USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Royalston > The history of the town of Royalston, Massachusetts > Part 39
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Wheeler, George N., age 26; Co. I., 25th Inf .; term, 3 years. Mus- tered in Sept. 28th, 1861. Disch. for disabil., Aug. 4th, 1862. Born in Shel- burne Falls, Mass., June 12th, 1835; parents, Leonard and Phebe Wheeler. Lived at his father's, opposite David Foster's. One of two brothers serving on Royalston's quota.
Wheeler, Lyman S., age 24; Sergt., Co. I, 25th Inf .; term, 3 years. Mustered in Sept. 26th, 1861. Terminated Jan. 2d, 1864 to re-enlist. This enlistment credited to Royalston in Mass. Vols. Re-enlisted Jan. 3d, 1864. Hon. disch. at exp. of serv. July 13th, 1865. This enlistment credited to Templeton, Mass. Captured near Winston, N. C., April 16th, 1863. Ex- changed July 17th, 1863. Wounded at Drewry's Bluff, May 16th, 1864. Born in Royalston, 1837; parents, Col. Josiah and Martha Wheeler. Lived on his father's farm, now C. H. Brooks' in South Royalston. One of three brothers in the service. Now resides in San Diego, Cal.
ASAPH M. WHITE Co. D, 36th Regt.
ROLLIN N. WHITE Co. D, 36th Regt. Killed at Cold Harbor
STEPHEN P. WHITE Co. D, 36th Regt. Died at Annapolis, Md.
GEORGE W. BOWKER Co. D, 36th Regt.
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THE CIVIL WAR
Wheeler, Warren L., age 18; Corp., Co. I, 25th Inf .; term 3 years. Mustered in Sept. 27th, 1861. Hon. disch. at exp. of serv. Oct. 20th, 1864. Born in Royalston, March 25th, 1843; parents, Leonard and Phebe Wheeler. Lived at his father's, opposite David Foster's. One of two brothers serving on Royalston's quota. Died in Fitchburg, Mass., fall of 1915.
White, Adriel C., age 27; Sergt., Co. E, 53d Inf .; term, 9 months. Mus- tered in Oct. 17th, 1862. Hon. disch. at exp. of serv. Sept. 2d, 1863. Born in Royalston, April 19th, 1835; parents, Adriel and Olive White. Lived on his father's farm in northwest corner of Royalston. One of four brothers in the service, three serving on Royalston's quota. Now resides in North Orange, Mass.
White, Asaph M., age 21; Corp., Co. D, 36th Inf .; term, 3 years. Mus- tered in July 21st, 1862. Hon. disch. at exp. of serv. June 8th, 1865. Born in Royalston, Aug. 6th, 1840; parents, Adriel and Olive White. Lived on his father's farm in northwest corner of Royalston. A teacher. One of four brothers in the service, three serving on Royalston's quota. Now deceased. Buried in Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol.
*White, Rollin N., age 18; Corp., Co. D, 36th Inf .; term, 3 years. Mus- tered in July 21st, 1862. Mortally wounded in left shoulder at Bethesda Church, near Cold Harbor, June 3d, 1864. Died of wounds at Harewood Hospital, Washington, D. C., June 25th, 1864. Born in Royalston, Sept. 17th, 1843; parents, Adriel and Olive White. Lived on his father's farm in northwest corner of Royalston. One of four brothers in the service, three serving on Royalston's quota. Body brought home and buried in a little cemetery in northwest Royalston.
*White, Stephen P., age 33; Co. D, 36th Inf .; term, 3 years. Mustered in Aug. 11th, 1862. Died of typhoid fever at Annapolis, Md., May 3d, 1864. Born in Royalston, Dec. 2d, 1828; parents, Stephen and Harriet White. Was sexton at the Centre when the war began. A palm leaf worker. Body brought home and buried in Riverside Cemetery, South Royalston.
