History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 49

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 49

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Charles Warren, Forty-second Regiment ; died Nov. 28, 1864, at Oak- ham.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

Thomas White, 1775; Captain Isaac Stone 1780- 81, Constitutional Convention, 1779-80; Captain Jonathan Bullard, 1787-89, Convention, 1788; Cap- tain Joseph Chaddock, 1790-92; John Boyd, 1798; Dr. Spencer Field, 1801; Jesse Allen, 1805; Perez Waterman, 1806; Jeptha Ripley, 1808 ; Abijah Cutler, 1809-10; Joel Jones, 1811-12, '16 ; William Crawford, Jr., 1813, '23, '35, '41, '46, Senate, 1825-26, Convention, 1820; Washington Allen, 1827, '31-32; James Allen, 1833-34,'38, '58, Senate, 1839, '41-42 ; Luther Hunter, 1836-37 ; Alexander Crawford (2d), 1839-40 ; Isaac H. Jones, 1842; Dr. Horace P. Wakefield, 1843-44; Washington Stone, 1850; James B. Ware, 1851-52; David S. Ross, 1855, Convention, 1853 ; Nahum Park- er Humphrey, 1857 ; Moses Oliver Ayres, 1861, Senate, 1875-76; James Packard, 1864; Albert Watson Lin- coln, 1870; Joseph Fobes, 1875; John B. Fairbank, 1877-78 ; Jesse Allen, 1886.

The village of Coldbrook Springs, in the north part of the town, has gained quite a notoriety from its mineral springs, the waters of which are successfully used in the treatment of many forms of disease. They are now owned by Mr. Benjamin P. Clark, of Cambridge, who has done a great deal in building up the village. Mr. James C. Bemis has recently built a large and commodious hotel in the place of the one destroyed by fire two years since.

The Central Massachusetts Railroad, recently con- structed through this section of the town, proves a great convenience to the people, and, it is hoped, will tend to develop the business industries of the town.

county, has been on a "gradual decline " for many years, By the census of 1885 her population num- bered 749. In beauty of scenery, abundance of fresh air and pleasant drives it has no superior among the towns of the county ; and now, being brought so much nearer the cities and larger towns of the State, by the Central Massachusetts and Ware River Rail- roads, it is hoped that more prosperous days are in store for the good old town of Oakham.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

DANIEL M. PARKER. .

The subject of this sketch was born in Lyman, N. H., November 3, 1817. His parents were of the best of New England stock. Moody Parker, his father, was born in Massachusetts February 26, 1784; was an officer in the War of 1812, being present at the battle of Plattsburg; was a farmer and carpenter, and known as a very hard-working man, and very skillful in the use of carpenter's tools. His mother, Millicent Moulton, was born in Massachusetts December 10, 1793. The Moulton family were famous for their industry, frugality and thrift. Moody Parker and his yonng wife moved to Lyman, N. H., soon after marriage, it being then one of the new settlements. Their house was built out of logs. Two children were born to them there, Daniel being the second child .. When he was three years of age his parents moved to Wolcott, N. H., they being among the first settlers of the town. The first school he ever attended was taught in one end of a log barn. Soon after a log school-house was built, in which two short terms were taught annually, and this school was all that lie ever attended, graduating at the early age of seven- teen.

His father, having become partially disabled by a very severe accident, Daniel, being the oldest son, had to be kept out of school a good deal to assist in the work of the farm. Never studied arithmetic but a few weeks in the last term that he attended, not getting beyond fractions.

He remained at home till eighteen years of age, when, wishing to " start out into the world," on the 16th of May, 1835, himself, with four other young men, started for Worcester, Mass., one hundred and eighty miles distant, walking the whole distance. He worked for three weeks at chopping in Holden, then for two months for Captain John Barnard, of Worcester, on his farm; then two months for Amos R. Black on the "Northville Pond Dam ;" then went back to Holden and chopped till December 16th, when, with his four companions, he walked back to his father's home, in New Hampshire. The next spring he came down to Massachusetts alone, and

Oakham, like most of the "hill-towns" of the | went to work in Holden at what were known as the

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Canada (saw and grist) Mills, where he remained about ten years. Came to Coldbrook, in the north part of Oakham, in the spring of 1846 and went to work for Mr. John Watson, in the mill which has so long been owned by himself. Mr. Watson died the following year. Then Mr. Parker hired the mill from year to year till 1854, when he, in company with William R. Whiting, bought it. They remained in business together till 1861, when Mr. Parker bought out Mr. Whiting's interest in the concern, and since that time has carried on the business alone.

