Ashland Town (part 2 of 3)

Hiram Temple came to town about the time of its organization, and commenced manufacturing boots in the second story of the passenger station, which then stood on the north side of the track near the Main Street crossing. Temple seems to have succeeded to the business of Montgomery Bixby. While in this building George F. Seaver joined Temple, first as an employee, later becoming a partner in the business. When the Baptist Society, moving into their new church, abandoned their chapel on Front Street, Temple bought and fitted this building for a boot shop and store. George Brewster was put in charge of the store, which occupied the front part, while the boot business was carried on in the remaining por tions. After two or three years a fire totally consumed the building. Temple then erected a building on the south side of Railroad Street, near where now stands the store of Mrs. McPartlin, which, in connection with his partner, Seaver, he occupied for the boot business. In a short time, selling out to his partner, he moved to Marlborough where he still resides.

Seaver soon left this location and started business at Park's Corner. Returning after about a year, he joined his father in the partnership spoken of above. After the dissolution of this business connection, about the time of the Boston fire, he manufactured boots as a partner with one Thompson in a building owned by Ezra Jlorse, situated near Mor-se's lumberyard on Front Street. Within a year or two a fire occurred, by which this building was consumed. Seaver, then going West, closed his business connection with this town. In 1888 he died in Chicago. He served a.s town clerk for several years.

Albert Leland came from Holliston and set up the manufacturing of boots shortly before the establishment of the town ; his first shop, now known as the " Light-House," and situated near Cold Spring Brook, on Main Street, was located in the rear of the Grout & Enslin Grocery. From this building he moved into Broad's barn, where he was manufacturing about 1849, when it was burned. In 1850 he erected the building now owned by Mrs. Ann Manning, situated on Summer Street. Here he manufactured boots in the rear, while he kept store in the front part of the building. S. F. Woodbury became a partner with him in the store business in 1852. In 1853 he and Woodbury bought the corner lot on the opposite side of Summer Street, extending from Main Street to what is now the market of A. W. Eames. The southerly part of the land was sold to Charles Wenzell. Upon the front part Leland & Woodbury erected the building since known as Leland Block, or Central Block. The first building was begun in 1853, and the work had proceeded as far as the roof-boards, when a violent wind blew down the whole structure. Some defect in the foundation contributed to its fall. It is said that there was scarcely a whole timber left in the mass of ruins.

With the aid of contributions from citizens who sympathized with them in their misfortune, funds were secured again to set up the building, which was now carried to completion. In 1858 Woodbury conveyed his interest to Leland. The building, as first erected, stood too high for convenience, so it was lowered some six feet, to its present level. The shingled roof was afterwards covered with slates, and the homely columns, which for many years stood at the front, were removed. In this form, substantially, the building stood till June, 1889, when, catching fire from the blazing livery-stable of W. A. Scott, the high-pitched roof was burned off. Later in this year, B. C. Hathaway, of Westborough, became owner, and added to the attractiveness of the building by putting on the present flat roof, and otherwise changing the external appearance.

Albert Leland moved into this building about 1854, and afterward carried on the manufacture of boots, for the most part alone, till about 1870, when the second and third stories of the building were changed into tenement dwelling.", and the two floors in the roof into halls and bed-rooms. About 1857 Leland rented all of the building, which had before been occupied for manufacturing boots, to P. Ware, Jr., who, with E. A. Forbush, manufactured shoes for some two or three years. When this firm moved out, Leland again took up the boot business, taking into partnership George B. Cole, his son-in-law. The building was now divided up, several concerns occupying different floors and carrying on business at the same time. In 1864, besides Leland & Cole, Blake & Balcom were occupying.

In 1866, Leland & Cole having dissolved, were running separately on different floors, and on a third floor C. M. Adams was doing busine.s3. Nearly all the time in connection with the making of boots, Leland had carried on a store chiefly with others, of which some account will be given later. He was a man of solid proportions, physically and mentally, and by his enterprise accumulated a snug property,

George B. Cole was at first in partnership with Albert Leland, and later was doing business for himself in Central Block, as ha.s been stated above. In 1868, when Blake & Balcom vacated the Clark shop, now standing on the east side of Main Street, a little south of Union Street, Cole began occupying and afterward bought it in 1872. In the same year he built the house next beyond, where he resided for a time. In this shop he continued the manufacture of boots, either alone, or in connection with his brother S. Augustus Cole, until 1876. In that year, while returning from the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, he took a violent cold, which shortly afterwards resulted in his death, he not having yet reached middle age. He was an active, courteous man, who took an interest in the affairs of the town, and of the Baptist Church, of which he was a member.

Shortly before 1850, Sylvester Hartshorn and Abraham Tilton formed a partnership, under the name of Hartshorn & Tilton, and fitted up for a shop, the old William Greenwood blacksmith building, which stood on Cherry Street, a few feet south of the present dwelling of A. T. Jones. This firm manufactured boots for only a year or two, and then dissolved.

Abraham Tilton went on with the business in connection with Charles H. Tilton two years longer. Abraham had before manufactured boots at the place of his former residence in the westerly part of the town. About 1853 he built a shop near his house on Pleasant Street, in which he manufactured boots some eight or ten years. After his death the shop was altered into dwelling-house tenements.

Charles H. Tilton, in 1853, bought a lot of land on the bank of what is now the Dwight Printing Company's Canal, at a point opposite Dea. Perry's house, and built a frame shop about 23 by 28 feet. In that building he commenced the manufacture of boots, which was continued by him at this place three years, after which this building was moved a short distance up Pleasant Street, and converted into a dwellinghouse. In 1856 he purchased a quarter of an acre of land on the south side of Pleasant Street, where his present shop stands, and erected a two-story building of moderate dimensions, here entering upon business on a larger scale. The war coming on, he engaged in making army shoes. Larger quarters were now called for. In 1862 one hundred feet were added to the buildings. The processes of making shoes were now rapidly changing. Machinery was added year after year, Tilton being always ready to try any new machine that promised success. Steam-power, being required to run the machinery, was next introduced. All parts of the manufacturing were now done in the factory, very little of the bottoming even after this time being put out, and a few years later none at all. The work was principally upon boots of medium weight, for which a market was found throughout the country, and especially ih the West. The name of the maker was stamped upon the best qualities of the goods. About 1874 another one hundred feet was added to the maiu building, and a factory was built to supply the shop with lasts. This latter business was given up in 1880, that this building might be added to the capacity of the boot-shop, and at the same time two hundred feet more were built on, and a large .store-house erected, the latter being connected to the main building by a foot-bridge. Previously a side-track had been laid to the factory by the Boston & Albany Railroad Company ; so that now hand-trucks, for carrying stock or goods, could run from the railroad freight-platform to all points in the buildings. These building opei-ations resulted in establishing in Ashland one of the largest and most convenient boot-shops in the St.ite. Meanwhile there had grown up along with the shop a whole neighborhood of houses, Tilton having erected many of them, and himself owning twenty-five tenements; he also added two large frame barns, in which were kept blooded stock. Having retired from the boot business in 1885, he is now giving attention to his farm and to the improvement of his stock.

Houghton, Coolidge & Co., the large firm of manufacturers and dealers in boots and shoes, who have several boot and shoe factories in the State, and whose principal place of business is on High Street in Boston, took a lease of the Tilton shop for a term of years in 1885, and at once entered upon a large manufacturing business. They found this shop fully equipped with machinery, provided with sufficient steam-power, and with freight-cars at its doors. Since that date the business has gone forward with only an annual stop of a week, to take account of stock. This shop affords employment for about five hundred men, women and boys, and turns out three thousand pairs of boots and shoes daily. The value of the annual business is $1,000,000. The pay-roll for 1890 will amount to $275,000, being double that of the first year. The workmen are paid regularly on Thursdays of each week. The plan pursued by this firm is to manufacture samples of boots and shoes in the fall and winter, which they show to their customers throughout the country. Orders are received through the medium of traveling agents, who go the rounds twice a year, to be filled at ditterent dates throughout the season. As fast as orders are taken, the shop is put at work upon them, and the goods are manufactured, which, if not wanted for delivery immediately, are stored in their own store-room, or in the large unoccupied stone buildings of the Dwight Printing Comi)aiiy. At all seasons of the year, especially from July onward till the middle of the fall, large quantities of boots and shoes are shipped to all points in the West and Southwest, being loaded directly from the storage buildings into the freight cars of the Boston and Albany Railroad. In the winter the help are working mostly upon shoes, at other seasons upon both boots and shoes. All classes and qualities for men's and boys' wear are made in this shop. The resident managers of the factory are W. B. Temple and J. E. Tilton.

