USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Everett > Everett souvenir. 1870-1893 > Part 6
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Captain Knox was never married. He made his home with his parents in Charlestown until I853, when he purchased an estate on Baldwin Avenue, South Malden, where he resided with . his brother, Robert Jr. and three sisters for the remainder of his life, identifying himself with the interests of the town, becoming known through- out the community and making many new friends. In his public life he faithfully served his country, appreciating the responsibility of his official position, yet always modest and unassuming. By his fellow officers he was highly esteemed, as well as by all under his command, as a man of courage, of executive ability, kindliness of heart and considerate for the welfare of others. His love for his kindred was strong, his interest in the honor and good name of his family was always manifest, and his sterling integrity unquestioned. As a member of the New England Historic- Genealogical Society, he was much interested in its researches. In the home life of the Knox family, at Everett, there was a peculiar charm, appreciated by those who were so fortunate as to be brought within its influence, and to this Captain Knox contributed much. Here, sur- rounded by curiosities and mementos gathered from the four quarters of the world,-many of them now in the Museum of the Naval Library Institute at the Navy Yard, Charlestown,- family portraits, and with a large and well selected library, hospitable to the highest degree, he welcomed with sincere cordiality his many friends. His well informed mind, enriched by travels, observation and extensive reading, made his conversation always delightful, and his genial disposition and whole-heartedness sensibly touched all who were privileged to come under his roof. Here he died, November 20, 1883, in in the seventy-third year of his age. Of the family, only two sisters survived him, Ann Richardson Knox, who died in the following vear, and Elizabeth Barrett Knox, who died in January 1889.
George Atkins, 2d Mass. Bartlett Baldwin, Ist Mass. Cavalry. Frank A. Brown, 17th Mass., the first man to enlist from South Malden. Sebastian Cutter. Charles H. Dean, 2d Mass Cavalry. Daniel Desmond, 33d Mass.
John Earle.
George Emerson, 45th Mass. Horace Flagg. Alexander Greene, Ist Mass. Cav- alry. Thomas Grover, 45th Mass. Edward Lawton, 17th Mass. Fred Lincoln, Navy. Elisha A. Loring, 38th Mass. Frank M. Loring, 45th Mass. Stephen McMarr.
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Hiram Mills, Navy. William H. Mirick, 17th Mass. Isaac Newton Organ, 38th Mass. William C. Peabody 33d Mass. Wm. F. Pike, 5th and 6Ist Mass. Edward L. Shute, Sth Mass. Gulian H. Van Voorhis, 44th Mass. James A. Wallace, 45th Mass.
Andrew J. Bennett, Ist Mass. Light Battery.
Some of these may have died since the date of the address.
It is to be hoped that a suitable mon- ument may soon be erected to the brave soldiers who fell during the war of the Rebellion.
A most appropriate site for such a testimonial will be the Blomerth 'Estate, southwest of Everett Square, purchased by the town in 1892. This is to be laid out as a public ground, clear of buildings.
Samuel J. Cox,
The son of Isaac and Catherine I. (Hinton) Cox, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 23, 1844. When four years of age he came to West Cam- bridge (now Arlington) where he lived for six years. He then went West with his parents and spent several years in Missouri and Ohio. After the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the 93d Ohio Regiment, on Gen. Buckley's staff, and took part in thirteen engagements. At the close of the war he returned to Massachusetts, and came to South Malden, in April, 1869. He was a member of the board of selectmen of Everett, four years, 1874, '77, '78 and '79. He was a painter by trade. In 1879 he established a shop, where I. T. Winchester's grain store is now located, where he pursued his trade and also kept an assortment of hardware. In 1881 he erected the building Nos. 90 and 92 Chelsea Street, to which he moved his increasing busi- ness. For several years he lived on Elm Street, on the left, just east of the Corbett farm. He was for a long time an earnest and faithful worker in the Glendale S. S. and Society, having been one of the founders of the school. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Cox was a man of scholarly tastes, a fluent speaker and ready writer. March 12, 1868, he married Eliza A., daughter of David K. and Eliza A. (Swain) Wellington, formerly of Arlington. He died September 18, 1882. His widow still lives on the homestead, lying between Chelsea and Cot- tage Streets.
OTHER LOCAL SOCIETIES.
