History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 22

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 22

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

There was, upon July 4th, a large and enthusiastic gathering of the citizens of the town in the grove a little east of the house of Mr. F. H. Marble.

A procession of citizens and Sunday-school children was formed at the Congregational Church, under the direction of Messrs. Edmund J. Mills, Amos Batch- eller, H. S. Stockwell and Charles H. Chase, marshals ; and, escorted by the Oxford Brass Band, marched to the grove, where appropriate services were held under the direction of E. J. Mills, president of the day. Prayer was offered by Rev. W. A. Benedict, the Declaration of Independence read by Miss Hattie A. Holbrook, and patriotic speeches were made by Rev. H. A. Tracy, Messrs. I. B. Ilartwell, Reuben R. Dodge, J. W. Stockwell and Rev. W. A. Benedict.

Old-time and modern songs were sung, and stirring music was given by the band. As the day wore on to its close the crowd slowly and reluctantly dispersed, some, at least, praying that they who shall upon the same ground celebrate the nation's bi-centennial, may look upon our flag studded with many new stars, still proudly waving over an undivided people, who have maintained their civil and religious institutions in their integrity, strengthened their government by the promotion of virtue and intelligence, and made as rapid progress in the second as in the first century of the nation's life, in all that constitutes true national greatness.

SUTTON A FARMING TOWN .- Sutton is pre-emi. nently a farming town, and has ever been noted for its advanced position in agriculture. Its fine stock has been remarked at all cattle fairs, from the first exhibition of the Worcester County Agricultural Society to the present time. Its fine oxen have been sought after from all the adjoining country.

When Daniel Webster was in England and was asked at one of their fairs if he had ever seen as beau- tiful oxen, he replied, "Yes ; at the fair in Worcester County, Mass., and they were raised in Sutton."

From the earliest times to the present, trained oxen have been a specialty in this town, though now the horse is fast usurping the place of the slower ox. Nor have the farmers of this old town been behind in other branches of good husbandry. The grass crop is im mense ; the fruit product is equal to that of any town of its extent in the State, while in mixed farming it takes high rank, and well it may, for its soil is natur- ally productive, and its culture has been thorough ; therefore its farmers are intelligent, prosperous and en- terprising. They are the conservative force that has influenced the acts of the town, shaping its policy and carrying forward its history. Their moral influence is seen in the liberal policy of the town, the advance- ment of the school, and the support of the ministry, and they can to-day take pleasure in the neatness of their dwellings, the beanty of their fields, and their

productiveness, and the consequent large return for their labor.

THE HOMES OF SUTTON .- And now, gentle reader, a glance at the homes of Sutton. A history of these is really the history of the town ; for in these homes the influences, secret and silent, direct and open, conscious and unconscious, have been in op- eration that have molded the characters of the men and women of the town, and established them in those principles which they have exemplified in every line of action. They were men who knew what it was to go out into the wilderness and fell the trees, build houses, subdue the soil, found churches and schools, establish civil government and put in operation the varied forces by which social order is maintained and social progress advanced.

And they were equal to the work. They were not what may be called educated men, and yet they were not ignorant. They had good common sense, sound judgment and strong purpose. They knew what the rights of men are, and possessed the independence to assert, and the will to maintain them.

Most of these homes were Christian homes, and all that were not professedly so were occupied by those who sincerely respected religion, and contributed, by a cheerful payment of the "ministry tax," to the support of the institutions of the Gospel. All had seats in the house of God, and few were the families that did not make their arrangements to be repre- sented there upon the Sabbath; and from these homes has naturally grown the history of the town.

Those who went out from us may have reflect- ed honor on our history, but those who remain, the quiet, unnoted ones, have moulded the character of the town, and to them belongs the praise. Of them it may truly be said, "Son, thon wast ever with me, and all that I have is thine." In the church and in the support of the Gospel in all these "meet- ing-houses," in the town-meeting and the responsi- bilities of State, in the school and the support of education, in the moral and social life nurtured within its boundaries, has been sown the seeds of character that we now look back upon and read in history. Their names known to comparatively few, their characters known only within the family circle, have yet an influence felt in the community, and broadening through time. Therefore, in closing, let our last, best words he for the noble lives, lived within our borders, which have prepared these beautiful hillside fields, and dotted them with happy homes; these villages, prosperous and enlarging their borders, be- cause of local interest and local pride; these churches, with their uplifting influence, and these schools, nur- series of learning. In these lie the foundation of character, wherein is enfolded the future, not only of our town, but of the State and nation.

