Southborough Town

Southborough Town

John L. Wliiting married Mary, daughter of Moses Sawin, of Southboro', in 1852. He commenced the manufacture of bruslies in Boston in 1864, and has for years been the largest brush manufacturer in the United States. Whiting's patent bruslies have a national reputation, and have been introduced to some extent in other countries. Mr. Whiting has introduced machinery into his factory, thus eftecting a great saving of labor. The brushmakers of the olden time used but one machine) while John L. Whiting & Son have in use between seventy-five and eighty.

Several of Mr. Whiting's inventions effect a very material saving in the length of bristles used in brushes; this U accomplished by mechanical devices which secure the bristles iu the ferrule by a shorter hold than any of the old methods, thus practically extending their length and increasing their value, without injury to the quality of the brushes. This economy of stock of course reduced the prices of the brushes ; the result has been more of a public than a private benefit, as other brush-makers have been stimulated to extra exertions, in order to accomplish, as far as possible, the saving eft'ected by Mr. Whiting's inventions.

In 1872, Curtis Newton and Dexter Newton, sons of Stephen and Sally Newton, having purchased the large estate of the late Col. Dexter Fay, erected, with the assistance of Daniel H. Thompson, Joseph Fairbanks, Allan D. Howe and Lewis Brewer, a shoefactory in Fayville, forty by fifty feet. Since that time the factory has been twice enlarged, so that now it contains over forty-six thousand feet of flooring. The last addition was made by Dexter Newton, Joseph Fairbanks, Allan D. Howe, Henry H. Newton and Augusta E. Brewer, who are the present owners of the factory. It is leased to H. H. Mawhinney & Co.; Allan D. Howe, superiutendent.

The montlily pay-roll amounts to about twelve thousand dollars. They employ about three hundred operatives. The sales amount to about four hundred thousand dollars annually.

Chapter Xv

The number of inhabitants in town at the time of its incorporation is not positively known. There were about fifty families, and probably about two hundred and eighty inhabitants. In 1757 it appears that the number of enrolled men was 75, and the number of minute-men 5G. In 1790 the number of inhabitants was 837. At the close of each subsequent decade the number of inhabitants was as follows, viz.: 1800,871; 1810, !I2(J; 1820,1,030; 1830,1,080; 1840,1,145; 1850,1,347; 1860,1,854; 1870,2,133; 1880-85, 2,100.

Of the names of the inhabitants, the Newtons, Fays and Brighams have always predominated. The number of Newtons born iu town since its incorporation is 443 ; and the number of Fays born in town during the same time is 334.

By order of the General Court, the first townmeeting was held August 28, 1727, at the house of Timothy Brigham, which stood where is now located the St. Mark's School-house. William Johnson was moderator. The first town-meeting, under warrant of selectmen, was held March, 1728 - James Newton, moderator ; Moses Newton, Scth Bellows, Doe Mathea, and Captain Ward were selectmen. The principal business of this meeting, besides the choice of officers, and of several town-meetings which followed, was to arrange for procuring a minister of "good conversation to preach God's word," and to devise ways and means to build a meeting-house. Money for both purposes was promptly raised. The first meetinghouse built was 50x40 feet, aud 20-foot posts ; £300, or $1,000, was appropriated for same. It was built in 1727-28. This house lasted seventy-nine years, at the end of which time it was sold for .$76.99, aud taken down. It was located a few feet south of the house now owned by the Pilgrim Evangelical Society, and on a portion of the land given by the inhabitants of Marlborough to the inhabitants of this section thereof, previous to the incorporation of Southborough(said land was given and set apart for the accommodation of meeting-house, burial-place and for a training-field forever). In 1806, December 17th, the second church edifice was dedicated ; it cost .$7,778.

