USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Winchendon > History of the town of Winchendon (Worcester County, Mass.) from the grant of Ipswich Canada, in 1735, to the present time > Part 33
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The Church took early measures for raising money in aid of the great benevolent objects of the day. Besides private benefactions to those in want, without distinction of class or denomination, to aid whom the members have ever been prompt, a regular collection has been taken at every season of communion, for the benefit of members of the Church in needy circumstances. The contributions for other benevolent objects for several years, amounted to about $300 per annum ; averaging rath- er more than that sum. In 1860, the sum was $467 ; in 1861, about $470 ; in 1862, $321 : in 1863, $495 ; in 1864, $663 ; in 1865, about $720. The average for the two succeeding years was about the sum last named. The whole amount is more than $10,000.
5. BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE VILLAGE.
This Church was organized in the year 1848, on the 27th of April. It was composed of members of the Church in New Boston, and others living in and near the Village, who belonged to churches in other towns. The original number was thirty. The Rev. Andrew Dunn, who had
. A W. TUCKER.
N. RAYMOND.
Baptist Church.
353
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ministered for several years to the church in New Boston, was the first pastor. In co-operation with Mr. Seth Tucker, Jr., and others, he was active in starting the enterprise. The fact that the Congregational and Methodist Churches were well filled on the Sabbath, and that the population of the Village was steadily increasing, seemed to warrant the undertaking, and the success which has followed, fully vindicates the wisdom of those engaged in it. Measures were immediately taken to erect a house of worship. The members of the church, and their friends in the congregation, subscribed liberally. Others who thought the es- tablishment of a new religious society, would be conducive to the improve- ment of society in the place, rendered assistance. A neat and com- modious sanctuary was erected, and was dedicated to the Triune God, on the 17th day of January, 1849. The Sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Rollin H. Neale, D. D., pastor of the First Bap- tist Church in Boston. Other parts in the exercises were borne by Rev. Messrs. Tracy, Bowers and Dunn. The services were deeply interest- ing to a large audience.
From this time onward the Church has received additions from year to year, by a regular, steady growth. At the end of the first year, the Church consisted of thirty-eight members. There had been "no special revival, but some were rejoicing in hope." The first Deacons were Jo- seph White and John L. Reed. Mr. O. Collester was the first Clerk. He was also the leader of the choir, and the singing was conducted with great spirit. Much interest was manifested in the Sabbath School, which was attended by nearly all the children of the congregation, and by all the members of the Church who could be present. During the second year, the Church is reported to have " enjoyed a precious and extensive revival." Much of the interest in this awakening was felt among those who resided in Spring Village. Mr. Goodale, a young man who was preparing for the Missionary work, but who died in the course of this year, was very active in rendering assistance to the pas- tor. Twenty-seven persons were received by baptism, and seven by letter, during the year ending September, 1850. Three had been dis- missed, leaving the whole number sixty-nine. In the next year ET. were added by baptism, and eleven by letter ; so that, after deducting a few dismissions and exclusions, the Church contained eighty members. The society was united and prosperous during the following year.
28
'354
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
The year closing September, 1853, seems to have been a season of depression. The Church was without a pastor, the Rev. Mr. Dunn hav- ing removed to another place. Preaching was sustained but part of the time. Seventeen were dismissed to other Churches, and others left town. In addition, the furious tornado which rushed over the Village, August 27, 1853, broke off the spire, and otherwise injured the sanc- tuary. ' The Rev. A. Baldwin became pastor in the year 1854, and continued in that relation about three years. He was a faithful min- ister, and the Church recovered somewhat from its depression. In 1856, four "young ladies in the Sabbath School were hopefully con- verted." After the departure of Mr. Baldwin, in 1857, the Church was reported to the Wachusett Baptist Association, as " in a low and dying condition." There were but " nineteen male members, and of these nine did not live in town."
The report of the next year was more favorable. Rev. Lester Will- iams though not a settled pastor, was efficient in his ministrations. There were some cases of conversion, and there was an increasing interest in the Sabbath School. The Church now numbered sixty-nine. Mr. Will- iams was succeeded in the course of the next year, by Rev. W. W. Ash- ley. In the report from the Church printed in the Minutes of the Wa- chusett Association for 1860, we find the following : " Winchendon .- This body report themselves a united Church, a hopeful Church, a strong Church, a growing Church, and are thankful to God for his bene- fits." Four were added by baptism, and the whole number was sixty- nine. Mr. Ashley left in April, 1861, and the Church had preaching by different ministers for several months. In the summer of this year, Mr. George A. Litchfield entered upon the work of the ministry here, and his labors were attended with success. At the time of the annual report in September, 1862, it was stated that a " deep sense of the divine pres- ence pervaded the Church," and with " scarcely an exception, all seemed ready to come up to the help of the Lord." Twenty-two were added to the Church by baptism, and the number rose to eighty-seven. The Sabbath School was flourishing. The report for the next year dated September, 1863, says : " We are a united Church, united in our pas- tor, free from debt, and praying for the conversion of sinners." There was considerable religious interest during the winter, though no known conversions. One member of the Church and Sabbath School had died
555
HISTORY OF WISCHESTOS.
