USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > Quarter millinnial celebration of the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 4 and 5, 1889 > Part 5
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DIVISION OF CHURCHES-1792.
For more than a century and a half there was only one Congregational church and society in the entire town, in- 1. Hon, Samnel Crocker Cobb, former Mayor of Boston.
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stead of the forty now to be found on the same territory. During that period, in addition to the learned, holy, humble William Hook, and the pious, judicious and modest Nicholas Street, before spoken of, I may not omit to allude to George Shove, whom Sewall calls a "principal light in these parts," and who after twenty-two years spent in promoting both the spiritual and material interests of Taunton, died on Thurs- day, April 21, 1687, in a good old age ; also, to the learned, affectionate and popular Samuel Danforth, who resided at the corner of Washington and Park streets, and who was a useful physician and a respectable lawyer as well as a pastor and whose death on Nov. 14, 1727, after forty years of faith- ful service, was declared to be an "awful and threatening stroke of Providence," and whose remains now repose in yonder Plain cemetery; next, to the hospitable Thomas Clap, son-in-law of Judge George Leonard, of Norton, whose house was that now occupied by Capt. Gordon on Dean street. Still less can I overlook that eloquent and persua- sive preacher, Josiah Crocker, whose powers drew many from a great distance to hear him, and who lived in the old par- sonage on Barnum street, until August 28, 1774; from whence he also was borne to his resting place, in the same cemetery ; and whose public spirited descendants, so long prominent in public affairs, have in many ways left so last- ing an impress on this place. He was succeeded by that fearless christian patriot, Caleb Barnum, whose house stood on the site of the late Mr. Dunbar's apothecary store, on the south side of City Square, and who at the early age of thirty-nine gave up his life in the service of his country as chaplain to the 24th Regiment in our Revolutionary war, declaring on his deathbed, that had he a thousand lives he would willingly lay them all down in his country's cause. I may also refer to the acute, out-spoken, and often eccentric
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Ephraim Judson, whose house was south of St. Thomas' church, near the Wheaton house, and who used to caution the boys not to make so much noise in the gallery, lest they wake up the old folks down below; to the some- times sublime and oftentimes imprudent preacher, John Fos- ter ; and later still, to the benevolent, affectionate and be- loved John Pipon, who never married, because his salary, as he said, could not "carry double," but who, notwithstand- ing, kept open house at the corner of High and Hill streets, where Mr. A. E. Swasey now resides.
In the latter part of the 18th century, under the ad- ministration of the Rev. Mr. Judson, a division of senti- ment began to arise in the church, which upon the settlement of Mr. Foster as Mr. Judson's successor, in 1792, culmi- nated in the withdrawal of a majority of the church members, and the organization of a new society in the west part of the town, which, after worshipping some years in temporary places, finally under the faithful guidance of the Rev. Alvan Cobb, eminent for his theological and biblical learning, erected in 1824 the church now standing at Westville, which is thought to be the oldest existing church edifice in town. This society is believed to have established the first Sunday School in Bristol County.
Three years previously, viz. in August, 1821, the third Congregational church had been organized at the Green, of which Rev. Chester Isham was the first pastor, succeeded by the Rev. Erastus Maltby, under whose long and faithful ministration the church increased to such an extent as to furnish material for a fourth society, which was organized in 1837 as the Spring street church, now the Winslow church on Cohannet street, and over which our beloved and esteemed chaplain was the first pastor, succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Blake, whose loss to this town cannot easily be
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estimated. Still again in 1853, another society of the same denomination was organized in East Taunton, and later still in 1868 the Union Congregational church at Britanniaville was added to the list.
