History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 98

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 98

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).

All of the above-mentioned are dead, except Shannon and Chamberlin.

Of those who practiced the longest was Dr. B. H. Tripp, whose term commenced in 1849 and ended at his death, in 1873. He built up a large practice in this and adjoining towns, to which he closely applied himself. He was held in esteem by the fraternity, and was often called in counsel on important cases. Dr. Tripp, with twelve other petitioners to the Leg- islature, May 10, 1869, were granted power to locate and build the Massachusetts Central Railroad from Williamsburg, in Hampshire County, to Mill Vil- lage, in Sudbury, in Middlesex County. None of the projectors of this enterprise did more to organ- ize and conduct the necessary preliminary work than he. Had it not been for his efforts this town might not have been favored with the good railroad facili- ties we now enjoy.

In comparing the business industries of fifty years ago with the present time, we find that there were in operation four grist-mills, six saw-mills, one chair factory, one satinet factory and one shoe-peg factory. Now we have five saw-mills, two shoddy-mills, one box-mill, one turning-mill, one basket factory, two woolen-mills and one butter creamery. During this period there sprang up quite a flourishing boot and shoe business. M. S. P. Dean built a large shoe- shop about three hundred feet in the rear of his hotel, where the " Muschopauge House " now stands, and carried on the manufacturing of boots and shoes for several years, employing thirty or forty hands.

Perhaps nearly or quite as many more took out Piece-work from this shop and other shops in adjoin- ing towns. This industry has nearly all died out, and there are probably not more than a half-dozen persons in town who are in any way engaged in the business. There was also carried on, for nearly fifty years, by the late David W. Fletcher, on " Pound Hill," one mile east of the Centre, a large carriage- building and repairing business. He had skilled workmen employed to build new work or repair, and make good any broken or defective part. Mr. Fletcher received the larger part of the patronage from this and the adjoining towns, which he was able to keep until he was eighty years old, when declin- ing years forced him to give up the business. He died in 1877, in his eighty-fourth year. Mr. David F. Smith has a carriage repair-shop at the Centre, where all the business is done in that line that is now done in town. The basket business at West Rutland, started by C. & A. J. Pierce, has also sprung up, where ten or twelve men are employed, and steam-power is used. In 1886 quite a number of the citizens, mostly farmers, organized themselves into an association, for the purpose of making butter, un- der the title of the " Rutland Co-Operative Creamery Association."

It had become quite a serious question with many farmers, who found it almost impossible to manu- facture their dairy products at home, on account of the overworked housewife and the incompetency of ser- vants, to find out the best way of disposing of this particular work. A good substantial building was erected and equipped, with suitable machinery and apparatus, and commenced the manufacture of but- ter the same year the company was organized. The services of Mr. E. J. Prouty, of this town, who had been a long time engaged in the business in the West, was secured to take the management of the business. The butter produced is uniform in quality and uni- formly good, has a high reputation and so great is the demand that it is impossible to fill the orders. There are two stores at the Centre-one kept by F. A. Nichols and the other store, post-office and market by H. Converse. Two at West Rutland-one by J. W. Adams and the other store and market by F. B. Stearns; also one store at North Rutland, kept by C. H. Young.

Rutland being an agricultural town, farming must be the leading industry. There are many well-kept farms, which testify to the good management of the owners. Although the condition of the farmer has very materially changed within the past forty or fifty years, yet his condition is not so deplorable now as some would have you believe. Many of the pro- ducts which he then could raise with profit for the market are met with such competition from the West that he has to turn his attention to raising and pro- ducing such crops as find a ready market at good Because fortunes are not made rapidly by

prices.

1297

RUTLAND.

farming, and the city affords greater attractions, only a few young men stay on the farm, yet, undoubtedly, a larger per cent. of those who do remain meet with success in life than of those who go away. The fathers and mothers being left thus alone, or to carry on the farm with the assistance of such help as must be accepted, often become discouraged, and sell the "old homestead."

Many farms have changed ownership during the past few years. But very few have been deserted, however, and some of our best farmers are among those who have recently come into town. A " Far- mers' Club " has been in successful existence for nearly twenty-five years, and its meetings afford excellent opportunity for the interchange of views on faru topics.

