History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 162

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 162

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invention of his was a stop-motion, a machine used in the warping of cotton and woolen yarns. This machine was afterward improved and perfected by his brother-in-law, David C. Murdock, and for about half a century was the only machine used for the purpose, and was in use in every cotton-mill in this country and many in Europe.

Mr. Keyes was very much interested in education, and exerted a great influence among his associates in the promotion and sustaining of lyceums and debat- ing societies. It was a leading trait in his character to fully communicate information and especially to explain to others any discoveries he chanced to make.

He married Eveline Murdock April 10, 1827, who died at the age of twenty-four years.

David C. Murdock was born here December 21, 1805, and died October 15, 1886. He was the son of Deacon Artemas Murdock, and spent all of his long and useful life in this town. He was a natural me- chanic, and learned the trade, and worked several years as a machinist. About the time of the de- cease of his brother-in-law, Thomas Keyes, Jr., be- fore spoken of, he engaged in the manufacture of school apparatus and other small machines, made mostly for J. M. Wightman, of Boston, and contin- ued the business until 1868, when his establishment was burned, and losing all his tools, patterns and models, this work was never resumed.

Soon after the death of Mr. Keyes he made im- provements on his stop-motion machine, and so perfected it that it had continued to grow in favor un- til it had been introduced into nearly every cotton- mill in the country. On rebuilding, after the fire in 1868, he gave his whole attention to this machine, and had almost a monopoly of making any machines for tending warping of cotton yarn. Mr. Murdock was a man of much intelligence, and all his life-time exerted a great influence in town and public affairs.

He served many years as chairman of the Board of Selectmen, being in that position during the time of the late Civil War, when his activity and exer- tion went far towards the town's doing with credit its full share of carrying to success that great strug- gle. He sent two of his sons into some of the first regiments raised in the county, who served through- out the war, both reaching captain's positions. He served as a representative to the General Court four years, for many years was on the School Board and for nearly all his life, after thirty years of age, he was connected, in some capacity, with the towu gov- ernment. He married Adeline King, also of this town, October 6, 1829, who survived him less than a year. She died June 30, 1887.

Eli W. Holbrook, was born in Rutland, Mass., in 1809, and first came to this town in 1818, when about nine years of age, a poor boy entirely depend- ent on his own thrift and energy to obtain a living, he being the eldest of several children. His mother,

Em Holbrook

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with six children, living in Rutland, had, up to this time, supported her family by weaving cotton cloth in a loom worked by hand, at her home, coming or sending to West Boylston for the yarn, and returning the cloth. She removed here in the above year and continued to weave in the hand-loom for about four years, or until the work that was commenced on power-looms in 1819 had increased, in 1822, to such an extent as to do about all of this part of the work. Eli went at once into the mill here and commenced his long life-time connection with the cotton manu- facture, which is more fully noted in the history of the different mills in town, on other pages of this his- tory. Mr. Holbrook continued all his life to be one of the leading men in the town. With a genial and kindly disposition he united a large benevolence and public spirit, spending much time and money in im- proving the public ways, by grading, setting out of trees, and other work thereon. He was a large con- tributor towards the support of the Gospel and many benevolent institutions, and was ever a leading mem- ber of the Congregational Society. His kindly na- ture ever made him a favorite with all the young folks, and he was ever noted as retaining the services of his employés for long periods of time. He was connected with the town's government for many years, serving as selectman, assessor, and in other positions. He represented the town two years in the Legislature. He was very successful in his business and accumulated a handsome competence. April 30, 1835, he married Miss Adeline Worcester, of this town, with whom he lived over half a century. She died February 5, 1887. He suffered several of the last years of his life from failing eyesight, but other- wise lived an active life until a few weeks before his death, which occurred November 26, 1888, being but a few days short of seventy-nine years of age. He leaves two daughters and five grandchildren.

PHYSICIANS .- Dr. Amariah Bigelow was the first practitioner to settle within the limits of the town. He came here in 1780, and married Persis, daughter of Major Ezra Beaman. He lived on the farm at the south part of the town, which, for long years, has been known as the John Temple farm. He died very suddenly in 1787, leaving a widow and three children. His widow afterwards married John Tem- ple, still remaining on the farm where she began life with Dr. Bigelow until her death, in 1832.

