Holden Town

Holden Town

Mr. Raymond contributed the first money to found a public library in his native town, which bears the name of the "Raymond Public Library of Royalston," in honor of the donor, who has shown by his living example, more eloquent than words, the rich fruits of good citizenship, the value of character, based upon intelligence, integrity and love of justice, in the building up of manhood and communities, of which New England is the type and expression.

In this brief and imperfect sketch it is only necessary to add that Mr. Raymond is a man of marked individuality, which he carries with him into all the relations of life; careful in forming an opinion, firm in his convictions, patient in investigation, seeking always the truth - and it is seldom that he is mistaken in his judgments. In these qualities, largely, lies the secret of his success; to these he owes the honors that have crowned his life.

Chapter Clxx Holden

Location - Original Grant - Indian Deed - Division of Lots - Setllemenl - The " Lime Lot " - First Survey - Incorporation - Petition - Act of Incorporation - Namax.

HOLDEN is located near the centre of the county, and is bounded as follows : North by Princeton ; east by Sterling, West Boylston and Worcester ; south by Worcester and Paxton, and west by Paxton, Rutland and Princeton.

This town originally formed a portion of Worcester and was known as the North Half. It was granted by the General Court in 1668 to Daniel Gookin, Edward Johnson and others, who received a deed from the Indians of this tract under date of July 13, 1674. The following is the deed :

Indian Peed

Beo it known to aU men by this present writing, that Wee, John aliaa Horrawannonit, or Quiquonassett, Sagamore of Pakachoge, and Solomon, alias Woonaskochu, Sagamore of Tataesait, together with the consent of our kindred and people, and for and in consideration of twelve ponnds of lawful money of New England, or the full value thereof, in other specie, to our content, within three months after the date hereof, well and truly to he paid, and satisfied, and pt. whereof, viz. two coats and four yards of trading cloth, valewed at twenty-six Bhill. wee do acknowledge to have received in hand, as earnest, of Daniel Gookinaenr. of Cambr. Esqr. and of Daniel Hinchman, of Boston, Brewer, in behalf of themselves and Capt. Thomas Prentice, and Lt. Richard Beers, and the rest of the Genii. Court's Comittee, appointed for the management of a new plantation granted by the said Court, conteyning eight miles square, or the contents thereof, being to the westward of Marlborough, near Quansiquamond Ponds, and on each aide of the Roadway leading towards Connecticott ; Now know yee, yt wee, ye i*l. Jno. and Solomon, Sagamores aforesaid, and upon the terms aforesaid, have bargained, sold, aliened, enfeeoffi-d, and confirmed, nnto ye sd Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel Hinchman, Richard Beers, and ye rest of the people admitted, or to be admitted, by yo nd comittee to be inhabitants of yt now plantation, and to their heirs, ex ecutors, admrs, and assigns for over, in fee simple, all and every pt of our civill or naturall right, in all and singular the broken up land and Woodlands, woods, trees, rivers, brooks, ponds, swamps, meadows, niineralls, or any other thing, or things whatsoever, lying and being with in that tract of land, conteyning eight mites square or the contents thereof, to be layd out by ye sd persons or their order in time conven lent. To have and to hold the premises, and every pt thereof, unto them the sd Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel Hinchman, and Richard Beers, and all ye rest of ye sd Inhabitants admitted or to be admitted planters there, and unto j'm and yr heirs forever, freely and absolutely, without any left, molestation, or disturbince, of us, or any of our kindred or people, or any claiming by, from, or under us, for evermore, as our heyrs or assigns ; and wee do promise, upon the finishing ye payment to make full and ample deeds and writings for the same, according to law. In witness of the truth hereof, wee ye sd John and Solomon, alias Horrowanonitt and Wooannaskochn, liave hereunto set our hands and seals, this thirteenth day of July, 1674. Solomon, alias AVoonnasakocbu, Signed, Sealed, and ^ seal and mark,

This deed embraced the present towns of Holden, Worcester and portions of Auburn, Paxton and West Boylston. A second Indian deed was granted to Daniel Gookin and others February 12, 1677.