Wilson, George W., age 22; Co. I, 25th Inf .; term, 3 years. Mustered in Oct. 4th, 1861. Hon. disch. at exp. of serv. Oct. 20th, 1864. Born in Royalston, 1839; parents, Wheaton and Jerucia Wilson. Lived in rear of Methodist church, South Royalston. One of two brothers in the service. Also claimed by Gardner.
Wood, George H., age 20; Co. E, 53d Inf .; term, 9 months. Mustered in Oct. 17th, 1862. Hon. disch at exp. of serv. Sept. 2d, 1863. Born in Royalston, April 3d, 1842; parents, John and Abigail Wood. Lived on the Ward place in northeast part of Royalston. One of three brothers serving on Royalston's quota. Died in Tangerine, Fla., Jan. 29, 1909. Buried in Tangerine.
Wood, Henry S., age 21; Co. I, 25th Inf .; term, 3 years. Mustered in Sept. 28th, 1861. Disch. by order of War Dept., Nov. 6th, 1863. Born
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
in Royalston, June 30th, 1840; parents, John and Abigail Wood. Lived on the Ward place in northeast part of Royalston. One of three brothers serv- ing on Royalston's quota. Died in Claremont, N. H., April 17, 1913. Buried in New Cemetery, Royalston Centre.
*Wood, John M., age 18; Co. E, 53d Inf .; term, 9 months. Mustered in Oct. 17th, 1862. Died of chronic diarrhea at Baton Rouge, La., May 15th, 1863. Born in Royalston, May 7th, 1844; parents, John and Abigail Wood. Lived on the Ward place in northeast part of Royalston. One of three brothers serving on Royalston's quota.
In the above list, I have included the names of about a dozen men who are claimed by other towns either within or without the state; but every such doubtful name is found in a document on record in the military archives of Massa- chusetts signed by Assessors William W. Clement, Richard Baker, and Cyrus B. Reed and sworn to before Barnet Bullock, justice of the peace, in the midsummer of 1862. They were undoubtedly credited to Royalston by the Ad- jutant-General of Massachusetts. Of the 138 separate soldiers above shown as having served on Royalston's quota, thirty- five, or fully twenty-five per cent, died for their country.
Again in the military archives of the state is another interesting list of eight men who, in July, 1864, were arbi- trarily assigned to the quota of Royalston from the U. S. Receiving Ship Ohio, for service in the navy. Below are their names and the period for which each had enlisted:
John Dow, 3 years. William W. Smith, 2 years.
Henry Steiner, 2 years.
John Steward, 2 years. Newhall H. Wilkins, 3 years.
Joseph Williams, 3 years.
John Wilson, 3 years. Standish M. York, 3 years.
It may be doubted whether any one of the above men ever saw or heard of the town to whose credit they served.
In addition to the men who are properly accredited to Royalston as having served on her quota there are other names which no Royalston historian could pass over in silence, names of men born or reared within the precincts of this town who nobly served their country on the quotas of other
GEORGE N. RUGG Co. H, 56th Regt.
WILLIAM O. BROWN 1st Lieut. and Quartemaster, 25th Regt.
EDWARD A BROWN Com. Sergt. 25th Regt. Quartermaster 53rd Regt. Captain, U. S. Vols.
JAMES TOWNSEND Co. A, 32nd Regt. Died at Harrison's Landing
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THE CIVIL WAR
towns or states. Some rose to high rank; others served in humble capacities; but all reflected undying honor and credit on the place of their birth or their boyhood. Of the forty men whose names and records follow eleven, or almost exactly twenty-five per cent, died in the service. As in the former lists, the names of those who died for their country are starred (*).
Charles D. Barnes, Co. G, 34th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Rev. Asa and Caroline Barnes. One of two brothers in the service. Credited to Westfield, Mass. Spent his boyhood in South Royalston.
