Holliston Town (part 1 of 2)

Holliston Town

(what was then called) a temperance grocery-store, corner of Arsenal and Mt. Auburn Streets. Many prophesied at the time that this new project would be a failure, for it was customary in those days for grocers to sell liquors, and they did a thriving business in that line.

iMr. Noyes was a strong temperance man, and did not approve of the use or sale of liquors. There were three stores in town at the time which dispensed spirituous liquors, but Mr. Noyes having the strong courage of his convictions, plodded along in his way, his business slowly but constantly increasing. He was soon in need of a larger store, and moved in 1847 into t hf town hall building, where he remained for a number of years. In 1870 he built the brick block on the opposite side of the street, known as Noyes' Block. He continued to do business there until 1879, when he sold out and retired, having been in active business in Watertown forty-six years.

In June, IS^O, Samuel Noyes married Amanda George, of Plymouth, N. H., and had six children, viz., Mary, Hattie, Samuel G., Sarah B. (who died in infancy), Charles H. and Emma L. Four of these children are now living, - Mary (now Mrs. Noyes), Samuel G. (unmarried), Charles (unmarried), Emma L. (now Mrs. Sidney E. Home), living in Mendota, Illinois.

Mr. Noyes is a Republican in politics, was town treasurer and collector of taxes for twenty years, always attended the Baptist Church, and was treasurer of that society fifty-five years.

Tho.Mas L. French

Capt. Thomiis L. French was born in Cambridge, .Mass., Sept. 16, 1800. He was the son of Cyrus and Deborah (Learned), and grandson of Isaac French.

('apt. French's father died when he was quite young, and early in life he was obliged to depend upon his own resources. At the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to Samuel F. Sawyer, of Cambridge, Mass., to learn the trade of mason and builder, and at the age of twenty-one he went in business for himself in HoUiston, Mass. He remained in Holliston about four years, then moved to Watertown and continued the same business until within a few years when he retired from active life. (ja[)t. French did a large and lucrative business in Watertown, and during the late war was master mechanic at the United States Arsenal and built most of their large brick buildings.

He was very active in town affairs - selectman fifteen years, in the Legislature one year, and held other minor town offices. The captain was never defeated for any ofiice tendered to him by his townsmen but ouce. During his active life few men were better posted in town affairs than he. The title of

<ieorgetta is still living. Mrs. French died Oct. 18, 1852. For his second wife, Mr. French married Mrs. Isaac French. She died Jan. 6, 1854.

Chapter Xxx Vl By Albert H. Blanchard, M.D.

The town of Holliston reaches to the southern point of Middlesex County, and forms a large part of its boundary in that direction. The boundary line separates it from Medway and Millis, in the county of Norfolk, and from a portion of Milford, in the county of Worcester. It is a daughter of Sherborn, having been formed entirely from that ancient town. The history of Sherborn is therefore the history of Holliston until the date of incorporation of the latter town, in 1724.

Grants of the land now included in this township were made by the General Court, as early as 1659, to Major Eleazer Lusher, of Dedhara, and to Dean Winthrop, son of Governor John Winthrop; and also, from 1664 to 1674, to Lieutenant Joshua Fisher, of Dedham, to John Parker and one Hopper. Lusher's grant of two hundred and fifty acres comprised the present central pari of Holliston, and twelve acres of meadow "lying on the brook Wennakeening" (Bogistow Brook); and Winthrop's grant of six hundred acres or more abutted upon Medfield line in one direction and upon a pond (Winthrop's) in the other. Major Lusher sold his grant to Lieutenant Henry Adams, of Medfield, in 1660; and after the death of Lieutenant Adams it was bought by Hon. William Brown, of Salem, and afterwards came into the possession of his son. Colonel Samuel Brown, and Judge Samuel Sewall. Lieutenant Adams took immediate possession and is said to have mowed the meadows the same year. He sent cattle here and some of his sons resided here, especially Jasper, who seems to have had the management of the land and gave his name to ".lasper's hill," now Mt. Mollis, from whiidi, bv signal fires, he communicated with his father in Medfield. He lived here, unmarried, for a period of about fourteen years until driven off by the Indians under King Philip in 1676.

The second [)lanter was William Sheffield, who, with his brother Edmund, bought in 1662 the grant of Lieutenant Joshua Fisher, of Dedham, at "(!habboquasset," in the southeast quarter of the present town. He took possession, but did not settle there probably until 1674. Edmund Sheffield does not appear to have settled there at all. Of this land no deed had been obtjiined in 1688, Lieutenant Fisher having died in 1G72, before he had completed a deed to the Sheffields. William was in much trouble on this account, and, as he did not know what action to take, presented the following petition "on a training day" in Sherborne, November 22, 1688, "to y" fathers, with all the inhabitants ofSherborn:" "Wm. Sheffield, of Sherborn, the aged, your humble petitioner, doe humbly intreat you to show your love to me, to give, grant or confirm my land which I bought of Lt. Fisher, ol Dedham, to confirm to me and mine, I shall be very thankful to you forever; for I am like a man having myself half in the mire, and want to be holpen, help I pray you and damnifie no man with it." In answer to this "request the inhabitants then present did generally by their vote, grant and confirm to him the said land soe far as they had any interest in it." He seems by an order of the Court to have obtained his deed at a later date. He had extinguished the Indian title to his tract in 1675. He became a wealthy man for those days, and in 1686 was rated the third highest in Sherborn. He was a selectman in the early years of HoUiston and served on the first board. His son, William Sheftield, bought Hopper's farm of 280 acres in the west part of Holliston.

Winthrop's grant was purchased by Captain John Goulding, and extensively improved by him. He settled there about 1705, and was a man of wealth and of " herculean size and strength," and a principal inhabitant in the early affairs of the town ; was town clerk ten years and selectman ten years.

No other grants appear to have been occupied until 1680, and then only by proprietors of grants made prior to the incorporation of Sherborn, or that were made by the town of Sherborn. Under the latter head, in 1679, " Sherborne grauteth to such as shall make a »aw-mill on a Brook [Bogistow Brook, where the blanket-mill stands] about half a mile on this bide the corner rock that was Natick bounds, the sum ol 50 Acres of upland adjoining to that brook, and 3 or 4 Acres of meadow, if it may be lound upon that Brook, as may be convenient - also 10 Acres of Swamp, tlie Cedar timber excepted. This .^aw-mill to be built by the end of 12 months, and be continued three years or as the selectmen then in being, and the owners shall agree. So the land to be settled to ihe owners." Samuel Lind, of Boston, soon accepted this offer and built a "corn-niill" and afterwards a saw-mill upon it. The same privilege was used in later years fi)r a trip-hammer mill, woolen-mill, cotton-mill and machine-shop, and in our day for the manufacture of blankets. The building was burned about 1843, and a new one afterwards erected.

and until then no other settlers were admitted. But soon after that date arrangements were made for taking possession of these lands and purchasing the same of the Indians. All of these settlers were particular to " extinguish the Indian title." They considered that the Indians had a right to the lands, and they bought that right i>nd took deeds therefor. William Sheffield purchased directly of one of the chiefs, John Awosamog ; others united in obtaining a common quit-claim deed from several Indians who were authorized to convey the same.

Not many families had settled in Holliston when the year 1700 had arrived. For this there were two principal reasons : the one above-mentioned, that no new settlers were admitted until after the year 1682, and another one, that this territory was several miles distant from the church in Sherborn, a serious matter in those days, when the opportunity to attend the stated services of the sanctuary was considered one of the highest privileges. Even as late as the year 1723 there were only thirteen subscribers to the petition to be set off from Sherborn, and it is believed that all but five heads of families signed the petition.

The inhabitants of Sherborn were about to erect a new meeting-house, and those residing in the western part of the town (now Holliston) were strenuous in their endeavors to have it placed ou a spot which should accommodate them. The town endeavored to respond to this reasonable request. On March 6, 1723, the qualified voters met at the meeting-house, and immediately adjourned to meet at " the platt, seventy or six-score rods Easterly from Dirty Meadow bridge, or Thereabouts" (about half a mile east of the railroad station, in East Holliston), when and where it was unanimously voted by all present, "that a meeting-hohse be built for the town to worship God in, on Lord's Days, upon a certain hill by the road side, . . . so that the town remain together for the strengthening thereof." November 18, 1723, the inhabitants "voted to nullifie and make void this vote of March sixth, in consideration that the Form and Situation of the Town is so ill Convenient that one Meeling-House Cannot be so placed as to Suit the Whole town, but that in time there will be need of two to accommodate the Inhabitants." And £160 was granted to defray the cost of a new meetinghouse on the old site. This was, without doubt, a sensible decision, and subsequent events have so proved it.

" .\t saiij Meeting nfter Sundry votes had passed, relating to the building or rebuilding of ye ])tiblick Meeting house, the following motion was made l)y Sundry of j< Principle Inhabitants of y» said town. Who are Dwellers on ye West side of Dopping Brook. The request of us, the Subscribers, in behalf of Our Selves and the Other Western Inhabitants of y" town ; Do desire that the following artii'les nuiy l)e put to vote, viz. : Whether they will not be free to Grant us y» liberty of Having that part of Slietheld's Farm Lying ou y» East Side of Boggestow Brook and Kdniund Morse's Land and possessions on y« East side of Dopping brook aforesaid, over and above y» Dividing line pi ejected between the Eastern and W'estern parts of the town from Colonel Buckminster's corner, &c. Then Wo will do all publick Duty tu tlie town us licielofure till the Genii. CDiirt Shall Set us off Except in y» Cost of Bnilding or ri builtling the meeting; house, as it has been this day voted. And if s We'll a^k fur a Dividing line no further Eastward.

