History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 169

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 169

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Mr. John Needham, after twenty-three years' resi- dence in town, having removed to Lawrence, Mass., to become superintendent of the Washington Mills in that city, the Rev. S. D. Church was chosen to fill the vacancy on the Board of School Committee. In May John L. Utley opened a law-office in Black- stone. Myron Daniels was appointed postmaster at East Blackstone. June 9th died Dr. Moses D. South- wick. He was born in Mendon, July, 1805, on the farm of his father, George Southwick, where his early life was spent. By teaching school he won his way through Brown University, graduating in 1828, and Bowdoin Medical College in 1831, having read medi-

cine with Dr. Usher Parsons, of Providence, R. I. He practiced a short time in Bellingham, but soon (1834) removed to Millville, where he spent the rest of his life. He was a man of sterling character, of vigorous powers of mind, well-balanced, and of remarkably even temperament.

1876 .- Town Clerk, John Nugent; Selectmen, Americus Welch, Patrick Kennedy, Matthew Faulk- ner; Assessors, Americus Welch, James Dollard, Patrick Baxter ; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah Ful- ler, Willard Bennett, Richard Newsome ; Treasurer, Horatio Stockbridge; School Committee, James Dol- lard, three years ; Austin A. Wheelock, one year.

Francis N. Thayer was chosen Representative to the General Court. The town now voted to reduce the Board of School Committee to three members again.

In December Rev. Theodore G. Wilder was called to the Waterford Baptist Society, and May 2Ist Rev. George F. Walker to the Blackstone Church. Rev. William H. Turkington was appointed to the Method- ist Society, Millville, and Rev. N. G. Axtell to East Blackstone. Rev. John D. McConkey took charge of St. John's Parish October 14th. Francis N. Thayer, a native of the town, having been admitted to the bar of Worcester County, opened an office in Blackstone Village.

Rev. S. D. Church closed his pastoral labors at the Free Baptist Church, in Waterford, on Sunday, June 4th. He returned to the church in Taunton, Mass., where he first entered upon his pastoral duties and where he then served for six years. Mr. Church was a devoted student, a man of excellent abilities and attainments, and as a Hebrew scholar ranked high in his denomination.

Early in the year was completed Institute Hall, a large and handsome edifice, near the St. Paul's Church, devoted to the social and educational inter- ests of its people. The building is of wood, eighty feet long by forty-five feet in width, and two full stories in height above the basement.

1877 .- Town Clerk, John Nugent; Selectmen, Americus Welch, Thomas T. Smith, Daniel Wheel- ock ; Assessors, Americus Welch, William L. Reade, Olney L. Pickering; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah Fuller, Richard Newsome, Alonzo Southwick ; Treas- urer, Joel Hervey; School Committee, Henry C. Kimball, three years.

This spring the town was seized with one of its periodical spasms of small economy and fixed the price at which its servants must work. This process involved the choice of a new tax collector and the consequent loss to the town within two years of sev- eral thousand dollars. It was voted that the School Committee shall appoint a superintendent of schools, and that board appointed Alvin C. Robbins. The committee appointed to secure the settlement in town of additional manufacturing enterprises were active during the year, and the valuable water privilege at

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Tillville, on the Blackstone River, was sold by its Vorcester owners to the Woonsocket Rubber Com- any, of Woonsocket, R. I., and the Lawrence Felt- ng Company.

Rev. R. D. Dyson was appointed to the Methodist Society at Millville and Rev. Charles Nason to the Cast Blackstone Society. The Mansfield Scythe Factory, built in 1871, off Central Street, Millville, vas purchased by Messrs. Booth & Kidd and con- erted into a woolen-mill with four sets of machinery. Dr. Frank J. King opened his office in Millville in August.

The last week in October the Waterford No. 3 Will was totally destroyed by fire. This mill was the oldest of the Waterford Mills, having been built by Velcome Farnum in 1825. The loss of this mill was serious drawback to the town and resulted in the emoval of many industrious families and good citi- ens elsewhere.

1878 .- Town Clerk, John Nugent ; Selectmen, Americus Welch, Terrence McGinley, Michael Tuite; Assessors, Americus Welch, Patrick Baxter, Dennis T. Connors; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah Fuller, Peter McCooey, William F. Byrne; Treasurer, Austin 1. Wheelock; School Committee, for three years, Adrian Scott.

April 1st, it was voted, "that the assessors be in- tructed to abate all taxes assessed on the real estate of Messrs. Cook & Banigan, for the term of five years rom the date of their purchase in the village of Mill- rille, except upon the valuation upon said real estate f that date." This vote was passed in behalf of the mprovements made at Millville by the Lawrence Felting Co., consisting of the Felting Mill and its adjuncts, machinery, &c.

