USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 17
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
been given. Before August, 1862, hoping the needs would be temporary, no account was kept of money received, but it was disbursed as there was necessity for material. The following articles have been sent to the Sanitary Commission, the receipt of which has been acknowledged with gratitude : 4I quilts, 75 sheets, 55 pillows filled with feathers, hops and husks ; 77 pillow cases, 210 shirts, mostly new ; 107 pairs of drawers, 81 pairs of slippers, 2 pairs of pants, I vest, 142 pairs of socks, II dressing-gowns, 282 hankerchiefs, 94 tow- els and napkins, 2 pieces of flannel, 12 packages of lint, 81 rolls of bandage, 52 rolls of linen and cotton, 40 cushions for limbs, 7 hop poultices, 4 rolls of mutton tallow, 7 bags of herbs, dried berries, hops, etc. ; 440 pounds of dried apples, 7 papers corn starch, 8 gallons of pickles, 9 gallons and 27 cans preserves and jellies, 2 gallons currant wine, I dish- brush, 6 tin basins, making in all 1300 different articles. There have also been sent to hospitals in Alexandria, Va., whither two persons had gone from Westford as nurses, 3 barrels filled with comforts of various kinds, and a box to each of two of our wounded soldiers as expressive of our sympathy for them and of our appreciation of their bravery and patriotism. The meetings have been held, until the summer just passed, by invitation at the houses of the mem- bers, varying from five to twenty, the average scarcely ten. Since that time a room has been offered them gratuitously by Miss Blood, in the house once occupied by John Abbot, Esq. Thither we would earnestly invite all whose hearts are stirred by patriotism to join us Thursday afternoon of each week, feeling assured it will be a life-long satisfaction to them that they have done what they could for their country and her defenders in their hour of need. Any contributions to the society can be handed to the treasurer, Cornelia A. Fletcher.
Westford, November 19, 1863."
This is a review of work accomplished up to this date, but the society continued its benevolent labors until the neces- sity for them ceased. The amount of receipts, December 8,
.
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1864, as appears by the treasurer's book was $305.69. December 14, 1864, a levee or fair was held to " assist the Soldiers' Aid Society in their work for the Sanitary Commission," the net proceeds of which was $374.51. The aggregate of these two sums is $680.20.
Several years after the war was ended a more complete list of articles sent out to the soldiers was prepared, which is here given : To the Sanitary Commission, $50 in cash as mentioned above : 237 pairs of socks, more than 300 shirts, 222 pairs of drawers, 454 handkerchiefs, 79 sheets, 60 pillows, 86 pillow cases, 15 blankets, 650 barrels of dried apples, 62 . gallons of pickles, and 60 pounds of sugar made into jellies ; also 100 barrels of dried apples to the Christian Commission, beside other gifts.
It is but an act of simple justice to say that the ladies did nobly, and from the beginning to the close of the war they worked unitedly, diligently and perseveringly to do what they could.
Destination of the Articles. This can be given in a few instances only. Two or three barrels were sent direct to the hospital at Alexandria, Va., in which Miss Emma D. South- wick and Miss Eliza M. Weeks, both from Westford, were employed as nurses. One barrel was sent to Ship Island, the rendezvous of the troops under General Butler, and a box was sent to the contrabands. But most of the barrels and packages were sent to the Boston office of the Sanitary Com- mission.
November 2, 1865, a draft of $300 from the Westford Freedman's Aid Society was sent to William Endicott, Jr., treasurer of the New England Freedman's Aid Society, on account of Sarah E. Keyes, teacher of freedmen, which was duly acknowledged. Inasmuch as she stands as a worthy
* These were the only ladies who went from this town, but several men were employed in suclı service. They continued long and acquitted themselves creditably.
" When pain and anguish wring the brow, A ministering angel thou."