On the above the following vote is recorded : "The town by their vote do save to the said Western Inhabitants over Doppiu Brook, whensoever they are sett off', their proportion iu ye £1()0 this day granted towards ye Builtlingye publick Meeting House where it now stands." And the remainder of the above motion was also passed, " for the sake of future peace and good Neighborhood." This amicable spirit has been continued even to the present day ; and for many years Sherborn and Holliston constituted one of the State districts for choice of Representative to the Legislature.

June 3, 1724, a petition of the inhabitants of the westerly part of Sherborn was presented to the General Court, showing the "great inconvenience they are under by reason of their great distance from the place of Publick Worship, the said town being near 12 miles long, and the meeting-house situated at the Easterly End; That they have applyed to the Town to be sett off, but cannot obtain a division by such a line as they think reasonable ; and therefore praying that they may be made adistinct and separate township by such boundarys as are in the said petition particularly set forth." In council, read and ordered that Adam Winthrop, Jona Dowse, Esqs., to whom the House joined Ebenezer Stone, John Quincy, Esqs., and Mr. Edward White, be a committee to repair, as soon as may be, to Sherborn, and make inquiry into the matter of this petition, and report what they think proper for this Court to do thereon. The charge of the committee to be borne by the petitioners.

June 16, 1724. A petition of Timothy Leland and others. A committee of the inhabitants of the Westerly part of Sherborn, praying that thi% Court would direct the said town not to levy any tax on them for building the meeting-house until September next. The committee appointed to consider their former petition, not being able to proceed to Sherborne till the recess of the Court ;

November 20, 1724. Reported and recommended the Western part be erected into a precinct and separated from the First Parish by the line that now divides Sherborn from Holliston and Ashland; that they be obliged within eighteen months to erect and finish, at their own charge, a suitable house for worship ; that they provide, as soon as may be, a learned and Orthodox minister ; that they be allowed to assess the 28-iii lands of non-residents within said precinct Id. per acre towards the charge of building and settling a minister ; that they be freed from paying any part of the £160 lately assessed by said town for building a meeting-house in the easterly part of the town ; that they continue to pay their proportion for the support of the present minister of the town until they obtain a minister of their own, and no longer; that they procure and maintain a school-master to instruct their youth in reading and writing.

Their report was accepted in the several articles thereof, " saving that the Western part of Sherborne be a town and not a precinct, and that a bill be brought in to erect the said lands into a township ; Und that the inhabitants of the western part pay the charges of the committee, viz., £10." This bill passed to be enacted by both Houses, December 3, 1724, and the New town was called Holliston, in honor of Thomas Hollis, Esq., of London, a benefactor of Harward College; and Mr. John Goulding, a princi|)al inhabitant, was empowered and directed to summon the inhabitants qualified for voters to meet for the choice of town officers, to stand until the next annual 'election according to law.

Thomas Hollis returned the compliment by presenting the town with an elegant folio Bible for the pulpit, in which is inscribed, "The Gift of Thomas Hollis, of London, Marchant, To the Meeting-house in Holliston, whereof Mr. James Stone is pastor, and his successors." This inscription is supposed to be in the handwriting of Mr. Hollis. Rev. Dr. Tucker gives the following history of this volume : " It was a noble folio printed at Oxford [in the year 1679], and for the first one hundred years of the church's history had been used by its p;istor in the service of public worship. Becoming too much worn for that place, the selectmen had given it to the poor-house, where it would have been soon utterly finished, had not the worthy descendant of its donor, Dea. Thomas Hollis, of Boston, got news of its whereabouts, after much search, and secured its possession by giving a new copy of the Scriptures to that institution. The church, on ascertaining this several years after, with some persuasion induced Mr. Hollis to relinquish the valuable relic, which he greatly prized, and which no money could have bought from him, by pledging itself to guard the treasure for all time to come, from harm. The volume was too much dilapidated for rebinding, but by order of the church, a shrine was made for it, resembling a massive book, and in this elegant encasement the venerable heirloom is safe from further harm in the keeping of the Church officers."

There is a doubtful traditicm that Mr. Hollis sent also a bell for the meeting-house, but that by fraud on the part of some one through whose hands it passed, a cracked bell was substituted and offered to the church committee here, who refused to accept it. Another report is, that through mistake or connivance,

This incorporation was made about fifty years after the incorporation of Shcrborn, the mother town, and seventy-two years after the first settlement we.st of Charles River, " so slow was the progress of settlement in New England after the first immigrations in 1620-41 ." The township then comprised 15,086 acres, but in 1826 it sustained a small reduction by an exchange of land with Medway and a larger one in 1846 by the incorporation of Ashland.

The first town-meeting was held December 21, 1724, eighteen days after the incorporation, at the house of Timothy Leland, now occupied by A. J. Travis, about half a mile from the nail factory towards Ashland" Town officers were chosen according to the provisions of the act, and the organization was completed. The first selectmen were John Goulding, William Sheffield, Ebenezer Hill, Jonathan Whitney and Thomas Marshall. John Goulding was the town clerk and was aunuiilly re-elected to that oflice until 1734. "This gave the first impulse to the operations of this infant member of the body politick."

January 4, 1724-25, only eleven days after the first meeting, a second meeting was held, at which it wag resolved to erect a meeting-house thirty-two feet by forty feet, with twenty feet posts, and £100 old tenor (about $44.45) was assessed on the inhabitants towards defraying the cost, each man assessed being allowed the privilege of paying one-half of his rate iu labor. It finally cost about .£100 more and was completed in 1728.

The situation of the meeting-house was a subject of considerable discussion. Colonel Samuel Brown, of Salem, a large proprietor, who owned the farm formerly poi'wessed by Lieutenant Henry Adams, of Medfield, promised them a site, to be selected from his land. They first thought of the spot which was finally used. But as a large proportion of the inhabitants dwelt in the northern and eastern portions of the town, it was once decided, for their convenience, to build near the present nail-factory, on Jar Brook. But after future consideration they were convinced that this location would not eventually accommodate the majority of the people as their numbers increased, and, looking at further requirements, they decided " to set their meeting-house south of Jasper's Hill, on the West side of the road that goes over there, on the Hon. Col. Brown's farm." A lot of three acres at that place was then given by Colonel Brown to be perpetually occupied as a site for a meeting-house and burying-ground. The wisdom of this last choice is now seen ; and this remained the only church edifice in the town for nearly a century. Early in the same year (1725) the town establii?hed public worship, services being held at the house of Mr. Timothy Leland, and continued there until the completion of the meeting-house. For many years there were only temporary seats for the congregation, and it was not until 1749 that members were allowed to build pews, and that a committee was chosen " to dignify the seats." Each man constructed his own pew in those days, and the mode of assigning the different degrees of dignity to the difl'erent seats is something astounding to the degenerate people of our times. To Captain John Goulding and " old Mr. Ebenezer Leland," the father of Deacon Timothy Leland, were allotted two of the most honorable pews.

In the year 1772 this meeting-house was repaired and enlarged, and it then answered the purposes of the inhabitants until 1822, when a substantially new church building was erected. Of this edifice of 1822, Rev. Dr. Dowse,' in his centennial address, remarks : "That meeting-house is supposed still to be here, but it has been so often enlarged and remodeled that it is very difficult to recognize anything that belonged to the original structure." It was again altered, raised and a vestry built below in 1859.

June 26, 1727, a meeting was held for the election and call of a minister. The re.sult of the meeting was an invitation to the Rev. James Stone to undertake the work of the ministry. But as the meeting-house was not finished and the church was not then organized, his ordination was deferred until November 20, 1728. A church of eight members, including the pastor-elect, was founded on the same day, according to Fitch and others ; but Dr. G. M. Adams says there was an interval of three weeks between the two ceremonies.

Mr. Stone was born in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1703, and was graduated at Harvard University in 1724. His great-gr.andfather, Simon Stone, was one of four brothers who came to this country from England in 1634, and settled at Watertown. One of his sermons, said to be the last he ever composed, was published after his decease, with an introduction by Rev. Oliver Peabody, of Natick, and Rev. Samuel Porter, of Sherburne, who thus comment upon his character : " He was held in great esteem by his own people, as well as those in neighboring towns, for his great sweetness of temper, his good humor, his instructive confersatiou, his exemplary piety, his great diligence and his faithfulness in the work of the ministry." ^ His salary would now be considered entirely inadequate. It was fixed at £75, old tenor, equal to $33.33, to be raised to £80 when the town had received an increase of ten families, and to £85 when there should be an increase of ten more. He was to receive a settlement of £100, or about $44. His salary was finally raised in 1742 to £150, or $67. But in addition to this he had his firewood and the use of a house and land. On application by the town.

1 Contoniiittl AddreBs doliveved in HollistoD July 4, 1876, by Rev. Ed. mund Dowse. PiiMUlied by the Town. Printed at South Franiingbam, 1877.

