History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 115

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 115

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Selectmen .- James Goddard, 1778-80, '82-84, 1817 ; Abijah Pratt, 1778 ; Josbua Johnson, 1778, '79, '81, '88, '89 ; Jonathan Merriam, 1779-83, '85, 'S7, '89-94, '98, '99, 1817 ; William Sawyer, 1780, '85, '87, '99, 1800; William Sawyer, Jr., 1781, '82; Josiah Sawyer(3d), 1783, '90, '92, '94, '97 ; Samuel Baker, Jr., 1788-94 ; John Temple, 1785, '86, '88 ; Barnabas Maynard, 1785, '86; Henry Powers, 1785, '86, '88-92, '94, '99, 1800, '01, '14-16; Timothy Jones, 1787 ; Josiah Sawyer, Jr., 1788, '80, '91, '99, 1800 ; Amos Johnson, 1790, 1807, '08; Levi Merriam, 1791-98, 1801 ; Stephen Bailey, 1795-98, 1812-14 ; Samuel Jones, 1795, '96, '98 ; Samnel Spafford, 1795, '96 ; Joh Spafford, 1795, '97. '98 ; Ephraim Howe, 1.96; Joel Fosgate, 1797 ; Nathan Johnson, 1799-1801; Jonathan Merriam, 1800, '17-19, '21-23 ; James R. Park, 1801-06, '12, '13 ; Caleb Fairbank, 1802-04; Ephraim Howe, 1802-06 ; James Goddard, Jr., 1802-07, '12 ; Alvah Sawyer, 1802-06, '12, '13 ; David Barnes, 1805, '06, '12; Dexter Fay, 1807-11 ; Solomon Howe, 1807-11 ; Oliver Sawyer, 1807-11, '17-22, '28, '29, '33, '34; Silas Honghton (2d), 1808-10, '20 ; Amos Sawyer, 1809 -11, '17-19 ; Ephraim Babcock, 1813-16, '18, '19, '23-26, '28-33 ; Adam Bartlett, 1813-16 ; Wm. Jones, 1814-16, '20-22, '24; Silas Sawyer, 1815, '16; William Barnes, 1817-19, '24, '25 ; Hollis Jobnson, 1820-22, '28-30, '33, '34 ; Timothy Bailey, 1820-22 ; Joseph Park, 1823-27, '33-35, '42, '43; Luke Fosgate, 1823-26 ; Benjamin F. Spafford, 1823-27, '33-35, '42, '43; Paltiah Jones, 1825, '26 ; Welcome Barnes, 1826; John Bartlett, 1827, '31, '32, '37, '38 ; Edward Johnson, 1827 ; Ira Sawyer, 1827; Ln- ther Carter, 1827, '28 ; Levi Wheeler, 1828-30 ; Wm. Babcock, 1830-32; Abram Sawyer, 1831, '32; Lewis Carter, 1831, '32, '35, '36, '1, '49, '50; Timothy Jones, 1832 ; Thomas Brigham, 1833-35 ; Panl Brigham, 1836, '37, '48 ; Samuel Spafford, 1836-38, '41 ; Ephraim Babcock, Jr., 1838, '39, '49, '50; Asa Bride, 1839 ; Jonas Hale, 1839; Wm. Jones, 1840, '41 ; Daniel Bartlett, 1840, '44-47 ; Oliver Fosgate, 1842, '58; John F. Lar- kin, 1842, '43 ; Perigrine Wheeler, 1843; Silas Sawyer, 1844-48, '51-53, '59-61 ; Jonas Robbins, 1844, '45 ; Samuel H. Wheeler, 1846, '47, '49, '50; Seth Rice, 1848; Silas Houghton, 1851, '54; Lewis L. Carter, 1851- 53, '66-72, 177-85; Abram Bigelow, 1852; Hartwell Sawyer, 1853 ; Jonas Sawyer, 54, '63-65 ; Elisha M. Whitney, 1854 ; Oliver Smith, 1855; Jo- siah E. Sawyer, 1855, '56 ; Ezra S. Moore, 1855, '56; George W. May- nard, 1856, '59-62 ; Asa Sawyer, 1857; Josiah Babcock, 1857; Christo- pher S. Hastings, 1857 ; Henry D. Coburn, 1858-61, '69, '70; George H. Barnes, 1858 ; Luther Peters, 1862; Abel W. Longley, 1862, '63; Riley Smith, 1863 ; Wm. Bassett, 1864-69, '73-76; Israel Sawyer, 1864-68 ; Lyman Morse, 1870-72, 188 ; Edwin Sawyer, 1871-73 ; Robert B. Wheeler, 1873-86 ; Frederick Miller, 1874-76 ; Winslow B. Morse, 1877 ; Arthur

