USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Leominster > Leominster, Massachusetts, historical and picturesque > Part 6
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ling, Mass. Lucy Poland graduated at the Worcester Normal
School and is engaged in teaching. Hattie M. Divol studied
music and is now teaching in Leominster. Jennie Gates remains at her home in North Leominster. Alice Conant, (Meade,) married Howard E. Meade. They live in Leomin- ster. Frank Urquhart graduated at Dartmouth in '87. He manifested much ability as a writer and has chosen the profes- sion of journalism. He is at work on the Newark Journal, N. J. CLASS OF '84. Harry Howard Boyden graduated at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1887. He remained for the next year as assistant in the Labratory. He resides at Leominster. Frank T. Harvey graduated at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in '87, and has since entered the Medical School, N. Y. city. Andrew Lincoln Houghton is a machin- ist in Leominster. Russell H. Colby graduated at The Bos- ton Institute of Technology in '87, and is now in the employ of the State Board of Health, as analyst. Ida L. Willard is book-keeper for Valpey & Anthony at their manufactory, Leominster, Mass. Ida M. Stevens has her home in Leom- inster. Emma E. Adams, (Johnson), was a member of the Training Class for Teachers. She taught some time in Leom- 11
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
inster. Nov. 23 she married George W. Johnson. Nellie C. Foster taught two terms at Loudon, N. H., and nine at Newport, N. H. Her residence is now in Leominster, Mass. Minnie L. Joy resides at her home in Leominster. Emma Fuller, daughter of Wm. H. Fuller, is now a teacher of music in Leominster. Gertrude Louise Rhoades studied in the Training Class and is now a member of the Leominster corps of Teachers.
CLASS OF '85. Lora S. Bowen, (Corkum), married July 12, '88, to David F. Corkum. Their residence is in Leomin- ster. Alice G. Burdett, daughter of A. L. Burdett, Esq., has remained at home since graduating. Mabel A. Cole, (Wheeler), daughter of G. H. Cole, married, March 27, '88, to Bertrand Thorpe Wheeler, residence, Cedar Grove, Dorches- ter, Mass. Cora H. Coolidge graduated at Cushing Acad- emy, Ashburnham, Mass., and this year has entered Smith College. Her home is in Ashburnham. Gertrude H. Fel- ton is now book-keeper at the Woolen mill of Edward M. Rockwell. Minnie G. Field resides at North Leominster. Mary A. Frost, daughter of Sumner M. Frost, is now pursuing the regular course at Smith college. Her home is in Leom- inster. Annie J. Kenefick taught two years in Maynard, Mass., and is now assistant in the 2d Department of the Field High School. Carrie L. Miller spent the first year after graduating in study, a part of the second in teaching in the High School. She died at her home April 23, 1887. Kate M. Polley makes her home in Leominster. Anna L. Stearns lives at her uncle's home, North Leominster. Clinton T. Boutelle has remained at Leominster since his graduation. Edward A. Darling has spent some time at school since grad- uating and is now in Dorchester, Mass.
CLASS OF '86. Of the members of this class the following have remained in Leominster : E. Louise Allen, Sadie W.
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Crockett, Mary A. Railey, Helen G. Rice, May W. Willard, Harry W. Putney, Clarence J. Reed, and Fred E. Upham. Reed studied at a Commercial School in Boston, and is now with A. B. Merrill, and Upham is in the employ of D. C. Nickerson. The names of Miss Allen, Miss Railey, and Miss Willard ap- pear in the list of teachers. Grace B. Savage is at her father's home in Watertown, Mass. M. Crissie Shedd is taking a four years' course at Framingham Normal School ; Fred E. Morse has spent two years at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis., and is now in Boston University ; Raymond P. Walker is now in the second year of his theological studies at Boston University ; Alfred A. Wheeler has this year entered Harvard College.
CLASS OF '87. Of the members of this class, Mary E. Bur- gess is at Cushing Academy ; E. Harry Rockwell and Allen C. Crocker at the Polytechnic Institute, Worcester ; Edward Earl at the Institute of Technology, Boston; Edgar D. Shaw at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H. ; and Appleton H. Pierce at Harvard College. Clara L. Richardson, Winnifred A. Rich- ardson, Jennie E. Killelea, L. Lizzie Reynolds, and Minnie E. Sullivan are in Leominster. (The name of Miss Reynolds ap- pears in the list of teachers, and Miss Sullivan is organist at St. Leo's Church). Lucius W. Richardson studied at Bryant & Stratton's, and is now in Boston.
