History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 29

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 29

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Twenty-second Infantry .- Nathan B. Angell, Benjamin S. Aldrich, Harrison A. Bond, corporal, died August 22, 1863, from a guo-shot wound received at Gettysburg ; John L. Bartlett, Andrew J. Clark, Henri Elkins, died August 4, 1862, from wounds received at Gaines' Mill ; David R. Horton, Anson Morse, J. Marra, John F. Pratt, Daniel Walker, sergeant.

Twenty-fourth Infantry .- Marvin G. Marcy, re-eolieted ; Louis Rivers, by transfer ; Andrew II. Morse, by transfer.

Twenty-fifth Infantry .- John E. Bassett, Samnel S. Dresser, James A. Mckinstry, Elias M. Mckinstry, A. J. Mckinstry, John G. Leach, George Link, Dwight Moore, John Byan, John Stone, Alonzo Vinton, first enlistment.

Thirty-fourth Infantry .- Malcolm Aomidown, second,lieutenant, taken prisoner at Newmarket, Virginia, May 15, 1864, and died at Charleston, South Carolina, October 1, 1864 ; bis name is given to Post 168, Depart- ment of Massachusetts, G. A. R .; Eber C. Pratt, first enlistment ; Francis Armee, first enlistment ; Linus C. Albee, Nathan B. Angell, second enlistment ; John Bryson, was in Andersonville prison-pen; Albert O. Blanchard, killed by accident, Muy 26, 1864 ; Stephen Blackmar, sergeant, died at llarper'e Ferry, March 4, 1864; Charles E. Blackmar, Edwin Bennett, Sanford Broadbent, Edwin S. Beecher, Michael Bowler, W. I1. H. Cheney, member of the band ; George W. Corey, sergeant ; Joseph B. Corey, Walter B. Cutting, killed in battle at Stickney's Farm, October 13, 1864 ; Araold Capron, killed in battle June 5, 1864, at Piedmont, Virginia ; George Congdon, George H. Dean, sergeant; George F. Fiske, died May 2, 1864 ; David Fairfield, Arthur L. Fox, killed io battle at

Piedmont, Va .; Henry C. Green, George E. Hubbard, Frederick Holmes, David Marcy, William B. Morse, John Mack, Patrick Morfarity, David T. T. Litchfield, member of band ; J. II. Lumbard, Ebenezer Leach, Andrew H. Morse, transferred to Twenty-fourth; Louis Rivers, trans- ferred to Twenty-fourth ; Munroo Reynolds, William A. Sears, died of wounds June 18, 1864 ; Paul Sarboro, S. Judson Tiffany, died at Ander- sonville slaughter-pen, Ga. ; Knyson Tiermy, Alexander Wald.

Thirty-eighth Infantry .- Dr. S. C. Hartwell, volunteer eurgeon to the Army of the Potomac from April 9 to May 17, 1862; afterwards sur- geun of Thirty-cigbth Massachusetts, and also Medical director of Gen- eral Emory's division ; resigned March 2, 1864 ; Andrew J. Plimpton, surgeon's assistant.

Thirty-ninth Infantry .- William P. Plimpton, third enlistment.

Fortieth Infantry .- Richmond Barrett, sergeant ; Georgo Eccleston, William E. Horton, Alden Potter.

Forty-secend Infantry .- Jamee A. Knight, died in the service.

Forty-fourth Infantry .- Samuel S. Perry.

Forty-fifth Infantry. - Frank H. Dean, Charles II. Leonard, Barnard A. Leonard, Charles A. Howard, James HI. Mason, Edwin T. Morse, Danforth K. Olney, member of the band ; William P. Plimpton, first enlistment ; Charles B. Sumner, Edwin E. Tiffany, first enlistment.

Fifty-first Infantry .- Edward Armes, Charles H. Blanchard, Thomas Burns, Jasper Bugbee, Henry M. Clemence, Philip Cain, Flavius J. Cheney, Joseph Corey, William B. Card, James J. Callahan, Edwin Dexter, first enlistment ; Marcus Dillaber, James Flynn, first sergeant ; Luther S. Fox, Charles Green, George S. Latllin, drummer ; Albert Holmes, George A. Hanson, Fitz Henry Hall, Adelbert O. Horne, first enlistment ; Philip W. Harris, Charles N. Hlager, Frederick Kind, James J. Leary, first enlistment ; W. O. Mason, first enlistment ; John Murray, Joseph Moore, first enlistment ; Norval Newell, William II. Parsons, William Ryan, first enlistment ; Thomae Ratigan, Francis F. Spencer, Thomas A. Stone, eergeunt ; Terence Smith, Alvin S. Streeter, William Sabin, first enlistment ; Leonard G. Webster, John K. Walker.

