ulation, in Decades-English Descent-Irish and French-

Elegant Residences-Neat Irish Homes-Town Hall-Pecu-

niary Reverses-Self Developed Wealth-Valuation in 1877.

CHAPTER IV.

THE TOWN AS CONNECTED WITH NATIONAL AND STATE AFFAIRS

-SHAYS' REBELLION.

PAGE.

. 56

Baneful Effects of the Revolutionary War-Depreciated Currency

-Letter of John Adams, Concerning Prices Current-Wag-

gish Advertisement-Numerous Suits at Law-Numerous Pe-

titions for Abatement of Taxes-Popular Estimation of Gov-

ernment Responsibility-Spirit of Discontent Everywhere Rife

-County Conventions to Consider Grievances-Spirit of Man-

hood-Regulators-Captain Shattuck-Convention at Paxton

-Instructions to Capt. Samuel Kelton-Petition to Governor

Bowdoin Shays' Rebellion-History of the Insurrection in

Massachusetts, by William L. Smith, Esq.-Embargo of 1807,

Causes Of-Inconvenience to the People of Gardner-Petition

to the President of the United States, in Consequence of the

Embargo.

CHAPTER V.

ROADS.

72

Early Mode of Travel-Gibbons' Account of Roman Roads-Ma-

caulay's Account of Roads in England, in the 17th Century-

Roads in the Early Colonies, in 1634 and Following-Early

Roads of this Town-Petition to lay County Road Through

the Centre of the Town-Roads Laid Out in 1786-Petition of

Seth Heywood-Petition of the Town Concerning Road over

Kendall Hill-Opening of Different Roads and Streets-Nam-

ing of Different Roads and Streets-Turnpike-Condition of

Roads in Switzerland.
. . 108

CHAPTER VI.

RAILROADS.

Inconvenience of Travel, at the Beginning of the Present Century,
and for Many Years Subsequent-Journey of Elkanah Watson
in 1777-Ezra Lunt's Advertisement-Semi-Weekly Stage be-
tween Boston and New York-Imperfect Condition of the
Postal System-Letters to the Army, 1778-Gradual Disap-
pearance of Postal Inconveniences-First Railroad in the United
States-Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, When Incor-
porated-Hon. Alvah Crocker, His Attempts to Prevent this
Road's Running through Gardner-How Thwarted-Repeated
Legislation-Final Location-Boston, Barre and Gardner Rail-

road-Original Charter, When Granted-Repeatedly Located

-When Built to Gardner-Opposition to its Extension to Win-

chendon-Excited Town Meetings-Final Triumph in the Leg-

islature When Completed to Winchendon-Running of the

First Train to Winchendon.

CHAPTER VII.

INDUSTRIES.

Remarks Concerning the Importance of Steady Toil-Proverbs Con-

cerning Labor-Remark of Sidney Smith-Agriculture-Prod-

ucts Of, in Gardner-Cooperage-Chair Manufacturing-An-

cient Furniture among the Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks and

Romans-Furniture used by the Colonists, Imported-Enor-

mous Manufacture of Cane Seated Chairs-Commencement of

Chair Making in Gardner-Simplicity of Machinery used at

First-Origin of the Different Chair Firms-Names of Present

Chair Firms-Annual Amount of Business, etc.-Mode of

Manufacturing Chairs-Different Machines Used-Automatic

Channeling Machine Described-Crimping Press-Spline and

Embossing Press-Mode of Inserting the Woven Seat-Cane

Department of Heywood Bros. & Co.-Cane, How Prepared

Rattan Chairs-Foundry, Where Located-Amount of Busi-

ness Done-Tubs and Pails-Manufacture of Lumber-Doll

Toy Carriages, Chamber Sets, etc.-Eave Troughs-Furni-

ture Dealers-Spring Beds-Tin Ware--Hardware-Brick-

Grist Mill-Marble Works-Wheelwrights-Blacksmiths-

Painters - Harness Makers-Carpenters-Masons-Jewellers

-Civil Engineers-Surveyors of Land-Photographers-En-

gravers of Wood and Metals-Floriculture-Dealers in Coal

and Lumber-Dry Goods and Groceries-Meat Markets-

Dry Goods-Millinery-Fancy Goods-Clothing Stores-Mer-

chant Tailors-Dealers in Boots and Shoes-Drugs and Medi-

cines-First National Bank-Savings Bank-Post Offices-

Printing The Gardner News

CHAPTER VIII.