The pews sold for 12,658 above the appraisal. In 1856 said meeting-house was conveyed by the First Parish Society to said Pilgrim Evangelical Society, and by the latter it was remodeled and fitted up in its present modern style at a cost of about $13,000, and dedicated. In 1828, September 10th, the Baptist Society dedicated the brick church which is now occupied for a dwelling. For want of sufficient room in the church, the dedicatory services were held in the grove near "Mount Vickory." The present Baptist Church was built in 1845. The first church of the Pilgrim Evangelical Society was built in 1832. It is now the high school-hou.se. The Episcopal Church was dedicated August 15, 1862. The Second Congregational Church was located in Southville, was built in 1872.

St. Miiltliew's Catholic Church, located between Cordaville atid Sdutliville, was built in 1S79. St. Anne's Catholic Church was built in 1887, and located between Fayville and Southboro' Centre. Rev. John F. Redican is rector of both societies. He was born in Worcester, April 2, 1858 ; is a graduate of the public schools of Worcester, also of the Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass; studied theology in Montreal University ; was ordained in Montreal ; spent five years as assistant in Webster ; came to Cordaville as first pastor of St. Matthew's Church November 26, 1886.

The first minister settled by the town was Rev. Nathan Stone. He was ordained October 21, 1730, and continued their pastor until his death, May 31, 1781. June 1, 1791, Rev. Samuel Sumner was settled. He was dismissed, agreeably to his request, December, 1797. In 1799, October 9th, Rev. Jeroboam Parker, a native of Southborough, was ordained, and became their pastor. He was dismissed at his own request in 1832. The First Parish Society afterwards settled Rev. John D. Sweet, Rev. William Lord, Rev. Alden and Rev. Barnard. The salary first paid to Mr. Stone was £120 or $400, and thirty cords of good wood. In 1734 his salary w;us raised to X150 and thirty cords of good wood.

Only one religious society existed in town until 1825. The Baptist Society have settled Rev. Jonathan Forbush, Rev. Abiasaph Sampson, Rev. W. Morse, Rev. Aaron Haynes, Rev. M. Ball, Rev. John Alden. They have had several acting pastors, the present one being Rev. H. G. Gay. The Pilgrim lOvangelical Society was organized February 17, 1831, and have settled Rev. Walter FoUett, Rev. Jacob Cummiugs, Rev. E. M. El wood, Rev. G. D. Bates, Rev. W. J. Breed, Rev. John Colby, Rev. H. M. Holmes, Rev. A. L. Love, Rev. J. E. Wheelcrand Daniel E. Adam.s, D.D. Rev. Alansou Rawson was acting jiastor from April 28, 1843, to April 12, 1852. Rev. Andrew Bigelow, D.D., was acting pastor from Aj)ril 1, 1874, to April 1, 1875.

The Episcopal Society have had for rectors Rev. Joshua R. Pierce, Rev. A. C. Patterson, Rev. Charles Wingate, Rev. Robert Lowell, Rev. J. I. T. -Coolidge, D.D., and the present rector. Rev. Waldo Burnett.

The Second Congregational Society have settled Rev. C. A. Stone, and have had for acting pastors Rev. John Le Boscjuet, and Rev. Truman A. Merrill.

The first appro|>riaticin made by Southborough for teachers was in 1732, viz. : to Timothy Johnson, six pounds ; and to Samuel Bellows, four pounds ten shillings. Subsequently, for several years, Solomon Ward was employed to teach in rotation the four schools located in difl'ereut sections of the town.

In 1859, Henry H. Peters, Esq., a wealthy citizen, feeling a deep interest in the education of the youth, and having a desire that the scholars of Southborough should have as good advantages for obtaining an education as was enjoyed by the scholars in the neighboring towns, donated the present school-house, nicely finished and furni.?hed, and the land connected therewith, to the town, on condition that it should be u.sed for a high .school, to be taught by a master (jualified to teach the branches usually taught in a high school, and to be kept at least eight months in each year. The town accepted the very liberal donation at a regular town-meeting ; and as a token of their ai)preciation of his generosity, they directed that it should be called the "Peters High School- House."