Division of Lots. - At a proprietors' meeting, held April 24, 1682, it was voted to divide the whole township into lots, and the following is an account of them :

LottB Drawn for pitches in the North half part of Worcester, as they were taken out the Hatt by the Moderator according to vote as aforesd to each proprietor is as follows - viz : -

Settlement. - The first settlement in Holden was made in 1723, in the easterly part of the town, on what is now known as the Ballard farm, and in the early records as the "Lime lot," this lot having received its name from a discovery of limestone therein in the spring of 1723, by James Eice, of Worcester, This discovery was of such importance to the new settlement that at a meeting of the proprietors, in March, 1723, a vote was passed, granting " encouragement to the first finder of limestones and untertaker of the burning lime for the supplying the town." A committee was appointed to agree with Mr. Rice to burn lime upon the following conditions, viz. :

1. The undertaker, Mr. Rice, to have a patent for 50 acres of land to be allotted him, for seven years; and that he have liberty to cut wood on any common land of the proprietors, and that everybody else be forbid digging limestones, or cutting wood, until the end of said term.

3. That all the inhabitants, that may have occasion, for their own use in building to be used in town,-6hall give 12d. per bushel for it, and no more.

******* 6. That the undertaker be obliged to go upon the business with all speed, and iilso to supply the inhabitants with lime for their own use when they want it, as soon as may be with any conveniency and that they be preferred before any other persons belonging to other towns.

The tract was first surveyed in 1723, and again in 1724, and later four thousand acre.s were transferred to private individuals, and the settlement of the town was begun.

Worcester, May ye 13th a.d. 1740. These may sarty, to yr Honorable General Court that we ye subscribers hereof, Inhabitants of ye North part of Worcester have met togather choosen and appointed Mr. John Beglo for us and in our behalf to caray a Petition to ye Honorable Grate and General Court at their Sessions in May Instant praying that we may be set off a distinct and separate Township according to ye vote which we have already obtained in ye Town of Worcester.

To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esqr. Captain General & Governor in chief in and over His Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. To the Honourable His Majesty's Council & the Honourable House of Kepresentatives, Novr. 21, 1T40. The memorial of John Bigelo A- Cyprian Stevens for themselves and in behalf of the other inhabitants of the North half of the Town of Worcester humbly sheweth. That the Town of Worcester at their meeting in March last having by a vote then passed, sipinified their free consent, to dismiss the Inhabitants of the North part of sd Town in order to their being erected into a Distinct Township if this Honourable Court should think lit, and your memorialists made application accordingly at the Sessions in May last, and their Petition was not at that time Granted by the whole Court, but only by a part. Our Circumstances as we humbly apprehend being not fully known. We therefore beg leave to Inform this Honourable Couit, That since that time. Several persons have been added to our Number & divers others would have purchased land & settled with us, in case our petition had been then granted. Now in as much as our increase & flourishing have been much retarded for want thereof, and would be niucU promoted by our being made a Town, and the settlement of a Minister with us, in the meeting-house which we have erected, much facilitated, and for want whereof we undergo great difflcultys. We hum. bly entreat your Excellency and Honours will now take our Necessitous case into your wise consideration & be pleased to erect us into a distinct Township ; and your humble memorialists as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c,

An Act for erecting the Northerly part of the town of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, into a distinct and separate Township by the name of Holden.

Whereas the inhabitants of the Northerly part of the town of Worcester, commonly called North Worcester, by reason of the great difliculties they labour under, have addressed this Court to be set off a separate and distinct Township, whereby the inhabitants of said Town have manifested tbeir consent.

Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governor, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same - That the Northerly part of the Towu of Worcester, within the following bounds, viz. : - bounding South-easterly on the lines dividing the North and South Proprieties of said Town, and is known as the dividing line ; westerly partly on the Town of Leicester, and partly on the Town of Rutland ; and easterly on the Town of Shrewsbury, be and hereby is set off, from the Town of Worcester, and erected into a separate and distinct Township by the name of Holden, and that the inhabitants thereof be and hereby are vested with all the Powers, Piivileges and Immunities which the inhabitants of other Towns within this Province do and by right ought to enjoy.

