History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 210

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 210

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CHAPTER CIX.

SHREWSBURY-(Continued.)

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION-GRADUATES OF COL- LEGES-PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE first physician in Shrewsbury was Dr. Joshua Smith, 1719-56, who practiced here from abont 1840 till his death. He held the offices of town clerk, selectman and assessor for several years, and speci- mens of his elegant chirography are preserved in the town archives. But he set the example, followed by so many of his successors, of cavilling at sonnd doctrine, and Deacon Isaac Stone laid a complaint before the brethren of the church "that ye sd. Smith was defective in ye fundamental article of original sin." And therefore a committee of three Orthodox divines was appointed to discourse with him. Now, Dr. Smith was son-in-law of Rev. John Prentice, of Lancaster, and brother-in-law of Rev. Job Cushing, of Shrewsbury, and I strongly suspect that the ecclesiastical discipline of Dr. Smith was aimed less at him than at his kindred by marriage, whose defectiveness npon the Calvinistic fundamen- tals Deacon Stone did not choose to directly attack. All the same, to argue original sin against three learned divines all at once was nuts for "ye sd. Smith," who according to tradition, unhorsed his antagonists as completely as he had his neighbor, the deacon.

Dr. Zachariah Harvey, who lived in "Shrewsbury Leg," now a part of Sterling, practiced here from about 1740 to 1750, when he removed to Princeton, and was directly chosen there moderator, clerk, selectman, assessor and delegate to the General Court. He is said to have been the introducer of the Harvey apple.

Dr. Edward Flint, 1733-1818, came here from Con- cord about 1756, shortly after Dr. Smith's death. Besides his service in the French War, elsewhere mentioned, he also served as an army surgeon in the

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Revolutionary War. He was a famous doctor, had a large practice, and lived where Mr. George H. Harlow and his wife, who is Dr. Flint's grand-daughter, now lives. He was several years town clerk and one of the selectmen. His son, Dr. Austin Flint, 1760-1850, born here, practiced in Leicester many years and rose to eminence in his profession. At the age of seventeen years he enlisted in the Revolutionary War, marched to Bennington and served till the close of the war. Dr. John Flint, 1779-1809, another son of Dr. Edward and a native of this town, practiced in Petersham.

Of Rev. Ebenezer Morse's practice as a physician mention has already been made. His son, Dr. Elia- kim Morse, 1759-1840, also practiced in the North Parish.

Dr. Amariah Bigelow, born here 1757, also practiced in the North Parish.

Dr. Samuel Crosby, born here 1732, lived on " Boston Hill," in the southeast part of the town, and practiced here till the Revolutionary War, when he entered the Continental service as an army surgeon. After the war he removed to Winchendon.

Dr. Paul Dean came here from Franklin about 1790 with his father, Captain Ebenezer Dean, who settled in the southeast part of the town on the place after- wards known as the Balch Dean Place, so called after Captain Ebenezer's nephew, who lived and died there within the memory of the present generation. Here in 1792, when the small-pox appeared in town, Dr. Dean opened a hospital, where people resorted to be inoculated and treated for that malady. He was a musician, taught singing-schools and led the church choir. After practicing here some years he went South and never returned.

Dr. Silas Wheelock, 1769-1817, came here from Northbridge about 1800, and practiced till his death. He lived on the place now owned by Mr. Lewis E. Colton, whose wife was Dr. Wheelock's grand-dangh- ter. He had the reputation of a skillful physician and surgeon.

Dr. Seth Knowlton, 1781-1832, a native of Shrews- bury whom we have seen leading the heretical revolt of 1821, practiced here about thirty years. He was a man of strong intellect and great influence in the town, and he was noted as much for his positive opin- ions and his ability to maintain them again-t all op- posers as he was for his skill as a surgeon and physi- cian. He built and lived in the house where his suc- cessor, Dr. Adolphus Brigham, afterwards lived.

