Worcester City (part 48 of 58)

Methodist Episcopal Church. - In the fall of 1842 a series of meetings, continuing eight weeks, was held in the town hall, under direction of Rev. Horace Moulton, of Oxford. In these services he was assisted by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Moulton, a woman of great religious fervor and zeal.

As the result of these efforts, a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized October 15, 1844. The first minister of this church was Rev. William C. Clark.

In 1845, in consequence of differences of opinion with reference to the Episcopal mode of church administration, and the duty of the church in relation to slavery and temperance, the church was divided, and a Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized. The Methodist Episcopal Church then removed to Cherry Valley, and a house of worship was erected for it in 184b. The funds for building were subscribed by persons of difl'erent denominations, who recognized the need of religious services in Cherry Valley, and the control of the church was committed to trustees. It was stipulated in the compact that it was to be " a house of religious worship for the use of the ministers and members of, and the friends of, the Methodist Episcopal Church in said Leicester, according to the rules and discipline of said Church in the United States of America, except the First Calvinistic Congregational Church of said Leicester, or the Episcopalians of Cherry Valley, shall wish to occupy every other Sunday night for a third religious service, in which case they shall have the right."

The appointments for the ministry of this church have been - Revs. George Dunbar, J. T. Pettel, George F. Pool, T. W. Lewis, D. Z. Kilgore, W. B. Olds, Daniel Atkins, G. E. Chapman, J. W. P. Jordan, Albert Gould, from 1859 to '60; W. F. Lacomb, from 1861 to '62, who enlisted as a member of

In 1867 a Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in the Centre, worshipping in theWesleyan Methodist Church. This church continued to hold services and receive ministers appointed by the Conference for a few years, when it was merged in the Methodi.-it Episcopal Church at Cherry Valley, the appointee of that church preaching at the Centre Sunday afternoons. The ministers have been Revs. Mr. Chase, Frederick M. Miller, L. P. Causey, Samuel F. Fuller, Eratus Burlingham and H. D. Weston.

Wesleyan Methodist Church. - After the separation in 1845, those who objected to the Episcopacy, and the position of the Methodist Episcopal Church on the subject of slavery and temperance, organized themselves into a Wesleyan Methodist Cliurch, March 1, 1845. The pastor, Rev. Wm. C. Clark, remained with this church, and, indeed, was the active agent in securing its organization. His successors were Rev. Messrs. Christopher C. Mason David Mason, Simeon E. Pike, J. A. Gibson, Thomas Williams and Benjamin N. Bullock.

Roman Catholic Church. - The first Roman Catholic Church in town was St. Polycarp's, and was erected in 1854, half a mile east of Strawberry Hill. The cornerstone of the present church, St. Joseph's, was laid on the same site, September 1, 1867, Rev. Robert W. Brady, president of Holy Cross College, officiating. The church was dedicated January 2, 1870, Right Rev. John J. Williams, present Archbishop of Boston, officiating, The old church was taken down and moved to Rochdale during 1869, and was dedicated as St. Aloysius' Church. November 21st of the same year. Right Rev. John J. Williams officiating There was no resident pastor of the parish until August 1, 1880. The two churches were attended by the Jesuit Fathers from Holy Cross College, Worcester, in the following order: January, 1854, Rev. Peter Kroes ; August, 1856, Rev. J. C. Moore, S. J. ; August, 1857, Rev. P. M. Jolehi, S. J. ; January, 1858, Rev. Eugene Veterneli ; October, 1859, Rev. A. F. Ciampi, S. J.; August, 1861, Rev. J. B. Galney, S. J.; January, 1864, Rev. J. B. O'Hagan, S. J.; August, 1864, Rev. Charles Kelly, S. J.; Auguit, 1867, Rev. P. V. McDermott, S. J.; June, 1869, Rev. J, B. O'Hagan, S. J.; September, 1870, Rev. A. J. Ciampi, S. J.; January, 1871, Rev. Albert Peters, S. J. ; August, 1872, Rev. W. F. Hamilton, S.J. ; August, 1873, Rev. P. J. Blenkinsop, 8. J. These clergymen were generally educated in Europe, as they were Jesuit Fathers and professors at the college. Some of them were men of eminent scholarship.

Rev. D. F. McGrath became the priest of the parish August 1, 1880. He was born in Milford, Mass., August 15, 1848 ; graduated from Holy Cross College in 1870, and from Grand Seminary, in Montreal, in 1873. When he came to the parish it was incumbered with a debt of six thousand five hundred dollars, which was increased to fourteen thou.sand five hundred dollars in remodeling and repairing the church, building a fine parsonage and by accompanying expenses. This was the amount of indebtedness January 1, 18S4. By February 1, 1888, this debt was entirely paid, and all the parish property, including eighteen acres of land, is held free of indebtedness.

According to a census taken in January, 1888, by Father McGrath and his assistant. Father Kenney, there were in town three hundred and twelve Roman Catholic families, with a total of one thousand five hundred and thirty-six persons attached to St. Joseph's and St. Aloysius' Parishes.

St. Thomas Church. - In the year 1873 the Rev. B. F. Cooley, rector of Christ Church, Rochdale, commenced service in the Methodist Church in Cherry Valley, on Sunday afternoons. These services were continued for several years by him and his successor. Rev. S. R. Bailey. The first service and also later services on week-days were held in the house of Mr. Cheney Barton, in which the Rev. H. Blackaller had held .similar services more than thirtyfive years before. The church was afterward made a mission of St. Matthew's Church, Worcester, which relation its'ill holds, although it has been self-supporting since 1886.

Rev. E. Osgood took charge, probably in the autumn of 1878, and continued until early in the year 1881. The Rev. Julius Waterberry was in charge from 1881 to 1882. He was a beautiful singer, a man of culture, of wide information, and pleasing and refined manners. He died in Boston, on Good Friday, 1882, and his memory is cherished with affijction by the members of his charge. It was while he was connected with the church that " Shamrock Hall " began to be used as the place of worship.

The church was built in 1884, and consecrated February 14, 1885, by Bishop W. R. Huntington, D.D., of Grace Church, New York. Since that time a pipe-organ has been placed in the church. The church contains five memorial windows, one of them in memory of Rev. Julius H. Waterberry.

Chapter Xci

Although in the original legislative title of the town provision was made for school-houses, no action appears to have been taken upon the subject till the last day of the year 1731. It was then voted "to choose a committee of three to provide a schoolmaster ; and that the said committee agree with a man to keep school for three months, and no longer; and that the school be kept in three parts of the town, so as may be most for the conveniency of the inhabitants' children going to school." The sum of $8.75 was appropriated to meet the expense. He was to teach the children to " reed and wright." His own education, such as it was, must have been acquired without much help from teachers, as he probably came to town where there were no schools, when less than ten years of age. This provision was for the whole of Leicester and Spencer. The next year there was no school, and the town was called to account before the Quarter Sessions. The sum of .f 17.50 was appropriated the next winter, and after a delay of nearly a year, the same teacher was employed, and taught three months at $3.75 per month in the house of Mr. Jonathan Sargent, opposite the spot where the Catholic Church now stands. The next winter Mr. Lynde taught in three different places, one month in each place. " If the town employed him any more, they was to come to new tarms."

In 1736 the town "voted to build a school-house sixteen feet in width, twenty feet in length and six and a half feet between joynts; and that it be .set in the north side of the meeting-house, about ten rods, in the most convenientest place." It is described by one who remembered it as " an old shell of a building."

The next school-house was built as early as 1G72, where Sargent's brick factory now stands. Another school-house in the centre was built in 1791.

In 1736 the town was again presented before the Quarter Sessions for failing to provide a school, and fined £-1 12s. The ne.xt year John Lynde taught school one month and Jo-hua Nichols ten days. The .school-house was probably built in 1738. Its cost was $-1,784. Mr. Samuel Coolidge taught the school in 1739 six months, at SI. 32 per week. In 1742 the school was taught by John Gibbons through the year, in the four quarters of the town, "so as to have the remote ends of the town have some benefit of the same." In 1742 it was taught in six places by Mr. Adam Bullard. The amount expended for schools the next twenty years was on an average $133.33 per year. In 1765 the town voted to raise £120 to build five school-houses in the East, Southeast, Northwest, and Northeast Districts.

The school-houses were all completed in 1767. The amount assessed in each district was finally appropriated to its own school-house. This was the beginning of the "district system" in town, which continued until April, 1869, when it was annulled in accordance with the statute of the State.

" Schooling mistresses " were first employed in 1766. In 1774 the number of districts was increased to nine, and on April 15, 1776, the nine districts were officially defined, and the different families assigned to their respective districts, .and thus recorded. Notwithstanding the heavy burdens of the Revolutionary War, when a proposition wa.s made in town-meeting to suspend the schools, it was promptly voted down. A " town " or high school was organized in 1856, of which Mr. C. S. Knight was the first teacher. For several years it was migratory, being held one term each year at the Centre Village, Clappville and Cherry Valley. It was permanently located at the Centre in 1859. In 1867 an arrangement was made by which it was combined with the Academy, and this union has been continued to the present time, with the exception of four years, during which the Academy was temporarily suspended. All the advantages of that institution are now open to the children of the town who are qualified to enter upon a high school course. The annual amount raised by the town for schools at the close of the last century was iJSOO. In 1850 it was $1,200. The appropriation for 1888 was $7,500.

Leicester Academy. - Leicester Academy had its origin in the intelligent forethought and unselfish enterprise of its founders. Col. Ebenezer Crafts, of Sturbridge, and Col. Jacob Davis, of Charlton. They were imblic-spirited, patriotic men. They clearly saw that Christian education was essential to the success and perpetuity of those free institutions which had been won at such a cost. There was no academy in Central or Western Massachusetts, and the provision for general education was exceedingly meagre. Col. Crafts was a liberally educated man, graduated from Yale College in 1759. He was an ardent patriot, and marched to Cambridge at the first call to arms, with a company of cavalry which he had already organized. He also commanded a company of one hundred men under Gen. Lincoln, for the suppression of the Shays' Rebellion. After the close of the war he appeiws first to have conceived the idea of establishing in Worcester County a school for classical and English education. He interested in the undertaking Col. Davis, who had also been a soldier in the Revolution, and was a man of wealth and broad public spirit.

