History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 180

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 180

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But there is better evidence than this of the wis- dom and foresight of the men who laid the founda- tion of Worcester's prosperity.

A desire for opportunities for education was mani- fest at a very early day. About 1819 a number of young mechanics, who had been active in reforming the schools and establishing a lyceum and temper. ance society, made an attempt to form a mechanics' association. This failed ; but November 27, 1841, a public meeting was held to consider the question. Ichabod Washburn was chairman, and Albert Tol- man secretary of this meeting. A committee was chosen, consisting of Anthony Chase, William Leg-

gatt, Henry W. Miller, William M. Bickford, Put- nam W. Taft, Levi A. Dowley, William A. Wheeler, Rufus D. Dunbar, John P. Kettell, James S. Wood- worth, Albert Tolman, Hiram Gorham, Joseph Pratt, IIenry Goulding and Edward B. Rice, to consider the formation of an association having for its object " the moral, intellectual and social improvement of its members, the perfection of the mechanic arts and the pecuniary assistance of the needy."

The first meeting of the subscribers was held Feb- ruary 5, 1842. William A. Wheeler was elected president; Ichabod Washburn, vice-president; Albert Tolman, secretary, and Elbridge G. Partridge treas- urer. Steps were taken to establish a library and an annual course of lectures. The first lecture was de- livered by Elihu Burritt (then a resident of Worces- ter), and was upon the importance of educating the mechanics and workingmen of the country. From that time to the present the Mechanics' Association has provided a course of lectures every winter.

Another object in forming the association was the holding of an annual fair for the exhibition of the mechanical products of the city. The first fair was held in September, 1848, and was very successful. The reports of the judges were printed and widely circulated, creating a wide knowledge and con-e- quently large demand for the products of Worcester mechanics. In July, 1854, in commenting upon the association and its work, the statement was made : " Notwithstanding the inadequate supply of water- power, which is everywhere deemed so essential for the successful development of the mechanic arts, without the aid of a single act of incorporation, mechanical business has increased in this city by individual enterprise alone more than tenfold. The mechanics as a class are more enlightened and better educated than formerly ; their course is onward and upward; they are not only inereasing in numbers, but continually expanding in influence and useful- ness. Instead of being a small fraction of the popn- lation of a town of two or three thousand, as they once were, they are nearly a majority of the popula- tion of a city of twenty-two thousand; are the owners of nearly or quite half of the taxahle real estate, and are producing from their workshops more than six millions of dollars annually. Their reputation for variety, excellence and finish on all labor-saving machines and implements extends far and wide through the land. Their produets, branded with the name of some enterprising firm in Worcester, may be found in the shops, mills and factories and on the farms of every State in the Union."

In 1850 an act of incorporation was obtained from the State, and May 4, 1854, Ichabod Washburn offered to give ten thousand dollars towards the purchase of land and the erection of a Mechanics' Hall, provided an equal snm should be raised by the association. The offer was accepted and the condition complied with. In addition to the twenty thousand dollars

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thus raised, the association issned bonds to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, secured by mortgage upon the property, and further sums were raised as the work advanced, of which amount nearly forty-four thousand dollars was taken and paid for by two hun- dred and fifty-six members of the association. Ground was broken July, 1855, and on the 3d of Sep- tember the corner-stone was laid, the day being ob- served as a holiday. The building was completed in 1857, and was dedicated March 19th of that year.

Another and striking illustration of the interest taken by the manufacturers and mechanics of Wor- cester in educational affairs is found in their gener- ous contributions toward the building and endow- ment fund of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a school free to residents of Worcester County.

The founder, John Boynton, of Templeton, pro- vided that the school should be located in Worcester .. if thecitizens would furnish the funds necessary to pur- chase a lot and erect suitable buildings. This condition was complied with, and among the contributors were workmen in twenty of the then (1868) largest shops and factories.

At the same time Ichabod Washburn built, equip- ped and endowed a machine-shop, connected with the institute, in which students were to be tanght the practical manipulation of tools. This conception of a school-shop is unique. The maximum number planned for by the founder to be instructed at any one time was twenty. For the past five years over one hundred pupils have received instruction each year.

