Framingham City (part 2 of 2)

Fay, enlarged the buildings, procured stock, etc., at a total cost of $4964.17. The house was burnt in 1841, and the present more commodious one erected. In 1868 George Phipps gave to the town the sum of $10,000, " To be held as a perpetual fund, called the Phipps Poor Fund, the annual income of which is to be distributed by the selectmen, at their discretion, for the support of the worthy poor of the town out of the almshouse." In his will Mr. Phipps left the additional sum of $10,000, the annual income of which is to be expended under the same conditions as the first gift, said fund now amounting to $20,000.

War of the Rebellion, 1861-65. - The action of Framingham on the breaking out of the Rebellion was i)rompt and decisive. Upon the first tidings of an attack upon the Goverment of the United States many of pur young men enrolled themselves in the active militia; and by the end of April, 1861, nearly a full company was rai.sed and ready for organization and equipment.

May 6, 1861, a town-meeting w.ts held to act on the following articles : P'irst, " To see if the town will appropriate money to constitute a fund to provide a suitable outfit for such military companies as may be organized in this town and accepted by the State, and to furnish all necessary aid to the families of members of the companies, residents of the town, during such time as they shall be absent in the service of their country." Article second, " To see if the town will choose a committee to receive and expend said fund."

"Whereat a grave and extraordinary emergency now exists ; whereby tlie security of our beloved government is threatened by a portion of the people who are hound and sworn to support, defend and obey it : And whereat, in the prosecution of its designs, the rebellious portion have resorted to the employment of armed force ; have unlawfully and forcibly seized and do now hold much property belonging to the common goverunient, and do generally disown and set it at defiance ; And whereas, we, the citizens of this town, do profess, and are ready to maintain our unswerving loyalty to the government obtained by our fathers by the sacrifice of their blood and treasure, and handed down to us as a sacred and inestimable gift, under which we have enjoyed those blessings which make life happy : - We have assembled together this day, to take such measures as are in our power, to assist in preserving and maintaining tor ourselves and our children, this goodly heritage.

"Voledi. To choose a committee of nine, to take charge of and expend the said fund ; and C. C. Esty, Oliver Bennett, Wni. H.Carter, David Fiske, Joseph Fuller, George A. Trowbridge, Francis Jacques, VVm. Hustings and Heury Cowles wore chosen that committeee."

It is worthy of notice that the above provision for aid to the families of soldiers is seventeen daj's prior to any action by the Commonwealth.

The militia comp.any proceeded to perfect its organization, and continued in active drill till the 24th of May, when it was ascertained that it would not be received into any existing regiments. And the Legislature, in extra session, having made provision for the miuutenance of the militia at the expense of the Commonwealth, the town's aid was suspended, and the company disbanded. Most of its members, however, enlisted for the war in existing or projected regiments.

Upon the 4th of July, 1862, the President issued a call for more volunteers for three years' service. The (luota of this town was forty-four. At a meeting of our citizens a committee was chosen to obtain subsiriptions for a fund to pay a bounty of $100 to each volunteer who should enlist under this call. Fortyeight subscribers contributed the sum of $4700, and the same was paid out in bounties.

*' Vt^led To reimburse from the town treasury to the contributors the Buni of $4700, already advanced to pay bounties. Voted, that there be paid from the town treasury, $100 to each volunteer, wlien mustered into service, as a bounty. Voted, that the sum of SIS.OOU be a^jpropriated for the purposes above named, to be expended uuder the direction of the selectmen.*'

The contributors of the $4700 fund held a meeting September 3, 1802, and voted fliat the said sum of money now reimbursed by the town, be placed in the hands of a committee, to be called the Citizens' Military Committee, to be expended at their discretion, for the promotion of enlistments, and for the relief of soldiers and their families.

At the March meeting in 1863 the town " voted, that tlie selectmen be instructed to bring home and inter the bodies of such soldiers as may die in the service, at the town's expense ;" and directed the trustees of the Edgell Grove Cemetery to set apart a suitable lot for that purpose, to be called the Soldiers' Lot.

In addition to the above-named money expenditure, the Ladies' Association, Auxiliary to the Sanitary Commission, were active and generous in preparing and forwarding boxes filled with articles of necessity and comfort, for the sick and wounded soldiers, in the barracks and hospitals. Such associations were organized at the Centre, at Saxonville and at South Framingham. These blessed ministries of love were above all price.

District Court. - The Southern Middlesex District Court was established in 1874. It meets daily at the court-room in South Framingham. Justice, C. C. Esty ; Special Justices, L. H. Wakefield, Walter Adams. Judge Esty was succeeded by Willis A. Kingsbury in 1885.

Camp-Meeting Association. - October 2, 1871, Rev. W. E. Clark and E. D. Winslow purchased forty-five acres of land, including Mt. Wayte, at the northerly end of Farm Pond, and laid out the ground for preaching-stand, tents and cottages. The first "camp-meeting" was held in August, 1872. The Chautauqua Assembly now holds its annual sessions on these grounds.

State Muster Grounds. - These grounds, situated on Pratt's Plain, at the junction of Eastern Avenue and Concord Street, were purchased by iheCommonwealth in 1873. The lot covers about 115 acres.

The Union Street Railway Company was organized in 1888. The track extends from the Centre to the South Village, and from there to Saxonville.

Professional Men. - Lawyers. - In early times our people sought legal advice, and put their suits in charge of lawyers located at or near the county-seats. Rev. Mr. Swift was often employed to draw up wills, as was his successor, Mr. Bridge. Thomas Dniry, Joshua Hemenway, Edward Goddard, Col. Buckminster, senior and junior, held the oflice of justice of the peace, and wrote deeds and other official papers. Mr. Goddard was well educated, and understood the principles of law, as well as the forms of legal proceedings, and was often employed by the town in the prosecution and defence of suits. The same was true of Joseph Buckminster, Jr. Joseph Haven, Josiah Stone, Jona. Maynard severally held commissions as justice of the peace, and did a large official business. Mr. Stona was appointed special judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1782.

Eli Bullard, (H. U. 1787) opened a lawyer's oflScein Framingham in 1791, and was in practice till his death. Josiah Adam.s, (H. U. 1801) admitted to the bar 1807, was here till his death. William Buckminster, (class of 1809 H. U.) admitted to the bar 1811; at Vassalboro', Me., till 1822, then in this town till his death. Lawson Kingsbury, (D. C. 1808) w!is here from 1814 till his death. Omen S. Keith (H. U. 1826,) was in practice here 1830-38; removed to Boston. Charles R. Train .(B. U. 1837), in practice

In ulti*ni|itiii{; to Hpeak of Soulli I'Vumiiif^hain, the writer links the conHiilcrate jiiclf^nietit of tliowe of hm iieighhors wlio are nativew of the town and who, consequently, must he better ponted upon the condition of things liere a quarter of a century ago and more. No attempt is made in this chapter to treat of the earlier days, that portion of tlie history of the wliole town of J'Vamingham l)eing left in the well-qualified hands of the Itev. J. H. Temple. This chapter deals only with the more modern develo[)ments, and a picture of the phice as it is to-day, and is written by one ol her busiest toilers, an adopted son whoso love for and ])ride in the old as well as the new town, is scarcely second to any.

Twenty-live years ago South Kraminghaui liad already shown signs of an ambition to be something more than the unjiretentious farming village of earlier days. The IJoston & Worcester (now the Uoston it Albany) liailroail had been opened in 18.'{.'), the branch toSaxonville in IH-it'i, tlie branch to Milford in 1847, the branch to Knimingham Centre in 1800. 'I'hus more than ten years before the war the village bad become a point of some size on the railroad mai) of the State. lUit it was destined to become at an early day one of the greatest of New England railroad centres. The value of a railway running north and south, across the several main lines east and west, was early seen, for such a line would be a great distributing road for ports to the south, like New lli'dford, l''all River and Newport, besides beluga feeder to the roads with which it intersected. So it was that in 18(15 the railroad from South Kramingham to Kitchburg was com|)leted ; that from South Framingham to Mansfield in 1870; and tlial from Framingham to Ijowell in 1871. The last three named roads form a part of the (Jld Colony system ; the first three narfjfcd are owned by the lioston & Albany. Still another road is projected by the Old Colony Company, this being a direct line from South Framingham to Hoston, by way of Uedham or West Koxbury. The last annual meeting of the Old Colony stockholders authorized the directors to proceed with this construction. To-day there are living in South Framingham about 2-')0 railroad employees, besides their families. There are over one hundred trains daily, passenger and freight, arriving and leaving here. The elegant stone Boston & Albany i)assonger station was built at a cost of over 100,000. The freight-yards of both systems are large ones, that for the Old Colony being an especially busy place, as trains are broken and made uf> here for all Southeastern Massachusetts. The Old ( Colony brick round-house eontains twelve locomotives, and is already too small for the business here. These unrivaled railroad advantages account very largely for the wonderful growth of the place, and promise great things for its future. The Boston & Albany management is now rapidly pushing its four parallel tracks westward from Boston to South Kramingham. The agent in (diarge of the Boston & Albany interests here is C. T. Boynton ; the (Jid Colony agent is (i. F. Amadon.

