History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 119

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 119

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much larger. On the whole, few towns in the Com- monwealth have greater reason to be proud of their public schools than Hopedale.

THE TOWN LIBRARY AND READING ROOM .- These have ample and elegant accommodations in the Town Hall edifice. It will bear repeating that the reading room is 24 by 22 feet, The library room is 30 by 193 feet. They are connected by an arch 11} feet in width. The finish, furniture and shelving of both rooms is of California red-wood. In the library, December 31, 1887, 2478 vols .; pamphlets. 1556; periodicals, in incomplete vols., 889-a very good beginning, largely made up of donations. The future is bright with hopeful auspices. There will be liberal donors, and the town will make handsome annual appropriations. The reading room and refer- ence library opened in temporary quarters December 27, 1886 ; circulation of books commenced June 4, 1887 ; rooms in Town Hall were occupied December 24, 1887. The reading room was fairly well supplied with valuable reading matter from the outset, and has been gradually enriched ever since. The attendance at reading room, as well as the circulation of library books, has been worthy an intelligent population. The best of regulations have been established for the library and reading room, and admirable order pre- vails throughout. The board of trustees have done themselves honor by their judicious management of affairs. Especial commendation is due to Mr. Wil- liam N. Goddard. He is an amateur librarian, takes a lively interest in the affairs of his office, and has laid the town under lasting obligations of gratitude for his services. His assistant, Miss Ellen F. Welch, who attends to the ordinary daily duties of librarian, discharges those duties meritoriously, and has won general approbation. There is fair promise that in a few years Hopedale will have a public library nohly rich in quantity and quality.

LITERARY TASTE AND CULTURE. - These are marked characteristics of our population. Of reading clubs there are three, each of which subscribes for the best periodicals published in the country, and circu- lates them regularly throughout the families of its mem. bers, viz. : The Hopedale Reading Club, the Hopedale Magazine Club, and the Spindleville Reading Club. There are two prominent literary clubs : The Round- about Club, devoted to mental improvement by pre- paring, delivering and discussing brief essays on various interesting topics ; and the Shakespeare Club, devoted to the study, select reading and consideration of Shakespeare's works. These clubs hold frequent regular meetings at the houses of their respective members. The Hopedale Debating Society, besides discussing the live questions of the day at their pleasure and convenience, furnish valuable winter courses of public lectures by able masters on attrac- tive themes. Then, in the line of dramatic culture and entertainment, we have two active organizations : The Hopedale Dramatic Club and the Hopedale

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Amateurs. As a further index to the prevailing taste for intellectual refreshment, it need only be stated that three hundred and fifty daily newspapers are received through the Hopedale post-office regularly, besides all the more infrequently published papers and periodicals.

MARTIAL PATRIOTISM AND MILITARY SPIRIT .- The section of territory recently incorporated as the town of Hopedale has borne an average crop of war- riors from generation to generation, in all the historic and probably unhistoric past. The Indian natives had their braves, and their white successors since the year 1700, have furnished their full quota of heroic soldiers in every war, from the old French one down to the great Rebellion. During this last it was rep- resented, for longer or shorter terms, by some thirty fighting men, as nearly as can be estimated from partially unauthentic data. Of these General William F. Draper is the honored flower-a candidate for higher civic distinction. His less favored comrades are either among the remembered dead or mostly dwell in widely-scattered, humbler homes. As to the professed Christian non-resistants of the Hopedale Community, who at its zenith numbered about one hundred persons, they were generally exotics from other soils. When the white flag of their projected anti-war State was abandoned by its controlling pecu- niary supporters, it necessarily soon fell to the old social level, as has been told. Some who adhered to their Christ-like standard of peace have passed into the higher life, or removed to other localities. A mere remnant remain on the once hopeful domain of forty years ago, and these are surrounded by a daily increasing multitude of worthy people, who, never- theless, are thoroughly devoted to civil and warlike society as it is. Which way soever the survivors turn, public opinion and practice present a granite wall of pro-war-governmental adherence. The aged, middle- aged and the young pay homage to the sword as the final grand arbiter and indispensable defender of just- ice, liberty and human rights. So they believe, think and act. And in this they glory. The most recent demonstration of their delight and trust in deadly weapons as a dernier resort is the formation of a youthful company in our village called the Hopedale Zouaves. It numbers some twenty sprightly lads, regularly officered, armed, uniformed, drilled and paraded in the modern military style. Thus in time of peace they prepare for patriotic war. In their splendid uniform, with fine music and graceful mar- tial bearing, they make a charming display to the admiration of men, women and children. Is this to be condemned or deplored ? Not if the war-principle be absolutely right, as is preached and believed by the popular religion and civilization. On the con- trary, it is eminently commendable. For the young should learn what it is their duty to practice in ma- ture age. If it is wrong, it is so because the popular religion and civilization are wrong in their funda-