The citizens generally have manifested great satisfaction with the good results of the school. They have been willing to appropriate a liberal sum yearly for the support of this as well as for the other ten schools. The School Conuuittee, in 1878, expended for schools, $5,854. In 1852 a free i)ublic library was est.iblished. The opening of the same was properly celebrated. A public meeting was held in the Town Hall February 12th. The occasion was enlivened by speeches, songs and music. A. L. Hobart, JI.D., then of Southborough, nuule the principal address. The following extract from his address will quite fully ex- [ilain the character of the preliminary measures incident to its establishment :

Col. FranciB B. Fay, in the fulllicgsof his KonI aud liborHlity of his j^pirit, conceived in Iiis heart to do a good thing unto tlie inliahitants of the good old town of Soutlihorough, which gave him birth ; and so, iiiisolicited, and of his own good-will and iileasnre, he thnist his hand deep into his pocket, an<! drawing forth live hundred pieces of silver (ff-^iOO), held them ui> before the eyes of the iidiahitanis of the town, while he thus spoke: "Fellow-citizens! Fellow-townsnien ! I was born, and nnrtnred, and rocked, and reared in your midst. lam one of yon, and you are dear unto nie. And now, as you are dear unto me, and as my heart atid hands are drawn towards you in aflection, and as the enligiiteunient and elevation of your minds are things near my heart, therefore, if all together, or any of you, will give a like simi, I will give these live hnndied pieces of silver to form the nucleus of a Town Library, which shall bo free for all the inhabitants of the town to use for their improvemout, and for their children's children forever.

The town appropriated the other five hundred dollars, and directed that as a token of their esteem for the generous donor, it should be called the " Fay Library."

In 1870, April 20th, Col. Fay tlonated to the town the additional sum of one thousand dollars, for the benefit of the library. There is now a fund of fifteen hundred dollars in the hands of the trustees of the library, the interest of which, with various other items contributed uud appro])riated, eiialile Ihe trustees to expend about two hundred dollars annually for books. There are iiiiw in the library five thousand six hundred and thirty-five volumes. The people of Southborough have great cause to hold iu fond remembrance the names of aforesaid donors; and not only we, but, in future years, full many a son and daughter, who shall inhabit this land, read books and learn in this school, - looking back, perhaps, through time's long vista, - will aho exultingly claim these donors as their immortal benefactors.

In 1865 the St. Mark's School was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth, and was founded for the classical education of boys. Its course of studies is prepared with the purpose of giving a thorough preparation for the admission to the universities and colleges of the country. It is a school for the Episcopal Church, and its order and management are in conformity with the principles and spirit of the Church. Its scholars number about sixty, and are required to board at the institution. It is said to be one of the most thorough and best-dis- [ ciplined schools in the State. The establishment of 1 this school and the erection of the beautiful Episcopal Church are the results of the great enterprise and perseverance of our honored and esteemed fellowcitizen, Dr. Joseph Burnett. The school is under the management of the following officers:

Board of Trustees. - Rt. Rev. B. H. Paddock, D.D., Rev. D. C. Millett, D.D., Rev. George S. Converse, A.M., Rev. Thomas R. Pynchon, D.D., Joseph Burnett, Esq., Joseph Story Fay, Esq., Francis C. Foster, [ Esq., H. N. Bigelow, Esq., Rev. S. U. Shearman, George P. Gardner, Esq. Bead Masler. - Winiam E. Peck, A.M. Treasurer. - Joseph Burnett, Eeq. Dr. Joseph Burnett was born in Southbnrough, November 11, 1820. He married Josephine Cutter, June 20, 1848, by whom he has had twelve children. He received his education from the common schools L in Southborougli and the English and Latin schools ' in the city of Worcester, commencing business as an apothecary in that city, where he remained two years. He then removed to Boston, where he continued the business for several years. He is now a manufacturt ing chemist of great notoriety.