Provided nevertheless that the said new Town shall pay their proportionable part of all such Province and County taxes as are already assessed upon the Towu of Worcester, in like manner as tho' this act had never been made.

Ordered that Mr. John Bigelow, a Principal Inhabitant of a New Town lately erected out of the Northerly part of the Town of Worcester, in the County of Worcester, be and hereby is authorised and Inipowred to assemble the Freeholders and other Qualifyed Voters there on the first Monday of May next in some convenient publick place in said Town, in order to tiieirchusing a Town Clerk and other Town officers for the Year next Ensuing.

time, cut off to pay the taxes. After much negotiation it was sold, in the year 1826, for about eleven dollars per acre. The proceeds were transmitted to the heirs of the original owner in France ; a sufficient amount having been deducted to defray expenses attending the sale. The origin of the name - French land, will have been apparent." The following were in the service from Holdeu :

The Civil War. - In the late Civil War Holden responded promptly to the President's call for troops, and her record is one in which her citizens may justly feel a patriotic pride. The town furnished two hundred and four men for the war, eleven of whom were commissioned officers. Amount of money expended, exclusive of State aid, was $7,963,38, and a large amount was probably secured by private contribution. The first town-meeting relative to the war was held under dale of April 20, 1861, when one thousand five hundred dollars were appropriated " for the benefit of the members of the Holden Rifle Company and their families."

The Holden Rifle Company formed a portion of the second regiment that went from Massachusetts (three months' men), and left for the South April 18, 1861.

In 1876 the town-hall was remodeled and memorial tablets were placed in the interior bearing the names of thirty men who lost their lives in the service, as follows: Captain Ira J. Kelton, George T. Bigelow, Albert Creed, John Fearing, Edward Clark, Charles Gibbs, James W. Goodnow, James W. Haley, Lyman E. Keyes, George W. Newell, Michael Riley, John B. Savage, Amasa A. Howe, George T. Johnson, John K. Houghton, William C. Perrey, Levi Chamberlain, Frank Lumazetta, Uriah Bassett, Henry M. Fales, George Thurston, Calvin HulAard, Sergeant Harlem P. Moore, Winslow B. Rogers, Alfred S. Tucker, Henry M. Holt, H. Erskine Black, Elisha C- Davenport, John Handley and Horace L. Truesdell.

Chapter Clxxii

It has been mentioned on a previous page that one of the first acts of the town was to provide for religious worship. One year later, in 1742, it was voted to call Rev. Joseph Davis to the gospel ministry, and he was ordained Dec. 22, 1742, upon which date the church was organized with fourteen members. "The connection," says Rev. Mr. Damon, " of the Rev. Mr.

Davis, as pastor of the church in Holden, continued until January, 1773, when he was dismissed at his own request. From a printed sermon of Mr. Davis I have gathered some statistics relating to the history of this town, worthy of preservation, as they were collected by one so intimately acquainted with the first settlers of Holden. I would remark that Mr. Davis preached this sermon January 2, 1793, fifty years having passed since his introduction to the work of the gospel ministry. 'At first,' writes Mr. Davis, 'your increase was slow; little alteration for the term of five years ; but afterwards the increase was more ; for, at the end of ten years, your number of families was fifty-five. For the second ten years the increase in families was small - only ten. The last ten years of my ministry the increase was fiflyone. The whole number at my dismission, about one hundred and six families. There had been 642 births; about ;^30 were males and about 310 Wf re females. There have died 214 persons ; about 80 under the age of two years and more than half under the age of five. The number baptized by me, about 520. At the end of twenty years the church consisted of about 75 members, and when I was dismissed of 86 : 38 males, 48 females. There was a remarkable sickness about seven years after my settlement ; 22 persons died. And about six years after, the year after the great Earthquake, a, raging distemper carried ofi" about 45 persons in a short time, mostly younger persons and children.' "

Mr. Davis remained until 1773. Dec. 21, 1774, Rev. Joseph Avery was ordained pastor, and remained with the church until his death, March 5, 1824. "During Mr. Avery's pastorate an unpleasant controversy, relating to church music, disturbed the peace of society in town, near the close of the 18th century. Some of the regular attendants upon public worship refused to occupy their seats in the meetinghouse, unless the psalms and hymns could be sung without the aid of the unconsecrated viol and the unhallowed pitch-pipe. The venerable pastor exerted most strenuously his peace-making talents. An uncommon share he was acknowledged to possess. A reconciliation between the parties was effected by the counsel and advice of so wise a mediator."

