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 40
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Mr. Joel Butler was born in Newton. If not, he attended school there in childhood, as the following instructive anecdote will prove. He used to relate that on one occasion, the old minister of Hopkinton came to examine the school. Some of the children were guilty of bad behav- ior. The old gentleman took no notice of this till he came to the clos- ing prayer, when he gave a lesson that could not be forgotten. He prayed as follows : " O Lord, bless these children ; for thou knowest that if they were well brought up at home, they would not act so like sarpents in school." A truth as applicable now as it was ninety years ago. Mr. Butler came into town in 1826, from Townsend, where,
.
435
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
near the east border of Ashby, he had a mill and farm. In company with his son, Ebenezer, he purchased the Butler mill place, and a large tract of land around it, and there he lived to the great age of almost ninety-nine years. He was an industrious, intelligent man, and his faculties held out remarkably well. He was interested in all that per- tained to the welfare of the Church of Christ, and was better versed than most people, in the prophetic Scriptures, and the literature per- taining to them. It was remarked at his funeral, that he had proba- bly known persons who had seen some of the first settlers of Boston, and perhaps, some of those who came over in the Mayflower.
The following paragraphs ought to have found a place on page 427 :
The Hon. Artemas Hale, of Bridgewater, son of Dea. Moses Hale, is one of those who not only confer honor on the place of their birth, but who hold their native town in kind remembrance. He has ex- pressed to the author his deep interest in the fortunes of the town, and in its forthcoming History. In early life he was engaged in survey- ing, and teaching school. He settled in Bridgewater when a young man, where he has acquired wealth, and at the same time, the respect and confidence of the community. He has represented his district in Congress, and held other offices of honor and trust.
Rev. Eliot Payson, son of Eliot, and gr .- son of James Payson, was born in 1808. While young he removed to central New York with his father's family. It is probable that he graduated at Hamilton Col- lege, in Clinton, near Utica, as that was the only College in those days west of Schenectady. He has been, for many years, a respected min- ister of the Presbyterian Church. A sermon delivered by him, in the North Congregational Church, fifteen or twenty years since, is still dis- tinetly remembered. It was very impressive.
Oliver Lovejoy, M. D., son of Oliver Lovejoy, is a native of this town. He received a good academical education ; obtained the disci- pline which comes from keeping school, in which calling he was very successful ; and then studied medicine with great thoroughness. Af- ter being engaged as assistant physician in Insane Hospitals at Provi- dence, R. I., and Brattleboro, Vt., he took up his residence as a phy- sician at Haverhill, where he enjoys a high reputation and has an ex- tensive practice in his profession.
Rev. A. Hastings Ross had his birth in Winchendon. By persist-
436
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ent effort, and constant reliance on divine aid, he worked himself into and through Oberlin College. His theological education was chiefly obtained in Andover Seminary. After a few years' settlement in Boyl- ston, he removed, two or three years since, to the city of Springfield, Ohio, where he is the efficient pastor of the Congregational Church.
It is quite possible that there are others who have conferred honor on their birth-place, and who are equally deserving of honorable men- tion. If so, they and their friends will understand that their names have not been omitted by design.
" Think not that these alone deserve the praise, As worthy children of their Mother-town; But all her daughters fair and sons, whose days With blessed deeds have wrought her jewel'd crown : These by their toil, their love, their holy vow, Have bound immortelles round their Mother's brow." OLD FAIRPLAY.
437
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XXXI .- MISCELLANEOUS.
"So various, that the mind Of desultory man, studious of change And pleas'd with novelty, might be indulg'd."
COWPER.
Several topics will receive attention in this chapter ; some, because they defy classification, and others, because they were overlooked at the proper place.
SECTION 1 .- INVENTIONS.
There has been much ingenuity displayed in the workshops of Win- chendon from their first establishment. Many improvements in ma- chinery that do not rank with inventions, and for which no patents are taken out, are familiar to mechanics.
Some of the important inventions made by residents of Winchendon, are referred to below.