The beautiful appearance of the Centre Village is largely due to his benevolence, influence and taste. In 1840 the town built its first town-house. Previous to that time the town-meetings were held in the church of the First Parish Society. Said town-house cost about $4,000. It was burnt in 1869. Without delay the inhabitants proceeded to erect another. The present handsome, substantial and commodious brick town-house was built in 1869-70, at a cost, including fixtures and furniture, of about S30,000. The building committee, consisting of Dr. Joseph Burnett, Dexter Newton, Dr. J. Henry Robinson, Franklin Este and Curtis Hyde, delivered the keys thereof to the selectmen April 20, 1870. In 1824 the young men organized a lyceum. Hon. Francis B. Fay was presidentof the same for several years. This is said to be one of the first lyceums ever formed in this vicinity. One of the most exciting debates participated in by the then young America was : " Is an untruth ever justifiable?" Disputants appointed in the affirmative were Peter Fay and Blake Parker ; negative, Joel Burnett and Brigham Witherbee. The discussion waxed warm. The disputants, pro and con, fought the battle inch by inch during the allotted time. Question was finally decided on its merits, in the negative. This lyceum accomplished much good.

Another lyceum was formed in 1842. Its members at one time numbered forty-four. Many momentous questions were considered. Interesting and instructive free lectures, through their exertions, were given to the public. Southborough has raised many noble men and women, and several distinguished scholars.

The following is a list of those reared in town wlio have availed themselves of the benefits of a collegeeducation, viz. : Jeroboam Parker, graduated at Harvard in 1797, became a minister; Nathan Johnson, graduated at Yale in 1802, judge of Court of Common Pleas ; Sherman Johnson, graduated at Yale in 1802. minister; Luther Angier, graduated at Amherst in 1833, minister ; Marshall B. Angier, graduated at Yale in 1884, minister ; Henry M. Parker, graduated at Harvard in 1839, teacher; Joel Burnett, graduated

Burnett, graduated at Harvard Medical in 1849, naturalist; Edward Burnett, graduated at Harvard in 1871, M.C. ; Harry Burnett, graduated at Harvard in 1873, chemist ; Waldo Burnett, graduated at Harvard in 1875, rector ; Clarence Thompson, graduated at Amherst in 1874, civil engineer; George E. Brewer, graduated at Amherst in 1874, insurance broker ; Charles T. Murray, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1882, teacher ; Winfield Scott Hammond, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1884, teacher; Charles C. Burnett, graduated at Harvard in 1886, railroad manager.

Jeroboam Parker, mentioned above, was for many years the minister in Southborough. Joel Burnett was a noted physician in the town, was particularly interested in her schools and was greatly honored and respected. He delivered the first lecture on the subject of temperance given in the town. His son, Waldo I. Burnett, was a zealous student and became a distinguished naturalist. By the Boston Society of Natural History he was elected curator of entomology. In successive years he gained many of the prizes offered by said society. In the winter of 1851 he delivered, at the Medical College in Atlanta, Ga., a course of lectures in microscopic anatomy. In 1852 he prepared the essay which received the prize from the American Medical Association. He died of consumption July 1, 1854, in the twenty-sixth year of his age. From an address concerning his life and writings, delivered before the Boston Society of

Natural History, July 19, 1854, by Dr. Jeffries Wyman, is taken the following extract: " We cannot but sensibly feel that in his death we have lost an associate of no ordinary talents; we can point to no other member of our society, and not more than one other naturalist in our country, who has given such proofs of zeal and industry, and who, in so short a life, has accomplished so large an amount of scientific labor. Had he been spared to future years, we cannot but feel the assurance that he would have acquired for himself a far higher place and still more honorable name in the annals of science. Let us cherish his memory and profit by his example."

The records of the town show that the people have always taken a forward rank in the cause of freedom. Capt. John Taplin went in command of a company of forty-nine men on the Crown Point expedition in 1756; was out from February 18th to December 20th. Capt. Aaron Fay commanded a company sent for the reduction of Canada, and was out fioni March to November, 1758.