As early as 1741 a Protestant Episcopal church was organized under the name of St. Thomas, which worshipped awhile at the west part of the town, but was practically sus- pended from 1798 until 1829, when it was re-organized in the centre of the town, and now worships in its stone church on High street, which in its present condition cost about $70,000. The Hon. Marcus Morton and the Hon. Francis Baylies were its first wardens after its re-establishment. This society never realized the benefit of the gift intended by Thomas Coram for the future Episcopalians of Taunton, in his deed of fifty-five acres, made December 28, 1703, to the vestry of King's Chapel, in trust, for they sold the land to Stephen Burt in 1754 for one hundred pounds, and ap- propriated the whole for building the present King's Chapel on Tremont street, Boston ! It should have gone into a "Coram Tower " at the south-east corner of the church. His subsequent gift of a library and Book of Common Prayer shared a better fate. A second parish of the same denomination was organized at Whittenton in 1866 as St. John's church, with the Rev. Geo. D. Miles its first rector, whose catholic spirit and amiable character will not soon be forgotten in this community.
The first Free-will Baptist church was in North Taun- ton, and its first meeting house was erected in 1767, the present one succeeding it about 1836. A Six Principles Baptist church was organized in 1789, in North Rehoboth and West Taunton, but which has long ceased to exist. In 1819 was organized the "Second Baptist church in Taun- ton " on Winthrop street, the name of which was afterwards
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changed to Winthrop Street Baptist church, and which has become such a power among us. A Christian Baptist church also existed for a while on Trescott street, but this society has for sometime been disbanded. The first Methodist Episcopal church at the Weir, was established in 1830, now one of the largest and most influential in that denomination. The second-the Central Methodist Episco- pal church, on Cohannet street-was organized in 1853, and the third-Grace church, corner of Weir street and Somer- set avenue-in 1874.
After several acts incorporating a Universalist society in town, the present society was established in 1840, our worthy townsman, Mr. Charles Foster, who still goes in and out among us, being one of the most active members. After wor- shipping awhile in the Town Hall, it moved to Spring street, and in 1842 erected a new church at the corner of High and Spring streets, which in turn gave way in 1876 to the pres- ent convenient and larger building on the same site. The first Roman Catholic church, St. Mary's, was erected in 1831, succeeded by the present substantial and commodious stone edifice in 1854. From this central church has sprung the flourishing parish of the Sacred Heart at the Weir, the Church of the Holy Family at East Taunton, and the French church of the Immaculate Conception at Whitten- ton, the whole ministering to the wants of over seven thou- sand souls. The latest addition to our list is the Presby- terian society, which has just erected a fine stone house of worship on Washington street. These and some others, in- cluding the Advent Christian church, the chapel at Oakland, and that on Arlington and School streets, show a growth in our means and conveniences for religious culture quite equal to the development in our material and secular interests, and also demonstrate how easy it is for brethren of different
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religious names to dwell together in peace and unity. But amid all these successive additions to our churches and religious societies, the old mother church still lives, and embosomed in her emerald setting-never more attractive than on this day-she grows not dim with age, but on the contrary has just renewed her youth like the eagle, as if determined still to be called, as heretofore, "The First Con- gregational Society in Taunton. "
TAUNTON'S PROGRESS FROM 1800 TO 1860.
In the orderly development of our subject we have now reached the present century, at the opening of which Taun- ton had a population of only 3,860. Her principal manu- factures at that time were about three millions of brick, and iron ware of different kinds, to nearly 1,500 tons annually.1 Her growth during the first decade was hardly perceptible, gaining only about fifty inhabitants in the entire time, if we may trust the reported census.
Her first mill for making cotton-goods,-the old Green Mill so-called,-was erected in 1806 on Weir street, near the bridge, largely by the enterprise of Capt. Silas Shepard who had a short time before moved here from Wrentham. Mr. Jesse Hartshorn, so long an admitted authority in that industry, was the expert practical assistant in this mill. The Dean Cotton mill at Barehole, for mak- ing cotton yarn, was organized soon after, a former super- intendent of which Mr. Robert S. Dean, still goes in and out among us.2 Then came the war of 1812, for which, though deeming it unwise and unnecessary, Taunton furnished three separate companies, mostly for coast guard duty, under Captains Silas Shepard, Seth Staples and Joseph Reed. This was her full quota of the 14,000 men raised by Massa- chusetts.