"The mode of singing is so much offensive to me, that I cannot Glorify God, nor be Edified myself: and further the Church have gon Conterary to the Covenant owned be Every Brother of the Church : in the Covenant are these words promising Carefully to avoid all sinful stumbling Blocks and Contentions to metion no more on the Covenant : the mere musick as you Call it, is the Block in my way, as your Self and the Church are Sensable of: this mere Music has No melody at all in it : and further I would wish to SB the Carrecter Diacribed in the Letter subscribed to Mr and my self truly and faithfully observed,

Horatio Bardwell, who had served a short time as joint pastor under Mr. Avery, remained until the ordination of Rev. William P. Paine, October 24, 1833. Mr. Paine remained pastor until his death, November 28, 1876, - a period of over forty-three years. His successors have been as follows : Revs. William A. Lamb, H. M. Rogers and Melven J. Allen, present pastor.

The first house of worship, which was erected in 1789, was remodeled in 1827-28. It was further improved and beautified in 1874, and in December of that year was rededicated.

The Baptist Church. - The recorded history of the Baptist Church in Holden begins June 4, 1804, when Ephraim Mirrick was chosen moderator ; John Hubbard, clerk ; Asa Howe, collector, and Ephraim Mirrick, associate deacon, when no deacon was present from Templeton. The Rev. Elisha Andrews, pastor of the Baptist Church in Templeton, preached in town for some years before a church was organized. Baptist Church members here were regarded as a branch church of the Baptist Church in Templeton.

Rev. Mr. Damon says : " Tradition reports that Mr. John Perry, living upon the farm known as the Perry Farm, was the first person of this denomination belonging to the town. The records of the town partially confirm the voice of tradition. An article was inserted in the warrant for the town-meeting, to be held May 5, 1788, ' To see if the town will answer the petition of Mr. John Perry and others of the Baptis belonging to said Holden.' The vote of the town in reference to this article reads as follows : ' Voted not to allow the petition of Mr. John Perry and others of the Baptis belonging to Holden.' From other records upon the town-books it appears that this petition related to the abatement of taxes to be raised for the support of the Established Church."

Holden

were present : From Harvard, Elder George Robinson, Deacon Ephraim Emerson, Charles Chase and Jeremiah Dyer ; from Leverett, Elder Elijah Montague and Peter Ripley ; from Sutton, Elder Samuel Waters, Deacon Moses Putnam, Solomon Marble and Jonah Golding.

The following is a list of pastors: Elisha Andrews, Thomas Marshall, John Walker, Appleton Belknap, George Waters, Samuel Everett, Andrew Pollard, Woodman H. Watson, J. H. Tilton, T. C. Tingley, J. H. Tilton (second pastorate), Lester Williams, John S. Harridon, George W. Kinney, John Rounds, John K. Chace, I. S. Hamblin and D. F. Ester, present pastor.

The additions by baptism the last two decades have been one hundred and ninety-seven, and since its organization, in 1807, six hundred and sixty-eight. The present membership is one hundred and seventynine.

Catholic Church. - The history of the Catholic Church of Holden dates back to 1850, when a handful of Catholics applied for a priest to administer to them the rites of their holy religion. Instrumental in this cause were the old pioneers of Catholicity in Holden, the late Mr. Michael McLaughlin and Mr. James Prendergast ; and divine services were held for the first time, and for a number of years, at Mr. McLaughlin's house by Rev. Father Gibson, then parish priest of St. John's Church, Worcester.