404

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Hastings, 1884 ; Fred. A. Woodard, 1885-87 ; John Q. Maynard, 1886, 'S7 ; James D. Tyler, 1887, '88 ; Samuel Wheeler, 1888; Ruthven Hast- ings, 1878-83.

Assessors .- Jonathan Merriam, 1778-85, '89-1804; Timothy Jones, 1778-80; William Sawyer, Jr., 1778-83, '89-94; Jonathan Jones, 1781-83 ; David Taylor, 1784, '85; Henry Powers, 1784, 90-1803 ; Bar- nabas Maynard, 1788, '89; Amos Allen, 1785; Josiah Sawyer, Jr., 1785-87; John Temple, 1786-88 ; James Goddard, 1786, '87 ; Stephen Bailey, 1795-1802, '04 ; David Barnes, 1803, '04 ; James Goddard, Jr., 1805 ; Amos Johnson, 1806, '07; Dexter Fay, 1806-08, '28 ; Solomon Howe, 1806-12, '14, '16, '21-24; Wm. Newton, ISOS, '09, '13, '14; Alvan Saw- yer, 1809-11; Ephraim Babcock, 1810, '11, '21-24 ; Amos Sawyer, 1812, '13, '15-20, '22-27 ; Silas Houghton, 1812-14 ; Jonathan D. Merriam, 1815-19, '31, '32, '40; Stephen Pollard, 1815; Ira Sawyer, 1816-18, 125, '26; Oliver Sawyer, 1819; Thomas Brighum, 1827-37; Theopholus Nourse, 1820; Daniel Holder, 1825-27; Samuel Spafford, 1828, '33, '34, '36-38; Asa Sawyer, 1829-33, '39-42, '48, '49, '57; Pelatiah Jones, 1829, '30; Benjamin F. Spafford, 1833-38; Benjamin Cofran, 1835; Jonas Hale, 1838, '39 ; Eli Sawyer, 1839; Daniel Bartlett, 1840, '41; Peri- grene Wheeler, 1841-43; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1842-46; Oliver Fosgate, 1843, '50, '51; Wm. Jones, 1844-17; Oliver Moore, 1844 46; Christopher S. Hastings, 1847; Ira H. M. Brown, 1847; Levi Bigelow, 1848-50; Solomon Jones, 1848, '49, '57 ; Seth Rice, 1850, '52 ; Silas S. Greenleaf, 1851; Albert Babcock. IS51, '53, '56 ; Josiah E. Sawyer, 1852, '53 ; Sam- uel H. Wheeler, IS52, '54, '55; Jonas Sawyer, 1853 ; Lewis L. Carter, 1854, '60, '61, '65, '73, '76 ; Thomas Pollard, 1854; Tyler Paine, 1855 ; Willard Southwick, 1855, '59 ; Riley Smith, 1856; Henry D. Coburn, 1856; Samnel Il. Wheeler, 1857, '58, 'GO-62, 'G7-69 ; Edward W. Flagg, 1858; Winslow B. Morse, 1858. '62; Josiah Sawyer, 1859, '63-75 ; Riley Smith, 1859; Willard Southwick, 1859; Wm. Bassett, 1860, '61, '72, '78-84; Nathan W. Fay, 1862; Albert Babcock, 1863-70; Oliver Fos- gate, 1863 ; Amory A. Bartlett, 1864 ; Henry D. Coburn, 1866; Abel W. Longley, 1870; Silas Sawyer, 1870-73 ; Josiah Moore, 1871, '72 ; Arthur Hastings, 1873-76, '86; Wm. Tho. Babcock (2d). 1874; Jonas H. Car ter, 1875; Elijah (. Shattuck, 1876; Silas S. Greenleaf, 1877 ; Israel Sawyer, 1877-81 ; Geo. W. Fosgate, 1878-81; Panl A. Randall, 1882 ; Ruthven Hastings, 1882-85 ; John A. Merrill, 1883-87; Henry A. Wheeler, 1883-88; Robert B. Wheeler, 1887; Charles M. Sawyer, 1888 ; Walter E. Brown, 1888.

