USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Canton > History of the town of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts > Part 48
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George Crossman came to Canton from Taunton in 1761. He was then a young man in ill health, poor, with a wife and one child. He purchased in 1793 the small house, still stand- ing, on Pleasant Street, near the Reservoir Pond. The meadow, which existed before the pond was formed, took and retained until 1828 the name of Crossman's meadow. From this house he removed to Canton Corner, and erected, about 1798, the house now occupied by Mr. George Oliver Downes. Like some of his successors, he was remiss in collecting his bills,
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and in 1774 we find him owing his apothecary £600, and that his accounts have been trusteed. He implored all his debtors to pay at once. In later days he used to show his delinquent patients dunning letters " right out from under the gold letters," - an allusion to the sign of William Dunbar, Esq., which was the first gilt-lettered sign in Canton. Dr. Crossman held many offices, and was for many years town clerk. In 1783 he was a justice of the peace. He bore a good reputation as a physician, and owned landed property. He lies buried in the Canton Cemetry, where his gravestone records that he died Sept. 25, 1805, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
Samuel Dunbar Searle, whose name appears as a teacher in our town in 1783, was a doctor, having studied medicine with Dr. Moses Baker, of Randolph. He resided in Canton but a few years. During the year 1786 he was collector of the parish. He removed to Royalston, thence to Canada, where he died.
Moses Baker was the son of Dr. Moses Baker, who resided in what is now Randolph, and died there Dec. 10, 1781. He practised also in Canton. The son was born in Randolph, and studied his profession with his father. He settled in Canton as early as 1789, and in order to make both ends meet, took charge of the Blue Hill School in 1790. He re- sided until 1801 on Green Lodge Street at Ponkapoag and again at the Withington house at Canton Corner. He was living here as late as 1804; and in the great gale in October of that year, his barn was blown down and his horse killed. He was a stanch Federalist, and was prominent in the July Fourth celebration in 1798, when he appeared as the orator of the day. To him were applied the lines of the Alphabet Song : -
"M stands for Moses, whose head it was bare;
N stands for nothing, to which it is heir."
His first wife died in Canton, July 24, 1797, and in 1803 he married Elizabeth Howard. He removed to Monmouth, Me., where he died about 1830.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
Jonathan Stone, the son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Lynde) Stone, was born in Framingham, May 30, 1783. He studied medicine with his brother, Dr. Daniel Stone, of Sharon. About the year 1806 he came to Canton, and on the 23d of December, 1815, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Upham. She died Jan. 26, 1826. He purchased the Withington estate, corner of Pleasant and Washington streets, and in 1827 remodelled the old house. Here he re- ma ned in active practice until the summer of 1839, when, to the sincere regret of his towns-people, he removed to Illinois. On the 5th of September, 1839, he married Ann P., daughter of Col. James and Mary (Allen) Blackman. The doctor is very kindly spoken of by those who knew him during his residence in Canton. In 1854 the writer saw him at Belvi- dere, his Western home, and remembers him as a genial and kind-hearted gentleman. He died on September 5, 1860. He was succeeded by T. Kemble Thomas, Jr., who in August, 1839, occupied the house formerly owned by Dr. Stone.
Simeon Tucker was the youngest child of Simeon and Milla (Hartwell) Tucker. He was born in a house that stood a little north of the house now standing in York, which belonged to the late Nathaniel Tucker, the cellar of which can still be identified. He was born on the 20th of Novem- ber, 1799. He graduated from Brown University in 1821, standing second in his class. He then studied medicine with Dr. Alden, of Randolph, and in 1825 received his medical de- gree from Harvard. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, also of the Norfolk District Medical Society. He practised for a few years in Canton, and while here erected the building still standing on the corner of Neponset and Washington streets, at one time called Dean's tavern. His removal to Stoughton was an exchange of residence with Dr. P. M. Crane. In that town he continued in practice until his death, which occurred Feb. 9, 1878. His remains were borne to Evergreen Cemetery, his old white horse, drawing his empty chaise, being a conspicuous and touching feature in the procession. In April, 1835, he married Sarah, daughter of David and Sarah (Reupeke) Manley.
