USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1704 to 1876, including Grafton until 1735, Millbury until 1813 and parts of Northbridge, Upton and Auburn > Part 22
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In his professional character he stood high, and was frequently called into neighboring towns in consultation, especially in surgical cases. Through his advice and assistance his brother, Alden March, the eminent surgeon of Albany, New York, was introduced to that career which subsequently so much distinguished the name. Dr. David March was a devoted and earnest christian man, and his professional and domestic character was most thor- oughly imbued with the spirit of religion. He died as he lived, a man of God.
Alden March was born 1795, on the farm known as the Samuel March place. This place is situated on the road from Millbury to New England Village, and was in Sutton until 1813, when the north parish became the town of Mill- bury.
Mr. March enjoyed only the limited advantages for education afforded by the common schools of the time. As he approached manhood he taught school for quite a number of terms, and at the same time studied medicine with Dr. David March, an elder brother, a physician and surgeon in Sutton of eminence.
He attended medical lectures first in Boston, and afterwards Brown Uni- versity (which then had a medical department) where he graduated with the degree of doctor of medicine.
In 1820 he removed to Albany, New York, and commenced practice; at the same time lecturing to small classes of students upon anatomy. His teaching and practice in the departments of both medicine and surgery were altogether in advance of the age, and excited much opposition on the part of the pro- fession and the people.
But believing himself in the right, he steadily pursued his course, expect- ing, in the end, success and approval.
In 1824 he was appointed professor of Anatomy and physiology in the Ver- mont academy of medicine, at Castleton, which position he held for ten years, during which time he continued his general practice and his private lecture course in Albany.
In 1830 he delivered a public lecture in Albany on " the propriety of estab- lishing a medical college and hospital" there. The lecture was published and much interest resulted. An effort was soon made to secure from the legislature an act of incorporation for a medical college in that city ; to which great opposition was made by the various medical institutions in the state. But with indomitable energy he battled with the opposition, and after eight years of ceaseless conflict, arrangements were made for a course of lectures which was commenced Jan. 3, 1839, with a class of fifty-seven students. Dur- ing this course a charter for the college was obtained from the legislature; and, under the presidency of Dr. March, the institution at once took a stand second to none in the country.
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"As a surgeon, Dr. March stood in the front rank. His fame not only filled his own land, but extended to medical circles throughout Europe. In- deed, competent authorities assert that he was unquestionably the foremost surgeon of the world. When Dr. Brainard, himself an eminent lecturer, returned from Europe, he expressed the general judgment in his exclamation : 'Dr. March is ahead of them all.'" *
Dr. James L. Babcock in speaking of his professional life says: "There is no record of the surgical operations performed by him during ten years of his practice; yet those of which we have a record number seven thousand one hundred and twenty-four." Among these were operations never before attempted, requiring skill, daring and delicate manipulation, for which he was pre-eminently distinguished.
He contributed many valuable papers to medical and surgical science - was made an honorary member of various state medical societies, and elected to the highest offices in the gift of the profession to which he belonged. But Dr. March was more than the eminent physician and surgeon. After speak- ing of him as such, Dr. William B. Sprague says of him in an address deliv- ered at his funeral: "That which constituted the crowning glory of the charac- ter of our friend was a loving, all-pervading piety - and for that he was indebted to God's gracious, sanctifying spirit. *
* * And not only did the spirit first implant in his soul the principle of the new life, but He has preserved and quickened and finally matured it."
He was a member of the first Presbyterian church in Albany, and it is said of him, "He never absented himself from the sanctuary on the Sabbath, or from the weekly prayer-meeting, except in case of severe illness or imperative necessity; and was equally anxious that his entire family should be there." Prominent mention is also made of his domestic life. Dr. Sprague speaks of him as "the life and joy of a happy home," and adds: "Within that sacred enclosure his heart always seemed full of blessing, the result of which was, that he drew all the members of his household around him by a cord of unwonted reverence and tenderness.
"I understand that he was a model both in the conjugal and parental rela- tions; that his presence in his own endeared circle was always welcomed as a benediction; that his discipline, dictated by kindness and guided by calm dis- cretion, seemed only as the legitimate working of the law of love."
Dr. March was evidently what can be said of few, a model of excellence in all the relations he sustained; and Sutton may well feel proud in claiming him as her son.
