<> .is ■^> .0^^ ,.- -^. -^^ V V %"^=^^.^ ^<:/^ v^^ '\' '' It V^. V^'^ >^ -^^^ ^<^^,.^' A^^ ■'■■'■. oo^ x^" ■''^. '.% •'5" -vement Society — Farmers and Mechanics Asso- ciation. .---...- 120-129 CHAPTER VIII. Biographical. Sketches of prominent men now deceased — .\lvah Crocker — David Wilder — Dr. Charles Woodward Wilder — James H. Carter — J. C. Lane — Oliver Patch — Charles H. Merriam — William A. Nichols — Levi Goss — Joseph Cozzens — William M. Howland — Joel C. Allen — .^amnel Merriam — Maj. Joseph Tenney — James Burdett — Joseph S. Darling — Silas RicharcUon — Aaron S. Gibbs — Oliver G. Caldwell — .Augustus Whitman — Dr. J. M. Randall — Emery Tilton — William Tilton. ....... 13C-150 IX. BiocRAi'HV HY Families. The Morses — Burrages — Carters — Hills — Jos- lins. ........ 151-177 XII CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. Biographical Continued. Sketches of Joel Smith-Dana Graham- W D Somers-Hiram VV. Pitts— William Uurant-Samuel G. Wild?;4a?ob Colburn-Maj. T. S. Bennett-A. M. Polley-James BGalui -Philander Woodbury-Luke Wilder-Henry A Wddei -Mai. Amos Haws-Capt. Thomas Hills-Mcjses D^^ R'^haidson- James A. Richardson-Dr. D. P. Richardson-J. A. Kendall-Cha.. Carter— Jairus Litchfield— John Coolidge. . - - 17s 190 CHAPTER XL Commercial. Banks-List and sketches of "ffi^^tTT.'jf "°Dr'ue7s^- Estate and Lisurance— Doctors— Lawyers— Dentists— Druggists Watchmakers and fevvellers-Printing-Photographers-Si.rveyo -Undertaker-Dry 6oods-Millinery-Cloth,ng-Boots and Shoes —Hardware— Stoves— Plumbing— Steam and Gas Fitting— Gro- ceries-Provisions-Markets-Market Gardening-Bakers-Furni- ture-Hair Dressers-Coal Dealers-Contractors-Express-Hotels —Painters— Paper Hangers. - - - " • ':)! -J CHAPTER XH. Manufacturing. History of the Comb Business-Present manufacturers of Combs and Horn Goods-Paper Making-Ta.mery-Boots and. Shoes-Pianos and Piano Cases-Children's Carnages-Rattan Works- Machinery-Woolen Goods— Chamber Furniture— 1 he ' Harwood Manufacturing Co.-Musical Merchandise— Children s Tovs-The manufacture of white shirts— Lumber, Doors, Sash and Blinds-Apple parers-Paper boxes-Roller Desks-Enamel Works -Leather trunk handles— Fountain Pens— Miscellaneous— Leom- inster Gas Light Company-Leominster Electric Light Company- Electric Railway Company. - - - " " J- -yi CHAPTER XHL Conclusion. Sketches of Rev. Francis Gardner-Ward M. Cotton-Luke Lincoln-Maj. Seneca Colburn-Capt. David Allen-Charles Grout -Emerson Prescott-Joseph Haskell-Cyrus kinsman-Jacob Puf- fer-Bartemus Tenney-Barney S. Phelps-Porter M. Kimball-Dr. Daniel Farrar-Henry Steams-Col. H. D. Look-Joseph A. Look — Dr Sewall Richardson— Capt. Er Baich— George A. Bishop- Isaac Cowdrey-John Dickey-S. S. Crocker-Porter Piper-E. J- Marsh-Stephen A. Miller-Alanson Richardson— Wm. B.Whitney —Sumner M. Frost-Francis H. Shaw— J. W. H. Lawreiice— Clarence Kenney— Wm. Booth— Rev. Eli Fav— Nathaniel G. Wood —T B Grimes— J. F. Chatfin— Frank H. Pope— B. Marshall Pitts- Wilbur B. Tennev— Joel G. Tyler— Francis H. Colburn— Loring Sears— Tames C. Brooks— Henry Jackson— George Robbins— Geo. Reed— Wm. H. Vose. 296-320 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAITS. Allen, Capt. David . .298 S^"' ^:^rA^:V*A toI Allen Joel C. Frontispiece. Bennett, Capt. E. A. 104 Ames, Thomas J. "4 g^""^"' -[r'^^p. . M Anthony, J. C. 254 Bennett, Maj Thomas S. 188 ■' Bigelow, Dr. C. E. 204 Balch, Capt. Er 304 Blanchard W. D. 114 Balcome, Rev. F. A. 54 Blodgett, B. F. 244 PORTRAITS. XIII Blodgctt, E. F. 244 Boiitwull. F. N. 210 Howcn, F. C. 66 Boyden, C. C. 198 Brown, Capt. G. W. 94 Brown, Dr. II. R. 204 Buttinton, E. A. 284 Burclitt, James. 144 Burdctt, Wm. C. 268 Burdctt, H. C. 3'8 Biirrage, George Sanderson 162 Burrage, George Sumner 300 Burrage, H. E. 217 Burrage, William F. 136 Burr.ige, Capt. Leonard 160 Butterfield, Daniel 98 Caldwell, Oliver G. 146 Carter, Albert H. 98 Carter, Charles 300 Carter, James H. 132 Carter, Rufus H. 98 Chaltin, J. F. 114 Chase, William H. -43 Clapp, Fred. A. 246 Colburn, Charles H. 221 Colburn, George F. 30 Colburn, Jonas 182 Colburn, Jacob 1 88 Colburn, Maj. Seneca 298 Conant, J. Q. 220 Conant, L. W. 220 Cotton, Ward M. 298 Cook, .Aldrich 248 Cook, George H. 242 Cook, F. II. Cook, Capt. L. A. 104 Cooley, Rev. H. E. 54 Coolidge, F. S. 260 Cowdrey, Isaac 30S Cowdrey, Andrew W. 98 Cozzens, Joseph •36 Crocker, Alvah '30 Crocker, Clifton A. 3'8 Crocker, Lieut. F. W. 3'8 Crocker, S. S. 308 Crosby, John F. 98 Cutter, Dr. E. J. -04 Darling, Col. Joseph S. 144 Davis, H. E. 246 De Hevoise, Rev. G. H. 54 Derbv, Cephas 220 Derbv, Charles H. 98 Derby. Henry K. 98 Donovan, II. F. 214 Dresser, C. E. 2S2 Durant, William 182 Earl, Thomas A. 243 Earl, William D. -43 Ellick, Eli A. 98 Estabrook, J. W. Farrar, Dr. Daniel Farwell, Artemas S. Fay, Rev. Eli Field, Dr. C. C. Foster, C. C. i Foster, George W. Foster, Hugh M. Foster, Ira B. Foster, Martin F. Frissell, W. B. Frost, Sumner M. Gallup, George H. Gallup, James B. Gallup, Leroy R. Gane, George A. Gardner, Franklin Gates, Henrietta M. Gibbs, Gen. Aaron S. Gibson, Bezaleel Glover, Lieut. Alfred R. Goodhue, Joseph F. Goodrich, Charles A. Goodrich, Leonard Goss, Levi Gould, C. E. Graham, Dana Greenwood, M. A. Grimes, T. B. Grout, Charles Hall, George Hall, Dr. H. P. Hall, I. Freeman Hardy, Edmund Harty, William Harwood, N. Haskell, Joseph Haws, Amos, Haws, M. D. Ilaynes, Daniel R. Hills, Charles Hills, T. A. Holman, J. P. Horton, Rev. E. A. Howe, W. F. Howland, William M. Hudson, C. E. Hudson, F. W. Hunt, Charles A. Jewett, Wade H. Johnson, A. W. Johnson, William H. Jordan, M. L. Jorgcnsen, Capt. H. P. Joslin, Charles A. Joslin, Charles L. Joslin, Col. George C. Joslin, Maj. Elias 216 98 94 60 66 268 214 98 214 114 3'4 98 188 98 288 98 66 144 298 98 244 34 98 «36 272 182 207 3'8 29S 19S 204 66 98 34 280 300 190 252 298 29S 207 268 84 202 '39 272 308 24S 98 98 98 98 30 <7S 104 "44 XIV PORTRAITS. Kendall, J- A. 149 Kendall, J. Henry S4 Kendell, Rev. S. C. 54 Kenney, Clarence 225 Kenney, Capt. Clesson, 198 King, Charles H. 34 Kinsman, Cyrus 300 Kivlon, John 214 Lamb, Charles A. 98 Lane, Howard M. 30 Lane, J. C. 132 Lasselle, William A. 34 Lawrence, J. W. H. 314 Lawrence, W. F. 225 Lewis, James M. 98 Lockey, John H. 256 Lockey, John M. 203 Lockey, J. P. 260 Look, Dwight B. 200 Look, Frank N. 318 Look, Col. H. D. 304 Look, Joseph 304 Lothrop, Philip 268 Lyon, A. E. 210 Marshall, James E. 9S Marsh, E. J. 308 Mason, Rev. A. F. 54 Mather, John 272 Mayo, Hamilton 197 McDonough, John 98 Mellen, Capt. James ^L 98 Meredith, Rev. Richard 54 Merriani, Charles H. 135 Merriam, Samuel 142 Merrill, Amos B. 216 Miller, J. D. 70 Miller, 8. A. 312 Morse, Albert G. 152 Morse, Maj. Gen. Augustus 152 Morse, Gardner 152 Morse, George F. 154 Morse, Ralph G. 152 Munsie, David L 34 Nichols, William A. 136 Nickerson, D. C. 198 Nirhs, Dr. F. E. 212 Ni.Kon, C. F. 216 (^sborn, Andrew B. 98 Owens, John F, 98 Patch, Oliver , 132 Paton, A. S. 242 Payne, Rev. E. B. 54 Phelps, B. A. 298 Phelps, Louis 250 I'eirce, E. F. 217 Pierce, Dr. George W. 86 Pitts, B. M. 225 Pitts, Hiram W, 184 Policy, A. M. 188 Policy, F. W. 114 Porter, C. H. 246 Porter, L. W. • - 260 Powers, George M. 66 Prescott, Emerson 149 Prevear, Edward 207 Proctor, C. H. 225 Puffer, Jacob 300 Railey, J. J. 114 Randall, Dr. J. M. 204 Ready, John C. 98 Reed, W. S. 282 Rhoades, Charles H. 3 i Rice, Rev. C. F. 54 Rice, Charles H. 34 Rice, George L. 198 Richardson, Alanson 244 Richardson, C. H. 212 Richardson, Dr. D. P. 318 Richardson, J. A. 318 Richardson, L. A. 212 Richardson, Lewis 98 Richardson, Moses D. 194 Richardson, Dr. Sewall 304 Richardson, Silas 144 Robbins. J. M. 210 Robbins, \V. T. 212 Robinson, Rev. J. B. 54 Rockwell, E. M. 66 Rockwood, Capt. G. W. 94 Rodger, William 243 Rollins, Edward B. 98 Salisbury, D. W. 297 Savage, Rev. William H. 84 Sawtelle, H. F. 217 Shaw, Francis H. 314 Shiel, Rev. Daniel 54 Sinclair, Charles H. 98 Smith, Joel 17S Smith, O. H. 242 Snow, John G. 98 Spring, H. N. 114 Somers, W. D. 182 Stebbins, Rev. R. P, 54 Stevens, Capt. Charles H. 98 Stratton, Capt. J. A. 94 Tenney, Bartemus 300 Tenney, C. .'\. 246 Tenney, Maj. Joseph 144 Tenney, J. G. 198 Tilton, Charles E. 34 Tilton, E. B. 242 Tilton, Emery 149 Tilton, William 149 Thompson, Jillijah 114 Toulmin, Rev. W. B. 54 Tripp, J. Q. A. 98 Tyler, Joel G. 318 PORTRAITS. XV Valpey, H. R. 254 Wilder, Henry A. 188 Wilder, Samuel G. 186 Wheeler, Dr. C. A. 204 Wilder, Luke 188 Wheelock, Rev. Albert H. 31S Williams, A. W. ic,8 Wheelock, G. H. 210 Whitcomb, C. A. 248 Wetherbee, J. W. 248 Whitney, A. I,. 260 Wild, Charles 216 Whitnev, F. A. 264 Wilder, A. O. 207 Whitney, F. W. 268 Wilder, Albert L. 9S Whitney, William B. 3r4 Wilder, Dr. Charles W. 132 Wood, Charles B. 98 Wilder, David 298 Woods, George 198 Wilder, George E. 98 Wood, Capt. Leonard 104 VIEWS AND CUTS. Residence of F. A. Whitney, Grove Avenue, .... j- Boundary Map, ( initial ) •----■- 17 Monoosnock Brook, ........ |g Bird's eye view of Leominster Centre, - - - - - 21 Old Tombstone, ........ 25 Residence of Dwight B. Look, West Street, - - 26 Leominster Centre in 1830, ....... 29 Leominster Fire Department, ------- 36 Water Works Elevations, ....... ^q Old Parsonage of Rev. Francis Gardner, - - - 42 Residence of D. W. Salisbury, ...... ^2 Rev. John Rogers' monument, -■■■■• 43 Rev. Francis Gardner's tablet, ...... ^^ Rev. Francis Gardner's inscription, ----■• 44 Rev. Abel Conant's monument, ..-.-. ^- Orthodo.x Meeting House, ------- 48 C>rthodo.\ Congregational Church, ----.. ^g Fierce School House, North Leominster, - - - - 68 Field High School Building, -..-... 68 Bennett School, Pleasant street, ----- • - 68 International P'air Building, ( architect's drawing ) - - 73 Residence of ^L D. Haws, North Leominster, - • - - 80 Residence of Hamilton Mavo, Esq., Pearl street, - - So Group of Relics from the Nluseum, ----- 87 Residence of John H. Lockey, West street, - - 88 G. A. R. badge, - - - - - - - in Residence of N. Harwood, Grove Avenue, - - - 120 Frost Drinking P'ountain, - - - - - -127 Old House of William Burrage, ...... i^s Old Church in Norton .Sulvcourse, ...... ,^8 Birthplace of Ruth Kilburn Burrage, ..... 15^ Charlestown Ferry and residence of John Burrage, .... 16^ Homestead of Capt. Josiah Burrage, ..... 168 Birthplace of the comb business, ( initial ) . . . 232 Residence of A. W. Williams, Grove Avenue, :;32 Diagram of old screw press, ..... J3^ Old comb tools, ...... 2jc) Horse power in old time comb shops, .... 240 Valpey & .Anthony, Lynn Factory, .... 254 Valpey & Anthony, Leominster Factory, - 254 W. H. Jeweit & Co.'s Piano Factory, Allen's Block. JsS Children's Carriages, - - - - 265-266 Bird's-eye view Whitney Carriage Co.'s Works, 267 Leominster Worsted Co 's Mill, ... 276 Merriam & Hall's Factory, North Leominster, 277 P'aciorv of the Harwood Manufacturing Co., North Lcuminstcr, 279 Factory of the W. S. Reed lov Co.. - ^ - - - 2S2 Wachusett Shirt Co.'s Factories Nos. i and 2, - • 2S7 Reuben Gibson House, .... 296 PREFACE, Those who have never written or assisted in writing a historical work of any kind are not aware of the variety and amount of labor involved. In collecting the material for this volume the town and Church records, the Public Library and Museum, the files of the "Leominster Enterprise" and previous publications of a historical nature have been placed under contribution for all they contained to throw light upon the early history of the town. In addition to their acknowl- edgement I would also refer to Rev. J. D. Miller, to whom I am indebted for the preparation of the entire Educational and the greater portion of the Manufacturing Chapters ; to Hon. A. A, Burrage, James T. Joslin, Esq., Mrs. Clara A. Carter, and Albert G. Morse for valuable genealogical data, and to many others who have in various ways con- tributed to lighten my labors. The people of Leominster have given the work their cordial sympathy and support, without which it certainly could not have reached its present attractive form and ample proportions, for this and the unusually courteous treatment received I desire to express my personal thanks beyond the conventional forms of acknowl- edgement. The work is also largely indebted for its permanent value to the cheerful and ready assistance of Charles A. Joslin, town clerk, in ex- amining the records and in correcting and verifying facts and dates. In conclusion, I would say the publishers have accorded me the fullest liberty and, as a proper recognition of the fact, I assume responsi- biHty for all errors and imperfections which appear in the following pages. WILLIAM A. EMERSON. ERRATA. Page 22. Eighth line word ''furniture" omitted. Page 26. Fourth line for "1857" read : 1757. Page 84. In eighth line instead of "Rev. 'I'liomas (Gardner" read : Rev. Francis Gardner. Page 96. After "Roll of Honor Front Tablet," read : All whose names are inscribed on this tablet were members of the 15th Mass. Regiment. Page 107. In sketch of Col. George C. Joslin, eighth line from foot for "Charlestovvn" read : Charleston. Seventh line from foot instead of "upon be- ing exchanged returned to his regiment" read : Col. Joslin was captured by the enemy late in the year 1S63 and released in August, 1864. His regiment com- pleted their three years' term and were mustered out of service the previous month (July, 1864,) which caused his retirement from the army and return to civil life. Page 130. Si.xth line from foot for "veteran" read : vatman. Page 137. Seventh line for "Treasurer" read : Selectman. Page 145. Tenth line from foot for "now owned" read: afterwards owned. Page 149. Eighth line for "Emory" read ; Emery. P.4GE 167. iMfth line from foot for "John the second son" read : John the first son. Page 168. In sketch of A. A. Burrage, seventh line from foot, after "Boston" read : and two years, 1878 and 1879, in the Massachusetts Senate. Page 169. After the seventh line the following sketch of Charles Henry Burrage should appear: Charles Henry, the thirteenth and youngest child of the family, and one of the three suiviving children. He remained at home working on the farm and attending the public school until eighteen years of age. He then studied one term each at the academies of Xewt(jn and Lunenburg and at nineteen followed his brothers to Boston and entered upon a mercantile life in the store of Richardson, Burrage & Co. He afterwards went with Wilkinson, Stetson & Co., and Newton, Eaton & Co, and in 1853 became a partner in the firm of Hill, Burrage & Co., sub.sequently continuing in the firm of Burrage Bros. & Co., and in 1873 in the firm of Burrage, Cole & Tucker, now Burrage, Cole & Co Mr. Burrage is the only one of the six brothers who went to Bos- ton to live that remains in active business. P.'VGE 213. Last line for "Conway, N. H.," read : Conway, Mass. Page 223. Thirteenth line instead of "purchasing his present business of George A. Bishop & Co.," read : Engaged in business, occupying the old stand of G. A. Bishop & Co. Page 247. P'ifth and sixth lines from foot, should come at foot of the page and read : Last Sept. he (M. F. Morse instead of P. F. Lane,) bought out the Fitchburg Spirit Level Co. Page 254. Third line from foot for "J. C. .Anthony" read : J. S. Anthony. Page 314. Sixteenth line instead of "1S51" read : 1861. Page 319. Five lines from foot for "Loren" read : Loring. .■\dd to list of portraits James M. l^ronson, page 84. chapti:k I DKSCKII TI\E. EOMINSTKR is sitiiatv.'d in the northeastern ])art of Worcester County, Massachusetts, on the line of the Old Colony and h'itchburg railroads, five miles southeast from I'itchburg ; twentv miles north from Worcester and forty-six miles north- west from Boston, via the Fitchburg railway, and fifty-three bv the Old Colony. The township is irregular in form, with an area of about twenty-nine square miles. It is bounded north- erly by Fitchburg and Lunenburg, easterly by Lunenburg and Lancaster, .southerly by Lancaster, Sterling and Princeton, and westerly by Princeton, Westminster and Fitchburg. The sur- face in the northern and western parts is uneven and undulating. The hills are an even dozen in number, and are each ilistinct and separate. " North Monoosnock," " Higelow." "Carter." "Nichols," and "Houghton," in the northern part, "South Monoosnock," "Sheldon," " (lardner," " Haberrv," and "Long" in the central, and " Kock\ ," " Bee," or " Legate " in the south- l8 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. ern. Seven out of the twelve have good roads over them and are easily accessible for agricultural purposes. The other hills are in some parts high and steep, especially North and South Monoosnock, and furnish very little of value except wood and granite ; other portions of these five hills are, however, accessible, and furnish excellent mowing land and pasturage. South Monoosnock, the highest point of land in town, has an elevation of 1020 feet above sea level, and about 600 feet above the common at Monument Square. The village of Leominster with this rugged hill scenery for a background, and old Monoosnock towering above his fellows, presents a picture of rare beauty. The southerly part of the town is principally plain and level land, light and sandy, and not suitable for grass, although there is some very good farming land in this section. The eastern part, through which the Nashua river passes, has extensive plains and intervales, producing grass in abundance without cultivation. Previous to 1838 there were no natural ponds wholly within the limits of Leominster. It included a small portion of White's pond on the east, and a corner of Chualoom on the northeast, but by the annexation of No-town the whole of Rocky Pond was brought within the town limits. The north branch of the Nashua river, originally called the North river, after the union of the several branches whose sources are in Ashburnham and Westminster, runs through the center of Fitchburg and enters the town from the north, is soon after joined by Baker's Brook, proceeding through the North Village, and in a southeasterly direction, is joined by Monoosnock and F'alls brooks, enters the town of Lancaster about a mile south of White's Pond, thence easterly and south- erly uniting with the true Nashua about a mile south of the Lancaster meeting house and forming what was formerly the DESCRIPTIVK. 19 Pcnecook, hut now the Xashua, they pass off together and unite with the Merrimack at Xashua in \e\v Hampshire. This river takes a serpentine course in Leominster, through a wide and comparatively level valley. The Hon. Charles H. Merriam, in his excellent Sketch of Leominster, in the Worcester County History says " The valley of this stream for a considerable part of the distance in Leominster is bordered on its southerly side by high, steep banks, which appear to have been made by the wearing away of the deep, loose, gravelly formation by the action of water in the time of freshets during the long ages it has been working. Some of these banks are as much as sev- enty-five feet high and are carved out as if done by the hand of art, leaving wide tracts of rich, level grass land, renewed from year to year by the overflow. The 'Scar' at the turn on Main street, near the North Village, is a sample of this work- ing. The river, at some places, is still busily wearing away these formations bringing down the trees with giant power and enlarging the area over which, in spring, it roams at will, fer- tilizing and making productive its domain. Nothing could be more grand than the thought of this silent but stupendous work, or more lovely than these dales in Summer." Monoos- nock l^rook is the ne.xt stream of importance, divid- ing the town nearly in the centre. It has its rise in "Rocky Pond," in Leomin- ster, flows northerly through the Leominster Reservoir, and through the southerly part of Fitchburg and back into Leominster, passing in a circuitous course, through the center to the Nashua below North Leominster. Its tributaries are Morse, Slack, Haynes' and Ouarter-of-a-mile Brooks. " Fall Brook" in the southerly part of the town is the ne.xt largest ; 20 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESOLJE. " l^artlett Brook" next, in the southwesterly part and Chualooni Brook in the easterly part ; there are several other brooks in different parts of the town of lesser magnitude. Leominster, with all these natural features of hills, dales and streams within its borders, is in itself picturesque, and the surrounding scenery is noticeable for its quiet beauty. There are few towns so favored with pleasant and attractive country drives or whose inhabitants seem to appreciate them more. The number of fine horses owned in town is unusually large and the streets and roads are kept in admirable condition. Next to a neat and attractive residence, with well kept grounds, the Leominster man prizes his "te.im," and well he may with such o{)portunity to enjoy it. It has been remarked by one who has visited here, that " The average citizen is fond of that which it was not possible for his ancestors to obtain — comfort, and is not averse to adopting those things that ordinarily come under the head of modern improvements, whether intended to benefit the indiv'idual or the public. In town affairs particularly, he does not mean that it shall lack any of those appointments and conveniences that indicate progress, not that the characteristic feature of the l)lace is merely a spirit of enterprise, but a local pride which aims at the best ; for instance, the town wanted gas, and the whole amount of stock was taken on the street within thirty- six hours. It wanted water, and its water bonds to the sum of $150,000 were sold at a price and with a readiness which betokened the high character of Leominster credit." I think we may truthfully add to this one other feature just as express- ive of the true character of the people, and that is their inter- est in culture ; intellectual, religious and social. They have an exceptionally large and well selected public library, containing, as it does, 10,000 volumes. The privileges of the library are free to all. The reading room is well supplied with the current DESCRH^TIVE. 21 newspapers and periodicals, and not the least interesting and creditable feature of the institution is the museum. The Pub- lic Schools are of the best. A well conducted newspaper is generously supported, and the six churches, of different denom- inations, are in a flourishing condition. The s(jcial qualities of the people find expression in tlie large number of societies and associations. Some of the peculiar features of the place are the nicely constructed and well kept sidewalks, the prompt and efficient police force, and an excellent Fire Department ; the latter sup- plemented by a good water supply, with fire hydrants in differ- ent parts of the town. In the matter of Railroads, Leominster has transportation facilities in every direction. Through the centre runs the Old Colony with five trains to Boston and also to the principal cities in Southern Massachusetts. The Mtchburg and Worcester division affording ample means of communication between the shire towns of the county. Through North I ejminster runs the I^'itchburg and Hoosac Tunnel lines with eleven trains each day to Boston and direct communication north, via the Cheshire and Central X'ermont. I'ast through trains are also operated by this line to Chicago, St. Louis and all points West. The Depot at the Center is an attractive modern structure, and well suited to the requirements of the place. The other principal public buildings arc the Town Hall, Allen's, Bank, Fosters', Wood's, Morse's, Cook's Monoosnock, and Hotel Blocks in the center and Kendall Hall in North Leominster. Monument Square is located in the heart of the business portion of Leominster and from the enclosure rises the granite s'laft that commemorates the valor of the soldiers of the late w.ir. This square is also the converging point of the five princi- p-il streets, Main, West, Pleasant, Central and Mechanic. Con- 22 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. tiguous to it is the "common" with its walks, its fountains and its well kept lawn. Clustered about the latter and the square are the Town Hall, several churches and the representative business establishments of the town. The industries of Leominster are varied, including the manufacture of Horn Combs, Jewelry, Buttons, and a great vari- ety of fancy goods from horn, Children's Carriages, Pianos, Piano Cases, Toys, Leather, Paper, Leatherboard, office Desks. Shirts, Shoes, Linen and Woolens and Machinery. With such a variety of industries in a town there is very little danger of general depression of business. The place has grown rapidly during the past three or four years and is still growing. New buildings are going up all the time and are occupied as soon as completed. Manufacturers and Merchants are continually extending their resources and it would be impossible to find a community of 7,000 persons more really contented, prosperous and happy. CHAl^TKK 11. HISTORICAL. ME Town of Leominster has very little Indian history, although for many years pre- vious to its incorporation the parent town, Lancaster, suffered greatly from Indian depredations. The whole territory of the town was at one time owned by Sholan, Sachem of the Nashuays, whose headquarters were at Waushacum in Ster- ling. Very little is now known of the occupation of the land comprising the town of Leominster by these Indians, the tribe having ceased toe.xist in an organized form, before the Lancas- ter New Grant was much settled by the white man, and there is no intimation that the settlers were ever molested ; a state of things no doubt resulting from the fact that the courage and spirit of the tribe and its rulers was broken, and also that the land had been purchased of their chief, and paid for to his full satisfaction, thus giving no occasion for disputes or ill feeling. This first argreement was made in 1701, and the following is a copy of the Indian dcQ(.\ of the new grant, the bargain 24 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. with George Tahanto and other Indians, for lands purchased of them. " Know all men by these presents, That I, George Tahanto, Indian Sagamore, for and in consideration of what money, namely, twelve pounds, was formerly paid to Sholan, my uncle, sometime Sagamore of Nashuah, for the purchase of said township, and also forty-six shillings formerly paid by Ensigne, John Moore and John Houghton of said Nashuah, to James Wiser, alias Ouenepenett, now deceased, but especially, for and in consideration of eighteen pounds, paid part, and the rest secured to be paid, by John Houghton and Nathaniel Wilder, their heirs, executors and assigns forever, a certain tract of land on the west side of the westward line of Nashuah town- ship, adjoining to said line, and butts southerly for the most part on Nashuah river, bearing westerly towards Wachusett Hills and runs northerly as far as Nashuah township, and which lands and meadows, be it more or less, to be to the said In- signe, John Moore, John Houghton and Nathaniel Wilder, their heirs and assigns, to have and to hold forever, and I, the said George Tahanto, do hereby promise and engage to pro- cure an order from the honored General Court for their allow- ance and confirmation of the sale of said lands as aforesaid, and also that I will show and mark out the bounds of said land in convenient time, not exceeding four months, and also to make such deeds and conveyances as may be necessary for the con- firmation of the premises, and that also I, the said George Tahanto, do by these presents, fully notify and confirm, all and every, the said township of Nashuah, alias Lancaster, to the Inhabitants and proprietors thereof, according as it was form- erly granted to them, or their ancestors, by my uncle Sholan, and laid out to them by Ensign Thomas Noyes, and confirmed by the Hon. General Court. For the performance of all the above said, I, George Tahanto, have set my hand and seal this HISTORIC A L. 25 twenty-sixth day of June, in tiie thirteenth year of the reij^nof our Sovereign Lord, William the Third, over England, &c., King. Anno Domini, 1701. Signed and sealed in the presence of John Wonsqon, John Aquitticus, - GEOkCiK Tahanto, his O iiiiirk. his J mark liis O iiiark. Peter Puckataugh, Jonathan Wilder. Marv Aun.socamong, liis p iiiai'k. ln-i- O mark. John Guild. The above is a copy of the deed as it stands on the Propri- etor's records. The act of confirmation was passed by the "Great and General Court or assembly for her majesty's prov- ince of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England," in 1713, and in February 1814 " a committee was chosen to allot said land in lots of 40 acres to a share of the best land, and 40 acres for a minister in the most convenient place and if they find or know of a convenient place for a clay ground that it be reserved for the whole. All lots not so good in quality to be more in quan- tity, so as to be equal to 40 acres of the best land. Among the principal proprietors were the Peamans, the Sawyers, the Houghtons, the Osgoods, the Carters, the Joslins, the Whites, and the Wilders. As early as 1720 Gamaliel Beaman, Samuel Sawyer, Ben- jamin Houghton, David Os- good and Jonathan Osgood formed a settlement in that part of the grant which is now Sterling. In 1725 the first actual set- tlers were Gershom Houghton in the south and soon after James Boutelle in the south- J^^^S. /^^^S. 6 DANIEL KNIGHT ^JgERSHOHHiUOhP^ ^' VWHO DIED OCT. / iWHOOitOAWL \ ij AS Vol) XhE NOW SOO«Ct WIRE weI^ ft AS WE ARE NOW 3OT0U MUST 6s]4 j:/?f. tiS^S westerly part of what is now Leominster. Gershom Houghton 4 26 LEOMINSTER, HISTORrCAL AND PICTURESQUE. built his house on the farm now owned by Mr. C. C. Boyden, his wife Tamar carrying in her apron the iield stones used in the construction of the chimney. After the death of her hus- band in 1857 she married Mr. Daniel Knight, and after his death ten years later, erected to their memory the double stone now standing in the northeast corner of the old burying ground. The cellar hole of the Houghton house still remains on Mr. Hoyden's farm. Seven years afterward Jonathan White located in the northern part. Soon after Thomas Wilder and Nathaniel Carter and others located in different parts. It would seem that the northern part was not rapidly settled for we find in 1733 there were but five families in that section, but in a few years this number was considerably increased. As early as 1737 the inhabitants became dissatisfied with their connection with Lancaster and, coming to the conclusion that they could conduct their own Parochial and Town affairs with less inconvenience and expense and that they could and would " Maintain a Godly Minister," they applied to the Gen- eral Court and after persevering effort succeeded in securing an act of incorporation of the Town of Leominster which was passed on the 23d of June, O. S., 1740, the same as the 4th of July, N. S., and exactly thirty-six years before the birthday of the Nation. It has been quite conclusively settled that the original pro- prietors were not the actual settlers of the new grant, but that their sons took up the inheritance of the fathers and entered upon the work of subduing the forest and making homes for themselves. They were doubtless young or middle aged men, intelligent and industrious farmers, and were possessed of the requisite energy which enabled them to succeed in any difficult undertaking. In the report of the committee sent out to examine the Lancaster " New Grant," it was described as " rocky and moun- HISTORICAL. -.- tainous. and poorly accommodated with meadow." This was, however, found to be hardly a fair estimate of the Leominster section, for if we except the small portion which is abrupt and mountainous, and the 2000 acre " Xo-town " tract added in 1838. the land is. as a rule, very productive, and capable of producing a ^reat variety of crops. It required onlv the removal of the forests to reveal the rich plains underneath the growth of large white and pitch pines, the true alluvial mead- ows occupied by the rock maples, the buttonwood and elm, and the rich, strong soil of the uplands covered with oak, chestnut and walnut. On the site of these ancient forests are the flour- ishing fams of to-day. adapted to the various agricultural and horticultural productions, including all the different kinds of grain, vegetables and fruit. For several years large crops of grain were raised. A considerable portion of the soil was nat- ural to wheat, and wheat flour and Indian meal were raised and taken to the Boston market. Fla.\ was also raised by nearly every farmer in town, and many had flax to sell. The wives and daughters made cloth of it for the family, the latter going into the field to help pull it, and the boys learned to brake and swinge it. Very little manufacturing was carried on in town previous to the Revolution. The few instances we find on record were as follows : the manufacture of potash, which was undertaken by Thomas Wilder, Esq., one of the first settlers and continued some years afterwards by his son Thomas ; Jonas Kendall also manufactured the article, and also pearlash, for a number of years, and his wife made gingerbread to sell. The first tannery was built by Joshua Smith about this time. Hbenezer Wilder, of Lancaster, built and owned a eriNt mill,and Josiah White a saw mill, prior to 1740. In 1763 Mark Lincoln came to town and set up the business of clothier, constructing a dam and erecting a fulling mill. 28 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. where the dressing of home-made cloth was carried on to great perfection. The comb business, which has since been an important industry in Leominster, was commenced about 1770 by Mr. Obadidh Hills, from Newbury. The first oil mill in town was erected previous to 1790, probably about 1785. It was owned by Hon. Jonas Kendall, and located on the Monoosnock Brook, near the Fitchburg line. About the year 1787 Mr. Ephraim Eager from Sterling commenced the manufacture of saddles, but failed to carry it on successfully. Asa Kendall, an apprentice of Eager, suc- ceeded his master and met with better success, continuing in business for fifteen years. The first paper mill was erected by Wm. Nichols and Jonas Kendall in 1796. Coopering was a profitable business as far back as 1800, many large loads of barrels being sent weekly to the Boston market. A large quantity of bricks were also made at that time. The manufacture of tin ware, stoves, metal pumps, wooden plows, baskets, brooms, straw bonnets and hair sieves was carried on quite e.Ktensively, but has since been discon- tinued. In 1811 Luke Wilder built trip hammer works and for several years made a.xes, scythes and other edged tools and sent them abroad, in every direction, especially to the West. In the manufacture of boots and shoes but very little had been done previous to 1800, except custom work. It was not unusual, in the early days of the town, for the village shoe- maker, who made and mended the custom shoes, to pack up his "kit" of tools and go from house to house making up the shoes for the entire family for the year. The first regular manufacturer was Joseph Conant, who, in 1810 began the man- ufacture of ladies morocco shoes, selling something like $800 worth annually. HISTORICAL. 29 The incieasc in the population of Leominster has been very largely dependent upon the condition of its mechanical industries, there being only a very gradual increase in the num- ber of farm dwellings in the past hundred years. The town has suffered from fires several times, the most destructive of which were the burning of the Union Comb shop, the Stein way Piano Factory, the Harwood Leatherboard Mill, the Lockey Shop, the Hotel and Arlington Piano Factory, etc., (in the great fire of 1873.) LEOMINSTEK CENTER IN 183O. FROM AN OLD PRINT. The loss occasioned by this latter fire was fully ;g 100,000.00, and so severely was it felt that the town has not, until within two or three years, entirely recovered from the shock, The following statistics indicate the growth of the town from its settlement down to the present time. In 1725 there wore but two families ; in 1733 there were five ; in 1765 the population was 743; in 1776, 975 ; in 1790, 1189 ; in 1800, i486 ; in 1810. 1584; in 1820, 1790; in 1830, 1861 ; in 1840, 2069; in 1850, 3121 ; in i860, 3522 ; in 1870, 3894; in 1875, 5201 ; in 1880, 5772; in 1885,5297; in 1888, estimated about 7000. CHAl^TKH 111 TOWS' GOVERN MEXT. ANAGEMEXT of Town Affairs is committed to the hands of officers duly chosen. The annual meeting of the town for the election of officers and the transaction of town business is held on the first Mon- day in April, at which the following named officers are chosen : a Town Clerk and Treasurer, three Selectmen, three Assessors, three Overseers of the Poor, two members of School Committee, two Library Committee, one of Water Board, three of Cemeten.- Committee, a Highway Surveyor, three Auditors, a Town Agent, four Constables, a Field Dri\-er, three Fence Viewers, a Pound Keep>er. nine Surveyors of Lumber, fourteen Meas- urers of Wood and Rark and three members of Hartwell Smith Fund Committee. • A/'Js.uMtr,/ Ar fir S^/rttmrM : five Engineers of the Fire Department, nine Police Officers, a Keeper of the Lockup, a l>t»bation Officer, Sealer of Weights and Measures, four Registrars of Voters and three Weighers of Merchandise on Town Scales. The School Committee appoint a Superintend- ent of Schools and two truant officers. The officers of the town for the. present year are as follows: ^^ ^ww^ \ CHARLES A. HUNT. GEORGE F. TOWN GOVKKXMEXT. 3! /"cTi'// Clerk aiiii Trcasitrcr, Charles A. Joslin ; Sflcctuicn, How- ard M. Lane, Chairman, Charles A. Hunt, (ieorge F. Cclburn; .■:/-s\>v\y.w/.s-, Alanson Riehardson, Cephas Derby, Hollis J. Divoll ; Overseers of the Poor, Dwight \^. Look, John Dickey, Charles V. l^oyden ; Se/iool Couiinittee, E. M. Rockwell, chairman, Joel D. Miller, Henrietta M. Gates, George M. Powers, Charles C. Foster, hVancis C. Bowen ; Library Committee, Joel D. Mil- ler, Charles C. Foster, James A. Stowell, Klla M. Wilder, I. Freeman Hall, Henrietta M. Gates; Water Board, Hamilton Mayo, chairman, (ieorge Hall, Joseph G. Tenney ; Cemetery Committee, Benjamin F. Blodgett, Jonas \V. Gates, Cornelius A. VVhitcomb ; Highivay Surveyors, H. M. Lane, C. A. Hunt, G. F. Colburn ; Auditors, (ieorge V . Morse, Hamilton Mayo, Aaron O. Wilder ; Toivii Agent, Alfred L. J^urditt ; Constables, Willard D. Blanchard, Charles D. Pierce ; Field Driver, P'rank PL. Buss; Fence T/W^n-, Charles C. Boyden, Isaac Cowdrey, Jonas VV. Gates ; Pound Keeper, Charles E. Dresser ; Survey- ors of Lumber, W . G. Derby, Aivin P. Henry, S. A. Meads, George L. Rice, James Skinner, A. PI Lyon, H. L. Hicks, Por- ter Osborn ; Measurers of Wood and Bark, Wm. H. Burpee, C. A. Goodrich, Horace C. Fuller, George L. Rice, L. E. Osborn, J. M. Robbins, Horace L. Hicks, W. G. Derby, Louis Phelps, James Skinner, William H. Harrison, J. O. Conant ; I/art- ivell Smith Fund Committee, Dwight B. Look, Mrs. ^L D. Haws, Mrs. Elvira Dodge ; Engineers of Fire Department and Forest Fire Wards, William H. Spaulding, Chief, Albert W. Allen, Charles H. King, Charles D. Pierce, Elmer H. Bates. Poliee Ojfieers, Charles 11. Rhoades, Chief, William llarty, William A. Laselle, David L Munsie, Charles A. (Goodrich, Charles H. Rice, Charles IL King, Charles E. Tilton ; Keeper of Lockup, Charles H. Rhoades; Probation Officer, Charles > H. Rice ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Charles H. Rice ; 32 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Registrars of Voters, Philip Lothrop, Michael M. Madigan, Charles A. Chase, Charles A. Joslin, Clerk, by virtue of his office as Town Clerk; Weighers of Merchandise on Tozuu Scales, Charles F. Nixon, Edmund Munsie, Alfred A. Wheeler ; Snfer- intendent of Schools, I. Freeman Hall ; Truant Officers, Charles H. Rice, Willard D. Blanchard. TOWN CLERK— The duties of the Town Clerk begin immediately upon his election, and the administration of the oath of office by the moderator of the meeting or a justice of the peace. It is his duty to record all votes passed at the meeting at which he is elected, and at all other meetings while he continues in office, to notify all other officers of their elec- tion, and to administer the oath of office to all who appear be- fore him for that purpose, and to make a record thereof, also to record the oath of office taken before Justices of the Peace, to record votes cast in elections and make returns of the same, to issue marriage certificates, give burial permits, record births, marriages and deaths, assignments, attachments, mortgages of personal property, dog and liquor licenses. All records and documents belonging to the office are kept in the sole custody of the Town Clerk, and under his direction all such records or files are open for public inspection and examination and any one may take copies thereof. Nearly 44 years ago, at the age of 27, Mr. Joel C. Allen was elected to this office and for thirty-nine years he was annu- ally re-elected. During all this time he never once absented himself from the regular town meeting. Upon the death of Mr. Allen, the Selectmen, June 25th, 1884, appointed Mr. Charles S. Perry town clerk and at a special town meeting held Aug.