USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westborough > The history of Westborough, Massachusetts. Part I. The early history. By Heman Packard De Forest. Part II. The later history. By Edward Craig Bates > Part 31
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" The frescoing of the church is very fine and deserving of special notice. In addition to the paintings above mentioned, the spaces on the ceiling of the side aisles are decorated with special and appropriate designs, emblematic of the sacraments of the Church, while the walls and columns are finished in soft tints of brown, relieved with judicious ornamentation of gold and lighter colors. The pews are of a dark-brown color and are very handsome in design, the backs being of open work of an ornamental character.
" The altars, three in number, are very chaste and beautiful, and in their rounded lines and subdued tints of cream and gold harmo- nize perfectly with the general character of the sacred edifice. The high altar especially, with its background of beautiful paintings, stained glass windows representing Saint Cornelius, Saint Luke, and Saint Margaret, and the graceful lines of the sanctuary, supported by carved angelic figures, forms a picture that not only satisfies the artistic perceptions, but lifts the soul to the contemplation of Him in whose honor the beautiful edifice has been erected and to whose service it is now forever dedicated by the solemn ritual of His Holy Church.
"The windows are of stained glass finely executed, and are embellished with pictures of saints and religious symbols. The windows are gifts to the church from Rev. Thomas Griffin, Rev.
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J. J. McCoy, Hubbard Willson, Patrick Brady, Patrick Murphy, John Dee, Joseph Wheeler, T. McEnany, and other members of the congregation. A beautiful sanctuary lamp was presented by ladies of Worcester."
In addition to the introduction of Sandra water and the erection of new buildings, the past fifteen years have seen numerous improvements in the appearance and condition of the town. The extension of concrete sidewalks, the setting out of hundreds of shade-trees, and the better care of highways, have done much to increase its attractiveness.
Since 1887 - when the Westborough Electric Light Company was organized by Christopher Whitney, William T. Forbes, Henry K. Taft, George O. Brigham, and Thomas T. Robinson - electric lights have come into use for light- ing the streets, the town hall, several of the churches, many stores and offices, and some dwellings.
In 1887, Dr. William Curtis left a legacy of $1,000 each to the town and to the Catholic church for the construc- tion of gateways at the entrances of Pine Grove Cemetery and the Catholic Cemetery. The work at each place has been well performed.
The new buildings which have been erected, - dwell- ings, factories, and business blocks, - are for the most part ornamental and substantial structures. The new engine-house, the school-house on Phillips Street, the new home for paupers, and some other buildings have already been mentioned. In 1880, Alvan Davenport erected his four-story brick block on Summer Street. The Whitney House, erected by Christopher Whitney in 1881, is a hand- some four-story brick block, with stores on the ground- floor and hotel above. The town had long felt the need of a new hotel, and Mr. Whitney's enterprise and public
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THE WHITNEY HOUSE.
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spirit in erecting such an excellent building deserve a word of praise. In 1882, Mrs. M. L. Bragg built a three- story wooden building next to her residence on South Street. Park Building, an excellent brick block, was erected by Charles S. Henry, in the same year. C. D. Cobb & Co. erected their brick store-house on Milk Street in 1886, using the site of an old wooden building, which was burned in 1881. In 1884, the Methodists erected their excellent parsonage at the corner of Church and Heath Streets. Gould's Block, on Milk Street, was erected by William R. Gould in 1887. In 1888, John E. Day, of Worcester, removed the old Parker house on South Street, and erected Grand Army Block on the site. In 1889, he erected Curtis Block - three one-story stores - on East Main Street. The " Old Arcade " at last, after a hundred and forty years of service, has yielded to the demands of trade. Alvan N. Davenport is erecting on the site of the old meeting-house a handsome brick block, - " Arcade Building" it is to be called, - more ornamental and serviceable, if not more interesting, than the familiar landmark which it displaces.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
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I.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
T HE Committee in charge of the town history have thought it advisable to supplement the preceding pages with brief sketches of citizens who have been active in making the town's history what it is. Prominence in town affairs - in both munici- pal and business matters - has been the general test in making a selection ; but it is unavoidable that sketches of many worthy men, whom their friends deem not less prominent than some whose names appear, should be omitted. All will agree, however, that the men whose biographies are here given deserve the honor, and that sketches of their lives make the history more complete.
