History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 138

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 138

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In 1822 a volunteer company was formed out of the two already existing, called "The Sterling Light Infantry." In its elegant uniforms of dark blue cloth, with gilt trimmings and tall black plumes tipped with red, it presented an appearance of which the great Napoleon himself would have been proud. The officers in command were: Phineas B. Dana, captain ; Josiah Pope, lieutenant ; Mark Kendall, ensign. Ensign Kendall died the following year, and was buried with martial honors.

Such was the popularity of military exhibitions at this time, that four years later, in 1826, another finely-uniformed and finely-equipped volunteer com- pany was raised, called "The Sterling Guards." The uniforms of this company were blue coats with silver trimmings, white pantaloons, and tall white plumes tipped with black. The officers first chosen to com- mand were: Captain, Cheney Kilburn ; Lieutenant, the venerable Eli Kilburn, now in his ninety third year ; Ensign, Silas Buss. For a period of more than a quarter of a century these companies were the pride of the town, but with the general decline of the military spirit, and the increasing sentiment among the people that war was unchristian and unnecessary, they at length went down and were disbanded. From that time there was but slight manifestation of mili-

tary fervor until the tocsin of war rang out over the country at the bombardment of Fort Sumter on the 12th of April, 1861. Sterling now shared the indig- nation felt by the whole body of the people of the Northern States at this audacious insult to the flag of our country. The patriotism of her citizens was aroused. Public meetings were held to encourage en- listments and to adopt measures necessary to assist as far as possible in crushing the Rebellion, formidable as it was, and in maintaining the government. Money was generously appropriated to meet necessary expenses in furtherance of the object. Young men came forward with alacrity and voluntarily offered themselves to the service of their country. But little difficulty, comparatively, was experienced by the authorities of the town in filling the quotas of men required by the government during the four years of terrible warfare. Company K of the Fifty-third Regiment was mainly recruited from Sterling and Princeton. The commissioned officers were: James A. Pratt, of Sterling, captain-promoted to major ; Samuel B. Beaman, of Princeton, first lieutenant- promoted to captain ; P. T. K. Burpee, of Sterling, second lieutenant-promoted to first lieutenant ; Ed- ward W. Toombs, of Sterling, second lieutenant. This regiment did service in Louisiana under General Banks. The whole number of soldiers engaged in suppressing the Rebellion, residents of Sterling or of Sterling birth, was, as near as can be ascertained, one hundred and sixty-two. The number whose lives were sacrificed in the war was twenty-one. The names of these heroic sons of Sterling are engraven upon the "Soldiers' Monument," where they may ever be read and known of all men "until brass and marble shall have crumbled into dust."

The ladies of Sterling were not idle, disinterested observers of the great civil conflict. The "Ladies' Relief Society " was an important factor in prose- cuting the war. By its unceasing labor in preparing hospital stores and other articles of comfort it did much to alleviate the hardships and sufferings of our soldier boys both in camp, on the march and in the hospital.

The following condensed statement of the part Sterling bore in the struggle for national life is taken from the Sterling Advertiser, published by Post 59, G. A. R., Sterling, January, 1874: 1

But what is old Sterling's individual record in this dread crisis? Listen to a condensed report thereof.

On Monday, April 22, 1861, one week after evacuation of Fort Sumter, her citizens held in the town hall their first general indignation meet- ing, though many a small one had been previously held in almost every house, store, workshop and field. On Tuesday, April 23d, the ladies from all parts of the town assembled to consult together and enter upon whatever duties might await them. Six ladies (two of whom, Miss Josephine Bartlett and Miss Esther K. Waite, have since passed over the dark river) gave their names as ready for hospital service, if required. A Relief Society was organized, which continued its meetings and lahors for more than four years.

On Monday, April 29th, at their first legal town-meeting, the citizene

1 Contributed hy Miss H. M. Buss.

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votad to appropriate a som not exceeding three thousand dollars to equip and noiform such fellow-townsmen as might volunteer to serve io the military service of the United States and to assist their families during their absence. November 5, 1861, one hundred dollars was appropriated to aid the ladies in procuring articles for use in the army hospitals, the same to be paid by the selectmen to the Relief Society. As the months of 1861 glided by, many a man who had his birth in Sterling or whose boyhood was passed among the hills and valleys, be- came numbered in his country's army for three years or during the war, having enlisted wherever he might be, whether far removed or but slightly distant from the heart of the old Bay State. Most of these have left an interesting record, several met death on the battle-held, others were wounded, some maimed for life and yet others died from sickness and exposure.

