USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > Centennial memorial of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts > Part 9
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1875. Sea serpent alleged to have been seen off Egg Rock, in August.
1875.
The General Convention of Universalists in the United States commenced a session here Oct. 20 ; weather good and attendance large ; Christian courtesy extended by people of all denominations, in the entertainment of del- egates.
1875. Great depression in business affairs ; many tradesmen and merchants fail, and real estate almost unsalable even at greatly reduced prices.
1875. Unusual number of " tramps," that is, homeless wanderers from place to place, appear in Lynn, and receive tempo- rary relief.
1876. The great World's Exposition, at Philadelphia, opens May 10. A number of our business men place articles of their manufacture on exhibition, and on the whole the city makes a good show. A large number of men, women and children from Lynn attend the exhibition during the six months it remains open.
Albertype, Forbes Co.
CITY HALL, LYNN, MASS.
1867.
PART II.
PORTRAITS OF MAYORS,
WITH BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
WHEN the twelve living individuals coming within the category above indicated were informed of the desire of the committee of the City Council, having in charge the publication of the present volume, to have the Portraits of all the Mayors appear, with brief Biographical No- tices, a little diffidence was manifested by some as to being made thus to figure ; but the propriety of the thing was so apparent that irresolution was overcome, and the necessary material furnished.
It will be readily understood that the true purpose was not to give histories of the lives and characters of the individuals ; but simply to present such facts as would indicate the principal features of their personal history, and show their general usefulness in the community by whom they were honored. Under such a view, it will be seen that the propriety of the enlogistic style would be questionable. Indiscriminate laudation would cer- tainly be unwarrantable. Simple facts form the basis on which a proper judgment must rest ; and, withont such a basis, praise is a mere phantom. As the lawyer says
[139]
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HISTORICAL SKETCHI.
to the witness, " Give us the facts and we will draw in- ferences and form conclusions." The sketches are mostly of men now among us, and an attempt to give an unde- served glossing would border on the ridiculous.
There is no great difference in the length of the Bio- graphical Sketches ; but no one would base his estimate of worthiness on the mere length of the notice ; espe- cially when informed that in more than one instance the parties almost demanded that nothing should be said be- yond what the plan absolutely required ; and in one instance, particularly, where pages of peculiar in- terest might have been written, there was an carnest request that not more than one page should be occupied. It was of course the desire of the Committee that suffi- cient space should be allowed for a satisfactory notice of each individual. But it was necessary to fix some limit ; and the limit concluded on was four pages, that seeming to afford quite as much space as could in any case be de- sired. This was not done under the apprehension that if four pages were not sufficient no number would be, nor on the ground that every life could be reduced to one exact pattern, but in the honest desire to have an impartial allotment of the limited space.
It would, perhaps, have been better to have had all the Notices prepared by one person, the proper data being furnished to him ; in that case, an uniformity would have been preserved, which is necessarily lost where different pens are employed. But on the other hand a disturb- ance of such uniformity might, by admitting variety, in-
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sure a more spicy flavor. Under these circumstances, no one will be inclined to draw comparisons ; for herc, most certainly, they would be odious. The writer of the Ilistorical Sketch has cheerfully contributed a con- sidlerable number ; and in them endeavored fairly to pre- sent the most illustrative points.
Perhaps no further remarks are needed on the intro- duction of the Portraits ; yet it may be well to add that they are taken from photographs, and all seem to be re- markably faithful pictures. Some do not represent the Mayors while in office ; but none were taken at times varying much from the official periods. And where shall we look for a more dignified array ? In other parts of this volume will be found statements showing the precise time cach one occupied the executive chair ; for the pe- riods of service varied considerably ; changes sometimes occurring from the desire of the incumbent to withdraw ; sometimes from division on sectional questions, and some- times, perhaps, through popular caprice. But it is com- forting to consider that mere political sentiment has sel- dom had much influence. The measures, even the most prominent, of cach administration, could not, of course, be dwelt upon in a work of this kind ; nor is it neces- sary, for the public records and reports are open to all who are curious in such matters.
