USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > History of the town of Franklin, Mass., from its settlement to the completion of its first century > Part 13
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J. FRANCIS ATWOOD, M. D., son of Jonathan Frank and Anna M. (Pond) Atwood, was born in Franklin 20th August, 1846. In 1864 he entered Phillip's Exeter Academy, thence entered Har- vard University, graduating in 1869. He passed immediately into the medical school and received his degree in 1873. By competi- tive examination he obtained first choice of places in the Boston City Hospital, and was appointed Opthalmic Lecturer. After a year's service Dr. Atwood went to Europe for further study, in London and Paris and in the University of Vienna. He returned in 1874 and opened an office in St. Paul, Minn., where he is now surgeon in the Minnesota Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Dr. Atwood married, 20th September, 1876, Emma, daughter of Samuel Colhoun, Esq., of St. Paul.
HENRY METCALF BACON was born in the north part of Franklin, 24th January, 1854. He is the son of George W. and Julia Adams (Brooks) Bacon. He fitted for college one year at Chase & Scott's Academy, Philadelphia, and one year at the Chelsea
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High School. He graduated at Amherst College, 1876. Since graduation he has been engaged in school teaching, and is at this date in Armstrong, Kansas, at the head of a school.
Rev. ABIJAH RICHARDSON BAKER, D. D., was born in Franklin, 30th August, 1805, and was the son of Captain David and Jemima (Richardson) Baker. Becoming a Christian quite early, he fitted for college in Medway and at Bradford, and entered Amherst Col- lege, whence he was graduated 1830. He opened a school in Med-
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way village, which gained quite a distinction, but left it after two years for Andover Seminary. After graduation here in 1835, he preached in Ware, West Hartford, Conn., and at Albany, N. Y., and finally was settled in Medford, 25th April, 1838. In his min- istry of ten years he received 200 persons into the church. After his dismission, in 1849, he devoted himself chiefly to building up new or feeble churches, as in Lynn and South Boston.
Dr. Baker, soon after leaving Medford, engaged in Sunday-
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school work. He published a series of question books on the Assembly's Catechism, or "The Catechism tested by the Bible." This has been translated into six languages, and was used in the Sandwich Islands by order of the government, and in the mission schools of Mt. Lebanon. Half a million copies have been sold. He also prepared a " Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount," in four octavo volumes, besides writing many magazine articles. He received the degree of D. D. in 1870, from Austin College.
Dr. Baker married, 1st October, 1835, Harriet Newell, daughter of Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., of Andover, and had six sons, two of whom are in the ministry, two in process of preparation, and one a physician. The eldest died in infancy. Dr. Baker himself died, 30th April, 1876, in his 71st year, leaving a wide cir- cle of friends to lament his decease.
DAVID ERASTUS BAKER is the son of Erastus Emmons and Abby M. (Bacon) Baker, and was born in Franklin 30th March, 1857. After a public school education he entered the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, and graduated in the full course of study, 1878. He is at present teaching a public school in his native town.
Rev. MORTIMER BLAKE, D. D., son of Ira and Laura (Mowry) Blake, of Franklin, was born in Pittston, Me., 10th June, 1813, but removed with his parents to Franklin in his fifth year. He at- tended Day's Academy, Wrentham, and the Classical Institute at Medway village, also studied privately with Rev. E. Smalley of Franklin ; graduated at Amherst College, 1835, whence also he received the degree of D. D. in 1868. After graduation he opened an academy in Franklin, which he taught three years, until called to the Principalship of Hopkins Academy in Hadley. He resigned this position after one year, to enter the ministry, for which he had previously prepared with Rev. Dr. Smalley, and been approbated by the Mendon Association. He was ordained over the church in Mansfield, 4th December, 1839 ; dismissed in No- vember, 1855, to take the pastorate of the Winslow church, Taun- ton, 4th December following. He still remains among his own people.