Dr. Uriah Bigelow came here in 1788, and, after remaining a few years, went to Central New York, where he died at an advanced age.

Dr. Nicholas Jenks, from North Brookfield, settled here in 1809. He lived in what is now Oakdale, where he also kept a store. After a stay of ten years he removed to Southbridge.

Dr. John M. Smith settled here in 1819, where he remained fifteen years, when he, too, went to South- bridge, and died there in the meridian of life.

Dr. Jacob Moore settled here in 1828, and died in

1831. He was a young man very much liked by every one, and gave much promise of usefulness in his future career. He married a sister of Dr. John M. Smith.

Dr. Sherman Smith, a brother of Dr. John M. Smith, came here in 1831, and remained for a few years, and then went to Walpole, N. H., where he died suddenly in 1852.

Dr. Samuel Griggs came here in 1832, and stayed here until 1846, when he removed to Westboro', where he afterward died.

Dr. Ephraim Lovell was a native of this town, being a son of Amos Lovell. He began practice here in 1841, and continued until the time of his death, in 1869, although, for the last four years, he was in failing health, and had an assistant. He was a man of a very amiable character, and was greatly beloved by every one who knew him.

Dr. George W. Warren came here as a successor to Dr. Griggs in 1846. He was a graduate of Amherst College, coming here as his first place for practice, and still remains, having followed his profession for more than forty years. Within the past two years he has associated with himself his son, Dr. Ernest L. Warren, a very promising young man in the calling.

Dr. John S. Andrews came here from Sterling, and remained several years previous to 1859, when he sold out and removed from town.

Dr. Franklin L. Hunt came here in 1859 as the successor of Dr. Andrews, and remained until he joined the army in 1862, as elsewhere noted.

Dr. Charles A. Wheeler settled here two or three years before the war, and he, too, went into the army, as noted in the military records.

Dr. Lemuel H. Hammond came here as an assist- ant to Dr. Lovell in 1866, and removed to Worcester in 1869, where he still has an extensive practice.

Dr. E. C. Peck came here as a successor to Dr. Hammond, and remained until 1882, when he went from town.

Dr. Warren Pierce came here from Sterling about 1873, and remained until 1881, when he removed to Plymouth, where he still remains in the practice of his profession. Dr. Pierce was one of the most skill- ful physicians who had ever lived in the town.

Dr. William A. Earle came here in 1881, and still remains, having established an extensive practice.

During the past twenty years several French Cana- dian physicians have come here and remained a few months and then have gone elsewhere.

Three or four others, native-born doctors, have tried the field, but have not succeeded in establishing a foothold, and after a trial of a few months have left the work to the old incumbents.

The accounts of a few individuals who were natives of the town and who received a liberal education, fit- ting them for a professional life, is here given very briefly.

Ephraim Hinds, son of Benjamin Hinds, was born

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in this town (then Shrewsbury), in 1780. He was a lawyer and lived away from town, following his pro- fession until about sixty years of age, when he again came to this town, buying a small farm, on which lie lived until his decease, June 18, 1858. He left three sons and one daughter.

John Reed, son of Capt. John Reed, was born bere about the year 1800. He was fitted for and entered Harvard College, where he proved himself to be one of the smartest young men of his cla.s. But owing to his great propensity for fun and causing the faculty much annoyance and trouble, his father was notified " that it would be best to take his sou away." He, however, had managed to obtain an education rank- ing him as a great scholar for his age. He followed the business of teaching for several years, being very successful. He left town during the late war and soon after died.

Dr. Ephraim Lovell, son of Amos Lovell, Jr., was born here in 1812. He studied for and fitted himself for a physician. He settled here in 1841, and followed his professiou very successfully until his decease in 1869.

Rev. William Murdock, son of Artemas Murdock, was born here in 1812. He was a graduate of Amherst College, and was settled afterwards for several years in the ministry at Candia, N. H. Having a difficulty about his throat which prevented the use of his voice in a great measure, he returned to this town about the year 1852, and went to work for his brother, David C. Murdock, where, from his great natural mechanical ability, he ever seemed as much at home as in the pulpit. He died very suddenly November 13, 1879, aged sixty-six years, four months, ten days, leaving a widow, two sons and one daughter.