Dr. William Workman (Harvard College, 1825), came to Shrewsbury about 1826, and continued in practice here till about 1830, when he removed to Worcester, where he became eminent in his profession and had a large practice.

Dr. Azor R. Phelps practiced here from about 1835, to 1843, when he died. He lived in the house now owned by Mr. Leander Ware. and was proprietor of Phelps' Arcanum, once a famous panacea.

Dr. Adolphus Brigham came here from Marl-

borough in 1827, lived in the house built by Dr. Knowlton, on Grafton Street, and succeeded to his practice. He was, in his time, "the Doctor of Shrews- bury," and his practice extended to adjoining towns. A good man, and well skilled, both as a surgeon and physician, he had the respeet and confidence of all who knew him, and died much lamented.

Dr. Alonzo Smith came here from Vermont about 1834. In 1837 he returned to Vermont and died there. Dr. John Heard came here in 1847, and remained about a year.

Dr. Joel B. Fay came from Northbridge about 1850, and practiced here till his death, in 1860. He lived in the house now the congregational parsonage.

Dr. Dean Towne practiced here from about 1840 to 1850, when he removed to Worcester.

Dr. Frederick A. Jewett, who moved from Abing- ton to this town in 1859, practiced here till 1870, when he removed to Grafton.

Dr. John T. Wetherbee, a native of Marlborough, came here from California in 1860, and continued in practice till 1863, when he entered the United States naval service as acting assistant surgeon. He died after a brief term of service on board the United States ship "Currier," in the Gulf of Mexico, and his name is on the Soldiers' Monument.

Dr. Emerson Warner practiced here from 1863 to 1865, when he removed to Worcester, where he still lives and has a large practice.

Dr. Franklin Whiting Brigham, born here in 1841, and son of Dr. Adolphus, studied his profession at Harvard Medical School, and, after serving two years as acting assistant surgeon in the United States navy, settled here in 1865, and remains in practice. He lives -in the same house, built by Calvin R. Stone, where his predecessor, Dr. Warner, lived.

Dr. Jeremiah C. Foster, who was an army surgeon in the United States volunteer service during the Rebellion, settled here in 1867. In 1873 he removed to Barre, and died there.

Dr. J. C. Coburn came here in 1878 and remained till 1880, when he removed to Brooklyn, Conn.

Dr. George L. Tobey practiced here from 1879 to 1880, when he removed to Lancaster.

Dr. Charles Sumner Pratt, a native of Shrewsbury, and son of the late Nathan Pratt, Jr., opened an office here in 1879 in the "Old Store Block," and re- mains in practice. He is a graduate of the Medical Department of Michigan University.

The following natives of Shrewsbury have been graduates of colleges :

Rev. Jacob Cushing, 1730-1809 (Harvard College, 1748), son of Rev. Job Cushing, was settled in Wal- tham. In 1807 Harvard conferred on him the degree of D.D.

Rev. John Cushing, 1737-1823 (Harvard College, 1764), another son of Rev. Job Cushing, was settled in Ashburnham. He also received (1822) the degree of D. D. from Harvard.

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SHREWSBURY.

Rev. Lemuel Hedge, 1734-77 (Harvard College, 1759), son of Elisha Hedge, who came to this town from Boston abont 1730, and built a mill-dam and grist-mill, called in later times Harlow's Mills, after a successive owner, and removed to Hardwick in 1738, was settled in Warwick. He was the father of Pro- fessor Levi Hedge, over thirty years an instructor in Harvard College, and grandfather of the eminent Rev. Dr. Frederick H. Hedge, of Cambridge.

Rev. Nehemiah Parker, 1742-1801 (Harvard Col- lege, 1763), son of Stephen Parker, who came here from Roxbury in 1740 or sooner, was the first settled minister in Hubbardston.

Rev. Isaac Stone, 1748-1837 (Harvard College, 1770), son of Deacon Jonas Stone, was settled in Douglas.

Rev. Frederick Parker, 1762-1802 (Harvard Col- lege, 1784), son of Amos Parker, who removed from Lexington to this town about 1753, was settled in Canterbury, N. H., where, in the midst of his ser- vices as minister on a Sunday, he fell dead in his pulpit.

