USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > History of the town of Franklin, Mass., from its settlement to the completion of its first century > Part 7
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During the three years of the first principal's connection, this school counted on its roll the names of many scholars since well known and not a few renowned as educators and heads of import- ant institutions of instruction, as well as lawyers, physicians and ministers. A review of its first three catalogues is now to the writer a frequent and pleasant exercise, and the occasional meet- ing of old scholars a delightful revival of some of the brightest days of his life.
The subsequent career of the old Franklin High School, under Bigelow, Baker and others is not particularly known to the writer. Upon its subsidence, the building was occupied as a store, and is now fitted for dwellings. But though its cupola and bell are gone, and its front pillars and recess have disappeared, a halo of kindly
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memories will linger about it still, at the western foot of the Com- mon, as long as the young eyes of 1835-40 can look upon its site.
A HIGH SCHOOL
was established by the town in April, 1868, and was opened to pupils on May 20, with twenty-two scholars, and Miss Mary A. Bryant as principal. Since the close of her service the line of principals has been Annie E. Patten, Thomas Curley, and Lucien I. Blake, the present occupant of the position.
The educational facilities of Franklin have been especially en- . larged by the founding of
DEAN ACADEMY.
We condense from its annual catalogues. " At the annual session of the Massachusetts Universalist Convention, held in Worcester, Oct. 18-20, 1864, the subject of a State denominational school, which should be of the highest grade below that of colleges, was brought to the attention of the council by Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., President of Tuft's College. The council immediately appointed a committee with full discretionary powers, with Rev. A. St. John Chambre, of Stoughton, as chairman.
This committee soon held a spirited public meeting in Boston. The parish in Stoughton offered $25,000 and an eligible site. Oliver Dean, M. D., of Franklin, proposed to give a tract of eight or nine acres which he had bought of the former estate of Rev. N. Emmons, D. D., $10,000 towards a building, and $50,000 as a permanent fund. Dr. Dean's proposal was accepted, a charter obtained, trustees chosen, and a call for funds for building issued. The generous responses encouraged the trustees to secure plans for a seminary adequate to the apparent demands, and ground was broken in August, 1866. May 16, 1867, the corner- stone was laid with appropriate public ceremonies. The continual rise of prices of labor and material compelled to increased sub- scriptions, Dr. Dean's donations to the building arising to about $75,000. The edifice was finished and dedicated to its uses May 28, 1868, with a dedicatory address by Rev. E. C. Bolles of Port- land, Me. The total cost of the building, exclusive of furniture and gas apparatus, was about $154,000. It was 220 feet front, the main center fifty feet by sixty deep, and two wings, each fifty-
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
eight feet by forty-four in depth, with still other wings projecting into the rear, and three stories high. The style was French Lom -. bardic and altogether was a very appropriate and beautiful edifice.
While the academy was being erected a school was begun, Oct. 1, 1866, in the vestry of the Universalist church, with forty- four pupils, under Mr. T. G. Senter as principal. The school was removed to the new edifice at the opening of the summer term of 1868.
But during the night of July 31, 1872, this magnificent building with nearly all its contents was destroyed by fire. The friends of the school, however, speedily rallied from this sudden and stun- ning blow and began as soon as possible to rebuild upon the for- mer foundations. The school meanwhile was continued with en- couraging prospects in the Franklin House, which had been purchased by the trustees and citizens of the town for this purpose.
It was with great labor and many anxieties that the trustees pushed forward the work in their care. Desirous of furnishing the best facilities for education, they incorporated every improve- ment into their new building, and with so much success that they were able to present it for public dedication on June 24, 1874, and for class graduation exercises - less than two years from the destruction of its predecessor. The school removed to it the next term - September, 1874.
The present building occupies substantially the same dimensions and differs externally very little from the previous one, except in architectural style, being Gothic. The internal arrangements are not surpassed by any other educational institution in the State ; while its exterior brick walls, banded and corniced with sandstone, and rising to a fifth story in the center, with a lofty tower sixty feet high, add a feature to the beautiful scenery which attracts and holds the eye of every visitor with admiration of its chaste yet impressive proportions. A view is given on the opposite page.
Dean Academy continued open to both sexes until 1877, when a demand for a young ladies' school in the Universalist church de- cided the trustees to open the institution for young ladies only. Under this new departure it began the fall term of the present year, 1877-8, with abont fifty pupils. There is not yet sufficient time to test the present policy. But the trustees say "the promise is that the school will be eminently successful in the
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work it has undertaken. It will continue to be first class in every respect, and to furnish a thorough education."
