USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Townsend > History of the town of Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from the grant of Hathorn's farm, 1676-1878 > Part 19
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The town records, during the time the rebellion was in progress, were not kept with the greatest accuracy, but. as near as can be ascertained from all sources, Townsend sent to the field, troops enlisted for three months, one
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hundred days, nine months, and three years or for the war, including substitutes, to the number of two hundred and seventy men, of whom one hundred and sixty-one were voters in this town at the time of their enlistment.
The services of the women of this town, acting in concert with the Sanitary Commission, are not to be over- looked. During the war, from the time our soldiers were first encamped within the borders of the state, till they returned home at the expiration of their term of service, they were remembered by this class of patient toilers. The sessions of the Ladies' Benevolent Society were many, which were devoted to industrious efforts in making quilts, clothing, lint, and cushions for broken limbs. The busy hands of the home-circle, similarly employed, should also be mentioned. The goods thus made together with condiments, provisions, stimulants, and delicacies, pur- chased at considerable expense, suitable for those who were suffering in the hospitals, were, at different times, carefully packed, filling many boxes and barrels, and forwarded in a cause where philanthropy was at a premium. Among the ladies who were active in this womanly sympathy, the names of Mrs. Dr. Bertram, Mrs. Ralph Ball, Mrs. Jonas Spalding, Jr., Mrs. Noah Ball, and others (did space admit) , might be mentioned. Their efforts awakened gladness in many hearts, and will be held in grateful remembrance, as was that of Eunice Locke, of revolutionary fame. This chapter now closes with the simple statement, that, all that is claimed for Townsend, during those modern "days that tried men's souls," is, that the town did its duty in a commendable manner, compared with the other towns of this time- honored Commonwealth.
CHAPTER XII.
LAWYERS, PHYSICIANS, AND COLLEGE GRADUATES.
LAWYERS: Walter Hastings-Aaron Keyes-Frederick A. Worcester. PHYSICIANS : Joseph Adams-Samnel Hosley-Isaac Mullikin- Samuel Lovejoy-Moses Kidder-John Bertram-Ebenezer P. Ilills-Augustus G. Stickney-JJohn Heard-Royal B. Boynton- Charles J. Towne. COLLEGE GRADUATES: John Hubbard- Abraham Butterfield-Daniel Adams-Joseph Walker-William Farmer-John Stevens-Joel Giles-John Graham-Jolin Giles -Charles Brooks-Warren Brooks-Mark Davis-Charles T. Haynes-John M. Proctor-Randall Spaulding-Eliel S. Ball- Wayland Spaulding.
The following memoirs and sketches of the lawyers and physicians, contain the names of those only who have resided here for considerable time, and have been per- manently identified with the interests of Townsend. Probably more men, of the medical profession, have come here and had a temporary residence, than the number of those whose names will appear in this chapter. Men, having various grades of skill, character, and learning, have given this town a short trial, and then taken their departure. A promising young physician, by the name of Gerry, about 1848, came to Townsend Centre and located. He married Caroline Brooks, daughter of Samuel Brooks, of this town. Within a short time after his settlement here,
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while engaged in a surgical operation, he got some virus into a slight scratch in his hand, which caused his death very suddenly. The " what might have been" was deeply considered by his widow and friends whom he left behind. There have been only two or three lawyers who came to Townsend and made it their residence for a short time.
WALTER HASTINGS was the first lawyer who made Townsend a residence and a place of business. He was born in Chelmsford, 1778, was graduated at Harvard College, 1799, and studied law with Judge Prescott, of Groton. He commenced practice here, soon after he was admitted to the bar, in 1803. His father and grandfather were both graduates of Harvard College, and both were . prominent patriots in the revolutionary service. He lived at the Harbor, and is remembered by the elderly people of Townsend, of both sexes, as a man of elegant personal appearance ("a handsome man"). and of dignified ad- dress.
In 1808, he was chosen captain of the North Company of Townsend, which office he held till 1812, when, war with England having been declared, he was appointed colonel, and was placed in command of about three thousand Middlesex county troops, stationed at Fort War- ren, now Fort Winthrop .* He remained in command till the close of the war, when he returned to Townsend and resumed practice in his profession. He took great interest in military affairs, which engrossed much of his time and attention, even after peace was declared, for which reason,
* The war with England, in 1812, was not popular in Massachusetts. Townsend had six or eight drafted men with Colonel Hastings, at Fort Warren, among whom were John Emery, Daniel Campbell and Samuel Searls. These men were absent from home only a short time.