Members of the Provincial Congress: 1774, Edward Putnam ; 1775, Captain Henry King, Elder Amos Singletary ; Member of United States Congress :

975

SUTTON.

Hon. Jonas Sibley ; Members of the State Senate : Hon. Jonas Sibley, Hon. William R. Hill, Hon. James W. Stockwell; Members of the House of Rep- resentatives : Samuel Dudley, Percival Hall, Henry King, Amos Singletary, Captain Mark Chase, Captain Timothy Sibley, David Harwood, Dr. James Free- land, Captain Jonathan Woodbury, Solomon Leland, Major Samuel Waters, Dr. Stephen Monroe, Jonas Sibley, Josiah Styles, Estes Howe, Darius Russell, Abijah Burbank, Josiah Wheelock, Elisha Hale, Jonas L. Sibley, Daniel Tourtelotte, Joshua Armsby, Edmund J. Mills, Samuel Taylor, Sumner Cole, Darius Putnam, Asa Woodbury, Welcome Whipple, Peter Putnam, Benjamin Woodbury, Sylvanus Put- nam, Zelek Darling, Zadock Woodbury, Salem Cham- berlin, Timothy Burnap, A. A. Lombard, B. L. Batchellor, Simon J. Woodbury, William R. Hill, Jason Waters, S. D. King, James M. Cunlif, E. H. Hutchinson, William Abbott, M. M. Hovey, George W. Rice, Henry S. Stockwell.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

THOMAS BLANCHARD.

Thomas Blanchard, the inventor, was born in Sut- ton June 24, 1788. His father, Samuel, was a farmer, and lived on a poor remote strip of land, where there was absolutely nothing to suggest a mechanical mo- tion. He was of French origin, his name being de- rived from the French word Blanchir (to whiten), and many distinguished men appear in the annals of France bearing that name.

Much dispute has arisen as to his nativity, and hence the honor of his inventions.

Six claimants for the honor of Blanchard's inven- tions have already appeared, viz. : Sutton, Millbury, Oxford, Springfield, Boston, and lastly, France. That he was born on a strip of land lying between Sutton township and Oxford proper, called "Oxford Gore," all agree. The very honse is still pointed out,

Sutton hases her claim upon the following facts : That said strip projects or gores into, in a zigzag course, her territory as defined on ancient maps by straight lines ; that her records show that Samuel Blanchard paid his taxes to Sutton, and must have voted there if anywhere ; that the births of most of his children are recorded there, all which would seem to establish the citizenship of the father in Sutton, and that would of course carry the birth-place of the children. Besides, it is well known that Thomas, who ought to know, always told his biographers that he was born in Sntton, and they have so recorded it.

While on the farm, Thomas gave little if any promise of the latent powers within him. There was nothing in his surroundings to excite them. He was misplaced; schools were remote, and he seldom at-

tended, for he was afflicted with a perverse impedi- 1

ment of speech, so that the boys called him "stam- mering Tom." His prospects were anything but promising. At length, when he had arrived at the age of eighteen years, his eldest brother, Stephen, started in West Millbury a tack factory, with horse- power, and he promoted his unfortunate brother to the position of heading them in a vise, with a hand-ham- mer, one by one. Once in a mechanic shop his dor- mant genius began to wake up.

Ere that youth had spent many months heading tacks, one by one, he had designed, constructed and put in operation a machine which would cut and head them at one motion twice as fast as the ticking of a watch, and better finished than those made by hand. So perfect was it in design and construction, it was continued in use more than twenty years. It is said to be still in existence, and experts who have seen it, say no essential improvement has ever been made upon it.

Colonel Asa Waters, at the armory, had succeeded in turning gun-barrels so far as they were round, but to turn the irregular shape of the butt baffled his efforts. At length, having heard of a young man living in West Millbury, as having developed some inventive talent, he sent for him to come to his armory. When he came he seemed an utter stranger to all present, uncouth, diffident, had a stammering tongue, and little was expected of him.

He was shown the machine and given to understand what was wanted.

