USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Gardner > History of the town of Gardner, Worcester County, Mass., from the incorporation, June 27, 1785, to the present time > Part 27
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FRANK F. PARKER.
This gentleman was born in Keene, N. H., in 1851. The following are his patents for Folding Chairs : One patent issued August 15th, 1876, and another issued October 3d, 1876. These patents are both owned by Mr. Philander Derby.
GEORGE W. PARKER.
This gentleman was born August 14th, 1824, in Concord, N. H., and came to Gardner in November, 1870. Letters Patent, of the United States, were issued to him March 18th, 1856, for an improved Machine for Making Clothes Pins ; May 6th, 1873, patent for Improvement in Speed Regulators ; April 6th, 1875,
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
patent for an Improvement in Machines for Tenoning Chair Rounds ; July 18th, 1876, patent for Improvement in Folding Chairs ; June 26th, 1877, patent for Improvement in Machines for Making Pail Bottoms and Barrel Heads.
The above list does not embrace all our inventors or inven- tions. There are others of which we have not been able to obtain sufficiently accurate information, to enable us to make a true record in this work. Those now given are enough to in- dicate the ability of the town, in this direction. As a fitting close to this chapter we give the following from Lord Bacon :-
" The introduction of noble inventions, seems to hold, by far, the most excellent place among all human actions. And this was the judgment of antiquity, which attributed divine honors to inventors, but conferred only heroical honors upon those who deserved well in civil affairs, such as the founders of empires, Jegislators, and deliverers of their country. And whoever rightly considers it, will find this a judicious custom in former ages, since the benefits of inventors may extend to all mankind, but civil benefits only to particular countries or seats of men ; and these civil benefits seldom descend to more than a few ages, whereas inventions are perpetuated through the course of time. Besides, a state is seldom amended in its civil affairs, without force and perturbation, whilst inventions spread their advantage, without doing injury or causing disturbance."
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
CHAPTER XIII.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
" Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."
' Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man."
" Histories make men wise; poets witty ; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep ; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend."
-Lord Bacon.
" And books we know Are a substantial world, both pure and good." -Wordsworth. " The past but lives in words; a thousand ages Were blank, if books had not evok'd their ghosts, And kept the pale, unbodied shades to warn us, From fleshless lips."- Bulwer.
" Turn back the tide of ages to its head, And hoard the wisdom of the honor'd dead."-Sprague.
" Books should to one of these four ends conduce For wisdom, piety, delight, or use."-Denham.
TN his work, entitled " Lectures on English Literature," Prof. Henry Reed, of Philadelphia, introduces, in his chapter on Literature of Wit and Humor, the following, as an instance of unconscious wit : "It is," says he, " in Horrebou's History of Iceland, an old folio volume, which is divided into chapters according to various subjects. One of these is headed ' Con- cerning Owls.' I can quote the whole chapter without fatiguing you, for it is in these words : 'There are, in Iceland, no owls of any kind whatever.' Yet the historian seems to have con- sidered himself under some obligation to that species of birds, so far, as to devote a chapter to their absence."
Although we have headed this chapter Public Libraries, we are, nevertheless, under a painful and serious obligation, like
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
the author above named, of stating, that there are, in Gardner at the present time, no public libraries whatever. A portion of this chapter, is devoted, therefore, to the absence of this desideratum in our midst. Several years ago, there was a small public library kept in the Centre of the town, containing many valuable works. This library was allowed, gradually, to fall into decay, till at length, it entirely disappeared.
At the present time, there is a feeling, widely spread through- out the town, that with all its enterprise in other praiseworthy directions, Gardner should not longer continue without a public library. It is therefore hoped, and confidently expected, that some measures will soon be taken for the establishment, upon a firm and permanent basis, of a public library, as a fountain of light, in this community. There is certainly no better way, in which some of our wealthy and prominent citizens can render their names immortal, than in the establishment of such an in- stitution, whose lasting benefits will continually give occasion to those who should hereafter enjoy them, to cherish with ven- eration and gratitude, the memories of their benefactors.
Although there is, at the present time, no public library in this town, yet we are not entirely wanting in the possession of collections of books, whose ownership and circulation are of a somewhat private and limited nature. As an instance of this kind, we have the library connected with the South Gardner Social Library Association, to whose support, Mr. Abijah M. Severy bequeathed the income of five hundred dollars, which is to enure annually to its benefit. We here introduce the will of Mr. Severy, in order to make intelligent the object of his legacy :-
Be it Remembered, That I, Abijah M. Severy, of Gardner, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esq. do, on this eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner following, viz :-
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
In the first place, I give and bequeath to my sister, Mary S. Howe, wife of Eli Howe, and Luey Ann Cowee, wife of Buel G. Cowee, two hundred dollars each, payable in one year from my decease. Then, I give, bequeath and devise to my wife, Polly Severy, all my household furniture, and five hundred dollars, to be at her disposal, and then, the use, rents and profits ยท of all my real estate, and the interest of the residue and remainder of all my personal estate, for and during her natural life.