Dilenton Johnson was at Fort William Henry when it capitulated, August 9, 1757, and was exposed to the Indian barbarities of that terrible day. Elijah Reed and Joshua Newton, also of Southborough, were in that battle.

In 1765, in town-meeting, the following unanimous vote of instruction was given to their representative, Ezra Taylor, Esq.: "That you would in the most effectual and loyal manner firmly assert and lawfully maintain the inherent rights of the Province, that posterity may know that if we must be slaves, we do not choose by our own acts to destroy ourselves, and willingly entail slavery on them."

To Ezekiel Collings, One of the Corporals of tlie Military foot Oompany, in tbe Town of Soutliborougli, in the County of Worcester, under the command of Josiah Fay, Captain, and in the Riginmnt whereof Artemas Ward Esq, of Shrewsbury is Colonel - Greeting.

To appear in tbe Common training field By the Meeting House in said Southbr" with their fire-arms Compleate on the ninth Day of thia Instant November, att Eight of the Clock, in tbe fournoon of said Day then and thair Renuiin attend to and Obay further orders Hereof fail Not and make return of thia Warrant with your Doings thereon Unto me att or Before Said time. Given under my hand att said Southb** the seventh Day of November anno-dom 1774,

Capt. Josiah Fay's company of fifty -six minute men, who were disciplined and supported at the expense of the town, marched to Lexington and Concord, April 19,1775. Every able-bodied male citizen, sixteen years old and upward, was armed according to law. They were required to be in constant readiness to repel any attack of the enemy.

In town-meeting April 29, 1861, on motion of Sylvester C. Fav, Esq., it was voted, unanimously "that the town is ready to respond to the proclamations of the President with every able-bodied citizen and every dollar, if necessary." The town furnished two hundred and nineteen brave and patriotic men, being thirtythree more than enough to fill her quota under every call of the President during the great Rebellion. Seventeen of those men died in the service of their country, and these names appear on the monument erected to their memory. Said monument, erected on the common in Southborough Centre, is of Fitzwilliam granite, and was built by E. F. Meaney, olBoston, from a design of A. R. Esty, Esq. It was dedicated January 1, 1867. It is twenty feet high. On the south (front) side are inscribed the words, "Erected by the citizens of Southborough;" on the east, "In Memoriam ;" on the north, " Our Country's Defenders ;" and on the west, "Rebellion, 1861."

This monument cost $1613.50, and was paid for mostly by subsciiption. Some of the money, however, was contributed by various as-emblies and societies. Henry H. Peters, Esq., subscribed $.500; Dr. Joseph Burnett, $100 ; the ladies, nearly $200 ; Curtis Newton, E. D. Rockwood, Peter Fay and S. N. Thompson, each $25; and ninety-two other persons contributed smaller sums. This town has a very perfect record of her soldiers who enlisted in the late war. To William P. Willson, Esq., great credit is due for his alacrity and perseverance in its preparation and completion. The following is a list of the names of said soldiers :

Among the names of many prominent men of this town - part of whom are now living and the others have recently deceased - who have done much to promote its highest and best interests, are the following :

Moses Sawin purchased the grist and saw-mill and a small lot of land situate one-half mile west of Town Hall, in Southborough, of Deacon Gabriel Parkei, in 1833. The year following he bought of said Parker seven acres of land adjoining same, and on south side of Mill Pond, and built thereon a spacious dwelling-house, barn and other buildings. The estate is now owned and occupied by Charles B. Sawin, youngest of his three surviving sons. Said Moses Sawin was a lineal descendantofa long- list of millers. His ancestor, Thomas Sawin, was the third son of John Sawin, of Watertown, who was the father of the American Sawins. Thomas Sawin bought of the Natick Indian (a branch ofthe Massachusetts) fifty acres of land in South Natick, for which he paid ten pounds of lawful money. The following conditions were agreed upon in their transaction, viz.: The said Thomas Sawin was to build a mill on the premises for the grinding of corn, and he ?ind his heirs and assigns were to maintain said mill forever, and on the other part it was agreed that there was to be no other corn-mill built in town without the consent of said Thomas Sawin, his heirs and assigns. Said mill remained in possession of said Thomas Sawin and his descendants from 1685 to 1833 - one hundred and forty-eight years. Said Moses Sawin possessed and carefully preserv^ed through life the curious old deed, signed and sealed by the Indian chiefs of whom his said ancestor purchased the land. They are now in possession of said C. B. Sawin, at the old homestead, where antiquarians and others interested in curious legal documents can examinfe them.

