USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > Hand book of business in Lowell : with a history of the city > Part 9
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" Green and rolling forest tops,
And glens, and streams, that with their bordering thickets, Strive to hide their windings."
This place was solemnly consecrated on Sunday, June 20th, 1841, when Rev. Dr. Miles offered the consecrating prayer, and Rev. Dr. Blanchard delivered an address, which, for " its appro- priate extent of subjects, richness of thought, and felicity of ex- pression," is said to have been rarely equalled on any similar occasion.
In 1842, James O. Patterson erected the well-known " Pat- terson Mill," at Wamesit Falls, and employed it in the manu- facture of carpets. Mr. Patterson becoming bankrupt in 1847, this mill was purchased by the Middlesex Company ; and until 1852 Mr. James Siner carried it on as a carpet mill. It soon afterwards passed into the hands of the Lowell Power-Loom Har- ness Company, its present occupants.
President Tyler's Visit.
ON the 19th of June, 1843, John Tyler, then President of the United States, made a public visit to Lowell, accompanied by
HAND - BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS. 125
S. L. & W. G. WARD, DENTISTS, (Ofice, Nos. 5 and 6 Savings Bank Building, Lowell,)
Having extended their arrangements to meet all orders in the line of their profession, would respectfully announce to their patrons, and all in want of Dental Operations, that they are now prepared to furnish ARTIFICIAL TEETH, on Gold and Silver Plate, in a style of finish, unsurpassed.
GUTTA PERCHA USED WHEN DESIRED. Their assortment of Teeth, embracing every variety of shade, form, &c., is unrivalled.
In making, and properly adapting, full or parts of sets, in an endless va- riety of cases, in their past extensive practise, including many so difficult as to be pronounced by others "impossible to fit," they have been eminently successful, and fully met the expectations of their patrons.
Special attention given to every operation for the BEAUTY and PRESERVA- TION of the Natural Teeth.
Teeth filled with GOLD and other approved material.
Persons having defective Teeth, and who are at the same time suffering from impaired health, should not fail to consult an experienced Dentist.
The intimate connection between the state of the teeth and the general health is such as to warrant calling attention to the subject,-a decided im- provement often resulting from the removal of extensively decayed teeth, and the substitution of those which better serve the purpose of mastication.
Their mode of EXTRACTING Teeth, with Instruments for each Tooth, in strict reference to their anatomical construction, with ease and safety, and the least possible pain to the patient, gives universal satisfaction.
CHARGES REASONABLE.
DENTISTRY .- S. L. Ward, Dentist, Bank Building, Shattuck Street, has a suit of rooms that for neatness of furnish, comfort, and adaptation to professional business, must bear the palm. His rooms consist of a large and elegant reception or drawing- room, a large andcommodious laboratory, and between these two, a neat and com- fortable little operating room. By persevering industry and a laudable determina- tion to excel in his profession, Dr. Ward has secured an extensive and steadily in- creasing patronage. His good dental work is his best voucher .- [Lowell Courier, May 25, 1852.
DENTISTRY .- The art of dentistry is reaching a high state of perfection, such that we might say that artificial teeth are preferable to the real molars. We saw, the other evening, an upper jaw, made and fitted to the mouth of a lady, by S. L. Ward, dentist, which, for the nicety of fit, we have never seen equalled. The set was fas- tened to the roof of the mouth by the principle of atmospheric pressure, and so te- naciously did it cling to its place, we could not, with all the strength we could exert with one hand, detach it. This triumph of Dr. W. deserves an honorable mention. The Doctor's office is in the Bank Building, Shattuck Street, and we cordially re . commend him to the attention of those in want of anything in the dental art .- [Low- ell Daily News, Feb. 14, 1852.
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126
HISTORY OF LOWELL:
Hon. Abbott Lawrence, Hon. Isaac Hill, John Tyler, Junior, and other public personages. The boys and girls of the High School, with their teachers,-together with the military compa- nies, and a cavalcade of the citizens,-formed his escort ; and the usual public greetings took place. Before leaving Lowell, the President and suite visited the works of the Middlesex, Lowell, Boott, and Merrimac manufacturing companies ; and expressed much gratification with the novel and marvellous scenes exhibited to them.