Glancing his eye over the machine, he very soon suggested an additional, very simple, but wholly orig- inal, cam motion, which, upon being applied, was found to relieve the difficulty, and proved a perfect success. Mr. Waters was delighted. Turning to Thomas, he said, " Well, Thomas, I don't know what you won't do next. I should not be surprised if you turned a gun-stock!" naming that as the most im- possible thing in mechanics he could think of. Thomas hesitated a moment, then stammered out, "We-we-well, I-I'll try that."

As soon as he had completed his cam motion at Millbury, he was called to Springfield to adjust similar motions in the United States armory there. On a re- turn journey, when passing through Brimfield, soli- tary and alone in his carriage, in deep meditation, he was heard to exclaim with great glee, like Archimedes of old, " I've got it! I've got it ! I've got it!" Two men who were by the wayside overheard him, and one says to the other, " I guess that man is crazy."

He had the idea only, and it required two years of study to bring ont the wonderful invention-for turn- ing irregular forms.

It was really the discovery of a new principle in mechanics whereby the machine is made the obedient, faithful servant of man to work out his designs after any given model, he it round or square, crooked or straight, however irregular, and made to reproduce the original shape exactly, every time.

976

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

For this great invention, whose worth to this coun- try and Europe can only be computed in millions Blanchard himself received but a meagre compensa- tion. For the first two terms of his patent he was continually harassed by infringements and lawsuits, and even in the few years while he was busy at the armory, more than fifty violators had pirated his in- vention and started up works in various parts of the country for making lasts, spokes, etc.

When the second term of his patent had nearly ex- pired, he said he had expended a hundred thousand dollars in defending his right, and had realized to himself little more than "his board and clothes; " that is to say, a fair living.

MOSES L. MORSE.

Moses L. Morse, who lived on this place, was a great inventor. He invented the first pin-making machine ever made in this country. The pins made had solid heads, and the principle involved in their manufacture was the same as that introduced in the best machines now in use, which make two barrels a day. Some one who has written on the subject gives a Mr. Wright credit for inventing the first machine for making pins with solid heads in 1833, but it is a mistake. Solid- head pins were made by Morse's machine during the war of 1812. He also invented and had patented scales for weighing coins and other substances hydros- fatically. He says a gentleman came into the shop one day, and having his attention called to the new scales, took out a new Spanish dollar and asked Mr. Morse to test his scales on that dollar ; so he weighed it and pronounced it a rank counterfeit. The man was provoked at the idea, for it was a very perfect coin. So Mr. Morse gave him another dollar that he might test the one in dispute; then he took his drill and bow and began to tap the dollar, which proved to be made of copper, slightly plated with silver. Then the man declared the scales the greatest invention of the age, and ordered one immediately for his own use. The scales had a graduated face not unlike a clock- face, with hands to point out the result.

Mr. Morse afterward established a cutlery manufac- tory in Worcester, at what was known as the red mills. He had two children, Charles Willard (a very noted and effective preacher), and Ruth Sibley, who married Rev. Charles F. Allen, D.D., a celebrated preacher and educator, the first president of the Maine Agri- cultural College, Orono.

HON. JONAS SIBLEY.1

Hon. Jonas Sibley, the subject of this sketch, was a native of the town of Sutton and always a resident within its limits. He was largely self-educated, the schools of this town being his only aids. A man of broad

views, strong intellect, self-reliant, and thoroughly conscientious. He was a farmer, faithful to its inter- ests and prominent in all agricultural improvements.

At the present day it is not casy to understand the influence of such a sturdy, honest character on the ycomanry of the town. It then represented what to-day the press docs in its influence on the political, moral and philanthropic acts of a community ; it mouldls the character and controls the policy of the people. Such prominence and influence belonged to Jonas Sibley in the town of Sutton, and in the southern part of Worcester County, and on many important elections he led the voters from his own door to the polls and under his guidance were deposited the ballots that determined the policy of the town, or the influence of its action on the state and nation. He represented this town in the State Legislature, was also in the Mass. Senate; and for one term, 1822 and 1823, eighteenth session, he was Representative for the County of Worcester in the Congress of the United States (the only term when represented by a Democrat until the election of Hon. John E. Russell in 1886, fiftieth session). Beside these positions he was con- stantly in public service for the town as Moderator, Assessor, Selectman, aud School Committee.

The following description of him is from the " History of Sutton " :- " He was a man of gentle- manly deportment, candid, unassuming, and faithful to every trust."

