History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 28

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 28

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).

modes of religious worship, this part, therefore, of your committee's instructions forms the most ardnous and dithcult task. But, as a liberal and conciliatory plan appears to be the general wish, your committee propose the following : That u subscription be opened to raise a suni sufficient to erect n frame and belfry for a meeting-house and complete the outside, and that the pews be sold at public vendue to complete the inside ; that every denomination be equally privileged in said house, according to their interest therein ; this clause, however, not to be con- structed so as to operate against the major part governing, but to coul- firmi the free use of said house to the minority, when the majority are not improving the same.

Your committee foresee with concern that the liberality of this plan will be objected to by many respected characters as having a tendency to deprive the town of a stated, settled, Orthwlux ministry, to which objection your committee beg leave to make the following observations :

Ist. The difference in sentiment hetwixt the Congregationalists ami Baptists is principally confined to the administration of the ordinance of Baptism, a very immaterial difference indeed. Were both parties seri- ously to reflect that religion consists in purity of heart, and give no more weight and consideration to modes and forms of worship than they really deserve ; and if a minister should be settled disposed to Hd- minister that ordinance in the manner most agreeable to the subjects of it, we might look forward to that wished-for period, when both parties might be happily united in one society.

2d. That every rlenomination being equally privileged in said house, according to their interests, will have a material tendency to onite at cement themselves together in one society.

3d. That thero are comprised in the proposed town as large n min- ber, and reputable both ne to character and interest as new towns are generally composed of, (and) it would be ungenerous to say they were not as well disposed towards supporting the Gospel.

The third 'article of instructions to your committee was to ascertain the bounds of said town.

Your committee propose the following : Beginning at the Southeast corner, on the State line, to include James Haskell, Benjamin Stone, Thomas Cheney, Lieut. Eleazer Putney, Eliakim Chamberlain, Jesse Merrit, Paul Rich, Asa Dresser, Alexander Brown, John Chub, Joseph and William Mckinstry, Jonathan Perry, to the river; thence include John Plimpton, Capt. Elias Plimpton, Fletcher Foster, Capt. Samuel Ellis, Jedediah Ellis, Simeon Mason and Chester May, to the State line. But as an actual survey will be necessary, before an act of incor- poration can be applied for, your committee are of opinion to refer minnte circumstances respecting boundaries to that period.

The fourth article of instruction to your committee was to report a plan of the meeting-house, which will accompany this report.

The fifth article of instruction to your committee was to see what number of persons will come forward to build said house. Although your committee as yet are not well enough informed to detail the par- ticular disposition of every person, yet from wbat information your committee have already obtained, the disposition of the people appears to be very general in favor of the plan. Your committee propose to bring forward subscription papers at the present meeting, which will give that point the fairest decision ; and all moneys, either by subscrip- tion or sales of pewa, to be considered as binding, whenever an act of in- corporation takes place, otherwise to be void and of no effect.

Your committee, in closing this report, are disposed to present to your view the geographical situation of the proposed town. The great parent of nature seems to have been profuse in his favors to this place. The Quinebang River, which falls so nearly central through, with its excellent seats for mills and other water-works, nre circumstances highly favorable to the introduction of useful mechanics, and render. ing it a place of activity and business. The goodness of the soil, with the excellent forests, abounding with all kinds of timber for building, are estimated of great consequence to the general plan.

Abstractly considered from the value it will add to the real estate, if we take into view the benefits that would naturally result from a re- ligious society, where there are so large a number of youths, in forming their minds for accomplishments, usefulness and virtue, when they are at present, by reason of local situation, notoriously neglected are, in the opinion of your committee, considerations of so much weight that (they) onght to bear down obstacles that present themselves in the way of the accomplishment of an object so noble, so great and so good. From every view of the subject your committee recommend, with steadi- ness, energy and vigor, to take the most effectual measures to carry into complete effect an object of su minch consequence, as soon as time and other circumstances will permit. (Report made February 29, 1796.)

1001

SOUTHBRIDGE.

This report was signed by the whole committee, and undoubtedly expressed their views and feelings; but it is due to one of them (says Moses Plimpton) "to state that it was from the pen of Joshua Hard- ing, who was usually required to draft instruments of this kind ; and it will, perhaps, be sufficient commen- dation of the report and of its author to say that it dis- covers sound judgment and ability, and, in particular, that the candid and liberal views and high moral tone which pervade it throughout were literally but specimens of his pure and benevolent mind."

