Holbrook Town

Holbrook Town

ELSEWHERE in this volume Holbrook is alluded to as the daughter of Randolph. Technically, this is correct enough ; practically, however, the distinction between the West and East villages of the present town - now respectively the towns of Randolph and Holbrook - was as marked for many years previous to the division as it has ever been since.

although there was a well-built highway extending almost ina straight line between them, the communities did not grow together, and to this day the street alluded to is but scantily settled for the greater part of its |

General History. - The division of the town of Randolph, by a line running in the vicinity of the Cochato River, had been a topic of conversation, especially in East Randolph, for many years previous to the autumn of 1871, when the first really decisive steps were taken. to consider the subject were held, at which it was dolph were in favor of the formation of a new town east of the Old Colony Railroad line ; but there was not the harmony and unanimity which seemed desirable, and the matter was dropped. Early in the autumn of 1871, however, it seemed to some that the | meeting, held on Saturday evening, December 9th, was made noteworthy by reason of the proposal by Mr. K. N. Holbrook, there advanced, to give to the new town, in the event of its incorporation, the sum of fifty thousand dollars - of which twenty-five thousand dollars were to be expended for a town hall and library building, ten thousand dollars fora public library, and the remaining fifteen thousand dollars for the pay- The tent, more particularly outside the borders of the present town, that Mr. Holbrook made his munificent gift conditional upon the proposed town being named for him, deserves emphatic contradiction at the hands of the present writer, based upon the most reliable At the meeting where the generous proposal was made, the citizens assembled at once brought forward the name " Holbrook" for the new town, and it received almost unanimous approval by the townspeople. The name was adopted not so

S. Whitcomb as chairman, and Mr. KE. Frank Lincoln, secretary. The following resolve, offered by Mr. Frank W. Lewis, was, after a full discussion by several of the most prominent citizens, accepted and adopted by a rising vote, only one negative vote being recorded:

" Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that it is ex- | ; . k | town, and to instruct the representative to the Legispedient that the portion of Randolph lying east of the Old Colony and Newport Railroad be set off from the main town and incorporated as a new town." to name the new town Holbrook, if incorporated, and three cheers were given for the name, and three more and a vote of thanks for Mr.. Holbrook. Petitions and subscription papers were actively circulated, frequent meetings of the executive committee were held, and the Hon. E. W. Morton, of Boston, was engaged to act as counsel for the advocates of' division. About Jan. 8, 1872, sented to the Senate by Senator Carpenter, of Foxboro'. Upto this time the project had been regarded by the citizens of West Randolph as visionary ; but the first petition was prethey now saw that it must be met in a serious spirit. On January 18th a town-meeting was held in Stetson Hall, West Randolph, '' to take action on the petition of E. N. Holbrook and others," at which it was voted to appoint a committee to oppose the division of the towork. On the following day (December 6th) a formal petition was signed by Mr. E. N. Holbrook and thirteen others and recorded in the office of the Secretary | of State, and on the 8th it was served upon the town | ' for the petitioners, and the Hon. B. W. Harris (now

All this was done in the face of the vigorous opposition of the citizens of East Randolph, but they were outvoted, as often before. The hearings before the legislative Committee on Towns were begun on January 24th, Mr. Morton, as previously stated, appearing of the people of East Randolph with profound sadness. This was the sudden death, on Feb. 5, 1872, of Mr. Elisha Niles Holbrook, the benefactor of the future town. Though a digression from the subject immediately in hand, perhaps no more appropriate place than the present may be found in which to allude to Mr. Holbrook's career.

He was born in East Randolph, Oct. 31, 1800, and was the second son and fifth child of Deacon Elisha and Anna Holbrook, of Randolph. His opportunities for an early education were not limited, judged by the was a liberal supporter of religious institutions. . . . When a friend or a neighbor was known to succeed and prosper, he was pleased, and never withheld the expression of his satisfaction. No bitter sarcasm ever fell from his lips against a neighbor or an acquaintance, or anything that wore the aspect of a calumny or slander. . . He was courteous, refined in his tastes, modest, unassuming. and never obtrusive in the statement or defense of his opinions. . . . Nature had youthful parishioners, and fitted numerous young men for college. elsewhere. At the age of twenty he entered upon a business career, as a partner in a boot and shoe manufacturing firm, with a capital of one thousand dol- He soon left the firm and conducted business alone, and in his own way. than fifty years, to the last four days of his life. With scarcely an exception, every day's toil in that life of fifty years was a success. He gave ten thousand dollars toward the Winthrop church edifice (the original building), from whose Sabbath services he was absent but one day during the last fifteen years of his life.