EBENEZER PARKMAN. - For an account of the life of the Rev. Ebenezer Parkman the reader is referred to the early pages of the preceding history. His life was too intimately interwoven with town and ecclesiastical affairs to be treated apart from them.
BRECK PARKMAN. The eleventh child of the Rev. Ebenezer Parkman was Breck, so called after the family name of his mother, Hannah, daughter of the Rev. Robert Breck, of Marlborough. She was Mr. Parkman's second wife, whom he had married in 1737. Breck was born January 27, 1748. His youth was spent in farming, and in learning the carpenter's trade. In 1777 he married Susanna, daughter of Col. Levi Brigham, of Northborough, and soon afterwards established the first village store. The
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building which he occupied - using one part for his store, and the other for his dwelling - now stands at the corner of South and Cedar Streets. It originally stood between the meeting-house and the parsonage. Subsequently Breck Parkman, in company with Elijah Brigham, afterwards prominent as a judge and mem- ber of Congress, built a store on Main Street. The building now stands in the rear of Central Block. Afterwards, their sons having become of age, the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Parkman built the old structure on the site of the present Post- Office block. It was known, until its destruction by fire in 1868, as the " Parkman Store."
Breck Parkman died February 3, 1825 ; his wife, Susanna, died November 10, 1834. Their children were Hannah Breck, Susanna Brigham, Charles, Robert Breck, Anna (or Nancy), Mary Augusta, and Charlotte Sophia. The latter became the wife of George Denny, a prosperous Boston merchant and the president of the Granite Bank. He resided for many years in Westborough on the estate now owned by the Rev. J. D. Potter.
CHARLES PARKMAN. Charles Parkman, the third child and old- est son of Breck and Susanna Parkman, was born in Westborough May 26, 1785. He graduated from Harvard College in 1803, and entered his father's store in Westborough. On January 26, 1810, he was married to Joanna Phillips Fay, daughter of Jonathan Fay, Esq., of Concord, Mass. She was born October 27, 1784, and died December 3, 1826. The children of Charles and Joanna Parkman were Joanna Fay (Rising), Charles Breck, Mary Augusta, Lucy Prescott (Fisher), Susan Brigham, Hannah Sophia (Taft), Samuel, and Maria Denny Parkman (Leach).
On his father's death, in 1825, Charles Parkman succeeded him, and carried on the store until he died, September 13, 1834. He was postmaster from the re-establishment of the post-office at Westborough, March 16, 1832, until his death. For many years he was captain of the Light Infantry Company. In 1829 he served as representative to the General Court. From 1816 to 1829 he was treasurer of the town. In all local matters he took a prominent and influential part.
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CHARLES B. PARKMAN. On the death of Charles Parkman, in 1834, his son Charles B. succeeded him, and carried on the store for a few years. This son, who was born in Westborough June 13, 1813, had graduated from Harvard College in June, 1834, - about three months before his father's death. The loss of his father making it necessary for him to abandon all thoughts of studying for a profession, he devoted his time to settling the estate. From October 30, 1835, to April 23, 1838, he was postmaster at West- borough. After spending only a few years in this town he moved West. He resided successively in St. Louis, among the miners in California, at Madison, Ind., and finally in Indianapolis. There he became secretary of the Indianapolis Rolling-Mill Company, hold- ing this position for some twenty years before his death, which occurred June 26, 1885. Mr. Parkman was an exceptionally gen- erous and warm-hearted man, with qualities that endeared him to hosts of friends.
ELIJAH BRIGHAM. Among the sons of David Brigham, one of the pioneer settlers, was Levi, who was born in 1716. He mar- ried Susanna Grout, and settled on the northern part of his father's extensive farm. He was a selectman of Westborough in 1763, and after the division of the town (his farm lying to the north of the dividing line) he held the same office for many years in Northbor- ough. Breck Parkman married his daughter Susanna. Levi Brig- ham had nine children. Elijah, the subject of this sketch, who was born July 7, 1751, was the fourth. He graduated from Dart- mouth College in 1778 and began to study law. He changed his plans before being admitted to the Bar, and settled in Westborough as a merchant. In 1780 he married Ann Sophia, daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Parkman. At her death, three years later, she left two children, Anna Sophia and Elijah. In 1786 Mr. Brigham mar- ried Mrs. Sarah Hammock, of Marlborough, who, dying a year later, left one child, Sally. His third wife, to whom he was married in 1792, was Sarah, daughter of the famous patriot, Gen. Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury. She lived until 1838. Her children were Ann Maria, who married Ebenezer M. Phillips, Sally Sophronia, Dana Ward, Susanna Walter, and Catherine Martha Brigham.