Dr. March died in Albany, June 17, 1870.
Moses L. Morse, who livedt on this place, was a great inventor.
He invented the first pin-making machine ever made in this country. Mr. Oliver Hall aided him in its construction. The pins made had solid heads, and the principle involved in their manufacture was the same as that intro- duced in the best machines now in use, which make two barrels a day. Some one who has written on the subject gives a Mr. Wright credit for inventing
* Albany Evening Journal.
t See Crossman's report of the place where the Morse family lived, 150 years ago, in district number five.
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the first machine for making pins with solid heads in 1833, but it is a mistake. Solid head pins were made by Morse's machine during the war of 1812. He also invented and had patented scales for weighing coins and other substances hydrostatically. Mr. Hall also helped make the scales. He says a gentleman came into the shop one day, and having his attention called to the new scales, took out a new Spanish dollar and asked Mr. Morse to test his scales on that dollar; so he weighed it and pronounced it a rank counterfeit. The man was provoked at the idea, for it was a very perfect coin. So Mr. Morse gave him another dollar that he might test the one in dispute; then he took his drill and bow and began to tap the dollar, which proved to be made of copper, slightly plated with silver. Then the man declared the scales the greatest invention of the age, and ordered one immediately for his own use. The scales had a graduated face not unlike a clock-face, with hands to point out the result.
Mr. Morse afterward established a cutlery manufactory in Worcester, at what was known as the red mills. Mr. Hall went over to instruct him in the art of polishing steel upon a wheel. The art was not much known then. The wheels were covered with buckskin and set with crocus mastic.
Mr. Simon Tenney, son of Daniel, son of Simon, son of Daniel, died in this house June 11, 1856, aged fifty-six. He married Nancy Putnam and had two sons, who died young. He did much business, and was a quiet, peaceable, good- hearted man. She married for her second husband Dr. David E. Hall, son of Joseph, son of David, D. D., son of Joseph, son of John, who came from Coventry, England, about 1630. Family tradition says his brother, the husband of Mary, the father of John, father of Deacon Percival, came with him and settled at Mystic, now Medford. Dr. David E. Hall was born in the house where Esq. Mills now lives, Nov. 14, 1791. He married Mrs. Nancy P. Tenney Dec. 2, 1857, and died in this house very suddenly, January 24, 1872. He studied the languages with his father, Master Joseph Hall, entered the medical department of Yale college, and received his diploma and recommendation from the late renowned professor, Dr. Nathan Smith of that institution. After which he practiced medicine in New Boston, Ct., then at Westfield, now Danielsonville, where he was well patron- ized and much respected. He married a Miss Summer and had one daughter, Miss Sarah S. Hall, who is an accomplished lady. She is well educated and a very fine artist; is con- stantly employed, and makes portraits a specialty. Dr. Hall was one of the most genial and companionable of men, scholarly, gentlemanly, a good story-teller, and always entertaining and instruetive in conversation. Many of his
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pithy anecdotes will be long remembered. Both himself, wife and daughter were members of the Congregational church.
Between these two houses once stood the law office of Jonas L. Sibley. It was formerly a school-house and located where the school-house now stands. It has since been moved and made into a dwelling-house, now owned and occupied by Estes Putnam.
Esquire Sibley had several students in this office, among them were C. C. Baldwin, C. White, a Mr. Livermore, now of Cambridge, Esquire F. Botham, now of Southbridge, Edward Clarke and others. Dr. D. March had an office in the same building, containing many anatomical preparations.
There used to be a barn connected with the old house, in which D. A. Tenney aud J. P. Putnam kept a livery stable, which was well patronized when one could stand and see fifty or more young shoemakers playing ball on the common after finishing their work for the day.
Here are the old sheds, erected long ago by the fathers who worshipped in the old church. They have been cursed and threatened with destruction by many, yet they have been a humane institution, inasmuch as they have given grateful shelter to many a poor tired nag; keeping him dry from the storm or shading him from the burning rays of the sun. Three or four generations, now sleeping in their graves, have tied their horses to the same hooks; and many of the pretty girls who were courted by our forefathers have watched and waited before them for the horse, the beau and the pillion behind him, on which she was to ride to her home; and, even now, succeeding belles every Sunday " wait for the wagon" to take them home. On these same sheds on which we look, our grandmother and her mother looked, who will never look again. Let the old sheds be respected for their antiquity and the memories of the past which they recall.