Dr. Blake married Harriet Louisa Daniels, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Fisher) Daniels of Franklin, and has four children, two sons and two daughters. Percy M., for four years Civil Engineer
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in United States Army, is now pursuing sanitary engineering ; Lucien I. graduated at Amherst College, 1877, since has been Principal of the Franklin High School; one daughter married Bradford F. Morse of Taunton.
The portrait of Dr. Blake was procured and is prefixed as a frontispiece, by vote of the Centennial Committee.
Rev. NATHANIEL CHAPMAN, a son-in-law of Franklin, is a na- tive of Mt. Vernon, Me. He did not graduate at college, as we can learn, but took a private course of study and was ordained as pastor of the Congregational church in Bristol, Me., 15th Sep- tember, 1824. He was dismissed 7th February, 1833, and in- stalled at Camden, Me., 14th May, 1835. Since then we have gained no further information.
Mr. Chapman married, June, 1823, Sally, daughter of Robert and Olive (Richardson) Pond, of Franklin, and has had four children.
Dr. GILBERT CLARK, son of Nathan and Nancy (Payson) Clark, was born in South Franklin, 30th December, 1823. He was edu- cated for his profession in the Eclectic Medical College, of Phila- delphia. After receiving his degree, he settled in Warren, R. I., where he died 24th March, 1874.
Dr. Clark married Miss Eliza Whiting, but left no children.
Rev. JAMES ROYAL CUSHIING, a son-in-law of this town, was born in Salisbury, N. H., 23d November, 1800. His youth was spent in Thetford, Vt., under the ministry of Rev. Dr. Burton. He studied his theological course in Bangor Seminary, and was first settled in Boxboro, Mass., afterwards installed, 10th June, 1835, as pastor of the Congregational church in East Haverhill, where he remained until 1844. He next served as city missionary in Boston until his settlement in Wells, Me., where he labored successfully for ten years. In 1854 he became acting pastor of a new church in East Taunton, where he remained seven years, dur- ing which time he secured the means to build their present neat and commodious meeting-house. In 1861 he removed to North Rochester for seven years and thence to the Cape, where he sup- plied successively the churches in Cotuit, Marston's Mills and Waquoit, until his age and ill-health compelled him to retire to his original home in Haverhill, where he now resides.
Mr. Cushing married for his second wife, 14th November, 1843,
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Unity Myra Daniels, danghter of Joseph and Susan (Fisher) Daniels, a native of Franklin, who still lives.
Rev. HENRY METCALF DANIELS was born in Franklin 16th May, 1824, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Metcalf) Daniels. At- tended school at Franklin Academy and engaged some time in teaching, farming, etc. Entered Chicago Theological Seminary in 1858, graduating in 1861. He was very soon after, June 25th, installed pastor of the Congregational church, Winnebago, Ill., where he remained until 1875. With patriotic impulse he accepted a commission from the A. H. M. S., and went to Dallas, Texas, where he is now, representing the polity of the Pilgrims with hope- ful success.
Mr. Daniels married, 17th March, 1844, Susan Nye, daughter of Caleb T. and Susan (Cleaveland) Nye, of Franklin. She died 27th October, 1873, leaving one daughter, now Mrs. George E. Mariner, of Sparta, Wis. Mr. Daniel's present wife was Mrs. Fanny B. Nye, formerly of Freeport, Me.
Rev. WILLIAM HAVEN DANIELS, youngest son of Henry and Mary (Metcalf) Daniels, was born in' Franklin, 18th May, 1836, and was educated in Wilbraham (Mass.) Academy and the Wes- leyan University at Middletown, Conn. After the usual four years' course in theology in the Rock River Conference he was admitted, in 1872, as preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Daniels has performed pastoral service in Jencksville, Mass., St. Johns, N. B., Normal, Chicago, and River Forest, Ill. He was also for a time Professor of Belles Lettres in the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Ill., General Agent of the Chicago Theological Seminary, Librarian of the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Daniels has lately turned himself chiefly to literary work, and has issued some volumes, such as "D. L. Moody and His Work," "The Temperance Reform and its Great Reformers," the former of which has widely circulated and been translated into French and Welsh. He married a daughter of Dea. Samuel P. Merrick of Chicopee, in 1861, September 11th, and has one child, a daughter. He resides at present at River Forest, near Chicago.