Years ago South Framingham was a favorite pictnic resort, but with the exception of charming Lakeview, most of its attractive groves have had to give way to modern improvements and growth. To-day the town is one of the most beautiful to be found anywhere. With the exception of the business section, most of its surface is undulating, and through it like great silken tlireads wind the Sudbury Itiver and its tributaries. Nestling within its borders are four beautiful great ponds, named resiiectively Farm, Waushakum, Ijcarned's and Oleason's. From the first two the city of Boston takes part of its water supply. The (own has been as healthful as beautiful. A few years ago the Water Hoard of thecity of Boston, building a conduit across Farm I'ond, drained off the pond, leaving the bottom exposed to the sun all summer. The consequence was a small e|)idemic of malaria, which lasted lor two years or so, but with that brief excejjtion good health has been the rule here. This, with the natural attractions of the place, brought many people to reside here, even before the development of the place as a business centre.

Thk Puiimc Scuool.s have been excellent and with excellent supervision, liaving had a superintendent for many years, Dr. O. W. Collins filling that position at present. The School Committee consists of six members, two being elected each year for three years. The number of scholars in town in 1880, between the ages of five and fifteen years, was 1 114, and that number has gradually increaseil from year to year, until for tlie school year ending April 1, 1800, the number was 2009. The rapid growth of the town the past eight years, conseijuent upon the establishment of several factories here, brought in some who hail not had the advantages of an early e<lucation, and for these an evening school has been maintained the past three winters, the average attendance nightly being about fifty. In addition to the high schools, the State Normal School at Framingham Centre offers excellent advantages to our young people,

Hastingsville, just beyond the State muster-field, on the road to Saxonville, taking its name from the Hastings family, who lived and did business there, was one of the older settlements. After the coming of the Para Rubber Factory came the dwellings in what is known as the Para District. About a mile away, on the broad acres of Loker Brothers, has grown up, since the beginning of 1884, what is known as Lokerville, with over 100 handsome cottages, a chapel, school-house and store. Just over the Sherborn line, near the " Para," is Sherbornville, a collection of new houses, accommodating about 300 people, all on account of the Para business. Around the boot-factory has grown up a bustling centre, with a school-house and store. This is called Coburnville, named for a member of the boot manufacturing firm, Mr. N. P. Coburn. Around the three now rattan industries is growing up a handsome settlement called Prattville, in compliment to Mr. Wellington N. Pratt, who owned most of the laud and is enterprisingly developing it. Mr. R. M. Everit, of New Haven, Conn., has laid out many acres into handsome streets and house-lots, and so has Jlr. T. L. Sturtevant and Mr. John H. Goodell. The sections owned by them are being rapidly built upon.

South Framingham has gained rapidly in population and valuation during the last ten or fifteen years. The growth of South Framingham practically measures the growth of the town, for, substantially, the whole of the gain has been in this village. In 1875 the population of the town was 5167 ; in 1880 it was 6235 ; in 1885 it was 8275 ; by the census of 1890 it is nearly 10,000, and very few towns in the State are growing faster. By the census of 1885 it was shown that South Framingham's ratio of gain, taken by itself, would place it at the head of the list of towns in the State in the percentage of gain. In eight years following 1880 the ratable polls had increased 1000. The number of cows in town is just about the same as ten years ago, but the gain in horses is 300. The gain in real estate valuation for the past ten years, consequent on the great amount of building, has averaged over $250,000 yearly, the gain for the past year being $325,000. The gain in personal property has been nearly .$100,000 yearly, making the total gain in South Framingham for the past ten years about $350,000 yearly. For this time the average of the tax rate is $11.60 on $1000, and this, notwithstanding the building of several new school-houses, a new engine-house, a very complete new Fire Department, new stonecrusher, many new streets and bridges, the grading of streets for the introduction of the street railroad, the introduction of electric street-lights and a hydrant service, evening schools, new police station, etc., all of which have been paid for in full.

The census of 1890 shows Framingham to be, with one exception, the largest town in Middlesex County, only the eight cities in the county being larger. The IiCgislature of 1890 passed a bill allowing the annexation of a part of Sherborn, bordering on South Framingham, to this town ; but the town, fearing the possibility of a large expense in draining that territory on account of its contiguity to Boston's water supply, declined to accept the act. Had the territory been annexed, Framingham's population would thus have been increased from three hundred to four hundred ; but to all intents and purposes, except for voting, this population is now a part of South Framingham, doing its trading and working here, and being situated over two miles from Sherborn Village.

The last Representative to the State Legislature from this village was Joel C. Clark, who served in 1879. The town has sent a Representative every year, but he has always come from one of the other villages. The Hon. Edward J. Slattery was elected to the Slate Senate from here, serving in 1887 and 1888. The town selectmen elected from this village since 1860 have been : O. W. Livermore, '60-61 ; Oilman Fuller, '62-64, '74-76; Andrew Coolidge, '65-70; Willard Howe, '71-72 ; E. L. Sturtevant, '73 ; Eleazar Goulding, '77-81, '83; B. T. Manson, '81-82 ; B. T. Thompson, '82; George E. Cutler, '84-85; J. H. Goodell, '86-89; C. N. Fuller, '86, '88; A. M. Eames, George O. Bent, '88-89; R. M. French, '90; C. P. Knowlton, '90.

The present Senatorial district comprises the city of Marlboro' and the towns of Framingham, Natick, Hopkinton, Holliston, Ashland, Sherborn, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, Maynard.

The town is in the Ninth Congressional District and the Sixth Councilor District. On account of its central location and easy accessibility by railroad, many of the political conventions are held here. The working committees of the two principal political parties in town have usually been large, with subcommittees in the different villages. As a rule, the citizens have not adhered strictly to party lines in their selection of town officials, although occasionally this rule has been departed from. At the present time the Republican and Democratic parties in town are of nearly the same size, while the Prohibitionists have a modest representation. When the State Legislature authorized large towns to establish the precinct system of voting in fall elections, Framingham adopted the change in 1886, and found it a most agreeable one. The town has four precincts.

For a number of years a slight effort had been made to abolish the board of three road commissioners, who had full charge of the work upon the roads and bridges of the town, but it was not until the present year - 1890 - that this movement was successful, and the provisions of the statute enacted by last year's Legislature, allowing the selectmen to appoint a sup- erintendent of streets, was accepted and the road commission abolished. The selectmen appointed Mr. William H. Walsh superintendent of streets, he having been one of the road commissioners for some years past. Within two years the town officers' headquarters have gradually been removed to South Framingham, and now they are all located here. The time is looked forward to as being not far away when Framingham will apply for a city charter, and many of her most conservative citizens believe that the time has come when that form of government is best adapted to her needs. From time to time the agitation for a division of the county, or the formation of a new county out of two or three others, has been agitated, and Framingham has been designated as the most convenient place for the county-seat. The new county may never materialize, but South Framingham will continue to be the natural centre of many miles of territory in this vicinity.

The property in town exempted from taxation, by the report of the assessor in 1888, is appraised at $125,200. This amount is made up of the churches, grounds of the Camp-Meeting Association, Middlesex South Agricultural Grounds, and Home for the Aged. In addition to this is the property owned by the Commonwealth, including the State Normal School property and the State Muster Field.

The property owned by the town, as ai)praised by the assessors, exclusive of cemeteries, amounts to about $150,000. This does not include the sewerage system, which cost $1.50,000, and which is bonded. With the exception of the latter, the town is practically free from debt, beside having several funds left by public benefactors. The Col. Moses Edgell fund for the benefit of the Public Library amounts to $47,000, while the Joseph Phipps fund for the worthy poor of the town is .$20,000.

The Sherborn Reformatory Prison for Women may be said almost to be one of the institutions of this town, since it is located upon the dividing line between this village and Sherborn, a part of the property being each side of the line. The South Framingham railroad and mail facilities are used, but the institution will probably be referred to at more length by Or. Ulanchard, in his chapter on Sherborn.

The town has had a Board of Health for years, although that board has had comparatively little to do. Special attention has been paid to vaccination, to drainage, to infectious and contagious diseases that might be spread through the schools, and regulations have been maintained and circulars issued concerning small-pox, scarlet and typhoid fevers, measles, diphtheria, etc. Until within four months the board for the past few years has consisted of Dr. Z. B. Adams, Dr. J. J. Boynton, F. H. Sprague.

