Subject: Abel Whitney, Lancaster, Mass. School-Master.H Source: History of Lancaster, Mass. by Rev. Abijah P. Marvin. Published by the Town - Lancaster, Mass., 1879. p.523 Lancaster Academy was founded in 1815. It seems from the following statement of the venerable Rev. C. C. Beaman of Boston, (a descendant of Gamaliel Beaman, that there was a school there several years before, which was called "the academy." Perhaps this was a preliminary school in order to see if an academical institution could obtain support. ABEL WHITNEY. One of the earliest masters was Abel Whitney of whom Mr. Beaman gives pleasant reminiscences. "Mr. Abel Whitney taught in the building called the Academy, located in the center of the town, about 1811, while spending a season with my grandfather, Joseph Beaman. "Very pleasant memories come back to me from that school. I had previously spent a summer term at the school house No. 6, taught by Mr. James D. Farnsworth, quite a young man and still a college student. He became a Congregational minister. "The school of Mr. Abel Whitney was of a larger pretentsions in its size and fitting up, and had a greater number of scholars, and more advanced studies. It embraced students from all parts of Lancaster, and contained pupils of advanced age and of both sexes, to the exclusion of younger ones. I remember the his first entrance to the school. He was a tall man with dignified step and self-possession, had a resolute aspect, he entered and walked up to the teacher's desk. All eyes were intently fixed upon him. He spoke pleasantly and mentioned his purpose of dividing the school into classes as soon as he could learn the capabilities of his scholars. Among the students I call to mind were the three sons of Dr. Thayer, John Eliot Thayer, Nathaniel & Christopher Thayer and a daughter of Dr. Thayer; two daughters of Mr. Robert Townsend, one of whom a young lady generally loved for her amiability and personal attraction whom Mr. Whitney afterward married; Henry Lane, a son of Deacon Lane, Warren Townsend, the son of Robert Townsend and the families of Wyman, Stearns, Whitney, Torrey, Stedman and Phelpts, who were represented by their sons and daughters. "I have been a member of Lawson Lyon's Academy, Boston, Mass., where my father lived, and Abel Whitney had heard of the school and asked me many questions about it. He kept good order in the school and the appreciation of the students was of a commendable character. Master Abel Whitney p.524 I never met with Master Whitney after leaving his school, but for some time heard of him as a noted teacher. Abel Whitney said in 1825, "few institutions of the kind have probably ever done more good. Many have already taught there, who but for its establishment would have been much less favored in their opportu- nities for learning." p.758-759 Passing over to Lane's Crossing, we are at the lower end of "Phelp's Street" as the Harvard road was sometimes called, because several families of that name lived on the road from the corner to the top of Ponakin Hill. The Lanes - Deacon Jonas Lane and his son, Capt. Anthony Lane (Nos. 25 and 31) gave an importance to the locality during two generations. They were both men of enterprise and influence in Lancaster in parish and church affairs. Across the railroad at No. 30 Phelp's Street the house of Emery White, we find one of the oldest buildings in town, though the date of its erection cannot be fixed. It has the appearance of great age, and Mr. White remembers a woman who was very aged, when he was a boy, who said that it was an old house when she was a girl. Eighty or ninety years ago it was occupied by Robert Townsend, a shrewd but eccentric man, of whom many anecdotes were told. p.759 He had a brick-yard, and built the Lancaster House. He was Deputy Sheriff at one time and held other employments. One of his interesting daughters became the wife of Mr. Abel Whitney, the schoolmaster, so kindly mentioned on a former page, by Reverend Mr. Beaman. He was the father of the Honorable Giles H. Whitney of Winchendon. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth Subject: The Honorable Giles Whitney. Source: History of the Town of Winchendon, Worcester Co., Mass. by Abijah Marvin. p.399 Dec. 1, 1864, Mrs. Lucy Whitney, aged nearly 83 years died in the morning before rising. She was the stepmother of the Honorable Giles Whitney, a gentlewoman with ancient courtesy, whom everyone loved. On the 18th of November 1867, Mrs. Harriet W. Pierce, daughter of the late Amasa Whitney, died suddenly of apoplexy. p.422 Lawyers in Practice at Winchendon. Among others, Giles2 Whitney, Esq. p.427 History of Winchendon. The Hon. William B. Washburn, son of Asa & Phebe (Whitney) Washburn, a graduate of Yale College, class of 1844. He has been in Orange & Greenfield, where he now resides. He is President of the Greenfield Bank and a Representative of the Ninth District in Congress. Emerson C. Whitney took his degree at New Haven in 1851. He was a man of fine promise but died at the age of 29 years, before entering on his profession. Many high hopes were buried in his too early grave. At present, Charles L. B. Whitney is a sophomore at Harvard University. p.428 Capt. Phinehas Whitney. Hon. W. W. Rice of Worcester, Mass., is connected with Winchendon by ancestry and residence though this is not his birth-place. He is a grandson of Captain Phinehas Whitney. He is a graduate of Gorham Academy and of Bowdoin College. He settled in Worcestor as a lawyer and has a large practice. He has been Mayor of the city and for a time, Judge of Probate. p.431 The Town of Winchendon, Mass. CAPT. PHINEHAS WHITNEY Captain Phinehas Whitney, son of William Whitney, was the most prominent busi- ness man in the town of Winchendon, form about 1800 to his death in 1831. Besides a large farm, he kept a tavern for awhile, owned a oil mill and woolen factory and did a large business in raising and keeping cattle and horses. Though esteemed by his townsmen, he was rarely in office because of his engrossing business led him to decline public employment. He was the first to enlist to put down Shays' rebels, being then a youth of twenty years. Afterwards he was Captain of the Cavalry Company of this and neighboring towns. He was an indefatigable worker and kept all about him at work; yet he was a good employer, and those brought up by him, remember him with respect and gratitude. At the time of the great religious awakening in 1820-1821, he paid the wages of his workmen whenever they were inclined to attend p.432 HISTORY OF wINCHENDON. the week-day meetings. From that period, through life, he was a decided and a devoted Christian. He was active as a pioneer in the Temperance reform. He died at Newton, while on a journey to Boston with his youngest daughter. But though summoned away while far from home, he was already, as is the good man is always, to go "be forever with the Lord." p.434 Ephraim Murdock, Esq., Isaac Morse, Esq., and Mr. Amasa Whitney, are placed on the list of worthies of this town because they really laid the foundations of the growth & prosperity of this village. By their industry, frugality, foresight, and enterprise, the business of this town was largely increased. p.441 WINCHENDON HORSES. The people of Winchendon have long been noted for liking good horses. Perhaps the fact that Messrs. Whitney (William Whitney & Phinehas Whitney) raised, bought and kept so many horses, had some influence in creating this preference for good animals. However this may be, the writer (Abijah Marvin) found here, 25 years ago, a large number of excellent horses; and the number has largely increased since that time. Many farmers are particular to have a good horse; the team-horses are large and strong; and many families have spirited and elegant teams. Fast horses are sometimes associated with "fast young men," but thus far, we have been favored with the former without the drawback of the latter. In addition it is pertinent to the subject to say, that the stables of Whitcomb and Fairbanks, Wood & Rand, and the more recent stable of J. Morse, are well supplied with horses which keep up the credit of this town in this regard. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour