USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Barre > Memorial of the one hundredth anniversary of the Incorporation of the town of Barre, June 17, 1874 ... > Part 8
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Into the same section of the town where the Sibleys lived had come, somewhat earlier, from Holliston, David Underwood. Of him was Joseph, and of him General Orison, who has long been a prominent ·citi- zen of Milford, and, till lately, the head of a large mercantile house in Boston. His career from the smallest beginnings has been highly successful, and he has received many marks of consideration from the political party to which he belongs. But that which he probably regards as his chief distinction is his being the father of another General Underwood, the hero of no sham-fight of a holiday muster, but the intrepid leader of the Massachusetts Thirty-third in
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the storming of Lookout Mountain, whence he was borne with loss of a leg and his body riddled with bullets. For his conduct and bravery in the battle, he was promoted brigadier by Hooker on the spot; and subsequently by Secretary Stanton in person was brevetted major-general. Amongst her numberless grandchildren Barre rejoices to see him here to-day.
Early in this century the town was cast into sorrow and gloom by the death of its minister. In those days, when there was but one minister in a town, and when he was usually the one person best informed and most consulted on all subjects, his death was a very impressive event. It affected all hearts. It was a great public bereavement. It suspended, or at least interrupted, the functions of the church until a suc- cessor was found to take the vacant place. The Rev. Josiah Dana died October 1, 1801, after a min- istry of thirty-four years. There are those living who still remember him. They describe him as a tall, erect man, of dignified mien and pleasing address. He wore the cocked hat and breeches of the time, and carried a gold-headed cane, which, with his im- posing presence, excited a certain awe of him in the young, and made him an object of reverential regard to passing strangers. A laboring man, it is related, seeking employment, with great diffidence approached him. When asked, "What is your occupation ?" - embarrassed by the lofty figure and manner of his interrogator, he hesitated, but at last stammered out, "A little inclined to Baptist, sir." In the college
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catalogue he is placed next but one in family rank to his classmate, Timothy Pickering, and of his scholar- ship some opinion may be formed, perhaps, by the following entry in the Faculty records: "1759, Sept. 24th. Dana, Freshman, received after examination as to excelling in learning, Watts' Logick, £2. 16." His successor, who had the best of opportunities for knowing the regard in which he was held here, de- scribes him as "a man of strong powers of mind, of highly respectable acquirements, of great social quali- ties, and of very popular address in the pulpit." He also testifies of him that "during his long ministry, he maintained great influence in this place, and left a deep mark on the character of his people." These impressions were undoubtedly received from leading parishioners two years after his decease. I am led to think that, whilst he was quite sociable, and had a keen relish for humor and wit, he was, at the same time, high-spirited, out-spoken, and independent. This is inferred from two incidents. An aged lady, who remembers him, recently related to me this an- ecdote: A certain Mrs. - was a fidgety woman, and whenever she was a little ill she thought that she was surely going to die, and always sent for the min- ister. Many times he had responded to her calls; when, at last, he was summoned in the night by a messenger announcing that Mrs. - was dying and must see him. So he dressed himself and rode to her house two or three miles distant. Entering her room, his eye instantly perceived that there was no danger,
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and standing by her bed he spoke sharply, "Mrs. - , I have travelled, first and last, fifty miles to see you dic, and you will outlive me yet!" The good woman was very angry; but the next morning she was seen plying her broom with uncommon dexterity. She never forgave him, but, as to living, she fulfilled his prediction. The other incident is of a different nature. In the Book of Records is found a warrant for a town meeting dated May 21, 1783, one article of which runs thus: "To see if measures can be mutually consulted and concerted for the peaceable and regular dismis- sion of the pastor from his pastoral office in this place, inasmuch as a question touching his support lately sub- mitted to the town did not have a very kind and cour- teous reception." After some conversation upon this article, it was moved, "that this meeting be adjourned for the further consideration of the matter in ques- tion." The explanation is, that on the third of May the town "voted to allow Mr. Dana ££15. and not to allow any more salary the present year." It is prob- able that this vote was characterized in terms of de- served severity by Mr. Dana; and that many of those who gave the vote, offended or ashamed, thought to avenge themselves by dismissing him. But better counsels prevailed; and on a new warrant, the 9th of June, the town "voted £33. 6. 8. in addition." And the trouble was no more heard of. Twice after this little breeze his salary was increased.
