USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 27
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345
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
accomplish the purpose of his life had urged him beyond the strength of a constitution which had already borne unusual fatigue. It was evident to his personal friends, at the time of his ordination, that his days were numbered. But he struggled through a year, and continued to preach until his · voice quite failed him. He soon felt that his work was done ; he felt, too, the reward of a Christian experience. The doubts, the anxieties concerning his own acceptance with God, which had clouded much of his early life, now gave way to a humble and settled peace. He said to a brother in the ministry, a few days before his death, that he had not felt a moment's despondency ; and so he continued to the last, when he fell asleep in Jesus in a "sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection." Mr. Blodgett fitted for college in the Academy here, under the instruction of Rev. Ephraim Abbot.
James M. Stone. Born in Westford, August 17, 1817 ; died in Charlestown, Massachusetts, December, 1880, aged 63. He went to Lowell about 1832 and worked for a year in the tailoring store of Francis Hobbs, 17 Central Street. He was afterward in the employ of Samuel Burbank. Then after working for a time with Col. Reed he went to Charles- town. He always had a taste for newspaper work, and dur- ing his life wrote more or less for publication. In 1841 he was for six months editor of the Vox Populi, just after it started; and in 1843 he began the publication of a small morning paper called The Herald, which lived but a few months. He was attached to the Free Soil party, and was also strongly anti-" Know Nothing," when that party came up. He was elected to the Legislature from Charlestown for sev- eral years, and in 1866 and 1867 was Speaker of the House. He was one of the most effective men in influencing legisla- tion, and was sometimes called "King of the Lobby," but no one ever accused him of anything dishonorable,
44
CHAPTER XIII.
RAILROADS - PUBLIC LIBRARY -SKETCH OF FORGE VILLAGE - MILITARY COM- PANIES.
THE Stony Brook Railroad was the first one that was built and opened for travel. The preliminary surveys were made in 1846, and the company was organized in the spring of 1847. The final surveys were made and work was begun in the following summer. It was opened July 5, 1848, on which day the proprietors or stockholders passed over the road to Groton Junction, and, by previous arrangement, to Clinton, where they dined. The Worcester and Nashua Railroad was not then completed, but was opened a few months later. Passing from North Chelmsford up the valley of the Stony Brook in a southwest direction, it cuts the town- ship into two nearly equal parts, and forms the main channel of communication with Lowell and Boston on the east, and New York and the wide continent on the west. There are four stations, known as Brookside, Westford, Graniteville and Forge Village. It has been the means of developing much business, especially in Graniteville and Forge Village. In the latter village within a few years, the ice business has been carried on with success. The cost of the building with the engine was $65,000, and the cost of tools $3000. The num- ber of men employed when cutting ice is 175, and the num- ber of horses 50. The amount of ice sent to Boston last year (1881) for John P. Squire was 35,000 tons, and the amount stored for the Southern market was 50,000 tons. The pro- prietor is Thomas S. Hittinger, of Boston.
The Framingham and Lowell Railroad enters the town on the easterly side, a little south of Heart Pond, and passing what has been known as Dupee's Corner, where for many
347
RAILROADS, PUBLIC LIBRARY, ETC.
years a tavern was kept for the benefit of travellers and teamsters, it enters the town of Acton. It furnishes good accommodation to all who live in that section of the town. It was opened for travel October 1, 1871. There is but one station in Westford, that called by the company the Carlisle Station.
The Nashua, Acton and Boston Railroad was opened to the public July 1, 1873. Striking the town near its north- west angle it passes longitudinally and leaves near the south- west corner. It is under the management of the Concord (N. H.) Railroad Company, and is used chiefly for the trans- portation of freight. It has three stations in town - Granite- ville, Westford and East Littleton, so called.
SOCIAL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY.
It is now eighty-five years since the establishment of a library in this town. It was at first the effort of a few be- nevolent men to secure a wider diffusion of knowledge among the people by means of good books ; but that early inception has widened into a large and useful public library. Evidently these men took a just view of the needs of society, and it is gratifying to be able to point to the result of their wise fore- cast and philanthropy. The following document makes known their purpose in their own words :
"WESTFORD, 14th February, 1797.