2A Century Sermon delivered in Holliston, Mass., Dec. 4, 182li, by Kev. CharleB Fitch, jioator of the Congregational Society. Printed at Dedham, 1827.

the Hon. Samuel Sewall and his children conveyed, May 9, 1728, to a committee of the town, Jona. Whitney and George Fairbank, in trust, eleven acres of hind " for ye sole proper use, benefit and behoof of ye fust Orthodox, Congregational or Presbyterian rainisteT of ye Gospel which shall be settled in ye said town of Holliston, and to his heirs and assigns forever." The committee conveyed it to Mr. Stone Jannary 2, 1730, and in the same year was probably built the ancient house long known as the Stone tavern. The Winthrop house afterwards stood upon a part of tlie same land. It was destroyed in the great fire of 1S75; and the HoUis house took its place, but was burned March 12, 1887. Mr. Stone died July 19, 1742, 111 the thirty-ninth year of his age and the fourteenth year of his ministry. The town voted £60 to defray the expense of his funeral.

The only candidate for the pastorate, after the debase of Mr. Stone, was the Rev. Joshua Prentiss, who was ordained and installed on the 18th day cif May, 1743. He received £200, old tenor, at settlement, and £140 annually. After two years his salary was gradually to be increased until it amounted to £200 per annum.

Mr. Prentiss (cr Prentice, as he wrote it himself, his descendants calling it Prentiss), was born at Cambridge, in 1718, and was graduated at Harvard University in 1738. He had been trained from an early age with a view to this holy calling, and early devoted himself to the service of God. Eev. Charles Fitch says that " his preaching was plain, instructive and evangelical. For about five years before his death his health was so greatly impaired as to render him unable to preach, except occasionally. And, perhaps, it was owing wholly to this circumstance that the congregation was induced to procure, in 1784, a dissolution of the pastoral connection subsisting between him and them.

" But the fact which seems most unpleasant upon this subject is, that having fallen behind in the payment of his salary, the people should refuse his pecuniary claims, and compel him to the ungrateful task of a civil prosecution. The demand was, however, ultimately discharged without a legal process, greatly to the credit of the people and the satisfaction of the pastor. From the time of this settlement until his death, peace and good feeling prevailed, as is evident from the fact that after his dismission the town exempted his estate from taxation, and appropriated for the use of his family a seat in the meeting-house. Mr. Prentiss finished his earthly course April 24, 1788, having attained the age of man, his threescore years and ten, forty-two of which he employed in the ministry among this people." He was thrice married, and had nine children, the second of whom. Dr. Thomas Prentiss, was pastor of the church in Medfield from 1770 to the time of his death in 1814. The eighth child, Margaret, married in 1789, Rev. Timothy Dickenson, the successor of her father at Holliston.

" It was during the ministry of Mr. Prentiss, and in the year 1748 that a number of families living remote from the place of worship, and contiguous to Medway, were, for the sake of better accommodation, set off from the congregation of Holliston by an act of the General Court, and comprised as a component part of the West Parish, in Medway, at its original incorporation. The number of families belonging to the religious society of this town was at that time stated to be about ninety." '

After the dismissal of Mr. Prentiss there was a long interval before the settlement of another pastor. Thirteen successive candidates were heard, and the people were without a minister for one hundred and five Sabbaths. But finally they decided, with " perfect unanimity," to call Rev. Timothy Dickenson. Mr. Dickenson accepted the invitation, and was ordained at Holliston, February 18, 1789. His salary was £200, old tenor, at settlement and £80 per annum. He was born at Amherst, Mass., June 25, 1761. "The traits of character, which, more than any other, marked the opening period of his existence, were the mildness and amiableness of his natural disposition. He was also noted in early childhood for a great fondness for literary pursuits. So that, ''although his constitution was naturally slender, and his health feeble and interrupted," a very considerable portion of the hours which were not employed in manual labor were devoted to study. He lived with his parents, and labored on a farm until sixteen years of age, when beholding his country engaged in a common and dubious struggle for independence, the deep interest excited in his bosom for her welfare roused his youthful ardor and would not suffer him to be dissuaded from espousing her cause and enlisting as a private soldier in the militia. In this capacity he continued to serve in the army about fifteen months.

" Upon leaving this post of suffering and danger, his health having been enfeebled by the exposures and hardships to which he was unaccustomed, ha commenced fitting for college under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. Dwight, late president of Yale College, who was then engaged in the instruction of a private school at Northampton." '^ He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1785. "While at college Mr. Dickenson made a public profession of religion. He was diligent and persevering in the prosecution of his studies ; appeared to advantage at recitations and all the literary exhibitions of his class ; and acquired the reputation of a correct classical scholar."' After graduation he served for one year as preceptor of Moore's Charity School, which was connected with the college, and afterwards officiated as minister in several different parishes in New Hampshire before he received the call to this society. In the November following his ordination he was married to a daughter of Rev. Joshua Prentiss, with whom he lived

Mr. Dickenson as a preacher was " plain, faithful and affectionate. He had a clear, strong and ple.isant voice, which enabled him to speak with peculiar propriety and energy ; and as he aimed to draw the attention of his hearers to his subject rather than to himself, so he seldom failed of deeply impressing their hearts and consciences." It appears that he was sometimes too plain and searching in his discourses and that dissatisfaction arose in consequence among some of his people ; so that in June, 1804, the church called a council to consider the matter. The council, while advising moderation and forbearance, also advised a dissolution of the pastoral relation in the month of August following, unless an amicable adjustment of the difficulties should previously take place. Happily these disagreements were gradually reconciled, so that by the 2.')th of June the parish passed a resolution in favor of the continuance of the connection. And Mr. Dickenson remained in the office of pastor and peacefully e.xercised the duties thereof for about nine years afterward, during the remainder of his life. After a lingering and painful sickness, he calmly expired on the 6th day of July, 1813, having completed his fifty-second year and the twenty- fourth year of his ministry.

For seventeen months after the decease of Mr. Dickenson, the society was without a regular pastor, the pulpit being supplied by candidates. The fourth minister was the Rev. Josephus Wheaton, a man who had been recommended to this society as one adapted to tlieir needs, and well fitted to smooth and quiet the disturbed relations of its members. He received a unanimous invitation to take the pastoral charge, which he accepted; and he was ordained and installed December G, 1815. His salary at settlement was $600, and his annual stipend also $(!00.

Mr. Wheaton was the son of Joseph Wheaton, Esq., and was born at Rehoboth, Mass., March 16, 1788. "His natural disposition," says Fitch, " wasamiable ; his behavior peaceable, condescending and kind." He early evinced a strong thirst for knowledge, and by his own energy and perseverance, obtained a thorough education. He graduated with distinguished honor in 1812 at Brown University, where he continued his residence, studied theology and at the same time was preceptor in an Academy in Providence and then tutor in the University, where he gratified his love for classical studies. While still a tutor, he was licensed to preach, and was invited to supply the sacred desk in this town. " His conciliating deportmetit, amiable temper and dignified, yet unaffected manners, won the afi'ection of those who were not always pleased with his theological sentimenLs. I[e was completely successful in uniting and harmonizing this people at a time when they were found not a little discordant in opinion and feeling; and enjoyed in an unusual degree, their respect, confidence and affection from the commencement to the close of his ministerial life."

Mr. Wheaton was a student as well as pastor, and excelled in a knowledge of the classics. His literary character and his talents as an instructor made his house a favorite resort for young men fitting for college or perfecting their education. He was an instructive and brilliant preacher and had a very attractive style of delivery, although some times too rapid. His whole soul appeared to be in his work and he was sometimes eloquent in his discourse, aiming to dress his thoughts in choice language.

The good and the talented often die young, and it was so with Mr. Wheaton. After a gradual decline of three years, he finally left the scene of his earthly labors on the fourth day of February, 1825, at the age of nearly thirty-seven years. He left a widow and three children, two of whom adopted the profession of the law, to which Mr. Wheaton himself had a predilection before devoting his mind to the ministry.

Before his decease, Mr. Wheaton had the pleasure of witnessing the completion of the new meetinghouse, in which he had been highly interested. It was dedicated on the third day of December, 1823, precisely one year less than a century after the incorporation of the town. "Mr. Wheaton delivered the sermon on the interesting occasion, and it was published ; and it stands as a lasting monument of the man and the event, at the very close of his earthly labors." Several other sermons were published and also a work by him on school education.

The ministers up to this time all served during the remainder of their lives after installation, according to the olden custom. Those who follow remained only for shorter periods of time.

Rev. Charles Fitch, a native of Williamstown, Mass., was the successor of Mr. Wheaton, and was installed pastor of this church, January 4, 1826. He was a son of Ebenezer Fitch, D.D. the first president of Williams College, and was born June 26, 1799. He entered Williams College at the age of fifteen, graduated in 1819, and entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton the same year, graduating therefrom in 1821. Among his ancestors were many professional men, and Mr. Fitch himself possessed literary attainments of a high order. After serving as pastor of a church in Cherry Valley, N. Y., for three years, he was invited to return to Massachusetts in 1825, with the expectation of filling a vacancy in one of the larger towns. Finding the position had been filled before his arrival, he accepted, after a short time, the call to this church. The installation sermon was given by Rev. Dr. Wisner, of Boston. He labored here for six years, and his eUbrts were highly successful. His fidelity was appreciated, his reputation in the town was high, and bis memory is held in grateful remembrance. During his residence here he delivered, December 4, 1826, a Century sermon which was printed and has become a valuable record of the early history of the church and town. I'o this aerinon the present writer is indebted for ninny of the facts presented in this paper.