That Lynn has, on the whole, been quite fortunate in the selection of her chief magistrates, no one will prob- ably question. They have been faithful and sincerely desirous of promoting the public interest. And every
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
one, without doubt, were the question asked this very hour, would find numbers who would pronounce him the best of all ; a fact which would certainly indicate a grat- ifying average.
Lynn has not a very long list of Mayors to present, for she did not become a city till 1850, but she has enough to form the worthy beginning of a line which, we trust, will extend to far-off generations ; and our prayer is that, as greater interests develop with increasing popula- tion, she may never fail to find among her sons those as faithful, able and patriotic, as thesc. In closing these introductory remarks it should be added that the name of another worthy citizen would have appeared in the line had he not positively declined to accept the office of Mayor after having been elected, in 1854 -the Hon. Thomas B. Newhall.
Forbes co .
George Monde
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
GEORGE HOOD.
GEORGE HOOD, the first Mayor of the city of Lynn, was a native of the town of Lynn, having been born here on the 10th of November, 1806. The Hood family is among the earliest mentioned in the annals of Lynn, being descended from Richard Hood, who emigrated from Essex county, in England, about 1640, and settled at Lynn. Dying in 1695, he left three sons, Richard, John and Nathaniel. Richard, the eldest of these, falling heir to the " Nahant road " property-some thirty acres-now bounded in part by Nahant street, afterwards exchanged it with Jabez Breed for certain land on the peninsula of Nahant, and went thither to live ; and there his descend- ants have ever since resided. This Richard had a son Abner, who had a son Abner, who married Mary Richard- son, and they were the parents of the subject of this sketch. While he was an infant the family removed to Nahant, and there, in the little village school, he received all his youthful intellectual training. He learned the trade which nearly all the boys of Lynn followed, that of shoe- making, and at the age of twenty-two, in company with John C. Abbott, he went to the then far West to seek his fortune. They directed their course to St. Louis, Missouri, at that time, in 1829, a small place. In a few ยท days they were established in business, and within a month Mr. Hood, with a part of their stock, went down to Natchez, in Mississippi, and commeneed a branch es- tablishment, which he continued to manage till 1835;
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the principal business remaining meanwhile at St. Louis. In the last named year he returned to Lynn, and estab- lished a commission shoe and leather business in Boston, retaining, however, an interest in the western business till 1841. In his Boston business he continued till the time of his decease.
Not long after his return to the East, Mr. IFood became active in the political field. He was a very prominent member of the old Democratic party ; fought manfully for its interests, and his valuable services were acknowl- edged by his nomination, and frequently by his election, to various high positions. In addition to town offices, he was several times chosen a Representative to the General Court ; and in that of 1843 was a Senator. In the gubernatorial campaign of 1846 he was the Demo- cratic candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor ; but that party did not prevail, nor in fact hope to, the Whig party at that time and for many years dominating the state. In 1852 Mr. Hood was nominated by his party for a seat in the National House of Representatives, but was not elected ; the Whig candidate, as was then usual in this congressional district, being chosen. In the next year, 1853, Mr. Hood was a member of the convention for revising the Constitution of Massachusetts.
Continuing meanwhile his mercantile business, which he prosecuted with vigor and success, he took a very active part in the establishment of the Shoe and Leather Fire and Marine Insurance Company, of Boston, in 1853, and was chosen its first president ; which office he con- tinued to hold till his resignation in September, 1858. Mr. Hood's activity was not confined to business and po- litical affairs ; but the great social questions of the day found in him an earnest inquirer and a practical worker.
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GEORGE HOOD.
Ile manifested a generous sympathy for the laboring classes, and was one of the foremost in breaking up the old custom of indefinitely protracted labor, and estab- lishing the so-called ten-hour system ; his favorite motto being -" the greatest good of the greatest number." In the general improvement and culture of the people he took a lively and practical interest. In religious matters he was, during his mature years, a prominent and efficient member of the Unitarian denomination, and a constant attendant upon its public worship.
The crowning public work of Mr. Hood was that of his two years' mayoralty. IIe had been opposed to the adoption of the city form of government, and in the spring of 1849 had successfully led the opposition to the acceptance of the charter granted by the Legislature of that year. His ground of objection was that a city gov- ernment was less democratic-using that word in its broadest sense - than that of a town. But the agitation was continued ; and in April, 1850, another charter was granted, which on April 19th was accepted by the people. Despite his opposition to the system he was chosen Mayor - though by a small majority of about twenty, over his opponent, Thomas Bowler, the veteran Town Clerk of the preceding twenty years. In his first inaugural he characteristically and gracefully said :
" Before proceeding to the business immediately before us, it seems to be appropriate to the occasion to revert briefly to our venerable system of town government, of which we have taken leave forever, and to pay a passing tribute to the memory of the conscientious men who, in the midst of toil, privation and peril, founded, cherished and transmitted it to us as a rich inheritance. According to Lewis's History, 'the first white men known to have been inhabitants of Lynn were Edmund Ingalls and his brother Francis Ingalls,' who came here in the year 1629. The next year
19
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
came Allen Breed, Thomas Newhall, George Burrill, Edward Baker, John Ramsdell and Richard Johnson. In 1635, Henry Collins. In 1640, Andrew Mansfield, Richard Hood, Edward Ireson and IIenry Rhodes- all of whom have representatives in this City Council, and perhaps others of whose history I have not been informed. . Our town government has accomplished its mission ; its successful operation for more than two centuries has proved the capacity of man for self-government; it has proved that the safest repository for power is in the hands of the people. During this long period we hear of no abuse of power by them, nor of those to whom they entrusted the care of the town govern- ment. They taxed themselves liberally for all necessary objects of public improvement. The church and the school-house grew up together, both significant monuments of advancing civilization."
He was re-elected in March, 1851, by a large major- ity ; which fact was an undeniable tribute to his fidelity and ability.
Mr. Hood was a man of much more than ordinary in- telligence, and of indomitable industry. Both in his public and his personal affairs he was a logical thinker and a prompt and practical worker. He died on the 29th of June, 1859, and his body is interred in his family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Hood married Hermione, a daughter of Major Aaron Breed - a prominent citizen of Lynn, who for a number of years was a member of the General Court - on September 11, 1833, and she still survives. They had thirteen children : Harriet M., George A., Adelaide M., Edwin E., Edwin, Julius S., Henrietta A., Henry, Caroline P., Aubrey, Ada H., Edward K., and Mary.
B.f. Madge.
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MUDGE.
MR. MUDGE, the second Mayor of Lynn, was in- augurated June 16, 1852. He was born in Orrington, Me., Ang. 11, 1817, was a son of James Mudge, and Ruth, his wife, and a descendant, by his paternal grand- mother, from one of the Ingalls brothers, the first known white settlers of Lynn. His parents removed from Lyn to Orrington in 1805, and returned in 1818. Here he attended the common school till fourteen years of age, and then was put to shoemaking, which trade he followed for six years, the last two of which were spent in the manufactory of Joseph M. Nye, as a cutter. In 1837 he entered the grammar school under the charge of John Batchelder ; and afterward fitted for college at the oll Lynn Academy, under Jacob Batchelder. While fitting for college he taught a school in Topsfield, and afterward taught a year in the Seventh Ward of Lynn.
Mr. Mudge graduated at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, with the 1840 class, and soon after returned to Lynn and entered the office of Jeremiah C. Stickney as a law student. By diligent study he in two years qualified himself to enter the bar on examination ; and immediately after entering com- menced practice in Lynn, continuing till 1859. By his ability, tact and genial manners he soon secured a good practice and many fast friends. But he appears to have had too strong a love for scientific pursuits to yield that
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
resolute and constant devotion to the dry tomes of law which perfect success in the profession demands, and in the year last named went westward, and soon accepted the office of chemist for the Breckenridge Coal and Oil Company, in Kentucky. On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he removed to Kansas, where, in 1863, he received the appointment of State Geologist-geology and mathematics having ever been his favorite studies. In 1865 he was elected Professor of " Geology and As- sociated Sciences," in the State Agricultural College, at Manhattan. In that position he remained some eight years, and presented to the institution his rare and valu- able cabinet, including collections of more than thirty years.