PAGE.

135

. . 159

Governors-Representatives--Town Officers-Justices of the Peace

etc..

CHAPTER IX.

CARE OF THE POOR.

. . 200

A Dictate of IIumanity-Instances from the Bible-Mendicants

Divided into Two Classes, the Settled Poor and the Vagrants

-How Treated in the Reign of Henry VIII. and Previously—

Act for the Suppression of Vagrancy in 1531-Severe Punish-

ment of "Sturdy Mendicants"-Treatment of the Poor in the

Early Colonies-Legislation of Plymouth and Massachusetts

Colonies, Concerning Vagrancy-Instance of Warning Recent

Settlers out of Town, by the Selectmen of Gardner-Improved

Condition of Workingmen in England-Instances of their Mode

of Living-Vagrancy Fostered by Indiscriminate Almsgiving-

Remarks of Mr. Lambert, Poor Law Inspector, in England—

Early Method of Caring for the Poor, in this Town-Vendu-

ing Them to the Lowest Bidder, at the Annual Town Meeting

-Purchase of Work House, in 1849-Rules and Regulations

for the Government of the Work House-Size of the Town

Farm-Cost of Supporting the Poor, Annually, Since 1860–

Names of Masters of the Work House.

CHAPTER X.

VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

PAGE.

. 218

Military Gardner Light Infantry-Gardner Grays-G. D. Far-

ragut Post No. 116, G. A. R.-Hope Lodge-Odd Fellows-

Hibernians-Fire Department-Cataract No. 1-Constitution

and By-Laws-Prizes -Torrent No. 2-Constitution and By-

Laws-Prizes-Special Rules and Regulations of the Fire De-

partment-Rules for Fire Alarms-Firemen's Muster, in Gard-

ner, September 5th, 1877-Driving Park-Rifle Club-Steam-

boat Company-Sovereigns of Industry-Musical Associations

-Bands-Worcester North Musical Association-Constitution

-Young Men's Christian Association-Temperance Organiza-

tions-Temperance Legislation in the Plymouth and Massachu-

setts Colonies-Formation of the First Temperance Organiza-

tion, in 1808-Gardner Temperance Society, When Formed,

Constitution-Washington Total Abstinence Society, Constitu-

tion, By-Laws-Gardner Temperance Society, When Reformed

-Seizure of Liquors, Account of, in Boston Times-Sous of

Temperance Philokalia Lodge-Reform Club Women's

Christian. Temperance Unions-Temperance League - The

Murphy Movement - Repeated Efforts to Expel the Liquor

Traffic-Present Licenses.

- -

CHAPTER XI.

CEMETERIES.

Derivation of the Word Cemetery-Custom of Burying the Dead

Among Ancients-Town Burying Yard-Vote to Purchase

Land of Seth Heywood in 1785—Additional Purchase in 1806

-Deed for the Same-Hearses-South Gardner Green Bow-

er Cemetery-By-Laws-Crystal Lake Cemetery-Rules and

Regulations.

CHAPTER XII.

INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS.

Pearson Cowee-Levi Heywood-Gardner A. Watkins-Description

244

288

of the Splicing Machine-Power Loom, for Weaving Chair

Seats, etc.-Samuel L. Fitts-Frank F. Parker--George W.

Parker-Quotation from Lord Bacon, Concerning Inventions

and Inventors.

CHAPTER XIII.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Quotation from Prof. Read of Philadelphia-Once a Small Public

Library at the Centre-The Absence of a Public Library a

Serious Defect--South Gardner Social Library Association--

Legacy of Abijah M. Severy--The Severy Will-Contents of

this Library-Number of Shares.