Mr. Fitch wiis dismis.sed Jlay 1, 1(S32, principally on account of some ditt'erences of feeling among the jiarishioners, and many of those who had become interested in religion under his ministration united with the newly formed Methodist church at that time. After filling several other positions, he became pastor of the Presbyterian church at Mt. Vernon, Indiana, in 1851, and of the Presbyterian church at Frankville, Iowa, in 1856. He resigned that oflice to enter the army as chaplain, 5Iay 5, 18G1, but lost his health in the service and died while at home on a leave of absence. May 3, 18(53, at Evansville, Indiana.

The sixth pastor was Rev. Fjlijah Demond. He was born at Rutland, Mass., November 1, 1790, graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1816, and at Andover Seminary, in 1820. After serving at the churches at AVest Newbury and Lincoln, Mass., he was installed pastor of this church, October 31, 1832. Although remaining in Holliston but three and one-half years, Mr. Demond mu.st have performed faithful work, as twenty-nine persons were added to the church during his pastorate. He was dismissed by council, April II, 1836. He afterwards preached in several other I owns in this State, and passed the last years of his life at Westborough, where he died July 20, 1877, in his eighty-seventh year.

During Mr. Demond's pastorate the subject of warming the meeting-house again came up for consideration. According to the ancient custom, the only source of external heat up to this time had been the foot-stoves which were brought from the homes and were replenished at noon at the houses near-by. " In 1829 the subject had been agitated and a committee appointed to report upon the best method. But at the next meeting, the town first " voted to accept the report of the committee relative to the best method of warming the meeting-house," and then "voted not to warm the meeting-house at all." But in 1833 a vote was passed to warm the house, and a committee was " authorized to procure a stove or stoves and place them in the meeting-house at their discretion, and that the funnel of said stove be extended through the roof of the meeting-house." There was decided opposition to this innovation. On the first Sunday after the stove was put in, one of the leading opposers of the change came out of the meeting-house bitterly complaining of the headache which the heat of the stove had caused him. But the laugh was turned upon him when it appeared, that, as the day was mild, no fire had been lighted."

In 1835 occurred the decease of Miss Elizabeth Prentiss, a daughter of the second pastor of the church. She lived for the purpose of doing good and was truly " an excellent woman ;" and among her benefactions was her methodical plan of assisting young men to prepare themselves for the ministry.

In the year 1836, the parochial business which had always been conducted in a town-meeting, was formally separated and a new organization was formed including only such as wished to join it.

Rev. John Storrs born in Mansfield, Conn., Sept. 6, 1801, was the next minister. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1824, afterwards studied theology and was ordained at Barre, Mass., in 1829. He afterwards settled at Norwich, Conn., before coming to Holliston, and was thirty-five years of age when installed here, December 20, 1836. The installation sermon was given by Rev. Joel Hawes (afterwards D. D.) of Hartford, a native of Medway, Mass., and one of the young men who had been encouraged and assisted by Miss Elizabeth Prentiss, before mentioned. This sermon was printed by a vote of the church.

Mr. Storrs labored diligently during the six years of his ministry and thirty-six new members were added to the church. He was dismissed November 8,

1842. Afterwards he filled some other stations and then settled in Wmchendon, Mass., in 1849, as pastor and died there in May 1854. The interest felt in him by his former people in Holliston was evinced by their request to print his funeral sermon at their own expense.

The eighth clergyman who had charge of the church was Rev. Timothy DwightP. Stone, born at Cornwall, Connecticut, about 1811, the son of Rev. Timothy Stone, and adopted son of Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D.D., professor in the theological seminary at Andover. He graduated at Amherst College in 1834, and afterwards studied divinity at Andover. This was his first parish, and he was ordained here March 1,

1843, Rev. Dr. Leonard Woods, of Andover, preaching the sermon. Like his predecessor, Mr. Stone served six years and had the satisfaction of witnessing substantial additions to the church during his pastorate. Impaired health led him to seek a dismission in. 1849, and his ministry terminated on the second day of March. He then became chaplain of the State Reform School at Westborough, was afterwards principal of the State Normal School of Connecticut, and later a teacher at Albany, New York.

Rev. Joshua T. Tucker (afterwards D.D.) follows next in the line of ministers. He was the son of Joshua Tucker, of Milton, Massachusetts, where he was l)orn September 20, 1812. He came from old Puritan stock, being a descendant of Robert Tucker, who lived in Weymouth in 1639. He fitted for college at Phillips' Academy, graduated at Yale in 1833, and pursued his professional studies at Lane Seminary, (jincinnati. After ordination in the State of Illinois in 1837, he served as missionary and pastor in Illinois and Missouri until 1848, and also as an editor at St. Louis from 1846 to 1848. He was installed the nintli pastor of this church June 6, 1849, Kev. William M.

Rogers, of Boston, delivering the sermon, and the venerable Dr. Ide, of Medway, giving for the third time the charge to a HoUiston pastor. " At the commencement of his ministry about 150 families," says Dr. Adams, " were connected with the congregation, and the church numbered 174." A period of great religious interest occurred during his pastorate, and at its close the church had increased to 409. Many young men have gone forth from this church during its history as missionaries and pastors ; but during Dr. Tucker's years of service there was an unusually large number. Edward B. French, George F. Walker and the three brothers, Lyman, Elijah and Calvin Cutler (sons of Amos and Sarah Cutler) were all ordained to the work of the ministry during his time.

Dr. Tucker visited Europe on account of his health in 1859, and during the five months of his absence the pulpit was supplied by Rev. William M. Thayer, of Franklin. It was at this time that the meeting-hou.se was raised, rooms were arranged in the basement and an addition built at the west end for the accommodation of the organ and choir. Then the house was again dedicated, December 2, 1859, Rev. Dr. Andrew L. Stone, of Boston, preaching the sermon.

Dr. Tucker was a man of much ability, both as a preacher and a writer, and many of his sermons and other literary compositions have been published- While here, he was associate editor of the Boston Recorder, a denominational paper well-known at that time and now merged in the Congregalionalkt.

Dr. Tucker was much interested in the history and antiquities of the town, and among his discoveries was one which he thus describes : "One day when I was in the village tin-shop, my eye was caught by an unusually shaped vessel lying in the corner, on a pile of old refuse, which I picked up and examined. It wiis a flagon of jierhaps three pints' capacity, bearing this inscription : 'The gift of Jlrs. Dorothy Ware, late of Sherborne, to the ehurch in HoUiston, 1745.' The workman stated that some one had brought it in and sold it and that he should melt it up for solder, as it was a much purer metal than could now be got for that purpose. I purchased it of him at his own price, and retained it as private property." This tankard is said to be now in the 'possession of the Worcester Society of Antiquity.

Another pewter flagon was found in a distant town, the owner having purchased it of a tin-peddler nearly fifty years ago. Its existence having become known to persons here it was purchased and is now in the possession of John M. Batchelder. It is inscribed, " The gift of the town of Sherbourn to the church in HoUiston, a memorial of friendship, Anno Dom. 172S."

The condition of Dr. Tucker's health obliged him to :u(k for a dismission in 1867, and he gave a farewell discourse on the 31st day of March. This sermon was printed and contains many facts of historical value, relating to the church. Although he terminated his duties at that time, the formal act of dismission was not performed until the following November, by the same council which ordained his successor. He afterwards served as pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Chicopee, for about ten years, and has, since 1877, devoted his time to literary work. He has resided in Dorchester and in Andover, Mass., and is at present in the latter town.

Rev. William H. Savage was the tenth pastor of this church. He was born in Woolwich, Me., and graduated at Bowdoin College in 1858. He became Professor of Mathematics in Delaware College in 1859. He enlisted in the Seventeenth Maine Regiment in 1862, and was appointed captain of Company A, serving in the Army of the Potomac. He afterwards studied divinity at Andover, and was ordained minister of the church at HoUiston, November 7, 1867. Rev. Profes.sor Park, of Andover, delivered the sermon, and Dr. Tucker gave the address to the people. Mr. Savage's pastorate continued but little more than two years, and was the shortest of any of the ministers of this church, whereas Dr. Tucker's was the longest since the time of Mr. Dickenson. Substantial additions were made to the church, however, forty-one new members being admitted, one of whom, F. A. Warfield, soon commenced preparation for the ministry, and has since been pastor of Union Church, in Boston. He is now at Brockton, Mass.

Late in the year 1869, on account of the health of himself and family, ]Mr. Savage asked for a dismission, which was granted December 30th of that year. He afterwards served as pastor of the Congregational Church in Jacksonville, 111., and of the Unitarian Church in Leominster, Mass. He is now in the Unitarian Church at Watertown, Mass.

He was succeeded by Rev. Henry S. Kelsey, who was installed October 13, 1870, Rev. Jacob M. Manning, D.D., of the Old South Church in Boston, preaching the installation sermon.

" Mr. Kelsey was born at Evans Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y., graduated at Amherst College in 1855, and studied theology at the seminaries in New York City and East Windsor, Conn. Before entering the ministry he taught several years in Amherst College, and was professor in Beloit College, Wisconsin. He was ordained at Granby, Mass., in October, 1863, and installed at Rockville, Conn., in 1866."