While they were considering the matter circumstances directed their attention to Leicester as a desirable location for such an institution. Upon the departure of the Jews, the store of Mr. Lopez, with the land, was advertised for sale at auction as "a large, commodious double mansion, and a noted place for trade." There was one acre of land. It was, as nearly as can be ascertained, upon the original lot No. 1. It had been successively owned by John Stebbins, Rev. Joseph Roberts, Rev. Benjamin Conklin ; the western half by Benjamin Fosgate, who built on it a small store about the year 1770; by Joseph Allen and Henry Bass. In 1777 Mr. Lopez added to the western half-acre a half-acre purchased of Mr. Conklin, and built upon it "the splendid mansion" now offered for sale.

Col. Crafts, watchful for opportunities to carry out his purpose, was at the sale. While there he conferred with his associates and decided to make the purchase, and the place was "bid off" to them for £515. It was deeded May 7, 1783, to Col. Crafts, Col. Davis and Asa Sprague, of Spencer, who soon afterward transferred his interest to Col. Crafts. Col. Crafts then addressed a petition to the Legislature for an act of incorporation, stating that a "large and commodious building, with about one acre of land," had been secured " with intent and design to promote the public benefit in the education of youth, as said buildings are exceedingly well calculated for an academy." He asked for an act similar to that relating to Andover, " whereby the same may be made respectable ; whereby the advantages of education of youth may be promoted ; whereby advantages may arise not only to the individuals, but to the public in general, and prove a blessing to our land of liberty."

The petition appropriately bears date of July 4, 1783. The petition was presented to the Legislature by Col. Seth Washburn, February 7, 1784. Final action was deferred until the sum of £1000 should be raised for the academy in addition to the real estate. There were then only one hundred and fifty families in town, and a population of about a thousand. They were impoverished by the war, but they came to the rescue in a spirit of noble generosity ; and within seven weeks more than the required amount was raised, as stated in the Spy, " by the town of Leicester, and a few gentlemen of that and this pl.ace." The town appropriated £500 ; citizens of Leicester contributed £367 ; and the amount was raised by Judge Gill, of Princeton, and others to £1355. The act of incorporation was passed March 23, 1784. It was signed by John Hancock, Governor, and Samuel Adams, President of the Senate. The property was deeded to the trustees in May, 1784.

In May the trustees made provision for subscriptions through the selectmen of the several towns of the county for the institution. It "is devoutly hoped," they say, " that it will not be suffered to wither and decay, or, for want of nourishment, to be removed to some more fertile soil." Clergymen were also appealed to, and Rev. Joseph Buckingham, in his Thanksgiving Sermon that year, made an appeal for add. Isaiah Thomas interested himself at once in the movement, and in November the Spy stated that " there would soon be opened at Leicester an Academy, for the purpose of promoting the sciences, &c.," and "the people of this large county" weie "urged to exert themselves to second the endeavors of those gentlemen who have laid this generous and laudable plan of another channel for public education."

Dr. John Pierce, who came as assistant preceptor in 1793, describes this '' mansion " as " an oblong, barrack-looking building." The rooms were about seven and a half feet in height. The southwest " parlor " was the school-room of the principal preceptor, and the southeast that of the English preceptor. The central front room was used as a dining and rhetorical hall, while the three rooms in the rear were used by the stewards. The southwest chamber was occupied by the two preceptors, who sometimes took a visiting friend .is a third occupant of their bed. The other chambers were for students, who were at times crowded six and even eight in a room. There was on the roof a small cupola, with a bell, the gift of Mr. Thomas Stickney.

The first meeting of the trustees was held April 7, 1784. They moved in a body to the meeting-house, where public services were held. The Rev. Mr. Conklin preached a sermon from Proverbs 11 : 25, and the Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty offered prayer. The trustees then partook of an "elegant repast," in "Commons Hall." Hon. Moses Gill, of Princeton, was elected president. Rev. Benjamin Conklin vicepresident. Rev. Joseph Pope (of Spencer) secretary, Joseph Allen, Esq., treasurer, and Colonel Crafts "steward and butler." Committees were chosen to select teachers, and prepare to open the school " with all convenient speed."

Benjamin Stone, a native of Shrewsbury, a graduate of Harvard in 1776, was engaged as principal precejjtor, at a salary of sixty pounds a year, afterwards raised to eighty-five pounds. He left in 1787, and was afterward preceptor of West ford Academy. He died in Shrewsbury in 1832, at the age of seventysix. He was a well-qualified and faithful teacher, and always retained a deep interest in the academy. The school opened with three pupils, - Samuel C. Crafts, son of the founder; Ephraim Allen, of Sturbridge ; and Samuel Swan, of Leicester, then six years of age. They were all graduated afterward at Harvard College. Mr. Crafts removed to Vermont, was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of that State, chief justice of the County Court, Representative and Senator to Congress and Governor of the State.

Mr. Allen became an eminent physician in Salem, N. Y., and Mr. Swan was established as a lawyer in Hubbardston. He was a valuable friend of the in- stitution, and a contributor to its funds. Eli Whitney, of Westboro', inventor of the cotton-gin, entered the school soon after. Such was the quality of the first pupils in Leicester Academy.

The number rose to twenty before the- close of the term. In the autumn term Thomas Payson was engaged as English preceptor, and the number of pupils was between seventy and eighty.

At the time of the next annual meeting of the trustees, July 4, 1785, " the youth of that seminary entertained a large and respectable audience with specimens of their literary improvements." Dramatic entertainments continued for many years to be given by the school, sometimes occupying the morning, afternoon and evening. They were held in the meeting house, which was crowded to its fullest capacity, the people coming from all the surrounding towns. On one of these occasions a Congregational minister of the county played, behind the scenes, the bass viol accompaniment to the " Scolding Wife." " Colloquy," " Poem," " Dialogue," " Greek Oration," " Farce," " Greek Dialogue," " Comedy," the entire (Addison's) "Tragedy of Cato," " Latin Dialogue," " Description of a Mighiy Good Man " and " Description of a Mighiy Good Woman" are among the parts which appear on the programmes of these entertainments.

The exhibitions, from time to time, were subjects of action by the trustees, in the way of provision and limitation. In 1796 provision was made for examination by the trustees. In 1840 the custom was introduced of inviting some former member of the institution to deliver an address in connection with the anniversary exercises. A statement of Dr. Pierce illustrates the style and dignity of the instructors. " According to the custom of the times, I then wore a cocked, or three-cornered hat. My hair was queued with a ribbon half-way down my back. I had silver knee-buckles at my knees; my plated shoe-buckles covered more than half my insteps."

The range of studies was very varied. Students were fitted for college, while in the English department the lowest common branches were taught. Dr. James Jackson, English preceptor in 1796, says, " I believe all my pupils had learned the alphabet before I saw them. I taught spelling, reading, writing, English grammar and arithmetic, and perhaps, to a few of the pupils, some of the higher branches." The charge for tuition was one shilling per week for the classics, and nine pence for English branches.

The institution soon found itself embarras->ed in its finances. The currency was depreciated. The Shays' Rebellion " threatened the country with civil war. The income of the funds was so reduced that it was necessary to d'spense with the services of the principal preceptor. The " large and elegant house '' soon proved inadequate and uncomfortable, and came to be looked upon, in the words of an early teacher, as "the old, rickety, inconvenient Jewish house," of which theseats were

"old and crowded," and which was heated by an "oldfashioned box-stove," so that "teachers and students " were " infested and inflated with steam and smoke." Measures were taken as early as 1786 to rebuild, but there were no means, and the institution was forty pounds in debt. It was a gloomy period in the history of the infant academy. In the general depression the school had become greatly reduced in numbers. In this emergency the town again showed its intelligent appreciation of the value of the institution, and, notwithstanding the embarrassed condition of its own resources, appropriated fifty pounds toward the salary of ihe preceptor, who received, in addition, the amount of tuitions.

The trustees had already appealed to the churches for funds ; they now turned to another source. It was at a time before moralists aud Christian men had come to understand the true character and demoralizing tendency of the lottery system. The trustees obtained permission of the Legislature, and issued a lottery " for the repairing Leicester Academy and making additional buildings thereto."

The public were urged to purchase tickets on the ground that " the Academy at Leicester is established for promoting piety and virtue, and for the education of youths, etc." Rev. Mr. Conklin was one of a committee to ask the General Court for an extension of time and an increase of the amount from £600 to £1200; S1419.22 was thus raised for the academy. In 1792 the Legislature made a grant of a town in Maine to the academy, which, in a few years, added $9,200 to the funds of the institution. With the adoption of the Federal Constitution confidence and prosperity returned to the country, aud the academy felt the reaction. In 1804 the funds had increased to §16,703.68.

After long delay and various changes of plan, the new building was begun in 1805. A half-acre of land east of the original lot had the year before been purchased of Mr. Dall, of Boston, for seven hundred dollars. Still further addition of land was made by gift and later by purchase of Dr. Austin Flint. The architect of the new building was Rand White, of Leicester, who received as remuneration $9.84.

The corner-stone was laid on the 14th of May with much ceremony. A procession, consisting of "Artificers," the corner-stone drawn by seventeen horses, a band of music, the president of the board, the building committee, and trustees, magistrates, selectmen of Leicester, citizens and students of the academy moved through the streets to the place, the stone was laid by the master-builder and the object of the structure was stated by the president, who offered prayer.

