USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Everett > Everett souvenir. 1870-1893 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
22
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
tition the legislature for leave to assess and collect their own district taxes. This movement developed into an ef- fort to have South Malden set off and incorporated as the town of " Win- throp," and a petition for this purpose headed by Jonathan Oakes was pre- sented to the General Court Feb. 2, 1848, by Mr. Bowker, of Boston, and referred to the Committee on Towns, which, on April 13, 1848, reported "leave to withdraw," and the matter was referred to the next General Court, April 17, 1848. At the next session, on Jan. 11, 1849. the petition was tak- en from the files of the previous year, and referred to the Committee on Towns, which again reported leave to withdraw, March 19, 1849, which re- port was accepted March 29. At the following session redoubled efforts
The valuation of the Southwest Dis- trict was, real estate, $255,658; per- sonal, $70,321 ; South District real es- tate. $102,843 ; personal $18, 145 ; total, $446,967, without including estates of non-residents.
The estimated number of polls in the proposed town of Winthrop was 305 ; number of inhabitants was 1169. The whole amount of property was stated to be $711,233.
The proposed town of Winthrop was at that time much the richest part of Malden, the average valuation to each poll being $2332 as compared with $1618 in the centre $1477 in the East and $1088 in the North District now Melrose. The separation was more bitterly opposed on this account.
The parent town of Malden, attacked on the north by the petition to incor-
RN & CROSS - doSTON -
The Van Voorhis Mansion,
Situated on what was once known as "Beacham Point."
were made for separation, and numer- ous petitions were presented from South Malden. beginning with one headed by James HI. Dix. presented by Mr. Brewster, of Boston, Jan. 16, 1850. Other petitions followed, headed re- spectively by Miss Joanna T. Oliver, Solomon Corey, and Willard Sears.
From a statement entered in the rec- ord book of the Southwest District under date of Feb. 1. 1850, the follow- : ing interesting facts appear in regard to Malden and the proposed new town: The whole town grant for schools for 910 scholars was $3000, of which the Southwest District with 147 children received $495.35, and the South District with 77 children receiv- ed $259.49, and both with 224 chil- dren, $754.84.
porate Melrose, and on the south by the petition to incorporate Winthrop, yielded to the wishes of the former in order to secure its co-operation in op- posing the separation of the wealthier section. Thus Melrose was incorpo- rated, while the incorporation of South Malden was postponed for twenty years more. The committee on towns re- ported leave to withdraw on its peti- tion, and this report was accepted April 29. 1850.
For six years the project for the sep- aration of South Maken slumbered ; but on the 19th of March, 1856, an- other petition, headed by Henry How- land, was started, and after receiving 144 signatures, was on March 25 pre- sented in the House of Representatives by Mr. P. J. Stone, of Charlestown
Henry W. Van Voorhis
Descended from an old Dutch family. His father, Henry Van Voorhis, was born at Fishkill, N. Y., in 1780, and after serving an apprentice- ship in the morocco business, removed to Charlestown, about 1801, where he was first employed by a Mr. Mead. Later he went into business with Isaac C. Mead, the son of his employer, and married the daughter of the latter for his first wife. Later he married Elizabeth Edmands, by whom he had three children, of whom Henry W. Van Voorhis and John Courtland Van Voorhis still survive. Henry Van Voorhis continued in business until 1821, when he retired with a competency. He removed to South Malden in 1828, having purchased with Mr. Mead, in 1814, the farm formerly owned by John Beacham, late known as the Van Voorhis estate, where he died in 1843. He was one of the building committee of the Southwest District School House. Henry W. Van Voorhis was born in Charles- town, June 13, 1815, and received his education in the schools of that city. He married, July 17, 1839, and had two sons, Gulian H. Van Voorhis who has been several times elected selectman, and Fred C. Van Voorhis who died some years ago. With his brother, John C. Van Voorhis, under the firm name of II. W. & J. C. Van Voorhis, he for many years oper- ated a grist-mill on the Van Voorhis estate. He has frequently filled positions of trust, and was one of the first board of selectmen of the town of Everett. In 1879 and 1880 he had strong support in the Republican caucus to select a candidate for representative to the General Court. He was, in 1871, chosen as one of the first board of Water Commissioners of the town of Everett, and was one of the Charter Members of Palestine Lodge of Free Masons. He removed from Everett in 1891, mnuch to the regret of a wide circle of friends. His brother, John C. Van Voorhis, was born November, 15, 1821. He was one of the pioneers in the establishment of the Everett Public Library, and as one of the Committee to solicit books, had an active part in this worthy enterprise. He was one of the Charter Members of Palestine Lodge.
