USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oxford > History of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts with genealogies and notes on persons and estates > Part 13
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Wards. In 1783 William Eddy, Aaron Parker and others, their neighbors, were set to the northeast "squadron." In 1785 these divisions, which had before been called "squadrons," were recorded as " wards," which as population increased became estab- lished throughout the town.
1 " The two school houses," of which we have no record, undoubtedly stood the one not far from the north common and the other on the Plain.
2 Jonathan Fuller lived near the site of Joslin's shoe factory.
3 In 1767 the town was fined £5 for not keeping a grammar school.
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98
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
1788-1845
District System. In 1788 Elisha Davis and Lemuel Crane were deputed to suggest any plans thought advisable for the improvement of the schools, who reported that each ward remain as then consti- tuted and "continue to draw their proportion of money, that collectors be appointed in each district, and that the committee of each ward be empowered to employ and pay a teacher as by general consent shall be thought best, to the amount of their funds." This report was accepted, and thus was inaugurated the long-continued district-system. In 1792 a ward of 11 families was set off in the northwest part of the town, but in 1801 was discontinued and its inhabitants set to the north ward. On 29 Feb., 1800, a large committee was chosen to consider the subject of re-districting the town. The result was a report that no change could be made which would improve the plan already in practice. In Nov., 1808, several families residing on "Long Hill," in the northeast part of the town, were set to the North Centre district.
Down to 1809 school-districts had been named after some leading resident therein. In March, 1809, a committee of one from each district was chosen to number, name and define each ward, which reported as follows : The district known as Jonathan Davis' [east] to be number 1; that known as John Mayo's [southeast], num- ber 2; Jeremiah Kingsbury's [south], number 3; Elijah Learned's [west], number 4; Ephraim Russell's [centre], number 5; James Butler's [north centre], number 6; Elias Pratt's [northeast], num- ber 7; Sylvanus Learned's [north], number 8. After this date school matters appear to have been not much agitated until April, 1815, when upon report of Jeremiah Kingsbury, Jonathan Davis and Sylvanus Town, committee, it was voted that those living in the part recently set to Oxford from Charlton might draw from the treasury their proportion of school money and expend it in Charlton or Dudley, as they chose, or join the centre or Plain dis- trict in Oxford. In May, 1818, a committee reported that allow- ing money raised in town for schools, to be paid in other towns was "attended with very bad consequences," and should be discontinued. The report was adopted, and those who had been allowed that privi- lege were annexed to the Plain district. In April, 1818, district No. 2 [Fort Hill] was discontinued and its inhabitants set to three adja- cent districts.
Re-districting. From 1820 to 1845 the policy of increasing the number of schools prevailed, and from time to time several districts were set off in different parts of the town, unadvisedly, as results proved.1 In the spring of 1845 a committee of one from each district
1 In 1820 the Larned neighborhood in the west part of the town was made a district, but in 1822 was annexed to the Plain. In 1826 the Thread village, and in 1829 the Oxford Woolen Co. were permitted to draw their money, and each opened
a school, and Samuel Slater, etc., were voted the same privilege. In 1831 a district was made in the Lovett neighborhood in the east part of the town. After the incorporation of Webster all the south part of the town was set to the Plain district,
99
SCHOOLS.
