USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Townsend > History of the town of Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from the grant of Hathorn's farm, 1676-1878 > Part 21
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of Laws, at Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1858. Soon after, he commenced the practice of law, in Boston, where he acquired a respectable standing in his profession. Having a good knowledge of human nature and a quick- ness of apprehension, excelled by none, he was well adapted to the law business. He was rather a prominent member of the republican party, and during his last ill- ness took great interest in the news from the seat of war, in which treason was pitted against loyalty, freedom against slavery, and he had the pleasure of living long enough to hear the ringing of the bells and the roaring of the cannon, which announced that the rebellion was crushed-that the flag of many stars was the revered em- blem of an unbroken and restored nationality. After being in business about three years he was taken with consumption. He resorted to every means know to science to regain his health. He went to New Orleans, hoping that a change of climate might be in his favor, from whence he returned to the old homestead, then his brother's house, located in full view of the school-house where he and his comrades vied for the head of the class, where after much suffering he died, in 1865, aged thirty- one years.
Sweet is home: "and dear the school-boy spot We ne'er forget though there we are forgot."
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CHARLES T. HAYNES was born on Nissequassick Hill. in 1835. He graduated at Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, New Hampshire, in 1858; and gradu- ated at Amherst College, in 1862. He studied the- ology, at Andover, during 1863 and 1864, and was then
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compelled to abandon his purpose of becoming a min- ister, on account of sickness. He resided in Townsend. till 1868, when, finding his health sufficiently estab- lished, he embraced the profession of teacher. He was principal of the high school. at Edgartown. from 1868 to 1870. He was teacher of mathematics in High- land Military Academy, at Worcester, part of the year 1870, which place he left to take charge of the high school, in Webster, where he remained till April. 1872. He then returned to Worcester, and from that time to the present, he has been principal of the Lamartine School. in that city, where he ranks high as an educator. He married Sybel Wallace, of this town, in 1870. A member of his class in college, thus writes of him : "While faithful in everything, he never took high rank as a scholar. standing about midway in a large class, containing an unusual number of good scholars. He particularly ex- celled in mathematics, while the languages were difficult for him. As a writer, he stood high. and was chosen by the class their prophet. In this capacity he did not in the least disappoint their expectations, for his prophecy was one of the wittiest, brightest, and most kindly. ever de- livered in Amherst." Mr. Haynes, through the year previous to leaving town, served on the school committee. in a manner both profitable to the schools and acceptable to his colleagues. As a teacher, he excels in seeing intui- tively that upon which the pupil blunders. and then by a word or two, helps the scholar to help himself. Above all these attainments, which have been enumerated, either by his classmate or the writer, stands out in bold relief an influential, unblemished and exemplary character.
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compared with which, scholarship, rank or fame are as nothing.
Long may he live to adorn that profession which fur- nishes to our youth that full mental equipment, which will enable them, in after years, to give battle against every sin and wrong, with which they will be surrounded.
JOHN M. PROCTOR, son of Deacon John Proctor, was born in the east part of the town, in 1839, and gradu- ated at Dartmouth College, in 1863. He fitted for college, at Lawrence Academy, Groton, from whence, for his strict attention to his own business, he carried away the best wishes of his classmates, and the blessings of his teachers. At college he found the benefit of his diligence at Groton, for he took a good rank in his class, through the entire college course. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In 1862, during the war excitement, a member of his class, from Wakefield, New Hampshire, on offering his services to his country, was appointed adjutant of the Ninth New Hampshire Regiment. Before leaving the state, however, he was taken sick and died : whereupon. by appointment of his class, Mr. Proctor pronounced an appropriate eulogy, on the life and charac- ter of this volunteer. before the college faculty and students. The eulogy, printed at Hanover, New Hamp- . shire, by order of the students, is an honor to its author. For the kindly and feeling words spoken of his friend ; for its fitness to the occasion : for its manliness and patriot- ism. it was happily received by his auditors, and must have been read with deep interest by the bereaved relatives of the deceased. Prof. John Carroll Proctor, of the Greek
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chair in Dartmouth, thus writes: "John M. Proctor was among the best scholars in his class, quiet, but very decided in his opinions, a good writer and speaker." He might have added, with equal justice, that he was a good thinker and debater. He spent some time studying law, and undoubtedly he intended to be a lawyer. In 1865. he was appointed principal of the "Moravian Institute," an advanced school, charmingly situated near Geneva Lake. in the state of New York. At the close of the first term of the second year of his engagement, in 1866, on account of ill health, he resigned his position and returned to his father's house, where, after a confinement to his room, of about two months. he died of pneumonia. aged twenty- six years.