The same spirit was aroused at the commencement of the Civil War that possessed those who fought for our independence. At the breaking out of the war about fifty of our young and middle-aged men re- sponded to their country's call, and at the subsequent calls for men Rutland was not behind in filling the quota. She furnished more than one hundred men for the war, about twenty-five per cent. of whom died in service or were killed in battle.

The town was ever ready to assist and remunerate those who served their country in time of peril. At a meeting of the town May 2, 1861, the town voted, "In view of the present critical condition of our be- loved country, and for the purpose of aiding and as- sisting such of our citizens as may, or have been, so patriotic as to volunteer their services in defence of their country, hereby resolve that we will make up their pay to one dollar per day with what they shall receive from Government, etc."

At a meeting called July 26, 1862, the town " voted to appropriate the sum of $1600, to be paid out as a bounty in sums of $150, to those who will voluntarily enlist before the 1st of September next, to make up the quota to serve for three years under a call of the President July 2, 1862." It was voted in August of the same year " To guarantee the sum of $100 each, to be paid to such of our citizens as may voluntarily enlist and be sworn into the service of the United States before the 1st day of September next, to make up the quota of three hundred thousand men to serve for nine months under a call of the President August 4, 1862." The town has generously disbursed aid to deserving soldiers and their families. It is said that every soldier who went from or belonged to this town had an honorable record.

Several of the returned soldiers applied for and ob- tained a charter July 1, 1870, to organize a " Post of the G. A. R., under the name of Major George C. Marshall Post No. 136." This organization numbers about forty members and is in a flourishing condition. In its early existence it started what was called the "Soldiers' Monument Fund," and for this object it labored several years, by holding fairs, having lec-

tures, etc .; then uniting with the citizens under the title of the "Rutland Soldiers' Monument Associa- tion," with united effort and an appropriation of five hundred dollars from the town, erected in 1879 a handsome monument to perpetuate the memory of those who enlisted to put down the Rebellion, twen- ty-two of whom laid down their lives in the service. The monument is of Pittsford, Vt., marble, twenty- two feet high and five feet square at the base, sur- mounted by the full-sized statue of a soldier at "parade rest," facing the south or street. It is located in the centre in front of the " Muschopauge House." It is a handsome specimen of artistic work- manship, executed by Murphy & Magone, of the "Boston Marble Works" of Worcester. Besides the names of the eighty-two soldiers engraved on its four sides are the names of some of the prominent battles in which they were engaged : " Antietam " and " Wilderness " on the south, " Kingston " and " White- hall " on the east, " Newhern " aud "Vicksburg " on the west and "Roanoke " and Goldsboro'" on the north. On the front above the " die" is a finely- chiseled representation of the national coat-of-arms, and on the pedestal or base, " Erected in 1879." It was erected at a cost of a little less than fifteen hun- dred dollars. The monument was dedicated July 3, 1879, the occasion drawing together from this and other places the largest number of people that ever congregated here. Had the day opened pleasantly a much larger number would have been present, many of the G. A. R. Posts being kept away by the threat- ening clouds of the early morning. As it was, fifteen posts were present, accompanied by four bands of music. The exercises of the day were delayed a con - siderable time beyond the printed programme on ac- count of the weather, but the clouds hroke away in season for a full carrying out of the programme, though at a later hour.

The Committee of Arrangements were C. R. Bart- lett, A. K. Learned, A. B. Fisher, Major M. B. Bes- sey, Rev. G. S. Dodge, Mrs. Mary J. Smith, Mrs. L. A. Baker and Mrs. E. W. Hubbard. The Committee on Reception were Hon. J. W. Bigelow, Dr. J. G. Shannon, William J. Stearns, Deacon R. B. Miles, and B. W. Potter, Esq., the latter representing Worcester. The Committee of Reception established their headquarters at the residence of Mr. Bigelow, nearly opposite the monument; it was profusely and handsomely decorated for the occasion with bunting and flags, with an evergreen archway over the gate- way, enclosing the words,-" Reception Committee's Headquarters."

The exercises of the day began about noon with the moving of the procession from the vicinity of the Town Hall, where it had been formed as delegations from out of town arrived. The procession moved under the chief-marshalship of Captain C. W. Dodge io the following order to the monument, around which the bands of music were encircled, and while

1298

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

they played several patriotic airs, Mr. Murphy, the shall enter into the fulness of the day before it, it shall not only give honor to the heroism of the fathers or to the patriotism of the statesmen of the citizens, but it shall give honor, also, illustrious and well-deserved, because of his heroic patriotism, and his patient heroism to the immortal memory of the Union soldier." Dinner was served at two o'clock. The exercises of the afternoon commenced at three, with singing by the children,-" The Flag of our Country," after which the president of the "Soldiers' Monument Association," Mr. C. R. Bartlett, in be- half of the association, presented, with appropriate remarks, tbe monument to the town, and it was ac- cepted, in behalf of the town, by Mr. M. M. Smith, of the Board of Selectmen. Speeches then followed by Colonel Olin, of the Governor's staff; Major J. B. Fairbanks, of Oakham; B. W. Potter, Esq., of Worces. ter; Ledyard Bill, of Paxton; Deacon J. T. Everett, of Princeton ; Captain J. H. Gleason, of Holden, and others. builder, removed the veil just as the procession began to move. First in line were the fifteen Grand Army Posts, with over four hundred men; next, in- vited guests in carriages ; thirty-eight young ladies representing the " Personation;" children of the pub- lic schools, visitors and citizens generally. The huge tent, which had been erected close by the monu- ment, where the speaking exercises were to take place, was soon filled. The company was called to order by C. R. Bartlett, president of the day, who, after preliminary remarks, introduced the chaplain of the day, Rev. George S. Dodge, who read from the Scriptures and offered prayer. The children of the public schools then sang under the direction of Mr. H. M. Lyon, of Holden, "Our Country, the Land of the Free;" after came the novel and exceedingly interesting exercise of the "Service of Personation " by thirty-eight young ladies in appropriate cos- tumes, each representing a State of the Union. All were attired in white and arranged upon a pyramid Prominent among the carly settlers was Capt. Samuel Wright. He held the offices of selectman. assessor, clerk of the town, and moderator of its meetings for many years, justice of the peace, deacon of the church, captain of the militia and surveyor and committee in dividing the lands of six miles square, and recording the same in the proprietors' book, which he did in a very plain and legible hand. Many of the bounds and corners made more than one hundred and fifty years ago can now be found. Mr. Wright kept a tavern in front of the first meeting- house, on the opposite side of the street, where much of the first business of the town was done. (The old records show that the town would frequently during the session ofits town-meeting vote to "adjourn for fifteen minutes," which was quite suggestive.) This house was taken down or removed before the Revo- lution. He died January 15, 1740. of seats, surmounting the whole being the "Goddess of Liberty." This beautiful feature of the day's pro- gram was under the direction of Mr. A. K. Learned, and was a very fine affair. At the conclusion of this " Personation " the audience sang with effect the old hymn of "America," accompanied by the bands of music. Next came the dedicatory address, which was delivered by Rev. Joseph F. Lovering, of Worces- ter, chaplain-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Re- public. This was a very able and eloquent produc- tion, and well received. He began by referring to some of the principal points in the early history of the town, the important part borne by its citizens in the Revolutionary War and the War of the Rebel- lion. Emphasizing his confidence in a hopeful fu- ture, judging from the glorious record of the past in our country, he concluded by saying: "With this hope speaking from yonder statue, quickening the Capt. Peter Davis, although not a proprietor, was an early settler of Rutland, and was one of the most enterprising inhabitants. He was a large land- holder, his lands extending from Mill Brook to Hub- bardston line, four miles, on that line five hundred and seventy-five rods. In 1759 his taxes were the highest on the list except Colonel Murry's. He was not only a large land-holder, but did a large business at North Rutland, where, previous to 1759, he built a saw and grist-mill, which was a great convenience to the people of this and adjoining towns. He was a very industrious man, an early riser, and not only interested in his own concerns, but filled many offices in the proprietary, town and militia. Colonel John Murry, with his mother and several others, sailed from Ireland and arrived in America in the early settlement of Rutland. When he stepped on shore he was not only penniless, but in debt for his passage. For a short time he tried manual labor, but he was too lazy to work. Through the assistance of a friend pulse-beats, I look with courage into the future; I see villages cluster on the hill-sides and on the dis- tant prairies ; I see lakes and rivers and seas popu- lous with the freightage of states and nations; I see railroads and telegraphs enmesh the land; 1 hear the hum of Briarean-armed industries along the coun- try streams and within the populous cities; I see homes bud and blossom and bear fruit, and virtue increase, and intelligence rise, and of all such pro- gress there is no conceivable end. As I see the na- tion in its outgoings, and seek to survey its probabil- ities, I see no setting sun. It rises higher and higher still in its full-orbed meridian splendor. Let us go forth into that day. Let us rejoice that our nation is the nation whose feet walk in the path built of material stronger than New England granite, even New England righteousness and truth, whose arms renew their strength like the wings of its eagle, whose eyes look beyond its stars for the homes of its destiny. Let us rejoice in the hope that when it 'he commenced peddling, then kept a small store, and

