USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > History of the town of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement > Part 13
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But these losses and interruptions to business have, in a great measure, been overcome. New firms, new arrangements and indi- vidual enterprise, have done much to restore the manufacturing interest of the town to its former state. The manufacture of shoes for the army and navy since the war commenced, (about four years ago,) have been very large, amounting, it is estimated, to nearly two millions of dollars. The pay to soldiers, and for the support of their families, has been computed at over one million of dollars. The number of soldiers in the field, since the war commenced, has averaged about one thousand for the whole time.
These sources of income have been of great use in restoring the former prosperity of the town, and in sustaining the great business of the town-the manufacture of boots and shoes.
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sums under $5,000, which are not included in the above amount, except six or seven coming very near that sum. Those omitted, manufacture from $1,000 and under to $3,000 or $4,000. The omission was made to avoid too long a list of names. These omissions, with the deficiency in the general returns, would, it is believed, bring up the sum total of these manufactures to $2,750,000 annually.
There are quite a number of those named above who have stores and counting-rooms in Boston, and do much of their business there ; making sales and shipping their goods, usually going in and out daily. Among them, as far as is ascertained, are the following, viz. :- T. & J. B. Clement, Abner Curtis, Hunt & Lane, Joseph Dill, Jenkins Lane & Sons, W. L. Reed, J. Vaughn & Hersey, Stetson Vaughn. And there are others of these who have offices in Boston and keep samples, viz. :- Jacob Shaw, M. & G. T. Nash, A. Whitmarsh, J. L. Nash, Whitmarshı Bros., Joseph Hunt, James F. Bigelow, Jacob Whiting, George Studley, Davis Gurney and Nahum Reed ; and there are, no doubt, others.
There are, also, residents of this town who do not manu- facture, but do a large business in the boot and shoe line, having stores and offices in Boston, and who purchase goods to supply orders from various parts of the States. Among them are Samuel Blake, jr., (firm of Blake & Preston,) L. & I. Blanchard, Joseph Dill, and Martin S. Stetson & Co. These houses do a very extensive business (probably over half a million of dollars). The last named firm has two stores South and West-one at Mobile, Ala., and one at St. Paul, Minn. Another firm named above as manufacturers, L. Faxon & Co., have a shoe-store in Charleston, S. C., and do a large business.
A house in San Francisco, California, composed of two individuals from this town, do a business of several hundred thousand dollars yearly (over half a million). The firm is " Hobart & Brother " (Benjamin and Joseph Hobart, sons of mine) ; they do business in connection with their brother-in- law, William II. Dunbar, of Boston.
J. VAUCHN & SONS.
ETY
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH VAUGHN, AND HIS BOOT AND SHOE FACTORY, CENTRE ABINGTON.
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The shoe business commenced early in this town. From 1800 to 1810 it was carried on in a small way. The late Deacon J. Cobb, Thomas Hunt, and others, manufactured and carried shoes about for sale in panniers and saddle-bags, on horseback, to Boston, New Bedford, Taunton, and other places. Asaph Dunbar began early to manufacture shoes, (about 1826,) and sent them to Providence and other places in a horse wagon, and retailed them out.