Next to the school, as one of the educational agencies of a. town, may come a brief notice of
X. THE POST-OFFICE.
This is furnished chiefly by Capt. H. C. Fisher. now of Haver- hill.
There was no properly appointed post-office until about 1819. The few newspapers and occasional letters for the first century of the settlement came by chance neighborly hands from Wrent- ham, where they were left by the carriers between Providence and Boston. As late as 1812 they were brought from South Wrentham on Saturdays and left at Capt. Nathaniel Adams' store (after Davis Thayer's). Hermon C. Fisher, then about 15, was employed as carrier by several families. As there were but three mails per week between Boston and Providence, the weekly amount for Franklin was not a heavy horse-back load. But the interest in the events of the war of 1812 paid for the long weekly journey through Wrentham Center and Guinea, to the old tavern on the Boston and Providence road. About 1815, David Fisher, keeper of the only tavern then in Wrentham, was appointed postmaster, and the Franklin mail was brought from there ; but North Frank- lin letters came from Captain Felt's office, recently opened in Medway Village. About 1819, Eli Richardson built the stone store at City Mills in Franklin and secured a post-office there. As there was some business rivalry between the Center and the City, of which Davis Thayer and Eli Richardson were the expo- nents respectively, the Center was not pleased that a march had been stolen upon them. True, Mr. Richardson engaged to bring all letters and papers which belonged to the Center to meeting in his sulky box every Sunday, and H. C. Fisher took the package from the carriage to Major Thayer's store for distribution ; but the letters sometimes miscarried, the inventory charges did not agree, and after two uneasy years the Center moved in earnest for a post-office of its own. The result of a somewhat bitter conflict was the securing of an office, with Davis Thayer as post- master, and David Metcalf as mail-carrier twice a week from the city to the Center. He came regularly with his pouch, but as Mr.'
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
Richardson still kept the keys, nothing came of it. After a deal of negotiating with the Department, quiet and order finally ob- tained, and in 1822 the office beeame regularly established as " Franklin, D. Thayer, P. M." From that date the succession of postmasters has been Spencer Pratt, Theron C. Hills, David P. Baker, Cyrus B. Snow, Charles W. Stewart, D. P. Baker again, A. A. Russeque assistant, Smith Fisher, J. A. Woodward oceu- pant since 1871. The office has been as movable as the incum- bent, being held in any most convenient store at the Center.
The income at first did not exceed $50 per quarter, of which the postmaster received about thirty per cent., but its business in- creased rapidly as soon as differences were composed. In 1864 a salary was affixed of $480 per annum, in 1866 at $540, and in 1868 at $700. In 1869 the office became a money-order office, and in 1870 the salary raised to $900, and in 1872 to $1,000.
XI. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The carly ecclesiastical history of Franklin has been mainly embodied in the preceding address. A still fuller sketch of it is contained in the Centennial Sermon of Rev. Elam Smalley, in 1838, which leaves very little to be added except some notice of the regularly settled pastors of the
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Rev. ELIAS HAVEN, the first minister, was a native of Framing- ham. He descended from Richard Haven of the West of Eng- land, who settled in Lynn in 1645, and had twelve children.
Moses, his youngest son, born in Lynn 20th May, 1667, mar- ried Mary Ballard, and had eight children. He moved to Framing- ham before 1705, and was deacon in 1717.
Joseph, his oldest son, born 8th February, 1689, married Martha Haven, and had eleven children. He moved to Hopkinton in 1724; was one of the founders of the church there and its deacon. He filled the highest offices in town.
Elias, the third son and child of Joseph, was born in Framing- ham, 16th April, 1714 ; graduated at Harvard 1733, and dismissed from the church in Hopkinton, 29th October, 1738, to become the pastor of the church in Franklin. He married Mary Messenger, oldest daughter of Rev. Henry Messenger of Wrentham (born
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28th August, 1722) and had seven children. Rev. Mr. Messen- ger's family was a peculiarly ministerial household. His daughter Esther married Rev. Amariah Frost, first minister of Milford ; Sarah married first Dr. Cornelius Kollock of Wrentham, and sec- ond Rev. Benjamin Caryl, first minister of Dover ; while Elizabeth was the wife of Rev. Joseph Bean, her father's successor, and his son James was the first minister in Ashford, Ct.