Since 1874 Mr. Mudge has been employed in explor- ing the geological formations of western Kansas ; and has had marked success in the discovery of rare and unique forms of vertebrate fossils. The first specimen of birds with teeth, described by Professor Marsh, Am. Jour. of Science, vol. iv., page 34, was found by him. He also furnished many of the original specimens for the engravings in late government publications ; and has been employed by Dr. F. N. Hayden, United States Ge- ologist, in describing the tertiary and cretaccous periods in Kansas, for the Geological Survey of Territories.
During the last three years more than half of his time has been spent in camp life, beyond the settlements, with from two to four assistants. The ground covered by his researches is often traversed by hostile Indians, and on three occasions, coming on them suddenly, a fight seemed inevitable. At one time, when alone, he encountered seven Arrapahoes ; but in all cases has had the good fortune to escape without exchanging shots. He con-
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
tinues to pursue his scientific studies with great diligence and increasing interest ; ever stimulated by the new won- ders developed by his field work. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Sci- ence, and of other scientific bodies, and was instrumental in founding the Kansas Academy of Sciences, of which institution he was the first president. The writer of this sketch is informed that this very year the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction was tendered him, but scientific field work had stronger charms.
It is pleasant to find our old fellow-townsman thus prosperous, and to perceive that by our loss others have so gained ; and perhaps nothing more surely indicates the esteem in which he is held than the frequent enco- miums of the press. " We have no more valuable or reputable a citizen in the commonwealth," remarks a late Kansas publication. " Ilis private character is without a stain, and his professional zeal undoubted. ... Probably more students have passed through his class room to a higher grade of scientific scholarship than through that of any other professor in Kansas. . . . Pro- fessor Mudge has visited almost every part of our state, and has contributed much to its development by his sug- gestions in regard to its salt and coal mines." Another observes, " Professor Mudge has done a great work for Kansas in determining the original condition of this sec- tion of the country. His researches have been extensive and have resulted in great acquisitions to the scientific learning of the day."
The Lawrence " Western Home Journal" thus notices a recent lecture of his : " Prof. Mudge's lecture on the Geology of Kansas,' at University hall, last evening, was well attended, and gave the greatest satisfaction to
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
lovers of that science. His treatment of the subject was masterly in its every detail, and even to those un- acquainted with the study of geology was very interest- ing. Persons visiting the hall last evening came away not only highly entertained, but greatly edified."
Mr. Mudge, while among us, took an active interest in public affairs, and was a ready and influential speaker. In educational matters, in reform movements, particu- larly temperance, he was not found lagging. On the 16th of September, 1846, he married Miss Mary E. A. Bickford, an accomplished young lady then residing in Lynn, though of Baltimore parentage, and they have been blessed by the following named children, those not living being marked by a star : Melville R., Josiah B., Eusebia B., *Frank Peabody, *Twins.
-
& Co. Baker
151
MAYORS OF LYNN.
DANIEL COLLINS BAKER.
MR. BAKER, the third Mayor of Lynn, was inaugu- rated April 4, 1853. He was a native of the town, born on the 14th of October, 1816, and was a son of Elisha Baker, a prominent member of the Society of Friends.
The education of the subject of this sketch was com- menced in a common school of the town, and completed at the Friends' Boarding School in Providence, R. I., which he left before he was thirteen years of age, after a pupilage of about a year and a half.
His first employment, like that of so many others of Lynn's most enterprising sons, was shoemaking. He did not, however, long occupy the operative's seat, but soon commeneed manufacturing, in a small way, on his own account. He was not one, however, who could be con- tented in the day of small things, unless it promised to be a very short day. Step by step he progressed, and while still a young man was in the shoe and leather bu- siness, in Boston, a member of the firm of F. S. New- hall and Company. Subsequently he was again in Lynn, doing a large manufacturing business in connection with his brother Ezra.
He was made a director of the Exchange Bank of Boston, on its establishment, in 1847 ; and when the Howard Banking Company, of Boston, went into opera- tion, was chosen its president.