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probably, he did not stand in the front rank of the legal profession. He possessed first-class abilities, both natural and acquired.
In 1814, he married Roxanna Warren, daughter of Moses Warren. She survived him, and afterward married Elisha Glidden. Colonel Hastings died, June 6, 1821, and at his solicitation, he was buried with military honors, at Townsend Centre. The Townsend Light Infantry, Captain Levi Warren, was in attendance as a guard of honor, and discharged "the last farewell shot" at the portals of his sepulchre.
AARON KEYES, the second lawyer who practiced in this town, was born at Westford, in 1791. He was a good scholar, and he enjoyed the privileges of a thorough academic education. He commenced reading law in an office at Bridgewater, in this state, and finished his studies in that direction with John Abbott. a lawyer practicing at Westford. He was admitted to the bar in 1822, and he opened an office at Townsend Centre, the same year. He was in practice in this town from the time of settlement here till his death, which occurred in 1842, a period of twenty years. He was postmaster, at the central village, from 1826 to 1835. He was a good counsellor, well read in his profession, and withal, not inclined to "engender strife" among his acquaintances, for the purpose of making business which would turn to his pecuniary ad- vantage. He was much respected as a townsman, and what is rather the exception than the rule among men of the legal profession, his chirography was neat and per- fectly legible, which made him an excellent conveyancer. In 1824, he married Martha Warren, daughter of Moses Warren.
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
FREDERICK A. WORCESTER was the third person who permanently located in Townsend, in the practice of law. He was born in Hollis, New Hampshire, 1807. His father, Jesse Worcester, Esq., was the most influential man of his time, in that town.
When only fifteen years old, young Jesse was at Ticonderoga, in 1776, and he did good service in the con- tinental army during the latter part of the war. This revo- lutionary patriot married when about twenty-two years of age, and subsequently "many children played around his door." By his good management, industry, and their help, he found means to give five of his sons a collegiate education : Joseph E. Worcester ( the Lexicographer). Yale College, 1811 ; Rev. Taylor G. Worcester, Harvard University, 1823 ; Rev. Henry A. Worcester, Yale Col- lege, 1828 ; Hon. Samuel T. Worcester, Harvard Univer- sity, 1830; Hon. Frederick A. Worcester, Harvard Uni- versity, 1831.
In addition to these five sons, who were college graduates, two other sons fitted and entered college. Jesse Worcester, Jr., born 1782, fitted for, and afterward entered Harvard College, 1809, and died in 1809. His brothers have credited him with being the quickest of apprehension. and having the greatest natural scope of intellect of any of them. Rev. Grant Powers, in a centennial address. delivered at Hollis, in September, 1830, says of him : "Jesse Worcester, Jr., was a rare youth."
"Over his remains, Genius wept for a favorite son, and the world sustained a loss of which she was unconscious." David Worcester, born 1808, entered the Freshman class at Harvard College in 1828, where he remained till near the close of the Junior year. when he left to accept a lucrative
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position as a teacher. It would be difficult to find another New England family which contained so many brothers who obtained a college education. These men all in- herited the large vital forces and strong intellectual powers of their father.
Frederick A., fitted for college in part at Pinkerton Academy, in Derry, New Hampshire, and partly at Phil- lips Academy, Andover. At Cambridge, he ranked well in his class, which contained a large number of good scholars, among whom were Rev. John H. Morrison. Hon. John L. Motley, who was United States Minister at one time to Austria, and subsequently in the same office at the Court of St. James, Wendell Phillips, the agitator, and others, who have left their mark. Soon after his graduation he commenced the study of law, with Benjamin M. Farley, in his native village, where he remained about a year. From thence he entered the law school at Cam- bridge, and continued his studies there for one year. He finished his professional studies with George F. Farley. Esq., a noted lawyer, at Groton, the next year.
In September, 1835, he came to Townsend, intending to locate here, but at the solicitation of Hon. John B. Hill, (the historian of Mason, New Hampshire,) of the law firm of Appleton & Hill, Bangor, Maine, he was in- duced to go to that city and manage the office business of that firm. The position not being as agreeable as he anticipated, he returned to Townsend, the following sum- mer, and opened a law office. Since that time he has diligently applied himself to his profession, and acquired a large practice. At present, he is considered one of the best men to prepare a case for a jury, that the county contains. He does not pretend to be an advocate, and is
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not an eloquent speaker, but he possesses a masculine mind, is a good judge of law, and when associated at the bar with a good speaker, his clients are most always on the winning side. He appears to the best advantage before a bench of judges in cases carried up to the Supreme Court. Mr. Worcester is a man of strong passions and prejudices, and he generally takes more interest in the causes en- trusted to his care than his clients do. For the last few years he has had an office at Ayer, residing in Townsend. In 1854, he married Jane M. Kellogg, of Amherst.