Moses Sawin was thrice married. In 1820 he married Joanna T. Lane, of whom he had one child, Joanna L. Sawin. In 1823 he married Mary B. Morse, of whom he had eight children, viz.: John B., Mary B., Sarah C, Maria A., Moses M., Lucy A., Charles B. and James H. Two of these passed over the daik river in early childhood, viz.: Lucy A. and James H. Sarah C. died in early womanhood, August 9, 1853. Joanna L. (Mrs. Libby) died November 15, 1860. The other five children are still living, and earnestly laboring to carry forward the great principles of progress and reform, which their father labored so assiduously to promote. In 1852 said Moses Sawin married Mrs. Catharine A. Rice, who still survives him and is loved and cherished, as a good mother should be, by all his children. Mr. Sawin was an active and excellent citizen. He took a lively interest in town affairs, was a faithful member of the Board of Overseers of the Poor for many years, and was enthusiastic in promoting the best interests of the town. He was very active in aiding the great temperance reform. When the clarion notes of William Lloyd Garrison rang through the land calling the nation to repentance for supporting and maintaining chattel slavery, Mr. Sawin did not hesitate to enlist in the great cause of humanity. He was convinced it was a sin against God and a crime against his brother man.

He had the courage to ask the members of the church to which he belonged to testify against the sin ; when his request was rejected he refused to commune with them as a church of Christ, and when, for this refusal, they cast him out of the church, he exultantly quoted to them the words of Christ, viz. : " Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me." He was especially gratified that he had lived to see slavery entirely abolished ; it was what he had long labored for and sought. But the crowning glory of his latter days was in hearing his former opponents acknowledge the righteousness of his cause, and labor earnestly with him in the overthrow of American slavery.

John Thomas Cotton was the son of Rev. Ward Cotton and his wife, Rebekah (Jackson), and one of the numerous descendants of John Cotton, first minister of Boston. Said John Thomas Cotton was the oldest of six children, born in Boylston, Mass., February 25, 1801. In youth and early manhood he had a long and severe sickness, which left him in a feeble condition, and although he lived to a great age, he never enjoyed good health. He was a very conscientious man, firm in his convictions, and was greatly beloved by his fellow-citizens. He served as representative to the General Court for several years, and long held the office of town clerk of said Boylston. In consequence of the failing health of his mother, 10 whom he was entirely devoted, he was induced to give up all public employment. His mother died October 11, 1854, after which he purchased a small place for a home and sold the old homestead in Boylston. He lived in Southborough in great contentment and comfort, near his sister (Mrs. Hannah S. P. Whitney), for near a quarter of a century. Though he lived alone, he was no recluse, but was very sociable and very fond of his neighbors and flowers. He spent his last days with his sister, and passed over the dark river to beloved ones beyond, October 17, 1884.

