USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 59
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203
Cheron J. Elwell.
Joseph D. Richmond.
Charles Edmunds.
George W. Robinson.
Marcus A. Emmons.
Alfred D. Ruggles.
August Ernst.
George H. Ralston.
Peter Greb, sergt.
Carl Rammelsburg.
Henry 11. Granger, lieut.
Thomas M. Stanton.
Ebenezer W. Gleason.
Henry M. Sherman.
James H. Gleason.
Thomas Shannon.
John L. Gore.
Eugene Southworth.
Clark Hill.
Fraocis Spooner.
Thomas Ilunt.
George J. Saoger, lient.
Edwin W. Hammond.
Harmar C. Spooner, sergt.
Rodolphus W. Homer.
lienry A. Spooner, corp.
John llarper.
Sardius J. Sibley.
George C. Ilowe, mns.
James M. Smith.
W'm. H. Hinunter.
Joseph P. Snow.
James Higgins.
Stuart M. Stafford.
Henry C. Hack, corp.
Albert S. Sturtevant.
Wm. Hickey.
Alvah F. Southworth.
Samuel Johnson.
Wm. M. Smith.
Francis Keuna.
Albert S. Sturtevant.
Samnel King.
James L. W. Thayer.
Samuel W. Knight.
Andrew J. Thayer.
Frank S. Knight.
Elmer M. Thayer.
Henry Lowe.
Samuel E. Thayer.
George F. Lawrence.
James B. T. Tupper.
Edward Lunt.
Oramel F. Thrasher.
James O. Mahoney.
Gilman E. Warner.
Bernard McHleough.
Thomas Winn.
Michael Muldoon.
Hiram A. Wyman.
Charles E. Mahen.
Philip Wagner.
Wm. H. Mayhew.
Adin P. Wetherbee.
Malcolm McGregor.
Charles J. Wood.
Hiram V. Moulton.
Josiah W. Witt.
Thomas McGinnis.
John Wheeler (2d).
Franklin Nye.
Stephen Wickizen.
John O'Brich
James B. Wade.
Joseph Patrick.
The industries of Hardwick, aside from agriculture, are chiefly confined to the Page Paper Company, which is in successful operation, and the George H. Gilbert Manufacturing Company, engaged in the manufacture of flannels. Until within a few years other paper-mills were in operation, and in earlier times there were forges and furnaces doing profitable work, and employing a considerable number of hands. The George H. Gilbert Manufacturing Company is the successor of George H. Gilbert & Co., and was incorporated May 27, 1867, with an authorized capital of $600,000. On the 1st of April, 1868, it was organ- ized with a capital of $250,000, and George H. Gil- bert and Lewis N. Gilbert were chosen president and treasurer. The company operates five mills-one granite mill on the Ware side of the river, where the office of the company is situated, and four of brick,
John Bante. Henry Bigelow. Sanforth Botham. William Brown.
Warren J. Barnes.
Silas D. Marsh.
John Watts.
HARDWICK.
1136
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
on the Hardwick side of the river, in what is called Gilbertville. They own besides three or four hun- dred acres of land and about two hundred tene- ments, which constitute, with the factories, the most extensive plant for the manufacture of flannels in the United States. George II. Gilbert was born in Brooklyn, Conn., February 15, 1806, and removed to Pomfret, where he lived until he was eighteen years of age. He then went to Sutton, in Massachusetts, and learned the earpenter's trade. From 1827 to 1832 he lived in Woreester, and was engaged in the occupation of a machinist. In 1832 he removed to North An- dover, and was employed as a journeyman in a machine-shop until, as a partner in the firm of Barnes, Gilbert & Richardson, he began the business of mann- facturing woolen machinery, to which, finally, Davis & Furber succeeded. In August, 1841, he removed to Ware, and, in connection with Charles A. Stevens, of North Andover, bought the property of the Hamp- shire Manufacturing Company, on the south side of Ware River, including land and woolen-mill, for the sum of $35,000. The business of the mill, carried on by its owners under the firm-name of Gilbert & Stevens, was at first confined to the manufacture of broadcloth and cloakings, with five sets of machin- ery, but was soon changed to the manufacture of flannels. In 1846 the firm built a granite-mill in Ware, on the privilege next below the other mill, which was taken by Mr. Gilbert on the dissolution of the partnership, in 185t. On the 1st of July, 1857, Mr. Gilbert formed a partnership with his nephew, Lewis N. Gilbert, under the title of George H. (filbert & Co. Lewis N. Gilbert was a native of Pomfret, and entered his uncle's office in 1851, at the age of fifteen years, and consequently became a partner at the early age of twenty-one. In May, 1860, the firm bought a water privilege in Hardwiek, on the same stream, with a spoke-shop and twenty acres of land, on which several tenements stood, and erected a brick mill. This was the birth of Gilbertville, which has since become so important a part of the old town. In 1863 a second mill was built, in 1864, a third, and in 1867, a fourth. After the death of Mr. George H. Gilbert, which occurred May 6, 1869, Lewis N. Gilbert became president, and Charles D. Gilbert, son of the deceased president, born in Ware in 1846, became treasurer.