Four only of Rev. Mr. Haven's seven children reached ma- turity. These were : -
2. Thomas, born 28th August, 1744, for whose history see biographical sketches.
3. Elias, born 11th November, 1745, married Elizabeth Bright of Dedham, and probably removed there.
6. William, born 20th June, 1751, of whom nothing more is known.
7. Mary, born May, 1753, and lived in Dedham.
Rev. Mr. Haven's ministry, continued through much weakness of body and frequent suspensions, was very successful in results. One hundred and seventy-one members were added to the church during his sixteen years, most of them during the great revival of 1741. But consumption early marked him for a victim, and the last five years of his life were broken by long intervals of in- ability to preach. The records of the church and the parish show the devotion of the people by their frequent sympathetic votes and cheerful continuance of his salary, while they supplied the pulpit at their own expense, and a grant of £26 to his family after his death. The town erected a stone over his grave in the central yard, on which they say : -
Who are desirous of giving And of perpetuating Their public Testimony To his faithful ministry and pious Life By which tho' dead he yet speaketh To his once beloved and grateful Flock.
Rev. CALEB BARNAM, or BARNUM, the second pastor, was of . Danbury, Ct. His immigrant ancestor, Thomas Barnum, was first of Fairfield, then in Norwalk, and afterwards one of eight original settlers of Danbury ; where Caleb was born 30th June, 1737, the son of Thomas and Deborah. He graduated at Princeton, N. J., 1757, and A. M. in 1768 at both Princeton and Harvard.
6
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
Mr. Barnum began his ministry in this town in troublous times, induced, maybe, by the six years' vacancy in the pastorate, and continued perhaps by the hymn-book war and known decisiveness of Franklin people. The minister, it must be admitted, was also prompt and positive in his opinions, and not therefore skillfully successful in adjusting the differences of others. Yet he carried with him the confidence and support of a large majority of the. church, and it was with great reluctance and very slowly that they consented to his resignation. The records of the time seem to- show that the differences were more between the precinct and the church than with the minister. He, as a central figure between them, received the attacks of both parties, and as usually results, he was demolished in their encounters. A communication from the precinet to the church. adopted 12th March, 1764, illustrates the above statement : -
We have had Yours of ye Twelve of February under considera- tion and have Left it to be more fully answered by Capt. Jn. Golds- bury, and others, a Committee Chosen at a Pro. meeting on ye 6 of February annodomini 1764. But Can by no means Concur with you in singing either Doct. Watts vertion of the Psalms, or Tate & Brady's with the Hymns. But do still adhear to our vote of ye 21 of June, 1762, and Desire ye Church would Concur with us in Singing the Old Version of ye Psalmns in ye Congregation ; Leaving the church to thear Own Chorce to Sing What Version of Psalms they Please when they assemble by themselves for Divine Worship, but if the Church shall not think Proper to Concur with. ye Precinct in Singing the Old Version of the Psalms, That you would proceed to Send out ve Letters missive to the churches. Chosen to Set in Ecclesiastical Council to hear and advise us un- der our Difficulties and that the Precinct Clerk wate upon ye Rev. Mr. Barnam with a Coppy of this Vote and with a Coppy of the Votes of the Precinct Past at precinct meeting on the 6 of Febru- ary 1764, Desiring they may be Laid before the Church as Soon as may be with Conveniency.
The council alluded to was convened 17th April, 1764, and its result accepted 7th May, and expense of council, £6. 11s. 2 d., paid by the precinct. That result says : -
We look upon that which the church acted in voting another version of the Psalms different from what the Christian assembly in this Parish from their original foundation had been in the pub- lic use of without their consulting the Congregation was unadvis- edly donc. Forasmuch as the whole of the religious society are
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evidently interested therein. Notwithstanding we think the Pre- cinct were very assuming in Pretending to settle sd controverted point by a Parish vote and demanding or requesting the church's concurrence, forasmuch as consistent with our congregational con- stitution it has always been considered as the church's right to go before in matters of divine worship, and in regard to many con- curring circumstances attending the church's vote of introducing Dr. Watts' version we are of opinion that it is advisable that the congregation rather acquiesce in said vote and sing the version of Dr. Watts in part together with our New England version in part ; which version said congregation have Lately assaid to Revive, and that, considering the uncomfortable and unhappy state which must attend the people in maintaining controversies of this kind, we advise the Rev. Pastor and church to condescend thereto for the Present, that ye may all have an opportunity, hoping withal in in due time you'll improve it that ye may all unite in one version.