Provided, however, if at any time, during the life of my wife, the said Polly Severy, my mother, Sally Merriam, wife of John Merriam, should become poor and in needy circumstances, the said Polly is hereby authorized to expend so much of the principal of my personal estate, as in her judgment is necessary for the purpose of assisting my said mother, to a comfortable support. The personal estate, which is to be kept on interest, for the benefit of my wife, the said Polly, shall, at all times, as far as may be, [be] kept safely secured, by mortgage on real estate, and in case my Executor or Executrix (as the case may be,) shall decline being trustee, for the safe keeping and payment of the same, the Judge of Probate may appoint some other per- son or persons, to that trust. And then at the decease of my wife, the said Polly Severy, it is my will that the Judge of Probate, shall appoint one or more trustees, to take charge of my estate, both real and personal, and the said trustee or trustees shall be authorized to sell at public vendue, all my real estate, and to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, to give good and sufficient title or titles to the same, and then the pro- ceeds arising from such sale, together with whatever may re- main of my personal estate, held in trust as aforesaid, shall be paid over, or dealt with as follows, to wit: One hundred dollars to be paid over to the South Gardner Social Library Association, and by said Association to be expended in the purchase of books for their library, and then the income arising from the interest of five hundred dollars, shall be annually paid over to said Association, and by said Association be ex-
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
pended for the same purpose, as the above mentioned one hundred dollars.
Then the proceeds arising from the interest of one thousand dollars shall be annually paid over to any person or persons authorized to receive it, for the purpose of being expended for the support of a school, for the benefit of the inhabitants of South Gardner Village ; said school shall be taught, the first season, by a male teacher, and the second season, by a female teacher, and shall continue to change teachers alternately, in the same order.
Then the proceeds arising from the interest of one thousand dollars more, to be paid annually, if called for, to any person or persons authorized to receive the same, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of a school or schools, for teaching sacred music, for the benefit of the choir of singers, to the Baptist Church, in said Gardner.
Then the proceeds, arising from the interest of three thou- sand dollars more, shall be paid over annually, to any person or persons authorized, by the above mentioned Baptist Church, to receive the same, for the purpose of being expended in paying the salary of such minister or ministers as the members of such church shall, from time to time employ.
All of the above mentioned sums of money which, after the decease of her, the said Polly, are to be kept in the hands of a trustee or trustees, for the purpose of the interest, arising from said sums, being paid over and appropriated to the purpose as aforesaid, shall, at all times, as far as may be, [be] kept safely secured by mortgage or mortgages on real estate, and should there be a surplus over and above five thousand and five hundred dollars, which is the sum total of all the funds to be held in trust, after the decease of her the said Polly, said overplus shall be paid over to my heirs at law, or their legal representatives, and also if the proceeds arising from the interest on any of the sums included in said afore mentioned five thousand and five hundred dollars, which is to be held in trust, for the purposes as specified aforesaid, shall cease to be
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applied to the purposes, for which they were respectively be- queathed, for the term of three successive years, then the principal and interest, remaining in the hands of the trustee or trustees, of every such sum or sums, non applied, to the pur- poses as aforesaid, shall revert to my heirs at law, or their legal representatives.
Lastly, I hereby appoint Polly Severy, my wife, to be Ex- ecutrix of this my last will and testament ; hereby revoking all other and former wills, by me made, and declaring this and this only, to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
His ABIJAII M. X SEVERY. [SEAL. ] Mark.
Signed, published, pronounced and declared, by the said Abijah M. Severy, to be his last will and testament, in pres- ence of the subscribers, who, in his presence and at his request, and in his presence and in presence of each other, hereunto set our hand as witnesses.
ASAPH WOOD, JAMES H. CLARK, SAMUEL GATES.
At the time this will was executed, Mr. Severy was very sick, and not being able to write his name, made his mark.
According to article third, of the constitution of this associa- tion, " for the first establishment of said library, two dollars shall be the sum to be paid by all members on every share they respectively own, to be applied exclusively to the purchase of books ; all other expenses aceruing for the establishment of the same, to be paid by equal assessment on the shares of said library.