It was in 1843 that Mr. James C. Ayer commenced the man- ufacture of " Cherry Pectoral" in Lowell. This business, to- gether with the manufacture of " Cathartic Pills," has now become the largest individual interest in this city. It finds em- ploy for about one hundred and fifty persons. One and a half million bottles, or sixty million doses, of this " Pectoral,"-and two and a half million boxes, or fifteen million doses, of these " Pills,"-are here annually manufactured and sold. One hun- dred and sixty tons of paper, a vast number of boxes and bottles, and a great quantity of the material ingredients of these medi- cines, are annually consumed at this establishment, (situated on Jackson street,) the receipts of which considerably exceed half a million of dollars per annum. Messrs. Ayer & Co.'s laboratory furnishes medicine sufficient for three doses apiece, per year, for every inhabitant of the United States.
Anecdote of Webster.
AT the October Term of the Court of Common Pleas, held in Lowell, in 1849, the famous case of the Commonwealth versus Wyman was tried. Several of the most distinguished lawyers of the American Bar,-among others, the late lamented Daniel Webster,-were retained as counsel. An incident occurred in the course of the trial, which well deserves a place in this history, from its connection with that great man,-being particularly
127
HAND-BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS.
AYER'S CATHARTIC PILLS.
The sciences of Chemistry and Medicine have been taxed their utmost to pro- duce this best. most perfect purgative which is known to man. Innumerable proofs are shown that these PILLS have virtues which surpass in excellence the ordinary medicines, and that they win unprecedently upon the esteem of all men. They are safe and pleasant to take, but powerful to cure. Their penetrating properties stimulate the vital activities of the body, and expel dis- ease. They purge out the foul humors which breed and grow distemper, stim- ulate sluggish or disordered organs into their natural action, and impart healthy tone with strength to the whole system. Not only do they cure the everyday complaints of every body, but also formidable and dangerous diseases that have baffled the best of human skill. While they produce powerful effects, they are, at the same time, in diminished doses, the safest and best physic that can be employed for children. Being sugar-coated, they are pleasant to take; and being purely vegetable, are free from any risk of harm. Cures have been made which surpass belief, were they not substantiated by men of such exalted position and character as to forbid the suspicion of untruth. Many eminent clergymen and physicians have lent their names to certify to the public the reliability of my remedies, while others have sent me the assurance of their conviction that my Preparations contribute immensely to the relief of my af- flicted, suffering fellow-men.
Agents will furnish gratis my American Almanac, containing directions for their use, and certificates of their cures of the following complaints ;-
Costiveness, Bilious Complaints, Rheumatism, Dropsy, Heartburn, Head- ache arising from a foul Stomach, Nausea, Indigestion, Morbid Inaction of the Bowels, and Pain arising therefrom, Flatulency, Loss of Appetite, all Ul- cerous and Cutaneous Diseases which require an evacuant Medicine, Scrofu- la or King's Evil. They also, by purifying the blood and stimulating the sys- tem, cure many complaints which it would not be supposed they could reach, such as Deafness, Partial Blindness, Neuralgia and Nervous Irritability, De- rangements of the Liver and Kidneys, Gout, and other kindred complaints arising from a low state of the body or obstruction of its functions.
AYER'S CHERRY PECTORAL FOR THE RAPID CURE OF Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Influenza, Bronchitis, Whoop- ing Cough, Croup, Asthma, Incipient Consumption,
and for the relief of consumptive patients in advanced stages of the disease. We need not speak to the public of its virtues. Throughout every town, and almost every hamlet of the American States, its wonderful cures of pulmon- ary complaints have made it already known. Nay, few are the families in any civilized country on this continent without some personal experience of its ef- fects ; and fewer yet the communities any where which have not among them some living trophy of its victory over the subtle and dangerous diseases of the throat andlungs. While it is the most powerful antidote yet known to man for the formidable and dangerous diseases of the pulmonary organs, it is also the pleasantest and safest remedy that can be employed for infants and young persons. Parents should have it in store against the insidious enemy that steals upon them unprepared. We have abundant grounds to believe the CHERRY PECTORAL saves more lives by the consumptions it prevents than those t cures.