In the year 1872, at the suggestion of Mr. Kelsey, the new parsonage was built - in part by subscription and in part by a portion of the Fames Ministerial Fund - and the deed was made to the trustees of that Fund. This bequest was made by Captain Aaron Fames, a member of the church and a resident of the north part of HoUiston (now within the bounds of Ashland), who died about 1824. His farm and other property, to the amount of seven or eight thousand dollars, were given "to the Parochial part of the. town," for the support of evangelical preaching. The first trustees, chosen in a town-meeting in September, 1824, were Captain Samuel Bullard, Captain Abner Johnson, Dr. Timothy Fisk, Mr. Charles Marsh and Mr. James Cutler. They were directed to "draw a |ietition requesting ths General Court, at their next session, to incorporate them into a body politic for the purpo.se mentioned above." Vacancies in this l)oard are filled by vote of the parish.

Mr. Kelsey remained but a few months longer than his predecessor. Having received an invitation from another church, he asked to be released from his ent^agement here, and was dismissed March 6, 1873. He was installed at Woburn, Massachusetts, soon alter, and has since acted as pastor of a church in New Haven, Connecticut.

The twelfth minister was Rev. George M. Adams (afterwards D.D.). He was installed September 11, 1873, Rev. Edmund K. Alden, D.D., of South Boston, delivering the sermon. Rev. Dr. Tucker, Rev. Mr. Kelsey and Rev. Dr. Dowse, of Sherborn, took parts in the ceremony, the latter assisting for the fifth time in settling a pastor over this church. Dr. Adams was born in Castine, Maine, was educated at Gorham Academy, Gorham, Maine, and at Bowdoin College, where he graduated in 1844. He has been for several years a member of the Board of Examiners of that college. He studied theology at Bangor, Maine, Halle and Berlin, Germany, and Andover, Massachusetts. He was ordained at Conway, Massachusetts, September 18, 1851, and was installed pastor of the Congregational Church in that town. He remained there until 1863, when he became pastor of the North Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, serving in that oifice until 1871. He then made an extensive tour in the Holy Land with his family. After his return he was installed pastor of the church in HollLston, as above noted.

In 1852 he married Miss Sarah Hills Crosby, of Bangor, Maine, who died in 1859. In 1862 Miss Louisa Lord Dana, of Brookline, Massachusetts, became his wife. Dr. Adams is a very able man and possessed the respect and esteem not only of his own people, but of all the inhabitants of Holliston ; and it was with great regret that they learned of his decision to withdraw from the parish and the town.

He served for twelve years on the School Committee of this town, much of the time as chairman ; and his removal was a great loss to the cause of education. He was also one of the trustees of the Public Library from its foundation until the year 1889 ; and his portrait still looks upon the scene of his labors there, in which he took so much interest. Dr. Adams was dismissed from the care of this church April 1, 1889, but continued to supply the pulpit until May lat.

Of his writings there have been printed an historical discourse delivered July, 1871, at the two hundredth anniversary of the North Church, Portsmouth, New Hampshire ; and an historical discourse delivered at the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Congregational Church at Holliston.

In July, 1890, the church and the parish each voted to invite Rev. Frank I. Wheat, of Franklin, N. Y., to settle here as the pastor. He was ordained and installed the thirteenth pastor by a council of clergymen of this Conference, September 11, 1890. Rev. A. E. Dunning, D.D., of Boston, delivered the sermon, and Rev. L. R. Eastman, of Framlngham, Rev. Dr. G. M. Adams, the predecessor of Mr. Wheat, and Rev. Dr. Dowse, of Sherborn, were among those who took parts in the service. The fine music added much to the interest of the occasion. It was rendered by a large choir, under the direction of Mrs. S. C. Stoddard, musical director. Miss M. S.White, organist, and Mrs. 0. F. Thayer, .soloist.

Mr. Wheat was born in Franklin, N. Y., in 1862. He was educated in the schools of the town, in Williams College and Boston University, where he graduated in 1889. He studied theology also in Boston University and graduated in June, 1890. While a student he served as pastor of a church in North Beverly, Mass., for two years. He is the youngest pastor ever installed in this church.

A Society of "Christian Endeavor" is connected with this church and numbers about fifty members. The Sunday-school was first permanently organized during the pastorate of Rev. Josephus Wheaton. Deacon Timothy Rockwood was the first superintendent and the number of scholars was between forty and fifty. The first meeting-house was a very plain structure, without steeple or spire, and had a strong resemblance externally to a country school-house of the olden time, except that its dimensions were greater. " In the year 1787 the meeting-house was enlarged according to the following votes: - ' Voted that there be an addition made to the meeting-house by putting fourteen feet into the middle.' ' Voted to build a Porch in the front of said hou.ge with two pairs of stairs in the same to go in*o the Galleries.' The gallery stairs up to this time had been in the audienceroom, at each side, about one-fourth the distance from the rear of the church to the pulpit. It was voted to have the house painted inside and out, the outside to be an orange color, the inside to be a stone color. It was also 'Voted to appropriate the two seats in the front Gallery, on the Women's side, to the use of the singers.' ' Voted that Lieut. Josiah Hemenway, Sylvanus Johnson, Ensign Nathaniel Johnson, Ebenezer Littlefield and Isaac Foster be Quiristers.' These votes contain the first reference I have found to singing in the meeting-house in either town or church records." '

When the new church was built in 1823, a bell of 1600 pounds weight, cast by Holbrook, of East Medway, was placed in it; and this was the first church bell in town. The inscription on the bell reads : " I

When this building was dedicated, Mr. Wheaton says in his sermon, " There is a propriety therefore^ in erecting suitable houses of worship when circumstances require. It is not necessary to wait until tlie house is ready to crumble into ruins. ... In such circumstances, when it becomes old and incommodious, it is proper that a new house should be erected and in a style corresponding with the dignity of the purpose for which it is designed." The church clock on the interior gallery was the gift of Nathaniel Johnson, Esq. ; the tower clock was purchased by the society.

The old meeting-house was taken down and the materials sold in parcels at auction. The broad pine panels which formed the front of the singers' gallery were bought by the late James White, fether of William White, and were placed on the side of a room in a new house which he built about that time. It is said that the central panel had painted on it the date of the completion of the meeting-house, 1728, the date of its enlargement, and a much earlier date, probably that of the first settlement of the town. " But in an evil hour for our interests," says Dr. Adams, " an over-tidy servant scrubbed off the timeworn figures and left the panel clean."

Mr. White also bought the broad door-stone of the church, some five and a half feet square, and cutting it in the middle, made two stones for the entrances to his house.

The meeting-house was refitted and painted in 1845, and in 1850 it was repaired and enlarged by cutting it in the middle and inserting a piece of sufficient length to aUow the building of four additional pews in each row, or twenty-four pews in all. The chandelier was the gift of Elial Littlefield.

Since the remodeling of the edifice in 1859, already noticed, the church is in the highest degree convenient tor every religious .and social meeting which it is desired to hold there.

In the year 1831 public worship was commenced in the Town Hall by persons of the Methodist faith, and a church was organized, liev. Jonathan Cady being the first minister. " From an early date," says Rev. Dr. Dowse, "there were some citizens of the town who belonged to ibis denomination, and these were increased by the influx of population from abroad, so thit it was deemed expedient to organize a separate religiims enterprise. The society was small and feeble at first, but it has grown in numbers and wealth until it long since has not only become a fixed fact, liut a great moral and Christian force in the community."

The first sermon preached by a Methodist minister was delivered by Rev. Mr. Honsil in 17il4, in the barn of Mr. Kbenezer Cutler, and others followed occasionally; but some persons bad previously attended services at Hayden Row in llopkinton, near the borders of HoUiston. The meeting-house was built here in 1838 and dedicated September 18th of that year. It was repaired and remodeled in 1874 and rededicated February 8, 1875. The society was incorporated, according to law, December 27, 1850. There have been altogether thirty-four pastors to this church, whose times of service have varied from a few months to three years. The present incumbent is Rev. John H. Emerson. The present parsonage, which is convenient to the church, was purchased in 1850 ; but there was a parsonage before that time, on Norfolk Street, built about 1848, chiefly through the efforts of Jonathan Cutler, Esq. There has been a Sabbathschool connected with the church from the beginning. It then numbered fifty scholars and the first superintendent was I. G. Rawson. The superintendent now, in 1890, is D. C. Mowry and nearly 150 persons attend it. An auxiliary society for Christian effort is the Epworth League, consisting of fifty-five members in its adult branch and thirty-five in the junior branch.

May 31, 1836, sixteen persons were legally organized as the Universalist Society of Holliston. This society at first held its services in the town-hall. Two years after its organization a meeting-house was built, which was dedicated January 9, 1839. In 1854 it was raised up and stores were built under it. The society was served by seven ministers during the twenty-four years of its regular existence which terminated in 1860. Services have, however, been held since that date, and are still conducted in 1890. The Baptist Society occupied their meeting-house from 1864 until the close of the year 1867, when their own vestry was ready for use. In 1867 the Universalist Society "voted to sell their meeting-house, and it came into the possession of the Catholic Society. They held it until 1870, when it was moved away, and the land was used , by the latter society as a site for their new church. The Universalist Society has lately been re-incorporated, and holds service every Sunday afternoon in Reform Club Hall, generally conducted by a clergyman from the Milford Church.

The Baptist Society was formed in 1860. It held its first public religious meeting in the town-hall on February 12lh and the church was organized on the 28th day of the following August, a council being convened at that time. It consisted of nineteen members. The first preacher was Rev. J. D. E. Jones, of Worcester, and Rev. B. A. Edwards (1860) was the first regular supply. Revs. J. L. A. Fish, Geo. W. Holman, R. (t. Johnson, A. A. Bennett, F. L. Sullivan, E. L. Scott and E. D. Bowers have followed him, and the present pastor, in 1890, is Rev. M. N. Reed, installed in 1889.

