History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 175

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 175

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HON. JAMES DRAPER .- James Draper was born February 26, 1778. He traces his ancestry to James Draper, of Yorkshire, England, who was born in 1618, and came to this country "between 1640 and 1650," and located in Roxbury, Mass. James, the subject of this sketch, was a native of Spencer, as were two generations of his ancestors, and after a long and useful life he quietly passed away at the great age of ninety years, eight months and one day. His early life was devoted to the farm, but as this occupation was not altogether congenial to his taste, by close application to the limited educational ad- vantages of the times, he fitted himself to perform such duties as an adviser or magistrate was expected to be familiar with in those days. With this qualifi- cation, and possessed of a good degree of intelligence, he very soon became a leading man in the town, and in the various positions in which he served his towns- men, acquired their confidence and established a high reputation among them and throughout the county. Although of an irascible nature, his kindness of heart and sincerity of motive enabled his many friends not only to overlook this characteristic, but to fully ap- preciate his abundant good qualities and worth.

In 1810 he was appointed a justice of the peace under Governor Gore's administration, and held the office more than fifty years. He ably performed the duties of it, whether called to act within the imme-

diate vicinity of Spencer, or, as was often the case, in the more remote parts of the county. As a magis- trate, his decisions or rulings were made after a con- scientious consideration of the case in question, and by common consent it was admitted they were ren- dered in a fair and impartial manner. He was re- garded as good authority in matters of common law, and was well qualified for writing deeds, wills, agree- ments or other legal documents, and being a practical surveyor, was particularly adapted for the work of con- veyancing. He was county commissioner for several years, was twelve times elected as representative to the General Court, and twice to the State Senate. In 1820 he was delegate to the convention for making or altering the Constitution and, at times, occupied other positions of importance in the Commonwealth, In town affairs he was selectman, assessor, town clerk and treasurer for many years.

In his early life, when church and town were one and the same, he was prominent in the management of the former and interested in whatever pertained to it, and although a man of liberal spirit, he had a strong sentiment of veneration for whatever was spir- itual and sacred. He was a great lover of music, and in his younger days taught singing-school in his na- tive town. He composed some music, and at his de- cease considerable in manuscript was found among his effects. At the installation of Rev. S. G. Dodd an anthem, written by him, was performed by the choir, and was regarded as a very worthy produc- tion.

In 1840 Mr. Draper completed a history of the town of Spencer, relating to "facts, incidents and events" recorded therein, with "brief notices and genealogies of families," and three hundred copies of it were published. In 1860 he revised this history with "additions and improvements," to this latter date. The genealogical department contains a list of more than five hundred families, and the history, as a whole, is a work of considerable merit.

Mr. Draper married Lucy, daughter of Captain Samuel Watson, of Leicester, January 6, 1805. She died July 7, 1848. Their children were four daugh- ters, all of whom lived to be married, but only one survived the father.

TOWN-HOUSE .- From 1744 to 1838 all meetings for the transaction of public business, of whatever nature, were held in the meeting-house. At this latter date objections were raised to the further use of this house for these purposes, and the subject of building a town- house was, at the earliest moment, brought before the town.

At a meeting previous to April 1, 1839, a commit- tee was chosen to purchase a lot of land for a town- house, and after consideration a lot four by five rods, on the corner of what is now Main and Maple Streets, the same being a part of the pres- ent " Union block lot," was bargained for and pur- chased. Then at a meeting, the above date, it was

James Trafen

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voted " that the town take measures to build a town- house, or building for the purpose of transacting Pub- lic town business." At a subsequent meeting, how- ever, the purchase of this lot of " 4 x 5 rods," and all the business connected therewith, was reconsidered, on account of strong opposition to the location, and the lot upon which the present house stands was sub- stituted. A building was at once contracted for, the same to be " 50x40 feet, 2 stories high with cupola," the first floor to be used for rooms for selectmen, weights and measures and other town purposes, and the second floor for a town hall. While this building was in process of construction, town-meetings were held at the taverns of Eleazer B. Draper and Dexter Bemis.