Treasurers and Collectors .- Samnel Jones, 1778-82 ; Ephraim Fairhank, 1783-87; William Sawyer, 1788, '93, '94 ; Stephen Bailey, 1789-92, '95 ; Barnabus Maynard, 1796-98 ; Anios Johnson, 1709-1804 ; Levi Merriam, 1805-11; Solomon Howe, 1812-22 ; Jonathan D. Merriam, 1823-27 ; Samuel Spafford, 1828-30, '33, '45 ; Pelatiah Jones, 1831, '32; Wm. A. Howe, 1834; Amos Sawyer, Jr., 1835-37 ; Oliver Fosgate, 1838, '39; George W. Babcock, 1840, '41; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1842-14; Ira Jones, 1846-18 ; Solomon Joues, 1849; Christopher S. Hastings, 1850-63 ; Elisha M. Whitney, 1964, '65 ; Edward H. Hartshorn, 1866-71 ; Josiah Moore, 1872-, '70-87 ; Ruthven Hastings, 1873-75, '88.

Constables .- Joel Fosgate, 1784; William Badcock, 1785; Jonathan Merriam, 1786; Nathan Johnson, 1787 ; James Goddard, Jr., 1788 ; Jona- than Wheeler, 1789; Barnabus Maynard, 1790; Levi Merriam, 1791; Silas Bailey, Jr., 1792 ; Samuel Spafford, 1793, 1809, '32, '33, '45 ; Samnel Jones, 1794 ; Nathaniel Hastings, 1795 ; John Larkin, 1790-99, 1800, '10, '11 ; Amasa Hult, 1801-04, '07 ; Solomon Howe, 1808; William Newton, 1805 ; James Goddard, Jr., 1806 ; Stepben Pollard, 1812, '14-16; Joseph Moore, 1813 ; Asa Sawyer, 1817-22 : Barnabas Brigham, 1823-24 ; Lnther Carter, 1825-27 ; John Bartlett, 1828-33; Amos Sawyer, Jr., 1834-37 ; Oliver Fosgate, 1838-40 ; Josiah Bride, 1841-42; R. S. Hastings, 1843-46; Silas Houghton, 1850-53 ; L. L. Carter, 1854 ; Thomas Pollard, 1854; A. A. Bartlett, 1855, '85 ; William G. Hapgood, 185G ; Samuel M. Fuller, 1857, '64-68; John F. Bennett, 1857 ; Geo. Q. Sawyer, 1858 ; Andrew A. Powers, 1859-61 ; Josiah Moore, 1862-63 ; Frederick D. Kallom, 1863-64 ; William H. Frye, 1865 ; Samnel E. Fuller, 1869-72, '74, '75 ; George H. Andrews, 1872, '78, '79, '81; John L. Bruce, 1873-79, '82-84; Henry D. Coburn, 1873 ; Thomas llale, 1876; Warren S. Howe, 1877 ; Charles B. Bancroft, 1886 ; Leonard W. Brewer, 1887-88; Appleton D. Parmenter, 1887 ; John O. Osgood, 1888.