(brother of our esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr. Amos Stone), and was referred to the Committee on Towns. This peti- tion prayed that the South and South- west Districts might be incorporated as a town under the name of Belmont, - a name which still clings to one of our hills. A committee consisting of Henry Howland, Joseph Gerrish, H. W. Van Voorhis, Stephen Stimpson, George
23
William Peirce
Was born at West Cambridge, January 2, 1786, and was the son of Solomon and Amity (Fes- senden) Peirce. Married, in 1808, Elizabeth Floyd, of Malden, to which he removed in 1813. By his first wife he had four children; Mrs. Susan Clapp, wife of Samuel H ; Mrs. Eliza A. Baldwin, wife of William; William Peirce, and Adaline True, wife of Lewis P. He married, as second wife, Sarah Perkins, in April, 1808, by whom he had two children; Joseph Perkins Pierce and George W. Pierce. On February 28, 1860, at the age of seventy-four, he married as his third wife, Caroline Mansfield, with whom he lived 18 years. In 1818, he purchased from the heirs of William Dexter, a three-fourths interest in the farm containing 10716 acres in Malden and 17 acres in Medford and Stoneham, of which he subsequently secured the entire title, which cost less than $5,000. He also added other large tracts to his possessions which ex- tended from Malden river to the top of Bel- mont hill. He followed the occupation of a farmer during most of his life. He served the town of Malden as a member of the school committee, and as a selectman. He represented the town of Malden in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1836. Though unostentatious in manner he was a man of superior business capacity, of sound judgment and upright character, enjoying the respect of all. He died March 10, 1878, at the advanced age of 92 years, 2 months, and 8 days.
Sargent, James H. Dix, John Lewis, and N. W. Turner was chosen to pros- ecute the matter before the Legislature. Another name suggested for the new town was Tremont. On April 7, the town of Malden voted (of course) to oppose. The committee on towns re- ported leave to withdraw, but the mat- ter was recommitted April 14. On April 15 a petition of Thomas Green- leaf and others, in aid of the other, was presented. The effort, however, proved fruitless. The committee on towns reported reference to the next General Court, and the report was accepted by the House in concurrence April IS, 1856.
At the next session of the Legisla- ture the struggle was renewed by tak- ing from the files, on Feb. 14, 1857, the petitions of the previous year, which were again referred to the Committee
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
on Towns. On March 7 a petition signed by John Lewis, Jr., and others, in aid of the others, was received, and later a remonstrance from Manson L. Mills and others. As in the previous year, the movement was defeated, the Committee on Towns reporting leave to withdraw April IS, which was accepted April 21, thus ending all further at- tempts until 1867.
IX. SOUTH MALDEN IN 1853.
The last meeting of the Southwest District was held March 16, 1853. at which Solomon Corey was chosen clerk, Timothy C. Edmester, pruden- tial committee ; Stephen Stimpson, treasurer ; Wm. Peirce and HI. W. Van Voorhis, finance committee. Their term of office was short, for at a town meeting held April 4, 1853, Malden abolished the district system.