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
representative of this town in the line of her chosen profession, it is proper that some notice should be taken of her work. Sarah Elizabeth Keyes was born in Westford, July 4, 1839, and was residing here at the time she accepted the position of teacher of the freedmen. She left home for the scene of her toils the last week in October, 1865, and in a few days reached Kinston, N. C., where she entered immediately upon her work. In a letter written six weeks afterward, she gives some account of her experience. "The colored school was first opened in a building formerly used as an academy. Our number increased so rapidly that we found it necessary to have another room, which was secured, and the school divided. We [i. e., her associate and herself] have now three hundred scholars or more in both schools, and some less than one hundred in our evening school. At first there were about fifteen who could read in the Testament (very poorly, though) ; and others could not read at all. When I had them spell out the name of our beloved Lincoln, their eyes would sparkle with delight. Some of those who scarcely knew their letters when we commenced six weeks ago, are reading nicely in words of three and four letters. I think they learn quite as fast as the scholars in any school at home with which I am acquainted."
" We are living in a house belonging to John C. Wash- ington, one of the 120 rebels who voted for the secession of North Carolina. He has recently obtained his pardon, and will doubtless soon take possession of his property. Our school-house also belongs to him."
She also engaged in Sabbath school work, of which she says : "Sometimes there has been but one other teacher be- side myself to instruct and interest a school of eighty or more. I have tried to teach them something of the life of Christ and of their duty to God and one another."
In both departments of benevolent exertion she and her associates had to encounter much opposition. The rich planter ejected them from his premises, and they were obliged to take up with such conveniences as they could find
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for their schools. One night evil-minded men entered their school-room, broke up the furniture and threw the stove out of doors. But having a purpose of entire consecration to her Lord and Redeemer, she persevered through the winter and spring, and in May was seized with bilious fever, so common in that climate, and died in Kinston, June 5, 1866, aged 26 years and II months. Her grave is there. A memorial service was held in the First Parish Church of Westford, June 20, at which brief addresses were given by Rev. E. R. Hodgman and Rev. E. A. Spence. " She hath done what she could." "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance."
In connection with the services of this noble Christian woman, it is proper to mention the name of her brother, Edward Keyes. It may be said of him, with probability, that he served his country longer during the war than any other man who went from Westford. He enlisted November 8, 1861, and served until the war was practically ended. His regiment was kept in the service after nearly all the others had been discharged. He died of jaundice in Sumter, S. C., August 18, 1865, aged 37 years and nine months, and was buried there. It may be truly said of him that he enlisted from a religious sense of duty which he carried into his every-day life. His words were: "My country first, my family next. God's promises and blessings are for us if we do his will. So, let me live and die in His service." To these let it be added : " He dieth well who liveth well."
The spirit and example of this brother and sister may be taken as just types of that genuine philanthropy and piety which shone so brightly in the lives of so many devoted men and women in that eventful period. And now the two Caro- linas hold their dust. He sleeps in the State which was the birth-place of rebellion, and she in the State in which seces- sion breathed out its last breath at the surrender of Gen. Joe Johnston to the hero of the " March to the Sea."
Miss Emma D. Southwick, after finishing her work in the hospital, went as a teacher among the freedmen of South
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
Carolina, where she spent some time on her benevolent mis- sion. "Tom," an intelligent colored lad, was brought by her to Westford and placed in school. Afterward he joined the school at Hampton, Va., now under the supervision of Gen. Armstrong.
The town of Westford " was not behind any town of its size and wealth in the Commonwealth in fulfilling every obligation demanded of it by the State or nation during the entire period of the rebellion. It furnished one hundred and seventy-two men for the war, which was a surplus of fifteen men over and above all demands. Four were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money raised and expended by the town on account of soldiers' families and repaid by the State, was $10,525." [History of Massachusetts in the Civil War, vol. ii., p. 469.]
Inasmuch as a statement has been made (p. 145) in reference to the part of Massachusetts in the War of the Revolution, it seems fitting that a similar statement should be made in regard to the War of the Rebellion. The actual number of men furnished by Massachusetts for the service of the United States, of all arms, and including both the army and navy, was one hundred and fifty-nine thousand one hundred and sixty-five-159,165. In this estimate are not included the five companies who joined the New York Mozart Regiment in 1861, nor the recruits who entered the Ninety-ninth New York Regiment under Col. Wardrop, which, if added, would make the aggregate within a fraction of 160,000 men. The old Commonwealth came out of the war with a surplus of 13,083 men. Her troops were the first to enter Washington and save that city. They also saved the old frigate Constitution in April, 1861, then lying at Annapolis. They were the first to enter North Carolina and the city of New Orleans. The first also to invade Texas and to ascend the Mississippi from New Orleans to Cairo. Colored troops were the first to enter Richmond, thus fulfill- ing the law of natural and poetic justice and the letter of the sacred text : "The last shall be first."