Fifty-fourth Infantry .- John Tanner, killed July 13, 1864.

Fifty-seventh Infantry .- Joho Tully, Thirty-fourth, enlisted in Co. A, Fifty-seventh, and died at Alexandrin, Va., May 16, 1865.

Sixty-first Infantry .- William O'Brien, killed at Petersburg, Va. Sixty-second Infantry .- John W. Clark.

Other Massachusetts organizations :

Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Regulars .- John R. Amidon.

First Cavalry .- William H. Belknap, died at Hartford, Conn., Decem- ber 17, 1864 ; Ambrose Fogle, David Stone.

Fourth Cavalry .- Robert S. Bryson, Edward Egan, James Flynn, second enlistment ; Edward C. Hughes, bugler ; Francis Ileffecan, James J. Leary, second enlistment ; Joseph Link, Peter Porter, farrier ; John Powers, Wilham Ryan, second enlistment, corporal ; Jason G. Smith, first eergeant, second enlistment ; William Shumaker. died at Andersonville slaughter-pen, Gin. ; John Spencer, died November 19, 1864; Everett A. Town.

Fifth Cavalry .- George W. Coffin (colored), died May 17, 1864 ; Wil- liam G. Coffin (colored).

Second Battery, Light Artillery .- Henry B. Blodgett, John D. Fieke, sergeant, Nim's Battery, re-enlisted io the same.

Third (B) Buttery .- Henry G. Ammidown, George Blackmore, died ut Hall's Hill, 1862.

Fifth Buttery -Frank A. Prescott, clerk of battery.

Second Heavy Artillery .- Watson Cheney, Edwin Dexter, second eu- listment; John A. Frost, died at Newbern, N. C., October 19, 1864 ; John W. Lucia, Isaac F. Irish, John Kelly, died May 17, 1865; James S. O'Brien, eecond enlistment, died at Andersonville prison-pen, Ga., August 29, 1864 ; Thomas O'Harry, George Remington, Albert Sauu- ders, second enlistment ; Charles Seymour, died a prisoner at Charles- ton, S. C. ; Alonzo Vinton, second enlistment ; Albertus A. Wilbur.

Holden Riflemen .- Henry G. Ammidown.

Fifteenth Buttery (bought) .- Joeepli Coburn, James Conologue, Jobn Devine, John Gilmore, James Gayton, Theodore C. Lewis, Edward Murry, George T. Brown, William Dewitt, Samuel Newhall, William Ripley, Aaron Bell, Thomas Brown, Jolin Miller, Thomae McIntire, James MeDonald, Jones Riley, George Rickert, Patrick Quinn, William D. Waddell, George 11. Cutter, Edward Farrell, Thomas Higgins, Charles Hersey, James A. Johnson, John Kinney, Jolin E. Mathews, John Wil- liameon, Michael Walker, George Hazlett, Peter McPhail, John Scott, Daniel Boyce, Albert Burton, George Reeee, Raymond Russell, 'Joho Smidt, Charles Sherman, Frank Turner, Henry Vince.

Sixth United States Colored Troops,-Eber C. Pratt, second enlistment,

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second lientenant, acting on the staff of Colonel Duncan, and died De- cember 15, 1864, of wounds received at Chapin'e Bluff, Va., September 29, 1864.

Corcoran Legion .- Timothy Cranney, second enlistment, and was pro. moted to first lieutenant.

Second District Columbia .- Samuel F. Plimpton, promoted commissary sergeant, died March 6, 1864 ; Francis D. Plimpton, died June, 1865.

United States Cavalry, Regulars-Andrew L. Bigelow.

Organization Unknown .- Austin Stevens, E. N. Robbins, Henry E. Gilbert.

Organizations of other States :

Third Battery, Rhode Island. - William Calvert, re-enlisted.

Fifteenth Battery, Rhode Island .- H. W. Brown.

Third Cavalry, Rhode Island .- Philip Cain, second enlistment, died at New Orleans.

Seventh Infantry, Connecticut .- David Bryson, died at Folly Island, S. C., July 10, 1863.