The Universalist Society, the second religious society in South Malden of those now existing, was formed in 1865. As near as can be ascertained, religious services began to be held by them in 1864, but the earliest record of any meeting for business is under date of March 28, 1865, at Badger's Hall, situated next southwest of Whittier's store. This meeting was called to order by Wilson Quint. William John- son was made chairman, and R. M. Barnard, clerk. A committee consisting of Messrs. Quint, Lewis, and Barnard, was appointed to make arrangements with Rev. B. K. Russ, of Somerville, to preach for one year as a supply. The society continued to worship in Badger's Hall until Sept. 1872, their principal ministers being Rev. T. J. Greenwood, Dr. A. A. Miner, Rev. H. J. Cushman, Rev. L. L. Briggs, Rev. A. J. Canfield, Rev. W. II. Cudworth, and Rev. W. H. Rider, then a theolo- gical student. Just before the incor- poration of the town they completed their organization as a religious society, July 8, 1869, the petitioners for this purpose being Wm. Johnson, Anthony Waterman, J. D. Bean, H. M. Currier, David N. Badger, James Pickering, Thomas Leavitt, Elisha B. Loring, Elisha A. Loring, Francis B. Wallis, Thomas Lewis, Adams B. Cook, R. M. Barnard, Philip Ham.
Shortly after the incorporation of the town, a movement was commenced for building a church, and on May 22, 1871, it was voted to commence building when subscriptions reached $3000. On the 24th of Sept. 1871, a building com- mittee was chosen, consisting of An- thony Waterman, Elisha B. Loring, and R. M. Barnard. On the 19th of Oct. 1871, the committee was instructed to commence. The lot at the corner of Sum- mer Street and Broad- way was purchased, and the corner stone laid May 14, 1872. The first religious service was held in the vestry June 2, 1872, the building was formally dedi- cated Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1872, and the first religious ser- vice in the main audi- ence room was held on the Sunday follow- ing. This church was remodelled in 1889, and rededicated Jan.
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Universalist Church. Before Remodeling.
17, 1890, with appropriate ceremonies.
The first superintendent of the Uni- versalist Sunday School was Wilson Quint, who was succeeded by J. D. Bean, Philip Ham, Isaac E. Coburn, Rev. R. P. Bush, and A. J. Bennett. The Sunday School has increased from 150 in 1879, to 227 in the spring of 1890, and 290 in December, 1892. The Sunday School library contains 734 volumes. The pulpit continued to be occupied by preachers settled in neigh- boring towns, principally Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, until Dec. 1, 1879, when R. Perry Bush, then a student in the divinity school at Tufts College, was engaged as a stated supply until April 14, 1880, when he was unanimously called as pastor, and was installed June 13, 1880. He resigned Jan. 17, 1892, and preached his farewell sermon Feb. 28, 1892. He was succeeded by Rev. F. E: Webster, who was called March 31, and installed May 22, 1892.
Universalist Church, 1893. Corner Broadway and Summer Streets.
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The original cost of the building and land was $10,000, and it had a seating capacity of upwards of 200, which by the remodelling was increased to about 400, at a cost of $9000. It is adorned with memorial windows, the gift of R. M. Barnard and Henry Schrow. The architects of the remodelled building were Messrs. Brigham and Spofford.
The present value of the Society's church property is estimated at $16,000. It has also recently purchased a new organ at a cost of $1500. Its receipts and expenses were $3000 for the past year, including $800 raised for its church debt.
4.8C
Rev. Warren H. Cudworth
Was born at Lowell, May 23, 1825. His father was Warren Cudworth, an overseer in the Merri- mac Corporation, who came of good Puritan stock and died when his son Warren was only two years old. His grandfather, on his mother's side, was one of the famous Boston tea party and afterwards a minute man at the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he was wounded. While a mere boy, Mr. Cudworth developed a strong taste for music. His mother was a Congrega- tionalist, but through his musical associations, he was led into the Unitarian fold. Yet his whole life reflected the influence of his early religious training. In 1842 he entered Phillips Academy, at Andover, from which he went to Harvard College, in 1845, graduating in 1849. Choosing the profession of a clergyman, he graduated from the Harvard Divinity School, July 15. 1851. He preached his first sermon at Somerville, July 6, 1851. He had but one pastorate, that at East Boston, extending over a period of nearly thirty- three years, from February 1, 1852 to his death, on Thanksgiving Day, 1884. The building up of this society was his life work. He was ordained March 17, 1852. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, he immediately offered his ser- vices as Chaplain, and in that capacity went to the front with the first regiment of Massachusetts volunteers, remaining with them until their return on the expiration of their term of service, May 25, 1864. In 1868, mainly through his efforts, a new church for his congregation was completed and dedicated. On January 4, 1872, he was elected Chaplain of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He dropped dead while offer- ing prayer at the Thanksgiving services at Mav- erick Congregational Church, in East Boston, November 27, 1884. Mr. Cudworth was too large a man to be hemmed in by denominational lines. He fraternized with all and enjoyed in a remarkably degree the esteem of all. He was
abundant in labors : preaching, lecturing, writing, visiting, always working for humanity. Before the Universalist Society, of Everett, had a pastor, he preached for them probably more than any other one man. He was always ready to answer the call of the citizens of Everett, on public occasions. He addressed one of our High School exhibitions, and took the principal part in the opening exercises of the Everett Public Library. He possessed a poetical nature and has left some short poems of high merit, which show what he might have done had he directed his efforts in this line.