Rev. Aaron Crosby, 1744-1824 (Harvard College, 1770), son of Samuel Crosby, who lived on " Boston Hill," and was one of the first comers to Shrewsbury, was settled in Dummerston, Vt. Before his settle- ment there he had spent several years as a missionary among the Indians.

Rev. Otis Crosby, 1766-95 (Dartmouth College, 1786), nephew of the preceding and son of Dr. Sam- uel Crosby, was called to settle at Gloucester, Me., but died before ordination.

Rev. Samuel Sumner, 1765-1836 (Dartmonth Col- lege, 1786), son of Rev. Dr. Joseph Sumner, was first settled in Southborongh, and afterwards at Bakers- field, Vt.

Professor Benjamin Stone, 1756-1832 (Harvard Col- lege, 1776), son of Jasper Stone, was the first precep- tor of Leicester Academy, subsequently also of West- ford Academy. Later in life he returned to this town, and died here.

Colonel Benjamin Heywood, 1746-1816 (Harvard College, 1775), son of Phineas Heywood, who came here from Concord about 1739, and lived in the northwest corner of Shrewsbury, where some of his descendants still live, served through the Revolu- tionary War, in all ranks from captain to colonel, and was a justice of the Worcester County Court of Common Pleas, 1802-11. He was father of the late Dr. Benjamin F. Heywood, of Worcester.

Rev. Wilkes Allen, 1775-1845 (Harvard College, 1801), son of Elnatban Allen, was settled 1803 at Chelmsford, and dismissed, at his request, 1832; after which he removed to Andover, and died there.

Nathan Goddard, 1746-1795 (Harvard College, 1770), son of Benjamin Goddard, was a lawyer, and practiced his profession in Shrewsbury, Newhury, Vt., and Framingham.

Hon. Calvin Goddard, 1768-1842 (Dartmouth Col-

lege, 1786),-and so classmate of Rev. Samuel Sum- ner and Rev. Otis Crosby, before mentioned,-was son of Daniel and grandson of Edward Goddard, went from this town to Connecticut to practice his profession, the law; settled first at Plainfield, but afterwards removed to Norwich, where he rose to eminence at the har and in public office. He was seventeen years mayor of Norwich and twice (1801 and 1803) elected to Congress. And he was chosen by the Connecticut Legislature, and served as a dele- gate to the Hartford Convention, 1814. In 1815 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. In 1818 resigned his office as judge to resume practice of the law.

General Artemas Ward, 1727-1800 (Harvard Col- lege, 1748), was son of Colonel Nahum Ward. Be- sides the high civil and military offices which he held (to which reference has been made elsewhere), he received from his fellow-townsmen almost every mark of trust and honor they had to bestow. He was sixteen times elected Representative to the Gen- eral Court. In the year of the Shays' Rebellion, being defeated as a candidate for Representative by Captain Isaac Harrington, an ardent Shays' man, General Ward ever afterwards refused to be a candi- date for any office in Shrewsbury, but he was next year and twice afterwards elected to Congress.

Hon. Artemas Ward, 1762-1746 (Harvard College, 1783), son of General Artemas, commenced practice of law in 1785 at Weston, but afterward removed to Charlestown, and while there was several times elected a member of the Governor's Council. He next removed to Boston, and was thence elected to Congress. In 1820, on organization of the Court of Common Pleas as a State Court, he was appointed chief justice, and held the office till 1839, when he resigned it.

Henry D. Ward, 1768-1817 ( Harvard College, 1791), another son of Gen. Artemas, settled in practice of the law at Charleston, S. C. He died at Middletown, Conn.

Andrew H. Ward, 1784-1857 (Harvard College, 1808), grandson of Gen. Artemas and son of Thomas W. Ward, who was about twenty years sheriff of Worcester County, practiced law at Shrewsbury from 1811 to 1829, when he removed to Boston. He after- ward removed to Newton and died there. In 1826 he published in the Worcester Magazine a "History of Shrewsbury." But this is not the work commonly known as Ward's History, which, published in 1847 by Mr. Ward, is chiefly valuable for its family register.