A Free Public Reading-Roora is maintained by the town, being located now in Nobscot Block. This is well supplied with magazines and papers, and from it books are distributed from the main Public Library at the Centre Village, which is one of the oldest free public libraries in the world, and which contains about 15,000 volumes.

The town is lighted by electric lights, both arc and incandescent, the latter being deemed the more satisfactory upon streets much shaded by trees.

The public buildings owned by the town are not as a rule conspicuous for size or elegance. Some of the school-houses are well adapted to the demands upon them, as are the engine-houses. At both the Centre and Saxonville villages there is an old-fashioned town hall, comfortable for ordinary gatherings, but both totally inadequate to accommodate the voters of the town at town-meeting times. From time to time the project of building a large town hall at South Framingham has been discussed, but the wise view has been that it were better to wait a little while longer, when the rapidly increasing population should make a city of the town, for then a city hall will be required - a building altogether different in size and arrangement from u town hall.

Business Blocks. - Wavcrky Block was built in 1851, and for that time it was an especial credit to the town, containing stores, offices, and a public hall. An addition was afterwards built. The block had a slated pitched roof, with cupola, but in the summer of 1889 fire nearly consumed it, and it was rebuilt with a flat roof. It stands in a conspicuous position, opposite the railroads, on the south side, and on the corner of Irving Square. It is owned by Henry Bullard, of Holliston.

Nohscot Block, a commanding wooden structure, was built in 1871 by P. G. Rice for Wm. A. & George Rice, and is now owned by E. C. Rice, these all being brothers. It is located near the railroads on the north side, contains stores, offices, the District Courtroom, and two banking-rooms. During the present year it has been much improved.

Union Block, situated opposite the railway station, on the south side, was built in 1870 by Geo. W. Bigelow and C. C. Esty, principally for the wheel business. It was afterwards let for other purposes, and finished off for stores, oflices and other business apartments, in which way it is now occupied.

The Odd Fellows' Building/ Association set the example of building with brick when it erected its handsome block on the south side of Irving Square in 1876. Besides the Odd Fellows' apartments, which have also been let to other societies, the block contains stores and offices.

In 1882 Mr. H. Gardner Eames built Elmwood Block, just south of Odd Fellows' Block. This is a wooden structure with stores on the street level, and

The old Liberty Block was remodeled in 1884 by the owners, Messrs. Cutler, Eanney and Olaik, and a handsome new brick annex was built. This is on the north side of ilie railroad and at present the postoffice is located there, besides Pythian Hall, stores, offices, club-rooms and bankiug-rooms.

Within a year past a new era in the construction of business blocks has been ushered in, in the building of some handsome new brick blocks of modern arrangement.

Joshua Smith took the initiative by building the largest block in town, a sustantial four-story brick structure with brown-stone trimmings. It faces the railroads, on the south side, overlooking Irving Square. In it are six large stores, Masonic Hall and banquet ball, club-rooms and offices. It is heated by the hot water system and lighted with gas and electric lights. It has just been finished.

The Tribune Building t'oUowed close after the Smith Block, and is nearly completed at this writing. It is of four stories, of brick with brown-stone trimmings, and overlooks Irving Square. Besides the Tribune newspaper quarters, there are four large stores, the largest public hall in the place, next to the Opera- House, offices, clul)-rooms, photograph studio and public bath-rooms. It is heated by steam and lighted by g!is and electric lights.

The Manson Building Company is now building on the north side of the railroad, opposite Nobscot Block, a handsome brick block of four stories, also to have brown-stone trimmings. This block will have four large stores, two public or society halls, banking-rooms and offices, one of the features being a first-class fireproof and burglar-proof vault.

Public Halls. - Of tliese there is no lack. Largest in si/.e is the Opera-House, iind following in the order of their size comes Union Hall in the Tribune Building, Masonic Hall in Smith fjlock. Odd Fellows' Hall in Odd Fellows' Block, Pythian Hall in Liberty Block, Hibernian Hall on Howard Street, the two new halls in the Manson Building, Nobscot Hall, vised as the District Court-room, G. A. R. Hall in Irving Block, St. Stephen's Hall in Liberty Block.

Hotels. - These may be enumerated as follows : Old Colony House, Winthrop House, South Framingham Hotel, Everit House, Coburn House, Procter House, Grant House.

Framingham. It was then called " Franklin No. 3." Along in the forties it was exchanged for a new tub of the S. & D. Thayer make, and this new accession was dubbed "Niagara No. 3." This tub was run until 1859, when it was exchanged for another newtub of the Hunneman build, and this was also christened " Niagara No. 3." The company which manned the " Franklin " numbered thirty, but there were forty-five members in the last " Niagara"' company. When, in 1885, the street water hydrant service was completed for use, the old Niagara hand-tub was sent to Nobscot (North Framingliam), and out of the old company two new companies were organized - one the hose company, the other the hook-and-ladder company, which was named after Willis M. Ranney, one of South Framingham's enterprising citizens. For the hose company a reel-carriage was bought, but this has recently been superseded by the more modern hose-wagon, in which the hose is folded. A handsome and well-equipped hook-and-ladder truck of the Gleason & Bailey make was the next purchase. Since 1885 two haridsome steam fire-engines of the Silsby build have been bought for the other villages of the town, - one each for Framingham Centre and Saxonville, the last one arriving in April, 1886, - while a fine new engine-house for the Centre village was dedicated a few months ago. Before the close of 1886 the town was supplied with the Gamewell firealarm system. To-day there are twenty-one boxes, and in addition to ringing the bells of the town, a large steam-gong is blown, - this latter being located upon the water company's pumping-station.

The Frajiin'gham Water Company was organized in 1883, after more or less discussion in town as to the benefits to come from street water and the duty of the town to provide it. The corporators were Messrs. Willis M. Ranney, Charles F. Cutler, George E. Cutler, Sidney A. Phillips, William C. McLellan. The Holly system was the one adopted, the water being drawn from galleries in Farm Pond, one of the sources of the city of Boston's water supply. The water is forced directly through the mains by means of two large pumps, one high pressure and the other a compound pump. While but one of them is used at a time, both are kept ready for instant service. The works were completed ready for use in the early summer of 1885, and an exhibition of their working was given on the occasion of the July 4th celebration of that year. There are now thirteen miles of pipe in the system, and the plant is competent to do twice the volume of business required of it, with the present pumps. Willis M. Ranney is president of the company, George E. Cutler, treasurer, and Sidney A. Phillips, clerk and counsel. Thus far only South Framingham has been piped, but the service is now being extended to certain portions of the Centre, notably the Normal School district. Within the past two years a strong feeling has been expressed in town ihat the town should itself own and operate the water- works, and a committee was appointed, in the spring of 1889, to examine into tlae matter, confer with the company and report. The report, while making no <lefinite recommendations, appeared to favor town ownership of the works. There are about eighty fire hydrants in South Framingham, and about eiglity pounds pressure is constantly maintained at the pumping station.

District Court. - " The First District Court of Southern Middlesex " wa.s established here in 1874, with one justice, two special justices and a clerk. The court meets every day in the year except Sundays and legal holidays. The court-room is in Nobscot Block. At the organization of the court, the Hon. C. C. Esty, of Framingham, was appointed justice, with L. H. Wakefield, Esq.,of Hopkinton, andE. C. Morse, Esq , of Natick, special justices. The towns in the district originally included Framingham, Ashland, Hopkinton, Natick, Sudbury, Wayland, Holliston and Sherborn, but Natick and Hopkinton were afterwards set off from the district. Jftstice Morse's last service on the bench of the District Court was on April 19, 1881, and Natick being set off April 28, 1881, Mr. Morse was made a trial justice in that town. Mr. Wakefield has remained to the present time the first special justice of the court. His residence is now South Framingham. Judge Esty retired in December, 1885, and Willis A. Kingsbury, Esq., then of Holliston, but now of South Framingham, was appointed in his place in January, 1886, and assumed his otEce for the first time on February 9, 1886. He still holds the position. When Special Justice Morse retired, in April, 1881, Walter Adams, Esq., of Framingham, was appointed to the vacant position, which he still holds. He first held court on June 22, 1881. At the organization of the court, Sidney A. Phillips, Esq., was appointed clerk, which position he held until 1878, when he retired, and Ira B. Forbes, Esq., was appointed. He held the oflice until 1880, when the present clerk, Joseph H. Ladd, Esq., was appointed on August 30. In this court there are from 600 to 900 criminal complaints issued in a year, and from 100 to 125 civil entries made.