Meantime the schools of the city have increased in number and efficiency. No child, however poor, need be deprived of a thorough education, free of any cost for instruction, and in the public schools being even relieved of the expense of buying books.

Up to 1840 manual labor in our shops was, for the most part, performed by Americans. Worcester naturally attracted boys from the country, and the farmers' sons became our mechanics.

About this time Irish emigration commenced and, as the heavier kinds of mannfacture were introduced, the Irishman became an important factor in our indus- trial development and indispensable to our material progress.

Since 1880 a large Scandinavian population has been added to Worcester, probably not less than six thousand or seven thousand men, women and chil- dren, of which about three thousand are men and boys. They are thrifty, industrious, capable and law- abiding people, who have come to make this country their home. They are found in most of onr shops and are employed exclusively in some of them. They support five churches, in which their own language is spoken. Their children attend the public schools; in , 1887 the number of children was five hundred and seventy-four.

Another element in our population is the Arme- nian. There are at the present time about four hun-

dred Armenians in Worcester, the larger number from the province of Harpoot. Very few of them have had any mechanical training, having been en- gaged, in their own country, in agricultural pursuits, either as peasant farmers or as laborers for farmers. This occupation affords scarcely more than a bare subsistence, the wages being from twenty cents to thirty cents per day. Some of the Armenians intend remaining here and are gathering their families about them. Two-thirds of those now here have been assisted in their emigration by the earlier third. None of the Armenians would contemplate a permanent return to their own country, if assured of work. They are timidly cautious, and do not wish to send for their families until they have earned the means to sustain them for an extended time. They are convinced that a knowledge of the English language is essential and are anxious to improve their opportunities for acquiring it.

The evening schools are invaluable in giving our large foreign adult population an opportunity to ac- quire sufficient education to become useful and intel- ligent citizens. An examination of the records shows that out of 691 who attended the evening schools during the past year (1888), 165 were Irish, 155 Ar- menians, 153 Scandinavians, 111 French, 45 English, 31 American, 14 Poles, 12 Germans, 3 Mexican, 1 Scotch, 1 Portuguese.

These schools are maintained at a cost for each pupil of 811.68 for the year.

It is an interesting fact that no Scandinavian has ever made application to attend evening school who could not write his name.

At the evening drawing-schools opportunity is afforded to learn free-hand drawing and drafting, of which our intelligent mechanics are quick to avail themselves. The average attendance during the year 1888 was one hundred and thirty-nine.

According to the census of 1885, there were seven hundred and seventy-two establishments engaged in manufacturing and mechanical industries in the city of Worcester ; the total capital invested, $18,344,408 ; valne of stock used in a year, $15,016,756; total value of goods made and work done, 828,699,524, the differ- ent industries standing in the following order :- Metallic goods, other than iron; boots, shoes and slippers ; iron goods ; wood and metal goods ; building material for building and stone-work ; textiles ; food preparations ; miscellaneous clothing and straw goods ; woolen goods ; paper and paper goods ; leather ; printing and publishing ; paints, colors, oils and chemicals.

June 30, 1885, there were employed in manufactur- ing and mechanical industries 16,566 people-13,413 males, 3153 females-of which 2475 were under twenty- one, and 14,091 twenty-one and over; 10,512 of these work by the day, and 6054 by the piece.

The total amount paid in wages in the census year was 87,060,755.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Worcester has developed from a country town to a large manufacturing city in less than sixty years. The population in 1830 was a little over four thousand, and to-day is probably eighty thousand.

Within that time the steam-engine, the railroad, telegraph and telephone have enormously increased the productive power of labor. The improvement in the condition of the laboring classes is no less marked; contrary to the opinion once held, the in- troduction of labor-saving machinery has advanced instead of lowering wages; has reduced, instead of extending the hours of labor. The laborer receives a constantly-increasing proportion, the capitalist at constantly-decreasing proportion in the division ol gains. Many of our mechanics own their homes, and are naturally deeply interested in the welfare of the city. Avenues for advancement are always open to the capable and industrious. From their ranks will come the leading business men of the next generation, upon whom the continuance of prosperity will depend.

