| History
The town was named for Oxford,
England. The land was purchased from
the Nipmuck Indians in 1681, and first
settled by French Huguenots but later
abandoned because of Indian attacks.
Permanent settlement was made by the English
in 1713. The original land was about
65 square miles and included a large part of
present day Charlton, on fourth of Auburn,
one fifth of Dudley and the northeasterly
portion of Southbridge.
Manufacturing grew
after Samuel Slater opened a spinning mill
in town. The textile industry
continued into the 20th Century, and Oxford
is home to many of the original Slater
Mills. Clara Barton, founder of the
American Red Cross and "Angel of the
Battlefield" during the Civil War, was
born in Oxford and spent her last summers in
the town. Both Clara Barton and Dr.
Elliot P. Joslin, noted in the treatment of
diabetes, are buried in North Cemetery.
Present-day
Oxford is primarily a residential community
with some commercial activity and an
industrial park.
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