Telephone Business. - South Framingham men were among the pioneers in the telephone business. A Mr. Hardy had a license from the American Bell Telephone Company to build a telephone line from Boston to Worcester. This right was bought by three South Framingham men in 1880 - Messrs. Charles F. Cutler, who was in the grain business ; Willis M. Ranney, who at that time was bookkeeper for Cutler & Co., and Joel C. Clark, who was in the printing business. These three organized The Central Massachusetts Telephone Company, with C. F. Cutler, president ; J. C. Clark, secretary ; W. M. Ranney, treasurer. They built the line from Boston to Worcester, with local exchanges in about all the towns on the line. In about two years these same gentlemen went to the western part of the State and brought out the Spring- 42-iii

Societies, Associations and Clubs. - South Framinghain, like most other large towns, does not lack for representatives of the many fraternal, benevolent and social societies. Among these socieiies the Ma- BOnic is the oldest. Middlesex Lodge, at Framingham Centre, was organized in 1795, and all through the dark days of the persecutions of the order never missed holding a meeting. It still holds in its membership many South Framingham men, and under the present Master, Walter Adams, Esq., has been particularly prosperous ; but as the latter village grew, and before the days of horse-cars in town, it was found inconvenient for a large body of men to go two miles to the Centre to the meetings, and so it came about that

Alpha Lodge, A. F. and A. M., was instituted in South Framingham, in 1875, the first meeting for organization being on September 28ch of that year, the place being Irving, (since known as G. A. R.) Hall. There were 25 charter members, and the membership now is 107. The Past Masters have been W. H. Phipps by dispensation, and the following by election : Chas P. Knowlton, Chas. F. Cntler, L. M. Butler, N. L, Sawtelle, Alexander Hoyt, F. M. Pratt, L. M. Pal mer, and the present Worshipful Master is Fred. L, Oaks. Edgar Potter is secretary. Meetings have been held the past few years in Odd Fellows' Hall but Masonic Hall, in the new Smith Block, has just been fitted up by the lodge. The regular meetings are held the second Wednesday evening of each month.

Concord Royal Arch Chapter, A. F. and A. M., was organized at Concord in 1826, but removed to Framingham in 1852. It is made up to-day of Masons from both Middlesex Lodge, at Framingham Centre, and Alpha Lodge, at South Framingham. Joseph Drew Thomas, of South Framingham, is the present Most Excellent High Priest, and Edwin Moultrop, of Framingham, is secretary. The Chapter is noted for its fine work. It meets at South Framingham.

A Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a ladies' auxiliary to the Masonic bodies, has recently been formed, and has 48 members. It has been named Orient Chapter. Mrs. Ann M. Hooker is Worthy Matron, and A. J. Heath, Secretary.

Framingham Lodge, No. 45, /. 0. 0. F., was chartered August 29, 1844, first meeting in Saxonville, but gave up its charter June 1, 1853. It was reinstituted in South Framingham, February 24. 1875, since which time it has held regular meetings every Wednesday evening. It now has 180 members. Wright Summers is Noble Grand, and Charles E. IMather, Recording Secretary. The lodge has fine quarters in Odd Fellows' Block, the handsome brick block being owned by the Odd Fellows' Building Association.

Waushakum Encampment, No. 52, /. 0. 0. F., was organized May .3, 1877, having then eight members. It now has 115 members, and meets in Odd Fellows'

Fidelity Degree Lodge, Daughters of Rebecca, auxiliary to the Odd Fellows, was instituted May 14, 1886, with a membership of 60. It now has 202 members, and a very fine paraphernalia. It meets the second and fourth Friday evenings in the month, in Odd Fellows' Hall. Mrs. E. H. Martin is Noble Grand, and Mrs. J. B. Robie, Secretary.

Pericles Lodge, No. 4, Knights of Pythias, was instituted in Odd Fellows' Hall, on Nov. 5, 1885, with 25 charter members. It afterwards removed for a time to G. A. R. Hall, and in 1887 leased and fitted up Pythian Hall, in Liberty Block, which it now occupies and controls, and sub-leases to other organizations. Albert A. Jackson is Chancellor Commander, and H. F. Hamilton, Keeper of Records and Seal. The lodge now has a membership of 110 in good standing.

Mizpah Assembly, No. 6, Pythian Sisterhood, was organized March 14, 1889, with 12 charter members. .\t present the membership is 23. It holds meetings twice a month in Pythian Hall. Mrs. J. H. Saiford is Chancellor Commander, and Miss E. L. Kiltredge, Keeper of Records and Seal. This Assembly is auxiliary to the Knights of Pythias.

Plymouth Rock Council, No. 37, Order of United American Mechanics, was instituted November 26, 1888, with 45 members, and now has 90 members, meeting every Monday evening in Masonic Hall, in Smith Block. E. A. Temple is Councilor, and H. E. Miller, Recording Secretary.

Netus Tribe, No. 43, Independent Order of Red Men, was instituted June 13, 1887, with 20 charter members. It was instituted in Odd Fellows' Hall, where for some little time it held its meetings, afterwards meeting in Pythian Hall for three years. Since July 1, 1890, it has met in the new Masonic Hall, in Smith Block. The tribe has already shown steady growth, and now has a membership of 128. It has a good paraphernalia, and does good work in the exemplification of the degrees. Otis Cutting is Sachem, and David H. Durand, Keeper of Records.

Wauneta Council, No. 29, Degree of Pocahontas, an auxiliary to the Red Jlen, was instituted November 14, 1889, having then forty-seven members. The membership is now seventy-five, and it meets twice a month, first and third Fridays, in Masonic Hall. Mrs. A. D. Leland is Worthy Pocahontas, and Mrs. Mary E. Porter, Secretary.

Gen. J. G. Foster Post No. 1 63, G. A . R., was instituted March 25, 1884, with thirty members. It now has a membership of seventy, all well uniformed, and maintains a cosy G. A. R. Hall, which it sublets to other societies. It meets the second and fourth Tuesday evenings in the month. Capt. E. F. Phinney is commander, and Maj. J. M. Wiswell, adjutant. Previous to the organization of Foster Post, D. Brigham Eames Post,

No. 142, existed at South Framingham. It was started in the winter of 1869-70, but afterwards moved to Saxouville, and its name was changed to Burnside Post.

Oen. J. O. Foster Camp 59, Sons of Veterans, was organized March 5, 1886, with thirteen members, and at the present time has forty-five. It meets the second and fourth Thursda)' evenings in the month, in G. A. R. Hall. Wm. O'Callahan is captain, and S. Fred. Wilson, first sergeant. The Camp is well uniformed and well drilled.

Gen. J. G. Foster Woman's Relief Corps was organized May 16, 1884, with twelve members, and now has seventy-five. It is an independent corps, and has been a power for good in its chosen work, and a most valu.able auxiliary to the " boys in blue." It meets the first and third Tuesdays in G. A. K. Hall. Mrs. E. F. Phinney is president, and Mrs. M. E. Porter, secretary.

Garfield Cotmeil, No. 857, Royal Arcanum, was instituted in G. A. R. Hall, September 25, 1884, with fourteen charter members. The membership is now thirty-nine. It meets the second and fourth Friday evenings in the month in Pythian Hall. C. J. Mc- Pherson is Regent, and E. S. Twichel, Secretary.

Trimount Lodge, No. 670, Knights of Honor, was instituted June 15, 1877, with fourteen members and now has twenty-six members. Meetings are held the first and third Mondays in the month in G. A.R.Hall. E. A. Johnson is Dictator, and W. M. Ranney, Reporter.

Framingham Cotmeil, No. 1163, American Legion of Honor, was instituted September 19, 1883, with thirtytwo charter members, and now numbers seventy-eight members. It meets the second and fourth Monday evenings of the month in G. A. R. Hall. A. A. Jackson is Commander, and W. K. Ephlin, Secretary.

Framingham Commandery, No. 400, United Order GoldenCross, was instituted July 17, 1889, with thirtyone members, the membership at present being twenty-eight. Meetings are held in G. A. R. Hall the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month. O. A. Hemenway is Noble Commander and H. F. Nichols, Keeper of Records.

Lakeview Colony, United Order of the Pilgrim Fathers, was instituted September 13, 1888, with twenty-seven members and now has thirty-five. Meetings are held in G. A. R. Hall the first and third Thursday evenings in each month. Mr. F. F. Stacey is Governor, and Mrs. M. E. Newton, Secretary.

Local Branch, No. 979, Order of the L-on Hall, Wiw instituted P'ebruary 13, 1889, with thirty members. It has since had sixty members, but the membership now is forty-eight. George M. Farrar is Chief Justice, and Asa D. Forbes, Accountant. Meetings are held the first and third Friday evenings in the month in G. A. R. Hall.

nad then, and still has, forty members. W. F. Richardson is Worthy Commander, and Edward F. Phinney, Worthy Secretary. It meets monthly in G. A. R. Hall.