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Phineas Miller Crane was the son of Major-Gen. Elijah and Desire (Withington) Crane, and was born in Canton, Nov. 28, 1804. He attended the common schools in this town, and was fitted for college at Milton Academy. He grad- uated from Harvard in the class of 1824, and received his de- gree of Doctor of Medicine in 1828. In 1833 he erected the house, still standing, south of the post-office, nearly opposite the homestead of his father, later the residence of the late James Dunbar. On the 10th of December of the same year, he was married to Miss Susan Hooker Dwight, of Utica, N. Y. During his early life, and while his father lived, he practised his profession in our town, but finally removed to East Boston, where he died Aug. 14, 1882.
Ezra Abbot was born at Andover, Mass., Nov. 29, 1808. He fitted for college at Exeter Academy, then under the pre- ceptorship of his uncle, Benjamin Abbot, LL.D. Entering Harvard in 1832, he did not graduate, but received his de- gree of M. D. from the Medical School in 1837. He came to Canton soon after, succeeding to the business of Dr. Phineas M. Crane, and remained here, in active practice, until his death. He was for many years the only physician in town. One who knew him from boyhood says of him: -
" He was affectionate, kindly, and generous, ready and hearty in his sympathies, and never sparing himself. Here were just the qualities - physical, mental, and moral - for an accomplished physician. He had a reverential, loving nature, but was reserved and reticent in re- gard to his feelings. He seldom made any professions of love to God or man, but spent his life in doing what he could to alleviate human suffering. He paid little regard to his own ease or comfort, or to his own personal interests. He was a modest, self-forgetting man, more anxious to render services than to secure a reward. With all his ability and his great and long-continued labor, he took no pains to as- sert for himself the professional position or reputation which really be- longed to him. He thought very little about himself. His bearing toward his professional brethren was marked by a courtesy and defer- ence which showed that there was no touch of jealousy in his nature, and that he was generous in his appreciation of those whom he might have looked upon as his rivals. For thirty-five years this man, gifted
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in an uncommon degree with the intellectual and personal qualities which go to make an accomplished and distinguished physician, was in a retired country place, cultivating and exercising those qualities by a life of constant and laborious exertion, riding often forty miles a day in his professional duties, and seldom taking so much as a day for his own amusement or recreation. He kept up with the best learn- ing of his profession. He studied his cases with conscientious care, and brought to the relief of his patients all that the most recent im- provements in medical science could give, and all that he could add to them from his own increasing experience as well as from a mind of extraordinary sagacity and fertile in all the resources and expedients of professional life." .
After Dr. Abbot's death, through the instrumentality of Mrs. Sarah Messinger Richards, a marble monument was erected to his memory in the old cemetery, bearing this inscription : -
Ezra Abbott, M. D. Born in Andover, Mass., Nov. 29, 1808. Died in Canton, Mass., Apr. 21, 1872. "The Beloved Physician."
. On the reverse : -
" A grateful tribute to the memory of a good Physician, a true Friend, an honest, unselfish man : - from the people among whom he labored nearly forty years."
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LITERARY HISTORY.
CHAPTER XLII.
LITERARY HISTORY. - SOCIETIES.
W HEN the question of opening the Boston Public Library on Sundays was under consideration, the Rev. Edward Everett Hale stated that in the town of Canton a library had been open for the benefit of the people on every Sunday since 1833, and that no harm had come from it, nor had any one ever questioned the propriety of its being opened on Sundays.
In 1766 Elijah Dunbar, six years after his graduation from the college at Cambridge, organized a library company. He bought books in Boston, and every year a regular meeting was held in November. This library was continued through the century. On the 21st of January, 1789, David Talbot records that he attended a library meeting at the house of Andrew Capen, and that the latter was chosen clerk.
In 1801 the following gentlemen appear as proprietors of "The Canton Social Library ": Elijah Dunbar, Enoch Dick- erman, Ezra Dickerman, Andrew Capen, Samuel Capen, Peter Crane, Laban Lewis, Benjamin Lewis. In 1802 it would ap- pear that books were regularly issued, as all proprietors were requested to return those then out. In 1809 measures were taken to enlarge the library, and make it " more useful and entertaining." Some of the old books were disposed of and new ones purchased. Assessments were levied from time to time on the shares of the proprietors. The meetings were legally called, application having been made to a justice of the peace, who issued his warrant in due form, which was served by Samuel Capen, one of the proprietors. The books were turned over to the Lyceum, started in 1828; and in 1835, to the Canton Social Library, which is the successor of the library of 1766.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
It held its meetings from 1805 to 1812 at " the house of Mr. Luther May, Innholder," and the time of the annual meeting seems to have been changed from November to January. Of the measure of the usefulness of this Canton Social Library we learn something from the pen of Nahum Capen, LL.D., of Boston, the author of that exhaustive treatise entitled " The History of Democracy," a Canton boy, who, in presenting a number of volumes to the Canton Public Library in 1881, wrote : -
" It is human nature not only to remember but to cherish the play- grounds of childhood. Mine were in Canton and the localities of Stoughton and Sharon, and all of old Dorchester, and are associated with kindred and with familiar names that will forever be remembered and respected in the county of Norfolk. . . . You will do me the favor to present to the Public Library of Canton the inclosed volumes, with an expression of my good wishes for the permanent prosperity of the place of my birth, and for the happiness of its present and future resi- dents. The Town Library of Canton, a small but choice selection of books, was kept at my father's house seventy years ago, and furnished a portion of my early reading which I cannot forget."