Twenty years afterwards the purpose in the minds of the people, so well expressed in the foregoing re- port of the committee, resulted in the formation of a new town. Their object was retarded by the opposi- tinn of all three of the old towns and more especially of Sturbridge, that town being unwilling to lose so much of her territory.

The meeting-house, however, was built and a poll parish formed. The meeting-house frame was raised under the direction of William Love, July 4, 1797, and this first public building within the limits of.this town was dedicated July 4, 1800, which was, of course, just eighty-eight years before the laying of the corner- stone of Southbridge's magnificent Town Hall.

The act erecting a poll parish here was approved February 28, 1801. The preamble of the act contain- ing the reasons for the same is as follows : " Whereas, for the convenience and satisfaction of a number of the inhabitants of the towns of Sturbridge, Charlton and Dudley, in the county of Worcester, with respect to their attending public worship, it is found neces- sary to set them off, and erect them into a poll parish." The names of ninety legal voters were affixed to the act. The number of acres of land included in the estates taken from each of the three towns was : Dud- ley, 2229; Sturbridge, 9445; Charlton, 2429. The parish was known by the name of "Honest town."

The agitation for a new town was commenced again in 1811, and continued from year to year until an act of incorporation was obtained.

In March, 1814, Oliver Plimpton was chosen an agent "to attend the next session of the general court, and use his endeavors to obtain an order of no- tice, or at least an examining committee, for business, relative to being set off as a town." In May follow- ing, Major Calvin Ammidown was chosen an addi- tional agent to attend the General Court. At another special meeting, December 6, 1814, Jason Morse was chosen as an additional agent, and Joshua Harding, Gershom Plimpton and Fordyce Foster a committee to draft an act of incorporation. On the subject of a name for the new town, all were invited to bring for- ward their favorite, and a committee of five was chosen to select from the list. This committee was: Abel Mason, Sr., Joshua Harding, Gershom Plimp- ton, Fordyce Foster and Jacob Endicott. The ven- erable Captain Abel Mason, Sr., brought in the name of Southbridge. The committee selected from the list

the names of Southbridge and Quinebaug for the consideration of the parish, and Southbridge obtained the vote. New agents were chosen in March, 1815, viz. : Calvin Ammidown, Frederick W. Bottom and James Wolcott.

The "act to incorporate the town of Southbridge " was approved by the Governor and thus became a law February 15, 1816.

The warrant for the first town-meeting was issued by Oliver Plimpton, Esq., to Dexter Clark, dated "February 21, 1816," directing the calling of the legal voters "to assemble at the meeting-house, where the parish meetings have heretofore been held," March 6, 1816.

At this meeting the following were elected, to wit : Moderator, Gershom Plimpton ; Town Clerk, Timothy Paige; Town Treasurer, Luther Ammidown, Sr .; Selectmen, Gershom Plimpton, Samuel Fiske, Joshua Mason, William Morris and Fordyce Foster; Asses- sors, John Mckinstry, Edward Baylis and Joseph Marcy ; Constable, Dexter Clark.

At that time was founded a new town, eighty-three or four years after the entrance of the first settler, and seventy-six years after the Marcy house was built.

The limits of this article will not admit of anything like a history in detail of the seventy-two years inter- vening between that and the present. The aim will be to illustrate to some extent the remarkable growth in the various departments, forming the conditions which makes this as high as the seventh town in population, and other characteristics, in the county. It being allowable only to bring out the prominent features which make up the main issue, it is seen that in the elimination of a portion of the large amount of data in hand, much of interest, and many persons and factors of importance, must necessarily be excluded.

The population of this town was in 1820, 1066; 1830, 1444; 1850, 2824; 1875, 5740; 1885, 6500. The increase since 1850 has been mainly from immigrants and their descendants. They are German, Scotch, English, Irish and Canadians; the latter being the most numerous. The English and Scotch are few- mostly skillful workmen in some of the departments of mannfactures. The honest labor of the frugal people has formed the base of every enterprise in the progress here for the last forty years. We see the marks of their toil in every structure and excavation, and in every product of the mill and the workshop. These immigrants came here poor, and as a rule have become well to do-some are wealthy ; and the rising generation are having the benefit of the educational, moral and social advantages bestowed by the capital which their fathers have helped to create in this place. Constituting two-thirds of the population, it is hopeful for the future welfare of the town that a goodly number are advancing with vigor in the various enterprises, and in the formations that serve

1002

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to promote temperance and the best interest of the community.