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The number of officers who were killed or died in the military service from Massachusetts was four hundred and forty-two; and the number of enlisted men was twelve thou- sand five hundred and thirty-four (12,534), as near as can be ascertained. The enrollment made in 1862, preparatory to the draft, was 164,178; the number who paid a commuta- tion fee was 3,623.
In his valedictory address to the Legislature, January 5, 1866, Governor Andrew "fixes the amount expended by the State for the war and paid out of her own treasury at twenty- seven millions, seven hundred and five thousand, one hundred and nine dollars-$27,705,109. This was exclusive of the expenditures of the cities and towns. She had paid promptly, and in gold, all interest on her bonds and kept faith with every public creditor." [See History of Massachusetts in the Civil War, vol. I.]
CHAPTER VII.
THE SEQUEL TO THE REBELLION - PROSPERITY -TOWN HOUSE- TYNGSBOROUGH BRIDGE - EAST BURYING-GROUND- INVITATION TO CONCORD CELEBRATION - CITIZENS' MEETING - DELEGATION - PROPOSED MONUMENT - CENTENNIAL, 1776-1876-FUNDING THE TOWN DEBT-TOWN HISTORY -COMPLETION OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS -REMODELLING THE TOWN-HOUSE -REDEDICA- TION - MEMORIAL DAY.
THE civil war ended April 9, 1865, by the surrender of the Confederate Army under General Lee to the Union Army under General Grant, at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, and the loyal people of the United States rejoiced with unbounded satisfaction because the strife was over. The peace must have been welcomed, too, by those who fought on the other side ; for they, far beyond the experience of any portion of the North, had witnessed the terribly destructive force of war. But the joy that was felt in the hour of triumph was soon changed to grief and mourning. Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was cruelly assassinated at Washington, D. C., April 15, only six days after the surrender of Lee. By this tragic event the nation was plunged from the height of exultation to the lowest depths of sorrow. The years that followed, years of read- justment and reconstruction, furnished a test of perhaps unequalled severity to all lovers of freedom and republican institutions. Sharp as was the trial and stern as was the discipline, it was all needed and wisely ordained by the great Ruler of nations, who often leads through roughest ways and darkest skies to serene heights and abiding peace. Although the War of the Rebellion was far more sanguinary than the War of the Revolution, it did not impoverish the people. During its continuance nearly every branch of industry was
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properous, and after it ceased business of all kinds, except ship-building, was brisk and remunerative. On the other hand, the period after the Revolution, as has been shown, was one of poverty and financial embarrassment. There is a marked contrast in this respect between the two periods.
In this town after the war the evidences of material prosperity were numerous and gratifying. Money was abundant, and the people were ready to use it in making their homes more beautiful and in carrying out some plans for public improvement. . A pleasing change was soon observ- able in the central village ; a rapid growth took place in the manufacturing villages of Graniteville and the Forge; and, indeed, throughout the town there were indications of thrift and gain.
By the annulling of the school-district system in 1869, agreeably to the provisions of the laws of the Common- wealth, the town assumed the possession of all the school- houses and of all the school property ; and the desire was soon manifest of displacing the old and shabby structures and building in lieu of them houses more convenient and attractive. The need of a new town-house was soon felt, and the struggle to obtain one was long and arduous. Num- erous meetings were held and various projects were discussed for one or two years, but in the conflict of opinions it was not easy to secure the erection of a building adapted to all muni- cipal wants and requirements.
THE TOWN-HOUSE.
"July 30, 1870. The town voted to choose, authorize and empower a committee of five persons to build a town- house, the cost of said building (exclusive of the land on which said house may be located) not to exceed eight thou- sand dollars. Voted that the town appropriate the sum of eight thousand dollars to defray the expense of building, and also authorize and empower the town treasurer, under the written direction of the selectmen, to borrow in the name
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
of the inhabitants of Westford, a sum not exceeding eight thousand dollars to defray the expense of building a town- house. Chose Charles L. Fletcher, Samuel Wiley, George Drew, Nathan S. Hamblin and Ephraim A. Stevens, build- ing committee."