*Myron E. Barnes, Co. L, 3d Mass. H. A. Son of Rev. Asa and Caroline Barnes. One of two brothers in the service. Credited to Boston, Mass. Spent his boyhood in South Royalston. Died at or near Washington, D. C., of typhoid fever, July 22d, 1865. Buried in Riverside Cemetery, South Royalston.
Edward A. Brown, Qr. Mr. Sergt. 25th Mass. Vol. Inf., .
later Qr. Mr. 53d Mass. Vol. Inf .; later Capt. and Com- missary of Subsistence, U. S. Vols. Brevetted Major Sept. 1st, 1865. Son of Col. Benjamin and Betsey Brown. One of three brothers in the service. Credited to Fitchburg, Mass. Born in Royalston, Aug. 7th, 1827. Treasurer of Worcester County, 1875 to 1913. Died in Worcester, January, 1916. Buried in Fitchburg.
William O. Brown, 1st Lieut. and Qr. Mr., 25th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Col. Benjamin and Betsey Brown. One of three brothers in the service. Credited to Fitchburg, Mass. Born in Royalston, March 29th, 1815. Died in Fitchburg.
*Charles Cummings, 1st Lieut., Co. E., 11th Vt. Vol. Inf. (1st H. A.), August 14th, 1862. Lieut .- Col., 16th Vt. Vol. Inf., Sept. 27th, 1862. Lieut .- Col., 17th Vt. Vol. Inf., Feb. 9th, 1864. Wounded at the Wilderness, May 6th, 1864. Killed in action at Poplar Grove Church, Sept. 30th, 1864. He fell gallantly encouraging his men, and his last order was, "Look out for the colors." Son of Joshua and Hephzibah
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Cummings. Credited to Brattleboro, Vt. Born in Royalston, Feb. 26th, 1821.
Lysander Cutler. Col. 6th Wis. Vol. Inf., May 28th, 1861. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols., April 15th, 1863 to date from Novem- ber 29th, 1862. Bvt. Maj. Gen. U. S. Vols., Aug. 19th, 1864. Commanded, 6th Wis. Vol. Inf., summer 1861 - spring 1862. "Iron Brigade" spring 1862-summer 1862. Expedition against Va. Cen. R. R. August, 1862. 6th Wis. Vol. Inf., August, 1862-November, 1862. "Iron Brigade" November, 1862- December, 1862. 2nd Brig. 2nd Div. 1st Corps in Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns, 1863. "Iron Brigade" early spring 1864- May 6th, 1864. 4th Div. 5th Corps in Wilder- ness, Petersburg campaign, May- August, 1864. Wounded at Gainesville, Aug. 29th, 1862; Wilderness, May 6th, 1864; Glove Tavern, Aug. 21st, 1864.
Son of Tarrant and Lydia Cutler. Credited to Milwaukee, Wis. Born in Royalston, Feb. 16th, 1807. Died in Mil- waukee, Wis., July 30th, 1866.
John D. Emerson, Co. F, 2nd Mass. Vol. Inf., credited to Athol, Mass. Detached on signal service Sept. 1st, 1861. Served before Port Royal and Charleston, S. C. Com- missioned 2nd Lieut. in Signal Corps October, 1863. Re- enlisted in 2nd N. Y. Heavy Artillery. Served to close of war.
George A. Flagg, Co. C, 27th Mass. Vol. Inf., credited to Athol, Mass. Mentioned in Royalston Memorial.
*George E. Fry, Co. E, 5th N. H. Vol. Inf. Son of Ben- jamin and Miranda Frye. One of two brothers in the service. Credited to Croydon, N. H. Born in Royalston, Aug. 18th, 1837. Killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 2nd, 1863.
Charles V. Goddard, Co. E, 53d Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Charles and Lucinda Goddard. Credited to Athol, Mass. Born in Royalston, Feb. 1st, 1845. Now living in Athol.