It is not necessary, in the limited space awarded to this sketch, to trace the history of the school system of the town. It is sutheient to say that it has kept pace with that of other small towns, and during the last year a high school house has been built on land presented to the town by Miss Mary R. Mixter. Sue- eessful efforts have been made in earlier times in the direction of a higher education than the common schools afford. During the pastorate of Rev. John Goldsbury he opened an advanced school, and after the erection of the town-house, in 1838, its use was granted to Mr. Goldsbury for what was called a High School. There are now fifteen schools in the town,
with an average membership of four hundred and sev- enteen. For the maintenance of these schools, accor- ding to the last annual report of the selectmen, the sum of four thousand seven hundred dollars was ap- propriated at the annual meeting in 1887. The fol- lowing list of expenditures by the town for the year ending February 18, 1888, will throw some light on the condition of the town and its municipal manage- ment :
For High School building, on account .. $2,744.57
" repairs of school-houses. 58,52
county tax 1,003.00
State tax 1,687 50
State aid. 240.00
= contingent expenses.
3,200,42
soow bills
359.28
highways.
3,106,95
new roads
798.58
" schools
4,566.23
poor
1,414.14
=
town debt
36,978.61
taxes abated
482.38
town farm 1,060 90
setting stone at Gilbert ville .. 48.60
" sidewalk .....
261.10
Total .. $58,010.78
The treasurer states in his report that the sum of two thousand one hundred dollars was due on the High School house, making the entire cost of the building, including the cost of plan and specifications, $4844.57.
Some idea of the representative men of the town in the different generations since its incorporation may be derived from the following lists of persons who have, since the incorporation of the town, served on the Board of Selectmen and represented the town or representative district of which the town has formed a part in the General Court :
Selectnur u.
1739. John Wells.
Benjamin Smith.
Constant Merrick.
Eleaser Warner.
William Thomas,
1747. Joseph Allen. Constant Merrick.
1740. 1740. Joseph Alleu.
Eleaser Warner.
John Wells.
1748. Joseph Allen.
Jonathan Warner.
Samnel Robinson. Eleaser Warner.
Christopher Paige.
John Foster.
1749. Benjamin Ruggles. Constant Merrick. Christopher Paige.
1741. Samuel Robinson.
John Wells. Christopher Paige. John Foster. Jonathan Warner.
1750. Joseph Allen. Benjamin Ruggles Christopher Paige.
1742. Joseph Allen.
Samuel Robinson.
Jonathan Warner. Constant Merrick. George Abbott.
1743. Benjamin Ruggles. Eleaser Warner. Christopher Paige.
1744. Benjamin Ruggles. Eleaser Warner. Christopher l'aige.
1745. Joseph Allen.
Jonathan Warner. Nathaniel Whitcomb.
1751. Joseph Allen. Jonathan Warner. Christopher Paige.
1752. Samuel Robinson. Benjamin Ruggles. Nathaniel Whitcomb.
1753 Benjamin Ruggles. Nathaniel Whitcomb. Samuel Robinson.
1754. Samuel Robinson. Benjamin Knggles Timothy Ruggles.
1755. Samnel Robinson. Benjamin Ruggles.
1746. Benjamin Ruggles. Eleaser Warner. Joseph Allen.
4 .
=
1137
HARDWICK.
Elisha Hedge.
Win. Paige.
Daniel Egery.