Mr. Dana had a large family, and two of his daugh- ters for a number of years taught the grammar school
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of the town. On the occasion of his funeral, his friend and college-classmate, and for thirty years neighbor in the ministry, the Rev. Ephraim Ward, of Brook- field, preached the sermon. In the course of it he says of Mr. Dana: "He was possessed of natural firmness of mind; of a sprightly imagination; and of an easy and happy elocution. His manner of utter- ance was solemn and manly, which added dignity to his addresses, especially on religious and important subjects. His preaching was serious, instructive, and practical. He adopted the Calvinistic scheme, but was not a bigot. He was tenacious of the important doctrines of the gospel, but charitable towards those who differed with him in smaller matters. His natu- ral temper led him to be facetious with his friends, yet his conversation was savory and instructive. He was easy of access to all, benevolent and charitable. As a husband, he was kind, attentive, and prudent; as a parent, tender, careful, and affectionate; as a friend, hospitable and beneficent. Some of his last years were attended with much bodily weakness and infirmity, which enfeebled in a degree his natural fortitude of mind. Towards the close of life, the All-wise suffered a veil to be drawn over his mind, which obstructed the exercise of his reason two or three weeks before his final adieu."
So passed away the second minister of Barre, leav- ing behind him that good name which is better than riches, with all the imperishable influences of a life consecrated to Truth and Righteousness, to " Christ
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and the Church." His remains are interred in the south burial-ground, near the house in which he lived. His monument, a marble slab, bears this inscrip- tion : -
" IN MEMORY OF THE REV. JOSIAH DANA WHO WAS ORDAINED TO THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE CHURCH IN BARRE OCT. 7TH, 1767, AND DEPARTED THIS LIFE Ост. 1801, IN THE 60TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
ERECTED BY THE SONS OF THE DECEASED."
The vacancy made by Mr. Dana's decease was filled two years later by a candidate, who began to preach on the first Sunday of October, 1803. At a town meeting, holden November 28th, it was " voted unanimously, to unite with the church to invite Mr. James Thompson to the pastoral charge of this church and people." "Voted, to choose a committee of seven to wait on Mr. Thompson and inform him of the pro- ceedings of the town, and to see if there is a prospect of his settling with us in the ministry, and report at the time to which this meeting may be adjourned." The committee consisted of Samuel Bigelow, Moses Holden, Noah Ripley, Joel Bent, Eleazar James, Ebenezer Rice, David Fisk, and Nathaniel Jones, - all men of high character and much influence. At the adjourned meeting it was voted, "To give Mr.
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Thompson four hundred dollars settlement and five hundred dollars as annual salary so long as he con- tinues to be our minister." Instead of sending a let- ter, as was, and still is, customary, "Mr. Thompson came into the meeting attended by the committee, and announced his satisfaction with the terms pro- posed, and his acceptance of the call." A committee of five was appointed to make arrangements for the ordination, which took place January 11th, 1804. The occasion was regarded with great interest, and the people thronged from neighboring towns to wit- ness its proceedings. All things were done " de- cently and in order," and to the great gratification of the people. This was an orthodox ordination. But orthodoxy in those days was not afraid of a little merriment as an after-part of the impressive cere- monial; and so the event was celebrated by a ball in the evening, in which the beautiful bride of the minister led the dance, greatly to the admiration of the company.
The church is happy and jubilant over its fresh start. It becomes, it may be feared, a little proud; for its meeting-house, though only fourteen years built, does not satisfy its ambition. Therefore, some time in the year 1806 it was voted, " to build a hand- some and beautiful steeple, cupola or belfry, provided there be raised by subscription sufficient to purchase a bell and clock;" and a committee was chosen to carry the vote into effect. The work was entered upon without delay; and when completed the church,
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with its large shapely pillars and finely proportioned steeple, was regarded as the handsomest in the county; and when the clear, rich-toned bell had been hung, its far-reaching peals reverberated amongst these hills hour after hour to the great satisfaction of the inhabitants.