Appropriations for all purposes the first year of the town were $1600; 1830, $1600; 1839, $5493; 1848, $3200; 1869, $35,864; 1880, 841,899 ; 1888, $45,000, exclusive of the special appropriation of $65,000 for the town hall. Valuation : Total in 1869, $2,124,796 ; 1879, 82,906,461 ; 1887, 83,158,210-an increase of $1,033,414 in eighteen years.

EARLY MANUFACTURES AND EXTINCT CORPOR- ATIONS AND COMPANIES .- The business of mann- facturing at the "Globe Village" began in 1814. The spinning was commenced in the old mill-lin- seed oil mill of Captain Gershom Plimpton-which stood near the road on the south side. The first owners were Thomas Upham, David Fiske, Samuel Newell, James Wolcott, Jr., Perez B. Wolcott, Josiah I. Fiske, Francis Wheelock, Ephraim Angell, Moses Plimpton and Samuel L. Newell, a part of whom were incorporated by the name of the " Globe Manu. facturing Company," in October, 1814. The same year this company erected the "Globe Mill," which still remains near the bridge. The factory building below the road was erected in 1815. It was at first, and until 1817, a cotton factory. In that year there was a division of the property among the owners, the south side being taken by James Wolcott, Perez B. Wolcott, Samuel A. Groves and Ephraim Angell, and the other side by the remaining proprietors. Addi- tions were soon made to the south side, and the woolen business established, and in 1820 the owners of the other side, who still composed the "Globe Manufacturing Company," sold out the whole of their property to Mr. Wolcott and his company.

After the purchase from the "Globe Manufacturing Company," in February, 1820, James Wolcott, Jr., Perez B. Wolcott and Samuel A. Groves were incor- porated by the name of the " Wolcott Woolen Manu- facturing Company," and the company was increased by new proprietors in Boston, who made investments to considerable amount. After the great misfortune occasioned by the falling of the dam, and the de- struction of property it occasioned, the Boston owners determined to abandon the concern and get rid of their interest. In 1829 it passed into the hands of Messrs. Willard Sayles and Samuel A. Hitchcock, of Boston, and in 1832 they obtained a new act of incor- poration by the name of the "Hamilton Woolen Company " (see Existing Corporations).

The factory afterwards owned by the " Dresser Manufacturing Company " was put in operation in 1814. It was then in Charlton, and the first water- power that side of the line. The owners were John Green, of Rhode Island, and William Sumner, the latter having the care of the business and living in this town. This privilege was owned in part by Major George Sumner, who erected clothing works below the cotton factory, and that business and wool-

carding was continued until the whole became the property of S. H. Babcock, of Boston, by whom it was sold to Harvey Dresser. This cotton-mill, witlı all the real estate and machinery, was incorporated as the "Dresser Manufacturing Company," February 14, 1834; the corporators were Harvey Dresser, Jerry Merritt, of Charlton, Samuel Stafford, of Providence, and Benjamin W. Kimball and their associates, with a corporate capital of seventy-five thousand dollars real estate, and one hundred and fifty thousand dollars personal estate. Subsequently reorganized under the same act, it continued in the name of the " Dresser Manufacturing Company " until the mill was destroyed by fire. The water-power is now un- employed.

The Marcy privilege, located next below the pre- ceding, with the saw-mill and grist-mill, became the property of Jedediah Marcy, Jr., grandson of the first proprietor, in 1789. The following year John Gray introduced at this place the clothier and wool-carding business ; and, after conducting it about eight years, sold his interest to Zebina Abbott. Mr. Abbott sold the clothier business to his brother-in-law, George Sumner, of Spencer, who came here about 1802. After Mr. Sumner moved to the next privilege above (Dresser Manufacturing Company's), about 1814, a company was formed, and, after conducting business about two years as the " Charlton Manufacturing Com- pany," were incorporated February, 1816, as the "Southbridge Factory Company, for the purpose of manufacturing wool in Southbridge." Two years af- terwards the company failed, and the property passed back to the heirs of the Marcy estate. This property had been in the name of the Marcy family ninety- five years, when, in 1827, it passed by deed from Hon. Jedediah Marcy to Deacon Elisha Cole. Mr. Cole deeded to Mr. Royal Smith in 1832, who conveyed his whole interest, including the mills and water- power here and twelve acres of land, to Mr. Ebenezer D. Ammidown, January 20, 1836 ; consideration, nine thousand dollars. The same day, Mr. Ammidown deeded this property to the Dresser Manufacturing Company, and that company conveyed the same, with additional power, to the Central Manufacturing Company, which was at that time organized by Mr. Ammidown. This company erected a mill in 1837, putting in 4480 spindles and other preparations, with 120 looms, for making fine shirting and sheeting.

