History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 111

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 111

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No sketch of Mendon's history would be complete which did not notice a few events of minor importance perhaps, but which, at the time of their occurrence, attracted great and general interest.

Suchi was the erection in 1840 of Harrison Hall and school-rooms beneath, and its purchase in 1849 by the town, connected with which many acrimonious contests and more than one lawsuit arose. Happily, though in constant use ever since, the building, with its lot recently enlarged, still remains, is in good repair and useful as ever, while the bitter strifes of which it was the occasion exist as faint memories alone. .

Pleasanter recollections follow the town's bi-centen- nial celebration in 1867, of which mention has been made. Rev. Carleton A. Staples, one of the town's favorite sons, now of Lexington, was orator of the day, and Judge Henry Chapin, of Worcester, the poet; General John M. Thayer, of Nebraska; Rev. Adin Ballon, of Hopedale; Putnam W. Taft, Hons. Ira M. Barton, E. B. Stoddard, Judge H. B. Staples, of Wor- cester; Francis Deane, Esq., of Uxbridge; Rev. Lewis

F. Clarke, of Northbridge; Dr. M. D. Southwick, of Blackstone; Hon. George B. Loring, of Salem, and others, delivered addresses or read poems. There were letters of regret read from Governor A. H. Bul- lock, General B. F. Butler, Hons. Levi Lincoln, John H. Clifford, George S. Boutwell, Emory Washburn, Stephen Salisbury, Judge Charles Devens and others.

October 31, 1877, some hundreds of people assem- bled to commemorate the one hundred and seventy- fourth anniversary of the death of the pioneer, Ser- geant Abraham Staples. Two of his descendants, Rev. C. A. Staples and Judge H. B. Staples, on this occasion dedicated a granite monument to his memory and, with others of this well-known family, delivered appropriate addresses.

There is in Mendon's old burying-ground, where this Staples' monument stands, a stone bearing the name of Deborah Read, and the date 1702, and one with the name of Abraham Staples, and the date October 20, 1704, is next in antiquity. On the authority of Judge Staples there are but five older ones known in the county, all in Lancaster.

Another memorial stone, and very useful, also, in the form of a large watering basin, highly finished, and suitably inscribed in memory of Hon. David Joy, originally from Nantucket, was given to the town by his widow. It stands at the junction of Main and Hastings Streets. Mr. Joy lived in Mendon, for seve- ral years and died abroad in 1876. The basin was not fully made over to the town till 1884, since which date the town has kept it supplied. It was set up iu 1877.

It is apparent that from the beginning what is now Mendon always had a moderate growth in population. From 1840 to 1875 it was probably about stationary, having not far from twelve hundred inhabitants.

Compelled to rely upon its fertile farms, like similar Massachusetts towns, it has long seen its sons going to swell the population of larger places, but it is still strong in self-respect and is evidently as much re- spected as ever. Surrounded by the busy towns form- erly within its limits, it seems content, in some mea- sure, with the traditions of its past, and to look on the turmoil around something as a mother on her child- ren at play, without taking much part in their restless activity. Its population in 1885, numbering only nine hundred and forty-five, is largely of pure New Eng- land stock, and it may be doubted if, in any town in Worcester County, the people retain more of the habits and sterling character of their New England ancestors.1

BIOGRAPHICAL. · OBADIAH WOOD.

Mr. Wood was born in Uxbridge, Mass., March 16, 1773. He was the son of Solomon and grandson of

1 In the preparation of the foregoing, the " Annals of Mendon," com- piled by Dr. John G. Metcalf, and published by the town of Mendon, 1880, also the published historical discourses of Rev. C. A. Staples, have been freely used.

Obadiah Hood

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Obadiah. The subject of this sketch married Abey, daughter of Israel Mowry, of Rhode Island, by whom he had nine children. The early life of Mr. Wood was spent as a farmer in the towns of Uxbridge and Mendon. He then learned the trade of a mechanic, that of a wood-workman. The first of his work in this line was the manufacture of chairs and spinning- wheels. After the establishment of factories along our streams, Mr. Wood found his occupation partly gone. He was next employed in some of these fac- tories in the region where he lived in other lines of wood-work. It is claimed for him that he was the first bobbin-maker in this country, his orders coming from all parts of the United States as time rolled on. His bobbins also found their way to the South Ameri- can States,-he was quite successful in this business. While a resident of the town of Mendon he was honored by being chosen' to fill all of the important offices in the place. He was elected to the Legisla- ture from Mendon in 1835, and again in 1836. While a member of that body he introduced a bill to reduce the number of members to be chosen annually as mem- bers of the House of Representatives. The bill was favorably received, and became a law. He was at one time chosen one of the State directors of what is now the Boston and Albany Railroad. Mr. Wood was a man of strong will-power, earnest in what he thought to be right. In politics he was originally a Jackson- ian Democrat, but, with the rise of the Republican party, he saw the opportunity to do something to check the advance of the slave power. Believing in equal rights for all men, he united himself with the new party, as the best means to accomplish the end desired.