CLASS OF '88. Mattie E. Cutting and Mabel H. Goodale have entered the State Normal School, Worcester ; Hattie A. Rugg is fitting for Smith College ; Edith M. Smith is book- keeper in her father's office, North Leominster ; Ruth K. Bur- rage is at her home in Shirley ; Gertrude M. Carter is studying in the Training Class. Carrie L. Felton, second daughter of Mr. Samuel Felton, was taken sick in the early summer and died, after a short but painful illness, at her father's home, on Grove Avenue. She expected to enter the `Tormal School and
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
gave promise of doing excellent work as a teacher. Alice M. Elleck remains at home. Louis A. Wheeler is preparing for a further course of study in one of the colleges.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Leominster has a large and well-selected Library. The interest of the people in matters of this kind dates back to 1763, when what was known as the Social Library was pur- chased. It consisted of 100 books and was kept for fifty years in the study of Rev. Francis Gardner. Other collections of books were made by different Societies and School wards as the years went by, but in 1856 all these were merged in one and accepted by the Town as the beginning of a Public Library. From that time until now the town has made an annual appropriation for the support of the Library. The meeting of the first library committee was held at the office of J. C. Allen, May 21st, 1856. J. C. Allen was the first Sec- retary, D. R. Haynes the first Treasurer, and Thomas Tinker the first Librarian. The Library was kept in Mr. Tinker's store, next door to what is now A. L. Williams & Co.'s gro- cery store until 1863, when it was removed to the office of C. W. Carter in a small building where Wood's block now stands. Mr. Carter acting as librarian for one year. In 1864 the town received a bequest of $5000 from the estate of J. Henry Ken- dall for the founding of a Public Library. The Town Hall was raised and the present library room was fitted up, the library taking possession in April, 1864. From this time it has increased regularly, both in the number of books and in public favor. Mr. James M. Bronson has been librarian since 1864. The library now contains about ten thousand volumes.
In 1866 a Reading Room Association was formed, and in 1869 this branch of work was taken in charge by the Town and made a part of the library. The Reading Room is now sup-
JAMES BENNETT.
REV. WM H. SAVAGE.
REV. WM. J. BATT.
REV. E. A. HORTON.
J. HENRY KENDALL.
JAMES M. BRONSON.
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EDUCATIONAL
plied with a large number of daily and weekly papers, monthlies and other periodicals. Few towns of the size of Leominster have as equally good Library and Reading Room.
DR. GEORGE W. PIERCE.
No mention of the Library would seem finished, which did not give prominence to the name of Dr. George W. Pierce. He was for many years an active and energetic member of the Committee in charge of its affairs. He had a great love for books and a clear understanding of their value. It is true that his habits of reading and his natural tendency of mind, led him to study science more than literature ; but he had a good knowl- edge of the best authors and his advice in the selection of books was most valuable. The service, which he gave, was not one in name only, but one of loving regard for the growth and usefulness of the Library as well. Nothing which promised good results in this direction was foreign to his thought or his heart. Hence Dr. Pierce was one of the first to plan and work for a reading room in connection with the Library. He saw plainly how great would be the influence for good of this depart- ment in the coming years. It is not too much to say that the town is very largely indebted to the wise and faithful service of Dr. Pierce in connection with its Public Library. The same is also true of the Museum, in which, from the start, he was greatly interested.
Dr. George W. Pierce was born at West Boylston, Mass , Oct. 15th, 1816. He was educated at Leicester Academy and graduated at Harvard Medical School, in the class of '45. For a short time he practised his profession in Bolton, but came to Leominster in 1847, where he resided until his death in May, 1886. He was twice married. In 1851, to a Miss Damaris Balch, of a family widely connected in Leominster ; and in 1869, to Mrs. Charlotte H. Carter of Lowell, Mass. Four children by the first marriage, and one by the last, survive him.