WILLIS GEORGE DANIELS was born in Franklin, 22d October, 1806, and was the son of Joseph and Susan (Fisher) Daniels. Becoming early converted to the gospel, he turned himself to a
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preparation for the ministry. He fitted for college at Day's Academy, in Wrentham, and entered Amherst College in 1828, but ill-health compelled him to leave in his Sophomore year, and he died of consumption at his home, 15th January, 1830, to the great disappointment of his family and friends.
OLIVER DEAN, M. D., was born in Franklin, 18th February, 1783, and was the son of Seth and Edna (Pond) Dean. After learning English branches in the town schools he studied Latin in the Framingham Academy, and Greek with Rev. Dr. Crane of Northbridge. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. James Mann, of Wrentham, but completed it with Dr. W. Ingalls of Boston, and received his degree of M. D. from the Massachu- setts Medical Society, in 1809. He practiced in Boston until 1812, when he removed to Medway, but his health broke down under his labors here, and in 1817 he left his profession to assume the superintendency of the Medway Cotton Mills, which had been built in 1804, burnt in October, 1807, and re-built in 1809, by Dr. Abijah Richardson, Luther Metcalf, William Felt, and others. Dr. Dean held this office for nine years. In 1826 he was chosen Superintendent of the then young Amoskeag, N. H., Manufactur- ing Company, and continued there for eight years. Having ac- cumulated a fortune by skillful management, he retired to a farm in Framingham from 1834 to 1844. From the latter date until 1851 he resided in Boston. He next purchased a portion of the farm of the deceased Dr. Emmons and made Franklin his home until his death.
Dr. Dean devoted his last years chiefly to plans for the educa- tion of youth, which resulted in the founding of the academy ap- propriately bearing his name, and which his large wealth enabled him amply to endow.
Dr. Dean first married Caroline Francoeur of Wrentham, resi- dent in Boston. She died 27th October, 1866, and he married, in 1868, Mrs. Louisa C. Hames of Wrentham, who still lives. He left no children.
Hon. ALEXANDER DEWITT, whom Franklin has a double reason for claiming as a son-in-law, as his wife belonged to this town, was born in New Braintree, 2d April, 1798, one of a family of nine children. His parents were too poor to give him any oppor- tunities of education, and he was compelled to do such small work
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among his neighbors as he could find. At 15 he went to Dudley as apprentice in a small wool and cotton factory, where he staid five years. In 1818 he came to Franklin and was employed in Dr. N. Miller's thread factory at River End. In 1819 he leased a larger mill in Foxboro. Here he peddled his own thread in a wagon from place to place, carrying his food with him. Conquer- ing his natural pride against such a seemingly begging expedition, when he found that he must urge his own wares to effect any sales, he pushed himself more boldly and soon secured a circle of trade for all the goods he could manufacture.
In 1820, June 5th, he married Mary, daughter of William Makepeace of Franklin, and in conjunction with his father-in-law, who built a mill, carried on the thread business in Unionville in this town. In 1825 he removed to Oxford, where, with three of his brothers, he built the then largest thread-mill in the United States. Prosperity attended these ventures, and Mr. DeWitt, now Colonel, rose not only in wealth but in popular regard. He became Representative of the town in 1830, State Senator in 1842 and 1844, and a member of the House of National Repre- sentatives in the Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Congresses. In his later life he has been blind. Colonel DeWitt has just died at his home in Oxford, 13th January, 1879, leaving a widow but no children.