All know the dreadful fatality of lung disorders, and as they know too the virtues of this remedy, we need not do more than assure them it is still made the best it can be. We spare no cost, no care, no toil to produce it the most perfect possible, and thus afford those who rely on it the best agent which our skill can furnish for their cure.
PREPARED BY DR. J. C. AYER, Practical and Analytical Chemist, Lowell, Mass., And Sold by all Druggists everywhere.
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HISTORY OF LOWELL:
illustrative of the tenacity with which he adhered to whatever position he might assume.
While engaged in some " by-play" with another eminent law- yer, still living, Mr. Webster wrote upon a slip of paper the fol-
THE USURPING EMPEROR OF CHINA .- [SEE OPPOSITE PAGE.]
lowing couplet from Pope, and then handed the slip to his " learn- ed brother :""-
" Lo! where Meotis sleeps, and softly flows, The freezing Tanais through a waste of snows."
129
HAND - BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS.
We publish, as a great curiosity, the following characteristic letter, received by our friend, Dr. J. C. Ayer, of Lowell, Mass., from the " Rebel Chief," or usurping Emperor of China, in acknowledgment for quantities of his CHERRY PECTORAL and CATHARTIC PILLS, the Dr. sent him as a present :
To DOCTOR AYER in America,
The great curing Barbarian of the outside country.
Your present of sweet curing seeds ( Pills ) and fragrant curing drops ( Pectoral) of the Cherry smell, has been brought to Hug- seu-Tsene-the mighty Emperor (Kwangto) of the terrible, stout Ming Dynasty, by grace of Heaven restored after an interval of ages,-Prince of peace (Ta-Ping-Wang) of China-the central flowry land. He directed his powerful Mandarins to give them to the sick according to what the Interpreters read from your printed papers (directions.) Be profoundly happy, O wise Barbarian ! for I, Yang-seu-Tsing, say it. Your curing seeds and sweet curing drops were given to the sick in His army of the Winged-Sword, and have made them well. Be profoundly happy while you live, for this is known to the Mighty Emperor of China, who approves your skill and permits you to send more of your curing Medicines for his fierce armies of myriads of men.
They may be given to Chiang-Lin, chief Mandarin of the Red Button at Shanghai, who will repay you with Tea, or Silk, or Gold.
The high Mandarins of China have heard of your great knowl- edge, surpassing all other foreigners, even aspiring to equal the divine wisdom of our own healing teachers, who make remedies that cure instantly. We are pleased to know you bow in trem- bling terror before our Mighty Emperor.
Written by YANG-SEU-TSING,
Minister-in-chief of the restored Imperial Ming dynasty, destined by the heavenly wisdom to rule in China.
( Translated by the American Consulate at Hong Kong, China, 3d May, 1855.
130
HISTORY OF LOWELL:
His " learned brother" aforesaid at once took exception to the word " softly," which, he said, should read " hardly," and ob- jected to this " rendering" of the poet. Mr. Webster stoutly affirmed that he had quoted the lines as Pope wrote them, and therefore needed no lecture on the duty of the correct citation of authors. A copy of Pope was procured, which settled the ques- tion adversely to Mr. Webster. He took up the book,-read the lines deliberately,-sat down,-turned to the fly-leaf of the vol- ume,-and wrote thereon these words :-
"SPURIOUS EDITION OF POPE .- DANIEL WEBSTER."
Events between 1844 and 1846.
IN 1844, the City School Library was instituted, at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. The volumes contained in this val- uable public library, (which has been enlarged from time to time, ) number about ten thousand. This institution is under the care of a Librarian and a Board of Directors chosen by the City Council. Its privileges are open to all.