1845-54
was chosen to return new districts with geographical lines, which reported that the plan of small divisions, small schools and short sessions was detrimental, and the benefits of larger and better graded schools far overbalanced the consideration of the travel necessary to reach them. A division of the town into 9 instead of 11 districts was advised, and geographical lines recommended as follows : No. 1, to embrace the southeast corner of the town and the Lovett neighbor- hood, H. 17; No. 2, the central southern part of the town, Fort Hill and Main Street as far as the DeWitt and Dowse store; No. 3, the southwest portion of the town west of the river north to the Woodbury farm, H. 75, including the hill neighborhood west ; No. 4, the present Howarth and Buffum villages and Conlin's, H. 85 ; No. 5, north end of the Plain to near, but not including, present Ithiel T. Johnson's, H. 185 ; No. 6, from No. 5 north to the Kidder place, H. 133, with south part of Long Hill, extending from Charlton to Sutton line ; No. 7, from No. 6 north to the Gore line, extending from Charlton to Sutton line and including Wellington's, H. 129; No. 8, the North Gore ; No. 9, the northeast part of the town, including the North Oxford depot neighborhood and Bradford G. Edson. The inhabitants of the north part of No. 7 immediately moved for a change, and in May, 1845, the district was divided near its centre, the line east and west passing near the Baptist Meeting-house. Thus Texas village and the west slope of Prospect Hill were made a dis- trict, numbered 10. Minor changes were later made in other locali- ties, but substantially the lines as described were adhered to until the abolishing of the district system, and a subject which had been more discussed and voted upon in town meetings than any other, was finally disposed of.
Advanced Schools. In 1853, the law requiring a grammar school, the subject was as usual referred to a committee, and Emory Sanford, Ira Merriam, Theophilus W. Wilmarth, Stephen Barton, Jr., Seth Daniels, Alexander De Witt and Stephen Davis reported in March, 1854, recommending the establishment of grammar schools, not only because the law required it, but because "something should be done to elevate the character and condition of our common schools," and advising that $600 additional to the usual sum be raised to establish two higher schools, one on the Plain and one at North Oxford. This report was adopted.
Town System. In April, 1854, it was voted that the district system be abolished and that the town system go into effect in March, 1855, and a committee was chosen to carry the vote into effect. Great opposition arose in the outer districts to this action, and in August it was reversed and a vote passed to adopt the district sys- tem for three years.1
making it so large that it was in 1833 divided into three portions.
Until March, 1836, the office of school commit- tee was merely honorary. It was then voted that the board should consist of three, who
should carefully supervise the schools according to law and receive therefor the sum of $30.
1 The law of 1853 gave school committees power to abolish districts unless the towns voted to retain them.
100
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
1854-67
Complaint. In September the district attorney notified the selectmen that he had received a complaint against the town for not keeping a grammar school, and that he would lay the matter before the grand jury unless assurance was given him that the law would be complied with, upon which, 23 Sept., it was voted 105 to 87 that the action of the August meeting be rescinded and the town system be adopted. A committee of one from each district was chosen to act in the case, to receive estimates for a house on the Plain, to select a spot for the same and to report.
High Schools. In March, 1855, this action was annulled. In April a proposition to establish a school in the Town Hall was voted down, and a vote passed to build a school-house on the Plain, and to provide a place for a high school at North Oxford, and William Kim- ball, Stephen Barton, Jr., and Moses Burdon were chosen to super- vise the whole matter. The sum of $6,000 was raised to defray ex- penses and the selectmen were authorized to take land for a house, and on 10 Sept. their action in the selection of a lot near the Methodist Chapel was approved. In the fall and winter of 1855-6 the house was built by Otis Learned at a cost of $2,850, the upper room only being finished. The cost of the lot, 77} rods, was $425. The house was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies 9 Aug., 1856, John E. Kimball, then a student at college, giving an address. In 1856 one-half the house and land in No. 7 was purchased by the town for high school purposes at $1,500. In April, 1864, it was voted that scholars from other towns be admitted to the high schools on terms to be fixed by the school committee.
Town System established. In April, 1867, it was again voted to abolish the district system and to " organize under the pro- visions of Chap. 39, Sec. 3, of the General Statutes." A committee of 11 was chosen to supervise the change and appraise the property of the several districts as provided in the act. This committee con- sisted of Rev. Daniel E. Chapin, Walter L. Rosebrook, Theophilus W. Wilmarth, Lyman A. Wetherell, Edwin Bartlett, Cyrus Kidder, Nathaniel Eddy, Albert Lackey, Jonathan P. Dana, George Hodges, Isaac B. Hartwell. The appraisal was as follows : District No. 1, $454; No. 2, $930; No. 3, $310; No. 4, $297; No. 5, $961; No. 6, $509; No. 7, $896; No. 8, $91; No. 9, $173 ; No. 10, $147; total, $4,771. Under this arrangement the process of grading was entered upon so far as possible, the high school at North Oxford was dis- continued, and a grammar school established instead (which since has been mainly under the charge of male teachers), and a primary department was opened on the lower floor of the North Oxford house.
