USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Andover, Massachusetts : Proceedings at the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 20, 1896 > Part 10
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Let, then, the story of Andover that has been told here to-day be spread broadcast throughout the land. Let it be spread again, we pray, two hundred and fifty years from now, and again a thousand years from now.
THE PRESIDENT: Before announcing the next senti- ment, I will read an extract from an Andover boy of the West Parish, Hon. George O. Shattuck, one of the foremost members of the legal profession at the Boston bar :
" We have a right to be proud that we were born in a town with such a record of courage and sacrifice among its early settlers, and of enterprise and of wise liberality among those of later generations. It is good for us to hold these things in grateful remembrance."
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The President read a telegram from Rev. Dr. William Jewett Tucker, President of Dartmouth College, fourteen years a resident of Andover while Professor of Homiletics in Ando- ver Theological Seminary.
" I greet the Andover of the present and future, as well as the Andover of the past. The Fathers are honored in the Sons. They have kept the birthright of intellectual freedom, and have enlarged the heritage. I congratulate those who are to have part in the greater inheritance."
The president made reference to an excellent letter from Senator Frye, of Maine.
The president also called attention to the fact that the leader of the famous band which gave such fine music is an Andover boy; Mr. J. Thomas Baldwin who first saw light on Salem Street.
THE PRESIDENT : Our Fathers : they builded better than they knew. A North Andover boy, who knows the history of the old town by heart, can speak as no one else can, of one of our ancient worthies, Andover's most illustrious citizen, Simon Bradstreet. I call upon Hollis R. Bailey, Esq., of Boston, for a response.
HOLLIS R. BAILEY, ESQ.
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, fellow citizens, and friends : I have been introduced to you as of Boston. That was a mistake. I am of old Andover, and always hope to be, if not in legal residence, in love and affection and in filial devotion.
I am asked to come here on this occasion as representing the daughter town of North Andover, my native town. And, in speaking on my own behalf and on behalf of the many citizens of North An- dover whom I see before me, I am sure I am right in saying that we have all come with willing feet and joyful hearts to join in this glad anniversary celebration. When I was born in 1852, there was but . one Andover ; and, ladies and gentlemen and friends, there is but one Andover today. North, South, and West, are joined in one under glad influence of this anniversary occasion. A common tradition,
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a common ancestry, makes us one in thought, in feeling, and in broth- erly affection.
I have said we are proud to come here to-day and claim our part in this glorious inheritance of the old town of Andover. We are all proud of that inheritance. We have heard, as the orator of the day has most conspicuously detailed to you, the list of illustrious names. It is not for me to speak of those names, and yet it seems to me proper that I should speak of one or two or three which, on every occasion of this kind in the future, must come to the lips of every speaker. The names of Phillips, of Abbott, of Osgood, of Frye ; when can they be forgotten? To leave them out were to leave out the major part of the history of Andover. And yet they all earned their laurels and gained their reputation long after the day when Simon Bradstreet died, a resident of the North Parish, the man of whom I am on this occasion to say a word.
It seemed to me, when I was called to assume the duty of saying a word on behalf of North Andover, that there was no subject more fitting than that to remind you of Simon Bradstreet, who he was, and what he was, and what he did for the town of Andover. It seemed to me that, born in the house that he built, reared in the house where his noble wife, Anne Bradstreet, the first poetess of America, spent the closing years of her life, brought up in that house made notably famous, and the one relic of the past which has come down to us of all the many relics which are past and gone, the house where the In- dians came and took away in one wintry day the family of Dudley Bradstreet, and carried them on the road to Haverhill, to be released as you have been told in the poem we have heard read in the church.
Now, Simon Bradstreet is entitled to our filial regard for four distinct reasons : first, as founder ; second, as magistrate ; third, as am- bassador ; and, fourth, as governor.
