I am
indebted to his daughter, Miss Morton, for the statement that her
father received from Mr. Ripley a check in payment of the Community
debt to him. Calling her to his side and showing it to her, he said,
"There, Hannah, there is an honest man!"
After the institution was incorporated the debts and responsibilities
were shared by the incorporators and stock holders.
It has often been stated that it was the influence of Rev. William
Ellery Channing that started the West Roxbury Community. His nephew,
William Henry Channing, alluding to this in a letter to Rev. J. H..
Noyes, author of the "History of American Socialisms," contradicts the
statement as follows:--
"Of course my uncle deeply sympathized with his younger friend's heroic
effort, and wished all success to the movement, but he did not
encourage it, so far as I can understand, for in his judgment he
distrusted the prudence of the enterprise," etc. "But it was George
Ripley, aided by his noble wife Sophia--it was George Ripley, and
Ripley alone, who truly originated Brook Farm; and his should be the
honor through all time. And a very high honor it will be sooner or
later."
The head farmer, with his wife and family, who were so early in the
experiment, spent many years in the quiet town of Concord,
Massachusetts.
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