No better close to the sketch of this graduate can be made, than his own language. applied to the young volunteer, which was as follows: "We turn with pleasure on an occasion like this, from the contemplation of mere intellectual qualities, to recall those richer endowments of the heart and affections, so eminently characteristic of our deceased classmate. The former may, indeed, be forgotten ; but the latter will never perish from our remembrance. Intellectual ability of acknowledged merit we may recognize in the streets, and in the highways of life ; but the genial companion and true friend is rare indeed. When we consider the talent of our departed brother, we may confess to a feeling of pride-he was our classmate and a man of ability, but when we reflect upon his social virtues, his unselfish disposition, his sympathetic nature and manly character, we are dissolved in tears."
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
RANDALL SPAULDING was born near Townsend Harbor, in 1845. Graduated at Yale College, in 1870, with the rank of fourteenth, in a class of one hundred and twenty students. Soon after his graduation, he re- ceived the appointment of head master of the high school. at Rockville, Connecticut, where he remained about three years, when, wishing for a broader culture, and desirous of securing the advantages of travel, he resigned his position, in September, 1873. went to Europe, and passed a year in Germany, in finishing his studies. From his boyhood, he has had the profession of teacher in view. He is at present, principal of the high school. at Montclair, New Jersey, fifteen miles from New York City, by the way of Jersey City Ferry, and Morris & Essex Railroad, and one of the most aristocratic suburban settlements. The good people of Montclair, New Jersey, claim that they are in possession of the most elegant private residences, the most ample school buildings, and in the person of Mr. Spaulding, the best teacher in the state. He is now thirty-two years old, well adapted to his calling. enterprising, having self-reliance without egotism, and genuine scholarship without ostentation. He married Florence A. Chapman.
ELIEL S. BALL was born at Townsend Centre, in 1848. Graduated at Lawrence Academy. in 1869, and at Dartmouth College, in 1874. This gentleman, since his graduation, has been a teacher at Lawrence Academy. Through both his academic and collegiate course, he was highly respected as a student and a gentleman. He has that executive ability, self-control, and ready command of
E. S. Ball.
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his learning, which eminently fit him for the profession upon which he has entered. At college, in scholarship. he ranked in the first third of his class. The commence- ment part assigned him was an English oration. entitled "The conflict of creeds with popular education." In his record, thus far, from his excellent acquirements and his strict conformity to every filial and moral duty, his friends may reasonably expect that pure motives and dignified actions "will ever keep the Ball in motion." He is, at present (1878), the principal of this Lawrence Academy, and is well qualified to fill the chair, once occupied by William M. Richardson, Caleb Butler, Asa F. Lawrence, and others, who ranked high among educators. On the fourth day of August, 1875, he married Ella F. Sawin, of Townsend.
WAYLAND SPAULDING was born September 26, 1850. Graduated at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, in 1870, and at Yale College, in 1874. His rank at Yale, in a class of one hundred and eighteen. was the tenth, leaving one hundred and eight students who were not his peers. His class picture indicates a large amount of vital force. a clearness of perception, a skill in the use of languages, and a thorough mental discipline, all of which are indis- pensable to a good public speaker. Before he had seen his twenty-fourth birthday he was appointed principal of the high school at Rockville, Connecticut, where his brother taught just after his graduation. There are about six hundred scholars in this school. During the three years which have passed since he was at the head of this institution. he has given entire satisfaction to the people of
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the enterprising town of Rockville. He married, De- cember 31. 1874. Mary A. Peck.