*Milton C. Handy, Co. I, 4th Vt. Vol. Inf. Son of James and Clarissa Handy. Credited to Wilmington, Vt. Born in Royalston, Aug. 21st, 1843. Died of disease, Feb. 15th, 1862.
MAJ. GEN. LYSANDER CUTLER
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THE CIVIL WAR
Silas L. Heywood, Sergt., Co. A., 2nd N. H. Vol. Inf., Nov. 1st, 1861. 2nd Lieut., Co. A., 2nd N. H. Vol. Inf., Sept. 1st, 1862. Son of Benjamin and Sally Heywood. Credited to Fitzwilliam, N. H. Born in Royalston.
Theodore J. Hill, Co. H., 53d Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of John and Lavinia Hill. Credited to Winchendon, Mass. Born in Royalston. One of two brothers in the service.
Henry J. Howe, Sergt., Co. I, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf. (Pa. Res. Corps), September, 1861.' 2nd Lieut. Co. I, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf., (Pa. Res. Corps), February, 1862. Capt. Co. I, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf. (Pa. Res. Corps), May 16th, 1863. Bvt. Maj. Co. I, 10th Pa. Vol. Inf. (Pa. Res. Corps), March 13th, 1865. Wounded at South Mountain, Sept. 14th, 1862. Prisoner at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13th, 1862. Credited to Riceville, Pa.
Edward S. Kendall, Co. B, 15th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Sylvanus and Emily Kendall. Credited to Westminster, Mass. Born in Royalston, July 27th, 1842.
George H. King, Co. A, 51st Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of John and Mary King. Credited to Worcester, Mass. Born in Royalston, 1839. Died 1906. Buried in Riverside Cemetery, South Royalston.
Enoch T. Lewis, Sergt., Co. E, 53d Mass. Vol. Inf., Oct. 17th, 1862. Son of Timothy and Sally Lewis. Credited to Athol. Mass. Born in Royalston, Sept. 6th, 1830. Deceased. Buried in Highland Cemetery, Athol.
James Oliver, 2nd, Co. B, 27th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of George and Cynthia Oliver. Credited to Athol, Mass. Born in Royalston, Aug. 29th, 1832.
Harlan P. Partridge, Sergt. Maj. 53rd Mass. Vol. Inf. Oct. 17th, 1862. Son of Dea. Maynard and Mary Par- tridge. Credited to Fitchburg, Mass. Born in Royalston, Nov. 22d, 1838. One of two brothers in the service. De- ceased. Buried in Old Cemetery, Royalston Centre.
Samuel H. Peckham, Jr., Co. H, 23d Mass. Vol., Inf., Son of Rev. Samuel H. and Sarah Peckham. Credited to Harvard, Mass. Spent his childhood in South Royalston. One of two brothers in the service.
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
William C. Peckham, Co. H, 23d Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Rev. Samuel H. and Sarah Peckham. Credited to Har- vard, Mass. Born in South Royalston, Aug. 13th, 1841. One of two brothers in the service.
George H. Piper, Co. H, 53d Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Luke and Betsey Piper. Credited to Winchendon, Mass. Born in Royalston, Oct. 23d, 1828. One of three brothers in the service.
James S. Piper, Co. G, 53d Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Luke and Betsey Piper. Credited to Gardner, Mass. Born in Royalston, Aug. 27th, 1835. One of three brothers in the service.
Lysander B. Piper, served as a musician in an Illinois regiment. Son of Luke and Betsey Piper. Born in Royal- ston, March 2nd, 1822. One of three brothers in the service.
*Joshua Rich, Co. H. 36th Mass. Vol. Inf. Credited to Athol, Mass. Athol in "Suppressing the Rebellion" says he was born in Royalston. Shot through the body from side to side at the Wilderness, May 6th, 1864. Died three hours later. Body fell into hands of the enemy. Inscrip- tion on monument in Phillipston Cemetery.