On the first day of May, 1853, the number of tax-payers in the Southwest District was 199, and in the South Dis- trict SS. As indicating the comparative wealth, and taxation of 1853 and 1892, it may be added that there were in the South and Southwest Districts in 1853 only 14 tax-payers who were assessed $100 or more each, against 184 in Everett in 1892. After making all due allowance for increased rates, these fig- ures indicate a marked increase in wealth. The names of the tax-payers in South Malden paying $100 or more in 1853 were : Eliphalet Kimball, $113.89 ; Nathan Lynde's heirs, $240.43 ; John Lewis, $161.92; Na- than Nichols' heirs, $450.50; Uriah Oakes' widow, $337.31; Wm. and G. W. Peirce, 172.53; Rebecca Per- kins, $110.84; Joseph Swan, $189.87 ; Stephen Stimpson, $123.67; Simon Tufts, $273.84 ; H. W. and J. C. Van Voorhis, $582.94; George Winslow's
ยท KILBURN & CROSS-
The Old Battelle House.
Formerly occupied by Rev. Nathaniel Battelle, a chaplain in the Revolutionary War, and afterwards purchased by Deacon Eliphalet Kimball. This house was once a story and a half building, and is probably more than 100 years old. Said to have been once occupied by Timothy Dexter, an eccentric Boston merchant, who was born in Malden, January 22, 1747 (see S. L. Knapp's "Life of Timothy Dexter " 1823). Bought by David Dyer in 1856 and occupied by him until his death in 1873, and later owned by the Dyer heirs.
As showing the relative importance of South Malden, the following figures giving the school appropriations for the whole town, and the proportion alloted to South Malden for four years previous to the abolition of the district system, will be of interest :
School Appropriations.
Whole
Portion al- lotted to S. and S. W. Dists.
Per cent. of Total.
I849-50
$3,000
$754 84
25.16
1850-51
3,500
897 22
25.60
1851-52
4,000
1,408 27
35.20
1852-53
4,000
1,186 56
29.60
estate, $189.18; Leavitt Corbett, $192.15 ; David Faulkner's widow, $135.22.
The abolition of the district system marks the close of another epoch in the history of South Malden; and at this point it may be well to note some of the changes which had occurred during the previous fifty-four years since the establishment of the South District.
One of the most important public works belonging to this period was the construction of the Newburyport Turn- pike, which was laid out pursuant to a
Years.
Town.
24
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
warrant of the County Commissioners dated Sept. 22. 1804. The proprie- tors were incorporated March S. 1803. The work of laying out this road ex- tended through the years 1804, 1805. ISO6. The portion in South Malden was laid out and constructed in the
and one of the great arteries of travel. It extends in a nearly straight line northeasterly from Maklen bridge to a point near the northerly boundary of Everett, where it turns slightly to the west just before reaching the Maklen line. (See map, page 15.)
AKILBURN & CROSS.
The Whittemore House,
Formerly owned and occupied by Nehemiah M. Rider, on Chelsea Street, near Everett Square. Previously owned and occupied by John Lewis.
William Whittemore,
The son of Joseph Whittemore and Rheuhama Whittemore, was born in Stoneham, Mass., February 2, 1784. Ile came to Malden with his parents when a boy, and attended the Malden schools. He learned the shoe making trade, which business he followed together with farming until the day of his death. Ile attended the Congregational Church, where he took great interest in the singing for many years. He reared a large family of children (ten in number) five of whom still reside in Everett. His wife, whom he married in January, 1810, was Esther R. Nichols, the niece of Captain Nathan Nichols, of Malden. He resided for many years near the present junction of Irving and Chelsea Streets, close by the Nichols Farm, and afterwards in the house still stand- ing on Chelsea Street, opposite Odd Fellows' Building. He carried on business in the little shop which stood on the present site of Van- derhoof's barber shop. He died November 20, 1850.
two latter years. This road was laid ! out four rods wide, and has so con- tinued to the present time. It covered in part the location of the county road laid out in 1796 to East Malden. It continued to be operated as a turnpike | road until 1852, when it was made a
The Old Shoe Shop, Owned by Wm. Whittemore.
public highway by the County Com- missioners. In 1856 the boundaries were established by suitable monu- ments, and it has for more than eighty years constituted one of the import- ant landmarks within our territory,
HILBURN S. CROSS -
The Old Corbett House, Formerly owned by Charles Hurd, and before him by Chittendon. Birthplace of Everell J. Nichols.