Grammar School. The schools in the Plain districts being too large the lower floor of the high school house was in 1867 fitted up and a grammar school opened, made up of advanced pupils from these districts. This school has been very prosperous and has been
101
SCHOOLS.
1874
in charge generally of male teachers. £ In 1868 a house near the North Oxford railroad station was built at a cost of $2,787. In 1872 a house in district No. 8 [North Gore] was built and with fur- nishing cost $1,376. In Sept., 1873, it was voted to sell the house in No. 6 [north centre].
North Oxford School-house. In June, 1874, Rufus G. Alverson, Joseph Dart, Lewis Stockwell, Charles H. Wellington and Moses Burdon were chosen a committee to consider the subject of the house at North Oxford and report. In July the sum of $3,000 was voted to be expended upon it so far as necessary in repairs, and a thorough remodelling of it was effected by this committee at a cost of $3,062. In April, 1877, the sum of $400 was voted to repair house No. 4. In April, 1878, $750 was appropriated to repair house No. 2. In 1879, $350 was raised to repair house No. 3. In April, 1881, it was voted to build anew at the north end of the Plain, and $4,000 was appropriated for the purpose. The present building accommodating two large schools, intermediate and primary, was built that year, at a cost, including furnishings, of $4,601 exclu- sive of lot, which cost $500.
Appropriations for schools began with £24 in 1734, fluctuating with the value of the currency to 1740, rising gradually until 1750, when £20 " hard money " was voted. This sum with slight variations was granted annually until 1761, when it was raised to £30 and con- tinued for six years. In 1767 it was increased to £40, and in 1768 to £50, at which point it continued until the Revolutionary war. No money was voted in 1776 or 1778. In Dec. of 1777 £60 was raised. In 1781, coming back to "hard money," the sum voted was £60, each district to draw its proportion and the school tax to be made separately. This was the annual grant for 24 years. In 1806 it was increased to $400 and in 1812 to $500, and continued thus (with the exception of 1821 and 1822 when it was $400) to 1826. In 1827 it was increased to $600, continuing until 1835, when $800 was raised. Subsequently the sums were as follows : 1836 and 1837, $900; 1838, $1,200; 1839, $1,000; 1840 and 1841, $1,200; 1842, $1,100; 1843, $1,000; 1844 and 1845, $1,200; 1846, $1,000; 1847 and 1848, $1,400; 1849, $1,200 ; 1850 to 1856, $1,500 ; in 1856 the first money, $1,000, was raised for a high school ; 1857, $1,500 to districts, $1,200 to high school ; 1858, $1,200 to districts, $1,000 to high school ; 1859 to 1861, $1,500 to districts, $1,000 to high school; 1862, $1,500 to districts, $800 to high school ; 1863, $1,500 to districts, $600 to high school ; 1864, $1,600 to districts, $600 to high school; 1865, $1,600 to districts, $800 to high school ; 1866, $2,000 to districts, $1,000 to high school ; 1867, $2,500 to districts, $1,200 to high school ; districts abolished ; 1868, $4,000 for all ; 1869 to 1871, $4,500 ; 1872, $4,000 ; 1873, $5,000; 1874, $6,000; 1875, $5,000; 1876, $4,600; 1877, $4,500 ; 1878 to 1880, $4,000; 1881 to 1884, $4,500 ; 1885, $5,000.