For nearly thirty years "Parker's Mills" have been known in all the region. The water-power is excellent; large quantities of lumber have been sawed by him annually. Soon after going into busi- ness for himself he put in a " Planing Machine," and from time to time other wood-working machinery has been purchased, employing many hands for a great part of the year.

Mr. Parker has always been known as an indus- trious, public-spirited citizen, very kind and accom- modating to every one, and generous almost to a fault. For many years he was one of the selectmen of the town (his son, Clarence H., being now chair- man of that Board of Officers). He has ever been a stanch friend of temperance ; and now, as a result of his industrious and temperate habits, at the ripe age of seventy-one years is hale and hearty, and can yet, with reason, look forward to many years of health and prosperity.

He was married, January 10, 1849, to Miss Mary A. Brigham, daughter of Captain Henry Brigham, of Rutland. She was born January 12, 1829. Their children are: Clarence H., born October 31, 1849; Evander L., born August 28, 1851; Rogene F., born August 30, 1853; D. Mildmay, born July 8, 1855; Maida A., April 5, 1857. Mrs. Parker has been truly a " help-meet" to her husband and has contributed greatly to his success by her industrious and frugal habits. Their children are all pleasantly settled near them, having young families of their own, which are and will be a great comfort to their grandparents in their declining years.

CHAPTER CXL.

MILLBURY.

BY JOHN C. CRANE.

EARLY HISTORY .- As early as the year 17401 a petition was laid before the town of Sutton, for a di- vision of her territory into a new precinct or parish. The following was the petition :

To see if the town will hear the petition of sundry of our northerly inhabitants, with respect to setting off two miles in breadth on the northerly side of the town, joining upon the country gore, and five

miles in length from Oxford line, eastardly, to join with their neighbor. ing inhabitants, that they may be better accomodated with the word.

This was the first step that finally proved to be the entering wedge, resulting in the formation of the North or Second Parish, and eventually in the birth of the town of Millbury. This petition was unsnc- cessful, for we find the matter was again brought up in 1742 and the town voted against it.

The same year the petitioners applied to the Gen- eral Court, the town opposed and chose a committee to remonstrate. The court, notwithstanding, set them off on the 28th of October, 1743. A church was formed, the history of which is given elsewhere. Considerable feeling resulted from the breaking up of the town into two parishes. The subject of the ministry money and other matters arising from the division, having alienated somewhat the people of the North Parish from the mother town, the question was put in town-meeting, November 5, 1798,2 "To see if the Town would grant the petition of the North Parish to be set off and incorporated into a separate Town."

The vote being taken, it was voted down, but a committee was chosen to talk the matter over with the people of the North Parish. May 6, 1799, the committee reported in favor of the separation, but the town refused to accept the report. In the year 1809 a petition was before the General Court from the in- habitants of the Second or North Parish of Sutton, asking to be set off into a separate town. Sutton voted to remonstrate against it, and appointed a com- mittee of three to oppose the matter.

In 1770 attempts were made to have some of the town-meetings held in the Second Parish, but the town refused to so do. But in 1780 the town did so vote. But if any meetings were held, the custom seems to have been abandoned, for we find that, in 1810, when the matter of a new town was strongly advocated, Sutton endeavored to mollify the people of the North Parish by consenting that one-third part of the town-meetings should be held in what is now Millbury. The condition was that the petition for a new town should be withdrawn.

In 1813 we find another petition before the Gen- eral Court for the new town. Sutton again chose a committee to oppose it. It was voted that the com- mittee, consisting of five persons, should prepare a remonstrance, which was done and submitted to the town, when it was voted that their representative should present it to the General Court. All efforts on the part of Sutton to prevent the formation of the town proved futile, and an act was passed incor- porating the town of Millbury and received the sig- nature of Governor Strong, June 11, 1813.

At a public meeting of those interested in the pro- posed new town, held previously to the passage of the act, the question of a name was brought before

1 Sutton records.

2 Sutton records.

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MILLBURY.

the meeting. General Caleb Burbank proposed that, owing to the large number of mills in the limits of the proposed town, it be called Millbury. His pro- position was received with favor and the name ac- cepted.

TOPOGRAPHY .- Millbury is bounded on the north by Worcester, south by Sutton, east by Grafton and west by Auburn and Oxford. The town has an area of ten thousand one hundred and six acres, or fifteen and seventy-nine one-hundredths square miles. In the east part of the town is Dorothy Pond, called in the proprietors' books of Sutton "South Pond." Whitney, the historian in 1793, calls it "Dorret's" Pond. This is a fine sheet of water, and was once used in connection with the Blackstone Canal ; from this pond flows a fine stream that is nsed for manu- facturing purposes, which soon after joins the Black- stone River. The town is diversified by hills, valleys and intervale. From the Worcester line, down through Armory Village, is the valley of the Black- stone.