Linden Lodge, Independent Order of Good Templars, was organized September 16, 1889, with twenty-seven members, and now has ninety, with an ambition to be the best lodge in the State. Meetings are held in G. A. R. Hall every Saturday evening. J. A. C. Hamil is Chief Templar, and E. B. Parsons, Secretary.

Division 30, Ancient Order of Hibernians, was organized June 11, 1884, with twenty-three members, and now has eighty-five. Meetings are held on Sundays, in A. O. H. Hall. James W. Burk is President, and W. O'Mally, Secretary.

Morning Star, Temple of Honor, No. 28, was organized in October, 1884, with twenty-five members, and now has thirty. It meets in G. A. R. Hall, the second and fourth Friday evenings of the month. Geo. C. Blades is Worthy Chief Templar, and Geo. L. Clapp, Worthy Recorder.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized March 1, 1878. It has seventy-five members. _ Mrs. S. J. Wakefield is president, and Mrs. W. A. Bailey, secretary.

The Loyal Temperance Legion, comprising children of from ten to sixteen years old, was organized in March, 1889, with thirty-eight members. The membership is now 240, and meetings are held every Tuesday afternoon, except in vacation time. Henry Hilton is president, and Miss Evelyn Stearns, secretary. Mrs. W. W. Pease is chorister.

St. Stephen's Total Abstinence Society was organized Jan. 6, 1885, with thirty members and now has one hundred. Meetings are held Sunday afternoons in their hall in Liberty Block. David T. Flyun is president and John J. Gannon, secretary. An ofF-shoot from the society is the company of St. Stephen's Cadets, a handsomely uniformed and well-drilled company of young men.

The Union Associates were organized in November, 1883, with twenty members for social purposes. The membership now is fifty, and new rooms are being prepared in the Tribune Building. The regular business meetings are held monthly, but tbe rooms are open for members every day and evening. William O'Callahan is president and Arthur Mill.<>r, secretary.

The Catholic Union was organized for literary and social improvement in February, 1890, with thirty members, and now has forty. Meetings are held on Thursday evenings in St. Stephen's Hall. James J. McCloskey is president, and Thomas R. Hill, secretary.

The Framingham Club, the leading social organization of the town, was organized about the first of 1890, being incorporated on March 11th, with ninety members. The membership now is 114. Chas. E. Haberstroh is president and Chas. BuUe, secretary. The

The Commercial Club was organized in February, 1888, its membership being limited to twenty-five. Thomas L. Barber is president, and R. L. Everit is secretary. The club's room is in Liberty Block.

The Framiitgham Historical and Natural History Society was organized March 31, 1888, with twenty members, and now has eighty. 0. A. Belknap is president, Willard Howe, secretary, and Edgar Potter, curator. The object of the society is the collection and preservation of articles relating to and illustrating the history of Framingham and vicinity ; natural and scientific curiosities; specimens of natural history ; recording and preserving items of passing events that may become items of interest in the future, and the erection of a building as a safe repository of the same. The society's quarters, with its collection, are at the residence of Willard Howe on Concord Street.

The Framingham Dramatic Club is an association formed in May, 1890. Austin W. Phipps is manager and Miss Fleda Brown, secretary. The object is the presentation of local dramatics, and the club meets in Elmwood Opera-House.

The Framingham Medical Society was organized December 29, 1887, with ten members. It is an association of physicians from this and surrounding towns, the membership, at present, being fourteen. Meetings are held monthly on the first Tuesday at the houses of members.

The Framingham. Hospital is the result of some years of agitation, and the society is now incorporated under a charter from the Legislature of 1890, with the right to hold $50,000 worth of real and personal property. Active steps will soon be taken to make the organization of practical benefit to the community.

The Framingham Drill Club is an organization of young men and boys, most of whom are students in the schools of the town, and the object is chiefly physical improvement. The club comprises about eighty members, and is divided into two companies, making a small school batallion. Out of compliment to Supt. LukeR. Landy, of the State muster-field at this place, who was chiefly instrumental in organizing them, the boys voted to be known as "The Landy Cadets." The boys are uniformed, have regular drills, and are allowed under the school law to carry arms. Their drill-master has been Lieutenant Hunter, of Company L, of the Ninth Regiment, of Natick, and under his instructions the boys have come to a high degree of proficiency in drill, with a corresponding improvement in their general carriage.

The Woman's Club was organized in May of 1889 with twenty-three members, and now has tbirty-five. The object is mutual improvement along an intellectual line, and it meets fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons. Mrs. Sewell Fisher is president and Mrs. C. F. Beard, secretary.

The Framingham Art Club was organized May 1 , 1890, with thirty members, and now has forty. Mrs. C. F. Beard is president and Mrs. C. U. Fuller, secretary. The studio is in Smith Block and lessons are given three times a week. At present instruction is chiefly confined to drawing and painting, but other branches of art will be taken up in time. It is designed to give exhibitions from time to time, and to establish an evening art school.

Waushakiim Brass Band was formed in the sprirg of 1888, and is finely uniformed. The membership is twenty-eight. Ed. S. Hemenway is leader. The band-room is in Union Block.

Elmwood Bugle, Fife and Drum Corps was organized Oct. 20, 1886, and numbers fifteen musicians, well uniformed. W. E. Walters is captain. Meetings are held in Alpha Rink.

The South Middlesex Driving Association was organized in May, 1890, and its track is at the grounds of the Middlesex South Agricultural Association, in this village. The track is kept in good condition for practice, and occasionally trotting races are held, | with liberal purses to the winners. C. J. Fillmore is secretary of the association, L. P. Sleeper is track manager. The directors are H. S. Drake, J. H. Jordan, E. L. Deschamps.

The Middlesex South Agricultural Society, which was organized in 1854, formerly held its fairs at Framingham Centre, but in 1869 twenty-five acres were bought on Union Avenue, in this village, and convenient exhibition buildings established there, as well as a half-mile trotting track, the whole at a cost of S16,000. Since then a few acres have been sold, but the grounds and buildings are in excelient condition, and the annual exhibitions in September are largely attended. Each year $600 is received from the State for premiums, nearly twice that amount being offered exhibitors. The annual meetings are held the first Monday in December. N. B. Douglas, of Sherborn, is president, and Samuel B. Bird, oi Framingham, secretary.

The Firemen's Mutual Belief Association was organized January 21, 1889, among the firemen of the town for the objects which its name implies. William H. Burke is president, and George T. Fuller, secretary. There are about 40 members. Quarterly meetings are held on the first Monday evenings of January, April, July and October.

The South Framingham Base Ball Association, maintains grounds on Concord Street, which are fenced in, and on which baseball and other athletic sports are held. Frank E. Farrar is manager of the association, and Russell M. French, treasurer.

The Industrial Unions. - The industrial unions of the town are quite well organized, and hold regular meetings. Among these unions in the village are the

Carpenters' and Joiners', Painters' and Decorators', Lasters' Protective, International Leather- Workers', Rubber-Workers', Brotherhood of Bailroad Brakemen, Trainmen's Protective Association.

The Citizens' Association, a body of gentlemen seeking to improve the growth and prosperity of the town, was organized February 8, 1886, but died after two years, although accomplishing much good in that time.

The Literary Society was started in March, 1875, with fifty members, and had over one hundred members afterwards. It was very prosperous for ten years, but in 1886 surrendered, giving the money in its treasury - about $50 - to the Choral Union.

The Choral Union, organized in 18s4, existed between four and five years, aud had a marked effect upon the musical culture of the town. Concerts were given from time to time, but, like many another good thing, it finally succumbed to lack of interest.

Bu.siNESS Interests. - As a business centre, South Framingham has already achieved considerable distinction. It is the natural centre of a circle of twenty-five or thirty miles, within whose radius are a score or more of thriving towns. We have seen that it is on two main lines of railway with their branches ; being situated twenty miles west of Boston, twenty miles east of Worcester, twenty-five miles south of Fitchburg and Lowell and thirty miles north of Taunton. Most of the village is of level land, and the business part is considerably cut up with railroad tracks, atlbrding numerous sites for manufacturing establishments. Unlike many towns, this one is not tribute to any other town or city, but is an independent community, rapidly growing from its own resources. Previous to 1840 there were but a few straggling houses each side of the Boston and Worcester Railroad track. The development of the straw-hat aud bonnet industry in the "forties" drew outsiders in, until in war time we find that business flourishing in town, and there was practically no other manufacturing business here.

The bonnet business which had been begun by Mrs. Lovell Eames in 1825, and enlarged by her son, Horace, who took charge in 1830, was purchased by Franklin Manson in 1840, and carried on until 1864 by him, when it was sold to Curtis H. Barber, who subsequently took his son, Thomas L., in with him. To-day this large business is carried on by T. L. Barber & Company, at a finely appointed factory on Park Street, which year by year has been extended and improved. In the busy season about four hundred employees are kept at work, one hundred and forty of whom are men, the rest women. The product is ladies' straw-hats in diflf'erent styles, and the firm has a very high reiiutation for fine work. The salesrooms arc with Messrs. Gotthold & Company, 561-563 Broadway, New York.