This association received the $100, bequeathed it, by Mr. Severy in 1852. It began, in 1853, to receive the income from the $500, named in the will, since which time, the annual income has been about $25. This library contains, at the present time, twelve hundred and fifty volumes; number of shares, one hundred.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
CHAPTER XIV.
MEMORABLE EVENTS.
" Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents, by flood and field ;
Of hairbreadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach." -Othello, Act I., Scene III.
" For murder, though it have no tongue,
Will speak with most miraculous organ." -Hamlet, Act II., Scene II.
" Of no distemper, of no blast he died, But fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long,
Even wondered at because he dropt no sooner ;
Fate seemed to wind him up for four score years, Yet freshly ran he on, ten winters more,
Till like a clock worn out with eating time,
The wheels of weary life at last stood still."-Dryden.
W E present, in this chapter, a brief record of some of the more noteworthy events that have transpired in this town since its incorporation.
FIRES AND INJURIES BY LIGHTNING, ETC.
1798 .- August 10th, a barn of Mr. Seth Heywood, was set on fire by lightning and consumed, with its crops of hay and grain. August 24th, a barn of Mr. Samuel Stone was struck by lightning and burnt ; this was also filled with hay and grain.
1808 .- In May, a dwelling house of Mr. Joseph Wright, with all the furniture it contained, was consumed. The fire was occasioned by a defect in the oven.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
1809 .- In November, a house of Mr. Allen Perley was burned, with the furniture. He was having it repaired at the time, and the work- men had left shavings so near the fireplace, that on opening the door to go out, the wind took them to the fire, thus communicating the flames to the building with such rapidity that there was no chance to save it.
1810 .- In the spring of this year, a house of Capt. Ezekiel Howe, was struck by lightning. The house was not burned, but so shattered, that he built a new one. A loaded gun, standing in the house, was discharged by electricity.
1813 .- The card shop of Josiah Wilder, Jr., was destroyed by fire. Also, the same year, a dwelling-house of Mr. Aaron Pratt.
1820 .- A house owned by Mr. Nathan Green was struck by lightning. 1827 .- In February, a chair shop of Mr. James M. Comee was burned. 1829 .- A grist-mill, belonging to Capt. William Bickford, was burned. 1834 .- In June, the dwelling-house of Mr. Seth Whitney, took fire upon the roof, and was destroyed. In October of the same year, a chair shop of Mr. Walter Heywood, was burned, on the site where Mr. Asher W. Shattuck's house now stands. Capt. Henry Whitney had a saw-mill burned, and built another on the same site, which he sold to Daniel J. Goodspeed, which was afterwards burnt. Capt. Martin Dunster had a box shop destroyed by fire, on the site where Philander Derby's chair factory now stands.
1839 .- In March, a chair shop of Elijah Putnam, was burned, on the site where now stands the chair factory of L. H. Sawin & Co.
1841 .- August 20th, the blacksmith's shop of Capt. William Learned, was destroyed by fire.
1846 .- A mill, belonging to Ai Stone, in the north part of the town, was burned. A small house of Heman Ray was burned the same year. Also a shop of Daniel J. Goodspeed, was consumed by fire, where Wright & Read's chair factory now stands.
1850 .- June 20, a severe hail storm passed over the north part of the town, breaking the glass on the west and northwest sides of build- ings, where it went. The hail came with such force that it broke down the growing vegetables, in its course.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
1852 .- In November, Daniel J. Goodspeed had a shop burned, on the site where now stands the grist-mill of Howe Brothers.
1855 .- In March, the house that had been ocenpied by Miss Kneeland and Mrs. Phinney, was burned.
1857 .- In September, a large paint shop of the South Gardner Chair Manufacturing Company, near the depots, was burned.
1862 .- January 5th, the chair factories of Heywood Brothers d Co., were burned.
1866 -May 16th, the chair factory of Wright & Moore was destroyed by fire.
1867 .- The school-house at the Centre has been struck by lightning three times since 1867, the last time (1876) setting it on fire, which was extinguished before great damage was done.
CASUALTIES.
1802 .- Seth Ileywood was found dead by the roadside. between Leom- inster and Westminster. He had been to assist a man in driving cattle, in returning home he stepped out of the road and died. He was a young man dearly beloved and greatly lamented. His age was 25.
1818 .- David Wilder was killed by a tub of gravel falling on him while he was at work in a well. llis age was 30.
1820 .- Joseph Clark, Jr .. died in a fit. Ilis age was thirty 33.
1822 .- William Fenno died in consequence of falling from his wagon.
The accident was caused by a lynchpin getting out and letting a wheel off.