Six of the seventeen graduates from this town, came from three families: Two brothers from each, Joel and John Giles, Warren and Charles Brooks, and Randall and Wayland Spaulding.
CHAPTER XIII.
PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS.
Samuel Stone-Ralph Warren-James N. Tucker-James Hosley -Walter Hastings-John Spaulding-Levi Wallace-Stillman Haynes-The Warrens.
The most prominent traders in Townsend, whose names have not previously appeared in this work, are the following : Charles Osgood, and William P. Taylor. both of whom have recently retired partially from business. at the central village; Edmund A. Shattuck, at West Townsend : and Charles Emery, at Townsend Harbor. These gentlemen are all well known to the present generation. Most of them have done a successful business in this town for the last quarter of a century.
From 1830, and onward for about five years, Giles & Jewett (Daniel Giles and Solomon Jewett,) were copart- ners in trade at the brick store in Townsend Centre. Mr. Jewett died in the prime of life. He was an enterprising. go-ahead man. On the death of Mr. Jewett, Mr. Giles received Samuel Adams as a partner, who remained only a short time in trade with him. When Mr. Samuel Adams retired, Daniel Adams associated himself with Mr. Giles, in business, under the name and style of Giles & Adams. About 1847. Mr. Giles disposed of his interest
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in the business, to Mr. Adams, and he continued the business alone, till about 1849, when William P. Taylor joined him in partnership.
SAMUEL STONE was one of the most successful traders in Townsend, known to the writer. He was the son of Lieut. Samuel Stone, born August 17, 1779. After ac- quiring all the education afforded by the common school, he went into a store in Charlestown, as a clerk, remaining there long enough to learn the routine of business, and forming a mercantile acquaintance so that he had acquired a sum of money, which, added to his credit, he considered sufficient to commence business for himself. He returned to Townsend and opened a store in a small wooden build- ing, which stood on the corner at the south side of the common, near where the post-office now is. His business increased, and he went on accumulating property. On the twenty-first day of March, 1809, he married Lucy Wheeler. of Mason, New Hampshire. Finding the build- ing, in which he commenced business, too small. he bought the real estate where it stood, and erected the present brick store at that location. The ample and taste- ful brick dwelling-house, now standing on the opposite corner, was also built by Mr. Stone, for his own home. He was extensively known and patronized in his business, so that, considering the time in which he lived, he acquired a large property. He became a member of the orthodox church about 1816, and contributed liberally to the support of that institution, besides subscribing five hundred dollars towards the erection of the brick church edifice. Being considerably corpulent, from extra exertion in assisting his workmen in the hay-field. he became so surfeited and
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heated that he died, rather suddenly, on the twenty-ninth day of August, 1830. Having no children, the question with him was, how to dispose of his property, when he found he was near the end of his earthly pilgrimage. His will, drawn by Dea. Joel Adams, one of his particular friends, was so peculiar, that a short notice of it in this place, may be acceptable to the reader.
Before the Supreme Judicial Court, in a friendly way. by an agreement of facts. it appeared, that Samuel Stone. on August 7. 1830. being seized of certain demanded premises, made his will, which was duly proved. Sep- tember 28, 1830, and in which, after devising certain real and personal property to his wife, he made the following devise :-
"I give and bequeath all the residue of my estate, both real and personal. of whatever name or nature soever. or wherever said property may be found, to the cause of Christ, for the benefit and promotion of true evangelical piety and religion. And I do order and direct my execu- tor hereafter named and appointed, to collect all the above last specified property, as soon as can be done consistently without sacrificing too much by forcing the sale thereof in an improper manner, not however to exceed the term of five years, and pay over the same unto Rev. John Todd. of Groton, Rev. James C. How, of Pepperell, Rev. Phillips Payson, of Leominster, and Rev. Rufus Putnam. of Fitchburg, (reserving a reasonable sum to compensate him for his trouble,) placing full confidence in their piety. judgment and integrity, immediately to be by them sa- credly appropriated to the cause of religion as above stated, to be distributed in such divisions and to such societies and religious charitable purposes, as they may think fit and proper."