mental, systematic pro-war principle. Would the rattlesnake be rendered less dangerous by depriving him of his rattles? Strike at his vitals, not at his rattles.

So thought the projector of the Hopedale Commu- nity. It took him over thirty years to out-think and out-grow his own pro-war heredity and education. He had a tough nature to convert to Christ-like peace ethics ; but when once fairly converted to them, no temptation could convert him back to faith in the wisdom of deadly force. So now, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, he remains immovably attached to the standard of peace taught and exem- plified by his Master. Majorities weigh nothing with him against principles of divine truth and righteousness. At the same time he can duly re- spect all that is right and good on lower moral planes. And for actual soldiers and warriors, who execute given orders to perpetrate human slaughter, he has less condemnation than for their religious and political masters, who stay safely at home, preaching and legislating others into the battle-field. They are the principals; their employés are mere accessories and instruments, personally jeopardizing all that is dear to them. But, above all, he de- nounces murderous principles and systems of human society, whether in church or state, rather than individuals or classes of men, many of whom are honestly deluded by specious falsities. Blessed are they who begin their proposed reformations at the beginning, and are not turned aside by plausible compromises with evil under the impulses of a time- serving expediency. Hopedale is now squarely on the ancient platform of pro-milito patriotism, and may be implicitly relied on to perform its share of service whenever its country proclaims the next bloody war, excepting only the harmless few who will soon have their home in another world.

CIVIL AND SECULAR MATTERS-Marriages, Births and Deaths .- Down to January 1, 1888, our town clerks have reported,-marriage intentions recorded, 16 couples ; marriages solemnized and recorded, 45 couples; births recorded, 34 persons; deaths recorded, 25 persons.

No report for the present year. The disparity between entries of intentions and solemnizations is accounted for by couples married out of town, or whose intentions were entered elsewhere.

Post-Offices .- The one at South Milford, established March 7, 1814; Hamblet B. Fisk, present postmaster; delivery and income respectable, but not large.

Hopedale post-office, established May 13, 1861 ; present postmaster, Henry L. Patrick. Comparatively large delivery for a country town. Receives and dis- tributes mail matter for our enterprising manufac- turers and business firms, and for some two hundred and sixty families of uncommonly intelligent people. Returns a net annual income to government of over one thousand dollars.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUSINESS TRADES (not previously mentioned) .- Henry L. Patrick, who runs two large grocery and country stores in Hopedale, and one in Upton, has a wide range of custom, making annual sales to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars. Smith & Mead opened their establishment in the Town House, December, 1887, for the sale of groceries, meats, dry and fancy goods, etc. Their store and meat market are of first-class rank, and they have a wide run of profitable patronage. Their firm is a flourishing one and promises merited success. The long established "Green Store," once the famous Major Penniman entrepot at South Milford, though shorn of its old- time importance, is still a respectable grocery and country dispensary, and well managed by Hamblet B. Fisk. We have two enterprising livery and trans- portation establishments, an ice company and several small artisan and handicraft shops-all useful.