The first physician in Townsend, of which anything is known, was JOSEPH ADAMS, who came to this town in 1774, and left in 1776, when the patriots made it too warm for the tories, of which he was one. A more par- ticular account of this man may be found in that part of this work which treats upon the loyalists in the revolution.
DR. SAMUEL HOSLEY, tradition says, was a surgeon in one of the New Hampshire regiments in the continental service. He was in practice for a long time, residing on the place now owned by Daniel Dix, on the east side of Hathorn's meadow. He was born there, in 1758. Nothing is known about his preparation or education for a physi- cian or surgeon ; and it is probable that his education was quite limited. He married Mary Farrar, of Concord.
DR. ISAAC MULLIKIN originated from Bradford. He came here from Lunenburg, about 1780, and located at the fork of the road, just easterly of the bridge over the brook that empties into Hathorn's meadow, from the southeast. The house which he built, and in which he lived, is still standing. The bridge over the brook at that place is
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called, in the town records, the "ministerial bridge," Mr. Hemenway having owned the land on one side of this brook, and Mr. Dix the other side. He was a man of good culture and gentlemanly deportment, both careful and skilful in his profession. He was a justice of the peace. He was also town clerk for a number of years. The records, made by this gentleman, are neat, legibly written, and arranged with strict grammatical accuracy. He was much respected as a citizen, a physician, and as an exemplary man.
DR. SAMUEL LOVEJOY was born in Wilton, New Hampshire, in 1775. He received his education at New Ipswich Academy. It is not known where he took a medical degree, or whether he ever took one. In his time, it was the custom for young men desiring to become doctors, to pass a couple of years, more or less, with some experienced physician, from which apprenticeship they would emerge, don the Dr., and commence practice. Dr. Lovejoy, came to Townsend, in 1802, and was in practice here more than thirty years. He possessed a good share of natural affability, had only a few enemies, and was considered a skilled and competent physician. He was the last doctor in town who travelled on horseback, with saddle-bags, in which to carry his medicines. During the latter part of his life he became insane, and continued, at times, in that condition for a long time, which was a source of much grief and trouble to his friends and rel- atives. In 1802, he married Betsey Lawrence, of Groton. the oldest sister of Hon. Abbott Lawrence. For a second wife, he married Sarah Barr, of New Ipswich, in 1831. He died in 1851, aged 76.
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
DR. MOSES KIDDER was a native of Billerica. He fitted for college, and entered Williams College, two years in advance, where he spent the junior year in 1810, but he did not proceed further in a collegiate course. Most of the year 1811, he was studying with Dr. Stickney, of An- trim, New Hampshire, and the next year he was with Dr. Matthias Spaulding, of Amherst, New Hampshire, who, probably, was the best educated physician and surgeon, at that time, in the state. In 1813, he was a surgeon at Fort Warren. He practiced medicine at Dublin, New Hamp- shire, two or three years. He also was in practice at Littleton and Ashby, a short time at each place. He came to West Townsend and began practicing medicine about 1822. He was skilful, and had a large business, some- times riding long distances to consult with his medical brethren in difficult cases. He did not have good health all the time, and occasionally, through over-exertion and anxiety, his physical condition was such that he should have been a patient rather than a medical adviser. On the tenth of December, 1814, he married Rachel Kendall, of Milford, New Hampshire. About 1835, he moved to Lowell, where he continued in the practice of his profes- sion, and where he died.
DR. JOHN BERTRAM was a native of Peterborough, New Hampshire, born 1794. He took his medical degree at Dartmouth College in 1825. He was in practice in one of the towns of Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, with one, Dr. Farley, for about two years. He came to this town in 1827, and entered upon the duties of physician and surgeon at Townsend Centre. He died in December, 1846. During the nineteen years in which he was in
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practice here, he obtained an extensive acquaintance, a good reputation, and the confidence of the community. He had many friends, and but few enemies. He married Mary, only daughter of Deacon Joel Adams.
