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There seems something prophetic in the naming of this town. It
must always stand at the head of all alphabetical arrangements of the
towns of Plymouth County, for none that might possibly be incorporated
can so spell themselves as to take precedence. Yet those who gave
it the name could hardly have anticipated that in one hundred and fifty
years the almost wilderness they so designated would be the first town
in the county in population, business and wealth.
Back from the shore and
consequently having no harbors, having no considerable streams and no
great water power because it is the almost level water shed between the
bays on either side, it did not invite the early settlers of the
county. There is nothing romantic or attractive in its scenery,
and the soil though strong and productive is generally rough and
hard. It is not strange therefore that at its incorporation in
1710, the town had probably less than 300 inhabitants, only three times
the number Plymouth had, when, ninety years before, the Pilgrims had
landed. At the first census in 1726, the number had increased only
to 371. At that period
and long afterwards it was for the surrounding country a "lumbering
region." "Saw mills" and "ship timber"
were the business terms. Saw mills were erected in 1698, and the
settlers looked to Hingham, Scituate, Hanover, Duxbury, Plymouth, where
ships were built and commerce and trade prospered, as the old and
wealthy towns upon which they depended for a market and supplies.
The quality and quantity of the timber produced is illustrated by the
fact, remembered by the old people with grateful pride, that the
renowned frigate Constitution, the "Old Ironsides" was built
in great part of Abington white oak. But the time came when the
soil that produced this giant growth of timber must offer in its culture
the principal business, and so agriculture be the dependence of the
town. Very naturally there was at that period much emigration to
regions that seemed better adapted to that pursuit than his hard, rough
soil that demanded so much labor. For
a long period there was consequently very little growth. There had
been some little manufacturing quite early, some rude
"earthenware" "meeting house bells" and "cannon
and shot" for the war of the revolution. "Tacks,"
still an important item in the business of the town, were early made by
hand and a citizen, Mr. Jesse Reed, invented the machine which has given
the business such impulse. There
were other home manufactures on a small scale by the industrious
inhabitants who seem purposed that the town shall always be worthy of
its old Indian name "Manamooskeagin" said to signify
"many beavers." But the introduction of the Boot and
Shoe business after 1820 or 20, and the turning to that manufacture the
enterprise and energy of the people, gave a marked impulse to the
prosperity and growth of Abington. Rapidly passing town after town
in the county it has now nearly reached the point where it could claim
incorporation as a city. Fortunately
or unfortunately there are four distinct centres of its business and
population, and Centre, North South and East Abington have perhaps less
business intercourse with each other than with Boston. These three
other villages are each about two miles distant from the Centre, and the
Old Colony Rail Road, the avenue of trade for the four, opened in 1845,
treating them quite impartially; touches and so fully accommodates
none. The Hanover Branch, to be opened in the Summer or Fall of
'67, will pass through the East village and perhaps give a new impulse
to that already largest section of the town. Perhaps
no town in the State has so large a proportion of children to its
valuation. With as many scholars as some towns that have many fold
its wealth, and divided into so many different villages, it cannot
foolishly attempt to vie with such towns in school buidings, and only by
the most rigid and wise economy maintain good schools, which the people
have always been most earnest to do. Such has always been the
absorbing business activity and energy of the people, that very few of
its young men have ever found their way to College. Their chosen
path to usefulness and eminence has been that of manufacture and trade
rather than literature. The
citizens of Abington have however never fallen behind those of any other
town in appreciating all the great issues of every period of our
history. They were not tories in the war of the revolution, they
were ready to defend their country in that of 1812, they rushed to save
it when lately traitors would destroy. It
is not to the fact that the Boot and Shoe business of the town is now
probably about $4,000,000 annally, the Tack and other branches most
successfully prosecuted, to the general thrift and prosperity of the
town, but to its record on the side of patriotism and right, that those
who would know Abington are pointed. No town lost more by the
breaking out of the rebellion. More than a million of dollars were
at once sunk in debts at the South. The shock was fearful, but
courage did not fail and money and men and goods were raised without
stint for the country. A company from Abington was one of those
that within twenty-four hours after the first call for 75,000 men, were
on their way to Fortress Monroe. More than a full regiment, 1138
from this town enlisted during the war. The town furnished more
than its quota of officers. Two Lieutenant Colonels, Three Majors,
Twelve Captains, Seven 1st Lieutenants, Twelve 2d Lieutenants. The
present condition, the business prospects of the town, will best be
learned from the Directory. Those who desire to know the
particulars of its history are referred to "the History of
Abington" published in 1866, by Benjamin Hobart, Esq., one of its
oldest and most honored citizens. We are indebted to Mr. Hobart's
work for valuable engravings as well as the following facts:-- The
records of the first Church, earlier than 1724, cannot be found.
At that time there were 46 members. The first house of worship
stood in front of the old burying ground. It had neither steeple,
bell or pews. The second edifice was erected in 1751; the third in
1819; and the present house in 1849. The Pastors were Samuel
Brown, 1714-1749; Ezekiel Dodge, 1750-1770; Samuel Niles, 1771-1814;
Holland Weeks, 1815-1820; Samuel Spring, jr., 1822-1826; Wm. Shedd,
1829-1830; Melanethon G. Wheeler, 1831-1833; James W. Ward, 1834-1856;
F. R. Abbe, present pastor, ordained Sep. 3, 1857. The
second Parish was formed in 1807, of inhabitants of South Abington and
East Bridgewater, after strenuous opposition. The house of worship
was dedicated and Rev. Daniel Thomas was ordained in 1808, dismissed in
1842. There were 16 members. Dennis Powers was minister
eight years; Selden Hayes and Alfred Goldsmith, one year each. H.