Sylvanus Morse, son of Joseph Morse, was born here about the year 1800, received a college education and was the principal of Bradford Academy for sev- eral years. He returned to this town, and opened a family school in 1845, and was quite successful for a few years, when he sold out and again left town.

Dr. George W. Peirce, son of Levi Peirce, was born in 1819. He studied medicine and established him - self in the town of Leominster about 1845, where he was a successful practitioner for many years. He died in that town in 1885.

Henry F. Harris, born here August 19, 1849, son of Charles M. Harris, graduated from Tufts College, and has been for several years in successful practice as an attorney in Worcester, Mass.

Edward A. Murdock, son of David C. Murdock, was born here May 24, 1854, studied medicine, and first established himself at Waltham, and afterwards removed to Spencer, Mass., where he is in the very successful practice of his calling.

Louis Cutting, born here November 11, 1849, son of John S. Cutting, has for the past two or three years been studying law and is now located in Worcester, where he has been admitted to the bar.

Alfred Lovell, son of Addison Lovel, born Decem- ber 28, 1851, graduated as a civil engineer at the Technical School in Worcester, about the year 1875, and is now located at Rustic, N. J.

Albert W. Hiods, son of Albert and grandson of Ephraim Hinds, Esq., has recently graduated from Brown University, and is fitting himself for a teacher. He was born in this town November 30, 1864.

Elmer F. Higgins, born January 21, 1862, and Tracy L. Newtou, boru February 20, 1867, both na- tives of this town, are now students at Brown Uni- versity.

David Bigelow Lovell, son of Portland Lovell, born here March 22, 1865, is a student at a medical school in New York City.

Llewellen Drake, born in Maine, and a graduate of our High School in 1885, and Harry L. Peirce, born here November I, 1870, and was a graduate of the school in 1888, have both entered Colby University, at Waterville, Me.

MILITARY .- One of the first settlers of this town of whom we have any account as having enlisted for any of the military movements was Benjamin Bigelow, who enlisted as a soldier in 1745, in the expedition for the capture and reduction of Louisbourg, then be- longing to France, and considered the Gibraltar of America. The capture and possession of this place was regarded at the time as a great achievement, and highly important in its advantages to the British Crown. On his return from this expedition Mr. Bige- low brought with him several articles of iron manu- facture, some of which are yet in use on the farm which he then occupied, and which is now in the pos- session of Thomas N. Keyes.

Ephriam and Ithamar Bennett, sons of Phineas Bennett, one of the earliest settlers of this town, en- listed as soldiers in the army sent to Ticonderoga in 1758, and attempted to capture the fortress at that place. They were in the so-called "Morning Fight," which resulted, after four hours of hard fighting, in a disastrous defeat to the English army, and both of these two young men were killed in the terrible con- flict.

At the commencement and during the progress of the war for the American Revolution the inhabitants of the district now comprising the town of West Boyl- ston were zealous and active in all the efforts made to obtain and secure for the Colonies liberty and inde- pendence. Major Ezra Beaman was a prominent and leading spirit in this important and patriotic work, and nearly every one around him was also firm and determined in favor of freedom and the rights of the people.

On several special and important occasions the citi- zeu soldiers here turned out, readily leaving their families and business to engage in the service of their country, and that without pay or remuneration, other than the satisfaction of having discharged their duty. During the continuance of the war several men here

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enlisted and joined the regular army at different periods, all of whom, with one exception, served out their time, returned home and lived to enjoy the bless- ings and advantages resulting from the toils and suf- fering which they had bravely endured. The names of these enlisted men were Ezra Beaman, John Bixby, Joseph Bixby, Zachariah Child, Joseph Dwelley, William Fairbank, Oliver Glazier, Benjamin Hinds, Jr., Jason Hinds, Ebenezer Inglesby, Ebenezer Pike, Paul Raymond, Isaac Smith, John Temple, Nathan Wilder and John Winn.

Of these men, the history of Ezra Beaman is given in another place ; of the two Bixbys, no reliable ac- count of their subsequent life can be found. Their father, Samnel Bixby, came from Woburn and settled here about 1750, and both he and his wife died in 1800, since which time no one of the family seems to have lived in the town.