At this meeting the following resolutions were passed :

Resolved, That the inhabitants of the Town of Blackstone, in town_ meeting assembled, receive with regret the information of the death of ur respected former fellow-citizen, Sylvanus H. Benson.

Resolved, That we deem it our duty to express in our name our regard or the various important public services which distinguished his official ife and to mark with appropriate honor the points of his character and he integrity of his administration of the several departments which ave been intrusted to his care. These entitle him to the affectionate emembrance of the inhabitants of this Town and an honorable place in he history of its public servants.

Resolved, That the Town Clerk be requested to transmit copies of the oregoing resolutions to the family of our deceased friend and to have ho same placed npon the records of the Town.

September 27th the town voted to fund the town debt y establishing a Sinking Fund. Commissioners vere elected as follows : Jeremiah Gatchell, for three rears ; Lawrence Boylan, for two years; Henry S. Mansfield, one year.

Frederic Thayer was chosen Representative to the General Court.

Rev. John H. Sherman was appointed to the Meth- dist Society at Millville.

Rev. Jesse C. Heald was called to St. John's So- iety July 1st.

Channing Smith died August 29th, in the eighty- first year of his age.

1879 .- Town Clerk, Daniel Wheelock ; Selectmen, Americus Welch, Terrence McGinley, Frederick Thayer; Assessors, Americus Welch, Mathew Marty, James A. Kidd; Overseers of the Poor, Andrew Kelly, Francis N. Thayer, Lawrence Gibney ; School Committee, Augustus Wilcox, three years,-Dennis McCaffrey, one year, to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry C. Kimball; Treasurer, Leonard T. Gaskill.

The proceedings of the previnus September, in re- gard to the Sinking Fund, not appearing upon the records in sufficient form, were void. The town, therefore, again passed its vote establishing a Sinking Fund, ordering the assessors to assess each year one and one-half mills on each dollar of taxable property, and elected Jeremiah Gatchell for three years, Henry S. Mansfield for two years and Rice A. Brown, Jr., for one year, Sinking Fund Commissioners.

The revised Truant Laws offered by Adrian Scott, chairman of the School Committee, were accepted and adopted by the town and were approved by the Superior Court, Francis H. Dewey, Nov. 15th.

A committee was appointed to name the public roads and streets in the town. The committee reported, November 4th, forty-four public and two private ways with names, and the report was adopted.

Agitation was begun of the question of enlarging the Town Asylum, and it was referred to the Over- seers of the Poor.

Major Edwin B. Staples died October 20th, at Sar- asota, Florida, whither he had gone for his health.

Edward B. Savage, Esq., attorney-at-law, opened a law-office in the Union House in September.

Mr. Francis Kelly died the latter part of August, in the seventieth year of his age, at Dorchester, Mass., where he removed some three years previous. He was a native of Bellingham, but came to Blackstone when a young man and resided in this town over forty years. His life-long occupation was teaching. He had an aptitude for teaching, and his schools were characterized for good order and discipline, a system- atic pursuit of studies and a strict attention to the rules and duties of the place. He filled many impor- tant town agencies.

1880 .- Town Clerk, John Nugent; Selectmen, Americus Welch, William J. Bowes, Lawrence Don- lon, Jr .; Assessors, Americus Welch, George Wil- liams (1st), Louis R. Banigan ; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel Heffernan, James H. Boyle, Andrew Kelly ; Treasurer, Lawrence Boylan ; School Committee, Dennis McCaffrey (for three years), Samuel S. White (for two years, to fill a vacancy caused by removal of Augustus Wilcox).

"Voted that all persons building in the town for manufacturing purposes will be abated their taxes for the term of five years, provided the amount of said investment be not less than $50,000." Under

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

this vote the Woonsocket Rubber Company began, in 1882, their large factory, upon which taxes were abated from 1883 to '88.

The new Almshouse was the subject of two meet- ings during the spring, and was eventually built on the old road opposite the old house, instead of upon the new section of Mendon Street, where it would have been much more accessible and in a much more sightly location.

Rev. George F. Walker having resigned his charge at the Blackstone Church, the society remained witlı- out a settled pastor for several years.

Rev. Lewis Dexter was settled at the Waterford Church.

A new church, known as St. Augustine's, was built at Millville by the Roman Catholic Society of that village, which continued under the charge of Rev. William A. Power, of Blackstone.

Lyman Legg having been removed from the Mill- ville post-office, Matthew Blanchard was appointed postmaster.