Paschal Blake came to town in 1862 and worked the first six months for Abraham Tilton. Afterwards he was in partnership with Tilton one year. He then set up business for himself, commencing in rooms in the Leland building. After a few months Josiah A. Balcom formed with him a partnership under the name of Blake & Balcom. At the end of two years the firm moved into the shop on Main Street, fitted for them by John Clark, who had moved the building uiron this spot from across the road in the field where it had served as a barn. In 1868 they bought of William Seaver a lot of land, where now are the coal-sheds of Abner Greenwood, and built upon the easterly side a two-story shop of about the same dimensions as Blake's building, now standing just at the west. Seaver & Sons had erected a similar shop on the site of the last- mentioned building. A space of about forty-eight feet which was left between these shops people began to suggest might well be utilized as a continuation for Concord Street toward the Main Street crossing. But the owners of these two buildings thought a better use could be i>ut to that open space, so they built each half-way across a narrow two-story projection, giving the appearance on the Front Street face of one large building and on the back side of two projecting wings. This firm continued to carry on the business till 1874, when they dissolved partnership, Balcom buying the real estate. About this time the shop lately occupied by Seaver & Sons was in the market. Blake, purchasing this, set up and carried on business alone. On April 6, 1879, the whole combined building was consumed by fire. Blake has since continued to reside in Ashland, but has not engaged further in the manufacture of boots.

Josiah A. Balcom, after dissolving partnership with Blake, as above related, commenced the manufacture of boots alone in the same shop. He pursued mostly that method of doing business which at this time was becoming customary among the shops, that is, to fill orders for goods, and not to make up a large stock in advance of orders, destined to commission houses to be nuirketed at a loss. He did about the same volume of business as before the dissolution. He remained here till the fire before spoken of, after which he opened business again in the Cole shop, near Union Street. His work now was principally upon shoes. His business increasing, in 1886 he bought a lot of land situated next to his home on Alden Street, and erected a three-story frame building, equipping it with modern conveniences, including steam-power. Here, every working day in the year, his business goes forward regularly, the steam whistle summoning and dismissing the workmen, who, having once been admitted

C. M. Adams began themanufacture of boots in 1866 in the second story of the Wiggins store. Remaining here a year or two, he moved into Leland Block, where he continued business about three years. He then moved into buildings of his own recently completed at the corner of Alden and Railroad Streets. He occupied for his boot business a portion of the larger building and the second story of the bakery stable, which stood upon the site of the present bakery shed. In 1879 a fire which started in the stable consumed that building, and catching the large building, destroyed that also. The building as it now appears was immediately re-erected, Mr. Adams occupying, however, with his boot business only the middle portion of the first floor, and that only for a short time subsequently to his connection with H. Newhall & Company, as superintendent in their shop. At a still later period, in partnership with C. S. Brewer and C. F. Davis, he manufactured shoes for a year or two in the " Gothic Arcade," on Alden Street, .and afterward alone, his own building being occupied with other business. For two or three years, at a period before the fire, D. R. Chamberlain was in company with him. After this partnership was dissolved Chamberlain continued to work for him until the final failure of his health.

In 1888 Charles Grieshaber, buying out the stock of C. M. Adams, commenced the manufacture of shoes in the Gothic Arcade, a one-story building situated on Alden Street. This building is furnished with a hot-air engine, which is used in Grieshaber's business, affording the necessary power.

Montgomery Bixby was manufacturing boots, at about the date of the organization of the town, in the second story of what was then the railroad passenger depot, being followed a year or two later in the occupancy of this building by Hiram Temple, as has been before related. Bisby had been preceded in business by Calvin Dyer, and at a still earlier time by Mitchell & Bryant, when the building stood a few feet north of the Main Street crossing.

It has been before stated that about 1857, S. W. Wiggins was in the boot business three years, in partnership with E. S. Thayer. At the time when the town was organized, besides keeping store on the first floor of the brick building now owned by J. N. West, in the second story he was manufacturing boots alone. This business he had been engaged in for several years, commencing in 1841. Benjamin C. Pond, a man well known in the early days of this town, was foreman in this shop. The business was then carried on according to methods now out of date ; there was more barter than cash ; keeping a store at the same time, the boots manufactured by him were bartered in Boston for hardware and other stock for the store. In buying stock for the shop the barter also came in play ; so many feet of upperleather, so many pounds of sole-leather and so much cash would be given for a case of boots. Here in town the workmen on boots were paid largely in orders on the stores. Where a boot-shop and store were carried on by the same person, the work was paid for in goods chiefly out of the store. After Wiggins moved into his new building, in 1850, the custom of orders declined rapidly, and within a few ye.ars became obsolete. Upon moving away Wiggins closed his boot business.

George W. Jones, in about 1853, after dissolving partnership with Dea. Seaver, manufactured boots for Whitney & Hines over his store, situated at the corner of Main and Summer Streets. This business was continued but a short time.

Stores. - It is not intended to give a full account of the stores which have done business in this town ; only a few can be referred to. Many, if not all the early stores were general- - that is, dry-goods, groceries, crockery and furniture were kept for sale in them. The first in the order of time kept in the village was the store which stood at the east end of the cotton factory. This was opened by Homer Tilton, about the time the factory was built. A Mr. Barton followed Tilton, who, in turn, was followed by William Jencison. Jennison was in occupancy at the time when the town was set off. Soon after he moved into his own store, of which mention will be made below. George W. Fairbanks was the last occupant of this store, which was closed about 1855.

One of the earliest genera! stores w.'is kept by Eben Tombs in the basement of the house of W. R. Eames. This store was finally closed about 1840.

In 1841 S. W. Wiggins moved into the brick building now owned by J. N. West, occupying the first floor for a store, and the second for a boot-shop as has been related. In the store business he followed a Mr. Parks. The succession before this had been from Studle}' & Homer, through Valentine & Brewster, to P.arks. In early times the second story of this building was entered by an outside st.iir-way at the east end, and was occupied for offices when not in use for other purposes. Wiggins continued to carry on the business of a general store at this place till about 1850, when he put up the large frame building standing on the north side of Front Street at the corner of Concord, and which is still known as his building. Upon its completion he moved in, and kept a general store for two or three years, when he sold out and went West. The business was now carried on successively by William Jones, by Thayer, Sweet & Company, Cheever & Thayer (Silas F.), and Cheever alone until 1860, when Wiggins again came into possession. For a long term of years Wiggins now had the ownership and control, establishing a firm character for the store. In 1876 the business passed into the name of E. S. Thayer & Company, Wiggins remaining manager. Later, his health becoming less secure, he slowly withdrew, and finally the store was closed. A portion of the building was leased to A. A. Coburn, and has since been occupied by him for the sale of dry-goods and clothing.

William Jenni.son is well remembered by persons of middle age, a.s being for a series of years one of the principal store-keepers in town. He began a few years before the town was incorporated in the factory store. In 1845 he bought land of the Uuionville Evangelical Society and built what is still known as the " Brick Store," situated on the northeast side of Main Street, west of the Congregational Church. About the .same lime he built the bouse nearly opposite, which he occupied with bis family. He kept a general store till 1851, when, dying, the business came into the hands oi his son William. The last-named, aided by his brother Albert, both of whom had acquired experience under their father, carried on the business for a few years longer. They then sold out and moved to New York. After the departure of the Jennisons the brick store never seemed to retain its tenants. It has been occupied at intervals to the present time chiefly for a store and market. In 1847 the Dwight Printing Comjiany became the owner of the real estate.

George A. Tilton was engaged in various ventures for the sale of goods from about 1860 to 1887. Beginning with a stock of drugs in Woodbury's building, he moved into the Brick Store, which he bought about 18G2. He now added a stock of groceries. In 1867 he sold the business to W. A. Tilton and E. F. Greenwood. About this time he erected two small buildings at the east of the brick store to meet the then great demand for business accommodations. A few years later these buildings becoming vacated, he moved them to Alden Street and converted them into a store for himself which he called the Gothic Arcade. This store was afterwards closed and the real estate passed into other hands.

William A. Tilton, beginning as an apothecary in the Brick Store, afterwards erected on leased land the small building at the east of the Central House, which he occupied in this business for six years. He then sold to E. T. Billings, who has continued as proprietor to the present time. The building is now owned by George E. Wbittemore. For several years Billings has served as town clerk, having his office in this building.

Something has been said about the boot business of Albert Leiand. His store business was hardly less important. In the first building he erected, which is now owned by Mrs. Manning, and situated on Summer Street, he provided for a general store, which was kept in the front part, customers ascending several steps from the street upon entering. In 1852 S. F. Woodbury became a partner in the business of this store. A few years later Central Block was built by Leiand & Woodbury, as has already been related, and Woodbury continued a ])artner with him in the store business. lu 1858 the partnership was dissolved,

Woodbury taking the stock. As has been before mentioned, these were the days of store orders, given by the boot-shops, which probably formed the basis of half the trade. If the manufacturer owned a store, he was doubly fortunate, for he got a profit both on the boots the workman made and on the goods he bought. After a few years Woodbury retired and William Jones was taken into partnership with Leiand. Horace Yeaton succeeded Jones, and after Yeaton others, either alone or in company with Leiand, kept a general store till 1869. After this time Leiand did not engage in business.

In the year last named Bernard Billings opened a drug-store on the first floor of Central Block. In 1872 F. N. Oxiey became a partner, and the firm took the name of Billings & Oxley. In 1875 0xley bought the interest of his partner and continued the business alone till 1890, when he sold to C. E. Thayer, the present proprietor.

James O'Brien, who occupies the westerly front room in Central Block for his shoe-store and harnessshop, first commenced business in 1874, in Whitehouse Building. He made the change in location in 1879, then adding boots and shoes to his stock. His trade has been largely increased.

