver, Mass., Sept. 11, 1806. He received a common-school education, and at the age of sixteen years entered the service of his uncle, Bartlett Murdock, of Warcham, as clerk, where he remained about five years. He then re- turned to Carver, and entered into partnership, in 1827, with Benjamin Ellis, Esq., in the iron foundry business, and so continued for a period of about twenty years under the firm-name of B. Ellis & Co. In October, 1840, he married the daughter (Harriet) of his partner, Mr. Ellis. She died without issue, May 23, 1849. He never again married. Matthias Ellis succeeded his father, Benjamin, before the latter's decease, and Mr. Murdock remained a partner in the firm until 1863, when he retired from the foundry business, but retained his interest in the parlor-grate business, which manufactory he, in con- nection with others, had established in 1853, and in which he continued until his decease, Feb. 16, 1875. From 1835 to 1850, Mr. Murdock was much in pub- lic life, having served several terms as representative in the Legislature from his native town, as a senator from his county, and as councilor from his district, and always in the interest and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was director a great many years in the Wareham National Bank, and was president of -the Wareham Savings-Bank at the time of his de- cease. He was also for many years a justice of the peace.

Hon. Jesse Murdock was in many respects a rc- markable man. In good common sense and sound judgment he was almost peerless. He had a very clear and accurate perception of character, and a just estimate of ability and worth. His counsel and ad- vice were much sought and justly rewarded. He was a keen observer of men and events, and could dissect and discount the logic of events with great precision. In business he was diligent and indefatigable ; suc- cess crowned his efforts, and he accumulated a large fortune, being at the time of his death the largest landholder in Plymouth County.

460

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

About 1845 he built a plain, neat, cominodions dwelling and other buildings near the site of the old homestead where he was born, and resided there until the time of his death. Miss Susan E. Murdoek, his only sister, now occupies it. He never entered into or encouraged any wild or doubtful schemes of specu- lation, but confined himself strictly to the legitimate channels of business enterprise, and always inculeated by his advice and example a wholesome and correct tone of morals in both business and social life. For the vain and pretentious, unsustained by eharacter and merit, the blatant politieian, the palaver of the flatterer, he had a most profound contempt, which he never restrained in either word or deed. In personal appearance he was remarkably imposing; calm, dig- nified, almost sedate in his intercourse with the gen- eral public, yet with his personal friends and intimate associates he was exceedingly genial, jocular, and jovial. If in business any one betrayed or wrongcd him, he abandoned all further intercourse with them ; but if, upon the other hand, any one under peeuniary obligations to him was debarred by misfortune from meeting that obligation, no one could be more lenient or forgiving, and he always sustained with a helping hand such as proved worthy. He arrogated to him- self nothing on aceount of wealth or position, but as- sociated in the kindliest way with even the poorest and humblest around him, if they were honorable and honest. He belonged to no chureh, but in his relig- ious views was broad and liberal, sympathizing most largely with the Unitarian and Universalist faiths. In politics he was a Democrat. In his manner of living he was frugal and unostentatious, and even after he had acquired great wealth his tastes and habits remained the same. In his death Carver sus- tained the loss not only of one of its most prominent business men, but of one of its best, most useful, and highly-respected citizens.

GEORGE P. BOWERS.

George P. Bowers, son of John and Nancy (Carter) Bowers, was born at Leominster, Mass., Sept. 24, 1813. His maternal grandfather, Maj. Josiah Carter, of Lancaster, Mass., was an officer in the war of the Revolution.

When a mere lad he came to Carver, and became a member of the family of Benjamin Ellis, one of the prominent citizens of the town, and the managing owner of the Charlotte Furnace. Here he learned the business of iron founder, and acquired such rudi- ments of an education as could be furnished by the

district school of a small country town at that day, supplemented by a short attendance at the academy in the neighboring town of Middleboro'.

Early in life he, with Joseph Pratt, a young man of the same town, eomineneed business at the Federal Furnace in Carver, as manufacturers of hol- low-ware, under the firm-name of Bowers & Pratt. The Federal Furnace was the oldest foundry in the United States.

The need of greater facilities, indueed by the growing business of the firm, caused the removal of the establishment in a few years to Roxbury, adjoin- ing Boston, where the business was successfully eon- ducted for a number of years, when he withdrew from active participation in it. He had always loved to regard Carver as his home, and he now took up his permanent abode there in a house which he had ereeted on the shore of Sampson's Pond, among the familiar scenes of his youth.