School Committee .- R. F. Walcutt, 1832, '33 ; A. C. Baldwin, 1832 ; Asa Sawyer, 1832, '36-38, '40, '41, '46; Wm. A. Howe, 1832-34; Wm. Sawyer (2d), 1832 ; Horace Bailey, 1833, '35 ; Willard Howe, 1833 ; Mich. ael Burdett, 1834; Josiah Bride, 1834-39, '52-55; S. G. A. Tyler, 1834; Josephus Wilder, 1834 ; David R. Lamson, 1835-39 ; Eber L. Clark, 1835- 37 ; J. L. S. Thompson, 1835-37 ; Robert Carver, 1838-39 ; Albert Babcock, 1838, '71, '73 ; John F. Larkin, 1839, '44, '45; Lewis Sawyer, 1839, '49, '50; Wm. Jones, 1840; G. W. A. Babcock, 1840; Edward Hartshorn, 1841-44, '52-55, '64, '67; Dexter Fay, 1841, '42; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1843-

45; Heury Adams, 1844-48, '52 ; Solomon Jones, 1844, '46, '51; Jonathan F. Wheeler, 1844-50 ; Seth Price, 1845 ; Edwin A. Larkin, 1846; Ira H. Brown, 1847; Levi Bigelow, 1848-50 ; Silas S. Greenleaf, 1851 ; Addison G. Smith, 1851 ; Elijah C. Shattuck, 1856, '57, '59, '69, "76-83 ; Charles G. Keyes, 1856 ; Wm. A. Honghton, 1853-58, 'GU-66, '70, '73, '80, '83,'86 ; Gardner Rice, 1857 ; Lemuel Gott, 1858, '62; Wm. Bassett, 1858, '62, '65, '68, '71, '78 ; Ira O. Carter, 1861 ; Daniel H. Carter, 1871 ; Ansel L. Snow, 1872; Miss Mary Bassett, 1875; Mrs. Sarah H. Sawyer, 1875 ; Pliny B. South wick, 1876, '77 ; Miss Mary J. Keyes, 1881 ; Mrs. Addison Keyes, 1885-88; Amasa A. Whitcomb, 1884 ; Henry H. Hastings, 1867, '88.

Representatives to General Court-Henry Powers, 1812. Incorporation of the town. Henry Powers, 1813-16, '20, 122, '25-27, '29. 1817, voted not to send ; '18, voted the same ; Amos Sawyer, 1819, 123, '24 ; Jonathan D. Merriam, 1828, '30-32, '36. '38 ; Joseph Parks, 1833, '34, '37, '39; Ira Sawyer, 1835; Wm. Jones, 1840; '41 and '42 did not send ; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1843; Seth Rice, 1846; Amos Sawyer, Jr., 1849, '50; Lewis Sawyer, 1851, '52.

Representatives of the Fifth Worcester County District .- George W. Maynard, 1859; Lincoln L. Carter, 1879 ; Rev. Henry Hyde, 1884; Dr. Edward Hartshorn, 1862; Abel W. Longley, 1865; Edward H. Hartshorn, 1869 ; Samuel Haynes, 1873; John C. Bickford, 1874 ; E. C. Shattuck, 1875.

Senators .- Hon. Samuel Baker, 1780-94, less two years ; Hon. William Bassett, 1864.

Justices of the Peace of the town of Berlin (from 1778 to the present time, 1888) .- Hon. Samnel Baker, Ephraim Fairhank, Amos Johnson, Levi Merrinm, Solomon Howe, Jonathan D. Merriam, Thomas Brigham, Asa Sawyer, Amos Sawyer, Wm. A. Howe, Josiah Babcock, Lewis Sawyer, Albert Babcock, Josiah E. Sawyer, Wm. Bassett, Pliny B. Southwick, Amory A. Bartlett, Samnel M. Haynes, Abel W. Longley.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

REV. WILLIAM A. HOUGHTON.

Rev. William Addison Honghton, son of Caleb and Snsannah (Sawyer) Houghton, of the seventh gener- ation, from John Houghton, born in England, and who died in Lancester 1684, was born in Berlin, June 2, 1812, on homestead never in hands of any bnt the Honghtons (save ove mere change). His parents died in his early childhood. At twenty-two years he began preparations for college; graduated at Yale, 1840; also at Yale Divinity School, 1843; was settled the same year over the Congregational Church of Northboro', with which he had united in 1843; re- signed in 1851; resident in Berlin 1852; installed over the Congregational Church in Berlin, October 25, 1853; resigned, October 25, 1878, after a pastorate of twenty-five years. His wife, Mary Grace, was daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Stow) Howe, of Berlin. Their only . daughter, Lucinda Howe, mar- ried, on the silver wedding day of her parents at their home, Edward Howe Hartshorn, son of Dr. Edward and Lucy E. (Howe) Hartshorn, May 28, 1869. Wife Lucinda, died of pneumonia, December 26, 1876, at twenty-six years. She left two children. The husband married, second, Miss Lonisa South- gate, danghter of Rufus S. and Louisa (Blood) Hast- ings.