1793. Prince Nye. Job Dexter. James Paige, Jr. Prince Nye. Elijah Warner.
1794. Job Dexter. Prince Nye. James Paige, Jr. Elijah Warner.
1795. Elijah Warner.
1759. Benjamin Ruggles. Nathaniel Whitcomb. Elisha Hedge.
1779. Stephen Rice. Jonathan Warner. Timothy Paige. Elijah Warner.
1780. Stephen Rice.
1796. Jeduthan Spooner. Seth Hinkley, Jr. Prince Nye. Job Dexter.
1761. Benjamin Ruggles. Paul Mandell. John Cooper.
Abraham Knowlton. Timothy Paige. Elijah Warner. John Hastings.
1797. Jonathan Danforth. Jeduthan Spooner. Prince Nye. Job Dexter.
1762. Constant Merrick. Elisha Hedge. Stephen Fay.
1781. Aaron Barlow. Ichabod Dexter. Ephraim Pratt. Isaiah Hatch. David Allen.
1763. Constant Merrick. Elisha Hedge. Stephen Fay.
1764. Constant Merrick. Elisha Hedge. Stephen Fay.
1782. David Allen. Daniel Billings. Elijah Warner. Ichabod Dexter. leaiah Hatch.
1783. Charles Doolittle.
James Paige, Jr. David Allen. Daniel Egery. John Paige. 1784. James Paige, Jr.
1800. Samuel Hinkley. Jeduthan Spooner Moses Maudell. 1801. Samuel Beals.
1817. Joseph Stone. Moses Allen. Jason Mixter. Timothy Paige.
1768. Joseph Allen. Ezra Leonard, Roland Sears. 1769. Joseph Allen. Wm. Paige. Roland Sears.
1785. David Allen. Ichabod Dexter. James Paige, Jr. John Paige. Moses Mandell. 1786. James Lawton.
1770. Benjamin Ruggles. Constant Merrick. Joseph Warner .. Paul Mandell.
Moses Mandell. James Paige, Jr. Timothy Newton. Daniel Warner.
1771. Joseph Allen.
Roland Sears. Thomas Robinson. Wm. Paige. Daniel Warner.
1787. Daniel Billings. . Daniel Egery. Seth Pierce. Nathaniel Paige. Seth Johnson.
1788. Job Dexter.
Seth Johnson. Seth Pierce. Daniel Egery. Daniel Billings.
1805. Samuel Hinkley. Timothy Paige. Job Dexter. Seth Pierce. James Paige, Jr.
1806. Lemuel Newton. Jason Mixter. Samuel Hinkley. Timothy Paige. Prince Nye.
1807. Elijah B. Harman. Jason Mixter. Samuel Hinkley. Timothy Paige. Prince Nye. 180S. Henry Fish. Jason Mixter. Samuel Hinkley. Timothy Paige. Prince Nye.
1809. Henry Fish. Jason Mixter. Timothy Paige. Prince Nye. Samuel Hinkley.
IS10. Same.
1767. Joseph Allen.
1777. Wm. Paige. Thomas Robinson. Timothy Newton. David Allen. Timothy Paige.
1778. W'm. Paige.
Samuel Robinson. Panl Mandell. 1758. Benjamin Ruggles.
Nathaniel Whitcomb. Elisha Hedge.
Gamaliel Collins. Daniel Billings. John Hastings. Timothy Paige.
1811. Samuel Dexter, Jr. Henry Fish, Elijah B. Harman. Jonathan Warner. Jeduthan Spooner. 1812. Jeduthan Spooner. Henry Fish. Samuel Dexter, Jr. Moses Allen. Jonathan Warner.
1813. Moses Allen. Lewis Howe. Samuel Eastman. Samuel Dexter, Jr. Jonathan Warren.
1814. Thomas R. Smith. Thomas Egery. Samuel Eastman. Lewis Howe. Moses Allen.
1
1815. Moses Wheeler. Thomas R. Smith. Thomas Egery. Samuel Eastman. Moses Allen.
1816. Samnel Billings. Thomas R. Smith. Thomas Egery. Samuel Eastman.
1767. Joseph Allen. Ezra Leonard. Roland Sears.
Daniel Billings. David Allen. John Paige.
Samuel Hinkley. Daniel Rnggles, Timothy Paige. Moses Mandell.