July 21, 1862, the town authorized the Selectmen to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each citizen of Sterling who should enlist in the company then forming in the town for nine months' service.

July 4, 1865, the town voted to raise a sum equal to one hundred dol- Jara per man of the qnotas of this town, under the President's orders of October 7, 1863, and February 1, 1864. April 15th the town voted to raise seventeen hundred and fifty dollars to procure fourteen men to fill her quota under the President's late call.

Sterling continned to raise money, recruit volunteers and pay hounties till the end of the war. Her official record is that she furnished (in- cluding substitutes) one hundred and seventy-eight men for the war, eight of whom were commissioned officers-this heing a surplus of thir- teen over and above demands; und she appropriated and expended 820,472 69, this sum being 2 1-11 per cent on the valuation of the town, and about $10.6713 to each inhaoitant in 1850. Her number of men were in proportion of one for every 10 4-5 of her population at that time.

From various sources of information we learn that the number of Sterling boys who had active part in the contest was at least one hud- dred and sixty two. Fifty-four of these belonged to Company K, Fifty- third Regiment Massachusetts Volvoteers. To more than thirty of this entire number their eulistment and service meant death ; some fell in the strife, some died in hospitals from wounds and sickness and others came home bearing in their systems the seeds of fatal diseases sown therein by hardships and exposures. One more point of review. Sum- mning np the work of our Relief Society, we havo a record of thirty-seven barrels, valued at sixty dollars each, and five boxes contaioing smaller quantities sent forth on their comforting missions; these were hlled with such various articles as our hospitals required-ours were not less than forty-eight in kind -and they were the free will offerings of women anx- ious to bear their part of the heavy burdens imposed by the struggle for national life.

The Soldiers' Monument, commemorating the hon - ored dead, was erected in 1866.

It was dedicated by appropriate ceremonies on the 17th of June. The services, on account of the rain, were held in the church near by, and were as follows : Organ voluntary and singing by the choir; prayer was offered by Rev. A. S. Nickerson ; an eloquent and highly appropriate address was delivered by Rev. George Putnam, D.D., of Roxbury ; a poem by Miss Esther K. Waite, and the following by Mrs. Mary S. Rugg, were each read on the occasion.

The assemblage of people was very large, filling the church to its utmost capacity.

IN MEMORIAM.

While the summer breeze ia sighing Through the groves in beanty lying, And swift-winged birds dart through the trees, Pouring forth their sweet melodies, We have gathered, friends and neighbors. We have left our cares and labors, And, looking back o'er by-gone years, Would pay our tribute mid our tears.

But wbat tribute shull we pay ? For when to speak our tongues essay, The grand story of devotion

Fille our souls with strong emotion.

We heard the cry ring o'er our land,- "Freedom must live ! Lend every hand !" And with rapt gaze we then did see Self-sacrifice to our country.

In the work-shop, upon the farm,

Was heard the cry and the alarm ; And our young men rose in their might Aod rushed un wavering to the fight.

They thought of Anderson's starving band,

With those supplies so nenr at hand ; And then the story of that ship Sprang forth like fire, from lip to lip.

They needed not a second call-

They thought of Sumter's hattered wall, - How the loved ensign of the free Was trailed in dust by treachery ; And this spirit, breathing higher,

Never ooce lost its patriot fire

Till our grand army, full, replete,

Bade treason lie down at its feet.

Thus they left na-left hers and there-

Left in our homes a vacant chair ;

And our hearts were so full of paio

We felt we should see them ne'er again. Yet even thon, when we could but cry,

We knew it was duty thus to fly ;

And we raised to God the earnest prayer,

O, watch them, guard them, ever thare.

And some came not; the tidings flew

From camp and field, the whole war through,- Over unr hills and valleys wide- That some loved soldier there had died. And we wept at others' sorrow, Wept, and dreaded each to-morrow, Lest its coming to us might bring As deep and dark a sorrowing.