The procession then passed into the meeting-house, where there were further exercises. The building was ready for occupancy in January, 1806. It was of three stories, with a cupola. It was dedicated on the 4lh of July, 1806. Again a procession was formed on the Common, consisting of the band, students, preceptors and trustees, and moved from the old to the new building, where the structure was received by the board, and the president. Dr. Sumner, delivered an address. At the church, whitlier the procession pxssed, prayer was offered by Dr. Sumner, and Dr. Aaron Bancroft delivered an address on the " Importance of Education." On both of the occasions described. Dr. Sumner, witli great white wig and triangular cocked hat, was a conspicuous figure. The cost of the building was $9,054.36. It was built by the "job" in a very unsatisfactory manner. The foundations were not sufBciently firm and " settled," causing the building to be "racked and injured." It was hastily and unskillfully covered and finished, so that "the winds and storms of heaven " had free access. The subsequent expense and labor of repairs were fruitless, and after twenty-six years it gave place to the present structure.

Apparatus for the illustration of the sciences had already been purchased, consisting of globes, a telescope, microscope, electric machine, thermometer and surveying instruments.

It was at first understood that the principal was responsible for the management of the school, but it is evident that the two departments soon became quite distinct. Dr. James Jackson, who was English preceptor in 1796 and 1797, says, "'The schools were conducted quite independently of each other," and that he believed that the principal "had no right to control 'him.' Certainly, he never did." In 1821, however, the trustees, to prevent all misunderstanding, declared the principal preceptor the authoritative head of both departments. The English teacher presided over his own school-room, with power to punish. One of the penalties was the imposition of fines; this, however, was, by vote of the trustees in 1834, prohibited, and at the same time expulsion was made subject to the approval of a committee of the trustees. For many years corporal punishment was resorted to in cases of discipline, and there are still traditions of severe inflictions and even of struggles in the school-room, and of guilty boys, in thoughtful mood and with sad apprehensions, accompanying the principal from the academy to the gloomy seclusion of his own barn.

The funds of the academy after the erection of the second school building in 1.S06 amounted to $8,992.21. In 1814 Captain Thomas Newhall left a legacy of $1,000, and $1,000 additional for the tuition of pupils in town residing over a mile from the academy. Small sums were afterward subscribed at different times, and the State gave land in Paxton, which had been held by an alien, and had "escheated" to the Commonwealth, which was sold for $400.

In 1823 "sundry individuals in the town of Leicester, procured by subscription a philosophical apparatus, and presented it to the academy, cost over $.500." That year the academy received its first considerable legacy. Captain Israel Waters, of Charlton, " was," in the language of Governor Washburn, " the architect of his own fortune." He was born in Sutton. A poor boy, lie pressed his way to wealth by his own industr}', enterprise and determination. His business was the manufacture of leather, in the northerly part of Charlton. He made the academy his residuary legatee, and established the Waters Fund, "for the purpose of supporting an instructor, or instructors, of the Congregational Calvinistic order " " in the town of Leicester forever." The will provided, in case of the removal of the school from town, that the trustees in town should take the fund and u«e the interest for maintaining a public school, called the Waters School or Academy. If the time should come when there would be no such trustees, the selectmen were to fulfill the trust. The amount received from this estate was something over $8,000.

In 1831 the academy received $4,686.36 and also the avails of certain lands in Maine and Vermont from the estate of Hon. Isaiah Thomas, the distinguished Revolutionary patriot, original publisher of the Worcester Spy, and founder of the American Antiquarian Society ; and the same year $250 by the willofHon. NathanielMaccarty, of Worcester. In 1832 the value of the funds was $21,970 67. The building of the new academy in 1834, with the other expenses, reduced the amount, so that in 1844 it was only $13,611.72. The next year Hon. Daniel Waldo, of Worcester, for seventeen years a valuable member of the board of trustees, left the academy the sum of $6,000, to constitute the Waldo Fund, the interest of which was to be used for the " payment for able instruction in the various branches of knowledge, etc'

It is, however, to James Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia, that the institution is most largely indebted for its endowment. He was born in Rutland, January 20, 1788, came to Leicester in 1810 a pale-faced, poor boy, all his worldly goods tied in a pocket handkerchief. First a clerk in the store of Colonel Thomas Denny, wliose daughter Maria he married in 1815, he became his partner in the manufacture of card clothing. The foundations of liis wealth were laid in the period of the last war with England. In 1826 he removed to Philadelphia, where he continued the same business. Some years ago, addressing the students of the academy, he said : " I early in life formed this determination, that I would be useful." That resolve was the key-note of his life.

He helped many who were in straits. He took especial pleasure in aiding young students, especially those who were fitting themselves for Christian work. He gave during his life, and in his will, liberal donations to viwious literary institutions. In 1852 he gave to the academy $10,000, on condition that $5000 additional should be raised. The condition was complied with. Honorable Stephen Salisbury and Joseph A. Denny, Esq., contributing $1000 each, Thomas Denny, Esq., of New York, J. Wiley Edmands, of Newton, Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester, and John A. Smith subscribing $600 each, and other Individ- iial sums varying from $100 to $5 each. In 1877 he placerl in the hands of the trustees $15,000, to he added to the amount already given, thus making the Smith Fund §25,000. This fund became available in 1879, after his death.

Benjamin Stone was principal of the academy from June, 1784, to October, 1787 ; Amos Crosby from October, 1787, to July, 1788. He was a native of Brookfield and graduated at Harvard in 1786 ; afterward a lawyer in Brookfield. He is described as ''a man of great quickness and ready wit and with convivial tastes and habits" which developed into dissipation. Samuel Sumner, son of Dr. Sumner, of Shrewsbury, was principal from October, 1788, to July, 1790, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1786, afterward a clergyman. David Smith from July, 1790, to May, 1792; a native of Ipswich, graduated from Harvard 1790; afterward a clergyman. Ebenezer Adams, after teaching one year in the English department, was principal from May, 1792, to July, 1806; born in Ipswich in 1765, graduated from Dartmouth in 1791. He is represented as one of the ablest, most beloved and most successful of the early principals of the Academy. He passed with the institution through its gloomy period of depression, into the dawn of its returning prosperity, and did much to shape its future character. From July, 1806, to October, 1807, Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore discharged the duties of principal, while at the same time pastor of the church. Simeon Colton was principal from October, 1807, to February, 1809. Luther Willson from February, 1809, to August, 1812; born in New Braintree ; graduated from Williams in 1807. Josiah Clark from March, 1812, to August, 1818; born in Northampton 1785; graduated from Williams in 1809; afterward pastor of the church in Rutland and many years a trustee. Bradford Sumner, one term, 1818 and 1819; graduated from Brown in 1808. John Richardson, from February, 1819, to August, 1833; born in Woburn, graduated from Harvard in 1813. He is remembered as a thorough disciplinarian, a good scholar and instructor. Luther Wright, from August, 1833, to August, 1839 ; born in East Hampton and graduated fromYalein 1822. He was a man of great vigor, a good scholar and effective teacher. Under his administration the school greatly increased in numbers. He was afterward principal of the Williston Academy, Easthampton.

In 1832 the second academy building was sold for four hundred dollars. The new building was erected on the site of the old. Mr. Elias Carter was the architect. It is of brick, three stories in height. It was one hundred and two feet in length, the centre forty-two feet by forty, and the wings thirty feet square. The east wing has in part been occupied by the principals and their families, and the west as a boarding-house. The upper rooms were for the associate preceptor and students. The building was completed and finished in the winter of 1833, and on the 25th of December was dedicated.

Addresses were made by Rev. George Allen on behalf of the trustees, and Mr. Luther Wright, the principal preceptor. The subject of Mr. Wright's address was "Education." It was published, together with a " Brief Sketch of the History of Leicester Academy," prepared under the direction of the building committee. The cost of the'edifice was ten thousand dollars. Mr. Wright was principal for six years, with Mr. Joseph L. Partridge as assistant, and also Miss Elizabeth Holmes during the last four years. She was the first female teacher of the academy and held the position twelve years. During the period of Mr. Wright's administration the school greatly increased in numbers.

Joseph L. Partridge followed as principal from August, 1839, to November, 1845. In his time the number of pupils reached one hundred and seventyfive, which is believed to be the largest in its history. He was born in Hatfield in 1804 and graduated from Williams in 1828. He has been on the board of trustees for fourteen years, and, residing in Brooklyn, N. Y., is still, at the age of eighty-four, a regular attendant upon its meetings and an active and valuable member.

Josiah Clark, Jr., born in Leicester in 1814 and graduated from Yale in 1823, was principal from January, 1846, to January, 1849, when he became principal of Williston Seminary. The academy at this time held high rank as a fitting-school. " I am sure," says Hon. W. W. Rice of Mr. Clark, in his centennial address, " that he might have been the great master, but Leicester let him go." " He was an accomplished scholar, courteous in manner, but decided in principle, with a clear head, a large heart and a beautiful spirit."

The English department was also conducted with marked ability for ten years, from 1834, by Luther Haven. Burritt A. Smith was principal from July, 1849, to August, 1852.

From August, 1852, to June, 1860, Alvan Hyde Washburn was principal. He was a man of high character, excellent scholarship and refined taste. He afterward became an Episcopal clergyman. He was killed in the fearful railroad accident at Ashtabula, Ohio, December 29, 1876, not a vestige remainiug to mark his identity.

After the large increase of funds in 1852, extensive alterations and improvements were made in the building, at a cost of about forty-two hundred dollars. The main building above the school-rooms was converted into a large and attractive audience-room, and named Smith Hall.