Later on, in 1860, the hall at Eagleville was used for church purposes ; then the town-hall. In the year 1869 Rev. Thomas Griffin purchased land in Holden Centre, and by his untiring zeal a church was erected. Shortly after it was placed in charge of Rev. A. J. Derbuel as a mission of West Boylston parish, and later on as a mission of the parish of the Immaculate Conception, Worcester, Rev. Robert Walshe, pastor. During Father Walshe's charge the church was twice enlarged.

In 1884 Rev. James McCloskey was stationed as first parish priest of Holden. He remained until the fall of 1886, when he resigned. During his administration the present parochial residence was purchased. Rev. Thomas F. Joyce was next installed as parish priest, and in the month of January, 1888, he died ; his remains were interred in the church-yard near the church. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. John D. McGann, who has done much to strengthen not only the spiritual, but also the financial condition of the parish, and preparations are now in progress for the erection of a new church, as the present one is fast becoming too small to accommodate the increasing congregation.

Among the prominent clergymen who have administered the spiritual wants of the parish are Rt. Rev. P. T. O'Reilly, D. D., bishop of Springfield; Rev. John J. Power, D.D., V.G. ; Rev. P. J. Garrigan, D.D., vice-rector of the Catholic University at Washington.

Chapter Clxxiii Educational

Schools. - The citizens of Holden early manifested an interest in educational matters, and at the second town meeting, held May 19, 1741, it was " voted to have a writing and reading school."

" During the early history of the town frequent mention is made that public schools were kei)t at houses of private persons. In 1752 a school was kept 3 months at Mr. Joseph Hubbard's house : another school, the same year, at Lieut. Cyprian Stevens' house. During the following year schools were kept in other parts of the town, - 3 months at the centre; 3 months at Jonathan Lovell's house; and 3 months at Lieut. Richard Flagg's house. In 1754 it was voted, in town-meeting, that £14-6s.-8rf. be appropriated for the erection of a school-house at the centre of the town. I have not been able to learn that this vote was carried into execution. Tradition reports that the first school-house was erected in the east part of the town, in the neighborhood of the Bullard place. The sum annually appropriated for schools gradually increased from year to year. In 1752 the sum of £11-12«. was raised for 6 months' schooling; and in 1762 the sum had increased to £30, including the interest upon the lime lot." - (Damon).

Average attendance - Rummer, 387 ; winter, 414. Number of scholars between four years and sixteen years, 485. Number of teachers - Summer. 12 iemales, 0 males. Number of teachers^Winter, .^ females, 9 males. Average wages per month, including board, S11.61, females ; 826.87, males. Average value board per month, 86.06, females; 88, males. Private schools and schools kept to prolong common schools, 5. Aggregate number of months, 9. Aggregate number of scholars, 45. At an expense to individuals, 8135.

Statistics. - Number of persons between five and fifteen according to the annual school census, taken in May, 1887, 492 ; number between eight and four*- teen years of age, 341 ; number enrolled on our school records, including High School, 551.

The School Committee for 1887 and 1888 was as follows : W. E. Austin, chairman, term expires 1890 ; Mrs. M. E. Warren, secretary, term expires 1889 ; Charles E. Parker, term expires 1889 ; E. P. Thompson, resigned November, 1887 ; Mrs. I. M. Ball, term expires 1890 ; Mrs. Allen G. Davis, term expires 1888 ; Thomas Hennessey, truant officer.

Libraries - The Damon Memorial. - The citizens of Holden may well congratulate themselves in having one of the finest library buildings in the county. This building is known as the Damon Memorial, and was the gift of Mr. Samuel C. Gale, of Minneapolis, Minn. It contains the Gale Free Public Library and the High School. It was dedicated August 29, 1880, with appropriate ceremonies. It was presented to the town of Holden by Mr. Samuel C. Gale, and accepted by Mr. Charles E. Parker, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. An address was delivered upon the occasion by Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, the distinguished litterateur of Cambridge.

The committee of arrangements at the dedication consisted of Alonzo K. Learned, Henry W. Warren, Waldo E. Austin, Charles E. Parker and Still man F. Morse.