DR. EBENEZER P. HILLS was born in Newbury. 1804. He fitted for college, but did not take a collegiate course of study. He studied medicine and took his medi- cal degree from Bowdoin College, in 1825, where he ranked well as a scholar. He came to Townsend Harbor and began practice there in 1825, and remained there in business about twenty years.
He possessed more than ordinary natural abilities : was agreeable in his manners, fond of company, and en- joyed a good joke or a playful repartee. Hle spent the last part of his life at Shirley Centre, where he died in 1854, in the fiftieth year of his age. He married (1) Ruth Perkins, of Lunenburg, in 1826; (2) Betsey Perkins, of Lunenburg, in 1828; (3) Sophia Gerrish, daughter of Paul Gerrish, Esq., of Townsend Harbor. in 1841.
DR. JOHN HEARD was born about 1810, in the state of Maine. In 1838, he took the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, at Dartmouth College. He practiced medicine at Acworth, Hopkinton, and Rindge, New Hampshire. and at Leominster and Townsend. He was at Townsend Centre most of the time from 1852 to 1861. He rode in good style, after a well-cared-for fast horse, the team con- stituting the greater part of his wealth. Mr. Stearns, the historian of Rindge, says of him : "It is probable that Dr. Heard was deficient neither in skill or natural ability ; but his cynical manners and current conversation repelled the respect and confidence of the community."
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
DR. AUGUSTUS G. STICKNEY was born in Antrim, New Hampshire, 1807. He was the son of Dr. Jeremiah Stickney, who was a practicing physician in that town for many years. After acquiring a good academical educa- tion, he entered the Berkshire Medical College, at Pitts- field, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Medicine, in 1833. Dr. Stickney married Louise Wilson, of Antrim, in 1834, and established himself in business, at West Townsend, the same year. He did a good share of the work required in this vicinity, and stood well with the members of the medical profession. He was admitted as a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, in 1844. He died. August, 1862, much lamented and highly respected.
DR. ROYAL B. BOYNTON was born in Pepperell. in 1836. While he was a student at Lawrence Academy. Groton, under James Means, principal, he was attacked with a severe inflammation of the eyes and partial loss of sight, at about the time he was finishing his preparatory studies, with the intention of entering college, one year in advance. For nearly a year he was almost entirely unfit for study. Like many professional men, he took his turn as schoolmaster, to raise money to pay the expenses of an education ; abandoning the idea of a liberal education. he attended the Medical College, at Woodstock, Vermont, and took his degree from that institution, in 1852. He came to Townsend Centre, in 1853, and devoted a large part of his time to dentistry, in which business he was well patronized. Subsequently, he moved to West Townsend. where he is still in practice. Lately he has laid aside his dentistry, and given his attention to the general duties of physician and surgeon, in which capacity he has many friends and many enemies. He is quite skilful. and has a
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large practice. He married Josephine Taft, November 12, 1863.
DR. EDWARD J. DONNELL was born in Lynde- borough, New Hampshire, in 1835. He graduated at Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, New Hampshire. He spent most of the time for three years, after his graduation, with Dr. Marshall, of Mason Village, New Hampshire, in the study of medicine and surgery, in which pursuit he was engaged at the outbreak of the rebellion. He enlisted. in 1862, into the Fifteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, Company C, in which he was second lieuten- ant. After this regiment was mustered out of service, he enlisted into the Thirteenth Maryland Infantry as assistant surgeon, in which capacity he served till the close of the war. His experience in this regiment was of great value to him. On his return to New Hampshire, in 1864, he immediately entered the medical department at Dartmouth College, and took his degree at that institution, in 1865. He commenced practice at Athol, and was there about two years. He came to West Townsend, and entered upon the practice of medicine, in 1870, and continued until October. 1876, when he left for Kansas. He was a mem- ber of the New Hampshire Medical Society. He married Ellen Prescott, of Mason. New Hampshire.
DR. CHARLES J. TOWNE was born in Stoddard, New Hampshire, in 1840. He was fond of his books when a child, and made rapid progress as a scholar. From the common school he went to the "Valley Seminary." a good institution, at Westmoreland,. New Hampshire, where, after a course of three years, he graduated, in 1857. He studied medicine with Dr. O. H. Bradley, at East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and afterward took a regular course of
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study at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the City of New York, where he graduated, in 1865. He settled in practice at Richmond, New Hampshire, and continued there about two years. In 1867, he moved to Townsend Centre, where he has remained to the present time. During his practice of ten years in this town, he has made a good record. He has generally been called the second time, and onward, after once making the ac- quaintance of a family. He responds at once to all calls for his services, no matter what the weather, distance to be travelled, or condition of the roads may be, and he keeps his appointments. October 23, 1868, he married Nancie Lewis, daughter of Benjamin F. Lewis, Esq. Ile is a modest man-seldom uses the perpendicular pronoun- keeps his own counsel and minds his own business.