2
The next house east of the sheds was built by Miss Lucena Woodbury in 1843. Wm. E. Cole was the carpen- ter. Mr. Gardner Hall lived in this house several years. A little daughter born June 23, 1851, died there in his arms, June 15, 1852. Mr. John Woodbury, a most conscientious and kind-hearted man, died very suddenly in this house June 22, 1847. Miss Woodbury built on the low part of this house in 1855. Rev. Daniel Babcock, who married a daughter of John Parkman, was the carpenter. It was used as a parsonage for the Methodist church, and was occupied
SUTTON ( ENTRE.
37
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by Revs. Rodney Gage, N. S. Spaulding, William Clapp, J. J. Woodbury, Brown, and C. S. Macreading-the two latter boarding with Miss Woodbury. Miss W. was very liberal and gave freely to the church. She went from here to live with her nephew in Ohio.
It cannot be ascertained who built the first house opposite the above. Mrs. Sibley says that the Hon. Jonas Sibley lived there when he was first married. He was succeeded by Dr. Carter, who lived there and kept school. He after- ward went to Maine, then almost an unknown wilderness, his wife remarking as they left that "It was better to be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion." Dr. Carter became quite distinguished there. Russell Buckman lived there several years. Estes Howe, Esq., then bought the place, and built the front part of the house now standing; he also repaired and much improved the old part. The rooms were made high-studded and spacious and were considered very nice at the time. Simeon Hathaway was the carpenter, and it is said Esq. Howe paid him for the entire job in legal services. Howe was a thick-set, portly gentleman, and a lawyer of more than ordinary ability. He went to Worces- ter, thence to New York, where he became a judge.
Jacob March and his brother Dr. David owned it, and kept tavern there some time. Dr. Stephen Monroe, their father- in-law, was found dead, sitting in one chair with his feet in another, on the morning of Sept. 10, 1826.
Dr. David March was a dark complexioned, sedate man, of sober, quiet mien, quite becoming the office of deacon which he held. His wife was one of the best of women.
The next owner was the Rev. John Maltby, a man of fine personal appearance, and a most eloquent preacher. The new church was built during his ministry, and he filled it so that new side-galleries were proposed to accommodate his hearers. The place was next owned by Rev. H. A. Tracy, one of the compilers of this history, a man much beloved and respected by the people of his church and the town. His wife was a modest, unassuming christian lady and greatly beloved. Mr. Tracy sold the place to Mr. Elijah
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Bullard, a very worthy man, who died here, and the place now belongs to his heirs and assignees.
The house now owned and occupied by M. M. Hovey is said to have been built for, and occupied by, the Rev. John Mckinstry, who was ordained and installed first pastor of the Congregational church, Nov. 9, 1720, and dismissed Sept. 2, 1728. The place was afterward owned by Dr. Benjamin Morse, who joined the same church in 1741, and was seventh deacon in 1761. He was a very prominent man in town, and town clerk several years, as our list of officers shows. He was succeeded by his sons, Ezekiel Morse conveyed it to Caleb and Tyler Marsh, March 2, 1799. It was conveyed by Mr. Joseph Hall, son of Deacon Willis Hall, to Daniel Hovey, May 27, 1811. Mr. H. was a very enterprising business man. He married for second wife, Nov. 10, 1813, Miss Susan Jacobs, one of the most worthy of women. He was born Oct. 29, 1778, and died here Jan. 10, 1839. She was born Dec. 15, 1793; died March 25, 1850. Their children were all born in this house. John is now a wealthy planter and merchant in Virginia. Susan, a fine young lady, died single. Daniel Tyler went to college at Amherst, studied medicine, then went to California and returned as far as New York, where he died unmarried. He was engaged to Miss Lydia Bishop, sister of Dr. Bishop now of Worcester. She taught school here and was a very fine lady. She afterward married a Lanman and died at Norwich, Connecticut. M. M. Hovey, the present owner, is too well known to need comment. He has been largely engaged in the wood and lumber business, in which he is presumed to have accumulated a respectable fortune. He has run a saw-mill for several years, principally on his own lumber ; he has cleared much woodland and is now a large landholder. He has one of the best cultivated farms in town, and some of the best stock. He has also a store in Greenville, South Carolina, where he is doing an extensive dry goods business under the name and firm of Hovey and Town. He has been our representative in the legislature, and held other offices of trust and honor. His wife is the daughter of the late Dr. Leonard Pierce.