To the Ladies' Sewing Circle of the First Congregational Parish are the citizens indebted for the establishment, in 1833, of a library open to all, upon the payment of a small yearly fee. In 1835 the books belonging to the Canton Lyceum Library were transferred to this library, the proprietors re- serving the right to read the books in the whole library free of expense. This library was opened in Everett's Hall, and Leonard Everett's daughter, afterward Mrs. Charles H. French, was the first librarian. The books were afterwards removed to the lower room in the old town-house, when Mrs. Moore took charge of them. In 1876, upon the completion of the Parish Hall, the books were removed to that building, where they now remain. Generous contributions have from time to time been given to this library by J. Ingersoll Bowditch, Charles Dorr, J. W. Revere, and others. The first catalogue, printed in 1835, shows about five hundred volumes. In 1873 the number of books was two thousand six hundred. For many years this library has been of great benefit to those
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LITERARY HISTORY.
who have cared to use it. It is opened on Sunday noons for the exchange of books; but its distance from the centre of population has much impaired its usefulness of late years.
In the year 1872 Rev. Joseph F. Jennison, assisted by Mr. Frank G. Webster, procured subscriptions for a reading- room. This reading-room was opened Nov. 18, 1873, the Grand Army of the Republic having given entertainments for its benefit, and the citizens of the town having subscribed six hundred dollars in cash toward its support; but it was found that yearly voluntary subscriptions were hard to obtain. Mr. Webster took charge of the few books that had been pur- chased for the reading-room, and asked the assistance of the town, to the extent of five hundred dollars, to carry on the enterprise. This was granted in April, 1875, the only condi- tion being that the books should be the property of the town and free to its inhabitants. A board of trustees was elected, and Mr. Webster was the first chairman of the board. The library was opened to the public June 6, 1875, the Agricul- tural Library having been incorporated with it. Its books were first deposited in Wentworth Hall, then in the Armory Building, and upon the completion of Memorial Hall were transferred to rooms there.1
Old-Time Lyceums.
The first lyceum in Massachusetts was established in 1826. So great was the enthusiasm for " this school for grown folks," that in four years there were seventy-eight in the State. At that time there were few opportunities for literary recreation. There were no magazines and few newspapers; no book clubs; no public libraries.
As early as 1828 a number of gentlemen formed a literary society at Canton Corner, under the style of the Canton Ly- ceum. Joel Lewis writes, under date of Jan. 24, 1829, " The foundation of a lyceum is said to have been commenced, and Mr. Huntoon is delivering a course of lectures on astronomy,
1 The number of volumes in the Canton Public Library, January, 1892, was about 8,000. - EDS.
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once a week. It rained on Thursday evening, and I had not the pleasure of hearing him." The meetings were held in Everett's Hall on Thursday evenings. Among those who took an active part were Hon. Thomas French, Col. Frederic W. Lincoln, Simeon Tucker, Thomas Tolman, who delivered some lectures on Canton History, Capt. William Tucker, James Beaumont, old 'Squire William, William C. and John D. Dunbar, Lyman W. Deane. Thomas French was at one time President, and Samuel Chandler, Secretary. John Spare, M.D., Mr. Augustus Gill, and Mr. James Amiraux Bazin re- member the meetings; but the records have not been obtain- able. While Mr. Edes was pastor, he was interested in its welfare, and delivered lectures on phrenology. The lyceum owned a few books, which were turned over to the Ladies' Sewing Society in 1835.
