Athol Town (part 1 of 2)

Athol Town

of the sixth generation, and his son Otis, who became distinguished as a merchant, both in Europe and America, and died in Philadelphia in 1858, aged eighty-seven. A daughter of Philip, of Mendon (Sylvia), was the wife of Jonathan Russel, who was one of the Commissioners signing the Treaty with Great Britain in 1814. A grandson of Philip, of Mendon (the seventh generation), was graduated at Harvard College in 183(». Another, of the Southbridge branch of the family, Edward Holmes (of the eighth generation), was graduated at Harvard College in 1853. Another, Albert (of the ninth generation), also of the Southbridge branch, was graduated at Harvard College in 1868.

The death of another member of this family, Mr. HoUis Auiidon, has this week (.January 22, 1889) l>een announced in the papers at Washington, D. C. It is not known to the writer to what branch of the family he belonged, but the language of the obituary notice of him indicates that the family traits found marked expression in his career. It says : " He died at the advanced age of eighty-two. He represented the Department of Agriculture in the Centennial Exhibition. He w;is a man of rare intellect, and contributed many articles to the press. He was much liked by all who knew him."

By Rkv. John F. Norton, A.M.

Athol {Pleasant Jmiui) lies in the northwest part of Worcester County, bordering on Franklin County. As originally surveyed, in October and November, 1732, the township was six miles square. It is liounded on the north by Royalston and Orange, on the east by Phillipston and Petersham, on the south by Petersham and New Salem, on the west by New Salem and Orange. The southwest corner probably remains unchanged; but the southeast corner, as at first surveyed, was south of the meeting-house now standing in Phillipston ; the northeast corner was northeast of South Royalston meeting-house; and the northwest corner was a few rods south of North Orange meetinghouse. By the territorial changes which have been made since the opening of the township for settlement, portions of Athol were annexed to Royalston, February 2(), 1799, and March 7, 1803 ; a jiart was set off to form Gerry (now Phillipston) in 178G ; the northwest corner was taken to form Orange. A part of Gerry was restored to Athol, February 20, 1806 ; a part of Orange, February 7, 1816 ; and parts of New Salem were annexed February 5, 1830, and

March 16, 1837. (See " History of Athol," by George W. Horr, LL.D., "History of Worcester County," 1879). The original boundary lines appear to have been straight, or nearly so, but at present they are far from being straight, as a glance at any mndern map of Athol will show.

The surface of the land is very irregular, affording fine .scenery. Edward Everett set it down as one of the most picturesque of the Massachusetts towns. The hills are high, and through them, in a general course from east to west. Miller's River finds a winding channel. From all the heights there is a full view of Monadnoik, giving the besst outline of that mountain. A little south from Monadnock lie Wachusett and Watatic, while the nearer hills. Mt. Grace, TuUy, Lion's Head and others, help to form a landscape of unusual beauty. The outlook from Athol Centre is especially fine, with the above-named hills as a background for the bend in Miller's River, as it comes in from the northeast. A little off from Pleasant Street, about a mile from the Centre, is a spot where, across the tops of a near grove, one can look down into a sunken valley, with ranges of hills beyond, and enjoy an almost endless variety of light and shade. "The Gulf" is in the northeast part of the town, reached by a true mountain road, but the wild scenery amply compensates the visitor. The modern custom of dispensing with door-yard fences in the establishment of new village homes, and the removal of those erected many years ago, has added surprisingly to the original beauties of the place. This custom cannot be too highly commended.

The climate of the whole region is cold, though the hills so .shelter some sections of Athol as to make the winters milder than in many of the adjacent towns, but the winds sweep violently up the river, lowering the temperature of its valley several degrees.

When the town was opened for settlement the forests were very heavy, and the work of clearing the land for tillage was extremely exhausting. Huge pines, beeches, chestnuts, ashes and maples abounded. Few of the virgin trees remain, but the woodlands have become very valuable property. Of the common fruit-trees, the apple is almost the only one that secures confidence for a long term of years. Wild grapes are plentiful, and all the earlier (the e are often the choicest) kinds can be cultivated with success. The wild small fruits, such as the strawberry, the raspberry and the blueberry, abound, and have nowhere a richer flavor.

Though it has some fine farms, agriculture is not the chief business of Athol. The soil yields fair crops to the cultivator, not, however, repaying labor like the valley lands of the Connecticut River. The excellent and abundant water-power furnished by Miller's River and its tributaries offers more lucrative employment than tillage. Hence the population tends steadily towards the villages, and many outly- ing farms have passed into the hands of new owners, some of whom are of foreign birth. Miller's River - originally the Pequoig River, but unfortunately renamed for a man who was drowned while crossing it, more than a century and a half ago - has a rapid current, and supplies power for various manufacturing establishments. It is a tributary of the Connecticut. Its own feeders in passing through Athol are Tully's Brook and Mill Brook, both of which carry numerous mills that stand upon their banks.

Much the largest sheet of water in the town is Southwest Pond. Lake Ellis, near the Worcester Northwest Fair Grounds, is a picturesque spot with wooded islands and shores, and is a popular resort for pic-nic parties. Silver Lake lies low down among the hills near the railroad station, and is noted for the quiet beauty of its surfiice and shores.

The early settlers found the river and streams stocked with choice fish : trout, pickerel and salmon were plentiful. The forests abounded with .small game, while the deer, the bear, the wolf and the catamount roamed through the region. The three lastmentioned animals were a source of terror and of considerable loss to the settlers. As wolves rarely attack men except when nearly starved, they were chiefly dreaded for their depredations on the calves and sheep. The bear and the catamount were more dangerous, and encounters with them, and hunting parties in pursuit of them, broke up somewhat the monotony ol life in the colony. Jit. Monadnock was the stronghold of these beasts, but they raided the cattle-pens, even as far as Gardner and Templeton. The children were employed to watch the herds by day and at night they were driven into strong enclosures. A large bounty was paid for each wolf killed. The most noted wolf-hunt in the region was in the winter of 1819-20. The parties engaged in it came from Southern New Hampshire, and days were spent in the pursuit of the three-legged animal. It would invade the farm-yards of the very houses in which the hunters were sleeping and feast on the sheep and calves.

The catamount, which one hundred years ago was occasionally fouud in the Monadnock region, was a very formidable and dangerous beast to encounter. The last of its race was taken in a powerful steel trap, near the foot of the mountain. From the nose to the end of the tail it measured thirteen feet and four inches. For its stuffed skin the proprietors of the Boston Museum are said to have paid forty-five dollars.

In the southerly part of the town there is a sulphur spring, whose waters have been deemed efficacious in the treatment of certain diseases. It can hardly be said that these are pleasant to the taste, but they may have virtues nevertheless. At present the locality of this spring does not bid fair to become a popular resort.

There is a very fine Bpring in this town, which issues out of a very high bank on the side of Miller's River, perh.ips twenty feet above the sui-face of the river. The water whereuf is niciiiciiial. Many persons who liave dranit freely tliereof liave foinid it tu art as a gentle cathartic, and some wlio liave been poisoned have been speedily cured by wasliiug the parts atTected therewith. Several who have been afHicted with rlienmatic complaints bathed in the water of this spring in a cistern, some few yeai-s ago provided to receive them, and found great relief.

And what is worthy of notice is tliis. Tliesc waters have the same efficacy and virtue without soap in washing uf jiersous which other waters have with.

This spring, which was so celebrated a century ago, is supposed to be identical with the one that issues from the north bank of Miller's River, very near the north end of the bridge that is crossed on the way from Athol Centre to Chestnut Hill and Royalston, but whether its remarkable value for economic purposes is as great as formerly, is somewhat uncertain.

Chapter Cxxxiii

Loss of tb>' Proprielors' Records - Efforts to Ee-establUh their Authority- Grant of the Totcmhip- -Drawing for House-Lots - First Settlers - Perils front Indiuiis - First Meeting- House - Second Meeting-Honse - Call of Mr. James Humphrey to the Pastorate - Ordination - Pastor's Home - Second and other Divisions of Lands - Acts of the Proprietors.

This, as given in the original grant, was the name of the township which, at its incorporation, was called Athol. Generally speaking, the Proprietors' Records are the great store-house from which the historian of a New England town must obtain most of his information respecting its settlement and condition during the earlier period of its history.

For the most part these records were kept with commendable care, whatever else was neglected, for the proprietors' clerks were often men of education, and were justly regarded by their contemporaries as holding a most important and responsible office. But, in a very important sense, the earliest records of the proprietors of Paquoag on Miller's River are not accessible in the preparation of this history. The facts regarding this appear to have been substantially these : very soon or immediately after the grant of this township to certain individuals by the General Court of the province of Massachusetts, which must have been as early as 1734, the proprietors named in the grant chose for their clerk Dr. Joseph Lord, who, coming from Sunderland, Mass., was one of the first settlers of the township. Dr. Lord was a capable man, and, for anything that appears to the contrary, enjoyed for a number of years the confidence of all the parties concerned. But for a ctmsiderable period before 1758 a majority of the proprietors had been dissatisfied with the proceedings of their clerk, and in tlie month of June of that year had disphiced him and appointed a new treasurer and clerk. Dr. Lord having refused to deliver up the books and papers that were in his hands to the new and legally appointed clerk, a suit was commenced against him, and all his property that could be found was attached to satisfy the claims of the proprietors. In November of 1758 the court decided that Dr. Lord mu.?t deliver up all the books and paper> in question or pay illOOO in lawful money as damages and the costs ol , the court, amounting to £23 8s. Id., but before this decision was rendered Dr. Lord had left the State, ' taking with him, if he had not j)reviously destroyed them, all the early records and valuable papers of the jiropriety. Certain it is these were never recovered. Whether the property of Mr. Lord, which had been attached and was sold at auction, yielded a sum sufficient to meet these demands upon his estate is uncertain, as no complete record of this transaction was made.