How well they fought, how nobly fell, The records of the war shall tell ; One strain of truth is breathed about, In duty's path their lamps went out.

Yet onel there was-we knew him well, -

No words there need from me to tell How virtue and truth with courage vied, And by his blood were sanctified.

Ah ! three swift years to-day have fled, Since he was counted with the dead. The battle raged with terrific power, Gloom hung o'er that awful hour ; Then to those men the dread word flew,

"The works must he stormed al once hy you."

O, then was need of courage rare ! Forgetting every wound aud scar, His face all glowing with a light Reflected front the dreadful sight, He raised aloft hia flashing blade, " Come on, my boys, come on," he said- God drew aside the sacred shield

That saved his life on many a field- And, rushing up that parapet, The sun of his life grandly set.

1 Captain Charles Goss, son of William Goss, member of 21st Mass. Regiment, killed near Petersburg, Va., Jnoe 17, 1864. The adjutant- general's report says : " Brave officers went ahead, among whom was Captain Charles Goss, who, in that terrible moment of trial, brought ont all the resources of his soul, proved and tempered in more than twenty battles of this war." " A noble courage filled him." " He seemed to forget the timea when he had been wounded 'uigh uuto deatlı,' and when the line was well formed and advancing nobly, he fell never to rise again till a louder trumpet summon bim than was sounded for that advance."

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

A moment more-can I forbear To lay one flower on another's bier ?- One 1 whose life, for his comrade given, Has a record, we know, io heaven.

A soldier's life was ebbiog fast, He felt each moment might be his last ; ""Help !" he cried, " is there none to yield One kind hand on this bloody field ?" Our brother heard that fainting cry ; The voice of pity sounded high. Though lead around him fell like rain, He would be true to manhood then ; He reached at length that soldier's side, A od brought him forth, then calm'y died ; The cannoo's roar, the shell's shrill scream, Was that brave brother's requieor.

We know the valiant Western man, 2 Who fiercely fought in the battle's van ; South Mountain's war-worn, crimson side Drank the blood when this soldier died. He was rocked here by his mother, And we knew him as our brother ; His tireless spirit, spurning rest, Turned to the vigorous, thriving West ; He learned to love his country free Oo prairies boundless as the sea ; Aod, drinking deep of mspization, He gava his life to save the nation,

And could I here io this poor rbyme Recount the many deeds sublime, Justice and honor still would say, But mean and meagre is the lay. Ah ! fond memories, fraught with pain, Come thronging o'er me once again, And the red path that war has trod, Like Jacob's ladder, reaches God. Angels bright are now descending, This, their song, in music bleading,-

"Greater love can there never be Thao dying for humanity." Do we weep that they are dead, When glory circles o'er each head ? Deatb ! death ! What is it we call death ? It is but yielding np our breath ; Earth, reaching forth to take her own, The life immortal just beguo.

Where are these, our warrior brothers ? Ah ! they sit here with the others ; Only could the veil be drawa, We should see them every one. We should see them in their places, We should know their radiant faces, All gleaming with celestial truth, And their forms of immortal yooth.

In their deep and heavenly eyee Mingled wonder and gladness lies ; They see the wrong by which they died, And now our country purified ; And as tbe freedman walks right on Into his future, shot with sun, Clasp we this truth close to our heart : Io freedom's war each bore his part.

As the lily, of purest white, Spreads fair petals to the light, Springing from the darkest water,- Beauteous summer's fairest daughter, --

So aspiration, sad and lone, Hoping, praying, all unknown, In these lives so free laid down, Passed triumphant to her crowo.

Wbile the silent earth is keeping All that's mortal of the sleeping, Resting still in her close embrace, Here and there, in many a place, We have thought to raise some token To these lives abruptly-broken, That shall speak till stone shall crumble, Of those lives so grandly humble. Eoduring gradite we have brought, Hewn and fashioned as we ought ; And, rising oow mid summer's beauty, Our monument to love aod duty.

Rest, then, embalmed and sainted dead ! Where valor lifts her radiant head, Aod reaching to God's white throne, Clasps hands with faith, and they are one. Hark ! triumphant bells are ringing ! Celestial choirs, too, are singing, While these blest words our spirits greet,- "Behold the sacrifice complete."