I say, first, as founder ; for John Woodbridge, without the assist- ance and the encouragement of the elder brother-in-law, would hardly have ventured into the wilderness to establish the town of Andover. In 1644 and '45 and '46, it was a bold undertaking to establish, close under the Indian settlement on the banks of the Merrimack, a new town. It was asking a good deal for a delicate woman like Anne Bradstreet to venture into that wilderness ; and when John Woodbridge planned and carried out the settlement of Andover, he was bold and
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courageous in securing the support and encouragement of Simon Bradstreet ; and he was bold in asking his wife to come with him into the wilderness, because he knew that his wife's sister was coming to be a companion and support in that little community. Simon Brad- street, then, and John Woodbridge, as I read the pages of history, were the chicf and principal founders of this old town.
Next, Simon Bradstreet was a distinguished and worthy citizen of this town as a magistrate and judge of the Supreme Court for a period of forty-nine years. He has the reputation of having been an upright and just judge. All through those trying days of religious persecution, persecution of the Quakers and persecution of the so-called witches, Simon Bradstreet was the one who led in that persecution.
Simon Bradstreet is also entitled to our glad recognition and re- membrance as the one citizen in all the colony who in that trying crisis in 1661 was selected out of all the laity of the colony to that delicate and dangerous mission to the court of Charles the Second. You remember the story. The little colony during the fifteen years of the war of the revolution and the government of Cromwell had grown bold in their enjoyment of their self-liberty, and then came the restoration of Charles the Second. The rumor came that their be- loved charter, the foundation of all their rights and privileges, was to be annulled. And then, the General Court selected two of its most able citizens to go to the court of Charles the Second and represent them. And a citizen of Andover, the chief citizen of Andover, Simon Bradstreet, was one of those ambassadors. In February, 1662, leaving the simplicity, the plainness, almost barrenness of that new settle- ment here in the town of Andover, Simon Bradstreet started on that stormy voyage on a wintry sea for the court of Charles the Second, that most luxurious of the Stuart kings. What a contrast it must have been between now and then ! And yet, Simon Bradstreet, that citizen of Andover, was faithful to the trust that was reposed in him, and was as successful as could have been expected. He obtained a further renewal or extension of the charter, and put off for twenty- five years the evil day, which at last came with the closing days of his life.
In one other respect Simon Bradstreet is entitled to our grateful recognition. He was the one governor, as I recall the history of the town, that the town has thus far had. When we meet, as the orator
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of the day suggested we should meet, fifty years hence, it is very possible that the town of Andover will have had two or three governors, but up to the present time Simon Bradstreet is the one representative that we have thus far had in the gubernatorial chair. I am sure of this, that there will come no crisis in the history of the Common- wealth that will be greater, that will require more skill and prudence and fidelity of its chief magistrate than did those troubled years in the latter part of the seventeenth century, when Bradstreet was called to the helm as a man of prudence, a man of integrity, as a man who might be safely called upon to conduct the little colony, as it then was, through those dangerous days.
On this occasion, there is no time to make an analysis or a careful study of the character of Simon Bradstreet. The historian sets down that he was a man of prudence, a man of integrity, and a man of piety. I would add to that that, as it seems to me, he was a man of courage. In the year 1643, he stood out as a citizen of Ipswich against the conduct of Governor John Winthrop, and of his own father-in-law, Thomas Dudley. In those same years, as commissioner of the united colonies of New England, by his prudence and firmness and courage, he prevented a disastrous war with the Dutch settlement. In almost the final year of his life, in that troubled time when Andros was de- posed, and the provisional government was set up, Bradstreet, above the age of ninety, was called to the helm. It required no small degree of personal courage to take that position, for the reason that no one knew whether the Stuart king or his successor would, at the coming of the next ship from England, send his commissioners to bring back the heads of the men who had been so bold as to take up that position on behalf of the colonies.
Now, ladies and gentlemen and friends, I desire, on behalf of the citizens of North Andover, to thank the authorities of Andover, to thank all others at Andover, for their courtesy extended to us of the daughter town. I say the daughter town, because we recognize the fact that on other occasions than this there may be rivalry - always a generous rivalry - but on this occasion, I repeat, we are all one.