Peter Fay, Esq., was born in Southborough, October 15, 1807. He married Roxanna Whipple, December 29, 1829. She died November 28, 1853. March 15, 1858, he married Dolly Collins. By his first wife he had six children - two girls and four boys. He lived on the old homestead formerly owned by his father, Peter Fay - and which is now owned and occupied by Charles F. Choate, Esq., president of the Old Colony Railroad Company - until March 1, 1855, having previously sold the same to Henry H. Peters, Esq. He then bought the Parker farm, which for many years was owned and occupied by the former ministers of the First Parish Society. He lived there about two years. He built the fine house in which he now lives in 1857. He has held many of the highest offices in town, and has received many honors from the citizens thereof. He represented the town at the General Court in 1845. He has served as selectman some nine years. He was very active, during the late war, in obtaining men to fill this town's quota under every call made by President Lincoln. He served on the Board of School Committee about nine years ; assessor, one year; overseer of the poor, nine years; deacon of the Pilgrim Evangelical Church for about fifteen years. He settled the estate of his sister, Mrs. Dolly Bond, late of. Shrewsbury, deceased. This estate amounted to over $100,000. He received great credit for his faithfulness and energy concerning the settlement thereof.

On the old homestead he kept some forty head of cattle, and he took great pride in having extra nice ones. He made butter until 1840, and was the first farmer but two in town who sold milk to go into Boston. He had fine apple orchards on his farm, which often yielded him one thousand barrels in a year. He was president of the first temperancesociety of Southborough for fifteen years.

Daniel S. Whitney was born at Danvers (now Peabody) on February 4, 1810. He is one of the many descendants of John and Elenor Whitney, of Watertown, and the eighth in descent from the original stock. Mr. Whitney was early engaged in the great reforms of the century. In 1830, at the age of twenty, after listening to an address by the celebrated Dr. Pierson, of Salem, he signed a pledge to abstain entirely from ardent spirits as a beverage, and from that time he has labored on through all the phases of the great temperance reform abstaining from all

In 18.S6, while keeping school on the Marhlehead coast, he first listened to the Gospel according to antislavery. Samuel J. May was the heavenly-tongued apostle on that occasion in the Branch Church of Salem, and from that lecture dates his interest in the great anti-slavery agitation begun three or four years before by William Lloyd Garrison. In the ranks of that grand army of freedom he was ever happy to be found. He was ordained as evangelist by the Massachusetts Association of Restorationists, and occupied pulpits as a supply for a few years. While thus engaged he became deeply interested in the undertaking of Rev. Adin Ballou, at Hopedale, Milford, Mass. This attempt to realize in actual life our highest conceptions of Christian principles was entered upon with great enthusiasm, and for eight years under several changes of business arrangements he ioyfuUy labored on at the great moral problem. He still clings to the hope that under more favorable surroundings, and profiting by past experiences, what was there attempted will yet be accomplished. All the great reforms of the age - temperance, anti-slavery, peace, the equal rights of women with men, and the golden rule as the law of intercourse and labor - constituted the policv of this attempt to realize the ideal of the great Master. The weakness of the undertaking, was found in the joint stock property of the undertaking which placed the continuance of the experiment in a few hands, and so brought it to a premature end. But while it lasted it formed a grand standpoint for living souls to utter and live their highest convictions.

Mr. Whitney married, in 1842, Miss Hannah S. P. Cotton, youngest child of Rev. Ward Cottton, of Boylston. Three children were born to them - Daniel Cotton, who left them at the age of seven years; Mary P. C. (Billings), and Alice G. C. (Burton).

After leaving Hopedale in 1850 Mr. Whitney spent one year in Beverly and two years in Boylston. In 185.3 he was chosen delegate from Boylston to amend the Constitution of Massachusetts, and removed to Southborough, that he might return daily to his family while attending on that convention. The conservative Whigs managed to quash the proposed amendments before the people, but Mr. Whitney had the satisfaction of voting to leave the term " male " out of the amended Constitution. The conservatives of that day looked upon the proposition as the wildest of political dreams; but the thirty-five years since that convention has brought it near even to our doors here in Massachusetts.

During the years of darkness and violence following the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Law, Mr. Whitney was ever ready and glad to do duty in the ranks of the Garrisonian Abolitionists. The flying fugitives were ever welcome to his home, and the sharp