His thorough honesty of purpose and independence of party dictation on that national stumbling-block- the Tariff-lost him a re-election, as his action on some points could not satisfy the diversified interests of his constituents. A great truth was covered in the words of General Hancock, when he said the tariff' was a "local issue" so strongly do local interests influence the action of the voter, and bias the judg- ment of the statesman. Thus we find Jonas Sibley opposed to higher duties and voting against the bill, but on all amendments to the bill voting in the interest of his section and his calling. Therefore on woolen and cotton goods to reduce the tariff; on wool, sugar, molasses, to hold the duty, and on salt fo free it from duty. It is interesting to note that generally his vote was in accord with that of Daniel Webster, even to the final vote " shall the hill pass? " both voting in the negative.

Jonas Sibley, son of Capt. Nathaniel Sibley, married Lydia Rice, daughter of Asahel Rice, August 18, 1785. Children :- first, Susanna, born June 27, 1786, married Daniel Hovey, died August 11, 1811 ; second, Jonas Leonard, born January 8, 1791, married Margaret M. Monroe, died February 1, 1852; third, John Jay, born November 12, 1792, died March 10, 1815.

John Jay graduated in advanced classes at Brown University, 1814, as valedictorian of his class, but close application to study had undermined his health, and while delivering the address he was attacked

1 The portrait which accompanies this sketch is taken from one painted by - Styles, of Worcester.

forms Joly

Jonas L Lilley

977

SUTTON.

with a hemorrhage which resulted fatally, March 10, 1815.

Jonas Sibley died February 5, 1834, aged seventy- two years, and his wife died December 27, 1837, aged seventy-six, on the homestead in Sutton, which has remained in possession of the family to the present time.

The first Sibleys came from England in the Fleet in 1629-only nine years after the settlement of Ply- mouth-and settled in the town of Salem. They were supposed to be brothers (John and Richard), and both married. They united with the church in Charles- town, December 21, 1634, and John Sibley took the freeman's oath, May 6, 1635. He was a selectman of the town of Salem and a member of the General Court from that town. Joseph Sibley, son of John, was the father of this branch of the Sutton Sibleys ; three of his sons, Joseph, John and Jonathan, were among the thirty families who were entered as settlers in 1717, in the four thousand acres that was given them upon condition that they would go and settle there first, and the thirty persons thus going style themselves "Proprietors of the four thousand acres."

Each branch of the family has developed sturdy character and contributed distinguished names to the history of Sutton.

In the line of Joseph, son of Joseph, is found Jane Walter, daughter of Gibbs Sibley. She married Sir Curtis Miranda Sampson, of New Haven, Vermont. They were married in New York, 1827. When the Atlantic Cable was finished he accepted a baronetcy tendered him as an acknowledgment of his services in pushing that enterprise to completion. They have two sons and two daughters ; one of the daughters, a lady of marked ability and culture, is married to Mr. Frederick Lockyer, a well-known man of letters and of society, whose " Vers de Societe " have been re- published in this country. Sir Curtis and Lady Sampson had a seat at Rawfant, in Sussex, England.

Also Hon. Solomon Sibley, who studied law with William Hastings, Esq., of Boston, and removed to Detroit, Mich. He was delegate to Congress ; United States. Attorney ; and for many years judge of the Supreme Court of the territory. His son, Henry H., was elected member of Congress from the territory of Wisconsin, and was commissioned Brigadier-General for gallant and meritorious service in 1865.

Caleb, son of Nathaniel Sibley, gradnated at West Point in 1828, and remained in the service till his death. He won a high reputation as a gentlemanly, conscientious and able officer, and rose by promotion to the rank of brigadier-general.

The famous "Sibley Tent" is the invention of General H. A. Sibley, descendant of John, who emi- grated to Louisiana and settled there. His claims for use of this invention, which was of such valuable service to the government during the late Civil War, are now before Congress for recognition.

In the earlier history of our country we find this 62

family represented in the colonial service as follows : Capt. John Sibley ; Ensign Jonathan Sibley ; Sergeant Samuel Sibley; Privates, Elijah; David; Elisha ; John, Jr .; Jonathan, Jr .; Joseph; Joseph, Jr .; Stephen ; William and William, Jr. In the Revolu- tionary War: David, Daniel, Richard, Stephen, and William Sibley, beside the Minute Men from Sutton who marched to Concord, April 19, 1775 : Joseph, Daniel, Elias, Gideon, Peter, Samuel, Jr., Tarrent and Sibley.