in the service of his country. The number of members of the Church reported in 1864, was one hundred and four. The house of worship was usually well filed on the Sabbath, and the Sabbath School was lar- ger than usual. The Church enjoyed ourward and spirimal prosperity. During the year 1564-5, there were indications at times that the Lord was coming to bless in copious measure, and although anticipaticos were not realized, yer some souls were . rescued from the downward road. and the religious condition of the Church was permanently improved." The young people's prayer meeting had its origin at this time, and since then has been well sustained. Mr. Litchfield's pastoral istors termi- nated in the autumn of 1565, the state of his health inducing him to change his occupation, though he has frequently preached on the Sab- bath in various places. His pastorate was filled with labor, and was a :- tended with success. In 1865, the Church had one hundred and eleven members.
Since that time the Church has had no pastor or stated supply, bu: has enjoyed the services of a large number of ministers. In the ful of 1866, the Church was refreshed with a precious revival, commencing with the young, and resulting in the conversion of many children, youth, and persons of middle age. The work seemed to be under the imme- diate direction of the Holy Spirit, and went steadily forward withour any regular pastoral labor. It was noticed that whoever preached- and there was a new minister almost as often as the Sabbath came --- the Spirit appeared to speak as if he had been specially directed was: message to bring to the waiting congregation. The members of the Church were generally active. The number of admissions by baptism se the fruits of this work, was thirty-eight. The congregation has since been favored with the services of a number of ministers, but has not succeeded in se- curing one as a permanent pastor. In 1867, the house was repaired. at considerable expense, internally, and the spire, blown over by the gale in 1853, was rebuilt. The congregation has increased with che steady growth of the Village. The following have been chosen descons. viz : Otis Chamberlain and Windsor N. White.
6. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Soon after the opening of the Cheshire Railroad, in 1848, che incom- ing of families of Irish parentage, created a need for the ministrations
356
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
of the Catholic priesthood. Meetings were held occasionally, by the priest from Fitchburg, or elsewhere, until the year 185-, when a build- ing erected for another purpose, was fitted up for a Church, on the north side of the Village, some fifty rods north of the Railroad Station, where religious services have been maintained, at stated times, ever since.
7. THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
The town hall was occupied by those holding Unitarian sentiments, in the year 1851. The " Third Congregational Society" was organ- ized, January 17, 1852. Various gentlemen preached for them in suc- cession, whose names cannot be recalled, with the exception of Rev. Mr. McIntire, of Fitchburg, and Rev. Mr. I. Putnam, a young man of great promise, who died soon after.
On the 19th of January, 1852, Rev. T. H. Dorr was duly installed. The Sermon was by Rev. Calvin Lincoln, of Fitchburg; Installing Prayer, Rev. John S. Brown, Fitzwilliam ; Right Hand, Rev. Wm. P. Tilden ; Address to the people, Rev. Dr. A. Hill. Other members of the Council were Revs. E. G. Adams, H. O. White, C. Wellington, H. Stebbins, A. Young, D. D., F. D. Huntington, J. D. Bridge, Samuel Pettis, and S. F. Clark. Dr. and Mrs. Joshua Tucker presented a " costly and valuable Bible." After about a year's service, the engage- ment with Mr. Dorr was dissolved by mutual consent. After his depar- ture, different ministers, including Rev. Mr. Hicks, supplied for two or three years, when Rev. Benjamin Huntoon was invited. He was here some two years, 1856-8. He was much esteemed by the public gen- erally.
There was an intermission of services for several years, but in the winter of 1864-5, a society was formed, styled the Third Congrega- tional Society. The Rev. Charles H. Wheeler was engaged to preach, in the month of September, 1865, and has continued to the present time. A building committee was chosen, consisting of the following gentlemen, viz : I. M. Murdock, B. D. Whitney, Wm. W. Whitney, Sidney Fairbanks, John Folsom and George Goodspeed, under whose direction a church was erected in the years 1866-7, which was dedica- ted on the 13th day of November, 1867. The Prayer of Dedication was offered by Rev. Mr. Wheeler ; the Sermon by Rev. Dr. Bartol, of Boston, and an address was delivered by Rev. E. E. Hale, of Boston.