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Mr. Brigham, who is better known from his subsequent title as " Judge " Brigham, took an active part in public affairs. In 1785, and from 1789 to 1796, he served as selectman. He represented Westborough in the Legislature in 1791 and 1793. He also served twelve years in the Massachusetts Senate, and two years on the Governor's Council. For sixteen years he was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Worcester County. He was a mem- ber of Congress from 1810 until his death, which occurred at Wash- ington, December 22, 1818. "Of this man," says the Rev. Abner Morse, in his history of the Brigham family, " I cannot speak in justice to convictions and escape the suspicion of extravagance among strangers, while among his acquaintance who survive, noth- ing would fail of a hearty response which I might say commenda- tory of his social and domestic virtues, his commercial integrity and honor, his great common-sense and refinement, his patriotism and political integrity, his wisdom and benevolence, his fidelity to every official and important trust, and his services in the advance- ment of the moral, civil, and educational interests of the community in which he lived."
ELI WHITNEY, the inventor of the cotton-gin, was born in West- borough, December 8, 1765. On the maternal side he was de- scended from John Fay, one of the earliest settlers of the town. His paternal ancestors were among the most respectable farmers of Worcester County. In his youth Whitney displayed many indica- tions of mechanical genius. Becoming dissatisfied with the limited educational advantages of his native town, in May, 1789, at the age of twenty-four, he entered the freshman class at Yale College. He graduated in 1792. In the fall of that year, having been engaged as tutor in Georgia, he travelled from New York to Savannah. Among his companions on the journey were Mrs. Greene, the widow of the famous Revolutionary general, and her family. On arriving in Georgia, Whitney found the place which he expected to occupy already filled. His friend Mrs. Greene offered him a home while he was carrying out his project of studying law. He accepted her generous offer, and remained in her family many months. Shortly after his arrival - the story is familiar - his attention was
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called to the great need of a machine for separating seeds from the cotton fibre. The industrial progress of both England and America was retarded by the lack of such a contrivance. Whitney forsook his law-books, secured a sample of cotton, made his own tools, and in the spring of 1793 had invented the machine "which," it is said, " has done more for cotton-growers, manufacturers, commerce, and civilization than any other one machine that was ever invented." The result upon the prosperity of the Southern States, in fact of the whole world, was marvellous ; but the inventor, in spite of his patent and his heroic struggles to secure his rights, received for his labors little reward. In '1798, however, he made a large contract with the United States government for the manufacture of fire-arms, and in this business, which he carried on at Whitneyville, near New Haven, he amassed considerable property. By ingenious inventions and processes he revolutionized the clumsy mechanical methods of the times. The "uniformity system," for example, which is now used in the manufacture of all sorts of tools and machinery, was one of his ideas.
In January, 1817, Mr. Whitney was married to Henrietta F. Edwards, daughter of the Hon. Pierrepont Edwards, of New Ha- ven, Conn. He had four children, - three daughters and one son. The last, named after his father, is still living. The death of the inventor occurred in 1825. His body is buried at New Haven, Conn.
Mr. Whitney was not only one of the greatest inventors which America has produced, but also a man of extremely interest- ing and attractive life and character. His career, which it is unnecessary to describe more fully here, is admirably set forth in Professor Denison Olmsted's Memoir of Eli Whitney, Esq., published at New Haven in 1846. His great invention and its effects are described by Edward Craig Bates in "The Story of the Cotton-gin," which appeared in The New England Magazine for May, 1890.
OTIS BRIGHAM, the eldest of the nine children of David and Lucy (Harrington) Brigham, was born in 1788. His boyhood was spent upon his father's farm, near the present Insane Hospital.
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APPENDIX.
