History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 53

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 53

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D. Loomis; S. V. C., H. F. Hobart ; J. V. C., David Herlihey ; Surgeon, John G. French; Adjutant, Joseph Packard; S. M., Thomas J. Tourtellotte; Chaplain, M. M. Goodnow; Q. M., S. D. Waters; O. D., S. C. Spooner; O. G., Thomas Donlon ; Q. M. S., T. A. Winter. The post meets twice a month, and has within its membership many battle-scarred vet- erans, who fought that our Union might be preserved. They deserve well of their country ; year by year their numbers are growing less as they go to join their comrades who passed on before.

Independent Order of Odd Fellows .- Morning Star Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 130. This lodge was insti- tuted September 25, 1883, with fourteen charter mem- bers and sixteen joined on the night of institution. First officers elected were : N. G., D. M. Waterman ; V. G., Herbert A. Ryan ; R. C., H. W. Carter; Per- manent Secretary, Chas. Whitworth. First appointed officers were : R. S. to N. G., C. S. Parker; L. S. to N. G., H. T. Spear ; R. S. to V. G., F. W. Sawyer ; L. S. to V. G., Lewis L. Richardson; L. G., T. M. Williams; O. G., James Whatley; R. S. S., Orin A. McIntire; L. S. S., Charles A. Gould; Conductor, Joseph Packard ; Warden, George E. Frissell ; Chap- lain, H. B. Magoon. Present membership, one hun- dred and eleven. Since this lodge was instituted eight have withdrawn to form a lodge at Webster and thirteen to form one at North Grafton. Elective officers at present time : N. G., George F. Chase ; V. G., Charles A. Gould; R. S., Dexter Rogers ; Perm. Secretary, J. A. Coffin. Appointed officers: R. S. to N. G., Charles Whitworth; L. S. to N. G., F. K. Ogden; R. S. to V. G., Frederick D. Goss; L. S. to V. G., Charles Dursthoff; L. G., A. M. Stone; O. G., Henry F. Hobart ; R. S. S., John H. Barron ; L. S. S., G. T. Anderson ; Conductor, Leon A, Power; Warden, L. H. Bracket; Chaplain, Herbert A. Ryan.

A thief-detecting society was established in this town fifty-eight years ago, which includes among its number many of the prominent men of the town.

LAWYERS .- The first lawyer that we have a record of in what is now Millbury was Amos Singletary, who was born near the outlet of Singletary Pond. He was at one time a justice of the peace and quorum, an im- portant position in those days. A bail commissioner with a tender heart, he was often imposed upon by the rascals of those days.

Aaron Peirce, Esq., was another of the old-time lawyers, whose services were often called into requi- sition. He was prominent in the legal business of the town in early times. Josiah S. Prentice and Josiah Stiles were also, to a certain extent, in law business in the early history of the town. Of Thomas Pope we would speak also, who resided near the old Common in 1813, Among the later disciples of the green bag fraternity may be mentined Gen. Wm. S. Lincoln, Alex. Hamilton, E. W. Lincoln, who came here from Worcester to get their hand in. Others

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were Abraham G. Randall, Geo. W. Livermore, Asa H. Waters, C. R. Miles, Daniel J. Paul and others of lesser note. In the days of the old justice of the peace courts, Millbury was quite a busy place for the scribes, but with the decline of their power the num- ber of lawyers became less. Of the present ones in town, John Hopkins, Esq., came here from Black- stone soon after being admitted to the bar of the county. He has become eminent as a criminal law- yer, and has been very successful also in civil cases. It is generally admitted that as a criminal lawyer he has few equals at the Worcester bar. H. W. Aiken, Esq., is a young and rising lawyer who does much town business. Col. Geo. A. Flagg was formerly in practice here, but his time now is mostly given else- where. Charles B. Perry, Esq., has also lately been admitted to practice.

PHYSICIANS .- The first physician we can learn of in what is now Millbury was Doctor Boylston, who owned the great Cedar Swamp, and who also owned land near by, on which it was proposed, in 1743, to build the church of the Second Parish of Sutton. The old doctor must go down to posterity compara- tively unknown, for but little can be found in regard to him. Another of the early doctors was Azor Phelps, who lived not far from the church on the old Common.

Dr. Phineas Longley will be remembered by the oldest citizens as a gentleman of the old school, whose members are nearly extinct.

It is related of Dr. Green, of Auburn, that many years ago he visited a patient at West Millbury some half-dozen times, for which he charged the enormous sum of thirty-seven cents, the patient being in rather humble circumstances.

Dr. William M. Benedict was another early doctor, quite prominent in business and town affairs also. Contemporary with him was Dr. Amasa Braman, whose time was more given to business than to the practice of his profession.