1826 .- July 4th, Jonathan Martin was found dead in a house, being left alone for a short time. The same year Jonathan Bancroft was found dead in a field. He was on a visit to his son, and as he was going from the field to the house, he died, (as was supposed) in a fit. His age was 76.
1831 .- Asahel Briek died in a fit. His age was 47. Same year Har- riet, daughter of Abijah Ilinds, was drowned in a clay pit. She was 7 years of age.
1834 .- Capt. Ahio Temple died suddenly in his bed. His age was 70.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
1835 .- Benjamin Howe fell from a ladder in his barn, injuring him so badly that he died the third day after. His age was 52.
1837 .- Daniel Gates was so injured by the upsetting of his wagon, (near the house of Amos Ray) that he lived but a few days.
1842 .- Winslow Davis was wounded by falling from his wagon, caus- ing his death in a few days. Amasa Leland was killed by a rafter falling upon his head while taking down his barn. He was 49 years of age. Silas, son of George W. Davis, while sliding from a haymow, came forcibly upon a pitchfork, which entered his body causing his death. He was 10 years of age.
1844 .- Mrs. Joel Cowee died suddenly in her bed. Her age was 54. 1846 .- Horace P., son of David P. Bickford, was drowned. He was 5 years old.
1851 .- Andrew Beard was found dead in his bed. His age was 79.
1852 .- A child of George Howe died in a fit. Ile was 2 years of age. 1855 .- Levi Richardson was found in a freezing condition in Mr. Bal- lou's mill ; he lived but a short time after being discovered. His age was 53. Hubbard Kendall was killed by the falling of a tree. His age was 65. Mrs. Merriam was found dead in her bed. Her age was 69.
1856 .- Mrs. Lorenzo Cheney died in consequence of being burned. A fluid lamp was broken, setting fire to her clothing and burning her so badly that she lived but a few hours. Her age was 48.
1857 .- Hammond Hardy, aged 21, was frozen so that he died. George W. Davis, aged 68, was drowned.
1859 .- A son of Lyman Fenno, four years of age, was drowned in a shiner box. A son of Mr. Flynn, two years of age, was drowned in a well; also a son of John M. Ilyde, four years of age was drowned.
1862 .- Marcus F. Oxford, aged two years, died from accidental pois- oning.
1863 .- In August, Ellen Reagan, aged 13 years, was drowned. The same month Cornelius Bresnehan was killed on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
1865 .- In May, Frederick A. Wheeler son of Angustus A. Wheeler, was killed by being caught in an elevator. His age was 9 years.
1866 .- In June, Cornelius Sullivan was drowned in Conant Brothers' mill pond.
1868 .- In March, Noah Richards was killed by the falling of an eleva- tor. In November, Dennis Murphy was killed by the caving in of a gravel bank. A child of William Morrisey was scalded to death. 1870 .- In July, George Franklin was found dead in his bed.
1873 .- In July, Mede Millet was drowned in Crystal Lake. December 6th, Alvin Noyes, son of Charles Noyes, and Joseph Chagnon, son of Theodore Chagnon, were drowned in Crystal Lake, while skating.
1874 .- In April, Paul Harrigan was drowned in L. II. Sawin & Co's pond. In July, John Dodwell was found dead in a well. In Sep- tember, Alfred Murray, a boy nine years old was killed on the rail- road, near Dr. Parker's saw mill. In October, Ellen Reagan was killed by a fragment of a stone thrown from a ledge, by a blast.
1875 .- Thomas Lynch died in consequence of being thrown from a wagon.
1876 .- In May, Daniel O'Connell and Frank Donahue were killed on the railroad a short distance west of Dr. Parker's mill. October 5th, Samuel G. Gates was struck by cars and killed, at Gates' crossing, on the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad. In October, James Allen was killed by falling from a tree.
1877 .- March 25th, Patrick O'Connor was killed by a tree falling on him.
Small Pox .- There were four deaths from small pox in 1854, two in 1855, one in 1870 and two in 1871.
Suicide .- There have been nine deaths by suicide since the organization of the town.
Murders .- It is not known that there have ever been more than two murders committed in Gardner. On the night of the 7th of March, 1855, a shocking murder was committed in this town. The house of Miss Miriam Kneeland and Mrs. Sarah K.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
Phinney, was entered, by breaking in a window, while the oc- cupants were in their beds, and the murderer, with malice pre- pense, and without any provocation, maliciously murdered these two persons by striking them on their heads with a cudgel. The instrument used was a chair post. The murder was not disclosed until the next day evening. This affair so agitated the town, that there was but little business accom- plished for a week. There was great exertion made to ascer- tain the perpetrator of the horrible deed. The selectmen offered a reward of $500 to any one who would deteet and bring to justice the assassin.