1. See Appendix KK.
2. Since delivering, deceased in his 85th year.
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Soon after the return of peace, Taunton began to show signs of a new life, and the next fifty years exhibit a mark- ed advance in her industrial enterprises, and permanently established her character as a great and successful manufac- turing centre. Among her leading undertakings in that period we may especially note one great enterprise of those energetic business men, Messrs. Crocker and Richmond, who for many years swayed a powerful sceptre over every branch of industry in this town ; we mean, The Taunton Manufac- turing Company of 1823. Stretching, with its immense plant from Morey's Bridge to Weir street, it included there- in the extensive Calico Print Works, the first in this coun- try, the old Brick Mill on Washington street, the Hopewell Mills above, and also the original Whittenton Mill, parent of that magnificent establishment, the consummate manage- ment of which, with its fifteen hundred employes, has made it at once our boast and our pride. We may mention also the Oakland Mills of Capt. Shepard in 1827, the first can- ton flannel factory in this vicinity, if not in the Common- wealth ; the extensive works of A. Field & Sons, and of the Taunton Tack Company, whose humble carpet tacks intro- duce our name into the palaces of presidents and princes, and whose united product exceeds that of any other place in the known world ; the splendid establishment of Reed & Bar- ton, the successor of the first enterprise of the kind in America, which has done so much for our reputation at home and abroad, and whose elegant silver ware snatches the prize from every competitor at the exhibitions of all na- tions ; the Old Colony Iron Company of 1844, which through a long and prosperous career constituted with its five hundred hands the life and soul of East Taunton, in striking contrast with its present forlorn and deserted ap- pearance ; the Phoenix Manufacturing Company for the
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manufacture of crucibles, the first of the kind in New Eng- land, and one of the first in this country, which has had the confidence and the contracts of our government for over half a century ; dividing in that time nearly $200,000 on a capital stock of only $30,000; the Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Company, one of the first establishments in the United States: erected solely for the manufacture of locomotives, and whose thousand engines, by their careful construction and efficient and economical working, have ac- quired a high reputation throughout the country ; the Cop- per Manufacturing Company of Crocker Brothers & Com- pany, so long a brilliant and successful enterprise in our town, whose yellow sheathing metal, the first made in this country, has protected many a noble bark, as she threaded her way amid " the dazzling glitter and the thundering crash of the icy ocean, or ploughed up the phosphoric light of the tropic seas." . Finally, we refer to the Mason Machine Works of 1845, in all its vastness, the product of whose cotton machinery hums her praise in every manufacturing district in our land; whose swift-winged locomotives herald her taste and skill as they traverse the earth from California's Golden Gate to the spicy shores of Araby the Blest ; whose perfected printing presses already proclaim the glad tidings to the inhabitants of South America, the Zulus of South Africa, and to the far-off natives of Australia, and soon, in connection with those made by the Locomotive Company, to reach and enlighten all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues from "Greenland's icy mountains " to "India's coral strand. "
These and many other business enterprises, nearly two hundred in number, the bare enumeration of which would exhaust your patience, coupled with the fact that all our banks (except the new Savings Bank) first opened their
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doors during the first half of this century, abundantly prove that notwithstanding an occasional reverse, and even an oc- casional failure, these were the halcyon days of Taunton's prosperity, the impulse of which sent our population bound- ing up from about 7,000 in 1840 to over ' 15,000 in 1860, and our rateable valuation from about $2,000,000 to nearly $8,000,000 in the same period.1 But our prosperity was now to receive a check, before which all other disasters sink into insignificance. Suddenly our country found itself in the throes of a second birth, and all our cares, all our thoughts, and all our prayers were needed for her preservation.
TAUNTON IN THE REBELLION-1861-'65.
Governor Andrews' order, under the President's call for seventy-five thousand men, reached Taunton on the morning of April 16, 1861. It found her lamps trimmed and burn- ing. Fortunately the Taunton Light Guard, Co. G, had been organized six years earlier, and before eleven o'clock of that day were on their march, armed and equipped under Captain Timothy Gordon, for the appointed rendezvous, the "Cradle of Liberty in Boston " It is to the lasting credit of Captain John H. Church, of this town, that upon hearing his country's call, he instantly resigned his business situa- tion and before eight o'clock that morning, had enlisted in Company G, for the war; so far as known, the first volunteer in the Commonwealth, if not in the country. Others may have felt bound by marching orders ; some may have gone as paid substitutes ; but Mr. Church of his own free will, unbidden by any superior, untempted by gold, unattracted even by the homage paid to military office, left home, kin- dred and friends, to join, as a private, the ranks of an ex- pedition, the perils of which no man knew. Was ever purer patriotism than this? Mr, James M. Cushman, also of this 1. See Appendix LL.