The most that can be learjied respecting this matter is that on March 25, 17til, the proprietors voted j that their committee having this business in charge should proceed to execute " good and sufficient Deeds to such person or persons as have purchased said lands or any part of them" (meaning the estate of Dr. Lord) and adding : " And we engage for ourselves and heirs to indemnify the said Committee, who have managed the- controversy with said Lord | on behalf of the proprietors and their heirs from all damages which may rise to them on account of said controversy and the sale of said lands." Measures were soon ado])ted lo replace the lost records as far as possible, and for this purpose a petition, signed by Abraham Hill and John Caldwell, as a committee ol the proprietors, was presented to the General Court in June, 1760. The result of this was that "Rev- i Mr. Abraham Hill was empowered and directed to ' make a new B((ok of the Records of said Proprietors during the time that the said Joseph Lord was Pro- |)rietors' Clerk," drawing his information from all jjapers within his reach and " the remembrance of the Proprietors," and then to lay the same before the General Court, that it might be established as the legalized Records of the Propriety. This was done, and hence we have the Proprietors' Records as we find them in Vol. I., more than fifty pages of which arc covered by material obtained in the manner indicated above. Rev. Abraham Hill, of Road Town (now Shutesbury), appears to have been indefatigable and cautious in the performance of the difficult task assigned him, and his work was as eshausliveand correct as the circumstances would admit.

But with the best intentions and the most laborious and careful research, it was plainly impossible for him to recover and replace very many important items that must have been inserted in the original records, such as concerned the laying out and construction of some of the roads, the building of bridges, arrangements for a school, etc. Mr. Hill's name does not appear in the list of the first proprietors, and like many other clerks of similar bodies, he was not a resident of Paquoag on Miller's River.

He was the clerk of the proprietors for about four years, or until 1762, and of course the items recorded of transactions before 1758 lack, with the historian, a measure of authority.

In July, 1732, the General Court of JIassachusetts opened for sale and settlement a new township in the northwest part of Worcester County, called from the Indian name of the river which passes through it, " Paquoag on Miller's River." The date of the grant was April 20, 1733.

The grant provided that the township should be divided into sixty-three equal parts, one of which should become the property of the first minister, another should be set apart for the support of the ministry and another for the support of a school, while the remaining sixty parts should aftbrd houselots for sixty settlers, each of whom must occupy his lot in person or in the person of one of his children.

Each settler was required to build, within three years, a house on his lot of at least " 18 feet square and of seven feet stud," and to clear and fence eight acres of his land in the same period, or forfeit twenty pounds for the use of the other settlers. Each was also required to pay five pounds into the Provincial Treasury when he was admitted as a proprietor, while the proprietors were required within five years to erect a suitable meeting-house and settle a learned Orthodox minister.

These conditions were similar in most respects to those under which a large proportion of the county townships of New England were settled. In Connecticut provision was often made for two additional shares, one for the State School Fund and a second for Yale College, while in New Hampshire the proprietors were not by any means always required to occupy their lots in person or by their children, but had power to sell them.' On the second page of the Proprietors' Records, as prepared by Rev. Abraham Hill, proprietors' clerk, there is this entry under date of August 21, 1761 :

The following is a list of tlie names uf tlie men admitted by the Hon^B Willijun Dudley, Chair Man of the Com" & othere. the Great and Generul Court's Committee, to draw House-Lotts in the township of Pequoiag on Miller's Itiver, on tlie JG uf June, 17^4, at Concord, as SettleiTS of eaid Peijiioiap;-"

Following this is a tabular view of the drawing for house-lots, with the location of these as north or south of the river and east or west of the highway, with the number of each. After the lapse of one hundred and fifty-four years from the date of this im-

1 Of the twentv-three original proprietors of Monadnock No. 4 (now Filzwilliam, N. H.), only a single one, Gen. James Reed, of Revolutionary fame, beianie an^ctnal rf't^idfnt of the township.

portant transaction at Concord, and the changes that \ have taken place in the ownership of tlie Athol lands during this period, a reproduction of this table is hardly deemed necessary in this historical sketch. The curious are referred to the volume of Records named above. Only the names of the proprietors are here given, as follows :

N.B. - I transcribed the above from a List under the Hand of Joseph Lord, who has made Oath to the Truth of it, and adds the following : N.B., viz.: This above mentioned List is what the Clerk of Petpuuag has always made use of for Want of an Attested Copy, and also entered in their Book of Records without .\tteRt. The above entered per

From the table containing the results of the drawing for lots in Pequoiag, it appears that prior to June 26, 1734, a highway had been laid out, if not opened, through the township, north and south, which probably passed over " The Street," through ! the upper village and, crossing Miller's River some- , where in the vicinity of the existing bridge, continued over Chestnut Hill or west of it to the northern line of the grant. At the drawing for lots it is probable that this highway was confined to the plan of the , township and simply aided in the location of the ; lots.

From an intimation given in the legislative act that created the townshi]), it would appear that the cost of the survey and laying-out of this highway was paid from the provincial treasury, but with the expectation of its being reimbursed from the fund received through the X5 required of each proprietor, which he was to pay within one year after the survey, for the admission of settlers. The way was now prepared for the location of settlers in the new township.

Tradition asserts (for no record has been discovered respecting it) that on September 17, 1735, five men with their families arrived here from the earlier settled townships in the valley of the Connecticut River. These were Richard Morton, Ephraim Smith, Samuel Morton, John Smeed and Joseph Lord. The four first named are said to have come from Hatfield, while the last-mentioned was a physician, who had previously been established in his profession for a longer or shorter j)eriod in Sunderland, and was plainly the leading spirit in the enterprise. That they brought with them through the wilderness their clothing, cooking utensils and as much food as they could carry, is certain, but the supply of each must have been scanty, for they made the journey on foot, and by marked trees in the thick forest. During the i following winter their supplies were obtained from the Connecticut Valley in the same manner.

Most, or all, of these five families erected their huts upon The Street, but at considerable distance from one another, for the lots which they drew, and doubtless commenced clearing at once, were by no means in close proximity.

That the winter of 1735 and '36 was one of constant anxiety and great hardship with these pioneer families cannot be doubted, for in three of the huts a son was born, while warm rooms, good beds and a full supply of substantial clothing and suitable food were out of the question.

But the greatest perils arose from other sources, for not far away and on nearly all sides were Indians, not a few of whom were hostile, and the settlers must have been familiar with the fearful cruellies inflicted by the savages in Lancaster, Brookfield and other places.

The rich meadows upon the banks of the Pequoig in this township were a favorite haunt of the red tribes for a considerable period after they had deserted the neighboring regions. Here were their corn lands, which were unusually productive, and the place was easy of access, being upon the Indian trail most frequently used from the southeastern sections of New England to the Caiiadas. There were two Indian crosings of the Pequoig within the limits of this township - one a little above Lewis Bridge, and the other not far from the house of the late James Lamb. The remains of these are .still to be seen. Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, of Lancaster (the murder of whose infant daughter, Grace, by the Indians is said to have given the name to Mt. (irace in Warwick), was taken captive by the Indians in Lancaster, February 10, Ui75. She was brought to this place, as it appears from her narrative, and here crossed the " Payquage " or " Bacquag '' River upon a kind of raft constructed by her captors. And it is understood that the breaking up of this favorite haunt, where some of the most cruel and perfidious Indian tribes congregated, was one of the objects of the Colonial Government in the votes that were passed in 1732 with reference to the settlement of this region.

The perils of the first .settlers in this township from ihis source were great indeed, almost beyond conception. Penhallow, in his " History of the fiuliaii Wars," describes the Indians "as implacable in their revenge as they are terrible in the execution of it, and will convey it down to the third and fourth generation."

When, in 1759, the colonists suddenly attacked the Arosaguntacook or St. Francis Indians in Canada and defeated them, among other things found in the settlement were six or seven hundred English scalps suspended on poles, the trophies of their barbarous warfare. And for forty years after 1703, wherever settlements were made in Xew Hampshire and in the adjacent parts of Massachusetts, the Indians, incited l>y the French, were ready to fall upon them at the most unexpected moment, as when the people wen at church or attending a wedding.

I'euliallow's sickening record gives the names and particulars of the capture, torture and murder in cold blood of hundreds duriug this period, as well as of thi fearful sufterings that the prisoners of both se.xes experienced while wading through the deep snows to Canada and during iheir captivity, before redemption or death put an end to their miseries.

War could be no sooner proclaimed between Franci and England than the Indians seemed to become acquainted with the fact, as it were instinctively, when the signal would be given to renew the work of pillage, burning and butchery.

The Indians were very early instructed in the use of fire-arms and supplied with powder and balls by renegade whites, conspicuous among whom was Baron Castine, a French nobleman, who settled among the Indians in Maine, and filled his house with Indian women. Thomas Morton, the ring-leader of a company of outlaws, whose headquarters were in Braintree, Mass., was engaged in the same infamous business and severely punished for his crime.

Notwithstanding the hardships and exiiosures of the five families that settled in this township in the autumn of 1735, the spring of 1736 brought with it other settlers. These came from different parts of the Province, l)ut largely it is supposed, from the Connecticut Valley, and their arrival added not a little to the strength of the colony. The common exposure led them to do everything in their power to protect one another. As soon as might be, forts were erected in different parts of the township, to which all the families might flee in case of an attack. These were built of trees set close together in the ground, with small openings between them for the free use of fire arms.

r?uch a stronghold, with a goodly number of wellarmed and resolute men and women inside, could not easily be captured or burned. Thirty years ago a number of persons were living in Athol, who distinctly remembered having seen in childhood and youlh the remains of these ancient places of refuge.