Now, let me say in closing, we shall always, fifty years hence, and two hundred and fifty years hence, I am sure, be glad to come and unite with the mother town as members of one household in any celebration which holds up and sustains the honor of old Andover.
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THIE PRESIDENT : We are fortunate in having with us the owner of one of the best farms in Massachusetts; a man bearing an old Andover name in the days of 1775, and a neighbor in our own County of Essex,-Capt. Francis H. Appleton of Peabody, whom I will ask to respond to the sentiment, The Progress of Modern Agriculture : Practice co- operating with Science makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before.
CAPT. FRANCIS H. APPLETON
It is both a privilege and a pleasure to be called on to speak in this interesting and historic town upon an occasion like this, where I vividly remember passing a number of summer months in my child- hood's days, upon the shores of your beautiful Cochickewick Lake near the old mill. I feel grateful to have, as your guest, been permit- ted to listen this morning to so interesting an oration and so delightful a poem, both so admirably presented.
Descended from Ipswich stock on one side, and from Salem Vil- lage stock on the other, I am glad to come up from Southern Essex to try and speak a few words to you under the toast advanced by your presiding officer.
The people of Massachusetts and good old Essex County are universally interested in agriculture, and when prayers were recently offered up in the churches for rain, I am sure that all others joined in a like supplication for that which is of prime necessity in all branches of agriculture. That prayer was then universal among our people.
Soon after the termination of the Revolutionary war, Gen. Wash- ington, Col. Timothy Pickering and others joined in an effort to pro- mote the cause of agriculture in the new nation. This encouraged the forming of societies, and establishment of newspaper columns in the interest of better agriculture. State societies were organized from 1785-1792, in South Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as in Massachusetts.
Among those in Massachusetts who made early efforts to advance our agriculture, were: Samuel Adams, "the father of the Revolu- tion ;" John Amory, Jr., then Secretary of State; Charles Bulfinch, well known in connection with the capitol at Washington and our state house ; Stephen Higginson, a Salem-born man; Samuel Holten of Danvers; John Lowell (1743-1802), who sent his son John to
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Phillips Academy in the first year of the academy, 1778, with Josiah Quincy and John Phillips ; and Azro Orne of Marblehead.
It is interesting to note that both the Lowells, father and son, were presidents of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agricul- ture which Samuel Adams and the others established in 1792.
The members of that old society joined in forming county socie- ties later, and in 1818 Col. Pickering and others organized the Essex Agricultural Society for our County at Topsfield. Dr. Treadwell later gave his farm to that society, undoubtedly feeling that the cattle show would later need a fixed abode at this geographical centre.
The early efforts of our patriotic citizens, of all callings in the work of life, to advance agriculture has so continued. But of later years the needs and conditions have greatly changed.
The Department of Agriculture at Washington has been estab- lished with its many scientific branches, and includes the very valuable Experimental Station Bureau. Then the national government has appropriated large sums of money for use in the several states and territories for agricultural experiment station work and agricultural college advancement. Other agricultural departments of learning exist, as, for example, at Harvard's Bussey Institution, and Arnold Arboretum, and veterinary school.
Surely, science is offering opportunities for the practical mind to receive, and apply to agricultural needs, much profitable knowledge. It only remains for our people to see that the best means are provided so that those who need it shall be able to readily obtain it so that it shall redound to the State.
There is no reason why two blades of grass should not grow where one grew before, on land that is worth cultivating. Undoubtedly much land which is cleared to-day would be more profitable if covered with trees, because too poor for tillage.
It is, however, truly discouraging to see the sweeping destruction caused by carelessness, if by no worse motive, or lack of motive, of so much of our wood lands. You of Andover saw it yesterday and the day before, while we in Peabody and Lynnfield were fighting the damaging and dangerous flames at the same time.