thirteen hundred dollars, and during the fifteen years immediately preceding his death he gave away the sum of eighty-five thousand dollars. He intimated a wish to do more, and named the objects on which he expressed a willingness to bestow his benefactions. Had his life been longer spared, or the premonitions of its sudden close been earlier given, unquestionably more would have been done in the execution of purposes which he cherished. His generous gift of fifty - thousand dollars to the new town has been already alluded to. The Rev. Ezekiel Russell, D.D., in an presence, a genial countenance, a black and sparkling eye. . . . He was the faithful, the affectionate husband, the kind, the tender father, the loving grandparent, and the sympathizing brother. . . . He was a firm believer in the Christian Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, and in all the fundamental doctrines of the living oracles. He kept a copy of them

Though the death of Mr. Holbrook came with a sudden shock to his fellow-townsmen, it was no time for faltering in the prosecution of the work in hand, and the efforts of the advocates of a division of the On February 8th the Committee on Towns reported in the Senate a bill for the incorporation of the town of Holbrook, two of the House members of the com- On the following day the

_ bill passed to its second reading, and on the 13th it passed the Senate by a vote of twenty-five to ten. the society he paid annually from one thousand to redeem a pledge, and that he never resorted to unlawful expedients or doubtful methods for the purpose of adding to his wealth. On the contrary, his career -was ever one of stainless rectitude and honor... . Like his honored father, Deacon Elisha Holbrook, he

But the decisive battle was to be fought in the House ; and from that time until the bill reached its debatable stage, on February 19th, both petitioners and remonstrants were unremitting in their efforts to secure leg- On the last-mentioned date a debate of six or seven hours, lasting through that day and the next, resulted in a vote of one hundred and Another contest was waged upon the engrossment of the bill, but an engrossment was ordered on February 24th by eightysix to seventy-one.

Then the sturdy remonstrants attempted to secure a reconsideration, but in this endeavor they were unsuccessful, and after passing the several remaining stages the bill received the Governor's signature on February 29th, and the town of Holbrook became an accomplished fact. Following is a copy of the more important portions of the act of incorporation : " Be it enacted, ete., as follows: that is to say: beginning at the stone monument in the line between said Randolph and the town of Braintree, on the easterly side of Tumbling Brook; thence taking a southwesterly course, in a straight line to a point six feet westerly from the northwesterly corner in range of the northerly side of the so-called East Randolph station-house of the Old Colony and Newport Railroad Company; thence the same or other southwesterly at the southerly terminus of Main Street in said Randolph; thence southeasterly, northeasterly, northerly, and westerly as the present dividing line between said Randolph and Stoughton, North Bridgewater, Abington, Weymouth, and Braintree runs, to the first-mentioned bound, is hereby incorporated into a town by the name of Holbrook; and said town of Holbrook is hereby invested with all the powers, privileges, rights, and immunities, and is subject to all the duties and requisitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth.

"Secr. 2. The inhabitants of said town of Holbrook shall be holden to pay all arrears of taxes which have been legally assessed upon them by the town of Randq@ph, and all taxes heretofore assessed and not collected shall be collected and paid to the treasurer of the town of Randolph in the same manner as if this act had not been passed; and also their proportion of all county and State taxes that may be assessed upon them pre~- viously to the taking of the next State valuation, said proportion to be ascertained and determined by the last valuation in the said Randolph.

"Sect. 3. Said towns of Randolph and Holbrook shall be respectively liable for the support of all persons who now do or shall hereafter stand in need of relief as paupers, whose settlement was gained by or derived from a settlement gained or derived within their respective limits; and the town of Holbrook shall also pay annually to the town of Randolph onethird part of all costs of the support or relief of those persons who now do or shall hereafter stand in need of relief or support as paupers, and have gained a settlement in said town of Randolpb in consequence of the military services of themselves or those through whom they derive their settlement.

"Srcr. 4. The corporate property belonging to the town of Randolph at the date of this act, and the public debt of the said town existing at said date, shall be divided between the towns of Randolph and Holbrook according to the valuation of the property within their respective limits as assessed May first, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one; and said town of Holbrook shall receive from said town of Randolph a proporsame year, various appropriations for town purposes were made, by-laws adopted, ete.