On the 27th December, 1845, the company was re- organized, with the capital increased to $80,000-$1000 each share, subscribed for as follows, viz. : Ebenezer D. Ammidown, 40 shares ; Linus Child, 10; Manning Leonard, 15; Chester A. Dresser, 15; the last two not being among the first corporators.

At the organization of this company E. D. Ammi- down was elected agent, C. A. Dresser, superin- tendent, and M. Leonard, clerk.

In 1852 the manufacturing property was leased to Chester A. Dresser and Manning Leonard, who oper-

1003

SOUTHBRIDGE.

ated for the company on contract for a period of five years.

March 30, 1859, the whole estate was conveyed by Samnel M. Lane, as assignee of the Central Manu- facturing Company, to Chester A. Dresser and Man- ning Leonard for forty thousand dollars, who operated as co-partners. Then Mr. Dresser bought Mr. Leon- ard's one-half interest for twenty-five thousand dol- lars, and organized the " Central Mills Company," to whom the whole estate was conveyed by deed dated February 16, 1863, for fifty thousand dollars. (See Central Mills Company.)

Columbian Cotton Mill, located about a mile below the Marcy privilege. The first mill was erected in 1821. The business was conducted under a general partnership up to the year 1825. The owners were : Ebenezer D. Ammidown, Lament Bacon, Samuel Hartwell, Moses Plimpton and Samuel L. Newell. Mr. Newell lost his life by being caught in a belt. The other partners obtained an act of incorporation June, 1825.

The mill was destroyed by fire in December, 1844, and the water-power remained unused until 1856, when Hon. E. D. Ammidown erected a brick mill on the premises, and commenced the mannfacture of cotton jeans and flannels. This business was after- wards conducted by his sons, Malcolm and Heury C., to whom the property had been conveyed by deed. Lientenant Malcolm Ammidown lost his life in the war. The property was then sold for the purpose of effecting a division of interests, and was purchased by the brother, who sold, in 1866, to Henry T. Grant, of Providence, R. I .; consideration, thirty-seven thousand dollars. Mr. Grant erected a large addition to the mill, and put in forty-seven hundred and thirty-six spindles and one hundred and eight looms, with other preparations for making print cloths. In 1879 a foreclosure brought about a public sale, and the property changed hands. Afterwards the mills were destroyed by fire, and the water-power was nn- used until purchased by the American Optical Com- pany. (See American Optical Co., p. 1012.)

ASHLAND was the former name of the location of the mills, the lowest down the river in this town. The first improvement of the water-power here was a saw-mill at the month of Lebanon Hill Brook, built by Adolphus Ammidown in 1831. His brother, Larkin Ammidown, built the first mill on the Quine- baug, at this point, in 1835, and began spinning cotton in 1836, and the same year sold the estate to Silas H. Kimball.

In 1843 it came into the hands of a mortgagee, who sold the estate in 1847, one-half to Stephen P. Irwin, one-fourth to Moses E. Irwin and the other fourth to W. A. J. Wilkinson. These grantees operated the mill about two years, until June 5, 1849, when the cotton-mill and machinery were destroyed by fire. The water-power, except for a saw-mill operated part of the time, was unused until sold to Mr. James

Saunders, of Providence, R. I., in 1864. Afterwards, the village that had been called Ashland became Sandersville (see p. 1012).

In the War of the Rebellion, Southbridge bore an honorable part, with the expenditure of much money and the loss of many valuable lives. The selectmen during these eventful years were : Verney Fiske, Adolphus Merriam, Malcolm Ammidown, William C. Steadman, Manning Leonard and John O. Mc- Kinstry. The town clerk was Daniel F. Bacon. Samuel M. Lane was treasurer in the years 1861-64, and Daniel F. Bacon in 1865.