The Holdeti Library Association was organized October 4, 1876. The first officers were: Trustees - Colonel I. N. Ross, William Howe. Mrs. C. P. Phelps (three years), William C. Metcalf, Gates Chapman, Mrs. I. M. Ball (two years), H. B. Morse, J. T, Abbott, Mrs. W. H. Fairbanks (one year) ; President, I. N. Ross ; Vice-President, H. B. Morse ; Secretary and Treasurer, William D. Cheney.

Colonel I. N. Ross served as president until his death, in 1881, when William C. Metcalf was elected president. In 1883 H. W. Warren presided; W. E. Austin has been president since 1883.

In July, 1888, a special meeting was called to take action with reference to presenting the library to the town, which, with the books presented by the Hon. S. C. Gale, were to form a " Free Public Library," and it was voted that trustees of the Holden Library Association be authorized and directed to transfer the books and other property connected with this library to the proper authorities of the town of Holden whenever the said town shall vote to accept the same in accordance with the constitutional provisions of this association. In accordance with which vote fourteen hundred volumes were turned over to the " Gale Free Public Library of Holden."

Chapter Clxxiv

Physicians. - The first physician in Holden was Isaac Chenery. He was a surgeon in the Revolution, and was one of the town's most esteemed citizens. He was born in Medfieldin 1742, and died October 20, 1822. Other physicians have been as follows : Thaddeus Chenery, son of Isaac ; Moses Wheeler, Aaron Holbrook, John Smith and son, John M. Smith, George Estabrook, David Davis, Aaron E. Babcock, Warren Partridge, A. G. Skinner, Augustus Robbins, J. O. West, A. D. Smith, J. S. Ames, A. B. Robinson, J. S. Rood and C. W. Stickney. Drs. Ames and Stickney are the present physicians. The former has practiced here since 1858, and the latter since 1882.

A commandery of Knights Templar and appendant orders was established here June 24, 1825, with the following members : Jonas L. Sibley, James Estabrook, Lewis Thayer, Samuel Stratton, Orin Dalrimple, Elisha Andrews, Jacob Frieze, Daniel Tenney, George Estabrook, David Davis, Jacob Wood, Joel Nurse, Manasseh Willard and Adin Ballou.

The Centennial Celebration of the organization of the town was held May 4, 1841. The committee of arrangements consisted of Samuel Damon, Charles Chaffin, Silas Flagg, Lemuel Fiske, Paul Davis, John Davis, William Metcalf, Samuel Foster, Silas M. Hubbard, James Winch, Jason Mann, Jonathan Rice, Judah Wright. The marshals were Chenery Abbott, Le Baron Putnam, Joab S. Holt, Charles L. Knowlton, Ethan Davis, Nathan Howe, William Howe, Sparrow Crosby, James S. Moore. The historical address was delivered by Rev. Samuel C. Damon, and was a faithful review of the history of the town. Other addresses were delivered by William Lincoln, S. F. Haven, Colonel Isaac Davis, Colonel James Estabrook and others.

The town-house was erected in 1837, at a cost of $3,869.58. In 1876 it was remodeled at a cost of $4,292.42. Previous to the erection of the townhouse the town-meetings were held in the Congregational Church.

Holden has sent many bright and capable men and women into missionary fields ; among tliese may be mentioned Deacon Isaac Fisk, to the Choctaw Indians, in 1819; Miss Abigail P. Davis, wife of Rev. William Goodall, to Beyroot, in 1822 ; Miss Hannah Davis, wife of Rev. Alden Grout, to the Zulus, in 1834 ; Edward Bailey and wife, Caroline Hubbard, to the Sandwich Islands, in 1836 ; Mi.ss Myra Fairbanks, wife of Rev. Gushing Eells, to the Flathead Indians, in 1838 ; Mrs. Goddard, daughter of Asa Abbott, to China ; Miss Isabel Davis, wife of James F. Clarke, to Turkey.