The committee were instructed, before making any con- tract, " first to ascertain what the entire expense of build- ing is to be, including wharfing, fencing, and everything appertaining thereto, and if it is to exceed eight thousand dollars,; all such proposals are to be rejected. Voted to authorize the selectmen to procure a site for the town-house on the Dr. Osgood lot, so called, the lot connected with that on which the (Osgood) house stands."
Being unable, after long continued negotiations, to pur- chase the lot of the owners thereof, the selectmen resorted to the process of law in such cases provided and authorized, and took the land, agreeably to the provisions of chapter 4II, General Laws, session of 1869. *
The house was built in the autumn of 1870. The town, at a meeting held November 8th, gave discretionary power to put in a furnace and build a brick safe for the preservation of the town books and papers, and the committee procured a ,furnace and built a safe. At the same meeting in November the town voted "to appropriate two hundred dollars for a memorial slab containing the names of all our townsmen who lost their lives in the late war." The building committee procured the tablet and caused it to be erected at the entrance to the lower hall.
February 4, 1871, the town appropriated six hundred dollars for furnishing the town-house. The house was
* In May or June, 1873, Eliza Osgood and others, heirs of the late Dr. Benjamin Osgood, petitioned the court against the town for assessment of damages occasioned by the taking of land for a town-house. A sheriff's jury was summoned, who listened to statements and allegations made by witnesses and counsel for both parties, and after- ward brought in a verdict in favor of the petitioners, giving them the sum of $778.43 and interest, which was $21.79, making a total of $800.22.
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dedicated March 3, 1871, at which time the address was given by Rev. George H. Young, then minister of the First Parish. Prayer was offered by Rev. E. R. Hodgman. The chairman of the building committee presented the keys, after a brief speech, to the chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who responded, and the building passed into the possession and under the control of the town.
March 5, 1871, the town voted "that the selectmen be authorized to appoint some suitable person or persons to take charge of the town-house and town library, the same to be kept in the town-house; and they shall be authorized to pay what, in their judgment, is a fair compensation for the ser- vice ; and they shall continue to appoint from year to year until otherwise ordered." Also, " that it be left to the select- men to let the town-house to parties wishing the use of the same, discriminating between citizens of the town and parties out of town in their charges."
TYNGSBOROUGH BRIDGE.
June 3, 1871, the town chose a committee of two by bal- lot, namely : John W. P. Abbot and Charles G. Sargent, to appear at the meeting of the County Commissioners at Tyngs- borough, June 20th, and oppose the laying of any special tax upon this town for building the bridge across the Merrimack River at Tyngsborough.
EAST BURYING-GROUND.
November 4, 1873, the town voted to purchase land of J. Henry Read for the enlargement of the East Burying- ground, according to a plan drawn by Edward Symmes ; to pay at the rate of one hundred dollars per acre, and to fence the lot.
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
INVITATION.
March 1, 1875, the town voted to accept the invitations extended by the towns of Concord and Lexington to attend the celebration in those towns on the 19th of April next.
CITIZENS' MEETING.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Westford, held at the Town Hall, April 17, 1872, to take action in regard to an invitation to unite in the centennial celebration of the battles of Lexington and Concord, in which this town participated largely, it was unanimously
" Resolved, first, That we accept most heartily the invita- tion to join in the celebration on Monday, the 19th inst., and impressed with the importance of the event which occurred one hundred years ago, initiating the War of the Revolution with all its glorious results, and remembering the zeal and alacrity with which our grandfathers rushed to the scene of action, to the number of ninety-four true men, with scarce an hour's notice, and faced unflinchingly the British bayonets, we hereby pledge ourselves, as the descendants of those immortal men, to honor their memory and endorse their heroic efforts by a large attendance at the battle-field, taking such places in the procession as may be assigned to us.
" Resolved, secondly, That Mr. Hodgman be invited to communicate for record such historical facts relating to the participation of this town in the doings of that important day as he has been able to glean from colonial records and other sources.
" Resolved, thirdly, That the action of this citizens' meet- ing, with the resolutions and the facts which Mr. Hodgman may be able to communicate, be recorded in the Town Book, so that our children's children may remember the deeds of their progenitors when another hundred years shall have passed and the events which we celebrate shall call them together for a similar purpose.
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CIVIL WAR TO EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-TWO.
