History of Paxton, Massachusetts, USA

Paxton, Massachusetts
Worcester county. Paxton was taken from Leicester and Rutland, in 1765. It is on high ground; its waters descend both to the Connecticut and Merrimack. It lies 50 miles W. from Boston and 7 N.W. from Worcester. Population, 1837, 619. This is a pleasant town, with manufactures of palm-leaf hats, boots, shoes, leather, carriages, &c. The surface of the town is uneven, but the soil is good, and well cultivated by its proprietors.

This little town was taken from parts of Rutland and Leicester, and assumed the rank of a town without any act of the legislature.

The inhabitants chiefly subsist by agriculture, but they also manufacture a large number of boots.

Distance from Worcester, 7 miles ; from Boston, 47.

The principal part of this town originally belonged to Rutland and Leicester, the line between which towns formerly passed a little north of where Paxton meeting house now stands. It was incorporated as a district by an act of the general court, by the name of Paxton, in 1763. The first settlements were made within its limits a few years after the settlement of Rutland and Leicester, which was about 1720. It is certain that before 1745 there were several families in the place, and some considerable improvements made.

Among the early settlers were Josiah Livermore and his brother, Jason Livermore, and Abijah Bernie, from Weston. Near them were also William Thomson and one or two of his sons. The settlement of the town was never interrupted by Indian depredations, or by any other calamity, but gradually progressed till all the land was taken up. It is believed that this town was never constituted such by any direct legislative act; it, however, assumed full town privileges some time...

Paxton, a post-township in Worcester co., Massachusetts. Population, 820.

Paxton, a post-village in the above town ship, 50 miles W. from Boston.

Worcester, Mass., June 11. - A sweeping tornado passed through the towns of Paxton, Holden and West Boyleston this afternoon at 4 1/ 2 o'clock, demolishing every building in its track and tearing up trees by the roots. The first account of it received here was of its appearance in the town of Paxton, where it demolished the barn of L. N. PARKHURST, and blew off one gable of his house. From there it went in a north-easterly direction and blew down the buildings of MR. BIGELOW, on the old town farm. From thence it went through the woods, sweeping all before it, and striking the house and barn of LEWIS MARTIN, in Holden, entirely demolishing both. The village of Holden was next in its destructive march, and here five barns, three houses and one carpenter shop were blown down. Three persons were injured, one, CHARLES BURRETT, seriously. A strip of heavy stone wall, some twenty rods long, was completely blown over, and large trees were blown thirty rods with upward of a ton of earth upon...

Paxton is a small agricultural town lying nearly in the centre of Worcester County. Its nearest railroad station is Worcester, — about seven miles distant. Paxton (centre) is the village and post-office. Rutland is the boundary on the north, Holden on the east, Leicester on the south, and Spencer and Oakham on the west. Worcester adjoins the southeast corner for a short distance. The assessed area is 8,848 acres, including 3,098 acres of forest.

The surface is varied, pleasing and somewhat peculiar. The hills seem but gentle swells of land, and are cultivated to their summits. Asnebumsket Hill, near the southeastern border, reaches an altitude of 1,407 feet. Other prominent landmarks are Fox Hill near the centre, Pine in the northeast corner, and Turkey Hill near the northern border. Near its base on the north is Turkey Hill Pond, which is probably the remotest source of the Chicopee River. On the eastern border is Asnebumsket Pond, which sends out a feeder to the Nashua River. The ...

Paxton, a post-village and township of Worcester co, Mass., 7 miles N.W. of Worcester. It has a church, and manufactures of boots and shoes, Pop. of township, 600.