1299

RUTLAND.

was afterward a purchaser of cattle for the army. By enterprise and good fortune he became the most wealthy man in Rutland in his day. He owned lands from east of the meeting-house to the bonnds of Dublin and New Boston. He married after his arrival a lady with whom he sailed to America, Elizabeth McClanathan, by whom he had ten chil- dren. Mrs. Murry died in 1761. He then married Miss Lucentia Chandler, of Boston, by whom he had one child. The second Mrs. Murry died, and he married, in 1769, Miss Deborah Brindley, of Boston, by whom he had one child. The wives of Colonel Murry were buried in Rutland. He placed horizontally over the graves large, handsome stones, underpinned with brick, with appropriate inscriptions. It was said that on representation day all his friends that could ride, walk, creep or hobble were at the polls, and if any went home dry it was not his fault. He repre- sented the town twenty years in succession. One writer, in speaking of him, said that " After he had ascended the pinnacle of honor he fell out of the United States." Because of his sympathizing with the British rulers, he was threated with violence, and fled the country. His lands were confiscated and sold. Alexander, his oldest son, did not leave town, but entered the service of his country and was wounded. One of his father's farms was reserved for him by the Government, which also granted him a pension. Colonel Murry was said to be a large, fleshy man, and when dressed in his regimentals, with his gold-bound hat, made a superb appearance. The house in which he lived was seventy-five rods west of the church, on the south side of the street, and was torn down about thirty years ago, having become very much dilapidated. Nothing but the cellar-hole remains to mark the spot.

General Rufus Putnam was born in Sutton, Mass., April 9, 1738. His father died when he was seven years old; he then went to live with his grandfather, where he lived about two years, until his mother again married, and he lived with his step-father till 1753. He had few advantages of schooling and few books of his own. Through perseverance he got pen- nies enough together to buy a spelling-book and an arithmetic. With these two invaluable articles, the foundation of all, even the most profound learning, he soon made considerable progress in the rudiments of education. At the age of sixteen he was bound as an apprentice to the millwright trade, under his brother-in-law. Daniel Matthews, of Brookfield. There he was not refused the use of candles to pur- sue his studies during the long winter evenings. His attention was chiefly turned to arithmetic, geography and history. During this portion of his life, from sixteen to nineteen years, he was busily occupied in acquiring the practical art of the millwright. It re- quired some knowledge of geometry to form perfect circles, divide them into numerous equal portions, and lay out the exact angles necessary in building

water-wheels. He thus gradually enlarged his knowl- edge of mathematics. His physical frame grew full as rapidly as his mind, and at the age of eighteen he was a large muscular man of six feet.

The war between Great Britain and France com- menced in 1754. The accounts of the several battles and the exploits of his relative-then Captain Israel Putnam-led him, in his nineteenth year, to enlist as a soldier ; his term of service was a little short of a year. Being determined to see more of military life, he joined a corps of Rangers to reconnoitre the southern extremity of Lake Champlain. During this campaign he endured many hardships and many privations. After passing the winter at home and forgetting the sufferings of the last campaign, he again enlisted in the provincial service. Thus far the war had been a continued scene of disgrace and disas- ter to the crown. He again enlisted April 2, 1759, and was now advanced to the post of orderly sergeant. During this campaign Putnam rendered important service in the erection of fortifications, which totally demolished the French power on the lakes and led to their final expulsion from North America. He re- turned to Brookfield on the 16th of December. He took an active part in the campaign of 1760, first as recruiting officer and later as ensign in Colonel Wil- lard's regiment.