Otis Brigham was engaged in farming ; and though his inclina- tions and endowments strongly tempted him to enter the ministry, he continued in agricultural pursuits, "thinking, perhaps," says his biographer, " that the words ' do good' had not always been syno- nymous with ' preach the gospel,' and that he might do something to restore their former meaning."1 Captain Brigham was prominent in both church and town affairs. On the establishment of a Sunday- school in 1817 he became both superintendent and teacher, and held these positions for more than forty years. His name is found on nearly all the important committees of the church. In civil affairs he was also active. He served for fourteen years as selectman and overseer of the poor; for twenty years he com- monly acted as moderator of the town-meetings ; and during two years, 1839 and 1840, he represented Westborough in the Legislature.
Captain Brigham served in the War of 1812, and took an active part in raising Westborough's quotas during the Civil War.
Captain Brigham was married to Abigail Bates, daughter of Zealous Bates, of Cohasset, and sister of the Rev. Joshua Bates, D. D., President of Middleborough College. On the death of his first wife he married her sister, Adeline Bates. He had ten children, as follows : Henrietta A. (widow of Samuel M. Griggs), George Otis, Sereno Leroy, Ivers Jewett, Joshua Bates, Abigail Adeline (Hutchinson), Lucy Harrington, Ann Frances, Mary Jane, and Daniel Edward Brigham.
ELMER BRIGHAM, a native and life-long resident, was " a distin- guished citizen of Westborough," says the Rev. Abner Morse, in his history of the Brigham family, "where, like his senior brother [Otis Brigham], he has long enjoyed the entire confidence and esteem of the community." He was born September 8, 1798. His parents were David and Lucy (Harrington) Brigham.
He received his education at Bradford Academy, Bradford, Mass. For several years he taught school in Westborough and the neighboring towns. He was married to Betsey, daugh- ter of Joel and Hannah (Bond) Parker. He carried on his
1 Rev. Abner Morse, in his history of the Brigham family.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
father's farm, near the present Insane Hospital, for several years, but afterwards followed the occupation of farmer on his own account.
He became a member of the church at the age of twenty-five ; and from 1848 until he resigned, in 1869, he served the Evan- gelical Church as deacon. During his whole life he took an active part in town affairs. He held many town offices and served on many important committees. During three terms he represented Westborough in the Legislature. He was also a member of the Senate and of Governor Gardner's Council. In matters of public interest he always displayed commendable interest, energy, and integrity.
Deacon Brigham died in Westborough March 3, 1871.
The names of his children are as follows: Ellen Elizabeth (Hill), Hannah Janette (Howe), Merrick Putnam, Anna Parker (Harrington), Sophia Augusta, Susan Parker, Charles Elmer, and Calvin Lloyd.
JOHN A. FAYERWEATHER is one of the oldest and most promi- nent residents of Westborough. He was born March 12, 1808, and is now, although in his eighty-third year, an active and use- ful citizen. This is his native town. His father, Major John Fayerweather, a man of considerable property, was a prosperous farmer. His mother, Sarah Wheelock, was a daughter of Col. Moses Wheelock, who was prominent in local affairs during Revolutionary days.
Mr. Fayerweather enjoyed more than the ordinary educational advantages of his day, having studied at Brown University when collegiate education was much rarer than now.
On returning from college he carried on for a few years his father's farm, and in 1833 began mercantile life by opening a store in the house now belonging to Elijah Burnap, on West Main Street. A year later he started a store and tin-shop on the site of the Uni- tarian Church. In 1836 he bought the old Parkman store, and with various changes in the firm, carried on the business until 1858. For the succeeding five years he was in the wholesale grocery business in Boston. Since retiring from this enterprise,
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Mr. Fayerweather has been engaged in the insurance business. For the past three years he has been president of the Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
In addition to this office, Mr. Fayerweather has held many posi- tions of trust and influence. Always interested in agricultural mat- ters, he has been a member of the Westborough Agricultural Society since its organization, in 1839, and has served as president of the Worcester County Society. He has been a representative to the General Court, selectman, treasurer of the town, and over- seer of the poor. He has been president of the First National Bank since its incorporation in 1861. From 1856 to 1859 he was a trustee of the State Reform School. In the management of public affairs and in the encouragement of local enterprises Mr. Fayerweather has had an influential and helpful part.
He was married in 1831 to Sarah Augusta Tyler, daughter of Dr. John E. Tyler, of Boston. She died April 15, 1875. They had two children. One died in infancy ; the other is Mrs. Sarah Fayerweather Gould, widow of William R. Gould.