102
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
High School Teachers. Samuel W. Cook, summer 1856 to summer 1858, now a dentist at Worcester; John E. Kimball, fall and winter of 1858-9 ; Jairus Lincoln, Jr., of Northboro', spring of 1859 ; George Mason, autumn 1859 to summer 1860, now at Wash- ington, D. C .; Joseph Lippitt, autumn 1860 to March, 1864, now accountant at Providence, R. I. ; Josiah B. Davis, autumn and win- ter 1864-5 ; Charles R. Phipps, spring 1865 ; James B. Batcheller, autumn 1865, son of Rev. David Batcheller and now deceased ; Francis E. Burnette, winter 1865-6, now principal of McGaw Institute, Reed's Ferry, N. H. ; Charles H. Goulding of Leominster, spring 1866 ; John C. Hammond, winter 1866-7, spring 1867 and win- ter 1867-8, now lawyer at Northampton ; Jesse R. Davenport, sum- mer 1868 to July, 1869, now druggist at Putnam, Conn. ; Maria L. Adams, fall of 1869; Mary E. Terry, 10 months in 1870, health failed ; Newell Wedge of Sutton, spring 1871 ; A. E. Ford, autumn of 1871 to spring 1873, now at Clinton ; John A. Pierce of Edgar- town, spring 1873; Stephen A. Snow, autumn 1873 to autumn 1875 ; Charles A. Buffum of Salem, winter and spring 1875-6, later teacher at Easthampton ; Cornelius E. Wood, autumn and winter 1876-7; J. B. Atwood of Somerville, spring of 1877 to July, 1879 ; Fred. A. Holden, autumn and winter 1879-80, later, clergyman ; Alfred S. Smith, and later L. B. Lane, spring 1880 to spring 1881 ; Samuel A. Melcher, spring 1881 to close of 1883, now teacher at Whitinsville ; D. H. Felch, spring and autumn 1884; George A. Willey, winter of 1884 to present time, 1890.
North Oxford Teachers. James C. Mills, 1856 to 1858 ; F. Tourtelotte, 1858 ; James C. Mills, winter 1858-9 ; Leander Poor, 1859 and 1860 ; Mr. Hatch of Peterboro, N. H., autumn and winter 1861; Nathaniel Eddy, 1862; Charles H. Goulding, 1863 ; Charles D. Thomas, began winter 1863, enlisted in the army ; Rev. Joseph Smith, 1864 ; Charles R. Phipps, winter 1864-5 ; F. L. Smith, autumn 1865, teacher at Salem, 1890; Dwight S. Herrick, winter 1865-6 ; John C. Hammond, autumn of 1866 and of 1867. Newell Wedge, winter 1870 ; Miss M. E. Stone, 1871 ; Flora A. Lamb, 1872 ; Charles H. Furber, autumn 1872; Ella J. Moore, 1873; Martha D. Cole, 1874 ; Miss M. L. Davis, 1875 ; Miss S. H. Munger, winter and spring 1875-6 ; Alfred S. Smith, winter 1876-7; and later in succes- sion : Stephen W. Ferguson, W. Palmer and G. W. Lyman.
Select Schools. So far as learned the first select school in Oxford was that for young ladies, conducted by Misses Lua and Abigail Thayer, sisters of Gen. Sylvanus Thayer, U. S. army, and of Mrs. Moulton, wife of Rev. Josiah Moulton, the minister. It was at first located at the Dr. Fisk house, opposite Town's Pond [H. 141], and was opened about 1807, and continued for three years, having been each year suspended during the winter. Mr. Moulton in build- ing the large house near the common, now Campbell's, finished a small hall for its accommodation and it was kept there the last year.
103
SCHOOLS.
1810
It was prosperous, pupils coming from other places and was well patronized by the town's people. In addition to the common English branches, the higher accomplishments were taught. This being a new departure in the line of education the matter excited a general interest among the people, and it was esteemed a very worthy institu- tion. In 1820 Miss Bancroft of Worcester, a sister of the histo- rian, taught a select school for young ladies for one season at the "Gleason house," corner of Sigourney and Main Streets, H. 239. In 1826 and 1827 Mrs. Martin Sigourney conducted a like enterprise at the old Sigourney mansion, Sutton Avenue.