Mr. Temple, in his " History of Framingham," has told of the connection of Alexander and Willard E. Clark in the business, also of Augustus and George Richardson, George P. Metcalf and H. K. White. The firm which succeeded these latter gentleman was (A.) Richardson & Crafts. This firm was succeeded by the new firm of Crafts, Emmons & Billings ; this in turn by Emmons & Billings, with a change later on to H. O. Billings & Co., and still later, in 1888, by the present firm of Staples & Smalley. These latter gentlemen came from Westboro', leasing the factory of Mr. Billings. About the 1st of December, 1887, a large part of this factory was burned, but Mr. Billings, with great enterprise, set about rebuilding, and by dint of hard work on the part of a large force of men, night and day, in about two weeks a large and better factory than any of its predecessors stood finished. Messrs. Fales & Sons, belonging here, were the builders. This great speed was necessitated on account of the busy season at the factory. In recognition of Mr. Billings' enterprise and his determinati(jn to keep the business in town when outside parties had offered hioi inducements to remove elsewhere, 250 of the business men of the town tendered him a complimentary banquet, which probably has never been equaled by any other similar event in the town. This factory now employs in the busy season about 250 hands.

The largest industry in the town to-day is that of the Pard Rubber-Shoe Company, of which A. L. Coolidge, of Boston, is president, and J. L. Stickney, treasurer. It was in 1881 that this company was formed in Boston with a capital stock of $300,000, increased a few months afterwards to $500,000, and still later to $1,000,000. Certain enterprising gentlemen here saw the opportunity to secure the industry for the town, and shortly the terms were arranged. By these terms a company known as the South Framingham Manufacturing Company was formed in town to put up the buildings and lease them to the Para Company. The total cost of the land and buildings was $101,000. They were completed early in 1882 and occupied. The officers of the building company are : Franklin Manson, president; Sidney A. Phillips, Esq., clerk ; Willard Howe, treasurer. The plant is well located, but a few minutes' walk from the postoffice and railroad station, covers fifteen acres, and is on the line of the Boston and Albany Railroad, from which a spur track runs into the factory yard and by the large store-houses. The average number of employees is about 1000, divided between both sexes. Joseph D. Thomas is superintendent, and he has had a large experience in the 'rubber business in this and foreign countries. Until recently the company made rubber clothing as a part of its product, but this branch of the business has been discontinued and attention paid wholly to footwear. The product embraces all grades, from the heavy lumbermen's boots to the finest and most highly-finished ladies' rubbers.

Some of these latter are finished with fancy cloth, silk or satin and fur-tipped tops. The ordinary arctics and rubbers are made, as well as a line of fine tennis shoes. Messrs. Houghton, Coolidge & Co., of Boston, are the selling agents. The Para pay-roll amounts to about $10,000 per week, and about 14,000 pairs of boots and shoes are made daily. There are over five acres of floor space in the establishment. The largest steam-engine is of 1000 horse-power.

Tlie Oossamer Rubber Clothing Company began work here in 1875, their plant - all brick buildings - being located on the line of the Boston & Albany Railroad. Messrs. Tra M. and Wm. H. Conant, of Boston, comprise the company, and T. H. Videto is superintendent. The Boston office is at 300 Federal Street. The South Framingham plant is valued at about $75,000. The Messrs. Conant were the pioneers in this business, and this is believed to be the oldest gossamer company in the country, and the facilities are such that a larger product can be turned out than from any other rubber clothing mill. All qualities of rubber cloth for clothing are made, from the common cotton to the richest silks. About twenty hands are employed in the coating department, and some 300 girls are employed iu the Boston department, making the cloth into clothing.

Gregory & Co.'s Boot Factory, which is the second largest industry in town, and one of the largest boot factories in New England, was established here in 1882. At that time the firm was known as Bridges & Co., and it was only on January 1, 1890, that Mr. D. T. Bridges retired from the head of the concern, after having been connected with it for forty-three years, and being a partner for thirty-three years. The business was originally located in Hopkinton, and had twice been burned out before it was finally decided to locate at South Framingham on account of its superior business facilities. On April 24, 1885, the new factory was half destroyed by fire, a brick partition wall saving the rear half. The burned part was immediately rebuilt. The factory stands on high ground, buta few rods from the Boston & Albany Railroad, from which it has a special track; 240x40 feet is the ground size, and four stories above a high basement, the height. Store-houses and other buildings afford additional facilities. The goods made are mostly of the heavier kinds, although many of them are handsomely finished. The firm comprises N. P. Coburn, of Newton ; ex-Gov. William Claflin, of Newton ; James A. Woolson, of Cambridge ; D. T. Bridges, W. F. Gregory, Oliver B. Root, of Framingham. Five of the foremen have been with the concern an average of over thirty-five years, and many of the employees have worked for the firm a long time. The usual number of employees is about 400, although more can be accommodated, and are employed at times.

Williams Box Factory was located in the "Old Stone Mill," on Howard Street, in 1870, the firmname then being Fales & Williams. The firm carried on a general building and wood-working business, but dissolved partnership in 1875, when Mr. Abner Fales continued the building business, and Mr. S. H. Williams the mill business. The box business finally outgrew the " Old Stone Mill," and Mr. Williams erected a model plant a short distance away, the Old Colony Railroad, beside which the mill stands, putting a spur track into the mill yard. This new mill, three stories high, was built by A. Fales & Sons in 188G, and occupied in January of 1887. It is fitted with the most modern machinery for sawing the logs into boards, planing them, and manufacturing packing-boxes for the rubber boot and shoe and other factories in the neighborhood. About thirty men are employed, and 12,000 to 15,000 feet of boards are made into boxes daily. The mill is run by steampower.

Vie Framingham Box Company was started in February of 1889. Previous to that, about the 1st of August, 1888, Mr. S. G. Damren started a paper-box factory here, being located on the third floor of S. H. Williams' box factory. After running it for a kyi months he was obliged to go to Maine on other business, and the box business was sacrificed. It had been shown, however, that such a business could live iu town, and so a company was incorporated with $5000 capital, all paid in, and Mr. J. W. Jones, who had been Mr. Damren's foreman, was secured as general manager, being also a stockholder. J. J. Valentine is president of the company, and W. M. Ranney, treasurer. The company, which started with ten hands, now keeps thirty constantly employed, making 5000 boxes daily. While shoe-boxes are a specialty, almost every variety of paper-boxes are made, some of them being very handsome. Mr. Jones is one of the most progressive box-makers in the country, and the business is rapidly growing under his management.

A. M. Fames & Co., wheel manufacturers. Alfred M. Fames began making wheel-hubs in the basement of Union Block in 1871, and continued that business until 1877, when he enlarged the business, going into the manufacture of wheels. His brother, Edwin A., had, in company with Geo. W. Bigelow and C. C. E^ty, been manufacturing wheels in Union Block, under the firm-name of Fames, Bigelow & Co., their business being transferred to the Framingham Wheel Co. in 1874, the latter company discontinuing business in 1882. Edwin was a very fine wheel-maker, and is to-day, and became superintendent of Alfred's business, which in 1877 employed but three men but now employs about twelve, making all sizes of wheels, but making a specialty of the highest grade of light carriage wheels, supplying the best carriage-makers in New England. A large business is also done in rims, spokes and hubs. The buildings include two three-story factories, boiler and engine-house and several store-houses. Both brothers have been in the wheel business constantly from boyhood. Edwin went to

Worcester at the age of nineteen, and in four years was foreman of the shop, in which capacity he remained seven or eight years, coming to South Framingham and starting the firm of Eaines, Bigelow & Co. in 1870. Alfred was superintendent of the Toledo Wheel Co., coming here in 1870 and starting business. About 1874 Edwin went to West Chester, Pa., where he was foreman for one year, then going to Elizabeth, N. J., where he was foreman for five years. In 1881 he went to Paris and fitted up with the latest improved machinery one of the largest wheel concerns in Europe.

The Framingham Electric Company is now an important factor in the town's economy. Mr. S. O. Daniels, a native of this town, but afterwards a business man of Natick, had established an electric lighting plant in the latter town, and on December 23, 1886, Mr. Daniels started work on a small plant for South Framingham. The lights were started on January 15, 1887, witli a power of seven arc lights. When once the utility of the system had been demonstrated, and more customers had been secured, Mr. Daniels bought of Gov. Wm. Claflin a lot of land in the centre of the village on tlie Milford Branch Railroad track, and erected a fine plant there. March 28, 1888, Mr. Daniels suddenly died at his home in Natick of apoplexy, and the electric business was left in charge of H. W. True, who had been Mr. Daniels' superintendent. The business having been put into a stock company, the controlling interest was purchased by the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, and Mr. True was installed as manager. Under his wise and energetic management the business of the company has been very much extended, and the town now uses electricity exclusively for its street lights. Improvements have been made at the generating station from time to time, and at this time the capacity of the station is 125 arc lights and 2500 incandescents, while there are actually in use about 100 arc lights and 2000 incandescent lights. There are two engines and several dynamos, all of the latest type.

Ordwiiy's Reed-chair Factory. - It was in February of 1888 that Mr. A. H. Ordway, attracted by the fine railroad facilities, removed to this place from Mattapoisett a comparatively small chair-manufacturing business. Temporary quarters were secured in the Dunn Building, on Howard Street, but in the fall of the same year a convenient factory of three stories above the basement, 40x100 feet on the ground, was erected on land secured of Wellington H. Pratt. This factory was finished and occupied in November, 1888, and this business has proved one of the most desirable in the town. Mr. Ordway confines his manufactures chiefly to one or two patterns of a base-rocker arm-chair of reed-work, and these are shipped all over the country. About forty liands are employed, and the factory is equipped with all the necessary conveniences. Besides the chairs, an elegant line of bent-wood and plush-upholstered foot-rests is made.

Marston's BaMan Factory. - Attracted by Mr. Ordway's business and the inducements held out by the place, Mr. H. A. Marston, of Wakefield, moved his business here in the fall of 1889, building liimself a model four-story factory, 40x100 on the ground, besides a brick boiler and engine-house, bleach-house, etc. He located his factory directly opposite Mr. Ordway's, and between them there is a branch of the Old Colony Railroad. Mr. Marston's business is the importation of rattan from Singapore and other foreign points, and the splitting of it up into a fine class of cane, leaving the pith or reeds for chair-manufacture, like Mr. Ordway's. Mr. Marston's machines are of his own manufacture and patent, and he maintains a machine-shop in his factory for building them. He lights the factories from his own electric plant, and heats them from his steam-boilers. Beside the cane and reed manufacture, Mr. Marston is a large dealer in wooden chairs of Western manufacture. There are about fifty employees.

Neiv England Rattan Company. - Mr. A. H. Ordway was chiefly instrumental in securing the location here of Mr. H. A. Marston's business, and Mr. Marston in turn, aided by other citizens, 'nduced the New England Rattan Company to move their business from Wakefield to this place, and the latter company was not slow to see the superior opportunities for transacting business here. So it followed that in March, 1889, a fine tour-story factory with high basement, was finished for their occupancy, just opposite those of Messrs. Ordway and Marston. The company manufactures an elegant line of rattan and reed chairs of many patterns and styles of finish, besides tables, easels and other parlor furniture in bamboo work. The oflicers of the company are : President, W. E. Ryan : Secretary and Treasurer, Mathias Hollander; Directors, H. Ryan, L. S. Mansfield, R. M. French, H. Leuchtman, Richard Cuft'. About forty-five hands are employed.

The Union Pullishing Company was formed and began business here in April, 1884. From fifteen to twenty hands are employed. Rooms were first taken in Union Block and successively enlarged until March of 1886, when the third floor of Liberty Block was taken. These quarters having become too small, the company has now moved into the new Tribune Building on Irving. Street. The company does a general job printing and newspaper publishing business, the papers published being the Framingham Tribune, Aahland Tribune, Sherborn Tribu ne, Southboro' Tribune, Sudbury Tribune. C. J. McPherson is president and manager, and A. P. McPherson, treasurer.

The Lakeriew Printing Company was organized early in 1889 to succeed the J. C. Clark Printing Company, which was established here in 1872, occupying quarters ever since in Union Block. The company employs from fifteen to twenty hands, and does a general job ])rinting and newspaper publishing business, besides being agent for certain specialties.

The papers published are The Framingham Gazette, Ashland Advertiser, HoUiston Transcript. C. F. Cutler is president, and W. F. Blake, treasurer and manager.

The Last-Factory of E. D. Stone was established about ten years ago, Mr. Stone coming from Auburn, Me. A superior grade of shoe-lasts is made, its principal customers being the Para Rubber-Shoe Company, near whose works it is located, and the shoefactories in this and vicinity towns. It is well I equipped with steam machinery and employs about ten hands.

A. Fales & Sons have a well-equipped steam-power plant, on the line of the Old Colony Railroad, for the manufacture of builders' finish and materials. They are large builders themselves, erecting many railroad stations and other large buildings. They employ, on an average, from forty to fifty men, although sometimes having many more.

Leather Goods. - In 1886 William D. Higgins started in the village the manufacture of leather music-rolls, collar and cuff-boxes, toilet-cases and similar work, keeping a small force of men at work. Recently he has sold out to H. F. Tworably & Co., who now conduct the business. George H. Fames started in the same business last year, and has made it so successful that he has recently built and moved into a new factory off Union Avenue.

T. L. Stiirtevant, who is an inventor of some notei is now building steam-yachts here on the shores of Waushakum Pond. His latest invention is a steamboiler with a wonderful capacity to generate steam. Its fuel is gas or petroleum, and its great generating power allows of its being of very small size. Thus a thirty horse-power engine is put into a thirty-foot boat, and the result is a remarkable speed. Among Mr. Sturtevant's other inventions are the Sturtevant Stone-Crusher and Pulverizer, a rifle and cartridge. Mr. Sturtevant has also been a large owner in the Bowker Fertilizer business, starting it with Mr. Bowker about twenty years ago.

The Ice Butines.i. - -The local trade has been well supplied from the ice-houses of C. C. Stevens, C. L. Foster and John Willis, but in the summer of 1889 immense ice-houses, with all the attendant machinery, stables, dwelling-house, etc., etc., were built near the shore of Waushakum Pond by the Drivers' Union Ice Company of Boston. This plant, which is situated on the Milford Branch Railroad, cost about $.50,000, and in it can be stored 50,000 tons of ice, which is gathered here of purest quality.

The Framingham Gas Fuel and Power Company, which holds a franchise from the town, was organized in 1888, under Massachusetts law, with $75,000 capital. It proposes to furnish gas for all domestic and manufacturing purposes, such as for illuminating, heating, cooking, for gas-engines, making steam, forging, etc. Land has been bought on Irving Street, and at this writing the construction of the system is 43-iii

Grain Elevator. - Sprague & Williams, who,in addition to their grocery business, have done a large grain business, erected in the spring of 1890 a grainmill and elevator, on Hollis Court, adjacent to Milford Division of the Boston & Albany Railroad track. It is supplied with every requisite labor-saving convenience.

The Beef Befrigerator of Geo. E. Fitch & Co. was established in the village in 1884, being connected with Armour & Co.'s great Chicago establishment. The next year a convenient new building was built with a large ice capacity and overhead railroads for handling the more than $100,000 worth of annually dressed meat which comes to it in refrigerator cars and is disbursed. John J. Anderson manages the business, another branch of which is cared for at Westboro' by Mr. Fitch.

H. L. Sawyer, in addition to his large tin, piping, stove, hardwareand plumbing business, has for several years manufactured japanned powder-flasks and fi.shbait boxes at his Howard Street factory.

Thomas Wise & Co., machinists, manufacture the Wise steam motor, which has been used somewhat in the United States Navy. Mr. Wise is also the maker of a storage system of incandescent electric lights.

E. E. Crandall & Co. manufacture and deal in all varieties of carriages, besides conducting a general repair-shop for all branches of the business.

JV. B. Johnson makes a superior grade of harness dressing under the name of the Perfection Harness Dressing. He employs a number of selling agents.

A. H. H. Warren & Co. conduct the book-bindery which was moved here from Cambridgeport in the .summer of 1889. Excellent work is turned out, customers coming from other towns and cities.

Express Brmness. - With the business growth of the place, the express companies have kept pace. Of these there are now seven, all well equipped for business. These are the Adams, American, New York and Boston Despatch, Boston it Worcester, Farrar's, Davis, Dart & Co's.

Among the industries conducted here the past few years may be mentioned the Sterling Rubber Works, manufacturers of go.ssanier rubber ('lothing, which were removed to Readville about four years ago ; the Framingham Wheel Works, Charles E. Bradlev's carriage-works, the J. M. Anthony machine-shop, the three latter concerns going out of business.

Cutler & Company's grain mills did agood business until about 1879, when they were destroyed by fire, and the business removed to their mills at North Wilbraham, although the business office is still retained at South Framingham. A spring-bed business, conducted by a Mr. Frail, of Hopkinton, employed about

Employing Mechanics. - The following individuals and concerns are all in business in the place, and some of them employ quite a number of hands:

Local Teamsters and Expressmen . Geo. H. Davis, A. J. Sullivan, Edwin Stone, E. E. Ramsdell, Ira L. Dunaven, D. McLaughlin, John Horr, A. Saucier.