The Major James A. Pratt Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized July 6, 1868, with ten charter members. The whole number of members belonging to the post since its organization is sixty- seven. The present number of members is forty-two. The post has received into its treasury, from various sources, the sum of thirty-eight hundred dollars, and has expended the sum of thirty-three hundred dollars, twenty-five per cent. of which has been for charitable purposes.

A very convenient Grand Army Hall has been fitted up in the old brick school-house, the free use of which is granted to the post by the town.

INDUSTRIES .- Sterling is almost exclusively a farm- ing town. Owing to the absence of an abundant water-power, the town has never been favored to any great extent with those mechanical and manufac- turing industries which have given such vigorons growth to adjoining towns. The only considerable manufacturing concern at the present time is the Wachnsett Pottery and Sterling Emery Wheel Co. at West Sterling. The company has here quite an ex- tensive plant, using for power either steam or water. The business was established and formerly carried on by M. L. Snow, now of San Bernardino, Cal. The company has an invested capital of forty thousand dollars. In the pottery department the manufacture is chiefly confined to plain and fancy flower-pots. The an- nual sales in this line are about twelve thousand dollars. The goods are sold mostly in the New England States. The emery wheel department is much the larger- the annual sales amounting to abont forty-eight thou- sand dollars. The goods are largely shipped direct to New York, where the company has a wholesale and a retail establishment. Twenty-two men are employed in the business.

The chair business is carried on to a very limited extent as compared with former years. Mr. Edward Burpee, who has carried on the business for fifty years,

1 Lymao Broad, son of Erastus Broad, member of 57th Mass. Regi- ment, killed whila bringing off on his shoulder a wounded, bleeding comrade, whose life be saved while he lost his own.

2 George H. Richardson, son of Dencon Wm. B. Richardson, member of 19th Iodiana Regiment, enlisted August 30, 1862, and fell at the bat- tle of South Mountain September 14, 1862.

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STERLING.

is still the principal manufacturer. He employs now only three or four hands. Mr. Elisha Stuart also and Mr. Edwin Stevenson are in the business, but the amount of their production is not, 'at the present time. very extensive. Aside from these the pursuit of the people is agriculture alone.

Formerly, before the use of machinery propelled by water or steam-power, when all kinds of manufac- tnred articles were produced by hand-labor, the state of things was altogether different. It may surprise some persons to be told that, three-quarters of a cen- tury ago, Sterling was a leading manufacturing town in the county. Yet such was the fact. The principal article of manufacture then, as now, was chairs; but the amount of production was more than ten times greater. Over a large section of the town a chair- shop was connected with many a farm. There was a turning-lathe on almost every brook, and the forests abounded with pine, birch and maple-the material chiefly used-which, in being converted into chairs, gave profitable employment 10 the young men, built up the population, and gave life, energy and thrift to the inhabitants. Among the leading chair-makers, who made a success of the business and accumulated respectable fortnnes, were such men as Gilson Brown, Jnel Pratt, Benjamin Stuart, Nehemiah Pierson, Samuel Houghton and Eli Kilburn; and, of a later generation, we may add James W. Fitch and Edward Burpee. At the period of which we write there were varions other trades hesides, in which portions of the people were employed. The coopering business was an item of some importance. The two principal men engaged in it were Mr. Silas Wilder and Captain John Davis. There was a large demand for cider barrels, and the trade was remunerative. Plows and hay- forks were manufactured in the north part of the town by Mr. Silas W. Arnold. These articles of Mr. Ar- nold's make were decided improvements upon those previously in use. They were of better finish, more evenly balanced, and could be more effectively handled by the farmer. But, in the rapid march of improvement, they have long since given place to others of more artistic construction. A large number of shoemakers found constant employment in supply- ing the demand for boots and shoes. Shoe stores were unknown outside the populons city, and the supply of these needful articles for all classes was for- nished, by special order, at the shoe-shop. But the manufacture often exceeded the demand for home con-umption, and the surplus found sale in Boston.

The manufacture of hats by Blood & Rice was quite extensive for a period of twenty-five or thirty years, and gave employment to forty or more persons, in- cluding some females. The amount of annual sales was said to be about forty-five thousand dollars. About seventeen thousand fur and felt hats was the annnal production, the larger part of which was sold in Southern markets.