The society continued to hold services in the lower town-hall until 1864, when it hired and occupied the meeting-house of the Universalist Society until 1807. They commenced to build a new meeting- house in 1866, and on December 29, 1867, the first service was held in the vestry. Work was continued on the house amid the difhculties incident to the beginning of a new enterprise, and it was finally completed, and was dedicated January 26, 1870. It is a commodious and tasteful building. The church and society are now well established and their future is promising. The Sunday-school was organized February 20, 1860, with nineteen members, A. G. Fitch being the superintendent. The membership in 1890 is 142, and the present superintendent is George W. Leland. A Society of Christian Endeavor is connected with the parish.

This church celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of its foundation on the 10th day of September, 1890. The event had been anticipated with pleasurable expectations, and they were fully realized.

" In response to invitations, past pastors, former resident members and the local members assembled in the main audience-room, together with the general public, to unite in celebrating the attainment of thirty years of church prosperity. The auditorium was finely decorated, a motto ' 1860-1890 ' being conspicuou.sly displayed oil the wali. An address of welcome was given by the pastor, Rev. M. N. Reed, a most graceful and fitting prelude to the exercises of the day. Rev. A. A. Bennett, of Japan, and Rev. E. D. Bowers, of Sharon, represented the former pastors, and gave pleasing reminiscences of their connection with the church, and congratulations at the present and prospective prosperity of the society." ' Letters were read from other pastors and friends. Rev. A. A. Bennett presented the church with portraits of Rev. F. L. Sullivan, Rev. E. L. Scott, Rev. E. D. Bowers and Rev. M. N. Reed, the gift of W. H. Clark. These, in addition to the portraits already possessed by the church, make the collection complete. A fitting response was made by George W. Leland, in behalf of the church. A social evening was passed in the vestry, where old friendships were renewed, and memories of form«r days were recalled. The music was fine, and appropriate to the occasion, under thedirection of E. W. Colburn. Prof. G. F. Rice presided at the new and excellent organ, which had recently been obtained. Altogether it was a red-letter day for this prosperous society.

An Episcopal society was formed in Holliston in 1804, Rev. Benjamin T. Cooley being the first rector. When public services first commenced, there was but one communicant in the town ; but after five years ora little more, when the services were discontinued, there were about forty members. They worshipped in the lower town-hall. The society purchased of the 'town a lot of land on Mt. Hollis, and laid the foundation for a church, but they never reached a condition when they could erect a building. In the great fire in May, 1875, the records of the society, together with a silver communion service, the gift of Bishop Huntington to the church, were destroyed. The parish still has a legal existence, and the meeting of the wardens and vestry is held annually. Occasional services are also held.

Catholic services had been held in the town-hall for a considerable time, conducted by priests from neighboring parishes, when in the year 1870 a new parish was formed, and Rev. R. J. Quinlan was appointed rector. He has remained in that position to the present day, and a large church has been gathered from the population of this and the neighboring towns. As before stated, this society purchased the old meeting-house of the Universalist Society ; and in 1873 they commenced the erection of a church-building on that lot. Services were first held on Christmas of that year, in the vestry, before the completion of the church. It has since been completed and is a substantial ediiice, well adapted to the wants of the parish. A Sunday-school, of which the rector is superintendent, is connected with the church. Rev. Mr. Quinlan has for several years been a member of the School Committee.

The permanent physicians of Holliston have been few in number. During many early years of its history the people were probably served by physicians from neighboring towns, and after 1772, Dr. Jonathan Tay (familiarly called Dr. Toy), who lived in Sherborn, not far from the Holliston line, included this town in his circuit. He lived until 1827.

The first regularly educated physician who settled here was Timothy Fisk, M.D., a graduate of Harvard College in 1801. He was born in Holliston, November 3, 1778, the tenth child of David and Sarah (Bullard) Fisk, and a descendant of John and Lydia (Adams) Fisk, who came from Watertown to Sherborn (now Holliston) soon after the year 1700. Dr Fisk commenced the practice of medicine in his native town, and for about sixty years was the valued and trusted physician of a large number of inhabitants. He was a man of the highest character and a valuable member of the community. " For forty years," says Walker, " he was a member of the Congregational Church and one of its most faithful supporters. He died suddenly in his chair, dressed as for his usual duties, December 17, 18C3, from congestion of the lungs. His funeral was largely attended, and his name will live in grattiful and endeared remembrance." He married Rhoda, daughter of Isaiah and Abigail Daniels, of Medway. They had five children, of whom two survived their father, Frederick and Ferdinand.

Sewall G. Hurnap, M.D., was also a prominent physician and citizen of the town. He wa,i born in Temple, N. H., March 12, 1802, studied medicine at Dartmouth College and graduated in 1826. He settled at once in Holliston and practiced here for forty-eight years. He was an excellent physician, and possessed the esteem and attachment of his patieuta. He had a.\ao a good standing among his brothers In the profession, and at one time .served aa president of the Middlesex South District Medical Society. He was also several times appointed in his turn a counsellor of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and occupied that place at the time of his death. To him the present writer is much indebted for counsel and advice in the earlier years of his practice.

Dr. Buruap was a prominent and useful citizen and highly respected by his townsmen ; was for many years a member of the Congregational Church, and was a director of the Holliston Bank from its formation. He died October 16, 1874. Not long after coming to this town he was appointed postmaster, and held that office for sixteen or seventeen years, using the small building attached to his residence for that purpose. He married, in 1832, Betsy Brown, of Holliston, who died in 1851. He afterward married Elizabeth S. Blanchard, who still resides here. He left no children.

Hiram Lake, M.D., has been a physician in Holliston for forty-four years and has enjoyed a large practice. He was born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, August 25, 1820, and was educated in the public schools of that town and in the academy at Providence, R. I., where he was prepared for admission to the Medical College. He graduated in medicine at the college in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1841), and settled here in the same year. He is a genial man, a good citizen and has identified his interests with those of his adopted town. In addition to his medical practice, in which he has secured the regard and good will of his patients. Dr. Lake has filled many offices of a public character. He has for years been a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; treasurer of various temperance societies ; chairman and secretary of the Board of Health for twenty years ; and treasurer of the lodge of F. and A. iMasons. He is a member of the Lodge and Encampment of the I. O. O. F., and is a trustee and auditor of the Holliston Savings Bank.

Charles C. Jewett, M.D., was born in South Berwick, Maine, in November, 1831, settled in Holliston as a physician about 1854, and practiced here about seven years. .July 2, 18G1, he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry Volunteers, and when the regiment was completed, he was made its surgeon. He afterwards served as surgeonin-Chiefof the Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Army corps. Returning in 1864, he remained for a while in Boston and then resumed practice in Holliston. lint after a sh'^rt residence he removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., and dieil in that city.

Charles E. Spring, M.D., was born in Grafton, Vt., November 19, 1842, and came to this town as a physician in 1874. He was educated in the common schools and in Burr & Burton Seminary, at Manchester, Vt., and graduated at the Albany Medical College in 1864. He was then immediately appointed an acting assisting surgeon U. S. A., and was stationed for about one year at Hampton Hospital, Va. After the close of this service he settled as a physician at Jamaica, Vermont, where he remained until he removed to Holliston. While at Jamaica he married, in January, 1867, Viona M. Adams. They have had five children, of whom four are living. Dr. Spring has been highly successful as a physician, and holds a high rank as a citizen. He represented this district in the Legislatures of 1888 and 1889, has been a member of the Board of Health during nearly the whole time of his residence here, a member of the School Committee for about fourteen years and secretary of that board for a portion of that time. Failing health admonished him to seek rest and recuperation in his native State, and he passed there the whole of the summer months of 1890, his absence being greatly regretted by his numerous friends in this town. In September of that year he returned home and resumed practice to a limited extent.

Dr. Andrew J. Stevens was born in Haverhill, Mass., graduated at the Harvard Medical School, p.nd settled in Provincetown, Mass. After remaining there about three years he removed to Holliston, about the year 1874, and practiced here for some thirteen years. He then removed to Maiden, Mass., where he now resides. He was succeeded by Dr. Edward Roth, who remained for about one year, and transferred his practice to Dr. F. Grant Atkins, in September, 1888. Dr. Atkins, who is here in 1890, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1842. He was educated at Plarrow and at King's College, London ; studied medicine at London and Edinburgh, and gradated at the latter college in 1869. He is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London, and a licentiate of the London College of Physicians. After practicing in Derbyshire, England, he came to this country, in 1888. He is married and has one son.

Dr. George W. Stearns graduated in Philadelphia in 1851, and first came to Holliston in 1881. He has practiced here for five or six years, having lived elsewhere a portion of the intervening time. He is here and in practice, however, in 1890. In the summer season he resides and practices in Cottage City, Mass.

Dr. I. C. Pope was born in Westborough, Mass., in 1855, and was educated in the public schools and in Worcester and Wilbraham Academies. His medical education was obtained at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1888. After practicing in Waltham, Mass., more than a year, he came to Hoilistt)n in February, 1890. He was married, in 1880, to Miss Nellie V. Hall, of Milbury, Mass.

was here for three years, and died May 2, 1826, aged thirty-two years, according to an inscription in the Central Cemetery. Drs. Heard, McClure, Page, Hitchcock, Barker and perhaps others were in town at different times during the past fifty years, but for short periods only.