In 1859 a bell was purchased and hung in the cu- pola, but in 1863 this became injured to such an ex- tent that the selectmen were authorized to replace it by a new one "to weigh not less than 1800 pounds."

In 1871 the town had increased in population to such an extent that the old town-house was wholly inadequate to the wants of the public, either in hall facilities or rooms for the transaction of the town business. Consequently, at a meeting called for the purpose this year, it was voted to build a new town- house, " not less than 60, nor more than 80 feet iu width, and not less than 80, nor more than 100 feet in length, 3 stories high, with bell, clock and memorial tablets." A committee of thirteen was chosen to arrange the details and attend to the building of the same. The old house was disposed of, and a large brick structure erected on the spot of the old one, containing rooms on the first floor for the use of town officers, a lock-up and the Fire Department; also waiting-rooms, a hall, reading and library rooms. On the second floor is the main hall, with a seating capacity for a thousand people, and convenient ante-rooms, and the third is occupied as a Masonic hall on the east side, and on the west a large hall for entertainments, with kitchen attached. The cost of this building, with furniture, was $57,870.

TOWN FARM .- The question of purchasing a farm upon which to maintain the town's poor was under consideratiou by the town for several years previ- ous to 1825. This year a committee was chosen, with authority to negotiate for the Eleazer B. Dra- per farm of ninety-six acres, and the Joseph Cheever. farm of sixty-six and a half acres, to be used uni- tedly as a "town farm." After purchasing the farm and furnishing equipments, making repairs, etc., upon the same, the total cost was $6,142.61. On the 28th of March, 1826, " Rules and Regulations " for the government of the inmates and the observance of good order " were adopted and entered upon the town records. In 1841 a new barn "72x38 feet with 16 foot posts" was built. Three years later, and also in 1851, propositions were entertained in town- meeting to dispose of the whole or a part of the farm, and committees were chosen to effect a sale

accordingly, but without success. In this latter year the sum of $600 was raised "to build a new house and repair the old one." In 1871 the farm barn was raised, turned one-half round and a cellar excavated under the whole building, and in 1880 the house was enlarged by an addition of sixty by thirty feet, two stories high.

The whole building at the present time contains thirty-two rooms, and the halls, sleeping apartments aud waiting-rooms are well ventilated and warmed by steam-heat.

The farm is pleasantly and healthfully located two and a half miles north of the village, and is under a good state of cultivation. The sunny exposure of the " home" and farm buildings, together with an ex- tended southern view, lend a charm to the spot, whether viewed by inmate or visitor. It has been the study of those in charge of this institution to make it a cheerful aud comfortable retreat for the town's unfortunates, and their efforts have beeu at- tended with marked success.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- Since first the need of better protection against fire was felt the town has been gen- erous and wise in adopting safeguards for preventing or extinguishing fires. In 1830 dwellings and other buildings in the immediate vicinity of the village had become numerous enough to demand provisions for their better security against this element, At a meet- ing held March 7th, of this year, this subject was dis- cussed and an appropriation of one hundred dollars was made towards the purchase of a fire-engine. This machine was a primitive affair, operated by two hori- zontal levers, requiring eight persons to "man the breaks," and often five times this number, with buck- ets in hand, to supply it with water. On the 26th of the same month, a further sum of thirty-five dollars was voted to purchase hose for this engine. A small building was erected on what is now "Union Block" lot, to house the new fire apparatus. This "tub en- gine" proved of but little value, as the buildings in- creased in number and size, but was the only appliance for protection against fire for nearly twenty years. In 1849 the town voted the sum of five hundred dollars to purchase a hand fire-engine and the committee, chosen for the purpose, selected a "Hunneman ma- chine," with hose-reel and five hundred feet of hose. The small engine was now abandoned, the house dis- posed of and a new one erected on the east side of the town-house. A company of forty-five members was organized, and this organization has been well main- tained to the present time. In 1851 the first board of fire wards was chosen, viz., Alonzo Temple, David Prouty and Andrew J. Roberts. The fire companies held their meetings in the new building until 1859, when the town granted the department the use of a room in the town-house building for business purposes. In 1871 a Hunneman steam fire-engine and hose-car- riage was added at a cost of five thousand eight hun- dred dollars; and in 1874 a hook-and-ladder truck,

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

fully equipped for service, provided. A large and convenient room was now fitted up in the new town- house for the storage of the fire apparatus and use of the department. In 1882 a double tank fire-extin- guisher was purchased, and in 1883-84 two new hose- reels were added to the equipments.