On July 15, 1867, a Sunday-school was organized in the Glendale District, by members of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, of Malden, which re- sulted, Jan. 1, 1870, in the organiza- tion of the Glendale Union Christian Society, with twelve members, which purchased the lot of land on which the Glendale Chapel now stands, Aug. I, 1872, for $672. In 1882 a movement was inaugurated for building a house of worship; the corner stone was laid July 6, 1882 ; and the completed edi- fice was dedicated Oct. 11, 1882, the sermon being preached by Rev. W. F. Mallalieu. The cost of the building and land was about $2700. A Sunday- school was maintained there, and also occasional religious services, until IS88, when, these having been discontinued, the chapel was leased to the First Bap- tist Church, in Everett, which on Dec. 16, 18SS, opened a mission Sunday- school there, which will be noticed later.
The only other organization ante- dating the incorporation of the town is that of the Palestine Lodge of Free Masons, which originated in a meeting held Sept. 23, 1868, at which permis- sion was asked of the Mt. Vernon Lodge of Malden, to form a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in South Malden, and Palestine was the name agreed upon for the new lodge. The petition signed by fourteen members
George W. Peirce,
Son of William and Sarah (Perkins) Peirce, was born August 3, 1820. He received his education in the schools of Malden, and followed the occu- pation of a farmer, cultivating the broad acres owned by his father. He married, March 1, 1860, Eliza Wiley, who died March 1, 1868; after which he married again, his second wife surviving him. He was one of the charter members of Pales- tine Lodge, and its first master. He was a member of the first Board of Selectmen elected in Everett, and one of the Road Commissioners in the municipal year 1877-78. He died January 6, 1886.
of the Mount Vernon lodge, was ap- proved at a communication held Dec. 3, 1868. The dispensation was granted Dec. S, 1868, by Charles C. Dame, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The Grand Master ap- pointed George W. Peirce Master, Henry L. Chase Senior Warden, and Alfred Tufts Junior Warden. The first regular communication of Pal- estine Lodge was held in the engine- house hall, January 14, 1869, at which the organization was completed as fol- lows : Treasurer, Thomas Leavitt ; Sec- retary, James P. Stewart ; Senior Dea-
The Old Peirce House (on Main Street). For many years the home of William Peirce, Built by him in 1836.
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
Southwesterly View of Everett Square (1889).
Showing MASONIC BUILDING on the left ; on the right the French roof building formerly occupied by the Home School, and in front, at the junction of School Street and Broadway, the Blomerth Building.
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con, J. Franklin Wakefield; Junior Deacon. Philip Ham ; Senior Steward, John G. Berry; Junior Steward, Al- bert W. Lewis; Inside Sentinel, Ben- jamin Corey ; Marshal, Stephen A. Stimpson : Tyler. Thomas Leavitt ; Chaplain, James Skinner.
The Lodge continued to operate un- der dispensation until Det. 8, 1869, when it received a full charter.
The charter members were George W. Peirce, Henry L. Chase, Alfred Tufts, Thomas Leavitt, James P Stew- art, J. Franklin Wakefield, Philip Ham, Stephen A. Stimpson. Benjamin Corey. Albert W. Lewis, Henry W. Van Voor- his. John C. Van Voorhis, Peter IIan- sen, and John G. Berry, the same who petitioned for the dispensation. But four of these, Messrs. Leavitt, Lewis, Stewart, and Ham, still remain mem- bers : Messrs. Peirce, Tufts, Wakefield, Hansen, Chase, and Stimpson have died, and Messrs. H. W. and J. C. Van Voorhis, Corey, and Berry have with- drawn. The lodge was formally consti- tuted Dec. 22, 1869, by Grand Master, William Sewall Gardner and suite, and the first board of officers was in- stalled at the same meeting. The lodge continued to hold its meetings at engine house hall until the spring of 1872. The need of a building, both for their own use and for town pur- poses was apparent, and the action of
Masonic Building (1873).
View looking eastward from the former homestead of John Lewis, on which, at that time, was an orchard. In the vestry of the Congregational Church, in the background, was held the first Everett town meeting.
(From a photograph in the collection of the late George F. Wallis.)
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M
Chelsea Street, looking across Main Street (about 1873).