He was a man of sterling integrity, ever laboring for the public good. All matters brought to bis no- tice were carefully weighed, and his decisions were generally found to be correct, and in accordance with right and justice. He is remembered as a lover of books and as a skillful mechanic, who did much in those early days of our history to advance the pros- perity of the towns and county in which he lived, leaving behind footprints not yet effaced.

He died July 29, 1852, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine, respected by all who knew him.

CHAPTER LX.

BERLIN.

BY REV. W. A. HOUGHTON.

IN introducing onr modest little town to Worcester County we have to say that we ought to have been much larger. A line on the map touching Boston and Albany justifies the scheme of some shrewd capitalists of sixty years ago, of connecting the two cities by canal (â la Erie), which would have divided | here his sons.

our town in halves. A speaker of our House of Rep- resentatives lately said that had the project been consummated, Boston would have been the metropolis instead of New York. The Central Massachusetts Railroad has, by nature, the pre-eminent " right of way," which it has taken through Worcester County. But other considerations besides directness determine such issues. So, too, had Lancaster, when we were a part of it, only accepted the county-seat, how differ- ent would we have been, and all the northern Wor- cester County towns; great results follow inconsider- ate action !

As it is, Berlin is one of the eight towns of the county having less than a thousand in population, and two of these towns join ns. Berlin, now bounded north by Bolton, east by Hudson and Marlboro', south by Northboro' and west by Boylston and Clin- ton, is, territorially, a section of the original "ten miles square" of Lancaster, and the sontheast corner of it.

From 1643 to 1738 we were of Lancaster,-almost a century. We had two or three houses on Berlin soil before the massacre of 1676,-one as early as 1665. That was John Moore's, who located southeast of Wataquadock Hill. In the re-settlement of Lancaster, the families clung to the Nashua River. Berlin territory was not inhabited again probably till about 1700. Garrisons were maintained up to 1720. Bolton had two or three. Our territory had none; but several families had ventured within our prezent bound+ abont 1700.

Of early landholders of Berlin, of noticeable ex- tent, were the Johnsons, of Woburn, who settled on the south. Captain Edward Johnson, famous in Woburn as one of its founders, was virtually court surveyor under Governor Winthrop. With two others, he was appointed to supervise the affairs of Lancaster, when not enough " freemen " could be eurolled to do it, not being church members. Hence, probably, his acquaintance with Lancaster lands.

A great-grandson of his settled three sons, Edward, Joshua and Eleazer, on farms which included most of what is now South Berlin. Of these three brothers, two of them married two sisters, daughters of James Ball, of "Ball Hill," and sisters of the first of the three celebrated doctors Stephen Ball, of Northboro'. The other brother married a cousin of theirs, daughter of Nathan Ball, brother to James, on the same hill, Westboro' then, Northboro' now. The Johnsons were prominent in the early history of Bolton and Berlin. They came upon the stage about the time of the sep- aration of Bolton from Lancaster, 1738. Dr. Joshua Johnson, late of Northboro', was one of the last of this family line in this vicinity. The name stood strong in Berlin for a hundred and fifty years. An- other branch settled in Leominster. The Lancaster Johnsons were from Watertown. Our line stands Edward, William, Edward, Edward, Jr., who located

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Samuel Jones, Jr., a grandson of Josiah Jones, of Watertown, progenitor, according to Bond, of the American families of the name, was connected with the Johnsons in Woburn by marriage, and settled near them on the Assabet River, near our Marlboro' and Northboro' lines. The Joneses were a family of like standing, apparently, with the Johnsons. Here the Joneses became more numerous for many years than any other family. Samuel (2d), and third of the line, bought of Benjamin Bailey one hundred and forty- seven acres, 1748, covering all our present centre. One single dwelling of account seems to have been in- cluded. This became a hotel, an "inn " in those days. Children and children's children came upon the stage. They established homes mainly upon the first purchase. The third and fourth Samuels raised here their families. The third Samuel was " senior " as to Berlin. The first two were of Concord and Woburn.