The hymnal discord was accompanied by other troubles to the pastor. Some withdrew on suspicion of his unsoundness " on the doctrine of universal redemption and assurance of faith," and several left to attend Separatist meetings ; but the majority of the church vindicated the pastor and rebuked the dissentients. Still, Mr. Barnum persisted in pressing his dismissal, until it was reluctantly granted. In his ministry of eight years, forty were added to the church by profession and eight by letter.
Mr. Barnum was installed over the first church in Taunton, 2d February, 1769. When the news of the fight at Lexington reached Taunton, he enthusiastically addressed his people upon the duties of the crisis, and himself entered the army of the patriots, 3d May, 1775, and was chaplain of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Col. John Greaton, then near Boston, 10th February, 1776. He followed his regiment to New York and to Montreal. On his return he was taken sick at Ticonderoga and was discharged 24th July. But death arrested him at Pittsfield on the 23d of August, at the age of 39.
Mr. Barnum was a fully proportioned man of over six feet in height and of vigorous muscle, which, if tradition be reliable, he did not decline to use when occasion demanded ; as when he once took down a blatant wrestler who had made himself obnoxious. A portrait preserved of him presents a very majestic and anthor- itative presence in his ample wig.
Mr. Barnum married 13th June, 1761, Priscilla, daughter of
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
Rev. Caleb Rice, of Sturbridge, and sister to Col. Nathan Rice, of Hingham, aid-de-camp to General Lincoln, in the Southern cam- paign. They had eight children : -
1. Caleb, born 11th April, 1762, and married Nancy Paine, of Thetford, Vt.
2. Priscilla, born 1st April, 1764, and married Capt. David Vickery, of Taunton.
3. Deborah, born 27th October, 1766, and married Thomas S. Bailies, of Dighton.
4. George, born 23d May, 1768, and married Sally Cutler, of Warren.
5. Mary, died young.
6. Thomas, born 30th October, 1772 and married Sally Abra- ham, of New York.
7. Anna, born 30th December, 1773, and married Rufus Child, of Woodstock, Ct.
8. Polly, born 11th October, 1775, and married Rev. Peter Nourse, of Ellsworth, Me.
Of the third minister, Rev. NATHANAEL EMMONS, D. D., a portrait is given as he was at about 60 years of age. The ex- haustive memoir by Prof. E. A. Park, D. D., has left nothing for addition or correction. It is no dubious commendation of his character and ministry that his name is still a brightness in the memory of all the elder citizens of Franklin, and even mellowed into a sunnier radiance by the lapse of years. So strong was the regard to him personally that his namesakes are found in many a family and in many a town and State, while anecdotes of him and his pithy apothegms are still eurrent - bright as new coin, and more valuable. We find him a member, and often the chairman, of important committees chosen by the town on matters of moral interest. Yet he was never a dictator, but carried the public mind by his clear and convineing logic. He sharpened the intel- lects of his people and made them alert, discriminating and clear- headed thinkers, having settled opinions of their own. He ruled, therefore, only by always moving in the line of their own intelligent convictions. They knew him to be simply following truth and they had to follow his guidance, because he justified every step of his way.
In one aspect, at least, Dr. Emmons has been and is sometimes
Nath Commons
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still misrepresented. He was not curt, dogmatic, andre pellant. He was not unsocial and austere to his people, nor a bugbear to the young. But he invited and received us cordially into his study, drew us out of our bashfulness, and always dismissed us with new thoughts and higher impulses. He was affable, genial, and enjoyed a joke as keenly as any of us. The young people of his day still remember his indescribable chuckle with which he followed his sallies of wit. He loved to test us with Socratic questions, and highly enjoyed our escapes from entanglements ; and herein lay his power over our generation. He won our con- fidential regard and never wrenched it afterwards by the tension of any inconsistent demands. The writer hopes to be pardoned for adding so much in vindication of the aged pastor who stimu- lated him as well as so many others in the pursuit of education and whom some who never knew him have painted as distant, morose, and forbidding in manners. It is a slander on the man.