Seventh Infantry, Connecticut .- Joseph Goodale, Oliver H. Mason, ser- geant.

Eleventh Infantry, Connecticut -Francis Armes, second enlistment.

Eighteenth Infantry, Connecticut .- E. P. Bowen.

First Cavalry, New Hampshire -- Calvin Claflin, quartermaster-ser- geant.

Serenth Infantry, New Hampshire .- Sanford Bottoni, killed before Peters- burg, Va., September 10, 1864.

Fourth Infantry, Vermont .- Rev. Salem M. Plimpton, chaplain.

Seventh Infantry, Vermont .- Philip Lucia, was in Andersonville prison- pen ten months.

Thirty-sixth Infantry, New York .- Bernard Flynu.

Thirty-seventh Infantry, New York .- Stanley F. Newell, second lieu- tenant.

Thirteenth Battery, New York .- Stanley F. Newell, second enlistment, second lieutenant.

Tenth Cavalry, New York .- Warren F. Sikes.

Sixteenth Cavalry, lowu .- Edwin T. Plimpton, died June 14, 1862.

Navy .- William Binte, John Barns, frigate "Santee ; " Cornelius Cummins, West Gulf Squadron, ship "Lackawana ; " Michael Eagan, gunboat "Tasca ; " F. A. Hurd, gunboat " Kennebec ; " Denuis Kehay, Alexander Longmore, frigate "Santee ;" Charles L. Newhall, frigate "Minnesota " and "San Jacinto ;" Joseph Olney, frigate "Cumber- land."

Mention of : Captain Salem Marsh, fell at Chancellorsville, May 1, 1863, in command of the Second United States Regulars, twenty-eight years of age, a graduate of West Point in 1860, a native of this town. .

The foregoing list is rearranged from a list hav- ing the names in alphabetical order, found in a his- torical sketch of Southbridge by Holmes Ammidown, Esq.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC .- Malcolm Au- midown Post, No. 168, Department of Massachusetts, G. A. R., has a fine organization, and the town will furnish them with a Memorial Hall and convenient quarters in the new Town-Hall building. The pres- ent commander is Edwin T. Morse.

Auxiliary to this is the Malcolm Ammidown Re- lief Corps, No. 71, conducted with much interest and efficiency by the ladies.

SOUTHBRIDGE LIGHT INFANTRY .- The grant for a new military company in Southbridge, to be at- tached to the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, was signed by Oliver Ames, Governor and commander- in-chief, March 26, 1888. The company was organ- ized as Company K, and attached to the Sixth Regi- ment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Officers elected were, -Captain, John M. Cochran; First Lieutenant, W. F. Heron; Second Lieutenant, F. E. Newbury. Permanent quarters were prepared for the company in M. J. Suprenaut's new block on

Central Street. A dedication and reception of vis- itors occurred there December 20, 1888.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, CHURCHES AND MINIS- TERS .- The Congregational Church originated from a withdrawal of twenty-one members of the Congre- gational Church in Sturbridge. They were residents in the poll parish that was established here by an act of the Legislature, February 28, 1801. These members were dismissed from the church in Stur- bridge, and organized this church on the 16th day of September following. This small colony united in their public religious worship with the Universal- ists, Baptists and Methodists in the parish meeting- house. With the addition of five more members, this was the condition of the church when the parish was, by an act of the Legislature, made a town by the name of Southbridge, February 15, 1816. The church members now number two hundred and fifty- six, and two hundred and seventy-five attend the Sunday-school. Sunday-school superintendent, H. R. Beecher.

The "Congregational Religious Society in South- bridge " was incorporated December 13, 1816. There were sixty-two original corporators, " with their fam- ilies and estates, together with such others as may hereafter associate with them, and their successors." August 28, 1818, for the consideration of eighteen hundred dollars, the society obtained of Major Calvin Ammidown the deed of one and one-fourth acres of land, with a house designed for a parsonage. Their meeting-house was erected in 1821, and dedicated January 1, 1822. The house was remodeled in 1839, and dedicated anew September 5th, and again re- paired and some changes made in 1869; re-dedicated September 24th. This house was removed, and a large and elegant edifice of brick erected on the same site, which was dedicated in October, 1885; located on Elm Street.