1881 .- Town Clerk, John Fay ; Selectmen, Amer- icus Welch, William J. Bowes, Lawrence Donlon, Jr .; Assessors, Americus Welch, Michael Tuite, George Baxter; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel Heffernan, James Meagher, John Clark ; Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock; School Committee, for three years, Adrian Scott.

The school-house at Millville was enlarged during the summer. The school-house in the Pickering Dis- trict becoming untenable, the school was suspended after the spring term. During the summer the iron bridge at the New City began to give signs of weak- ness, and August 22d a committee of five was appointed to contract for a new bridge. The Providence and Worcester Railroad having refused to bear its propor- tion of the expense, a committee of three was ap- pointed November 11th to ascertain that company's liability. The contract of the company with the town upon the construction of the first iron bridge, in 1867, as well as all other records bearing upon the subject, were submitted to Francis P. Goulding, Esq., of Worcester, and Judge E. Rockwood Hoar, of Bos- ton, who gave it their opinion separately that the railroad company was chargeable. The attorney for the company, having reviewed these opinions, gave his assent thereto, and the company eventually helped pay for the new iron bridge.

Americus Welch was chosen Representative to the General Court.

Rev. Wilbur S. Smithers was assigned to the Meth- odist Society at East Blackstone.

1882 .- Town Clerk, William F. Byrne; Selectmen, Americus Welch, Louis R. Banigan, Lawrence Don- lon, Jr. ; Assessors, George Williams, John J. Heffer- nan, John Conway; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel Heffernan, Patrick Baxter, Francis McManus ; Treas- nrer, Austin A. Wheelock; School Committee, for three years, Horatio Stockbridge.

Street-lights, to the number of thirty, were firs voted July 28th.

The New City iron bridge was erected, and a relay of South Main Street was made by the selectmen.

Americus Welch was again elected Representative to the General Court.

Early this year the proprietor of the Franklin Sen tinel at Franklin, Mass., undertook to revive the Blackstone Valley Chronicle by printing a Blackstone edition of his paper, with Edward Savage, Esq., as local editor.

1883 .- Town Clerk, William F. Byrne ; Selectmen Americus Welch, Louis R. Banigan, George F Creighton ; Assessors, Americus Welch, James A. Kidd, Edward MeCooey ; Overseers of the Poor Patrick Kennedy, James H. Boyle, George Wil- liams; Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock ; School Com- mittee, for three years, Orlando Scott. November 6th Francis McManns was chosen in place of James H. Boyle, deceased.

March 12th the town adopted a town seal as fol- lows: " Voted, that the Town adopt as a design for a Town Seal, a shield, one-half of which shall contain the coat-of-arms of the Blackstone Family, the other half contain the representation of the tower of the old Blackstone Mill. Below this, upon a scroll, the Blackstone motto, 'Do well and doubt not,' with flowers ; and above the shield a scroll with the date of the Town's incorporation, 1845; and upon the margin shall appear, 'Nepmug Country until 1667; Mendon, 1667; ' and directly above the shield, in the margin, ' Blackstone.' "

The New York and New England Railroad removed its unsightly wooden bridges over Main and Canal Streets, and substituted iron bridges during the fall and winter. Under a decree of the County Commis. sioners, the company was allowed to erect piers be- tween sidewalks and roadways upon both streets.

Rev. A. A. Briggs was appointed to the Methodist Society at East Blackstone.

December 10th the village of Blackstone was startled to learn that Dr. William M. Kimball had been found in his office in an apoplectic shock and unable to speak. He lived about two days, but did not recover the power to speak. Dr. Kimball was born in South- bridge, studied with Dr. Miller, of Providence, and attended lectures at the Berkshire Medical School and at Harvard Medical School, graduating from the latter. He settled in Blackstone in 1840.

1884 .- Town Clerk, William F. Byrne ; Selectmen, Americus Welch, Louis R. Banigan, George F. Creighton ; Assessors, John F. Campbell, Orlando Scott, Edward McCooey; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel Heffernan, Francis McManus, George Wil- liams; Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock ; School Com- mittee, for three years, Adrian Scott. November 4th Edward R. Thompson was chosen in place of Daniel Heffernan, deceased.

April 7th it was voted to build a new bridge over the

Daniele, Southwick

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Blackstone River, near the Union House, and twelve housand dollars was appropriated therefor. October th the County Commissioners re-located South Main Street and awarded land damages.

Daniel Wheelock was chosen Representative to the General Court.

Rev. William J. Alger became rector of the St. John's Parish, Millville, in place of Rev. Jesse C. Heald, who removed to Tariffville, Conn.