A young man by the name of George Stacy was arrested and examined before a Justice Court in this town. The evidence was so strong against him, that he was held to appear before the justices of the Superior Court, next to be holden at Worcester. The Grand Jury found a bill against him, and the case went to the Trial Jury, but their verdict was-not guilty.
The funeral of these ladies was attended at the meeting- house the next Sabbath, by a large congregation. Rev. A. Stowell preached a sermon from these words : " They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided," 2 Samuel, 1: 23. The congregation was so large that a part of them repaired to the Town Hall, where Rev. J. C. Paine preached from the text found in Proverbs, 4:27, " Turn not to the right hand or to the left, remove thy foot from evil."
The victims of this murder were daughters of Timothy Knee- land, whose name is mentioned among the early settlers of Gardner. Miss Kneeland was 85 years of age, and Mrs. Phin- ney, 75. For a number of years they were the only occupants of the house. They were humble and exemplary christians.
Longevity .- Only one resident in town has been known to arrive at the age of one hundred years. A man by the name of Chapel, of English birth, died in this town in 1820, supposed to be about 103 years old.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
As near as can be ascertained there have been one hundred and forty-three deaths in this town of persons eighty years old and upwards, within the last sixty years, twenty-three of whom were ninety and upwards, viz. :
Daniel Adams. 85
Mrs. Rebecca Clark
81
Mrs. Lucy Allen. .88
Mrs. Betsey Dickenson .81
Mr. Axdaile. .82
Mrs. Daniels .82 William Bickford 89
Mrs. Margaret Delay . .85
Mrs. William Bickford.
87
John Eaton .81
Andrew Beard.
.86
Mrs. John Eaton, Jr. 82
Mrs. Andrew Beard
90
Levi Fairbank
.90
Ebenezer Bolton
.87
Mrs. Levi Fairbank .
.92
Mrs. Ebenezer Bolton
87
Levi Fairbank, Jr
.83
Thomas Baker
81
Mrs. Levi Fairbank .81
Joel Brooks.
84
Noah Fairbank.
.80
William Bickford, Jr.
.89
Aaron Bolton.
83
John Baker
87
Mr. Brooks
84
Ebenezer Bickford.
82
Miss Hepzibah Beard ,84
Mrs. Betsey Barber
.89
Mrs. Edmond Bickford.
.90
Mrs. Elijah Brick
84
Mrs. Sarah Bancroft. .86
Mrs. Lewis Glazier. .94
Mrs. Hannah Brown. .80
Smyrna Glazier. .94
Artemas Bush .85
Mrs. Symrna Glazier .81
Mrs. Simeon Gates 88 James Coolidge . .94
Mrs. James Coolidge 80
Mrs. Mary II. Cutler 83
John Crosby
.83
Mrs. Elizabeth Goodnow. 91
Mrs. Charles Greenwood. 82
Mrs. David Comee, Jr. .90
Mrs. Susanna Gates
.88
Mrs. James Comee .84
Joseph Clark .
.80
Mrs. Abigail Hill. 93
Reuben Haynes .86
Uriah Clapp 83
Mrs. Coleman
89
Mrs. Ebenezer Howe ,86 Joel Cowee .80
Mrs. Asa Hill. .90
Loami Hartshorn .82
Mrs. Noah Fairbank 82 Jacob Fisher. 88
Mrs. Jacob Fisher 88
Mrs. Peres French .81 Mrs. Martha Freeman. .91 Mrs. Jonathan Greenwood. 82 John Glazier. 86
Mrs. Sarah Glazier. .86
Lewis Glazier .86
Mrs. Nathan Gates .84 Mrs. Simeon Gates, Jr ... 84
David Comee. 82
Seth Heywood .. .89
Mrs. Benjamin Clark. .82
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
Abijah Hinds. . .80
Mrs. Mary A. Houghton. 85
Mrs. Ellen Haley
80
Mrs. Elizabeth Henshaw
82
Joseph Hill
.80
Ebenezer Jackson
.83
Josiah Jackson
83
Mrs. Elisha Jackson
.80
Benjamin Kendall
96
Mrs. Polly Kendall.
.90
Jonathan Kendall.
87
Mrs. Jonathan Kendall.
90
Timothy Kneeland
.81
Mrs. Timothy Kneeland
87
John Kemp
82
Mrs. John Kemp. .
87
Miss Lydia Kneeland.
87
Miss Miriam Kneeland
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