A special town-meeting was called May 6, 1861, to contrive measures for the aid of the government against the Rebellion, when the sum of eight thou- sand dollars was appropriated for raising and equip- ping a military company and for the support of the families of those who might enter the service. Wil- liam Beecher, John O. Mckinstry, John Edwards and Chester A. Dresser were nnited with the selectmen to form a committtee to take charge of the appropria- tion and expend it " according to their best discre- tion." This committee were authorized to pay for each volunteer, who resided in the town, a dollar and a half each week to the wife and half a dollar to each child under twelve years of age, during the term of the volunteer's active service. The committee were also to pay to each enlisted man eight dollars a month while in active service and fifty cents for each half- day spent in preliminary drilling. On the 7th of Oc- tober the selectmen were authorized to pay State aid to the families of soldiers, as provided by a law passed at the extra session of the Legislature.

July 1, 1862, the town voted to give a bounty to each soldier, not to exceed thirty-eight, the sum of one hundred dollars, to be paid when the soldier was mustered into the military service for three years and credited to the quota of the town.

In Angust, the same bounty, one hundred dollars, was voted to each volunteer, to the number of sixty, who should enlist in a nine months' regiment and be credited to the quota of the town.

In September, 1863, it was voted to pay State aid to families of drafted men as well as the families of volunteers; and in November to pay State aid to the families of men who had died or become disabled in the military service.

On June 20, 1864, the bounty to volunteers for three years' service was fixed at one hundred and twenty- five dollars.

On March 6, 1866, the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars was raised to refund to persons who had paid money upon subscriptions used for recruit- ing purposes.

The number of men furnished by the town for the war was four hundred, which was nineteen above all demands. Among them were four commissioned officers. The town expended on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, $17,313.65. For State aid, half

1004

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of which was refunded by the State, $18,367.98. Individuals voluntarily contributed $5757 more than was refunded by the town. The ladies worked with increased interest until there was no further call for supplies. The Soldiers' Aid Society sent money and other contributions to the amount of nearly $1200.

The auditing committee for the year 1866 reported in the words following, referring to the list of soldiers on the records of the town :

Below we give a list of those who have served in the Federal army as soldiers during the late war, and, so far as ie known, their record.

It is, indeed, a Roll of Honor, to which we shall be proud to refer as our attestation of the loyalty and devotion of our people to the Union of the States, and the cause of republican liberty. There are among them few of rauk, but all are of honor, save in one or two instances, and Berved their country well in all the viciesitudes of the war; and we desire to perpetuate the memory of the fallen and the title of the living braves, by inscribing their names upon our public Records as part of our debt of gratitude to them.

Second Infantry .- C. O. Mckinstry (sergeant), re enlisted in the same ; promoted second lieutenant.

Fourth Infantry .- James liyan.

Fifth Infantry .- William P. Plimpton, second enlistment.

Ninth Infantry .- Edward Byrne, Augustus Benway, John Glenson, killed at Gaines' Mill, Virginia, June 27, 1862 ; Patrick Maher, killed at Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862; John Innis.

T'enth Infantry .- George W. Hersey, David F. Smith.

Twelfth Infantry .- John C. Freeman, died a prisoner at Florence, South Carolina, February, 1865.

Thirteenth Infantry .- Charles C. Bigelow, L. A. Chapman, Albert E- Morse.

Fourteenth Infantry .- Porter Plimpton.

Fifteenth Infantry .- Conrad Anthon, Alexander Bryson, James C. Barlow, Sanford Bottom, Peter Cain, was previously in Fort Sumter when bombarded, April 14, 1861 ; Watson Chedey, Henry M. Carpenter, George W. Faulkner, promoted to commissary sergeant ; Charlee M. Hersey, William F. Miller, corporal ; Eliot F. Mckinstry, re-enlisted ; Luciao G. Lamb, W. II. Nichols, William H. Smith.

Eighteenth Infantry .- David Brown.

Twenty-first Infantry .- Timothy Cranny, James Bryson, died of fever at Annapolis, Maryland, November 27, 1861, the first martyr from this town ; Lucian Convers, Timothy. Collins, killed in battle at Newbern, North Carolina, March 14, 1862 ; Charles II. Greenleaf, Joseph Harman, killed in battle, Roanoke Island, February 8, 1862; Charles L. Horton, Dennis Mahan, Charles W. Melleney, Samuel H. Marble, re-enlisted; Samuel G. Irish, James S. O'Brien, Oliver Stone, Albert Saunders, Waldo Vinton, Edward Wald, Lucian W. Spencer.

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 28

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