25
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
The Congregational Church.
Reproduced from a stereoscopic view, kindly loaned by Mrs. A. P. Potter. (Probably taken about 1871.) The land on which this church stands was sold by the Whittemore heirs, for six cents a foot.
SKETCH OF TIIE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCII.
From the reunion of the North and South Parishes in 1792, until 1847, there appears to have been no regular place of worship in the south part of Malden, though for a time before the District was divided, Miss Lambert, a day-school teacher maintained a Sab- bath School in the old schoolhouse on the hill where Mr. Evans' house now stands. In 1847, such was the growth in population and wealth that the religious needs of the commu- nity began to require some local religi- ous organization and service. By the union and co-operation of several members of the different evangelical churches, and other benevolent persons residing in South Malden and Chelsea, a Sabbath School was opened in the schoolhouse of the Southwest District, on the first Sunday in May, 1847. The first superintendent of this Sunday School was Deacon Calvin Hosmer, a member of the Baptist Church, in Mal- den. J. H. Dix was secretary and treasurer, and W. C. Barrett librarian. At the first session thirty-six persons were present and such was the interest manifested that the formation of a church began to be seriously consider- ed. For the purpose of trying the experiment for a few months, the hall in the Southwest Disrict was opened for public worship on Dec-
ember 19, 1847, and Rev. Joseph A. Benton was engaged to supply the pul- pit for the first Sabbath. On the even- ing of March 8, 1848, a number of persons residing in South Malden, and members of different churches, con- vened at the house of Mr. Uriah Oakes to consult with reference to the formation of a church, and Uriah Oakes, John Willcutt, and Samuel H. Clapp were made a committee to pre- pare articles of faith and make other needed preparatory arrangements. The council met on the sixteenth day of March. Among the facts presented for the consideration of this council were the following: Within a radius of one mile from the schoolhouse there dwelt a population of 600 steadily increasing. The Sunday School. which began with 36 members, then numbered 140, and for the last four Sabbaths the average attendance had been 118. The attendance at the meetings for public worship in the hall had varied from So to 240 in the day time, and from 60 to 200 in the even- ing, and the increase had been gradual from the beginning, and during the last three Sabbaths the average had been 223. The council voted to pro- ceed with the organization of the church in the evening, the exercises of which were: Reading of results of council ; Reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Guernsey of Charlestown ; Prayer by Rev. Mr. McClure of Mal- den ; Sermon by Dr. Bladgen of Bos-
ton ; Constituting the church and pray- er by Rev. 1. P. Langworthy of Chel- sea ; Fellowship of the churches by Dr. Edward Beecher of Boston; and concluding prayer and benediction by Rev. J. A. Benton.
The names of the original members of the church were as follows: Isaac Clapp, Samuel H. Clapp, Uriah Oakes, Nehemiah M. Rider, William Whitte- more. Jr., John Wilcutt, Eliza A. Baldwin, Harriet Battelle, Elizabeth Blaney, Susan P. Clapp, Rebecca J. T. Mansfield, Charlotte Oakes, Sarah Oakes, Elizabeth W. Oliver, Joanna T. Oliver, Lucy B. Oliver, Lucy Pierce, Elizabeth Stimpson, Esther R. Whitte- more, Esther Whittemore, Joanna T. Whittemore, Mariah 1I. Whitte- more, Emeline Willcutt, Mary A. Wil- son, -twenty-four in all. Miss Jo- anna T. Oliver, whose portrait could lately be seen in the vestry of the Con- gregational Church, was one of the earliest pioneers, as she was one of the most earnest workers in this field.