One of these forts (and probably the one first constructed) was located on "The Street," nearly in front of the house then occupied by the late Mrs. Betsey Humphrey, the home of Mr. John F. Humphrey and Mrs. Ebenezer Brock in their childhood. The well of this fort, now to be seen, has long furnished water for the first parsonage, the home of the first pastor and his descendants bearing the nameof James Humphrey for four generations. Where the Pequoig House now stands tradition has located a second of these forts, while a third wa.s located northwest of the Lower Vil-

Notwithstanding all the precautions which extended to the carrying of loaded fire-arms into the fields which the settlers were clearing, and a loaded musket into the pulpit by the pastor, the settlement did not wholly escape, for, after eleven years of watchfulness, Ezekiel Wallingford, one of the original proprietors, who. lived at the fort on West Hill, fell a victim to Indian atrocity. Contrary, it is said, to the advice of his friends, he went one night from the fort to protect his corn-fields from the bears, when a ball from the gun of an Indian fractured his thigh, and he was quickly dispatched by the murderous tomahawk. Soon after the murder of Mr. Wallingford Jason Badcock was fired upon, wounded and captured by the Indians, who, according to their custom, carried him to Canada. After a few months he was redeemed and returned to Pequoiag.

About this time, 1740, when the settlement had been maintained for eleven years, the peril was so great that a number of families are said to have relinquished all their improvements and to have removed, for safety, to less exposed parts of the Province. These Indians were of the Nipmuck or Nipnet tribe. Their territory John Eliot described in KJ.il as "a great country lying between Connecticut and the Massachusetts, called Nipnet, where there be many Indians dispersed."

They seem to have ranged over the Province as far west as the Connecticut River and over the northern central portions of the State of Connecticut, while their villages were chiefl)' located in Worcester County.' Plainly nothing but the indomitable courage and strong will of the majority of the scattered settlers in 1746 saved the colony from practical abandonment.

Soon after the occurrences named above the Indians seem to have retired permanently i'rom the region and the population of the township began to receive larger accessions from the older settlements. The first settlers, consisting of five families, received considerable accessions to their numbers, probably in the spring of 1736.

These were mostly from Hatfield or from towns in that vicinity, and plainly were part of a company that had been previously organized for the settlement of Pequoig on Miller's River. Of the physical, intellectual and moral characteristics of these pioneers something is learned through tradition, but more probably through the well-known habits and deeds of their descendants of the next generation.

The names of Aaron Smith, Samuel Dexter, Noah Morton, Robert Young, Robert Marble, Nathaniel and Eleazer Graves, and of the four brothers, William, John, James and Robert Oliver, appear upon the list of settlers in 1736. Most or all of these were able-bodied, industrious, resolute men in their various callings and did much to give a healthy tone to the newly-organized society of the township.

The provision made in the original grant for the establishment of religious privileges among the settlers has been already noted. Owing, doubtless, to the loss of the earliest records, we are obliged to rely chiefly upon tradition for the truth of what follows. Measures were taken as early as possible to erect a house for religious worship. This was built of logs and stood upon eight acres of land, a part of the lot of fifty-eight acres laid out for " Lieutenant Samuel Kindle on the original right of Jonathan Marble," the lot exceeding in size the others laid out at the same time by eight acres. The plan was that these eight acres should lie in common for a " Burying-place and a Meeting-house plaice," according to the discretion of the proprietors.'

These eight acres Lay upon the north bank of Mill Brook, sixty or seventy rods southeast of the railroad station and covered the old cemetery lot, which was recovered, cleared and fenced by the town in 1859, with considerable territory north and east of this which had been under cultivation.

This first meeting-house probably stood a few rods northeast of the granite monument which the town erected at the rededication of the ancient cemetery, July 4, 1869, to which allusion will be made hereafter. From the papers discovered by Rev. Mr. Clark, it would appear that this building for church purposes could not have been erected before 1741, which was too late for compliance with the conditions of the grant. Be this as it may, the first church was doubtless erected upon that spot, with the first cemetery adjacent, according to the custom prevailing very generally one hundred and fifty years ago. The reason for the selection of this spot for the location of the church and cemetery is apparent when we consider that it lay just about half-way between the two principal settlements of the township at that date, the one being on The Street and the other around the fort on West Hill, northwest of the Lower Village. In those days foot-paths took the place of our highways, and there was plainly such a path leading from The Street, by the church and cemetery lot, to the northwest settlement.

This log church was never finished, but no such building was ever speedily finished in those days. The probability is that it was so far completed that it could be used for public worship, but how long it was used for this purpose, or by whom the religious services in it were conducted, we have no information. In some family records the title of Rev. is attached to the name of Dr. Joseph Lord, but it can hardly be supposed that he was ever a regularly or-

That he was a man of marked ability is certain, and that he was a fluent speaker is probable. Without much doubt he was an exhorter or lay preacher, and conducted for some years the religious services of the early settlers.

The settlement on The Street or " East Pequoiag Hill," as it was called, having had the most rapid and largest growth, was soon regarded as the centre of the township, and there the second meeting-house was erected. No record is found that throws light upon the exact date of the erection of this building, its size or cost. It is said to have had, certainly at first, but a single pew, and this was doubtless intended for the family of the first minister. The house stood not far from the fort already noticed.

The proximity of these two structures was plainly a precautionary measure. As yet no " learned Orthodox Minister" had been settled in this township, according to the conditions of the original grant, and all the improvements that had been made were technically forfeited. But the Province of Massachusetts was more lenient in its treatment of such cases one hundred and fifiy years ago than the land companies are now, near the close of the nineteenth century, and the settlement made sure though slow progress. A Mr. Brown preached at least one Sabbath in 1749, and the proprietors allowed him five pounds, old tenor, for his services.

Rev, John Mellen, pastor of the first church in Sterling, Mass., is supposed to have supplied the pulpit more or less during the same year.''

So far as is known Mr. James Humphrey, of Dorchester, was the first regular candidate for settlement as the minister of this township, and he commenced his probationary work as preacher early in December, 1749, and preached eighteen Sabbaths.

- The old tradition about the burning of the first church is contradicted by an ancient document, just received from Mrs. Mary R. Humphrey, of Dedham, widow of .lames Humphrey, the fourth of the name in regular succession, in which it is stated that "by setting the woods afire it caught the Meeting House, which was Iturnt down." This ia doubtless a true statemeut of the case. It is addeii that liiis was a heavy burden to tlie people, still being desirous of continuing tlieir religious privileges. They immediately commenced building a new meeting-house on " The Street," within about twenty rods of the fort. Thie also is added, " When a part was in the sanctuary a number was obliged to watch at the post of her dooi-s with their arms at their side, to Iveep off their devouring enemy whilst others were worshiping God within."

3 Mr. Mellen was a man of influence in the Province, and was aonietimes employed to arrange civil matters with the Royal Govei-uors and Councils. See " History of Fitzwilliani," N. H., pages 12(i, 127.

Voted that we give Mr James Iliimfries, our present Preacher, the Sum of Fifty Pounds, lawful Money of this Province of the Massachusetts Bay, per Annum, while he continues in the Work of the Gospel Ministry in this Place, and further add to that Right or whole Share of T,and in the Township of PequoiaK laid out hy the General Court for the first Jlinister of s'' Pequoiag, of which the House Lot on East Pequoiag Hill, on the West Side of the High Wfiy - Number Kight is part - the Sum of Sivtii Six Potnids thirteeit Shillintjs and /our Pence, lawful money of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, to he paid, one-half within One Year after his Ordination, the other half within one Year after the Payment of the first half, if he accepts of the Work of the Gospel 3Iinistry in this Place.

This call was communicated to Mr. Humphrey by a committee, but his answer was delayed till August of the same year, for he plainly de.sired time to consider a matter of such importance. The answer was as follows :

To Ike Proprietors of Ihn New 2'owH8hip, cdlled Pequoiay, at their Meeting, oontinued bt/ Adjouniinent fioin Maij \iSth t" August SIh enfiiiiiig : Geutleui" ;

I received, by the Hand of Lieut. Ilichard Morton, a Copy of your Votes, passed at your Meeting on Hie IBth of May last, respecting my settling among you in the Capacity of a Gospel Minister. And in Answer thereto, - In the first Place I do heartily thank you for the good will you have expressed to me in your Invitation. After mature Deliberation upon the important affairs, I now signify my acceptance of the Salary and Encouragement you have given me to Settle in the Work of the Ministry among you in this Place, in case the Propriety will make me an ,\dditiou of Fori)' Shillings lawful money to .your former Encouragement for my Annual Support, and if it please God in his all-disposing Providence regularly to introduce me into the Pastoral Otfiee over you, I hope by his grace and .Spirit I shall be enabled, in some good measure, to fulfil my Miuistry. So I remain, with hearty Regards, your Servant in Christ Jeans,

At the meeting of the proprietors, August 8, 1760, after the answer of Mr. Huniplirey had been received it was " voted that Mr. Humfrey has Forty Shillings lawful money of this proviuce added to the former Encouragement we have given Him for his annual support or Salary.'" A committee was also appointed to make arrangements respecting the proper ordination, and "to take care to send to a neighboring Minister or Ministers to Assist them in a Fast and in Gathering a church in this place.'

The church was organized August 29, 1750, Rev. Samuel Kendall, of New Salem, Rev. Abraham Hill, of Shutesbury and Rev. Aaron Whitney, of I'etersliam, taking part in the service. The entry in the ancient church records is that they " met in Peiquage, and, after solemn prayer to Ciod, they gathered the cliurch, and it was Irabodied and each member signed the Covenant."

A little more than two months later the ordination of the first pastor, Rev. James Humphrey, took place. All that is known respecting it is found in the following entry in the church records : in Peiquage ; the council consisted of the Chnrch of Christ in Dorchester, ye Chh. in Hatfield, ye Chh. in New Salem, ye Chh. in Roadtown,' ye Chh. in Nitchawoag,^ and ordained Mr. James Humphrey pastor over the Chh. and Congregation in said Place.

This entry was maile by Mr. Humphrey, who had been chosen, or acted, as the clerk of the church, and the same hand, about eleven months later, made this additional entry: "Dorchester, Oct. the 9th, 1751, James Humfrey and Esther Wiswell was married, and the 3rd day of November we got home to Peiquage."

For about twenty years Rev. Mr. Humphrey ap- ,)ears to have enjoyed a peaceful pastorate. His salary was always small, and not always paid promptly, but this was doubtless true in a large majority of the county congregations in Massachusetts.

Before the expiration of these twenty vears of peaceful labor the township of Pequoig, on Miller's River, had become the town of Athol, when the payment of the pastor's salary was assumed by the town.

The lot of which he became possessed by becoming the first pastor was on the west side of the highway leading over The Street, and upon this he erected his house, the well-known dwelling of himself, of his son, General James Humphrey, and of his grandson, the James Humphrey whom not a few of the present residents of Athol well remember.

Portions of the house, as it now stands, were a part of the original structure. The second, the third and the fourth James Humphrey were born under this roof, while the first, the second and the third died there. The fourth in the succession bearing that name removed to Dedham - not far from twenty-five years ago - and died there. The old jiarsonage is now owned by Mr. I. L. Cragin.

The meagre account already given respecting the idlotment of the lands of this township may be misleading. It is to be remembered that the territory embraced in the grant was six miles square and contained thirty-six square miles, or twenty-three thousand and forty acres, including ponds and rivers. At first but a small part of this territory was allotted to the individual proprietors.

From what seems to be an authentic statement respecting the laying out of the eight acres for the first cemetery and lot upon which to build the first meeting-house, it is nearly certain that in the first

3. fames Humphrey (the third) had three children, - Antoinette, who married a brother of Gov. Bullock and died in Athol, leaving a son, Hufus A. Bullock, who is a lawyer in Boston ; James, who married Mary D. Ripley, was a merchant in Boston, and left a widow and three children - two daughters and a son, James Humphrey, now about seventeen years of age ; Fred., who died in his youth in Athol.

division only a fifty-acre lot was assigned to each proprietor. If so, but tbree thousand one hundred and fifty acres were included in the first allotment, leaving nineteen thousand eight hundred and ninety acres of common land to be aftewards divided as circumstances might seem to require. An attested record of the first division was doubtless contained in the book which disappeared with Dr. Joseph Lord, as already noticed ; but in the volume prepared to take the place of this, and legalized by the General Court, no information respecting the first division is found.

In the second division thirty-acre lots were laid out, though they frequently contained from two to five additional acres. A greater or less surplusage was allowed all along, in making these various allotments, for streams, ponds, land for roads, and possibly, in some cases, for what were called waste lauds, or such as were declared absolutely valueless.

In the third division thelots consisted often acres; in the fourth, one hundred acres, in the fifth, fifty acres; of the sixth and seventh the records are indefinite, but one of them must have been on the basis of eight acres, while the eighth was for one hundred acres, and the ninth for thirty acres. These several divisions as here stated would have amounted in the end to an allotment of three hundred and seventyeight acres on each right, which would be almost eight hundred acres in excess of the contents of ihe whole township. But it is found that while some of the assigned lots exceeded in size the unit of division, others fell far short of it, sometimes twenty or twentyfive acres on the large divisions. Moreover, " delinquents," as they were called in the ancient records, were common in those days, and their lots may sometimes have been entered for re-allotment.

With regard to the method adopted in making these divisions after the first, some information may be gained from the directions adopted for this purpose by the proprietors. May 29, 1765.

The committee appointed to make a new allotment was directed to accommodate each proprietor already in possession of a lot or lots by laying the new lot on the line of the adjoining lots already owned and possibly improved, so that the whole might be as compact as possible. It was a delicate business to make these allotments, but no complaints of the work of the committee are on record.

During the years immediately succeeding the incorporation of the town, viz., 1762-65, this work of allotment made the greatest progress, but the common land was not all discovered and sold before 1824.

Nathan Goddard was the proprietors' clerk for some years, succeeding Rev. Abraham Hill, and Jesse Kendall held the same office after 1768. After 1820 James Oliver was clerk of the proprietors.

Greetiug - You are hereby required to notify the Proprietors of said Paxtou, lately known by the name of PequoiHg, lying on Miller's River socalled, in th e County of Worcester, that they assemble and meet at the Publick Meeting-House in said township on the 2d Wednesday of March nest, for the transaction of their usual business, Ac.

This warrant was dated February 22, 1762, only twelve days before the Great and General Court incorporated the township, giving to the town an entirely different name. Nathaniel Graves was a wellknown citizen of Pequoiag, and it seems certain that the clerk of the proprietors. Rev. Abraham Hill, a non-resident, knew but little of what was transpiring in the township at that time, and so took it for granted that the new town had received, or was to receive, the name of Paxton.

The name Paxton had not then been appropriated to a township in Worcester County, but another name for the settlement on Miller's River had been suggested, which met with general favor, and this, perhaps, at the last moment, went into the request for incorporation. The meeting called by the warrant alluded to is stated to have been held in Pequoiag March 10, 1762, four days after the township had become the town of Athol. Important news traveled slowly in those days.

The coustriiction of expensive county roads and other highways, largely for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the neighboring towns, has for many years made heavy drafts upon the treasury of Athol, but the debts thus created have been paid in part by the town becoming a business centre for not a little of the adjoining territory.

From its beginning the people of Athol have had an almost passionate regard for civil freedom and individual liberty, and oppression in any form has always been looked upon as a crime. The repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and the desperate attempts to fasten the institution of slavery upon Kansas, that made memorable the years just jireceding 1860, aroused the deepest indignation here, and did much to prepare the way for the unanimity, steadfastness of purpose, and spirit of sacrifice that characterized all the proceedings of the town when the Civil War began.

"Athol in Suppressing the Great Rebellion." This is the title of a volume of two hundred and si.xtyfour pages, the entire contents of which belong to the history of Athol. The book originated in this manner : in the warrant lor the town-meeting of Athol for April 7, 18(i2, Article 4th was as follows :

To see if the Town will ciioose a Committee to collect and preserve facts and incidents which may have a historic interest to the people of the Town as showing the part they have taken in aiding to suppress the Great Rehellion.

At the town-meeting held under this warrant it was " voted to choose a committee of three to collect and preserve such facts as they may think best ; and said committee will work free of charge to the town. Chose Rev. John F. Norton, John JI. Twichell and Dr. A. G. Williams; and then voted to add one, and chose Dr. James P. Lynde."

Dr. A. G. Williams having accepted a commission as a surgeon in the army, at a town-meeting March 2, 1863, Mr. Charles W. Bannon was added to the committee at the request of the other members. He had previously rendered much assistance in collecting and arranging many of the facts that relate to the early history of recruiting in Athol.

At the town-meeting November 7, 1865, on motion of Nathaniel Richardson, Esq., it was " voted that the Town authorize its Committee in charge to publish by subscription the Record entitled 'Athol in Suppressing the Great Rebellion,' with such changes as said Committee may deem desirable.

"Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to subscribe in the name of the Town for Fifty Copies of the Record, provided it can be furnished at a price not exceeding two dollars per copy.''

The committee at once entered upon its work (the chairman making the entries in the record) and prosecuted it till the close of the war. Nearly every soldier from the town, who lived to return, was visited as soon as possible after his discharge and his personal experience recorded. All reliable documents concerning the killed and wounded were examined. The information contained in the volume is deemed in every respect reliable, and a summary of it is here given :'

The people of Athol, in common with all their loyal countrymen, were filled with amazement and the most gloomy apprehensions by the bombardment of Fort Sumter, a fortress of the United States in the harbor of Charleston, S. C. The attack upon this fort, which was the opening scene of the Great Rebellion, was made April 12, 1861 ; and the little garrison, under the heroic Colonel (afterwards General) Robert Anderson, surrendered to the rebel host that assailed it after a bold resistance for about thirty-six hours.

Washington was at once menaced by an army of rebels that poured into Virginia. But a few days elapsed before Massachusetts men were shot in the streets of Baltimore while on their way to rescue the National Capitol. The whole South was in commotion; and every hour the rebel cause gained strength till it assumed frightful proportions.

The news of these events aroused all the patriotism of the North; and the people of Athol determined to do their part for the support of the government against the mighty combination that threatened to destroy it. From all parts of the town men, women and children came together to raise and honor the glorious flag of our Union, and to determine on the course of action which the crisis demanded. Processions were formed, and the gatherings in different jiarts of the town were large and enthusiastic. At a public meeting in the Town Hall, on the evening of April 19, 1861, forty or more young men offered themselves for the formation of a military company.

A town-meeting was at once called, at which five thousand dollars were appropriated to encourage volunteers and to provide for the families of such as were married, in their absence.