Zachariah Child was born in 1763, being the eldest son of David Child, who was the owner and proprie- tor of the farm afterwards owned and occupied by Rev. William Nash, the first settled minister here under the precinct formation. Mr. Child was a young soldier, but served with credit, and after an honorable discharge settled on a small farmi adjoining his father's, and in 1784 married Lydia, daughter of David Bigelow, of Worcester, and had a large family of children. He died in 1845, aged eighty-one years. His wife survived him and died in 1849, aged eighty- five years. For many of his last years Mr. Child was in the receipt of a pension.

Joseph Dwelley was born in Worcester, and after the war he purchased a farm in this town, the same afterward owned by Dea. James Fiske, which he owned and occupied about forty years, when he sold out and removed to Oakham, where he died in 1840, aged seventy-five years. He enlisted into the army when only fifteen years of age, served faithfully during the last three years of the war, en- during cheerfully many hardships and trials. He was in all the movements which resulted in the sur- render of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and received an honorable discharge at the war's close.

William Fairbank was born in 1758, being the youngest son of Jonathan Fairbank. He was a farmer and occupied the farm now owned and occu- pied by James W. Robbins. He was a man of ability and prominence in the town, being often chosen to offices of trust and responsibility by his fellow-towns- men. During the last years of his life he received a pension from the government. He died here in 1840, aged eighty-one years.

Oliver Glazier was born in 1763, and was the son of John Glazier, of Boylston. In 1785 he married Rachel Hastings, of Boylston. They had ten chil- dren, all of whom outlived their parents. His wife died in 1841, when he went to Northboro' to live with his eldest daughter, with whom he continued to live

until his decease in 1855, aged ninety-two years, living the longest of any of these soldiers.

Benjamin Hinds, Jr., and Jason Hinds were sons of Benjamin Hinds, and soon after the war are said to have gone to Maine and settled there. They were brothers to Jacob and Joseph Hinds, who both settled in this town and had families, but at the present time there is but one representative of the name in town, Solon Hinds, son of said Joseph Hinds, now over eighty years of age.

Ebenezer Inglesby. The only account we can give of him : is that he settled in this town about 1750, and removed therefrom in 1794. " He married a daughter of Aaron Newton and had a large family of chil- dren."

Ebenezer Pike settled in this town about 1760, and died here at an advanced age. "He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served his country faith- fully."

" Paul Raymond was an early settler here, but re- moved from town previous to 1780." Probably he did not live here after the close of the war.

Isaac Smith was born about 1755, and came to this town soon after the close of the war, when he married Prudence Cutting, and settled on a farm one mile west of the old Common, where he lived until his decease in 1824. Of him it is said "He was a soldier of the Revolution, and performed good service during that memorable struggle; and by the faithful dis- charge of duty, and the fatigue and hardship en- dured, he merited and ought to receive the gratitude and veneration of future generations. He was truly one of those brave spirits who, by their persevering efforts and untold sufferings, helped to consummate our nation's independence."

John Temple, the ol dest son of Jonas Temple, of Boylston, was born in 1762 and died in 1841, aged seventy-nine years. He was, next to Major Beaman, of these Revolutionary heroes, the one mostidentified with the town's growth and prosperity. He first married Lois, daughter of Micah Harthan, who only lived one year after her marriage. In 1793 he married Persis, danghter of Major Beaman, and the widow of Dr. Amariah Bigelow, with whom he lived until 1832, when she died, leaving two children by Mr. Temple and two by Dr. Bigelow. Mr. Temple was an enter- prising and successful farmer, possessing and occupy- ing an extensive farm in the sontherly part of the town, which had been previously owned by Dr. Amariah Bigelow. Mr. Temple was all his life a prominent citizen of an energetic temperament, which enabled him to act with promptness on mat- ters of importance. "He was chosen several succes- sive years as chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and frequently was called to the performance of other important duties of a public character. After the decease of his second wife he married Polly Dakin, of Boylston, who survived him and died in 1856."

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Nathan Wilder, son of Abner Wilder, was born in 1760 and died in 1822, aged sixty-two years. Of him we only have this meagre history: " He married and had children, some of whom were living twenty-five years after his decease."