Rev. Joseph A. Benton
Left South Malden in January, 1849, sailing in the vessel "Edward Everett," by way of Cape Horn, for California, arriving there July 6, of the same year. He was to have made a speech July 4th, but was too late. He founded the first college in California in which he was a professor. He also started and edited the first newspaper in that state, which was known as " The Pacific." He died in Oakland, where he had resided, May 8, 1892.
This little church met almost uni- formly for business, at first, at the resi- dence of Mr. Uriah Oakes. On March 25, 1848, at the regular business meet- ing held at the house of Mr. Oakes, it was voted that the church be called the " Winthrop Congregational Church," probably in anticipation of the incorpo- ration of South Malden as the proposed new town of Winthrop. Uriah Oakes and John Willcutt were the first deacons. Rev. J. A. Benton was, on July 19,
26
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
Joanna T. Oliver.
IS48, unanimously called as acting pastor, in which position he continued to officiate until November. IS48. Though the period of his ministration was short, he deeply influenced the polity of the church, inasmuch as he was the author of the Confession of Faith, and By- Laws, which. with some changes in 1871, 1886, and 1892, still continue in use. After the departure of Mr. Ben- ton, the church was for about a year without a regular pastor.
On the ISth of October, 1849, Rev. Francis G. Pratt of Andover Theologi- cal Seminary, pursuant to a call of the church August 19, 1849, was installed as the first regular pastor of the church, in which position he continued for nearly nine years, until April 13, 1858. During his ministry the land was purchased for a house of worship, and the building which, as enlarged, the church still occupies, was erected in 1852, with a seating capacity of about 350. It was dedicated December 8, IS52, and the first Sabbath services were held in the new church on De- cember 12, 1852, previous to which time the meetings had been maintained in the Southwest District schoolhouse. The land now worth about $1 per foot was purchased of William Whitte- more's heirs for six cents per foot and the house and land cost about $12,- 000. In securing this, Deacon Elipha- let Kimball was a prime mover, and Samuel H. Clapp, James Il. Dix, Alonzo H. Evans, William Whitte- more, William Baldwin, and J. M. Guilford were also prominent in this movement The pastorate of Mr. Pratt was a prosperous one for the church, many members being added during his ministry.
On the Sth of September, 1858, Rev. James Cruikshanks was installed, pur- suant to a call extended to him on the
9th of June, and accepted June 26. The church was far from unanimous in this call, and during the deliberations of the council there was presented a protest in behalf of fifty-five members of the church, against the settlement of Mr. Cruikshanks. After listening to both sides. the council decided that the proceedings were regular, and they proceeded with the installation. There- upon sixteen members, having been denied regular letters of dismission, withdrew under the advice of an ex parte council, and formed the Chapel Congregational Church of South Mal- den, of which Rev. L. H. Angier was pastor. They purchased a lot of land and erected a chapel on the site of the present residence of Mr. George C. Stowers, at the corner of Cottage and Winter Streets, which last street from that fact was for some time called Chapel Street. The new Chapel Con- gregational Church continued to exist until October, 1861, when, after vari- ous negotiations, both that and the Winthrop Congregational Church were disbanded, and reunited in one body as the South Malden (afterwards Everett) Congregational Church, with forty-four members, October 30, 1861, this action being recognized by a council held Octo- ber 31. Of this council, Rev. Dr. Blag- den, pastor of the Old South Church of Boston, was moderator. The origi- nal cause for the disruption had been removed in the resignation of Rev. Mr. Cruikshanks, which was ten-
dered June 17, 1859. He was dis- missed by council June 29, following. The first deacons of the Chapel Church were Uriah Oakes, and Ephraim Hall. The chapel was burned Jan. 2, 1867. The first deacons of the reunited church were Uriah Oakes, E. P. Fos- ter, and George Whittemore. The first pastor was Rev. George B. Denham, who served from October 30, 1861, to April 6, 1862.