Mrs. Houghton died, October 16, 1882. Son-in-law, Hartshorn, died, January 8, 1887, at forty-four years. He lett five children ; three by second marriage. All have been born and nurtured up to date in the same ministerial homestead which was established by Rev.

W. C. Houghton.

Chandler Carter

405

BERLIN.

Dr. Puffer, 1788, and occupied by him nearly half a century, and by his widow, second wife, another quar- ter ceutury. Remodeled, 1866. The church, 1887, by motion of the pastor, Rev. C. H. Washburn, con- ferred upon Mr. Houghton the relation of pastor emeritus.

CHANDLER CARTER.

Chandler Carter is of the Lancaster line, originating in Rev. Thomas Carter, born in England about 1610 ; pastor in Woburn, 1642; was graduate of Cambridge, England. His son, Samuel, was graduate of Cam- bridge, Mass., 1660. Located in Lancaster, he be- came pastor in Groton, and died there in 1697. His son, Samuel 2d, had Samuel 3d, who was father to Stanton, who settled in Berlin. Stanton's son, Daniel, was father to Chandler, who was the tenth and youngest child, born October 7, 1808. His mother was Dolly Jones, of one of the most numerous and influential families of the town. Those were days of economy and hard work.

Our townsman has known both of these, in his father's home and in his own. He married a lady of good family and of good estate, whose father, a Berlin young man, Abraham Babcock, made a success of life in Boston.

But the enjoyable union was sundered by death, after the birth of a daughter, who also died in early womanhood.

After years of loneliness in his home Mr. Carter made another fitting and enjoyable connection in marriage with Miss Leah H. Lincoln, of Pembroke, Me., Jan- uary 16. 1864.

Sadly this union was severed also, August 16, 1879. Singularly both deaths were painfully alike after similar surgical sufferings.

As domestic joys were quenched in sorrows, the lone husband and father has taken more and more into his sympathies his native associates and towns- men. The manifestation of it has been duly recipro- cated in many kindly expressions before his great generosity was apprehended.

In 1880 Mr. Carter contributed one thousand dol- lars for the building of the Unitarian Church. A niece of his had appropriated, in her will, a like sum to the same end.

Our town was heavily burdened by war debt and railroad investment. Mr. Carter had opposed the latter urgently. But the town's error did not abate his good will. He sprung upon us a joyful surprise in the gift to the town of twenty thousand dollars. Nor this alone ; he gave twenty thousand also to the Unitarian Society of Berlin. Nor this alone; he gave

ten thousand to " The Children's Missiou to Children of the Destitute."

Of course the town responded by votes and resolu- tions too extended for full quotations. A public re- ception was given Mr. Carter at the town hall, J. D. Tyler of the selectmen presiding. Neighboring towns joined in the occasion by representative citizens.

E. F. Johnson, E-q., attorney for Mr. Carter, came forward with the twenty thousand dollar check, which he presented, with impressive fitness, to the town, through the selectmen, F. A. Woodward, chairman. Rev. W. A. Houghton, native townsman and schoolmate of Mr. Carter, as also his near neighbor for thirty years, responded for the town. The long acquaintance of the donor and respondent gave opportunity for the pleasantries of life as well as for sober reflection. James T. Joslin, Esq., of Hudson, had been delegated to present to the town a life-size oil painting of Mr. Carter, which he had previously donated. It had been hung over

the platform draped in white, and, in Mr. Joslin's closing words, it was unveiled. More than a heart- felt reception was given by the crowded assembly. Its companion likeness is that of Artemas Barnes, Esq., which, alone, had silently presided over many Berlin assemblies.

Mr. Joslin's remarks were publicly instructive.