- 23d, following, Charles A. Joslin was elected to the office which he has since filled to the satisfaction of the town, who have honored him by a re-election each successive year. THE TOWN TREASURER receives and takes charge of TcnvN (.()\i:knmi:n r 33 all moneys belonging to the town and pays out and accounts for the same according to the order of the town or of its duly author- ized officers, and renders an annual account of all his receipts, payments and official doings. After serving as Town Clerk for several years Mr. Allen was also elected Town Treasurer, and served in this double capacity up to the time of his death. June 28th, 18S4, the Selectmen appointed, and August 2T,d the town elected, Mr. Charles A. Joslin his successor, he also has been re-elected Treasurer each year since. Mr. Joslin is a native of Leominster, son of Charles L. Joslin, educated in the Leominster schools, took a business course at Comer's Com- mercial college in I-Joston, entered the employ of Joslin & Wil- liams and, after working at the business a year, took the position of book-keeper in the office of the firm, which position he still holds with the present proprietor, Mr. A. W. Williams. THE SELECTMEN are, in their relation to the town, very much wiiat the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council are to the city. Generally speaking, it may be said that they are agents to take the general superintendence of the business of the town, to supervise the doings of subordinate agents and the disbursement of moneys appropriated by vote of the town, to take care of its propert)' and to perform many other specific duties. How.AKD M. L.VNE, Chairman of the present lioard of Select- men, was born in Epping, N. H., Dec. 12, 1833, educated in the common schools and at the New Hampshire Conference Seminary at Northfield, (now Tilton.) N. H.. came to Leomin- ster in the autumn of 1851, and worked at the Piano-forte bus- iness for his brother, J. C. Lane, and for Hale W. Tage of Fitchburg, until 1857, when he succeeded his brother in the manufacture of Piano Cases, in which business he was engaged for about twenty years. During the last nine years he has been the manauer of the Leominster Gas Works, being one of 34 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. the original incorporators of the Leominster Gas Light Co., and one of its directors since its incorporation. He was also a member of the water board during the first six years of its existence, being an active member during the construction of the water works. Mr. Lane represented the district of which Leominster formed a part, in the Legislature of 1868, and is now serving the fourth successive year as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Married, Jan. 21st, 1863, Sarah B., daughter of James H. and Caroline Carter. Charles A. Hunt was born in West Boylston, July 19, 1842, was educated in the public schools of that town, removed to Sterling, where he was engaged in the general store busi- ness from 1865 to 1876. The following year he came to Leom- inster, and for a short time carried on the same business in the corner store under what is now A. L. Williams & Co.'s, and was afterwards associated with Balch, Reed & Co., in the man- ufacture of buttons. Since retiring from business he has found employment, principally, in real estate and other trans- actions, buying, selling, building, etc. He is now serving the fourth consecutive year on the Board of Selectmen. Married, July 19, 1870, Sarah F., daughter of Leonard and Sarah Osborn. George F. Colburn, was born in Leominster, Jan. 21st, 1830, educated in the public schools, and at the age of seven- teen went to Southboro, where he was employed in a country store. In 1850 he went to New York city, remaining until 1855 ; returning to Leominster, he engaged in the store busi- ness with his brother, F. H. Colburn. In 1865 he became interested in the old established comb business with his father, Jonas Colburn, under the firm name of Jonas Colburn & Son, and upon his father's death, in September, 1873, continued the same with the estate until 1879. In 1885 he entered into part- nership with his son in the manufacture of musical merchan- WILLIAM A. LASSELLE. DAVID I. MUNSIE. CHARLES H. RICE WILLIAM nARTi CHARLES E. TILTON. LEOMINSTER POLICE. TOWN r.()\KKNMi:Nl 15 disc, the firm being A. \V. Colburn, & Co. In 1864, 65, 66 and 6"] he served the town as Assessor and on the Board of Select- men in 1871, 1873, 1887 and 1888. In addition to his interest in town affairs, Mr. Colburn has always been actively interested in Town, State and National politics. He represented the town of Leominster in the State Legislature in 1878 and 1879. Married, Catherine E., daughter of Lowell A. and Hannah Newton of Southboro. POLICE DEPARTMENT. The police force, at present, consists of a Chief and seven men, two of whom are detailed for regular duty, leaving a reserve force of five men for special duty. The oflficers, in their efforts to prevent crime, particularly by the suppression of the sale of intoxicating liquors, are heartily supported and seconded by the town oflficials and the people. As evidence of this it may be stated that during the year ending Feb. 29th, 1888, the number of arrests for drunkenness were 53, of which number 27 came into town in an intoxicated condition, and were arrested upon their arrival. This rigid and successful enforcement of the laws is due largely to the determination of the police to do their duty, knowing that the Board of Select- men will stand by them in any emergency, and having that confidence which can only come from an emphatic public senti- ment back of them. Charles H. Rhoades, Chief of Police, was born in Bos- ton, October 30th, 1833. He came to Leominster when 17 years old and served three years as an apprentice with Isaac Cowdrey, the well known carpenter. In 1857 he went South, and was in Southern and Western States and Territories, pass- ing a portion of his time with the Pawnees and Uncas, until the fall of i860, when he returned to Massachusetts and settled in Maiden, engaging in the lumber, wood and coal business. ■i^6 LEOMINSTER. HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. In 1870 he was appointed a Deputy Sheriff of Middlesex, serv- ing in that capacity until 1878. In 1879 and 80 he was Chief of Police of Maiden, and in May, 1883, was appointed at the head of the Leominster police, and has been unanimously re-appointed to the position for six consecutive years. The Chief gives his whole time to the duties of his office, and con- ducts personally all cases before the lower court. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Previous to 1846 the community was dependent upon the individual efforts of its citizens, armed with fire buckets, to pro- tect its property from fire. In July of that year the town pur- chased of W. C. Hunneman, of Boston, the first "water engine," which was named Torrent, No. i. It was a plain tub machine, without bell or buckets, and destitute of ornament. Mr. Ward M. Cotton had the general management up to May, 1848, when a company was organized and confirmed by the Selectmen. Mr. Isaac Cowdrey was foreman, Col. Joseph S. Darling, 2d foreman, and J. C. Fletcher, Esq., clerk. The engine house was along side the old Town Hall, subsequently Gardner Hall. This company had no legal organization, but in May, 1849, a new company was formed and a Constitution and By-laws were adopted. This was the first regular organization. Its officers were J. C. Lane, foreman, Arthur Mechan, 2d fore- man, J. C. Fletcher, Esq., clerk, Leander Woods, treasurer, Ephraim Divoll, steward. Each member of the Department was allowed a sum equal to his poll tax for his services. In 1850, Henry Policy was made foreman, and Wm. Hale, stew- ard. The sum of $500 was raised by subscription, and a bell, four buckets, an arch and a tongue procured. The next com- pany organized was " Union, No. 2," located in North Leomin- ster. An unusual effort has been made to get data relating to this company, but the early records and books have been miss- TOWN (;()\i:knmi;n r. 37 ing for several years and the only events of interest relating to it are obtained from the records of the other company. In some cases the two were associated, as for example, at the time the Orthodox church was struck by lightning in 1850, both com- l)anies were promptly on hand, and subdued the fire. In con- sequence of this im|wrtant service, the Old Worcester Mutual Insurance Co., made each company a present of $25. About this time there was considerable interest in fire matters, and there existed a spirit of friendly rivalry between the two com- l^anies, the first actual contest resulting in favor of " Union \o. 2." by a few seconds of time. While practicing for the trial the members of "Torrent No. i "would meet at 7 o'clock, the time appointed, man the rope, start from their house, run down to the bridge over Monoosnock brook, put down suctions, lay off 250 feet of hose and pass water through the pipes inside of three minutes. Oct. 17, 1874, the whole fire department turned out for drill and practice. At the trial Torrent i Co. drew water from a hogshead, which was supplied from a hydrant, played through 200 feet of hose, and threw a stream of water 183 feet, 3 1-2 inches. Union No. 2 Co., under the same circumstances, threw a stream of water 189 feet, 4 1-2 inches. The two companies soon after had a contest for a sil- ver trumpet, presented by N. G. Wood, which was won by Torrent i, and subsequently presented to W. H. Spaulding, at that time foreman. For several years the Hook and Ladder companies have had trial contests with out of town companies, and at the present time, Sept. ist, 1888, the Clipper II. & L. Co., of Leominster, hold the championship of the worUl. The contest, in which they came off victorious, took place on the track of the Agricultural Park at Worcester, June 2d, of the present year, the race being with the J. N. Grout, II. & L. Co., of -Spencer, l-^ach company was allowed 25 men ; 5 to stand at the truck and 20 to start from the stanil, and each were to 38 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. splice their ladders and put a man on the stage 28 feet from the ground ; referee, Capt. H. R. Williams, fire patrol, Worcester; Capt. S. E. Combs and D. A. Barns, judges ; C. M. Mills, of the fire alarm telegraph, fired the pistol, and W. A. England was the official time keeper. The time made by the Spencer company was 61 2-5 seconds, and that of the Clipper just 61 seconds. Upon their return to Leominster Saturday even- ing foreman Killelea and runner Fox were drawn around the square, with an escort, headed by the Leominster drum corps. The demonstration was one long to be remembered. The behavior of the company throughout the day was such as to do credit to the town, and at 12 o'clock all demonstration ceased, and those who regard the Sabbath were not disturbed. An unusual effort will be made the coming fall to relieve them of their well earned laurels, but the Clippers are having a new truck made, and e.xpect to better their present record, and hold the advantage already gained. The fire department has always had a good reputation for efficient and effective service, and its standard was never higher than at the present time. It is under the management of a board of engineers, who have in charge a good outfit of modern equipments, consisting of one steam fire engine, two Hook and Ladder trucks, and four Hose carriages. The board of Engineers are chosen in April, and appointed May ist, by the Selectmen, and are as follows : W. H. Spauldin^, chief ; Charles H. King, ist assistant ; Charles D. Pierce, 2d assist- ant ; Elmer H. Bates, 3d assistant ; Albert W. Allen, 4th assistant. Steamer Aurora, No. i., is located on Church street. Engineer, Wm. H. Wood. Clipper Hook and Ladder Co. No. i.,on Church street. Foreman, James Killelea; clerk, P. H. Killelea ; 15 men. Washington Hose Co. No. i., on Church street. Fore- TOWN GOVKKNMKNT. 39 man, Walter H. Rugg; assistant foreman, ICrnest Perkins, clerk, John Wilcox ; 10 men. Always Ready Hose No. 2, on Church street. Foreman, Frank Gleason ; clerk, L. W. Lowe ; 12 men. Franklin Hose Co. No. 3, on Main street, North Leom- inster. Foreman, T. J. O'Brien ; assistant foreman, P. C. Chute ; steward, F. C. King; secretary, J. L. Jones ; 12 men. Torrent Hose Co. No. 4, on Church street. Foreman, Charles H. Pierce; clerk, Clarence N. Cozzens ; 10 men. The first Chief of the Leominster Fire Department was Emery Tilton, followed by Henry Stearns, D. B. Stratton, James Skinner, George R. Damon, William H. Spaulding, the present Chief Engineer, is a native of Rochester, New York, learned the carpenter's trade when he was 16 years of age ; came to Leominster in July, 1865, and entered the employ of P2dwin Litchfield, but soon after went to work for Tenney & Lockey, afterward J. P. Lockey, then John H. Lockey, and more recently the Lockey Piano Case Co., and with the e.xception of an interval of a few months, has been actively connected with the fire depart- ment since 1866. WATER DEPARTMENT. The Leominster W^ater W^orks were built in 1873, and the town began furnishing water, Jan. i, 1874. The first action taken towards providing a water supply was in 1870, when Manson D. Haws, Esq., caused an article to be inserted in the town warrant, to see what action the town would take to obtain water. The committee to examine and report consisted of M. D. Hiws, C. H. Merriam, J. H. Lockey, J. C. Allen and Cephas Derby. Subsequently Mr. Lockey, declining to act fur- ther with the committee. Dr. G. W. Pierce was elected to fill his place and .Augustus Whitman was added to the committee. The necessary authority having been granted by the legislature 40 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. the town voted Dec. 30, 1872, on a test vote of 249 yeas to 5 nays, to proceed with the work, according to plans reported by their committee and chose a water board consisting of Emery Tilton, Dr. G. W. Pierce, for three years; H. M. Lane and George Hall for two years ; C. H. Merriam and \Vm. M. How- land for one year. The board was organized with C. H. Merriam, chairman, H. M. Lane, clerk, and \Vm. M. How- land, treasurer. January 13, 1873, this board was author- ized and instructed to proceed with the work. A loan was obtained from the State Treas- urer, payable one third each in ten, fifteen and twenty years, at seven per cent interest. The C(jntract was awarded to Charles L. Goodhue of Spring- tield, Mass., and completed by him to the satisfaction of the town, Dec. 23, 1873, at which LEOMINSTER WATER-WORKS, ELEVATIONS S.MONOOSNOCK MILL ^°° ~;<^^^v f^ESERVQIR, RESERVOIR fKQPDS^O J JUHCTIONRtSERyOjR |.ft REinrRV0JRi MOUGHTON H'UL -C H U ALO OI^-PQN & 1 13— ^:i$< A. W POLLARD HOUSE 52. WEST ST. MONUMENr SQUARE PATOW MFO CO. SHOP -Z^ HARWOOD LEATHtRBOARDM'LLl93 time the water was permanently let into the pipes. The water is taken from Morse brook about one and one half miles from the center, and has a fall of one hundred and eighty-three feet at the top of the curbstone around Monu- ment Square, with a pressure of about seventy-nine pounds to the square inch. The drainage area is 1.2 15 acres and the storage capacity of all the reservoirs is 150,000,000 gallons. The original surveys and plans were made, providing for four reservoirs, " Haynes," *' Morse," " Junction." and " Distribut- ing." Three were constructed and the fourth, "Junction," res- ervoir left to be built at some future time, if needed for storage. TOWN COVF.KNMENT. 4 1 The aniDunt of water in the three reservoirs is adequate to supply j)rescnt deniands. The aecompanying diagram gives the elevations of the several reservoirs and points of land and other well known localities in town, with distanee abo\e or below the curbstone at Monument square. A sketch of Mr. Emery Tilton, the first Superintendent of the Water ^^'orks is given elsewhere. Mr. Joseph G. Tknnev, the present superintendent of the Water Works, has occupied that position and has also been treasurer of the board since 1879. He was born in Leomin- ster, Aug. 5, 1825, educated in the public schools of the town, learned the carpenter's trade and began the business of carpen- ter and builder for himself, while yet in his minority. At the age of twenty he contracted to build his first house for his sis- ter, Mrs. Maynard, on Pleasant street, and soon after the A. (). Wilder house on West street. In 1850 he built a residence for himself on Water street, where he first began housekeeping and where he has since lived. In 1859, Mr. Tenney went South, but was sent for by Isaac Cowdrey to return and help him build a house for Porter M. Kimball. This he did, and con- tinued in business with Mr. Cowdrey for some time. In 1864 he engaged in the Piano business with J. P. Lockey, and in 1867 became the first treasurer of the Arlington Piano Co. In 1870 he began outside, the manufacture of sounding boards, for the same company, erecting the building opposite his residence on Water street, for that i)urp()se. He was associated with the Stratton brothers at Strattons' mills in 1871, bought out their interest, and in 1874 entered into partnership with Captain Clesson Kenney, under the style of Tenney & Kenney, con- tinuing for five years, after which time the latter conducted the lumber business and Mr. Tenney gave his attention to the management of the Water Department for the town, (i CH.^PTKR I\'. CHURCHES. \--V^^^^2^X>^ EPTE>[BER 1743, the first cliisrch in iif ^ "^ KT^. - Leominster was organized and Rev. John \fc , /^___^ , Rocers. a lineal desc^idant of the martvr *'-^==^w >! lT^," - "^ jv ^ : :~i.: r.2~e. wi^ cMToained then" ♦^'^t ^^ "^ -^\ ^ -— -*,;--^ ^ ^:er The name at rr-e r.rs: \ w^ - ^x ... ^< w^r^scc-: I I74i. .^ 7 * - - ^ y "30se oi /y^:^t\47^ _ _ .^ . -the ^ -^r ,- " ^ '_ X- ~er oi writ !:5 old .-vaT" ' '' .-3s?^CS burvins: _ _ ^as tar enoi^h towsr - : "_j. _ ive a month s \^ ia xL. aI « j^ 45 icci lg ien5;th. 35 acdrr:: _ '' ~xs rough boari;' — *"-: *- few \v :_ _^ : :^:a only a loose . : - or benches Tl?ere were no pews for several year? and the ootsidew;. - ^i and painted until 1755. was used not oal\ ; worship, but as a town hc-usc, ^iio the tc~ ~ - : " -_ in it for ov^r thirt\- years^ In 1775:: :d«hi to the Baptist society in Harvard, tak^i down and carried to " Still River," and for a lixag time was nsed by ibem as a place o£ worship andl they CHL'RCHKS. 43 were about to build a larger house, when they moved the old one across the street, and fitted it up for a parsonage. On account of differences in opinion between himself and his peo- ple, about minor doctrinal points of religion, Mr. Rogers was dismissed in 1757, but about one-fifth of the society adhering to him, a " poll Society " was made of them by the Legislature, to whom he preached until prevented by the infirmities of age, and was dismissed by them in 1788. After the settlement of the controversy with Mr. Rogers, the church and town proceeded to the choice of a minister, and in 1762, Rev. Francis Gardner was settled as their secod pastor. After the dismission of Mr. Rogers from the " poll Society," that church and society was dissolved, and the members united with Mr. Gardner's church. Mr. Rogers died October 6, 1789, in the 78th year of his age. The ""^ -.^^^ marble monument to his memory was placed over his grave in the old cemetery in 1845 by a committee of the First Congregational Society, one half the expense being paid by the Hon. Walter R. Johnson, of Wash- ington, D. C. a grand-son of Mr. Rogers. Rev. Francis Gardner, was a son of Rev. John Gardner, of Stowe, and was born Feb. 29, 1736; was grad- uated at Harvard Uni- versity in 1755, and was nearly 27 years of age when ordained. He was .1 man of sound under- standing and great learning, a thorough biblical scholar, a dis- creet and prudent pastor, and a good sermonizer, but, accord- ing to Mr. Wilder in his valuable history, "as an orator, lii^^^sr 44 LEOMINSI'EK, HISTORICAL AND PICTL"KESOUE. Rev'"' Francis Gardner WHO DIED JUNE Z**- A.D. 1214-. IN THE 79^ YEAR OF HIS AGE HE WAS BORN FEBRUARY 2 bMM' ORDAINED A MINISTEf^OF TH§ IN LEOMINST^^^ DEC. E 25.- 1 jmm 1NWHICHH16HLY IMPORTANT OFJ HE OFFICIATED UNTIL HIS DECE HE PflSJtSSED W AN EMINENT DEGREETttOSE DWBTIC AND SOCIAL VIRTUES WHICH ENDEARED HIMTO HIS FAMIi:^. GAVE HIMTHE COMFIOENCE OF H»S FRiEMOS AND THE ESTEEM AND RESPECT DFMIS PEOPLE. WITH; WHOM HE LIVED IN MUCH HARMONY, DISCHARGIN&' TO GENERAL SATISFACTION HIS MINISTERIAL AND! PAROCHIAL DUTIES 0UR1N6 A PERIOD OF NEARLY. FIFTY-TWOVEARS. IN TESTIMONY DFTHtiR ESTEEM FDHHISMAMYVIRTUES AND TO PERPETUATE THE fiEHEMeRANCEOFHISLDHCANOFAJTHFUL SERVKKJ THIS WQNUMCNT ,^^ IS RESPECTFULLY DEDIC BY THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF Lt OMlNSTSRj the Rev. Mr. Adams of Lunenburg and some others were far his superiors." Mr. Adams was not only a good orator, and a good minister, but he was somewhat facetious. On a certain occasion he expressed himself in language like the following : " Let Father Gardner write a sermon and let me deliver it, and we would beat the devil." meaning, undoubtedlv that the effect of such sermons thus deliv- ered, would be to con- vince the hearers that, whenever they were enticed by the adver- sary to commit sin, they should immedi- ately obey the pre- cept given by St. James ; "Resist the devil, and he will flee from thee." M r . Gardner died sudden- 1 y at Watertown, while on a journey to Boston. June 2, 1814, in the seventy-ninth year of his age and the fifty-second of his ministry. He was buried in our old burving-ground and over his grave a tablet was erected bv the town to commemorate his valuable services and to express their gratitude and respect for him. It was during the minis- try of Mr. Gardner that the second meeting-house was built, the site, a little more than an acre, being what is now the common in front of the present First Congregational (L^nita- rian) Church, the dimensions being, probably about 50x60 CHLKLHKS. 45 feet, and fronting to the east At each end was a porch, and in each of the porches were two flights of stairs to the gallery. The expense of the house is not known, but it was considered a large and elegant meeting-house. It was con- sidered the town's property, and for fifty years the town meet- ings were held in it. In 1824 it was taken down and converted into a town house, and used as such for twenty-seven years until the new brick town house was completed in 185 i. Rev. \\ M. B.\sco.m, the successor of Mr. Gardner was installed in 1815. He was a graduate of Harvard Univ-ersity in 1802, and had been settled in Fitchburg. After a ministry of about five years, the connection between him and the church was dissolved March 2d, 1820. He died in 1845. Rev. Abel Cox ant, the next minister, ordained January 24th, 1 82 1, was a native of Milford, New Hampshire, where he was born July 17, 1793. He graduated at Dartmouth in 18 15, and was preceptor of Groton Academy several years, while he was studying his profession. During the ministry of Mr. Conant, the third meeting-house was built by the town. Three more religious societies were organized, and three other houses for public worship erected. Mr. Conant died December 6th, 1836, and was buried in the south-westerly part of the old cemetery. A granite monument was erected by the Society to mark his resting place. The present Unitarian church edifice was built by a vote of the town at a town meeting held on the 8th of December, 182 i The building was completed early in the fall of 1823. The pews were sold for S1600 more than enough to pay for building, and a portion of that sum was appropriated to the purchase of an organ. The bell, which, for so many years, on every Sun- day morning, has invited the members of all religious societies 46 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. to the worship of God, was presented to the town by one of its public spirited citizens, Joel Crosby, Esq. Oct. 15th, 1823, the church was dedicated. On the 4th day of ]\Iay, 1835, the "First Congregational Society of Leominster," was organized by law, and the town ceased to manage its parochial affairs. In the spring of 1837 the clock was placed in the tower of the meeting-house, in accordance with the provisions of the will of the late Joel Crosby, Esq., who, by the same will gave $1000, the interest of which, was to be used for the support of the parish. In 1850 the meeting-house was finished up in more modern style, but its general appearance remained unchanged. Outwardly, the steeple of " beautiful architectural symmetry " remained untouched, as also did the clock and bell. Mr. Rufus Phineas Stebbins, a graduate of Amherst and of the Theological School at Cambridge, preached as a candidate in July, 1837, and was ordained September following. His relations wiih the Society were dissolved by mutual con- sent in 1844, he having accepted a call to preside over an insti- tution in Meadeville, Pa., for the preparation of young men for the ministry. Mr. Hiram Withington, his successor, also a graduate of the school at Cambridge, was settled over t^e church from December 25th, 1844, to July 31, 1848. Rev. Amos Smith became their minister November 26t 1, 1848, and resigned September ist, 1856. From that time to September 2d, 1857, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. T. B. Forbush and Mr. Stephen Barker, at which time Mr. Barker was ordained, remaining until June i, i860. Rev. Eli Fay was installed June ist, i86j, and resigned April 1st, 1864. August 3d of the same year, Rev. J.)hn B. Green, a graduate of Meadville Theological School, Pa., became the pastor, remaining until June 20th, 1867. CHLRCflES. 47 Rev. E. a. Horton, a graduate of the University of Michigan, (with honorary degree of M. A. in 1880) and a grad- uate of Meadville Theological School, Pa, in 1868, settled in Leominster in 1868, remaining seven years ; was then out one year by illness ; three years at the old church, Ilingham, and was settled over Second Church, Boston, in 1880. Rev. William H. S.wage, a graduate of Andover Theo- logical Seminary, was settled in Leominster from Nov 1876 to Nov. 1886, when he accepted a pastorate in Watertown, Mass. Rev. Edward B. Pavne, the present pastor, is a native of Vermont, forty years of age, a graduate of Oberlin Seminary, preached five years as a Congregational minister in Berkely, Cal. After becoming a Unitarian he was settled at Springfield and Manchester, and Feb. 2d, 1S87 was installed in Leomin- ster. THE ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. In pursuance of letters missive from a number of persons belonging to the society organized Nov. 26th, 1822, (now legally designated "The Orthodox Congregational Society in the town of Leominster") desirous of forming themselves into a church, an Ecclesiastical Council convened at the house of Capt. Eph- raim Lincoln, Dec. 25, 1822. The result of this Council was the organization of a church, in connection with the Society then existing, with 10 members. To these were added four teen others who had been members of the First Concrretrational church, (Unitarian) who were received into the new church December 26th, on the recommendation of an cx-partc Council convened at their call. The Church thus formed worshipped in a private house, the same in which it was organized, for nearly two years. Their first meeting-house w\as built in 1S24, and located northerly from the common, about half way to the old burying ground, on land that was formerly owned by Eben- czer Houghton, and is now the Catholic Church on Main street, 48 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. having been occupied by the builders until sold to the Metho- dist Society in 1837. Its second piare of worship was erected on its present lot on Park street, southwesterly from the com- mon (on land originally owned by Rufus Houghton) in 1836, and was dedicated Feb. 8, 1837. In May, 1850. this house was struck by lightning, and came near being destroyed. In repair- ing it alterations were made in pews and galleries. In Feb. 1872 it caught fire from an overheated furnace and was entirely consumed. The society had previously arranged to build their present brick church the coming season, which was completed and dedicated August 19, 1873. It cost about $65,000, seats about eight hundred and fifty persons and is one of the finest country churches in the State. Mr. Phillips Payson, a son of Dr. Seth Payson of Rindge, N. H., the first minister settled over this church, was ordained CIR'RCIIKS. 49 Nov. ijtb, 1825, and dismissed on account of ill health April 17th, 1832. Rev. O. G. Hluhard, of Sunderland, the successor of Mr. Tayson, graduated at Amherst College in 1829. He was ordained May 23d, 1833, and after a faithful and successful min- istry was dismissed in June 1851. He died in East Falmouth Aug. 14th, 1852. Rev. Joel S. Bincham, a graduate of Marietta College, Ohio, after a pastorate in Charlotte, Vermont, was installed as Mr. Hubbard's successor, December 17th, 1851. He closed his pastorate, which hatl been one of great success, June isl, 1857. removing to Westfield, Mass. He was afterwards settled for several years in East Boston, Mass., and is, at the present time settled pastor at Traer, Iowa. Rev. Jo.sei'H W. Backus, the ne.xt pastor of this church and a graduate of \'ale. was installed January 14th. 185.S, and dismissed August 13th, 1862. 50 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Rev. Horace Parker began his ministry December 7, 1862, without a formal call or installation, continuing as acting pastor until May i, 1865. In January and February, 1865, with the consent of the church, he served as delegate of the Christian Commission at Meade's Station, Va. He has since done much good work as a minister of the gospel, in Ashby, Pepperell and Lunenburg, until obliged by ill health to resign. He is now a resident of Shirley, Mass. Rev. William J. Batt, a native of Fall River, and a grad- uate of Brown and Andover, was next installed as pastor, Oct. 17th, 1865, having supplied the pulpit for some months pre- vious. His ministry was very successful in every respect. Mr. Batt was dismissed July 15th, 1874. He is now, as he has been for several years, chaplain and moral instructor at the State Reformatory in Concord. Rev. Henry A. Wale.s, succeeded Mr. Batt as acting Pastor. He studied theology at Hartford Seminary, Conn., and was ordained to the ministry Sept. 12th, 1866. He served this church from Sept. 1874 to Sept. 1877. Rev. Sylvanus C. Kendall entered upon the duties of the pastorate May ist, 1878. He closed his ministry here at the expiration of one year. He is a graduate of Amherst and Andover, and an able preacher. Rev. Gabriel H. DeBevoise, a graduate of Phillips Academy, Williams College and Andover Theological Semi- nary, was called to the pastorate January 26th, 1880. He accepted the call and was duly installed March 3d, 1883. He resigned May 25th, 1883, after a very successful pastorate, and was dismissed by council July i8th, 1883. He entered the service of the Missionary Department of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society, where he labored faith- fully until the time of his present settlement over the Second Congregational Church and Association of Keene, N. H CHURCHES. 5 I Rev. Richard Meredith, the present pa.stor, was installed March 6tti, 1884. Mr Meredith is of Welsh parenta<;c. He received his education and training for the Christian ministry in his native land ; but preferring the United States as the scene of his publiclabors, he came to this country in 1862. In April 1863 he entered the Troy Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and spent fifteen years in the Itineracy. In 1878 he accepted a call to the First Congregational Church in East Hartford, Conn., and after six years service there, he received and accepted a call to his present position. Of the members of this church six are known to have entered the ministry, viz : Thomas Boutelle, Artemas A. Wood, now in Lyons, N. Y., Fernando Putnam, who afterwards entered the Protestant Episcopal Church, Payson Tyler, who preached and died at Hardwick, Vermont, Francis J. Marsh, ordained at Upton, Mass., in 1875, ^l^o is now pastor of the Congrega- tional Church at Walpole, Mass., and Albert H. Wheelock, who was ordained at Topsham, Mc, July ist, 1888, where he now labors. ST. leg's catholic church. The first movement for the formation of a Catholic Church in Leominster, was made in 1849, '^y ^^e Rev. M. F. Gibson^ pastor at Worcester, Mass., who came here and said mass at the home of one of the Catholic families. From that time he made monthly visits and, as the numbers increased rapidly, pL-rmission was granted by the Selectmen to use the Town Hall, then (iardner Hall, and there services were held every other week. In 1857 the small meeting-house owned by the ]iaj)tist Society, on North Main street, near the North Village, was purchased and fitted up for worship. At this time I''itcli- burg was assigned a resident jiastor. (Re\'. M. V. Gibson) and Leominster was made a part of that i)arish, and was attended 52 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. by F"ather Gibson until 1856, Rev. Edward Turpin until 1866, and Rev. C. M. Foley until 1872, when Leominster was made an independent parish with the present efificient pastor, the Rev. Daniel Shiel. Father Shiel completed his studies at St. Carlow, Ireland, and was the first priest ordained by the Rt. Rev. P. T. O'Reilly. The present church and a parsonage were purchased of the Methodist Society in 1871. In 1876 this church was remodelled and much enlarged, so as to give a seat- ing capacity of 800, making a fine church edifice. In 1882 the old parsonage building was moved from its location on Main street adjoining the church, and a new and attractive modern structure erected on its site. When the parish was established and Father Shell appointed (in 1873) the church was dedicated to Almighty God, under the patronage of St. Leb. It is now a large and flourishing parish. CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH. Early in the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Rascom, those per- sons, in town, who embraced Baptist views, united with the Baptist Society in Holden. In August 1822 those who had joined the Holden church, with others to the number of sixty- five, were dismissed to form a church in Princeton. The mem- bers living in Leominster were constituted a branch with the privilege of sustaining a minister, and a Calvanistic Baptist Society was formed in 1824, by David Allen and nine others. The Branch Church was publicly organized as a distinct and independent Church of Christ in 1837. This church was dis- solved Oct. 27th, 1849, and a church, principally composed of members of the old church, was constituted March loth, 1850. It was named "The Central Baptist Church of Leominster." A new Society had been organized three months previous. The first place of worship was the old John Richardson tailor shop on Main street. Its first meeting-house was built by CHURCHES. 53 Capt. David Allen, and located on the plain near North Leom- inster, on land now occupied for a residence by S. A. Meads. It was dedicated in June 1832, and occupied by them until 1849. It was afterwards owned by the Catholic Society until they purchased their present house of worship on Main street. At present it is occupied by the said Meade as a barn and car- penter's shop. The present church edifice in the center of the town, facing the common, was erected on land purchased of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Society in 1849, ^^'^ was dedi- cated in January 1850. The ministers by whom the people were supplied with preaching prior to the formation of the " Central " Church were (as nearly as can be learned) as fol- lows : Rev.'s John Walker, A. Sampson, Elisha Andrews, Nicholas Branch, Elias McGregory, Luther Goddard, Josiah C. Carpenter, David Taylor and B. H. Clift. At the organiza- tion of the "Central Baptist Church," (March 10, 1850,) the Rev. A. M. Swain was chosen pastor, the call being dated April 27th. He continued pastor until Nov. 1854. Rev. A. C. Bronson, his successor, served from Dec. 1854, until June iastus Otis and George E. Fairbanks . '24, Benjamin Hazel- ton, John C. Risley and Ira M. Bidwell ; '25, John Lindsay Jared Perkins and H. S. Ramsdell ; '26, Joel Steele, Jared I'erkins and Leonard B. Griffin ; '27, Abraham D. Merrill, (jiles Campbell and Thomas W. Tucker, supernumary ; '28, l^phraim K. Av^ery, Thos. W. Tucker and Lewis Johnson ; '29, Daniel Fillmore, Isaac Jennison and A. B. Kinsman ; '30, Dan- iel Filmore, and Isaac Jennison ; '31, Jacob Sanborn and San- ford Benton ; '32, Abraham D. Merrill and Samuel Cogg- shall ; '^;^, Isaac Jennison ; '34, Charles Virgin ; '35, Thomas W. Tucker and Joel Knight ; '36, J. S. Ellis ; '^y, Charles Virgin, William P. White and Ebenezer F. Newell, supernum- ary ; '38, Horace Moulton and Ephraim Culver, Jr.; '39, Willard Smith ; '40, Benjamin Paine and Willard Smith , '41, Benjamin Paine and Samuel Heath ; '42, Samuel Heath and William A. Clapp ; '43, Horace Moulton; '44-5, Thomas H. Mudge ; 46, John C. Ingalls ; '47-8, Z. B. C. Dun- ham ; '49-50, Samuel Tupper ; '51-2, Daniel Steele; 53-4, Zachariah A. Mudge ; '55, Nathan Soule ; '56-7, Cyrus L. l':astman ; '58-9, John Middleton ; '60, Charles Miller ; '61, Jabez W. P. Jordan ; '62. Jabez W. P. Jordan and H. M. Loud ; '63, M. M. Parkhurst ; '64, Jonas M. Bailey ; 65-6, Thomas J. Abbott ; '67-8, Converse L. Macurdy ; '69-70-71, John Peter- •son ; '72-3, Joseph H. Mansfield; '74-5-6, Alfred A. Wright ; 56 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. '-j-j, M. Emory Wright ; '78-9-80, Ebenezer A. Smith ; '81-2-3, William B. Toulmin ; '84, M. H. A. Evans ; '85, Henry Lum- mis ; '86-7, Charles W. Wilder ; '88, Charles F. Rice. Rev. Charles F. Rice, the present pastor, was born in Chelsea, Mass., April 14th, 1851. He is the son of Rev. Wm. Rice, D. D., of Springfield, Mass., and of Caroline L., daugh- ter of Wm. North, of Lowell. He graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in the class of '72. After graduating, he held for a time the position of Classical Teacher in the Springfield High School. In 1874 he was elected Tutor of Latin in Wesleyan University, where he remained for three years. In the spring of 1875, he joined the New England Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1877, was appointed pastor of the Appleton M. E. Church in Boston, which position he held until April 1880. His subse- quent pastorates have been as follows: 80-82, Wesley Chapel, Salem ; 83-4, Webster ; 85-7, St. Paul's, Lowell. In April, '88, he was appointed pastor of the M. E. Church in Leomin- ster. Aug. 25th, 1875, he married Miriam O. Jacobs, daughter of Horace Jacobs, M. D., of Springfield, Mass., and they have four children, one daughter and three sons. congregational church of CHRIST. On March 24, 1874, several of the members of the Ortho- dox Congregational Church of Leominster, who were residents of the village of North Leominster, met at the house of Geo. S. Burrage, " to consider the expediency of forming a Congre- . Pierce, Carrie L. W'illard, Harriet E. Pierce. Bennett School — Josie A. Davis, Mattie A. Cole. Pierce School — Hella G. O'Neil, Gertrude Rhoades. L"N(iK.