These additions necessitated a more abundant water supply, and reservoirs were, from time to time, lo- cated in convenient places for this purpose, at a cost of more than ten thousand dollars. In 1882 the in- troduction of public water-works added materially to the efficiency of this department by the location of eighty-eight hydrants exclusively for fire purposes. The manual force aggregates eighty men. Although an expensive necessity, the citizens have freely voted money to sustain the Fire Department, and they fully appreciate the perilous and responsible labors ren- dered by the firemen. They have expended, since 1849, the sum of sixty-five thousand dollars for en- gines, hose, equipments and services of men; and for engine-houses a further sum of twenty-five thousand dollars.

WATER WORKS .- In 1882 steps were taken to pro- cure a supply of pure water for the town, as it was feared by medical experts and others that in the thickly-settled portions of the village the water had become contaminated to such an extent as to affect the sanitary condition of the people in these locali- ties. A supply by gravitation was essential, if possi- ble, and "Shaw Pond," in Leicester, was found to be the only body of water of sufficient altitude and supply. The town took this, by charter from the General Court, but subsequently transferred their interest in it to Messrs. Goodhue & Birnie, of Spring- field, Mass., and they constructed the works as a pri- vate enterprise. In 1884 the town purchased them of the owners for two hundred and forty thousand dollars. The receipts for the six months ending January 1, 1885, were $7,036,97 ; for the year ending January 1, 1886, 814,171.38 ; 1887, $15,094.81; 1888, $15,324.79. The whole number of miles of pipe laid to January 1, 1888, was twelve and three-quarters, and at this date the daily consumption, 153,000 gallons.

LIBRARY .- January 7, 1867, "about thirty young people of both sexes," members of the High School, met at the house of Emory Shumway and organ- ized themselves into a society " for social and intel- lectual improvement," and after the choice of offi- cers proceeded to the further business of adopting a constitution and by-laws. This society was to be called the Young People's Library Association and the object was to establish a High School Library. As a prerequisite to membership one must be a mem- ber of the High School and pay a fee as follows, viz .: "For a young gentleman twenty-five cents, and for any lady twelve cents," and at each weekly meeting a tax of five cents for the former and three cents for the latter. These moneys were to be used as a fund

for the purchases of the library. One year later it was voted to change the name to the "Spencer" Library Association, and the constitution was altered accordingly. April 21, 1858, by vote of this body, it was made a " Public " Library, with a membership fee of one dollar per year, half-yearly or quarterly in the same proportion. The first installment of books purchased was one hundred and ninety volumes, and the first librarian John W. Bigelow. These books were kept in an ante-room on the floor of the "Denny Hall," but subsequently they were arranged in cases in the hall.

About the year 1862 twenty-nine persons, princi- pally farmers, organized themselves into a body, called the Spencer Agricultural Library Association, and purchased one hundred and ten volumes, relating to farming interests, and these were kept in a case in the store of Temple & Whittemore, they acting as librarians. In 1864 it was thought best to merge this into the Public Library, and, on the 30th of Novem- ber the following proposition was submitted, at a meeting of the members of both, viz. : "That the members of the Agricultural Association have free use of the Spencer library for the space of four years, as an equivalent for its books." This arrangement was accepted, and their books were transferred to the cases of the latter. Until the year 1869 the funds for the purchase of books were obtained from member- ship fees and fines and the proceeds of " fairs," to which the public gave generous support.