Richard Stuart was a contriver in mechanics, and among other things conceived the idea of bending a saw round the edge of a cylinder, and thu's sawing circular stuff.
Dea. Reuben Hyde, however, was the real inventor of the cylinder or barrel saw, of which he had the patent, till it was sold for the trifling sum of fifty dollars.
Jacob Simonds was the inventor of a combination of saws of differ- ent sizes, for cutting out the fluting of wash-boards. .
Edward Loud invented a revolving cylinder for fluting wooden wash- boards.
Lewis Robbins invented the machine for making clothes-pins with ra- pidity. Formerly the process was slow ; now the pins are turned, sawed and shaved as if by magic.
Polycrates Parks is an ingenious contriver of mechanical improve- ments.
438
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Edwin Parks is the inventor of an auger-faucet which bores into the barrel-head. Of course, it just fits the hole, and there is no spirting between withdrawing the auger and inserting the faucet.
Col. William Murdock invented a bobbin for the mills in Lawrence, which is still in use. His special improvement in jack-spools has been adopted by others in all improved spools. A more recent bobbin of his is now coming into use.
The Parks brothers make an improved jack-spool in large quantity.
Stephen Ketchum is the inventor of an improved method of screw- ing the ends of pipe together, thus dispensing with soddering together, and cutting apart. He has also made improvements in the sewing ma- chine. His chopping-knife is manufactured by himself and Sumner Loud.
Quimby S. Backus has invented a machine to print labels for spools, &c .; also a vice ; and still another for cutting slate pencils.
Lyman Jennings is the inventor of a machine for cutting or slicing off, instead of sawing veneers.
John G. Folsom has made several improvements of sewing machines.
Jonathan Carter is the inventor of a neat method of painting the " star pails."
Baxter D. Whitney's first patent was for a machine for stretching wrinkles out of cloth while in the process of fulling. A machine of his for smoothing hard wood lumber after passing through the ordinary planer, is in general use; it has been patented in several European countries, The same is true also of his gauge lathe, and his improvements in cyl- inder planers. He is the inventor also of a machine for grinding cylin- der saws. The latter has been patented in this country. He obtained a silver medal for the smoothing machine and the gauge lathe, at the Great Exposition at Paris, in 1867. A picture of the medal is insert- ed opposite.
SECTION 2 .- LAPIDARIES.
The author does not know where the people of this town obtained their monumental stone work in former times ; but of late years, they have been fortunate in this respect. Mr. Tateum, who was here some fifteen years ago, was an excellent workman in marble, granite, and oth-
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Silver Medal.
439
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
er kinds of stone ; and Mr. George H. Allyn, now in the establishment of Mr. Henry Peck, has made his calling a fine art.
SECTION 3 .- ANTIQUITIES.
There is very little in a town so recently settled as Winchendon, that has the flavor of antiquity. Some things, however, which are relative- ly ancient, may be noticed.
The oldest house in the town is a few rods west of the south end of the Common. It has already been stated that this house was built in 1762, by Dea. Richard Day. The picture of it may disappoint some because the tall elms in front are not given. But it was deemed best to give the house without accessories which must have had a place if the elms were included. The roof originally was not four-sided. The same house appears in connection with the old meeting-house on page 151. It has recently become the property of Mr. D. E. Poland, of Boston, a native of the town. For convenience the picture is inserted between pages 44 and 45.
The house occupied by Dexter Bruce is made of materials taken from the two story house of Hon. Abel Wilder, which stood on the same spot. The house of Joshua Nutting is the old two story house of Hananiah Whitney, Sen., razeed. Both these houses were built quite early. The old house long occupied by Joseph Whitney, Sen., and now inhabited by Mr. Page, formerly belonged to Dudley Perley. The low L part of that house is much more ancient than the house itself, and was part of the first house of Mr. Perley. The house of the late Esq. Murdock, by the great elm, and Mr. Winn's house, built by Esq. Crosby, are both ancient, for Winchendon, and are still in good repair. Fragments of the old meeting-house on Tallow Hill, may still be seen at Mr. Wes- ton's, near whose house it stood. The old " Society House," which was the cradle of the New Boston Baptist Church is still standing, some twenty rods north of Daniel Day's. James McElwain, the tavern-keep- er, bought the old meeting-house in the Centre, in 1792, and probably the timbers are still in use. In this connection the following extract from the Records, which was not found when the chapter on the Par- ish was printed, finds its place.