Enlistments now commenced, the first name upon the roll being that of Leander W. Phelps. Then came the names of David E. Billings, J. B. Billings, Delevan Richardson, Hubbard V. Smith, Edward L. Townsend, Charles II. Hill, Charles S. Green, Columbus Fox, William L. Clutterbuck, Horace Hunt, William Nute, Frederic Cummings, John D. Emerson, Thomas Johnson and Aurin B. French ; and, a little later, John F. and James L. Merrill went to the seat of war in the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment. July 10, 1861, the town made still more liberal offers to those enlisting as soldiers, especially with regard to such as might be dependent upon these for support, and numerous enlistments followed. Twenty-three men soon joined the Twenty -first Regiment, and were

^ As the author of the volume noticed above is also the author of this historical sketch, the utmost freedom with its contents is allowable. It may be added that it was printed and distributed under the personal responsibility of the chairman of the committee.

Mr. Adin W. Caswell now undertook to recruit a company chiefly from Athol, and in the short space of ten days obtained the requisite number of men. On the 4th of October, 1861, which was the day of the annual cattle show and fair, a dinner was given to this company ou the Common at Athol ; and the men were addressed from the balcony of the Summit House. Dr. James P. Lynde presided and addressed the soldiers and the immense audience assembled. A sword, sash, etc., were presented to Captain Caswell, Hon. Charles Field makiug the presentation address. Captain ('aswell responded, and addresses were afterwards made by Hiram Woodward, Esq., of Orange; James Brooks, Esq., of Petersham; J. H. Goddard, Esq., editor of the Barre Gazette; Rev. I. S. Lincoln, of Warwick ; Rev. A. Harding, of New Salem ; Calvin Kelton, Esq., chairman of the Board of Selectmen ; Rev. Ira Bailey and Rev. John F. Norton, of Athol. A patriotic poem, which he had prepared for the occasion, was recited by Rev. D. J. Mandell, also of Athol. Bouquets of flowers were presented to all the soldiers composing the company by young ladies who volunteered for this service, while patriotic songs, in which a multitude of voices joined, enlivened the occasion. The exercises at the Summit House were closed with prayer by Rev. J. F. Norton ; and almost the entire assembly went with the company to the depot, where the soldiers took the cars for the camp at Springfield. The Athul Cornet Band was present during the day and added to its interest, while the Athol High School Guard, under the command of the master of the school, Mr. Andrew J. Lathrop, with fifty mounted men of Athol and nearly the same number from Royalston, did escort duty. The company left with the cheers and benedictions of the assembled multitude. At Springfield the men were mustered into the service of the United States, and constituted Company B of the Twenty-seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers.

Near the opening of 18G2 sixty-eight men from Athol encountered the perils and losses of the Burnside Expedition to North Carolina. In the battle of Roanoke Island they sufl'ered severely in the miry swamps and while fighting the enemy were standing up to their knees in water. William Hill, the first Athol soldier who fell in action, was there killed. In the battle of Newbern, a few days later, James C. Parker and William H. Johnson were killed, while many others were severely wounded. The suflierings of the Athol men in North (Carolina were so great the citizens of Athol at once raised funds and dispatched Laban Morse, Esq., for their relief He left March 21st with two hundred and twenty-seven dollars, contributed in a few hours, and was joyfully welcomed at Newbern. Of money there was scarcely any in the regiments, and all the sufl^ering shared alike in the food and medicines purchased by Mr. Morse. He slept, rolled in his blanket, on the floor of the hospital and was ready to act at a moment's call.

Then came other calls for soldiers, six hundred thousand in the months of July and August, one-half to be raised by draft. Town and citizens' meetings were now held, bounties were offered for enlistments and soon Company E, of the Fifty-third Regiment, was recruited, largely from .\thol, with Farwell F. Fay as captain. This regiment endured great hardships, but did good service in Louisiana and was in the fight at the capture of Port Hudson.

In 18(53 the first draft was made of sixty-.six men from Athol. Only twenty of these were found fit for service, of whom fourteen procured substitutes, two paid the commutation (three hundred dollars each) and four reported for service.

To fill the quota for Athol under the five calls for soldiers that followed, in which one million eight hundred thousand men were asked for, substantially the same process was adopted. Men and money did not fail. According to the reports of the Adjutant General, Athol had, December 1, 1864, a surplus of ten men, and nineteen days later, of twenty-eight men.

In the record will be found the names of three hundred and thirty-five men furnished by Athol. Of these, nineteen re-enli-ited and seventeen others re-entered the service after recovering from the disabilities for which they had been discharged; four musicians were included in the number, who had been discharged under an order discontinuing regimental bands of music. In arriving at the sura total, the re-enlisted men must, of course, be counted twice. There may be added fifteen who were credited to Athol through the enlistments of Massachusetts men in the navy, and one more was also credited to the town of whom nothing further is known. The whole number furnished by Athol was, therefore, three hundred and eighty-seven.

The speedy suppression of the Rebellion seemed certain at the opening of 186ri. April 3d, of that year, General Grant's army entered Richmond, and soon after the soldiers began to return home. Fiftyone Athol men died from wounds or diseases contracted in the service; Captaiu Fay's company, in the Fifty-third Regiment, lost seventeen men.

In general the soldiers from Athol proved themselves brave and patriotic, but this cannot be said of some obtained through brokers. Athol furnished fifteen commissioned officers, viz.: George H. Hoyt, lieutenant-colonel Fifteeth Kansas Cavalry ; James Oliver, Jr., surgeon in the Twenty-first and Sixtyfirst Regiments ; Alfred G. Williams, surgeon in the Eleventh Regiment; John N. Mars, chaplain of the

First North Carolina (Colored) Regiment ; Farwell F. Fay, captain in Fifty-third Regiment; Adin W. Coswell, captain in Twenty-seventh Regiment; Ransom Ward, captain in First Kansas (Colored) Regiment; Daniel W. Larned, captain in Twenty-seventh Regiment; George R.Hanson, captain in P^ourteenth United States (Colored) Heavy Artillery; Albert D. Pond, first lieutenani Twenty-seventh Regiment; John O. Mowry, first lieutenant Fifty-fifth (Colored) Regiment; Lovell H. Horton, second lieutenant Twenty-seventh Regiment ; Asa L. Kneeland, first lieutenant Thirty-second Regiment ; John D. Kmerson, second lieutenant Second New York Heavy Artillery ; Seth F. Hale, second lieutenant Massachusetts Militia.

James L. JNIerriU turnislied five sons for the army, all courageous and faithful soldiers. Three of them were severely wounded, while a fourth nearly sacrificed his life to save that of a wounded brother.

The family of Leander Phelps gave four to fill the quotas of Athol, two of whom re-enlisted, and another entered the service a second time and was severely wounded.

The citizens of Athol raised by subscription, to fill the various cjuotas, the sum of if 12,777.78. Hospital supplies were sent to the soldiers without stint. About $.350 were forwarded to the Christian Commission. The Ladies' Society in the centre of the town dispatched supplies valued at $1,223.47, while the Soldiers' Aid Society of the Depot Village sent through the Sanitary Commission stores valued at $808.43. Large sums were contributed for the comfort of the soldiers in a less public manner. The total indebtedness incurred by the town on account

Just before the breaking out of the war, (jr .latiiiary 1, 1861, the net indebtedness of Athol was $H,ti72. Six years later it was but $8,200, the people having willingly submitted to increased taxation to keep the debt as small as po.ssible. The valuation of the town in 1867 was $1,194,559. In 1870 the net indebtedness was $14,775. In 1876 the ordinary debt was $28,571 and the railroad debt was $90,600.

In 188(1 the total indebtedness on town notes was $96,680, which was reduced January 1, 1888, to $64,- 500, with interest at four and one-half per cent.

The period since the Civil War has been one of general prosperity. Agricultural products have been in good demand at fair prices, while the manufacUiring interests of the town have acquired very large proportions, as will be seen iu the sequel.

May 1, 1888, the number of polls in Athol was 1490: viz., males, 1486; females, 4. The value of personal estate, excluding resident bank stock, was $529,452. The value of resident bank stock was $102,185. The real estate was assessed at the same time at $1,813,667 in buildings, and $828,388 in land, making a total valuation of $2,773,692. The taxes laid amounted to $47,353.07, the rate per cent, being $16 per thousand. The number of dwelling-houses taxed was 1021. The number of acres of land assessed in the town was 18,777. The number of taxpayers was 1910: viz., 1236 on property, and 674 paying a poll-tax only.

In politics the town of Athol is strongly Republican, and has been ever since the organization of the Republican party. The same is true of Royalston which town with Athol constitutes a Representati'^t! district. As a matter of course, it is generally expect- ed that this district will be represented in the General Court by a Republican ; usually this has been the case ; but occasionally, through discordant opinions and wishes in the dominant party, or the nomination of an exceptionably able and popular candidate by their opponents, or both combined, a Democrat may be elected, as was in true in 1879.

At the memorable election, November 6, 1888, the town voted for Presidential electors and Governor as follows: Republican electoral ticket, 501 ; Democratic, 315 ; Prohibition 41. The Republican candidate for Governor had 502 votes; Democratic, 315; Prohibition, 41. For Representative, Mr. J. D. Holbrook had 504 votes ; Mr. Raymond, 291 ; Mr. Lindsay, 32. There are in town about 980 votes.