The old Stone School-House which stands at the corner of Washington and Neponset streets, formerly Ingraham's Cor- ner, was, on a dreary November evening of 1833, the scene of a busy meeting. Here were congregated a number of the citizens of the town, desirous of forming a society for mutual improvement. The meeting was organized by the choice of Dr. Phineas Miller Crane, chairman. William F. Temple, at this time connected with the busy life of Canton, and now living at Neponset, was appointed secretary. The next busi- ness before the meeting was the appointing of a committee to draft a constitution. Rev. John Turner moved that Dr. Crane, Thomas Tolman, Esq., and Maj. Frederic Walker Lincoln be chosen; which was done, and at a following meeting the com- mittee reported. The constitution provided that the associa- tion should receive the name of "The South Canton Lyceum." It did not allow the discussing of the peculiar tenets of differ- ent religious denominations. Every member in alphabetical order had to take, or was invited to take, his share in the discussion; and they were to determine, either by agree- ment or casting lots, who should take the affirmative and who the negative. At the close of every meeting, the ques- tion for discussion at the next meeting was selected, and the names of the disputants announced. Lectures were also
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arranged, when a charge for admission was asked, if the lecturer required compensation. The Society was open to all residents of Canton, and the admission fee was one dol- lar. The teachers of the public schools were admitted to seats without expense, excepting when seats were neces- sarily sold to pay for some expense contracted. It was decided that Mr. David Spaulding's Hall was the most suit- able place for the meetings; and on November 22, at that place, which was in the old part of the tavern now the Massa- poag House, the following officers were chosen: Thomas Tolman, President; Rev. John Turner, Vice-President; Jere- miah Kollock, Treasurer. The Secretary, Mr. Artemas Clapp, was instructed to post notices of the meetings as follows: One at the Stone School-House, one at the Stone Factory, one at Mr. David Spaulding's Hotel, and one at James White's Factory. The opening lecture was delivered by Dr. Crane, and was "appropriate and learned," and it was announced that forty-nine members had been obtained. The next lecture was by Thomas Tolman, after which a discussion took place on the question, "Is Slavery on any Principle Justifiable?" The following were the questions discussed during this winter and the winters of 1834, 1835, 1836: " Are Theatrical Exhibitions Beneficial to the Community?" "Is Dancing a Desirable Accomplishment for Any in the Present State of Society?" " Is the Reading of Novels Productive of More Good than Evil?" "Which has the Greatest In- fluence on Society, Wealth or Talent?" "Ought the De- posits of the United States to be Restored to the United States' Bank?" "Which has been Productive of the most Evil, Avarice or Intemperance?" "Should the Fashions of the Day be Patronized and Supported?" " Is Duelling in any Case Justifiable?" These and kindred questions appear to have been eagerly discussed, and in some cases with a great deal of warmth.
During the years that this society existed, lectures were delivered on various subjects. A course on "Chemistry " was delivered by Dr. T. J. Forbes; Rev. John Turner on " The Superiority of Man over the Brute Creation." Mr. Wild
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of Boston, O. A. Brownson, and Mr. Ansel Capen delivered lectures on the subject of " Education; " Rev. John Turner, on "Lyceums." Mr. Capen gave a lecture upon " Com- mon Schools," finding fault with the parents, books, com- mittees, bookmakers, and many other evils which he had met with in his experience as a teacher. Rev. Benjamin Huntoon lectured on "The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century; the Beneficial Effect Produced by it upon the Religious and Political Condition of the World; the spread of the Arts; the extension of research into the Sciences; the Establishment and Purification of Literature in all of the Mod- ern Languages." Mr. Huntoon ' subsequently delivered a course of lectures on "Astronomy,"-probably the same delivered before the Corner Lyceum in 1829. Rev. O. A. Brownson delivered many lectures; one, on "Female Edu- cation ; " Rev. Mr. Dickinson, on the " History of Negro Slavery ; " and Thomas Tolman, on "The Comparative State of the Religious, Political, and Civil Institutions of the Old and New World," also on " Chronology," and "The History of the Indians." Mr. William F. Temple became Secretary, Feb. 25, 1834. It would appear that there was another simi- lar organization in town this year, for we find that an attempt was made to unite the Canton Lyceum with the South Can- ton Lyceum; but it failed.