It is worthy of note that the causes of Worcester's prosperity are found within and not without. No abnormal conditions have prevailed, a change in which can bring disaster. No Government works or patronage of any kind have contributed to her ad- vancement. We need not fear the natural advan- tages of other sections of the country, for there must always be condneted here the manufacture of the finer grade of goods, requiring intelligent and delicate manipulation. As we review the past and forecast the future, we can but feel that Worcester is worthy of her civic seal,-THE HEART OF THE COMMON- WEALTH.

CHAPTER CCI.

WORCESTER-(Continued.)

WORCESTER COUNTY IN THE FREE-SOIL MOVEMENT.

BY WILLIAM W. RICE, LI,. D.

WORCESTER COUNTY has always been prominent in all measures tending to moral and social reform. Especially has it been so in everything calculated to extend and secure personal liberty to all of every color and condition in life. The man elsewhere claimed as a slave never failed to find freedom and protection here, and he who sought to establish own- ership in the blood and heart of man, to meet oppo- sition and defeat.

In May, 1767, the town of Worcester instructed its representatives to the General Court of the Prov- inee,-" That you use your influence to obtain a law to put an end to that unchristian and impolitie prac- tice of making slaves in this Province;" and in

March, 1774, it instructed its representative, Joshua Bigelow, "to resist the most distant approaches to slavery." Other towns of the county gave similar instructions to their representatives. In 1773 the town of Leicester instructed its representative,-" To discountenance, in every suitable way, the holding of any of our fellow-creatures in a state of slavery." An eminent historical writer of New York has re- cently cited at some length the instructions of this town, and added-" It is much to be regretted that the General Court of Massachusetts did not pass some act against slavery and the slave trade, embodying the wise suggestions of the men of Leicester."

Colored men from Worcester County fought bravely for the liberty of the State, which thus protected them, at Bunker Hill and in the trenches around Boston. In 1781 the final effort of slavery to main- tain itself in Massachusetts was made in the county of Worcester. A colored man, too poor and humble to have even a well-defined and recognized Christian name, who was named in the proceedings as Quack, Quacko, Quork and Quorko Walker, was claimed as a slave by a respectable gentleman of Barre, named Nathaniel Jennison. He claimed that Walker was born his slave, and belonged to him by inheritance. This claim was not agreeable to the good men of Barre, who were then fighting against Great Britain for their own liberty and that of all within the bor- ders of their State. Walker was aided by the promi- nent men of the town in resisting the claim of Mr. Jennison. In the Court of Common Pleas, June term, 1781, Jennison brought suit against John and Seth Caldwell for enticing away his slave, Quork Walker. This court rendered a judgment in favor of the plaintiff; but the Caldwells appealed the case to the Supreme Court, where the judgment of the inferior court was ultimately reversed. In the mean time the grand jury of the county found an indict- ment against Nathaniel Jennison for an assault on Quack Walker in September, 1781. The defendant justified on the ground that the party assaulted was his property as a slave. The final hearing was had at the April term, 1783. Levi Lincoln, the elder, and Caleb Strong appeared for the prosecu- tion, while the defendant was represented by John Sprague, of Lancaster, and William Stearns, of Worcester. Addressing the court, Mr. Lincoln said : " Is it not a law of nature that all men are equal and free? Is not the law of nature the law of God? Is not the law of God, then, against slavery ? If there is no law of man's establishing, then there is no dif- ficulty in this case. If there is such a law, then the difficulty is to determine which law you ought to obey, and if you have the same view that I have of present and future things, you will obey the law of God." The court sustained the view of the learned and able counsel for the prosecution. Chief Justice Cushing, in pronouncing the opinion of the court, used the following language: " In the opinion of the

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court our constitutional government, by which all of this Commonwealth have solemnly bound them- selves, sets out with deciding that all men are born free and equal, and that every subject is entitled to liberty, and to have it guarded by the laws, as well as life and property, and, in short, it is totally repug- nant to the idea of any being born slaves. This being the case, I think the idea of slavery is incon- sistent with our own conduct and constitution, and there can be no such thing as perpetual servitude by a rational creature, unless his liberty is forfeited by some criminal conduct or given up by personal con- sent and contract." With these words the chains, hitherto illegally fastened, fell from every human form within the Commonwealth. Massachusetts de- clared, by its highest authority, that no person ever had been, or could be, held in slavery under its laws. The "Higher Law" was proclaimed in April, 1783, in the Worcester Court House, by Levi Lincoln, the leader of the county bar, afterwards Jefferson's Attor- ney-General, in terms quite as bold and unmistakable as by William H. Seward, in the United States Sen- ate, three-quarters of a century later, when summon- ing the North to its final battle against slavery. And the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth sus- tained the declaration by its authoritative and never- reversed judgment. Jennison was fimed forty shil- lings and costs.