" We, the subscribers, Inhabitants of the Town of West- ford, feeling ourselves willing to promote Literature and use- ful knowledge among ourselves and our families, think it for the benefit of us, and for the Town in general to establish a Social Library to be put under such rules and regulations as shall appear to be the most beneficial to the subscribers ; and it is proposed that two dollars shall constitute a share to each member that shall subscribe that sum, and so in proportion to those that shall subscribe for a greater sum ; and we pledge ourselves each of us severally and Individually to pay all the
348
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
monies that we subscribe for, on the first Monday in April next ensuing, when there shall be a general meeting of the subscribers at the house of Mr. Samuel Wood at 6 o'clock afternoon, at which time there will be appointed a Committee to receive the subscription money and to purchase such Books as shall be most likely to subserve the purposes aforesaid, and to act upon all other matters that shall come before us .*
James Prescott, Jr . D 8 00
Samuel Wood
D 2 00
Samuel Adams
D 8 00
Issachar Keyes .
2 00
Joseph Cummings, Jr.
D 4 00
John Raymond .
2 00
Eleazer Hamblin
.
D 4 00
Ebenezer Prescott
. 2 00
Charles Proctor
D 4 00
Benjamin Osgood
· 2 00
John Abbot
D 6 00
Caleb Blake
. 2 00
Jonathan Carver
D 4 00
Francis Leighton
· 2 00
Abel Boynton
D 4 00
Reuben Leighton
2 00
Zaccheus Wright
D 8 00
Wyle Richardson
.
. 00
Josiah Boynton, Jr
D 2 00
Joseph Jewett
2 00
Joel Abbot .
D 2 00
Joseph Keyes
2 00
Timothy Spalding
2 00
Amos Crosby
2 00
Thomas Richardson .
4 00
According to agreement the subscribers held a meeting at Mr. Wood's tavern, April 3, 1797, at which Zaccheus Wright was chosen moderator, and Caleb Blake clerk. Rev. Caleb Blake, Col. Zaccheus Wright, James Prescott, Jr., Francis Leighton and Ebenezer Prescott were ap- pointed " to draw up rules and laws for the intended Library in Westford." At an adjourned meeting held at Mr. Samuel Adams', May 8th, the subscribers " voted to accept the Rules and Regulations that have been drawn up by the com- mittee "; and elected James Prescott, Jr., Rev. Caleb Blake and Dr. Charles Proctor, directors ; and Richard Kneeland, librarian and treasurer. The " preamble " to the code of laws recites that " the subscribers being desirous of increasing their own information and promoting useful knowl- edge in the community, especially among the rising genera- tion, agree to form themselves into a society under the name
* The original paper from which this is copied shows the autographs of the sub- scribers. The letter D, which is prefixed in several cases, indicates dollars, not shares.
349
RAILROADS, PUBLIC LIBRARY, ETC.
of the Westford Library Company "; and the rules state that " the Library shall consist of fifty shares at least, and shall always be kept in the town of Westford; that the Company shall always consist of thirteen members at least, and seven shall constitute a quorum ; that there shall be a meeting of the Company on the first Monday in January annually, for the choice of officers and other necessary business; that the Librarian shall provide, at the expense of the Company, a convenient place for the safe keeping of all the books belong- ing thereto and shall keep a fair catalogue," &c. In a long article the directors are given a supervisory and executive power similar to that now generally recognized and conferred on such officers. Members were entitled to vote according to their shares, allowing one vote to each share, and any member could vote by proxy. No person could become a member until he had actually paid for one share. Any member could " give, sell, transfer or bequeath" his share, and all shares descended to the heirs of a deceased member ; but " no person or member shall withdraw any share from the Library or receive the value thereof of the Company under any pretence whatever." " There shall be no books in the library upon civil or religious controversy, or tending to deprave the morals of men." When any members could not agree about the priority of taking books, they must deter- mine it by drawing tickets from a box wherein a number of tickets were kept, numbered in arithmetical order, equal to the whole number of proprietors, and the priority of numbers gave the priority of choice. The annual tax or assessment was twenty cents upon each share, to be used for the purchase of books and payment of expenses.
The first assessment was paid by thirty-six persons on forty-nine shares; and the second by thirty-one persons on forty-one shares. The first book on the list was "Ferguson's Roman Republic," in three volumes. A printed catalogue, issued in 1816, gives the titles of 102 books in 179 volumes. In 1801 a vote was passed " that the members of said Com- pany shall be hereafter called and known by the name and
350
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
style of ' the proprietors of the social library in the town of Westford.'" With the exception of the year 1800, Zac- cheus Wright was president down to the year 1806, when Francis Leighton was chosen, who died the same year and was succeeded by Issachar Keyes.