Church of the Unity.
857
HISTORY OF WISCHENDOS.
This house, styled " Church of the Unity." is a fine specimen of archi- tecture, unsurpassed in elegance by any edifice of the kind, between Boston and Berkshire. It is an ornament to the place, and will remain a " thing of beauty" for generations. I: is built of Fitrwilliam gran- ite, and is 45 by 95 feet in dimensions. The spire rises one hundred and thirteen feet from the base. The whole cost, including the organ. was about $44,000. Since the church was opened for worship, there has been a good attendance, and the Sabbath School is flourishing.
In former times. there was Universalist preaching in the town. About the year 1840, Rev. Mr. Clark, then of Jaffrey, and others. held meet- ings, either statedly or occasionally, in the Village school-house. AF- terwards, similar meetings were held in the Waterville school-house. in the afternoon or evening of the Sabbath. But no meeting of the kind has been held in the town for several years : the larger part of those who used to be present at them, now attending at the Church of the Unity.
Spiritualism and kindred notions never had much proraience in the town.
8. SCHOOL-HOUSE MEETINGS.
The ministers have been in the habit of holding meetings in the ra- rious school-houses, from time to time, but the only stated meetings of this kind have been in Spring Village and Waterville.
Mr. John D. Dunbar, and the Messrs. White have always favored the holding of meetings on Sabbath evenings in the school-house, which belongs to the corporation. Sometimes the pastors of the Churches have made it in their way to preach in the school-house ; and at other times, ministers have been employed for a season. Rer. Leonard Tra- cy spent several months there ministering to the people of this neigh- borhood, when recruiting from the teils of a long pastorate. Rer. Mr. Mitchell was at the Springs one or two years : young Mr. Goodale held meetings for some months, and Mr. Martin, a Methodist minister, was stationed there for a year. The names of others cannot be recalled : but the good effected by these faithful men will abide forever. At present, the Young Men's Christian Association are holding meetings on Sabbath evenings.
About twenty years since, a company of ladies formed a plan of har-
358
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ing preaching in the Waterville school-house on the evening of the Sab- bath. They invited the Congregational, Baptist and Methodist cler- gymen to preach in rotation. The ministers were glad of the oppor- tunity, and from that time have labored in entire harmony. The re- sults have been good in many ways, not only in promoting the interests of religion, but in showing how brethren can work together in unity. A gradual, but very perceptible change, has been effected in this vil- lage. Probably as large a proportion of the people attend meeting, as in any other part of the town. The same is true of the attendance of the children in the various Sabbath schools.
In closing these brief notices of the Churches, the author takes occa- sion to express his earnest wishes for their continued and ever-increas- ing influence. And he will not be censured if a peculiar love for the Church to which he formerly ministered prompts him to refer to it in the language of a familiar hymn :
"If e'er my heart forgets Her welfare or her woe, Let every joy this heart forsake, And every grief o'erflow."
PAST AND PRESENT.
There has never been a year since the first meeting-house was erect- ed, when the population of this town were more amply provided with conveniences for worship than at the present time. There are sittings for at least three-quarters of the inhabitants, including the aged, the sick, and those in early childhood. The great majority are connected with some religious society, and at times are found in the place of wor- ship. The average attendance is good, and though not so large as in early times, yet the state of religion and morals is probably quite as good. When people rarely met each other on week-days, they felt a strong social impulse to gather in the meeting-house on Sunday. This accounts, in part, for the better attendance in old times. But it is the firm conviction of the author, after much inquiry, that there was a greater amount of disbelief in the Scriptures, a lower state of morals, and a weaker sense of divine and unseen realities, among the people of this town, sixty, seventy and eighty years ago, than in this year of grace, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight.
359
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XXIII .- A BILL OF MORTALITY.
"Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, And stars to set-but all, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O death !" Mrs. HEMANS.
" An oid, old man with beard as white as snow."
SPENSER.
Winchendon is a healthy township. The air of some localities in the Commonwealth may be more salubrious, and the rate of mortality less, than in this town, but the duration of life here is above the average of the towns and cities throughout the State. It is believed to be quite equal to that of the towns, excluding the cities. The location is high, being more than a thousand feet above tide water. The air is pure. The water is generally soft and sweet. In a portion of the Village, it is hard and swampy, with traces of iron, but there is an abundance of fine spring water, in the near vicinity, with which a large population could be supplied, in every part of their dwellings.