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His brother William was engaged in trade in South Caro- lina for several years, and was worth more than one hundred thousand dollars before the war; but lost heavily by that unfortunate affair ; so to regain his fortune he started stores in different places, over did, became insane, came home and soon after died in the asylum at Worcester.
Erastus Franklin went into the flax business somewhere in the State of New York; was burnt out and lost every- thing. He is now doing business in Philadelphia. Mary Elizabeth was born Sept. 17, 1829. She married Colonel Asa H. Waters, June 27, 1849. They live in Millbury. He graduated at Yale College, studied law, has been a mem- ber of the Massachusetts senate, and held many other offices of honor and trust. He has been engaged in the manufacture of guns, also in manufacturing cotton and woollen goods. He has three daughters, Isabel H., Lilian H., and Florence E. Lilian married Professor Grosvenor of Roberts College in Constantinople. The Colonel with his wife and daughters have visited her there, remaining some two years. M. M. Hovey's first wife was Louisa L. Sabin of Plainfield, Conn. She died here Sept. 24, 1860. The north part of the house was built by the present owner, who has much improved every part of the place, and bought on much land.
We find the following brief biographical sketch of Deacon Benjamin Morse, M. D., in the Worcester Spy, May 10, 1776. It is dated Sutton, April 6th.
Last Thursday died Deacon Benjamin Morse, M. D., of this town, in the sixty-second year of his age. Very few persons have passed so many years with more reputation to himself and usefulness to others. His private and public conduct in life merit general applause. Sensible of the particular obli- gations resulting from private connections, he was led to show himself the kind husband, tender parent, obliging neighbor, social and sincere friend. He evinced his piety toward God and benevolence to men in action, the genuine offspring of those noble principles. Well esteemed in the church of God - as a physician, eminent and useful. For months a disorder of a nervous kind attended 'him; which he was convinced would close the scene of life. In much christian patience and submission he awaited the event. His removal is, to the mourning family, town and church, a deep felt loss ; though doubtless gain to him.
Among God's saints he sang surprising grace ;
Met death with joy and closed his eyes in peace.
The memory of the just is blessed .- Solomon.
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It is not known who first settled on the place opposite the above. The tavern, so far as can be learned, was first kept by a Mr. Hale, and his hostler was David Dudley, of whom mention has been made. John Safford, who married a Hayden and afterward lived in Newburyport, boarded there. It is said that some returned soldiers called at Hale's tavern
RESIDENCE OF MRS. MARY L. B. PIERCE AND THEODORE E. PUTNAM.
and paid thirty dollars for a mug of " flip." It was undoubt- edly known as Hale's tavern after he left. It is also said that Lazarus LeBaron bought the place of Capt. Nathaniel Sibley (son of Samuel, son of Joseph, son of John), Jan. 10, 1777, and paid for it in continental money. Mr. LeBaron came here from Boston about 1774. He had been a merchant there, and married Susan Johannot and had one daughter. His first wife died in Boston. He was thrice married after he came to Sutton, and had one daughter, Hannah, who
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married Capt. Israel Putnam. The place descended to her, and now belongs to her heirs, the present owners and occu- pants. Capt. Israel Putnam had a large family, of whom mention was made at the place of his birth in district number one.
Mrs. Mary L. B. Pierce is the present owner and occu- pant. Her brother, Mr. Theodore Putnam, now has charge of the farm and keeps it in a fine state of cultivation. He has a fine stock of cattle, and prepares most of his own fertilizers, coating his pastures and mowing lots liberally with plaster.
Mr. LeBaron commenced keeping tavern in an old house which was standing when he bought the place. He built the present large and commodious house about 1794. His tavern was considered the most popular house between Boston and Hartford, and was constantly thronged by visitors. He used to mention among the distinguished guests he had entertained, Gen. LaFayette, Gov. John Hancock, Major Paul Jones, Gen. Putnam and others. He kept a store and did quite an extensive business. He also manufactured potash. The ashery stood a little east of the store.