The following names comprise the list of the seven- teen Townsend men who graduated at college. It will be noticed that their record is very creditable to the town :-
JOHN HUBBARD, Dartmouth College, 1785. ABRAHAM BUTTERFIELD, Dartmouth College, 1796.
DANIEL ADAMS, Dartmouth College, 1797. JOSEPH WALKER, Bowdoin College, 1818. WILLIAM FARMER, Harvard College, 1819. JOHN STEVENS, Middlebury College, 1821. JOEL GILES, Harvard College, 1829.
JOHN GRAHAM, Amherst College, 1829.
JOHN GILES, Harvard College, 1831. CHARLES BROOKS, Yale College, 1853.
WARREN BROOKS, Harvard College, 1855. MARK DAVIS, Dartmouth College, 1856. CHARLES T. HAYNES, Amherst College, 1862.
JOHN M. PROCTOR, Dartmouth College, 1863.
RANDALL SPAULDING, Yale College, 1870.
ELIEL S. BALL, Dartmouth College, 1874. WAYLAND SPAULDING, Yale College, 1874.
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COLLEGE GRADUATES.
JOHN HUBBARD was the first person of this town who aspired to and received college honors. He was born in 1759. Graduated at Dartmouth College, 1785. Died at Hanover, 1810, aged fifty-one. He worked on a farm till he arrived at majority, when he commenced fitting for college, and at the age of twenty-two entered Dartmouth. He studied theology after his graduation and commenced preaching, but found his voice too feeble for a public speaker. He was the first preceptor of New Ipswich Academy, from 1789 to 1795, and by his good management the academy was brought into public favor. In 1797, he was engaged as preceptor of Walpole Academy. In 1798. he was appointed Judge of Probate for Cheshire County. New Hampshire, which office he held till 1802, when he resigned. He was then chosen preceptor of Deerfield Academy, but on the death of one of the professors of Dartmouth College, he was elected to the vacant chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, in that college. which office he held until his death. He was a man of much versatility of talent, an excellent mathematician, a good linguist and noted musician. During his professor- ship he was very popular with the graduating classes. In 1803, he published "The Rudiments of Geography," and the "American Reader" in 1808. He wrote an essay on music, which was read before the Middlesex musical association, afterwards ordered to be printed. This Asso- ciation numbered among its members Rev. David Palmer, of Townsend, Rev. Daniel Chaplain, of Groton, Rev. John Bullard, of Pepperell, Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason. Lowell Mason, and many others of the best musical talent and culture. "Hubbard's Anthems, Newburyport, 1814." was one of the favorite books of those times.
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This collection of tunes, compiled by John Hubbard, was used at all the ordinations, installations and thanks- givings for more than twenty-five years. Hubbard was the author of one of the anthems, and his opinion was the law of this association. Every fashion has its time to flourish and then pass away, still those old tunes, sung and executed as they were, both for sublimity of movement and sweetness of melody, once heard, can never be for- gotten. Prof. Hubbard was of a genial disposition, enthusiastic in every enterprise in which he engaged. Perhaps one of his weak points was his excessive fondness for sacred music, on which he spent much time, it may be, at the expense of more solid and scholarly attainments. He died while he was professor, and was buried at Han- over, New Hampshire, highly respected by the college officers and students, and beloved by a large circle of relatives and friends. Dartmouth has given to the world riper scholars and greater men, but not one has gone forth from her venerable halls with a keener sense of truth and duty, or who carried a better heart in his breast than John Hubbard.
ABRAHAM BUTTERFIELD was born in a house which stood near Pepperell line, in 1769. Graduated at Dart- mouth College, 1796. This graduate assisted his father on a farm, in the support of a large family, till he was twenty-one years of age, when he commenced fitting for college. He earned most of the money expended for his education, by labor on a farm and district school-teaching. Soon after his graduation he commenced the study of law. teaching at the same time. There is no account, however, of his taking a degree from any law school, or that he
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