Rev. Henry Dana Ward, 1797-1885 (Harvard Col- lege, 1816), was another son of Sheriff Ward. After his gradnation he remained some time at Cambridge as scholar of the house, but was not settled as a min- ister till 1845, when he was ordained over the Epis- copal Church in Portsmouth, Va. It was he whom we met before in connection with the dismissal of

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Rev. George Allen and the law-suit that followed it. Mr. Ward was buried with his ancestors iu the family lot in this town.

David Brighham, 1786-1843 (Harvard College, 1810), son of David Brigham, Sr., was a lawyer and practiced in New Braintree, Leicester, Greenfield, Shrewsbury and Fitchburg. From the latter place he removed to Iowa and died there.

David T. Brigham, 1806-69 (Amherst College, 1828), son of Edmund T. Brigham and nephew of the pre- ceding, practiced law in Worcester a short time. He removed to St. Louis, Mo., and thence removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he died.

Jubal Harrington,1803-77 (Brown University, 1825), son of Fortunatus Harrington, practiced law in Wor- cester. He was an ardent partisan of President Jackson, who appointed him postmaster of Worcester. He left Worcester in the phrase of the times "between two days," and was next heard of in Texas. He died in Columbia, Cal.

William Pratt, 1806-39 (Brown University, 1825), son of Col. Nymphas Pratt, commenced the practice of law in Shrewsbury. In 1835 he removed to Worces- ter and formed a professional connection with Judge Pliny Merrick.

Francis Dean, 1804-85 (Brown University, 1826), son of Francis Dean, Sr., commenced the practice of the law at Southborough in 1830. He afterwards re- moved to Uxbridge, and again to Worcester, where he died.

Rev. William Addison Houghton (Yale College, 1840), came here in his youth from Berlin, and went to college from this town. He was first ordained and settled at Northborough. He afterwards was installed at Berlin, where he still resides.

Samuel B. Ingersoll Goddard, born here in 1821 (Amherst College, 1840), son of Perley Goddard, was admitted to the bar in 1848, and has practiced law in Worcester ever since.

William Taylor Harlow, born here in 1828, son of Gideon Harlow (Yale College, 1851), has practiced law 1 at Spencer, Red Bluff, Cal., and Worcester; was in the United States Volunteer service, 1861-63; an officer of the United States Internal Revenue about eight years, and since 1877 has held the office of as- sistant clerk of the courts for the county of Wor- cester.

For notice of Dr. Henry P. Stearns (Yale College, 1853), see page 802.

Rev. Edward Henry Pratt, 1826-78 (Amherst Col- lege, 1853), son of Nathan Pratt, Jr., began to preach at East Woodstock, Conn., and was ordained there in 1857. In 1867 he was appointed secretary of The Con- necticut Temperance Union, and devoted the remainder of his life with unsparing self-sacrifice to the cause of temperance. He was brother of Dr. Charles S. Pratt of

this town ; brother also of Rev. George Harlow Pratt, now of Barnstable, born here in 1839, who left Amherst College in 1862, when he was a student in the Sopho- more Class, to enter the United States service,2 and who was first settled in the ministry in the town of Harvard; brother also of William G. Pratt, of New Haven, editor of the New Haven Journal and Courier.

Rev. Franklin Charles Flint, 1836-76 (Tuft's College, 1861), son of Henry H. Flint, was first settled in the ministry at Chatham, next at Southbridge, and again at Attleborough, where he died.

Rev. Benjamin Angier Dean, born here in 1840 (Amherst College, 1862), son of James Dean, after spending several years on the Western frontier in the Home Missionary service, is now preaching at San- bornton, N. H.