LYMAN BELKNAP, a prominent business-man in Boston and a prominent resident of Westborough, was born in this town March 21, 1809. He was descended from John Belknap, one of the ear- liest settlers, who owned a farm on the Flanders road. His parents were John and Ruth (Fay) Belknap. "In the school of adversity during his youth and early manhood," writes one who knew him, " were developed those qualities of mind and heart that in maturer years secured for him the high esteem and confidence of all who knew him. While quite young he united with the Baptist Church, of which he afterwards [in 1856] became deacon. In his Christian character he was zealous and consistent, and was always a cheerful giver, showing his faith in his works. In a quiet, unostentatious way he sought the poor and needy and relieved their necessities."
Mr. Belknap's business career began in 1830, when, at the age of twenty-one, he opened a market in Westborough. He made frequent trips to Boston for the purpose of selling meat and pro- duce at Quincy market. This business he continued eleven years, and then established a produce and commission house in Boston.
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After several changes, in 1848 he opened a store at 12 and 14 Clinton Street, where he remained until a short time before his death.
During his whole life Deacon Belknap retained his residence in Westborough, where he was an honored and respected citizen. He held many town offices, including the positions of selectman and overseer of the poor. His strong sympathy for the needy and un- fortunate made the latter position particularly to his liking. He was a director of both the First National and the Savings Bank. From 1878 to 1879 he was a trustee of the Reform School, and from 1879 (when the plan of management was changed) to 1884 he was a member of the Board of Trustees of State Primary and Reform Schools. He declined a renomination on account of failing health. His death occurred January 22, 1886.
Deacon Belknap was married in 1833 to Martha Morse, daugh- ter of Elisha and Patty (Howe) Morse, of Hopkinton. She died February 18, 1890. There were two children of this union, - Ellen M., widow of the late Calvin M. Winch, and Lyman A. Belknap, of Andover.
DANIEL F. NEWTON, son of Barnabas and Lucy (Godfrey) New- ton, is a descendant from some of the earliest settlers of West- borough. For three generations at least, the family homestead was what is now known as the Blake place, on West Main Street. Mr. Newton was born October 10, 1811. During his youth he attended the public schools and worked on his father's farm. At the age of nineteen he was apprenticed to Joel Bullard, the black- smith, with whom he remained four years. He afterwards worked on the farm for two years, and then began work in the boot and shoe shop of Thomas Stone, who occupied at that time a portion of the "Old Arcade." In 1840 Mr. Newton began to manu- facture for himself, and for the succeeding twenty years carried on an extensive business in the old Cross Street factory. He retired from manufacturing in 1860, and with the exception of a few years, when he was in the brokerage business with his son at Worcester, he has not been engaged in private business since.
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Mr. Newton has held almost every town office, having been selectman, overseer of the poor, assessor, treasurer, collector, etc. From 1852 to 1873 he was deputy-sheriff, and during a portion of this period served as court officer at Worcester. For two or three years during the war he was government assessor and collector. In politics Mr. Newton was a strong Whig, and on the breaking up of that party drifted into the Democratic ranks.
In 1831 Mr. Newton was married to Amy A., daughter of Levi Bowman, of Westborough. Mrs. Newton died in 1884. There were four children of this marriage, two of whom, Abbie F., wife of Wilbur E. Forbes, and Frank A. Newton, of Boston, are still living.
SAMUEL GATES HENRY, the only son of Samuel and Polly (Gates) Henry, was born in Oakham, Mass., February 14, 1813. He had two sisters, Nancy (Henry) Foster and Mary (Henry) Gould, the latter being the mother of the late William R. Gould, of this town. He received the educational advantages afforded by the common- schools of that period, and when a young man engaged in the busi- ness of harness-making and carriage-trimming. Subsequently he studied dentistry, and opened a small store for the sale of drugs and medicines. Upon removing to Westborough, in 1855, he opened an office for the practice of dentistry in the building which was then on the corner of Main and South Streets. The same year he bought a half-interest in "Eagle Block," then in process of construction, and upon its completion, in 1856, opened the first drug-store in Westborough, and removed his dental rooms to the same building. He continued in these two branches of business until failing health compelled him to forego active life.
He was a public-spirited citizen, until his death maintaining an unflagging interest in the advancement and prosperity of his adopted town.
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