CIVIL MAGISTRATES .- Gen. William F. Draper, Frank J. Dutcher, Esq., E. D. Bancroft, Esq. (also notary public), and David A. Westcott, Esq., justices of the peace.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND AFFAIRS .- There is but one organized religious society in our town and one church edifice, the Hopedale Parish, with its modest sanctuary pleasantly situated and surrounded in Hopedale village. The history of this parish, its house of worship and first pastorate has already been briefly given on a former page. The meeting-house was erected by the Hopedale Community in its declin- ing days and subsequently transferred with other property to the parish as stated. The parish has recently been legally incorporated as a body politic for the safe holding and management of its pecuniary interests. This took place in August, 1887. Pastor Ballou, after his resignation, April 23, 1880, was soon succeeded by Rev. Austin S. Garver. He became pas- tor by acceptance of a formal call, dated April 14, 1881. He was installed September 30, 1881, in con- nection with a rededication of the church after re- juvenation. Salary, fifteen hundred dollars per an- num. He was called to the more conspicuous pastor- ate of the Second Congregational Church in Wor- cester, Mass., and terminated his connection with Hopedale about March 1, 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. Lewis G. Wilson, who was installed October 8, 1885, and still continues in the pastorship. Salary at first, twelve hundred dollars ; since April 1, 1887, fifteen hundred dollars. The parish has one hundred and forty voting members, and is officered by an executive committee of five, a clerk, treasurer, col- lector and board of three property trustees. It has a well-conducted Sunday-school, with a library of eleven hundred volumes. It has also a nice parsonage, do- nated to it by the late George Draper just before his decease, and confirmed by deed of his heirs. He was its generous supporter and benefactor from its forma- tion to the day of his death. As a tribute to his memory and worth the following resolutions were

passed by a standing vote of the parish at a special meeting held July 10, 1887 :

WHEREAS, The Hopedale Parish has experienced a dispensation of great bereavement in the death of George Draper, on the 7th ultimo- our temporal head and social chief ; therefore,

Resolved, That, while we deeply deplore our heavy earthly loss, in sympathy with his family and all the circles of personal association who unitedly mourn his departed mortal presence, we reverently bow to the Divine Will, in the confident assurance that he has been translated to a deathless mansion, whence his loving benedictions will descend on all be delighted to bless.

Resolved, That our Parish Clerk be instructed to inscribe this Memo- rial of our lamented brotber conspicuously on our permanent Records ; and also that she present a copy of the same to his widow and each of his children.

It may not be improper to state here that ex-Pastor Ballou, who writes this sub-history, still continues, as a sort of minister-at-large, to solemnize marriages and render funeral services throughout his general vicinity-though he chooses to preach little. He has been in the ministry over sixty-seven years, during which he has solemnized eleven hundred and seventy- six marriages, and ministered at more than twenty-five hundred and fifty funerals. And, though now far advanced in old age, the annual number of his wed- dings and funerals averages nearly the same as in the prime of life.

Although there is only one church edifice in our town, there is a public hall at South Milford, still, so called, well known as Harmony Hall, where religious meetings and reform lectures have long been held on some part of the Sabbath by the various neighboring clergymen of different denominations, etc. The at- tendance is generally good and the sacred music com- mendahle. A respectable Sunday-school is also sus- tained there. It should be understood that in Hope- dale Village and throughout our new town there are numerous representatives of nearly all the churches in Milford Centre, who customarily worship in their respective sanctuaries, and seldom, if ever, with the Hopedale Parish. We have Catholics, Episcopalians, Orthodox Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists and Universalists. And for their devotional con- venience our enterprising transportationist, John M. French, runs his barges to and from Milford Centre every Sunday at the proper hours, so that all who have not conveyances of their own are well accommo- dated. Besides this convenience, some of the sects hold occasional religious gatherings, more or less fre- quently, in public or private buildings of Hopedale Village. Thus religious privileges are amply pro- vided for all our people according to their various preferences.

CEMETERIES .- We have two reputable resting-places for the dead-one in South Hopedale, formerly South Milford, under town control, and one in Hopedale village, now controlled by a corporate association. The former has been inherited from Milford by terri- torial right. It dates back to November 18, 1799. The writer has given an account of the origin, progress and general character in his "History of Milford," pp.