Rev. Michael Kittredge was placed in charge of the St. Augustine Society.

Rev. A. J. Church was assigned to the Methodist Society at East Blackstone.

Rev. Leroy M. Pierce was settled at Blackstone Church.

1885 .- Town Clerk, William F. Byrne ; Selectmen, Americus Welch, Patrick O'Donnell, John J. Dorsey ; Assessors, John F. Campbell, Orlando Scott, Edward McCooey ; Overseers of the Poor, Patrick Kennedy, Francis McManus, George Williams (1st); Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock ; School Committee for three years, Horatio Stockbridge.

April 6th, it was voted to have Road Commissioners, and the ballot taken elected Peter Maloney, for three years, Cornelius R. Day, for two years, and Americus Welch, one year. It was also voted to adopt the sys- tem for keeping town accounts and printing town re- ports offered by Americus Welch. The grade of that portion of South Main Street recently re-located was fixed, and the width of the sidewalks was established at two-elevenths of the established width of each street, equal to nine feet upon Main Street, and all roads three rods wide.

This year was rendered memorable by the famous strike at the Millville Rubber Works, the disastrous effects of which upon the prosperity of the village and the town are not yet entirely overcome. The strike began the latter part of June, and lasted sev- eral months. In September the attitude of the strik- ers was so threatening, when the company substituted new help, that the selectmen judged it prudent to bring down a company of Worcester city police.

Rev. Edward P. Phreaner was appointed to the Methodist Society at Millville.

The different temperance organizations in town, united with the clergy, and a strong public sentiment that the liquor dealers were acting unscrupulously in selling to minors, on Sundays, etc., gathered force during the winter and manifested its strength at the ensuing annual election.

Matthew Blanchard, the postmaster at Millville, having died suddenly in January, his wife was ap- pointed, and still holds the position (January I, 1889).

William Byrne was appointed postmaster at Black- stone in August, in place of Junius Bates, and Caleb Colvin at East Blackstone in place of Myron Daniels.

1886 .- Town Clerk, Michael Carroll ; Selectmen, Adrian Scott, Patrick Kennedy, James P. Mulvey; Assessors, John F. Campbell, Orlando Scott, Edward

McCooey ; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel W. Heffer- nau, Francis McManus, John P. Maloney ; Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock; School Committee for three years, George K. Marshall; Road Commissioner, Sal- mon Blanchard.

Prospect Street was laid out by the Road Com- missioners, accepted by the town and ordered built. The following resolution, offered by Hon. Jeremiah Gatchell, was read and adopted : " Resolved, That the Boards of School Committee aud Selectmen be re- quested to arrange a system of payment of the salarics of the teachers of the several schools in town, by which they may receive their salaries in regular monthly instalments."

Since March, 1886, in consequence of the above re- solve, the teachers in the public schools have heen paid monthly while schools were in session.

Forest fire wards were first appointed July 3d, un- der the law of 1886, and Louis R. Daniels, William A. Aldrich and John Dollard constitute the board.

The northerly abutment of the Central Street wooden bridge, Millville, having partially fallen in, a heavy masonry abutment was built during the fall and winter under the charge of Cornelins R. Day, chair- man of Road Commissioners.

The County Commissioners re-districted Worcester County and placed Blackstone with Mendon, Milford and Hopedale in the Eleventh District, with two rep- resentatives. Both representatives were chosen from Milford this year.

November 15th, Daniel W. Heffernan having re- moved from town, Patrick Kennedy was chosen chairman of the Overseers of the Poor.

The Blackstone Valley Chronicle again came to an end about April 1st, the new series reaching Vol. V., No. 13, before its final demise.

Rev. Mr. Woodward was assigned to the Methodist Society at East Blackstone.

The town at its annual March election voted on the question of license to sell intoxicating drinks-" Yes," 259, "No," 369, and no licenses were issued, not to apothecaries even.

1887 .- Town Clerk, Michael Carroll; Selectmen, Adrian Scott, John W. Cannon, James P. Mulvey ; Assessors, John F. Campbell, James P. Mulvey, Joseph Byrne; Overseers of the Poor, Patrick Ken- nedy, Thomas Downey, Patrick R. Shea ; Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock; Road Commissioner for three years, Patrick Haggerty ; School Committee for three years, Adrian Scott; for one year (to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Horatio Stockbridge), Rev. John D. McGann.

June 18th, John F. Campbell was elected chairman of the Board of Selectmen in place of Adrian Scott, resigned.

Thomas McCooey was elected representative to the General Court.