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town, enlisted but a few minutes after Mr. Church, and is entitled to like praise; par nobile fratrum.
The Light Guard, numbering fifty-eight officers and men, left Fall River, April 17th, on the steamer State of Maine, and at early dawn of the 20th, the first moment the stars and stripes could be seen floating from the flag-staff of the Fort, and on the same month, the same day, and almost the same hour at which its predecessors marched into Roxbury the morning after the battle of Lexington, did this, our first contribution to the war, land at Fortress Monroe, thus en- titling itself to the universally admitted honor of being the first northern company, and its commander the first northern captain, to set foot on rebel soil. It was also one of the first to be mustered into the nation's service, the Washing- ton Light Infantry having preceded it by a few days only. Its timely arrival no doubt saved Fortress Monroe to the Union cause ; an event, the importance of which can hardly be over estimated. This company had the honor of being in the first field fight of the war, at Big Bethel, which might have resulted quite differently had they been properly sup- ported on the left and centre. The Light Guard not only did faithful duty in its three months' service in Virginia, but became a nursery of commanding officers, who made an ex- cellent record throughout the war ; over a score of its mem- bers having risen to rank in other organizations ; among them Lieutenant Colonels Mason W. Burt and Willard D. Tripp, Major Brown, and numerous captains and other of- ficers, many of whom are happily with us this day ; one. at least, with his honorable scars, and without whom our city treasury could not well be: Capt. George A. Washburn. Another captain there was, universally acknowledged to be a brave soldier, an exemplary comrade, a christian patriot, who was last seen on earth at the head of his advancing
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column, and "the place of whose sepulchre no man knoweth unto this day. " Inspired was he, inspired were they all, by that lofty motto inscribed on their colors by their first com- mander, "Fidelity to Duty, whenever it may call, wherever it may lead. "
For the next four years what trials, what sacrifices, what anxieties, what sorrows, what alternations of hope and despair, was our good city called upon to endure. Her streets became recruiting stations, and her fields camping grounds. Fortunate was it for us that there then resided here a gradu- ate of West Point, who had done gallant service in the Mexican and Seminole wars, and who by his knowledge of military tactics enabled us to send forth one of the best equipped and best drilled regiments in the volunteer service. The 7th Regiment by its conduct on many a well fought field, reflected the highest credit on itself and its fearless commander, who by his merit and bravery rapidly rose from a colonel to a brigadier, and thence to a major-general, tak- ing part in many desperate encounters, and on one occasion called to assume command of the entire army of the Potomac ; afterwards entrusted with the Department of the Susquehanna, and later still with a division in the 23d Army Corps at Nashville and the subsequent operations in North Carolina ; on all occasions conducting himself so well as to receive the approbation of President Lincoln, and a com plimentary banquet from his appreciative townsmen. Need I speak his name? Major-General D. N. Couch.
Through those long sad years Taunton constantly showed her devotion, not only by steadily pouring her trea- sury into the nation's lap, but by sending forth, with their life in their hands, more than half her fighting men, and more than one-tenth of her entire population, including men,
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women and children.1 How well they bore their part in that awful conflict, let Antietam, the Wilderness, Gaines' Mills, Fredericksburg Heights, nay, nay, let Port Hudson answer. Behold yonder memorial tablet, and through the mist that gathers in each eye, read as best you may its sad answer. George C. Ruby, Isaac Dean Paul, William H. Bartlett, and all ye who likewise fell, face toward the foe, Heroic Souls, I pray you answer! Spirits of the Departed, where are ye ? Where are ye ?