One of the earliest business transactions to demand attention from the officers of the new town was the division of town property. For this purpose the selectmen of both Randolph and Holbrook were appointed committees with full powers by their respective towns; and according to a document dated " Randolph, March 19, 1873," and signed by both boards, it was agreed and certified "that there has been paid by the town of Holbrook to the town of Randolph the balance of indebtedness as within stated, amounting to $14,988.94, and interest on the same from Feb. 1 to March 1, 1873, of $74.94, making $15,063.88," etc. In 1873 a town hall was built only a few feet south of the Winthrop Church, on Franklin Street, at an expense of about $35,000. It was of wood, two stories high, with French roof and brick basement, and was ninety by forty-eight feet in dimensions. The public library occupied rooms on the first floor. Early on Christmas morning, 1877, fire broke out in the town hall building, and both it and the church were wholly consumed. After the fire the citizens held their town-meetings in Library Hall, in the rear of the burned structure; but early in 1879 a new brick town hall, with stone trimmings, was completed on the site of the former one, and was dedicated on the evening of March 26th of that year.

said town of Randolph from the State or United States to reimburse said town of Randolph for bounties to soldiers, or State aid paid to soldiers' families after deducting all reasonable expenses; and said town of Holbrook shall bear the expense of making the survey and establishing the line between said towns of Randolph and Holbrook."

The first town-meeting in Holbrook was held March 11, 1872, ''in the East Parish meetinghouse."' French, and after prayer by the Rev. Ezekiel Russell, D.D., Mr. Lemuel Whitcomb was elected moderator, and the meeting proceeded to the election of town officers.

four feet wide on front and rear, flanked at the corners on the front with projections thirteen feet wide. It contains four stories - basement, street floor, public hall, and roof story. The former contains the steam and gas apparatus. The street story is thirteen feet in height, containing two stores, apartments for town officers, and commodious quarters for the public library. The main hall, on the second story, is ninety its paneled walls and ceilings, long arched windows, and tasteful frescoing forms one of the most striking interiors of the kind in the State. It will seat, including the gallery at the northerly end, nine hundred persons. dressing-rooms adjacent.

The total cost, including furniture, fixtures, etc., was nearly twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars. On the left of the stage, in the hall, is a finely executed portrait of the late donor of the building; and in a corresponding position on the right of the platform is a marble slab inscribed as follows :

The dedicatory exercises consisted of prayer by Rev. Z. T. Sullivan, of Brockton ; song by the Mozart Quartette (male); address by Prof. J. B. Sewall, principal of Thayer Academy, South Braintree ; presentation of the keys of the building by Mr. J. T. Southworth, chairman of the building committee, to Mr. Henry Newcomb, chairman of the board of selectmen, who responded appropriately ; song by the quartette ; remarks by Hon. Seth Turner, of Randolph; reading of letters, and brief speeches by invited guests from - Dancing closed the festivities of

"Voted, That the selectmen offer $500 reward each for the arrest and conviction of the party or par- | ties who set fire to the barn of 8. L. White, house of the late Ebenezer Alden, barn of James Holbrook, barn of Mrs. Prudence D. Holbrook, and $1500 for the arrest and conviction of the party or parties who set fire to the house of the late C. 8S. Holbrook; and in no case shall a double reward be paid for the arrest

Ecclesiastical History, - Up to the year 1818 the | residents of both the Hast and West villages of Ran- | dolph worshiped in the First Church, which was located | In this | year, however, the question of repairing the old house in the latter village, and formed one society. or building a new one was raised. The church edifice was then fifty-four years old, it being the second building erected by the society. It having been voted to build rather than repair, most of the residents living east of the Cochato River petitioned to the Gen- This | dolph excited an opposition which was fully on a par with that created by the proposition to divide the town, | made more than half a century later. The petition | was granted, however, and the "Second Church in | Randolph"' was organized Dec. 15, 1818. [It may here be remarked that the action of the Legislature in | dividing the parish put a quietus for several years upon the project of rebuilding the edifice occupied by the First Church in West Randolph, and it was not the first pastor, the Rev. David Brigham, was ordained Dee. 29,1819. He was dismissed Nov. 22, 1836, and was succeeded by the Rev. Dennis Powers, on Dec. 5, 1838. The latter clergyman remained only until April 15, 1841, his successor being the Rev. Wiiliam A. Peabody, who was settled March 2, 1843, and was dismissed Oct. 2, 1849. The Rev. Ezekiel Russell, D.D., became pastor on May 8, 1850. Six division of the society occurred, resulting in the organization, on Dee. 30, 1856, of the Winthrop Church, named in honor of Governor John Winthrop of colonial fame. The circumstances immediately attending the formation of this society were these: Deacon Elisha Holbrook and fifty-eight others - members of the Second Congregational Church in Randolph - presented a request to the church, at its stated and regular meeting, Dec. 5, 1856, for letters of dismission and recommendation to such ecclesiastical council of sister churches as might be called for the purpose of organizing them into a separate and independent church of Christ. The petition submitted was as follows : of long continuance and known to all, that our peace and harmony as members of the church of Christ require an entire change of our relations, and a new organization into a distinct and separate church, do, therefore, request letters of dismission and recommendation from the said Second Church in Randolph, to such ecclesiastical council from sister churches as may be called to act on their request.