\DEl) SCHOOLS. No. 2, Maple Avenue — Lizzie Reynolds, Xo. 3, Main Street, North Leominster — Lulu Allen. No. 4, Prospect Hill, North Leominster — Mary A. Railey. No. 5, Central Street — May Willard. No. 6, Pleasant Street — Nellie G. Woodbury. No. 15, Cross Street — Sarah A. Going. No. 16, Birch Street — Helen E. Hey wood. SPECIAL TEACHERS. Martha D. Brown, (Singing.) Henry S. Streeter, (Drawing). SCHOOL C0.MAHTT1':E. Sketches of E. M. Rockwell (chairman), Geo. M. Powers (Secretary), and Mr. C. C. Foster will be found in connection with the account of the business in which each is enjrafred ; and of J. D. Miller in connection wiih the High .School. l-'KANt IS C. HowI':n, was horn in Stoneham. Mass., fan. 31, i was elected to a position in the Leominster Schools. Her service has been continuous from that time. Miss Pitts is now principal of the Field Primary School, where she is doing efficient service. Helen B. Pierce was born in Leominster and is a gradu- ate of the High School. She has been in continuous service as a teacher here since 1S74. More particular reference is made to Miss Pierce in the list of High School graduates. Cvnthia p. Boutelle was born in Leominstr, May iith, 1848. She received her education, for the most part, in the Schools of her natix'c town ; but entered Bridirwater Normal iX J :s. PIERCE SCHOOL, NORTH LEOMINSTER. ,■* - '^'84. Jennie F. Brown, (Tolman), married Mr. P. S. Tolman and resides in Leominster. P'lorence T. Morse, (Putnam), daughter of George F. Morse, married Wm. A. Putnam. Their home is on West street. Carrie C. Lane, daughter of Howard M. Lane, has remained at home since graduating. Jennie M. Richardson, daughter of Alan- son Richardson, taught in Leominster for some years. She is now in her second year's study at Smith College. Annie L Wheelock, daughter of George H. Wheelock, was a teacher in the Leominster Schools till the Fall of 1887, and is now spend- ing her second year at Smith College. Lillian J. Richard- son, daughter of L. A. Richardson, has remained at home since graduating. She assists her father in his Studio. Hattie Residence of M. D. Haws, North Leominster. Residence of Hamilton Mayo, Pearl Street. EDUCATIONAL. Si Pierce, daughter of Dr. G. W. Pierce, is a successful primary teacher. She studied in the Training Class for Teachers, taught first in Attleboro', Mass., and is now teaching in the first grade of the Field Primary School. Ikrtha l^uss remains in Leominster. Annie J. Mall, daughter of George Hall, spent a year at l^radford Academy, and now resides at North Leominster. Minnie B. Stearns graduated at the State Normal School, Worcester, Mass., and has taught at Towns- end, and Longmeadow, Mass. She is now teaching at Long- meadow. Annie S. Harwood, (Chase), daughter of N. Har- wood, Esq., married Wm. H. Chase, Sept. 28, 1887. They live in Leominster. lunma Wilder is at her home in Ster- ling, Mass. Lucy Poland graduated at the Worcester Normal School and is engaged in teaching. Hattie M. Divol studied music and is now teaching in Leominster. Jennie Gates remains at her home in North Leominster. Alice Conant, (Meade,) married Howard K. Meade. They li\c in Leomin- ster. Frank Urquhart graduated at Dartmouth in '8y. He manifested much ability as a writer and has chosen the profes- sion of journalism. He is at work on the Newark Journal, N. J. Class of '84. Harry Howard Boyden graduated at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1887. He remained for the ne.xt year as assistant in the Labratory. He resides at Leominster. Frank T. Harvey graduated at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 'Sj, and has since entered the Medical School, N. Y. city. Andrew Lincoln Houghton is a machin- ist in Leominster. Russell H. Colby graduated at The Bos- ton Institute of Technology in 'Sj, and is now in the employ of the State Board of Health, as analyst. Ida L. Willard is book-keeper for Valpey & Anthony at their manufactory, Leominster, Mass. Ida M. Stevens has her home in Leom- inster. ICmma K. Adams, (Johnson), was a member of the Training Class for Teachers. She taught some time in Leom- 11 82 LfiOMINSTER, HISTORICAL'anD PICtURESQllfi. inster. Nov. 23 she married George W. Johnson. Nellie C. Foster taught two terms at Loudon, N. H., and nine at Newport, N. H. Her residence is now in Leominster, Mass. Minnie L. Joy resides at her home in Leominster. Emma Fuller, daughter of Wm. H. Fuller, is now a teacher of music in Leominster. Gertrude Louise Rhoades studied in the Training Class and is now a member of the Leominster corps of Teachers. Class of '85. Lora S. Bowen, (Corkum), married July 12, '88, to David F. Corkum. Their residence is in Leomin- ster. Alice G. Burdett, daughter of A. L. Burdett, Esq., h^as remained at home since graduating. Mabel A. Cole, (Wheeler), daughter of G. H. Cole, married, March 27, '88, to Bertrand Thorpe Wheeler, residence. Cedar Grove, Dorches- ter, Mass. Cora H. Coolidge graduated at Gushing Acad- emy, Ashburnham, Mass., and this year has entered Smith College. Her home is in Ashburnham. Gertrude H. Fel- ton is now book-keeper at the Woolen mill of Edward M. Rockwell. Minnie G. Field resides at North Leominster. Mary A. Frost, daughter of Sumner M. Frost, is now pursuing the regular course at Smith college. Her home is in Leom- inster. Annie J. Kenefick taught two years in Maynard, Mass., and is now assistant in the 2d Department of the Field High School. Carrie L. Miller spent the first year after graduating in study, a part of the second in teaching in the High School. She died at her home April 23, 1887. Kate M. Policy makes her home in Leominster. Anna L. Stearns lives at her uncle's home, North Leominster. Clinton T. Boutelle has remained at Leominster since his graduation. Edward A. Darling has spent some time at school since grad- uating and is now in Dorchester, Mass. Class of '86. Of the members of this class the following have remained in Leominster : E. Louise Allen, Sadie W. EDUCATIONAL 83 Crockett, Mary A. Railey, Helen G. Rice, May W. Willard, Harry W. Putney, Clarence J. Reed, and Fred K. Upham. Reed studied at a Commercial School in Boston, and is now with A. B. Merrill, and Upham is in the employ of D. C. Nickerson. The names of Miss Allen, Miss Railey, and Miss Willard ap- pear in the list of teachers. Grace B. Savage is at her father's home in Watertown, Mass. M. Crissie Shedd is taking a four years' course at I'ramingham Norma) School ; Fred E. Morse has spent two years at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis., and is now in Boston University ; Raymond P. Walker is now in the second year of his theological studies at Boston University ; Alfred A. Wheeler has this year entered Harvard College. Class of '87. Of the members of this class, Mary E. Bur- gess is at Cushing Academy ; E. Harry Rockwell and Allen C. Crocker at the Polytechnic Institute, Worcester ; Edward Earl at the Institute of Technology, Boston ; Edgar D. Shaw at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H. ; and Appleton H. Pierce at Harvard College. Clara L. Richardson, W'innifred A. Rich- ardson, Jennie E. Killelea, L. Lizzie Reynolds, and Minnie E. Sullivan are in Leominster. (The name of Miss Reynolds ap- pears in the list of teachers, and Miss Sullivan is organist at St. Leo's Church). Lucius W. Richardson studied at Bryant & Stratton's, and is now in Boston. Class of '88. Mattie E. Cutting and Mabel H. Goodale have entered the State Normal School, Worcester ; Hattie A. Rugg is fitting for Smith College ; Edith M. Smith is book- keeper in her father's ofifice. North Leominster ; Ruth K. Hur- rage is at her home in Shirley ; Gertrude M. Carter is studying in the Training Class. Carrie L. Felton, second daughter of Mr. Samuel Felton, was taken sick in the early summer and died, after a short but painful illness, at her father's home, on Grove Avenue. She expected to enter the ^'ormal School and r 84 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. o-ave promise of doing excellent work as a teacher. Alice ]\T. Ellcck remains at home. Louis A. Wheeler is preparing for a further course of study in one of the colleges. PUBLIC LIBRARY. Leominster has a large and well-selected Library. The interest of the people in matters of this kind dates back to 1763, when what was known as the Social Library was pur- chased. It consisted of 100 books and was kept for fifty years in the study of Rev. Francis (lardncr. Other collections of books were made by different Societies and School wards as the years went by, but in 1856 all these were merged in one and accepted by the Town as the beginning of a Public Library. T'rom that time until now the town has made an annual appropriation for the support of the Library. The meeting of the first library committee was held at the ofiFice of J. C. Allen, May 21st, 1856. J. C. Allen was the first Sec- retary, D. R. Haynes the first Treasurer, and Thomas Tinker the first Librarian. The Library was kept in Mr. Tinker's store, next door to what is now A. L. Williams & Co.'s gro- cery store until 1863, when it was removed to the office of C. W. Carter in a small building where Wood's block now stands. Mr. Carter acting as librarian for one year. In 1864 the town received a bequest of 35003 from the estate of J. Henry Ken- dall for the founding of a Public Library. The Town Hall was raised and the present library room was fitted up, the library taking possession in April, 1864. From this time it has increased regularly, both in the number of books and in public fayor. Mr. James M. Bronson has been librarian since 1864. The library now contains about ten thousand volumes. In 1866 a Reading Room Association was formed, and in 1869 this branch of work was taken in charge by the Town and made a part of the library. The Reading Room is now sup- JAMES BENNtTT. REV. E. A. r.OSTG.' REV WM. J. BATT JAMES M. BRONSON. EDUCATIOXAL 85 plied with a larj^e luimbcr of daily and weekly papers, nioiUhlies and other periodicals. I^'ew towns of the size of Leominster have as equally good Library and Reading Room. DR. (IF.ORr.E W. IMEKCK. No mention of the Library would seem finished, which did not give prominence to the name of Dr. George \V. Pierce, lie was for many years an active and energetic member of the Committee in charge of its affairs. He had a great love for books and a clear understanding of their value. It is true that his habits of reading and his natural tendency of mind, led him to study science more than literature ; but he had a good knowl- edge of the best authors and his advice in the selection of books was most valuable. The service, which he gave, was not one in name only, but one of loving regard for- the growth and usefulness of the Library as well. Nothing which promised good results in this direction was foreign to his thought or his heart. Hence Dr. Pierce was one of the first to plan and work for a reading room in connection with the Library. He saw plainly how great would be the influence for good of this depart- ment in the coming years. It is not too much to say that the town is very largely indebted to the wise and faithful service of Dr. Pierce in connection with its Public Library. The same is also true of the Museum, in which, from the start, he was greatly interested. Dr. George W. I'ierce was born at West Boylston, Mass , Oct. 15th, 1816. He was educated at Leicester Academy and graduated at Harvard Medical School, in the class of '45. For a short time he practised his profession in Bolton, but came to Leominster in 1847, where he resided until his death in May, 1886. He was twice married. In 1851, to a Miss Damaris Halch, of a family widely connected in Leominster ; and in 1869, to Mrs. Charlotte H. Carter of Lowell, Mass. Four children by the first marriage, and one by the last, survive him. S6 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Dr. Pierce belonged to Leominster. He came here as a young man, married from this people, reared and educated his children here, was the family physician in many homes, and was for almost forty years a vital part of this whole community. He lived and rejoiced in its atmosphere, gloried in its prosper- ity, planned for its material, intellectual and moral growth, and labored with no divided heart and no stinted wisdom for its best and largest interests. When he died he was more than an old resident ; he was, in the truest sense, a citizen of Leomin- ster. No plan looking to her good could be devised of which he was not a part. His services were freely given and always ef- fective for the best and most permanent improvements in town. And yet, Dr. Pierce was at his best, where most men fail, /'. r. in his own home. He could make, and did make, a home in the best sense of the word. No better thing could be said of him than this: "He was always his children's hero." Dr. Pierce was a worthy representative of a noble profession, rank- ing high among his brethren ; a man kind, indulgent and help- ful in his home life ; a gentleman by nature and practice ; a citizen who desired and planned for the best things, and who gave his services when and where he could, without hope of reward or desire for recognition. His will always be an hon- ored name in the history of Leominster. THE MUSEUM. The museum owes its origin to the zealous efforts of Rev. Wm. J. Batt with the co-operation of James Bennett, Esq., and Dr. G. VV. Pierce, whose interest in geological and anti- quarian research caused them to render valuable aid. In Dec. 1 87 1 the museum was established, five trustees were chosen. Rev. Wm. J. Batt, Dr. C. C. Eield, Joel Smith, J. C. Allen and T. A. Hills, who, together with the library committee, G. W. Pierce, Rev. E. A. Horton, S. L. White, Rev. J. D. Miller and GEORGE W. PIERCE, M. D. EDUCAtlONAL. 87 Wm. II. Reed, constituted what was known as the Leominster Museum lioard. About five hundred dollars was contributed by public spirited citizens and mostly expended in cases and material, forming the necleus of the present collection, by a committee consisting of Joel Smith, James Bennett and N. C. Houtelle. In i88d, with the consent of the trustees, the town " voted to accept of the museum as a part of the public library and provide for its care, and the Library Committee appointed E. G. Davis, curator. This collection contains many interest- ing specimens and much valuable historical material. GROUP or KKLICS. In the matter of contributions, also, there has been mucli interest shown by Mr. D. W. Salisbury. Mr. Bennett, Dr. Pierce, and many others who have been liberal givers. Among late valuable contributions should be mentioned $2000 from the es- tate of Capt. Leonard Burrage. Both Library and Museum are growing in popular favor. CHAPTKR \'I. PATRIOTISM. LL through its history as a town, Leom- inster has been noted for its military spirit. In the old French and Indian war in 1757, a full company of soldiers was furnished to go to the relief of Fort William and Henry, and October 9th, 1760, they all returned and united with their friends in a general Thanksgiving over the total reduction of Canada. During the Revolutionary War there were fully three hun- dred men from Leominster, enlisted for various terms of ser- vice, from minute men to regular soldiers for three years, a surplus of thirteen men beyond the full quotas under the vari- ous calls. The records of meetings on the Town books leave no doubt as to the patriotism of the inhabitants. As early as March 3d, 1766, an address to the people of Boston, who were enduring great hardships on account of the unjust laws of the British Parliament, was adopted in Town Meeting, expressing clearly their views on the subject of civil and religious liberty, and closing with the following para- graph : "/fV Dtust, wc can, and tiv ivill be free. We cannot PATKIOTISM. 89 part with our creation ris^ht. We are oblij^ed to forever assert it, as it is our glory to be in subjection to tiiat Supreme Heing, that formed us free." In September, 1768, a committee of three was chosen to meet others in Boston, to consider the dangerous situation of the country. In January, 1773, several votes were passed in Town Meeting in approbation of the doings of the town of Boston in regard to Public Grievances. In August, 1774, a committee of correspondence was chosen. These committees, in the various towns, wei^c a channel ot intelligence and a bond of union of great assist- ance to the cause and led to the api)ointnient of Dejiuties to meet in General Congress. After the passage of the act of Parliament for shutting up tlie Von of Boston, the committee, appointed by the town, recommended among other measures, "That we will heartily endeavor, as much as in us lies, to awaken and stir up every person to a thorough sense of the real certainty there now is of America being reduced to the most abject slavery and pov'- erty ; and the danger there is of the loss of our religious as well as our civil rights and jirixilcges, unless we unitedly endeavor, by a steady and manly opposition, to prevent it." After all other means, to preserve the rights of freemen, had been resorted to in vain, and it became necessary to take up arms in defence of their liberties, the inhabitants of Leomin- ster were as prompt to act as they had been to resolve. At the first alarm, April 19th, 1775, fifteen men left their respect- ive homes and marched to Lexington. A full company was on the same day enlisted into the Continental Service for eight months, and placed under the command of Col. Asa Whitcomb, on Prospect Mill in Cambridge. Nearly all were from this town, with the following Leominster officers : Captain, Da\id 12 9© LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Wilder ; Lieutenant, Timothy Boutelle ; Sergeants, William Warner, Josiah Carter and Peter Joslin ; Corporals, Levi War- ner, Samuel Buss and James Butler ; Drummer, Thomas Rog- ers ; Fifer, Abijah Haskell. On the 15th of July, 1776, the town voted Independency of Great Britain, and a copy of the Declaration by Congress was entered on the Town Records. Throughout the struggle the inhabitants complied with all the requirements made upon them, being frequently called upon by the State, in emergencies, to furnish men on short enlistments. On one occasion, in 1777, in addition to numer- ous volunteers, a whole company went under command of Capt. John Joslin to assist in preventing the march of Gen. Bur- goyne's army from Canada. They were in season to engage in the battle of Bennington, and at the first fire received from the enemy, Thomas Joslin, the youngest brother of the Captain, was shot through the heart. In 1777, Congress issued a call for three years men, and the town voted to raise ^500 to pay those who should enlist. We are unable to give the names of all who entered the service under this call, but among the number were : John Joslin, John Buss, Levi Phelps, Edward Phelps, Levi I^lood, Caleb Wood, Peter Joslin, Thomas Robbins, Samuel Jones, Samuel Hough- ton, Samuel Rogers, and jDrobably five or si.x others. They participated in several battles, and with the exception of Peter Joslin and Samuel Rogers, lived to return home at the expira- tion of their term of service. Most of them lived to a good old age, four of them remaining in town. John Buss died in 1845 and Edward Phelps, the last survivor, in 185 i. It is a matter worthy of record that during the Revolution, in all the one hundred and fifty-three families in town, not a person was accused, or even suspected, of being a Tory or un- friendly to the cause, and that during the war the inhabitants PATRIOTISM. 91 contributed $30,000 and 7534 lbs. of beef and a lot of blankets for men in the service. shays' rkhkllion. The town had sustained itself nobly throuj^h the Revolu- tion, furnishiiiL;" more than its proportion of men and means, and in common with the rest of the Commonwealth, its people were greatly involved in debt. There was very little hard money in circulation and the Continental Currency had become greatly depreciated, but notwithstanding these unfavorable circumstances, the men of this town, as a rule, sustained their credit and eventually paid their debts, although some few sold their farms for paper money, and when it became worthless, were ruined. Many other towns were less fortunate than ours, especially in Worcester County. Taxes were high and lands and goods were levied upon and sacrificed for debts. At last the dissatis- faction and feeling against the Courts developed into open rebellion, in which crisis this town maintained its integrity by sustaining the Government. The leader of this insurrection, one Daniel Shays, in 1786 assembled his armed mob to stop the Courts, and sent a message to the judges of the Supreme Court, then about to hold its session at Springfield, ordering them not to open their court or indict the rebels. About the same time a body of men had CDllected to stop the Court of Common Pleas at Worcester. At this juncture Leom.inster sent out a whole company with officers for the relief of the Courts at Worcester, and also a part of a company with two superior officers, Ensign John Buss and Major (afterward Col.) Timothy Boutclle, to assist in dispersing a camp of the Shayites at Petersham. It was an intensely cold night and many of the soldiers were frozen on the march. Colonel lioutelle led the advance guard. Arrixing in Petersham before sunrise, he sur- 92 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. prised the rebels in their beds. They surrendered without re- sistance. At Springfield the insurgeants, headed by Shays, ap- proached the Court House, and passing beyond a forbidden point, were fired upon by the militia men twice without effect. At the third volley three of the insurgents fell dead and others were wounded. The rest retreated without firing a gun. Thus ended the Shays' Rebellion. Col. Boutelle was accorded great credit for the tact and skill exhibited in breaking up the camp at Petersham, and for many years held command of the regiment. Ensign Buss was soon promoted and was for sev- eral years Captain of the South company in this town. WAR OF 1812. In the war of 18 12, a complete company of artillery under command of Captain Joseph Tenney was sent from here to South Boston to help protect the harbor of Boston from the British, who had determined upon laying waste the whole American coast from Maine to Georgia. The company re- mained on duty as long as its services were required, when it returned, and years afterwards each soldier received a pension from the government in recognition of this service. WAR OF THE REBELLION. In the War of the Rebellion Leominster furnished 404 men, which was in excess of her full quota under the different calls, and came out with a considerable surplus to her credit. The town was always prompt in furnishing requisitions from the government for military supplies and in the voluntary con- tributions of articles for the relief of her men in the hospitals, and after battles, and since the war, has not forgotten the men who served her in the days of peril, but has been ever ready to relieve their necessities and provide for their families. Leom- PATRIOTISM. 93 instcr was largely represented in the 15th, 21st, 23(1, 25th, 320!, 36th, 53clancl 57th regiments, and had representatives in every branch of the service. There were few of the great battles in which Leominster men did not take an honorable part. It is a fact greatly to be regretted, that so much of the mil- itary history of this town is lost or scattered ; that, during the War of the Rebellion there was no local paper to chronicle the doings of her citizens at home and in the field. The town records and a few published orations give only a faint reflec- tion of the patriotic enthusiasm which pervaded the commun- ity and made this town second to no other of its size in the State in its support of the government. The early scenes of the rebellion are still fresh in the minds of many who were living at that time: The Secession of the Southern States — the attack on Fort Sumter — the call of President Lincoln for seventy-five thousand volunteers — the attack on the 6th Mass., while passing through Baltimore — the mass meetings of citizens — the intense excitement of that first Sunday (in war times) with its services of a patriotic nature — the enlisting of volunteers — their parades and drills — their im- patience at not being called into service, and their final depart- ure for the seat of war — the tender parting of soldiers with their friends (to many the last on earth) — and then the news of Ball's Bluff with its terrible slaughter, and of subsequent battles and campaigns in all of which the friends and families of Leom- inster soldiers were anxiously interested. At the time of the breaking out of the rebellion there was one company of militia in town. The Old Military Co. A. of Leominster. This company had kept up its organization from the time the " order to raise " was issued from headquarters in May, 1789. For more than 60 years it had been known as the Leominster Artillery, but after the war of 18 12 was changed to Infantry, and previous to the rebellion was in good condi- 94 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. tion. Within one week after the first requisition of the Presi- dent they were thoroughly drilled, equipped and ready to march.' When the order was promulgated to receive none but those who would go for three years, and the maximum should be loi, they filled the company to that number and were soon after ordered into camp at Worcester. Before leaving town Capt. Rockvvood was presented with a sword by citizens of the town, the Rev. Eli Fay making the presentation speech. Few real- ized upon that occasion that this company of young men were leaving for three long years of hardship and suffering, and that many of their number would be killed in battle, become the victims of rebel brutality in Southern prison pens, be wounded or maimed for life or die from disease contracted in the army. To show the patriotic spiritof the times, we give the follow- ing extracts from Mr. Fay's speech : " Captain Rockvvood : Your fellow citizens have thought it proper to make some ex- pression of their appreciation of your willingness to leave the quiet scenes in which you have so long mingled and to serve your race, your country, and your God, on the battlefield ; and they have chosen me as their representative, to express, as words can but feebly express, the satisfaction we feel that you are willing to go and to lead a goodly number of our fellow cit- izens to the field of mortal combat (if need be) in defense of the liberties of our country. * * * ^j^- • \Ve have given you our men — our young men — we have given them understand- ing the awful hazard of war, and I charge you, before God, to bring them back to us alive, or bring back to our distressed country, in order and liberty, the price of their blood. And as a slight testimonial of the profound sympathy which the com- munity feel for you in view of the trying and responsible duties of your post, they have requested me to present this sword to you. Sir : Minister of the gospel of peace, as I am, yet under the circumstances, I cheerfully comply with that request. * * Rev. ELI FAY, D. D. CAPT. g. w. rockwood. CAPT. J A. STRATTON. CAPT. G. W. BROWN. PATRIOTISM. 95 Take this sword as an expression of our sympathy for you and an assurance that our best wishes go with you ; and, by your regard for our town — by the honor of our commonwealth — l)y your pride of country — by our sense of the justice of our cause — by the remembrance of our revolutionary sires — by the price paid for our liberties — by the stars and stripes that float over us — by the shattered flag-staff of Fort Sumter — by the blood of our murdered citizens — by the value of our free insti- tutions — and by the love of God, do your whole duty, and may the arm of the Omnipotent uphold you ! " It shijuld be said, in this connection, that by word and deed, in season and out of season, Rev. Mr. Fay labored to helj) on the good work, lie was a host in himself, hred by true patriotism, he gave his hand and his heart to the cause of his country and rendered erficient ser\'ice in the business of re- cruiting. Rev. George S. Hall, the brave Chaplain of the 2ist Regi- ment, also accomplished much by patriotic speeches and direct personal influence. The town voted appropriations of money and serviceable uniforms and other clothing, and individuals gave liberally. The Messrs. Burrage of Boston, Johnson C, .\l\ah A., and Charles H., natives of Leominster, gave $8io for the purchase of ec(uiiipnients. In addition to this, Mr. A. A. Burrage offered the sum of $ioo to any one of the Burrage name, or any one connected with him by blood or marriage, who should enlist within a specified time. These are only a few of the many instances that might be mentioned. The ladies of the town formed a "Soldier's Aid Society" and carried out a systematic plan of operations, preparing and sending to the soldiers in camp such things as would contribute to their com- fort. Upon the breaking out of war the Leominster liand, re- cruited to 24 pieces, was accepted and went as the First Rc^i- 96 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. ment Band of Mass. V. M. They went into camp about the first of May, and were fifteen months in active service ; co- workers with the soldiers, doing their share of picket duty, and caring for the wounded. Upon the discharge of the Regiment- al Bands of the Army, by act of Congress, in July, 1862, the Leominster Band returned home. But several of their number enlistied in the regular service. We have not the space in this book to give even a brief history of the different regiments having Leominster men in their ranks, but some idea of the dangers and hardships of the four years' straggle m.iy be gained by the record of those who died during that time. After the principal battles of the war, in which Leominster men were engaged, the town 'sent promi- nent citizens to the front to look after the dead and wounded, as well as the sick, taking with them articles of wearing apparel and comforts of various kinds, and they were often privileged to witness, and afterwards report to friends at home, instances of patient endurance and heroism. ROLL OF HONOR. To the earnest and persistent efforts of the late James Ben- nett, Esq., in searching for information, we are indebted for the following facts in connection with each of the forty-eight sol- diers whose names are enscribed on the Soldiers' Monument. FRONT TABLET. Corporal Andrew W. Cowdrev, the first martyr from Leominster, was severely wounded at Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21st, and died of his wounds, Nov. 3d, 1861, at Poolesville hospital, Maryland shore. He left a wife and two children, and was buried in Leominster with military honors. George H. Gallup, son of James B. Gallup, was taken sick with typhoid fever at Savage Station, left behind at Chickahom- PATRIOTISM. 97 ill)', taken prisoner by the rebels, and cofincd in Lil)by Prison. W'itb only the floor for his bed, he received neither eare nor medicine for twenty-seven days. When exchan^^ed he was in a weak and reduced condition, and had an attack of diphtheria, and died of suffocation from falling into a foul vault at the hos- })ital, Fortress Monroe, Aug. 6th, 1862. CoKl'OKAL I'^K ANKI.IX GARDNER waS OUC of thc " Color guard," and at the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17th, took up the colors from the third color bearer, who had been shot dead at his side. He received three balls ; the first passed through a limb, the second through his thigh, the third in his stomach. Regardless of these wounds he managed to keep the flag wav- ing until the next guard took it. From Wednesday morning, Sept. 17th, until F'riday morning of the same week, he lay within thc enemy's lines. W'hen our men went to bury the dead and remove the wounded, he was placed in the hospital at Sharpsburg, and removed Sept. 25th, to Patent Oflfice hospital, Washington, where he died Oct. 6th, 1862. Capt. Ha.ns Peter Jorgensex, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, enlisted as Orderly Sergeant. At Ball's Bluff he was wounded in the right arm. He was detailed to recruit, but af- terwards promoted to Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and Oct. 28th, 1862, to Captain, in commmd of his old Company -A, and was killed. Capt. Jorgensen had seen service in the campaigns of the Danish Army and was twice wounded while fighting the Prus- sians at Schleswig and Holstein ; once in the arm by a ball and on the head by a sabre. " He was not a native of this country. He could not have been drafted, yet so keen was his apprecia- tion of the great interests at stake, that he is reported in the W'orcis/i-r Spy to have said : ' Freetlom is the same everywhere and I cheerfully give my life in its tiefense. I would gi\e more if I had it,' or words to that elfect," 13 98 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Corporal Charles A. Lamb, son of Albert Lamb, was taken prisoner at Ball's Bluff. At Libby Prison he sickened and died of congestion of the lungs, Nov. 25th, 1861. Sergeant Edward B. Rollins, after fighting bravely at Ball's Bluff, succeeded in crossing the river safely, but on look- ing back to the Virginia shore he saw some of his comrades, who were not yet taken prisoners. He procured a skiff, rowed it over amid the whistling of balls, took in his passengers, and landed them in safety. Two years later, he sent his wife a beautifully wrought card with the names of eleven hard fought battles in which he had been engaged. He left a space for one more, and wrote, that after one more battle, he should probably come home. He went into his twelfth battle, Gettysburg, and was killed July 2d, 1863. He left a wife and four small child- ren. Capt. Charles H. Stevens enlisted as Fourth Sergeant. He was promoted to 2d Lieut., ist Lieut., and, July 4th, 1863, to Captain. He was wounded in the foot at Savage Station, and in the leg, while supporting our batteries at Gettysburg. At Bristow Station, Oct. 15th, 1863, after an hour's hard fight- ing, the enemy gave way ; but Capt. Stevens was severely wounded, and died while being carried to the hospital. In his honor Post 53, G. A. R., was named. John Gould Snow, only son of Thomas S. Snow, was at Ball's Bluff and in si.K other battles. He died of chronic diar- rhoea, Dec. 10, 1863, at Fairfax hospital, Va. Sergeant John Q. A. Tripp was in seventeen battles. He was wounded at Gettysburg, captured at Petersburg, taken to Andersonville, parolled, entered our lines exhausted by starva- tion, cold, and sickness, and died in a Baltimore hospital, Mar. 19th, 1864. He was buried with military honors at Leomin- ster, March 23d, 1864. SERGEi^NT George E. Wilder, son of George Wilder, was C^i 4 <;» 4>v 4 ■^. N \. W. L'owdrcy. ( ;. H. CJalliip. K. Gardner. Capt. Jorgenscn. C. A. I.amb. E.U.Rollins. C.npi. C. H. Stevens. J. C. Snow. J. Q. A. Tripp. G. E. Wilder. C. B. Wood. R. H. Carter. J.F.Crosby. W.H.Johnson. J. M. Mcllen. J.E.Marshall. J. C. Ready. C.H.Sinclair. Lieut. A. R. Glover. A. H. Carter. C. H. Derby. H. K. Derby. L.Goodrich. L.R.Gallup. A. B. Osborn. J. 1". Owens. A. L. Wilder. J.McDonough. D. Butlerficld. E. A. f:ilick. J. It. Foster. E.Hardy. A. W. Johnson. M. L. Jordan. J. M. Lewis. L.Richardson. LEOMINSTER ROLL OF HONOR. PATRIOTISM. 99 shot in the head at the battle near Spottsylvania, and died May 17th, 1864. Charles B. Wood was drowned March 20th, 1862, while relieving guard on a dark, stormy night, on the banks of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. William L. Wihtnev, private, died of fever at the hospital in Washington. RIGHT TABLET. Geo. W. Divoll, 7th Mass. Battery, died in the hospital in New Orleans of chronic diarrhoea, Sept. 21st, 1864. Horace R. Barker, private in 21st Reg., Co. D, died at Xewbern, N. C, of typhoid fever, April 19, 1862. RuFUS H. Carter, 21st Reg., Co. D, was mustered out at Blaine's Cross Roads, East Tennessee, Dec. 31, 1863. He re-enlisted in the Veteran Volunteers and was killed at Peters- burg, Va., by Sharpshooters, Sept. 30, 1864. ) Albert F. Creed, 21st Reg., died at Newbcrn, of typhoid fever. May 21, 1862. John- F. Crosbv, 23d Reg., Co. D, was wounded by the enemy at the battle of Kingston, and afterwards was shot in the back by the accidental discharge of a musket in the hands of a comrade. He was helped to an ambulance and was four weeks in the hospital at Xewbern. He was sent north by steamer, but died in New York Harbor, April 22, 1865. Ik- was buried in Leominster, with military honors. SERfJEAXT Artemas S. Farwell, first enlisted in a New Hampshire Regiment. He served his time, re-enlisted in the 25th Mass., Co. F, and died of diphtheria, Nov. 23d, 1862. He was burietl in Leominster. 1-'kank C,k()R(;e, 3d Reg., Mass. Cavalry, Co. D, was taken prisoner in the Shenandoah Valley, with his entire Company, captured by two companies of rebels in United States uniforms and carrying the Union Flag. They stripped them of their 100 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. clothing, and marched them on foot 5 days without rations. He was first imprisoned at Belle Isle, then at Andersonville, and afterwards hurried away to Salisbury, upon the approach of Sherman's army, where he died of starvation, Dec. 6, 1864 He left a family. George A. Houghton, 21st Reg., Co. I., died of ship-fever at Hatteras Inlet, on board the transport ship "Northerner," Jan. 20, 1862. He was buried in the sand on the beach by chaplain, Geo. S. Ball, and a band of sailors who volunteered to go ashore in a violent gale. William H. Johnson, 21st Reg., Co. H, died of typhoid fever, in the hospital at Newbern, June 18, 1862. He left a wife. Capt. James Masters Mellen, ist Mass., Co. A, re-en- listed Oct. 18, 1863, as 1st Lieut., 3d North Carolina, Colored Vols., and was killed at Wilmington, N. C, Sept. 23, 1865. His commission as Captain arrived two days after his death. James E. Marshall, 32d Reg., Co. I, was shot dead near Laurel Hill, Va., May 12, 1864. John C. Ready, ist Reg., Co. A, died of wounds received at the second battle of Fair Oaks, Va., July 6, 1862. Charles H. Sinclair, 21st Reg., Co. A, was killed at Newbern, March 14, 1862. left tablet. First Lieltt. Alfred R. Glover, 53d Reg., Co. C, was killed while attacking the works at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. Corporal Albert H. Carter, 36 Reg., Co. A, was shot dead near Spottsylvania, in the battle of the Wildernes.s, May 6, 1864. Sergeant Charles H. Derbv, 36th Reg., Co. A, was killed at Hanover Court House, Va. Henry K. Derby, had not been assigned to Reg. and Co., PATRIOTISM. 10 1 wlicn he was taken sick at Fort Warren. He came home on a furlough, and died of pneumonia at his father's home, Henry Derby's, Jan. 5th, 1862. CoRPOR.\L Leonard Goodrich, 36th Reg., Co. A, died of t\'[)hoid fever at Washington, Dec. 31st, 1862. Sergeant LkRov R. Gallup, 36th Reg., Co. A, was killed by the premature bursting of one of our own shells while lying in front of and supporting our batteries at Camp- bell's Station, near Knoxville, Tenn. He left a wife and two children. Roland H. ]\rooRE, 36th Reg., Co. C, died of chronic diarrhoea, at Rialston Station, Va., Dec. 6, 1863. Andrew B. Osborx, 36th Reg., Co. A, was discharged April 22, 1863, for disability. He re-enlisted in the i6th Mass. Battery, March 11, 1864, and died of heart disease, at Camp Augue, gen. hospital, Alexandria, Va., Jan. 31, 1865. He left a wife and two children. He was buried in Leominster with military honors. John F. Owens, 5th Reg., Co. E, died of diphtheria, in camji, at Readville, April 13, 1865. He was buried in Leominster, with military honors. The Sons of Temperance, of which ortler he was a member, joined in the service. John Sciiouw, a native of Amsterdam, Holland, 29th Reg., Co. H, died of dysentery on board of a transport ship, at the wharf, Cairo, 111., Aug. 20, 1863. He left a wife and one child. Albert Lapavette Wilder, 3d Reg., Co. D, (Cavalry), wa.s taken prisoner at the same time and jilace, and undei- the .same circumstances as his brother-in-law, Frank George. He v/eighed 180 pounds when taken ; died of starvation about the time Frank George died. BACK tablet, John McDonough, 2Cth Reg.. Co. !