" How sleep the Brave, who sink to rest, By all their country's wishes blest ! When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallowed mold, She there shall dress a sweeter sod, Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
" By fairy hands their knell is rung, By forms unseen their dirge is sung; There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray, To bless the turf that wraps their clay ; And Freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell, a weeping hermit, there."
TAUNTON AS A CITY-1865.
No doubt a town government is the simplest and purest democracy ; but beyond a certain limit it proves impracticable. And as our fathers found a representative system neces- sary in the State, so does every populous town, in its own local government. It has its evils certainly, at present ap- parently unavoidable, but every well governed city will seek to reduce them to the minimum. This impossibility of deliberately managing public affairs by the voters of a large town became so evident here, as it had elsewhere, that in the year 1864 our citizens with as much unanimity as could rea- sonably be expected under the circumstances, voted to adopt
1. Taunton and her citizens raised about $200,000 for the war. Her population in 1860 was 15,376, and she furnished for the army and navy 1652 men, not including her sons who enlisted from other towns in this and other states, which would swell the number to nearly two thousand men.
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a city charter, which went into full operation on the 2d of January, 1865 ; and Taunton was thus enrolled as the thir- teenth city in the Commonwealth. In my opinion it was a. favorable time to consider the expediency of resuming her original name of Cohannet, but of this I may not be the best judge.
The influence of a new municipal organization soon manifested itself in more orderly and systematic methods of business ; in a more efficient police ; a better equipped fire department ; an increased expenditure for schools ; in a free public library, now containing about 30,000 volumes ; and later still in our efficient system of water works, so largely due to the energetic efforts of our then Senator, the Hon. William C. Lovering: From 1864 to the present time her industrial interests and prosperity, with some intermediate checks, have continued to advance, until she now has a pop- ulation estimated at over 26,000, and a valuation of nearly $ 19,000,000. With her varied industries, her advantageous position at the head of tide water, her well equipped schools, her numerous churches, her many charitable and benevolent institutions for the aged and infirm in mind and body, for which we owe so much to a lady's recent munificence,1 what is to prevent, if we are true to ourselves, a steady increas- ing prosperity for the future ?
Every thoughtful person will inquire whether our moral and intellectual advance is keeping pace with the growth of our material and industrial interests. As our "silver and gold is multiplied, and all that we have is multiplied, " have we correspondingly increased our faith, our sincerity, our love of truth, temperance and purity of heart? Is our moral fibre stronger, our obedience to the voice of conscience 1. The Morton Hospital, presented by Mrs. Susan Tillinghast (Morton) Kimball, of Boston.
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quicker, our faith in eternal verities firmer than that of our Pilgrim sires ? Nay, are we in all respects holding our own ? But with our increased advantages, our more general intel- lectual culture, our marvelous progress in arts, science and manufactures, our better understanding of the laws of na- ture, our more general possession of useful knowledge, our greater freedom of thought and action, our increased re- sources for a broader and higher development in every de- partment of life, why should we be content with even what our fathers possessed ? Forgetting those things which are behind, why not reach forth to those which are before ?
" New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth, They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth. Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires; We ourselves must pilgrims be, Launch our Mayflower, and boldly steer through the desperate winter sea, Nor attempt the Future's portal, with the Past's blood-rusted key."
FINALLY.
If we would elevate our city into that position in the Commonwealth which her situation and advantages fairly warrant ; if we would retain our active and enterprising young men at home ; and attract intelligent and public spirited citizens from abroad ; if we would promote the high- est welfare of our busy people in their numerous and varied industries ; if we would ever feel a just pride in our Taunton citizenship, and hear her name everywhere uttered with honor and respect, we should not only cultivate and develop our business and industrial interests, but elevate and ad- vance our moral, intellectual and social culture to the high- est possible standard, and especially strive "that all things may be so ordered and settled by our endeavors upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety may be established among us for all generations." Then shall our "sons grow up like
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young plants, our daughters be as the polished corners of the temple ; then shall our garners be full and plenteous with all manner of store, our oxen be strong to labor, and our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields. Then shall there be no more hostile invasions, no more going forth to war, and no complaining about our streets. Happy, hap- py are the people that are in such a case! YEA, BLESSED IS THAT PEOPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD !"
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