1802. Moses Mandell.
Timothy Paige. Daniel Ruggles. Samuel Hinkley. Samnel Beals.
1803. Timothy Paige. Jab Dexter. Seth Pierce. Samuel Hinkley. James Paige, Jr.
1820. Ezra Ruggles. Joseph Stone. Samuel Billings. Moses Allen, Timothy Paige.
1821. Seth F. Cutler. Joseph Stone. Samuel Billings. Moses Allen. Timothy Paige.
1822. William Walker. Samuel F. Cutler. Joseph Stone. Moses Allen. Sammel Billings.
1823. David Paige. William Walker. Sammel F. Cutler. Samuel Billings. Moses Allen.
Timothy Newton. Stephen Rice. Jonathan Warner. Elisha Billings. 1775. Paul Mandell. Wm. Paige. Stephen Rice. Jonathan Warner. John Bradish. 1776. Ezra Leonard.
Thomas Robinson. Daniel Warner. Abraham Knowlton. 72
1789. Daniel Billings. Daniel Egery. Seth Pierce. Seth Johnson. Job Dexter. 1790. Job Dexter.
Seth Johnson. Seth Pierce. Daniel Egery. Daniel Billings. 1791. James Paige, Jr. Seth Pierce. Lemuel Willis. Joh Dexter. Daniel Egery. 1792. Lemuel Willis. Job Dexter. Jamee Paige, Jr.
1798. Timothy Paige. Jeduthan Spooner. Timothy Paige. Prince Nye. Job Dexter.
1799. Daniel Ruggles. Timothy Paige. Jeduthan Spooner. Prince Nye. Job Dexter. Timothy Paige. Daniel Ruggles.
1765. Benjamin Ruggles. Paul Mandell. Wm. Paige.
1766. Joseph Allen. Paul Mandell. Wm. Paige.
1818. Samnel Billings. Joseph Stone. Moses Allen. Jason Mixter. Timothy Paige.
1819. Joseph Stone. Samuel Billings. Moses Allen. Jason Mixter. Timothy Paige.
1772. Joseph Allen. Paul Mandell. Wm. Paige. Thomas Robinson. Daniel Warner.
1804. Samuel Hinkley. Timothy Paige. Job Dexter. Seth Pierce. James Paige, Jr.
1773. Joseph Allen. Paul Mandell. Wm. Paige. Thomas Robinson. Daniel Warner. 1774. Panl Mandell
1824. Scotts Berry. William Walker. Samuel F. Cutler. Samuel Billings. Moses Allen. 1825. Moses Allen. Samuel Billings. Samuel F. Cutler.
1756. Joseph Allen. Samuel Robinson. Constant Merrick. Paul Mandell.
Prince Nye. John Hastings. Seth Hinkley, Jr.
1760. Constant Merrick. Paul Mandell. Ezra Leonard.
1138
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Martin Mandell. Ebenezer Perry.
1841. Erastus W. Paige. Wm. Mixter. Gardner Bartholomew. Wm. Anderson.
Haffield Gould.
1860. George Manly. Heury B. Gould.
Joseph W. Powers.
1874. Same.
1875. Alfred H. Richardson. Sammel S. Dengia. George Manly.
1828. Joseph Robinson (2d). Joseph Robinson. John Gilbert. Ebenezer Perry.
Scotte Berry.
Erastus W. Paige. Wm. Anderson.
Samuel S. Dennis.
1879. Same.
Joseph Robinson (2d). Scotts Berry.
John Raymond. Haffield Gould.
Orin Trow. Charles C. Spooner.
1882. Same.
Samnel Dexter, Jr.
Erastus W. Paige.
1867. Same.
1883. Same.
1830. Warren Smith.
Wm. Anderson.
1868. Same.
1884. Same.
John Raymond.
1869. Calvin W. Mann.
1885. Same.
Haffield Gonid.
Samuel S. Dennis,
1886. Same.
1846. Asa Sturtevant.
George Manly.
1887. Same.
1870. Same.
1888. Same.
1831. Marshall Nye.
Erastus W. Paige.
1871. Same.
Representatives.
1754. Timothy Ruggles.
1802. Same.
1755. Same.
1803. Same.
1756. None.
1804. Same.
1832. Walter Mandell.
Joseph Knox.