Chapter C X X X V I. Educational And Ecclesiastical

Public ^rhofils - Enrhj Provision for Thern - Interest in Them Gradnnlly Develojfed - Eariy School Conmiiltees - Brandies Taitghl - AUiol High ScliOol - Its Masters - Census of Sriwhtrs - Appropriations - Athol Toivn Library,

The school-house was always found by the side of the church in the settlement of New England, for the fathers well knew that ignorance and barbarism go hand-in-hand the world over. As already noticed, one sixty-third part of the twenty-three thousand and forty acres of land embraced in the grant to the proprietors of " Pequoiag on Miller's River "was reserved and forever set apart " for the support of a School." Possibly six or eight years elapsed after 1735 before a school was opened. The records give no information concerning the location of the first school, but very early the proprietors appropriated money for its support, and as the population increased new schools were opened. As new divisions of the common land in the township were made, the "School Right ' was carefully looked after, until the several lots laid out for it were sold or leased, and the fund thus created was turned into the town treasury, the town assuming the support of the schools.

Whether the benefit accruing to the youth and children of the town from this source was small or great, the purpose manifested to educate the rising generation of the province was praiseworthy. The buildings early constructed on the two sides of the river for the iirst schools were doubtless built of logs, with seats and warming apparatus of the rudest kind ; but boys and girls hungry for knowledge could and did there acquire an invaluable ac<iuaintance with reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic - branches to which a common-school education in those days was chiefly confined. In 1792 ten pounds were appropriated " for the use of a Singing-School." In 1770 the town "voted to appropriate the interest money coming by the sale of the ministerial and school rights of land (exclusive of Mr. James Humfrey's part of the interest) to the use of the schools.''

In 1774 the school districts (or squadrons, as they ivere then called in all the region) were six in number, and each of these seems to have been provided ivith a rudely constructed school-house and to have maintained a school during a part of the year. Schoolteachers were not then abundant, for the wages paid Tor such service were necessarily low, as was true of -^very avocation and so also was the cost of living. In 1792 the town appropriation for schools was eighty pounds. From decade to decade this sum was gradually increased until, in 1876, Athol was the sixth town in Worcester County in the amount of its appropriations for schools - the sura raised being S13.03 for each child between five and fifteen years of age; the total amount being seven thousand dollars.

The early records give but little information concerning the supervision of the schools. As was true generally, the minister was expected to know something concerning the qualifications of the teachers and to be present at the closing examinations, which were by no means rigid. For eighty or ninety years the prudential committees, as they have been more recently called, seem to have provided the teachers and supervised the schools officially. In 1829 a town School Committee was chosen, consisting of Rev. Joseph Estabrook, Horatio Willard and Abel Sweetser, and from this date a marked and constantly increasing interest in the schools was developed. As late as 1850 a number of the district school-houses were very poor and inconvenient, but happily these have disappeared in the march of improvement. The olde.st printed school report that has been obtained covers the year 1848-49. The town School Committee at that time consisted of Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. S. F. Clark and Dr. George Hoyt. The wages of the teachers for the summer schools varied from eight dollars to $4.(56, and for the winter schools from twenty-seven dollars to four dollars per month.

The names of the teachers are not given in this report. The schools are represented as having been in a fair condition, though the committee administered a rebuke to the town by asserting that " the relative position of Athol as to the proportion of money paid tor schooling has been sinking from year to year."

Two years before Athol stood No. 8 in the county for its school appropriations, but when this report was Issued it was No. 27, and there were one hundred and sixty towns in the State which were making larger relative appropriations. An improvement in this respect was soon manifest.

In 1856 the town had five hundred and thirty-six families, and was required by law to establish a High School. The location of a High School house caused considerable excitement, as is often the case in the erection of public buildings.

The house was built in 1856, and ready for occupancy in the spring of 1857. Rev. John F. Norton, Dr. George D. Colony and Mr. C. B. Swan were then the acting School Committee. Mr. fTeorge A. Wheeler was the first master employed, and was followed by Mr. Farwell F. Fay. Mr. Fay was an excellent teacher. During the remainder of the year Mr. D. D. Leavitt, from Dartmouth College, was master of the school, and gave universal satisfaction. Mr. Leavitt was succeeded for two terms by Mr. Horace Toothaker, from the same college, who was also an excellent teacher. During the year following Mr. George B. Towle was master, and was succeeded by Mr. A. J. Lathrop, who was well known as the popular and successful principal of New Salem Academy.

The work of Mr. Lathrop for four terms in the High School was marked by great success. His successor was Mr. L. S. Burbank, whose service for two years was acceptable. Upon the resignation of Rev. John F. Norton, Dr. James P. Lynde became the chairman of the School Committee. After a little time Mr. H. F. Lane, of Tenipleton, taught the school successfully for two terms, being succeeded by Mr. Joel D. Miller, a native of Atthol, and formerly a pupil in its High School, but for the last twenty years the successful master of the Leominster High School, and now al.so the editor and publisher of the Leominster Enterprise. Mr. Sidney P. Smith, now a lawyer in Athol, was a successful master of the school for three years.

Mr. W. H. Terrill was master when the last report was issued. A very large majority of the twenty-five masters of the school were excellent teachers, and did much to mould the habits and expand the intellects of the youth of Athol.

Gf the teachers in the grammar and other schuols, much might be said, for this town has long followed the custom of retaining the services of the ablest teachers as long as pos-ible. When the last report was prepared by Messrs. A. J. Nye, L. B. Caswell and E. V. Wilson, committee, the schools were generally in a good condition.

The graded system adopted in the larger schools in 1873 works admirably. Lately a new and well-furnished school-house has been erected on very nearly or exactly the spot where the first meeting-house was built about 1741, and near the granite monument dedicated by the town in 1850 to mark the locality of the ancient burying-ground.

With the growing interest in popular education and the larger number of youth and children to be educated, the appropriations made by the town for the support of schools have gradually increased. The master of the High School is now paid 81000 salary, and his assistant at the rate of $500 per annum. In the grammar schools the highest wages amount to S12.-50, and the lowest to Sll per week. In the intermediate and advanced primary schools nearly all the teachers receive $10 per week, and in the mixed schools nine teachers are paid $7, and fifteen $6 per week. During the year ending March, 1888, thirty two teachers received in wages the sum of $7408.45. The town appropriation for that year was $8000, and this was increased from other sources, so that the sum actually expended was .$88.37.12. To this there are to be added for repairs of schoolhouses $3li8.90 ; for books, $611 35, and for other supplies, $147.00, making a total (not including the cost of a new school-house) of $9965.06.

The number of children in town between five and fifteen years of age, May 1, 1887, was seven hundred and ninety, and during the year following the scholars in attendance numbered eight hundred and ninetyseven. Recently the School Committee has been giving an unusual amount of attention to the sanitary condition of the school-houses, and from their leport ind recommendations the most valuable improvements may be expected. Plainly the School Committee is taking large and comprehensive views of the duties of the town respecting the education of its youth and children. Among those who served on the School Committee for a number of years, between 1850 and 1870, were Rev. S. F. Clark, Dr. George D. Colony, Dr. J. P. Lynde, L. W. Hopgood, Esq., Mr. Edwin Ellis, Rev, Lysander Fay and Rev. John F. Norton.

Libraries. - ^Forty years ago a library, which was kept in the Depot Village, furnished not a little excellent reading to the people of Athol ; but a larger organization being deemed necessary to meet the increasing wants of the growing population, "The Athol Library Association " was formed in December, 1878, with Hon. Charles Field as its president. Valuable donations of books were received from various luarters, and the library, though small at first, soon jecame an important factor in the intellectual and noral education of the people. But before five years liad passed a strong public sentiment called for a Free Public Library, and at the town-meeting in April, 1882, a Library Committee was chosen consisting of Hon. Charles Field, Rev. H. A. Blake, Rev. J. H. Cox, E. V. Wilson, Esq., and Mr. L. B. Caswell. .Mr. Field was the chairman of this committee and Mr. Caswell its secretary and treasurer. The Athol Library Association now made over its library of one thousand and sixty-three volumes to the new organization, and the Free Public Library of Alhol was establislied.

The efficient librarian of the Athol Library Association, Mrs. E. F. Doane, was secured to take charge of the Free Library. The appropriation of the town for new books in 1882 was three hundred dollars. During the next year ten thousand and twenty books were delivered, and by purchase and gift the number of volumes was increased to one thousand four hundred and twenty.

A donation of six full volumes of the excellent journal The Athol Transcript was also received from its editor, Mr. W. L. Hill. For the year ending March, 1885, the town appropriation for the library was five hundred dollars, and it was constantly becoming more and more popular and useful. During the following year Mr. L. B. Caswell was the chairman ol the committee, and the appropriation for the purchase of new books was five hundred dollars. One year later Rev. C. P. Lombard was the chairman of the committee, and the library was increasing in size and value. At the date of the last report the library had been removed to a convenient building which had been leased for five years, and the town was continuing its appropriation of five hundred dollars annually for new books. Mrs. M. S. Doaiie was librarian.

Ecclesiastical. - In the earlier part of this history will be found a somewhat detailed account of the action of the proprietors of the township relative to the building of the first and second meeting-houses, and the settlement of the first minister. Rev. James Humphrey, while later mention is made of the assumption of the support of the pastor by the new town of Athol, and of the location and building'of the third meeting-hduse, which stood, as already stated, on the north end of the Common in the upper village.

Not long after the erection of this edifice dis-sensions began to arise in the church, though not at first affecting its relations to its pastor. He, however, was soon involved in the trouble, but the records contain no charge against him whatever. From time to time town-meetings were called for the purjwse of effecting his dismission. The.se eftbrts took form as early as 1779, but the attachment of the people to their pastor was strong, and he was not willing to be dismissed until certain questions relating to the exemption of his estate from taxation, according to law, and the payment of his over-due salary, could be settled. Early in 1782 Mr. Humphrey's proposals for the settlement of difficulties were accepted by the town, and on February 13th of that year he was dismissed. Between five and six years now passed, during which the people w'ere listening to various candidates for settlement, but in July of 1787 the church, by a unanimous vote, called to the pastorate Mr. Joseph Estabrook, a native of Lexington, and graduate of Harvard College. A month later the town voted to concur with the church in extending the call to Mr. Estabrook, offering him an annual salary of £75 in cash and twenty cords of good fire-wood each year, besides the gift of £200 as a settlement.