In 1853 the town chose a committee " to report a plan for establishing a Town Library and ascertaining at what price the Social Library can be purchased." There is no hint on the town records of any report from that committee. The matter was again brought before the town in 1858, Nov- ember 2nd, when a committee was appointed " to see if any measures can be adopted by which a Town Library can be established and the Proprietors' Library merged in the same." March 7, 1859, this committee made report as follows :
" Your committee met the committee chosen by the Pro- prietors on the 4th of February, 1859, and after an inter- change of views on the subject-matter, received from said committee the following propositions :
" Ist. Said Inhabitants shall annually expend in the purchase of books for said Library a sum of money not less than thirty dollars.
" 2nd. Said Inhabitants shall provide, furnish and keep in good order a suitable room in the middle of said Westford where said Library shall be kept under the charge of a suit- able Librarian.
" 3rd. Said Inhabitants shall make suitable and proper regulations respecting the preserving, keeping in repair, and loaning the books in said Library.
" 4th. Whenever said Inhabitants shall refuse to make the appropriation before mentioned, said Library shall revert back to said proprietors or their heirs.
" And your committee recommend the acceptance of the above propositions.
" THOMAS RICHARDSON,
" D. C. BUTTERFIELD,
" P. CHAMBERLIN."
351
RAILROADS, PUBLIC LIBRARY, ETC.
On the same day the town voted to accept the report, and chose Leonard Luce, Sherman D. Fletcher and Elbridge G. Parker to carry the vote into effect. Upon these conditions the Social Library came into the possession of the town as a gift, and became in fact and of right a town library.
About twenty-five years ago a collection of books was made, called the Agricultural Library, consisting of one hun- dred volumes. The funds were obtained by subscription, each person paying three dollars. This also passed into the hands of the town some ten years ago, and was merged in the Public Library. This library is now kept in a commodi- ous apartment in the Town Hall. Three directors, chosen annually, have the entire management of it; and the town makes an annual appropriation of one hundred and fifty dol- lars. Number of volumes, August, 1882, 4191.
FORGE VILLAGE.
The following interesting incidents and reminiscences have been furnished to the compiler by Capt. David Prescott Lawrence, whose long residence in that village has made him familiar with its history :
" On the west side of Beaver Brook near the bridge was located a house, known as the Cogswell place. It was after- ward occupied by Calvin Green, and later by Charles Reed. It was once a hospital for small-pox patients, it being custom- ary at that time for people to go there and be vaccinated for small-pox. Following the road to the village we find the next house, called the Kent place, at the corner of the road leading to Westford Centre, where was also a blacksmith shop. Within my remembrance there lived in the house one Isaac Durant, a revolutionary soldier, who was blind and was guided about the village by a little grandson. Afterward it was owned by Ebenezer Blood, who was noted for telling very improbable stories. Next it was owned by Charles Miner, who was a soldier in the last war and never returned. Some years ago the buildings were burned by an incendiary,
352
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
and the place is now owned by D. P. Lawrence. Next was the Patch house, occupied by Isaac Patch and Elisha Kent. The latter had two wives and five children ; the last wife being a sister of Asa Wright. The house where George Wright now lives was built and occupied by Amos Heywood, who married Lydia Buck. The house nearly opposite was built and occupied by Eben Prescott, who had three wives and a large family. The next house was owned by Col. David Goodhue, the father of Imla Goodhue, who married a sister of Judge Locke, of Lowell. The house nearly oppo- site was owned by Eben Prescott, but was occupied by Elea- zer Wright, a blacksmith, and after by one Pushee, and still later by Horatio Clark, a blacksmith. The next dwelling- house was the " garrison house," so called on account of its being built for defence against the attacks of the Indians, having a brick wall between the woodwork. The house was occupied successively by four generations of the name of Ebenezer Prescott, the last being an uncle of Luther Pres- cott, and who died where Mr. Sprague now lives. The next house stood where George Henry Prescott's house now stands, and was occupied by Joseph Prescott (a son of Eben Pres- cott), who was father of several children, one of whom was Avery Prescott, who built the house where Edward Prescott now lives at Westford Centre ; and another son built the house where Samuel Blodgett died, now demolished. The next house we find at the extreme west end of the village, occu- pied by Jonas Prescott, great grandfather of Oliver Prescott, who also lived there and who married Bethiah Underwood. He had four sons and eight daughters ; was farmer and inn- keeper. At that time Ann Lee had founded a society of Shak- ers at Harvard, Massachusetts. Through her influence the mother and five daughters were induced to leave home and join them. This circumstance so wrought upon the mind of the deserted husband and father that he became demented, and continued so to the end of his life. Three of the daugh- ters lived and died with the Shakers. £ The others left at dif- ferent times and had families. The eldest son removed to
353
RAILROADS, PUBLIC LIBRARY, ETC.
Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where he had a large family. The second son went to Whitestown, now New Hartford, New York, when that country was a wilderness ; he also had a large family. The third son, Abram, remained at home, and in the years 1808-'9 built the brick house near the site of the old one. His first wife was Polly Fletcher, of Westford ; the second Olive Adams, of Chelmsford. He was captain of a military company ; was a representative to the General Court several years in succession ; was a deacon of the First Church, town clerk, and held various civil offices.
"Retracing our steps through the village we come to the house where Levi Prescott recently died, now occupied by his son, Nelson L. Prescott. Here was formerly a house in- habited by Jonas Prescott, great grandfather of Levi. He had three wives and nine children. Passing toward Granite- ville, at the railroad crossing was the old school-house of the village. Where the poor-house now stands was an old house owned and occupied by Dea. John Prescott, son of Jonas, above named, who exchanged property with John Read, and Read sold it to the town. Next was an old house at David Reed's, owned by Timothy Prescott, also son of the above Jonas, and afterward occupied by his two sons, Isaiah and Amos.
" About fifty-five years ago Forge Village was in a very prosperous condition. It had a store, hotel, three iron forges, two blacksmith's shops, two wool-carding machines, one clothier's mill, a grist mill and a wheelwright's shop, all located near the new worsted mill."
To these interesting statements of Captain Lawrence, it is pertinent to add that this village is situated on one of the great thoroughfares of travel from Vermont to Boston. The great road, as it was called, from Bellows Falls to Bos- ton passed through Groton to Groton Ridges, where there was a choice of routes to Boston, one road leading through Forge Village, Carlisle, Bedford and Lexington, the other through Littleton, Acton and Concord. As all merchandise was then transported in heavy wagons drawn by horses or
45
354
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
oxen, the amount of travel on both roads was very great. One man now living says he has counted seventy teams in a line on the road through Forge Village ; and another affirms that he has seen a hundred teams on the road in the south part of the town.
There were numerous taverns in town to accommodate the wayfarers, five or six in all. They preferred the route on which they found the best entertainment. In winter when the snow was deep, the people, encouraged and rewarded (with plenty of the " good creature," it is said, ) turned out to make a path for the teams ; and there was a strong com- petition between the people living on the two routes for the travel. Sometimes the party from Westford would reach the tavern at Groton Ridges by daybreak, and thus tempt the snowbound teamsters through this town. Taverns were kept at Forge Village, at the house now occupied by Capt. Jacob Smith, at George Yapp's house, Henry P. Ruggles' house
and at Dupee's Corner. Among the landlords whose names are remembered, are Willard Reed, who was at Capt. Smith's, and after him Joseph Bailey ; Seth Reed at Mr. Yapp's, and Timothy Hartwell, who came from Concord, and was the last one in the business there. He sold to Leonard L. Gibson. John Raymond and Josiah Hayward, who came from Con- cord, were on the Ruggles place; and Solomon Woods, Samuel Wright, Josiah Boynton, Samuel Lancy and William Dupee (from Dedham) were at Dupee's Corner. These are only a few of the men who were in that business. 'A living witness testifies that he has known seventy or seventy-five teams to " put up" for the night at the three taverns severally called Reed's, Raymond's and Hartwell's. The times are changed, and the wayside inn is rapidly becoming a thing of the past in this Commonwealth.
Graniteville. Capt. Lawrence has also furnished a few items respecting this village as it was :
" Where Samuel Fletcher's house now stands was an old house occupied by Jacob Abbot. It has been removed to a grove near by. At Charles G. Sargent's was located an old
355
RAILROADS, PUBLIC LIBRARY, ETC.
house occupied by Isaac Wright ; also a grist-mill and saw- mill. Afterward it was occupied by John Read, and later by Dea. John Prescott. One hundred years ago there was a house and grist-mill at the bridge below Sargent's works, owned by one Thomas Cummings. About sixty years ago the house was burned with three children in it. One hun- dred years ago, at the Boutwell Brook place, where Eleazer Wright was killed, lived Eleazer Lawrence (grandfather of D. P. Lawrence), who received a lieutenant's commission from Gov. Shirley, dated June 20, 1755, to enlist a company of volunteers for scouting and guarding against the attacks of Indians."
MILITARY COMPANIES.
All that can be gleaned respecting them down to the year 1800 has been given, and but little can be added. The Westford and Littleton Rifle Company flourished for many years, but in the absence of any records it can only be stated that David P. Lawrence once held the rank of captain, and after him John W. P. Abbot. Sherman D. Fletcher was clerk. The company occupied the hall of the old school- house in the Centre as an armory. It was composed of men from both towns.