In this way the business went on increasing for a number of years, up to about 1826 ;* Thomas Hunt and Deacon James
* The shoe business was introduced into Abington about the year 1793, by Captain Thomas Hunt, son of Thomas Hunt, who came from Weymouth about 1770, and located in what is now called East Abing- ton, near the Weymouth line. There being a large number of sons in the family, it occurred to them that their hard, sterile farm, would not afford sufficient remuneration for all; and Thomas, being the oldest, thought he would strike out and learn the art of making sale-shoes,- thinking, probably, that after a while it might become a business of considerable importance. Most of the shoemakers of that day were in the habit of going to houses of their customers and making up a stock of shoes for their families. This they called " Whipping the Cat." The sale-shoe business had been started about this time in Quincy, by a Mr. Webb. It being arranged for Thomas to go to Quincy, he gave an invitation to one or two of his young friends, by the name of Paine, who lived in Weymouth, to accompany him. At Quincy they learned the trade of making sale-shoes ; and, in due time, returned home pre- pared to teach others. Mr. Hunt commenced business in a small way. To get workmen he was obliged to take young men and teach them the trade. He had six brothers, who subsequently became shoc- makers; and several of them did quite a large business in manu- facturing shoes for that day. About that time Colonel David Gloyd, a tanner, who lived in what is now called North Abington, thought he could manufacture sale-shoes to advantage. He applied to Captain Hunt to take charge of the business, and get it started. Captain Hunt consented to do this ; and, when he had accomplished the object, lie left Gloyd, and commenced business again on his own account. In the absence of railroad accommodation for transportation, they used the more primitive way of packing the shoes in large saddle-bags, and placing them on the old family horse, mounting the nag, and trudging off to Boston, -returning thence in due time with two or three sides
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Ford, at that time, manufactured extensively. Also, about this time, the late Mr. Seth Hunt and David Gloyd, with Joseph Cleverly, in company, sent shoes to New Orleans for a number of years ; Spencer Gloyd went there as their agent to do business for them. Asaph Dunbar and Joshua Whit- marsh, under the firm of " Dunbar & Whitmarsh," did busi- ness there for several years. Mr. Dunbar resided there for some time.
From 1820 to 1830, Loud & Hunt, of East Abington, carried on the shoe business more extensively than it had ever been before in this town by any one individual or firm. They were unfortunate, and had to stop.
Others besides those named, about this time, (1830 to 1835,) began to enlarge their manufacture of boots and shoes, and to extend sales in New Orleans, and to reside there, at different times and for different periods. Spencer Gloyd was a resident there for many years, and did quite a trade in the shoe line, receiving his stock from here. John Lane, of the firm of Lane & Reed, was out there some time after, and did business. Alden F. Dunbar, William H. Dunbar, and George C. Dunbar, have also done an extensive business there.
The New Orleans market for the sale of boots and shoes, has been of great advantage to this town : greater quantities have been sent there than to any other mart. It began carly ; gave a spring and great encouragement to the shoe trade, and did much to make this town what it is in this leading manu- facture, and to extend the trade to all parts of the Union, and out of the same.
A foreign demand sprung up early. About 1830, shoes were sold to go to Cuba, a Spanish island in the West Indies. They were called Spanish shoes, made after a Spanish pattern.
sole leather in one side of the bags, and. in the other, upper stock, and perhaps some small articles for family use. So things went on increasing as fast as the young men could be instructed, till from these small beginnings, the shoe trade of the town amounts to millions of dollars annually.
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An individual of this town, (Abner Curtis,) got hold of this trade, and pursued it for several years, (it is said, however, rather privately,) at a very profitable rate ; and it was thought to be a great help to liis after success in business. He was successor to the firm of Loud & Hunt, which was a fortunate beginning.
After abont 1830 the shoe business extended rapidly in this town. Fifteen years before that date, (1815,) it was estimated to amount in the aggregate to $30,000 a year. In a conver- sation at that time, (I am informed by Colonel T. Hunt,) between his father, Thomas Hunt, David Gloyd, and the late John King, they agreed in that estimation as probable. In 1837, and about twenty-three years after, it was stated in " Hobart's Sketches of Abington " to amount to $746,000 a year ; the number of pairs of shoes and boots returned (taken from a census) was, shoes, 526,208 pairs, boots, 98,081 pairs. The amount of business done in a year had increased in the twenty-three years from $30,000 to $746,000-an average annual increase of $41,000. Doubtless the increase was much greater in the latter part of this period.
At this time, (1860,) taking the late census returns, $2,500,000, and the increase, for a like number of years, (twenty-three,) $1,754,000, we have an increase of a little over $76,000 annually. This is a most extraordinary result, and shows that almost the whole energies of the town had become interested in the boot and shoe manufacture ; thousands were daily employed, of men, women and children, in this business.