L. Edwards, present pastor, was installed in 1855. The
Third Church was formed at the house of Samuel Reed, Aug. 27,
1813. Pastors Samuel W. Colburn, 1813-1830; Lucius Alden,
1832-1834; Horace D. Walker ordained in 1844. The
First Baptist Church was constituted Oct. 30, 1822, with 11
members. The settlements have been: Willard Kimball,
1824-1826; David Curtis, 1826-1828; Silas Hall, 1830-1834; W. H.
Dalymple, 1835-1837; E. C. Messenger, 1837-1845; W. F. Stubbert,
1846-1852; Nath'l Colver, D. D., 1852-1853; Horace T. Love, 1853-1854;
F. A. Willard, 1854-1856; J. C. Wightman, 1857-1858; N. Judson Clark,
present pastor, entered upon his labors, Dec. 11, 1860. The
First Society of the New Jerusalem, was organized in 1830, though Rev.
Holland Weeks, pastor of the First Cong'l. Church was the first receiver
of the doctrines, and began to preach them in 1820. In 1838,
Joseph Pettee, was ordained pastor. The
First Universalist Society, dates its first meeting, April 6,
1836. Thompson Barron, was the first pastor, Mr. Hewitt,
1840-1845; Q. H. Howe, 1845-1846; Leander Hussey, 1846-1848; J.
Whittier, 1848-1849; N. Gunnison, 1850-1853; E. S. Foster, 1855-1856; V.
Lincoln, 1857-1860; J. Crehore was settled July 1860.
The Congregational Church,
North Abington, was organized Oct. 3, 1839, with 49 members.
Pastors, Willard Peirce, 1840-1850; Isaac C. White, 1850-1860; Wm.
Leonard and Benj. Dodge.
The Baptist Church in East
Abington, was organized in May, 1854, with 22 members.
Pastors Horace T. Love, Wm. P. Everett, Wm. S. McKensie, Jeremiah
Chaplain, D. D., and Sereno Howe.
The Catholic Church was
organized in 1854, by Rev. Mr. Roddan. In 1856, Rev. Mr. roche,
present incumbent was appointed. This church edifice, capable of
seating more people than any similar building in the County, "was
consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop McFarland, of Hartford, under the
invocation of St. Bridget, Patroness of Ireland."
The Semi-Centennial
Celebration of the town was held June 10th, 1862, at Island Grove, (one
of the most popular resorts for open-air meetings in the State.)
The oration was delivered by Rev. E. Porter Dyer, Fifty soldiers of the
war of 1812, appeared in the procession, together with Bands, Military,
Masonic, Sons of Temperence, and Public School organizations.
Some of the votes passed by
the town years ago, sound very quaint now. In 1716, Voted,
"That every man sixteen years old, and upwards, shall kill 12
black-birds, or pay two shillings to the town charge, more than their
part." In 1737, any person killing a wild-cat was entitled to
20s. in 1775, "That it was an indecent way, that the female
sex do sit in their hats and bonnets, to worship God in his house, and
offensive to many of the good people of this town." In 1793,
all persons who allowed their dogs to go to meeting were fined for
breach of the Sabbath. In 1805, it was voted to divide the town,
but this was soon after re-considered.
Slavery formerly existed in
Abington, Isaac Hobart held several previous to the Revolution.
Rev. Mr. Brown had five. Some of these blacks lived to a great
age.
No fire department or engine
company has ever been organized in Abington, and there have been very
few destructive fires, that of B. Hobart & Son's Tack Factory, was
the most serious. Loss, $60,000. Destructive
tornadoes prevailed in Oct. 1804, and Sept. 1815. Thousands of
fruit and forest trees were blown down, scores of barns and houses were
unroofed, and many lives were lost. Five
natives of Abington became lawyers. 17
Abington men were lost in the Old French war, and in the Revolution,
almost every man capable of bearing arms was in service for a longer or
shorter period. 32
natives of Abington have received a college education, 13 of them
becoming ministers. The
manufacture of earthen-ware was introduced in 1765, by Henry
Benner. Meeting-house bells were cast for a number of years, at
Col. Aaron Hobart's factory. During the Revolutionary war a large
number of cannons were cast here. The
first tack factory was built by Benj. Hobart, in 1820, near the South
Abington depot. The present factory, owned by Dunbar, Hobart &
Whidden, is built of brick, 183 by 48 feet, with L., 334 by 67 feet,
besides adjoining buildings. The
Tack Factory of Henry H. Brigham, located a little east, was erected in
1865. The front building is 58 by 30 feet, with shop 189 by 36
feet, engine house, &c. The
Tack Factory of David B. Gurney, located at the Centre, is 110 by 30
feet. The Shoe
manufactory of J. Lane and Sons, East Abington, is a model building of
its kind, 40 by 80 feet, three stories and basement, heated by
steam. $650,000 worth of shoes manufactured here annually. Leonard
Blanchard's Shoe manufactory is located at the East. In 1865,
$250,000 worth of goods were manufactured. The
Shoe Factory of Joshua L. Nash, at the Center, was formerly known as the
"King House' Over 1200 pairs of shoes can be turned out per
day. $300,000 worth of goods were manufactured in 1865. There
are many other extensive boot and shoe establishments in Abington, among
them those owned by Washington Reed and A. Chamberlain, for making
fur-lined goods.
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