George W. Jones bought a lot of land of Captain Stone and erected a building at what is now the corner of Main and Summer Streets, in 1846. He afterw.ards occupied these premises for the purposes of a general store. In 1853 this building was moved southerly on Main Street fifty or sixtj' feet, to be used as a dwelling-house. At the same time a building which had stood in the rear and been occupied as a barn was brought forward to the corner and received additions. This constituted his store till about 1870. In 1867 A. A. Coburn had become interested with him, and together they now enlarged the building to its present dimensions. About this time Jones formed also other business connections in Boston. When he died, in 1872, he was a partner in the firm of Jones, Williams & Faxon.

In 1870 William Enslin bought one-third interest in this real estate. This stand was now occupied by A. A. Coburn and Franklin Enslin, who had formed a partnership under the name of Coburn & Enslin. A large general-store business was done till 1878, when the firm dissolved; dividing the stock and the building, Coburn taking the dry-goods and Enslin the groceries. Coburn continued to trade here in dry -goods and clothing till 1886, when he moved into the Wiggins Store, on Front Street, where he now is. Enslin dealt in groceries until 1877, when he sold to E. F. Miller & Son, who after a short time sold to C. F. Grout and C. W. Enslin. The last named formed a partnesbip under the name of Grout & Enslin, and have continued the business to the present time. Ever since Jones opened a store on this corner a substantial and prosperous business has been done at this point.

In 1883 Henry I. Pike and J. E. Woods came from Westborough, and forming a partnership under the name of Pike & Woods, commenced doing a grocery business in the new briclc building of A. Greenwood, situated at corner of Front and Concord Streets. They called themselves the Boston Branch, put prices down and sold mostly for cash. They at once secured a good trade in this and neighboring towns. In the spring of 1889 the partnership was dissolved, Woods keeping the business and Pike going back to Westborough.

About 1850 John Clark came from Acton and began the manufacture of tinware in the lower part of one of the Brewster buildings, which stood on the site of Greenwood's stable. He also kept hardware for sale. After two years he bought the land on the north side of Front Street, then vacant since the burning of Temple's shop, and erected the building now used for dwellings and the hardware-store of Perry & Enslin. He now greatly increased his business of manufacturing tin-peddlers' supplies. In 1855 Edwin Perry began viforking for Clark in the store and in issuing goods to the peddlers. Five years later Clark sold the business to Lyman Patch and Perry, - the former taking a deed of the real estate. The business now went on under the name of E. Perry & Co. After about four years Patch sold his interest back to Clark. Then for seven years the business was conducted under the name of Clark & Perry. A large number of tin-peddlers' carts were now sent out, covering the country in some directions to the distance of thirty or forty miles. The firui usually owned the carts, the peddlers often, but not always, providing the horses. These were the palmy days of tin-peddling, as the good price then obtained for rag stock encouraged barter, by which the tinware was largely disposed of. In 1877 Clark sold all his interest, including the real estate, to Edwin Perry and Franklin Enslin, who have continued to the present time an extensive business under the firmname of Perry & Enslin.

S. F. Woodbury, after the firm of Leland & Woodbury had been dissolved, carried on the store in the Leland building for about two years. He then bought and enlarged the Temple boot-shop on Railroad Street, where he kept a store for a short time. In about 1870 he erected another building just at the west, a portion of which he occupied for a clothingstore. In 1873 he exchanged his stock with Horace Yeaton for real estate, and three years later bought it back. He closed business in 1877.

C. B. Stockwell occupied for a shoe-store the westerly portion of the Woodbury building until it was burned, in 1877. He then leased a lot of land on Front Street, where he built a small store, which he is now occupying.

About 1875 A. F. Farwell fitted up a confectionery factory and store in the building next west from the brick store, where he continued in business till he sold, in 1887, to R. E. Hunt, the present owner.

S. A. Davis began his business as a dealer in newspapers and periodicals in 1870, having his first store in Whitehouse building. Later he became a dealer in fruits and confectionery. After Draper vacated the store in Broad's building on Railroad Street in 1877, Davis took possession and has remained in this location to the present time. When changing to these larger quarters he found room to add a stock of fancy goods and books for a circulating library.

From time to time clothing dealers have brought in stocks and opened stores, but none have been able to establish a permanent business. Of those who have remained longest, may be named H. M. Dufur, the noted wrestler, and George S. Hutchins.

Tailors. - Among tailors, Waite's name is remembered in part from the tailor's work his widow did for many years after his death. Bodemer, who followed in the early years of the town, had for his place of business the renovated blacksmith's shop which once stood about where the steamer-house now stands. Next came Baylies, who occupied the same quarters. Later, Lewis Kingsbury for several years had his shop in West's building. W. M. Draper, who in the seventies occupied the store now of S. A. Davis, made his way chiefly by his marked personal traits. John N. West came from Boylston and established his business about 1867. He had bravely maintained his hold, brought up a family of children and was still working at his trade when, a few years ago, by a sudden stroke he was totally di.sabled.

Bakery. - Ever since C. M. Adams first erected his building at the corner of Alden and Railroad Streets, in 1870, the town has had the benefit of a local bakery, as the serviceable oven at that place has attracted its counterpart, the baker. Frank B. Tilton, coming from Natick, was the first to open a bakery in this town. He was followed by Fiske & Stratton, several other bakers successively followed in the business in Adams Block, none remaining above a year or two, until Michael F. and Thomas R. Twiss took possession in 1884. Under the name of Twiss Brothers they have carried on the business to the present time.

M-4.RKETS. - Until about twenty-five years ago there were no meat markets in the village, the people there, as elsewhere, depending for supplies upon the carts which called at their doors. A. W. Eames (2d) opened a market in a building erected for him on Summer Street in 1870, and the business has been continued ever since at that point. Many different persons have at times kept meats and provisions for sale at various stands, but few have continued long in the business. Besides Eames, Theodore Jones and John H. Jackson at the present time keep well-patronized markets, and send around carts in this and neighboring towns.

Carpenters. - At the head of the list of carpenters who are noted for length of service, and results accomplished, stands Richard R. Brewster. He came to town soon after James Jackson, being specially engage to look after the carpenter work needed about the cotton-factory. In 1845 he built a house on Front Street, which he occupied till his death, in 1878. About 1835 he succeeded to the business of Sludley & Homer. They had built a carpenter's shop just at the west of their brick building, now known as J. N. West's, and had carried on a lumber-yard and store at that point. To conduct the store business in the brick building, Brewster took into partnership first William and later Samuel Valentine. The store and partnership were dropped in a few years, but the carpenter's shop and the lumber-yard he kept. Later this shop was moved to the spot now covered by the brick block of Abner Greenwood, and fitted for a dwelling. It was finally taken down in 1885. He now built and occupied a carpenter's shop situated on Front Street, about where now stands the coalshed of Abner Greenwood. This was probably about 1840. His lumber-yard, near West's building, about the same time he moved upon land now of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, lying between their track and Front Street, east of Greenwood's building. In his yard he kept a good stock of lumber for sale, till near the time of his decease. About 1850 he rented the lower part of his carpenter shop to one Hammond, who came from Dover, for a wheelwright business, and the second-story to Aaron Rice for a harness-shop. He built at this time a second carpenter-shop at the east of the one rented, standing about on the site of Greenwood's barn. Subsequently this building was rented to John Clark, William Seaver, the Sons of Temperance and other tenants. Both oi these buildings were finally moved away and converted into dwellings. About 1850 he and Orlin Allard built a steam-mill on the south side of Front Street, near the railroad track, at about the location of Ezra Morse's buildings, and fitted it with machinery for making doors, sash and bliuds. This mill had a steam planer, the first used in Ashland. Charles V. Guy superintended the running of the mill, which after a year or two was burned, taking fire in the absence at breakfast of the attendant. Some years later Guy went west with Wiggins, and engaged* in the manufacture of lumber.

Brewster built for their owners many of the houses and other buildings in town. He was active in establishing the Congregational Sunday-school and church, though not a church member. His influence was felt in the setting ofl!'and building-up of the town, and his aid was freely given to its business interests.

with Studley, reference to which has already been made. He soon went away, later engaging in government work. For one of these contracts with the government he claimed that a large sum of money was due him, which could never be obtained. He finally returned to Ashland to spend his last days, and died in 1888.

Edward and Charles Knowlton were doing carpenter work before andaftertheestablishmentof the town. Charles Knowlton superintended the rebuilding of Shepard's paper-mill after the fire in 1842. Alonzo Perkins was at one time associated as a partner with Charles Knowlton. He was among the early soldiers in the Civil War.

Eleazer Whittaker was Mostly engaged in doing carpenter repairs at the cotton factory. He was said to be very " ingenious," could " make and attach a mosquito's bill.''

Willard Stiles was following his trade as carpenter in 1846. He built many of the older houses. His .son, Gilbert Stiles, succeeded to the business.

Abijah Adams and George H. Adams, his son, came from Rutland about 1855 and built a house and shop on Main Street, where now the daughter of the former and the son and widow of the latter reside.