Hollis W. Cobb, 1856 (Yale College, 1878), son of Albert Cobb, lives in Shrewsbury, but keeps an office and practices his profession as a lawyer at Worcester .. He is one of the special Justices of the Central Dis- triet Court of Worcester.

Florence H. Reed, daughter of Le Roy S. Reed, grad- uated at Wellesley College in 1885, and died in 1887, at Pasadena, Cal., where she had gone in vain pur- suit of health.

Michael Edward Kelley, son of - Kelley, gradu- ated at Harvard College 1888.

Thomas Rice, son of Aaron B. Rice, graduated, 1888, at the Massachusetts Agricultural College.

In recent years the number of college graduates has been less than in former times. Without at- tempting to enumerate all the reasons therefor, prob- ably the greatly improved opportunities afforded by the excellent schools of the town for education may be one, and doubtless the higher requirement of American Colleges for admission is another. In the day of Rev. Job Cushing there was no Shrewsbury High School where he could send his sons to be fitted for college, and probably Jacob and John, who both bore off the honors of Harvard, were prepared for admission by their father.

The original grant to the Shrewsbury proprietors provided for a lot for the school as well as one for the ministry, but the school lot, No. 20, laid out at Rocky Pond, was a worthless parcel of land which nobody wanted, and appears to have been assigned to the school for that very reason. And truth to tell, there can be little doubt that our fathers of the first generation, here in their poverty, and with many burdens resting heavily upon them, did dis- charge their duties as regards public education in rather a perfunctory way-not that they underrated the value of education to their children. Other parents, as well as Mr. Cushing, probably instructed their own children at home, and if they could not, like him, teach the classical tongues, they were mas-

1 With such favor of his jealous mistress as she is wont to bestow on her votaries who per intervalla interque alia pursue her.

" In 1872 Amherst gave him the honorary degree of A.M.

1. No, Nelson

Thomas Bice

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SHREWSBURY.

ters of the three Rs., and competent to transmit to posterity, reading, writing and arithmetic.

In the second generation, about the time of parti- tion of the town into two parishes, the whole town was districted-divided into squadrons, as the dis- tricts were at first called, and public schools have ever since been maintained. For more than one hundred years, with only slight interruptions, a sum- mer term for the younger children was kept by a female teacher, and a winter term for the older ones by a "master." These terms varied in duration from six weeks or less, to ten or more. Down until within the memory of people still living, young men and women frequently attended the winter term after they were twenty-one years old. It required an able man to keep a winter school in Shrewsbury in the olden time, and many a man who might have made a good mayor of a city or Governor of a State, failed in the attempt. A successful teacher bore the title of Master for life. The last bearer of the title in this town, Master Nathan Pratt, reputed to have been a model school teacher, both as regards govern- ment and instruction, died in 1847, in his eighty- eighth year. He was grandfather of Rev. Edward H. Pratt and his brothers before-mentioned. I well remember him-a venerable man of very benevolent aspect, much interested in and very kind to chil- dren.

But in later days the schools of Shrewsbury have undergone considerable changes. The common schools are now taught entirely by female teachers, and with necessary vacations, are kept throughout the year. In respect to appropriations for its schools, to rate of wages paid its teachers and regularity of its scholars' attendance, Shrewsbury ranks high among the towns of the State in the reports of the secretary of the Board of Education. For more than thirty years the town has supported a High School, though not required by law so to do, having never had even the minimum number of families (five hundred), upon which the legal obligation of towns to support such a school rests. In 1883 the town built a handsome and commodious building for its High School. The only fund or source of income which the town has for support of its schools other than an annual tax, is a legacy of one thousand dollars, given by the late Amasa Howe. The "dog fund," so-called. which cannot legally be used for other than for edu- cational purposes, has been for many years applied by a vote of the town to a town library, which con- tains about one thousand two hundred volumes, and is an important educational force in Shrewsbury.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JONATHAN H. NELSON.