Pastors : Rev. Messrs. Jason Park, 1816-32; Henry J. Lamb, 1833-35; Eber Carpenter, 1835-64; Edwin B. Palmer, 1864-69; E. L. Jaggar, 1869-72; J. E. Fullerton, 1873-76; Joseph Danielson, 1877-88 ; Charles H. Pettibone, 1888.

Deacons : Asa Walker, 1801-14; Daniel Morse, 1801-32; Jason Morse, 1821-31; George Sumner, 1822-39; Henry Haynes, 1831-39; Josiah Hayward, 1839-42; Elbridge G. Harding, 1837-51; Jonathan Cutting, 1842-75; Samuel M. Lane, 1851-86; Wil- liam P. Plimpton, 1875; E. S. Swift, 1886.

Baptist .- The First Baptist Church of Southbridge was established January 28, 1817. It was composed of a colony of twenty-six, of both sexes, who with- drew from the Baptist Church of Sturbridge.

The Central Baptist Church originated in some differences in the management of the prudential affairs of the First, Baptist Church and Society, when, for the sake of harmony and peace, a majority of the members of that church withdrew their membership in 1842, and on Sunday, the 18th of September fol-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

lowing, organized themselves into a new church by the name of "The Central Baptist Church of South- bridge."

Before the division the First Baptist Church had about one hundred and seventy-five members; after- wards, in the course of a few years, the old church became extinct. The Central Baptist Church had, in 1884, one hundred and eighty-two members. The church and society are both in prosperous cirenm- stances. Three only of the twenty-four churches that form the Worcester Baptist Association have contributed more for outside charitable and religious purposes. Their Sunday-school has a membership of one hundred and seventy-eight, consisting of thirteen classes and teachers. Their Sunday-school library is large, and is mainly supported by the annual income from a fund left for the purpose by one of the town's business men, the late John Edwards, Esq.

A society was incorporated by the name of the " First Baptist Society of Southbridge," January 29, 1822. Other denominations held meetings in the old parish meeting-house occasionally until 1835. At that time the house was sold at auction, bought, re- paired and sold again in the form of slips, the deeds of which lienited the kind of preaching to that of the Baptist belief.

In the year 1841 an association was formed and in- corporated, styled the " Southbridge Baptist Meeting- House Association." Measures were taken for the erection of a new honse, which was completed and dedicated on Wednesday, October 25, 1848. This building was burned on the evening of the 14th of November, 1863, and entirely destroyed.

The society erected and finished, in the year 1866, at a cost of over twenty thousand dollars, the sub- stantial and fine-looking brick edifice they now occupy. The organ, the cost of which was two thousand dollars, was given by Chester A. Dresser, Esq., and the late John Edwards, Esq., the whole being the sole property of the society. They have recently purchased a handsome parsonage, and are entirely free from debt.

Pastors : Rev. Messrs. George Angell, 1816, died 1827; Addison Parker, 1827-32; David C. Bowles, 1833-35; Joseph G. Binney, 1835-37; Sewell S. Cutting, 1837-45; C. P'. Grosvenor, last pastor of the First Church, 1842-44; Timothy G. Freeman, 1845- 47; Oakman S. Stearns, D.D., 1847-54; Shubal S. Parker, 1855-67; B. F. Bronson, 1867-73; H. H. Rhees; A. G. Upham, 1877-83; Goram Easterbrooks, 1884.

Deacons, First Church : Cyrus Ammidown, 1817- 21; Joshua Vinton, 1817-21; Elisha Cole, 1821-44; Samuel Fiske, 1821-35; Marvin Cheney, 1835-44.

Deacons, Central Baptist Church : Marvin Cheney, Henry Fiske, Adoniram Coombs, Charles E. Steward, Alpha M. Cheney, 1878; Joseph F. Esten, 1883-85; Lucius E. Ammidown, 1885.

Methodist Episcopal .- During the existence of the

poll parish the several families of Methodists herc joined in support of religious worship with the other denominations, and occasionally had a preacher of their own belief. In the year 1832 they for the first time maintained separate worship in Southbridge. Their meetings were held in the district school-house in the Globe Village for a period of nearly six years. The Rev. Hezekiah Davis, of Dudley, conducted ser- vices there the first year or two.

When their church was formed, in 1834, the Meth- odist Conference provided for this new church. Rev. F. P. Tracy was placed here, a young man about nine- teen years of age. He was an able scholar and pos- sessed remarkable powers of eloquence. The church and society increased rapidly under his ministry. It soon became necessary to obtain larger quarters to accommodate the crowds of cager listeners.