Warren Wright, who began carpentering with George H. Adams, his nephew, formerly drove stage from Hayden Row through Hopkinton Centre to Ashland. J. F. Porter is known beyond the limits of the town as a builder, and is now erecting the school-house on Central Street. Charles H. Bigelow, son of James Bigelow, whose early home was the W. D. Cole place, was noted before he had become partially disabled, for the excellence of his work. It is said that Bigelow would work half a day with George H. Adams, as partner upon a job, without speaking, these two silent men fully comprehending each other.

Blacksmiths. - In former times blacksmiths' shops were located without much reference to villages, just where their owners happened to reside. In 1846, Daniel Lamb had for many years pursued this trade in a shop on the Sherborn Road at the limit of the town. Lamb kept working at that spot till disabled by old age. The shop remains, but has been turned to other uses. Just above the Shepard, or, as it is called in the older histories, the Howe dam, on the river bank, Alexander Clark, with his sons, Newell and Alexander, kept a blacksmith-shop. The business at this place was discontinued about 1840. Newell Clark was in the Greenwood shop for a short time about 1840. In 1841 he occupied a blacksmith-shop for a year or two, which stood where Greenwood's old office now is on the south side of Front Street. This building was afterwards moved oif and changed into a dwelling-house. Clark went to South Framingham and opened business.

William Greenwood's blacksmith-shop stood on the west side of Cherry Street, at a spot a little to the south of the present residence of A. T. Jones. This seems to have been the principal shop in this region in pre-Ashland times.

About 1843 Addison Fisher came from Medway and opened a blacksmith-shop on Front Street at a point about where Blake's building now stands. Capt. Moses Claflin followed Fisher in the business.

In 1847 Abner Greenwood, quitting the old location of his father, William, on Cherry Street, commenced work in this shop. In 1850 he built his shop on Concord Street, and soon after the two dwelling-houses next to the south. In 1853 he formed a partnership with Harvey Piper, who had before worked for him, which continued till 1856, when Piper bought the business. In 1859 Piper moved into the basement of Taggart's new wheelwright shop across the street, and Greenwood resumed blacksmithing alone in his shop. Here he contiimed till 1868, making money, when Gibbs took the business, selling out to Whitcomb. George Boutilier occupied this shop twelve years, beginning in 1878. In 1882 Greenwood erected the fine brick building standing at the corner of Front and Concord Streets. -

Herbert H. Piper, upon the failure of his father's health, succeeded him in business and remained two years in the Taggart basement. He then leased a spot of land on the east side of Concord Street, and building a shop, has since carried on his trade there.

Painters. - Henry J. Dadmun, who was born in the northern part of what is now the town of Ashland, in 1808, early learned the house-painter's trade, and followed it in this town and vicinity throughout his life, which closed in 1879. About 1850 John W. Spooner came from New Bedford and engaged in the same business. Later these men formed a partnership under tlie name of Dadmun & Spooner. For many years they worked together; then separating, they shared between them nearly the whole business of the town. Both built houses and paint-shops. Dadmun, after dissolving the firm connection with Spooner, took his son James into partnership, and later C. F. Grout. James died two years before his father. The business was closed at the latter's death. Dadmun and Spooner were both men of marked individuality. Spooner, being active in the prosecution of temperance work, was threatened with injury, and the firing of his building more than once seemed to him proof that injury was actually intended. C. H. Spooner and G. T. Jones, once employees of Spooner, now have a monopoly of the house-painting work in Ashland.

O. A. Wilcox in 1870 erected a building on the west side of Concord Street, close to the canal, in which to do ornamental and carriage-painting. After following his trade for a series of years, he sold his building and business to II. A. Taggart. Since that time somehalf a dozen different persons have occupied this building, each for a short time only.

Wheelwright. - With the exception of Hammond, who for a short time occupied one of the Brewster carpenter-shops, R. A. Taggart is the only one who has made an exclusive business of doing wheelwright work in the village. He built and occupies a shop on the west side of Concord Street.

Coal Dealers. - At first George W. Jones did all the coal business, two or three car-loads a year supplying his customers. In 1867 Ezra Morse succeeded to Jones' coal business, and two years later added a stock of lumber. He erected sheds and continued in the business about ten years.

In 1866 J. N. Pike and C. H. Tilfon erected a coal- .shed between Front Street and the railroad, and engaged in the business, Pike soon selling to his partner. In 1869 Abner Greenwood bought the shed and commenced a business which he has carried on to the present time. He deals in anthracite coal exclusively, handling one thousand tons annually. He also sells hay, lime and cement.

C. H. Tilton in 1873 again returned to the coal trade, building sheds along the railroad near his boot factory. In 1885, when he closed his boot manufacturing, he transferred the coal business to his son, C. H. Tilton, Jr., who now carries it on.

Ice Dealer. - For many years G. C. Fiske has lupplied ice to the people of Ashland from his two ice-houses. In addition to this business he carries on the farm formerly worked by his father.

Barbers. - There have usually been at least two barber-shops in the village. Charles H. Nichols, whose place of business is on Front Street, commenced in 1871.

Hotels. - Capt. John Stone built and opened the Railroad House, now Scott's Hotel, in 1834 ; a barn was also built, standing more to the front than the present stable, with cow-yard where Central Block now stands. Stone at that time quit the old dwelling on Union Street, known as the "Simpson" house, and moved into the hotel with his family. He carried on the hotel only about a year. Later he took up his abode in the dwelling situated a few rods to the west, which has ever since been occupied by him or his descendants. Stone continued to own the hotel property and leased to different parties. The lessees seem to have occupied in the following order, none of them for long periods : Reignolds, Fuller, Angler, Atherton, Barber, Warren, Bates & Thayer Bates, Scott.

Smith Bates and Silas F. Thayer bought out Silas Warren in 1848. The business included the livery stable. In the spring following, Thayer sold to his partner the hotel business, but retained the livery. Thayer carried on the livery stable nine years and then sold to W. A. Scott, himself moving to Hopkinton. Bates sold the hotel furnituie and business to Scott in 1849. From that time to the present Scott has carried on the hotel and stable. In 1868, after the death of Captain Stone, he bought the whole hotel property. The stable was burned July 30, 1851, at the time of an offlsers' drill, when there were many strangers in town, and again on June 15, 1889. It has now again been rebuilt. In the years before the town was incorporated the second story in the wooden easterly extension of the hotel was sometimes used as a hall for public meetings. In 186!) O. A. Wilcox bought the lot of land on the north side of Front Street, on which now stand the Central House and post-office building. There were two houses then upon it. Altering and enlarging the more easterly of these to its present proportions and furnishing it, he opened a hotel which was named the Central House. Here he carried on the business, until 1878, when becoming dissatisfied with results, he moved to Kansas. The receivers of the Mercantile Savings Bank having taken possession as mortgagee, at first leased these premises to various persons, as tenants ai will, and finally sold in 1879 to F. D. Osgood, who shortly afterwards conveyed to Michael Manning, the present owner of the property.

In 1869 the Megonko House and livery stable, situated on Pleasant Street, were erected and furnished by C. H. Tilton. S. F. Thayer returned from Hopkinton to conduct the- business. At the end of four years the livery stable was closed, and the hotel business passed into the hands of C. F. Hanson. Hanson was followed successively by Babcock and Greely. In about 1880 the hotel building was finished into tenement dwellings.

Livery Stables. - The history of the Scott livery stable has been given in connection with the account of the hotel now bearing the same name.

The livery stable on Summer Street, for many years conducted by S. F. Thayer, was built by Charle." Wenzell about 18G1, he buying the land from Albert Leland. Wenzell kept stable five or six years, and sold to Ed. Carter, who continued the business only a year or two. The whole property now came into the hands of John Clark, who took James Moffatt into partnership in the livery business. Later Clark .sold to Moffatt the business, retaining ownership of the real estate. In 1875 Thayer bought the personal property, and in 1889 his son, Charles E. Thayer, became owner of the real estate.

In 1846 S. F. Thayer began keeping livery stable in a building which stood upon the present site ol Mary C. Broad's dwelling-house. In the same year, 1847, Willard Broad became owner of this building and the house which stood at the corner, whose location is marked by the cellar-hole, visible now for many years. Thayer occupied only for a year, then moving into the "Stone" stable on Main Street. Afterward Broad's barn was occupied successively by Wenzell for a livery stable, and Albert Leland as a boot-shop, till it was burned in about 1850. The second story was occupied from about 1845 as a bootbottomer's shop by Willard Broad, who hired workmen and ran teams. Years later Broad was a pioneer in the gilding of boot-tops, and accumulated a small property before the shops introduced gilding-machines.

Railroads. - In 1834 the Boston and Worcester Railroad Company, having completed its road from Boston to this point, ran its trains into the low building which now forms the easterly end of the freighthouse. This was its first station. Later the twostory boot-shop, which had stood back of the Main Street flag-house, was moved forward to the north side of the track and served for purposes of a railroad passenger station in its first story and for a boot-shop in its second. There were outside stairs at the east end. Below, just east of the building, was an open shed, which at a later date was moved easterly and attached to the first depot, making of the whole the present freight-house. About 1850 the passenger station was sold and moved to the north side of Front Street, where such part of it as survived a subsequent fire was rebuilt into the present post-office building. A new station was erected on the south side of the track, on the snot now covered by the west end of the present building, which served till 1888, when it was moved across the street and converted into tlie store now owned by Mrs. McPartlin. The present fine building was erected in the last-named year. It is to be followed by a brick freight-house, to stand on Front Street.

In 1872 the Hopkinton Railroad Company, having completed their road from Milford to Ashland, commenced running trains, and there has been no interruption in the service to the present time. The new track laid on the south portion of the Boston and Albany road-bed, leading from Cherry Street east, admits the trains to the station of the latter road. Owing to the failure of the Hopkinton Railroad Company to meet their obligations, the mortgage on the road was foreclosed in 1883. At the sale the property was bought by George Draper, who afterwards sold to the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad Company, which in turn has leased to the New York and New pjnglaud Railroad Company for a term of ninety-nine years. The latter company is now in possession, John T. Jackson being the local freight agent, while passenger tickets are sold by the agent of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company.

The last-named company has been the successor ot the Boston -and Worcester Railroad Company since 1867. Timothy Vincent was the first general station agent at this point. In about 1841 he was succeeded by James H. Jones, who continued in that position till October, 1873; during the last four years of this period the business being mostly done by his son, C. U. Jones, who had been appointed clerk. Since the resignation of his father, J. Newton Pike has served as agent.

Express Companies. - Ever since the first days of express companies Ashland has had an agency. William W. Whitaker will be remembered as one of the earliest of the agents and afterward as man-of-allwork about the station till his death, about five years ago. E. F. Greenwood was for many years the active agent of the Adams Express Company, now represented by A. J. Lowe. J. N. Pike is agent of the American Express Company and H. G. Stiles of the Ashland and Boston Express Company.

Post-Office. - The Unionville post-office was established January 7, 1835, presumably, in great part, for the benefit of the cotton-factory. Matthew Metcalf was the first post-master, and the factory storebuilding was the place where the post-ofljce was kept. On March 17, 1840, William Jennison succeeded to this lucrative position, and on March 6, 1846, James O. Clark was made happy by appointment to it. All this time the office was kept in the factory-store, which building, considering it was also the countingroom for the factory, and devoted to various other important purposes, must have been the principal business centre of the village. The general post-ofiice at Washington, from which names and dates have been obtained, has this note : " April 29, 1840, name changed to Ashland." As the town was incorporated on March 16th it will be seen that the Post-Office Department, so far as it was concerned, graciously extended the life of the dying Uuionville just forty-four days. Clark held the office till April 8, 1847, when Willard W. Warren obtained the appointment. During, or perhaps at the commencement of Warren's term, the post-office was transferred to the store of G. W. Jones, at corner of Main and Summer Streets. James H. Jones was appointed January IS, 1851, and opened an office in the railroad station. He performed the work of postmaster unassisted for years, in addition to his regular duties as railroad agent at this point. Later, his daughter, Caroline H. Jones, aided him, gradually taking upon herself the whole work. When Jones' health finally failed, Miss Jones was appointed assistant, and conducted the oflice, her father only signing necessary papers. About 1873 the location of the post-office was changed to the small building in the curtilage of the Jones house, on Main Street. Jones died August 18, 1885. On September 21st of the same year, Adrian Foote was appointed to the office. On February 26, 1887, Caleb Holbrook assumed the work as post-master, which he had before carried on as Foote's agent. The office was removed in 1885 to the Coburn Building, situated on the north side of Front Street.

Newspapers. - The Ashland Advertiser is the original local newspaper. It was first published August 7, 1869, by George W. Morse, of whom some notice appears elsewhere. H. H. Tilton soon acquired a halfinterest. The printing was first done in rooms in the second story of the Jones Building, on a hand-press. About a year later the editing and printing were 36-iii transferred to the third story of the Broad Building, where the paper remained till its removal to South Fraraingham, January 21, 1876, and consolidation with the Framiiigham Qazette. The following persons were concerned as owners or editors, or both, while the business remained in Ashland: Morse & Walker, Walker & Mayhew, Geo. P. Mayhew, Edgar Potter and Potter & Vincent. The Ashland Advertixer is now printed weekly at South Framingham, by the Lakeview Printing Company, and contains about the same matter as the Framingham Gazette, but somewhat difl'erently arranged on the local pages. The Ashland Advocate and Ashland Tribune are weekly papers, having a circulation in Ashland, and are printed, respectively, in Marlborough and South Framingham.

SuRVEVOES. - Mathew Metcalf was a surveyor of land fifty years ago. He was also a justice of the peace and made many of the deeds of that day. His handwriting, though fine, was always even and clear.

William F. Ellis, who had been a student with Metcalf, began work as a surveyor, shortly before the organization of the town. He did substantially all the local work of that kind till about ten years ago, when his railroad eugineering, in which business he had also become an expert, took him away temporarily. He still retained his residence in Ashland and returned in 1887, to resume his local work. Following the employment of surveyor so many years in Ashland, he became acquainted with the farms and other divisions of land, having in many cases personal knowledge of the bounds and dividing lines. He was a justice of the peace, and his bold, uniform handwriting may be found upon very many of the deeds, affecting Ashland property, i)assed during the last fifty years. He also wrote wills and administered upon estates. He was kept much in town oflice, and there is probably no board of town officers upon which he h.as not served. His influence in establishing and conducting the town has been second to none. He died suddenly of heart-disease, in August, 1888.

George A. Ellis and William F. Ellis, sons of the Ellis above mentioned, while learning the business of surveyor, assisted their father, but moved away upon entering on business of their own.

George H.Stone, a son of Captain ,Tohn Stone, has been known as an engineer and surveyor, although he spent most of his life in operations away from town. He studied in the office of Simeon Borden, of Pall River. Beginning for himself, he was first engaged in the engineering department of the Boston & Worcester Railroad Company. He was living in Natick from 1857 to 1862, at which latter date he joined the army, being attached first to the Sixth, and later to the Twenty-sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. He was made lieutenant of engineers, and placed on the stafl' of General Weitzel, at New Orleans. In this city he was in charge of the work of restoring the levees destroyed by the rebels at their retreat. After the war he returned to Natick, and later was engaged about a year and a half as engineer in the construction of the European and North American Railroad in JIaine. In ]<SG9 he removed to Ashland, making that his home, and engaging in various enterprises till his death, in 1879.

Physicians. - Any account of the physicians who have practiced in the town of Ashland would be inadequate without some mention of Dr. James S. Sullivan, whose memory is still fresh and cheering in the minds of the older people. He came here in about 1835, and remained several years. He had an office in the second story of the West Building. He built the two "Sullivan " houses, that is, those now owned by Mrs. E. M. F. Forbush and Mrs. Mary E. Brewer. He possessed a large heart, as well as a bright mind, and became much beloved. He married Miss Jane Valentine, of Hopkinton. He went away in about 1843, wandering Westand South, spending some years in Darien, Georgia, and finally dying in Savannah.

Dr. Jonas C. Harris followed Sullivan. He first lived in the "Simmons " house, that being the house next easterly from Mrs. Willard Broad's. He built what is now known as the " John Clark " house, situated on Main Street subsequently to the setting off the town, which he helped accomplish. He was admitted to be a good physician even by his enemies. His nature was of a positive kind that hews out its own way. He was made a colonel of militia. He moved away about 1853, going to Cambridge, where he has since remained, having a successful practice.

About this time or perhaps earlier, Drs. Learned and Wheeler were in town, the latter conducting a school for boys in one of the " Sullivan " houses.

Dr. William Barrett took the house of Dr. Harris upon the departure of the latter, and practiced medicine very successfully for a number of years. His wife was a sister of E. A. Forbush, of whom mention has been made. Dr. Barrett went away to Boston, where he has found a large field for labor.

Dr. William Rogers was a successful physician here for many years. He lived in the " Buck " house, the same now owned by the Adams sisters, on Front Street. He was of a social nature and made many friends. His health failed and he was obliged to give up working in his profession some fifteen years ago. He has been dead for several years.

Dr. J. M. Wiggin followed Seaver, residing for a time in the same house. About 1870 he built a residence on the corner of Railroad and Alden Streets, and practiced medicine successfully to nearly the time of his decease, in 1882. He wa? a man of good judgment and decided opinions. He held town office, acting on the Board of Overseers of the Poor. He had formerly been a Methodist preacher, and appeared in the pulpit occasionally during his stay in Ashland.

Dr. G. C. Pierce came to Ashland in September, 1866. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and of the Harvard Medical School. He spent two years in Bellevue Medical School, New York City. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and other societies. About 1870 he built a house at the corner of Central and Alden Streets, in which since that time he has resided and had his office. Being one of the physicians longest in practice in this vicinity, he is called to neighboring towns for attendance and consultation. He was for many years a member of the School Committee.

Dr. J. H. Redfearn came to town first in 1879 and remained four years. He then engaged in business which took him to Texas during the winter seasons. After an absence of six years he returned to Ashland. His office is at his residence on Main Street. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and corresponding member of the Gynecological Society of Boston.