Company F, Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry was formed in September, 1864. The men are from Chelms- ford, Billerica, Carlisle and Westford. Sherman H. Fletcher of this town is captain, and William L. Kittredge is second lieutenant. This being in part a Westford institution deserves notice as a band of soldierly men, to whom, when liberty is imperilled, war is no pastime, but a stern duty.
CHAPTER XIV.
STATISTICAL AND OFFICIAL.
1
Citizenship. In 1875 the town had 571 ratable polls, and 479 legal voters, and the aggregate of votes cast for governor was 371, or 77 per cent. In 1880 there were 525 ratable polls, and the estimated number of voters was 433. The number of votes cast for governor in 1881 was 146, or 33 per cent. ·
Population. No census was recorded, and probably none was taken until the year 1776, and that is known as the colonial census. The second or first national census was taken in 1790. The population of Westford is given in the following table :
1776 .
· 1,436
1790
.
· . 1,267 . 1,330 . 1,409 . 1,329 1,193 1,229
1880 . 1840 . 1850 .
· 1,473
1800
·
1860 . 1870 . 1875, State
. 1,624
1810 .
· 1,803
1820
. 1,933
1830
. 2,148
In 1880 the villages ranked as follows : Graniteville, 540, in one hundred and five families ; Centre, 270, in eighty-one families ; Forge Village, 260, in sixty families ; Brookside, 89, in fifteen families ; Westford Corner, 67, in fifteen fami- lies. Number of families in the five villages, 276; in the whole town, 477.
Representatives to the General Court. There is no rec- ord of any election until the year 1739, when Thomas Read was elected. In 1734 the town " voted that they think they are not obliged by law to send a man to represent them in
357
STATISTICAL AND OFFICIAL.
the great and gineral cort of the province." But the court took action upon their neglect and imposed the usual fine for not sending ; and Capt. Thomas Read was sent to vindicate the town, which he did by quoting the above vote and plead- ing for the remission of the penalty. For the four succeeding years the town voted not to send ; and oftentimes subsequently a similar vote was passed. In those days the towns were obliged to pay the expenses of a representative, and when there was no special reason for choosing one, they neglected ' to do so on the ground of economy.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1739. Thomas Read.
1771. Joseph Read.
1740. Thomas Read.
1772. Joseph Read.
1741. Thomas Read.
1773. None.
1742. None.
1774. Joseph Read.
1743. Thomas Read.
1775. Joseph Read.
1744.
Thomas Read.
1776. Joseph Read.
1746.
Thomas Read.
1778.
Joseph Read.
1747.
None.
1779.
Joseph Read.
1748.
None.
1780. Joseph Read.
1749.
None.
1781. Joseph Read.
1750.
Jonas Prescott, Jr.
1782. Francis Leighton.
1751. 1752. Thomas Read.
1784.
Francis Leighton.
1753. None.
1785. Francis Leighton.
1754. None.
1786.
None.
1755.
None.
1787. Samuel Fletcher.
1788. Zaccheus Wright.
1757.
None.
1789. Zaccheus Wright.
1760. Jonas Prescott.
1792. Zaccheus Wright.
1761.
Jonas Prescott.
1793. Zaccheus Wright.
1794. Zaccheus Wright.
1762. 1763. None.
1795.
None.
1764. Jonas Prescott.
1796. Abel Boynton.
1765. Jonas Prescott.
1797. Abel Boynton.
1766. Jonas Prescott.
1798. Abel Boynton.
1767. Jonas Prescott.
1799. Abel Boynton.
1768. Jonas Prescott.
1800. Amos Fletcher.
1769. Jonas Prescott.
1801. Abel Boynton.
1770. None.
1802.
None.
1756.
Jabez Keep.
1790. Zaccheus Wright.
1758. Jonas Prescott.
1759. Jonas Prescott.
1791. Zaccheus Wright.
None.
1783.
Francis Leighton.
None.
1777. Zaccheus Wright.
1745. None.
358
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
1803. Jonathan Carver.
1804. Jonathan Carver.
1805. Jonathan Carver.
1806. Thomas Fletcher.
1807. Thomas Fletcher.
1808. Thomas Fletcher.
1809. Thomas Fletcher.
1810. Thomas Fletcher, Jr.
1811. Thomas Fletcher, Jr.
1812. Thomas Fletcher.
* 1813. Jesse Minot.
1814. Jesse Minot.
1815. Jesse Minot.
1816. Jesse Minot.
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