Two large families, Samuel (5th) and William, re- moved to Marlboro', N. H., 1810 and 1825. They have well maintained the family name and character. At present Mr. Ira Jones is sole male representa- tive of the several energetic founders of Berlin.

Our Samuel, Sr., gave to the town its parish com- mon and ground for cemetery. He was a valiant patriot and "militant " in any good cause. In the ecclesiastical conflict between Rev. Mr. Goss and the town, who desired to settle Mr. Walley, "Land'rd Jones" was reported as praying that the Lord would "overturn and overturn

Till Goss should lose his case And Walley have his place."

In some way " Constable Jones" served in the ex- ecution of Mrs. Spooner, in Worcester, 1778. So tra- dition has it.

On the east of the town Stephen Gates and sons held several hundred acres, including our principal pond, bearing his name. Gates came from England, 1638, by way of Hingham and Cambridge to Lancas- ter. Our Lancaster historians represent the family as decidedly "tropical " in blood. Daughter Mary con- fronted the minister in the public assembly. Prose cuted, she shook off the dust of her feet and married John Maynard, of Sudbury, and from them came several good-blooded Maynard families to Berlin. But the Gates name subsided. Some settled in Stow. The Gateses were patriots in the wars.

Between the Gates lands on the east of the town and Johnsons on the south came in John Wheeler and John, Jr,, from the Concord Wheeler hive. They have multiplied, "and still increase." The name, of late years, has represented more families and persons than any other. Their first home was on the south of Sawyer Hill. Now they have a hill of their own in the north part of the town. They have been connected mostly with the Quakers, whose meeting- house stands just over the Bolton line in Fryville.

The original Wheeler purchase was three hundred and sixty-two acres in Marlboro'. The Assabet

Meadow is named. This of Thomas Henchman, hy " John Wheeler, of Concord, son of Obadiah Wheeler late of Concord, deceased." This John Wheeler diec in Marlboro', 1721. His son, John, about that time moved on into Shrewsbury (now Boylston), where he died, leaving estate to his son John.

On the Marlboro' homestead, now in Berlin, Jona- than, son of John, Jr., appears with family, 1752. He is the head of the Berlin families. George Tol. man, of Concord, has made a thorough development of the Concord Wheelers from their immigration, cor- recting many errors.

Sons Jonathan, Jr., Stephen and Levi settled in Berlin ; Perigrine in Richmond, N. H .; Jonathan, Jr. married Mary Buffum, of which blood all her descend- ants think very much ; they hold a yearly picnic the day after the August "Quarterly Meeting."

Berlin on the west was peopled by Lancaster inhabitants from the Nashua. Philip Larkin, of Irish descent, established our "Larkindale." Sin- gularly there gathered round him other nationali- ties till the region was known as the "Six Nations." Philip left a vigorous posterity, well represented as yet. But he disappeared in early old age, leav- ing for Baltimore. No further trace of him from about 1750 till a Berlin soldier came across his grave and tablet in Poolesville, Md., 1862. He owned here several hundred acres of land, which he distributed mostly among his sons. His neighbors suggested that he left to have, at last, the offices of the Catholic Church. There was no such church nearer at that date. The suggestion has reason in it. Tradition has it that Philip, by collusion with the captain of the ship, evaded his military enroll- ment in the King's army. He found employment with Rev. John Prentice, of Lancaster. On the north, almost the entire section of the town was owned by the Lancaster Houghtons. John Hough- ton, born in England, was among the first proprie- tors of the "ten miles square" of Lancaster. Be- fore the Rowlandson massacre, 1675, he had land three miles from the home settlements. His sons succeeded to the same after his death, 1684. Two of the sons settled on Berlin territory. Some of that land was in the same name for six generations, 1675-1825. The writer of this now alone represents that name in Berlin. The Houghtons vied with the Wilders and Willards in Lancaster as to numbers. John Houghton, second born, 1650, died 1737, was one of Lancaster's most noted citizens. A majority, perhaps, of the Lancaster Houghtons fell into Bolton, 1738. Robert, son of John, Sr., was the progenitor of the principal Berlin line. The fore- going were our earliest settlers.

Some other names will appear in their special lo- calities. In point of time as to settlement, Sawyer Hill is first. Gates Pond lies at its eastern base. Josiah Sawyer, grandson of the famous Thomas Saw- yer, Jr., of Indian fame and captivity, who redeemed

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himself and son by introducing into Canada the first aw-mill, settled on Gates Hill, now Sawyer Hill, about 1740.