The conditions of the call proving satisfactory, Mr. Estabrook was ordained November 21, 1787. His long pastorate of between forty-two and forty-three years in Athol was peaceful. He was a man of great natural kindness, and his friendly disposition won and retained the hearts of his people. " Prudence was the one virtue above all others by which he endeavored to govern his ministerial conduct." "Mr. Estabrook would not himself preach upon doctrines which were warmly contested, nor did he wish others to do so in his pulpit."' During the closing years of his ministry elements were smouldering which at length caused a disruption of the church and congregation, but, happily for him, he did not live to see it. It was a time of unrest in the churches, especially in Massachusetts, and divisions were taking place on every hand. To settle a successor to Mr. Estabrook over the whole people of Athol was a delicate and difficult undertaking. As a matter of course, it is no part of the historian's duty in this place to decide upon the merits of the controversy that, about 1880, rent so many of the churches asunder. Mr. (ieorge J. Tillotson, from the Theological Seminary at New Haven, Conn., was soon engaged as a candidate. He was a good scholar and an earnest preacher, but had adopted what were called the Orthodox views of religious doctrine and ministerial responsibility. The rupture occurred when the test of exchanging pulpits with ministers of what were called more liberal sentiments was a|)plied.

A large part of the church seceeded, with the two deacons, Messrs. Elijah Goddard and Elijah Ballard, and organized what has since been known as the Evangelical Church of Athol.

The town was still responsible for the support of the minister of the ancient church, and in October, 1830, it voted unanimously to give Rev. Josiah Moore a call to become the pastor of the First Congregational Church and Society of Athol, stipulating, however, that '' he shall exchange ministerial labors with all the Congregational clergymen in the neighborhood who are of regular standing, and who will exchange with him." Rev. Mr. Moore was succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Linus H. Shaw, Stephen A. Barnard, Crawford Nightingale, E. J. Gerry, S. F. Clark, D. C. O'Daniels, Ira Bailey, W. S. Burton, S. R. Priest, E. P. Gibbs, W. C. Litchfield and Daniel H. Rogan.

.Vt the first communion service of the ancient church after the separation, eight persons were present as members, the great majority having seceded to form the Evangelical Church.

The church edifice, which was erected in 1773, on the north end of the Common, in the upper village, was the meeting-house of the town for fifty-four years, when it was destroyed by fire, the work, as it has always been .supposed, of an incendiary.

The next year, 1828, the present edifice, known as the First Unitarian Church and Town Hall, was built at the cost of between five thousand and six thousand dollars.

This building is one ofa number of churches erected about the same time in the vicinity resembling one another in the general harmony and beauty of their proportions. Reference is here made especially to the Unitarian Churches in Petersham and Templeton, and to what is now the Town Hall in Fitzwilliam, N. H. Modern chuixh architecture has not produced nobler structures in the country towns of Xew England.

In 1847 the Atliol Church was remodeled and made substantially as it now is, the Town Hall occupying the upper story, and the First Congregational Church and Society the lower, as their house for religious worship. Mr. Samuel Sweetser donated the land upon which this edifice stands. This society is usually known as the First Unitarian Society.

Evangelical Church. - As already stated, a divergence in religious views occasioned in 1830 the withdrawing of the great majority of the ancient Congregational Church with the two deacons and the formation of the Evangelical Church and Society in Athol. Articles of Kaith were adopted by the new church in March, 1831. For about two years this organization worshipped in the Town House, but in 1833 erected a church edifice where their present house of worship stands. The original structure was vastly inferior to that which is now an ornament to the village. It had no vestry or rooms for Sabbath-school and social and religious gatherings, except a long, narrow, poorlylighted room under its roof, which it was difficult to reach or to leave.

From the first the congregation was large, and in 1S.")9 had outgrown its church accommodations. In the year just named the edifice was substantially rebuilt. The building was raised about eight feet, giving space for a commodious vestry and other necessary rooms; land was purchased and an addition was made to the rear end of the building, new pews were built, new windows were put in, and a new and beautifully |iroportioned spire erected. The original pews were private property and were appraised and accounted for in the sale of the new pews, which, though a part of the estate of their occupants, are subject to a possible annual tax. The singers were stationed, for a number of years, in the front gallery, at the back of the audience, and as a large majority of the congregation were anxious to see as well as to hear them, the custom of rising and turning around in the pews prevailed longer than in most congregations. Later, the singers were stationed on the left of the pulpit, in front of the audience, and other changes made the rooms below much more pleasant and convenient.

In 1850 the membership of the Evangelical Church was 153 ; iu 1860 it was 230, when it had become the largest church in the Worcester North Conference ; in 1870 it was 206 ; in 1878, 282, and in 1888 it was still the largest in the Conference, numbering 278.

Mr. Chipman, ordained in 1835, is still living iu Bethlehem, Ct.; Mr. Norton resides in Natick, Mass.; Mr. Cutler is a pastor in Essex, Mass.; and Mr. Blake, recently a pastor in Providence, R. I., is just entering upon a new pastorate in Webster, Mass.

Considering its pecuniary means, the contributions of the Evangelical Church for benevolent objects have been liberal, reaching, in 1871, the sum of $1,653.66.

When it was organized in 1831 its deacons were Messrs. Elijah Goddard and Elijah Ballard. Other deacons have served this church as follows : William Cutting and Samuel Sweetser were elected deacons in 1834. Later, this oflice was filled by Samuel Clapp, James I. Goulding, Goodell Goddard, Joab Kendall, Edwin Ellis and J. Sumner Parmenter, all of whom are dead. The deacons more recently elected are Lewis Thorpe, Frank C. Parmenter, Ira Y. Kendall, Frederick Allen, Samuel S. Tower and Elbridge E. Spaulding.

Tlte Baptist Church. - Whitney, in his " History of Worcesjer County," published in 1793, says under the head of Royalston : " There were nine or ten families of the Baptist denomination among the first settlers. At what time they were embodied into the church state is not known to us. A Mr. Elisha Rich was their teacher, but he was never ordained among them. He was succeeded by Mr. Whitman Jacobs, who was installed December 13, 1770. He lived in Athol, to which town a part of his society belongs, and there he now resides.''

The same historian, under the head of Athol, furnishes this information : " There are about ten families of Anabaptists in this town ; nor any stated teacher of this denomination iu the place."

We, tlie Subscribei-s, Being clioscMi ,a Committee by the Society of the [leople calleil antipetlo-baptist, wlio meet together for religious worship on tile Lord's day in Koyalston and .\tllol, to exhibit a list or lists of the names of such persons as Do belong to Siiid Society or ("ongregation, do certify that Martin Morton Dos frequently and usually, when able, attend with us in our Meeting for religious woi-ship on the Lord's day, and we do verily believe is, with respect to the ordinance of liaptism, of the same religious sentiments with us. Dated .\ugnst the 31, 1774. Whitman .I.^cobs, Elder. / Simeon Chamberlain, < Commiilce.^

Upon the same page are certificates to the same effect and couched in similar language, respecting the religious belief of twelve other persons.

I The terms " Antipedo-baptist" and " .\nabaptist " long since disappeared from the reportsof the Baptist denomination, the former signifying a person opposed to infant or child baptism, while the hitter denoted such as maintain the doctrine that those baptized in infancy should berebapiked on making a public profession of religion.

that at that time all those who did not iu this manner " sign off" from the Congregational Church were liable to taxation for its support, church and State being practically united in a considerable part of New England.

From the printed " Historical Sketch " of the Baptist Church in Athol the facts that follow are gleaned. In 1810 the families of this denomination living in Athol were constituted a branch of the Baptist Church of Templeton, and three years later the members of this branch church - twenty-two in number - were recognized as an independent church by a council. For seven yeai-s religious services were main- ' tained, chiefly by the deacons, when one of these, Deacon Briggs, was ordained to the pastoral office October 4, 1820. This pastorate continued thirteen years. In 1828 or '29 the first house of worship was erected in the Upper Village, the same as is now owned and occupied by the Roman Catholic denomination. After a season of considerable trial the second house of worship was erected where the 1 Baptist Church now stands, iu the Lower Village. Since the change of location the growth of the church has been constant and healthy, if not rapid. Two hundred and twelve names are found upon the printed list of members for 1888. !

Fi'om the list of pastors it appears that Rev. Mr. Briggs was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Merriam for six and one-half years. Then followed Rev. D. H. Stoddard, for seven years ; Rev. Ambrose Day, for two years; Rev. J. (Hazier, for two years; Rev. O. Tracy, for one year; Rev. Charles Farrar, for three years; Rev. D. Reid, for a Httle time; Rev. Charles Ayer, for one year and a half; Rev. G. L. Hunt, for three years ; Rev. J. C. Emery, for two years ; Rev. E. M. Bartlett, for four years ; and Rev. J. H. Cox, for six years. Rev. Horace F. Brown, the present pastor, began his work in Athol September, 1887.

In 1886 the church edifice was thoroughly renovated, new pews having been put in and a new and valuable organ furnished. The repairs cost $3,363,85, the organ $1750 and the furnishing $242.56, making a total of $5,356.41. The church was reopened for worship October 1, 1886.