In 1761 Mr. Putnam bought a mill and tools on Horse Pond Brook in North Brookfield, where he lived and carried on the mill and a farm connected with it till May, 1781, when he bought one of Colonel Murry's confiscated farms in Rutland for nine hun- dred pounds, whither he removed and where he made his home till his removal to Ohio, in 1787. He married, in 1761, Elizabeth Ayers, of North Brookfield, who died the same year, leaving an in- fant, which survived but a few months. In January, 1765, he married Persis Rice, daughter of Zebulon Rice, of Westboro', by whom he had a numerous family of children.

Mr. Putnam entered the Revolutionary War as lieutenant-colonel of Colonel David Brewer's regi- ment. His regiment was stationed at Roxbury, in General Thomas' division of the army, soon after the battle of Lexington. The general and field-officers of this division, after the battle of Bunker Hill, met in council to determine the best course to pursue in their present almost defenceless situation, exposed at any time to an attack of the enemy without any bet- ter protection than a board fence. It was decided that lines should be thrown up for the defence of the town. When this was decided the difficulty arose where to find a man capable of directing the works. Military engineers were rare among the colonial troops. At length it was mentioned to General Thomas that Colonel Putnam had seen some service in that line in the late war against Canada, but upon being solicited to undertake the work he frankly told the commander that he never had read a word on

1300

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

that branch of science. The general would take no denial, and Colonel Putnam reluctantly set about tracing out lines in front of Roxbury, towards Bos- ton and various places in the vicinity, especially at Sewel's Point. While thus engaged Generals Wash- ington and Lee came over to view the condition of the troops. They so highly complimented his works that he was encouraged to persevere. All the de- fences of Roxbury, Dorchester and Brookline were of his construction.

In the winter of 1776, while General Washington was deeply engaged in making an attack on the British army in Boston, he invited Colonel Putnam to dine with him. They discussed the matter freely of storming the city. It was agreed that if they could maintain themselves on that neck of land, the com- mand of the town and harbor would be such as would compel the enemy to leave the place. The cold weather that had made a bridge of ice, so that a passage was opened for them to advance upon Bos- ton, had also frozen the earth to such a depth in the open country of Dorchester Neck as to make it im- possible to throw up a line of earthworks. However, Washington told Colonel Putnam to consider the matter and report to him immediately. He describes what follows as providential. "I left headquarters in company with another gentleman, and on our way came by Gen. Heath's. I had no thought of calling until I came against his door, and then I said, 'Let us call on Gen. Heath,' to which he agreed. I had no other motive than to pay my respects to the Gen- eral. While there I cast my eye on a book which lay on the table, lettered on the back, 'Muller's Field Engineer.' I immediately requested the Gen- eral to lend it to me. He denied me. I repeated my request. He again refused, and told me that he never lent his books. I then told him that he must recollect that he was one who at Roxbury, in a meas- ure, compelled me to undertake a business which, at the time, I confessed I never had read a word about, and that he must let me have the book. After some more excuses on his part, and close pressing on mine, I obtained the loan of it."

In looking at the contents his eye was caught by the word " chandelier," a new word to him. He read carefully the description and soon had his plau ready. The chandeliers were made of stout timbers ten feet long, into which were framed posts five feet high and five feet apart, placed on the ground in parallel lines, and the open spaces filled in with bundles of fascines strongly picketed together, thus forming a movable parapet of wood instead of earth. The men were immediately set to work in the adjacent orchards and woodlands cutting and bundling up fascines and car- rying them, with the chandeliers, on to the ground selected for the work. They were put in their place in a single night. When the sun went down on Bos- ton on the 4th of March, Washington was at Cam- bridge and Dorchester Heights as nature or the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 98

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