Dr. Asa Andrews was a young and promising phy- sician, who, in attending a patient, contracted blood- poisoning, which ended what promised to be a useful life.

Dr. William B. Moore was a good physician in his day. Dr. Joseph E. Corlew was a skillful man, and performed some remarkable cures. Dr. D. S. C. H. Smith, of Sutton, also practiced here to a considera- ble extent.

is still active. Dr. Webber is much interested in natural history, being considered a good authority in such matters. He is also a member of the Worcester Society of Antiquity. He was formerly chairman of the School Committee, and has done much in many ways for the prosperity of the town.

Dr. William H. Lincoln has practiced here for many years, and has had a good share of the cases that have arisen. He has been surgeon of the Grand Army of the Republic post, and is quite active in town affairs.

Dr. R. Booth also has a large practice among both the native and foreign population. He is considered a skillful physician in his school of medicine.

Dr. J. R. Lincoln also began practice here here in 1888. He is a son of Dr. William H. Lincoln, and a graduate of the Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Cyrus Carter and Dr. George F. Jordan, lo- cated in other places, are both natives of Millbury.

In 1853 Dr. Henry G. Davis was located in Mill- bury, and made a specialty of curvatures and clnb- feet. .

Mr. Maurice Welch, one of our adopted citizens, a son of an old Irish physician, has long been known as a natural bone-setter. Although not in regular practice, yet his services are often called into requisi- tion by people of all classes.

Of the homeopathic school may be mentioned Dr. Southgate, one of the early ones; also Dr. Under- wood and Dr. H. A. Clarke in 1871, who died young. He was succeeded by Dr. C. C. Slocomb, from Rut- land, Mass., who was a faithful and conscientious man. In his prime he was stricken down with paral- ysis, from which he never fully recovered. Dr. B. F. Green also practiced here to some extent.

Dr. George A. Slocomb succeeded to his father's business, and has built up for himself a large prac- tice, in which he takes much interest. He enjoys the distinction of presiding at the birth of the quar- tette of girls born in 1888 to Mr. and Mrs. Frank De Groote, an opportunity which few physicians of this or any other country can boast of having had. Dr. Slocomb is a member of the School Committee, and a graduate of the Millbury High School.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS .- The Millbury Bank was founded by Asa Waters in 1825. Mr. Waters procured its charter and was its first president. This bank was in 1843 robbed of nearly $20,000, but most of the money was recovered. The bank was changed from a State to a national bank in 1864. The present officers are C. D. Morse, president ; Amos Armsby, cashier ; C. D. Morse, H. S. Warren, John Rhodes, L. L. Whitney, A. Armsby, David Atwood, directors.

A generation ago we find practicing here Dr. Leonard Spanlding. He was a man of good educa- tion, fine address and universally respected-mod- erate in his charges, sympathetic in his nature, he made friends with all. He had quite an influence in The amount of deposits, January 28, 1889, subject to check at sight, was $148,400. Present capital, $200,000. town affairs, and was much interested in educational matters. He was also well versed in historical mat- ters and antiquarian lore. He was succeeded by Dr. The Millbury Savings Bank .- This institution was organized July, 1854, and has proved a well-managed George C. Webber, who has a large practice and has been very successful in the profession, in which he | institution. Its deposits amounted in January, 1889,

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to $715,000. Reserve fund, $21,000. The officers are David Atwood, treasurer; L. L. Whitney, presi- dent. Board of Investment, L. L. Whitney, C. D. Morse, Ira N. Goddard, Royal Thayer, John Gegen- heimer, D. T. March.

BUSINESS .- For three-fourths of a century, Millbury has been quite a manufacturing centre. With natural water-power, her advantages have been great. The business early centred along its water-courses. The first privilege at the outlet of Singletary Pond was the old grist-mill of Ebenezar Daggett, who had this right given him of a pond of six hundred acres and a farm, on condition that he maintain a grist-mill there, which he failed to do, and the privilege was returned to the proprietors of Sutton. We find John Singletary next in possession, and his mill-door be- came the bulletin-board for the North Parish, at the time of its organization. Why Mr. Daggett returned this privilege to Sutton is not known. A saw-mill was afterwards built, and at one time plaster was here ground. This privilege and the land and water- power from here to the paper-mill afterwards came into the hands of General Caleb Burbank. About 1828 or 1830, the old buildings which stood here were fitted up for the manufacture of cotton-batting un- der the charge of Deacon Henry Mills.

Just previous to 1835, a Boston company were en- gaged here in the manufacture of woolen goods. Becoming involved the creditors formed what was known about 1838 as the Singletary Manufacturing Company.