It having been moved and seconded that the above request be granted, the motion was carried by a majority of ten votes. There were five negative votes in the hands of the petitioners, signed in due form by the pastor and clerk of the Second Church in Randolph. The persons who had thus been dismissed

Esq., and voted, unanimously, to call a council to act on their request for organization, and adopted, also, a confession of faith and covenant, to be submitted to the council for its approval. The council thus invited to convene assembled in conformity with the invitation, and left behind the following record of its doings : " RanpoupH, Dee. 30, 1856.

"Pursuant to Letters Missive from Deacon Elisha Holbrook and sixteen others, holding letters of dismission and recommendation from the Second Congregational Church in Randolph, and from other churches, to such ecclesiastical council of sister | years, in connection with the Second Church in Ranvoted to be by themselves. It was then moved that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and that we proceed to organize a distinct and separate church of Christ, under the name of the Winthrop Church of Randolph. This motion, after full and free discussion, was unanimously adopted. Arrangements were then made for the public services of the occasion, as follows : "1, Sermon, with the Introductory Prayer, Rev. David Brigham. "2. Reading the Confession of Faith and Covenant, with the Consecrating Prayer, Rey. Jonas Perkins. «3. Charge to the Church, Rey. Paul Couch. "4, Right Hand of Fellowship, with Concluding Prayer, Rev. R. 8S. Storrs, D.D. ** After attending public services as above arranged, council dissolved. "R.S. Srorrs, Moderator. ''Davip BrigHam, Scribe. "A true copy of the doings and result of council. " Attest : "D. BrigHam, Scribe."

The whole number of members composing the Winthrop Church on the day of its organization was sixty - males, 17 ; females, 43. On the evening of the same day a society in the same place was organized in connection with the church, the legal steps for this purpose having been previously taken. The into a distinct and separate church of Christ, an ecclesiastical council assembled this day in the hall of E. N. Holbrook. The following-named churches were present by their pastors and delegates, viz.:

"The council was organized by the choice of Rev. R.S. Storrs, D.D., as moderator, and Rev. David Brigham, scribe. After prayer to God for divine wisdom and direction in the business before them, in which the council was led by the moderator, a document, properly authenticated, was laid before them, showing that the petitioners referred to in the letters missive had been regularly dismissed and recommended, as therein stated.

dolph. To this invitation a favorable response was promptly made, and the clergyman was dismissed from the Second Church on Feb. 3, 1857, and on the same day he was installed over the Winthrop Church, the sermon on that occasion being preached by the Rey. Dr. Storrs.

The church and society met for the first time for public worship in the hall of E. N. Holbrook, Esq., on the first Sabbath in the year 1857. Here all the assemblies for public and social worship were held request, into a distinct and separate church of Christ. As no one appeared to offer objections, the council now listened to the confession of faith and covenant adopted by the petitioners, with which they voted entire satisfaction. The petitioners at this point, by request of the council, presented their reasons for withdrawing from the churches with which they had hitherto been connected, and for wishing to be organized into a separate church. After attending to these reasons, the moderator again inquired if any persons present had objections to make, or remarks to offer upon the document now presented to the council worship being then complete, it was dedicated with the usual solemnities on the 20th, and opened for the first time for public worship on the Sabbath, the 24th of January, 1858. It was of the Romanesque style of architecture, eighty-four feet in length by fiftythree in breadth, and with a spire one hundred and forty-seven feet in height. It contained a bell and an organ, and its interior was tastefully frescoed. The cost of the edifice, including the land, was twenty-two day of its dedication. The names of the twenty-three persons who originally contributed to its erection are as follows: Elisha Holbrook, E. N. Holbrook, C. 8S.