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
Dr. Pierce belonged to Leominster. He came here as a young man, married from this people, reared and educated his children here, was the family physician in many homes, and was for almost forty years a vital part of this whole community. He lived and rejoiced in its atmosphere, gloried in its prosper- ity, planned for its material, intellectual and moral growth, and labored with no divided heart and no stinted wisdom for its best and largest interests. When he died he was more than an old resident ; he was, in the truest sense, a citizen of Leomin- ster. No plan looking to her good could be devised of which he was not a part. His services were freely given and always ef- fective for the best and most permanent improvements in town. And yet, Dr. Pierce was at his best, where most men fail, i. e. in his own home. He could make, and did make, a home in the best sense of the word. No better thing could be said of him than this : "He was always his children's hero." Dr. Pierce was a worthy representative of a noble profession, rank- ing high among his brethren ; a man kind, indulgent and help- ful in his home life ; a gentleman by nature and practice ; a citizen who desired and planned for the best things, and who gave his services when and where he could, without hope of reward or desire for recognition. His will always be an hon- ored name in the history of Leominster.
THE MUSEUM.
The museum owes its origin to the zealous efforts of Rev. Wm. J. Batt with the co-operation of James Bennett, Esq., and Dr. G. W. Pierce, whose interest in geological and anti- quarian research caused them to render valuable aid. In Dec. 1871 the museum was established, five trustees were chosen, Rev. Wm. J. Batt, Dr. C. C. Field, Joel Smith, J. C. Allen and T. A. Hills, who, together with the library committee, G. W. Pierce, Rev. E. A. Horton, S. L. White, Rev. J. D. Miller and
GEORGE W. PIERCE, M. D.
EDUCATIONAL.
87
Wm. H. Reed, constituted what was known as the Leominster Museum Board. About five hundred dollars was contributed by public spirited citizens and mostly expended in cases and material, forming the necleus of the present collection, by a committee consisting of Joel Smith, James Bennett and N. C. Boutelle. In 1880, with the consent of the trustees, the town "voted to accept of the museum as a part of the public library and provide for its care, and the Library Committee appointed E. G. Davis, curator. This collection contains many interest- ing specimens and much valuable historical material.
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GROUP OF RELICS.
In the matter of contributions, also, there has been much interest shown by Mr. D. W. Salisbury, Mr. Bennett, Dr. Pierce, and many others who have been liberal givers. Among late valuable contributions should be mentioned $2000 from the es- tate of Capt. Leonard Burrage. Both Library and Museum are growing in popular favor.
IODK G ICH
SUN SHADE ONCE OWNED BY
MRS FRANCIS GARDNER
CHAPTER VI.
PATRIOTISM.
LL through its history as a town, Leom- inster has been noted for its military spirit. In the old French and Indian war in 1757, a full company of soldiers was furnished to go to the relief of Fort William and Henry, and October 9th, 1760, they all returned and united with their friends in a general Thanksgiving over the total reduction of Canada.
During the Revolutionary War there were fully three hun- dred men from Leominster, enlisted for various terms of ser- vice, from minute men to regular soldiers for three years, a surplus of thirteen men beyond the full quotas under the vari- ous calls. The records of meetings on the Town books leave no doubt as to the patriotism of the inhabitants.
As early as March 3d, 1766, an address to the people of Boston, who were enduring great hardships on account of the unjust laws of the British Parliament, was adopted in Town' Meeting, expressing clearly their views on the subject of civil and religious liberty, and closing with the following para- graph : "We must, we can, and we will be free. We cannot
RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. LOCKEY, WEST STREET.
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
Wilder ; Lieutenant, Timothy Boutelle; Sergeants, William Warner, Josiah Carter and Peter Joslin ; Corporals, Levi War- ner, Samuel Buss and James Butler ; Drummer, Thomas Rog- ers ; Fifer, Abijah Haskell. On the 15th of July, 1776, the town voted Independency of Great Britain, and a copy of the Declaration by Congress was entered on the Town Records.
Throughout the struggle the inhabitants complied with all the requirements made upon them, being frequently called upon by the State, in emergencies, to furnish, men on short enlistments. On one occasion, in 1777, in addition to numer. ous volunteers, a whole company went under command of Capt. John Joslin to assist in preventing the march of Gen. Bur- goyne's army from Canada. They were in season to engage in the battle of Bennington, and at the first fire received from the enemy, Thomas Joslin, the youngest brother of the Captain, was shot through the heart.