When the Constitution of the United States, adopted at Philadelphia in 1787, was submitted to the several States for ratification, the Massachusetts convention, held at Boston, January and February, 1788, only agreed to it by a slender majority. One of the grounds of objection was its attitude towards slavery and the slave trade. The vote was taken by counties. Wor- cester County gave seven votes for its adoption and forty-three against it. This vote may fairly be regarded as in a considerable degree indicating the position of the county at that time on the question of slavery.

This is not the place to dwell at any length upon that great, we may say that magnificent, measure which the government took at the outset, known as the ordinance of 1787. By it, the entire territory northwest of the Ohio River was made free soil for- ever, and slavery therein forever prohibited. The State of Virginia had a controlling voice in that decision ; and her leading statesmen-and the United States had none superior-gave full consent to that prohibition. But the needful labor of bringing the subject to the attention of Congress, of keeping it there, and of persistently urging action upon it, until action was had, was done largely by Massachusetts men, prominent among whom, and a leader of the very highest intelligence and sagacity, was General Rufus Putnam, of Rutland, Worcester County. He was foremost in settling Ohio with free colonists, as, in the final contest between the same great powers, Kansas was colonized under Worcester County intlu- ences.

Slavery, notwithstanding, grew and increased in aggression and menace. The admission of Missouri in 1821 as a slave State, and the adoption of the par- allel of 363º as a line south of which slavery might have full control, furnished proof of the strength of the slave power, and inflicted severe disappointment upon the friends of a free republic. The North was advised to be content with its share of free territory, and an "era of good-feeling " was somewhat sharply inculcated. But it could not long endure. In 1830- 31 William Lloyd Garrison made the first challenge of slavery as a sin against God and man, the first un- compromising stand against its longer duration. "Immediate and unconditional emancipation," was his demand. He established The Liberator in Boston, and continued it without interruption until slavery was made unconstitutional and illegal in every part of the land. The conscience and religious feeling of the nation responded to his call; if slowly, surely ; and the effects of his demand were felt on all sides.

Worcester County gave an early response by sub- scribing largely to the Liberator, and engaging in anti-slavery labors therein suggested. Lecturers and distributors of anti-slavery literature went into every town, and found a hearing. Anti-slavery societies were formed in many towns. Under the leadership of Rev. George Allen, then of Shrewsbury, but for the greater part of his life of Worcester, a convention of eighty ministers of the county was held in Worces- ter in 1838, which issued a decided declaration against slavery. Two county societies were formed, called respectively the North and South Division Anti-Slavery Societies. In the records of the South Society its first-mentioned meeting bears date Feb- ruary 15, 1838, but evidently other meetings had pre- ceded it. Its president was Thomas W. Ward, of Shrewsbury, with vice-presidents in West Brookfield, Worcester, Millbury, Charlton, Uxbridge and Black- stone. Edward Earle, of Worcester, was secretary, Samuel H. Colton was treasurer, and George Allen, corresponding secretary. Other officers were Effing- ham L. Capron, Ichabod Washburn, Samuel Waters, Adin Ballou and Jonathan P. Grosvenor. It held quarterly meetings, on Sundays and week-days, in churches, where it could, in public halls, where it must.

The most eminent lecturers spoke throughout the county, among whom were Abby Kelley, Lucy Stone and Stephen S. Foster, of its own residents.

The successive presidents after Mr. Ward were John M. Fiske, of West Brookfield ; Samuel May, of Leicester ; Effingham L. Capron, of Worcester; and Josiah Henshaw, of West Brookfield. The names of two hundred and sixteen members are recorded.

The North Division did a similar work. Both societies were vigilant, persevering, sparing no party or sect which failed in duty to freedom, and ceased not from their work until the principles for which they were formed had been accepted by the country,

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IHISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and had become embodied in the National Constitu- tion. It is well to make mention here of these men and organizations, for they were the bold and uncom- promising pioneers in the noble work which has resulted in making the whole country free.