His aetive temperament, however, rendered a life of idleness impossible to him, and he soon found em- ployment in establishing, and earrying on an extensive braid-factory in Carver, and another in the town of Plympton. The depression in this elass of business during and after the war having rendered it unprofit- able, he abandoned it and started a foundry in Woburn, Mass., which he conducted until his de- cease.

In his later years he devoted much time and thought to cranberry culture in Carver, laying his plans upon a scale of unprecedented magnitude, in- volving the elearing and cultivation of hundreds of aeres of what had always been regarded as useless bog and swamp. The enterprise was not fully de- veloped at the time of his death, but sufficient prog- ress had been made to warrant the expectation that it will prove a suceess and a material benefit to the town and vicinity.

He was married Oct. 14, 1844, to Waitstill A., youngest daughter of John and Polly (Atwood) Savery. Two children of this marriage, Polly S. and Naney C., are still living. Mrs. Bowers died Jan. 13, 1866, and on Dec. 8, 1870, he married Eliza A., daughter of Stillman and Eliza (Cole) Shaw, who survives him. He dicd Jan. 24, 1884.

Mr. Bowers made no religious profession. He was what would be ealled a liberal Christian, interested in religious thought and open to sueh new light and new views as his reason approved. His character was a rare combination of strong and sterling quali- ties. Enterprising, energetie, and self-reliant, he was always considerate of the feelings and welfare of others, and no small part of his enjoyment of success-

Ger . . Bowers 11

Mavery.

461

HISTORY OF CARVER.

ful business pursuits arose from the knowledge that those in his employ, and the community in which he lived. shared the benefit with him.

Warm-hearted and full of a healthy human sym- pathy. he won and retained the respect and friendship of all with whom he came in close contact. In politics his tendencies were Democratic, but he was too inde- pendent a man to belong to any party, or to follow any party leaders farther than he thought was right.

In public matters he relied on his own judg- ment and his own conscience. He represented his town in the State Legislature, but his business occu- pied him too fully to permit his engaging in anything like public life, even had his taste led in that direc- tion. An ardent lover of nature and a keen sports- man, he enjoyed the forest more than the city, the grassy bank of a trout-stream more than a seat in the State-House. and the cry of the hounds in full chase more than political eloquence. To fulfill his duty as a citizen and neighbor was his ambition. His good deeds were but known to the members of the rural community in which he lived, and their grief at his death, and the love and esteem in which they hold his memory, are his fitting eulogy and monument. -

WILLIAM SAVERY.

William Savery, son of John and Polly (Atwood) Savery, was born in Carver, Mass., Oct. 26, 1815. He received a common-school education in his native town. supplemented by an attendance of two terms at Bridgewater Academy (1832), and one term at Peirce Academy, at Middleboro' (1833). At this period of his life it was his intention to study medi- cine. and give special attention to surgery ; and had Mr. Savery fulfilled those intentions and chosen a proper field for the exercise of his qualifications, his Dame would undoubtedly have ranked high among the surgeons of America, for he certainly has, in a high degree, many of the requisite qualities for ad- vancement in that profession. Sympathetic by nature, yet he has a Spartan-like control of his emotions ; of strong will-power and high ambition to excel in whatever he undertakes, coupled with a love for read- ing and research. he would have kept pace with the progress of the age, and would doubtless have achieved distinction in his profession. But "trifles light as air" sometimes decide the destiny of men and nations. While at Middleboro' Mr. Savery was tendered a position as clerk in an iron establishment at Albany, N. Y., which at the expiration of his term he ac-

cepted, and remained there five years, the last year of which time he was a partner in the firm where he had been employed. He then dissolved his business connections in Albany and went to the city of New York, where, with his father as partner, he conducted an iron-foundry until his father's decease (1853), and in connection with other parties until 1877, when he retired from the firm, and has since devoted his at- tention to the conduct of his private affairs, to the care of his father's estate, the administration of nu- merous other estates, the executorship of wills, the guardianship of many minor children, and as trustee of several public bequests.

In politics he is a Democrat, and was elected to the State Legislature on that ticket for the term of 1878-79. This was on account of his personal popularity rather than his political creed, as the dis- trict is largely Republican. He has received the nomination of his party as candidate for the Senate a number of times, but as the Democratic party is so far in the minority in that district he has, of course, not been elected. Mr. Savery has never been an office-seeker, however, and whatever positions of office or trust he may have held have invariably sought him, not he them.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 97

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