Scythe snaths of excellent quality were made in the

south part of the town by Silas Lamson & Sons. Lamson's snathis were very popular, and much in de- mand by farmers. The annual sales amounted to ten thousand dollars. Owing to the scarcity of ash timber Mr. Lamson re moved to the western part of the State in 1833, where he increased the business to something like two hundred thousand dollars per year. With the advent of mowing-machines the sales were very much diminished.

All articles of clothing were the result of domestic manufacture. The raw material, such as flax, cotton and wool, was spun and woven into cloth, the cloth dyed and made into garments for each member of a household hy the females of the family.

But with the introduction of labor-saving machin- ery came a change in the employments of our peo- ple. Owing to a want of sufficient water-power all these mechanical industries had to be abandoned here, and were transferred to those towns having greater natural facilities for their prosecution on a grander and broader scale.

Hence farming became, many years ago, the chief pursuit of the people. But agriculture, like every other human industry, is subject to change and im- provement, and surely no occupation requires greater practical and scientific knowledge for its successful execution.

For a hundred years following the first settlement of the town but little was accomplished in the way of farming beyond the clearing of the land, the enlarge- ment of the area of cultivation, and the production of an abundant supply of everything necessary to a comfortable existence. Good living and contented- ness was the characteristic of our ancestors. In their homespun they were independent, peaceful and happy.

About the year 1820 an important change is to be noted in the farming industry of the town. Pre- vionsly there was comparatively but little money in circulation. There were neither hanks nor markets at which the farmer could sell his surplus products. A Mr. Weatherly, of Marlborough, who had started the enterprise of running a weekly two-horse market- wagon to Boston from his own vicinity, now extended his business to the easterly part of this town, inducing some of the leading farmers to turn their attention to the making of butter, putting it up neatly in one- pound Inmps, in boxes holding from twelve to thirty ponnds each. He was soon followed by Mr. Wilkins, also from Marlborough, and by Mr. Randal of Prince- ton. The advent of these marketmen wrought a remarkable change in the farming interest in the town. Dairying, or butter-making, soon became the leading business ; but not butter alone, but veal, pork. poultry, fruit, vegetables, and whatever else of a like nature the farm produced, found, through these mar- ketmen, a ready sale in Boston, and brought a sure and quick return in cash the following week. This change led to important improvements in farm man-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

agement, and also to a neater and more comely appearance of the general surroundings. The hay crop now became the chief object in the cultivation of the land, and was considered the most valuable production of the farm. Whether wisely or unwisely, sheep husbandry fell into discredit, and was soon entirely abandoned.

During this period, which continued nearly forty years, the productiveness of the farms was greatly increased, money became more plenty, many farmers freed themselves from debt and secured positions of financial ease and independence.

This season of prosperity was followed by another change in the farming interest of the town. Since 1850 Sterling has enjoyed the advantage of three different lines of railroad-the Worcester and Nashua (now leased to the Boston and Maine R.R. Co.), the Worcester and Fitchburg, and the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg. The two last are combined under the name of the Old Colony Northern Division. These lines of railroad afford direct communication with Boston, Worcester and Fitchburg three times daily. With the incoming of these swift messengers between town and city, the traditional stage-coach and the tardy market-wagon became obsolete and useless. All transportation was now by railroads, and this circumstance rendered possible the selling of milk in the Boston market, which privilege the farmers gradually availed themselves of, until now that article is the principal farm-product sold in the market. The daily average number of cans sold is estimated at one thousand. The average price per can at the railroad station is twenty-six cents the present year. The annual income to the citizens on this basis of calculation would amount to nearly or quite one hundred thousand dollars.

Fruit-raising is an important branch of farm in- dustry. For the last thirty years the farmers of Ster- ling have given increased attention to this subject, until the production has assnmed giant proportions. There are many orchards which, in favorable years, like the present, prodnce from one hundred to one thousand barrels of the choicest varieties of apples. Prominent among these is the Baldwin. But the R. I. Greening, the Roxbury Russet, the Northern Spy, the Palmer and the Gravenstein are profusely culti- vated as especial favorites. Pears are raised in variety, but not to a great extent as a market crop.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 138

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