" A record of the pew ground sold at public vendue, the fourth day of Sep- tember, A. D. 1765, by Richard Day, John Darling and Theos. Mansfield, Committee men, and a list of the men's names that purchased the same.
440
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
No. 16, struck off to Silas Whitney.
for 9 dollars.
1,
Daniel Goodridge,
10
10
Joseph Stimson,
5
10 .€
66
1 quar.
66 11, 9,
Dea. Richard Day, " 8 Ephraim Stimson, 10 Dea. Richard Day, 10 IG
86
1 half.
66 8,
Silas Whitney
I quarter.
12, 13,
66
John Darling,
8
1 half.
14,
Abel Wilder,
9
1 half.
2,
3,
66
Abel Wilder,
9
ɔ̃,
Jonathan Stimson,
7
16
66
6,
Jonathan Stimson,
11
66
7,
Jonathan Stimson, 15
1 half."
Other buildings might be mentioned, as well as the half buried re- mains of numerous old dams, mills and bridges ; but they are not of sufficient interest to attract pilgrims to their sites.
The gun and powder-horn which are here represented, belong to Mr. Luke Rice, who received them from his father, Lieut. Benjamin Rice, a revolutionary worthy. He bought them of Robert Bradish, Sen., who used them both, when acting as a scout, in this neighborhood, in the last French and Indian war. The gun was made in England in 1737. Both articles therefore, besides being antique, have an historical interest.
Mr. Jacob Woodbury has an old hatchet which was carried to Que- bec, in Arnold's expedition through the wilds of Maine, by Jonathan Pollard. In his hands it was not only a convenient tool, but a formida- ble weapon, and on more than one occasion, was the means of saving his life.
In this connection it is appropriate to refer to the old " Block Hous- es" again. It was stated on a former page that there was one at Col. Berry's, now Samuel Woodbury's. It was on the Berry farm, but was east of the house about half way to the John and Joshua Gill place, on the north side of the road, where the cellar may still be seen.
15,
Theos. Mansfield,
1 quar.
4,
1 half.
Benoni Boynton,
11
Jonathan Foster,
10
441
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
It was also stated that there was one east of the Tallow Hill school- house. In strict truthfulness, this log house, of the Boyntons and Ed- dys, was the old block house of Bullardville, moved and built anew.
The block house on Jacob Hale's farm, was not near the Waterville school-house, as previously stated, but east of Merritt Hale's, on the north side of the road near the top of the hill.
If relics properly come under this head, it may be mentioned that human bones were found, many years since, on the eastern shore of Den- ison lake. By some they were supposed to be Indian remains.
SECTION 4 .- WILD ANIMALS.
Allusions have been made to the fact that wild animals were preva- lent here, and in this region, for years after the first settlement. The howl of the wolf was often heard, and his prowlings in the sheep pas- tures were more fatal than when chasing after Dr. Whiton's leg of veal.
Bears were also met with occasionally. Since the present century came in, a she-bear and two cubs were seen not far from the Evans place, by Mr. Luke Rice (then a boy,) and others. Though pursued, it made its escape.
Poisonous serpents are rarely if ever met with in our borders.
SECTION 5 .- HORSES.
The people of this town have long been noted for liking good horses. Perhaps the fact that the Messrs. Whitney,-William and Phinehas -- raised, bought and kept so many horses, had some influence in creating this preference for good animals However this may be, the writer found here, twenty-five years ago, a large number of excellent horses ; and the number has largely increased since that time. Many farmers are particular to have a good horse ; the team-horses are large and strong ; and many families have spirited and elegant teams. Fast hors- es are sometimes associated with " fast young men," but thus far, we have been favored with the former without the drawback of the latter. In addition it is pertinent to the subject to say, that the stables of Whit- comb & Fairbanks, Wood & Rand, and the more recent one of J. Morse, are well supplied with horses which keep up the credit of the town in this regard.