Dr. I. J. Clark took up his residence in this place in 1883, and continued in the practice of medicine till 1886, when he sold his business and moved to Woburn. He has now been for several years practicing in Haverhill.

Dr. Geo. W. Butterfield, who is a graduate of the Boston University Medical School, began the practice of medicine in this place in 1883. In the same year he moved into, the John Clark house, on Main Street, where he has since resided and had his office. He has recently bought that place. Practicing homceopathicaliy, herides much into neighboring towns. He is a member of the School Committee.

About 1870 Dr. H. A. Mansfield opened a dental office in Broad's Building, and prosecuted his business for several years, when he went to Evanston, in the suburbs of Chicago, where he has recently died.

Dr. F. E. Lewis succeeded to the office and business of Mansfield, remaining for a term of years, then removing to Natick. where he now has an office.

LAWYEits. - It is quite certain that a young man opened a law-office in Ashland as early as 1850, but he could have remained only a short time. No one seems to remember his name, or anything about him, except that his hair was red.

continuous abode in town. He came in June, 1869, and remained till May, 1876. He had an office in the .loues building, which during the latter part of his stay he occupied only in the evening, being at his Boston office during the day. After a time he bought and moved into the cottage house standing near the east end of Pleasant Street, where he continued to reside until his departure from town. He was a member of the School Committee during a term of years. After leaving town, in 1885, he was appointed Government agent with the tribe of Nez Perces Indians. For several years he remained with his family at this post. He now resides in Boston, having a law-office in Rogers Building.

George W. Morse came to Ashland in 1869, while he was yet a law student in Boston. He was admitted to the bar in June of that year, and opened an office in Central Block. In the following July he started the Ashland Advertiser. While he remained in town he was editor of this paper. In July, 1870, having gathered a law business in Boston sufficient for his support, he sold his interest in the paper, and removed from town, carrying away as his wife, Miss Clara R. Boit, one of Ashland's school-teachers. He now has a large law business in Boston.

George T. Higley, who is a graduate of Amherst College, and of the School of Law in Boston University, began the practice of law in 1873, opening an office in Broad's Building. He still remains in his original quarters. In 1875 he removed his family into the house then erected by him, situated at the corner of Central and Alden Streets, where he continues to reside. He was a member of the School Committee for many years.

Henry Hogan, having recently been admitted to practice law in the State Courts, does law business in the town in the evening, being away at another office during the day. He was a student at the Boston University School of Law.

SociETlE.?. - Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. - The North Star Lodge was chartered June 14, a.l. 5865. The society met at first iu the hall in Wiggins' building. In 1884 commodious rooms were elegantly fitted up in the third story of Greenwood's Block, in which the meetings have since been held.

Grand Army of the Republic. - Col. Prescott Post, No. 18, was instituted August 12, 1867, and meets every Wednesday evening in their hall in the Jones building. Its membership numbers fifty.

Independent Order of Odd Fellows. - Ashland Lodge, No. 164, was established October 9, 1872. The meetings were held first in the G. A. R. Hall, afterward for a time in the old Masonic Hall. For many years previous to 1890 this society occupied the hall in Adams Block, fitted up for their use. At the commencement of that year they took possession of large, finelyfurnished rooms in the third story of Central Block.

Daughters of Rebecca. - Aurelia Lodge, No. 80, was instituted June 21, 1889, and meets in the Odd Fellows' Hall on the first and third Fridays of each month.

Order of the Eastern Star. - Olive Branch Chapter, No. 12, was chartered June 28, 1881, and convenes in the Masonic Hall on the first Tuesday evening of each month.

Patrons of Husbandry. - Ashland Lodge, No. 124, meets in the G. A. R. Hall on alternate Tuesday evenings. Its charter dates from April 7, 1885.

Knights of _ Labor. - Washington Association, Assembly No. 4530, was chartered November 3, 1885. This society hold their meetings in their hall in Adams Block.

Churches and Minlsters. - The First Universalist Society in Ashland held its first meeting for organization May 13, 1871. John Clark was chosen treasurer, and John W. Spooner, John Clark, H. H. Tilton, H. W. Barrett and T. A. Osborn a parish committee, with George W. Norris as clerk. There were also among its corporators William Wheelock, 0. A. Wilcox, Hubbard Willson and others. The society leased the hall in Adams Building, at the corner of Railroad and Alden Streets. Meetings were held here regularly for about two years.

George Proctor was hired as preacher the first year. He was succeeded by Anson Titus, and by students from Tuft's College. A (juartette choir and organist were employed, and much interest was shown in the enterprise. The number of families, however, whose members desired to attend the meetings was found insufficient to warrant their continuance.

Catholic Church. - On December 20, 1858, Father P. Cuddihy, of Milford, first celebrated mass in the town hall in Ashland. At that time Ashland, Hopkinton and probably other towns wei'e a part of his parish. From this time onward Father Cuddihy or his curate came to Ashland and read mass about once in three months. It was some years later that another parish was formed, with Hopkinton as the centre, and embracing also Ashland and other towns. Father Thomas Barry was placed in charge, and attended to the Ashland mission, having services once a month. He was succeeded by Father Minietti, who was in turn succeeded by Father John J. Ryan. It was during the term of Father Ryan that money was raised, chiefly by subscriptions, and a lot of land situated on Esty Street was purchased to be devoted to religious purposes. The building of the church which now stands upon that land was begun July 1, 1S74, and was carried forward by degrees, so as not to incur too much of a debt. Late in that year the church had been built so far as to be covered in, and the basement put in a condition for use. First services were held on December 2G, 1874, at which Father Ryan officiated. Father J. S. Cullen, who had been curate in the Hopkinton parish from the days of Father Barry, was now assigned as priest in charge of a new parish embracing the field of Framinghara Centre, South Framingham and Ashland. For a short lime he resided in Ashland, in the brick house on Union Street, and then moved to South Framingham. Up to the time when the church was occupie'l, services had been held in the town hall ; afterward there were regular services in the basement of the new building. A Sunday-school, which had been early established, was held weekly. The church went oil increa.'iing in numbers and financial strength.

The building was carried forward to completion in the year 1883, and on the 16th day of December, in that year, the final dedicatory exercises were held. The church is a substantial building of pleasing design, having a finished basement and an audienceroom with a seating capacity of 400. To the rear is an addition containing rooms for the priest. Shortly after the completion of the church Ashland was designated as a parish, and Fr. M. F. Delaney was assigned as the priest in charge. He took up his residence at the B. F. Brown house, on Summer Street. At that time there was a debt of about $6000; this has since been removed by means of subscriptions, pew-rents, fairs and the annual tax of one day's earnings levied upon the members, and the church is now free. The membership of the church, if estimated upon the basis of the whole Catholic population, is about 700; if confined to those who give attention to religious observances, it is somewhat less than half that number. Frequently the audiences in attendance upon religious exercises occupy the entire seating capacity of the church. Recently plans have been made for a dwelling-house for the priest, to be erected to the southeast of the church. On the 1st of May, 1890, Fr. Delaney was sent to Natick to have charge of a much larger church, and Fr. John Hefternan has been stationed in Ashland.

Congregational Church. - This church grew out of a previously existing Sunday-school, which was established as far back as 1828. About 1832, $600 were subscribed, principally by those interested in the cotton factory, and with this sum, a second story was built upon the village school-house, to be occupied for religious purposes. This building stood on the site of the present Town Hall, but nearer the street, and was called "The Chapel." The second story of this building was fitted up with movable seats, made of pine boards, and afforded seating capacity for about one hundred persons. Besides being in use for religious purposes on Sundays, during the week it was occupied, as occasion demanded, for lectures, lyceum debates, town-meetings and other public purposes, until it was torn down in 1855, to give place to the present Town Hall.

The Union Evangelical Society was organized as a legal body from the worshipers in the chapel Feb. 17, 1835. In the spring of this year, the society bought of James Jackson about two acres of land, on the northeasterly side of Main Street, opposite to the chapel, with a view to erect a meeting-house thereon. The land purchased, besides comprising the lot at present occupied, extended back into the cemetery, and westerly to include the land now covered by the Brick Store." The southeasterly line of the lot was the same as at present, but was produced to near the back side of the cemetery ; thence turning at a right angle, the line ran northwesterly to the canal, and up the canal as tar as the confectionery store. The last-named land was sold to William Jennison, and the portion of the land northeasterly of the present cemetery wall was sold to the town of Hopkinton, and is now owned, with the remainder of the cemetery, by the town of Ashland. A strip of land on the west side of the present church lot was set apart to be leased for sheds, the '' lessees to hold the land as long as sheds shall be supported for use of horses on said land." A committee was appointed to " build the house on the credit of the society," consisting of James Jackson, Josiah Cloyes, Jr., Calvin Shepard, Jr., William Jennison, John Stone, Richard R. Brewster, Abel Greenwood, Jr., Matthew Metcalf and Joseph Ballard. The house seems to have been modeled after the Baptist Church in Weslborough. It was completed that season, and was dedicated January 21, 1836. This was the building now known as the Congregational Church, and the only change in its external appearance to this day has been caused by the substitution, in 1889, of stained windows in place of the old plain glass, and the erection of a chapel, about 1870, attached to the rear. In 1846 the name of the society was changed by vote to the " First Parish in Ashland," since which time all its acts have been done in that name. Recently some doubt having arisen as to the legality of this change, in 1889 an act of the Legislature was passed establishing ihis name and legalizing all acts before done under it. The records of this society, both church and parish, have been preserved, and are tolerably complete. The method of conducting the church is in the dual form cu>tomary in the Congregational order, the " parish " holding the title to the property and transacting the business, and the -' church " conducting the religious exercises. Any person, male or female, above twenty-one years of age, is eligible to membership in the parish, but is received only upon its formal consent. No one is admitted to the church except upon assenting to its creed and articles of covenant.