Hon. William Bassett responded for the town in appropriate acknowledgment and practical sugges- tions. Others responded briefly. Lyman Morse, of the selectmen, Geo. A. Cotting, Esq., of Hudson (formerly resident in Berlin), Wilbur F. Brigham, of Hudson, C. F. Morse, of the Marlboro' Times, S. T. Rice, of Northboro' and Mr. Pope, of the Boston Globe.

The occasion was one to be long remembered in Berlin. Perhaps its moral effect will more than equal the financial relief. Our spirits grew anew as our tax bills came round so encouragingly reduced.

Among the resolutions passed, "in town-meeting assembled," was this: "That the best token of our regard which we can ever hereafter manifest for Mr. Carter's memory, is so to conduct the business of the town as to be clear of debt, the burden of which is now lightened by his generosity."

Of an inspiring poem, contributed by Miss P. A. Holder, we quote only the following :

" The aureole of silver Years to thy head have bronght- Is tinged with golden lustre, This golden deed hath wrought.

" We'll write thy name in brightness, As with a golden pen, Beside the good Ben Adhem's Who 'loved his fellow-men.'"

406

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAPTER LXI.

HOPEDALE.

BY ADIN BALLOU.

A NEW and bright little star in the constellation of Massachusetts townships. It was created by act of the Legislature, which received the consummating approval of the Governor April 7, 1886. It has an in- teresting history, and an auspicious future, as will be seen in the facts of the following explicit compen- dium :

TERRITORIAL SITUATION, DIMENSIONS AND TO POGRAPHY .- It is situated in the southeasterly sec- tion of the county, at about 42º 8' N. latitude, and 71° 9' W. longitude from Greenwich. It is bounded northerly by Upton, easterly by Milford and Belling- ham, and southerly and westerly by Mendon. It contains three thousand five hundred and forty-seven acres, or a little over five and a half square miles. Its length is somewhat less than five miles, and its mean width hardly one mile and a quarter. Yet five cities and seventeen towns in the State have a smaller area. It is traversed through its whole length by a goodly little stream called Mill River, lies chiefly in the valley of that river, is skirted by high lands east and west, aud includes the southern declivity of old Magomiscock Hill. Otherwise its surface is com- paratively level, with a gneissic soil of moderate nat- ural fertility and feasible culture. It has little native wealth except its water-power, which has long been turned to good account. It has no mineral ores, and little clay, peat or quarrying stone. Yet its soil, with proper cultivation, yields fair crops of grass, grains and fruits. Its woodlands, too, though not supe- rior, are tolerably productive. Its population at present is predominantly composed of manufactur- ers, artisans, traders and concomitant subsidiaries.

EARLY HISTORY .- This slice of territory was in- cluded in the famous " Eight miles Square," deeded by several Nipmuck Indian sachems April 22, A.D. 1662, to Moses Payne and Peter Brackett, as repre- sentative agents of the then Quinshipaug Plantation, afterward incorporated, May 15, 1667, as the town of Mendon. (For particulars see "Ilistories of Men- don and Milford.")

Settlements began to be made here at an early date after the incorporation of Mendon. The very first mark of civilization within our limits was made by an eminent patron of the Quinshipaug Plantation, incipient Mendon, Benjamin Alby (Albee). Under a special contract with the plantation authorities, made in 1664, he erected a "Corn Mill " (so-called) on our Mill River,-the earliest water-power estab- lished for grain-grinding west of Medfield in all this region. It was located on what is now the Lewis B. Gaskill place, in the southwest corner of our new town, just north of Mendon line, where the remains of the

ancient dam are still extant. It was then deemed an important enterprise, and a great convenience to the increasing population of the general neighborhood. Albee contracted to maintain his "Corn Mill " permanently, and received several grants of land near the mill-site as a consideration for its public ad- vantages. But he chose his house-lot a little south- westerly of his mill, in what is still Mendon territory, near the present residence of Willis Gould. His mill and dwelling-house are understood to have been burnt by King Philip's warriors, when the original Mendon Village was laid in ashes during the winter of 1675.