For many years one or more membera of the dental profession have been present in Holliston. Dr. G. L. Cooke, of Milford, came liere every week for a long time, having an office in the town ; and Dr. Hayes was settled here for a number of years. The only dentist at the present time is Dr. E. C. Stoddard, who has been in practice in Holliston for about ten years.

The legal profession has been represented by several practitioners ; but of them, one only was long a resident of the town. George M. Woodward, Herman Bragg, George C. Travis, J. H. Ladd, W. A. Kingsbury (now judge of the District Court, at Framingham) ; and, in 1890, J. P. Dexter, a student of Henry Hogan, have been here at different times.

Rev. George F. Walker, in his article before quoted, says concerning Esquire Bullard, "The first and only lawyer who had a permanent residence in Holliston was Elias Bullard : He was born in West Medway, December 30, 1799. He received a common-school education, and was aided in preparing for college by the venerable Dr. Jacob Ide, of West Medway, and graduated from Brown University in the class of 1823. He studied law with Elijah Morse, Esq., of Boston, three years ; was admitted to the bar, and came to Holliston, October 7, 1826, commencing the practice of his profession. In 1834-35 and in 1870 he was elected to represent the town in the Legislature, the last time having the honor of calling the House to order, as the senior member. In the practice of his profession he has an unusual record of justice, and his counsels have ever been those of pacification. He was willing to assist those in trouble at a loss of his own pecuniary advantage. H.ad his life been spared through the remainder of another year, to October 7, 1876, he would have completed half a century of the practice of his profession in Holliston. He died November 2, 1875. His funeral was largely attended by the citizens of the town, and from the surrounding towns. He was for several years before his death a consistent member of the Congregational Church,"

Esquire Bullard, as he was called by every one, was one of the most prominent and respected citizens of Holliston in his day, and during his life he was chosen to fill all the offices in the gift of the town. He originated the plan of a town library.

Schools. - In less than seven years after incorporation the town granted money for the support of a public school, the education of the children being considered nearly or quite as important as the establishment of church privileges. In 1738 three districts were formed, the North, West and Central, and it was voted to build a school-house in each district, and that

£100 be assessed upon the inhabitants to defray the cost, and that each man have liberty to work out his part of the assessment. May 27, 1754, there was " Voted, Ten pounds For a Reading and Righting school This present year." In 1765, £25 were appropriated for public schools, and were divided among the three districts. " The first school-houses were not magnificent in their dimensions or appointmeuis. Those in the north and west were fourteen by eighteen feet, with ' seven-foot posts,' and the one in the centre, sixteen by twenty feet. They were doubtless large enough to accommodate the scholars of those days, and being warmed in winter by fires in large open fire-places, the ventilation must have been good, with little danger of a too high temperature." '

In 1801 eight school districts were formed and $334 were appropriated for the support of the eight schools. At the March meeting in 1807, a committee was chosen to have the general care of the schools, consisting of Dr. Timothy Fisk, Lt. Elijah Watkins and Capt. John HavenI; $500 were granted for schools. The appropriation tor school purposes continued to increase with the increasing number of scholars. In 1830 it was $700, in 1875 it was .«!6000, and of late years $6800 annually. In 1846 the town took possession of the property of the school districts.

The number of schools has gradually increased until, in 1890, there are, besides a high school, five grammar, one intermediate and nine lower schools, five of which are not graded. F. B. Gamwell is the superintendent of schools, and in his report presented in March, 1890, he recommends a concentration of schools by the conveyance of scholars, as allowed by law, to central points where the benefits of graded schools can be enjoyed by all the children of the town. This plan has been adopted by some towns in this State, to the manifest advantage of the pupils, while with judicious management the expenditures required of the town have not been increased.

A private high school was commenced in the town as early as 1831, under William Gammel, teacher. He was succeeded by Daniel Forbes, in 1833 ; Pardon D. Tiftany, in 1834, and Edward Stone, in the winter of 1835-36. The school was not kept continuously up to this time, but generally for one or two terms in a year, the fall term having the largest attendance.

In the spring of 1836 Rev. Gardner Rice was induced to take charge of the school for one term. So great was his success that by the wishes of all he continued to occupy the place aa principal for about eight and one-half years. When he commenced his labors the total attendance was seventy-six, but it soon began to increase, and continued to increase until the number of pujjils in 1842 was 361, which was the largest number in any year. The aggregate attendance during the whole time of service of Mr. Rice and his assistants was 2140, comprising not only residents of Holliston, but of many surrounding and some distant towns. In 1836 Master Rice changed tlie character of the school somewhat by introducing the manual labor system, and, in 1837, the name of Holliston High School was changed to " Holliston Manual-Labor School." The success of this institution was -such that, in 1839, it took the name of " Holliston Academy," and the following announcement, made at that time, will show the general character of the institution and the principles upon which it was conducted :

"The object of instruction at this institution is not only to communicate a knowledge of facts, but to fit the pupil for the duties of life, by developing and disciplining the powers of the mind, enabling it to think and act for itself The course of study is designed to be systematic and extensive, including all those branches which are requisite to prepare the pupil for the common business of life, or for a higher course of collegiate or professional studies.

" Since morality and virtue are essential to the peace and prosperity of this or any other institution, every reason.ible precaution will be used to preserve and maintain in all departments of the school a strictly moral state of feeling.

"The discipline of the school is designed to be strictly parental, and in the administration of this discipline direct appeals to the better principles of the heart will be resorted to, rather than severe and disgracctiil punishment. If, however, the conduct of a student render it evident that he is not susceptible of such influence, he will immediately, and if possible without unnecessary disgrace, be returned to his friends. Every effort will be given to those gentlemen and ladies who are calculating to teach, both in obtaining schools and in preparing them for their schools."

Master Rice secured the affection and respect of his pupils and aroused their enthusiasm, and they always looked back to their school-days under his tuition with the most pleasant feelings, as was shown in the year 1875, when some two hundred of them surprised him by a visit to his home in Shrewsbury, Mass.

The town-hall was used as a school-room for the High School until the year 1851, and the general appreciation by the town of the labors of Mr. Rice was demonstrated by a vote passed September 23, 1841, by which he was "exonerated from paying any claims which the town hold against him, incurred by his use of the Town-Hall for a High School." Mr. Rice retired from the ac.idemy in 1844.

Several other teachers followed, - Messrs. Cutler, Hoitt, Peterson, Gleason, Graves, Sears, Washburn, Parker, Pond, Kingsbury, Choate, Stiles, and Baker, - and the school was continued. In the year 1850 Deacon Timothy Walker, who had removed from Medway to Holliston, erected a building on the south side of .Jasper's Hill for the use of this school, the land, a lot of nine acres, being provided by the subscriptions of individuals. It was called Mt. Hollis Seminary, and that hill has since been generally known as Mt. Hollis. It was dedicated in June, 1851, the address being delivered by Rev. J. P. Cleveland, D.D., then of Providence, R. I. Rev. George F. Walker, now of Hampden, Mass., a son of Deacon Walker, was the principal at this time. In 1856, when Dr. I. H. Nutting had the charge, the town, through a committee, m.ade arrangements with him to receive the pupils of the town qualified to enter a high school ; and this contract was continued until the town purchased the Seminary building and established a public high school there. The building was destroyed by tire October 25, 1871. Another high school-house was built on the same lot in 1874 and has been occupied to the present time. The principal for 1889-90 w.as Carl E. Holbrook, who, for the purpose of continuing his studie.s, resigned his position at the close of the spring term of 1890, to the great regret of the School Committee and the citizens. C. H. Marshall has been appointed to succeed him.

We now return to the civil history of the town. Dr. G. M. Adams, in his historical discourse, alluding to the early days of the colony, remarks : " We can better understand the changes which a century and a half have wrought, and can better enter into the experience and life of the good men who laid the foundations for us, if we glance at the condition of the country in 1728. The number of inhabitants in Holliston did not, probably, exceed one hundred and fifty. There was no village. About thirty farmhouses were scattered all over the town. The towns of Milford, Natick and Upton were not yet incorporated. There w.as no church in either of those places, nor in Southboro' nor Grafton. Worcester, in 1718, had ' fifty-eight humble dwelling-houses,' some of which were furnished with windows of diamond-glass and others were lighted through oiled paper. There was probably no academy nor High School in Maa.sachusetts. There were three colleges in the country, - Harvard, Yale and William and Mary's College, in Virginia. Massachusetts had about one hundred and seventeen thousand inhabitants, a small proportion of what Boston has now. In what is now the United States there were, besides Indians, six hundred thousand inhabitanis, less than the present population of Philadelphia. But of course there were then no United States. There were ten English Provinces along the Atlantic co.ast; Florida was Spanish, Louisiana, including the valley of the Mississippi, belonged to France. Benjamin Franklin w.as struggling to earn his living as a printer in Philadelphia; Washington and Lafayette were not yet born." And Dr. Edmund Dowse, in his centennial address, says: "This condition of things in the homes and business continued essentially the same for a long period. The people were engaged as a whole in reclaiming and tilling the lands. The shoemaker, blacksmith, carpenter and storekeeper were regarded only as adjuncts to society. It was convenient to have just enough mechanics and tradesmen to meet the wants of the people, and they desired no more. Even these did not pretend to live by their trades, but in addition cultivated their lands. Under these conditions the population continued to increase slowly from year to year, and the outward circumstances of the people to improve. At the end of the first century the population had grown from one hundred to thirteen hundred.' During this period the town was healthy, with one exception, of short duration. Between the 18th of December, 1758, and the .30lh of January, 1754, a distressing and fatal sickness prevailed (called The Great Sickness), that resulted in the death of tifty-three persons, it being more than one-eighth of the population at that time. This sickness, both in its nature and cause, appears to have been involved in m3'stery. That it had a natural cause I do not doubt, but, as it was confined to the limited period ol four or six weeks, having never appeared before or since, it does not militate against the healthfulness oi the locality. The average number of deaths annually, during the first century, was seven. This includes the period of the great sickness." If we deduct the deaths from that epidemic, the average would not exceed six and a half The same disease appeared in Sherborne about the same time, but its duration was greater, extending into the month of April, when there had been twenty-five deaths. In that town it was called " The Memorable Mortality."