one members, all but three joining by letter from neighboring churches, of whom thirteen came from Framingham. Many more members soon joined, and the church appears to have been always self-supporting. Its member>hip in the course ol fifteen or twenty years arose to about one hundred and fifty, but has, especially since the efetablishment of the Methodist Church, which drew from its numbers, fallen away, 80 that there are now but one hundred and twenty. Twice in the history of the church the inside of the building has been remodeled, the first to accommodate a larger audience, the second, which occurred in 1889, to secure a conformity to modern ideas. The pews were originally sold by auction to attendants at the church, are still largely owned by individual proprietors, and are taxed for the support of preaching. The society has taken part of the pews for unpaid taxes and these are rented. A portion of the expenses is now raited by subscriptions, and the Social and Literary Society turn in a contribution of about two hundred dollars annually. There is no permanent debt, and the parish has never placed a mortgage upon the premises.

Prominent men in' the town, though not members of the church, have been and still are active members of the parish. A prosperous Sunday-school convenes every Sabbath in ths year in the church and chapel. With this is connected a library, often renewed. A few years ago a branch of the Christian Endeavor organization was established, which has served to add to the membership of the church, doing in a more quiet way the work formerly accomplished by revivals.

This church has had but few deacons, their terms of service having been long. Calvin Shepard, Jr., was appointed at the organization of the church ; a few years later William Seaver was chosen. These two men served for many years, the latter continuing to act until shortly before his death, whieli occurred in 1887. After Deacon Shepard moved away from town. Dexter Rockwood was chosen and continued to act till his death. Later have followed in the office Edwin Perry, William Ockington and W. H. Hovenden, who aie still acting.

The following is a list of the ministers who have been settled or hired for periods of more than one year : James Mclntyre, who, while a student in the senior class at Andover Theological Seminary, had commenced preaching to the congregation in April, 18.34, was ordained and installed pastor of the church January 21, 1836. He was employed at a salary of five hundred and fifty dollars. His fatherin-law, Barllett. of Xewburyport, built for him the house standing opposite the church, which was occupied by him while he remained in town, and was sold to James Jackson on his departure. He is said to have been a remarkably genial man, and succeeded well in uniting in one congregation the various denominational elements. After two vears, his wife dying, at his own request he was dismissed, and returned to Elkton, Md., his native place. Forty years later, by invitation, he attended the semi-centennial celebration of the Sunday-school, and received the hearty welcome due to the pleasant memory of his early labors.

The next pastor was Joseph Haven, Jr., also a young man from the seminary at Andover. He was ordained and installed November 6, 1839, and remained seven years, carrying the church through the period during which the question of a new town was agitated and its organization effected. He is said to have taken a strong interest in the formation of the town. He was a man of fine personal appearance and an able preacher. He and his father, also a minister, who lived with him, bought of Captain Heywood the house now owned by S. W. Wiggins, and occupied it during his stay in town. The salary paid him was six hundred and fifty dollars. His contract with the society made provision for terminating his term of service by either party giving six months' notice. It is said that, spurred on by advisers who believed in the potency of doctrinal sermons, he once preached a discourse in which the short-comings of other denominations than his own were pungently set forth, and that this caused otJence in the minds of some. The Baptist portion of the congregation from this time withdrew, and took steps to establish a church of their own denomination. On December 16, 1846, he was dismissed to accept a call from Harvard Church, in Brookline, in charge of which he remained four years. Afterwards he became successively Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Amherst College, Professor of Systematic Theology in Chicago Theological Seminary, and again Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Chicago University. He died May 23, 1874. His books on " Mental and Moral Philosophy " and the " History of Ethics " have had a wide sale.

Charles L. Mills, following Mr. Haven, was installed as pastor February 11, 1847. He was a man of advanced middle age. His health gave way, and he was dismissed at his request in April, 1849, returning to Middlefield, Conn. A very pleasant memory still remains of the happy influence of Mrs. Mills as a perfect lady."

William M. Thayer, of Franklin, was ordained and installed June 20, 1849. He was a graduate of Brown University and had recently studied theology with Dr. Jacob Ide, of Medway, a theologian of the old school. Mr. Thayer's seven years of ministerial labor were exhibitions of strength and zeal. His interest extended to town afiairs so that he became popularly known, and was chosen to represent the town one year in the Legislature. He bought the lot of land and built the house now owned by B. W. Houghton, on Pleasant Street. His voice finally failed him and he was dismissed, December 25, 1856. He returned to Franklin, where he has since resided. After the recovery of his voice he engaged in lecturing on temperance, becoming wellknown throughout the State. He was for many years secretary of the Ma«sacliusetts Total Abstinence Society. He is still engaged in preacliing and lecturing. He is the author of a series of juvenile works, setting forth in a popular manner the lives of distinguished Americans.

T. F. Clary, a man of middle age, followed Mr. Thayer, being installed December 25, 1856. He came from Thetford, Vt., where he had concluded a successful pastorate. He was thought by many to bean able preacher, liut misfortunes seemed to combine against him, resulting in his dismissal, March 30, 1859.

Horace Parker, a recent graduate of Amherst College, next supplied the pulpit for two years. He was ordained but not installed. May .91, 1861, the records of the council showing an implied protest at the irregularity of such a proceeding. He w.as a direct, practical preacher, and succeeded in adding members to the church. He has since labored in the churches at Leominster, Ashby, Pepperell, Lunenburg, and other places. In the winter of 1864-65 he was with the Christian Commission in the array.

A. H. Currier was ordained and installed December 3, 1862, and held the office of pastor for three years. This was during the stress of wartimes, and he gave strong support to all town measures in aid of the war. He built and occupied the house on Pleasant Street now owned by G. W. Norris. There was strengtli and reasonableness in his preaching and a peculiar degree of gentlemanliness in his manners. April 28, 1865, he was dismissed to become pastor in a much larger field of the Second Congregational Church in Lynn, where he labored for many years. He is now a professor in Oberlin College.

George G. Phipps was stated supply from September, 1865, to December, 1867. He was a very acceptable preacher and a genial companion. He went away to be settled over the church at Wellesley, where he remained for many years. He is now pastor of the Congregational Church at Newton Highlands.

M. M. Cutter followed as pastor, being ordained and installed December 29, 1868. He, too, was of a social turn, and was beloved, especially by those young people who, like himself, were devotees of the musical art. He was dismissed, at his own request, March 31, 1873.

E. P. Tenney was stated supply from the s|)ring of 1873 till June, 1876. Subsequently his efforts in this vicinity in raising funds for Colorado College, of which he had been appointed president, were successful. He is now living in Mancheater-by-the-Sea.

Thomas Morong preached first on .Inly 1, 1876. Later he was hired as stated supply. On June 12, 1878, he w.as installed pastor, and remained in the service of the churcli till Jlarch 4, 1888. During this time the church prospered. Never did it seem easier to raise all needed funds. Mr. Morong's thought was mature, often unique, always interesting. 'His sermons were carefully prepared, his illustrations being often drawn from the fields of science, with which he li.ad made himself familiar. With him, in particular, botany was a favorite study. Taking it up first as a pastime, he became afterwards a close student and a recognized authority in this science. He is now engaged in making original researches in South America, being in the employ of certain botanical societies. He was finally dismissed from his pastorate February 24, 1890.

On the same day Charles H. Dutton was ordained and recognized as pastor of the church. Mr. Dutton is a graduate of Amherst College and has been a student in the Hartford Theological Seminary.

All the ministers of this church, it is believed, have been graduates of colleges. All have brought with them wives, who have in a greater or less degree assisted them in their pastoral work. Seven of the twelve have been ordained, thus showing the preference of this church for young pastors.

Baptist (Jhurrh. - The first preaching service occurred December 30, 1841. The gatheriug was at William Waite's house, situated, as the streets are now named, at the corner of Main and Cherry. Aaron Haynes, of Southborough, delivered the sermon. On January 6, 1842, a regular prayer-meeting was established, the houses of the attendants in turn serving as the place of assemblage. Occasional preaching services were also held at dwelling-houses, and sometimes in the chapel then standing on the site of the present town-hall. In May, 1843, regular Sunday services were begun in the hotel kept by Thomas Barber (now Scott's Hotel), students from Newton Seminary officiating.

On November 8th, in the same year, the Unionville Baptist Church was organized, with a membership of forty-five, twenty-two residing in the town of Hopkinton, twenty-three in Framingham, many having formerly been regular attendants at the meetings of the Congregational Church and contributing to its support. Only two of the original members of the Baptist Church are now living, - Mrs. Caroline Ballard and Mr. Frank Chickering.

