Berlin Town (part 2 of 2)

Town rivalries have talien a very different turn in later days. A town of a thousand people on moderate territory, known, as it were, each to all, is a more enjoyable community than a like number mixed with ten thousand in a city. The drawback to our "hill towns'' is the financial inability to support religious institutions. State, county and town taxes in Berlin in 1887 were nine thousand dollars - say ten dollars per capita. To support three churches besides, lays upon less than one-half of the people about three thousand more. So that the half who do support the churches must needs pay nearly as much for this as for all their assessments besides. "Help, Lord," when "the godly man ceaseth.''

How so many boys of the lar»e families, sixty years ago, could get a living by settling down iu the town is unaccountable. Hardly a mechanic ever hired a man. Old farms were divided. Some were "made up." A carpenter never built by " contract." So much, "by the day." A single blacksmith in each of the four districts, or less, was sufBcient, and he, perhaps, had a farm also. Probably there was not, sixty years ago, a business in town that required a "hired man," except farming. The mills, in flush of their season, had extra help. A single tannery grew so as to need two or three men part of the year. This gradually died out,' yet Berlin gained in population, relatively, with Bolton and Lancaster.

We should have had the present Old Colony Railroad running through our centre. But towns were not then permitted to invest, as in the start of the Central Massachusetts. Our twenty thousand in the Central Massachusetts, had it been put into the Old Colony, would have brought it to our doors, and have been a rich investment. It would have brought the rail to South Berlin, to the Centre; and to West Berlin as now. Individuals could not raise the money. To him that hath shall be given. Alas ! for him that hath not. Berlin, with other towns on the line, invested heavily in the Central Massachusetts, and heavily has it borne upon us. After bearing it some fifteen years we sold at less than thirty-three per cent. This rail has come to our centre, but not as the Old Colony would have come. We do not complain. Above all, as a fellow-citizen, Mr. Chandler Carter has lifted our indebtedness. Few know how the smaller towns have to struggle.

Before the war Berlin had several shoe-shops of moderate capacity. In these work was done for the larger houses in Hudson and Marlboro'. The war changed the order of business by concentration. Our shops were vacated.

After the war and loss in population of about two hundred (twenty-two in the array), Berlin attempted an incorporated shoe manufactory by small shares, sufficient to employ a hundred hands. I'arker Brothers, Charles E. and John H., of Boston, were succeeding hopefully. "The Boston Fire" crippled them badly. Another, at home, laid the Berlin structure in ashes. Thus we were put back again, save a small establishment still in force. So the population has decreased by removal of families to centres of business. Berlin is shut down to farming and horticulture. Summer boarders have s«-t in upon the town, with the prospect of increase and remuneration. We claim that the town is unexcelled in pleasant resorts and summer drives, by any town within the same distance from Boston.

Military. - As a town Berlin has, of course, no part in the wars till 1812 and the Rebellion. The Revolution had just terminated when we came upon the stage. Our soldiers are in the records of Bolton and Lancaster, and there imperfectly. But of those who survived, Berlin citizens should be on record as such. Many of the veterans of the old French and Indian Wars, 1744-50 and 17-55-63, were still living 1784.

Of some three hundred soldiers on record in Lancaster in the French and Indian Wars, about twenty of them are of Berlin territory. Of some forty to fifty names in the Revolution, on Bolton records, nearly one-third were of Berlin territory. The Bolton lists have been searched out from old papers recently discovered. No entire list is known or attainable.

Among the foremost in military service were the Bruces. Most of them on Berlin records were more or less in the Revolutionary War. Abraham (traditionally) was at the capture of Burgoyne. John Hudson, father of Hon. Charles Hudson, had eight sons in the war of 1776-83.

Berlin in the Rebellion is fully on record by a published memorial address a'nd a memorial hall, with memorial tablets and photographs. A Post of the G. A. R. keeps well alive the heroic spirit of their fallen comrades. The soldiers' memorial day has become an established anniversary. We count it among our educational institutions.

The tone and temper of Berlin in the outbreak of the war was one and the same with all patriotic citizens. The news of Sumter was read from the stagebox of our expressman before he alighted. A company were iu waiting for such news as might come.