Here he reared, and nurtured in all good training, 1 large family. He was first deacon of the Berlin Church. At last he divided his estate among his four sons, William, Aholiab, Josiah and Silas. The hill is still represented by a great-grandson, Jonas Sawyer. One of the homesteads has of late been the residence of Madam Rudersdorf, the famous teacher of music and voice culture. "Lake Side" she called it, for its view of the lake and many distant mountains. Ber- lin Centre lies in the valley on the west of the hill. The Sawyer name has ever been largely represented in Berlin, socially and religiously.

William Sawyer, son of Deacon Josiah, was a thorough patriot. He married into the prominent Barrett family, of Bolton. William Sawyer Newton, town clerk of Brattleboro', grandson of Cotton New- ton, of the Marlboro' and Northboro' line, an early settler here, represents the Sawyer and Barrett fami- lies in Vermont.

Major Oliver Sawyer, deacon of the Orthodox Church in Berlin, and Amos, his brother, deacon of the Uni- tarian Church, both reared here influential families. They were sons of William Sawyer and Hannah Bar- rett. Amos, Jr., was thirty years chorister in the same house of worship, also several years a Repre- sentative in the Legislature. Two sons of Dea. Oliver also repeatedly served the town in this capacity.

Hon. Henry O. Sawyer, merchant, of West Boylston, and his partner, Walter Barrett Sawyer, are grand- sons of Dea. Oliver. Their father, Oliver Barrett Sawyer, was their predecessor in their business.

Wheeler Hill, named from early settlers and con- tinued occupancy, is an offshoot from the Bolton and Indian Wataquadock. It is within bugle-sound of Sawyer Hill and several others partially encircling it. Jonathan Wheeler, Jr., of the fourth generation, was its first occupant, 1778.

Baker Hill is another spur of Wataquadock, more westerly. Hon. Samuel Baker, associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas and fourteen years a Senator, settled on the hill in 1765. The hill is now in occu- pancy of a great-grandson, Alden Sawyer. Samuel Baker is the only family name in Berlin which we cannot trace back a single link. To us he is a genuine Melchisedec. We can do something with John Smith, but Samuel Baker we surrender; yet his name has honored the town more, perhaps, than any other.

Barnes Hill is our western outlook. A finer view is seldom obtained. Doubtful if any other such fine view of Wachusett and intervening hills can be named. Fortunatus Barnes, of Marlboro', settled on this out- look, 1765. He cleaned up the hill of all squatters, settlers and owners, save one, Phineas Howe, whose great-grandson still "holds the fort," Silas Sawyer Greenleaf. None but these two homesteads have ever had a footing on this most sightly crest. In 1865 the !

Centennial was pleasingly observed. The Barnes' hospitality was abundant and fully appreciated.

Hon. Charles Hudson, whose father had lived within musket range, on Ball Hill, partly in Berlin and partly in Northboro', honored the occasion by an address.

Berlin cherishes the names of Fortunatus Barnes of Marlboro' and Persis Hosmer of Concord, hoth of historic families. They have largely contributed to our character and standing. Their son, Capt. William Barnes, married into the vigorous Goddard stock, then already established on the eastern slope of Barnes Hill- The son did honor to the family name, and maintained the paternal acres in the best order of husbandry till his death, 1851. No fruit to-day excels the product of Barnes Hill.

Artemas Barnes, only son of Captain William and Hannah (Goddard) Barnes, generously erected, 1876, a costly monument to the memory of Rev. Dr. Puf- fer; also to Lieut. Timothy Bailey, who died in the Revolutionary service. He gave also the site on which our town-house stands. His life-size portrait adorns the Town Hall. He married Nancy Meriam, a lateral branch of the Lexington and Berlin stock. He died in Worcester, 1877, aged eighty years.

Before naming other families, a view from Barnes Hill may give us the best idea of the town territori - ally. On the west the land rises from the Nashua River, in Clinton, so that it sheds its water not into the river near by, but carries it across the township into the Assabet. The surface is generally uneven, but of a more than ordinary fertility.

Berlin streams are small, except the Assabet, which flows through the southeast border and receives afflu- ents from other towns. The Centre and the South village are not an intervale proper, but from Barnes Hill seem bounded by it and Baker Hill, Wheeler Hill and Sawyer Hill. North Brook, formed by streams from the north part of the town, and Larkin- dale, divides the lower area, tending to the Assabet. The Centre contains three churches, town-house, school-house, post-office and a store of common va- riety. A hotel was burned 1883.