•". was killed at the 102 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. battle of Antictam, September 17th, 1862. Daniel Butterfield, 530! Reg., Co. C, died of erysipelas, at St. Louis, Mo., May 4, 1862. Eli a. Ellick, Veteran Reserves, Jan. i, 1864, was killed at Petersburg, Va., June i/tb, 1865. Ira B. Foster, 53d Reg., Co. C, was wounded in the neck, near Port Hudson. He went to the rear and had his wound bound with cotton to stop the flow of blood. As it was early in the morning, he returned and fought the rest of the day, which was his last day's service. He was sent to Baton Rouge Hos- pital, where he died. He left a wife and child. John Ferguson,, 53d Reg., Co. C, died of chronic diar- rhoea, in the hospital at New Orleans, June 15,1863. He left a wife. Edmund Hardy, 53d Reg. died of diarrhcea at Breasha City, May 30, 1863. He left a wife. Adelbert W. Johnson, 53d Reg., Co. C, was severely wounded at Port Hudson, from the effects of which he died July II, 1863. Martin Luther Jordan, 57th Reg., Co. H., died of pneu- monia in the hospital at Washington, June 9, 1864. Sergeant James Munford Lewis, fife major 53d Reg. Co. C, came home sick and died at home before he was mus- tered out of the service. He left a wife. Lewis Richardson, 57th Reg., Co. H, was killed at the battle of the Wilderness, May 6th, 1864. George Thompson, 53d Reg., Co. A. Eugene Sullivan, 36th Reg., Co. A, died of fever, at Nicholson ville, Ky., Sept. i, 1863. Capt. Leonard Wood was for many years an active part of the social, religious and business life of Leominster. Before the rebellion he was engaged in the provision business of North Leominster, but in August, 1861, he was mustered into the ser- rATRIOTISM. 103 \icc as 1st Lieutenant of Co. K, 15th Rc<^. M. V. M., and jxir- ticipatcd in its camj^ai-^ns anti engagements. October 22(1, 1861, Capt. Moses Gaskell having been killed in the battle of Ball's Bluff, Lieut. Wood was prc^moted to take his place. At this battle he had displayed great courage, rising from a sick bed that he might take part in the engagement. After serving through the Peninsular, Antietam and l''reder- icksburg campaigns, as one of the bravest officers in a regi- ment which saw perhaps as much and as hard service as any in the army, he resigned his commission and was discharged Jan- uary 16, 1863. After his return from the army Capt. Wood resumed his business in North Leominster, and under the ministr)' ol the Re\. W'm. j. Hatt, of the ()rthocU».\ Congregational Society, united with that church becoming at once a prominent and use- ful member. He served the church as deacon, the Sunday- school as teacher and superintendent, and the Society as parish committee. He gave liberally and to the full measure of his means, and was active in securing funds from others for the building of the present church edifice. Later on he was the soul of the movement which resulted in the formation of the church in North Leominster, and also gave liberally of his means and energies towards their jM-esent house of worshiji. Besides his church work he was also an active worker in the tern Iterance cause. In addition to his North Leominster business. Capt. Wood was for some time a member of the firm of Ilallett & Wood, provision dealers, at the market now owned by Conant & [Morse. In 1 879, desiring to carry on a more extensive business, he moved to Bridgeport, Conn., and with Mr. Hallett began the wholesale meat business which he followed up to the time of his death. Feb. 6, 1886. The funeral services were held in the North Leominster 104 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. church, Rev. Wm. J. Batt having charge of the services, as- sisted by Rev. Robert G. S. McNeille, pastor of the church at Bridgeport, of which Capt. Wood was a deacon, Rev. Mr. Jones of the North Leominster church, and Rev. Richard Meredith of the Orthodox church. The relations between Mr. Batt and Deacon Wood were unusually tender and fraternal. At the time and ever after Mr. Wood determined to seek a higher and better life, he had the sympathy and encouragement of his pastor, and between them there existed the closest and most sacred intimacy. In his remarks Mr. Batt described the life, character, work and even the peculiarities of Deacon Wood, showing that through all these years, in Bridgeport as well as Leominster, he was the same earnest, enthusiastic, whole-souled, uncompromising friend of temperance, morality and religion, and had the same interest in the well being of his fellow uilmi that characterized his new life in this town. A short time before his death, at a re-union of the Old 15th Regiment, Capt. Wood, in responding to "Antietam", closed his remarks by throwing back his coat and showing a fragment of the standard of his regiment containing two stars shot from it at the battle of Antietam and which he had preserved through all these years, said : "Boys : when I am laid to rest I hope to have these go with me." This wish was regarded and those honored emblems were pinned on his breast over his heart ; a last and most fitting tribute to a brave officer and a true man. Capt. Lucien A. Cook was born in Leominster, August 6th, 1838. He was educated in his native town, attending the Leominster High School. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he was a member of the Leominster Light Infantry, and with that organization was mustered into the service of the United States July 12th, -\^ y Col. GEO. C. JOSLIN. Caot. LEONARD WOOD. y H capt. l. a cook. Capt. E. a. BENNETT. PATRIOTISM. 105 1861. The Comi)any was designated as Co. A, 15th Keginieiit, Mass. Volunteers. He was in all the actions in which that gallant regiment participated, until his capture at Antietam. lie was taken to Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., and after a few weeks was parolled and carried to Camp Paroll, Annapolis, Md., and shortly after came home as a parolled prisoner. On account of injuries received at the time of his capture, a severe attack of fever and ague, and general disability, incident to severe campaigns and prison life, he received an honorable discharge Dec. 31st, 1862. During the year 1863 he resided a short time in Brookfield, Conn., and after his return to Leom- inster, received notice that he had been drafted to hi) the quota of l^rookhcld. He at once reported to the authorities in Conn., but was rejected. It being his wish to do such military tluty as lay in his power, he enlisted in a Hand organized by P. S. Gilmore, for service in the gulf States, Nov. 23d, 1863. This Band was known as the ist Brigade Band, and a part of the time was assigned to the 8ist Reg. U. S. Colored In- fantry, Department of the Gulf. By reason of failing health he was discharged at New Orleans, July 20th, 1865. July 9th, 1868, he, with others, organized Post 53, G. A. R. and was elected its first Commander. In the Spring of 1868, feeling that Leominster should be represented in the State Militia, he, with several other veterans of the late war, in twenty-four hours, recruited a company of 60 men, who were shortly after mustered into the service of the State for a term of three years, as Co. K, 10th Reg., M. V. M. .At the election of officers he was unanimously chosen Captain. While this company was under his command, he was one of the most earnest, faithful, and eminently successful Company Commanders in the State. During this time the Leominster Light Infantry, as an organization, was an honor to the State Militia, and to the town of Leominster. This u I06 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. office he continued to hold until his death, which occurred March 13th, 1873. He was buried with the military honors due his rank, the funeral being largely attended by the officers of the Regiment. Capt. Cook was twice married. His first wife was Ellen H. Green of Ashby, Mass., who died April 6, 1869. March 6, 1873, he was married to Belinda Whitcomb of this town. Capt. E. A. Bennett, son of Major Thomas S. Bennett, was born in Leominster, Jan. ist, 1844. Previous to the war he was connected with the State Mil- itia, and was also interested in the fire department, being F'ore- man of Torrent Engine Company in its palmiest days. Upon the breaking out of the rebellion he enlisted, July 12, 1861, with his old Company A, in the 15th Reg., for three years, but owing to poor health he received his discharge from the service, Eeb. 3d, 1S63, and returned home. He subse- quently re-enlisted in the 4th Mass. Cavalry, and was made Quarter-master Sergeant. On the morning of the 4th of Feb. 1865, he was captured by the enemy and remained in Ander- sonville prison until the 20th of March following, when he was parolled and sent to Vicksburg. Soon after this he returned home. Upon the re-organization of the Leominster Light Lifantry as Co. K, loth Reg., he was elected First Lieutenant, and upon the death of Capt. Cook, succeeded to the command of the company. He afterwards felt obliged to resign his com- mission on account of his health. For four years Captain Bennett was associated with Aldrich Cook in the comb business until 1876, when he was obliged to give up his business. March 5, 1877, he died at his home on West street. Captain Bennett was only 18 years of age when he entered the army, and a life of rare promise seemed open before him. tie was an active and public spirited young man, genial and impulsive, and was liked by all who knew him I>ATRIOTISM. ■ 107 Particularly was this true with the young men of the place, among whom he was very popular. His death was keenly felt in the community where his social qualities made for him so many personal friends among all classes in town. Capt. Bennett was married Oct. 23d, 1873, to Hannah B. Allen, daughter of the late Joel C. Allen, who survives him. Many gallant soldiers went from Leominster, served faith- fully during the war, and still survive. We select, in addition to some who are mentioned elsewhere, as worthy representa- tives. Col. Joslin, and Captains, Rockwood and Brown. Col. George C. Joslix was the youngest son of Major Klias Joslin, and brother of Mr. Charles L. Joslin, and Mrs. W. B. Tisdale of this town, and was born in Leominster, August 19, 1839. Previous to the war he removed to Worcester, and while there he belonged to the City Guards. At the breaking out of the war. Major Devens recruited a three-months battal- ion of Rifles, and Mr. Joslin accompanied them as 2d Lieu- tenant. Before the expiration of their service Major Devens was transferred to the command of the 15th Reg., and Lieut. Joslin was appointed Captain of Co. i. He participated in the campaigns and battles of his regiment until, at Antietam, he was wounded, and came home. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered he rejoined his regiment. He was surj^rised and captured while on a skirmishing expedition, and after being confined in several rebel prisons, was held for a time, with other officers, as hostages, at Charlestown, S. C, and upon being exchanged, returned to his regiment. At the battle of Gettysburg, Col. Ward was killed and Col. Joslin assumed command during the rest of the battle, and remained in com- mand until the regiment was mustered out. Soon after the war Col. Joslin went to Chicago, but afterwards returned to Boston, where he received an appointment as clerk in the cus- tom house. He was afterwards promoted to Assistant Ap- 108 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. praiser of the dry goods department, which position he now holds. Captain George W. Rockwood, for several years previ- ous to the war, was in the militia service. He was thoroughly posted in military matters and extensively known as a good disciplinarian. As Commander of Co. A, 15th Reg., he went to the war, was captured at Ball's Bluff, and was one of several commissioned officers who were held as hostages for the same number of rebel privateers of equal rank, who had been cap- tured by the U. S. Government. After his release he rejoined his regiment, remaining with it until Jan. 26, 1863, when he resigned his commission. The officers and men who served under Capt. Rockwood, bore testimony to his bravery and efficiency, and no officer stands higher in the estimation of surviving comrades than he. For several years he has resided in Marlboro', Mass., where, together with his son, he has been engaged in the ornamental painting business. Captain G. W. Brown, was a native of this town, went as a private in Co. A, 15th Reg., was promoted through the differ- ent grades, until he was made Captain, and came home in command of the company after a three years' service. Imme- diately after the close of the war, Capt. Brown proceeded to Colorado, which was then a territory, and engaged successfully in the cattle raising business. He is now a prominent citizen of Longmont, Boulder Co., Colorado. THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. The project of a Soldier's Monument was first brought to a decisive point in the spring of 1866, when the requisite funds were appropriated by the town and a committee empowered to carry a plan into effect. This committee consisted of Messrs. John H. Lockey, Leonard Burrage, Joel Smith, Solon A. Carter and William Tilton. PATRIOTISM. 109 It was at first proposed to erect the monument " within the enclosure on the common ;" but in December the present loca- tion "on that part of the common in front of the hotel," (the hotel then standing on the corner of Pleasant street) was deci- ded upon and an extra appropriation made for the additional expense of grading. The monument, with its present surround- ings, is so well represented in the illustration that little need be said by way of description. It is of Quincy granite, rising 23 1-2 feet from a base, 6 feet and 10 inches square, bearing, on the first stone above the base, inscriptions in raised letters, on four sides, Gettysburg, Port Hudson, Ball's Bluff and Knox- ville. These were the more important battles in which Leom- inster soldiers took a part. Above this stone is the die, upon the four sides of which are enscribed the names of Leomin- ster's fallen heroes, and above the die a handsome obelisk with stars represented near the top. The monument was completed and formally dedicated Sept. I2th, 1867. It was an unusually fine day; nearly every store and building was decorated with flags and bunting. The mon- ument was wreathed with laurel and profusely decked with flowers, and the town was thronged with visitors. The dedica- tory exercises took place on the common, in the afternoon. The procession (headed by the Leominster Brass Band) under command of Capt. Leonard Wood, Marshal of the day, was composed of Company K, loth Reg., M. V. M., and past sol- diers of this and neighboring towns. Among those who occu- ])icd scats on the platform were several members of the old Leominster Artillery, who served in the war of 181 2, among whom may be mentioned Col, Elias Joslin, Phineas Burditt, Oliver Barrett, William Boutelle, David Tenney, and Gilman Robbins. The exercises were opened witli music by the band, follow- ed by the singing of an original hymn (words and music by C. no LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. H. Smith, organist at the Unitarian Church), sung by the Choral Club, composed of young men and women belonging to the different religious societies. Rev. W, J. Batt of the Ortho- dox Congregational Church, read selections of scripture, and Rev. Horace Parker, of Ashby, offered prayer. Mr. Joel Smith, who acted as chairman in the absence (from illness) of Mr. J. H. Lockey, then introduced James Bennett, Esq., who read an original poem of a patriotic character. The ninth stanza of this poem commenced with the words : " Bri)ig pjii'c, white flowers, a laurel lorcatJi to twine Around this shaft of sculptured stone " while the author was reading this verse, a bevey of young maid- ens, dressed in white, advanced to the monument and decked it with red, white and blue garlands. After the reading of the poem, came the patriotic address by the orator of the day, Rev. Geo. S. Ball of Upton, a native of Leominster and chaplain during the war. An original hymn, written by James Bennett, Esq., was then sung by the Choral Club. Rev. Rufus P. Steb- bins was ne.xt called upon and gave a speech, interspersed with old memories, and closed with a poem replete with humor and pathos. The exercises closed with an interesting and unex- pected floral tribute (by the young ladies who had decorated the monument) to the following named gentlemen : Rev. Geo. S. Ball, Rev. Rufus P. Stebbins, Gen. Kimball, Capt. Joel A. Stratton, Capt. Rockwood, James Bennett and Solon A. Carter. In 1880, through the generosity of Mr. J. Wallace Lines, who left a bequest of $100 towards erecting a fence around the monument, and upon the appropriation of $500 for the same purpose by the town, the curbing was raised, the fence put in place and the land graded. Messrs. Joel Smith, T. J. Ames, and W. H. Levering were the committee having it in charge. PATRIOTISM. Ill CHARLES IT. STEVENS POST 58, G. A. R. The first movement to cstabli.sh an encampment in Leom- inster was made in the Autumn of 1867 by five old veterans : L. A. Cook, A. J. Parker, F. VV. Polley, K. A. Bennett, and Charles H. Wilder; but, from a lack of enthusiasm among their old comrades, the idea was abandoned, and the five just mentioned made application to, and joined, Post 19 of Fitch- burt;-, which had been chartered but a few months. This lack of interest was due to the fact that a previous organization had been started and died a premature death, causing many to distrust any organization formed in the interests of old soldiers. The first decoration services un- der the auspices of the G. A. K. were held upon " Commemoration day," 1868, by a detachment from Post 19, consisting of the five com- rades from this town. In June, 1868, Aldrich Cook, C. B. Flagg, J. G. P^aton, \Vm. A. Burrage, J. V. Chaffin, aud Geo. A. Browne joined Post 19, and soon after measures were taken to form a Leominster Post, resulting in the granting of a charter bearing date of Juhc 13th, 1868, with the names of the above mention- ed comrades as charter members. The Post was organized July 9th, at the Armory of Co. K, in the upper story of " Gardner Hall." The officers chosen and installed at that time were : Commander, Lucien A. Cook ; S. V. C, \Vm. A. Burrage ; J. V. C, F. W. Polley ; Adjt., J. F. Chaffin ; O. M., A. J. Parker; Sergt. Maj., C. B. Flagg; O. M. S., G. A. Browne. In October the Post moved to "Brittain Hall," formerly the 112 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. old Armory building, that stood for years upon the " Old Train- ing Field," and was used jointly by the "Artillery " and "Ri- fle " Companies. Subsequently it was removed to the spot where P. W. Newell's building now stands and a story put un- derneath the original, or, upper story, which was occupied by the Post. Several years after it was moved to its present loca- tion and occupied by comrade J. J. Railey. After several re- movals the Post at last encamped in its present attractive quar- ters. Its history, in the meantime, has been one of good work done, and its record such as to secure the hearty sympathy and co-operation of the community in its efforts. Probably the most successful meeting ever held by the Post was a Grand Camp Fire, given April 26th, 1877, at which time the Department Commander and Staff, Posts 19, of Fitchburg, 59, of Sterling, 64, of Clinton, 48, of Ayer, and 50, of Towns- end, were present. The parade was headed by the Fitchburg Band, and in the evening a concert was given in the town hall, by local talent, under the direction of comrade J. F. Chafifin, after which stirring speeches were made, and a collection, amounting to $85.00, taken up to be given towards establishing a Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts. This action was the means of placing the town of Leominster first in the State to respond to the call for contributions for that purpose. The full amount turned over to the Department Commander for the Soldiers' Home was $572.05. About $2000.00 has been expended in charity by the Post during the past ten years, and nearly 200 families aided. This does not include many donations made by comrades, which did not pass through the Post's funds, nor. does it include about $600 given to the Soldiers' Home, nor the $900 stolen from them. All these sums foot up nearly $5500.00, or an average of about $275 per year, for the past twenty years. Early in 1885, the organization met with a heavy loss through the rascality of PATRIOTISM. 113 their comrade, and previously highly esteemed (Juartermaster, Win. II. Covering, who absconded with the entire funds of the Post, excepting about 1^45.00, and for which he was court-mar- tialed and dishonorably discharged from the G. A. R. Al- though disheartened at their loss they immediately took meas- ures to replenish their treasury. The sympathy of the town's people was shown in a substantial way, the Post realizing hand- somely from the various enterprises which they brought out. The Ladies Relief Corps donated ^n^o.oo. The ist Congre- gational Society from their calico party, $69.30. The Baptist Society $20.00. The largest and most successful enterprise was the Grand 1^'air.held from Oct. 12 to the 17th, wliich netted 34616.57. Thus, what appeared to be a calamity was really a blessing in disguise, for the Post found itself in good circum- stances once more. Old soldiers, who had not until then man- ifested an interest, felt the severity of the loss and like true soldiers rallied to its assistance, joined the ranks and are now doing all in their power to help carry on the work successfully. The officers of Post 53 for 1888, are : T. A. Hills, Com- mander ; H. N. Spring, Senior Vice Commander; D.W.Mar- tin, Junior Vice Commander ; C. A. Wheeler, Surgeon ; E. H. Payne, Chaplain; A. W. Allen, Adjutant; j. J. Railey, Ouartermaster ; C. B. Flagg, Officer of the Day; Elijah Thomp- son, Officer of the Guard ; Albert Flagg, Sergeant-Major ; G. A. Richardson, O. M. Sergeant. The following is a list of the Past Comm:inders : L. A. Cook, W. A. Burrage, F. W. Policy, J. A. Stratton, X. B. Ellis, C. A. Wheeler, C. B. Flagg, W. B. Frissell, Thomas J. Ames, Madison Beal, Aldrich Cook, Clesson Kennev. A. W. Allen, W. D. Blanchard. LuciKN" A. Cook., first Commander. Sketch already given. Wm. a. Bl'rragk, second Commander of the Post, was born in Leominster, March 5, 1844. Wm. A. Burrage wai? 15 114 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. a son of John M. and Abbie M. Barrage of Leominster, Mass. From the time he was thirteen years of age, until the Summer of 1862, he worked on a farm for his uncle, Dea. Emory Barrage. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 33d Reg., which company his cousin, Joseph P. Barrage, had pre- viously joined. Before leaving camp he was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and afterwards, while in Georgia, he was made Orderly Sergeant. After being mustered out of service in 1865, he learned the shoe business in Leominster, married in March 1869, Abbie Thayer of Leominster and subsequently removed to Marlboro', Mass. He was elected Commander of the Post in 1 869. ¥. W. PoLLEY, third Commander, was born in Leomin- ster, Feb. 26th, 1837. He worked at shoe-making until the war broke out, when he enlisted and served in Co. A, 15 th Reg., and in Co. H, 4th Reg., Mass. Heavy Artillery. In 1862 he engaged in the shoe business with his father, under the firm name of A. M. PoUey & Son, which business he still carries on. Together with others he helped organize Post 53, of which he was a charter member. He served as Senior and Junior Vice Commander, and from July, 1869, to Jan., 1873, as Commander. J. A. Stratton, fourth Commander, was born in Leominster in 1837. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. C, 53d Reg., Mass. Vols., and was commissioned as Captain. He was bad- ly wounded at the assault upon Port Hudson, La., being shot through the head. He was mustered out with the Reg. Sept. 2d, 1863. He joined Post 53 in Nov., 1869, and served as Commander several terms. He is at present living in Reading, Kansas. N. B. Ellis, fifth Commander, was born in Sandwich, Mass., in 1835, enlisted in the 20th Mass. Vols., holding a First Lieutenant's cornmissign, After the close of the war, F. W. POLLEY. W. B. FRISSELL. THOS. J AMES. J F. CHAFFIN. J. J. RAILEY. ELIJAH THOMPSON. PATRIOTISM. 115 he was employed as a shoe maker in Leominster, lie was Commander in 1875, C. A. Wheeler, si.xth Commander. Sketch as physician given elsewhere. C. B. Fl.vgg, seventh Commander, is a native of Sterling, where he was born Feb. 13th, 1839. He enlisted in Co. A, 34th Reg., M. V. M., for three years. He was wounded May 15th, 1S64, at New Market, Va., and discharged at Dale Gen'l Hospital, Worcester, July 3d, 1865. He joined Post 53 in 1868 and was Commander in 1880. W. B. Frissell, eighth Commander, was born in Thetford, Vt., in 1826. He enlisted in 1861 as private in Co. K, 6th N. H. Reg. He served three years; was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run and I^^redericksburg. He held the rank of First Sergeant at the time he was discharged in 1864. He moved to Leominster in 1865, and has since followed the busi- ness of carpentering. Thomas J. Ames, ninth Commander, was born in Keene, N. H., Feb. 25th, 1843, and came to Leominster in 1S50. He enlisted in Co. A, 36th Reg. Mass. Vols., July 14, 1862, and was with his regiment up to July 8, 1864, when he was wounded in front of Petersburg, Va., and was mustered out of service as Sergeant, July 18, 1865. He became a mem- ber of Post 53 in 1870. He served as adjutant for four years, and was Commander in 1884. He also served on the staff of Commander in Chief, R. 11 Heath. He was aiii)ointed a Postal clerk in 1880. IVLmmson Beat., tenth Commander, was born in Winchendt)n, Mass., in 1846. He enlisted Oct., 17th, 1861, as private in Co. I, 26th Mass. Vols, and was discharged from service Nov. i8th, 1864. He joined Post 53 in 1871, and served as Commander in 1883. Aldrich Cook, eleventh Commander, was born in Leomin- Il6 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. ster, April i8th, 1841. He learned the comb business and has been, most of the the time since, interested in the manufacture of horn goods. From 1872 to 1876 he was engaged in the comb business with Capt. E. A. Bennett, under the firm name of Bennett, Cook & Co. He enlisted and served in the 5th Mass. Vols. He was a charter member of Post 53, and served as Commander in 1884. Cle.sson Kenney,. twelfth Commander, 1885. Sketch given with business of Tenney & Kenney. A. W. Allen, thirteenth Commander, was born at Towns- end, Vt., July 8th 1844. He enlisted first, April 19th, 1861, for three months, in the ist Reg., Vermont Infanty. He served his time out and re-enlisted, Oct. ist, i86r, for three years, in the ist Reg., Vermont Cavalry, and was discharged at Stevens- burg, Va., Feb., 1864. By reason of re-enlistment he ;was granted a veteran's fur- lough of 35 days and after that period continued with the Reg. until the close of the war. During the war he was slightly wounded twice, but not enough to require the help of a sur- geon. WiLLARi) D. Blanch ARD, fourteenth Commander, was born in Foster, R. I., Aug. 7th, 1844. He removed to Uxbridge and attended the schools there. Sept.- 23d, 1861, he enlisted in Co. H, 25th Reg., Mass. Vols: He re-enlisted Feb. i8th, 1864, and was mustered out of service July 15th, 1865, by reason of the close of the war. He removed to Leominster in April, 1870, and has since that time been engaged in business as deal- er and contractor in granite. He was Commander of Post 53 in 1S87, and the Worcester County Division G. A. R., 1887-8. A sketch of T. A. Hills, the 15th and present Commander of the Post will be found in connection with a history of the Post Office. PATRIOTISM. 117 woman's KKLIKF corps no. 31, DF.l'T. 0|- MASS. Feb. 19, 1878, by request of Commander Joel Stratton, and other comrades of the Post, a small company of ladies met in Wood's block, in the rooms then occupied by Mrs. L. J. Cook, for the purpose of forming a Ladies Society, to assist the Post in their labors of charity. March 4th, 1878, the Ladies Auxil- iary Corps was organized with the following officers : Presi- dent, Mrs. Joel Stratton ; Vice President, Mrs. L. J. Cook ; Secretary, A. S. Jaquith; Treasurer, Mrs. Amanda Wilder. January i, i88r, the name of the Society was changed to the Leominster Relief Society," and Dec. 29th, re-organized under its present name, "Woman's Relief Corps, 31, of the Depart- ment of Massachusetts," with the following officers : President, Mary A. Flagg ; Senior Vice Pres., Sarah F. Gallup; Junior Vice Pres., Helena Ikown ; Chaplain, Augusta Holman ; Con- ductor, Sarah Hicks. The officers for 1888, are. President, Sarah V. Gallup ; Sen. Vice Pres., Adolin O. Kendall ; Jun. Vice Pres., Sarah Hicks ; Sec, Mary A. Flagg ; Treas., P^lla lUitler ; Chaplain, M. Augusta Holman ; conductor, Emma Wells ; assistant conductor, Charlotte Danforth ; Guard, Sarah Parker ; assistant guard, Mary Locke. 1:. A. BENNETT CAMP NO. 52 SONS OF VirFKRANS. The Sons of Veterans were mustered into service the even- ing of Dec. 15, 1885. The object of the organization is to keep in remembrance the deeds the fathers wrought, and to per- petuate the love they cherished for the country they so bravely defended. The membershi]) is confined to young men whose fathers served their country during the Rebellion. The present officers are : G. H. Woodbury, captain ; (i. S. Gibson, 1st Lieut ; G. S. Boynton, 2d. Lieut.; H. E. McKenney, chap- lain, (rank of Lieut.); W. C. Cozzens, orderly sergeant ; G. A. Woodworth, O. M. Sergeant ; J. V. Cook, Sergeant of Guard ; John S. Wilson, Color Sergeant: W. F. Morse. Camp Guard ; Il8 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. John Willis, Corporal of the Guard ; Thos. McEvoy, Picket Guard. At a meeting of the Camp, held on Monday evening, July 25th, 1887, Rev. E. B. Payne, in behalf of 200 of his fellow- townsmen, presented the Camp with a beautiful silk flag, ele- gantly mounted, and bearing the inscription : " E. A. Bennett Camp No. 52, S. of V., Leominster, Mass." OLD MILITARY COMPANIES. For many years Leominster furnished two companies of militia, the Old Artillery Company and " The Leominster Ri- fles ;" and for a long time was the Regimental headquarters. The manufacturers and business men of the town were person- ally interested in military matters and although it was the only town of its size in the State, having two companies, yet both received a liberal support and were in a flourishing condition. The palmiest days of the " Rifles " were during the 20 years previous to 1850. The Artillery Company, as previously stated, was in existence for nearly a century, although in later years it was organized as infantry. Under the old militia laws, one Company of Artillery was allowed to each Regiment of Infantry. The Leominster Ar- tillery Co. was attached to the 9th Regiment and always as- signed the right of line. In June, 1868, after the close of the war, the Company was re-organized. They made choice of Lucien A. Cook, Captain ; Eugene A. Bennett, ist Lieutenant ; William A. Burrage, 2d Lieutenant ; and the Company was designated as Co. K, loth Regt., M. V. M. In 1878 the militia of the State was re-organ- ized and Co. K, was transferred to the 6th Regt. In Decem- ber, 1885, it was disbanded by order of Adjt. Gen. Dalton. For years the books of this Company, dating back to its or- ganization in 1787, were kept in the vault of the town hall. PATRIOTISM. 119 Time did its work and they became illegible. Some of the records were lost in the Worcester fire, so that at the present time there is very little relating to its history in a state of pres- ervation. The year previous to being disbanded, the Company went into muster with a small number of men, but at the time the order was received, Captain Winch was engaged in recruiting the Company. Had the organization lived to cele- brate its centennial, fifteen months later, it would have been a red letter day in the history of Leominster. CHAPTER VII. ORGANIZATIONS. KNEVOLENT and other organizations in Leominster, are numerous and well supported, the humane and social quali- ties of the people finding expression in their operation. Below are such facts in regard to these organizations as are of special interest. SECRET SOCIETIES. The Masonic Order is represented by Wilder Lodge, F. & A. M., which was organized in 1859, and chartered June 14, i860, receiving its name from Hon. David Wilder. It should be stated here that Aurora Lodge, F. & A. M., the oldest organization in Fitchburg, was instituted in Leominster, June 9, 1801, and removed to Fitchburg in 1845. The charter mem- bers of Wilder Lodge were: Wm. Durant, Luther Longley, Cal- vin B. Cook, Ephraim Buss, Benjamin Higbee, Sewall Rich- ardson, Wm. Wilder, John H. Lockey, Samuel Putnam, Geo. T. Lincoln, Charles H. Merriam, Emory Tilton, William B. Walker, F. W. Policy, C. T. Brown, Horatio Willard, L. N. Leslie, A. L. Putnam, Joel C. Allen. The Past Masters are: William Durant, John H. Lockey, Alfred L. Burditt, Charles A. Wheeler, Samuel Whittier, Joel P. Miller, Oliver J. Put- o g ORGANIZATIONS. 121 nam, Thomas J. Ames, Calvin B. Cook, Daniel R. Haynes, Joseph P. Lockey, James Skinner, Francis C. Bovven, Francis II. Shaw, Wilbur B. Tenney, William F. Wilkins, II. R. Brown. The present officers are : F. W. Tenney, W. M ; E. D. Moody, S. W.; H. C. Garfield, J. W.; J. G. Tenney, Trcas.; O. A. Taft, Sec. ; I). W. Martin, Senior Dea.; N. E. Metcalf, Junior Dea.; C. A. Joslin, Marshall ; C. H. Moore, Chap.; A. Draffin, S. S.; A. W. Colburn, J. S.; Mason Harris, I. S.; W. F. Wilkins, T. Stated communications, Tuesday, on or before full moon. The Odd Fellows are represented by Leominster Lodge, No. 86, and Prosperity, (Rebekah) Lodge No. 68. Leominster Lodge No. 86, I. O. O. F. was instituted at Leominster, Aug. 7, 1845, and re-instituted 1874. Charles L. Joslin was the first Noble Grand. The following named per- sons have served in that important ofifice since : L. C.Rich- ardson, J. H. Lockey, Thomas Thompson, ; Charles H. Balch E. E. Woods, S. W. Moore, A. J. Bates, F. N. Boutwell, A. A. Wheeler, II. P. Wheeler, C. W. Walker, A. B. Upham, J. M. Robbins, L. F. Poland, A. S. Paton, C. II. Rice, F. F. Fiske, C. H. Currier, W. A. Snow, II. R. Davis, W. F. Dodge, H. Gardner, Alvah Heald, A. L. Walker, J. C. Chapin, W. H. Wood, II. C. Garfield. The present officers of the Lodge are : N. G., A. P. Harris; Vice G., W. E. White ; Sec, I^ F. Fiske ; Treas., L. C. Rich- ardson ; Warden, V. H. Johnson ; Conductor, Frank L. ]"\irnsworth ; O. G., C. N. Cozzens ; I. G., A. W. Blood ; R. S. X. G., H. R. Davis ; L. S. N. G., L. B. Grimes, R. S. V. G., \Vm. A. Hill ; L. S. V. G., Geo. II. Woodbury ; R. S. S., Chas. P. ICllis ; L. S. S., John Rodger ; Chaplain. C. II. Arrington. Meetings every Wednesday evening. Prosperity Lodge, Daughters of Rerekah, No. S6, was instituted Sept. 28th, of the present year, under very fav- 10 122 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. orable circumstances. Twenty-five charter members constitu- ted the Lodge. Twenty-one were admitted by card, or having the necessary qualifications, and elev^en new members were ini- tiated. The following officers were elected : N. G., A. S. Pat- on ; V. G., Mrs. Maria P. Wright ; Sec, Mrs. S. F. Morse ; Treas., Mrs. Annie M. Rice ; F. S., A. L. Walker ; Warden, Mrs. Margaret Harris ; Con., Mrs. Sarah F. Hicks ; O. G., C. N. Cozzens ; L G., H. I. Whitcomb ; R. S. N. G., M. F. Morse; L. S. N. G., L. B. Grimes ; R. S. V. G., Mrs. S, A. Goodrich ; L. S. V. G., Mrs. Lizzie Wilcox ; Chaplain, Geo. M. Powers. Regular meetings, second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Improved Order of Red Mex, Wachusett Tribe, No. 41. Instituted, May 18, 1887. The present officers are : Prophet, D. A. Driscoll ; Sachem, F. W. Osgood ; Senior Sag- amore, S. A. McDonald ; Junior Sagamore, J. L. Jones ; Chief of Records, W. F. Lawrence ; Ass't. C. of R., C. H. Hyatt ; Keeper of Wampum, H. E. Davis ; G. of W., C. A. Burnham ; G. of F., F. S. Flagg. Meetings every Monday. Hall in Paton's Block. Ancient Order Hibernians, Division 32. Present offi- cers : William Hackett, President ; Matthew Murphy, Vice President ; Joseph O'Haire, F. S.; Daniel Reagan, Treas.; James Walsh, R. S. Division 4, North Leominster. Present Officers : James Grain, President ; T. Gorman, Vice President ; Michael Sulli- van, Treasurer ; John McCann, F. S.; Michael McLoughlin, R. S. MUTUAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES. Knights of Honor. Granite Lodge, No. 197, was in- stituted Dec. 2 1st, 1875. Past Dictators : C. A. W' heeler, Geo. A. Bishop, J. P. Lockey, Geo. F. Morse, F, E. Nims, F. O. Lothrop, H. G. Edgerly, D. I. Munsie, Aldrich Cook, Geo. H. ORGANl'/ATIOXS. 1 23 Cook, T. I-:. Kendall, J. C. Chapin, J. B. Farnsworth, E. F. Blodgctt. Present officers : J. M. Robbins, Die. ; Chas. II. Howe, V. I). ; J. A. Tyler, A. D. ; Geo. E. Carter, Rep. ; Wm. II. Wood, V. R. ; C. V. Ni.xon, Treas. ; A. P. Harris, Chaplain ; Geo. R. Damon, Guide ; Aldrich Cook, Guardian ; P. Gallagher, Sen. Meetings, at G. A. R. Hall, first and third Mondays in the month. Ancient Order U.niti:i) Workmen. Taii.\nto Lodge, No. 23, was organized in 1881. The Past Master Workmen are : Wm. H. Savage, J. A. Cotton, II. R. Brown, J. A. Stowell, Albert Stevens, M. A. Greenwood, and O. A. Taft. The present officers are : J. A. Stowell, P. M. W. ; O. A. Taft, M. W. ; W. D. Blanchard, F. ; J. C. Nichols, O. ; A. W. Allen, Recorder ; F. W. Policy, Rec. ; A. O. Wilder, Fin. ; W. G. Derby, Guide ; Jason Bu.xton, I. W. ; C. V, Russell, O. W. Stated meetings, first and third Thursdays of each month. RovAL Arcanum. Monoo.snock Council, No. 977, was organized June 21st, 1886. The present officers are : I. Free- man Hall, Regent ; W. A. Putnam, Vice Regent ; George E. Pratt, Orator ; A. G. Morse, Past Regent ; C. H. Hyatt, Sec'y ; F. J. Lothrop, Collector ; Fred IC. Richardson, Treasurer ; G. M. Powers, Chaplain ; C. I. Cleverly, Guide ; Clesson Merri- man. Warden ; Henry Shaw, Sentry. Meets in G. A. R. Hall first and third Wednesdays of each month. RovAL SociETV OF GooD F'ei.i.ows. lustitcd June 7, 1 888. Officers: Chas. Wild, Past Ruler; A. D. .Symonds, Ruler; (ieorge Whitney, Counsellor; Andrew Tisdalc, Instruc- tor; I". K. liuss. Treasurer ; C. II. Tcnney, F'inancial Secre- tary; C. S. lius.s. Secretary; W . D. Phelps, Prelate; P. S. Tolman, Director ; C. L. Chase, Ciuard ; Nelson Holmaii, Sen- 124 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. try. Meetings the first Monday of each month, at Wood's hall. Order of the Ikon Hall, Branch 787. Instituted June 8th, 1888. Officers : C. J., M. F. Morse; V. J., Charles Brig- ham ; Acct. A. E. Burgess ; Cashier, F. S. Treworgy ; Ad- juster, E. H. Nutting; Prelate, E. M. Wheeler ; Herald, J. A. Johnquest ; Watchman, W. F. Currier ; Vedette, M. Blodgett ; Medical Examiner, Dr. E. R. Miller. Meetings Friday evenings in I. O. G. T. Hall. Leominster Firemen's Relief Association was char- tered March 12th, 1879, for ^^^^ purpose of mutual relief, and assistance, under the calamities to which their public duties may expose them. President, Wm. H. Wood ; Vice Pres., A. W. Lowe ; Sec, A. L, Tenney ; Treas. Elmer Bates. temperance societies. Sons of Teimperance. Aurora Division, No. 29, was in- stituted in 1879. The Past Worthy Patriarchs are : Joel Smith, Mason Harris, Mrs. Mason Harris, Mrs. Ira F. Holman, Mrs. Ola L. Smith, Chas. O. Moore, Z. S. Phelps, A. B. McPherson, Wm. C. McPherson, J. C. Smith, Jam^s L. Ellis, Geo. S. Boyn- ton, P^red W. Greenleaf. The present officers are : H. D. Hale, W. P. ; Ida Smith, W. A. ; F. G. Williams, R. S. ; May Brooks, Asst. R. S. ; C. S. Chase, Treasurer ; E. V. Metcalf, F. S. ; Edith Baldwin, Chaplain ; A. B. McPherson, Conductor ; Lizzie Tompkins, A. C. ; Lillian Pierce, I. S. ; J. C. Smith, O. S. ; G. S. Boynton, P. W. P. I. O. G. T. Kendall Lodge No. 7, instituted Oct. 13, 1883. Officers: C. T., J. C. Smith; V. T., Kate Gates; Sec, Mrs Augusta Holman ; Asst. Sec, Lunette E. Fife ; F. S., James Rainey ; T., E. N. Sanders ; Chap., Edgar Sutherland ; M., Melvin Day; D. M., Nelhe Whittaker ; G., Mrs. Henry ORGANIZATIONS. 