Biographical Michael H. Simpson

Michael H. Simpson was emphatically an Essex County man, although much of his long and active business life was spent in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties, where he brought into a high state of development the well-known industries connected with the " Roxbury Carpet Company " and " Saxonville Mills." He wa.s the son of Paul Simpson, Esq., a wealthy ship-owner of Newburyport, during the days when a phenomenal success sometimes attended the sending of cargoes of merchandise to foreign ports. Deciding early upon a business career, young Simpson entered into it with that energy and keen insight which distinguished him in after-life. Before they were of age, he, with Charles H. Coffin, of Newburyport, and George Otis, son of Harrison Gray Otis, of Boston (afterwards partners), made a highly successful venture by sending a ship and cargo to Calcutta, they being sole owners. This may, perhaps, be considered the ba.sis of the fortune which Mr. Simpson afterwards acquired. His business career soon showed that to a fine physical constitution he united a keen sagacity in adapting means to ends, unusual executive ability, and an indomitable will. By the connection of his firm with the wool trade of South America his attention was drawn to the necessity of freeing Buenos Ayres wool from burrs to enhance its value. His inventive brain soon grasped the situation, and he produced a machine for this purpose which proved of great value, the modern burring-machine, now in general use, being the outgrowth of this invention. In the various industries with which his name was connected, for him to discover a need or necessity for improvement was to give himself no rest until be had devised a way for the accomplishment of the desired end. His extensive career as a manufacturer and employer of labor also gave scope for the development of those finer qualities of mind and heart which characterized the man. It was his delight to lay out parks and drives, in connection with his estates, which he always opened to the public. In order to give employment, he would purchase tracts of waste land and convert them into richly productive fields. As a friend and companion he was genia! and charming. He possessed a mind well stored with the resources of history and philosophy.

He ever recognized a beneficent, over-ruling Providence in all the ways of life, and sought by precept and example to inculcate the principles of a high morality in all those with whom he was brought in contact. His love for his native town manifested itself in his generous benefactions to the Public Library, towards town improvements, a fund for keeping the streets watered and in various other ways. Mr. Simpson was twice married. His first wife was

Elizabeth Rilham, of Boston, by whom he had several children. His second marriage was to Evangeline E. Thurston Marrs, of Framingham, who survives him. His death occurred at his residence in Boston, December 22, 1884.

Hon. Peter Parker

Peter Parker, one of the most honored and most successful of the early missionaries who went to China from the United States, was the third son of Nathan and Catherine (Murdock) Parker, and was born June 18, 1804, in Framingham, Massachusetts. When he was four years of age his father had a severe attack of illness, from the effects of which he never fully recovered; and, as his two older brothers had died in infancy, Peter was very early obliged to assist in the support of his parents and of his three sisters. At the age of fifteen he taught the common school in the adjoining town of Holliston, and for some years was employed as a teacher in the different school districts of the neighborhood. In a short memoir of himself, which he wrote, he says that while thus employed he never failed to put into the hands of his father all the money that he received, " not reserving a single dollar " for his own use. Before leaving home to teach in Holliston, he had made a public profession of his determination to lead a religious life, and it was not long before he informed his friends that he wished to prepare himself to enter the Christian ministry. But the ill health of his father, and the dependence of the family on his labors, interposed difficulties, which for some years prevented his beginning the necessary studies. At last, when he had attained the age of twenty-one, his father was able to make arrangments by which he could be assured of a support for himself and family for the rest of his life, and friends having offered to provide Peter with the pecuniary assistance he might need while obtaining a liberal education, after he had exhausted the few hundred dollars that he had of his own, he entered Day's Academy, in Wrentham, and began in March, 1826, in his twenty-second year, to fit for college. In September, 1827, he entered Amherst College, as freshman. There he remained three years, till he gained the consent of his friends to go to Yale College, in New Haven, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, graduating with the class of 1831, in which were a large number of men who afterwards became distinguished in the different walks of life. After graduation he began the study of theology in the Yale Divinity School.

About this time the officers of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions were considering the possibility of doing something for the evangelization of the great Empire of China. The difficulties in the way seemed insuperable. The restrictive policy which characterized the government of that country made anything like full and intimate intercourse with the people well-nigh impossible.

But it had been found that the Chinese were very ready to avail themselves of the services of the physicians of the East India Company, and that these benevolent men had been very successful in obtaining the confidence of those whose maladies they had healed. It therefore occurred to the friends of missions in the United States, that a missionary who should also have had a thorough medical education might be able to use his ability as a physician to gain access to the people, and thus introduce Christianity among them. With this object in view, it was proposed to Mr. Parker, who was known to be ready to devote his life to missionary work among the heathen, to fit himself to go to China as a medical missionary. Accordingly, while pursuing his theological studies in the Yale Divinity School, he at the same time studied medicine in the Yale Medical School, and in March, 1834, received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Having also completed his theological studies, he was ordained as a Christian minister in Philadelphia, the following 16th of May, and sailed from New York for Canton, ,Tune 4th, which city he reached October 2fith, in the same year.

After spending some time in the acquisition of the language of the people. Dr. Parker opened in Canton, November 4, 1835, a free hospital for persons affected with diseases of the eye, of the treatment of which the native practitioners were particularly ignorant. The success which he at once attained surpassed all that the most sanguine hopes of the friends of missions had anticipated. The first day, though previous notice had been given, no patient ventured to come. The second day, a solitary female, afllicted with glaucoma, presented herself The third day half a do/.en persons appeared ; and after this those who were suffering began to come in constantly increasing numbers. At the end of a year the aggregate of p.atients who had been relieved amounted to 21.'')2 ; and, according to the Report which was published at the time, " had the object been to swell this catalogue, and were the strength of one individual suflicient for the task, the number might have been increased by thousands." The success which had at once attended the labors of Dr. Parker made it evident that he had proved himself admirably fitted for the work which had been entrusted to him. Perhaps, much of this success was due to the r.are qualities of the man. Possessed of an imposing physique, with a manner which was naturally dignified and composed, there was, in addition, something so benevolent, so kindly, and so truthful in the expression of his face, aiul the tones of his voice that he irresistibly inspired every one with whom he came in contact with confidence in the honesty of his purpose and his readiness to extend sympathy and assistance. While working for the relief of the sufferings of those who came to the hospital, it should also be stated that he sought in every way in his power to commend to all the value of the Christian religion.

The doors of the hospital continued to be open to all comers till June, 1840, when, in consequence of the disgraceful and persistent efforts of the British Government to force the Emperor of China to alter the laws of the country, so that Englishmen could sell opium without let or hindrance to the Chinese people, ensued war. The port of Canton was threatened with blockade by the English fleet, and it became necessary to close the institution. From the time that it had been opened, in 1835, during a period of a little over four years, upwards of nine thousand persons had received treatment and relief. Dr. Parker said : " Patients from all parts of the Empire had availed themselves of the benefits of the hospital. The applicants during the first years of its establishment had been confined to the lower and middle classes ; now persons of all ranks - military, naval and civil - were among the number; the Nanhoe hien, or district magistrate, the custom-house officer, salt inspectors, provincial judges, provincial treasurer, a Tartar general, Governors of Provinces, Commissioner Linn himself, and a number of the imperial family, had sought relief of the foreign physician." The account of what Dr. Parker had done, and his successful and repeated performance of many very difficult surgical operations, had attracted the attention and admiration of medical men in the United States and Great Britain, and a high place had been accorded to him in the profession.

It certainly was a great misfortune that at this time he was obliged to withdraw from Canton. What he had already done was felt by all persons who were interested in the cause of missions in China to have been of inestimable value, by disarming the prejudices of a great multitude of influential people against the foreigners, whom they had been taught to think of as "outside barbarians.''

During the years of his first residence in China, in addition to his work in the hospital. Dr. Parker on several occasions rendered valuable assistance in the general work of missions. The most important, perhaps, of his services of this kind w.as in connection with the expedition, undertaken in 1837, by several of the missionaries in China, which had for its object the establishment of a mission in .Japan. Th.at expedition proved to be a failure as far as the immediate object in view wm concerned ; but, on his return to Canton, Dr. Parker published an account of the voyage, and of a visit wtiich was made to the Loo Choo Islands.

The closing of the hospital in 1840 gave Dr. Parker an opportunity of returning to the United States for a visit. Having started from China in July, he reached New York in the following December, and spent the.next eighteen mouths in unwearied efforts to diffuse information through the country respecting China, and to interest Christian people everywhere in the cause of missions among the Chinese. In addition, he had interviews with Presidents Van