In the same year, also, dates the establishment of the City Mission, by the South Congregational (Unitarian) Society. This is a fine imitation of the Ministry at large, founded by Rev. Dr. . Tuckerman, in Boston. Rev. Horatio Wood has filled this Min- istry ever since its establishment ; and has made it his special " labor of love," to seek out daily and relieve the temporal and spiritual necessities of the poor, and especially of the indigent young.
In 1845, the Stony Brook Railroad, connecting Lowell with Groton Junction, was incorporated, with a capital of three hun- dred thousand dollars. On the first of July, 1848, this road was opened for travel, largely increasing our facilities for communi- cation with other portions of New England, and with New York.
It was in 1845 that the second reorganization of the Locks and Canals Company took place, when Mr. Jackson realized his vast
HAND- BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS. 131
VISIT PUTNAM'S BOYS' CLOTHING EMPORIUM,
No. 92 American House Block, Central Street.
-
132
HISTORY OF LOWELL:
plans for the disposition of the mill-powers here. All the water- power of Merrimae River,-estimated at ten thousand horse-power, -had now been disposed of ; and a great sale was made at pub- lic auction, of all the lands yet remaining in this company's hands. The several manufacturing companies now became the proprietors of all this water-power, under this company's charter. The separate existence of this company was still pre- served, with a view to the exercise by its agent of a general su- perintendenee over the use of the water-power by all the compa- nies concerned.
Mr. Jackson was succeeded in the agentship of this company by Mr. James B. Francis, who has here won a reputation for skill in practical hydraulies, second to that of no other man in this country.
The business of building machinery, heretofore carried on by the Locks and Canals Company, was now organized apart by itself, and incorporated in the year of which we are treating, under the name of the Lowell Machine Shop, with a capital (at the present time) of six hundred thousand dollars.
Judge Locke.
IN April, 1846, exactly thirteen years from the day of his ap- pointment, Hon. Joseph Locke resigned his office as standing Justice of the Lowell Police Court ; and Hon. Nathan Crosby, the present incumbent, was appointed in his place.
Judge Locke continued to reside among us until his death, which occurred November 10th, 1853, at the patriarchal age of eighty-two. He was born in 1771, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1797. His class furnished the bar with several law- yers of more than ordinary calibre, and the pulpit with four cler- gymen of distinguished usefulness, besides two physicians, and two members of Congress. He was a gentleman of the old school, a very accomplished lawyer,-thoroughly versed in that great body of reason, the gathered wisdom of a thousand years,
133
HAND - BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS.
H. H. BARNES,
DEALER IN
Ready Made Clothing - AND -
furnishing
5 Canal Block, Central Street.
CENT'S CLOTHING,
For all seasons, well and fashionably made.
BOYS' CLOTHING;
One of the largest assortments to be found in the city, consisting of Over Garments, Frocks, Sacks, Pants and Vests:
BOYS' JACKETS,
Small Suits, Suit Pants, Plain and Emb'd Caps for Children, Boys' Shirts, Collars, Bows, Hdkfs, &c., &c.
RICH FURNISHING GOODS FOR GENTS.
Stocks, Ties, Scarfs, Neckerchiefs; Gloves-Kid, Silk, Linen, Lisle Thread, &c. . Hosiery for all seasons ; Undershirts and Drawers-Silk, Woollen, Merino, Cotton, &c .; Suspenders, Silk and Linen Pocket Hdkfs. A complete assortment of
GENT'S LINEN,
Warranted to be all the article is represented-Fine Shirts, Common do., Plain Cotton and Fancy Working do. FINE LINEN COLLARS, latest patterns, plain and fancy. Linen and French wove Shirt Bosoms, 'FOR FITTING ON SHIRTS,
Fine Shirts Made to Order for those who wish.
Soft Hats, Silk and Cloth Caps, Umbrellas, &c., &c.