Andrew J. Richardson, Capt. Co. C, 10th Wis. Vol. Inf., Oct. 3d, 1861 to rank from Sept. 30th, 1861. Capt. Co. G., 10th Wis. Vol. Inf., Oct. 4th, 1862 to rank from Oct. 1st, 1862. Son of Abijah and Lucy Richardson. Credited to Milwaukee, Wis. Born in Royalston, March 8th, 1829. One of three brothers in the service.
*Jefferson Richardson, Co. F, 16th N. H. Vol. Inf. Son of Abijah and Lucy Richardson. Credited to Fitzwilliam, N. H. Born in Royalston, Aug. 2nd, 1827. Died at New Orleans, La., June 24th, 1863. One of three brothers in the service.
Leander Richardson, Co. F, 16th N. H. Vol. Inf. Son of Abijah and Melinda Richardson. Credited to Fitzwilliam, N. H. Born in Royalston, Nov. 21st, 1838. Half brother to Andrew and Jefferson.
George Rugg, Co. H, 56th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Lovell and Mary Rugg. Credited to Roxbury, Mass. Born in
JAMES N. HUNT Co. E, 53rd Regt.
ADRIEL C. WHITE Co. E, 53rd Regt.
HARLAN P. PARTRIDGE Sergt. Maj. 53rd Regt.
.
JOHN M. WOOD Co. E, 53rd Regt, Died at Baton Rouge, La.
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THE CIVIL WAR
Troy, N. H., July 29th, 1846. Lived in Royalston 1862 to 1866, except when in the army.
*Asa J. Sanborn, Co. E, 2nd U. S. S. S. Son of Mrs. Rhoda (Sanborn) French. Credited to Stowe, Vt. Spent his boyhood in South Royalston. Wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17th, 1862. Wounded later June 4th, 1864 and died of wounds June 21st, 1864.
*Quincy A. Shepardson, Co. F, 53d Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Jonathan and Nancy Shepardson. Credited to Petersham, Mass. Born in Royalston, Feb. 14th, 1826. Died of disease at Baton Rouge, La., July 27th, 1863.
Andrew W. Turner, Co. F, 9th Vt. Vol. Inf. Son of Jason and Cynthia Turner. Credited to Bethel, Vt. Born in Royalston, June 28th, 1837. Taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th, 1862. Now resides in South Gardner, Mass.
*Charles M. Upham, Sergt. Co. E, 43d Mass. Vol. Inf., Sept. 20th, 1862. 2nd Lieut. Co. E, 43d Mass. Vol. Inf., June 4th, 1863. 2nd Lieut. Co. A, 58th Mass. Vol. Inf., Nov. 18th, 1863. Capt. Co. A, 58th Mass. Vol. Inf., Jan. 13th, 1864. Killed in action at Bethesda Church near Cold Harbor, Va., June 3d, 1864. Son of John M. and Matilda B. Upham. Credited to Chatham, Mass. Born in Royal- ston, May, 1835. One of two brothers in the service. Buried in Riverside Cemetery, South Royalston.
Lorenzo M. Upham, Co. G, 9th N. H. Vol. Inf. Son of John M. and Matilda B. Upham. Credited to Claremont, N. H. Born in Royalston, 1838. One of two brothers in the service.
Ezra L. Wheeler, Co. D, 36th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Col. Josiah and Martha Wheeler. Credited to Templeton, Mass. Born in Royalston, Aug. 12th, 1823. One of three brothers in the service.
Rufus B. P. Wheeler, Co. F, 52nd Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Col. Josiah and Martha Wheeler. Credited to Orange, Mass. Born in Royalston, May 3d, 1829. One of three brothers in the service.
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
*Chandler Whitney, Co. E, 30th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Lemuel and Mary Whitney. Credited to Athol, Mass. Born in Royalston, Feb. 20th, 1803. Died Feb. 1st, 1862 after a three weeks' illness.