Is not carelessness even criminal, that may result in destroying, by forest fire, valuable and beautiful wood lands, and too often wiping off the face of the earth all an individual householder's belongings that
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he calls his home ? I feel that it is clearly so, and that the most strin- gent laws are needed in this direction. We are behind some other States in this, where we should lead.
Agriculture is a business, as is the occupation of the merchant ; and the agriculturalists and other business men must continue to walk and work together for their own and the country's good. They must promote, and apply the results of intelligent study, especially when the government appropriates much money for a like purpose. The tax-payer has reason to object if the use of those payments is not to good purpose.
Massachusetts agriculture must advance by the application of advanced science. We boast of our educational institutions in this State, as you of Andover can well do. Let us see that the product is applied to the State's good in agriculture as in all other branches of activity in this world's affairs.
Under the statutes, every citizen is eligible to membership in our county agricultural societies. I believe that the membership in such societies must be the medium of bringing better agriculture from the teachings of our National Department of Agriculture and our State experiment stations, to those who are entrusted with our country's acreage.
I thank you for your kind attention to my few words.
The next toast was The Sons of Andover in the Christian Ministry, but Rev. Dr. E. Winchester Donald who was to respond was unable to be present.
THE PRESIDENT: After the plough, the church, and the schoolhouse, come the mill, the factory, and the machine shop, I give you The Industrial Interests of Andover. The Industrial Arts will receive the greatest impulse if honor is given to those who carry great enterprises to an assured success. Who is better qualified to respond to this senti- ment than the man whom both Andovers-North and South -delight to honor, their foremost manufacturer, and late representative in Congress,-the Hon. Moses T. Stevens ?
HON. MOSES T. STEVENS
Mr. President : We have heard from the orator of the day, and from the speeches that have been made here, a good deal about the
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olden times. We have gone back a good ways. The president has asked me to respond to the manufacturing interests of the town, and I cannot go back as far as others do, but the men to whom I refer are men whom I have personally known, and you all know that I am a young man yet.
After a few brief opening remarks Mr. Stevens continued :
The textile and mechanical manufacturers of the early days of our country, dwelt in nearly every house. While the mothers and daughters were occupied in carding, spinning and weaving the woolen and linen goods for the clothing of the families, for which we see the primitive tools in yonder hall, fathers and sons were engaged in cul- tivating the lands, nearly every one of them having some kind of a mechanical trade which they carried on for themselves, and in supply- ing the wants of the country, which gave them great self-reliance, and carried out the spirit of freedom which had much to do with their coming to this new country, as well as led to their success.
Early in the settlement of the country, mills for grinding corn and manufacturing lumber had been established at points on Cochich- ewick brook in the north parish, and on the Shawsheen river in the south parish.
Between 1800 and 1810, James Schofield and Abraham Marland came from England where they had learned the woolen business, and both commenced to manufacture woolen goods in the north parish. Mr. Schofield remained there, and Mr. Marland went to the south parish. Mr. Marland continued to manufacture woolen goods in the south parish and experimented somewhat in cotton, but became one of the largest woolen manufacturers of the times, and founded the village which now bears his name. In 1828, he appeared before the Com- mittee on Manufactures of the House of Representatives at Washing- ton, and testified that in 1825 he worked up 34,000 lbs. of wool, in 1826, 34,000 lbs., and in 1827, 50,000 lbs. of wool in a year.
I will leave our former townsman, Mr. Whitman of the Arlington mills, and our present townsman, Mr. Wood of the Washington mills, to figure on the number of minutes that quantity of wool would supply their vast establishments, to show how great has been the in- crease from these small beginnings.
In answer to a question why he came to America, in 1815, Mr. Marland answered that " he might have elbow room for his children."
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The same spirit induced Ezekiel Osgood in 1764, with a family of twelve children to emigrate from Andover to Blue Hill in Maine, giving as a reason that "he wanted to go where his children would have no stint of land."