In 1777, Congress issued a call for three years men, and the town voted to raise £500 to pay those who should enlist. We are unable to give the names of all who entered the service under this call, but among the number were : John Joslin, John Buss, Levi Phelps, Edward Phelps, Levi Blood, Caleb Wood, Peter Joslin, Thomas Robbins, Samuel Jones, Samuel Hough- ton, Samuel Rogers, and probably five or six others. They participated in several battles, and with the exception of Peter Joslin and Samuel Rogers, lived to return home at the expira- tion of their term of service. Most of them lived to a good old age, four of them remaining in town. John Buss died in 1845 and Edward Phelps, the last survivor, in 1851.
It is a matter worthy of record that during the Revolution, . in all the one hundred and fifty-three families in town, not a person was accused, or even suspected, of being a Tory or un- friendly to the cause, and that during the war the inhabitants
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PATRIOTISM.
contributed $30,000 and 7534 lbs. of beef and a lot of blankets for men in the service.
SHAYS' REBELLION.
The town had sustained itself nobly through the Revolu- tion, furnishing more than its proportion of men and means, and in common with the rest of the Commonwealth, its people were greatly involved in debt. There was very little hard money in circulation and the Continental Currency had become greatly depreciated, but notwithstanding these unfavorable circumstances, the men of this town, as a rule, sustained their credit and eventually paid their debts, although some few sold their farms for paper money, and when it became worthless, were ruined.
Many other towns were less fortunate than ours, especially in Worcester County. Taxes were high and lands and goods were levied upon and sacrificed for debts. At last the dissatis- faction and feeling against the Courts developed into open rebellion, in which crisis this town maintained its integrity by sustaining the Government. The leader of this insurrection, one Daniel Shays, in 1786 assembled his armed mob to stop the Courts, and sent a message to the judges of the Supreme Court, then about to hold its session at Springfield, ordering them not to open their court or indict the rebels. About the same time a body of men had collected to stop the Court of Common Pleas at Worcester. At this juncture Leominster sent out a whole company with officers for the relief of the Courts at Worcester, and also a part of a company with two superior officers, Ensign John Buss and Major (afterward Col.) Timothy Boutelle, to assist in dispersing a camp of the Shayites at Petersham. It was an intensely cold night and many of the soldiers were frozen on the march. Colonel Boutelle led the advance guard. Arriving in Petersham before sunrise, he sur-
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
prised the rebels in their beds. They surrendered without re- sistance.
At Springfield the insurgeants, headed by Shays, ap- proached the Court House, and passing beyond a forbidden point, were fired upon by the militia men twice without effect. At the third volley three of the insurgents fell dead and others were wounded. The rest retreated without firing a gun. Thus ended the Shays' Rebellion. Col. Boutelle was accorded great credit for the tact and skill exhibited in breaking up the camp at Petersham, and for many years held command of the regiment. Ensign Buss was soon promoted and was for sev- eral years Captain of the South company in this town.
WAR OF 1812.
In the war of 1812, a complete company of artillery under command of Captain Joseph Tenney was sent from here to South Boston to help protect the harbor of Boston from the British, who had determined upon laying waste the whole American coast from Maine to Georgia. The company re- mained on duty as long as its services were required, when it returned, and years afterwards each soldier received a pension from the government in recognition of this service.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
In the War of the Rebellion Leominster furnished 404 men, which was in excess of her full quota under the different calls, and came out with a considerable surplus to her credit. The town was always prompt in furnishing requisitions from the government for military supplies and in the voluntary con- tributions of articles for the relief of her men in the hospitals, and after battles, and since the war, has not forgotten the men who served her in the days of peril, but has been ever ready to relieve their necessities and provide for their families. Leom-
.
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PATRIOTISM.
inster was largely represented in the 15th, 21st, 23d, 25th, 32d, 36th, 53d and 57th regiments, and had representatives in every branch of the service. There were few of the great battles in which Leominster men did not take an honorable part.
It is a fact greatly to be regretted, that so much of the mil- itary history of this town is lost or scattered; that, during the War of the Rebellion there was no local paper to chronicle the doings of her citizens at home and in the field. The town records and a few published orations give only a faint reflec- tion of the patriotic enthusiasm which pervaded the commun- ity and made this town second to no other of its size in the State in its support of the government.