Samuel Marble, the old hand-scythe maker, once had a shop near the old bridle-path that went to the paper-mill ; near the old outlet of the pond, traces of this old mill and path can still be seen. Captain Amasa Wood was president of the old Singletary Company, aud the president, with Samuel Davis (one of the earliest lessees of Court Mills, Worcester), and A. G. Stiles, Horace Waters and Asa Hunting, di- rectors. The assets of the company were $52,620.22. This company was formed to secure debts dne to its members from the Boston concern, but in this they were disappointed. After a few years this company also went down. We find after them a concern called Boston & Millbury Co., then Pierce, Mills & Wheeler, Farnum & Jenks, then Mowry Farnum, Farnum & Wheeler, next Jonathan D. Wheeler. Later the Wheeler Cotton-Mills Company was formed, an in- corporated company-W. H. Wheeler, president ; H. F. Wing, treasurer, by whom the mills are now run. Their capital is about $80,000. The Boston & Mill- bury Co.'s mill was burnt in 1843. The mill of Far- num & Jenks was burnt the 5th of April, 1846. There have also been other fires at this place.

General Burbank and his father, Abijah, it seems, at one time were the owners of most of the water privileges on Singletary Stream, or Burbank River. Where the Stonemetz Printers' Machinery Company's shop now is was a shop used by the general. About

1828 a machine-shop was built here by Harvey Waters. On this spot, also, Samuel Marble had at one time operated a scythe-shop. Previous to 1837 the Woodward Bros. operated the woolen-mill which was built about that time. It then passed into the hands of Woodward & Gorton, who run it awhile on both woolen and cotton goods until about 1842, they being succeeded by Abijah Larned, then Jonas A. Hovey & Co. ; from them it passed to Jonathan A. Pope; from him to James Brierly & Co .; thence again to Pope in 1851, and later to Emerson & Brierly. Some time later Crane & Waters pur- chased the privilege, which they sold to L. L. Whitney in 1877, who run it on yarns until 1884, when the mill was burnt. In 1886 the present ma- chine-shop was erected and leased to a company from Erie, Penn., known as the Stonemetz Company, who manufacture printers' machinery. This company do quite an extensive business, their products going to all parts of the country.

We next come to the old paper-mill site of Captain Abijah Burbank, established in 1776. It was the first paper-mill in the county, and was chiefly relied upon for paper during the Revolution by the printers of this region. In 1783 it passed into the hands of Gen- eral Caleb Burbank, son of Abijah, who ran it until 1834, when, becoming involved with his brother Elijah, at Quinsigamond Village, Worcester, he failed, and the business passed from his hands. His successor was Silas Goddard, a former em- ployee. Later the business passed into the hands of Brierly & Co., who run on paper up to about 1857. F. H. Richmond next became the owner of the privilege, who sold to M. A. Lapham, the

present owner, in 1863. Mr. Lapham built a fine brick mill, which was burnt in July, 1876. A larger mill was afterwards built about 1879, which is run on fine woolen goods, said to be of pure quality. Additions have been made to the mill from time to time, until it is one of the finest mills in town. The superintendent is Mr. F. A. Lapham.

Just below the Lapham mill is the old privilege of Braman & Benedict. In early times John Wa- ters had a clothier's mill here-wool-carding and the like, for we find that Simeon Waters succeeded him at this place in 1808. The same year the second armory was built. A factory was built here by Braman & Benedict. Smith & Pratt were here in 1845 and as late as 1851, and after that time Syl- vester Smith run alone awhile. Various concerns have occupied the mill at different times, namely : Jonathan A. Pope, Braman Cotton-Mill Co., Emerson & Brierly, J. H. Mason & Co., John Rhodes took the mill about 1872, and it is still run by him on cot- tou warp.

Just below the Braman factory is the old site of the Revolutionary powder-mill,1 run at one time by

1 It is said this mill was accidentally blown up by two boys.

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Asa Waters the first. From this old mill powder was furnished to the patriots of those days. Some of the foundation can yet be seen. Near by, on the other side of the little pond, where are the ruins of the Tona or Walling mill, an old shop once stood, erected in 1836, and used as late as 1851 by Leland & Sabin as a machine-shop, for the manufacture of looms and other machinery. Here, too, paper of a coarse kind was at one time made by them. After Leland & Sabin came Benchley & Jackson. About 1854 the Walling mill was erected. It was run for a time under the name of J. C. Howe & Co., and for a long time after by Nelson Walling. After Mr. Wall- ing's death another company run the mill some time, when it was burned. It was lately known as the Iona Mill. Mr. Walling, while running the mill, made fancy cassimeres.