The earliest actual settler within our borders was John Sprague. In 1670 he bought of John Bartlett, an original Mendon proprietor, his right to a twenty- acre house-lot in the near vicinity of Albee's corn- mill, westward in our now extreme southwesterly corner. It included what has long been known as the Wing Kelley place. There he built himself a domicile soon after King Philip's War. He passed away, and was succeeded by his son William, and perhaps by a later descendant. Possibly Matthias Puffer, successor to Benjamin Albee in the ownership of the corn-mill, built a rude dwelling-house on his premises. We have no reliable evidence that any other settlements were made on our territory until the year 1700. During that year two distinguished settlers planted themselves homes on lands now in- cluded in the site of Hopedale Village. These were Seth Chapin, Esq., and Elder John Jones. Their children and posterity were long conspicuous inhab- itants of this neighborhood. The limits assigned to this sub-history do not allow the writer to go into many of the interesting particulars, which may be found in his exhaustive "History of Milford." If our inquisitive readers will consult that work, they will find that the early settlers of our present town territory, their offspring and successors, have been a somewhat remarkably intelligent, enterprising and influential people, especially the leading families.

To verify this let them read what is said in several chapters, and in the "Genealogical Register," con- cerning the Albees, Chapins, Corbetts, Greenes, Hay- wards, Joneses, Nelsons, Pennimans, Warfields, Wheelocks, Whites and others of various note and date. They will then be satisfied that our present population have little reason to be ashamed, either of their predecessors or themselves. In the long struggles which resulted first in making Milford a precinct, December 23, 1741, and finally a town April 11, 1780, the inhabitants of now Hopedale were prom- inent, persistent and influential actors. The First Church (Congregational) of Milford originated chiefly with these inhabitants, led by Elder John Jones and his neighbors. It was formed in his dwelling-house. In that house it was organized and ecclesiastically sanctioned April 15, 1741. Many of its regular Sab- bath meetings were held there, pending the erection

407

HOPEDALE.

of its first meeting-house ; and there the council con- vened, which ordained its first pastor, Rev. Amariah Frost, December 21, 1743. In secular affairs the in- fluence of our antecedent citizens was at one period predominant. Samuel Penniman, Esq., at what is called South Milford, now a part of Hopedale, be- came a manufacturer of woolen and cotton goods, not far from 1810, at an establishment just on the edge of Bellingham, where Charles River leaves our town. He was a man of sterling business talent and enter- prise. Whether he had co-partners in the manufac- ture of cloth the writer was never definitely in- formed, but deems it probable. A little later he em- barked actively in the straw goods trade, which he carried on in connection with a large grocery and dry-goods store. He did an immense business for a country merchant of those days, commanded custom throughout an area many miles in diameter, and was very popular. He employedl hundreds, perhaps thousands, of straw braiders, and supplied their do- mestic wants out of his ample store. The then famous thoroughfare, the "Ninth Massachusetts Turnpike," so-called, had been recently opened, and passed close by his premises, affording quite unpre- cedented facilities for communication with compara- tively distant marts. This brought another great public convenience, a post-office. This was Milford's first mail depot. It was established March 7, 1814, and Major Penniman was appointed postmaster. Milford Centre had no post-office till February 10, 1823. Samuel Penniman, Esq., died, much lamented, in the prime of life, December 22, 1817. He was suc- ceeded in business by Samuel Leeds and one of his own surviving sons. Mr. Leeds was a man of ability and executive enterprise, but after a few years the prosperity of the establishment declined, and never afterward returned to its climax. Other minor cases of business development within our now municipal limits might be mentioned with respect, but were not of sufficient importance to occupy space, until we reach the movement which evolved

THE HOPEDALE COMMUNITY .- This was of com- manding importance, for without it there is no prob- ability there would ever have existed the beautiful village of Hopedale, or the flourishing and promising town that bears that melodious name. The writer happens to be fully cognizant of all the facts which enable him to state the exact truth concerning this matter; for he was the leading originator, projector, legislator and director of that community movement. It was not designed or expected by him that Hope- dale should ever become an incorporated body politic under any human government, however otherwise good, which requires its subjects, at its behest, to slaughter human beings in war, or to train for that purpose in armies, navies and militias, or to inflict death on criminals, or to resort to deadly force against offenders, or, under any pretext whatsoever, to do unto any class of mankind what they would not have done

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 115

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