This sickness occurred in Holliston during the ministry of Rev. Joshua Prentiss, and he appears to have observed it and to have taken notes of the symptoms in quite a scientific manner. A full record, taken from the notes of Mr. Prentiss, is given in Mr. Fitch's Century sermon.

This was a grievous blow to the young community. Many families were broken up entirely and the population was almost decimated. They were obliged to apply for assistance ; and Tuesday, April 9, 1754, the following entry appears in the .Tournal of the House of Representatives of the Province: "A Petition oi the Selectmen of the town of Holliston, representing the distressed circumstances of said town, by reason of the grievous sickness and mortality there, praying for the compassionate consideration of this Court, for the reasons mentioned. Read and committed to Captain .Toseph Williams, Captain Ashley and Mr. Greenwood, to consider and report thereon." The report of the committee was accepted and the sum of twentysix pounds thirteen shillings and four pence was granted, to be paid out of the public treasury to the selectmen, " and by them to be applied for the use and reliefof such poor and indigent persons as may most need the same."

As before intimated, the business relating to the chuich was, during many years, transacted in the same town-meetings in which the regular business of the town was conducted ; but after fifty or sixty years a distinction was made. Then, all the legal voters were called to the town-meetings, while only those who paid a ministerial tax were called to the "town-meetings for parochial business." All the records were kept by the town clerk in the same record-book, until 1836, when a separate parish was organized, with its own meetings and records. It was also the custom for the ministers to- receipt for their salaries in the town record-book, and these signatures are scattered through the records until the last one appears, April 1, 1829. The first town clerk was Captain John Goulding, who served ten years, from 1724 to 1734; and the last one is George B. Fiske, who is now filling his thirteenth year in that oifice. John M. Batchelder is the present town treasurer, and is serving his eleventh year in that capacity.

Until 1825 the town meetings were held in the meeting-house ; but during that year a town house was built, the upper story of which was used for the town hall, while the lower story was occupied by the church for a parish hall. This house was situated on the Common, near the road and adjoining the cemetery lot. It was used for town and parish purposes ufitil 1855, when it was sold and moved ofl". It was replaced the same year by the present town house, which was set farther back from the road. Thelower hall in this building has been usedfor meetings of the various parishes and other societies. Edwin Payson, of Boston, was the architect, and S. & W. L. Payson the contractors for the new town house.

Aaron Phipps, afterwards deacon and treasurer of the church, and a superior man, was apprenticed to Dea. James Russell, a blacksmith ; and during that time, 1747 to 1751, planted the magnificent elms in front of the Col. Whiting house. The large trees .standing before the Congiegational meeting-house, which were cut down in 187G when the road was widened, were set out by the Rev. Mr. Dickenson, not far from the year 1 800.

The French and Indian war occurred about the middle of the eighteenth century. We find uo record of men who went to that war from Holliston, but probably there were a few. There were always adventurous spirits in every town who were ready for such expeditions.

It was not long after the cessation of those hostilities that the feelings of dissatisfaction with the mother country began to arise, which culminated iu the war of the Revolution. When her oppressions became too onerous to be borne, this town was prompt in declaring its convictions. As early as 1768 a committee was chosen " to join with the committee of the Town of Boston, as well as with the committees from the several towns of the Province, in a convention, to be held at Faneuil Hall, in Boston, aforesaid, on ye 22d of this Instant, in order that such measures may be consulted and advised as His Majesty's service and the peace and safety of tliis Province may require." They were evidently not then ready to throw off their allegiance to the Crown, but were resolved to maintain their rights and prepare for future contingencies, as the ne.xt vote, p;issed on the same day, will .show: "To recruit the Town stock of ammunition by purchasing a barrel of gunpoivder, one hundred French flints and one hundred and fifty weight of balls." March 5, 1770, it was voted "that we will not by ourselves, or any, for or under us. Directly or Indirectly, purchase any European Goods of those persons Termed Importers. . . . Neither will we have the Least Dealings whatever with any Country Shop Keeper who shall purchase any Goods of Said Importers, and that we will use the utmost of our Endeavor to Encourage and assist those applauded Merchants of the Town of Boston in their non-importation agreement, to whom this Town Vote their sincere and hearty Thanks for these Late Measures pursued by them for the Good of their Country, and that the moderator of this Meeting Transmit a Copy hereof to the Committee of Merchants in Boston."

This meeting was held on the day of the Boston Massacre. Henry Prentiss, a son of Rev. Joshua Prentiss, was an eye-witness of the scene and he wrote a long letter to his father, giving a graphic description of the same. It was found among the papers of Mr. Prentiss and is quoted in full by Rev. George F. Walker in his article.

May 23, 1774, the Town chose a committee of correspondence with Boston and the other towns in the Province. July 4, 1774, " voted to double the town stock of Ammunition." November 17, 1774, " voted to post up the names of all who shall sell or consume any of the East India Teas." At the annual townmeeting in March 1775, before proceeding to the election of Town odicers, it was " voted that no man shall serve in any Town office or place wherever, who shall refuse or neglect to subscribe their consent to and compliance with the advice and assotiation of the last Continental Congress and that they shall be treated with neglect." A similar vote was passed before the annual elections of officers in 1776, 1777 and 177!i. The following instructions were given to Major Abner Perry when he was chosen representative to the General Court, May 20, 177(5. After rehearsing the resolve of the last General Court, which requested towns to advise their ne-Kt representative as to the support which they would give to Congress, in case that body should declare the Colonies independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, they say : "To which the liihabitant-s of the town of Holliston, Being Legally assembled, would humbly Reply (viz.) that the Said Honble. Congre.ssare (under God) the most Competent Judges of matters of such Vast Importance to these Colonies ; We would therefore Refer it to their Wisdom, and do Solemnly Promise & Engage with our Lives and Fortunes to support them in the measure, if they, (whom we look upon as the Guardians of our Liberty) shall judge it to be best."

From year to year each representative was instructed by vote of the town to stand by the Continental Congress and the liberties and rights of the Colony. July 5, 1770, the day following the Declaration of Independence, the town voted to raise £11 to be paid to " Each man that .shall Inlist to go as aforesaid, and do a turn for this town as a hired man." The Declaration of Independence is written out in full in the town records, as it also is in the records of Sherborn. January 5, 1778, the town voted their full approbation of the articles of confederation of the United States as "Sent to the said Town by the Gen" Court of this State."

" But perhaps the most convincing evidence," says Dr. G. JI. Adams, " of the thorough patriotism of the town is seen in the large sums of money which were voted and paid for carrying on the war. In the year 1776, the town granted four hundred pounds for the defence of the country. This was when all the other expenses of the town, including the IMinister's salary, were less than two hundred pounds. It is recorded that at a town-meeting in September, 1776, " the Reverend Mr. Prentice, personally appeared and generously gave ten pounds to the town, towards defraying the charge that has arisen in this town by the present war." In 1777 the town granted for war expenses, one thousand one hundred and forty-nine pounds, all other town expenses being one hundred and seventy pounds. In 1778 the war appropriation was £2191. In 1770, currency had begun to depreciate, and the town granted for war expenses more than £4000, which was equal to about £2000 in silver. In 1780, currency was not worth more than one-thirtieth or one-fortieth of its nominal value, and the town appropriated for the war, seventy-two thousand pounds, which was still equal to about £2000 in silver. In 1781 the war' appropriations were £24,750 old currency and £600 silver money, equal to about £850 in silver.

The names of the men from Holliston who served in the Continental army are recorded on various muster rolls in the archives of the State, and did time permit a thorough search, we could give very nearly the exact number. Col. Simeon Cutler served under Washington, and Col. Abner Perry, Maj. Jacob Miller and Capt Daniel Eanies were conspicuous among the officers of that army. " They contended for the right, and they won and rejoiced in their achievements, but they had no conception of the great and glorious results as we see them to-day."

In 1780, September 4, the town met and voted for the first Governor of this State, and John Hancock received 39 votes and James Bowdoin two votes.

In 1790 the town first cast its votes for a representative to Congress. In 1791 nineteen persons and their families were warned to leave the town because they had moved into it without having obtained the town's consent. In 1795 the Minister's salary was first voted in the Federal currency, and it was $266.67.

We now come to the commencement of an important era, the beginning of manufacturing industries which have been such a prominent factor in the prosl)erity of Holliston. Previous to 1793 there had been no manufacturers or mechanics in the township excepting tliose who, in a small way, supplied the immediate wants of the farmers and their families. And the farmers did not desire to have manufactures introduced, some of them even being strongly opposed to the plan.