Rev. NATHAN TYRRELL DYER, the latest of Franklin's sons-in- law, is a native of South Braintree, being born there 1st January, 1852, and the son of Jacob Storr and Ann Maria Thayer (Hol- brook) Dyer. After passing through the town High School and Lawrence Academy at Groton, he entered Dartmouth College, graduating thence in 1873. Next he passed through . Andover Theological Seminary and was graduated in 1876. He was in- stalled over the First church, Middleboro, 31st July, 1878.
Mr. Dyer married, 4th June, 1878, Miss Harriet Mann, born in Franklin and daughter of William and Sarah Bacon (Metcalf) Mann, still residing in Franklin.
Hon. WILLIAMS EMMONS was the son of Rev. Nathanael and Martha (Williams) Emmons, and was born in Franklin 2d May, 1784 ; was graduated from Brown University 1805, in the class with Theron Metcalf, and was subsequently tutor for three years. In 1809 he opened a law office in Augusta, Me., where he continued
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with distinguished success until 1836. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1833 and 1834, and Senator for Kennebec county in 1834 and 1835 ; was appointed Judge of Probate in 1841, which office he filled until 1848, when he removed to Hallowell to spend the remainder of his life in privacy. He died there 8th October, 1855.
Judge Emmons married, 24th May, 1813, Eunice, daughter of Judge Samuel S. Wilde of Boston. Judge Wilde was son of Daniel Wilde, and his wife was daughter of Dea. Jezaniah Sumner, both of Taunton and both noted musicians, the latter being the author of the "Ode on Science." Mrs. Emmons died 1821, leaving two daughters, one of whom married Rev. Benjamin Tappan, Jr., of Augusta. Judge Emmon's second wife was Lucy, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Vaughn of Hallowell.
ELISHA FAIRBANKS, Esq., was born in Franklin, 6th June, 1771, in the house, afterwards, of Hon. Willis Fisher, and was son of Capt. Asa and Sarah Fairbanks. He gradnated at Brown Uni- versity 1791, and began practice of law in Gloucester, R. I. He soon after removed to Hopkinton, and thence to Keene, N. H. Here he became deranged and put an end to his own life about 1820. He was never married.
THEODORE PARKER FARR, son of Parker Russell and Abby Eliza (Alexander) Farr, was born in Franklin, 19th December, 1855. He prepared for college at the Dean Academy and graduated, the valedictorian of his class, from Tuft's College, 1878. He is now teaching school in Sheldonville, Wrentham.
Prof. ALEXANDER METCALF FISHER, son of Caleb and Sally (Cushing) Fisher, was born in Franklin 22d July, 1794. He was of small and very slender physique, yet of such mental quickness that he graduated from Yale College in 1813 at 19, and at the head of his class. One of his classmates says of his junior year, " It astonished us all to see with what ease he traveled through conic sections, spherical geometry and trigonometry ; how com- pletely he supplied defective demonstrations in the text-book, and occasionally detected fallacies in the author and demonstrated the incorrectness of his conclusions. It seemed almost sublime to see one of an age but a single remove from childhood, of a figure so disproportioned to the magnitude of his subject, and of a mould so frail and delicate, march with such ease and steadiness over these
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heights which stood in this part of our path." - ( American Journal of Science, V. 367.) After his graduation he spent a year with Dr. Emmons, going through the usual course of theological topics. Dr. E. said of him, "He is the ablest man in theological argu- ment I ever met." Another called him "head and shoulders above all others." He next went to Andover, but ill-health com- pelled him to relinquish books and retire to his father's farm. He was, however, appointed Tutor in Yale College in 1815, and, not- withstanding the fears of his friends, entered upon his duties at the fall term. His favorite studies apparently invigorated his health, and in two years he was chosen adjunct Professor of Math- ematies and Natural Philosophy. On the death of President Dwight and the promotion of Prof. Day to the Presidency, Fisher was elected to his place in the chair of this professorship. His devotion and success as a teacher and lecturer were striking. Nothing escaped his attention. Some philosophical papers of his at this time attracted public notice. Especially an article on " Mus- ical Temperament," in Silliman's Journal, vol. 1, art. 1, was re- garded in America and Europe as a most profound and exhaustive discussion of that difficult topic. This article was written within two weeks, as a relief from severe nervous disturbance. "He was a wonderfully rapid, exact and methodical writer, and marked by originality of thought, delicacy of taste, and determination of pur- pose." As a sample, suffering once bitterly under a toothache, he wrote out the pros and cons, balanced them, and went to a den- tist. The removal of the tooth being a less objection than he had computed, he had a second offender extracted as an equipoise in the argument.