Dr. Emmons' active ministry continued about fifty-four years -from 21st April, 1773, to 28th May, 1827. He died 23d Sep- tember, 1840, at nearly 96. He often said that he should never have ventured to settle over the Franklin church - so vigor- ously divided in feeling-if Mr. Niles had not just before him preached to that people his two sermons with such effect during his supply of the Franklin pulpit. One sermon was from the text, "I ask for what intent ye have sent for me?" wherein he de- scribed the objects for which some people wanted a minister, and the proper business of the ministry. The other sermon was on the text, " I hear that there are divisions among you," in which their discords and their consequences were plainly and faithfully set forth.
Twice during his ministry, in 1781 and again in 1784, Dr. Em- mons, discouraged with his apparently fruitless labors, asked a dismission, which his people unanimously declined to grant. An extensive and powerful revival followed before the latter year closed, from which about seventy were added to the church. It was the end of his discouragements. During his active life 308 were gathered into the church. His letter of resignation, after his fainting in the pulpit, is worthy, for its loving simplicity, of a place in this history : -
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
FRANKLIN, May 28, 1827.
To the Members of the Church and to the Members of the Religious Society in this Place.
BRETIIREN & FRIENDS : I have sustained the Pastoral Relation to you for more than fifty years, which is a long ministerial life. The decays of nature and increasing infirmities of old age and my present feeble state of health convince me that it is my duty to retire from the field of labor which I am no longer able to occupy to my own satisfaction, nor to your benefit. I therefore take the liberty to inform you that I can no longer supply your pulpit and perform any ministerial labor among you ; and at the same time that I renounce all claims upon you for any future ministerial sup- port, relying intirely on your wisdom and goodness to grant or NATHANAEL EMMONS. not to grant any gratuity to your aged servant during the residue of his life.
The parish responded with a grant of $500 per annum.
Dr. Emmons was descended from Samuel Emmons of Cambridge, and was the son of Dea. Samuel, Jr., and Ruth (Cone) Emmons of East Haddam, Ct. He was born 1st May, 1745, and gradu- ated at Yale College 1767.
He married, first, Deliverance French of Braintree, 6th April, 1775. She died 22d June, 1778, and her two children in Septem- ber. Second, Martha Williams, of Hadley, 4th November, 1779, by whom he had six children.
1. Martha, wife of Willard Gay, Esq., of Dedham.
2. Deliverance.
3. Sarah.
4. Mary, wife of Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., of Medway, who is still living with her husband in a serene old age, and the mother of two sons in the ministry - Revs. Jacob, Jr., and Alexis W. Ide.
5. Williams, B. U., 1805. Lawyer in Augusta, Me., Senator and Judge of Probate.
6. Erastus. Major, aid-de-camp to General Crane ; died young. Mrs. Emmons died 2d August. 1829, and he married, third, Mrs. Abigail.M. Mills of Sutton, 18th September, 1831, who lived to be over 90.
A view of the home of Dr. Emmons in Franklin is inserted here, as perhaps the most suitable. It stood on the north corner of Main and Emmons streets. The old button-wood tree near his study windows is still flourishing, as well as two apple trees on its western side ; but the house itself was removed some years
RESIDENCE OF DR. EMMONS.
The two windows at the left hand, on the first story, belonged to his study. " I have saved months of time," he said, " by having my study on the lower floor."
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ago, and now does duty as a tenement-house. as historic buildings are wont to do in our hurrying age.
Rev. ELAMI SMALLEY, D. D., was settled as the successor - not colleague - of Dr. Emmons, 17th June. 1829. After a nine years' pastorate, he was dismissed 5th July, 1838, to take charge of the Union church, Worcester, where he was installed September 19. He remained here until 1853. when he was dismissed to go to the Fourth Presbyterian church in Troy, N. Y. He was compelled by ill health to relinquish this charge not long after. But a voy- age to Europe failed to restore him, and he died very soon after his return, in New York city, 30th July, 1858, at the early age of 58.
Dr. Smalley was a native of Dartmouth. He succeeded by his own exertions in fitting for college, and graduated at Brown Univer- sity 1827, and Doctor of Divinity 1849. He studied theology with Rev. Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth, supporting himself as he had done in college by teaching singing-schools, in which he was sin- gularly adept. Dr. Smalley married Louisa J., daughter of Gen. Abiel and Elizabeth Washburn, of Middleboro, and left two chil- dren, Lonisa Jane, for several years teacher of music in the Wheaton Female Seminary, Norton, now resident in Boston, and George W. (See notices of graduates.) Mrs. Smalley died at Middleboro 7th June. 1874. and was buried by the side of her husband in Troy, N. Y.
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