An effort was soon made to provide a house of worship. Through a committee appointed for the purpose, a lot of land now lying on the south side of Front Street, opposite the dwelling of Mrs. E. A. Forbush, was 2>urchased of William Seaver, and a cellar, of which the remains can still be seen, wa.s commenced. The purpose for which the land w.as to be used had been kept a secret, and when it became known that a Baptist church was going up at that point, there was a small tempest in the neighborhood. So this spot was exchanged for other land owned by Seaver, on the opposite side of the street, - the sjime now occupied by the hardware concern of Perry & Enslin. .\ frame chapel was now built on the land thus finally acquired, having the dimensions of thirty-one by forty-five feet, and at a cost of one thousand dollars. This building was dedicated on March 20, 1815, by appropriate religious services, and at the same time was ordained Zenas P. Wilde, the first pastor of the church, who had responded favorably to the moderate call by the society of three hundred dollars annually. This building was occupied by the church for their religious services during the next five years, after which time it was sold and used for a boot-shop until its destruction by fire.

On the 30th day of April, 1S49, the society adopted as their corporate name the Ashland Baptist Church. A larger place of convening was now found to be needed. A committeeconsistingof Benjamin Homer, Edwin A. Forbush, Charles Morse, Albert Leland and Richard Montague were chosen to erect a church upon the new lot of land lately purclnsed of Captain John Stone, situated on the east side of Summer Street. The committee's action resulted in securing for the society its present commodious building, which was dedicated on April 10, 1850, by services conducted by the pastor, B. F. Bronson. Funds to purchase the land and build this church were obtained by subscription, but not in sufii'ient amount; so that a debt remained, which was discharged by Oliver Brewer and Charles Morse, who received the notes of the church deacons for the moneys advanced by them. During the ministry of Kev. K. Holt this indebtedness, or what remained of it, was paid ofl', so that the society then became quite free from debt. Since then, on account of misfortunes, other debts have been incurred, though the church is now paying the running expenses. The present membership is one hundred and twenty, about one-third of whom are non-residents. The church records to March 2C, 1846, the date of the burning of the E. A. Forbush boot-shop, were destroyed in that fire. A general minute has been entered covering the early years, and the principal facts relating to the church down to nearly the present time were recently gathered by Miss M. A. Homer and are preserved in a manuscript history.

Prominent among the early members of the society appear the names of Michael Homer, Benjamin Homer, T. S. Burlingame, who was the first deacon, Alvah Orraes, Lyman Fay and E. A. Forbush. Later Albert Leland became connected with the church, and afterwards to the time of his death was, perhaps, its most influential member. He was a man of property, and at his decease left to the church a devise of real estate which will eventually become operative.

In calling a paator it has not been the custom of this church, at least in recent years, to convene a council for installation ceremonies. Any person who has been ordained in the Baptist Church, is eligible to serve as pastor, and the only distinction in hiring seems to be that the term may be limited, or left indefinite, according to the circumstances of the given case. Both methods have been practiced by this church, the present pastor, S. T. Frost, having been employed for an indefinite period.

Z. P. Wilde closed his labors July 2, 1846, and after preaching in Marblehead, Boylston, and perhaps other places, became a missionary in New York City. He was noted for his able pastoral work.

B. F. Bronson was pastor from December 7, 1846, to November 10, 1850. He was afterwards connected with churches in Waltham, West Putnam, Connecticut and Andover, Mass., where he is now living in retirement. '

Prof. Hen.-y Day came from Brown University to take charge of this church March 1, 1851. He remained only till June 6, 1852, when he returned to his college work. He is remembered as an interesting preacher. Later he was a pastor in Philadelphia and in Indianapolis, and now resides in the lastnamed city.

D. F. Lamson commenced work with the church April 20, 1SG2, and closed on November 29, 1865. He not only conducted his church ably, but worked for and with the town in promoting enlistments, and in awakening enthusiasm during the war. Later he became pastor of churches in Northboro', Worcester, Hartford, Conn., and in Manchester- by-the-Sea, where he is now residing.

R. B. Moody ably occupied the pulpit from April 26, 1866, to February 22, 1868. Afterwards he was for many years pastor of the church in Plymouth, and is now at the Monument Church in Chariestown. G. B. Potter's term of service was from May, 1868, to November, 1870. He died at Newton, and was buried November 25, 1870, in Wildwood Cemetery. Annually his grave is decorated by his surviving soldier comrades.

W. R. Maul, who served from January 15, 1871, to November, 1872, was thought by Benjamin Homer, who listened to his sermons every Sabbath, to be the ablest preacher who had stood in the Bapti-st pulpit. He was Afterwards paator at Hobcken, and is now at the Mariners' Church on Staten Island.

A. M. Higgins took charge on May 1, 1881, and continued to February 14, 1883, when he went to Somerville to reside. He now preaches at different places, as opportunities are afforded.

D. G. Macdonald was pastor from August, 188(5, to January, 1888, while pursuing his studies in the theological seminary. He has now returned to labor in Canada.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - There were people residing in town who, although they had been in the habit of attending religious services at the Congregational or Baptist Churches, had never felt quite at home.

It had been intended, whenever a favorable time came and sufficient means coukl be insured to carry it on, that a church of the Methodist faith should be established. In view of the growth of the town, and the fact that a competent leader having financial .means - in the person of Charles Alden - was ready to take up the work, in 1866 the question of establishing a church began to be entertained. The movement commenced with the holding of prayer-meetings at the houses of believers in that faith. Besides Jlr. Alden, Mr. Hayden, Hiram Mellen, (ieorge Scott and others, including persons from Hopkinton, became interested and met together at the meetings. It was not till the spring of 1868 that plans had become fully matured. At that time Mr. Alden attended the General Conference, and, making known the purpose of the Methodist people here to establish a church, obtained the assignment of his friend, Rev. George W. Mansfield, as a minister to this station. Mr. Mansfield had been resting for two years, that he might recover his broken health. He came at once and opened his work, commencing preaching services in the Townhall, which were continued here each Sabbath, until the succeeding spring.

Soon after the^arrival of Mr. Mansfield the work of establishing a church was begun. The records show that on July 15, 1868, the Methodist Episcopal Church of Ashland was organized, according to the forms of law. On July 5th, preceding, the Q,uarterly Conference had appointed as trustees, Charles Alden, George Scott, William A. Tilton, J. N. Pike, and A. T. Davis. At the the meeting of the trustees held on the date of its organization, J. N. Pike was chosen president, and A. T. Davis secretary. At tlie same meeting a committee on the building of the church was appointed, consisting of the persons above named with the exceptiim of Mr. Davis, and with the addition of three more members - Charles H. Tilton Alvah Metcalf and John Crismess, This committee went speedily to work, Mr. Alden taking a very active part. A lot of land situated on the eastern' side of Alden Street, at the junction of Church Avenue, was furnished by Alden from lands owned by himself. Plans for the building were obtained and the work commenced and pushed forward, so that before the next spring the church was completed, furnished, provided with an organ, and ready for occupancy. The church was dedicated free of debt, JIarch 3, 1869, the presiding elder conducting the exercises. The funds for building and furnishing this church which, including all expenses, cost about $15,000, were furnished chiefly by Charles Alden in the first instance, and it is said in the final outcome, that the enterprise cost him .tSOOO in actual money. At a meeting of the trustees held May 24, 1869, the following vote was passed, " that we, the trustees accept the deed of the M. E. Church from Brother Alden," and that the " trustees extend to Brother Alden a vote of thanks for the interest he has taken and the money he has expended in building and furnishing the M. E. (jhurch." For the purpose of reimbursing Mr. Alden in p.art for moneys advanced, subscriptions were obtained from the people. About $500 were raised at a fair held by the church, which were used to defray expense of carpets and other furnishings. In the building of the church and collecting a congregation, the efforts of the pastor and his wife were constant and effective, much of their success being due, doubtless, to skill derived from previous experience in similar work. This church started off with a membership of sixteen, which has been increased .so that the present number is one hundred and thirty. Its original members came in part from the other churches, but there was never any other than kind feelings exercised toward the churches from which they came. Alden had for several years, up to the time when he began to attend the Methodist meetings, been a regular attendant at the Congregational Church, and superintendent of its Sundayschool. That church had recently shown courtesy toward its Methodist attendants by hiring for several months as its pulpit supply, a Mr. Cushing, who wag a Methodist minister. This church has freely joiued with other churches in all work which can best be done unitedly. A flourishing Sunday-school is connected with the church.

The succession of pastors is as follows, their terms beginning about April 1st, the regular time for change of ministers in this denomination. George W. Mansfield was with the church from April, 1868, three years. His excellent work has already been alluded to. His wife was a very able assistant. Since leaving Ashland his health has allowed him to continue in his ministerial labors. He has now been at Gloucester since April, 1889.

A. O. Hamilton was with the church two years beginning April, 1871. He was noted for good discourses, and particularly for his fine performances as a reader. While here he was pursuing, as he found time, the study of medicine, and is now a physician