The most successful private school in Oxford was that of Richard C. Stone and his successors. He first taught for a few months at the Dr. Fisk house, H. 141, and removed to the Plain where he began in 1830 in a room fitted for the purpose in the rear of his house, H. 202, continuing until 1834. He had tact and energy, and pupils, male and female, attended from many neighboring places. Natural philos- ophy, chemistry, the higher mathematics and languages were taught. Miss Eliza Whittemore, an accomplished graduate of Leicester Academy, was assistant, giving lessons in French and the ornamental branches. In the summer of 1834 Stone was succeeded by Orlando Chester. He was a good scholar but lacked the skill and efficiency of his predecessor. In the spring of 1836 he retired and J. Lewis Stone, son of Richard C., came in and taught one term. In Oct., 1836, John O. Burleigh assumed charge. He was a well trained teacher and managed successfully until the spring of 1842, when he removed from town. James C. Seagrave of Uxbridge was next master and taught through the spring, autumn and winter of 1842-3. He was a college student, and left his studies temporarily on account of ill health, and returned to college in 1843. No school was there- after maintained at this location.
In the spring of 1843 Misses Mary B. and Celia E. Campbell established at the mansion near the north common a boarding-school for misses. Pupils attended from this and surrounding towns, and several were from New York city. In the autumn of 1844 they removed to Springfield. In 1854-6 Misses Mary B. and Elizabeth De Witt taught a young ladies' school at the family residence, H. 240, receiving day pupils and boarders. Later there were from time to time several small select schools, taught by ladies in different locali- ties in the town.
Holbrook Lectures. Much interest existed in town in the winter of 1826-7 in a series of popular scientific lectures by Prof. Josiah Holbrook of New Haven. They were delivered at the hall of the centre tavern, and extended through many weeks, with two lectures a week, the subject being Natural Philosophy and Chemistry, illus- trated by apparatus and experiments, which made them entertaining
104
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
as well as instructive. During this time Mr. Holbrook remained in town and was the occasional guest of many of the families of the vicinity.
Larned Lectures. In the winter of 1884-5, through the liber- ality of a former townsman, Mr. Charles Larned of Boston, a series of free popular lectures and concerts was instituted, many of which were of a high order. They continued four consecutive years and were a source of much profit and enjoyment to the large audiences which attended.
Pastor's Library. The first collection of books in Oxford con- stituting a library, of perhaps not over ten volnmes, was contributed, a part as early as 1719, by Paul Dudley, Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth and other gentlemen of Boston and vicinity, well wishers of the town, for the use of the minister. Several of these volumes were preserved as late as 1840 in the receptacle of the Society Library, which was formed later. Among them were large specimens of costly book- making, finely printed and bound in the most substantial manner. Some volumes are now in existence, two of which contain valuable inscriptions ; the first, a scripture commentary printed in London in 1624, was in 1701 the property of Mr. Wadsworth, minister of the first church in Boston, once President of Harvard College. On the margin of the first leaf is written "For Oxford Library." Oppo- site, on the blank page, " The gift of the Rev'd Benja. Wadsworth- for the use of the Church or Parish Library of Oxford in the County of Suffolk, 1719." The other is entitled " Hexapla," or commentary on Romans. On the back of the title-page is written "Roxbury 3ª July 1736. For the use of the Parish Library in Oxford New Eng- land the Rev Mr. Cambel being the present minister
Given by Paul Dudley."
Other contributions were a large folio in Latin, being " An Exposi- tion of the Psalms, given by Rev. Dr. Colman," a volume of sermons by Samuel Hieron, given by Samuel Taylor of Boston, and one written by William Morice, Esq., given by Paul Dudley.1
Social Library. The second, called the "Social Library," was established about the time of the Revolutionary war through the influence of Josiah Wolcott, Dr. Stephen Barton, Jonathan Davis and others, and was an important institution of the village in the latter part of the last century. Its early records are lost. It was at first a stock company and the proceeds of the sales of shares were expended in purchasing books. Donations of books were also made by individuals. Its depository was for many years at the Butler tavern, and later was removed to the dwelling-house of Peter
1 Rev. J. Campbell in his book published in 1743 acknowledges his indebtedness to this col- lection, and adds : " The Honorable Judge Dudley devised this liberal thing and sedulously pro-
motes it among Gentlemen. The Donors' names are in a Catalogue of the Books, in perpetuam Doni memoriam; I hope their Names will be in everlasting Remembrance with the Lord."