But the high hopes of his career were suddenly destroyed by his shipwreck on the coast of Ireland. Desirous of learning the modes of instruction in Europe, he, with sixty others, sailed from New York in the packet Albion, 1st April, 1822. When near Kinsale, April 22, a gale struck the ship, carried her masts, and dashed her upon the rocks. Only one passenger escaped. Prof. Fisher was last seen in the cabin examining the barometer.
Prof. Fisher was engaged to be married to Catharine, daughter of Rev. L. Beecher, D. D., but the waves forbade forever the con- summation.
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A white marble slab stands in the Franklin Cemetery to mark the fact of his death, with this inscription : -
S. M. ALEXANDRI METCALF FISHER COLLEGII YALENSIS, Prinio Alumni, deinde Tutoris, Postia Matheseos et Philosophiæ Naturalis Professor ; Qui Ingenio capaci et acerrimo judicio Præditus, in studia doctrinæ adeo incubuit Ut cùm adhus intra juventutis annos Ejus versaretur actas, Prope summum literarum fastigium Altigisset. His insuper laudibus Caeteras, quae virum bonum commendat, Virtutes, Comitatem, Benevolentiam. Morum Probitatem, Fidem in officiis fungendis maximam, Et summum Dei reverentiam Addiderat. Et, cùv amore literarum Et studio alias regiones misendi ductus, In Europam navigaret, Ad oras Hiberniae. Eheu ! tristi naufragio Periit ; Die XXII Aprilis, anno Sacro M.DCCC.XXII. Atatis XXVII.
On the obverse side : -
Thy grave, O Fisher, is the rolling flood ; Thy urn, the rock eternal reared by God ! Yet near thy home, raised by affection's hand To speak thy name, this simple stone shall stand. How dark the scene, till Faith directs on high Beyond these orbs that charmed thy youthful eye ; There now thy noble mind expanding glows In floods of light, nor pain nor darkness knows; Youth, Genius, Knowledge, Virtue, pass away From Earth's dim shores, to Heaven's eternal day.
Rev. CHARLES RICHMOND FISHER was the youngest son of Daniel C. and Betsey (Wood) Fisher, and was born in Franklin Sept. 17, 1819. Young Fisher left home at 13 to learn the book trade, as clerk in William Marshall's store, Providence. Here, attending Grace church with the family in which he resided, he
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became personally interested in religion, and was admitted by Bishop Griswold to that church, then under the rectorship of Rev. John A. Clark, now Bishop of Rhode Island. His new views turned his thoughts to the ministry, and, assisted by friends, he commenced study at the Franklin Academy. In 1838 he entered Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., graduating in 1842 in the same class with Rev. Drs. Gallandet, Geer, and Olmstead.