In 1793, just below Burbank's paper-mill, was an oil-mill, and between that and the ruins of the old powder-mill was a fulling-mill, probably the site of the factory of Braman & Benedict. At the oil-mill referred to above, Jonathan Holman, Asa Waters and others were at different times interested in the management. In those early days such mills were quite common. On this stream seems to have centred the earliest business of the North Parish.

The next privilege on this stream is that of the Crane & Waters Manufacturing Company. Here a small mill and dam was built in 1825. This was the old Waters & Goodell mill. In 1831 broadcloth was made at this mill of an excellent quality. In 1849 this concern came to an end. Mr. Horace Waters remained at this place, and began the manufacture of hosiery. Soon after Hosea Crane became a partner with him in the business until the death of Mr. Crane. The business was continued under the same firm- name until it was merged into a corporation in 1885. Mr. O. H. Waters and Mr. Royal Thayer are largely interested here. At this place for a long term of years an excellent quality of knit goods have been manufactured.

The last privilege on this stream, which in Revo- lutionary days was one and the same with the Crane & Waters privilege, is now occupied by John Rhodes as a mill for the manufacture of cotton warp.

Just below the dam was situated the Revolutionary armory of Asa and Andrus Waters. Here guns were made in those stirring times. From here to the old Braman factory seems to have been a territory con- trolled by the Waters family for a long period of time. The Rhodes or the Stone mill was built in 1828 by Elder Sammuel Waters, who put in machinery and manufactured cotton thread. In 1833 Jonathan A. Pope was agent at this mill.1 Afterwards Briggs & Waters run it. In 1850 a company known as Russell Phelps & Co. was formed for the manufacture of hosiery here. The company had a capital of

twenty thousand dollars, and Horatio Phelps, the old loom manufacturer of Worcester, was a silent part- ner. In 1851 this mill was located on the map as the hosiery-mill of Orra Goodell, but was probably occu- pied by Phelps & Co. Quite a business was done by them for a short time. The next concern to occupy this mill was Jonas A. Hovey. It next passed to Rhodes & Merry in 1854, and from them to John Rhodes, the present owner.

This is the last water-power on Mill Brook, a stream that has from the earliest times furnished good power for the mills of this region. About 1827 an old building stood near this privilege, which was used for the manufacture of hoes and scythes, and was run by Timothy Longley. After the close of the Revolu- tionary armory it was converted into a manufactory for scythes, axes and mill-irons. Their trip-hammers, bellows and grindstones went by water-power. This business was carried on also by Asa Waters, the first, with others.

On the stream coming from Ramshorn Pond, a little above where the present mill of Edwin Hoyle & Son is situated, was the old dam of Follansbee & Trask, who there had a scythe-shop. It next passed into the hands of Noah Crossman, who carried on the same business, which was known as the Upper Trip- hammer Shop. Connected with Follansbee at this place at one time was a Mr. Phelps. At this place, in 1837, Perley Whipple, the old scythe manufacturer, erected a small mill for the carding and spinning business, also for the manufacture of stocking yarn. It was burnt in 1839. Previous to this, however, the building had been used by Bigelow & Mann, who leased it from Whipple. Where the mill of Messrs. Hoyle now stands a mill had been erected, which was used by Amos Eddy and others as a grist-mill. Later the property passed to Elisha Jacobs ; from Jacobs to Simeon S. Waters, from him to H. I). Tripp and thence to William and Charles Lum - bard. William Lumbard having retired, it was occu- pied by Charles until the Ramshorn disaster in 1873. After that, in 1877, the privilege was bought by Hoyle & Windle, who repaired the old mill, which had been badly wrecked, and used it for wool-scouring. Mr. Win- dle retiring in 1879, Mr. Hoyle, in 1880, erected a brick mill, and later a storehouse near by, for his increas- ing business. In 1888 the mill was enlarged by the addition of another story to manufacture hosiery yarn. A large business is here done in wool, In 1884 Charles E. Hoyle was admitted a partner.

The next privilege, where S. A. Savary's shop is, was the old scythe-shop of Amos Eddy. It later was run by Noah Crossman, and known as the Lower Trip-hammer Shop. Captain Joseph Griggs next occupied the privilege, where he had a fulling-mill for leather and tanned sheepskins. Just across the way he had a shop for striping bindings for shoes, which is now owned by Hiram Kenney. From Griggs the Eddy privilege passed to B. Morris, who

: Later Orra Goodell here had a hosiery-mill.