In the year 1840 this society moved into the second story of the old Globe Factory, and held their meet- ings there about three years. At the close of this period it was decided to take measures for erecting a meeting-house. An eligible location was obtained through the liberality of Jedediah Marcy, Esq., and during the year 1843 the Methodist Church was built. Since 1870 it has been remodeled and beautified inside and out. It is located on Main Street, opposite the Marcy house.

The present number of church members (1888) is one hundred and seventy-eight. The Sabbath-school, George T. McVey, superintendent, has two hundred members. The ministers furnished them by the Methodist Conference, since they entered their own house, are as follows : Rev. Messrs. Stephen P. Cush- ing, 1844; L. R. Thayer, 1845-46; Chester Field, 1847; Mark Staples, 1848-49; Charles McKedding, 1850; William R. Raynall, 1851-52; David Sherman, 1853-54; Joseph Denison, 1855 ; John Caldwell, 1856 ; J. B. Bigelow, 1857-58; Ichabod Marcy, 1859-60; I. W. Morey, 1861-62; N. D. George, 1863; T. J. Ab- bott, 1864; J. W. Lewis, 1865-67; W. A. Braman, 1868-69; William Silverthorn, 1870-72; W. A. Not- tage, 1873-75; John C. Smith, 1876-78; E. S. Best, 1879; J. M. Avann, 1880-82; G. Beekman, 1883-84; W. J. Pomfret, 1885-87; N, Fellows, 1888.

The First Universalist Society .- Universalism was strong, even in the days of the parish, and they con- tinued their right and occasional occupancy in the parish meeting-house until it became exclusively the property of the Baptist Society in 1835.

In 1838 the form of constitution as contained in the Revised Statutes of Massachusetts, in Chapter XX., Sections 26, 27 and 28, was circulated, and eighty sig- natures were obtained as male members. Preliminary steps having been taken, the first meeting of the so- ciety was held at the New England Hotel (located on the present site of the Edwards house), April 14, 1838, and was called to order by Benjamin D. Hyde, Esq., when the proper officers were elected for the organi- zation of the society. It was voted that the society

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be called by the name of The First Universalist So- ciety of Southbridge.

Their meetings were held, first in Dr. Hartwell's Hall, afterwards in the then new Town Hall. Their present church building, corner of Hamilton and Main Streets, was erected and the bell purchased in 1842. Pastors: Rev. Messrs. John Boyden, 1838-40; Franklin Whitaker, 1841-43; J. M. Usher, 1844; R. O. Williams, 1845-46 ; Day K. Lee, 1847-49; B. F. Bowles, 1850-51; Mr. Cambridge and Mr. Eliot, 1852; J. W. Lawton, 1853-55 ; John Nichols and B. F. Bowles, 1856; W. W. Wilson, 1857-63; A. B. Hervey, 1864; F. C. Flint, B. V. Stevenson, Frank McGuire, 1882-88; Ephraim A. Reed, 1888. Sun- day-school superintendent, George C. Winter.

Evangelical Free Church, Globe Village. - This church had its origin in a movement of some of the members of the other evangelical churches of this town. A conference was held in this village in De- cember, 1853, when it was unanimously decided: "That the necessities of this village require estab- lished preaching and the ordinances of the gospel ; and that it is the duty of Christians in this vicinity to unite in the support of this object." At a meeting held January 21, 1854, the Rev. G. Trask, of Fitch- burg, Rev. Oakman S. Stearns and D. Sherman, of Southbridge, were present and united their efforts in sustaining the measures for laying the foundation of this church. Statements of the necessities and mo- tives for prompt action in its favor were made by L. W. Curtis, M.D., George Hanson, Robert Elliot and Oliver Plimpton. The Evangelical Free Church was then organized, with twenty-nine members,-eleven males and eighteen females,-who were originally connected with the Congregational, Baptist, Method- ist, Presbyterian and Protestant Episcopal Churches.

Public worship was held in Gothic Hall until 1869, when the Hamilton Woolen Company placed at the disposal of the society a beautiful and capacious brick church.