CHAPTER XIV.

MEMORABLE EVENTS.

Fires and Injuries by Lightning, etc.-Casualties-Small Pox--
Suicide--Murders-List of Persons who have Died in this
Town Over Eighty Years of Age.

CHAPTER XV.

GENEALOGY OF THE EARLY FAMILIES OF GARDner.

The names of the families, in this chapter, are arranged alphabeti-
cally, for the convenience of the reader, so that they need not

-be repeated, under this heading.

CHAPTER XVI.

BIOGRAPHIC.

Resident Physicians--Physicians Formerly Resident Here-Den-

tists--Attorneys and Counsellors at Law--Graduates--Men of

Note--Names of Young Men now Pursuing a Course of Ed-

ucation, in Different Colleges and Schools.

CHAPTER XVII.

MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Names of Revolutionary Soldiers--Gardner in the War for the

Union--Causes of Our Civil War--General Excitement in

Gardner, on Receiving news from Fort Sumpter--Seventy-five

Thousand Volunteers Called For--Gardner's First Town Meet-

ing, to Provide Volunteers-Subsequent Votes--Number of

Enlistments-Tables Showing the Name, Age at the Time of

Enlistment, etc., of Every Man who Entered the Service-

Cost of the War, to the Town in Money-Names of those

who were Killed or Died in the Service.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SCHOOLS.

Origin of the Common School System-Public Schools in the

PAGE.

299

315

320

329

394

416

Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies--Schools the Outgrowth

of the College--Remark of Pres. J. H. Seelye of Amherst

College--First Division of the Town into Districts--Vote to

Squadron out the Town--When School Houses were First

Built in Town---How they were Located--Brief Terms of

Schooling-Small Pay of School Teachers-Choosing a Com-

mittee of Four to Inspect Schools, at the Opening and Close of

Each Term, in 1807--Second Districting of the Town, in 1818

---First Money Received from the State, for the Benefit of

Schools, in 1808-Abolishment of the District System and In-

auguration of Graded Schools, in 1869-Appraisal of School

Property-High School--Failure to Establish One, in 1856

but Established in 1866---Where Located---Voted to Build a

New High School House, in 1872-Report of the Committee

Chosen to Procure a Site and to Estimate the Cost-Architect

--When the High School Building was Completed-When

First Occupied-Description of the Building and Grounds--

Names of Teachers--Course of Study-Names of School Com-

mittee, and Annual Appropriation, from the Incorporation of

the Town, to the Present Date.

CHAPTER XIX.

CHURCHES AND THEIR PASTORS.

PAGE.

. . 440

Events Preceding Establishment of Church and Ministry of this
Town-Remarks of D'Aubigne Concerning the Study of Great
Things in Small---His Remarks Concerning Calvin as the
Father of American Liberty, Civil and Religious-Martyrs of
the Sixteenth Century-Formation of a Church of Separatists
at Scrooby-Sailing of the Mayflower from South Hampton-
Plantation Religious-Worldly Gain not the Eud of the Peo-
ple of New England, but Religion--Language of Increase
Mather Concerning the Pilgrims-Of Hubbard-Judgment of
Bancroft-Humanity's Rights Recovered in the Cabin of the
Mayflower-Reasons for Union of Church and State in the
Colonies-Strong Colonial Government Necessary---The Con-
gregational the Established Church-Every Man Obliged to
Contribute to Its Support-Subsequently Modified-Voluntary
System Adopted in 1833-Gospel Preaching Required by Law
-Character of New England Ministry-Rev. Jonathan May-
hew, Author of "Committee of Correspondence"--First Parish
and Church Till 1867-Early Action of the Town in Building
Their First Meeting-house-Voted to Build-Condition of Sale
of Timber and Stuff-Schedule-Digging the Trench and Pro-
viding Underpinning-Nails Bought with Butter-The Raising
-The Sale of Pews-Finishing the Inside of the Meeting-
house--Color of the Meeting-house-Repairs of the Meeting-