In this hall are hung portraits of benefactors and trustees of the institution. The re-dedication took place October 26, 1853. Hon. Thomas Kinnicutt .'poke for the trustees, and Mr. Washburn, the principal, delivered an address upon "Old and New Methods," which was published.

the requirements of the State law, and other schools of the same nature were mulliplied in the vicinity. As the number of pupils in the academy became reduced, the school was closed at the end of the summer term of 1860, and remained suspended till January, 1862, when it was re-opened, with ten pupils, under William B. Phillips, a graduate of Brown University in 1856. In April the term opened with forty pupils, and H. G. Merriam was engaged as teacher in the English department.

Mr. Phillips left at the end of the year, and John Avery had charge of the school one term. He was born in Conway, and graduated from Amherst in 1861. He was an eminent linguist. Oriental scholar and author, and afterward was professor in Iowa College and Bowdoin College.

Henry G. Merriam, after teaching in the English department a year, was made principal in May, 1863, and resigned June, 1865. He was graduated from Brown University in 1857. In 1862 the boys of the school were organized into a military company, and afterward into a battalion. Mr. Merriam, a thorough disciplinarian and teacher, conducted the school with ability and energy, and under his administration the numbers increased to about one hundred, and all the rooms for students were crowded. It was in the time of the war, and the military training met a popular need. Company, battalion and skirmish drill became important features in the daily exercise of the pupils and prominent attractions in the public examinations. The effect of this training appeared in the erect bearing and grace of the " Leicester Cadets." They were received with favor when they appeared in Worcester on parade and drill. The government, on recommendation of the academy, readily gave commissions to a number of young men, and they went immediately into active service. In 1863 a proposition to make the school a State military academy was taken into consideration ; and on the 2d day of August a State Commission visited the school, and expressed much gratification with the proficiency of the military training. The Hon. Edward Everett was chairman of the commission, and addressed the pupils in his peculiarly felicitous and eloquent manner.

George W. Waite, of the class of 1861 at Amherst, was principal from August, 1865, to April, 1867, and Wm. C. Peckham, class of 1807, Amherst, from June, 1867, to June, 1868. Darius P. Sackett, a graduate of Yale 1866, was principal preceptor from August, 1868, to March, 1871. His administration raised the school to a high rank in discipline, scholarship and general character, not far surpassed in the previous history of theacademy. Heisnowprincipalof theSackett School, in Oakland, Cal. Charles A. Wetmore succeeded him, in March, 1871. He was born in Norwich, N. Y., November 8, 1843, and graduated from Hamilton College in 1869. He was an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher, entirely devoted to his work, although a great sufferer from asthma the last year of his life. In the summer of 1874 he went to Jefferson, N. H., for his health, where he died suddenly July 6th. James 0. Averill, of the class of 1870, at Amherst, was principal one year, from August, 1874, and D. Newton Putney, three years, from August, 1875.

In 1867 the meeting-house of the First Church was purchased and removed to its present position, in the rear of the academy. The upper part was converted into rooms for students and the lower into a gymnasium.

In the summer of 1878 the school was again suspended, in order that the funds might accumulate sufficiently to warrant extensive repairs and better provisions for its work. These improvements were made at a cost of six thousand one hundred dollars. The school-rooms were finished in ash ; the laboratory was reconstructed and fitted for practical use for students in chemistry and zoology ; and a new, convenient and attractive hall was finished in the east wing for cabinets and the department of physics. It is named " Murdock Hall," in honor of Mr. Joseph Murdock, at whose expense the work was done, and who has furnished it with a telescope, sets of globes, charts and other facilities and adornments. He has also refinished the gymuasium.

In 1887 Dr. Pliny Earle presented to the academy his valuable cabinet of shells and minerals, collected in connection with his extensive travels in various parts of the earth. It contains probably over twelve thousand specimens, many of them rare and beautiful. He also provided an appropriate case, and endowed the cabinet with a fund of one thousand dollars.

In 1888 Mr. J. Bradford Sargent, of Leicester, fitted a room in the tower of the gymnasium as a weather station, and furnished it at large expense with a set of meteorological instruments, which for delicacy and beauty are supposed not to be equaled.

In the fall of 1882 the academy was reopened with Mr. Caleb A. Page, a native of Burlington, Me., a graduate of Bowdoin College, in 1870, as principal. He still retains the position. The school is organized in three departments : The classical and scientific four years' courses, and the three years' business course. The number of pupils hin been about eighty. Since the reorganization many members have been prepared for difl'erent colleges, and for normal and technical schools; while others have gone from the business department into eligible mechanical and mercantile situations.

The centennial anniversary of the academy was celebrated September 4, 1884. A large number of the former members of the institution assembled in the morning at the academy building - among them Edmund J. Mills, of Sutton, a pupil in 1803, and theu in the ninety-fifth year of his age. An address of welcome was given by Rev. A. H. Coolidge, the president of the board of trustees. An historical address was given by Hon. W. W. Rice, and a poem by Rev. Thomas Hill, D.D. The company, to the number of seven hundred, then took dinner in a Yale tent on the Common. Rev. A. Huntington Clapp, D.D., presided in a very felicitous manner. Among the addresses were those of Lieutenant-Governor Oliver Ames, A. L. Partridge, Esq., Dr. Thomas Hill, Prof. F. A. March, Judge Asa French, John E. Russell, Esq , Colonel Homer B. Sprague, Rev. M. B. Angler, Rev. A. C. Dennison, Rev. J. L. Jenkins, Judge C. C. Esty, Mr. Wm. B. Earle and Rev. Samuel May. Dr. Pliny Earle read a short original poem, as did also Captain J. Waldo Denny and Rev. A. C. Dennison. The occasion was one of rare interest and pleasure. In the evening there was a delightful reunion in the academy. An association of the Alumni of Leicester Academy was organized, of which Hon. Oliver Ames, now Governor of Massachusetts, was president. The association has since then held an annual reunion at the Leice.ster Hotel, in June.

The academy has numbered among its trustees such men as Hon. Thomas Gill, Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts ; Colonel Rufus Putnam, one of the founders of the North West Territory ; Hon. Levi Lincoln, Attorney-General, United States ; Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty, pastor of the old South Church, Worcester ; Hon. Dvvight Foster, United States Senator; Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D.D., pastor of the Second Congregational Church, Worcester; Hon. Nathaniel Paine, Hon. Aaron Tufts, Hon. Daniel Waldo, Samuel M. Burnside, Esq., Hon. Levi Lincoln, Governor of Massachusetts; Hon. Abijah Bigelow_ Hon. Stephen Salisbury, Hon. Samuel Mixter, Ichabod Washburn, Rev. Seth Sweetser, D.D., Hon. George F. Hoar, United States Senator ; Hon. A. D. Foster^ Rev. Horatio Bardwell, Judge Henry Chapin, Rev. Samuel May, and many other prominent men of Leicester, together with former teachers and pupils of the academy elsewhere mentioned. Many of the teachers of the academy afterward became distinguished in other positions. Among these are Rev. John Pierce, D.D., for fifty-two years pastor of the church in Brookline; Theodore Dehon, D.D., Bishop of South Carolina; Dr. James Jackson, for many years at the head of the medical profession in Boston ; Dr. John Dixwell and Dr. George Shattuck, also eminent physicians in Boston ; Hon. Timothy Fuller, father of Margaret Fuller, Representative in Congress ; Rev. John N. Putnam, the learned Professor of Greek in Dartmouth College ; Prof Francis A. March, of Lafayette College, Pennsylvania; William M. Poole, the eminent librarian, author of "Poole's Index'' and " Index of Periodicals " ; Hon. W. W. Rice, for ten years member of the national House of Representatives.

Only a few of the many pupils of the academy who have become distinguished can be mentioned : Hon. Samuel C. Crafts, Representative and Senator in Congress and Governor of Vermont ; Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton-gin ; Hon. William L. Marcy, Secretary of State, United States; Hon. Wm. Upham, United States Senator from Vermont; Rev. Gardiner Spring, D.D., New York ; Hon. John Davis, United States Senator and Governor of Massachusetts ; Hon. EbenezerLane, Chief Justice of Ohio; Colonel Thomas A-ipinwall, United States consul at London; Hon. David Henshaw, Secretary of the Navy ; Rev. George Allen ; Hon. Charles Allen, Representative in Congress and judge; Dr. Levi Hedge, professor in Harvard College ; Hon. Emery Washburn, Governor of Massachusetts ; Rev. Thomas Hill, D.D., president of Harvard University from 1862-68 ; Hon. Pliny Merrick and Hon. Benjamin F. Thomas, judges of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts ; Rev. A. H. Clapp D.D., Judge Asa D. French, Hon. Oliver Ames, Governor of Massachusetts.

Business

Card Bvsmess - Woolen Manufacture - Boot and Shoe BusincBS - Tanning and Currying Business - Leiceslt^ National and Savings Banlii - Miscel' laneous Industries.

Card Business. - Leicester for many years continued to be a purely agricultural community, the people dependent for a living upon the products of their farms. In the latter part of the last century the industry was introduced which became the distinctive business of the town, and for a long time the principal source of its prosperity and wealth.

Pliny Earle commenced the same business in 1786. In 1789 we find him receiving an order for card clothing from Alray & Brown, of Providence, R. I., and with it a reference to the fact that he had already covered carding machines in Worcester.