125 Hale; S., Henry S. Hale; P. C. T., \Vm. T. Lesloe. CLUBS. Leominster Club, organized in April, 1S82. President, Geo. F. Morse'; Vice President, Dr. E. J. Cutter; Secretary and Treasurer, Edmund Munsie. Rooms in Allen's JMock. Leominster Rifle Club, organized August 29th, 1883. President, Chas. C. P^oster ; Vice President, E. M. Rockwell ; Secretary and Treasurer, C. A. Joslin ; Captain, Geo. W. p'os- ter. Range, off Mill street. Leominster Gun Club, organized, April 15th, 1886. President, L F. Gorham ; Vice President, Waldo Wood ; Treas. A. G. Powers ; Secretary, R. B. Andrews ; Directors, L. M. Harris, 1-:. F. Blodgett, A. AIcDonald. LocKKV Rii-LK Club, composed of the employes of the Lockey Piano Case Co., was organized April 10, 1886. Presi- dent, J. H. Lockey ; Vice Pres., W. H. Wood ; Secretary, H. R. Davis ; Treas., A. J. Rugg ; Capt. W. H. Wood. Range off Mill street. Members of these rifle and gun clubs have done some excellent shooting, Messrs. George ¥. Prevear, E. M. Rockwell and F. A. Whitney thus far taking the lead. TiiK Leominster Town Improvement Association. This town early manifested an interest in planting, as well as preserv- ing, shade trees, wherever they would beautify the place, and and was always ready to encourage the same jniblic spirit in individuals. About the year 1765, the land since used for the new ceme- tery, was hired by Joshua Smith, the first tanner in town, with the expressed understanding that he should plant a row^ of elms by the side of it ; a condition which he fulfilled, but the soil not being suited to their growth, very few of them lived. The town also, in its corporate capacity, has caused trees to be set out in various locations. A few of the elms and other trees on 126 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. the common, and in the vicinity of the three meeting houses and the Town House were of this number. The rest were planted by citizens. The avenue of ehiis on Main street were planted in the spring of 1763, and the maple trees around what is called "the neck," were placed there by Joel Crosby, Esq., who, for many years, took pains to set out ornamental trees, not only adjoining his own land, but along the line of the neighboring farms. The first organized effort to secure public improvements, and to beautify the town, was made by the Leominster Town Improvement Association, which was organized February 2d, 1883. Its officers included an executive committee of fifteen, and sub-committees on trees, vines and climbing plants. Lec- tures and entertainments, membership, water-supply and drain- age, and an advisory committee. Mr. Howard M. Lane was its first President, accepting the office to serve only until a complete organization was effected, and the Association placed on a working basis. As soon, therefore, as that point was reached, Mr. Lane resigned the position, and Mr. A. S. Paton was elected in his place. The Vice Presidents were : Dr. ¥. K. Nims, Hamilton Mayo, N. Harwood and V. C. Bowen ; Secretary, Miss Laura S. Merriam; Treasurer, Amos B. Merrill. Some of the objects of the Associ- ation were to encourage and superintend the planting and maintaining of shade trees in the public streets and squares and trimming and preserving trees already existing, to en- courage the planting of vines, climbing plants and flowering shrubs about the dwellings of citizens, and around the public buildings, to use its influence for the improvement of the water supply and drainage of the town, to consult v.nth the owners or occupants of dilapidated buildings and unseemly plots of ground, and endeavor to secure an improvement in their general appearance. To improve and raise to a higher ORGAXIZATIONS. 127 [ilanc the mental and moral condition of the town, making; nec- essary arrangements for lectures and other entertainments. The first and most important work undertaken ]:)y the Asso- ciation was the improxement of the common. Several years prior to this Mr. (ieorge H. Xorman contributed a receipted l)ill of $100.00 for his services to the town, with the ]:)rovision that the sum sliould go towards providing a fountain whenever water should be put in. .Vt the May town meeting, a commit- tee consisting of Hamilton Mayo, l*2sc|., T. B. Grimes and K. G. Davis was ap- Nov. 6, 1883, rec- the Town im- mon and that the m e n t Associa- mittcc to c a r- T h e report o f was accept e d the i^ioo, under- gift of Mr. Nor- ted toward the the contemplat- Thc K.xecutivc the Association I'aton, \Vm. K G. Davis to at- also voting suit- tion for o n e C o m mitt e e Tisdaleto super- 1 lie committee pointed, who, ommended that prove the corn- Town Improve- tion be thecom- ry out the work, this committee and adopted, and stood to be the man appropria- construction of ed fountain. Committee o f ajii^ointed A. S. Tisdale and I-^ tend to the work, able compensa- man'stime. This chose W'm. 1^ . intend the work. ^"'"•"'^■' "-^ ""■ '■ '• ■'■"" "■■" '''■'^' ''"■ '•^^'- contracted with M. II. Kittredge for the granite basin and the stone wt)rk, not including necessary excavations. The basin is of I'itch- burg granite 25 feet in diameter, cui-bing and solid foundations 128 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. 3 feet deep and filled inside with rubble, covered with cement. The cutting of the circular curbing was done by Frank M. Leavitt and Leonard Woods at no profit, and the thoroughness of the whole work is creditable to both contractor and workmen. The drinking fountain adjoining the stone basin was a gift to the town by S. M. Frost and cost $100.00, and was made by the J. L. Mott Iron Works, New York. The laying out of the grounds was after a plan prepared by a former townsman, Mr. H. C. Burdett, of Boston. The loam, of which 227 loads were used, was obtained in exchange for a double quantity of gravel and having been put in place during the previous autumn, an old fashioned bee was appointed for June 6 and 7, 1884, when the citizens responded and the loam was levelled and the foun- dation of the walks was constructed by volunteer labor, after which a collation was served in the town hall by ladies of the Association. While the work was in progress, Mr. J. C. Allen, then too ill to be out, noticed the army of workmen on the common, and with his life-long public spirit, delegated Mr. C. S. Perry to distribute soda tickets among them at his expense. This was one of Mr. Allen's last public acts. Prominent among the workers, on this occasion, was Rev. Wm. H. Savage, shovel in hand, showing his interest by example as well as precept. It may be mentioned, in this connection, that the formation of the Improvement Society was first proposed by Mr. Savage, that he declined acting as its president believing it should be purely a town Society, but that he lost no opportunity, as long- as he remained in town, of encouraging a public spirit in others. The Leominster Farmers and Mechanics' Association was organized in the Autumn of 1 85 1. Its object was to pro- mote the interests of agriculture, and all industrial pursuits, and especially to benefit those engaged therein, by inciting to investigation, to reflection and to action, and by furnishing facilities for a fine interchange of opinions, thereby to call forth ORGANIZATIONS. 1 29 the results of individual observation and experience, and to elicit practical and scientific information. The influence wliicli this Association has since exerted over the industrial pursuits of the town, can hard]}' be estimated. The Association has met with many years of jirosperity since its organization. The present year, 1888, it has a membership of 426, and has on deposit $3,200. Its annual exhibitions are attended with increasing interest from year to year. The presejit board of officers are : Pres., \V. B. Tisdale ; Vice Pres., C. S. Buss and C. F. Boyden ; Sec, Chas. H. Rice ; Treas., J. M. Bronson ; Executive Committee, K. M. Harrington, O. J. Putnam, E. V. Powers, H. C. Fuller, J. D. Cogswell ; Auditors, W. H. Fuller, G. M. Powers. 17 CHAPTKR VIII. lUOCiKAl'lllCAL. MOXG those who have lived in Leomin- ster in the past, there are few who may be said to have attained marked distinc- tion beyond the Hmits of their immediate neighborhood. In the early history of the town the clerical profession was well represented by John Rogers, the medical by Jacob Peabody, and the legal by Asa Johnson and Abijah Bigelow. It was not our i)urpose, in the foregoing pages, to give undue prominence to the subjects of these sketches, but to record briefly the doings of Leominster men of later }'ears, who were active and useful in their day and generatit)n. Al\'Ah Crocker was, perhaps, more widely known than any other native of Leominster. His father was a veteran in the Nichols & Kendall paper mill, where, at the age of eight years, Alvah found employment. At sixteen he entered Groton Academy, remaining until the fifty dollars, he had saved from his earnings, was gone, and he was obliged to leave to obtain money. Not succeeding in this, he gave up all idea of getting BIOC.RAI'IIICAT.. 131 ri collc<;c education, but manaj^cd to obtain books and continued Ids studies after workini;- hours. In 1823, he entered the eni])loy of Gen. Leonard Hurbank in l-'itchbur<;', after working" three years in I'^ranklin, X. II. In 1826, he selected a spot of land in West I■"itchbur<^ built, with borrowed capital, his first paper mill and started in business. The location was in a birch swamj) and not easily accessible, as the ri\-er road was not then built. Desiring to get a road further up the Nashua River, and meeting with opposition from the land-holders, he bought tiie whole Xashua valley to the Westminster line, gave the land for the road, and by this investment laid the foundation of financial success. All the mills of Crocker, Burbank & Co., have since been located in this valley. In every public enterprise Mr. Crocker exhibited the same rare sagacity and foresight shown in the management of his private affairs. In 1843, while in the Legislature, he adv^ocated the railroad from Boston to Fitchburg, and in spite of opposi- tion and ridicule, the Fitchburg Railroad was built and Mr. Crocker was made its first president. Three years later he accomplished the building of the Vermont and Massachusetts R. R., and was its first president. In 1847-8 he delivered sev- eral hundred lectures in behalf of the Troy & Boston R. R., doing more than any other man in the State to insure the completion of the Tunnel, and was one of the Commissioners, when the work was put into the hands of the State. Besides the railroad enterprises, to which so much of his public life was given, a greater work was undertaken in the controlling and utilizing the magnificent water power of the Connecticut River at Turner's F'alls. This work, however, was left unfinished at his death. It was his ambition to make Turner's Falls not only rival Lowell, Holyoke and other large manufacturing cities, but to pass by and above them, and had 132 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE, he been spared he would, no doubt, have left Turner's Falls as a monument of his greatness. In 1872 Mr. Crocker was chosen Representative to Congress from the Ninth District, was afterwards re-elected, and was a member at the time of his death, whicli took place December 30th, 1874. In his own city, Fitchburg, Mr. Crocker labored steadily and persistently to secure needed improvements, being largely instrumental in getting a water supply. During the war he was a staunch patriot, and a liberal donor of time and money to secure the triumph of the great and good cause. Gov. Andrew entrusted him with the honorable duty of caring for the wounded Massachusetts soldiers, and more than one patriot can testify that when funds were not available for the relief of his need, the money of Mr. Crocker was at once and judic- iously drawn upon, to convey the aid desired. David Wilder, died at his residence in North Leominster Friday, Sept. 21st, 1866, aged 88 years. No citizen of Leom- inster, probably, ever held more offices of trust given by the people. He represented the town eleven years in the Legisla- ture, was a Justice of the Quorum throughout the Common- w^ealth, as a State Senator, Commissioner of the Highway, member of the Governor's Council, and for five years was Treasurer of the Commonwealth. He was a member of the Unitarian church for 57 years, and an officer (deacon) for 34 years. He was also a prominent Mason, Wilder Lodge receiv- ing its name in his honor. Dec. 3, 1852, he finished writing The History of Leominster, which was his last public business. Dr. Charles Woodward \Vilder was born in Ashburn- ham, Mass., December 30th, 1790. He was a member of the class of 18 1 7, Dartmouth Medical School, and there he received his diploma as Doctor of medicine. He commenced the practice of his profession with Dr. Haskell of Leominster, and remained with him about three years, after which he DR. CHARLES W. WILDER. J C. LANE 0^;.CK PATC BIOGRAPHICAL. 133 moved to Templeton, Mass., where he was engaged in an ex- tensive practice for eleven years. Leaving Templeton in 1832, he went to Fitchburg, and for some time was engaged in the ])ractice of his profession in that place in company with Dr. Snovv". From Fitchburg he returned to Leominster and made this place his home for the rest of his life. He practiced his jn'ofession with remarkable success, not only in this town but in all the adjoining villages. He was also deeply interested in all the important events of his time. He was full of progress- ive ideas and believed in improvements. He was public spirited, and took an active part in the affairs of the town and county. For many years he was a member of the school committee and during the years 1836, '37, '45, '47 and '48 represented the town in the State Legislature. During his life he held many other offices of public trust and distinction. He was for some time President of the Worcester District Medical Society, before which, in 1843, he delivered a very able disertation on Pulmonary Consumption. When the old Fitchburg Bank was first organized he was one of its charter members, and held the office of Director during his life. He was one of the prime movers in organizing the Fitchburg and Worcester R. R. Com- pany, now a part of the Old Colony system, and it is chiefly owing to his energy and perseverance that the road was com- pleted and the enterprise made a success. He was elected the first president of the road, and after resigning that office be- came one of the directors of the company, which office he held up to the time of his death. He was also a member of the Bunker Hill Monument Committee, and took an active part in all public matters up to the last year of his life. The final dis- position of his property by will showed, in a marked degree, his blended benevolence and thoughtfulness that distinguished him through life, by his liberal bequest of twenty thousand dollars to the Massachusett.s General Hospital, for the support 134 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. of free beds in that institution. He was a prominent member of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Society, and took an active part in all church matters. His most striking character- istics were his untiring activity and industry. He endeavored to use every moment for some good, and by this means climbed the ladder of life, commencing with the bottom round and end- ing with the top one of success. Fiis death occurred Febru- ary 1 2th, 185 I. James H. Carter was born in Lancaster in the year 1794, and removed to Leominster, where he was for many years one of the most influential and active business men. He first began the manufacture of combs in the small house now stand- ing on the corner of West and Cotton streets, using the old fashioned horse-power in the business. He was afterwards associated with Isaac Cowdrey and Oliver Patch under the firm name of Carter, Cowdrey & Patch, the particulars of which are given in Mr. Cowdrey's sketch. Mr. Carter served the town as chairman of the board of Selectmen and also on the board of Assessors. He was spec- ially interested in the Fitchburg and Worcester R. R., and held the office of a director before it was consolidated with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg R. R. Mr. Carter was one of three original incorporators of the Leominster Savings Bank> John H. Lockey and Leonard Burrage being the other two, and was elected a trustee and served in that capacity as long as he lived. He was also a director in the First National Bank from the date of its incorporation until the time of his death, March 13, 1871. J. C. Lane was born in Epping, N. H., June 15, 181 5, and came to Leominster in 1845. He established the first piano shop and manufactured the first piano-forte cases ever made in this town. He first occupied a small building which stood near where Valpey & Anthony's shoe factory now stands and CHARLES H. MERRIAM. BioGRAPiircAr.. 135 afterwards, in 1847, he built the shop now owned by the W. S. Reed Toy Co., and carried on business there for several years. During all the years of his residence in Leominster Mr. Lane was an active and efficient member of the M. 1^.. Church and a prominent and respected citizen. Oi.ivKR Patch was born in Fitzwilliam, N. H., August 9th, 1805, and died in Wilmington, Vt., June 28th, 1875. When a young man Mr. Patch removed to Leominster and engaged in the livery and jobbing business. He afterwards started in what was then a new business in Leominster, the buying and selling of coal. He was also a member of the firm of Carter, Cowdrey, & Patch, as stated in sketch of Isaac Cowdrey, and was for a time interested in the Union Comb Co. Upon the oreranization of the I-'irst National Bank Mr. Patch was made a director, which office he held as long as he lived. Some time previous to his death Mr. Patch gave up active business, retir- ing to his farm which he carried on as long as he was able to labor. Charles H. Mkrriam was born March i, 1822, in the town of Westport, County of Esse.x, in the State of New York. He was one of seven children of Josephus and Betsey Merri- am. His father died when he was si.x years of age, and the family, consisting of the mother, four boys and three girls, re- moved to this State, and located in I'itchburg, where in early life he worked in the cotton mill, after which he lived on a farm for a brief time. He then learned the harness trade and became a master workman. In 1847, he began the study of law with his brother in Connecticut. He was afterwards a stu- dent at Middlebury, Vt. In 185 1, he returned to Massachu- setts, and in 1852 was admitted to the practice of the law in the Courts of this Commonwealth, and the same year opened an office in Leominster. He was appointed Trial Justice, which office he held until his death. In 1S60, he was elected 136 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. a delegate to the National Republican Convention, which Convention nominated Abraham Lincoln, for the Presi- dency. In the early stages of the Rebellion he was active. He enlisted in the 53d Regiment as Colonel but sickness com- pelled him to return home. For many years he was counsel for the town in all legal matters, was many times elected to the ofifice of Selectman, and as a member of the School board giv- ing to the town for many years valuable service in both these offices. He held almost every important office in town, within the gift of the people; was active in introducing the water works into town and had been chairman of the water board from the beginning. The present High School Building was erected under his supervision and when the town hall was re- modelled, and the library, reading room and selectmen's room were devised, it was done largely under his direction. In 1869,- 70,-71, he represented his district in the State Legislature. While a member of the House, he was twice placed on the Judiciary Committee of that body, and there his ability as a lawyer and legislator became apparent. He was assigned to the difficult task of drafting general laws touching the sale of Spirituous Liquors, Statues improving the Probate System and others of larger importance. He was regarded as one of the ablest legislators of those years. In 1878-9 he represented his district in the Senate, where he found his place on the Law Committee of that body, and fully maintained his reputation as a skilfull and wise legislator. It can be truly said of him, that whatever position he was called upon to occupy by the citizens, he entered upon the duties of the office with a conscientious determination to dis- charge them to the best of his ability. He died at his resi- dence on Main street, Sunday morning, Oct. 7th, 1883. William A. Nichols was a son of Israel and Esther Nich- ols, born March 27th, 1805, and died April 30th, 1858. In per- LEVI GOSS. WM. A. NICHOLS. FROM AN OLD PORTRAIT. ■fr-^ Dea. WM F. BUR RAGE. JOSEPH COZZENS. niOr.RAI'IIlCAL. 137 son and character he was like his father and grandfather, firm and faithful in the discharge of all trusts committed to his care. In addition to these qualities of mind and character, Mr. Nich- ols brought with him to Leominster a thorough knowledge of business methods. He was a competent book-keeper and made a complete revolution in the system of keeping the town books. 1 le was for some ten years Treasurer of the Town, was a Com- missioner under the bankrupt laws for his district in 1842, and held a Justice of the Peace Commission for many'years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of " The Fitch- burg Bank," where his ability and experience made him a valuable member. Those who were intimate with Mr. Nichols, and knew him during these years, remember him as a man of sterling integ- rity, honest and faithful in all things. He was looked up to by the town's people and was considered worthy to be held up as a pattern for young men to emulate. Few men have exerted a more salutary influence in the community, or whose departure caused such universal regret. Levi Goss was born in Lancaster, Mass., in the year 181 3. He received a good common school education, and, at an early age, entered the employ of Eli B. Sampson at Boylston, where he continued as his clerk for a number of years, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the Dry (ioods and Grocery business. He was afterwards associated, as partner, with O. B. Sawyer in the same line of business in W^est Boylston. In 1864 he moved to Leominster and bought out the business of J. O. A. Pierce. This business he continued with his son-in-law, D. I. Harthan, in the brick block owned by him, on the corner of Mechanic street. In 1872 the firm dissolved, Mr. Goss retiring from act- ive business. In the promotion of the work and interests of the I'armers IS 138 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. and Mechanics' Association of Leominster, Mr. Goss bore an active part, for nine years holding the office of Treasurer and Collector. He was chairman of the board of Selectmen both in West Boylston and Leominster, and he was deeply and actively inter- ested in the building of the fine carriage-road to the summit of Wachusett mountain, and in the improvement of that popular resort. He was a director in the First National Bank from 1872 un- til the expiration of its charter and the formation of the new bank. He was also one of the trustees of the Leominster Savings Bank for several years, continuing in that office until the time of his death, Dec. 23d, 1884. For many years of his life, Mr. Goss was called upon to settle estates and to serve as trustee and guardian for minors and others, and in all these positions manifested rare ability with perfect integrity. Those who knew him well honored, respected, and loved him. He was a friend and counsellor to many who needed advice, and a man from whom every one received it kindly. It has been said by one who knew him well : " His salutation and cordial hand shake strengthened one's faith in humanity, and made the day seem brighter." Joseph Cozzens came to Leominster from Holliston about the year 1845 and with his brother Leonard, engaged in the Lumber and Grain business at the Haws' mill — -now Harwood's — and, after his brother's death, continued alone until about i860, when he sold the mill and bought the Carter farm, where he lived the rest of his days. He was elected a director in the First National Bank in 1868, holding that office until Jan. ist, 1885, when he declined re-election. He was a trustee, also, of the Savings Bank from its organization, and for thirteen years a member of its board of investment. For several years he WILLIAM M. HOWLAND. lUOr.KAPHICAI.. 139 was a nicnibcr of the Ixjard of Overseers ot the I'ooi" and also one of the Road Commissioners, and filled many other imi^ort- ant positions of trust. Mr. Cozzens was a straightforward, practical, business man. " He expressed his opinions plainly and positively, and was al- ways ready to fulfil just what he promised, nothing less, noth- ing more. No one loved a social hour with a friend better than he. and he made every one cheerful by that ready, jovial man- ner, so peculiar to him. .Such men are missed, for they help make life pleasant." William Milton Howlaxd was born May i8th, 1817, in Conway, Mass. He was a lineal descendent of John Howland, one of the Pilgrim Fathers who came over in the Mayflower in 1620. John Howland's wife was Elizabeth Carver, a daughter of John Carver, the first Governor of Plymouth Colony. Mr. Howland was engaged in the manufacture of carriages in his native town. In 1847 he moved to Springfield, with his family, where he worked as a machinist, and soon after removed to Leominster. Here, in 1855, he engaged in business with Mr. John H. Lockey, first in the manufacture of corn planters, and after- wards, very successfully, in the manufacture of apple parers. In 1866, Mr. Howland retired permanently from business. During the remainder of his life he was often called upon to fill positions of responsibility and trust. He was public spirit- ed, and his advice was sought in public enterprises. He was actively interested in getting a water supply for the town and was Treasurer of the Water Board, a position which he held at the time of his death. Mr. Howland was married Oct. loth, 1843, to Miss Louisa S. Look who, with their only daughter, Mrs. Clarence Kennev. survives him. In 1850 he united with the Orthodo.x Congregational Church 140 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. and, in 1872, when the Society built their present house of worship, he was one of the largest contributors. He was chos- en chairman of the building committee, and to him the Society is indebted for the good taste displayed in many parts of their beautiful edifice. He was, also, a member of the organ com- mittee, and by his taste and experience as a musician did most effective service. He was an earnest christian, a model husband, and a loving father. " He always had a kind word for every one, and his genial disposition and cordial greeting made him many friends." He died, after a short illness, Sept. 3d, 1874. Joel Crosby Allen was born in Leominster, in the house now occupied by Mrs. James Bennett, Main street, Sept. 2d, 1817. His early life was spent on what is known as the Miles farm with his uncle, Mr. Joel Crosby. He was named for Mr. Crosby, and at his uncle's death inherited a share of his prop- erty. At the age of 18 Mr. Allen, in company with his father, besfan the seneral merchandise business in a store which stood where Allen's block now is. Later he was in company with Mr. Chas. H. Colburn, under the firm name of Colburn & Allen. For some years, after this firm dissolved, Mr. Allen was not in business. During this time the store was in charge of his brothers ; first, of Geo. A. Allen and then of William T. Allen. Later Mr. Allen resumed the business in connection with Mr. Porter Kimball. When Mr. Kimball retired from the firm the business was continued by Mr. Allen until the formation of the First National Bank of Leominster, when he accepted the position of Cashier. At that time the bank was located in what was called "Allen's Building." After some years of faith- ful service he was forced, by pressure of public duties and pri- vate business, to resign ; but he remained a director of this bank, and its successor, until his death. He was, also, a trus- tee of the Leominster Savings Bank. BIOGRAPHICAL. I4I As a public servant, Mr. Allen was most faithful and cfifi- cient. In 1845 he was elected Town Clerk and a few years later, Town 'treasurer. He held both these offices at the time of his death. No other name was ever mentioned for either l^lace in all the years he served the town as its Clerk and Trea.s- urer. He gave time and strength to these duties without stint, though the pay was no adequate return for the service rendered. His was a long and most honorable public service. Mr. Allen served the public in other ways. He was chosen to represent the town in the Legislature in 1852, and in 1853 was the the chosen member representing the town in the State convention to revise and amend the constitution of the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts. In the year 1863 he was elected Senator for this district, giving satisfaction to his constituency and honoring the office more than th3 office could honor him. He was Treasurer of the Fitchburg and Worcester R. R., while in process of construction, and afterwards Vice President and Director in the Company. For the larger portion of his life he held the office of Nota- ry Public and Justice of the Peace, placing his seal upon hund- reds of documents without fee, simply because he thought the other party needed the money more than he. Allen's Block, built after the destruction of the old store by fire, stands as a monument to his public spirit and the pride he took in his na- tive town and its welfare. Mr. Allen was, from his early youth, an active and earnest worker in the Unitarian Church. He shared, to the fullest extent, the work and burdens of both church and parish, and among its honored dead none are more honored than he, but he did not actually enroll his name as a member until the latter part of his life. Of the minute things of his life and history it is not possible 142 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. to speak here : but this may be said in all confidence, that Leominster has no more honored name than that of Joel Crosby Allen, and she never need desire a more faithful and loving servant. Mr. Allen died at his home June 23d, 1884. Samuel Merriam was born in Mason, N. H., July 29, 18 18. He received his education in the public schools of that town, and, at the age of 17, was apprenticed to the firm of Scripture & Ames, of Mason Village, to learn the tin and stove business. He remained there until he was twenty-one years of age. He was then hired by a firm in Woonsocket, R. I., where he worked as a journeyman a short time, and subsequently went to Nash- ua, N. H. In the spring of 1844 he went to West Boylston, Mass., and commenced business for himself; but not feeling quite satisfied, he sold out his business in the autumn and went to Worcester, where he engaged in the same business, in com- pany with P. D. Russell, remaining there until the year 1850, when he removed to Fisherville, [now Penacook] N. H., and formed a partnership with H. H. Amsden of that place. In 1853, in connection with H. H. Amsden and B. F. Cald- well, he commenced the manufacture of pine furniture, under the firm name of Caldwell, Amsden, & Co. Wherever Mr. Merriam lived he took a deep interest in the welfare of the place. While there he served as Councilman and Alderman several years, and in 1853-4 was member of the Legislature at Concord. In the spring of 1864 he came to Leominster and, in com- pany with George Hall of Nashua, N. H., purchased the land and water privilege and commenced the manufacture of furni- ture under the firm name of Merriam, Hall, & Co. When he came to Leominster he brought with him the same public spirit which had characterized him in other places. He was soon chosen Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and Director of SAMUEL MERRIAM. niOGRAPIIlCAT.. 143 the I-'irst National Bank, which offices he held at the time of his death. When a young man he united with the l^aptist Church in Mason, N. H., and all through his active life his church was very dear to him; he spent both strength and money for the pro- motion of its welfare. He was Deacon of the Central Baptist Church and Superintendent of the Sunday School many years. He was also interested in the Baptist Vineyard Association, being one of the Directors of the same at the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 30th, 1880. iMajor Joseph Tenxkv, son of Joseph Tenney, was born in Bradford, Mass., Nov. 26th, 1776, and died Mar. 25th, 1858. He was a carpenter by trade and was for many years the only contractor in town. He was the first in this town to con- struct a building by the " square rule," the usual method being what was known as "the scribe rule." During the greater part of his life he was interested in mil- itary affairs and was actively connected with the State Militia, and at the time the requisition was made, in the war of 18 12, for artillerymen, the response came from the Old Leominster Artillery Company : " We will go as a Company," and they went to South Boston with Captain Tenney as their Command- er. The British failed in their attempt to " lay waste the whole American coast," and after the sacking and burning of Wash- ington were obliged to withdraw their army. The Company remained on duty until all danger was past when they returned, Capt. Tenney receiving a Major's commission. Mr. Jame.s Burdett was born in Leominster, on the old Hurdett place, about one mile from the Center on the Lancas- ter road, where his father lived, and died at the age of 97 years, he having purchased it a few days after the battle of Bunker Hill, on which memorable occasion he was present. Mr. James 144 LEOMINSTER, HrSTORICAL A\D PIC T Ji^E53UE. Burdett was one of the pioneers in the comb business, and had his shop at the home place, the work at that time being all done by hand. Mr. Burdett was, also, engaged in farming. He was a quiet, unassuming man who understood his own business, and attended to it. He was an old pensioner of the War of 1812, and the oldest man in town at the time of his death. During his life he held many offices of trust. He was elected the first " PVee Soil" Representative to the Legislature of the State, and at times held other minor offices, such as Select- man, Overseer of the Poor, Assessor, etc. He did his work faithfully, and was a respected and valued citizen. He died at the home of his son, Mr. A. L. Burdett, on Grove Avenue, June I, 1884, at the advanced age of 92 years, 10 mos., 16 days. Joseph Sumner Darling was born in Leominster, June 8, 1802, and for nearly four score years he was closely identi- fied with its growth and life, taking an active interest in all matters relating to the welfare of the place, and always dis- charging his duties with conscientious fidelity. He was honored with the several offices of Constable, Assessor and Selectman, and represented his town in the State Legislature. As a citizen soldier he acquired the title of " Colonel" by reason of his connection with the then famous 9th Reg., Mass. Vol. State Militia, of which he was the com- manding officer for some time. P'or eight years he was con- nected with the Custom House at Boston, as Inspector of Cus- toms, and lost his position on account of his unflinching adherence to his political cons^ictions. During this period he lived in the city and subsequently, for five years, in Belcher- town. In the political questions of the day he took great interest. Hevvas an old line democrat, and never swerved from his polit- ical faith, while he lamented the deficiencies and departures of p fr- ^ >V MAJ. JOSEPH TENKEY. COL. JOSEPH i, DAKLirs'L.. J'' ;, ■ i 1 m^b^ V M*-- r^ - r \ ♦^ ^^1^^ ^^^ JAMES EURDITT SILAS RICHARDSON Gen. AARON S. GIBBS. MAJ. ELIAS JOSLIN. BIOGRAPHICAL. I45 the partv of his allegiance. Me died as he lived, true to his convictions in this regard. Mr. Darling was for 52 years a consistent member of the ("Orthodox Church of this place, uniting with it upon con- fession of I'aith in 183 1. This church was formed and for two years worshipped at the house of his mother, Mrs. Mary Lin- coln, who was one of the four worn 2a, of the original ten persons organized as a Church Dec. 25, 1822. This house is now oc- cupied by Mr. J. II. Johnson on West street. Mr. Darling was always loyal to the faith of the church, constant in his attend- ance upon its worship and liberal in the support of its ordi- nances. He had more than ordinary endowment of that ciuality so rare in possession or exercise, " good common sense." He was wise as a counsellor, firm and righteous as an administrator of trusts, and his decision in matters referred to him for judgment, were rarely reversed. Mr. Darling was a man possessed of a very retentive mind. Since the days of his early manhood he had seen two generations come and go, and in his later years his memory of those who had passed away was more compre- hensive than his knowledge of, and acquaintance with, the living. Silas Richardson was born March 22, 1802, at the old hom.estead of the family, in North Leominster, now owned and occupied by his brother, M. D. Richardson. He lived on the old homestead until he was twenty-one when he began life for himself, working on the farm in the summer and teaching- school in the winter,, for thirteen years. In 1846 he was appointed sexton of the town cemetery, which position he held for twenty-six- years. His failing health caused him to resign the position to his son, Charles H. Richardson, who still holds it. Mr. Richardson was one of the hardest working men of his day, and most methodical and promjH in all his engage- 19 BIOGRAPHICAL. 147 of tubs under the well-known firm name of Caldwell & Miller, in which business he continued till 1874, when he retired from active life. P\)r some years previous to his death, in i (S85, he was not actively connected with the business, though he still had a deep interest in business matters, and had at least an indirect con- nection with his former work in the person of his .son-in-law, Mr. Lawrence. It may be .said of Mr. Caldwell that he was a good business man, careful, painstaking and honest, against whose i)ublic or ])rivate life there was no reproach. He was not a man to thrust himself into notice. He was quiet and unassuming, but earnest and faithful. In his church relations as a member of the Orthodox church, he shared cheerfully its work and burdens, contributed liberally to its support and coun- seled wisely in its affairs. As a man and a Christian he is worthy to be honored and remembered. Augustus Whitman was born at South Abington in March, 1821. His father, who died in 1878, aged nearly 94 years, was a prominent lawyer of Plymouth County, and served several terms in the State Senate. Mr. Whitman was educated in the schools of his native town and at Phillips Academy at I'.xeter. He was possessed of marked traits of character which distinf^uished him and rendered his life work successful Although he suffered from physical infirmities for many years, his mind was clear and active, and as a financier he had few superiors in this part of the State. His career gives an exam- ple of what may be achieved through uprightness of character, honesty of purpose, a just regard for the rights and happiness of others and an indomitable will, which, in his case, triumphed over physical infirmities. He was just and exact in all his deal- ings, kindly in disposition, generous in his contributions to both public and private enterprises, and a friend to worthy yount,^ men, numy of whom have cause to bless his meniory for 14^ LEOMINSTKR, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. material assistance and advice. Mr. Whitman made his home in this tcnvn for many years, where he gave considerable atten- tion to stock raising, and was one of the most extensive stock breeders in Worcester county, and paid a larger tax into the town treasury, than any other single individual or corporation, llis death was caused by an accident. He was killed very suddenly by being thrown from his carriage, in the orchard adjoining his residence at Worcester, on Saturday, October 2d, 1S80. By the provisions of Mr. Whitman's will, among other benefactions, the ("ongregational churches at North Leomin- ster and South Abington, received $5000 each. Dr. James M. Randali., son of J. M. and A. R. Randall, was born in Woburn, Mass., Oct. 9, 1857. ^"^ ^^^^ ^ graduate of Harvard Medical School. He settled in this town, in the year 1878, opening an office in the old Post Office build- ing, owned by Charles H. Colbiu-n. He was )'()ung, ambitious and deeplv interested in his chosen profession. At this time the age of Dr. Field made his large practice burdensome to him, and becoming acquainted with the young allopath, who was entering u]3on the same line of ]:)ractice v/hich he had fol- lowed successfully ior half a century, a mutual respect and con- fidence resulted in a mutual benefit, Dr. Randall taking charge of the night work for Dr. P^ield and becoming ([uite intimately associated with him in his practice, and gained the confidence of his many patients, who naturally turned towards him when in need of a physician after the decease of Dr. L^ield. This, added to his own large practice, resulted in a heavy burden ; notwith- standing which, the doctor gladly devoted all his time and ener- gies fulfilling what he considered his mission to those in suffer- ing and tlistress. After being here some two years he moved into the Putnam house on Main street, his mother and sister coming to town at that time, to reside with him, and later on EMERSON PRESCOTT. J. AUGUSTUS KENDALL r.ionRAi'incAL. 