November 8, 1870, a proposition was made by the Library Association to turn over to the town their hooks, cases and other property, upon conditions that the town should assume the indebedness of the asso- ciation, and "keep the library in good condition." This proposition was accepted, and from this date it became the property of the town. At the next an- nual meeting of the town it was voted that the money known as the " Dog Fund " be expended for standard books, to be added to the library, and their " use be free to the town." This " fund" was annually thereafter appropriated for the use of the library. In 1871 a spacious room was fitted up in the town-house, to accommodate the large number of books already accumulated, and, a few years later, further additions to this room were made for the same purpose. In 1888 a public library building was erected for the use of the library and a free public reading-room. This beautiful building was the gift to the town of Mr. Richard Sugden, a highly respected citizen. It is of brick, with brown-stone trimmings and gran- ite basement. The main room is thirty-two by sixty feet. The front projection is eleven by thirty-nine feet, and at one corner is an ornamental tower fifty- two feet in height. The projection is used for an en- trance hall, librarian's and delivery room. In the rear of these is the library and reading-rooms, and these rooms are essentially one, being separated by a screen only. The shelves on the floor are arranged

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to accommodate from eight to ten thousand books, while the galleries, which are reached by a spiral stairway, furnish shelf-room for an additional twenty thousand volumes. It is a substantial and enduring edifice, and reflects great credit upon the generous and noble-hearted giver. His portrait, in oil, occu- pies a prominent place in the main room. This building is called the "Richard Sugden Library." It was completed at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. The number of volumes in the library January 1, 1887, was 6,272, and the number of books taken out from March, 1887, to February, 1888, was 16,384.

RICHARD SUGDEN .- Richard Sugden was born in an obscure village near Bradford, England, March 26, 1815. His parents were of humble origin and circum- stances, and he struggled hard, from boyhood to early manhood, to overcome these embarrassing conditions of birth. He gave his daily labor for his board alone, while his scanty clothing was obtained from hours of overwork, and it required weeks of such toil to pur- chase a single garment even. Although he was deprived of the privilege of an ordinary education, yet in a small way he was able to gratify a longing for books and the current literature of the day. There were but two libraries in the neighborhood in which he lived, one containing three volumes, viz. : the Bible, Baxter's Saint's Rest and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress ; the other was the treasure of an old Welsh cobbler, consisting of about sixty volumes, carefully secured in a box beside his bench. He became a confidant of this man, and as a consequence was privileged to take a book for perusal, once a week, from this primitive library. His method for procuring a newspaper was novel and business-like. Fourteen- pence per copy was required to purchase one paper each week, and he and six comrades formed a club at a cost of two-pence each per week, and in this way obtained the coveted prize.

This ardent love for literary information followed him to manhood, and when the cares of business were laid aside for the day, the book and paper were the solace of his evening hour. Works of history and autobiographies of self-made men were his favorite reading, and now, in his riper years, when the cares of business press less heavily upon him, he scans these works, together with the popular magazines, as eagerly as in his younger and more vigorous days. Blessed with a retentive memory, and being an intelligent reader, he possesses a fund of knowledge which renders him an entertaining companion for social conversation.

At twenty-eight years of age he embarked in an emigrant ship for America, and, after a prosperous voyage of twenty-seven days, landed in New York, March 29, 1845. During the passage he formed the acquaintance of a young Scotchman, whose brother in America had sent him a small hand-book, descrip- tive of the manufacturing towns in Massachusetts.

From this he learned that wire was manufactured in Spencer and card clothing in Leicester. Wire-working being his particular trade, he decided to make one of these two points his first stopping-place. Reaching the latter, he applied for, and obtained work of, H. A. Denny, in a small wire-drawing mill in Cherry Valley, Leicester. Two years later he and a fellow- workman-Nathaniel Myrick-came to Spencer and purchased the small wire-works owned by Roswell Bisco. In 1850 they purchased the machinery of a mill in Cherry Valley in which H. G. Henshaw was interested, and moving it to Spencer, admitted Mr. Henshaw to the firm. The business was expand- ing quite rapidly, but the feeble health of Mr. Henshaw made this a partnership of short duration. The firm became Myrick & Sugden again, and so continued until Mr. Myrick retired from it in 1870. Harry H , son of Mr. Sugden, was now admitted, but in a few years this firm was dissolved by his death. In 1876 Mr. Sngden purchased the large works of J. R. & J. E. Pronty, in the "lower wire village," and converted the combined business into an incorporation called the Spencer Wire Company, of which he is president and general manager.