While studying theology, after graduation, under Bishop Burgess, then rector of Christ church, he also spent much time as lay- reader in feeble and vacant parishes in the 'vicinity. He was or- dained as Deacon by Bishop Brownell in 1845, and immediately began to officiate in St. Marks, New Britain, Conn. Afterwards he went to Cabotville, Mass., next to Hebron and Manchester, Conn. In 1847, June 9th, he was ordained as Priest. In 1850, December 2d, he was appointed by the Bishop as missionary to gather a church in the city of Hartford, Conn. He at first held meetings in a small and inconvenient hall ; afterwards, as the con- gregation increased, in an old chapel. His labors were so pros- pered that a new building was erected and dedicated in June, 1855, called St. Pauls church. Around this church as his center, Mr. Fisher labored while he lived. He was the friend of the poor and the almoner of the gifts of the rich.
The newspaper of the day, the Hartford Globe, said of him : "The death of 'father' Fisher has spread a general gloom over our community. It is seldom that the demise of a man, however prominent or however highly esteemed, is so universally felt. He is missed everywhere, in and out of church, in the home and in the street, at prayers and in society, by the rich and- oh, how sincerely is he missed and honored by the poor !"
Mr. Fisher died 24th November, 1876, aged 57. He was stout and inclined to corpulency. Too stout for walking, he was obliged mostly to ride, indicating the end which came to him at last. While rising from his bed on the morning of his last day he said, " how well I have slept, how well I feel !" and suddenly fell back on the pillow dead.
During his ministry Mr. Fisher married 1,717 couples-one on the afternoon and another in the evening before his death. His funeral obsequies were attended by a crowd of people, and the ser- mon by Bishop Williams was printed.
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Mr. Fisher married, 26th May, 1846, Miss Susan B. Griswold of Hartford, who with her three children -two sons and a daugh- ter - live to mourn his death.
Hon. GEORGE FISIIER, son of Joseph and Susan (Fisher) Fisher, was born 17th March, 1788; on the Maxey Fisher homestead, for- merly called " Buck's Hill." He changed his early farm life for a mason's, and worked in Boston, where he saved his earnings un- til he could devote himself to study. He fitted for college with Rev. William Williams at West Wrentham, and by assistance from his brothers was enabled to graduate at Brown University in 1813. After a tour to the South for health, he entered the law office of Judge Gilbert of Hebron, Conn., completing his course with Messrs. Forman & Sabin, at Onondaga, N. Y. He afterwards settled in Oswego. In 1828 was elected to Congress, but was supplanted in his seat by Hon. Silas Wright, Jr. He then left the law and engaged in the flouring business. Becoming wealthy, he spent several years in Europe for the education of his children. On his return he became President of the N. W. Insurance Com- pany, residing most of the time in New York city, where he died 26th March, 1861.
Mr. Fisher married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Dan. Hunting- ton of Hadley, whom he first met in a stage ride from Northampton to Troy, N. Y., whither she was going as a teacher in Miss Willard's school. They had six children. The four sons graduated at Cam- bridge, of whom two follow insurance in Chicago; another is a lawyer in Brooklyn, and the other a teacher in New York City.
Rev. GEORGE FISHER, son of Willard and Betsey R. Fisher, was born in Franklin 25th November, 1839. He began a collegi- ate course at Amherst College, but removed to Brown University, and finally had to relinquish colleges altogether on account of fee- ble health. The love of a literary career, however, abode in him. Having joined the Episcopal church in Waterford, N. Y., in 1866, he was ordained deacon in New York January, 1868, and ad- mitted to the priesthood 12th June, 1870, by Bishop W. C. Doane, of Albany. In 1871, March 19, he became rector of the church of St. John the Evangelist, at Stockport, Columbia county, N. Y., where he still officiates.
Mr. Fisher married, 25th December, 1865, Miss Ellen E. H. Wright of Providence, R. I.
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Hon. JABEZ FISHER was born on "Buck's Hill," now King street, where Alfred Metcalf lives, 19th November, 1717, and was the youngest child of Ebenezer, Sr., and Abigail (Ellis) Fisher. Although without a liberal education, his strong common sense, clear intuition and inflexible integrity gained and kept the confidence of all men through the trying scenes of his long life, as the offices of trust to which he was elected clearly show.
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