After the separation of the churches the Second Church had no settled pastor, and relinquished the The church building ultimately became a shoe-factory, for to $200 each. The family of the late C.S. Holbrook gave a piano for the vestry ; a bequest of $330 from the late E. N. Holbrook was employed in the purchase of pulpit furniture, etc.; the tower-clock was given by Mrs. Mary W. Holbrook, clocks in the main auware by Mrs. EH. Everett Holbrook, who also gave destroyed both the new town hall and the Winthrop Church. ciently near together for the flames, which originated in the town hall building, to communicate to and envelop the church. The latter had been extensively

Immediately after the fire the members and friends of the Winthrop society took the initiatory steps looking to a rebuilding of the edifice. Their efforts were crowned with abundant success, and on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1880, a commodious and handsomely finished new church was dedicated in prayer by Rev. P. B. Davis, of Hyde Park ; sermon by Rev. L. H. Angier, acting pastor of the Winthrop Church, who took his text from Exodus xiv. 14 and 15; dedicatory prayer by Rev. George W. Blagden, D.D., of Boston.

very generally. The total cost of the edifice was $28,327, of which $15,790 was subscribed by citizens, and the church was substantially free from debt when dedicated. 'The more important subscriptions were: Ladies' Sewing Circle, $1000; George N. Spear, $1000; E. Everett Holbrook, $1000; Hdmund White, $750 ; Sabbath-school, $600 ; Thomas White, $500; Mrs. EK. N. Holbrook, $500; HE. Newton Thayer, $500; George T. Wilde, $300; J.'T. Southworth, $300; Charles H. Paine, $300; Seth C. Sawyer, $300; Charles V. Spear, $250. One hundred and seventy-four other persons donated from $5 |

There was no pastor settled over the church after the discharge of the Rev. Dr. Russell, until May 10, 1881, when the Rev. Herbert A. Loring was settled. During the interim the pulpit was occupied successively by Revs. S. C. Kendall, Albert Bryant, H. C. Crane, George W. Blagden, D.D., D. W. Kilbourn, William Adams, L. H. Angier, and George C. Gordon. The Rev. Mr. Loring was dismissed Nov. 23, 1882, and on June 19, 1883, the Rev. Oliver 8S. Dean, the present pastor, was settled.

Methodist Episcopal Church.' - An informal meeting of a few persons interested in the formation of a Methodist class was held Friday evening, July 26, 1878, when it was decided to organize a weekly class,

_ which should meet for the first time the next Wednesday evening, July 31st, at the residence of Mr. Jos. On that evening, July 31, 1878, the first class-meeting was held, twelve persons being present. The Rev. Joshua Monroe, of West Abington, acted as leader. On the following Wednesday evening the class met at the residence of Lewis Alden, who was chosen as the regular class-leader.

hold a prayer-meeting on one evening of the week. was by Rev. J. C. Labaree, of Randolph; reading of | the Scriptures by Rev. Z. T. Sullivan, of Brockton ; | | twenty-five.

Such a meeting was held for the first time at Joseph W. Thayer's residence, with an attendance of about These prayer-meetings, held regularly on Monday evenings during the autumn and winter, had an increasing attendance, until on one occasion More than half of these, however, were from the Winthrop Congregational

Charch, and others still were from out of town - South Braintree, West Abington, Brockton, ete. Thus these meetings from house to house were kept up under the lead of a few persons of the Methodist persuasion and preference, until a strong desire was felt that, in order to make the movement already begun a more permanent one, there ought to be a formal organization of a society under the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The preliminary steps having been taken, and the necessary arrangements

Providence (now N. E. Southern) Conference, visited the town and formally organized the Holbrook Methodist Episcopal Church, with seven members and two |

A desire for preaching services on the Lord's day soon prevailed, and on April 27, 1879, under the direction of the presiding elder, Rey. C. M. Comstock came to Holbrook and preached to the first congregation ever assembled in the town under the auspices of a Methodist Episcopal Church. Library Hall had been engaged, and the services were held therein.