The sales of these manufactures are generally made on orders, and directly to purchasers, who buy to sell again. But few are sold on commission. Merchants from all parts of the country visit the marts in this State, and trade person- ally. Some boot and shoe traders in Boston and elsewhere furnish stock to manufacturers, and pay for the making per pair. This is a safe way of doing business, and is in many cases very advantageous. The most extensive and successful . establishment in this town (Jenkins Lane & Sons) have done their main business in this way for many years.
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The making of boots and shoes has become systematized and much improved. The process has been divided into different parts : the stock is eut up for the various sizes and qualities, packed, and put out to workmen, to be made up and finished. And in this preparation the various parts are done by machines and patterns, and have only to be put together and completed.
The number of establishments for these preparations, and for carrying on the business, is very large; some of the buildings for this purpose are capacious and expensive,- finished in good style, and painted. And there are three in which steam-power is used to facilitate the operations of cutting and preparing the stock for being put together ; and at the same time a portion of the steam is used to heat the factory in every apartment, by pipes running through it. These establishments are an ornament to the town, and are well fitted up for the purpose designed. One of these estab- lishments at East Abington belongs to Jenkins Lane, and is eighty feet by forty, four stories, besides the attie, and is com- pletely fitted in all parts for operation ; over seventy-five hands are employed. Another at South Abington belongs to William L. Reed, and is sixty feet long by thirty-five, equally well fitted up for the purposes intended. It has but recently been finished, and is very advantageously located, near the Old Colony Railroad Depot, and makes a very imposing appear- ance. About fifty hands are now employed in the factory. These two factories, with steam-engines and fixtures, cost over twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Reed, at present, is manufac- turing jointly with Burrage & Henry, of Boston. Davis Gurney has lately added steam-power to his large shoe establishment at South Abington.
The manufacture of boots and shoes has been the leading business of the town for many years; it has given employ- ment, directly and indirectly, to most of the inhabitants. To this manufacture, with some others, (particularly the taek business,) is the town indebted mostly for its present standing in population and valuation, and in many other respeets, as has been stated in former chapters.
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In nothing, within my remembrance, has the town made a greater advance than in their buildings, particularly in dwelling-houses. I can remember when there were but eight or nine two-story dwelling-houses in town. Now the town is sprinkled all over with them; many of them with modern improvements and conveniences, and some of them quite splendid.
The superior character of the houses, at the present period, has resulted from the lucrative nature of the principal business of the town of which I am speaking ; and a great proportion of them, particularly the most elegant, are owned by persons engaged largely in that business ; and many, very many, of those of less cost, but neat and convenient, by other manufac- turers less extensively engaged in it, or by operatives.
It seems, however, on the whole, that some change in this great and leading manufacture of boots and shoes is about to take place. Without noticing the present dull and depressed state of this business, (for this may be only temporary,) the introduction of machinery, driven by water or steam-power, and the great improvements made in the adaptation of such power to facilitate the manufacturing of these articles, will supersede much of the hand-labor employed. Even now, the introduction of machines operated by hand is thought to have had an effect to lessen the call for hand-labor. When the thousands of machines now worked by hand shall be worked by steam or water-power, the proportionate demand for liand- labor must be greatly diminished, and the whole, or the greater proportion, of this manufacture will be done by large com- panies, or corporations, having large capitals. This has been the case in many other manufactures, once carried on by hand, as the making of nails, setting of card teeth, making cotton and wool cloth, tacks, and a great many other articles.
In view of these prospective changes,-for it seems inevi- table that they will come,-it might seem wise for many, now employed in the boot and shoe business, to seek some better employment, or at least not to put too much dependence on this business.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Incorporation of the Second Religious Society .- Obstacles attending it. - Constitution and Laws respecting the Support of Public Worship .- Modification of them in 1811 .- Total Repeal of them in 1833 .- Result, entire Religious Freedom .- Statistics of the Second Religious Society, in Southi Abington, by the Pastor.
THERE was but one religious society in Abington for about one hundred years ; the meeting-house of which, stood in the centre of the town.