Tradition has handed down the following amusing anec- dote :
He closed his store one day and left, taking the key with him. Soon after a customer came for something, but could not get in; so his daughter, a heavy, buxom girl, said she could get in and get what he wanted. She placed a ladder under the attic window, and went in. From the attic she had to descend into the store through a trap door, directly under which stood a hogs- head of molasses on one end; so she jumped through the scuttle upon the upper head of the hogshead, when it gave way, and let her into a pool sweeter than any in which she had ever before been immersed. Whether she waited on the customer, tradition saith not.
Mr. Le Baron was aristocratic, yet cheerful, jovial and familiar with his customers. He wore his small clothes a la the regulation suit ordered for Queen Victoria's receptions ; breeches of fine cloth with silver knee buckles, long stock- ings and silver shoe buckles. He also wore a cocked hat. He was a gentleman of wealth and high standing. He and his three wives died here ; also Capt. Putnam and his good
.
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wife, Dr. N. C. Sibley and his son, Le Baron Putnam, Caroline Gerrish, Miss Caroline Hull and others. Incidents enough to fill the history might be gathered in connection with this place, but we must save the space for others.
The building once used as a store by Mr. Le Baron was moved down just opposite Mr. Hovey's farmer's house and used many years as a tenement house. Three or four tailors lived in it. John Shea lived there several years, Alanson Titus, who worked for Capt Putnam more than thirty years ; besides other families. It was taken down in 1875.
The house belonging to M. M. Hovey, standing opposite, was built by him and has been occupied mostly by his own workmen, among them Palmer Sibley, Thomas Marlboro, Obed P. Johnson and others.
The next house below was built by N. G. King and first occupied by F. M. Marble and George Hastings. It has since been owned by Jason Dudley, and is now owned by L. C. Howard. It has since been used as a tenement house by many different families.
The small house at the foot of the hill was originally built by Estes Howe, Esq., and used by him as an office. N. G. King bought it of Rev. H. A. Tracy, moved it and fitted it up as a tenement for his mother, who died there January 20, 1857. She was daughter of Dr. N. F. Morse, and a very worthy woman.
The house has since been occupied by several of Mr. King's workmen. It is now used by him as a store-house.
The next place was first owned by Deacon John Morse, who, it is supposed, built the house. It has since been owned by Christopher Nason, Jacob March, N. G. King and George S. King, the present owner. Mr. Nason was a tanner and currier, and carried on that business in the old tannery near this place. Deacon Morse was son of Dr. N. F. Morse, and was quite a prominent man, especially in the church, but he went west and somewhat changed his views, and published some severe things concerning the Andover theo- logical seminary.
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N. G. King married Eveline, daughter of Samuel Morse. She had three daughters and one son born here, and died in this house. One of their daughters, now Mrs. Hastings, is a well educated lady, and was at one time assistant teacher in Leicester academy. She was the third wife of Mr. Frederick H. Hastings, her sister Lavinia having been his second. Her sister Eveline married Fred. A. Stockwell, and now lives in Webster.
Mr. N. G. King was a shoe manufacturer on this place for some time, doing quite an extensive business, giving employment to many different men, and as already stated, he kept store awhile in the brick block, and was at one time engaged in the manufacture of friction matches.
George S. King, the present owner and occupant, enlisted during the war and was a good soldier. He is a boot and shoe maker by trade, but has given much attention of late to growing early vegetables for the market, and been quite successful. He married Mary, daughter of Emory Howard ; they have two children.
It is not known who built the next house. Mr. Putnam reports as owners, first a Mr. Towne. It was afterward owned by Capt. Moody Morse, who held a commission under the English crown. He came from Newbury. It has since been owned by Dr. Nathaniel F. Morse, Deacon John Morse, Deacon Sylvester Morse, Deacon S. B. King and N. G. King, Jason Dudley, and now by George S. King. Many other families have lived in this house, and it was last used by N. G. King as a shoe shop, when it was burned, contain- ing many shoes, stock and valuable machinery and tools for the manufacture of shoes. The barn, which once stood opposite, was struck by lightning in hay-time and burned. A young man by the name of Rice, who was at work on the farm, went into the barn for shelter from the rain, and was killed. He was the son of a widow, then living in Millbury. She afterward married the father of the celebrated John B. Gough.
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