Wellington White, Co. F, 9th Mich. Vol. Inf. Later a first-class musician, same regt. Son of Adriel and Olive D. White. Born in Royalston, Aug. 22nd, 1832. Taken pris- oner at Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 13th, 1862. Now resides in Owasso, Mich. One of four brothers in the service, three serving on Royalston's quota.
Charles A. Wilson, Co. I, 25th Mass. Vol. Inf. Son of Wheaton and Jerucia Wilson. Credited to Templeton, Mass. Born in Royalston :- 1842. One of two brothers in the service.
* Nelson G. Wood, Co. B, 27th Mass. Vol. Inf. Place of birth and parents' names unknown. Credited to Athol, Mass. Spent his boyhood in South Royalston. Killed in action at Arrowfield Church, Va., May 9th, 1864.
It is not assumed by the author, that the foregoing lists are complete or without error. It is frequently impossible for even the officials in the War Records' office at Boston to determine accurately on what towns' quotas some individual soldiers served. The records of the towns, of the Adjutant- General's office, and those given in regimental histories occasionally disagree. Those given above seem the best that can be obtained after the lapse of fifty years, and represent much painstaking effort.
The Royalston Memorial gives in addition, the names of the following men who were drafted: Franklin Brown, Phineas S. Newton, Andrew J. Bliss, Philip H. Bliss, Chilson Bosworth, Jr., Wilson Carroll, Brashear French, Charles A. King, William Leathe, Lysander Howard, George E. Peirce, Reuben Pratt, Gun, A. Dwight Raymond, George S. Raymond, Joseph Shepardson, Caleb Stockwell, John B. Walker, Abijah Whitmore, and Silas Wyman, Jr. Of these twenty men, eighteen each paid $300. commuta- tion; one, Franklin Brown, responded to the draft in person, while Mr. Newton furnished a substitute at a cost of $500.
HENRY S. WOOD Co. I, 25th Regt.
JOEL B. MELLEN Co, I, 25th Regt.
WELLINGTON WHITE Band, 9th Mich. Regt.
R. B. P. WHEELER Co. F, 52nd Regt.
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
This substitute entered the service under the name of Henry Newton.
Not only in the raising of soldiers but in contributions of money the town was exceedingly liberal.
The Adjutant-General's records show that between 1861 and 1865, Royalston raised and appropriated for war purposes exclusive of state aid, $16,000.
An interesting chapter could be written on the patriotic action of the citizens in the various town meetings which were held during the course of the conflict.
After the war, veteran organizations or "unions" were formed in various towns in this section, one in South Royal- ston, known as Norcross Union No. 8, in honor of Chauncy W. Norcross, the first boy from this town to fall in battle, but after a brief existence interest in the organization began to lag, attendance at its meetings fell off, and its members were largely absorbed later in the membership of the then newly organized G. A. R. Posts in Athol and elsewhere.
During the late Spanish-American War, Royalston fur- nished no soldiers directly, but several boys who were born or spent their boyhood here served in the conflict, enlisting else- where. Among these were Leonard Collins, 9th Mass. Inf., died in Mass. Gen. Hospital as a result of his service; Frank B. Wheeler, Co. E, 8th Mass. Inf., served from June 14th, 1898 to April 28th, 1899, suffers almost complete deafness; Frank Webster, enrolled in a Rhode Island regi- ment. Hugh Goddard Davis eulisted in Co. E, Second Mass. Regiment, U. S. Volunteers, died Aug. 11, 1898, at Santiago, of emobolism, and is buried in Silver Lake Cemetery at Athol. And there are others no doubt, whose names have escaped our notice.
Here ends this brief outline of Royalston's military record. Many interesting facts have had to be omitted for want of space, but the story, such as it is, should fill our hearts with gratitude toward our soldier sons and toward the heroic fathers and mothers who gave those sons to serve and save their country.