(From a photograph in the collection of the late George F. Wallis.)
the town in postponing the erection of a town hall suggested the idea of erect- ing a building suitable both for town and lodge purposes. As the result, the Masonic building, at the corner of Broadway and Chelsea Streets, was commenced in October, 1870, com- pleted in 1871, and enlarged in 1872. The lodge moved to their new hall in the spring of 1872, and the same was dedicated with appropriate cere- monies on Tuesday even- ing, June 11, in the same vear, by Grand Master Sereno D. Nickerson, of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The masters of the lodge have been as follows : George W. Peirce, 1869- 70-71-72 ; Charles D. Stearns, 1872-74; Charles F. Atwood. 1874-76; Philip Ham. 1876-78; Columbus Corey, 1878- So; Nathan Nichols, ISSO-82 ; John S. Nich- ols, Jr., 1882-84 ; James A. Wallace, 1884-86; Francis E. Dyer, 1886- SS : George W. Whitte- more. 1888-90; Thorn- ton A. Smith, 1890-92 ; Thomas Milligan, 1892 to date. There had been admitted in 1890, in all, 165 members, of whom II had died, 34 had been dismissed, and 15 excluded. The mem- bership of the lodge in December, 1892, was 124.
XIV.
THE FINAL STRUGGLE.
The march of events for fifteen years had been silently yet surely preparing the way for the realization of the often- deferred hope for the incorporation of South Malden, as a separate town, and the agitation which had slumbered since 1857, now revived in full force. In the autumn of 1867, petitions were circu- lated, and, having obtained numerous signers, were presented in the next General Court. The first was that of Hawes Atwood and sixty-two others, presented by Mr. Hughes, of Somer ville, in the House, on January 10, 1868, for the incorporation of South Malden as a new town. Remonstrances were also presented. The attempt was unsuccessful, and on the 25th of Feb- ruary, 1868, the Committee on Towns reported reference to the next General Court, which, on the 27th of February, was accepted.
At the next session the effort was re- newed, the petition of Hawes Atwood and others being taken from the files of the previous year and referred to the Committee on Towns. On January IS, 1869, several additional petitions were also filed, with some remonstrances. On March 16 the committee again report- ed leave to withdraw, but a minority consisting of Francis II. Goodspeed of Athol and Samuel D. Sawin of Charles- town dissented, and reported a substi- tute bill. On the 19th day of March, the report coming up for consideration, the substitute bill incorporating the town of Everett was moved by Mr. Good- speed, of Athol, on behalf of the minor- ity of the Committee on Towns.
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The boundaries asked for in the ori- ginal petition in 1868, corresponded with the boundaries of Everett as de- fined in its charter ; but, as opposition was very strong in the westerly por- tion of the Glendale district, an attempt was made to disarm this opposition by leaving this section in the old town. The boundaries specified in Mr. Good- speed's substitute bill, therefore, ran northeasterly only so far as to be in range with the northeasterly line of Myrtle Street prolonged, coming out on Broadway where Warren Avenue now is, and leaving all the territory northeast of this line and northwest of Broadway and Lynn Street in Malden.
Hawes Atwood,
The son of Stephen and Sally (Holbrook) Atwood, was born in Wellfleet, September 20, ISII. He was educated in the public schools of Chelsea. He is engaged in the wholesale oyster business, which he commenced October 7, 1826, at 41 and 43 Union Street, Boston, where he still continues to carry it on. For more than 66 years he has conducted the same business at the same "old stand" -- a remarkable record. Ile is a member of Palestine Lodge, F. and A. M., of St. Paul's Royal Arch Chapter, Boston, and of the Boston Commandery Knights Temp- lars. He has had two children, Adaline, who died in 1867, and Charles F., who is associated with him in business. Mr. Atwood, in no wise a public man, is yet a man of great public spirit, highly respected by all who have the good fortune to know him. February 28, 1833, he married Sarah S., daughter of Enos and Amy Smith, of Wellfleet. He resides at 305 Broadway.