A meeting was soon called, addresses made and resolutions offered. Names were pledged for enlistment. The call came speedily and was readily responded to. Our population was short of eleven hundred. We sent into the war one hundred and thirty-nine men. Twenty-two fell in battle or died in the service. Captain Christopher S. Hastings was our only commissioned officer. He raised a company for himself, though exempt, by years, from military duties. His company was at the battle of Fredericksburg, at Jackson and tlie siege of Vicksburg. Enfeebled by small-pox, he died of malarial fever at Mound City, Illinois. Our death-list besides was Thomas Rathburn, Charles H. Maynard, Alonzo F. Howe, Silas F. Jillson, Silas E. Goddard, George Ira Carter, Hollis S. Johnson, Nathan B. GarfieId,William H. Coburn, James Barry, Samuel A. Snow, George H. Bowers, Edwin J. Bigelow, Rufus H. Williams, Henry P. Rich, Tyler Paine, Homer F. Stone, Lafayette Warden, Watsou Wilson, Charles 0. Starkey, Lemuel Gott, Jr., Ezra Bartlett, Levi Holder.

The question of what memorial, commemorative of our fallen patriots, we should adopt, was considerately weighed. Needing a new town-house, with modern conveniences, a "Memorial Hall" was decided upon as that which would be most enjoyed by the citizens, being also especially appropriate for the use of the surviving soldiers. In 1870 the house was dedicated with becoming services. Memorial Hall contains memorial tablets with the record of tach fallen soldier. Each has also a good photograph likeness hung by the tablet. The Grand Army of the Republic have taken commendable care of the hall and its treasures. Annually the town appropriates fifty dollars for " Memorial Day." This has become an established anniversary, an educating force for the people, as well as for the children.

The Grand Army of the Republic, as to Post 54, of Berlin, is sadly diminishing. But the Sons of the Veterans are already organized. May the Grand Army of the Republic long survive ! Our last survivor of the War of 1S12, many years seated on the platform on Memorial Day, died 1886, - John D. Merrill, eighty-eight years.

At the annual March meeting, 1884, Hon, William Bas-elt made a motion for the observance of the town centennial. The motion prevailed, and a committee was appointed to carry the vote into effect.

The day passed off happily, though one of the hottest of the season, September 10th. Es-Governor Boutwell, who represented the town in the proposed amendment to the State Constitution, 1853, was present and added much to the day. Rev. A. P. Marvin, historian of so manv towns, and of the county itself, very much enriched the historical bill of fare. Adjacent towns were represented, and many former residents and natives responded to the sentiments of the day. Altogether, it was a day of successful interest, though very little parade or show was attempted. Such occasions are becoming more and more important, though many towns allow them to go by in indolent forgetfulness.

Parish, Puecinct And Town Officers, 1778-1888

Jitslices of the Peacf of the town of Berlin (from 1778 to the present time, 1888). - Hon. Samuel Baker, Ephraim Fairbank, Amos Johnson, Levi Merriam, Solomon Howe, Jonathan D. Merriam, Thomas Brigham, Asa Sawyer, Amos Sawyer, Wm. A. Howe, Jobiah Babcock, Lewis Sawyer, Albert Babcock, Josiah E. Sawyer, Wm. Bassett, Pliny B. Southwick, Amory A. Bartlett, Samuel M. Haynes, AbelW. Longley.

Biographical

Rev. William Addisou Houghton, son of Caleb and Susannah (Sawyer) Houghton, of the seventh generation, from John Houghton, born in England, and who died in Lancester 16S4, was born in Berlin, June 2, 1812, on homestead never in hands of any but the Houghtons (save one mere change). His parents died in his early childhood. At twenty-two years he began preparations for college ; graduated at Yale, 1840; also at Yale Divinity School, 1843; was settled the same year over the Congregational Church of Northboro', with which he had uniied in 1813; resigned in 1851 ; resident in Berlin 1852 ; installed over the Congregational Church in Berlin, October 25, 1853; resigned, October 25, 1878, after a pastorate of twenty-five years. His wife, Mary Grace, was daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Stow) Howe, of Berlin. Their only daughter, Lucinda Howe, married, on the silver wedding day of her parents at their home, Edward Howe Hartshorn, son of Dr. Edward and Lucy E. (Howe) Hartshorn, May 28, 1869. Wife Lucinda, died of pneumonia, December 26, 1876, at twenty-six years. She left nvo children. The husband married, second. Miss Louisa Southgate, daughter of Rufus S. and Louisa (Blood) Hastings.

Mrs. Houghton died, October 16, 1882. Son-in-law, Hartshorn, died, January 8, 1887, at forty-four years. He left five children ; three by second marriage. All have been born and nurtured up to date in the same ministerial homestead which was established by Rev.