Non. Dr. Drapel

Adim Ballon CAdin

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307-308. It contains the graves of many departed inhabitants of its district, and others from outside, has a decent receiving tomb, has respectable monu- ments, is well advanced in the line of modern improve- ments and is worthily cared for. Our Hopedale village cemetery was selected and laid out in 1847 by the authority of the Hopedale Community, and was under community regulations till transferred to the Hopedale Parish, December 15, 1873. It was a well- chosen location, naturally adapted in all respects to its designed use, and capable of being rendered admirably beautiful by artistic improvement. The lot-owners deemed it advisable to become a legal cor- poration. This was effected, and their organization consummated April 4, 1887. The late George Draper left the association a legacy of ten thousand dollars, and it holds some other funds in trust. General William F. Draper has recently donated a very desir- able addition to its area, which now comprises probably over five acres, with room adjacent for any necessary expansion. It is under excellent management, and is rapidly developing delightful improvements. It has a commodious receiving tomb, and two noble family mausoleums, erected respectively by George Draper, a little while before his death, and by General William F. Draper, the same year. It has also a goodly number of respectable monuments and memorial tablets. Its future is well assured as a sacred and lovely sanctuary of precious mortal relics, where surviving relatives and friends may perpetuate the memories of their loved ones worthily, and complacently anticipate repose of their own ashes.

As the publishers of this County History have welcomed to appropriate places within its lids the likenesses of several distinguished Hopedalians, it seems proper that a few words of special explanatory data should be given in each case.

1. George Draper, born in Weston, Mass., August 16, 1817 ; died June 7, 1887, aged sixty-nine years, nine months and twenty days. Too prominently noted in this sub-history and otherwise known to the general public to need further characterization here. An excellent likeness.

2. Warren Whitney Dutcher, born in Shaftsbury, Vt., July 4, 1812; removed with his worthy wife and children to Hopedale in the spring of 1856. He be- came associated in business with E. D. & G. Draper, prospered and contributed largely to the upbuilding of his adopted village. He left a bright and memor- able record for mechanical ingenuity, manufacturing enterprise, moral rectitude and benefactions bestowed on suffering humanity. His wife was no less distin- guished for her matronly virtues, social worth and charities to the poor. Both have passed away, leav- ing hallowed memories. He died January 26, 1880, aged sixty-seven years, six months and twenty-two days. Mrs. Malinda, his wife, died February 9, 1888, aged sixty-six years, six months and nineteen days. Their worthy children, Frank J. Dutcher and Miss

Grace Mary, survive them in honorable standing among us. The likeness of the husband and father is a very true and good one.

3. Joseph Bubier Bancroft, born in Uxbridge, Mass., October 3, 1821. He is the respected head of an intelligent enterprising and influential family. He came here with his estimable wite in 1847, and both joined the Hopedale Community. He was for several years superintendent of the Hopedale Ma- chine Establishment, served long on the Milford Board of Selectmen, was sent representative to Gen- eral Court in 1864, is now chairman of our Hopedale selectmen.

4. Dea. Asa Augustus Westcott, born in Scituate, R. I., August 17, 1826. He and his excellent family, wife, sons and daughters, settled among us in 1873. They brought with them characters of sterling worth and salutary moral influence, as well as manufactur- ing enterprise and usefulness. They occupy a posi- tion in the first rank of our little municipality. Dea. Westcott well deserves the place he has consented to fill among our representative engravings.

5. General William Franklin Draper, born in Lowell, Mass., April 9, 1842. After what has been said in the preceding pages, though briefly, and what is otherwise widely known to the public, it is hardly necessary to be very specific here. It is suffi- cient to say that since his honored father's decease, he is our financial, social and municipal chief, crowned with our unanimous deference, confidence and love. He has a red lettered past and a near future auroral with promise. In due time, no doubt, an ample biography will worthily portray his life career. Meantime his friends must be content with outlines and his likeness. Most of them will feel that this does meagre justice to his manly form and face. But for the pressure of business a better would probably have been secured.

6. Adin Ballou, the present historian, born in Cumberland, R. I., April 23, 1803, of uncollegiate education, but a persistent student of useful knowl- edge and self-culture; commenced preaching in his nineteenth year; has been a minister of New Testament Christianity, as he understood it, over sixty-seven years, chiefly in the southeasterly section of this county ; is author of a " History of Milford, Mass.," a "History and Genealogy of the Ballons" and many minor works; and holds too many pe- culiarities of faith and practice to be classed very exactly with any religious denomination. His like- ness is a tolerably correct one, and appears in this work through the generosity of an eminent friend.