In 1834 the officers of the South Canton Lyceum were: President, P. M. Crane, M.D .; Vice-President, Col. F. W. Lincoln; Treasurer, Jeremiah Kollock; Secretary, William F. Temple. In 1835 Hon. Thomas French was chosen presi- dent. Colonel Lincoln and Mr. Temple remained in their respective offices, and Thomas J. Johnson was elected treas- urer. How long this lyceum continued to exist we are not informed; possibly until 1840. There are living among us, respected and beloved for their many virtues, many who were members of this old South Canton Lyceum.1
The Hon. Timothy Kaley, a member of the Senate of New Hampshire, died in Milford, Sept. 8, 1882. In June, 1882, he wrote me a letter, from which the following extracts are taken: ---
1 See Appendix XXXIII.
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LITERARY HISTORY.
" I was among the number who always attended. I was not old enough to be a member, nor did I have the dollar to pay ; but I was greatly interested in the debates and lectures. I remember very well the fight between Rev. John Turner and Rev. Mr. Bronson. I was in the hall, and saw the two men, and heard every word that was said. Bronson was a tall, large man ; Turner, small but spunky. Bronson was the 'Monster Merrimack ;' Turner, the 'Little Monitor.' I thought Turner beat in the contest. Turner charged him with lying, etc., and sustained the charge. With that one exception, the mem- bers got along very well. I remember very well the able and deeply interesting lectures of your father. He was one of my best friends. The Lyceum lasted several years and did a noble work. I think it was given up in 1837. In 1839 Rev. Messrs. Kimball, Clark, and Edwin Thompson took the lead -the writer had a hand in it too- in starting another. It was very successful for some time ; but it came to an end on account of introducing ' Universal Salvation ' by Thomp- son & Company. In 1850 or 1851 Samuel B. Noyes, Charles Endi- cott, William Bense, Robert Shankland, Ezekiel Capen, Jeremiah Kollock, Timothy Kaley, John E. Seavey, and many others, started with a new constitution and almost a new generation. That Lyceum was a grand success for many years. In 1860 the writer left Canton for this place, and has been engaged in one branch of business for forty-two years at Easton, Canton, and here."
The Lyceum referred to by Mr. Kaley, was organized on the 22d of December, 1838. Nathan Tucker presided, and Ezekiel Capen was chosen clerk. A constitution was adopted, and the organization completed under the name of " The Lit- erary Association." Fifty cents was the price of membership. Aaron E. Tucker was chosen its first president, and Ansel French, vice-President, Jeremiah Kollock, secretary. A com- mittee was appointed to prepare a code of by-laws, who re- ported at a meeting held on the twenty-ninth of the same month. These by-laws defined the duties of the officers and also the order of business. The first meeting in the new year was held on January 2, and the question for debate was, " Is the Emigration of Foreigners to this Country Beneficial?" This was decided in the negative by a vote of eighteen to five. On the fifth of the same month it was voted that a paper be published for the society once a fortnight, and
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
Mr. Ezekiel Capen was chosen the editor, and Edwin A. Alger, publisher, the name to be " The Literary Journal," and that a private mark be put on all contributions. On January 8th the question for discussion was, " Is the Bos- ton and Providence Railroad more Benefit than Injury to the Town?" This was decided in the negative. The ques- tion of forming a class for the study of grammar was brought up, and looked upon with favor. On January 21 it was voted to issue another paper to be called " The Scientific Inquirer ; " A. E. Tucker, editor, C. C. Coleman, publisher. The two were finally merged. The society then devoted itself to the discussion of the question, "Whether the Negroes or the Indians had been most Oppressed by the Whites?" On February 2 it was voted that a public meet- ing be held in the school-house on Saturday evening, and that a notice of the meeting be posted at A. French's store and at the meeting-house. On the ninth so strong was the gale that it was deemed advisable to repair to the vestry of the Baptist meeting-house. On February 16 it was decided to have no- tice of the next public meeting given in the Canton "'Gazette." The next week a committee was chosen to endeavor to obtain lectures from members of the Legislature. The question, " Is the Present License Law calculated to benefit the State? " was decided in the affirmative, twenty to one. We can well see how Thompson and Co., had they been present, would here have found an entering wedge. The question was taken up again in 1839, and this decision was reversed, " making the opponents of the law look wild." On March 2 the society met at the Orthodox meeting-house, "which was filled to overflowing by a highly respectable and attentive audience." On March 14 the school-house was the place of meeting, and Dr. Levi Littlefield was chosen president, and it was resolved that those who were to speak at the. public meeting should meet beforehand for practice. On the 21st Mr. John Spare was invited to deliver a lecture, which he did on April 11, taking as his subject "Geology." On May 2 Mr. C. F. Hard was chosen president for the next month. The meetings were discontinued during the
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