Jonathan H. Nelson, son of Captain Jonathan Nel- son, was born in Shrewsbury April 26, 1812. He

died May 20, 1872, aged sixty years and twenty-four days. In person he was square built, thick set, with black hair and eyes, of full face and of firm and elas- tic step. From early years he was a lad of industry, of perseverance and high resolve. Fortified against manifold dangers and temptations by the counsel and care of one of the best of mothers, he began his life as an apprentice at the tanner's trade. He and his late partner, the Hon. Thomas Rice, were fellow-ap- prentices in the establishment of Colonel Nymphas Pratt, whose counsels and example proved of great value to their riper years.

Working more than the hours required, each of these young men accumulated a few hundred dollars. By diligence, industry, economy, prudence, persever- ance and strict attention to business, these young men won the respect and confidence of the commu- nity. Mr. Nelson and his partner became at length the proprietors of the establishment in which they had been apprentices together, under the firm name of Nelson & Rice.

Endowed with remarkable energy and business tact, vigorous health and strong constitution, and de- voting himself to personal labor daily, as many hours as required of any of their employees, prosperity crowned the establishment.

Mr. Nelson was a man of truthfulness, of sterling integrity and every way reliable as a manufacturer and a man. Having no children, and being strictly temperate and prudent in his habit-, his means increased, his business expanded, and from time to time the manufactory was enlarged. From the com- mencement of the copartnership of the firm, in 1839, his wealth continued to increase, till, several years before his death, he was acknowledged to be the wealthiest man in Shrewsbury.

It is highly creditable to the firm of which he was the senior partner, that they had been associated in business for a period of forty-two years in all, with the utmost harmony. It is true, when, in 1839, their late copartnership was formed, they entered on a business already established. It is true, as already stated in public, that the business experience and ju- dicious counsel and advice of Colonel Pratt were to them of inestimable value. On some men these would have been lost.

Something more, however, than the wisdom and counsel of the sagest adviser was requisite to enable these men to carry on successfully a business so ex- tensive as to require, in various stations and services, the daily employment of one hundred and twenty-five men, and yet to maintain such promptness in the payment of all bills, that no bill, during the whole copartnership, was ever presented at their office a second time. Yet such, we learn, are the facts.

With all his devotion to business, Mr. Nelson was eminently a social, genial, condescending man. He was liberal and humane, accommodating, benevolent and kind. He was a constant attendant on the Sab-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

bath services of the sanctuary, a liberal supporter of the Gospel and a generons contributor to the vari- ous objects presented for benevolent or charitable aid.

He made the following public beqnests : To the Congregational Society, in Shrewsbury, $5000 ; Mas- sachusetts Bible Society, $2000; Home Missionary Society, $2000; Society for the Promotion of Colle- giate Theological Education at the West, $1000; American Missionary Association, New York, $1000.

HON. THOMAS RICE

was born in Marlboro', Mass., and came to this town when a young man and served as an apprentice to Colonel Pratt, who carried on the business of tanner and currier. Colonel Pratt failed in 1839, and Mr. L. H. Allen purchased of the assignees the tanning de- partment of the business, and about the same time Mr. Rice, in company with Jonathan H. Nelson, bought out the currying department. For a period of twenty years Mr. Rice and Mr. Nelson carried on a fine growing business, and during the war it increased largely. After the death of Mr. Nelson, in 1872, Mr. Charles O. Green, for several years book-keeper of the concern, was admitted as a partner; the firm-name being Thomas Rice & Co., Mr. Rice remaining head of the firm until his death, which occurred May 29, 1888. Mr. Rice was always a public-spirited man ; his town honored him with many offices of trust- such as selectman, representative-and he was a mem- ber of the State Senate in 1869. For more than half a century the interests of the town were his interests. His time, his money, his counsel were always available for the advancement of the public good. Progress in every direction, education, morality and religion found in him an earnest and steadfast supporter. Of a genial disposition he was ever on the watch to do a kindly act or speak a helpful word. He was for many years a director in the Northboro' Bank and the First National Bank of Worcester, and president of the former at the time of his death; also a director in many other well-known financial institutions.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 210

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