In proceeding with the narrative from this date, after which events become increasingly familiar to an increasing number who have had part in them, it will not be necessary to observe a very strict chronological order, nor to enter into such minuteness of detail as seemed to be expedient in an endeavor to rescue from oblivion names and incidents belonging to the forming period of the town which were hid away from general knowledge in the obscurity of ancient records and scattered documents. Besides, not be- lieving that the world is very soon coming to an end - having, indeed, a comfortable persuasion that Barre will live on to a second Centennial - I think it right to leave to my successor a chance to indulge his curi- osity and to use a little of his valuable time in finding out what remarkable people WE were, and what great things we did. "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." If the orator on that occasion should chance to be a woman! - which many signs foretoken, - let her be duly thankful to her masculine predecessor of to-day, that, in fulfilling his task, he consulted the words of Holy Writ, where it is recorded for our instruction, " Boaz commanded his young men, say-
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ing, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not ; and let fall also of the handfuls on purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not."
During the first thirty years of this century the local ambition which had existed from the start became a marked feature. The leading men were public-spirited. They could tolerate no narrow policy in matters pertaining to the interests of the town. They were not men to be satisfied with any thing short of the best attainable, whether in their crops, their horses, their breeds of cattle, their barns, their schools, or their preaching. Every thing pro- jected by them was on a larger scale than in the towns adjacent. First amongst these leaders and in- spirers, it will be gladly conceded on all hands, stood the Hon. Nathaniel Jones; a farmer and a courtly gentleman; quick to devise and energetic to sustain enterprises which might conduce to the convenience, honor, and welfare of the town; postponing private advantage to public service; entertaining friends and strangers with large hospitality; and giving to the church the benefit of his weighty influence. With a cultivated taste for music, he led the choir forty years, and at every town meeting, with few exceptions, secured appropriations to keep up, by singing-schools, the style of that part of the worship. His devotion spared neither time nor property. Five years he was an assessor of taxes; sixteen years a selectman, most of them Chairman of the Board; eight years a repre-
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sentative; four years a senator; and in 1820 a mem- ber of the Convention for revising the Constitution of the State. But the mention of these offices affords only a hint of the extent and value of his public ser- vices. Sad that no child or descendant or near rela- tion survives him in the town! His three sons are dead. His daughters, of rare personal attractions in their youth, were educated and married in Montreal, one of his grandsons, the Rev. Dr. Charles Bancroft, being now a canon of the Episcopal Church in that city.
The associates of Major Jones in these local offices, in the earlier years, were such excellent citizens as James Holland, Jason Hawes, Samuel Lee, John Allen, Joseph Farrar, Simeon Metcalf, John Gorham, Jotham Rice, Moses Holden; in the later, Silas Bemis, Artemas Hapgood, Rufus Holden, Francis Rice, the Harwoods, Harding P. Woods, Seth Caldwell, Nathl. Holland, Luke Adams, Luke Houghton, Nathl. Lor- ing, David Rice, and many others, - all able and faithful coadjutors.
With such men for administrators of its affairs, and stimulated by a virtuous ambition, it is not strange that the town flourished.