Soon after this Samuel Slater came to this country, and the next year, under the auspices of Almy & Brown, began the manufacture of cotton goods by machinery moved by water-power; and Mr. Earle supplied him with the cards by which the cotton was prepared, which was first spun in this way in the United States. Hitherto, cards had been made in "plain" form, but the filleting for Mr. Slater was set diagonally or " twilled." The sheets were of calf-skin. The holes were pricked by hand, with two needles fastened into a handle. The teeth were cut and bent by machinery and set by hand. The statement that one hundred thousand holes were thus pricked probably falls below the fact. About the year 1797 Mr. Earle invented a machine for pricking "twilled" cards, for which, in 1803, he secured a patent. It was based upon a principle previously unrecognized in American card machinery, and was not only involved in all subsequent pricking-machines, but is continued in Mr. Wliittemore's machine for pricking and setting^that wonderful mechanism the credit for inventing which is so largely due to Eleazer Smith, and of which John Randolph, speaking on the extension of its patent, said, " Yes, I would renew it to all eternity, for it is the only machine which has a soul.'' In 1791 Mr. Earle associated with himself his brothers Jonah and Silas, in the firm of Pliny Earle & Brothers. They were probably for some years the largest manufacturers of card-clothing in the country. From their factory at Mulberry Grove, hand-cards were taken by horse-teams even to Charleston, S. C. They manufactured machines for carding both cotton and wool, and also had wool -carding mills in several towns in Worcester County and Rhode Island, for the convenience of the farmers. Pliny Earle died in 1832, and the business was conducted in his name till 1849 by his son, William B. Earle, who had had charge of it from the year 1819. He devoted much of his skill to the improvement of the card-setting machine, and as an expert in that machinery is said to have had no superior. In 1837 he received of the Massachusetts Charitable Society in Boston, a silver medal for one of his machines.

Silas Earle withdrew from the firm and carried on the business independently, at the Marshall house, on Marshall Street, from about 1806 till the time of his death, in 1842. His machines were bought by Timothy K. Earle, who then commenced the business, but soon removed to Worcester.

Woodcock & Knight. - Wiuthrop Earle began the machine-card business in 1812, in a building in the rear of Col. Thomas Denny's factory, which stood east of the Leicester Hotel. He died in 1807, and John Woodcock continued the business in connection with the widow until her marriage to Alpheus Smith, 1808, when Mr. Smith assumed her share. Mr. Woodcock invented the machine for splitting leather to a uniform thickness.

In 1811 the factory was moved west of the hotel, and the next year was enlarged by Mr. Woodcock. In 1812 James Smith joined the company, which took the name of Woodcock & Smith. Mr. Woodcock retired in 1813, and the next year John A. and Rufus Smith took his place, forming the firm of James & John A. Smith & Co. Rufus Smith died in 1818. In 1825, October 18th, John Woodcock, Hiram Knight and Emory Drewry became partners. In 1827 and 1828 they built the Brick Factory. Mr. Drewry left the firm in 1829, and continued to manufacture cards on Pleasant Street, a mile from the village. In 1836 they added to their business the manufacture of card-clothing in Philadelphia, with George W. Morse as a partner, and continued it for about ten years, as the firm of James Smith & Co., while carrying on business in Leicester as Smith, Woodcock & Knight. They removed to the Central Factory, north of the Church, in 1846. In 1848 T. E. Woodcock and Dexter Knight, .sons of the senior members, were admitted to the firm, which took the title of Woodcock, Knight & Co.

In 1867 the fathers disposed of their interests to their sons (T. E. Woodcock, Dexter, George M. and James J. Knight). They dissolved in 1881 and sold the building and machinery to the Card-Clothing Association. The factory was much enlarged and improved in 1866.

Capf. Isaac Sonthr/aie and Col. Henry Sargent, both of them enterprising and public-spirited citizens of .Leicester, began the manufacture of machine-cards in 1810, as the firm of Southgate & Sargent, in Colonel Thos. Denny's house. Col. Sargent withdrew in 1812 and was in the same business till his death in 1829, his I rother (Col. Jos. D.) being with him from 1814 to 1819. Capt. Southgate, in 1826, associated with himself Joshua Lamb, Dwight Bisco, Joseph A. Denny and Jolin Stone, as the firm of Isaac Southgate & Co., manufacturing machine-cards in the building west of the hotel. Mr. Stone died in 1827, Mr. Lamb retired in 1831 and Capt. Southgate in 1843, when the name was changed to Bisco & Denny. In 1828 they built the Central Factory and in 1845 the present factory | of Bisco & Denny. In 1857 Charles A. Denny and j George Bisco joined the firm. Jos. A. Denny died in 1875 and Deacon Bisco in 1882, when John W. Bisco ' joined the firm. In 1857 a branch establishment was opened at Manchester, N. H. _

Colonel Joseph D.Sargent first made hand-cards at ^ his home, on the road from Cherry Valley to Auburn, beyond Denny Hill. After separating from his brother in 1819, he continued to manufacture handcards at the Brick Factory till his death, in 1849, but sold the other part of the business to Lamb & White, in 1836. Silas Jones, Nathan Ainsworth and William Boggs were at different times his partners.

Josiali Q. Lamb and Alonzo l-TAi/emanufactured machine-cards in Sargent's brick factory from 1836 10 1846, when Mr. Lamb retired and Mr.White continued thebusine-s at the same place until his death, in 1850. Christopher C. Denny became associated with Mr. White in 1846, in the firm of White & Denny. In 1868 Mr. Denny disposed of his interest to H. Arthur White, and the firm of White & Son continued business till 1888, when, H. A. White having purchased the interest of the father, the concern was consolidated with the " Decker & Bonitz Card Clothing Company," incorporated under the laws of M.issachusetts, which also carries on an extensive business in Philadelphia. Mr. White assumed the management of the Leicester branch. This corporation purchased the Central Factory, which they enlarged and renovated, and added new buildings for the accommodation of their new power-plant, and the grinding of cards under patents owned by the corporation, and for additional facilities for their increasing business.

The firm of /. & J. BInrdock had its origin in 1840, in that of Southgate & Murdock, composed of Samuel Southgate, Jr., and Joshua Murdock, Jr. Mr. Southgate retired in 1844, and Mr. Murdock continued the business alone until 1848, when his brother Joseph joined him, and the firm-name of J. & J. Murdock was adopted, which is still used. In 1858, John N. Murdock came into the firm. In March, 1883, Joshua died, and, in the following June, Julius O. Murdock was admitted, forming the present company. For the first eight years the business was small. When the present firm was organized the company had only thirteen machines.

In 18-57 they bought the business of Baylies Upham, thus adding twenty machines to their plant that year. Previous to 1864 the motive-power was horses in a circular tread-mill. In that year steam was substituted for the primitive horse-power. At the present time they have one hundred and thirty-seven machines, capable of producing more than one hundred thousand feet of cards yearly, and their machine card business is the largest in town. The business has from the first been carried on at the same site. J. & J. Murdock's factory was enlarged in 1856 by the addition of sixty-six feet, and, in 1866, it was further enlarged by what is now the main building, thirty-five by one hundred and fifty feet. In 1868 a new branch of the business was added, and machinery put in for currying and finishing the leather for cards, eighteen thousand sides yearly being finished and used for this purpose, in addition to a considerable quantity of cloth.

After leaving the firm of James & John A. Smith & Co. in 1830, .lohn A. Smith began the manufacture of card-clothing on the site of the present Wire Mill. In 1844 he was succeeded by the firm of Southgate & Smith, consisting of Samuel Southgate, Jr., and John S. Smith. In 1859 Horace Waite, who had been making hand-cards on the first floor of Waite's factory while Southgate & Smith were using the upper floor, succeeded Mr. Southgate, and the firm became Smith & Waite. Mr. Smith retired in 1867, and the firm of E. C. & L. M. Waite & Co. was organized. Mr. Horace Waite died in 1871, Lucius M. retired in 1874, and the business has since been continued by Edward C. Waite.

Josephus Woodcock, Benjamin Conklin and Austin Conklin, as the firm of Conklin, Woodcock & Co., began the machine-card business on Pleasant Street in 1828 ; dissolved in 1830, when Mr. Woodcock, with his brother Lucius, formed the firm of J. & L. Woodcock. Danforth Kice was with them from 1831 to 1836, and William P. White from 1848 till his death,

'n 1881. Charles H. then took the interest of his father, Josephus Woodcock; Henry Bisco joined the company, and the business was continued in the name of L. Woodcock & Co. until 1888, when it was given up, and the machinery sold to the Card Clothing Association. Mr. Lucius Woodcock died in 1887.

Baylies Upliam manufactured machine-cards from 1825 till 1857, when he sold to J. & J. Murdoch. From 1825 till 1833 Samuel Hurd was in company with him, and from 1849 to 18.55 Irving Sprague.

After leaving Mr. Upham, Mr. Hurd united with James Trask in the manufacture of machine and hand-cards, on the Trask place, on Mount Pleasant, Mr. Trask died in 1848, and Mr. Hurd removed to the rear of White & Denny's factory. In 1862 he sold to L. S. Watson, but continued to make cards till 1866 on commission. William F. Holman manufactured hand-cards from 1867 to 1873.

In 1842 John H. & William Whiltemore began the manufacture of card-clothing in the building west of the Friends' burying-ground, which William Earle was at the same time using for making card-machines. In 1845 they received their brother James. John H. was killed on the Western Railroad in 1851, and the firm assumed the name of W. & J. Whittemore. James died in 1882. William F., his son, joined the company in 1874. After making cards about a year at Mannville, the Whittemores removed to the Centre Village, and occupied, for a few years, the building on Market Street in which is now Wheeler's meatmarket. They then built their factory, which was much enlarged in 1883.

Cheney Hatch, first on Pleasant Street, then on Main Street, made cards from 1823 to 1836, when he sold to Alden Bisco, who soon sold to Henry A. Denny, who, in 1849, took into partnership his sons - Joseph Waldo and William S., - as the firm of Henry A. Denny & Sons. In 1854 they sold to White & Denny.

Henry A. Denny commenced making hand-cards in 1823, with Emory Drury, as the firm of Drury & Denny, on Pleasant Street, about a mile south of Main Street, where Samuel D. Watson had before carried on the same business two or three years. They dissolved, and he continued alone, on the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets. Afterward he w.as associated with Reuben Merriam, until 1836, when he purchased the factory hitherto used by Mr. Hatch.