This bill was debated on two suc- cessive days, and on March 25 was rejected by a tie vote of 67 to 67, and on the same day the report was ac- cepted, 69 to 67. On the 26th of March, reconsideration was moved, and the matter was again debated on March 30, 1869, when the motion to recon- sider was rejected by a tie vote of 101 to IO1. After this the report was ac- cepted, thus ending the struggle for that year. The name of Winthrop
William Johnson
Was the son of Lewis Johnson, of Stoughton, and the youngest of six sons. He was born March 20, 1812 in Stoughton, where he grew to manhood, learning the trade of his father, a marble worker. He was twice married; first to Caroline Chase, of Oxford, N. II., by whom he had four children : William, Alfred, Arthur and one daughter, of whom Alfred alone survives. On November 15, 1857, Mr. Johnson married Mrs. Jane Ward, of Worcester, who is still living. Mr. Johnson came to Malden when a com- paratively young man. He built and for many years occupied the large hip roof house near the junction of Bow Street, Broadway and Main Street, now owned and occupied by William H. Adams. Shortly after the incorporation of Everett he built the house at the corner of Main and Chelsea Streets, in which he lived to the day of his death. He was the last clerk of the South School District, before its division, and the first clerk of the South-west District ; represented Malden in the General Court in 1851 and Everett in 1881; was assessor of Malden seven consecutive years, 1861-67 inclu- sive, and after the incorporation of Everett was in office, either as assessor or treasurer to the day of his death, his last election to the latter office occurring while on his death bed. In religious belief he was a Universalist, was prominently identified with that society and one of its deacons. He was deeply interested in the temperance cause and a zealous advocate of prohibition and woman's suffrage. A man of unswerving rectitude, he was frequently selected to fill positions of trust. His intense hatred of injustice and wrong made him always the friend of the poor and oppressed. By industry and thrift he acquired a comfortable property. He died April 4, 1886, and resolutions of respect to his memory were adopted in town meeting held shortly afterwards.
having already been appropriated by another town, it became necessary to substitute some other name for the pro- posed new town, and " Everett " had been selected at a meeting held at the Congregationalist, vestry in September, 1868, by a vote of 88, to 33 for all oth- ers. The vote of the town of Malden to purchase the franchise of the Spot Pond Water Company, thus incurring a heavy water debt, furnished another argument to the petitioners for separa- tion in the struggle of 1870.
At the session of the Legislature in 1870, there were two projects before
the General Court, relating to Malden : one, a petition of E. S. Converse and others to annex the whole of Malden to Boston, on which leave to withdraw was reported ; another, a petition to in- corporate the town of Everett. Peti- tions came in more numerously than before, there being some 324 petitioners against 90 - remonstrants. The com- mittee, of which William Cogswell, now member of Congress, was chair- man, reported leave to withdraw Feb- ruary 14, 1870, but a minority consist- ing of Messrs. Woodwell of New- buryport and Johnson of Province- town dissented and reported a sub- stitute bill, and on February 23 the
Thomas Leavitt,
The son of Martin and Tysza Pratt (Thomas) Leavitt, was born in Hingham, October 12, 1828. He received his education in the public schools of his native town, from 1835 to 1845. In earlier life Mr. Leavitt was engaged in the manufacture of machinery, and to some extent, was an expert for the government during the late war. For several years he was president of the Boston & Hingham Steamboat Co. and the Nantasket Land Co. He was also agent for Ex. Gov. Coburn, of Maine. For many years he has been president and one of the trustees of the Boylston Land Co., of Boston. He is the inventor of several useful inventions, among which are post office cancelling machines, in which he is now interested. Mr. Leavitt moved to South Malden in 1860, where he had built, the year before, the house he now lives in on Chelsea Street. He has been a member of the Everett Board of Water Commissioners since 1874, and has been chairman of the same since 1875. He has also served the town on many important committees. Mr. Leavitt is a member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Asso- ciation; charter member of Palestine Lodge, F. and A. M .; also of Tabernacle Royal Arch Chapter, of Malden ; member of Melrose Council, and charter member of Beauseaunt Commandery of K. T., of Malden; member of Charlestown Lodge K. of H. He is one of the trustees of the Everett Associates and also of the Everett Savings Bank. He has been a member of the First Universalist Society, of Everett, for many years, and was the musical leader of that church for some time.
In 1854 Mr. Leavitt married Martha E., daughter of John and Betsey (Coburn) Whittier, of Cornville, Maine.
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motion to substitute the bill was debat- ed the remainder of that day and a part of the next, when the bill was substi- tuted ; in favor, 126 ; those opposed not counted. The next day, on ordering the bill to a third reading, the vote stood yeas 130, nays 69. Among the distinguished names recorded in favor of the division were those of T. H. Sweetser, J. E. Fitz- gerald, B. F. Mills, Bushrod Morse, G. L. Ruffin, C. R. Train, and A. J. Waterman, both of the last afterwards attorney-generals ; and on the other side, General Wm. Cogswell, A. W. Beard, late State Treasurer, and now Collector of the port of Boston ; Selwyn Z. Bowman, after- wards member of Congress; T. C. Hurd, now clerk of courts of Middlesex county, and J. K. Tarbox, afterwards member of Congress and Insurance Com- missioner.
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