In the early years of settlement, when the people were exposed to great hardships, they suffered much from colds and rheumatic complaints. At times, malignant fevers have cut down their victims suddenly, though there is no record or tradition of the prevalence of fatal typhus or ty- phoid fevers, such as have carried mourning into many families in some country towns.
The first season of more than common mortality in this town, was in the summer of 1775. Nathan Day died of dysentery, in camp at Charlestown. This disease, called at the time, " fever and flux, " and " camp distemper," prevailed in many places. The sickness in this town was severe, and " in a considerable number of cases, terminated fatally." It affected aged people, and children, especially the latter, many of whom died. In 1786, during the warm season of the year,
360
HISTORY OF WINCHENDOR.
the dysentery prevailed again, and twenty-eight persons died. The canker rash or throat distemper, as it was often called, carried off many children in the west part of the town, in 1795.
In 1810-11, there was a fearful malady among the children. From May 29, 1810, to December 30, forty-five children fell victims, nearly all of whom died of the same disease. In the Church records kept by Mr. Pillsbury, " Quinsy," or "Canker," is written against their names. It is thought by aged persons, who remember this sickness, that it was the same form as that now known by the name of "dipthe- ria." Between February 17, 1811, and December 10, of the same year, fourteen children died, mostly of the same complaint, making fifty-nine deaths of children in about twenty months. Some families lost all their children. In August, 1810, seven died ; in September, twelve ; in October, fourteen. The sickness prevailed in different parts of the town, but raged with special virulence in the south part, extend- ing from Capt. Whitcomb's, on the south-east, to Mr. Thos. Wyman's, on the west, nearly four miles. The former lost two, and the latter four children. Capt. Stoddard lost three ; Mr. Gideon Balcom, three ; Mr. James McElwain, three. The seventh district lost more than half of the children within its limits. In other districts, Lieut. Isaac Morse lost two ; Mr. Hapgood, four ; Mr. Seth Tucker, Sen., two, and Mr. Jacob Hale, two. There has been no year since when so many chil- dren have died, although the population has been more than doubled. Nor bras there been a year when so large a proportion of persons of all ages have died ; not even during the late war. Indeed there has been no prevailing sickness since, unless perhaps in one year. In 1849 there were eight cases of death by scarlet fever. Some of the chil- dren were very bright and promising. In 1863, there were thirty deaths of children, making this an exceptional year ; but these deaths were caused by various diseases, as " diptheria," "scarlet fever," " canker rash," &c., as they are styled in the Register. Many of these children were of foreign parentage.
It may be stated on the authority of Rev. Dr. Whiton, that in 1810- 11, there were between one and two hundred cases of " spotted fever." There was alarm at first, but only two or three cases proved fatal.
Occasionally there has been an unusual degree of mortality among aged persons. At the close of a long, cold, hard winter, it has been
361
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
noticed more than once, that old people have suddenly drooped at the coming on of warm weather, and have been gathered to their fathers. In some years there has been an uncommon number of deaths by con- sumption ; but in general, lung complaints have not been more numer- ous here in proportion to the population, than in the healthy portions of the Commonwealth. It is sometimes said that the low lands near the river are liable to fevers, from fogs and other causes, but as a mat- ter of fact, there has never been what might be called a " sickly time " from fevers, while other towns in the vicinity have, at times, suffered severely from this form of disease.
Many people have lived to a good old age. It is,known that many of the early settlers passed far beyond the scriptural term of " three score and ten," but the registers and records do not, in many cases, give their age at their decease.
The following is a list of those who have died since the beginning of 1820,-excepting a few years-who survived to their 80th year. The number between 60 and SO would take more space than could well be spared. The following names are given in the order of time, with- out designating each year.
Mrs. Beulah Prentice,
81
Ephraim Murdock,
81.
Daniel Goodridge,
83
William Robbins,
88
Reuben Vose.
81
Anna Parker, 88
Abigail Bemis,
88
Mrs. Eben Richardson,
84
Benjamin Kidder,
87
Dea. Amos Heywood,
84
Miss Mitchell,
89
John Bemis,
Edward Stone,
84
Jane Poor,
98
Jacob Hale,
87
Sally Goodridge,
81
Jonathan Pollard,
91
Tabitha Eddy,
98
David Poor,
79
Abigail Wilson,
SS
Widow I. Bennett,
79
Hannah Perry,
86
Lydia Darling,
80
Mary Sargent,
86
Lucy Wilson.