John Winn, son of Jacob Winn, was born in 1760 and died in 1843, aged eighty-three years. He mar- ried Abigail Cross, of Boston, who survived him and died in 1853, aged eighty-nine years. Mr. Winn was a cooper by trade and occupied, during his life, the premises now owned by Mrs. Cranson Cook, on the road to Lancaster. Mr. and Mrs. Winn had several children who survived them, but at the present time no one of the name is a resident in the town. And it is a singular and remarkable fact that of the six- teen Revolutionary soldiers of this town there is not a single descendant of the same name now living in the town.

We have no records of any persons having enlisted or of serving in the second war with England in 1812, but as other towns of the county were called upon to furnish men for temporary service, this town may have done so; but at a meeting held on the 3d day of July, 1812, the following votes were passed by nearly a unanimous one of the meeting, only two voting adversely : " That the town disaproves of the late declaration of war against Great Britton," Also chose the selectmen and town clerk a committee to prepare certain resolutions, expressive of the sense of the town.

In the Mexican War two young men volunteered and went with the army to Mexico. George Flagg, son of Francis Flagg, was in most of the hard battles which resulted in the capture of the city of Mexico. He was taken sick while on his return and died in the hospital at New Orleans July 26, 1848, aged twenty-four years.

Charles W. Allen, son of Daniel W. Allen, served through the war with credit and came home after its close ; he remained here about two years and then went to California, where he died November 12, 1867.

West Boylston, in common with the towns of the whole North, was thoroughly aroused at the first in- dications that the South would rebel against its law- ful government, and all such steps were at once taken to render all the aid to the constituted anthorities to maintain the integrity of our Union, in the power of the town to show and maintain. Many meetings were held, volunteers for the army were encouraged to enlist, money was raised for their equipment and for the care of the families of all who had one to leave. Our young men were urged to drill and otherwise perfect themselves for soldiers, and in fact all persons in town-men, women and children- seemed to vie with all others in their efforts to meet the needs of the hour. At the first legal meeting held by the town, after the fall of Fort Sumter, April 29, 1861, the town voted to appropriate two thousand dollars for the equipment of a military company. It

also voted to pay the men for the time spent in drill- ing, also to pay all the needed aid to families of men who should volunteer. The town also chose an effi- cient committee to attend to all the necessary work. As a consequence the town had volunteers in nearly all of the first regiments that went into the field, hav- ing men in all the regiments raised in the county. During the war the town sent into the army two hundred and fifty-two men. Of these, twelve were commissioned officers and two were surgeons. The commissioned officers were : Major Alonzo D. Pratt, of the Thirty-fourth ; Major Addison A. Hosmer, of the Twenty-eighth; Captain Pelham Bradford and Captain Woodbury Whittemore, of the Twenty-first; Captain Charles C. Murdock, of the Twenty-fifth ; Captain George L. Murdock, of the Thirty-fourth ; Captain C. Alden Pratt, of the Forty-second ; Lieu- tenant, William D. Toombs, of the Second ; Lienten- ant Harlan P. Houghton, of the Thirty-fourth; Lieu- tenant James Conner, of the Forty-second; Lieuten- ant Albert M. Murdock, of the Fifty-seventh, all Massachusetts infantry regiments; and Lieutenant Elliot F. Brigham, of the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry. Only one of these officers lost his life while serving in the army. Lieutenant Albert M. Murdock, while leading an assault on Fort Stead- man, at Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865, was almost instantly killed. His last words were, "Save the flag, boys." He was a very promising young man, the only son of Cyrus Murdock, only nineteen years of age when he left the Highland Military School at Worcester to join his regiment in the last year of the war. He took part in all the hard battles of the Wilderness and around Richmond, and ever showed himself a cool and brave officer.

Several of the other officers received wounds in the many battles they were engaged in, and most of them won their promotions by their services ; but all came home and, so far as known, are all still living and filling responsible positions in life.

The two surgeons were Dr. Franklin L. Hunt, of the Twenty-seventh, and Dr. Charles A. Wheeler, of the Twelfth Regiment.

Dr. Hunt was a young man of talent, of a very genial disposition and greatly heloved by all his acquaintances. He had only been in the practice of his profession three years when he joined his regi- ment at Newbern, N. C., in August, 1862. On No- vember 18, 1862, while riding just outside the lines at Washington, N. C., he was fired upon and killed by straggling guerrillas. His body was recovered, brought home and buried at Douglas, his native town. He left a young wife and two children.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 162

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