" Resolved, fourthly, That it is the duty of the citizens of Westford to erect a monument to the memory of Lieut .- Col. John Robinson and the other Revolutionary soldiers of West- ford.
WILLIAM A. WEBSTER, Chairman. WILLIAM E. FROST, Secretary."
The resolutions were presented by Mr. J. G. Dodge. It was voted that the chairman, Dr. Webster, appoint a com- mittee to nominate a candidate for marshal of the Westford delegation at the centennial, and he appointed Sherman D. Fletcher, Alvan Fisher and William Reed, Ist. They reported the name of Luther Prescott, Esq., who was unani- mously chosen. The same committee nominated for assist- ant-marshals, George T. Day and J. Murray Chamberlin, and they were chosen.
Lieut. Sherman H. Fletcher and Isaac E. Day were appointed a committee to procure a flag for the Westford delegation.
Remarks were made by George T. Day, Nathan S. Hamblin, Luther Prescott and Edwin R. Hodgman, urging the feasibility of petitioning the General Court for permission to raise money by tax for the purpose of erecting a monu- ment to the memory of Lieut .- Col. Robinson and other Revo- lutionary soldiers of Westford. A motion was passed that the chairman nominate a committee to petition the Legisla- ture for such permission, and George T. Day, Luther Pres- cott, William Reed, Ist, Alvan Fisher, George W. Heywood, Sherman D. Fletcher, Joseph Henry Read, George Hutchins, Isaac P. Woods and Nathan S. Hamblin were named and chosen. Voted, also, that the sextons of the churches in town be requested to ring the bells at sunrise and at sunset on the 19th inst.
THE CELEBRATION AT CONCORD.
The following persons, constituting the official delegation from Westford, were present, by invitation, at Concord, April
29
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
19, 1875, marched in the procession and participated in the exercises of the day, namely : Edwin R. Hodgman, Town Clerk ; Isaac P. Woods, Henry Chamberlin and N. Harwood Wright, Selectmen ; Sherman D. Fletcher, Town Treasurer ; Rev. Leonard Luce, Rev. William A. Cram and Rev. Henry H. Hamilton.
About two hundred of the citizens of Westford were present, nearly all of whom were in the procession, under the marshalship of Messrs. Day and Chamberlin. The dele- gation carried a banner, on one side of which appeared the name of Col. Robinson.
MONUMENT PROPOSED.
May 22, 1875, a town meeting was held at which a proposition to raise a sum of money, not exceeding two thou- sand dollars, to be expended in the erection of a monument on the common to commemorate the services of Col. John Robinson and others who bravely participated in the fight at the old North Bridge in Concord, and at Bunker Hill, was defeated by a vote of 78 to 51.
CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
When the nation had reached the one hundredth anni- versary of its independence in 1876, the event was celebrated throughout the Union. The citizens of Westford attended in large numbers the Exposition in Fairmount Park, Philadel- phia. This exhibition was an index to the growth and at- tainments of the nation during a century, in respect to civiliza- tion and the useful arts, the invention of machinery, the development of agriculture, the power of mind over matter, the improvement of schools, and in everything that dignifies and embellishes modern society. But it was more than this ; a criterion of the world's progress in all departments of human activity, and everyone who saw it, must have acquired from it
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a broader conception of the immense resources of the human mind and the wonderful achievements of the human race.
FUNDING THE TOWN DEBT.
May 16, 1877, the town voted that the town treasurer be authorized and empowered, under the direction of the select- men, to borrow in the name of the inhabitants of the town of Westford, the sum of twenty thousand dollars at an interest not exceeding five per cent. per annum; said sum to be applied to the payment of the town debt already contracted, with the privilege of paying the sum so borrowed within ten years by making an annual curtailment of two thousand dol- lars or more.
TOWN HISTORY.
March 4, 1878, the town appointed George T. Day, Edwin R. Hodgman, Alvan Fisher, William E. Frost and John M. Fletcher a committee to consider the expediency of publishing a town history. This committee reported, March 3, 1879, in favor of the compilation and publication of such a history, and the town voted to appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to Alvan Fisher and his associates, provided they shall carry out the recommendation of the History Com- mittee, and shall publish, or cause to be published, a history of this town in a volume of four hundred pages octavo, and shall furnish the same to residents of this town at two dollars per copy.
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