SECTION 6 .- WHITE CEDARS AND WHITE SWALLOWS.
It seems that the " white cedars" of Winchendon are referred to in
442
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Wood's Botany. It would therefore be a censurable omission if the author failed to say that Hon. Elisha Murdock formerly owned about four acres of this species of wood, so rare in this section of country. It was cut up and used in the manufacture of those elegant pails made of alternate white and red cedar staves, which many families will remem- ber. One in the writer's possession, a gift from Mr. Murdock, is still as " good as new," and as fragrant as the " cedars of Lebanon." Not less fragrant, in a moral sense, is the memory of many years service with him, in the cause of education, of temperance, and of freedom.
In the years 1865, 6 and 7, one or two specimens of the white swal- low, were seen in the Village, by a few persons. They were near, on each occasion but one, the bridge by Goodspeed & Wyman's. Their singular appearance attracted attention.
SECTION 7 .- OLD ELMS.
The wide-branching elm between the houses of Reuben Vose, Jr., and Charles J. Rice, on the old Common, was set out a little more than a hundred years ago, by Mr. Stimson, the first minister. Long may it honor his memory. The elms in front of the old Day house are an- cient. It is not certainly known who planted them ; but it is probable that Mr. Brown, the second minister, deserves the credit. Dea. Day was killed before people generally felt like setting out shade trees. The whole endeavor was to get trees out of the way. As Mr. Brown lived in the house during several years, and as the trees seem too old to have been planted by any one since his day, it will be safe to ascribe the planting to him till the claims of some other worthy are proved. It is known that he was fond of trees, and that he was engaged in set- ting out apple trees between the house and the Common on the day of the battle of Bunker Hill, and the tradition is that he heard the big guns.
The old elm in front of the house of Mrs. George Brown, was quite a tree when the late Esq. Murdock built the house. The planter of it is not known to the author. There is a double row of fine elms in front of the house of Mr. Luke Rice, most of which were set out by his father, Lt. Benjamin Rice. Mr. Rice has many beautiful maples also. He has the only shag-bark walnut trees in the town. Indeed, there are but two or three walnut trees of any kind in any other part of the town.
443
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
SECTION 8 .- WINCHENDON AS A PLACE OF RESORT.
It is a curious fact that this town had a reputation-rather limited to be sure-as a place of resort, fifty years and more ago. The " vir- tuous spring" at Spring Village was visited by many who drank the water for their health. Mr. Ahijah Wood kept a public house for their accommodation. If proper means were taken, the place would be thronged with summer visitors.
The beautiful Denison lake, has always been a resort, in the sum- mer season, by those living not very remote. A good hotel there would bring its quota of patrons.
The Village is too busy to attend to company, and the hotel of Mr. Fairbanks, though well kept, and free from the loaferism which makes many village taverns disgusting, is generally full of boarders residing here. If enlarged, or if the proprietor should open another for the special accommodation of transient visitors and summer boarders, it would, without doubt, be filled.
SECTION 9 .- SECRET SOCIETIES.
It has been stated incidentally, on other pages, that an association of Odd Fellows was in existence here about twenty years since ; and that the temperance cause has been furthered by Sons of Temperance and Good Templars. At present there is a Lodge of Free Masons, called the Artisan Lodge. It is said to be in a flourishing condition.
SECTION 10 .- POPULATION AND VALUATION.
The population of the town, at various dates, in the last century, has been given in former chapters. The following figures show the gradual increase of inhabitants from decade to decade.
In 1790,
946
In 1830, 1463
" 1800,
1092
66 1840,
1754
" 1810,
1173
" 1850,
2445
" 1820,
1263
1860,
2624
The population is now greater than at the last census, but the exact number of the inhabitants is not known.
At one time the valuation of this town was below that of all the towns in the county, except two or three. In 1865, the valuation was $1, 160,952. In 1868, it was $1,537,126.