This valley, to the Assabet, is dotted with farms, farm-houses and Old Colony Railroad station. South Berlin village, at the south end of the valley, is quite a flourishing part of the town. West Berlin, at the northeastern foot of Barnes Hill, is the most active business point of the town. The Old Colony Railroad has given it life and energy. The C. M. Railroad makes there a junction with it. The iron bridge of the latter, spanning Felton's mill-pond and the O. C. Railroad, is a very fine structure.

Carterville is a cluster of a score of houses, store, &c., just north of the churches. Here, too, is the C. M. Railroad station. Very few localities present such a horizon-view as Barnes Hill in Berlin.

We waited long for the Rail, but it came at last. Four trains for Boston daily and return on the O. C. and three on the C. M. On the latter one hour plus

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

by way of Hudson, Wayland, Waltham, &c. By the same road, within one hour of Worcester, by way of Oakdale and the Nashua, three times daily. The O. C. Northern Division embraces Fitchburg, Leo- minster, Clinton, Berlin, Northboro', Marlboro', Southboro', Framingham, &c. We look for " Berlin Junction," now partial, at West Berlin. Few towns have better railroad facilities. Very few, within thirty miles of Boston, have more enjoyable scenery, We have also daily stage express to Hudson Station on the Fitchburg.

Returning to family names, Benjamin Bailey, ad- joining the Johnsons, and of whom Samuel Jones bought what is now Berlin Centre, owned much be- sides ; six hundred acres at least. He bought "rights," exchanged and consolidated, till he held in one solid block, apparently, a third part of our present town- ship, and that nearly in the centre. He came in from Marlboro', 1718; was a descendant, probably, of Rev. Thomas Bailey, of Watertown. Rev. Benjamin Bai- lay, of Portland, Marblehead, now of Malden, is of the fourth generation from Benjamin, of Berlin, "The places that know them shall know them no more." Sons and sons' sons were many years leading citizens here. For forty years the name has not been enrolled in Berlin, save as adopted by a lateral descendant to keep it up. A brother of Benjamin, Barnabas Bailey, had a large farm, including, at his door, what is now the Old Colony Railroad Station for Berlin Centre and South Berlin. Col. Silas Bailey was a younger brother. His son, Lieutenant Timothy, died in the Revolu- tionary service. The colonel got somewhat into sym- pathy with the Shays' Rebellion.

William Babcock, of the Dedham and Marlboro' line, settled here about 1770. He was our only Cincinnatus, so far as we can affirm, who left his plough in the furrow, and hastened to Lexington at the alarm gun fired from the "Jones tavern." The Babcock name has ever headed our list of citizens, the letter A re- fusing, almost wholly. to serve us till lately. Five generations from William, inclusive, are on our re- cords and still well represented. Reuben Babcock, father of William, lived in Marlboro', Westboro' and Northboro', without moving, near the present Corey farms.

Adam Bartlett, of Marlboro', with wife, Persis Bab- cock, sister of William, of Northboro', took possession of the "Stone-house," Baker Hill, about 1808. Sons and daughters were born to them, ten in number, but the one destroyer has left us but one representative, Amory Adam, of the fourth generation. A Sawyer and Bartlett Association hold annual picnic meetings at the Stone-house about the 1st of September.

The name Bassett is modern in Berlin, but honor- ably represented. Three brothers came from Rich- mond, N. H., 1856, with their venerable parents, of the Society of Friends. Elisha settled on one of our best farms, on the Assabet; William, in the same vicinity ; Ahaz settled in Hudson. Hon. William

Bassett is the author of a comprehensive history of his native town, Richmond, N. H. He was Senator of his district, 1864.

Thomas and Samuel Brigham came in from that most numerous stock of Marlboro', and traceable to Thomas, of Watertown, 1635. Samuel left no son. Thomas and wife, Asuba Babcock, left Thomas and Paul. No son succeeded these. They both lived by the present central station of the Old Colony Railroad.

The Barber mills (Nathan) were a focus of promi- nent interest from 1777-1812. Later they were the Carter mills, Polland mills, now Felton's, West Berlin. Whence Barber came is not indicated. The family ceased from our records sixty years ago.

Bride, formerly McBride, is a name first represented here by Alexander, from Ireland and Charlestown, 1745-50. The families were numerous fifty years agn. Only two at present in Berlin. All the sons- John, James and Thomas-were more or less in the colonial armies.

Bruce is Scotch. Our records have borne the name a hundred and fifty years. They were a family of soldiers, in the French and Indian Wars, also in the Revolution. They came , from Sudbury. John and Roger, of Marlboro', preceded Daniel, the head of Berlin families. We cannot give the date of immi- gration.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 111

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576