Mr. Baker was engaged in several other enterprises, financial and otherwise, perhaps with the usual success
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
of the bold, sometimes rash, operator. HIe was to some extent, though not so deeply as his brother Ezra and some others, interested in the great Nahant Hotel estab- lishment. That was an edifice which will be remem- bered by many of our citizens with much interest. It was constructed of wood, with the exception of the small part built in 1819, which was of stone ; was in some parts five and others four stories in height ; was some- thing more than four hundred feet in length, and con- tained three hundred rooms. It was sufficient for the accommodation of a thousand visitors at a time, six hun- dred of whom could be seated together in the dining hall ; magnetic wires connected it with Boston ; and it had every appliance of a first-class public house. But it does not appear to have ever been successful in any other way than drawing on the purses of the proprietors, though well filled with a good class of guests during the short watering season on the peninsula. It was destroyed by fire on the night of Sept. 12, 1861; and the confla- gration made a striking display as seen from Lynn and adjacent places.
For some years Mr. Baker was an active politician, and frequently in office. In 1849 and '50 he was a State Senator. At the organization of the first city govern- ment he was chosen President of the Common Council, and did excellent service in regulating the new mu- nicipal machinery. As a presiding officer he stood high, disposing of business with more than common fa- cility, and demeaning himself with great courtesy. As a citizen he was ever ready to bear his part of the pub- lic burden ; and not unfrequently, at inconvenience and cost to himself, served those whose interests were in dan- ger. As an instance, it is remembered that at one time,
DANIEL C. BAKER. 153
when there was some difficulty about the fishing bounties, he went to Washington and succeeded in arranging mat- ters, so far as the fishermen of Swampscott were con- cerned, in the most satisfactory manner. On his return, those hardy toilers of the sea, ascertaining what he had accomplished, and how deeply they were indebted to him, requested him to freely state what compensation he de- sired, at the same time intimating that they were dis- posed to be really generous. " Well," he said, "as to the matter of compensation, I never thought much about it ; but if you will make one of your very best chow- ders, anil invite me down to partake with you, we will call it square." The chowder was made ; and a jolly time they had in disposing of it. Bat they did some- thing more-christened one of their pet jiggers with his name.
IIc was somewhat inclined to display, and joined heartily in public entertainments and political demon- strations ; was liberal in sentiment, free in expenditure, and had a kind heart. Ilis suavity of manners and gen- eral intelligence made him ever companionable and wel- come. And his cordial greetings, and readiness to assist others who like himself were struggling in adverse tides, will long be remembered to his credit. HIe manifested no disposition, when on a height, to remove the ladder by which he had ascended, that others might not follow. And in his management of affairs, while Mayor, he seems to have furnished the rare example of one more prudent and careful of the public than of his own personal interest.
In 1859 he went to New Orleans, and was there in a successful business on the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. His prospects were then destroyed for the
20
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time, and he came back to Lynn, reduced in means, and in a measure disheartened. The next year he returned to New Orleans, in the hope of saving something from his war-scattered fortunes, but was not very successful ; and there he died on the 19th of July, 1863.
Mr. Baker built the fine residence on Franklin street, opposite Laighton, the same now owned and occupied by HIon. Samuel M. Bubier, Mayor elect for 1877, and re- sided there for a number of years. He was united in marriage with Augusta A., daughter of John B. Chase, on the 19th of December, 1838, the ceremony taking place according to the custom of the Friends, and had three children - one son and two daughters.
J. P. Richardson
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MAYORS OF LYNN.
THOMAS PAGE RICHARDSON.
MR. RICHARDSON is the son of Benj. Richardson, and was born at the homestead on North Common street, July 27, 1816. He attended the public schools of Lynn until fourteen years old, and then learned the shoe- maker's trade. At the age of twenty he spent one year in the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham.
He began business as a shoe manufacturer in 1840, in company with Harrison Newhall, his carly and life-long friend. January, 1843, he commenced upon his own ac- count. May 19, 1841, he was married to Harriet Tap- ley - a happy union, blessed with four children, Charles Chamberlain, Mary Eliza, Philip Preston and Harriet Page, the second of whom alone, it is sad to say, now survives. In business Mr. R. has ever been distinguished by industry, prudence and energy. He always aimed to manufacture a superior quality of goods, and build up his reputation on a substantial basis, dealing frankly and justly by all parties with whom he had relations in trade. Success has crowned his efforts, giving him excellent credit, and the means of comfort, generous hospitality and benevolent activity.
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