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It appeared that the testator appointed Joel Adams, his executor ; that Mr. Adams, having accepted the trust, entered upon the demanded premises, and on November 17. 1831, conveyed them to the demandant : and that the tenant claimed, as one of the five heirs-at-law of the testator.
It further appeared that the property of the testator amounted to about the sum of $21,000 ; that the personal estate, exclusive of that bequeathed to his wife, amounted to $10,000 ; and that the real estate, which would pass by the residuary clause, was of the value of between $4,000 and $5,000.
John P. Robinson appeared and argued the case for the tenant (John Emery), and George F. Farley for the demandant (Eliab Going). The vagueness and uncer- tainty, in regard to the manner in which the donation was to be disposed of, was urged by the counsel opposed to the will. He argued that, "Upon the death of the testator, the real estate descended to the heirs ; for it is not given to the executor, nor to Messrs. Todd and others, either for their own use, or in trust, but 'to the cause of Christ."" And again, "The absence of a court of chancery in this Commonwealth, to compel the execution of trusts for such vague and indefinite purposes, is a reason why such donations as have been held valid by the court of chancery in England. should not be held valid here."
Chief Justice Shaw delivered the opinion of the court, of which the following is the closing part :-
"In all the cases of charitable uses, or nearly all. the persons ultimately to be benefitted by the donation are un- certain. The heathen of foreign lands, in case of Bartlett z's. King, were the ultimate objects of the donor's bounty :
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but of what foreign country, when, how, and to what amount, with all the particular details, were left uncertain. in all other respects than this, that the testator reposed con- fidence in the trustees, a confidence earned by their known character for fidelity and judgment, that they would ap- propriate the money in such manner as to accomplish his intention. This was held sufficient to obviate the objec- tion of vagueness and uncertainty.
"We are of opinion that the present case falls within the same principle ; the donees are particularly designated. the trust is clear, the general objects sufficiently indicated to bind the consciences of the trustees, and to render them liable in equity to account for the execution of this trust, by a suit to be instituted in the name of the attorney- general, representing the public ; and that these objects are sufficiently certain and definite to be carried into effect, according to the established principles of law and equity, governing donations to charitable uses.
.
Tenant defaulted."
The property of this testator was disbursed, in part, by these four ministers, as follows: To different mis- sionary objects, $5,000 ; Gilmanton Academy, $1,000 ; Marietta College, $1,000 ; Wabash College, $1,100 : East Windsor Theological Seminary, $2,000 ; Amherst Col- lege, $1,000. There were several other gifts, in small sums, to different churches and societies. No further record or account of the manner in which the balance of the property was expended is to be found. The executor put the money derived from the sale of the property into the hands of these men. No executor's account is to be found at the Probate Office, and the information in regard to the manner in which the property was distributed is
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
derived from Miss Caroline Wright, the adopted daughter of the testator. Miss Wright is a lady of excellent mind and good memory.
RALPH WARREN, son of Aaron Warren, Esq .. was born in 1800, at West Townsend, in a cottage house which stood where the present family residence is located. Being an only son, his boyhood was guided by a kind and generous father, yet a strict disciplinarian, and a good mother, with puritanical religious principles. He acquired his education at the common school, together with the advantage of a limited attendance at Lawrence Academy. Leaving school he took the position of clerk in his father's store, discharging its duties with so much care and ability. that the details of the business were left principally to his supervision, while his father was away on business or at the consecutive sessions of the General Court. In May. 1823, he married Betsey Sherwin, an amiable woman, who will long be remembered with tender regard by all who knew her. About that time he moved to Boston, and went into business, where he remained about two years, when he returned to West Townsend, and associated himself in business with his father, in the firm of Aaron Warren & Son. This firm continued several years in business. On the retirement of his father, he formed a copartnership with Daniel Bolls, his brother-in-law, but this firm was soon dissolved : and he continued the busi- ness without any partner for several years.
About the time he was most successful in trade. the traffic in spirituous liquors was the most profitable part of the business of a country store-keeper. The sale of liquors was as common then as the sale of flour at the
Ralph Marine.