414
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XXXII .- GENEALOGY AND PERSONAL HISTORY.
" True is, that whilome that good poet said, That gentle mind by gentle deed is known, For man by nothing is so well bewray'd As by his manners, in which plain is shown Of what degree and what race he is grown." SPENSER.
" How poor are all hereditary honors, Those poor possessions from another's deeds, Unless our own just virtues form our title, And give a sanction to our fond assumptions !" SHIRLEY.
This chapter must be brief, for two reasons, either of which is suffi- cient. The first is, that though families have been desired, publicly and privately, to furnish their family history, but few have responded. The author is however indebted to a few who have aided him in this regard, to whom he hereby tenders his thanks. Mrs. Dudley Whitney, Hon. Artemas Halc, Miss Orelba Hale, Mr. Nelson W. Wyman and Mr. Luke Rice are entitled to special mention for the amount of infor- mation furnished by them.
The other cause of brevity is the firm conviction that genealogy and family history have no legitimate place in municipal history. Many fam- ilies are to be found in scores of towns in New England ; some of them in hundreds of towns. The time is coming when all these towns will have their history. It follows that if genealogy is to have its place in them all, the same matter will be printed hundreds of times. The true meth- od is, for families to gather their own history and genealogy into sep- arate volumes respectively. This will save expense and subserve the convenience of all. But in accordance with the promise made in the Proposals for publishing this volume, a few pages of genealogy and fami- ly history will be given. The author holds himself responsible for no.
445
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
omissions. Those who have neglected to furnish facts, have no right to complain if they are not published. A few families only are men- tioned here except those in town previous to the year 1800. The best method of arranging genealogical facts is probably that of Hon. Charles Hudson in his valuable Histories of Marlboro' and Lexington ; but as only two or three generations are given in this chapter, no special at- tention to method is required. The residences of the families can in most cases he found on the maps in this volume.
ADAMS.
Col. Benjamin Adams settled here after the Shays rebellion, and lived at the north end of the Common. He married Zeruiab, daughter of Joseph Boyn- ton. His children were :
1. Benjamin, b. Nov. 3, 1794, m. Susannah Alger ; 2. Zeruiah, b. Sept. 4, 1796, m. Lyman Raymond ; 3. Eunice, b. Aug. 11, 1798, m. Arba Reed ; 4. Olive, b. Dec. 20, 1800, m. John Longley ; 5. Oliver, b. July 24, 1804, m. Chastina Stone ; 6. Joseph, b. Oct. 20, 1805, m. Hannah Whitney ; 7. Albert, died young.
ALGER.
David Alger lived just west of the bridge over Miller's river, beyond the Fry place. He came from Bridgewater, and settled in Winchendon about the year 1794. His children were :
1. Chloe, b. Jan. 7, 1793, at Bridgewater ; 2. Jonathan, b. in W., Sept. 20, 1795 ; 3. David, b. Oct. 3, 1798 ; 4 and 5. Joseph and Benjamin, b. Jan. 13, 1804; 6. Susanna, b. Dec. 30, 1806, m. Benj. Adams, Jr. ; 7. Sarah, b. Sept. 12, 1814. David Alger died Oct. 22, 1810.
Abiel Alger, came from Bridgewater, with his br. David in 1793 or 94. The christian name of his wife was Rhoda. Children :
1. Olive b. Oct.9, 1789 ; 2. Vina, b. Apr. 1, 1791 ; 3. Abiel, b. Mar. 19, 1793; 4. Chloe, b. Nov. 11, 1794; 5. Sylvia, b. July 30, 1796, and two others.
BALCOM.
Gideon Balcom, son of Daniel Balcom, m. Anna Hale. Several of their chil- dren died in 1810-11, during the great mortality among children. Of those who survived, were :
1. Lincoln, m. Abigail Raymond ; and 2. Sabrina, m. C. C. Alger.
BALL.
Phinehas Ball lived in the first house south of Miller's river, a mile beyond Waterville, on the road to Royalston. This was the Oaks place. He had a son, Joel Ball.