From the time of entering upon his business life, the characteristics of his younger days have been steadily developed and strengthened by the experience of years, until now, in a matured manhood, he is able to enjoy, with satisfaction, their fruits.

At the age of seventy-three years he is still hale and hearty, and though he has resigned the details of the business to subordinates, he still gives his personal attention to its general management.

STREET LAMPS .- Previous to 1872 the village was partially lighted by street lamps, erected and cared for mostly by private individuals. This year the town voted " to light all the lamps at the expense of the town," and this mode of street lighting continned, with many additions to the number of lamps, until 1887. A three years' contract was made at this time with the Spencer Gas Company, to light the streets with electricity, and sixty electric lights were distrib- uted through the various parts of the village. The cost to the town for these lights was to be 333 cents per evening for a single light. From 1872 to 1888 the town expended the sum of $16,000 for street lamps lighting and maintaining the same.

SHADE TREES .- Much interest has been taken by the inhabitants of the older portion of the village in setting out and preserving shade and ornamental trees. The number of growing trees, of all sizes and ages, add materially to the attractiveness of the streets and general appearance of the village. Some of the older ones are majestic. This is true of the three "big elms " near the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets. They were set out on the day the battle of Bunker Hill was fonght, and the " oldest inhabitant," at the present time remembers that his father in- formed him that while engaged in planting these

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

elms he distinctly heard the booming of the cannon while the battle was in progress. In 1871-72 the town appropriated one hundred and fifty dollars each year "for setting ont shade trees in the public streets."

SOCIETIES .- The Ladies' Benevolent Society, con- nected with the Congregational Church, is the old- est social organization in town, dating from 1821. But one of the original members survives, viz., Mrs. Dennis Ward. The St. Jean Baptiste is the largest society and contains a membership of five hundred and sixty-two and has a relief fund of $10,000. The other societies are the Masonic Lodge, chartered De- cember 11, 1872; the Ancient Order of Hibernians, organized 1872 ; Royal Arcanum, 1879 ; Home Circle, Daughters of Rebecca, Association Mallet, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, F. A. Stearns' Post, No. 37, G. A. R .; Institute Canadien-Francaise; Luther Hill Camp, Sons of Veterans; Sons of Temperance' Fanciers' Club, Firemen's Relief Association, Wom- an's Christian Temperance Union and Patrons of Husbandry. This latter was organized February 11, 1875, with twenty charter members, but in April, 1877, it, like many other granges, gave up its organi- zation. It was re-organized July 27, 1882, and, at the present time, Parsiello Emerson is master.

FARMERS'AND MECHANICS' ASSOCIATION .- August 26, 1884, a few farmers, and others interested in agri- culture, met at the town hall to consider the advisa- bility of holding a " Fair and Cattle Show the coming fall," and following this meeting several more were held .for a further exchange of opinion upon the pro- ject. In the interim an interest developed sufficient to cause an association to be formed and officered as follows, viz .: George Wilson, president, and Thomas J. Comins, secretary and treasurer, and the first fair and exhibition was held October 1, 1884. Meetings and fairs were held annually thereafter and were attended with such success as to encourage the members to apply for a charter, that they might become a State institu- tion. One was granted March 8, 1888, and by it they became known as the "Spencer Farmers' and Mechan- ics' Association." The following April Nathaniel Myrick, a former resident of Spencer, donated to this body property to the value of $2000, to be used toward the purchase of a park and fitting up the same with a racing course and buildings. Thirty acres of land were bonght, lying south of and adjoining the Pine Grove Cemetery, and suitable buildings were erected for the accommodation of agricultural and live- stock exhibits. A good one-half mile track was also laid out and constructed for horse sports and other exhibitions.

The cost of the land, buildings, track and other im- provements was about eight thousand dollars. The main building, forty by eighty-four feet, two stories high, contains an exhibition-room upon the ground- floor, the second being used as a dining-hall, and has a seating capacity of three hundred and sixty

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 175

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