Cnl. Thomas Denny, with William Earle, made hand-cards on Denny Hill. In 1802 he began the manufacture of cards, hand and machine, on the corner of Main and Market Streets, which he conducted on an extensive scale till his death, in 1814. He had in the same building the post-office and a store.

Alpheus Smith built a brick factory, afterward the house of H. G. Henshaw, where he manufactured card clothing from 1813 to 1823, and was succeeded by his brother Horace.

Reuben Merriam, in the same house, made hand and machine-cards, and built card-machines for many years, from 1821, George W. Morse and Henry A. Denny being at times his partners.

Capt. WUliani Sprague <& Sons were engaged in the same business ; also Brigham Barton, Bernard Upham, Samuel D. Watson, Aaron Morse, Guy S. Newton, Timothy Earle, Samuel Southgate, William H. Scott, Oliver Sylvester and others.

Joseph B. and Edward Sargent began the manufacture of hand cards at the " Brick Factory," May 1, 1854. (ieorge H. Sargent came into the firm January ], 1859, at which time the well-known Sargent Hardware Commission House was established, in New York City. They carried on the hand-card business in Leicester on a large scale, purchasiLg the interest of several other firms. About the year 1868 they removed the business to Worcester, and in 1883 sold to L. S. Watson & Co.

L. S. Watson & Co. are the principal hand-card manufacturers in the country. Like other interests in town, this enterprise has gradually grown from a very small beginning. Lory S. Watson came to Leicester from Spencer in 1842, and in company with Horace Waite bought one-half of Col. Joseph D. Sargent's machinery. Waite & Watson made handcards in the "Brick Factory" till 1845, when the co-partnership was dissolved, each partner taking one-half of the machines. At this lime Mr. Watson had eight card-setting machines, which were distributed in different factories, in which he hired power. The coarse cards were pricked at Mulberry Grove by one of Silas Earle's pricking-machines, and the teeth set by hand. About the year 1861 he bought out Samuel Hurd and George Uphara. In this year he built the present factory, and introduced for power Ericson's hot-air engine. In 1865 he took his son Edwin L. into partnership, under the title of L. S. Watson & Co. The factory was enlarged in 1866, and steam-power was introduced. In 1878 the building was again enlarged, and again in 1885. It is in size one hundred feet by forty feet, and of four stories, and there are also separate store-houses. In 1883 they bought the hand card machinery and stock of Sargent Hardware Co., and for nearly two years carried on a branch establishment in Worcester. At present they have one hundred machines, and manufacture about 14,000 dozen pairs of hand-cards annually. In 1873 the company began the manufacture of wire heddles, which they have continued

The history of Leicester is closely identified with the rise and development of card manufacture in this country. At first the entire process was handwork. The holes were pricked by hand. The machine for pricking was then invented, and for many years the setting of teeth by hand furnished employment for women and children in their homes throughout this whole region. In this way they could, at one time, earn fourteen cents a day. This continued through the first quarter of the century, when the card-pricking and setting machine began to come into general use.

The use of power in the preparation of the leather is of much more recent date. As we have seen, Mr. John Woodcock invented the machine for splitting leather, something like seventy-five years ago, and the preparation of the leather by power has been coming into use within the last twenty-five years. Cloth also is now extensively used.

At first the machines were moved by hand. Dogpower was then introduced, then horse-power. Thirty years ago White & Denny's factory was the only establishment in which steam-power was employed. It is now used in all. Within two years the heavy machines for grinding cards after they are set, has been brought into general use in town. The business now requires larger facilities and capital than were necessary at an earlier period. There has been a change in the number and magnitude of the manufacturing establishments. There are at present only five card-clothing factories in town. Formerly many men made hand-cards on a small scale. Now there is only one firm in town engaged in this branch of the business, and there are only three manufactories of cotton and woolen hand cards in the country. There were made in the year 1887 by all the cardclothing manufacturers in the country 975,742 square feet, valued at $1,219,677. Of these, 216,468 feet were made in Leicester, valued at $270,585.

Woolen Manufacture. - Samuel Watson is entitled to the position of pioneer woolen manufacturer in Leicester. During the War of 1812, or as Washburn states, "previous to 1814 he enlarged his clothier's shop," and began the weaving of woolen cloth upon looms moved by hand. The mill was located on the Auburn road near Main Street, on the privilege used by Richard Southgate for his saw-mill, the second erected in town. Alexander Parkman afterward used it as a fulling-mill, and was followed by Asabel Washburn. According to Washburn's history Mr. Watson leased the mill to James Anderton, who had been bred a woolen manufacturer in Lancashire, England, who disposed of his interest to Thomas Bottomly, " who continued to carry on the business there until 1825." The building was burnt February 11, 1848.

er of Cherry Valley as a manufacturing village. When he came to Leicester there were, as nearly as can be ascertained, only ten houses in what is now the village. Most of the present residences were built in his lifetime, and it was by him that the three brick factories were erected. He was a native of Yorkshire, England. He had worked in the factories as a child, but was afterward a shepherd on the moors, where he earned money with which to come to America. He came to this country in 1819, landing at Philadelphia, where he worked for a short time, and then started on foot for Rochdale, where was James Anderton, whom he had known in England. He found himself without money before the journey was completed, and always remembered with special gratitude the kindness of a family in Connecticut who entertained him over the Sabbath. He worked in Rochdale for a time, and came to Cherry Valley, and built what is now Olney's Mill in 1821, and was running it as late as 1824. The cloth was woven by hand in a building before used as a tannery, where the post-othce now stands.

There was a saw-mill here at an early date owned by Benjamin Studley. About the year 1765 the privilege, with an acre of land, was bought by the " Forge^ Partners," who erected a building for some kind of iron-works. They, however, sold the property, which was called the " Forge Acre," to Matthew Watson, who had there a saw-mill till about the year 1S21, when Thomas Bottomly built on it a woolen-factory of brick. Such is the early history of this site, with a few variations, as given by Governor Washburn and also by Joseph A. Denny, Esq., except that Washburn makes 1820 the date of building the mill, while Mr. Bottomly's son Wright places it 1821.

There have been various transfers of the property since that time. It passed from Thomas Bottomly to the Bottomly Manufacturing Company June 1, 1827, from them back to Thomas Bottomly November 10, 1846, from him to Samuel Bottomly March 10, 1849, from him to George Hodges July 6th of the same year, and December 21st one-half of Mr. Hodges' interest to Benjamin A. Farnum. June 20, 1855, Samuel L. Hodges came into possession of his father's interest, and October 9, 1857, that of Mr. Farnum, making him at this date the sole owner of the property. The factory was partially destroyed by fire September 7, 1864; up to Mr. Hodges' time broadcloths of superior grade were woven here. He introduced the manuficture of flannels. By his energy and public spirit Mr. Hodges did much to build up Cherry Valley.

In 1866, October 9th, the property was conveyed in trust to George H. Gilbert, Jr., George Hodges and Henry C. Weston, and by them to B. A. Farnum, June 7, 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Hodges giving them a quit-claim deed ihe same day. Frank C. Fiske came into possession January 1, 1870. The mill was nearly destroyed by fire June 3, 1874. Albert T. B. Ames purchased it August 1, 1874, and at the same time made a declaration of trust as to one-half of the property, held for George W. Olney, who with him formed the company of George W. Olney & Co. They rebuilt and opened the mill in the au'umn of 1874, and continued to run it till February, 1876. George W. Olney came into entire possession March 22, 1876, and reopened the mill June 14, 1876, since which time he has continued the manufacture of flannels. Two considerable additions have since been made to the main building - one in 1881, and the other in 1885. A storehouse and other buildings and several tenementhouses have also been erected, and the general aspect of that part of the village much improved. The factory contains seven seta of cards, forty-six looms and four thousand two hundred and forty spindles. Mr. Olney is largely interested, also, in manufacturing in Lisbon, Maine.

In 1821 James Anderton began the manufacture of broadcloths and cassimeres in the south part of the town, in a small wooden mill, built about this time, by Thomas Scott, on the site of the present Lower Rochdale Factory. The Leicester Manufacturing Company was soon incorporated, and continued the same business, being afterward united with the Saxon Manufacturing Company, in Franiingham, as the Saxon and Leicester Company. Mr. Joshua Clapp bought the property in 1829 and continued the same line of manufactures till 1840. For two or three years little was done in the mill. It then came into the hands of John Marland, of Andover, who sold it in 1845 to Barnes & Mansur, who added the manufacture of flannels. The building was burned in 1846. The same year Mr. Reuben S. Denny bought out Mr. Mansur's interest, and, with Mr. Barnes, built a brick factory on the same site, which was completed in 1847. Mr. Denny in 1850 bought out Mr. Barnes. This factory was burned in 1851, and rebuilt in 1852. Meantime, about the year 1844, a wooden building had been erected on the site of the present Upper Factory, where the manufacture of carpets was carried on for a year with indifferent success This building Mr. Denny bought while erecting his new factory, and manufactured white flannels. It was burned in 1854, and the present brick building took its place.

In 1856 Ebenezer Dale, representing the firm of Johnson, Sewall & Co., of Boston, came into possession of both factories and a large property, real and personal, connected with them. In the two mills are thirteen sets of machinery. Since 1859, first as the Clappville Mills, then as the Rochdale Mills, they have manufactured flannels and ladies' dress goods, averaging for the last twenty years from one to one and a half million yards. New and improved machinery has within a few years taken the place of the old. E. G. Carlton has for thirty years been the agent and manager, and the reputation of the products of the Rochdale Mills is exceeded by few, if any, manufacturing establishments in the country.

firm of Earle & Mann, began the manufacture of satinets in the building near the corner of Mannville and Earle Streets, at Mannville, in which Earle & Bros, had made card-machines and Amos S. Earle had afterward made hand-cards. Mr. Mann removed from town in 1844. Nathan Daniels became Mr. Earle's partner, and the firm of Earle & Daniels built forty feet of the present mill. Mr. Daniels died and the estate being solvent, it was bought by a syndicate of creditors.