After Mr. Marland had established the business in the village which bears his name, his eldest son, John Marland, inheriting the spirit of enterprise from his father, went to Ballardvale and founded the present Ballardvale company. For a time he took a hand in the cotton business, his attention was also given to the worsted business ; he was the first man to introduce the worsted business into this country, but did not continue it, as the times were not ripe for reaping the rich harvest which has been the means of building the great worsted mills of this country. He built the large shop which has been used for various purposes.
John Marland had been educated as a flannel manufacturer, and made that his chief business. His monument stands there today, in a business for which he laid the foundation and which was continued by those who were early associated with him, then coming to a descend- ant of one of the original proprietors, Capt. Bradlee, who while living, gave his whole life to the care of that business, and who will be known to future generations by the praises of those who are today employees of the mills for his liberality and attention to their wants and by those who are in the future to receive untold benefits from the disposition of his great fortune.
With the increase of population, there had been a corresponding increased demand for woolen goods and other men, natives of Andover and the neighboring towns, were induced to embark in the new enter- prise of manufacturing. The war of 1812 had made prices very high, and called much attention to those interests.
In 1813, Nathaniel Stevens built a mill on Cochichewick brook, on the site where Mr. Bradstreet built the first grist mill, in North Andover, and giving his whole attention to manufacturing, with the aid of James Schofield, was soon able to carry it on successfully, and laid the foundation of the present Stevens mills, which are now run by his successors.
In 1826, William Sutton of Danvers, and in 1828, George Hodges of Salem, came to the north parish and started small mills which under
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their care and active attention, have grown to the present proportions, and are now run by the successors of William Sutton.
Among the early men to engage in this business were Abiel and Paschall Abbott, from whom Abbott Village derives its name and Daniel Saunders, who was instrumental in starting the neighboring city of Lawrence, was also at one time engaged in the manufacture of wool in the north parish. The enterprise of all these men has made Andover one of the largest woolen manufacturing towns in the state.
About 1820, there came from Scotland another who is remembered by many of the present generation, John Smith, a true mechanic, who was alive to all the interests of his fellow men, regardless of race, religion or color. No better friend of the colored man ever lived. His first venture was to establish a machine shop in which machinery was built for the cotton mills that were rapidly increasing in the country. From the first start he was successful. In a little book called the " Rich Men of Massachusetts," published fifty years ago, the estimated amount of his property is stated with these comments : "Native of Scotland, came to this country about forty years ago a poor man, first a machinist at Waltham, and afterwards went into busi- ness at Andover. When he had made a fortune here, he sent for his friends from Europe, for whom he had made ample provision. A man of great industry, who looks after his own business. Benevolent in the extreme."
Among the "friends from Europe for whom he made ample pro- vision," were his brother Peter Smith and John Dove. These men induced him to engage in the linen business which resulted in the extensive linen works in Abbott Village now run by their successors, which have been so great a benefit to the town. The Smiths and Dove endeared themselves to the town by their great liberality and public spirit, contributing largely of their means to the Seminary, which has such a wide reputation and is such an honor to the town, as well as to every object of interest.
The success of John Smith led others of strong character to engage in mechanical works. About 1830, George L. Davis learned his trade as machinist in a small shop in the Marland Village. Later he became the leading man in a machine shop in North Andover, which grew to large proportions, but not larger than the man himself, who by his undivided attention to business made it a great success,
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which to-day is known through the land for its mechanical devices.
In later years other industries have been started to remain per- manently in Andover, and given the town a wide reputation. H. G. Tyer founded a rubber business in 1856, which he firmly established and his descendants are now following with great success.
Andover has also produced mechanics who have made their mark. Many mills throughout the country and the dam across the Merrimack river at Lawrence, are monuments to the skill and energy of Capt. Phineas Stevens, and many of the structures in town, firm as the rocks on which they stand, attest to the mechanical engineering of Jacob Chickering, who was succeeded by George L. Abbott and W. S. Jen- kins, men well known to the present generation and under whose direction, the leading firm of builders in town today were brought up.
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