The success of this movement has proved that Christian unity, ignoring sectarian divisions, does not decrease the interest felt for religious services, but, tends to greater sympathy and purer motives, producing harmony and prosperity. Number of members in the church, one hundred and sixty-one. The Sunday-school numbers one hundred and forty, B. U. Bugbee, superintendent. Pastors: Rev. Messrs. J. Cunningham, 1855; W. C. Whitcomb, 1856-57 ; Henry Loomis, 1859; Thomas Morony, 1860-63; Martin L. Richardsou, 1863-66 ; Austin Dodge, 1867 ; Frank A. Warfield, George A. Jackson, 1878; G. H. Willson, 1878-80 ; Rev. Sylvanus Hayward, installed December 28, 1880, is the present pastor.

Catholic Church of St. Mary's .- In the year 1840, month of September, the Rev. G. Fitton, afterwards pastor of South Boston, called the Catholic people together at the house of Lawrence Seavy in Globe Village. There were present at this first meeting

twelve persons. For the next six years they were visited about twice a year by the following priests, viz. : Rev. G. Fitton, 1840-43 ; Father Williams, 1844; Father Gibson, 1845, and Father Logan, 1846, the last named being the first to visit them on Sunday. Afterwards the Rev. John Boyce, of Worcester, found it necessary to engage the town hall every two months to give service to this people. Having decided, in 1852, to erect a church, Mr. Wm. Edwards gener- ously gave them the land for a location, upon which they commenced July 12, 1852. On Sunday, May 1, 1853, their church was dedicated under the invocation of Saint Peter by the Rt. Rev. J. B. Fitzpatrick, Bishop of Boston. In August, 1858, the Rev. James Quan was appointed pastor here and at Webster, as one parish.

In September, 1865, the Catholic Church of South- bridge was set aside as a parish by itself, and a pastor, Rev. A. M. Barrett, D.D., appointed for it. The parish, as then organized, included Southbridge, Sturbridge and Charlton, and numbered about two thousand souls.

The Rev. Dr. Barrett was dismissed from this serv- ice in the autumn of 1869, when followed the division of this first society.

The Rev. J. McDermott was in charge of the Irish portion about a year ; then the Rev. John Kremmens was assigned by Bishop O'Reilly, of Springfield, to the pastorate.

Father Kremmens was " a man of great strength of will, and power and capacity to build, guide and care for his charge, and to lead it on to a surprising unity, strength and prosperity-constant and successful." The parsonage was burned soon after he came here, but the present one was soon built. The old church was removed to the west side of the lands, the surface of the lot was graded and set out with trees, the new and commodions edifice for worship was erected and all these were paid for during his services here, be- sides the neat little chapel at Fiskdale.

"Those grounds, embowered with shading trees and carpeted in nature's living green, wherein he lived his cheerful, helpful life and serenely died-wherein his remains now lie, at his request, entombed beneath the shadow of the beautiful church edifice he designed and built as a monument of his taste, and of his faith in his work in behalf of his people-will long be looked upon, as time shall pass away, as the evi- dence of his genius and ability to surmount obstacles and inspire others with something of his own sense and enterprise and energy." He died July 18, 1886, and was buried near his beautiful tree-embowered church. Over his grave has been placed a fine mon- ument, in which is canopied a portrait bust chiseled in enduring marble.

The Rev. James Donohoe is the present pastor of St. Mary's.

The French Catholics withdrew from the Irish the latter part of the year 1869, under the charge of Rev.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

M. F. Le Breton as priest. The Notre Dame Church. the largest house for public religious worship in this town, was erected by them on l'ine Street upon lands adjoining those of the old society. The Rev. M. F. Le Breton was succeeded by Rev. G. E. Brochu, who at present officiates as priest of Notre Dame.

SCHOOLS .- School districts, seven in number, were established when the town was organized in 1816; and so remained, with little alteration as to territory, while the district system was in operation.

In 1868, March 2d, by vote of the town, the sev- eral school districts were abolished ; and the town entered upon and took possession of the property of the districts, in accordance with the provision of the general statutes, chapter xxxix., section 3.

The management of the public schools by the town has been in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes, from time to time enacted; adopting such changes as the needs of the town and the spirit of the times have demanded.

A committee of six, serving three years, two of the number being elected annually and two retiring, constitutes the School Committee of the town. A superintendent of schools is employed by the year to devote his whole time to the school interests. The report of that officer, Mr. J. T. Clarke, for the year ending February 29, 1888, being the third of the series of the annual reports of the superintendent of schools, furnishes statistics from which is obtained the following :

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 29

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