January 4th was organized East Blackstone Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, No. 137, of Massa-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

chusetts, with twenty-seven charter members. Its meetings were held weekly during the year at Cover- dale Hall, corner of Elm and Blackstone Streets, and at the close of the year it numbered nearly seventy members.

Rev. E. W. Porter began his second ministry at the Baptist Church in Waterford.

The town at its annual March meeting reversed its position upon the liquor license question, the vote being " Yes," 337 ; " No," 145.

1888 .- Town Clerk, Michael Carroll; Selectmen, Patrick Kennedy, John Conway, Thomas McCaffrey; Assessors, John F. Campbell, Robert Miller, Joseph Byrne; Overseers of the Poor, Patrick Kennedy, Patrick R. Shea, Thomas Downey ; Treasurer, Law- rence Boylan ; Road Commissioner for three years, Michael A. Bradley; School Committee for three years, Joseph Byrne.

April 2d it was voted that a committee of three be appointed to purchase a lot of land as a site for a new school-house in Millville. May 2d, four thousand dollars was appropriated for a lot and building, and a lot having been secured by gift from the Lawrence Felting Company, a school-house with two rooms was erected and furnished in season for two schools to be held therein, December 1st.

The Blackstone Library and Athenaeum Associa- tion, having been dormant for some years, a proposi- tion on the part of the majority of its stockholders, that the town take the books as the nucleus of a pub- lic library was accepted, as was also the offer of the Blackstone Manufacturing Company of the old vestry building as a library room, rent free for ten years.

The lay-out of Preston Street, Millville, as made by the road commissioners, was accepted, and the road ordered built May 2d. The stone arch over Fox Brook, Main Street, Waterford, was widened and sidewalks built during the fall. May 2d it was also voted to divide the town into voting districts, but when the selectmen had established the bounds the town did not accept the same.

Thomas MeCooey was again elected representative to the General Court.

St. Augustine Church was greatly enlarged and beautified during the fall to accommodate its increas- ing number of communicants.

Rev. James H. Nutting, of Woonsocket, was assigned to supply East Blackstone Methodist Society.

The Baptist Society at Waterford thoroughly reno- vated its church building this summer, and greatly increased its interior beauty and convenience.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

DANIEL S. SOUTHWICK.

Mr. Southwick was born in Blackstone, Mass., March 25, 1805. He was left an orphan at an early

age and went to live with his uncle, Jacob Southwick, where he remained until his uncle's death. Daniel having reached the age when it became necessary for him to think of learning a useful trade, found employ- ment with Alexander Wilson, one of the old time scythe-makers. This was the time when numerous small scythe-shops were scattered over the county. So well satisfied was Mr. Southwick with his employer that he remained with him twenty years. At the age of twenty-eight he built the home where he resided until his death, February 17, 1886. During his life- time he held many important offices in his town and was ever faithful to all trusts reposed in him. The friendless poor, the unfortunate and those in any trouble, ever found in him a sympathizing friend. In all matters of business he was prompt and punctual, his word was as good as his bond, and throughout a long life he maintained this character. He married Sally Wilson January 28, 1832. In his family rela- tions he was the loving husband and the kind father. In the community in which he lived he was a re- spected citizen, and there having rounded out the three-score years and ten allotted him, he passed to his reward, leaving a widow, two sons, two grand- children and one sister.

JAMES C. SOUTHWICK.

James C. Southwick, the son of Daniel, grand- son of John, and great-grandson of Jonathau, is a direct descendant from Lawrence, the Pilgrim, who came from England to America in 1627, and probably settled in Salem, although his name does not appear on the records until 1639, when he and his family were admitted to membership in the First Church of Salem, and land was given him by the town on which to carry on the business of manufacturing glass and earthen-ware. The subject of this sketch was the only son in a family of seven children, five of whom are now living. He was born in Mendon (now Blackstone), December 12, 1824, on the home- stead which has been occupied by the three preced- ing generations. In early life he attended the dis- triet school in his native town, and supplemented his education at Scituate, R. I., and at the Worcester Academy.

When a young man he purchased a farmn adjacent to the old homestead, which he carried on until the decease of his father, when he bought the latter place, which he still occupies. Mr. Southwick is a progressive agriculturist, and has all the modern ap- pliances for farm work. In his religious views he is liberal, believing in deeds rather than creeds. Sep- tember 18, 1845, he married Elizabeth F., daughter of Wilder Holbrook. They have had four children, viz. : Medora E., born June 17, 1847, who married Josiah B. Davis, of Blackstone; Eva A., born Au- gust 14, 1852, who married Charles H. Buffum, of Oxford, and died May 31, 1883, three years after her marriage ; De Etta, born February 28, 1859, who

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 169

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