The Rev. B. L. Duckwall preached May 4th and 11th, after whom the Rev. D. C. Stevenson acted as preacher and pastor from May 18th to August 2d. In this brief time he made many friends in Holbrook, who were sadly pained, the past year, at the news of his death

16th by the Rev. A. M. Osgood, and the 23d and 30th by the Rev. W. C. Helt. Next came the pastorate of the Rev. Nelson Edwards, for six months - September 7th to March 7, 1880. During this time an attempt was made toward building a church. The Rev. Mr. Edwards succeeded in getting about six hundred dollars pledged, and sufficient collected to buy mouth Street, also to pay for the laying of a trenchwork foundation for a church, thirty-one by forty. Here the work stopped. The first regularly-appointed preacher sent by the bishop was the Rev. E. M. Dunham, April 13, 1880.

the Rev. Mr. Ward one "by letter" and one '" from probation," and the Rey. Mr. Cook twenty-six " from probation" and nine "by letter." Thus the total One, Otis Thayer, aged eighty-seven, is deceased; two have removed to Hopkinton without letter, one has been dismissed by letter to the South Braintree Methodist Episcopal Church, and one has been excluded for flagrant neglect of the means of grace.

The present nominal membership is therefore forty-five. There are, besides, Other Christians not formally united with the church are regularly associated with these in the religious work.

After Library Hall was burned, preaching services and other services on the Lord's day were held in the committee-room in the town hall building. Weekday services were continued from house to house. The loss by fire was considerable for this young, weak, There was no insurance. All was lost except the contribution-boxes and hymnals, which were found among the ruins, and such Sabbath-school books as were in the hands of scholars.

A few weeks after the present pastorate began, the pastor initiated a movement towards building achurch. He called a meeting of the stewards and trustees, and moved that the board of stewards This was carried, and the committee consisted of Lewis Alden, Wm. B. Crocker, and Edward Brewer. The and a subscription-book was started by the pastor, who also drew up some plans and specifications for a church, which were accepted by the committee, who gave him authority to solicit and receive bids thereon. This done, the carpenter's contract was given to Edward Brewer at two thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollars. An additional cost was incurred by putting in Scotch cathedral glass, and other extras, amounting to about one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

The church is thirty-one by fifty feet, with front projection six by twenty-three feet, and rear projection six by twelve feet, with a rear covered entrance Six weeks after the building committee was chosen the lumber was hauled on to the church-lot, and in about three The dedicatory services occurred Feb. 8, 1882. About fifteen hundred dollars was pledged in a day to re- The interior of the church is divided up as follows: main audience-room thirty-one by forty feet with pulpit recess six by twelve feet ; lecture-room fifteen by twenty feet connected with former sand dollars. The parsonage property at present is about two hundred dollars. The Sunday-school was organized the third Sunday on which meetings were held, in Library Hall (May 11, 1879), with a membership or attendance of fifty-two. The present membership is one hundred and thirty, and the superintendent is Lewis Alden. There have been two special revival seasons during the present pastorate, in which nearly one hundred persons have taken a public stand for Christ. verted, and are now in the church. sient residents and gone from town. members of the Winthrop Sabbath-school, while others are turned back into the world.

The above facts show a marked and rapid progress for the Holbrook Methodist Episcopal Church, especially during the present pastorate. Death has not broken into its ranks, and there have been steady

Some were tranaccessions. In four years this church has acquired a property worth nearly forty-five hundred dollars, has become a regular appointment in the N. E. Southern Conference, and pays a salary of seven hundred and fifty dollars per annum. The parsonage tenement, of six rooms, is convenient, pleasant, and comfortable.

The officers of the church are as follows: ards, Lewis Alden (recording secretary), Wm. B. Crocker, Samuel C. Curtis, Alexander H. McGaw, Josiah W. Chamberlain, Chas. B. Boynton, Winslow P. Wilbur, Chas. C. Webster, and Franklin Z. Phillips ; Trustees, Lewis Alden, Wm. B. Crocker, John brethren of North Bridgewater (now Brockton). As a result of the work the people wished a church organization, and in May the choice was made in favor of a Baptist society. On May 30th the church was constituted under the labors of the Rev. Benjamin I. Lane, with four members, viz., Paul Hollis, A. L. Russell, Emily F. Russell, and Sarah E. Belcher, and the Sabbath-school was given formally to the At the close of the year the membership The church was recognized by a council of Baptist Churches convened at South Randolph in a pine grove, on land of Mr. Thomas West, Sept. 14, 1868. On Dec. 10, 1870, the ground was broken for a church edifice by Samuel Ludden (age eighty-two) and Daniel Faxon, Jr., son of the donor of the land, Rev. J. K. Chase, pastor at East Stoughton Baptist Church, officiating.