The river winds its serpentine course along, its once pure water defiled and unfit for use. A short distance from the Gowan bridge, Mill Brook or Sin- gletary Stream empties its waters into the Blackstone, pure compared with those with which they unite. A short distance to the northwest Woodchuck Hill rears its rocky sides, its summit crowned with a thick growth of wood. Park Hill, in the north, lifts its crest heavenward, while to the west Wigwam and Burbank Hills stand silent in majesty, overlooking the valley below. In the extreme west Grass Hill towers high above the valley of the Ramshorn. From here old Wachusett seems a silent sentinel, ever on the alert.

In the southwest is Ramshorn Pond, partly in Millbury and partly in Sutton. This pond originally contained abont seventy1 acres, but now contains nearly twice that number. Peter Whitney locates this pond as the chief source of the Blackstone River in his article on Sutton. In his article on rivers in the same work, he also reiterates it. In the hall of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester is a copy of his history corrected by his own hand up to 1810. In it he makes no correction of the statement originally made in regard to Ramshorn being the main source of the river.

A majority of the historians since his day have confirmed his statement. The writer sees no reason for disagreeing with Whitney's original statement.

The pond takes its name from both the shape of the pond and the stream which issues from it. Its waters are pure and sweet, and an abundance of pick- erel, perch, bass and pouts are found beneath. Its sides are crowned with lofty hills, from which a fine view is obtained. The dam to this pond gave way in 1873 and cansed a loss of some ten thousand dollars.

A higher dam was afterwards built and the pond in- creased in size. South from the dam, three-fourths of a mile over the Sutton line, is Potter Hill, between which and the shore of the pond was fought the last battle between the white and red men in this region. A half-mile nearer the dam, a little more to the east, once stood on the hill the old settlers' fort or block- house. The spot has been marked, but none of the foundation remains. The fort stood on the Kenney farm, now owned by Edward Dolan.

The stream from this pond flows north through a part of Auburn, thence to New Worcester and from thence back to Millbury by way of Armory Village, and on to Providence, or to within three miles of its starting- point.

A portion of Singletary Pond is also in the south- western part of the town, about one mile in a straight line from Ramshorn. This pond originally contained six hundred acres.2 It is fed chiefly by springs, and is a beautiful sheet of water. It was originally set off by the proprietors of Sutton to Ebenezer Daggett, who was given this immense privilege and a farm in connection therewith on conditions mentioned else- where.

The original name of this pond was Crooked Pond.3 When the name was changed has not yet been found out, nearer than a period of nine years. It was Crooked Pond in 1793. Elijah Waters, who was born and who died in sight of its blue waters, on the hill above to the west, calls it in his diary, which he left, "Singletary," in 1802. A large portion of this pond lies in Sutton.

Garfield Pond is a small body of water near the old Common. Its water is excellent in its quality, and has been talked of in connection with a water supply for the town.

OLD COMMON .- What was once the centre of this town is now a quiet dwelling spot. The old church moved away in 1835, and with it went the town- meetings. The old training-ground remains, but the tramp of armed men ceased long ago. Its pristine glory has faded. The old public-house ceased to exist, and the little old store (still standing) where "Old Medford and West India " was sold, became a dwelling-house. A little below, at the foot of the hill, towards Armory Village, was the old " Braman dis- tillery." "The worm of the still" was long ago crushed, but the scars of its bite long remained. To sum it all up, the old Common was left alone in its glory, as the dawn of a new life opened, with the advent of the canal and railroad, together with in- creasing business at the Armory.

ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1813 .- It was provided that upon application to any justice of the peace, he could call a meeting of the inhabitants. Accordingly, on the 12th day of June, 1813, notice was given to Aaron Peirce, Esq., to call such a meeting; this notice

1 Whitney's History.

2 Proprietors' records.

3 Whitney's History.

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was signed by Gen. Caleb Burbank, Ezra Lovell, Samnel Bixby, Jacob Chamberlain, Solomon Marble, Asa Waters, Jr., Jonathan Trask, Josiah S. Prentice, Simeon Waters, Stephen Blanchard, Capt. Azor Phelps.