149 lu' i)urchasc(l the Dr. I-'icUl i)lacc, rcniodcUint;' it to suit his taste. It was at this time, and in the midst of arduous profes- sional duties that siekness came, and he who had often been a source of strength to others, was himself unable to resist the destroyer. He passed away on the afternoon of November 4th, 1884, leaving the memor\' of a spotless character and an influ- ence for good which is still felt in the community. Emokv Tilton was born in Conway, Mass., April 24, 18 17. He removed to Leominster in 1853, purchasing the Leominster House of Mr. E. Balch, and was proprietor of the same for some fifteen years. Soon after leaving the hotel he went into the Dry Goods and Cirocery business in which he continued until ^^73, when he was elected a member of the Water Board ; and after the completion of the Works he was made the first Superintendent. This position he held up to the time of his death. In addition to his work in helping to secure a water supply for the town, may be mentioned his interest in the Fire Department. For many years he was a member of the Board of Engineers, serving at one time as Chief. His death occurred Jan. r, 1880. Though not a church member, Mr. Tilton was actively iden- tified with the Orthodo.x Congregational Society, where, as in his home and among business men, he was highly esteemed for his sterling worth and integrity. William Tilton was born in Brighton, Mass., in 18 14, and that same year his parents moved to Conway, where he lived until twenty-four years of age. In 1S38, he went to Ludlow, \'t., and commenced the horn comb business, which he carried on for twelve years. Ik- was there honored with various town offices, and also served as a Justice of the I'eace. In 1852 he came to Leominster, and shortly after went into partnership with the Messrs. Look Brothers, under the firm name of Look, 150 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Tilton, & Co., in the horn comb business. He was honored by the town with several important trusts, and was, for the last two or three years of his life, collector of taxes.. In the winter of 1869-70, under the preaching of Rev. Mr. Earle, he exper- ienced religion and united with the Orthodox Congregational Church and ever after took an active interest in all its affairs. He was a member of the building committee of the new house of worship and one upon whom a full share of the labor and responsibility came, and by whom it was cheerfully borne. He was Treasurer of the Church at the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 7th, 1873. Mr. Tilton was married Nov. 24th, 1846, to Miss Cornelia A, Wyman. They had two sons, Wm. Francis and Edward B., the latter being one of the active busi- ness men of Leominster at the present time. CHAPTER IX, BIOGRAPHY BY FAMILIES. No attempt will be made in this chapter to enter into the genealogy of the families referred to, but to give some items of family history, through the medium of brief sketch- es of the heads of families and most prominent members who are, or have been, residents of this town ; present- ing the most important facts in the life of each. The families selected are the Morses, Burrages, Carters, Mills, and Joslins ; each rep- resented by numerous descendants in this immediate vicinity. THE MORSE'S. The families of Gardner and Augustus Morse are descend- ed from Joseph Morse, of whom history gives us the following : Rom in England, in 1587, emigrated to New England, 1635, settled in Ipswich, prior to 1641. It further says he was prob- 152 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE, ably among the early but not the first proprietors and settlers of Ipswich, whose incorporation took place 1633, for it is evident from their records that he was acting as Commoner with them Dec. 28th, 1642, and the extent of his improvements four years later, indicate an earlier commencement than 1641. The de- struction of their earliest records precludes the hope of discov- ering his relative standing in the community ; but from the company in which he is found, the uncommon education in his family, and the references in his will to copies of precious re- ligious books, it is inferred that he was a person of standing and piety ; and that, by his prayers and godly example, as well as by his sacrifices and enterprise, he has imposed everlasting obligations on his race. His will is dated F"eb. 2d, 1646. In this, he gave a dwelling-house to his wife, Dorothea, his new cloak to his son, Joseph, his great Bible to Hannah, and other Bibles and religious books to his children. Gardner Morse was born in Dorchester, Mass., in 181 1, came to Leominster in 1827, was apprenticed to Bezaleel Gibson for four years, to learn the comb business, bought his time the last three months, beginning business on his own ac- count July, 1832, in company with Erastus Thompson, on West street, at what is now the corner of Exchange street. This firm was succeeded by Gardner Morse & Co., the business be- ing removed to the old Stearns Mill, at the foot of Carter's Hill, where Smith's Piano Forte works are at present located. Later on the firm of G. & A. Morse was formed, and the build- ing up of Morseville, begun, a large brick factory being built for the manufacture of combs ; the firm employing some 100 hands in this line of business, doing a business of $ioo,oco a year; a large business for that period. Afterwards, on the .same stream, they established the piano business, and later on, the ^chair business, employing, altogether, several hundred GARDNER MORSE. MAJ-GEN. AUGUSTUS MCRSE. ALdfcKI (j. MORSE. RALPH G. MORSE. RIOGRAPHV RV FAMILIES. 153 hands, necessitating- the buil(hn<;- of between twenty and thirty houses for their accommodation, besides the factories. Morse- \ ille, u]) to the breaking- out of the war, was a very busy part of Leominster. General A. Morse being called at tliat time, by the (iovernor, to assist in fitting out troops for the war, the tiiin was ilissolved, continuing from that time forward as G. Morse & Co., covering a business career of over fifty years. Mr. Morse married in 1833, I\Iary, daughter of Manassah Wil- lard, of Sterling, whose death occurred in 1883, after a happy union of nearly fifty years, residing in the same house on We.st street, for a period of forty-five years, where a family of 8 chil- dren were raised to man and womanhood. Mary C, the eldest, died in 1873, (ieorge V., and Albert G., of whom mention will be matle, Charles A., the youngest son, who cHed in 1883, was a graduate of the Institute of Technology, and had acquired quite a reputation as a chemist among those who knew him. Anna M. is a teacher of music and painting and resides in Leominster, as does I'^lizabeth A., who married, in 1859, John II. Rice, whose family consists of one son, J. F. Rice, engaged in business in l-'itchburg, and three daughters, Ahiry, Helen, and I'Mith. Henrietta A. married K. K. Abbot, of Norwich, Conn., who died in 1870, leaving two sons, Willie ant! Charley, who reside, at present, in Norwich, Conn., with their mother. Sadie II., the youngest daughter, is Supervisor of Music in the public schools of Fall River. Georgk F. Mor.se was born in Leominster Oct. 16th, 1835, in the house known as the Micah R. Ball house on West St. The following April his parents purchased what has been known for the past fifty years as the Gardner Morse place, on West street. Moving thereto brought them within School dis- trict No. 2, where the youth attended school until the age of twelve. In that year (1847) the Leominster High School was organized, with W. S. Phillips as its first teacher ; and the sub- 2U 154 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. ject of this sketch was admitted as a pupil at the first term. After finishing a four years' course at the High School, he commenced work in the importing house of Hill, Burrage, & Co., Boston. (Alvah A. and Chas. H. Burrage, of the firm, being natives of Leominster). After serving two years at this business, at a salary of fifty dollars the first year and one hund- red the second, he returned to Leominster and was in the em- ploy of G. & A. Morse, during the years of 1854-5-6, as book- keeper for the mill and manager of the grocery store connected with it. In 1857 the Morse Comb Company was formed, con- sisting of Gardner Morse, \Vm. Booth, J. F. Goodhue, and G. F. Morse. The loss of the mill by fire caused the dissolution of this Company the year following. Later on, the firm of G, Morse & Son was formed, which continued until 1861, when G. F. Morse went into the army as clerk in the Quartermaster's Department. In 1862 he joined the 3d Division, 3d Army Corps, General Whipple, commanding. Continuing in the Quartermaster's department of this division from Harper's Ferry to Fredericksburg. He left the army in 1863, and, in company with General Morse, bought the city hotel property at Annapolis, Md. Disposing of his interest in the property the year following, he returned to Leominster, engaging once more in the comb business, until 1869, when he located in Bos- ton, as proprietor of the Creighton House, on Tremont street. After a year's experience, and proving to his satisfaction that he could "keep a hotel," he sold the business to Mr. F. E. Balch and returned to Leominster. In 1871 the firm of G. Morse & Co. was formed, consisting of G. Morse, G. F. Morse, and A. G. Morse ; for the manufacture of combs and dealing in horns. G. F. & A. G. Morse taking the latter branch of the business the year following, and under the firm of G. F. Morse & Co., continuing the same for twelve years. The prosecution of this business requird extensive travel, taking him, in 1875, BIOGRAPHV liV FAMILIKS. 155 to California, in 1880, to Cuba and Mexico ; going from Hava- na to the City of Mexico in company with Cicncrals (irant and Sheridan, at the time (jrant was completing his visit around the world. In 1 88 1 a trip was made to Europe. A portion of 1882 was spent in California, having been elected President of the South Spring Mill (iold Mining Co., of Amador, California, which office he continues to hold, spending a portion of his time at the mines. At the first annual election of Directors of the Wachusett National Bank of Fitchburg, held in 1876, he was chosen a member of the Board, which office he has been annually chosen to fill, up to the present writing. Upon the organization of the Hecla Powder Company, of New York, in 1 88 1, he was chosen President, holding the office until 1888. He is, also, a director in the Leominster Gas Company, to which office he was chosen in 1884. He has held the office of Notary Public and Justice of the Peace since receiving his commission from Gov. Thomas Talbot, in 1874; and, also, fill- ed numerous minor offices. In 1859 he married Mary E. Tufts of Fitchburg, the result of this union being five children : Ralph G., the eldest, is the Sec'y of the Hecla Powder Co. of New York ; Alice A., is the wife of C. A. Joslin, Town Clerk and Treasurer; Florence T., is the wife of \V. A. Putnan. book-keeper, Leominster National Bank ; Margaret and Mabel, (the twins,) living with their par- ents on Church St. Aldkkt G. Morse was born in Leominster in 1846, and be- gan business for himself, at the age of 21, in Boston. In 1869 he went West and engaged in business in Illinois and Kansas for two years ; returning to Leominster in 1S71, he formed a partnership with his brother, under the name of G. F. Morse & Co., continuing for twelve years in the business of Comb Manufacturers' Supplies, Afterwards, he " 'ped to organize 156 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. the Hecla Powder Co. of New York, acting as Secretary of the Company for two years, with a residence in Elizabeth, N, J. The year 1884 was spent as publisher of the Leominster En- h'lprise, the paper being turned over, at the end of that time, to the old proprietor, Mr. F. N. Boutwell. In the spring of 1886, Mr. Morse organized the Bay State Shirt Co., of which Company he is at present Treasurer and Manager, employing some hundred and fifty hands. He was chosen a Director of the Northboro National Bank in February, 1880, holding the office until his removal to New York, in 1883. In January, 1871, he married Emilia G. Christian of Detroit, Mich., having two children, Anna Cj. and Willard Ives. Their residence has been corner of West and Blossom Sts. for the past fifteen years. Augustus Morse was born in Worcester in 18 17, (May 16,) where he lived 10 years, when he went with his parents to Fitchburg, where the next four years were spent ; part of the time in school and the balance working in the old stone mill. The year following was spent in Peterboro, N. H., working for his father, who was engaged in the manufacture of paper. He then re- turned to F"itchburg, at the age of 16, accepting a situation as second overseer in the mill owned by (jcneral Ivers Jewett, at- tending school that winter in the old brick schoolhouse on Blossom street ; Col. Ivers Phillips being the teacher. In 1832 he came to Leominster to learn the comb trade, serving an ap- prenticeship of four years to his brother Gardner, at $50 a year and board, at the end of which time the partnership of G. & A. Morse was formed. This partnership continued until the out- break of the war in 1861, when, as Major General of Mass. Militia, he was summoned by Gov. Andrew to take command, in Boston, of all troops which were reporting for duty, and to be despatched for the seat of war. He was chiefly instrument- al in placing General Butler in comniand of the First Brigade, BIOGKArHV RV FAMILIES. I 57 which left Mass. the i6th of April and cut through the blood- thirsty mob at Baltimore, securing the Capitol to the Union. His militarN- career began at the age of 18, when he joined the Leominster Rifle Company, holding the various offices, up all the grades, receiving his commission as Captain from Gov. Hriggs. He was elected Major of 9th Regt., M. V. M., then Colonel, serving two years, when he was elected Brigadier (jen- eral. He was chosen by the Legislature of 1855-6 as Major (ieneral of 3d Division, M. V. M. He received his commission from the Secretary of State, and held the office until August, 1 86 1, when he resigned and was made Col. of the 21st Mass. Regt. He was sworn into service of the U. S. on the 21st of that month and started, with his Regt., looo men, strong, with orders to re[)ort at Washington, D. C. He was stopped at l^al- timore by order of Secretary of War, Cameron, to report to Major (jcn. Di.x, then commanding the Dept. of Baltimore, and by him ordered to proceed with his Regt. to Annapolis, Md., to take command of that military post. E.xtending his command to Annapolis Junction and a part of Baltimore & Ohio R. R., (the only conveyance by rail from the North to Washington) to guard that railroad for si.x miles, and also extending some thir- ty miles on Chesapeake Bay and south toward the Potomac river. While there, in command as Col., he was appointed by President Lincoln, Military Governor of that section ; serving until the following summer in this capacity, when he resigned the office. In Sept., 1862, he was commissioned by President Lincoln, Quartermaster, with headquarters at Fredericksburg, filling the position with honor and ability until he retired from the service in the fall of 1863, since which time he has not had on a uniform ; preferring the peaceful walks of life to the blood and carnage of war, or the vain-glory of political office. Col. Morse held numerous civil offices during his residence in Leominster, being chosen as one of the Selectmen at the 158 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. age of 29 ; serving on the Board the year the brick town house (our present town hall) was built. He served, also, as Collect- or of Taxes, and in many minor offices ; holding the office of Justice of the Peace for 14 years. He married Caroline, daugh- ter of Manassah VVillard, of Sterling, residing for many years near his brother, Gardner, on West street ; bringing up a fami- ly of eight children, two girls and six boys. Eliza J., wife of Abner W. Pollard, formerly in ihe clothing business in this town, but who is at present the head of the Butterick Publish- ing Company in New York City. This Company have in their immediate employ some 800 persons, besides having some 3500 branch offices in the United States and England. Harrison A., manager of the factory of the Butterick Publishing Co. in Brooklyn, N. Y. Julius T., who is located in Kansas. Jerome E., a graduate of the U. S. Naval x^cademy, was placed on the retired list, on account of his eye-sight, after serving the gov- ernment, in official capacity, for eleven years. He is at pres- ent Treasurer of the Hecla Powder Co. of New York City, and is, also, largely interested in mining in Colorado. Joseph H., is a lawyer in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he has recently located after som.e ten years in Kansas, where he was at one time a member of the State Legislature, also, U. S. Silk Commission- er. Elbridge W., resides in New York, and is a traveling sales- man. Carrie F. resides, at present, with her father in Brook- lyn. The youngest, P'rederick E., after a short but promising business career, was cut down by an accident to his knee, while in bathing in Whalom l^ond, which resulted in fever, causing his death. THE BURRAGES. The families of Deacon William and Capt. Josiah Burrage, of Leominster, are descended from John Burrage who was born in Norton Subcourse, a parish of Norfolk County, ( near Nor- wich,) England. According to the researches of Hon. A. A. nm i'vl ■m IlolSH IN LEOMINSTER. KOIIJHT ItV \VM. lUKKAGE IN 1707 AM) IN WHICH HK DIKK IN IHJO. ^Jl.lJ CllUKell IN Nol

.\ mOGRAnilV UV FAMILIES. 159 I)urragc, we find by the parish records that he was baptized April lO, 1616, and that in all probability he was sixteen years old at the time of his father's death, remaining at home assist- ing his mother in the care of the farm until he attained his majority in the spring of 1637. Owing to the tyranical rule of Charles I, in forcing ship money tax upon his people and in other ways exercising an arbitrary authority o\'er the Kingdom, many of his subjects, in 1637, abandoned their native land and following the example of the Pilgrim Fathers, emigrated to America and settled in the wilds of New England. Among this number was John Burrage of Norton Subcourse. It is not known by what ship he came, but his name appears on the town records of Charlestown, Massachusetts under the date of 1637, and from a descrii)tion of his "possessions" in the same book, it is probable that the estate was located within the limits of the Charlestown Navy Yard, near the western en- trance, at the foot of Water street, and that he owned and operated the ferry between Boston and Charlestown in com- pany with Francis Hudson, who lived on the Boston side, the landing place being located on the premises of the owners. In addition to his duties as Ferryman Mr. Burrage served several years as "Clerk of the Market." The market place was in what is now Charlestown Square. He was also chosen "Salt Measurer," by the town. In 1662-4 he, in company with his son, John Burrage, Jr., were engaged in shipping horses to Barbadoes. Thus it will be seen that he was a busy and no doubt a prosperous man. He had been blessed with a large family of children and was an active and a useful citizen, but his last days were clouded by misfortune. In 167J, which was some thirteen years before his death, he met with an accident, being thrown from a horse, which occasioned the loss of his reason. In 1677 his eldest, and most promising son, John Jr. died of small pox, during the epidemic in Charlestown, in which l60 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. ninety-one persons died during the year. Following immedi- ately upon this, the eldest of his two surviving sons, Jacob-like took advantage of his father's mental incapacity to get posses- sion of his property. This scheme was, however, only tempo- rarily successful and eventually the property was divided among all the rightful heirs. Dea. William Burrage, of Leominster, was born Sept. 2d, 1768. He was apprenticed at an early age to Benjamin Hawks, a tanner in Leominste-r. Having finished his appren- ticeship he commenced the tanning and currying business for himself in a small way in the north part of the town, where, through industry and frugality he succeeded in gaining a com- petency. In 1 8 14 he was chosen a deacon of the First Congre- gational Church which office he filled until his death in 1844. He was for many years a prominent citizen, and was often chosen to fill offices of trust and responsibility. He was twice married. First to Mary Joslin of Leominster, by whom he had six children. His second wife was Roxanna Sanderson of Lan- caster, by whom he had eight children. Capt. Leonard Burrage, was for many years one of Leominster's most valued and prominent citizens. Born March 14, 1797, he died April 18, 1888, in the house built by himself seventy years ago, directly opposite his birthplace in the North Village. As the eldest son of Deacon Wm. Bur- rage, he inherited a love for honest work and the belief that labor was honorable. Learning the trade of tanner in his father's shop, soon after his majority, he was admitted to a share in the business, and later became sole owner, building it up to a large and profitable position. Associated with his cousin, George S. Burrage, in 1836 he began the manufacture of shoes, being one of the pioneers in that industry in New Eng- land, and in 1844 retired with a fortune. Never blessed with children, with the cordial help of his wife, (Mira Allen) he Capt. LEONARD BURRAGE. RIOGRAPHV RV FAMILIES. l6l devoted himself to relieving the distress of the needy, and to broad works of charity. Most of his generous gifts remain unknown, sa\-e that they were almost countless. He contrib- uted largely to the building of every church in town, giving especially to the Congregational Church in the North Village, later giving a lot of land with a handsome parsonage building on it, and by will $6500 more. By will he gave large sums to various charities ; $5000 to the Town of Leominster ; $3000 to the worthy poor ; $2000 to the Public Library ; $20,000 to Olivet College, Michigan, without condition, which will be devoted to building the " Burrage Library. " Earnest, honora- ble, shrewd and clear headed, his ability and sterling character early commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, and he was often honored at their hands. He was a Captain in the militia at 21, then a most honorable position, and for many successive years was Moderator of town meetings. He took an active part in town affairs, serving in every important town office, being many years on School Committee and Board of Selectmen. Capt. Burrage represented the town with great ability in the General Court in the years 1833, 1843, 44, 45. and during a long series of years was interested in nearly every town matter. Until old age compelled his retirement he was President of the Leominster Savings Bank, also a director in the RoUstone National l^ank of Fitchburg and other corpora- tions. A great, brave and kindly heart is stilled, the weak, the aged and the poor have lost a friend who never failed them, by the passing on of Capt. Leonard Burrage. GiiORr;E Sanderson Burrage. the oldest son of Dea. \Vm. by his second wife, was born >Lay 15. 1823. At the age of 25 he moved to Ashburnham, bought a large tract of wood land and engaged in the manufacture of chairs. A few years after his brothers, William F. and Charles \V., joined him in the 21 l62 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. enterprise, and built a large chair factory, and carried on a large business ; they gathered so much of a village about their works, that the Government granted a Post Office with the name of Burrageville. Unfortunately this enterprise did not continue many years, on account of the factory being destroyed by fire. Soon after, George Sanderson went with his family to San Francisco, Cal., and engaged in the furniture business, and later on, went into grape raising in Napa Valley, where he died May 1 6, 1876, at the age of 53 years. He was twice married ; his first wife was Martha G. Phelps, of Leominster, by whom he had two daughters, Clara and Ellen. By his last wife, Aure- lia Chamberlain, he had a daughter, Cora C, who survived him but a short time. Charles D. and Albert C, are their only surviving children. Both entered the legal profession. Chas. D. is in the practice of his profession in Gardner, Mass., and is President of the Lithotype Publishing Co., of that place. Albert C. is in the practice of his profession in Boston. William F. Blrrage, the second son of Dea. William, by his second wife, was born April 5, 1826. As has been said he joined his brothers, George Sanderson and Charles W., in the Burrageville enterprise under the firm name of Burrage Broth- ers, but sold out his interest not long before the Chair Factory was burned. While in Ashburnham he was Justice of the Peace and served the juiblic in other ways. He held the office of Post Master and was also station agent until 1867, when he with his family, returned to Leominster, where he took an ac- tive interest in town affairs, was a prominent and valued citi- zen. He was for several years a director in the First National Bank of Leominster. In 1872 he took a journey to California and Oregon, on account of his health, which was much im- paired, and to visit his brothers. He returned without being much improved. He married, July 25, 1849, Eveline W. Law- rence, who survives him. He died Nov. 11, 1873, leaving three V. ^3 %f : service of forty years and nine months. COMMERCIAL. 201 I'rom the date of his birth. Jan. 23, iSoS, Mr. Colburn ha.s been a resident of this town, and intimately connected with its history. He is the last of a family of five sons and one daugh- ter, children of Klisha and Deborah Colburn, who were all reared from childhood in the little old house on the corner of Central and Lancaster streets. Tho.mas a. Hills, the present postmaster, is a son of the late Capt. Thomas and Xancy W. Hills, and was born in Leom- inster, Sept. 15, 1S40. He received his education in the public schools of this town. In the winter of 1857 he entered the employ of Abner Parker & Co., Cordaville, Mass., proprietors of a country store. .Subsequently he was employed in the store of John G. Thurs- ton & Co., South Lancaster, Mass., and was residing there at the time of his enlistment into the service of the U. S., in the autumn of 1862. lie joined Co. C, 53d Mass. Vols, from this town, commanded by Capt. Joel A. Stratton. The regiment formed a part of "Hanks' E.xpedition," and was assigned to the 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf. Soon after the muster out of his Regt., in the fall of 1863, he entered the employ of Allen & Kimball in this town, remain- ing with them until July, 1864, when he again enlisted, this time for a period of one hundred days, j(iining Co. E, of Marlborough, 5th Mass. Vols., in which he servedas Sergt. until the muster out of the Regt. in November of the same year. F'or several years after he was connected with the State Militia, serving as Lieut, in Co. K, loth Regt. In January, 1865, he entered into partnership with Christopher Chase, under the firm name of Chase & Hills, conducting the dry goods and grocery business at the old "Gates" store on Central street. Subsequentlv he was in company with A. C). W'l'dcr and later on, conducted the grocery business alone at t'.ie s.ime place, remaining there till the summer of 1874. 2ti 202 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. July I, 1874 he assumed the position of postmaster, suc- ceeding Charles H. Colburn, the retiring postmaster. He was first appointed by President U. S. Grant, and subsequently by Presidents Hayes, Arthur, and Cleveland. He has been a member of Chas. H. Stevens Post 53 G. A. R. of this town since 1868, during which time he has filled various offices, and is now Commander of the Post. The North Leominster Post Office was established in 185 1, at which time W. F. Howe, the present postmaster, was appointed. Mr. Howe was engaged at that time in the tailoring busi- ness, in Baldwin's Block — ^now Fiske Block. He removed to the house now standing north of the depot, where, in 1858, he started in the store business. Here the office was located until 1861, at which time he removed his store and the Post Office to their present location. On the site of the present store (Howe's Block) stood an old store building for a long time kept by John Stratton, and later by L. W. Conant. Previous to 1861 the present building was owned and used by the town as a school house, but the Kendall Hall building having been pro- vided, it was no longer needed for school purposes, and was purchased by Mr. Howe, who moved it to its present location, fitting up the lower story for business purposes, the old store being moved and utilized as a back store. REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE. These important interests are represented by J. M. Lockey & Co., Real Estate Agents, the firm consisting of J. M. Lockey and Hamilton Mayo. The agency of Lockey & Allison, Insur- ance, with J. M. Lockey of Leominster, and Henry Allison, of Fitchburg as partners, and the Insurance agency of Chauncy VV. Carter, Esq. Sketches of H. Mayo and Chauncy W. Car- ter are already given. W. F. HOWE. JOHN M. LOCKEY. LOMMEKCIAL. 20^ Mr. John M. Lockkv is a native of Roxbury, Mass. He was educated in the schools of Leominster, together with two \ cars at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. Entering the Insurance business in October, 1872, he continued alone in tliat business until 1878, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Charles B. Dennis, of Fitchburg, under tlie firm name of Lockey & Dennis. A year later Mr. Henry Allison of Fitch- burg purchased the interest of Mr. Dennis, and the business has since continued as Lockey & Allison. Mr. Lockey is also a member of the firm of J. M. Lockey & Co., Real Estate and Mortgages, office at Leominster. In October, 1887, he was chosen Treasurer of the J. H. Lockey Piano Case Co. He has been director in the Leominster National Bank since its organ- ization in 1884. DOCTORS. Dr. Charles A. Wheeler was born in Fitchburg Dec. 6, 1836, graduated from the Fitchburg High School in the class of '54; graduated from Worcester Eclectic Medical College in '57. He began the practice of medicine in W^est Boylston, Nov. '58. He enlisted in the 15th Mass. Regt., Nov. '61 ; was com- missioned assistant surgeon in the 12th Mass. Regt. in Dec. '62 ; was mustered out with the regiment Jul\' 8th, '64 ; and came to Leominster, in August '64, where he still continues in ])ractice. Dr. Henry R. Brown was born in Loudon, N. H., March nth, 1841 ; attended the public schools until the age of four- teen, then entered Loudon Academy, where he studied to be- come a Civil Engineer. Disappointed in obtaining a satisfac- tory situation in that i)rofession, he gave it up, and commenced the study of medicine in 1862. with Dr. W. .S. Collins. In Sept. of that year, he enlisted in Co. G, 15th N. II. \'. He ser\'ed eleven months as orderlv Sergeant, and on being dis- 204 Leominster, historical atcd pictIiresqIjE, charged he resumed the study of medicine and graduated in March, 1867, at the N. Y. Homceopathic Medical College. The same month he commenced practicing in Waterbury, Conn., in partnership with Dr. E. C. Knight. He removed to Leomin- ster in July, 1869, where, with the exception of two and a half years that he was away on account of ill health, he has been located ever since. Dr. H. p. Hall, was born in Kennebunk, Maine, August 2d, 1853, and after studying in the college of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, graduated from Maine IMedical College in 1873, after which he studied in the hospitals of London and l^aris, and then returned to Portland, Maine, where he prac- ticed for awhile in the office of his preceptor, and finally settled in this town in 1876, where he has continued to practice until the present time. Dr. J. M. Randall, (deceased). Sketch already given. Dr. C. E. BKiELOw, was born in Danielsonville, Conn., Oct. nth, 1855. He was educated in the public schools of Danielsonville, Friends Boarding School and Mowrey & Goff's Private School in Providence, R. I., and graduated from Brown University, Providence R. I., in 1878, and from Jeffer- son, Medical College in 1882. He located in Leominster in 1882. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. P^dward J. Cutter, was graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1877, and, four )'ears later, at Harvard Medical School. He served, also, as House Pupil and House Sur- geon in the Boston City Hospital, from July, 1880, until Jan. 1882, v/hen he was appointed Assistant Resident Physi- cian at the State Almshouse at Tewksbury. He resigned this position in Nov. 1882, to take the place of Assistant Super- intendent and Resident Physician at the Boston City Hospital. This place he resigned in Nov. 1884, and came to Leominster, where he has since resided. He is now one of the Consulting- Staff of the Baldwinville Cottage Hospital. DR. C. E. BIGtLOW JH. t. J. CUTTth COMMERClAf.. 205 Dr. E. Roscoe Mii.li:r was born Sept. 26, 1859, gradu- ated from Nichols Academy, Dudley, Mass., class of '83, and from Boston University, School of Medicine in 1887. He settled in Leominster, June 8th, 1887. Dr Frank IIi:xry Mowe was born in Hill, N. IL, Ai)ril 7, 1S64. He was educated at New Hampton Institute and Dart-- mouth Medical College, also at New York Post Graduate Medi^ cal College and Hospital. He settled in Leominster. May '88, LAWYERS. Chauncv \V. Carter, Esq. Sketch with Carter family. Hamilton Mayo, Esq. Sketch as President of the Leom- inster National I^ank. ^VlLLlAM P2. White, son of I. C. and Frances W. White, was born at Worcester, Mass., May 26, 1863. He attended the public schools of Worcester, including the Worcester High School. He worked about a year as clerk in the office of E. W. Vaill, manufacturer of patent folding chairs, after which he studied for about one year at home, and took a course in book- keeping at Hinman's Business College. In the fall of 1882 he determined to take up the study of the law. With this end in view a year was spent in special study under the direction of the late Hon. Geo. F. Verry, and Hon. E. H. Bennett of the Boston University Law School. In the fall of 1883 Mr. White continued his studies at the Boston University Law School and also in the School of Liberal Arts connected with the Univer- sity, He was admitted to the Worcester County bar April i, 1 886, at the age of twenty-three years, entering immediately into practice in the city of Worcester, where he remained until Nov. I, 1887, when he removed to Leominster. DENTISTS. Dr. F. E. Nims has been in the practice of his profession 2o6 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. in Leominster for the past fifteen years. He is a native of Rowe, Mass., where he was born, May 31, 1848, received his education at the Shelburne Falls Academy and the Pennsylva- nia Dental College of Philadelphia. He began practice in Shelburne Falls in 1809. In June, 1873, having disposed of his business, he came to Leominster and opened an office in Wood's block, at the end of about eleven months removing to his pres- ent office in F'oster's block, which was then just completed. Dr. G. H. Woodbury is a native of Bolton, Mass., born in 1864, and educated at Waterville Academy, Maine., Leomin- ster High School, and Boston Dental College. He succeeded the late Dr. L. N. Leslie, in Wood's block. Dr. E. a. P2aton was born in Fitchburg, Mass., in 1838. He attended the public and High schools of that town, and in the year 1859 entered the office of Dr. T. Palmer of Fitchburg as a student in dentistry, remaing for five years. He began to practice in Lawrence, Mass., in 1865, but was ordered by his physician to California in 1867, on account of failing health. He practiced there for thirteen years, returning to Fitchburg in 1880. He located in Leominster in September 18S6. DRUGGISTS. C. F. Nixon was born in Sterling, Aug. 16, 1857. He re- moved to Templeton and afterward, in 1868, to Leominster, where he attended school, and later entered the employ of C. E. Dresser, diuggist, in F^osters' block. He graduated at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in May, 18S4, having start- ed in business in Allen's block in 1879. ^^ is now President of the Worcester North Druggists' Association. At the time Mr. Ni.xon commenced business he was the youngest druggist in town, and had also been the shortest time in business. Ow- ing to changes in the proprietorship of the other drug stores he is now senior in his line and longest in business. M. A. GREENAOOD. T. A. HILLS. EDWARD PREV EAR, A, O, .'. ILDER. COMMERCIAL. 20/ K. K. Ri'RDETT. This business was cstablishctl when I'os- ters' block was built, in 1874, by A. A. Burditt of Clinton, who afterwards disposed of the business to C. E. Dresser. In 1881, it was purchased by the present proprietor, who had, tor four years previous to that time, been in the employ of Mr. Dresser. Mr. Burdett is a son of A. L. Burdett, and a native of Leom- inster. b'RKD P. Porter was born in Lunenburg, Mass. He came to Leominster in 1877, and in 1887 purchased the drug business of Dr. A. H. French, in Wood's block, after having been in the emjiloy of K. K. Burdett for six years. Previous to Dr. French, John Dickey, S. A. Whittier, Chas. S. Perry, Wheelock & Whittier, and others carried on this business. WATCHMAKFRS AND JFW1:LLFRS. FnwARD Prevear was born in Northampton, Mass., Sept. 10, 18(7, and educated at Amherst in the public schools and Academy. He went as an apprentice to the watch, jewelry, and optical business in Amherst in 1834, and succeeded his employers Jan. i, 1840, removing his business to Lynn in 1849, thence to Leominster in 1858. The necessity of some simple method for ascertaining e.xact time, which is found only by the movements of the sun and stars, led him to construct a transit instrument for that purpose, for which he received letters patent in 186S. It was the study of astronomy for the purpose of computing time, under the guidance of professors at Amherst and Harvard Col- leges, that led to his appointment by Gov. Claflin, in 1870, as Comm.issioner for establishing meridian lines in each county of the state of Massachusetts With the efficient help of his son. Geo. F. Prevear, he still continues the watch, jewelry, and op- tical business at the corner of Main and Mechanic streets. 