The meagre records afford but little information for the years from 1870 to 1873, but they note the dedication of the church June 25, 1872, with a sermon by the Rev. William Lamson. The Rev. Mr. Lane continued to supply the pulpit until about November, After three years of supply by students and laymen, the church called the Rev. Benjamin Wheeler to be pastor, Nov. 1, 1872, who by faithful ministry greatly built up the society, twenty-two being added during his pastorate, which ended with his death, Aug. 25, 1876. Following him came the Rev. Richard M. Nott, who became a stated supply (re-

1879. Although but three were added to the church during his ministry, the fruit of his and others' labors was gathered in by his successor, the Rev. Clifton Fletcher, of Melrose, who still continues as a stated supply. Fifteen members were added during October and November, 1883. During the years

On the first Sabbath of July, 1861, a few members of the Winthrop Congregational Sabbath-school organized a mission school in the engine-hall in South Randolph, which continued under their care until

1880, out of a total value of manufactured products of two million thirteen thousand seven hundred dollars, all but six thousand dollars was in boots and shoes. The business dates back to the beginning of the century. Kphraim Lincoln was one of the pioneers, and others of the early manufacturers bore the characteristic names, known and honored in the town to-day,

The house of Thomas White & Co. was founded in 1839 by the senior member of the present firm, Mr. | Thomas White. In 1865, Mr. Edmund White, brother of Thomas, formed a partnership, under the |

Thomas White & Co. In 1873, Mr. M. Walker was admitted as a partner, but no change was made The firm manufactures men's and women's kip, calf, buff, and split boots and shoes, and occupies a four-story building one hundred by thirtyin the firm-name.

six feet, with an L seventy by seventy-five feet. factory is supplied with the latest improved machinery, and at all times presents a busy scene, as there are some four hundred and fifty people engaged in various ways. six hundred thousand dollars per year, the goods going all over the United States. The firm also has a large manufactory at Great Falls, N. H., where, in a three-story building one hundred and seventy-five by thirty feet, employment is given to about one hundred and seventy-five hands. tions of that establishment amount to about three hundred thousand dollars per year.

The boot and shoe business of Mr. Edmund White was established by him in 1848. The building oceupied as a factory is one hundred and thirty by twentyfive feet, and three stories in height, with two wings, measuring one hundred and forty by thirty and one hundred and forty by thirty-five feet. About four hundred and fifty hands are employed, who manufacture on an average two thousand five hundred pairs per day, which are sold throughout the New England | and Western States. of age, is a native of Holbrook.

Messrs. Whitcomb & Paine, manufacturers of men's and boys' calf boots, pegged and standard screw, occupy two buildings--the main structure being a four- | story and basement building, one hundred and seventy by thirty feet, and the other eighty by twenty-five feet, containing three floors. About two hundred and twenty-five hands are employed, who turn out one hundred cases per day. 'The firm is one of the oldest | in the town, having been established in 1861. The members are L. S. Whitcomb and C. H. Paine.

The firm of R Thayer & Son, manufacturers of leather shoe-strings and dealers in leather remnants, was established about 1845 by Mr. Ezra Thayer. At his death he was succeeded by his son, Royal Thayer, who later admitted his own son, Mr. HE. Newton Thayer, to a partnership, thus constituting the present firm. Two buildings are utilized as factories, and from twenty-five to thirty hands are employed. The business is prosperous and increasing under its present intelligent management.

Miscellaneous. - The only secret organization in the town is Holbrook Lodge, No. 1753, Knights of Honor, which was instituted Sept. 5, 1879. The charter members were R. P. Chandler, Dr. J. B. Kingsbury, J. T. Southworth, J. W. Hayden, Walter K. White, H. N. Clark, Z. A. French, W. R. Norton, H. F. Thayer, R. T. Pratt, C. H. French, Lewis Alden, George M. Patten, S. D. Chase, J. E. Daniels, T. P. White, E. F. Hayden, Charles Hayden, and Elihu A. Holbrook. The Dictators have been J. T. Southworth, George M. Patten, Z. A. French, and Lewis Alden. The present officers are: P. D., Lewis

The village in the southern portion of the town, about two miles from the centre, is known as Brookville. Its former appellation was " Faxon's Corner." It has a post-office and a Baptist Church, of which a sketch has been previously given in this article.

Holbrook's fire department consists of one steamer, one hand-engine (the latter located at Brookville), and a hook-and-ladder truck. George W. Wilde.