Until about the close of the first quarter of this century the business here was almost exclusively agricultural. There were, indeed, a few tanneries; one or two fulling mills for finishing homespuns; and grist and saw mills sufficient for the uses of the town. There were also mechanics' shops for such work as
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was indispensable in farming; stores, three or four, which drove a flourishing trade; and generally two good taverns for the accommodation of travellers - and other purposes! In 1805, it is also true, and to be noted, that Capt. Seth Pratt, who had moved here from Shrewsbury, built a dam on Ware River and dug a canal through a hill ; and that on a water-power thus made several mills were erected, one of which, built and owned by Mr. Phineas Heywood, was a factory for making woollen frocking of a superior quality; and near this establishment there grew up a pleasant village of considerable trade, known as Barre Plains. But with these, and perhaps a few other minor exceptions, the all-engrossing pursuit was agriculture. The annual products of the soil for mar- ket were enormous. I have asked one of the gen- tlemen who had the vending of these productions a number of years in the regular course of his mer- cantile pursuits to furnish to me an estimate of the weight and value of the two principal staples, pork and cheese, for any period of five successive years. His answer for the years 1846 to 1850 is as follows:
Cheese, 2,754,664 pounds, bringing in
market, all transported in wagons . $220,373.12
Pork, 539,998 pounds, bringing 37,799.86
Making a total of . $258,172.98
This exhibits only a small portion of the agricul- tural products.
Not far from this date, 1825, a new enterprise was
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projected by Mr. Benjamin Clark, a successful mer- chant here. It was the erection of a Cotton Factory, down in the woods near Coldbrook, on Ware River. Many shook their heads and pronounced the project chimerical. But he was confident, and entered into it with all his energy, embarking his entire fortune. The project succeeded, but he was ruined in estate. The factory which he built with its privileges passed into other hands, whilst, after a term of imprisonment for debt in Worcester jail, he went forth penniless, to win success in other fields. It is gratifying to those who knew him and held him in esteem, that in a ripe old age he is still living in peace and content, with more than ample resources for all his needs. In the hands of his successors, Smith, father and sons, the business has gone on prosperously; and in the neighborhood of the factory has grown up one of the prettiest villages, embowered by lofty trees, to be seen anywhere in New England.
How shall I speak of Dennyville in the dignified presence of him whose name it bears and of whose works it tells? Let me relate a little of its story and leave the rest to the researches of my successor! In the year 1833, several gentlemen, who had had expe- rience in woollen manufacture, purchased of Mr. John Wadsworth a tract of land and a water-power on Ware River, and secured an act of incorporation as "The Wadsworth Woollen Manufacturing Com- pany." The company proceeded to erect a factory and other buildings necessary. This enterprise, however,
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like the other, did not prove a success in first hands. At a critical juncture, our sagacious townsman, the Hon. Edward Denny, saw his opportunity and pur- chased the property. Adapting the machinery to the manufacture of flannels, instead of fine broadcloth, he easily and rapidly turned the property to good account; and, as a result, Barre is glad to show to her visitors, down there in the happy valley amidst the pines, Mr. Denny's fine house and grounds, and numerous buildings of various styles of architecture, the plates of which I have not discovered in any work, and which it is not necessary here to describe! I forbear to speak of " Wadsworth's Scythe Factory," which flourished for a considerable time, but exists no longer. And why should you be wearied with the various fortune of the "Bemis Powder-mill; " the tons of " villanous saltpetre " it consumed; the num- ber of times it was blown up and rebuilt; its profits in money, its losses in men; or how, at last, it " went up," never to come down again. Leaving these, I invite you to investigate our palm-leaf operations.
Do not expect me to aid you. The work is intricate and manifold altogether beyond my powers of eluci- dation. But I will give you a few figures. In the year 1865, there were manufactured here palm-leaf hats of the value of $47,941, and Shaker hoods of the value of $158,583. In the twenty years ending with 1873, one concern, Mr. Desper's, finished 1,929,040 dozen hats! This will do as a specimen.