Charles C. Spooner.
1758. Same.
1806. Seth Pierce.
Marshall Nye.
John Deao.
1759. Timothy Rnggles.
Timothy Paige.
John Dean.
1848. Timothy Fay.
1760. None.
1907. Timothy Paige.
Haffield Gould.
Constant South worth.
1761. Timothy Ruggles.
1808. Same.
1833. Timothy P. Anderson. Joseph Whipple. Ebenezer Burt, Jr.
1849. Lilly S. Manly.
1765. None.
1811. Timothy Paige. Jeduthan Spooner.
1834. John Raymond.
1812. Same.
James Browning.
1850. Dwight Billings.
1768. None.
1813. Same.
Anson T. Allen.
Lilly S. Manly.
1769. None.
1814. Same.
Timothy P. Anderson. Walter Mandell.
1851. Orin Trow.
1771. Timothy Ruggles.
Jason Mixter.
1835. Elbridge Cotier.
Forester B. Aiken.
1772. None.
1816. Same.
Mark Haskill ..
Moses Lawrence.
1773. Panl Mandell.
1817. Timothy Paige.
Scotts Berry.
Dwight Billings.
1774. Same.
1818. Same.
Jason Mixter.
Constant Southworth.
1775. Stephen Rice.
1819. Same.
Moses Allen.
1852. James 11. Walker.
1776. William Paige.
1820. Same.
1836. Moses Allen.
1821. Same.
Thomas R. Smith.
1822. None.
Sam. F. Cutler.
1853. Joseph W. Powers.
1779. Same.
1823. Joseph Stone.
Haffield Gould.
Dwight Billings. John Raymond.
1781. Timothy Paige.
IS25. None.
1837. Charles C. Spooner.
1834. Joseph W. Powers.
1782. 1chabod Dexter.
1826. Samnel Billinge.
John Raymond. Haffield Gould.
Constant Southworth. John Raymond. Wm. Anderson.
1785. Jonathan Warner.
1829. Samuel Billings.
Thomas R. Smith. Jason Mixter.
1855. Adonijah Dennis.
1786. John Hastings.
1830. Moses Allen.
1838. Charles C. Spooner.
Alvin Cleveland.
1787. Martin Kinsley.
1788. Same.
1832. Moses Allen.
James Browning.
H. G. O. Monroe. Moses Lawrence.
Constant Sonthworth.
1790. Martin Kinsley.
1834. None.
HIaffield Gould. Jason Mixter.
1856. Henry B. Gould.
1791. Same.
1835. Samuel F. Cullen.
1839. Charles C. Spooner. John Raymond. James Browning. Ilafheld Gould. Jason Mixter.
1840. Adolphus Bartholomew.
George Manly.
Henry B. Gould. Joseph W. Powers.
1799. Jonathan Warner.
1843. Stephen W. Paige.
Wm. Anderson. John Raymond.
1958. George Manly.
1800. John Hastings.
1844. Same.
Haffield Gould.
Ilenry B. Gould.
180I. Same.
1845. None.
1827. Joseph Robineon. John Gilbert. Stephen Morton. Ebenezer Perry. Scotts Berry.
John Raymond. Hatfield Gould.
1843. Erastus W. Taige.
W'm. Mixter. Wm. Anderson.
George Manly.
Jolin Raymond. Haffield Gould.
1864. Samuel S. Dennis. Nathan W. Sargent. Constant South worth.
1877. George Warren. Samuel S. Dennis. George Manly.
1844. Asa Sturtevant.
1865. Charles C. Spooner.
Orin Trow.
1878 Same.
1829. Haffield Gould.
1866. Samuel S. Dennis. 1880. Same.
1881. Same.
Moses Allen.
1845. Asa Sturtevant.
Haffield Gonld. Joseph Robinson (2d). Joseph Robinson. Moses Allen.
Beals Thomas.
John Dean.
Haffield Gould.
1847. Constant Southworth.
Moses Allen.
Gardner Bartholomew. John Raymond.
1757. Timothy Ruggles
1805. Timothy Paige.
Charles C. Spooner.
1762. None.
1809. Same.
John Raymond.
1763. None.
1764. None.
1810. Timothy Paige. Jason Mixter.
Walter Mandell. John Dean.
Constant South worth. John Raymond.