A worthy son of Holden was the Rev. Samuel C. Damon, wlio was born February 15, 1815. He was a clergyman, ordained September 15, 1841, and on the 15th of the following February he sailed for Honolulu, under the auspices of the Seaman's Friend Society, as chaplain. He remained in Honolulu until his death, in 1888. Mr. Damon was largely interested in the history of his native town, and, as before mentioned, delivered an historical address at the centennial celebration of the organization of Holden, May 4, 1851. He subsequently wrote the " History of Holden," which was published in 1841. Within a few years he had revised this work, and in about 1882 a proposition to publish the book was submitted to the town. The committee appointed to consider the matter reported favorably, but no further action was taken. (The writer is indebted to Mr. Damon's " History of Holden " for valuable material used in the preparation of this history.)

Number of families, 75; males under sixteen years, 161, above sixteen years, 109; females, under sixteen years, 116, above sixteen years, 107 ; negroes, 2. Total, 495.

Manufacturing. - The nucleus of the large business now conducted by Messrs. Howe & Jefferson, at Jeffersonville (formerly known as Drydenville), was made in 1825, when a small factory of eight looms was built by a Mr. Morse. It was soon after purchased by John Jephardson and run as a satinet-mill. At about this period Colonel Artemas Dryden also built a mill which contained eight looms. In 1858 Deacon William Howe and Major Theron E. Hall began the woolen manufacture here in a small one-set mill. In 1860 Major Hall's interest pa.ssed into the hands of M. V. B. Jefferson, and the business was conducted under the firm-name of Howe & Jefferson until 1880, when Mr. Jefferson purchased his partner's interest, and the mill has since been run by him under the name of the Jeffersonville Manufacturing Company, making woolen goods. Jeffersonville is a station on the Fitchburg and Central Massachusetts Railroads. The post-office was established in 1874, with M. V. B. Jefferson as postmaster, who was succeeded under President Cleveland's administration by the present incumbent, William J. Prendergast.

The mill at Damonville came into the possession of Charles P. Dawson in 1869. Mr. Dawson has enlarged the capacity of the mills, and greatly improved the village. He manufactures satinets.

In 1821 the saw and grist-mills at Eagleville, owned by Caleb Kendall, were purchased by Samuel Clark, and a small factory erected. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1834, and in the following year was rebuilt, and has since been enlarged. In 1840 the establishment was called the " Eagleville Manufacturing Company." It had, at this time, sixteen hundred spindles, and the annual product amounted to two hundred and seventy-five thousand yards of sheeting. It is now run by S. F. Morse.

The factory at Unionville is claimed to have been the first factory in Worcester County erected for the purpose of spinning cotton yarn. This business was commenced here in 1809, by Eleazer Rider & Son. The weaving by power-looms commenced in 1822, and cotton cloth was manufactured. John Lees was the owner. These mills were burned in 1884.

The North Woods factory was built by B. T. Southgate for the manufacture of woolen goods. It was changed to cotton goods by William Buffum in 1827. Its capacity in 1840 was two hundred and fifty thousand yards of sheeting annually. It had, at that time, fourteen hundred and eighty spindles and forty looms. It is now owned by the West Boylston Manufacturing Company, and run by A. H. Turner.

Damon in 1831. It was burned in 1869, and rebuilt soon after. It is now owned by Cyrus G. Woods, and satinet is manufactured. The post-ofiice was established here in 1884, with Mr. Woods as postmaster, and is located in the fine business block erected by him. He has also purchased the Lovellville property, which he has greatly improved, practically uniting the two yillages.

The mills at Chafiinville were built about 1820. They were burned a few years since. Waldo E. Austin's saw-mill was rebuilt in 1881, and steampower added in the following year.

The tanning industry at Eagleville dates back to 1825, when John Maynard built a tannery at this place, then called " Brick City." In 1840 Waterman G. Warren and his brother Samuel commenced tanning here. This partnership lasted until 1850. In that year Mr. AV. G. Warren purchased the Edward Richardson tannery, which was built prior to 1789. The present tannery at Eagleville is a fine structure, and its facilities for producing card-leather are unsurpassed by any in the State.

This firm has been successively known as B. & H. W. Warren & Co., W. G. Warren & Sons., and W. G. Warrens' Sons. (See biography of W. G. Warren, on page 1393 of this work.)