Meantime Mr. Mann had been engaged in the same business in Holden with Albert Marshall. In 1853 Mann & Marshall purchased the property, enlarged the mill and continued the manufacture of satinets twenty-two years. They were heavy losers in the Boston fire in 1875, and were obliged soon after to suspend business. George and Billings Mann were associated with them for about one year. In 1879 George and Billings Mann and John P. Stephen, their brother-in-law, began business. They have enlarged and improved the plant, built cottages for the operative-) and conducted a prosperous business.

Cherry Valley Woolen- Mills. - \n\&Z6T\iOi. Bottomly laid the foundations of the factory now run by the Cherry Valley Woolen-Mills on the privilege early occupied by Nathan Sargent as a grist-mill. In 1837 he began there the manufacture of broad-cloths. He sold to Effingham L. Capron in 1845.

In 1859 the mill was owned by E. D. Thayer and used by Mowry Lapham and James A. Smith, under the firm-name of Lapham & Smith, until )862, when Mr. Smith sold to Mr. Lapham and removed to Rhode Island.

In 1863 the building was destroyed by fire, and the privilege remained vacant till 1865, when George N. and James A. Smith bought it and built a six-set mill for the manufacture of fancy cassimeres. In 1868 George N. Smith sold his share to James A. In 1876 the factory was nearly destroyed by the " Flood." Mr. Smith rebuilt in 1878 and leased to Eli Collier and A. E. Smith. Collier & Smith dissolved in 1879, and A. E. Smith continued the business until 1887, when the mill was leased to the present "Cherry Valley Woolen-Mills" Company. The property was sold to F. T. Blackmer, Esq., of Worcester, in 1881, and is now owned by his heirs. This mill now maiuifactures ladies' dress and skirt goods.

Kettle Brook, which furnishes the water-power for all the factories in Mannville, Lakeside, Cherry Valley, Valley Falls and Jamesville, and which has repeatedly, in time of freshets, been the source of serious apprehension through the valley, was originally only a little stream winding in picturesque beauty through meadows and forests, and leaping down the rocks through narrow defiles. Says one who lived by it " When I wa« a little girl. Kettle Brook was a small stream of water, that I have waded across many times."

Collier's i/t7/. - About the year 1835 L. G. Dickinson built the embankment north of Main Street, and the dam south of the road, where Collier's mill stands. To this place Mr. Dickinson moved his saw-mill, which formerly was located where A. W. Darling & Co.'s mill now is. This mill of Mr. Dickinson was used as a saw-mill until 1844, when it was converted into a satinet factory. The business was carried on by Jonathan Earle. In the same building was the cabinet shop of Silas A. Morse. It was burned to the ground March 24, 1848, but afterwards rebuilt by Mr. Dickinson, of lumber from an old church in Charlton. It was leased to Baker & Bellows October 1, 1848. October 1, 1853, it was leased to Eli Collier. It was burned January 5, 1866, but rebuilt the next summer from the lumber of the Lower Tophet machine-shop and was leased to Collier. April 8, 1881, it was sold to Collier & Butler. September 1, 1888, Butler sold out to Collier. It has been a satinet-mill since it was first changed from a saw mill.

Chapel Mill. - h\ the year 1836 or '37 John Waite bought land of Samuel Waite, built a dam and canal and erected a mill where the Chapel Mill now stands, on Chapel Street, a few rods north of Main Street. Here he made churns. It was afterwards a shuttleshop, it was used later, about 1844, by H. G. Henshaw for drawing wire. It was here that Richard Sugden, whose extensive wire business is one of the important factors in the wealth of Spencer, first drew wire in this country; both he and Mr. Myrick worked for Mr. Henshaw. In 1849 Myrick and Sugden bought the machinery of Mr. Henshaw and formed a partnership under the name of Henshaw, Myrick & Sugden, of Spencer. The partnership was dissolved in 1854.

The Chapel Mill property was afterward owned by N. R. Parkherst, and was sold by him to L. G. Dickinson, October, 1854. It has been occupied by John Q. Adams, who used it for a shoddy-mill, and by Bottomly & Fay, who made satinets there.

James Fay was in business there when it was burned, March 7, 1865. The property was bought by Samuel Chism, of Newton, and he rebuilt from the lumber of the old Baptist Church in Greenville, thus giving to the mill the name of Chapel Mill. It was leased to H. G. Kitredge, who made satinets there for two years, then to George A. Kimball and I. R. Barbour, who occupied it until sold to William N. Pierce, April 18, 1871. It was then leased to James A. Smith & Co., who made satinets there until March 6, 1879. May 5, 1879, it was leased to Collier & Butler for three years and nine months, when A. E. Smith bought the property and used it as a satinet-mill until May 1, 1887. George N. Smith then leased it and made satinets until June 15, 1887, when it was burned. Collier & Butler bought the property, rebuilt the mill and leased it to George N. Smith, who now occupies it.

A. W. Darling & Co. - In 1827 Thomas Buttomly built a dam upon Kettle Brook, on Chapel Street, about half a mile from the corner of Main Street. The pond formed thereby was considered a reservoir for the privileges below until 1S47, when the present Bottomly Mill was erected by Thomas Bottomly. Previous to this, about 1833 or 1834, L. G. Dickenson erected a saw-mill on the same privilege as the present mill. In 1845, Mr. Bottomly opened a brick-yard on this spot, and made the brick of which, in 1847, he began the present Bottomly Mill. About the same year he caused the Waite meadow to be overflowed ; this was the beginning of the Waite resers'oir ; the property afterwards came into the hands of Booth Bottomly.

Booth Bottomly began to manufacture here in 1855 or 1856, and continued until his death in 1868. Other firms who have occupied the mill are R. L. Hawes & Co., George Kimball & Co., for a short time ; E. D. Thayer, for twenty years, Bramley Bottomly being for some years associated with him. After 1870 or 1877 the Hopeville Company used the mill for a few years, then E. D. Thayer, Jr., from 1884 to 1886, when the firm of A. W. Darling & Co. assumed the business. It is a four-set satinet-mill.

The Greenville Woolen- Factory was first built in 1871 by A. W. & J. D. Clark. It was of wood, fifty feet square, and three stories high, with a brick picker-house adjoining. The buildings were rented to Joseph Peel, of Spencer, who began the manufacture of woolen goods in the winter of 1872, and continued until January, 1877; since that time the business has been carried on by J. D. Clark. The mill was enlarged in 1880.

The Lakeside Mami/acttiri?ig Co. - In 1847, D. Waldo Kent put up a saw-mill at Lakeside. In 1853 he built his planing-mill and box-factory. In this building, in 1857, he set up the first circular saw-mill introduced into this part of the State. In 186(; he began the manufacture of shoddy, and, in 1880, of satinets. The present factory was erected in 1883. Since April, 1885, it has been running night and day. The surroundings of the factory have been much improved, and around it has sprung up a neat little village. The business of the Lakeside Manufacturing Company is carried on by P. G. & Daniel Kent. The factory was first lighted by electricity in July, 1887. In 1885 they bought the Jamesville Mills, in Worcester, and, with the two mills, they are said to be the largest manufacturers of satinets in the country.

77(6 Leicester Wire Company had its origin in 1871. At this time Mr. Cyrus D. Howard, an experienced workman, set up machines and began the drawing of wire for cards in the building which had been used by successive firms as a card manufactory, and later as a box shop. Thomas Shaw was afterward associated with him for a short time as the firm of Cyrus D. Howard & Co. David Bemis went into company with Howard in 1876, as the firm of Howard & Bemis. In 1880 J. Bradford Sargent joined the firm, which became Howard, Bemis & Co. Mr. Howard retired in 1884, and the Leicester Wire Company was organized. Harry E. Sargent came into the firm in 1885, and Mr. Bemis retired. Of this firm H. E. Sargent is president, and J. B. Sargent treasurer. The new buildings were erected in 1881, and engine-house and boiler in 1883. The machinery is principally employed in drawing card, reed and stone wire.

The iMkeside Woolen Mills put in a dynamo and lighted their factory by electricity in July, 1887. Since that time dynamos have been placed in the card factories of J. & J. Murdock, and Decker, Bonitz & Co. On December 10, 1887, an electric plant was established at the Leicester Wire Company's works, by which the other card factories are lighted, also the Leicester Hotel, the stores in the centre, and several private houses.

Charles W. Warren began the making of shoe-counters in the house on the southwest corner of Main and Rawson Streets about the year 1852, then moved to the house on the lot between the bank and the postoffice about the year 1854, there manufacturing insoles. The buildings were burnt in 1862. In 1867 he built his house and factory on Pleasant Street. The factory has been several times enlarged, and is devoted to the manufacture of shoe-heels, employing about forty persons.

Boots and Shoes. - The only shoe manufactory in town is that of Horace & Warren Smith, on Mt. Pleasant, begun in 1865. Among those who at different times have carried on the boot and shoe business are Amasa Watson, Delphus Washburn, Baldwin Watson, Cheney Hatch, Wm. F. Holman.

About the year 1849 several gentlemen formed a company for the manufacture of boots, having in mind the increase of business in town. The work was at first carried on in the house on Market Street in which is Wheeler's meat market, where there was horse-power. After a few years it was removed to Main Street, where now stands the house of E. D. Waite. On the 26th of September, 1860, the building was burnt. The company had met with heavy losses in consequence of the failures of that period, and after the fire the business was abandoned.