Among the anti-slavery men and women of Wor- cester County, the name of Abby Kelley should have a prominent place. She was born in Pelham, Mass., in 1811; but her parents, descendants of Irish Quakers, removed to Worcester in her infancy. Her education was completed at the Friends' School in Providence, and she was a teacher for several years in Worcester, Millbury and Lynn. She resigned a desirable place in Lynn in 1837 and gave up her cherished hopes of school work, and began lecturing upon the subject of slavery, being the first woman to address mixed audiences in favor of abolition. She was for more than twenty-five years the representa- tive and the voice, to all she could reach, of the en- slaved millions in our land. Her earnestness and persistence brought much censure upon her and even harsh accusations, in which churches and pulpits took part. She left her vindication to others, and went on undeterred in her work. In 1845 she was married to Stephen S. Foster, a well-known anti- slavery speaker. They continued their work of lec- turing until slavery was no more. Then they lived upon their farm, in Worcester, until Mr. Foster's death, in 1881. Mrs. Foster survived him until Jan- uary 14, 1887, when she died, honored and respected by all who knew her spirit and life, whether or not they fully agreed with all that she said and did. It was of her that James Russell Lowell wrote :

" No nobler gift of heart and brain, No life more white from spot or stain, Was e'er on Freedom's altar laid Than her's-the simple Quaker maid."

Prominent among the clergymen of the county who were active in these preliminary anti-slavery move- ments were: Samuel May, of Leicester; George Allen, of Shrewsbury and Worcester; Elnathan Davis, of Ashburnham ; and George Trask, of Fitch- burg. Mr. Allen was especially active with voice and pen, and Mr. May was one of the most valued contributors to the Liberator.

Almost, if not quite, the sole survivor of this de- termined and faithful band, his benignant presence still graces the home on Leicester Hill, whence, for more than fifty years, he has exerted an influence so pure and important.

Thus Worcester County was disciplined and pre- pared for the great part it was to play in the final dis- ruption of the old parties, npon both of which slavery leaned; and the establishment of the new, pledged to its limitation, and, ultimately, its extinction. The annexation of Texas, followed immediately, as a con- sequence, by the war with Mexico, both measures prosecuted by the slave power, were the weights that broke the back of Northern endurance. To both the

sentiment of Worcester County was firmly opposed. Not only the abolitionists, acknowledging fealty to no party, often to no sect or creed, attacked these demonstrations of the slave power with fiery and un- compromising invective, but the respectable, conser- vative leaders of the Whig party, attached to its prin- ciples and its great leaders, were excited to action. On May 6, 1844, a convention, called irrespective of parties, was held in Worcester to protest against the admission of Texas to the sisterhood of States. It was largely attended by representative men from all parts of the county. Hon. John W. Lincoln called it to order. Hon. Solomon Strong, of Leominster, was permanent president; Hon. Joseph Bowman of New Braintree, Rev. Dr. Nelson of Leicester, Hon. Isaac Davis of Worcester, Hon. James Draper of

Spencer, Hon. Alexander De Witt of Oxford, and Haskell Powers, Esq., of Warren, were its vice-presi- dents; Rev. William P. Paine of Holden, William O. Bartlett and William B. Maxwell of Worcester, and Henry A. Delano of New Braintree, were secretaries; Charles Allen of Worcester, Rev. John M. Fiske of New Braintree, John Brooks of Princeton, and Phineas Bemis of Dudley were the committee on resolutions.

The resolutions were reported by Charles Allen. They had no doubtful sound. They denounced the annexation of Texas as in the interest of slavery, and hostile to the principles and sentiments of the North. They were supported by Charles Allen in a speech, declared by the Spy " the most successful effort of his life." In the afternoon the discussion was continued, Hon. Emory Washburn, Rev. George Allen, S. M. Burnside, Esq., Rev. S. May, Hon. Abijah Bigelow and Governor Lincoln taking part. The resolutions were then unanimously adopted. Although the speeches were not reported, as in these days, it is im- possible to believe, from the names of the disputants and the result, that there was any very declared and apparent division on the subject.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 180

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464