1767. None.
John Raymond.
1770. Daniel Olwer.
1815. Timothy Paige.
Charles C. Spooner. John Raymond.
1778. William Paige.
1783. Same.
1827. Same.
1784. Stephen Rice.
1828. None.
John Raymond.
Joseph W. Powers. James H. Walker. Lilly S. Manly. Wm. Anderson.
1794. Martin Kinsley.
1838. Gardner Ruggles.
1795. Same.
1839. Same.
1857. Win. P. Ruggles.
1796. Same.
1840. John Raymond.
1797. None.
1841. Wm. Anderson.
Sardins Sibley.
1798. Jonathan Warner.
1842. Same.
1792. Same.
1836. None.
1837. Jason Mixter.
1793. None.
1831. None.
1789. None.
1833. Scotts Berry.
1780. William Paige.
1824. None.
Jason Mixter.
Joseph W. Powers. 1859. George Manly. Henry B. Gould. Joseph W. Powers,
1872. James H. Walker. George Manly. Samuel S. Dennie. 1873. Samuel S. Dennis. George Manly. James H. Walker.
1826. Wm. Sumner. Charles Paige. Scotts Berry. Joseph Stone. Ebenezer Perry.
1842. Erastus W. Paige. Win. Mixter. Wm. Anderson.
1861. Same. 1802. Same. 1863. Elbridge Mandell. Orin Trow. Constant Sonthworth.
1876. George Warren. Samnel S. Dennie.
Wm. Anderson.
John Raymond. Charlee C. Spooner.
John Dean.
1766. None.
1777. Stephen Rice.
1139
HARDWICK.
1846. None,
1847. Constant Southworth.
1848. None.
1854. Wm. Mixter.
1849. None.
1850. Franklin Ruggles,
1856. Wm. Mixter.
1851. Alvan Southworth.
1857. Constant Southworth.
The twenty-first article of amendments to the Con- stitution, making the House of Representatives con- sist of two hundred and forty members, and making provision for the creation of Representative districts, was adopted by the Legislatures of 1856 and '57, and ratified by the people in 1857. Under the ap- portionment of 1857, based on the census of that year, Hardwick and Barre constituted the Tenth Representative District of Worcester County, and were represented until the next apportionment as follows :
Charles Bremblecom, of Barre 1858-59
Forester B. Aiken, of Hardwick 1860
Orin Trow, of Hardwick 1861
J. Ilenry Goddard, of Barre 1862-63
Albert E. Knight, of Hardwick 1864
Amasa Gibson, of Barre. 1865
Samuel S. Dennis, of Ilardwick 1866
Under the apportionment of 1866, based on the census of 1865, Petersham, Dana, Phillipston, Hub- bardston, Barre, Hardwick and New Braintree con- stituted the Fourth Representative District of Wor- cester County, and were represented nntil the next apportionment as follows:
Addison H. Ilolland, of Barre .. 1867
Lyman Woodward, of Hubbardston. 1867
Win. Mixter, of Hardwick 1868
.J. Otis Hale, of Hubbardston 1868
Stephen D. Goddard, of Petersham 1869
Charles Wilcox, of New Braintree. 1869
James W. Jenkins, of Barre 1870
Jubal C. Gleason, of Hardwick 1870
James G. Smith, of Phillipston 1871
N. L. Johnson, of Dana ... 187]
Lyman Woodward, of Hubbardston 1872
Harding Woods, of Barre, 1872
Stepben D. Goddard, of Petersham, 1873
Charles A. Gleason, of New Braintree. 1873
Almond M. Orcutt, of Hardwick
1874
John W. Rice, of Barre 1874
Henry S. Miner, of Phillipston 1875
Albert E. Rice, of Barre, 1875
Henry S. Miner, of Phillipstou 1876
S. S. Gleason, of Hubbardstou 1876
Under the apportionment of 1876, based on the census of 1875, Dana, Hardwick, Barre, Oakham and New Braintree constituted the Tenth Representative District of Worcester County, and were represented until the next apportionment as follows :
John B. Fairbank, of Oakham 1877-78
Chauncey Loring, of Barre. 1879
Thomas P. Root, of Barre. 1880-81 James H. Walker, of Hardwick 1882
Allen W. Goodman, of Dana. 1883
George K. Tufts, of New Braintree 1884
George Manly, of Hardwick 1885
Jesse Allen, of Oakham 1886
Under the apportionment of 1886, based on the census of 1885, Barre, Dana, Petersham, Hardwick
and Rutland constitute the Third Representative District of Worcester County, and have been repre- sented as follows :
James F. Davis, of Barre. 1887
Albert L. Wiley, of Hardwick. 1888
George Ayres, of Petersham 1889
With reference to the agricultural industry of Hard- wick, the following extracts from the census of 1885 will give some idea of its extent and importance :