208 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. F. W. Osgood removed to Leominster from his native place, Salisbury, Mass., in March 1886, locating in the C. H. Colburn building on Main street. PRINTING. The first newspaper printed in town was the "Rural Repos- itory," which was started Oct. 22, 1795, and published weekly by Charles Prentiss, in a building near where Josiah Pierce now lives. The date of its death is not known, certainly, but in June, 1798, Charles and John Prentiss started the "Political Focus," which was devoted to the interests of the Federalists. This paper was printed at the same place as the " Rural Repository", and must have been as short lived, for in 1800, we have record of the advent of the "Telescope", published at the same office as the others, by Dr. Daniel Adams, (author of Adams' Arith- metic,) and Salmon Wilder. This ceased for want of patron- age, Oct. 14, 1802. The "Political Recorder" started in the summer of 1809, and was published by Salmon Wilder about half a mile west of the meeting house. The last number was issued July 19th, 18 10. For several years after the failure of his newspaper business. Charles Prestiss continued the publication of books, one vol- ume of his own. "Essays," in prose and poetry, "The Philoso- phy of Love," by the late Rev. Charles Stearns, of Lincoln Mass., also a 12 mo. volume of "Dramatic Dialogues," by the same author. He also published several miscellaneous volumes for himseli and others, and kept a bookstore and bindery. Doctor Adams, who was settled here, published several pditions of his "Scholars Arithmetic" and his "Understanding Reader," two valuable school books, which were afterwards enlarged and much improved. The Arithmetic became very celebrated, and in 1806-7 Mr. Prentiss purchased the copyright and large editions of it were published, In 1828 the author COMMERCIAL. 209 revised it in order to supi)ly the demands of the times, and from that time until 1848, large sterotype editions were published of the new 12 mo. work, Adams' New Arithmetic. Another revision was then made and the "Revised lulition" was, for sev'cral years published 1)\- J. \V. Prentiss & Co. Vnv several years, prior to 1872, there was no newspaper in town. June 3d of that year Mr. F. N. Boutwell commenced the publication of the "Leominster Enterprise" having three years jirevious to that, established a printing office in town. The i:)aper was conducted by Mr. Boutwell, (as stated further on), until 1884. H2 worked during the year 1884 on the paper in connection with A. G. Morse, to whom the plant was leased that year. Jan. i, 1885, the office was purchased by J. D. Mil- ler, and since that time the paper has been conducted by Mr. Miller as Editor and Proprietor. Charles H. Rice, local reporter and business agent of the "luiterprise," has been connected with the paper in that capac- ity for the past four years. He is a native of Marlboro', Mass. He graduated at Monson Academy, having taken a three-years course, and for a few years taught in the public schools. He was afterwards, for nine years, in a dry goods and grocery store. He came to Leominster in 1881, and engaged in news- paper work, having been an agent for the Associated Press for several years. For fifteen years he has held an auctioneer's license, and dealt in real estate and personal jiropertw I'or five years he has been one of the police officers of the town. For several years previous to i88[,a Job Office was run by Charles Smith, later on, by Charles Tenney, who sold out to Moses Leger. Mr. Leger continued from 1881 until the fall of 1883, when he discontinued business and went to Lynn, where he is now foreman of a large Job Printing Office. There is but one other printing office in town at the jiresent time, that of ]^)utwell & Co. 2iO LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. F. N. BouTWELL is a native of Craftsbury, Orleans County, Vermont, where he was born July 30, 1835. His early educa- tion was acquired at the district school. At the age of sixteen he commenced the apprenticeship of a printer in Amherst, N. H., and served three years. He then worked as journeyman in Montpelier, Vt., Boston, and Fitchburg, Mass., and Nashua, and Milford, N. H., until 1858, when he purchased the "Milford Republican," and was the editor and publisher of that papsr until 1862, when its publication was suspended on account of the war. After this he worked as a journeyman most of the time until 1867, when he established a job printing office in Milford, N. H., which was purchased the following year by Mr. J. M. Blanchard. In May, 1869, he established a printing office in Leominster, occupying a room in a building on the site which is now occupied by the Leominster Hotel. In 1871, the office was moved to a room in Wood's Block. June 3, 1872, he commenced the publication of the "Leominster Enterprise". In 1874 the office was moved to Fosters' Block, and in 1879 to Morse's Block on Water street, where he continued as editor and proprietor until Jan. 1884, when the business was leased, for one year, to A. G. Morse, and on Jan. i, 1885, it was sold to J. D. Miller. In 1886 he established a second book and job printing office on Water street, where the business is still car- ried on. In 1857 he married Miss Abby L. Melendy, of Amherst, N. H., who died in 1855. They had one child, a daughter, who is now connected with him in business. In 1854 he became a member of the M. E. Church, in which he has held important official relations for many years. After the close of the war he received a local preacher's license, and went to Charlestown, S. C, and spent several months in teach- ing the Freedmen. In 1869 he returned to Fitchburg, where he married Miss S. Elizabeth Willard, of Ashburnham, and shortly afterward removed to this town. IP' X GEORGE H. WHEELOCK. M. ROBBINS. COMMERCIAL. 21 1 Thk Leominster Book liiNOERV, was established about 1876, by Z. S. Phelps, proprietor He is a native of Fitchburg, and for thirteen years he was employed in the bindery connected with the old and well known Book-store of Stephen Shepley. He started in business for himself on the corner of Laurel and Main street, and soon after removed to Leominster. The News Stand, Allen C. Ilosmer, proprietor. This business was first established by A. J. Parker, in an old build- ing where Wood's block now stands. The business was after- wards carried on by a Mr. Simonds, and I'Ldward Sawyer. In 1875, Lugcne Damon established the P. O. News Room which was afterwards carried on by Edward Sawyer, Charles I'l. Smith, E. M. Harrington and Henry G. Edgerly who sold out to "Sir. Hosmer and the stand was removed to its present loca- tion when the Post Office was enlarged. PHOTOGRAPHERS. L. A. KicMARDsox is the oldest established photographer in town. His father and two brothers also followed the same business. Mr. Richardson is a native of Leominster, born Oct. 17, 1840. At the age of 17 choosing Photography as a busi- ness, he started out and for nine years travelled, as was the custom in those days, from place to j^lace, locating afterwards in a permanent studio in Boston. Three years later he re- moved to Ashland, Mass., and after the expiration of 'another three years came to Leominster, where, after the first few months, he located in the rooms he now occupies. This is his thirtieth year in the business, fifteen of which have been spent in this town. Ei^MOND Ci. Davis, although not now classing himself with the Piiotographers, has been the greater part of his life in the business. Although born in Lowell in 1847, he has been a res- ident of this town for the past 35 years, and is a lineal descend- 212 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. ent of Gershom and Tamah Houghton, the first settlers of the town. He first established himself in the photograph business in a travelling car on the old training field ; changing in 1874, to rooms in Allen's Block, corner of Pleasant and Pearl streets, where he was located for several years. Later he engaged with liis father in the upholstering and furniture repairing business in Morse's Block, where he is at present located, continuing however in landscape photography as a pastime. Mr. Davis has always taken an active personal interest in juiblic matters, particularly in improving and beautifying the town, and has done efficient service as Curator of the Museum. Among those who were p hotographers in former years may be mentioned William T. Allen, Oren Buck, Charles Pierce, and I. A. Collins. The Worcester Studio located here Sept. i, 1888. The proprietors are John Kivlan, a native of Princeton, Mass., and H. F- Donovan, who is a native of Brighton, England. He has worked in Toronto. Canada, Buffalo, N. Y., Boston and Wor- cester, previous to coming to Leominster. SURVEYOR. JoNWs W. Gates is a native of Worcester, Mass., received his education in the Leomins!:er Public Schools, and engaged in Civil Engineering in 1865, in which business he has continued to the present time. Ux^DERTAKER. Charles H. Riciiard.sox has been for several years a furnishing undertaker in this town. He was born in Leomin- ster, on the old homestead, Sept. 3, 1840. During the early years of his life, he was most of the time with his father, Silas Richardson, who was for so many years the village sexton, be- ing associated with him during the last of his life, and succeed- ing to the position previous to his father's death. Mr. Rich- L A. RICHARDSON. DR. F. E. NIMS. C. H. RICHARDSON. COMMKRCIAL. 213 arclson has been localed at his present resiilenee and place of l)iisiness lor the past seventeen years. DRV GOODS, ETC. The Dry (loods business of D. C. Nickerson was estab- lished in 1874, by Loring Sears, who sold out to Mr. Nickerson in May, 1874. In i88d, the store was enlarged and remodelled. .Mr. Nickerson is a native of Harwich where he was born Jan. 21,1848. He received his education in l^oston, and learned the Dry Go(k1s business of N. H. Skinner & Co,, in Taunton, Mass. He is a prominent business man and a Trustee in the Leominster Savings Bank. O. A. T.VFT was born in Uxbridge, Mass., Jan. 17, 1850, but moved to Douglas when quite young. He attended .Scho- field's Commercial College, in Providence. He was a clerk in country stores and in 1869, went into the employ of Jkyant & Wiley, afterwards Solon Bryant & Co., wholesale dealers in Notions and Fancy Goods, in Worcester, Mass., having an in- terest in the firm. After some time he went into partnership with K. A. Merrill in the wholesale and retail toy business. In 1880, owing to poor health, he sold out his interest, came to Leominster, and purchased the Dry Goods business of I). I. Harthan, in Wood's Block, removing, in 1884, to his present location in Hotel Block. L. I*". Bui^R.\Gi: is a native of Leominster, where he was born Now 2, 1853. He was the successor of T. H. Grimes, who established the business several years before in Union block, liefore engaging in the Dry Goods trade he was interested in the Horn Business in the firm of Wheelock & Burrage. Mrs. Ell.v M. Wilder has been engaged in the Ladies i-'urnishing goods business, in Woods' lilock since the Summer (^f 1 886. (Sketch in Educational Chapter.) R. B. An'Mkhws was born in Conway, N H., .\pri! 16, 214 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. 1855. He worked in a country variety store and was after- wards engaged in the Paper Hanging and Grocery business in Fitchburg, removing to Leominster in [1877, buying out G. E. Litchfield & Co., in the Hotel Block, removing to his present location in 1883. D. H. Wheelock's Variety Store. Mr. Wheelock has been engaged in trade most of the time for fifteen years or more, and was a manufacturer of horn goods prior to that time. W. C. Knowlton bought out the Variety Store of F. B. Frye, in the Hotel Block in the spring of the present year, and in October removed to his present location in Bassett's new block. Miss, M. E. Chamberlain, in North Leominster, has also bee.i engaged in the fancy goods business in Chute's Block for the past two or three years. MH^LINERY GOODS. Mrs, M. E. Bowen has been engaged in the millinery bus- iness on the corner of Main and Merriam street for the past twenty years. The business was carried on for thirty years previous to that in the same building by Mrs. S. S. Woodbury, an aunt of Mrs. Bowen. Mrs, L. W. Joy started in business twenty-five years ago in the rooms now occupied by Mrs. M. N. Straw, in Union Block, continuing for nine years, when she removed to Fitch- burg, In March 1885. she returned to Leominster, and opened millinery rooms in Hotel Block. Mrs. L. J. MuNSiE started in the rooms she now occupies, in Wood's Block, in 1875. For five years she was out of busi- ness, but eight years ago opened rooms in Union Block, mov- ing to Wood's Block in 1886, Mrs. M. N. Straw bought out the Millinery business of George W. Gates, September 1886, in No. 3 Monument Square. JOHN KIVLAN. ■,po. -O'.;0VAN MARTIN F. FOSTER. lUuH M. FOSTlK. tOMMERC'lAL. 215 She has since carried on the business. She was in the same business nine years at Franklin, N. II. CLOTHING. SiiAi'i.EV Br()THi:rs have been longest established in the clothing trade. The firm, consisting of G. H. and C. M. Shap- ley, located in Monoosnock block, October i, 1872, removing to Cook's Block, July ist, 1874. They removed to their present location at 11 Monument Square, Dec. i, 1880. J. H. Sperl, Merchant Tailor, located here Aug. i, 1874. He is a native of Munich, Bavaria, and came to this country in Sept. 1866, residing in Baltimore and afterwards in Philadel- phia, New York and Boston, removing to Worcester in the spring of 1870, where he remained until he came to Leomin- ster. L F. GoRH.VM is a native of Welfleet, Mass. He came to Leominster in 1876, and engaged in the clothing business in Allen's Block, removing, two years later to his present location in Wood's Block. W. H. Upiiam worked in Manchester, N. H., in the cloth- ing trade, for four years previous to coming to Leominster in April, 1866. He is a native of Amherst, N. H. RETAIL BOOT AND SHOE BUSINESS. This business is carried on by V. W. Policy, M. A. Green- wood, George M. Powers, and by several others in connection with other business. A. M. Poi.LEY & Son. This business was established in 184S, by A. .M. Policy, who afterwards associated with him !•'. W. Policy, his son, who had grown up with him in the busi- ness, and who has since succeeded to the entire proprietorship, but retaining the firm name. Sketches of A. M. Policy in the Biographical Chapter, and V. W. PoUey in the Military Chapter. 2l6 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. M. A. Greenwood started in business at his present loca- tion, 5 Union Block, Nov. i, 1871. Mr. Greenwood is a native of Hubbardston, Mass., where he was born Dec. 22, 1839. ^^ remained on a farm until he was 22 years of age, when he went to Worcester and was successively employed by W. D. Hol- brook, flour and grain dealer, Dwinnell & Taft, retail grocers, and in the wholesale house of L. M. Leonard. He enlisted in Co. G, 42d Mass. Regt., and at the expira- tion of his term of service, went to Hubbardston and was in a .grain store until the spring of 1871, when he came to Leomin- ster, and worked for A. O. Wilder, until he began business for himself. Mr. Greenwood was elected Representative from the 14th Worcester district in 1887, serving on the committee on claims, and in 1888 on the committee on towns. Geo. M. Powers is a native of Leominster, born Sept. 9, [846, educated in the schools of Leominster and at the Bridg- water State Normal School. H e spent six years in teaching, two years in Shirley Village, one year in Saybrook, Conn., one year in Grotonand two years in West Brookfield. He returned to Leominster and purchased of Solon Perry, the corner store where he is at present located. Mr. Perry was the successor of Robert Glover who bought out Foster Brothers, the original proprietors. HARDWARE— STOVES— PLUMBING. The hardware business is at present carried on by Amos B. Merrill in Wood's IMock, and Sawtelle & Estabrook, in Cook's Block. Amos B. Merrill was born in Derry, Mass., Jan. 5, 1847, on the old family estate which has been kept in the Merrill name since 17^), and which is now in his possession. Mr. Merrill lived in Atkinson, Mass., and Haverhill until 1879, when he came to Leominster and started in his present bus- iness. AMOS 8. MERRILL. CHARLES F. NIXON. -*N Dr. DANIEL FARRAR. CHARLES WILD. H. F. SAWTELLE. J. W. ESTABROOK. E. F. PIERCE. H. E. BURRAGE. COMMEKCIAL. 21/ S.\\vn:rj,r': & Esiaur ):):•: started in 1888. Mr. Savvtelle had previously bccti ill the employ of Mr. Merrill, residing in Leominster the past five years. He is a native of I^Dlton, Mass. and received his com'Ticrcial educitioa in Toughkeepsie, N. V . Mr. Estabrook was b;)rn in Princeton, lived in Sterlin;; and Marlboro', and was employed at the F. A. Whitney Carria^je Co.'s works about ten years, and was with Mr. Merrill about a year previous to starting in his present business. R.MLKY & RuRRAGE, Stovc Dcalcrs, etc. This business was established as far back as 1870, by Mr. Knapp. He is a native of Mason, \. II., where he was born June 25, 18 19. He came to Leominster in 184.0, and served his apprenticeship with Benjamin Merriman, in the tin and stove business, and con- tinued with Mr. H. S. Nichols, Mr. Merrimm's successor, after- wards Nichols & Elliott, anl s)m2 years with Mr. l*'.lliott alone, and for some time with George S. Jon^s and a Mr. Atherton. In 1870 Mr. Knapp bought out Wm. Fish and started in the rear of A. O. Wilder's store, removing afterwards to the corner of Water and Mechanic street, and then to Monument Square. Mr. Knapp worked for every man but one who carried on the business from 184010 1870. Jan. ist, 1885 Mr. Knapp retired from active business, disposing of his business to J. J. Railcy and H, E. Burrage, who formed the present co-partnership. Mr. Railey is a native of Boston, a carpenter by trade. He served during the war as a i)rivate in Berdan's 2d Regt. U. S. Sharp- shooters. In 1873 he came to Leominster, and worked at his trade until 1878, when he entered into partnership with A Draffin, in the firm of Railey & Draffia, Slate Roofers, in which he continued until 1885, when he sold his interest and bought in with Mr. Burrage. Mr. Burrage is a native of Wor- cester, removed to Leominster in i860, and worked on a farm and at cabinet making until 1869, when he served an appren- ticeship as a tin smith with W. T. Fish, in which business hq 2>i il8 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. has continued to the present time. He is a skilled workman. T. E. Kendall, Stoves, Tinware and Plumbing. Mr. Kendall started the business in his present location in 1879. He was born in Leominster, Oct. 31, 1829. He learned his trade in Waltham. He was engaged in rail-roading for three years previous to the war. He served in the 59th Indiana Regt., and after the close of the war worked in Boston and Providence, until he returned to Leominster. STEAM AND GAS FITTER. The business of Steam and Gas P'itting and Plumbing was established here Nov. i, 1878, by Mr. John B. Farnsvvorth, who occupied the upper story of the building now occupied by Rai- ley & Burrage. Mr. Farnsworth was born . Aug. 6, 1833 in Ware, Mass, and at the age of two years his parents moved to Athol. At the age of 18 he left the farm and entered the employ of Seth Twitchell, building mover, in Fitchburg. He worked at his present business for Levi Stevens, J. W. Allen & Co., H. R. Barker, and A. W. Hubbard. After leaving J. W. Allen & Co.'s, he was, for several months, employed by the Springfield Gas Machine Co., setting up their machines in Connecticut and Long Island. Later on he worked for H. J. Kimball and Parks & Carpenter, both in Fitchburg and Leom- inster, until he commenced business for himself. Having be- come established here he began to do work for Clinton parties, and in 1883 started a branch there, which is conducted there by Wm. H. Walker, of Leominster. Mr. Farnsworth employs, on an average, about ten men in both places. He was the first man in this section to introduce hot water heating eight years ago, and is doing a good business in that line. In the manage- m.ent of his Leominster business he has the assistance of his son, Frank S. Farnsvvorth. His place of business is located opposite the Old Colony passenger Depot. COMMERCIAL. $19 GROCl'.RS AND PROVISION DEALERS. The A. L. Williams & Co., corner store, was built by J. U. A. Pierce, who sold it to Goss & Harthan, grocers. It has been occupied for the grocery business by George Lawrence & Co., Kendall & Lawrence lirothers, Jones & Lehy, Lehy & Goss, G. B. & M. F. Lehy, P^oster Bros. & Kenney, Oscar C. Marsh, and the present firm, A. L. Williams & Co. Mr. Williams was previously engaged in business here in the firm of Parmenter & Williams, but sold out and returned to P'itchburg. In Nov. 1886 he bought out Oscar C. Marsh, and continues the business at the corner store under the firm name of A. L. Wil- liams & Co. W. K. RiciiAROsoN. This business was started, when Allen's Block was built, by P^dmund T. Packard, who afterward associated with him, Mr. L. V. Burrage, the firm being Pack- ard & Co. In June, 1879, W. C. Richardson & Co. bought the business. In Sept. 1882, the firm dissolved and the junior partner, W. K. Richardson, took the business. Mr. Richard- son is a native of Leominster and has always been in the gro. eery business. L. W. Cox.vxT has been located in Baldwin lilock. North Leominster, since 1861. It is not known when the original l)art of this block was built, but it was a little, old, country store within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, in the days when the sale of wet groceries formed a not inconsiderable item in the business. The original building was moved a little to the north, a story added, and the long part built in 1844. Those who kept the store previous to Mr. Conant, were Farns- worth & Wilder, who bought out J. (J. A. Pierce, Mr. Pierce bought out Joseph li Brigham. David Ware, Bezaleel Law- rence and others carried on the business previous to that. A. (). Wii.DKR came to Leominster in 1866, and since that time, with the exception of about eighteen months, when D. P. 526 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTtJRESQtJfe. Waite carried on the business, has been engaged in the general merchandise business. Mr. Wilder is a native of Wendell, Franklin County, where he was born August 4, 1833. At the age of five he went to Sterling to live, where he was employed in 1856-7 by J. S. Butterick. He afterwards lived for a time in Lancaster. His first business connection in Leominster was under the firm of Wilder, Kidder & Co., Mr. Kidder hein;;- a tailor by trade. He was associated for four years with T. A. Hills in the hrm of Wilder & Hills. Mr. Wilder has served the town in various offices ; as .Selectman in 1876-7-8, and as Assessor in 1883-4-5-6. BoswoRTii & Brush. The retail grain and grocery busi- ness of this firm was established by Geo. E. Carter, who con- ceived the idea of a grain store. Previous to that time grain had been sold only at the mill. He started the business, to- gether with G. W. Sheldon, the firm being Carter & Sheldon, selling out in about two years and a half to Thomas Harris and Frank Cozzens ; Cozzens & Harris selling out to Joseph Cozzens in about two years, the latter in turn disposing of the business to Bosworth & Brush, the firm consisting of M. H, Bosworth and I. B. Brush. Mr. Bosworth is a native of West Springfield, and Mr. Brush of North Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. The firm rented the store in i88r, and in 1886 acquired it by purchase. They have, also, operated a grist mill in connection with their other business. O. A. B.vlch's grain mill has not been run for the past eight months. The mill was built in 1872, by W. F. Howe, and run by him until about three years ago. E. C. Williams, Water street, started in the wholesale and retail butter business in May, 1884, and in his present gro- cery business at the commencement of the present year. He was one year with Mr. C. E. Hudson in the Apple Barer busi- ness. He is a native of Rochester, Vermont. C. H. COLBURN. CEPHAS DERBY. J. Q. CONANT. L. W. CONANT CoMmkrcIaL. 22 1 CoNAN't & I\ioRsi:. The business of this firm was estab- lished by Stnitton & Carter; Ilallett & Wood carrying it on previous to its purchase liy Mr. C'onant in April, 1.S79. The present firm consists of J. (). A. Conant and ('lenient K. Morse. Mr. ("onant is a nati\-e of New Ipswii'li, N. II., where hi' was born Apiil i ^^, \^}^. lie li\ed (i>v ;i time in lanienbuiL;'! loral^ ini^^ here in 1.S57. Mr. Morse is a nati\e of Hoston. Tin' part neiship was formeil March i, iSSS. I). A. W ir.PKR started in the business in .Allen's Hloek, in 1.S.S4, buying out Wilder & Osborn, who were, for many years engaged in the business. Prior to that time, the business was conducted by Albert Clark, I"' rank Sheldon, Charles Fletcher, Joseph S. Darling, Curtis & Hastings, and Capt. Abel Bowers. Jk^fore Capt. liowers' time it was not uncommon for farmers and others to go around disposing of meat usually selling by the cpiantity, either "f(Kes or hinds", as the cpiarters were des- ignated. Wm. R. Divoll, North Leominster market. The building occupied by Mr. Divoll, was built by W. F. Howe, who let it to Capt. Leonard Wood, for seven or eight years. The busi- ness was afterwards carried on by .Smith & Wilder and Frank H. Holden, for a number of years, and then sold to Fred Divoll and after his death it was taken by his brother, the present proprietor. Cii\>. r. Wii,I)i:k has been engaged in the provision bus- iness for se\eral years, lie is a native of Leominster, and a son of r. 15. Wilder. IIknkv D. LrsK opened a meat market in Paton's Block, Oct. 1st of the present year. He is a native of Goshen, Orange Co., X. V. He was a resident for thirty years, and lived in Gardner seventeen years, returning to Leominster as stated. 22 2 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AKD PICTURESQUE. W. H. P'aikbanks & Co., of Clinton, started a branch n:arket here about a year since in charge of Mr. John Mudgett. Thomas Ordung has kept a fish market here for the past seven years. He is a native of Sparneck, Germany. MARKET GARDENING. Geo. M. Kendall began the business of raising vegetables for market, in 1878, commencing the first years by raising an out door crop and doing a small business. Since that time he has built extensive greenhouses and given his attention to special crops, raised under glass, until at the present time his business is largely that of raising cucumbers. Last season his crop reached upwards of 600 bushels. He has just completed a new greenhouse, i 50 feet long which he hopes will increase the capacity for production one third. Mr. Kendall has now one of the best set of greenhouses in the State for the raising of that particular crop. Alden Derbv has also given his attention to market gard- ening, doing an extensive business in that direction. His farm is on the line of the Fitchburg railroad. BAKERS. In i860 D. P. Lord established the first bakery in town, but was soon after succeeded by Luther Longley, who contin- ued for nearly four years. The business was then conducted by H. B. Whitney for about six years. Several others have been engaged in the bakery business at different times. H. P. Bassett started in business on his own responsibility in 1867, in a building which stood in the rear of the present new bakery, recently erected on Central street. Mr. Bassett moved into his new building in October of the present year. B. F. Owens' bakery was established in May, 1886, on Water street, in the building formerly occupied by Hamilton Brown, which was remodelled and enlarged for that purpose. COMMERCIAL. 223 FURNITURE. K. F. Fierce is a native of Arlington, Mass. He first came to Leominster in 1N59, entering the employ of H. Wil- lard & Co., in the manufaeture of ehamber furniture. Me was afterwarils in the employ of PL M. Lane, Tenney & Lockey ant! Allen & Jcwett, in the manufacture of Fiano I-'orte Cases, removing to Greenville, N. II., he entered the emplov of James L. Chamberlin, Manufacturer of Chamber I*"urniture, as clerk. In 1877 he associated with C. H. Goulding in the retail furni- ture business in Feabody, under the firm name of E. F. Fierce & Co. In 1.S80 he sold his interest to his partner, and started the same business in Marblehead, coming to Leominster in i8mb business. The trade in those days was mostly 1)\ barter, so calletl. Mr. (iibson sold his conil)s to dealers in Boston, and received in jiayment orders on the different stores in Leominster, whose owners bought goods of Mr. (libson's Boston customers. Theso orders he would in turn dispose of to his help in the comb shop in payment for their services. In this wav there was a continual round of trade, but verv little monev j^assed from hand to hand. To a man of that time, the weekly payment plan would have been a novelty indeed. The stores kept in town at that time, and where this barter was carried on, were owned by Joel C. and Henr\- Allen, Gen. Gibbs and Jonas K. Richardson, as well as that owned h\ Mr. Gibson himself. At the tim;?, now under consideration, the apprentice sys- tem was an important part of the comb business. The young msn bound out to learn this trade, usually served not less than three years, and for the most part they lived in the familv of their employer. Many of the old comb makers of Leominster learned their trade with Mr. Gibson, Among these may be named John Wethcrbce, Franklin Lombard, George Wakefield, 238 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Emerson Prescott, William Damon, John B. Davis, Josiah Rich- ardson, Gardner Morse, Thomas B. Wilder and Montraville Buf- fum. Many more might be named no doubt. The full history of those days, when young men took time to learn a trade, would be alive with interest. During the last part of his business life Mr. Gibson em- ployed some forty men ; and owing to the roundabout way of doing the business as above described, and the great care and anxiety involved, his mental powers failed. For sixteen years before his death, which occiu-re:l Aug. 5, 1855, he was forced to give up all active business. During these years he was cared for by his son, George P. Gibson. Mr. Gibson was an earnest temperance man, a member of the first tem):)erance Society in town ; a Society organized about 1830. He was, also, one of the original m.^mbers of the Ortho dox Church. This picture of comb making, with its slow hand work, its narrow quarters, its rude tools, its barter trade, its apprentice system, is after all, much of it, less than a century old ; but so great progress has been made in this and all other kinds of manufacturing, our ideas have so changed as to life and busi- ness, that it seems to belong to an age not our own. On the opposite page is a cut which gives a clear idea of many of the tools used by the early comb makers. As has been stated the old wedge press was an important accession in the comb business previous to the introduction of the screw press. It was made from a piece of timber, mortised to receive the iron plates and strips of horn placed between them, and the wedges were driven down with a heavy beetle. It was while at work at one of these presses that George W. Cook was fatally injured by a stroke of the mallet in the hands of a careless assistant. The guillotine was used after the pieces were cut and straightened, for removing the wrinkles •MANTFAC Tl'KlXd, 230 Liiul Haws, the stock afterwards bcin:; still further reduced l)y the use of the crooked shave, and the standing horse, the latter allowing a person to stand upright and was similar to what are used hv leather finishers. The 'r_ \(,\ ih.il priirdl^ • il "lif lime li.ivili!', Ilily III hi', l.iiiiily lie ;il',o |.;rj)| ;i :,loir .iikI i-iij^i!o(| (••Irir,! vcly iii tin- jII'. Iiir.i nc,,. iVI i , Kriid.iH W.IH IIh- owiici oI IIm- I.ii;m',I .iikI inoj I lici 1 1 on I llic I ciliii", wil II ,111 nil liiicil w.ilK , ii{i wliii il I lic lini'.c vv,r, led iiilo llic '.l.ill, .iiiil .1 ',li,i{i l.i'.lcncd .n los', III .iiJdiliKii lo llic ii'.ii.d ,i|i|i|i,iiH I ",, llicic wM'i, III llii;> III'. I, line, an illttJI't'Si in;.', colli! IV, Hire loi nil ic.imii;; llic :,|icei| wlieii dcsiicd. 1 1 was a I liei I \ ',lii k ,1 1 Kill I I In ce ,iiiil ,1 li.dl I eel loll",, lilli;',ei| lo llic 'iide o| (lie '.(.dl, .\[\i\ I oniiei led Ity ,i stiiii^ Ic.idni)', to a .Mii.dl lioy III the :iloiy ajiovr \\ lien the jiowcr slaiUciicd, the MANUFACTURING. 24 1 Ixjy worked the string, the horse struck a livelier gait and the machinery began to hum. To counteract the sudden increase of speed, a ponderous beam was suspended from the ceiling, one end resting on a drum on the shafting overhead, soar- ranged as to drop and produce friction, thus regulating the sj^eed when necessary. A somewhat amusin- a-.^'jcni happened one day, which showed the necessity of transferring the brake directly\ which had in some degree affected his health, he decided to return Last, and always considering Leominster his favorite 264 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. town, he decided to locate here for life. In 1862 he commenced business in Leominster in company with Mr. J. G. Tenney, manufacturing piano cases in a shop belonging to Mr. J. H. Lockey. Mr. Tenney retiring in 1865, Mr. Lockey continued until 1871, when he became associated with his brother under the firm name of Lockey Bros., as stated above. Mr. Lockey married Miss Catherine S. Colburn, youngest daughter of Major Seneca Colburn. They have two sons. Mr. Lockey, although devoting his time largely to private business, has taken a deep interest in the affairs of the town, and has served on the Board of Engineers and as Selectman. Mr. Holden is a native of Clarendon, Vermont, received his business training in the office of Thompson, Perley & Waite, chair manufacturers in Baldwinsville, came to Leominster to engage in business in 1885 with Mr. J. P. Lockey, as already stated. Geo. L. Rici-: is a native of Leominster. He was born May 4, 1845, and worked at farming until the beginning of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the 53rd Mass. Vols. In 1880 Mr. Rice commenced the lumber business in connection with F. A. Whitney, under the firm name of Whitney & Rice. At first the business was conducted at the mill on Earl street, since fitted up as a comb shop for Tilton & Cook. Later, the present factory of J. P. Lockey was built. In 1884 Mr. Rice bought the interest of F. A. Whitney, and in 1886 he engaged in the piano business in the firm of J. P. Lockey & Co. CHILDREN'S CARRIAGES. The manufacture of children's carriages in Leominster was begun in a very modest manner by F. W. and F. A. Whitney in the year 1858, at which time the few in use were as a rule homely in shape and rudely constructed. The present beauty F. A. WHITNEY. MANUFACTURING. 265 and perfection in design was not even dreamed of at tliat time, and it was a slight and unimportant circumstance which led to the establishment of tliis valuable industry in Leominster. i8;8 1862 While on a visit to Greenfield, Mass., Mr. F. W, Whitney no- ticed on the street a baby carriage somewhat different from the stereotyped pattern, and it occurred to him that the manufac- ture in new and attractive designs might be made profitable. Upon his return home he consulted his cousin, Mr. F. A. Whit- ney, and found him equally confident, and ready to embark in the business. Accordingly they hired a small portion of the Lockey shop, located where the shoe factory of Messrs. Walpey J4 266 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. & Anthony now stands, and with only a few men in their em- ploy began work. In 1861, soon after the outbreak of the civil w^ar, Mr. F. A. Whitney sold his interest to Mr. F. W. Whitney, !f'!'!fiilti'il»!]f|,'l)i''ifii^f|Iijf!ijj 1877 1879 and entered the service of the Christian Commission. After some months of labor he returned and purchased once more his share in the business. In 1862 the building they partially oc- y. Oi »v^ 1886 1888 cupied was consumed by fire, occasioning much loss with no insurance. With the exception of one planer, scarcely any MANUFACTURING. 2^"] thing was saved from the fire. This ijlancr is still in use by the company. After the fire the firm resumed work in the shop recently occupied by the Leominster Worsted Co. on Water. street, using two other buildings, located where the de- l^ot now stands, for finishing purposes. In 1863 Mr. F. A. Whit- ney purchased the entire business. In i . 288 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. comfort of the employes, and every convenience for ease and rapidity in manufacturing the goods intended. In June, 1886, Mr. Whitney determined to build a new fac- tory for the still further increase and accommodation of the bus- iness. It is of brick, finely finished and furnished throughout. The building is four stories high in the main part and 136 feet long by 35 feet wide. The engine and boiler house is in the rear of this part and is 26 feet by 40 ; it contains one of the finest engines in town. In this building the rooms face the South, are light, airy and pleasant. Nothing is lacking, which could make work healthy and comfortable. The upper floor is used for storing goods. The principal building has a front projection, 24 by 33 feet. Here on the first floor is the business and a private office for consultation. On the same floor is a room fitted up for use in case any of the operatives should be sick or meet with an accident. In addition, there are over the ofiice, rooms for folding, packing, etc. The means for extinguishing fire and the sanitary arrange- ments are as perfect as they could possibly be made. In deed, whatever Mr. Whitney undertakes, he may be trusted to finish in the most complete and thorough manner. Every room in these buildings speaks of comfort and convenience It would be hard to find a Company anywhere, more completely provided with all the facilities for doing a large and prosperous business. George A. Gane is the manager of this company. Mr. Gane was born in Quebec, but the family moved to Island Pond, Vt., when he was about 5 years old. He was therefore educated in the Public Schools of that State, and made his home there until 1869, when he moved to Waltham, Mass. In Waltham Mr. Gane was for a time employed as book-keeper and later was connected with the dry and fancy goods business ; but for th^ last part of the tinie he was Qn-- GEORGE A. GANE. MANUFACTURING. 289 i;aj3^cd in making custom shirts. This business he moved to Fitchburg in the autumn of 1S77 and was prosecuting the same with much skill and energy when he was invited to Leominster as stated above. Mr. Gane is an energetic and successful man- ager, has a thorough knowledge of the business, and is an ex- cellent citizen. The Bay Statk Shirt Company was organized in Oct. 1885, by Mr. A. G. Morse of Leominster, and George H. Priest of Sterling. It was in part a business removed to Leominster from Oakdale, Mass. After a brief time Mr. Priest withdrew from the Company. Mr. A. G. Morse, a sketch of whose life is found in the history of the Morse family, has been the treas- urer and manager of the company from the start. This busi- ness has been twice enlargeil- The goods are all sold by the Leominster .Shirt Coni[)any. LUMHLK, DOORS, SASH AND BLLNDS. Tenxey & Kenxey, — The lumber business of Stratton Brothers passed into the hands of Mr. Joseph G. Tenney, who in 1S74 associated with himself Capt. Clesson Kenney, under the firm name of Tenney & Kenney. Mr. Tenney has not given personal attention to the business since 1S79. The firm do an extensive business in furnishing house frames, and in manufacturing all miscellaneous material used in buiUling. A sketch of Mr. Tenney has already been given. Capt. Cle.sson Kenney was horn in Leominster Miiy 31, 1839, and was educated in the public schools and graduated from the high school. He enlisted as a private in Company D., M. V M., Sept. 2, 1862, and, while in the field, was promoted to sec ond sergeant, Dec. i, 1862, and to second lieutenant June 15 1863. Mr. Kenney was chosen captain of (.'