134
HISTORY OF LOWELL:
the Common Law. This was his speciality,-his forte. He also excelled in special pleading ; but beyond this, his range of cul- ture was very circumscribed, as is necessarily the case with the mere lawyer.
He was very popular as a judge. The tenderness of his sensi- bilities, and the warmth of his sympathies, made it natural for him to temper justice with mercy to the unfortunate criminal, as God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. He was sometimes wholly unmanned, and forced ". to play the woman," when called in his official capacity to pronounce the stern sentence of the law ; and he frequently wet the judicial bench with compassionating tears.
Appropriate resolutions were passed, on the occasion of his decease, by the Lowell Bar, in which his personal integrity, pro- fessional ability, amiable manners, and conventional virtues, were recognized and applauded.
Events of 1846 and 1847.
IN 1846 our population was twenty-nine thousand one hundred and twenty-seven. The city of Lawrence had just started ; and to facilitate intercourse between the two places, the Lowell and Lawrence Railroad was incorporated during this year, with a capi- tal of three hundred thousand dollars.
A planing-mill had heretofore been carried on near Middlesex street, by Messrs. Pickering & Brown, and Call & Livingston. Brooks & Co. established their planing-mill in the same vicinity, during this year. The late William Livingston and Sidney Spaulding, Esquire, are the chief architects of this part of Low- ell, which has now become the theatre of most of the saw-mills, planing-mills, and lumber business of the city.
In the same year, (1846,) dates the establishment of the mills of O. M. Whipple, Esquire, near the Bleachery, which have been leased by various parties for miscellaneous mechanical purposes, and continue to be so occupied at the present time.
HAND- BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS. 135
CUSHING & MACK, NOS. 122 and 125 MARKET STREET, LOWELL,
INVINCIBLE
EMDTT
RANC EM
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN
STOVES AND HOLLOW WARE,
HOT AIR FURNACES AND RANGES. SOLE AGENTS, FOR LOWELL, OF ~
Mott's. Celebrated Invincible Tubular Oven Range. MANUFACTURERS OF ORNAMENTAL
C. & M. are ready, at all times, to contract for the IRON WORK (Orna- mental or otherwise,) for Public and Private Buildings ; and for specimens of their work, would refer to the State Library Room, Boston, and to Store front of No. 164 Washington Street, Boston.
₼
136
HISTORY OF LOWELL:
The new bridge over Concord River near the Cemetery was constructed in 1847.
In 1847, the great Northern Canal was completed,-being the greatest work of the kind in the United States. The object of this canal, (and of the subterranean canal under Moody street, ) was, to keep constantly a fuller supply of water than could pre- viously be obtained, in the several canals that feed the water into the flumes of the various mills. The canal was constructed by the combined companies, in less than eighteen months, at a cost of five hundred thousand dollars. It was first filled with water on Thanksgiving-Day, in the year last mentioned. James B. Fran- cis, Esquire, the Agent and Chief Engineer of the Locks and Canals Company, was the architect of this stupendous work. Well may he say-
" Exegi monumentum ære perennius."
A great portion of the canal was excavated through the solid rock. Its length is nearly a mile ; its breadth a hundred feet ; and its depth eighteen feet. Its water-section is exactly fifteen hundred square feet. The banks are lined with a double colon- nade of trees, tastefully laid out, with green plats, and beautiful summer promenades. Along these banks, -so attractive, so lovely, so picturesque,-will "future sons and daughters yet unborn," take sentimental walks by moon-light, while tales of love find tender audience, and visions of a matrimonial Elysium dance through their minds.
To augment still further the water-power of Merrimac River, the lakes at the head of Winnipissawkee and Square Rivers, cov- ering about one hundred square miles, were secured,-by which the total water-power of the Merrimac has been increased from ten thousand to fifteen thousand horse-power.
HAND -BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS. 137
C. P. TALBOT & CO.,
Manufacturers and Dealers in
CHEMICALS, DYE WOODS, DRUGS, AND MANUFACTURERS' ARTICLES, CITY MARKET HOUSE, Market Street, : : : : : Lowell, Mass.