On April 6, 1862, Rev. Oliver Brown, of Quincy, Mass., became act- ing pastor, in which position he con- tinued until Feb. 26, 1864, having re- ceived Jan. 4, 1864, a vote of thanks for his earnest and successful labors in the interest of peace. On Feb. 26, 1864, a call was extended to Rev. David M. Bean to become pastor, which was accepted March 5, and on June 28. he was duly installed by a council called for that purpose. Dur- ing his pastorate occurred a powerful revival, as the result of which there were added to the church July 1, 1866, nineteen individuals, besides numerous others in the course of his ministry. On November 24, 1868, Rev. Mr. Bean was dismissed by council. On Jan. 28, 1869, a call was extended by the church to Rev. Albert Byrant, for- merly missionary in Turkey, who ac- cepted, and was installed March 25, 1869. During his ministry in 1871, the Creed and By-Laws were revised, and young people's prayer meeting was instituted. Mr. Byrant's pastorate con-
K&C.
Antique Piece of Furniture.
To be seen in the house once occupied by Joanna T. Oliver. (From a photograph taken for the Everett Souvenir.)
27
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
tinued until May 13, 1874, when he was dismissed.
On the 4th of August, 1874, a call was extended to Rev. W. J. Batt, which was declined, and in January following a call was extended to Rev. Webster Hazlewood, who was installed July 7, 1875, resigned Feb. 10, 1876, and was
Rev. Eddy T. Pitts,
The son of Orrin Pitts and Martha W. (Thomas) Pitts, was born in New Portland, Maine, August 28, 1853. He was educated in the High School of Bath, Me., the Nichols Latin School, and graduated in 1881, from Bates College, Lewiston, Me. He was a teacher for a number of terms, and was at one time master of the Bowdoinham High School. His first pastorate was in Liming- ton, York County, Me. He was ordained February 8, 1882. From 1885 to 1887 he was
pastor of the Church of the Pilgrimage, in Plymouth, Mass. His next pastorate was at Weymouth, Mass., and from there he came to Everett, in September, 1889, to become pastor of the First Congregational Church. July 9, 1879, Mr. Pitts married Ruth Etta Townsend, daughter of Joseph and Ruth (Wentworth) Townsend. They reside at 12 Chelsea Street.
dismissed by council May 4, 1876. From Aug. 1, 1876, until Oct. 17. ISS1, Rev. Wm. H. Bolster served as acting pastor, harmonizing the dissen- sions growing out of the previous pas- torate, and leaving the church in a healthy and prosperous condition. From an able historical sermon deliv- ered by Mr. Bolster, Nov. 11, 1877, many of the foregoing particulars are derived.
On the 26th of April, 1882, Rev. George Y. Washburn, a graduate of Andover, who had supplied the pulpit for five months, was ordained and in- stalled. During his ministry large numbers were added to the church, which also prospered in other directions. On July 1, 1883, as the result of a revival thirty-five were added to the church, twenty-four on profession of faith. A debt of $4000 which had existed since
the building of the church in 1852, was extinguished. This desirable result was consummated April 26, 1886. The church edifice was afterwards thoroughly repaired and newly frescoed. In 1887 and ISSS, especially the latter, there were revivals resulting in numer- ous additions to the church.
Mr. Washburn closed his labors in April, 1889. During his pastorate, the "twenty-fifth anniversary of the reunion of the Winthrop and Chapel Churches was appropriately commemorated, Oct. 31, 1886, on which occasion Mr. Washburn delivered a very interesting historical sermon. His pastorate was marked by the establishment of the Courtland Street Mission, March 29, ISS5, and the Mystic - Side Mission, March 28, ISS9.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.