Chapter Clxxv Civil History

Tlie First Town-Meeting - Qffkert Elected - Lilt of Totm Cleils /rem 1741 to 1889 - Selectmen - Aeeessors - Treasnrere - liepreBentatives - Dehgatei to Provincial Congress.

Civil History. - The first town-meeting was held May 4, 1741, and among the officers chosen were Cyprian Stevens, town clerk ; Simon Davis, John Biglo and Cyprian Stevens, selectmen ; and Samuel Clark, Samuel Pierce and Samuel Heywood, assessors. Two weeks later the second town-meeting was held and the first vote was " to have the gospel preached in town." It was also voted, at this meeting, " to have a writing and reading school."

1858.^ - Selectmen, Ira Broad, Sumner Chamberlin, Augustus F. Damon, George S. Goddard, Alfred Chaffin ; Assessors, Isaac Damon, Silas Flagg, Jr., Charles Bryant; Town Clerk, John E. Chaffin; Treasurer, Charles Knowlton. Vote of thanks was given to Major Paul Davis for his thirty-seven years' services as town clerk, he declining further service.

1869. - Selectmen, M. V. B. Jefferson, George Howe, Charles Flagg, S. D. Hubbard, J. H. Wright ; Assessors same as 1868 ; Clerk, S. W. Armington ; Treasurer, Charles Knowlton. Town voted to abolish district system of schools.

1870. - ^Selectman, M. V. B. Jefferson, George Howe, Charles Flagg, Samuel D. Hubbard, J. H. Wright ; Assessors, Nathan Howe, Jeremiah Parker, Silas Flagg ; Clerk, George F. Rogers ; Treasurer, Charles Knowlton ; Representative to General Court, Isaac N. Ross. Voted to instruct the School Committee to choose a superintendent of school. William C. Metcalf chosen.

1880. - Selectmen, Gates Chapman, Chas. Dawson, Fred. T. Holt; Assessors, same as 1879; Clerk, Isaac Damon ; Treasurer, L. B. Brigham. Voted to establish a " High School."

The Damos Memorial.' - In 1886 it became apparent that a new school-house must be provided to meet the increasing needs of the Centre District, and although the good people have ever manifested a very liberal spirit in educational affairs, like all New Englanders, each citizen had his own peculiar way as to how to meet that need, and a committee was chosen to investigate and report at a future meeting.

Early in their investigations it was rumored that S. C. Gale, Esq., had purchased a building site adjoining the " Common " for a librarj' building, and upon communicating with him his plans were so far outlined as to assure them that it was the intention of himself and wife, a native of Holden, to erect and present to the town a suitable structure to answer for library and high school purposes, to be known as the " Damon Memorial,"' in memory of Mrs. Gale's brother, the late Rev. .Samuel C. Damon, of Honolulu, Sandwich Islands.

The committee's report, with a letter from Mr. Gale, declaring his purposes more minutely, was read in town-meeting and a vote of thanks passed, and from .luneof 1887 to August, 1888, the beautiful structure arose from foundation to final completion and completeness. In July a committee was chosen to arrange for and have charge of acceptance and dedication of the building, to whom Mr. Gale made known his intention of adding to his already princely gift the sum of three thousand dollars for the purchase of books for a free imblic library., with instructions to have the books upon the shelves on the day of dedication.

Mr. .lohn Wadsworth, of Chicago, 111., sent a check for one hundred dollars as a slight recompense to Holden for having furnished him a wife, and the

Holden Library Association, seeing its great desire of | a " Free Public Library " likely to be gratified, voted [ to close up its affairs and present to the town its ! library of fourteen hundred volumes and other j property.

In September a town-meeting was called for the purpose of formally accepting these various donations and choosing a board of trustees and appropriating ' necessary funds for current expenses: Trustees, A. K. Learned, W. E. Austin (three years); H. W. Warren, , Rev. D. F. Estes (two years) ; Emory Rogers, Charles E. Parker (one year). The trustees, in grateful recog- 1