Methodist Episcopal Societies. - The oldest of these is the church at South Athol, which was probably organized about the year 1830. Their house of worship was erected in 1836, and Mrs. Melatia Crossman has now iu her possession the builder's contract. This is an agreement between nine trustees and two carpenters to build a church forty-two by thirty-two feet and fifteen feet from top of sill to plate. The lumber was to be furnished by the trustees, and the doors, windows, sashes and blinds by the contractors. Forty-four pews were to be built " after the style of the Orthodox Church of Athol." The lumber was furnished by subscription, and the contractors were to receive three hundred dollars for their work. At present there are thirty-six pews in this church.

and it has a cottage organ and melodeon for instrumental music. Originally it stood in New Salem, but the changes of territory have brought it into Athol.

In 1839 a pulpit Bible was given to this church by a man in AVendell, with the request that all names of pastors, with dates, should be written in the " Family Record."

Second Advent Society. - This was organized May 17, 1863, with a membership of twenty-eight jiersous. For some time the meetings were held in the Engine House Hall, the preacher being Dr. James Hemanway. In 1873 their house of worship was built, at an expense of about two thousand doll ars. Their first and only settled minister was Roland D. Grant, who was called January 5, 1876, and resigned November 1st of the same year. The officers of the church at present are James Hemanway and J. F. Sawtelle, elders ; George Stockwell and Austin Sheldon, deacons ; O. T. Brooks, treasurer; and H. A. Wilder, clei-k.

The Second Unitarian Church and Society. - This society was legally organized February 22, 1877, the first meeting to consider the matter of such an organization having been held during the previous November. Preaching for the new congregation was established in Starr Hall in F^ebruary, 1877. Rev. J. C. Parsons was installed as pastor June 12, 1877. Land was purchased for the erection of a church edifice at the cost of $4,000, and the church was built at the cost of $7,458.48. The furnishing of the same involved the additional expense of $2,994.50. The hall and vestry were built at the cost of $5,348.49, and furnished for $383.19, making the total cost of the entire property, $19,134.66.

Rev. Mr. Parsons having retired, Rev. Charles P. Lombard was called in March, 1882, and remained as pastor about six years, when he removed to Plymouth, Mass., to take charge of the First Congregational

Prior to 1850 the Catholics of this town were visited at irregular intervals by different priests, but after the above date Athol became a mission and was attended by Rev. M. W. Gibson, of Worcester, who, in 1853, purchased the old Baptist Church in the Upper Village. After this the wants of the people were better supplied. In 1855 Rev. Father Turpin took charge of this mission. About the year 1862 Otter River became a parish with resident priest, Rev. Mr. Bannon, who visited Athol monthly. Succeeding him were Rev. Messrs. Orr (now of Cambridge), the two by the name of McManus (since dead), Robert Welch (uow of Worcester), R. .J.Donovan (since dead) and Joseph Coyne, who attended three times each month till March, 1882, when the present incumbent. Rev. E. F. Martin, was appointed resident rector. Attached to the newly-formed parish are the Catholics of Orange, who have services every Sunday. This denomination has in Athol a property costing about twelve thousand dollars, four acres of land lying centrally between the two villages; also a basement roofed over until there are sufficient means to build the superstructure ; also a substantial parochial residence. The Catholic population of Athol numbers about nine hundred, the majority of whom are permanent residents, owning their houses and highly esteemed by their fellow-townsmen of all denominations.

The first Episcopal services held in this town were in 1864, and the meetings were in the Town Hall. Rev. Messrs. French, of Greenfield, and Denham, of South Boston, were among the officiating clergymen at that time. Bishop F. D. Huntington, Rev. W. H. Huntington and others officiated later, and Septem- Vier 3, 1866, St. John's Parish was organized and three months later was incorporated. Rev. James D. Reid was at once chosen as rector, but after laboring for a year he removed from town. From that time till 1881 but few services were held, but when, in the autumn of that year. Rev. J. S. Beers was elected diocesan missionary, the interest in this organization was revived under his faithful labors. At the present time there are about sixty communicants; the Town Hall is engaged for six months or until a chapel or church edifice can be erected, while a lot for this has been secured on the corner of Park Avenue and Allen Street, towards which Mr. Hollon Farr has generously contributed two hundred dollars. It is expected that the building will be commenced be made so that, for the present, the same rector can officiate in Athol and Winchendon. The clerk is H. M. Burleigh ; Mrs. E. J. G. Parmenter is treasurer ; C. W. Sibley, assistant treasurer ; and Mrs. H. M. Burleigh, organist.

Chapter Cxxxvii Miscei,I,Aneous

The Mu^lee's River Bank. - This bank commenced business September 12, 1854, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, which, later, was increased to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Its presidents have been : John Boy nton, 1854; Seth Hapgood, 1855-64 ; Isaac Stevens, 1864-65; and Alpheus Harding, from 1865 to the present time. Cashiers : Merrick E. Ainsworth, for two years ; Alpheus Harding, Jr., 1856-65 ; Albert L. Newman, 1865-81; William D. Luey, 1881, incumbent with William B. Harding, assistant. January 12, 1865, it became Miller's River National Bank. Directors : A. Harding, John G. Mudge, George T. Johnson, Rodney Hunt, A. L. Newman, George Whitney, H. R. Stowell, George D. Bates and "William D. Luey. This bank has paid semi-annual dividends ever since its organization, and for the last twenty years these have been at the rate of twelve per cent, annually, amounting to three hundred and ."ixty thousand dollars. The reserve fund is one hundred thousand dollars.

Athol Savings Bank. - This bank commenced business in 1867. Presidents, Charles C. Bassett, 1867-82, and John G. Mudge (incumbent), chosen in 1882. Alpheus Harding has been its treasurer from the beginning ; Assistant Treasurer, William D. Luey. It has always paid semi-annual dividends. Its standing is: Deposits, -*!, 357,817.09; guarantee fund, $40,000 ; undivided earnings, 129,763.38. Directors: A. Harding. J. G. Mudge, G. T. Johnson, Rodney Hunt, James G. Smith, J. C. Hill, James M. Lee, Solon W. Lee, Lucian Lord, O. T. Brooks, George N. Kendall, Lewis Thorpe and Henry R. Stowell.

Athol National Bank. - This bank began business September 15, 1874, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. Its first Board of Directors consisted of Thomas H. Goodspeed, Solon W. Lee, Lyman W. Hapgood, Edwin Ellis, James M. Lee, Washington H. Amsden and Gilbert Southard, of Athol ; S. S. Farrar, of South Royalston ; Edward Powers, of Phillipston ; D. C. Paige, of Petersham ; and Isaac Brown, of Templeton.

H. Goodspeed, O. A. Fay, J. D. Holbrook, C. A. Chapman, James M. Lee, F. C. Parmenter and James G. Smith, of Athol; Isaac Brown, of Terapleton ; H. C. Longly, of Dana ; and J. H. Lee, of Boston ; with one vacancy.

The president of the bank is Thomas H. Goodspeed and the casliier C. A. Chapman. The amount of loans is sixty-five thousand dollars, the amount of deposits is ninety-four thousand dollars and the amount of surplus and profits is thirteen thousand dollars.

Connection with the World. - Athol has good carriage-roads leading to all the neighboring towns, and railroad counection with most of them and with the world at large. The Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad (from Fitchburg to Greenfield) was opened in 1847. This is now an important link in the great Fitchburg Railroad system. It has now a double track, and affords excellent facilities for travel and business. In years gone by, especially after snow-storms, close connections with other roads were very uncertain.

The Athol and Enfield Railroad, which lias since become the Springfield and Northeastern Railroad, was opened in part in 1S7L This road now belongs to the Boston and Albany Railroad system, and opens an important outlet for business, and will probably become more and more valuable to the town.

The spacious and convenient railroad station at Athol, costing about thirty thousand dollars, was erected in 1873. At this station some of the passenger trains stop for refreshments. There is a railroad station at South Athol, on the Athol Branch of the Boston and Albany Railroad.

The office in "The Factory Village," later "The Depot Village," and now Athol, was opened in 1849 in a small house, a little west of the Methodist Church. Two years later Mr. S. E. Twitchell established it in a small room in the Pequoig House. Mr. Hunt kept it for a time in the ell of the same hotel, and then removed it to his music store.

Mr. Lord having erected Masonic Block in 1874, reserved in it spacious and convenient quarters for the post-office. The present names of the two offices were given them June 8, 1875.

From the list of postmasters and their appointment as given above, it appears that relatively the postoffice in Athol was established quite early, for towards the close of the last century nearly the whole of Worcester County was served by the office at Worcester. In the 31assaclmsetts Spy, 1801, the postmaster of Worcester advertised letters for nearly all the towns in the county and for some of the towns in adjoining counties.

The Worcester Northwest Agricultural and Mechanical Society. - For some years previous to 1867 annual fairs were held in Athol, at which the exhibitions were highly creditable and awakened a great amount of interest. These gatherings, which were largely attended, doubtless prepared the way for the incorporation of the society named above. This was established in the town of Athol in 1867, and issued its first report in that year. Its officers at that time were as follows: Calvin Kelton, president; Josiah Haven and J. F. Packard, vice-presidents ; Thomas H. Goodspeed, treasurer ; E. T. Lewis, secretary ; and L. W. Hapgood, Benjamin Estabrook, F. F. Fay, C. H. Baldwin, A. G. Strattou and E. J. Sage, trustees, all of Athol, except Mr. Baldwin, wh<j belonged in Phillipston. The exhibition of horses and farm stock took place on the Common, while that of fruits, vegetables, flowers and manufactured articles was in the vestry of the Orthodox Church. Premiums amounting to about one hundred and ten dollars were awarded. The list of members contained the names of eighty-five men and women of Athol and of nineteen others, belonging mostly in Phillipston, Royalston and New Salem.