But a truce to business. This is a holiday, and
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other themes invite. Thought and fancy turn rather on persons than on things, - persons whose lives illustrate our history. Amongst these is one who rose to a distinction in his calling above all other sons of Barre, the first recorded mention of whom is in these words: "Voted HORATIO GATES one hundred and ten dollars for teaching school." This was in 1802. Horatio was one of the sons of Capt. Benja- min Gates, who was a rough man, of strong mind and considerable influence. The son was capable and energetic. In the prime of manhood he found his way to Montreal; and in a few years it came to be known here that he was prosecuting a lucrative busi- ness. He went on prospering and winning respect and confidence in the community till his commercial house became the wealthiest and the largest in its correspondence in Lower Canada. It was not till he had attained this eminence that he returned for a visit to his native town. His coming created an immense sensation, and his noble presence and unos- tentatious bearing made a most favorable impression upon those who saw him. He was entertained by a banquet and ball, which he greatly enjoyed. Our Major Jones married his sister, and this is the expla- nation of the fact that the daughters of the former, as I have mentioned, were educated and married in Montreal. And this, again, leads me to observe that the influence of this connection, through the occa- sional visits of these refined and accomplished ladies, was not inconsiderable in forming the manners and
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kindling the aspirations of our young people. Mr. Gates's life was not long. But " honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years; but wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age." The newspapers of his adopted city announced his decease as follows: "Died at Montreal, on the 11th of April, 1834, after a short but severe illness, the Hon- orable Horatio Gates, -Member of the Legislative Council of the Province of Lower Canada, in the 57th year of his age." In their obituary notices they vie with each other in the warmth of their eulogies. One of them says: "Distinguished as his name was, wherever the trade of British North America had spread, for honorable dealing, for candor and a high sense of moral rectitude, for vigilance, activity, dis- crimination, and decision, he was no less eminent for the valuable nature of his correspondence. . . . Per- haps no individual has been called away from us since Canada became a British Colony whose demise in- volves such important consequences. . . . He pos- sessed all the nobler traits of American character in an eminent degree. Liberality of sentiment, munifi- cence, hospitality, urbanity, and benevolence were prominent in his personal character. Our charitable institutions shared largely in his liberal support. His house was ever open to such of his respectable coun- trymen as visited this city. His example was looked up to with no ordinary degree of deference by his fellow-citizens; and all works of beneficence in which
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he lent a helping hand secured the sanction of general support." Another observes: "We write under the feelings which must agitate every man in this com- mercial community upon losing the brightest orna- ment - the most widely known, the most highly appreciated - of the commercial body. There may arise men of wealth or men of integrity, men of enter- prise or men of talent, but we fear never again to behold in Montreal a merchant of such untiring per- severance, or possessing the renown - the generally diffused, the exalted, the unimpeachable renown - that was enjoyed by Horatio Gates." Still another writes: "At the hour appointed for consigning to the tomb the mortal remains of our deservedly esteemed and venerated fellow-citizen, the Hon. Horatio Gates, every avenue to his residence was closed by a multi- tude of persons, who, without distinction of creed or politics, hastened to testify their respect for the mem- ory of him whose virtues will long be remembered by those who witnessed that beautiful but rare combina- tion of private worth with public enterprise which dis- tinguished his character. The native of a country that may proudly boast of such a scion, his identity with British feeling never for a moment affected his partialities for the land of his origin. An American by birth, he was equally the friend of his own and the country of his adoption."
It is not as ministering to our local pride that I refer at so much length to this distinguished son of Barre, but that he may be contemplated as a stimu-
.
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lating example by our young men of the present and the coming time.
Quite a different man was his brother, Samuel Gates, whom, as connected with one of the best institutions of the town, it is proper to call to your remembrance. As I recollect him he was a quiet, silent, somewhat austere man, and a small farmer. But though his property was not large, by his will he left five hundred dollars for a FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, on condition that a like sum should be appropriated by the town for that purpose. The condition was complied with, and for several years additional appro- priations were made. From time to time donations of valuable books have been received. A donation of twelve hundred dollars in money was made seven or eight years ago. The institution is still fostered with care, and its good influence cannot well be over- estimated. Let me use the privilege of a son and beg that it may continue to be cherished by the peo- ple of the town as a treasury of useful knowledge, a fountain of intellectual improvement and pleasure, and one of the best possessions they can secure in per- petuity to their children. Honor to the thoughtful beneficence of Samuel Gates!
Other distinguished names will be brought to your notice farther on. Meantime we return once more to the affairs of the church. Until the year 1827, the whole people of the town had been united in one religious society of the Congregational order, with the exception of a small body of Baptists living on the easterly border, and a small organization of Uni-
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