Squire Peirce directed Samuel Waters to call a meeting of the inhabitants on the 1st day of July fol- lowing, at the Congregational meeting-house, at one o'clock, signed "Aaron Peirce, Justice of the Peace "

At this meeting Capt Azor Phelps was chosen moderator; Aaron Peirce, town clerk; Lient. Asa Goodell, Capt. Azor Phelps, Dea. Solomon Marble, Capt. Reuben Barton, Jr., and Lient. James Green- wood, selectmen ; Samuel Waters, treasurer; Aaron Peirce, Simcon Waters, Jonathan Grout, assessors.

" Voted that the taxes be set up to the lowest bidder, with the understanding that whoever bid them off should be chosen constable if he could procure suri- ties." Alfred Hood bid them off at three cents on the dollar and was chosen constable.

The first highway surveyors chosen were Capt. Amasa Wood, Curtis Searles, Jonathan Muzzy, Moses Brigham, Jonathan Gale, Jr., Samuel Waters, Josiah S. Prentice, Josiah Brown and Joel Wesson ; Jona- than Richardson was chosen tythingman.

August 23. At a town-meeting, " Voted to raise Millbury's proportion of the one thousand dollars, which had been voted by Sutton for schools previous to the separatiou." The amount for Millbury was three hundred and sixty-five dollars. The meeting was adjourned to September 13th, when they " Voted to raise for the support of the poor and other town charges, seven hundred dollars." "Four hundred dollars for Rev. Mr. Goffe, the present year, in lieu of the same sum voted by Sutton, at their annual town- meeting."

1814 .- March 7. At the town-meeting William Hull was chosen moderator; Aaron Peirce, town clerk. " Voted that horses and cattle should not go at large without a permit from the selectmen."

April 4. At a town-meeting held to choose State officers, Caleb Strong for Governor had one hundred and nineteen votes, and Samnel Dexter, forty-six.

May 2. Lieut. Asa Goodell was chosen the first Representative to the General Court ; he had fifty votes.

May 2. General Joseph Farnsworth chosen moder- ator. " Voted to raise for schooling this year $370 ; $800 for support of poor and other town charges ; $400 for Rev. Joseph Goffe, -

November 7. "Inhabitants met at the meeting- house and Voted for congressman. All who had a freehold estate of the annual income of ten dollars, or any estate of the value of $200, and have resided in town the year last past, can vote." Hon. Elijah Brigham had ninety-four votes, and John Spurr six- teen.

" Voted to have the bell tolled at the death of any of the inhabitants."

1815 .- March 6. At the town-meeting, General Bur bank was chosen moderator. Among the tythingmer chosen was Martin Craw, but it does not appear tha he was sworn. Thomas Blanchard was chosen on of the field-drivers, as was also Captain Joseph Ban croft and Aaron Trask. Stephen Blanchard, Dr Amasa Braman, Dr. William M. Benedict, Samue Waters, Captain Asa Goodell, Josiah S. Prentice an Josiah Stiles, Esq., were chosen a committee 01 schools.

1816 .- May 6. The town " Voted that Thomas Ken dall, Jr., have leave to draw his school-money and carry it to Oxford," where his children probably went to school. Dr. Amasa Braman was chosen rep resentative to the General Court.

August 26. Town "Voted to pay the bill of expens exhibited by John Goodell and Simon Farnsworth for refreshment found to those persons who searched for Mr. Packard's children, amounting to $23.26. The children had evidently been lost and were prob ably the children of Mr. Job Packard, who lived no far from Park Hill.

1817 .- March 3. At the annual town-meeting Asa Waters, Esq., was chosen moderator, and Deacor John Peirce, Rufus Barton, Major Josiah Woodward Captain Daniel Rice and General Caleb Burbank selectmen ; Josiah Stiles, Josiah S. Prentice and Elijal Waters, assessors. John B. Blanchard was chosen tythingman in place of General Burbank.

May 5. Town " Voted to discontinue the road leading from Joshua Wait's, by his saw-mill to Cap tain Josiah Brown's."

May 5. The town refused to send a representative to the General Court.

1818 .- Ithrau Harris having received a land war rant for military services in the War of 1812, assigns the same (160 acres in Illinois) to Solomon Dwinel and Seneca Simeon Dwinell for $115.00. Assigned March 19, 1818.

Squire Harris was a sergeant in Foster's company Ninth Regiment of Infantry.

May 4. The town again refused to send a repre. sentative to General Court.

May 4. " Voted to accept of the meeting-house upon the conditions as recorded in the Proprietors' book.' " Voted to raise $25.00 for supporting a singing- school."

" Voted that the town will appropriate out of the money due the town from individuals, a sum of money, which, being added to the present school- money, shall amount to $500.00 for a permanen school-fund."