CHAPTER XVII
MERCANTILE AND INDUSTRIAL
MERCANTILE
In its palmy days during the early part and middle of the last century Royalston was the centre of an extensive trade, and its stores and enterprising merchants drew a large trade not only from the people of Royalston but from the surrounding towns. Many of the Athol people did their trading in Royals- ton, and the late Town Treasurer, Lucien Lord, of Athol, remem- bered hearing his mother tell how when a young woman work- ing in the cotton mill at Athol, she occasionally on a Saturday afternoon walked to Royalston Centre to buy her a calico dress. The eight horse teams of Col. George Whitney and Capt. George Peirce were kept busy all the time in bringing large loads of goods from Boston to the stores of the Bullocks and Es- tabrooks and Austin & Work on Royalston Common.
Early in the last century Rufus Bullock, after tending store as a clerk, was induced to open a store on the Common, on his own account, which was located where his residence was, now the summer home of the Hill family. There he had intended to settle down in life as a country merchant; later when he en- gaged in manufacturing at South Royalston the store business was carried on in an ell to the Bullock residence by his brother, Barnett Bullock, who had associated with him his sons Calvin and Charles and did an extensive business.
On the opposite side of the Common where the Lee residence now stands, was another store. A store occupied this location from early in the nineteenth century until the erection of the residence now there. Esquire Joseph Estabrook was for many years the proprietor. He was succeeded by Major General Franklin Gregory, who was the most enterprising merchant the town ever had and inaugurated here her largest trade, and whose untimely death in 1836 at the age of forty-four years was a great loss to the town.
Joseph Raymond, a native of the town, who had been in Templeton from 1824 to 1838 engaged in mercantile business
H.C.BARTLETT
OLD TAVERN AND STORE BUILDING, WEST SIDE OF COMMON REMOVED ABOUT 1874
OLD FIRE ENGINE
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MERCANTILE AND INDUSTRIAL
with Col. Artemas Lee, under the firm name of Lee & Ray- mond, returned to Royalston and formed a co partnership with Joseph Estabrook which continued till the Spring or Summer of 1844, when Mr. Raymond retired from active business life. Phinehas S. Newton and his brother Chas. H. Newton were in company with Mr. Estabrook for awhile, and finally bought him out and carried on business there until 1870, when they were succeeded by Obadiah Walker, who when the old store building gave place to the residence erected by Joseph Esta- brook and Mrs. D. P. Clark, located his store and business where the present post office and store of Sumner C. French now stands. Mr. Walker continued in business here until 1881, when he was succeeded by John L. King, who remained but a few months. Aurin C. Gordon carried on business here about three years and George W. Blanding for nearly five years. Sumner C. French, who is now the only merchant in Royalston Centre, has been in business since 1900.
Near the south end of the Common, where the South Roy- alston road connects with the Common, and in front of the Nichols residence, was the large store of Austin & Work. This firm carried on an extensive business at this location for several years.
On the west side of the street, near where the Congregational parsonage now stands, was another store for a number of years. This was in a building which had been occupied for many years as a tavern. Warren & Emerson first kept store here, and then for a time Emerson alone. Franklin Richardson then carried on business there for a short time, after which Hubert C. Bartlett kept a general country store there for four or five years. When the parsonage was built the old tavern and store building was moved to a location on the South Royalston road, where it was fitted up for a store, and where Dea. Joseph Walker carried on business for several years. It is now the ยท residence of S. C. French.
It was in the Royalston stores that several eminent Boston merchants served an apprenticeship and got their first experi- ence in business. Among these was John Dwight Morton, for many years head of one of the largest paint and oil stores in the country, who served his first apprenticeship in business when fifteen years old in the Austin & Work store, where he remained three years. Franklin E. Gregory, son of General
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Franklin Gregory, was as a boy also in the Austin store. He went to Boston and was connected with George C. Richardson in the well known and eminent house of George C. Richardson & Co. Mr. Richardson was also a native of Royalston, and was for several years in partnership with General Gregory in the Royalston store.
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