BAREETT.
Thornton Barrett and Abigail, his wife, had children :
1. Hannah, b. May 4, 1768 ; 2. John, b. Apr. 26, 1773; 3. Jerusha,
446
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
b. Mar. 20, 1775 ; 4. Thornton, b. Mar. 27, 1777 ; 5. Samuel, b. Aug. 9, 178 *; 6. Joseph, b. July 1, 1783; 7. Henry, b. Dec. 1, 178 *; 8. Na- thaniel, b. July 15, 178 *.
BATTLES.
Noah Battles and Miranda his wife had children :
1. Jairus, b. Oct. 17, 1785 ; 2. Philander, b. Dec. 5, 1798 ; 3. Lucin- da, b. March 5, 1791 ; 4. Noah b. March 31, 1793. The above were born in Scituate. 5. Fanny. b. Oct. 3, 1795; 6. Susey, b. Jan. 14, 1798 ; 7. Naaman, b. June 10, 1800 ; 8. Lewis, b. March 12, 1803; 9. Nabbe, b. June 14, 1805.
BEALS.
Stower Beals m. Mary Leavitt. Children :
1. Martha, m. Cyrus Pierce ; 2. Mary, m. Hananiah Whitney, Jr. ; 3. George L. m. Nancy Norcross.
Lt. Samuel Beals and Eunice his wife had children :
1. Jonathan ; 2. Madison; 3. Wilder; 4. Eunice A. ; 5. Samuel ; 6. Mary P .; 7. Nathaniel.
BEAMAN.
Gamaliel Beaman had a son David.
David m. Polly Carter, and had children :
1. Gamaliel Carter, b. March 20, 1799 ; 2. Elisha. b. Sept. 22, 1800; 3. Sally T., b. Sept. 29, 1802; 4. David W., b. Aug. 29, 1804; 5. Melas, b. July 31, 1806, d. Oct. 13, 1808; 6. Mary Ann, b. Dec. 4, 1808; 7. Prudence W., b. Jan. 7, 1811; 8. Harriet, b. Jan. 8, 1814 ; 9. Eliza, b. Aug. 19, 1816; 10. William, b. Sept. 16, 1818.
BEAMIS.
Abel Bemis or Beamis, b. May 10, 1772. Susanna, his wife, b. Feb. 10, 1780. Children :
1. Rebecca, b. Feb. 20, 1803; 2. Loiza, b. Dec. 2, 1805 ; 3. Sarah, b. Feb. 23, 1806; 4. Susan, b. May 27, 1807 ; 5. Dolly, b. Aug. 10, 1809 ; 6. Roxanna, b. March 1, 1811 ; 7. Reuben, b. Oct. 25, 1813; 8. Abel, b. Nov. 30, 1815 ; 9. Sylvester, b. Nov. 6, 1816, d. July 11, 1818 ; 10. Mer- rie, b. March 23, 1820 ; 11. Lavinia H., b. Feb. 10, 1822; 12. Lucinda R., b. Sept. 6, 1823.
Jason Bemis had a blacksmith shop, 60 to 70 years ago, near the top of the hill from the Village to the Centre. Children :
1. Jason ; 2. Amos; 3. Jocl; 4. Luke; 5. James.
BENJAMIN.
Andrew Benjamin and Mary Pierce his wife had children :
1. Stephen, b. Feb. 13, 1778; 2. Amos, b. Jan. 6, 1780; 3. Betsey, b. Aug. 13, 1781 ; 4. Francis, b. Apr. 9, 1784; 5. Jonathan, b. May 20,
* The figure is worn off the Records.
447
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
1786; G. Charles, b. March 7, 1789; 7. Levi. b. July 18, 1791 ; 8. Pol- ly, b. May 13, 1794; 9. Sally, b. Oct. 26, 1796. The two eldest were born in Ashby, Betsey in Fitzwilliam, and the last six in Winchendon.
BIGELOW.
Roger Bigelow and Mary his wife had children :
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