September 5. Solomon Dwinell, Jr., paper-maker assigns his land in Illinois, which came from Ithran Harris, to Seneca Simeon Dwinell.

August 20. Lyman Peck, of Rehoboth, for the sun of sixty dollars, assigns to Seneca Simeon Dwinel his land warrant received for service as a sergeant in Perry's company, Fortieth Regiment of Infantry.

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MILLBURY.

August 17. At a town-meeting John B. Blanchard was chosen moderator. " Voted to paint the meeting- house the present year."

Two hundred and twenty-five dollars was appro- priated for the purpose, "to be assessed upon the Con- gregational Society, as parochial charges." General Burbank, Deacon John Peirce and Elder Samuel Waters were chosen to superintend the work. The town also chose a committee to ask the people to as- sist in the work.

1819 .- March 1. Town-meeting, General Burbank chosen moderator; Captain Reuben Barton, Jr., con- stable.

May 3. At this meeting the town " Voted that the money which the town appropriated at their meeting held May 4, 1818, to form a school fund, shall be taken to defray the expenses of the town."

May 3. General Burbank, chosen as Representative to General Court, had fifty votes.

Jury list first published in the town records, Gene- ral Caleb Burbank heads the list.

1820 .- January 3. Town "Voted that the Town consent that there may be a stove or stoves placed in the meeting-house, provided the same are procured by subscription, as mentioned in the warrant." Samuel Waters, Jr., General Caleb Burbank, Stephen Blanchard, Elias Forbes and Reuben Barton, Jr., were chosen a committee to have charge of placing them.

May 1. Town refused to send a Representative to General Court.

May 21. Town voted by eight majority in favor of a State Convention to alter the Constitution.

October 16. Town chose Aaron Peirce, Esq., dele- gate to the convention to alter and revise the State Constitution.

October 16. Town " Voted that the town give leave that a well may be sunk on the Common, near the Elm Tree, upon the conditions mentioned in the war- rant." The conditions there mentioned were, that it should be done free of expense to the town.

1821 .- May 7. Town " Voted to instruct the town agent to call upon those who have broken the win- dows in the meeting-house and compel them to pay for the same."

" Voted to lengthen the intermission on the Sab- bath, from one hour to an hour and a quarter."

November 12. " Voted to discontinue the old road leading from Samuel Waters' to Dr. Braman's 'Still- House.'"

1822 .- March 4. Josiah Stiles, Esq., chosen town agent, to act in civil and legal capacity.

May 5. Town " Voted to raise $50.00 for a singing- school."

1823 .- May 5. Asa Waters, Esq., chosen Represen- tative. " Voted that $25.00 of the $400.00 raised for Mr. Goffe's salary and other parochial charges, be ap- propriated for the support of the Sabbath-school."

1824 .- March 1. " Voted to raise $15.00 for wood

and building fires for the meeting-house the past and present year."

1825 .- May 2. " Voted to raise $25.00 in addition to the school money, to be put into the hands of the School Committee, to be expended for the use of schools, in rewards and premiums as they shall see fit."

Up to 1825 it had been a custom to require the highway surveyors to expend the road money in the months of June and August; the consequence was after this money was expended the surveyors felt their responsibility gone, and the roads were often in an unsatisfactory condition ; this year a committee was chosen to see what improvement could be made. There had been but few surveyors, and the districts were so large that complaints were frequent.

1826. - April 26. The Highway Committee, ap- pointed in 1825, reported that the town be set off into fourteen highway districts, with a surveyor for each district. The town voted to make a three years' trial of the plan, and chose the surveyors.

1827 .- April 2. Stephen Blanchard chosen tything- man for Grass Hill.

" Voted to choose six persons as Town School Com- mittee, according to the new law." Chose Dr. Wil- liam M. Benedict, Joseph Griggs, Oliver Rice, Ver- non Stiles, Paul C. Chase and Hervey Peirce.

"Voted that the Prudential School Committee shall be chosen by the town the present year."

August 27. " Voted, that the Town is dissatisfied with the report of the commissioners for estimating damages arising by the location of the Blackstone Canal, so far as it respects the town's maintaining Bridges and Causeway over the canal, and that they direct their agent, with the advice and assistance of the Selectmen, to claim and demand a Jury, or agree upon a reference."

December 10. "The Town thought it expedient to choose a committee to devise the best method in their opinion to support the poor for the year 1828, and report at the next annual March meeting." The committee chosen were Dr. Amasa Braman, Rufus Barton, General Caleb Burbank, Solomon Dwinell and Aaron Peirce, Esq.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 49

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