Here we may conclude this sub-history as suffi- ciently minute and comprehensive for the place it is to occupy among its county associates. It shows that the town of Hopedale, though small and in- fantile, compared with its elder and grander co- municipalities, has a record with strong points of interest in it, and a probable future of rising impor-

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tance not wholly unworthy of its name. And it af- fords the writer peculiar pleasure to say in closing that, notwithstanding all the unpleasantness growing out of separation from mother Milford, every embit- terment is evidently passing away, and the present relations of the two towns are mutually amicable and harmonions.

CHAPTER LXII.

NORTHBRIDGE.

BY REV. JOHN R. THURSTON.

THE BEGINNINGS.

OCTOBER 16, 1660, in answer to the petition of seven inhabitants of Braintree, the General Court of the Massachusetts Colony judged "it meete to encourage the petitioners to proceede in theire settling them- selves and an able ministry with them, in the place desired for a new plantation within their time limited." " In further answer to said Braintry peti- tion the court declares that they judge meete to grant a plantation of eight miles square, and that the per- sons named have liberty to enter thereupon and make a beginning thereof, and to take such persons into their society as they shall judge meete, and that Maj. Humphrey Atherton, Left. Roger Clap, Capt, Eliaser Lusker and Deacon Parkes, or any three of them, shall and hereby are appointed commissioners, & are empowered to make a valid act there."

In furtherance of the object of these petitioners, the honorable court chose " Mr. Peter Bracket and Ensign Moses Paine for to purchase a title of the In- dians, containing eight miles square, about fifteen miles from Medfield Town, at a place commonly called Masconsapong."

These gentlemen purchased the tract of Great John and three other Nipmuck chiefs for " the summe of twenty-foure pounds sterling." The deed was signed by them and was witnessed by the Indian apostle, John Eliot, Sr., and his son, John Eliot, Jr., April 22, 1662.

All right and interest in this deed was assigned by Messrs. Payne and Brackett to the selectmen of the town of Mendon, May 12, 1670.

Three months after the purchase of the land "the committee impowered by the General Courte to assist the ordering and setling the plantation granted at Netmoke," in a document dated "Dorchester, July 5, 1662," declared the regulations for the plan- tation on which they had agreed.

An allotment of one hundred and fifty acres was to be made to each subscriber who possessed estate of one hundred pounds, and to all others in this proportion. Only persons "of honest and good report are accepted and allowed to take alotment in said plantation."

No one could "sell or lease or alienate his said alotment or any part thereof" without the consent of the majority of those persons chosen to regulate the affairs of the plantation.

Five or seven "meete persons " were to be chosen "for the manageinge these affairs," and they were "to have the whole power of accepting inhabitants and disposing lands, according to the rules above written," for one year.

Of these managers Messrs. Payne and Brackett were to be two, and in consideration of all their services were to receive land, not more than three hundred acres.

There must be "an able and approved minister settled with them there, according to the order of courte in that case provided."

All persons "accepted to alotments shall be settled at the said plantation before the end of the seventh month, 1663, with their persons and estates."

This allowed them a year and two months after these regulations were made.

At this time twenty-three men had been accepted- thirteen from Braintree and ten from Weymouth.

But it was not until the fall of 1663, or the summer of 1664, that the men who had obtained the grant, with their families, to the number, perhaps, of twelve, " hewed their way through the wilderness to the spot where now stands the village of Mendon." Thus began the Nipmuck plantation, the township of Quin- shepange, soon incorporated, May 15,1667, and called Mendham, afterwards Mendon. It was the second incorporated town in Worcester County, Lancaster alone preceding it.

The grant by the General Court was of a territory eight miles square, but that taken under the grant was ten miles by twelve, and included the present towns of Mendon, Blackstone and Uxbridge, the most of Northbridge and Milford, a part of Upton and Bellingham, and parts of three towns now in Rhode Island. Three entire towns and a portion of seven others were in the original Nipmuck plantation.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 119

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