Statistics. - The following table shows, under the appropriate headings, the most important statistical information relative to the town of Holbrook since its incorporation, compiled from official sources :

Town Officers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, John Adams, E. Wales Thayer, Lemuel S. Whitcomb; town clerk and treasurer, Frank W. Lewis; school committee, Frank W. Lewis (three years), Barton Howard (two years), Charles H. Paine (one year); auditors, Ludovicus Wild, New-

Warren Thayer; engineers of fire department, Edward Belcher, Samuel D. Chase; collector of taxes, Jacob Whitcomb. Appropriations. - Schools (including repairs and incidentals), $4300; highways, $1300; general town expense, $5200; State aid, $1000; State and county tax, $3500; total, $15,300. Valuation, May 1. - Personal estate, $722,060; real estate, - $647,490; total, $1,369,550. Tax Rate, $10 on $1000. Net Indebtedness, $14,038.21.

Town Oficers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the ; poor, E. Wales Thayer, John Adams, Charles H. Belcher; town clerk and treasurer, David Blanchard ; road commissioners, E. Wales Thayer (three years), Thomes West (two years), Washington L. Bates (one year). (Minor officers here omitted.)

Town Officers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, same as 1873; town clerk and treasurer, David Blanchard. (Minor officers here omitted.)

Town Oficers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the | poor, same as 1873; town clerk and treasurer, John Underhay. (Minor officers here omitted. )

Town Officers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, C. H. Belcher, Newton White, W. F. Gleason ; town clerk and treasurer, John Underhay. (Minor officers here omitted.) |

Town Ofjicers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, Newton White, W. F. Gleason, R. T. Pratt; town clerk and treasurer, John Underhay.

Valuation. - Real estate, $769,435 ; personal property, $185,- 550; bank and corporation stock owned by residents of Holbrook and taxed by the State, $577,500; total, $1,532,485.

highways), $19,250. (At the close of the fiscal year there was | a balance due the town, over all indebtedness, of $10,100.61, of which $10,000 was due from the Franklin and Boylston Insurance Companies - $5000 each.)

Town Officers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the | poor, Henry Newcomb, E. Frank Hayden, Samuel D. Chase ; | town clerk and treasurer, John Underhay. (Minor officers here

Net Indebtedness, $19,780.62. (An itemized report of the town hall building committee gives the entire cost of the new hall, to replace the burned structure, as $28,499.81.)

Town Oficers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, J. T. Southworth, Samuel D. Chase, E. Frank Hayden ; town clerk and treasurer, John Underhay. (Minor officers here omitted.)

Miscellaneous Statistics. - Number of voters, 551 (an increase of 47 over 1878) ; number of polls assessed, 653 (increase of 63 over 1878); houses, 385 (inerease of 38 over 1878).

Town Officers.-Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, Samuel D, Chase, John Adams, E. Frank Hayden; town (Minor officers omitted here.)

Town Ojficers.--Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, John Adams, Samuel G. Chase, Abram C. Holbrook ; town clerk and treasurer, J. T. Southworth. (Minor town officers here omitted.)

Town Ofgicers. - Selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, Abram C. Holbrook, Willard F. Gleason, Samuel D. Chase ; (Minor town officers here omitted.)

_ of him that he seldom, if ever, failed in any of his undertakings. For a period of nearly half a century he conducted a boot- and shoe-manufactory, always alone, until within a few years of his death he admitted his son, E. Everett Holbrook, as partner.

His methods of business were straightforward and direct; scorning subterfuge and finesse, he met all issues squarely as they arose, and by his life's work

Population. - In 1875, 1726; in 1880, 2130. Of the latter 1092 were males and 1038 females. By the census of 1880 there were in the town 11 white males and 12 white females, aged 21 and over, who could not write, and 23 persons aged 10 and over, who could not read.

Biographical Sketches

E. N. Holbrook was bern in East Randolph (now Holbrook), Mass., Oct. 31,1800. He was the second son and fifth child of Deacon Elisha and Anna Holbrook. He came of an ancestry distinguished for energy of character, piety, devotion to principle, and that command success, and to his infinite credit, be it said, he applied the results of that success to no selfish end. Not only the town hall, the beautiful Winthrop church edifice, to the erection of which he was so liberal a contributor, not only the public library which he endowed, but even the town itself stands as a monument to his memory, bearing as it does his name in token of the munificent donation of fifty thousand dollars to the new town (in event of its es-