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MILLBURY.

had a wood-working shop. It passed again to the Griggs heirs, from thence to Mr. Savary. He built the present brick shop, the lower story of which is used as a blacksmith-shop and the upper story for woodwork.

The next privilege is what is known as the old Blanchard Shop-the birth-place of the eccentric lathe. It was formerly used by Thomas Blanchard as a machine and wood-work establishment. Mr. Blanchard here brought out one of the first shearing- machines for cloth in this region. After he es- tablished his claim to the eccentric lathe he re- moved from town. This old building was for a long time used by the Elliotts (Andrew and Carter) for the grinding of black lead-they being interested in what was called " Elliott's Worcester Coal Mine." Later the old shop came into the hands of Abijah Gleason, who also carried on the same business, Mr. Gleason being among the first to put up the lead in packages for stove polish. The Elliotts and Mr. Gleason also shipped this material to seaport places for painting the hulls of vessels. The building was next used by Buckley W. Snow, and later by Birney W. Snow, for the manufacture of hubs, spokes, etc. In 1873 the privilege passed to J. A. Dike, who en- gaged in the turning of chisel handles, etc. He, in 1888, sold to H. W. Glover, who still carries it on.

The next concern on the Ramshorn stream pre- vious to 1800 was the oil-mill of Jonathan Holman. It was connected with the old saw-mill which had existed there from the earliest times, but which was destroyed by the Ramshorn disaster in 1873. Before the year 1800, and up to the time of that disaster, just below this saw and oil-mill, extensive tanning and currying works had existed. Among the earliest tanners here was Joseph Waters. Soon after 1800 a stock company was formed, composed of Mr. Abbot, Benjamin Whitney, Lieutenant John Jacobs, Colonel Fay and other Millbury people. One after another withdrew, and a company was formed as Griggs, Abbott & Whitney. Later, Captain Joseph Griggs carried on the business. Captain Amasa Wood also at one time operated the tannery after 1830. Captain Griggs again assumed the management, and carried on the business many years. It next came into the hands of Salem Griggs, a nephew of the captain. Mr. David Marble was at one time connected with him in the currying department of the business. The tanning works were destroyed in 1873 by the Ramshorn disaster. About 1880 Thomas Windle bought the privilege, including the old saw-mill and the ruins of the tannery, and erected soon after the present mill used for wool-scouring; later, an addi- tion was built for the manufacture of cloth-folding machinery, and occupied by J. E. Windle & Co .; but the business after a year or two was removed to Worces- ter. The next privilege on this stream was, in former times, a scythe shop, also run hy Noah Crossman.

In 1870, or about that year, John G. Wood bought

this privilege, and built a dam, which in 1873 was nearly destroyed by the Ramshorn disaster. It was soon rebuilt, and he removed here the old West Con- gregational Church, which he had bought about 1871. To it was added the Union Hall building, which formerly stood on the site of the old school- house at West Millbury, which was in fact the old school-house itself remodeled. The two buildings were converted into a cotton factory, and run as such a while, but were burned in 1876. Some time later, John S. Rich bought the privilege and erected a grist-mill, and, a short time after, a shoddy-mill, both of which he now carries on. At this place Mr. Rich's son, John, was drowned in 1888 by his horse backing off the dam.

At the time Thomas Blanchard was in his shop at West Millbury, Asa Kenney had a brass foundry opposite; he had established on this spot the first brass foundry in Central Massachusetts years before. In connection with it he had a room where he manufac- tured clocks, gold beads, trusses, silver spoons, sur- geons' lancets, etc. The first brass balls for cattles' horns used in this region were here made by him. Mr. Kenney contested with Blanchard the right to the patent for the eccentric lathe, but was beaten in the court of arbitration, held on the old Common, in Mill- bury. At this village, in 1854, T. W. Childs was carrying on the currying business. John G. Wood also at one time carried on the same business. Ephraim Goulding and Silas G. Carlton at one time manufactured shoes here. Near where the farm- house of Maurice Welch stands, at West Millbury, was formerly a tannery. It was in early times run by Lieut. John Jacobs, Joseph Griggs and a Col. Fay, from Westboro', Lieut. Jacobs owning it at the time. Some of the buildings were afterwards re- moved to the old tan-yard privilege, on Ramshorn Brook, in which Mr. Jacobs became interested. A saw-mill existed at one time near the Erastus Davis place, not far from Ramshorn Pond. It was known as Bartlett's mill.

After the closing up of the brass foundry of Asa Kenney, Hiram Kenney, a son, built a small one on land now owned by him, and did quite a business in brass work, supplying gun shops and other manufac- tories. He afterwards closed the business and en- gaged in wood-work. His carts and wheels were con- sidered the best made in the county.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 53

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