In the control of town affairs; in its political his- tory; and in church matters is equally seen the influ- ence this family has exerted on the character and his- tory of this town.

JONAS L. SIBLEY.1

Jouas Leonard Sibley, son of Hon. Jonas Sibley, was born in Sutton, January 8, 1791. He was edneated in the schools of the town and prepared for college under the instruction of " Master Hall," and graduated at Brown University in the class of 1814. He studied law with Hon. Levi Lincoln, and was admitted to the bar and began practice before the courts in 1817.

He married Margaret N. Monroe, daughter of Stephen Monroe, M.D., and had eight children, only four of whom survive.

Susan Maria, the eldest, married Hon. John D. McCrate. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College; studied law with Judge Bailey, of Wiscasset, Maine, J. E. Smith, Esq., of Boston and Hon. Peleg Sprague, of Hallowell, Maine. He represented the town of Wiscasset for five successive years in the State Legis- lature; he was appointed commissioner of insolvency for the State in 1829 and 1830 ; collector of the dis- trict of Wiscasset in 1836 by President Jackson ; and elected to Congress from the Oxford and Lincoln District 1844. He was a man of rare strength of mind and memory. He died September 11, 1879, in Sutton, on the old homestead where his widow now resides.

The second daughter Joanna Le Baron, married Rev. John Pierpont, Jr., son of John Pierpont, preacher, poet and philanthropist. She died in Medford, March 30, 1852.

John Monroe, the eldest son, was born July 7, 1822. He graduated at Yale College, and was for many years superintendent of schools for the State of California and a prominent educator on the Pacific slope. He has now retired from active work.

The second son, Henry Jonas, was for a time a broker in Chicago; he is now engaged in mining interests in California.

Frances Mary married Hon. James W. Stockwell, son of Simeon Stockwell, of this town. He has held the offices of selectman, school-committee and treas-

1 The portrait which accompanies this sketch is taken from one painted by Henry Willard, of Boston, a native of Grafton, Worcester Co., Mass.

978

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

urer and collector. HIc represented the Third Worces- ter Senatorial District in the Senate of Massachusetts for the sessions of 1879-80 ; was appointed (1887) on the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture by Governor Ames to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder and re-appointed in 1889 his own successor.

Jonas L. Sibley represented his native town for several years in the State Legislature. He was a sincere friend and strong supporter of President Jack- son, and was by him appointed Marshal of the United States District Court of Massachusetts, at Boston, which office he held for a period of eight years. In this position he performed valuable service in re- organizing and systematizing the departments of this Court-a service duly appreciated by his superior. He was presented by him with his portrait, life size, one of the finest portraits in citizen's dress ever painted of General Jackson.

In his profession he held to a large degree the confidence of the community, and his practice was that of the true lawyer-the settlement of differences between the two parties instead of carrying them before the courts; yet his practice was extensive, having for a single term of court eighty cases on the docket.

Mr. Sibley was a man of fine presence and pre- eminently public-spirited, and every enterprise having for its object the welfare of the people, or the improvement of the town, received ready support and active co-operation. He was affable, courteous and kind, and his memory is held in loving remem- brance by the wide circle of his friends. He was especially interested in agriculture. He owned one of the finest farms in town, located a short distance west of the centre of the town, and extending northerly in an oblong square to Singletary Lake and including one of its most beautiful shores, and southerly in a smaller square of similar form. Here his leisure time was employed in planning improve- ments and carrying forward the work. His orchards were the finest, his crops the largest, his stock the most choice, and his fields the most perfectly tilled. As most of them were within the view from the house, every improvement was a pleasure to him and his interest in farming and in his farm never abated, even during his long and painful sickness. It was a constant source of pleasure to him-possibly not of profit.

At the burning of the Congregational Church, No- vember 3, 1829, he, in endeavoring to save valuable papers from the flames, was struck on the back by a falling timber. The injury was at the time supposed to be slight, but its serions nature was soon apparent, and, notwithstanding the efforts of the best medical skill, it could not be stayed, but resulted in paralysis of the right arm and later of the lower limbs. This episode represents years of pain and suffering, borne heroically and patiently. As the right hand became

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 22

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