The early scenes of the rebellion are still fresh in the minds of many who were living at that time: The Secession of the Southern States-the attack on Fort Sumter-the call of President Lincoln for seventy-five thousand volunteers-the attack on the 6th Mass., while passing through Baltimore-the mass meetings of citizens-the intense excitement of that first Sunday (in war times) with its services of a patriotic nature- the enlisting of volunteers-their parades and drills-their im- patience at not being called into service, and their final depart- ure for the seat of war-the tender parting of soldiers with their friends (to many the last on earth)-and then the news of Ball's Bluff with its terrible slaughter, and of subsequent battles and campaigns in all of which the friends and families of Leom- inster soldiers were anxiously interested.
At the time of the breaking out of the rebellion there was one company of militia in town, The Old Military Co. A. of Leominster. This company had kept up its organization from the time the " order to raise " was issued from headquarters in May, 1789. For more than 60 years it had been known as the Leominster Artillery, but after the war of 1812 was changed to Infantry, and previous to the rebellion was in good condi-
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
tion. Within one week after the first requisition of the Presi- dent they were thoroughly drilled, equipped and ready to march. When the order was promulgated to receive none but those who would go for three years, and the maximum should be IOI, they filled the company to that number and were soon after ordered into camp at Worcester. Before leaving town Capt. Rockwood was presented with a sword by citizens of the town, the Rev. Eli Fay making the presentation speech. Few real- ized upon that occasion that this company of young men were leaving for three long years of hardship and suffering, and that many of their number would be killed in battle, become the victims of rebel brutality in Southern prison pens, be wounded or maimed for life or die from disease contracted in the army.
To show the patriotic spiritof the times, we give the follow- ing extracts from Mr. Fay's speech : " Captain Rockwood : Your fellow citizens have thought it proper to make some ex- pression of their appreciation of your willingness to leave the quiet scenes in which you have so long mingled and to serve your race, your country, and your God, on the battlefield ; and they have chosen me as their representative, to express, as words can but feebly express, the satisfaction we feel that you are willing to go and to lead a goodly number of our fellow cit- izens to the field of mortal combat (if need be) in defense of the liberties of our country. * * Sir : We have given you our men-our young men-we have given them understand- ing the awful hazard of war, and I charge you, before God, to bring them back to us alive, or bring back to our distressed country, in order and liberty, the price of their blood. And as a slight testimonial of the profound sympathy which the com- munity feel for you in view of the trying and responsible duties of your post, they have requested me to present this sword to you. Sir : Minister of the gospel of peace, as I am, yet under the circumstances, I cheerfully comply with that request.
REV. ELI FAY, D. D.
CAPT. G. W. ROCKWOOD.
CAPT. J. A. STRATTON.
CAPT. G. W. BROWN.
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PATRIOTISM.
Take this sword as an expression of our sympathy for you and an assurance that our best wishes go with you; and, by your regard for our town-by the honor of our commonwealth-by your pride of country-by our sense of the justice of our cause -by the remembrance of our revolutionary sires-by the price paid for our liberties-by the stars and stripes that float over us-by the shattered flag-staff of Fort Sumter-by the blood of our murdered citizens-by the value of our free insti- tutions-and by the love of God, do your whole duty, and may the arm of the Omnipotent uphold you !" .
It should be said, in this connection, that by word and deed, in season and out of season, Rev. Mr. Fay labored to help on the good work. He was a host in himself, fired by true patriotism, he gave his hand and his heart to the cause of his country and rendered efficient service in the business of re- cruiting.
Rev. George S. Ball, the brave Chaplain of the 21st Regi- ment, also accomplished much by patriotic speeches and direct personal influence. The town voted appropriations of money and serviceable uniforms and other clothing, and individuals gave liberally. The Messrs. Burrage of Boston, Johnson C., Alvah A., and Charles H., natives of Leominster, gave $810 for the purchase of equippments. In addition to this, Mr. A. A. Burrage offered the sum of $100 to any one of the Burrage name, or any one connected with him by blood or marriage, who should enlist within a specified time. These are only a few of the many instances that might be mentioned. The ladies of the town formed a "Soldier's Aid Society" and carried out a systematic plan of operations, preparing and sending to the soldiers in camp such things as would contribute to their com- fort.
Upon the breaking out of war the Leominster Band, re- cruited to 24 pieces, was accepted and went as the First Regi-
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
ment Band of Mass. V. M. They went into camp about the first of May, and were fifteen months in active service ; co- workers with the soldiers, doing their share of picket duty, and caring for the wounded. Upon the discharge of the Regiment- al Bands of the Army, by act of Congress, in July, 1862, the Leominster Band returned home. But several of their number enlistied in the regular service.
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