<>. K . M. \' M. in 1873, and served the state in that capacity four years. Mr 37 290 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Kenney has been a trustee of the Leominster Savings Bank for the past four years. APPLE PARKRS. This business has no closer connection with the "Apple Parer" business of Lockey & Rowland already named, than this : Mr. F. W. Hudson who started the present concern, was, at one time, an employe of that firm. But when Mr. Hudson started he did so under his own patents. He began in Fitch- burg but soon moved to Leominster into the building now owned by John Mather. P^rom there the business went to the basement of the old Lockey Piano Shop ; then to a building near the tub shop of Miller & Lawrence ; from there to a shop near the Water Street bridge, and which is now in use by Whitney & Co., as a box shop. When that shop was moved, Mr. Hudson moved to the present factory, which is admirably suited to the needs of the business, giving ample room for man- ufacturing, storing and shipping the goods. C. E. HuDsox now carries on this business, having bought it of his father some years since. The business is healthy and prosperous ; the management careful and energetic. The product of the factory is about fifty thousand machines annu- ally. Mr. Hudson was born in Leominster, June 12, 1856. He was engaged in the button business for three years in Jersey City, when he returned to Leominster and engaged in business with his father. Mr. F. W. Hudson retired from the firm in 1 88 1, and, with the exception of one year, when E. C. Williams had an interest, Mr.. Hudson has been sole proprietor. PAPER BOX MANUFACTURING. This business is conducted by three firms, Mrs. E. F. Dodge, C. P. Green, and G. L. Chase. This industry is closely con- nected with comb making, and at different times as the needs of the trade demand, employs a large number of hands. Every MANUFACTURING. 29I variety of paper box is made, and in these the different kinds of goods are elegantly presented in market. Whitney & Co. have lately established a new enterprise in this line. With machinery specially made for the purpose they make every style and description of folding paper bo.\. These boxes are adapted to a great variety of purposes, and a visit to the factory would be well worth the time. ROLLER DESKS. Union Desk Company. — This very desirable industry was brought to Leominster from Boston in March, 1887. At that time the company purchased the Symonds Pavilion on Monu- ment square, at once made such changes in the building as the business demanded and put in tlie required machinery. The members of the firm are A. B. and A. F. Curtis and William F. Smith. Mr. Smith is a native of Leominster. The busi- ness of the company is confined to making roller desks and library tables of different kinds. The work done at this factory is excellent, and under the present management the business is likely to increase, both in amount and importance. ENAMEL WORKS. Sun Ena.mi.i. W'ork.s. Aldrich Cook, proprietor. This in- teresting business includes every description of enamelled goods, such as enamelled jewelry, jet and shell goods, organ stops, knobs, jewelry ornaments, handles and rubber stamps, truss pads, pen holders, druggists' glass ware supplies, wood buttons, whip sockets and novelties of every description. All kinds of japanning is done at this factory also, and the goods are sent to all parts of the country. The number of hands employed varies with the demands of the market. Mr. Cook gives personal attention to the work, and the goods rank high as to design and finish. 292 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. A sketch of Mr. Cook may be found among the past com- manders of Post 53, G. A. R. LEATHER TRUNK HANDLES. This industry was first estabHshed in Boston, Jan. i, 1884, by Henry A. Stone, who transferred the business to South Framingham Jan. i, 1886, and in March, 1886, sold to George E. Norris. In August, 1886, the business was bought by Mr. C. W. Stratton and removed to its present location in Leomin- ster. Mr. Stratton was for several years a travelling salesman, and was also a mechanic. He was born October 8, 1847 in Leominster and has resided here most of the time since. WILCOX PEN. The Wilcox Fountain Pen Co. This pen, which was invented and patented by J. T. Wilcox, promises to meet a demand for a low-priced and reliable fountain pen. A. W. Wil- liams is president and J. T. Wilcox secretary and treasurer of the company. The company expect to have the goods ready for market in a few weeks. The manufacturing will be done in a part of A. W. Williams' comb shop. MISCELLANEOUS. Leominster Gas Light Co. This company was organized in 1873, and began to furnish gas Oct. i of the same year. Until 1879 the gas was made from coal and the works were un- der the direction of Merrick Howe as superintendent, but in that year the company changed their machinery so as to make gas from crude petroleum by the Hanlon process. The works were then leased to H. M. Lane, who has continued to manage the business until the present time. The price of gas has late- ly been materially reduced. The gas furnished is of excellent quality, full 28 candle power. The capital stock was at first ^30,000, but in 1877 this was increased to $50,000, upon which MANUFACTURIXG. 293 the coiiii^any at the present time arc i)a)iii[; an annual dividend of five per centum. The present officers are : C. L. Joslin, pres- ident ; M. Howe, treasurer ; H. ]\I. Lane, secretary ; C. L. Joslin Geo. V. Morse, and H. M. Lane, directors. Leominster Electric Light Co. This company was organized last June. The directors arc : A. L. Burditt, E. A. Buffinton, E. F. Blodgett, Dr. C. A. Wheeler, and J. S. An- tlionv ; VI. A. Buffinton, pres., and A. L. Burditt, Sec. Of these directors Mr. J. S. Anthony is of the firm of Valpey & Anthony who were a part of the syndicate who purchased the Franchise for Lynn of the first local Electric Lighting Plant of the now well known Thompson & Houston System, and were among the few who had the pluck to buy up the entire property of the parent company, then lying practically dormant at New Brittain, Conn. They are both still interested in this famous company which has become the largest as well as the best and most prominent Electric Lighting Company in the world. They are also connected with the Leominster P21ectric Railway Company, now being pushed forward in this town. Mr. Anthony being one of the directors. They have also just added an Electric Light Plant of one hundred and fifty lights to their own factory here, and are both thorough believers in the possibilities of Electricity, and all that is in any way pro- gressive. The company is alive and active and will, no doubt, soon furnish Leominster with IClectric Lights. They have bought land of Valpey & Anthony and are now at work on the necessary buildings. Associated with the Electric Light Com- pany, so far as to depend on it for power, is tlu' Leominster Street Railway Co. This company, to the stock of which many leading business men and citi/.ens have subscribed, propose to open a street Railway through some of the principal streets of the town. Some other industries should be mentioned in this chapter, 294 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. although they do not come fully under the head of manufac- turing. N. C. Boutelle, who was a member of the firm of Merriam, Hall & Co., from 1867 to 1879, has just built a large furnishing shop to accommodate the wholesale and retail trade of his Boston store. Wm. P. Hoffnagle is proprietor of the Leominster Steam Laundry in C. H. Colburn's block. C. W. Durant is a manufacturer as well as dealer in car- riages. He, also, carries on a general business as a wheelright. and blacksmith. The other blacksmiths, Charles Welcome, Samuel Arnold, Haley & Lane and C. M. Gould, at the center, and L. Archibald at North Leominster, are doing more or less manufacturing in the line of their trade. Carlos Shepard does work in carriage making in a shop off Mechanic street. Albert LaPointe carries on the wheelwright, carriage making and re- pairing business in a shop in Mechanics' Lane. O. H. McKenney works at upholstering and is also a harness maker, J. W. Winch is classed as a harness maker and makes and re- pairs these goods. Waldo Whitney still manufactures the "Turbine Water Wheel" but the work is done out of town. Leonard E. Osborn is a manufacturer of brick. His brickyard is on Elm street, opposite Birch, with residence adjoining. The business prospects of Leominster are excellent. The variety and nature of her industries are such as to promise con- stant employment for her citizens, while the natural beauty of the place, its well kept condition, its social, educational and religious advantages make it most a desirable place for a home. It may not be improper to add that the pictures of several gentlemen whose business is described in this chapter, are found in other parts of this book. Those of Mr. Rockwell and Mr. Foster are with the School Committee, that of Mr. G. F. Colburn with the town ofificers. Mr. Geo. Hall, who should MANUFACTURING. 295 have been mentioned as a trustee of the Leominster Savings liank, and not a director of the National Bank, is with the trustees of that institution. In this chapter all statements touching the amount of the business of any firm, are made on the authority of some mem- ber of that firm. 296 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. CtiAPTKR XIII. R E V . Francis Gardner, the second minister of the First Congregational Church in Leominster, was a son of Rev. John Gard- ner, of Stowe, Mass., who was a descendent of Rich- ard Gardner, who came from England and settled in Woburn, in 1642. Rev. Francis Gardner married Sarah, daughter of John Gibson, of Lunenburg. The family of Gibson are men- tioned in the history of Worcester County, page 446, Vol. i, among the early settlers of Fitchburg, on Pearl Hill, when the Indians were in that vicinity. Stephen Shepley, Esq., says in a paper which was carefully written by him on the subject : "On the southwesterly slope of the hill, the Gibsons lived, good fighting men, famous for their great strength and courage. The house of Isaac Gibson was fortified, and called Fort Gib- son. It is said that the Indians, after carefully watching these hardy, athletic men, did not dare to attack them." The mother of Sarah Gibson was Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Hartwell of Lunenburg. In a genealogy of the Hart- well family, lately published, he is mentioned on page 48 : D. W. SALISBURY. MANUFACTURING. 297 "lulwartl llartwcU, born 1689, died 1785 : suklicr in 1707-8; Major in 1745, Jud<;e of Common Pleas, 1750-62, Representa- ti\c in the General Court until ])ast 80 years of a^c ; member of Committees of Safety in 1773-6. Jud<;e Hart well was a man of git^antic size and strength, a strong mind, great force of character, especially fitted for a leader in the troublous times of the new settlement, — ^altogether he was one of the most con- spicuous jiersons of the region and time in which he li\ed." Rev. l"'rancis Gardner had a large family of children, sev- eral of whom lived in Leominster and are buried in the old burying ground of the town. His eldest son, John Gardner, i)assed his life in Leominster, dying at the age of 88 ; his eld- st son, John, went into business in Boston, was highly es- teemed and filled with great ability an imjmrtant financial office in a large manufacturing corporation. He left no sons. John Gardner's second son, Francis, was a merchant in Boston, re- sided in Roxbury, and had three sons, the only descendants (»f Rev. Francis (iardner, wlio bear his name. The other son of Rex'. Francis Gardner, named Francis, was a prominent lawyer in W'alpole, N. H., and was sent to Congress from there in 18Q7-8 ; he afterwards removed to Bos- ton and died in 1835. This son, also named Francis, was for many years principal of the Boston Latin School and a very distinguished classical scholar. He died unmarried. Nancy, the youngest daughter of Rev. Francis Gardner, married Samuel Salisbur\'^, an old time Boston merchant, and two (if her children, Daniel Waldo and Rebecca Salisbury, are the only descendants of Rev. Francis Gardner, who reside in LctMiiinster at this time. The}- live on the site of the old jiar- -onage, which, together with the farm which belonged to it, came into the possession of the Salisbury family. Mr. Salis- bury has since added to the original farm, purchases in various parts of Leominster, which make it nearly 400 acres. 3$ 298 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Ward M. Cotton was a lineal descendant of John Cotton, the learned Puritan minister, and was born in Boylston, March II, 1804. He had been in business but a short time in Lancas- ter, Mass., when he came to Leominster in 1829, and here was engaged for many years in the manufacture of comb ma- chinery and tools. He was deacon and treasurer in the First Congregational Society for more than thirty years, and secre- tary of the Northeast District Temperance Union for twenty- five years, which office he held at the time of his death. He was at one time captain of the famous old artillery company belonging to this town. He died May 22, 1875, aged 71 years. Luke Lincoln was a son of William Lincoln, and a native of Leominster. He was a harness maker by trade, and worked for some time with a Mr. Gay, of the firm of Lincoln & Gay, in a building which stood between the present Allen's block and Bosworth & Brush's store. He afterwards purchased a resi- dence on Main street, where, for several years he continued in the harness business. Later on he moved on a farm, where he spent the rest of his days. Mr. Lincoln served the town in places of responsibility and trust, holding the office of Town Clerk from Dec. 16, 1837, until March 3, 1845. He died Aug. 22, 1870, aged 69 years, 6 months and 10 days. Major Seneca Colburn was, in his younger days, deeply in- terested in military and other public affairs, having been cap- tain of the Old Artillery company for many years, and after- ward receiving a major's commission. He several times served the town on its Board of Selectmen, and was among the active pioneers in the comb industry, carrying on business in what is known as the W. D. Somers' place on Central street. He mar- ried, for his first wife. Miss Sally Lincoln, sister of the vener- able Timothy Lincoln, by whom he leaves four daughters, Mrs. Thomas Tenney, Mrs. Luke Tenney, Mrs. Joseph P. Lockey CHARLES HILLS .^^^^^^^Bi ' ^^ ^f^w^ MAJ. SENECA COLBURN- Capt. OAVID ALLEN. CHARLES GROUT. MANUFACTURING. 3OI of the first machinery used there for j^aper makiiif^. Removing to Newton, Mass., he, for several years held a similar situation in the paper mills there. Mr, Kinsman afterwards engaged in civil engineering, and assisted in laying out the Boston & Lowell railroad. Me remained in this business until his health failed, when he re- turned to Fitchburg, and remained a few years. lie then re- moved to North Leominster, where he spent the remainder of his life, acquiring a considerable amount of land, which he cul- tivated ; he also engaged in carpentering to some extent. He died at his home in North Leominster Jan. 22, 1884. Mr. Kinsman was a quiet, unassuming man and persevering in his business affairs, was much interested in the welfare of the church and community and much attached to his home. He was twice married — first to Mary P., daughter of Capt. David Allen ; their children were George, who died, and Louise, who married A. II. Lawrence. His second wife was Helen D., also a daughter of Capt. Allen ; their children were Frank L., now an electrician in New York city, and Ar- thur M., who chose civil engineering as a business, and is now engaged in division engineering on railroads in Illinois. Jacob Puffer was born in Ashby, Mass. He came to Leo- minster at an early age and served an apprenticeship with Bezaleel Gibson,andafterwards went into business at the old tavern stand, on the corner of Exchange and West Sts. Later on, he gave up manufacturing combs and vent into the wholesale peddling busi- ness. Subsequently, he went to Boston, and was salesman for different firms in that city. The later years of his life he spent in Leominster, and with his son Charles, carried on business under the firm name of J. Puffer & Co., horn dealers. Mr. Puffer was a staunch temperance man and an honest advocate of the anti-slavery cause. ]^c died .April ]fi, i8Sn, ageil 7S. 302 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. Bartimus Tennev, the second son of Major Joseph Tenney, was born in Leominster Sept. 8, 1802, and died July 5, 1853. He was a shoemaker by trade and spent the whole of his life in North Leominster. He married Thirza Tyler, and their only surviving daughter, Thirza A., resides at the old homestead in North Leominster. Barney S. Phelps was born in Milton, Mass., March 28, 1 8 19. At an early age he commenced the manufacture of lum- ber in Lancaster. He also engaged in the business of making marbleized paper for bookbinders' use at the same time. In 1873 he came to Leominster, where he continued in the lumber bnsiness until the time of his death, November 4, 1880. Mr. Phelps served his native town in the ofifice of Selectman, and was a prominent business man both in that town and Leomin- ster. Porter M. Kimball was a native of Mt. Vernon, N. H., came to Leominster from Fitchburg when he was a boy, and engaged in the business of keeping a country store. This bus- iness he continued for some time, until he began the manufac- ture of combs in company with F. P. Shumway, in the building near the bridge, on Mechanic street, where Porter & Tenney are now located. The firm afterwards manufactured agricultural implements, building and occupying what was known as the " Fork Factory." This was the last business in which Mr. Kimball engaged. He was but thirty-two years of age at the time of his death, which occurred June 14, 1866. Mr. Kimball was a young man of great promise, respected and esteemed by a large circle of friends. His wife, who was the daughter of Dea. \Vm. Burrage, died about three years before her husband, leaving one child, an infant son. who surv^ived her but a short time. Dr. Daniel Farrar, son of Daniel W. and Betsey P^arrar, of MAXUFACTURIN'G, Troy, N. II., was l)orn in that town May 29, 1.S36. After ac- quiriii";- a very good academic education, he turned his attention to the stud)- of medicine. I le prosecuted liis medical studies systematically and thoroughly, and graduated from the Harvard Medical College in the spring of 1862. While he was careful to fit himself for general practice he had a special love for sur- gery, antl in order to [)erfect himself ii"> this branch, spent the summer of 1S61 with the late J. Mason Warren, of Boston, to get the benefit of instruction from that distinguished sur- geon. Soon after graduating. Dr. Farrar was appointed assis- tant surgeon to one of the N. 1 1, regiments. Returning, he practiced his profession in his native town. In the spring of 1866 he removetl to Leominster, where he soon established an honorable reputation and gained an extensive practice. His death occurred June 3, 1875. Hknrv Sti:.\k\s was a native of Leominster. He pursued various occupations, at one time being engaged in the coal busi- ness ; but for the last twenty years of his life he was in the heaw jobbing and teaming business. His death, which oc- curred Jan. 14, 1882, was the result of an accident He was thrown from a carriage and sustained fracture of a thigh. Re- covery from this injury, however, seemed probable, when heart disease supervened, from which the patient died. I-Y-w men would have been more generally missed than Mr. Stearns. He was active and stirring, and things had to move when he was round, and if anyone wanted a job of moving done or any kind of work that required skill and judgement, there was no man in town who coukl engineer it better than he. Ai.HKRT Lamb, a native of Maine, was born in Oct., 1808, and died August 7th, 1885. When two years of age his parents moved to Hubbardston, Mass., where he lived with his father until he was 21 years of age, working in a saw mill nearly all the 304 LEOMINSTER, HISTOKICAL AND PICTURESQUE. time. After working at Concord, Mass., one year, he came to Leominster and engaged in the mill business with his brother, Carter Lamb. For a number of years they owned the mill property known as the Stratton Mills, occupied by Tenney & Kenney. He also owned the estate on West street, where S. S. Crocker now lives, and afterwards bought and occupied the homestead on Main street, and so attached to this home did he become that he promptly refused all offers to sell. It will be remembered that Mr. Lamb was for many years a great suf- ferer from rheumatism, but was, in spite of it an an active, hard working man, and is missed by many in town, particularly the older citizens. CoL. Hervey D. Look was born in Conway, Mass., Sept. 7, 1812. He was for several years engaged with his two bro- thers, Joseph A. and Dwight B., in the manufacture of horn combs in that town, and, after coming to Leominster, was in the same business together with them and William Tilton, in the firm of Look, Tilton & Co. After about a year, Col. Look withdrew from the firm and was associated with his son Charles E., and in business with other parties. At the time of his death, which occurred Sept. 8, 1879, he was a member of the firm of H. D. Look & Co., comb manu- facturers. He went to New \'ork to transact business for the firm, and while there, stopping at a hotel, was stricken with paralysis. He recovered sufficiently to allow of his being brought home, but did not rally from the shock. Col. Look was married to Althana Munson, of Whately. They have one son, Charles E., already referred to, who married Margaret Stilphen ; and one daughter, Nellie S., the wife of Rev. Horace Parker, of Lunenburg. Joseph A. Look, brother of Col. H. D. and Dwight B, Ai^ Col. h. d. look. JOSEPH LOOK. K-i^^ ¥ » ■'■ "^ I OR. SEWELL RICHARDSON. Capt. ER. BALCH. MANUFACTURING. 305 Look, was also a native oT Conway, Mass., wIktc he was born Ai)ril 22, i.SiiS. Durini;- the i)rincipal pait of his life he was in business witli liis bi others, as has l)een stated, but was asso- ciated for the greater length of time with Col. Look. He was married to Elvira T. Risley, of (iill, Mass. Their two sons, George H. and William A., are both residents of Leominster. During his life here Mr. Look was an active worker in the Or- thodox Congregational Church, of wliich he was a valued mem- ber, iiis genial qualities also making his influence felt in the community. He died June 6, 1871. Dr. Skwall RiciiARnsox, the )oungest of ten children of Lieut. Luke Richardson, was born in the house called " The Lealand," more recently *' The Old Abbey," from its fancied resemblance to that in a story, Aug. 15, 1734, married 1758 Damaris Carter. They lived and died on what is known as the " Marsh Farm," on the road to Fitchburg. Iheir youngest son Sewall was born July 30, 17CS4, married first April 9, 181 5, Abi- gail Kendall, born June 4, 178^, only daughter of John Ken- dall, Sr., of Leominster, whose native place was Woburn. Her mother was Rebecca Hills of Leominster. She, Abigail, died Sept. 18, 1853, aged 35. Second, April 25, 1831, Mary Cutler, born Feb. 22, 1801, daughter of Jacob Cutler, of W'endall, Mass., a very estimable lady. She died May 10, 1842. Dr. Sewall Richardson lived in his native Leominster. He was very active in his habits, was fond of the dance und took a lively interest in military matters. He was genial in his nature, of a hopeful temperament, never looking on the dark side, re- markably cheerful and trustful in his feelings. An ardent lover of nature, he enjoyed almost, if not quite perfect, health till the day previous to his death, which was caused by falling down stairs, rendering him unconscious tor twenty lour hours. He died Jan. 20, 1S67. 30 306 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. His children by his first wife Abigail were : Clarissa Ken- dall, born Aug. 27, 1816, who married Charles H. Colburn ; Abigail Rebecca, born July 2, 1820, who married, first, Daniel Rundlett Haines, born in Greenland, N. H., 1821, and for many years in the piano-forte business in Leominister and a promi- nent citizen. Her second marriage was with Col. Ivers Phil- lips, Jan. 19, 1869, who was born in Ashburnham, Mass., July 28, 1805. Col. Phillips was for many years connected with large manufacturing and other business interests in Fitchburg, as well as important railroad interests in Worcester county and in the West. In 1873 he removed to Colorado, and after spend- ing the greater part of nine years in travel, he built a substan- tial residence of the Rocky Mt. sandstone in Boulder, and set- tled down probably for the remainder of his life. Capj'. ]iR. Balch came to Leominster at the age of 18, and for a short time was engaged in the comb business with Abel Bovvers. He afterwards took the old tavern which stood on the corner of West and Exchange streets, remaining for some time, when he moved to the centre of the town and kept hotel there for over thirty years. The rest of his days were spent on the Dr. Pierce place where he died in 1853. Capt. Balch was quite a politician, being an ardent Whig, while that party was in the ascendancy. When the first bank in Fitchburg was started, considerable sums of their money were entrusted to him to be put in circulation in Leominster. He received his title of cap- tain as the commanding officer of the Old North company, at the time when there were two companies in town. George A. Bishop was born at North Orange, Sept. 2^, 1836. He was for many years in the furniture manufacturing business in Leominster — first, in the firm of Blodgett & Bishop, then Bishop & Hogan. He also conducted a retail furniture store under the firm name of G. A. Bishop & Co. Mr. Bishop MANUFACTURING. 307 was, during his life in Leominster, a prominent citizen and an active member of the Central Baptist church. He enlisted in November, 1H62, in Co. C, 53r(l Rej^dnient, returning at the expiration of his term of service to Leomin- ster. He died Dec. 4, 1878. The following are among the number now living, who are not actively engaged in business, but have in various ways con- tributed to the general prosperity of the community in their several callings : Isaac Cowdrkv was born in Lunenburg March 26, 181 i. Removing to Leominster at the age of 19, he learned the car- penter's trade of Samuel Heywootl. After working three years for Joseph Haskell and a year in Worcester, he started as a contractor and builder in Leominster in 1836, continuing in the business for a quarter of a century. In 1844 he purchased the land between Wood's Block and Mechanic street, including Luke Wilder's old blacksmith's shop on Monoosnock brook, on the site of which he built a carpenter's shop for his own use, making additions from time to time, and renting to other par- ties. His residence for several years was on the corner west of the shop. It overlooked the tract of land on which the railroad and depot were afterwards located, it then being a cow pasture with a pair of bars, where the Water street crossing now is. In 1845 he built the depot at North Leominster, and the two bridges below, on the l*"itchbui"g railroad, and at the invita- tion of Alvah Crocker, rcxle into I'Mtchburg on the first loco- motive that went over that road. From 1846 to '50 Mr. Covvdrey was associateil with Joseph Haskell, doing a business of $40,000 in Clinton alone, building the Lancaster Town Hall, as well as several houses in Leo- minster, and including in their business the purchase of wood k)ts and getting out of lumber for building. 308 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. In the winter of 1849 ^^^Y t)uilt all the depots, freight houses and bridges on the Worcester and Fitchburg railroad be- tween Fitchburg and Sterling Junction. Upon the dissolution of the co-partnership in i85oMr. Haskell located on the stream below Mr. Crowdrey, remaining in business alone. About this time, however, he became interested with J. C. Lane and Carter Lamb, in building a reservoir at the head of Monoosnock brook, near the Fitchburg line, for improving the water power below, and soon after, in company with Carter & Patch, he built the dam at the E. M. Rockwell mill ; also a shop which was used by James H. Carter for comb manufac- turing and by J. C. Lane for piano making. To show the changes that have since taken place in the wood working industries of the town, it may be of interest to state in this connection that in Mr. Cowdrey's shop was run the first Daniels' planer as well as the first cylinder planer ever operated in Leomister, and that when Mr. Lane began the manufacture of piano cases in 1845, his only machinery was a circular saw. For seven years Mr. Cowdrey carried on business with Joseph G. Tenney. The partnership dissolved in 1861, when Mr. Cow- drey retired permanently from business, disposing of his shop and privilege to Tilton & Look. In all these years Mr. Cowdrey has been a thorough going temperance man, and in the stirring times of the anti-slavery movement a prominent worker. He was a member of the Leominster Anti-Slavery Society, and also of the Anti-Man Hunting League. He has been a member of the First Con- gregational Society (Unitarian) for half a century, and of which he is a deacon. He was for several years on the Board of Over- seers of the Poor, and served the town on various building com- mittees at different times. He has been twice married, first, in the spring of 1836, to F-;^"'^ ISAAC CO/^DREY. MANL'FACrUKIXG. 3O9 Catherine Whitman of Westminster. Their only daughter married George H, Carter of Leominster, and they now hve in Springfield, Mass. Seeond, in June, i.S/S, to Serena N. Fisk, of North Leominster. For the past four years their home has heen in North Leominster. John Dickev was born in Londonderry, N. H., Feb. 13, 1824. He attended school at Pinkerton, Derry, N. H., for sev- eral years after engaging in farming and lumbering, and in the winters school teaching. During those years he was interested in town affairs, holding the office of Town Clerk for a quarter of a century, and serving on the Board of Selectmen for four years. He represented his town in the Legislature in 1860-61, and in 1876 was a member of the convention for revising the constitution of the State. He has been for some time inter- ested in collecting information for a genealogy of the original settlers of Derry, the Dickey family. S. S. Crocker was born Oct. 30, 18 13, in North Leominster. Lie was the seventh son of Samujl Crocker, and a brother of Alvah Crocker. Lie began wjrk in the paper mill at 10 years of age, and at 16 entered the employ of his brother Alvah in West Fitchburg. Here he rem lined for two years, after which he learned the carpenter trade of Justin Stearns and engaged in millwright work for a time. He purchased in 1839 the water power of what is now the Crocker, Hurb.ink & Co's upper mill. (This mill was burned and afterwards rebuilt by Mr. Crocker.) In 1853 he sold his mill to Benjamin Snow, Jr., and moved to Lawrence, Mass., and built the first piper mill in that place. After twelve years he returne J to his native town, and in 1865 built the Crocker Woolen Mill, the history of which is given in the manufacturing chapter. Upon giving up the woolen busi- ness, he became associated with his eldest son Daniel, in the Crocker Manufacturing Co. of Holyoke, in the piper business, 3IO LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. buying up the majority of the stock, so that it is now large]y owned in the family. Mr. Crocker is president of the com- pany. Daniel Crocker acted as clerk and Treasurer until his death in Feb. 1887, since which time Clifton Alvah, the young- est son, has filled that position. His other surviving son, Frederick William, enlisted with his brother in the famous Si.xth Massachusetts Regiment, accompanying his regiment through Baltimore and to the seat of war. He had been but six months in the service when he received an appoint- ment to the naval school at Newport, R. I., where it had been been removed from Annapolis temporarily. After the close of the war the school was again located in Annapolis, where he finished his studies. He has worked his way up through the different grades of the naval service, until he is now Lieutenant- Commander. He has visited nearly every country of the habit- able globe, and is now preparing to ship from San Francisco on the U. S. Ship Mohegan for Japan or China, the vessel not hav- ing received full orders. Mr. Crocker was one of the constituent members of the Baptist Church in Fitchburg, a deacon of the First Baptist Church in Lawrence, afterward of the Second Baptist Church in that place. He also held the same office in the Central Baptist church in Leominster. Dea. Crocker has been a con- stant attendant at Sunday school for seventy years, serving either as superintendent or teacher most of that time. Porter Piper was born in Ivoyalston in April 2nd, 1810, and lived on a farm in that town until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to Templeton to work in a woolen mill ; afterward to Fitchburg to work at the same business, remaining in each place about three years. Mr. Piper then opened a variety store, remaining in that business about ten years, after which he bought one-quarter in- MANL'FACTURIXG, 3II tercst in the Fitchburj; Woolen Mill, and sold uul Id William 1 1. Vose in 1S4.S. In 1X40 Mr. I'iper was chosen director in the l-'itchl:ur<^ l^ank, anil hekl that position until 1870, and was also trustee in the Savings Bank quite a number of years. In 1850 he came to Leominster and was in company with Gardner & Augustus Morse in the comb business for a short time. In 1852 was clioson treasurer of Leominster and re-chosen annually until iS')6. His business in Leominster has been varied, farming in a small way and various other occupations. 1'"ri;di:rick W'. Mld.'^ox was born in Leominster, Nov. 4, 1S18, where he has been most of his life engaged in business. He was for some time in the employ of Lockey & Hovvland, in the manufacture of apple parers, afterwards engaging in the business alone, and with his son, Charles E., until iSSi, when he retired permanently from business. E. J. Mak.sh was born in Cabot, Vt., March 21, 1811. At the age of 15 he went to Randolph, Vt., and boarded with Wm. Nutting, Esq., doing chi')res for his board and tuition. He taught district schools in his own and other towns, and in 1833 graduate J at MidJlebury College. He taught thj Academy at Jericho, Vt., the two succeeding years, and then entered the Seminary at Andover, Mass., but was soon compelled to leave iin account of poor health. In the fall of 1836 he took charge • f the High School at Concord, Mass., for one vear. He also taught the Academy at Thetford, Vt. He then taught five years at Milton, Mass., two years at Dorchester and eight years in Groton Lawrence Academy, but his health again failing, he gave up teaching and moved to Leominster in 1855, where some five vears later he purchasetl a farm on the road to Fitchburg, a mile from the Centre, where he now lives. As to his success as a teacher, it is only necessar\ i" -laic 312 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE. that Mr. Marsh fitted a hundred students for college, and that not one failed to be admitted without "conditions." Stephen Austin Miller, son of Joseph and Zipporah (Ellis) Miller, was born in Ashburnham July ist, 1819, removed to Leominster April, 1854, and in company with Oliver G. Caldwell, commenced the maanufacture of tubs and pails, at the place on Lancaster street, now known as the fork factory. In the spring of i860 their shop was burned, and they removed their business to Water street ; in i 870 they were burned out there ; they rebuilt and started again. The firm was known as Caldwell & Miller, for about twenty years, when Mr. Caldwell was succeeded by his son-in-law J. W. H. Lawrence, and the firm became Miller & Lawrence. Their shop was burned July ist, 1887; they built up, and started business once more, but on account of ill health Mr. Miller did not wish to continue it, and the business was closed up in the spring of 1888, and the shop rented to the Leominster Rattan Company. Mr. Miller served on the Board of Selectmen in 1867-68-69 — the last year as chairman. Alanson Richardson is a native of Orange, born March 26, 1820. When he was 4 years of age his parents moved to Athol, and at the age of 17 he came to Leominster, where he worked on the farm with his father and taught school six win- ters. He learned the comb-maker's trade of A. B. Gibson. He was one of the original members of the firm of B. F. Blodgett & Co., and was afterwards engaged with his son Arthur A., in the manufacture of horn buttons. Mr. Richardson has served the town as a member of the School Committee. He was two years on the Board of Overseers of the Poor, nearly twenty years on the Board of Assessors, which office he now holds, for six years on the Board of Selectmen, and in 1855 represented the town in the Legislature. STEPHEN A. MILLER. MANUFACTURING. 313 William B. Whitney was born Aug. 23, 1841, in West- minster, Mass. He came to Leominster in 1853 and attended school two years. He was then employed in Mr. J. H. Lockey's piano shop until the hard times of 1857. He then entered the employ of F. W. & V. A. Whitney, in the children's carriage business, where he remained until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 15th Mass. Vols. ; was taken prisoner at Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21, 1.S61, and after being held a prisoner in Richmond about five months, was exchanged and returned to his regiment at the front ; was again taken prisoner on the last day of McClellan's retreat from Richmond. He was sent to Bell Island and held prisoner one month ; was then exchanged, sent north and discharged for disability. A few months later he re-enlisted in the Mass. Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. Returning to Leomin- ster, he again entered the employ of F. W. & F. A. Whitney, When the Whitney Carriage Company was formed, he became a stockholder, and acted as superintendent of an important department of the business until July ist, 1886, when he was obliged to retire on account of impaired health. Sumner M. Frost was born in Orange, Mass., Jan. 28, 1841. His family moved to Phillipston, Mass., when he was two years old. In 1858 he came to Leominster and entered the employ of F. W. & F. A. Whitney, remaining for a few months. Afterwards engaged in different kinds of employment until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the 15th Mass. regiment. He was captured at the battle of Ball's Bluff, was a prisoner at Libby and Salisbury for a little over seven months, when he was paroled and discharged for disability. Later on was drafted and exempted, and in 1864 re-enlisted this time in the 4th Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of hos- tilities. Returning to Leominster, he, in 1865, entered the 3U 314 LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE, employ of F. A. Whitney, and continued until he became a member of the F. A. Whitney Carriage Co., from which he re- tired in 1885. Fran'cis H. Shaw was born in the town of West Spring- field, Mass., March 30, 1833, where he resided until he was 9 years old, when he removed to Blandf ord, Mass. At the age of 16, he was apprenticed to Silas Cook, of Springfield, Mass., for a term of three years, to learn the carpenter's trade. Having completed his apprenticeship, he went to Montague, Mass., where, for four years, he was engaged in veneering piano-forte cases. He next moved to Leominster, and entered the employ of J. C. Lane on piano-forte case work. The " hard times" of 1857 making business in that line very dull, he moved West and located in Mendota, 111., where he engaged in the manufac- ture and sale of furniture. On August 26, 185 I he enlisted for three years in the U. S. volunteer infantry, and was assigned to the 55th Illinois regi- ment, with the rank of first lieutenant, and was soon promoted to the rank of captain. In 1866 he returned to Leominster, and has since then been engaged in piano-forte work and in the manufacture of children's carriages, retiring from the F. A. Whitney Carriage company July I, 1888. J. W. H. Lawrence is a native of Concord, Mass., where he was born Sept. 14, 1837. At the age of 18 years he went to Milford, Mass., and served three years at the carpenter's trade. He returned to Concord in 1861, but in 1865 removed to Leominster and entered the employ of Blodgett & Bishop, working at the cabinet business for them and other parties un- til 1874, when, upon the retirement of Mr. Caldwell, he formed a co-partnership with Mr. S. A. Miller in the manufacture of WM. B. WHITNEY. SUMNER M. FROST. FRANCIS H. SHA«V. MANUFACTURING. 315 wooden ware. The business was discontinued in the sprinj^ uf i88^ ,v .f. A ; -^ '^ .0 "/■ .^^ ■'^.c'^^^ * ,0 o^ v\' <^ ^ , V * . \> vX^^' vV <^/.. x^^ "%. x^°<. \ ^^ ^c*-, %; -^^' ^ ^ " oV . ^ ^ c,'^ *"■ -^ -.. xO<^ ■^. X^^' -^-s^. '*'^. .x^' 'b. 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