In 1807 a number of the inhabitants of Abington and of the parish in East Bridgewater, formed themselves into a religious society, and were incorporated in 1808 by the name of the "Union Calvinistic Society," in the south part of Abington. There was only one religious society in each of the above-named towns, and all within the bounds of them were taxed to support the same.
The petition to the Legislature of the Commonwealth for this incorporation, was strenuously opposed by both societies. At a town meeting in Abington, April 6, 1807, it was voted not to set off Aaron Hobart, and others, to form a separate religious society in the south part of Abington, and at the same meeting it was voted to choose two agents to attend the General Court, and oppose the petitioners being set off. Daniel Lane, jr., and John King, were chosen.
The parish in East Bridgewater also chose two agents to oppose the setting off of the petitioners from that society. The Abington petitioners urged before the Court's committee the saving in travel which they would make in attending public worship, which would average, on the whole, over two miles to each of them. The petitioners in the parish of East Bridgewater stated that to most of them there would be a like saving in travel; and all of them plead that they could not, conscientiously, attend the public worship established in that
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parish ; and some of them stated that they had, on conscien- tious views, attended public worship at Abington (under Rev. Samuel Niles' ministry) for forty years, and during all that time had paid taxes to support religious worship in East Bridgewater Parislı. The arguments against the incorpora- tion were, that it would have a tendency to break up town and parish lines, and disable or lessen the means of supporting public worship. To these arguments it was replied by the com- mittee of the petitioners, which was composed of Colonel Aaron Hobart, James Barrell, Simeon Gannett, and Benjamin Hobart,-that the petitioners were few in number in compari- son to those left, that being incorporated as a poll parish would break up no town or parish lines, and that the societies left were abundantly able to support public worship. It was stated that the petitioners had paid their proportion of the settlement of the two ministers left, and that by being incor- porated into a distinct society they would relinquish all their interest in the two meeting-houses, the land on which they stood, and the two meeting-house bells.
The agents of the two societies employed against the incorporation able counsel, and left nothing undone to defeat the petitioners, but they failed, and the incorporation was obtained.
In respect also to the formation of the church, there was opposition. When a council met for this purpose, on the invitation of those who left the church in East Bridgewater, a remonstrance was handed in against the procedure. It was con- tended (if I recollect aright) that the council convened on that occasion had no authority, and that it was disorderly for them to take members of another church of the same denomination, and constitute them into a new church without the consent of the church from which they separated. The council, however, constituted them into a church.
The church in Abington refused to set off a portion of her members, who wished to be organized into a church with those who receded from the church in East Bridgewater. After their organization, however, the church members in Abington
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who desired it, were dismissed, and recommended, and joined the newly constituted church.
In this opposition the late Rev. Samuel Niles took a promi- nent part; but after the new church was constituted, he became reconciled to it, was in good fellowship with the church, and presided in their meetings before the ordination of the Rev. Daniel Thomas.
The act incorporating the society in South Abington was very limited and stringent in its provisions. It provided that no person in Abington, or in the parish in East Bridgewater, should be allowed to join it after two years from its incorpor- ation, and limited the right afterwards of all those coming of age, and those moving into the town or parish, to one year to join the new society. And all those who did not join within these periods belonged to the old societies, and were held to be taxed there. And all those who did join were obliged to get a certificate of their so doing, and lodge it with the clerk of the town or parish from which they removed, before they could become members of the new society.
These restrictions were in accordance with the State Consti- tution adopted in 1780. By it all persons were required to support public worship established in towns and parishes, with metes and bounds, and were liable to taxation for this purpose. There were some exceptions, as, for example, if they were of another denomination, and did and could conveniently attend some incorporated or legal society of their own faith, they might pay their taxes there. But this was very difficult to accomplish ; the legislature and the courts of law had the construction of the Constitution, and they abridged their liberty as much as possible. This toleration was limited almost wholly to the Baptist order ; and persons, to avail them- selves of it, must be members of this order by actual immersion. The Quakers bad some privileges and some freedom. Under the denomination of Congregationalists and religious societies, almost all were required to support public worship within the town and parish lines where they happened to be born, however different their faith might be from the reigning order.