Leather. - The tanning and currying of leather appears to have been a prominent industry in former times. Elijah Warren had a tannery on the main road, half a mile from the Spencer line, at a very early date. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph. Henry E. Warren afterward owned it, and had also a tan-bouse north of Main Street, near the Spencer line. It was burned in 1S4S. John Lynde, the early settler, also had a tannery in the north part of the town. Jonathan Warren had a tanner)' on Pine Street, two miles from the village, anil was succeeded by his sons Jonathan and Elijah. It was burned in 1825. Lieut. Jonas Stone built a tannery at the foot of Strawberry Hill in 1790, where work was continued by different persons for thirty or forty years, - among them Thaddeus Upham, and E. H. & Georgo Bo wen. Mr. Studley had a tannery in Cherry Valley, where the poat-ofiice now stands. Aniasa Warren and Horace and Baldwin A\'atson were tanners in the west part of the town.

Leander Warren, when a young man, began the currying business near the house of his lather, Joseph Warren. In 1S45 he bought the place south of the Centre School-house, where he carried on the business till his death, in 1802, when he was succeeded by John N. Grout. Since Mr. Grout's time there has been ro currying done in town, except in connection with Murdock's Card Manufactory.

A. Hankeij ct' Co., Manufacturers of Mad tine Knives. - In 1798 Caleb Wall bought land of the Green family and built above the present works of A, Haukey & Co. a blacksmith shop, where he made scythes, carrying on a large business. In 1830 Thomas Wall and Nathan Harkness built on the present site of the " Lower Shop," and carried on the business three or four years, and were followed by Cadsey, Brown & Draper.

In 1848 Hankey, Stiles & Co. purchased the property and remodeled it for the manufacture of machineknives. The firm was Anthony Hankey, Francis Stiles and H. C. Bishop. About 18.31 Mr. Haukey went into the dredging business in Boston, where he had invented a dredging-machine. The business in Greenville was carried on by Stiles & Co. (F. Stiles and F. W. Taylor) until a few years later, when Mr. Hankey returned and managed the business under the lirm-uame of Stiles & Co. This partnership was dissolved July 14, 18(56. and in October of the same year Stiles sold his entire interest to A. Hankey & Co. J. E. Jones was admitted as a partner, but he only remained a short time. The firm was A. Hankey and George A. Corser. In February, 1877, Hankey bought out Corser, and continued the business alone until March, 1881, when J. X. Rogers was admitted to the partnership under the old firm-name of A. Hankey & Co., which continues to this date.

In 1881 a system of improvements was inaugurated. The old buildings were torn down and new and larger ones erected; new water-ways and new machinery were added, and it is to-day the largest and most complete shop in the world for the exclusive manufai'ture of machine-knives. The products of this .shop go to all parts of the world, in many instances direct to Cuba, South America, Spain, Germany and China. In 1887 a branch was started in Philadelphia. It is an interesting fact that the first knives that were u.sed on a planing-machine in this country were forged by hand by Mr. Hankey in Boston, and also that the first dies for cutting out paper collars were made at this shop.

Leicester Natioxal Baxk. - "Leicester Bank" i was chartered as a State bank March 4, 182(5, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, which in 1853 was increased to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and in 1854 to two hundred thousand dollars. John Clapp was made president of the bank April 2(5, 182(5; N. P. Denny, October 4, 1830; Joshua Clapp, October 3, 183(5 ; Waldo Flint, October 2, 1837 ; Joseph A. Denny, October 1, 1838; Cheney Hatch, October 2, 1843 ; Charles A. Denny, December 16, 1878. John A. Smith wiis appointed cashier May 26, . 1826; H. G. Henshaw, October 21, 1826; D. E. ' Merriam, Decemlier 15, 1845 ; George H. Sprague, May 20, 1885. The institution was made a national bank March 21, 1865.

The first bank building was in connection with the old town-house, built in 1826 by the town and the bank. In 1853 the bank was removed to the brick building east of Leicester Hotel. In 1871 the present bank was completed and the business removed to it.

Leicester Savings Baxk. - The Leicester Savings Bank was incorporated April 17, 1869. Cheney Hatch was elected president May 5, 1869, and Lory S. Watson, May 21, 1879. D. E. Merriam was the first treasurer, appointed May 14, 1869, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, George H. Sprague, May 24, 1885. The present amount of deposits is three hundred and ninety-one thousand two hundred and eighty dollars.

Miscellaxeous Ixdustkies. - There have been several hatters. John Whittemore bound books where the Whittemore Card Factory now stands. Hori Brown had a printing-office on the west corner of Main and Mechanic Streets, where he not only did job-work, but printed books; among these was "Scott's Lessons," printed in 1815.

At the foot of the hill, from 1823 to 1853, was the grocery of Evi Chilson, especially prized by students of the academy for the rare quality of its entertainment for the inner man. It is remembered by them after many other things are forgotten.

It would be impossible to mention all the different kinds of business carried on at different times in town, or to give the history of the many stores.

The Civil War

Sirth Massachusetis Ifigliitfnt - ll'or Mcetiiign - Tweiily-ji/lli lieijiiiiettt - Fifteenth, Tweulii-fii-M, Tlnitij-/ouyth, Foity-eecoiid - Action of thi Town - Other Solfliers - Expenditures - Casualtien - Close of the War.

News ol' the attack on Fort Sumter reached Leicester on Saturday, April 13, 18G1, and occasioned the most intense excitement. Then first the people comprehended the fact that the war had begun. Young men at once declared their intention to respond to the first call for soldiers, and men too old for service avowed their readiness to make any sacrifice required for the preservation of the Union. From that day to the cluse of the war the town of Leicester loyally and liberally accepted all the demands of the government upon it for money and for men. The call of President Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers met here the same prompt answer which it received throughout the loyal North.

Leicester had a special interest in the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, the first to march from the State and to receive the baptism of blood. Its commander. Col. Edward F. Jones, was a native of Leicester, as was also Joseph Waldo Denny, lieutenant in the Worcester Light Infantry. They had been pupils together in Leicester Academy. There were other Leicester men in the regiment.

There were sixteen Leicester men in the Third Battalion of Rifles, which left Worcester on the 20th of April. Their names were: Henry H. Bowman, Bramley A. Bottomly, Michael Collins, John P. Crimmins, Jacob H. Gibson, George W. Hatch, John Kirk, Joseph Laverty, Martin Leonard, Randall H. Mann, John McDonald, John Moriarty, J. Dawson Robinson, Emerson Stone, Jesse S. Scott and William B. White. Church Howe and Myron J. Newton enlisted in the Sixth Regiment.

The battalion was stationed at Fort McHenry, and returned on the 2d day of August, and was received with great joy. Several of these men reenlisted, and their records are given in connection with the regiments which they joined. The evening before the departure of the Third Battalion for the seat of war, news of the attack on the Sixth Regiment had been received, and had deepened the agitation. That day the national flag, before seldom seen except on government buildings, and sometimes on the Fourth of July, was thrown to the breeze on the flag-staflf on the Common. The war was the allabsorbing subject of thought, conversation, discourse and prayer on the following day, which was the Sabbath.

town-hall a historic building, and in which the fervent patriotism of the people of Leicester found earnest and eloquent expression, as in the days of the Revolution it had done in the old "First Meeting-House." On the 2i3th forty or fifty of the young men of the town commenced military drill in the town-hall, under the instruction of John M. Studley, of Worcester. A town -meeting was held the 4th of May, and .I^SOO was rased and appropriated, and a committee was authorized to borrow .f.5000 if necessary. A bounty of $10 a month, in addition to government pay, was offered to volunteers, and uniforms, guns and equipments were to be furnished if necessary. The women were equally patriotic and efficient. Their first meeting for work was in the town-hall, May 18th, where, in response to notices from the pulpit the day before, they assembled, to the number of about sixty, and with four or five sewingmachines and many busy hands, made garments for the Third Battalion of Rifles. On the 15th, at ^ o'clock on a pleasant May day, a beautiful flag was raised over the Centre School-house, with music by the band and addresses by the School Committee - Dr. Pliny Earle, Dr. John Murdock and Rev. A. H. Coolidge. Flags were also flying in diflerent parts of the town. Says one, writing at the time, " The war feeling seems to absorb every other thought, and the subject of religion seems secondary to patriotism, which now occupies the mind notonly of the private individual, but the pulpit and the press."

There had not been for a generation such a revulsion of feeling as was occasioned in town by the exaggerated tidings of the disaster of Bull Run. Men turned pale, and abandoning all hope of easy victory, nerved themselves for the long struggle, which was not to be ended until many of our own citizens had laid down their lives for tlieir country.

In the early autumn of ISdl the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment was formed, with a larger number of men from Leicester than any other three years' regiment. In it were many representatives of the families in town, and it was followed in all its eventful and honorable career with the special solicitude and interest of the people.

The national fast, appointed by President Lincoln for September 26th, on account of the perilous and gloomy condition of the country, was a memorable occasion in Leicester. Services were held in the First Church. The attendance was large, and the congregation deeply affected. The recruits for the Twenty-fifth Regiment were to leave for camp that day, and this fact added to the impressiveness of the occasion.

In this regiment were Corp. Augustus Adams, in ten engagements, taken prisoner at Drury's Bluff", died at Florence, S. C; Charles M. Ball, arm broken at Cold Harbor, killed at Petersburg; Corporal James Brady, Edwin Y. Brown, William Carson, David B. Collier, in six engagements; Isaac Creed, in eight engager24 ments, three wounds at Cold Harbor ; Otis Cutting, wounded at Drury's Bluif ; William Eddy, wounded at Petersburg ; William Fernley, taken prisoner at Drury's BluH', died at Andersonville; Owen Finnegan, in several engagements, wounded at Arrowfield Church; Horace L. Fisk; James S. Foster, died at Newbern ; Levander M. Gould, died at Newbern ; James Gehegan, wounded at Arrowfield Church, in ten engagements; John Galooly, died at Charlotte, N. C; David Gotha, in seven engagements ; George W. Gould, killed at Cold Harbor ; Edward R. Graton, wounded at Roanoke Island and died of the wounds. He was saved from instant death by his prayer-book, the ball stopping at the verse,