We manufacture to order, at our Chemical Works and Mills, situated at North Billerica, with a never failing water power, enabling us at all seasons to fill our orders promptly, the follow- ing list of articles, to which we would call the attention of dealers and manufacturers :-
Barwood,
Red Tartar,
Brazilwood,
Nut Galls,
Camwood,
Tumeric,
Muriate Iron, do Tin, Nitric Acid,
Hypernic,
Argols,
Limawood,
Sperm Oil Soap,
Logwood,
Palm Oil Soap,
Plumb Spirits,
Red Sanders,
Aqua Ammonia,
Preparing Salts,
Redwood,
Barwood Spirits,
Red Liquors,
Sappanwood,
Blue Vitriol,
Redwood Spirits,
Quer. Cit. Bark,
Ext. Indigo,
Scarlet Spirits,
Lac Dye,
Indigo Oil Vitriol,
Tin Crystals,
Cream Tartar,
Iron Liquor,
Yellow Spirits.
We have constantly on hand, in Store, in addition to above :
Alum,
Gum Arabac,
Picker Leather,
Brimstone,
Indigo,
Reeds,
Bleaching Powders,
Lace Leather,
Shuttles,
Cochineal,
Madder,
Sal Soda,
Cudbear,
Oils,
Soda Ash,
Copperas,
Oil Vitriol,
Soda Soap,
Cutch,
Potash Bichrome,
Sumac,
Flavine,
Potash Pruss,
Sugar Lead,
Glue,
Potash,
Twines and Tapes,
Gambier,
-
Pickers,
Tin
AND ALL ARTICLES GENERALLY USED BY MANUFACTURERS.
With our increasing facilities and long experience, we do not hesitate saying to dealers and manufacturers, that quality and price shall be satisfactory.
12L
Muriatic Acid,
Fustic,
Divi Divi,
Nitrate Iron, do. Copper,
Peachwood,
Aqua Fortis,
138
HISTORY OF LOWELL:
1
President Polk's Visit.
ON the 20th day of June, 1847, President Polk, and his Sec- retary of State, Hon. James Buchanan, together with other dis- tinguished gentlemen, visited Lowell, and were received by the local authorities at the landing from the cars, near the Bleachery, where the usual congratulations were exchanged. He was es- corted through the principal streets, with the usual ceremonies, by the City Guards, the Phalanx, and the Westford Rifle Com- pany. The reception was painfully polite, but distinguished by no enthusiasm. The mills were closed, and all business suspend- ed. The President and his companions visited the Middlesex and Prescott Mills on the following day, and expressed much sat- isfaction with their visit.
Gen. Cass as a Lecturer.
FROM the very initiation of the debating-club system of New England, by that Apostle of the Lyceum, the younger Rantoul, lyceum lectures have been in high repute in Lowell. Successive series have been delivered from season to season, under the pat- ronage of the Lowell Institute, the Lyceum, the Mechanics' As- sociation, the Athenaeum, the Adelphi, the Mathew Institute, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Lee Street Christian Union, and other similar organizations.
In the winter of 1846-'47, General Cass visited Lowell, and delivered one of the lectures of that season. All who knew the General, knew that, if once tapped, he was the last man in the world to run dry in a single hour. His lecture,-more remarka- ble for length than for depth,-was full three hours long. To listen to such a discourse,-much more to deliver it,-would be equal to one of the twelve feats of Hercules.
139
HAND - BOOK OF ITS BUSINESS.
SAMUEL N. WOOD, COMMISSION MERCHANT,
AND WHOLESALE DEALER IN
FLOUR, GRAIN, AND FEED
OF ALL KINDS,
NO. 43 MARKET STREET, (Nearly opposite the Market House,) LOWELL.
S. N. WOOD is receiving constantly from the Suffolk County Flour Mill,
Fresh Ground Flour, Graham Meal, AND GROATS.
Also on hand, the best brands of
ST. LOUIS, GENESEE, AND OHIO FLOUR, 1
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