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The construction of the Constitution was somewhat modified by the State Legislature in 1811, after being rigidly enforced for thirty-one years. It was construed to give leave to every citizen of this Commonwealth to support public worship, or the teacher of his own sect or faith, whether the teacher be of an unincorporated or corporate religious society. It was added, however, provided there be any on whose religious instruction he usually attends.
This proviso, however, was not much heeded, and it was seldom enforced. This new construction opened a wide door to the different sects, particularly to the Methodists, and those who might join them.
But in 1833, fifty-three years after the adoption of the Constitution, and Bill of Rights, in 1780, an entire revolution, in respect to religious societies and religious freedom, took place. By the amendment of the Constitution in that year, it was provided that all persons whatsoever, belonging to any religious society or denomination, shall be taken and held to be members of the same until they shall file with the clerk of such society a written notice, declaring the dissolution of their membership; and that from and after that time no person shall be required to belong to any religious society whatever : reserving, however, to all the religious societies in the Commonwealth, corporate or un- incorporate, the right to choose their religions teachers,-to raise money for their support, and for building and repairing houses of worship ; and providing that all denominations shall be equally under the protection of the law, and that no sub- ordination of any one sect to another shall ever be established by law.
This change of the Constitution took place more than two hundred and forty years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. They left their native land because of religious intolerance ; but strange to say, they became intolerant in their turn, as the Baptists and Quakers experienced. Roger Williams was driven to Rhode Island.
Such entire freedom in religious matters, except in a few
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States of the Union, never existed before in so large a com- munity in any age or country since the Christian era ; and there is nothing in the Jewish hierarchy to show that it ever did before.
It was predicted at the time of this change that very bad consequences would follow. It was opposed by almost all the religions establishments in the State-the Baptist and Metho- dist denominations generally excepted. It is now twenty-seven years since this change, and these predictions have not been verified. Religious establishments have been well supported since, and, doubtless, in a much more peaceful and orderly way. If religious societies had continued to be supported by taxation of all within town or parish lines, or even in poll societies, great disorders and contentions would have prevailed. The subsequent addition to the population of men of no prin- ciples, of those of free principles, of tlie irreligious and of foreigners, formed a mixture of classes which could not, with the former law, have lived quietly and harmoniously.
But after all, notwithstanding the necessity of these changes in later times, it was perhaps the best course our forefathers could adopt to insure the support of public worship, to require all the inhabitants of towns to be taxed for that purpose. There were but a few religious sects at the time the Constitu- tion was adopted, and for many years after. Public morals required public worship to be supported. The Pilgrims brought their religious views with them, and their descen- dants for a long time were well united in sentiment. If some were taxed to support tenets which they did not approve, it was a sacrifice for the public good. Without the aid of all, religious institutions could not have been well supported. But when the population and wealth had greatly increased, and sects multiplied, the change, as above stated, became necessary.
As a part of this chapter I insert, entire, a statement in respect to the Second Congregational Society and Church in South Abington, by the Rev. H. L. Edwards, their pastor.
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SOUTH ABINGTON, February 3, 1860.
BENJAMIN HOBART, EsQ. :
Dear Sir,-In compliance with your request, I send you a few statistics of the Second Religious Society in Abington.
The church was formed August 19, 1807, at the dwelling- house of Eleazar Whitman, who resided within the bounds of East Bridgewater. Meetings had been held at his house for some months previously, and preaching had been sustained. Meanwhile, (in May, 1807,) a meeting-house had been "raised " in South Abington, on ground (three-fourths of an acre) given by Ebenezer Porter, Esq., who still survives, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. The frame of the original house still stands. The first cost of the house was six thousand five hundred dollars. In a short time after the structure was raised, the people met within it on the Sabbath, and sat on rude benches, and their pleasure at having a more spacious and commodious place of worship, was well expressed by the text of the first sermon which was ever preached within its walls,-" I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."
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