The animal products of the town are laid down as valued at $11,367, including beeswax, calfskins, hides, honey, manure, pelts and wool; the clothing and needlework at $511, including hats and mittens; the dairy products at 857,795, including butter, cheese and milk; the food products at $2,339, including canned fruit, catsup, dried fruit, horse-radish, ice, maple syrup, maple sugar, pickles and vinegar ; liquors and beverages at $3,097, including cider and wine; poultry products at $5,260, including eggs, feathers and poultry ; wood products at $14,375, in- cluding ashes, rails, fuel, lumber, posts and sleepers ; cereals at $11,755, including barley, buckwheat, corn, oats, rye, wheat; fruits, etc., at $15,121, including apples, barberries, cherries, cranberries, grapes, straw- berries, melons, quinces, etc. ; hay, straw and fodder at $66,312; meats and game at $14,432; vegetables at $10,754.
Since the establishment of the mills at Gilbertville and the opening of the Massachusetts Central and Ware River Railroads, Hardwick has been steadily gaining in population and wealth. In 1875 the pop- ulation was 1992; in 1880, 2233; and in 1885, 3145. The valuation of the town in 1885 was $1,333,258. With the advantages of good water-power, of well- established and successful manufacturing industries, and an easy access to markets, the future of Hard- wick can be no other than one of promise.
The space allotted to the writer having been filled, this imperfect sketch must close. For more thorough information than these few pages can furnish the reader is referred to the "History of Hardwick," written by Rev. Lucins Robinson Paige, a native of the town, and published in 1883. Mr. Paige has brought to the preparation of his work not only an affection for the place of his birth, but the instincts of an historian and the ability of a scholar. His "History " is marked by that accuracy of statement and thoroughness of research which have character- ized all his labors in the antiquarian and historic field. To the reader it is an abundant fountain of knowledge; to the writer it is a model which he may well follow in any historical work in which he may be engaged.
1852. Forester B. Aiken.
1853. None.
1855. James P. Lynde.
1140
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHARLES F. HITCHCOCK.
Says an old philosopher: " All men, whatever their condition, who have done anything of value, ought to record the history of their lives." Eventful periods occur at rare intervals in the lives of men the most distinguished; but even in their more re- tired walks of private life there are few whose lives are not marked by some vicissitudes of fortune, which, however trivial they may seem, are yet suf- ficient to excite great interest. The events which give the highest interest to biography are of a vola- tile and evanescent nature, and are soon forgotteu. It is the part of the biographer to collect these pass- ing events and fix them indelibly on the page of his- tory, that succeeding generations may know how their predecessors lived, what ideas governed them, what trials and difficulties they encountered, and how they overcame them, and even their domestic relations; for all these teach a lesson that will be serviceable by pointing out what paths lead to suc- cess and what roads are to be avoided as leading to failure. There is none so humble that his life can fail to be an object of interest when viewed in the right light. How much more will this interest be enhanced when we contemplate the life of a man who, by his own heroic struggles, has hewn out his own pathway to success and compelled the fates to grant him his reward. Most certainly one who, en- tirely by his own efforts, has attained affluence and social position, and, through all the changing events of life, has preserved his integrity unimpaired, is well deserving of the pen of the historian.
Such a man is the subject of this sketch. Charles Foster, son of Abner and Susan Hitchcock, was born in Brimfield, Mass., July 3, 1831. His boy life, spent with his parents, differed in no mate- rial respect from that of the average boy of his time. In winter he attended the country school, and in summer assisted his father upon the farm, thus early learning the need and importance of industry. The limited means of his parents necessitated econ- omy, and the lessons here learned of activity, pru- dence and unswerving honesty were the foundation walls upon which the superstructure of his upright and successful life has been erected.
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.