86
Isaac Taylor,
84
Asa Maynard,
81
Betsey Poland,
87
Sarah Brooks,
89
Martha Butler,
79
Jonas Bradish,
$5
John Estey,
86
Simeon Tuttle,
87
Jacob Parks,
87
Huldah Streeter,
81
Sarah Kimball,
92
Daniel Day.
88
Joanna Goodridge,
82
Elizabeth Rugg,
81
Asa Hale,
84
Jonathan Patch.
83
Elisha Gregory,
S2
Zeruiab Adams,
82
Lucy Sherwin,
91
Sally Stimpson,
86
Stephen Emery,
362
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Chloe Maynard,
84
Tisdale Howard,
85
Phinehas Ball,
90
Ruth Godding,
86
Jacob Scott.
86
Noah Holman, 82
Eunice Robbins,
85
Abigail Edmands,
89
Seth Tucker,
98
Timothy Godding,
93
Betsey May,
81
Sally Stimpson,
86
Mary Fletcher,
90
Huldab Brown,
83
Hannah Parks,
83
Rebecca Graton,
91
Phinebas Parks,
88
Polly Cutter,
92
Abiel Alger,
87
James McElwain.
80
Asa Hyde,
81
William Tolman,
82
Parnel Fry,
86
Daniel Bowker,
81
Ruth Stuart,
80
Daniel Hale,
79
Abigail Raymond,
81
Lucy Pitkin,
79
Lucy Whitney,
82
Phinehas Ross,
79
William Brooks,
80
ยท Rebecca Farrar,
79
Martha Brown,
86
Martha Battles,
86
John Weston,
86
Persis Bowker,
85
Sukey Fairbanks,
79
Abigail Brown,
81
Simon Pierce,
81
Sally Bowker,
86
Sylvan Harris,
87
Rachel Steel,
79
William McGrath,
85
Richard Condon,
88
In 1849, Mr. Hyde gave the names of cighteen persons then living, who were eighty and upwards. The following list of aged persons liv- in the town in the opening of the year 1868, may properly be append- ed here. The exact age of two or three cannot be given, and it is possible that they are not quite eighty.
Betsey Holman,
91
Daniel Day,
81
.Jacob Woodbury,
85
Olive Wyman,
79
Jonathan Wyman,
85
Eunice Woodbury, 79
Jobn Raymond,
83
Mr. Daniels,
80
John Woodbury,
83
Eunice Brown,
83
Reuben Vose,
83
Esther Kilburn,
80
Moses M. Reed,
83
Prudence Priest,
80
Margaret Hale,
82
Obadiah Walker,
79
Betsey Smith,
82
Henry Mason,
83
Katharine Day,
82
Joseph Stone,
about
80
363
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XXIV. - BUSINESS OF WIN- CHENDON.
" How blest the farmer's simple life ! How pure the joy it yields ! Far from the world's tempestuous strife, Free, 'mid the scented fields ! REV. C. W. EVEREST.
" The smith, a mighty man is he."
LONGFELLOW.
" With a buzz and a hum swift rolls the wheel, In go wool, cotton, wood, iron and steel, Out come the nice cloth, barrows, hoops and sleds, Fig boxes, lemon squeezers, faucets and beds, Pails, tubs, churns, buckets, the sewing machine, And strawberry baskets fit for a queen." MACHINE POESIS.
The history of business in the town cannot be made complete, be- cause the information needed was lost when the Assessors' books were burned. What can be gleaned from the Records, and from the mem- ory of aged persons, in relation to the last century ; and from various sources, in regard to the present century, will be arranged, so far as convenient, in chronological order.
SECTION 1 .- FARMING AND STOCK.
'The chief business of the early settlers was farming. The best land in all parts of the town was soon taken up, and put under cultivation. Some had much more land than they could properly manage, but in time this was divided among children, or sold to new comers, till farms became more convenient in size. As long ago as 1790, about thirty- six years after the organization of the town, there were probably as many engaged in cultivating the land, and drawing their subsistence from it, as there are at the present day. Two-thirds of our present population live in the villages, and are employed otherwise than in agriculture.
The soil in old times was said to be good. The ordinary crops of
864
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
central New England were raised in this town. Late frosts sometimes cut down the new corn, beans and vines ; and in some seasons, early frosts in autumn, injured the unripened fruits of the earth. But in general the farmer was well rewarded for his labor. Pastures and grass lands have always yielded well, as the soil is naturally moist except on the sand plains. With good cultivation, the lands have borne well to every successive generation of farmers. During the last quarter of a century, there has been a decided improvement in different parts of the town ; especially near the Village. The aspect of the land is more pleasant, as stumps, rocks and hummocks have been removed.
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