105
LIBRARIES.
Butler, in whose care it remained until his decease in 1857. A cata- logue and list of members, dated 1 March, 1818, gives 113 volumes and 30 proprietors. Total cost of books, $254.27. The catalogue was as follows :
British Album, Brown's Elements, Barclay's Apology, Chesterfield Abridged, Clark's Travels, 3 v., Campbell's Narrative, Dean's Husbandry, Dialogue of Devils, Domestic Encyclopedia, 5 v., Domestic Cookery, Enclyclopedia, 18 v., $120, Franklin's Works, Female Biography, Goldsmith's Works, 6 v., Grandpre's Voyage, Holmes' Sketches, 2 v., The Hive, Herriot's Travels, Heathen Gods, Indian Wars, Locke on the Understanding, 2 v., Life of Wash- ington, 5 v., Paradise Lost, Memoirs of Cumberland, Modern Europe, Pri- deaux's History of the Bible, 4 v., Parents' Friend, Pope's Works, 4 v., Parke's Travels, Porteus' Evidences of Christian Religion, Relly's Works, 2 v., Rights of Women, Rambler, 4 v., Rollin's Ancient History, 8 v., Robertson's America, 2 v., Seneca's Morals, Self Knowledge, Shakespeare, 6 v., Spectator, 8 v., The Task, Thomson's Seasons, Telemachus, 2 v., Thinks I to Myself, Vicar of Wakefield, Views of Religions, Whitney's History of Worcester County, Mrs. Williams' Letters, Winchester's Letters. 1
The proprietors were :
James Butler, Peter Butler, Lemuel Crane, Jonathan Davis, Rufus Davis, Abijah Davis, Nehemiah Davis, Stephen Davis, Jonathan Davis, Jr., William T. Fisk, Asa Harris, Samuel Harris, Jonas Hartwell, Bradford Hudson, Jeremiah Kingsbury, Samuel Kingsbury, Stephen Kingsbury, Sylvanus Learned, Abisha Learned, William Lamson, John Mayo, Richard Moore, Thomas Meriam, Jotham Meriam, John Pratt, John Putnam, Amos Rich, Joseph Stone, William Sigourney, Samuel Ward.
It is known that in 1841 a few shareholders drew out their propor- tion of books permanently, but not nearly all did so, and on 7 March, 1859, the affairs of the association were closed by the sale of the remaining volumes at auction, for $8.55, to Mr. Daniel Rich.
Society Library. In Jan., 1792, the Congregational Church voted £30 from the Hagburn Fund toward a new library. Mr. Dudley, the pastor, seems to have been the prime mover, and with Capt. Elisha Davis, John Dana and Capt. Ebenezer Humphrey was deputed to buy books. The record recites, "The following are the conditions on which the Church agrees to lay out money . . . in junction with other gentlemen subscribers in the town." The following, outside the Church, paid each 15 shillings and were members : John Ballard, Jonas Eddy, Lemuel Crane, Anthony Sigourney, Simeon Kingsbury, Ebenezer Shumway, Jr., Jesse Stone of Ward, Allen Hancock, Amos Shumway, Jr., Joseph Hurd, Daniel Kingsbury, Ambrose Stone, Jr., Sylvanus Town ; Sigourney sold 1796 to Elias Pratt. In Feb., 1792, books to the value of £27. 14s. were bought and the library was soon opened. In accordance with the by-laws Mr. Dudley was librarian, acting efficiently while he remained in town.
1 In 1839, Judge Barton, then of Worcester, presented to the library four large supplemen- tary volumes of the British Encyclopedia with a volume of plates. In his accompanying note
he says: "In tendering it to your association I shall only make a small but grateful return for the pleasure and benefit I derived in the days of my boyhood from their useful library."
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