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present time. When the Washingtonian temperance movement appeared he abandoned the sale of ardent spirits, and solicited other traders to follow his example. braving the obloquy of public opinion. He interested himself in the improvements going forward in his native village, was one of the patrons of the building of the Baptist meeting-house, and Female Seminary, was a trustee and treasurer of the seminary for a number of years. He solicited subscriptions to the stock of the Peterborough & Shirley Railroad ; and was deeply inter- ested in the success of that enterprise. About thirty years previous to his death, he gave up business in Townsend and went into trade in Boston, keeping his residence in Townsend ; and for twenty years his daily presence on the morning and evening trains of cars was remarked. He was a man "diligent in business," kind-hearted, temper- ate, and generous, besides being strongly attached to his family, in the presence of which, he passed his happiest hours. He gave liberally towards the support of the baptist denomination and was a constant attendant on its services : and, although he never united with the church, his current conversation and blameless life comported with the teachings of the Great Master. He died in 1873. leaving one daughter and four sons.
JAMES N. TUCKER, EsQ., was born in Brookline. New Hampshire, May 20, 1811. Although his advan- tages for learning were limited to the common school, he acquired a very good education. His mother, noticing his fancy for trading while he was a boy, predicted that he would sometime be a rich man. All his thoughts and tastes in boyhood looked forward to a mercantile life. He
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married Rosella Jewett, on the twenty-fifth day of Decem- ber, 1835. In the fall of 1836, he opened a store at West Townsend, and continued there, in trade, about three years .. At that time, his cash capital was rather limited, but his credit was good, and he withstood the financial crash of 1837 and 1838. During the time he was at West Townsend, he did a profitable business. In 1839, he moved to Brookline. New Hampshire, his native town, where he built a very convenient store, and commenced the coopering business, employing from forty to fifty men, and paying them, as much as he could, in goods from his store. This was also a success to him. He was in trade at Brookline, about four years, when he sold out his busi- ness and moved to East Pepperell, where he was in trade only a short time, when he returned to Brookline, New Hampshire, and retired from business. He moved to West Townsend, in 1853, and has remained here since that time, except a temporary residence in Boston, during 1876 and 1877. While at Brookline, he was postmaster under two different administrations, and he represented that town in the New Hampshire Legislature, during the years 1851 and 1852. He has invariably acted with the republican party.
In 1854, when the Townsend Bank went into opera- tion, he was chosen one of the directors, which office he has held ever since. He was a notary public several years, and one of the selectmen and assessors of Town- send, in 1864. For more than twenty-five years, he did nearly all the conveyancing and business required of a justice of the peace, at West Townsend. In 1864, in company with Walter Fessenden, he went to Europe, and visited the most important cities of England, Holland.
Jamy NJucker
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Germany, Switzerland, France, and Scotland. On the twenty-fourth of June, 1875, he married, for a second wife, Mrs. Martha A. Coburn.
JAMES HOSLEY. The most prominent and influential among "the old heads" during the revolutionary war, and the best balanced man, in all respects, was James Hosley, who was born in this town, in 1734. The antecedents of his father are unknown to the writer, but the fact that he had a large family, and that all of its members were quite respectable, goes to show that he paid special attention to their moral and intellectual as well as their religious train- ing. His father's name was James Hosley. There is nothing in the town records about schools, till young Hosley was more than twelve years old, so that probably he was thoroughly taught at his home fireside, by his parents, in orthography. reading, writing and arithmetic. to reverence the Deity. and to honor the king.
On his arrival at manhood, he held all the offices in the gift of his fellow-citizens. although he was never a demagogue or office seeker. The church recognized his amiable and worthy character, by electing him deacon. In 1766, he was first chosen to serve on the board of selectmen, consisting of five members, all capable and enterprising men. From 1770 to 1781, he was either moderator, town clerk, one of the selectmen, or on a war committee, every year. In 1775, he was moderator at the annual town meeting, town clerk, chairman of the select- men, and captain of the alarm list or minute-men. In 1776, when Brigadier-General Oliver Prescott reorganized the Middlesex county militia, the officers for this town
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