History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 148

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 148

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Among other early manufacturers were Samuel Putnam, Nathaniel Boardman, Eben Putnam, Major Joseph Stearns, Daniel Putnam, Gilbert Tapley, the Prestons, Elias Putnam and Joshua Silvester. Fifty years ago the business was confined mostly to Put- namville, the Plains and the Port. About that time James Goodale and Otis Mudge began to manufacture at the Centre. In 1854 there were thirty-five firms, making more than a million and a half pairs annu- ally, and giving employment to about twenty-five hundred men and women.

Samuel Preston and Joshua Silvester were carrying on business on opposite sides of the square at the time of the great fire of 1845. About 1830 Mr. Preston was also running a store at Perley's corner. David Wilkins did his teaming, going into Boston four times a week with a pair of horses. He would load up with cases of brogans and start at one or two o'clock in the morning, and deliver the shoes at the various wharves along old Commercial Street. Then, with a load of groceries previously ordered,-molas- ses, great boxes of sugar bound with raw hide, and with a hundred sides of leather on top of all,-he drove back. One Hartwell at the Port was, at the same time teaming for the Putnamville people, and did a good business. Later Mr. Wilkins, still a fa- miliar figure with his lumber-wagon in our streets, formed a partnership with the late D. J. Preston, and took all the Boston teaming. It was the grow- ing importance of the shoe business and the need of banking accommodation that led to the establishment of the Village Bank in 1836. During the financial crisis of the next year Danvers men lost heavily with others. For twenty years there was prosperity, and then the crisis of 1857 and the demoralization of business occasioned by the breaking out of the war, forced many to the wall. Those who pulled through

or rallied afresh, had prosperous times during the war.

Among those who have contributed to the fame of Danvers as a shoe town within the past twenty or thirty years, and who have either retired, deceased or engaged otherwise in business, are John Sears, Daniel F. Putnam, J. C. Butler, C. H. Gould, Ira P. Pope, Alfred Fellows, J. R. Langley, Amos A. and Henry A. White, Joel Putnam, Aaron Putnam, I. H. Put- nam, William E. Putnam, I. H. Boardman, Henry F. Putnam, Phinehas Corning, J. M. Sawyer, G. B. Martin, G. H. Peabody.

The oldest established firm still in business is that of E. and A. Mudge & Co. Edwin Mudge, senior partner, commenced manufacturing in 1837, when nineteen years old. From 1840 to 1847 he was asso- ciated with his brother Otis. In 1849 he formed the partnership with his brother Augustus, which, with the admission of Edward Hutchinson in 1858, has since remained without further change. After a num- ber of expedients to accommodate their extensive business, the firm erected a large three-story factory, well fitted with all modern conveniences. It was sit- uated close by the residences of its owners, and was the life of the Center, but at present the tall chimuey is the melancholy monument of its former existence. It was burned about the first of June, 1885. Its loss has not proved so disastrous to the Center as was feared, for it so happened that the firm were able to move at once into the factory they now occupy at the corner of Pine and Holten Streets, Tapleyville, taking their old help with them, and the horse cars make the two villages practically one. Upon the corner men- tioned, George B. Martin manufactured shoes, and built up a prosperous business in a factory which, by successive additions, had grown to great size, and was occupied by Martin, Clapp and French (W. T. Martin, son of G. B.), when, on the night of February 23, 1883, the whole establishment and five adjoining dwellings were burned. The firm at once rebuilt, but they had not long occupied their fine factory before they experienced serious labor troubles and were in- duced to move their business to Dover, N. H. Thus the Mudges were enabled to move into it at once after their fire. G. W. Clapp withdrew from the Martin firm at the time of its removal, and with W. A. Tap- ley commenced the business carried on near the old carpet factory. Other large shoe manufacturers are C. C. Farwell & Co., J. E. Farrar & Co., Glover & Co. and Eaton & Sears ; numerous other firms do a smaller business.

BRICK-MAKING .- Danvers bricks rival Danvers onions in their reputation for sterling qualities. Far- mer Andrews' trip to Medford and young Jeremiah Page's return with him, the origin of the business here, has been mentioned in the sketch of the Plains. Mr. Page continued the business, of which he was the pioneer, to the close of his life, 1806, and at his de- cease his son, John Page, and son-in-law, John Fow-

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ler, carried it on a few years in partnership. Mr. Page then continued the business alone, and with such energy and success that Page's bricks were wide- ly known and in great demand. He is said to have made the first " clapped bricks," which were really pressed bricks, made before the invention of machiu- ery facilitated this most important feature of brick- making. For many years Mr. Page was a large con- tractor for government work, and many of his bricks were used in fortifications and light-houses. A very large number were sent to Forts Taylor and Jefferson on the Florida coast. In fact Danvers bricks were the government standard, specifications calling for them or others as good. Mr. Page had yards on both sides of High Street, that on the westerly side extend- ing beyond the location of the railroad and others on South Liberty Street near the Peabody line.

Deacon Joseph Putnam and Israel, his brother, nephews of General Israel, many years ago made bricks near the driving-park on Conant Street. The Webbs, too, were early brick-makers, Nathaniel Webh, grandfather of Putnam Webb, now living at the Port, having a yard near the horse-car stables on High Street. Jotham Webb was just beginning busi- ness below the box-mill at the Port, when at the Lexington alarm, he hurriedly donned his wedding suit, and was brought back to his young bride slain by a British bullet.

Josiah Gray was born in Beverly, but his parents moved to Bridgeton, Me., when he was a small boy. He came thither when a young man and learned to make bricks under John Page. He then worked some fifteen years making nails and anchors at the iron works, but on the occasion of a sharp cut in wages he began to make bricks in East Danvers, then Beverly. He virtually made Liberty Street what it is to-day, erecting a number of dwellings and setting out the first shade trees. He died in 1873 at an ad- vanced age, having been a most excellent citizen. The business which he began has continued prosperously in his family for more than fifty years. In 1881 the old yard off Liberty Street, then carried on by S. F. and J. A. Gray was bought by the New England Pressed Brick Company. Expensive works proved, however, a poor substitute for simpler processes and the com - pany failed. J. A. Gray went to Maine, and S. F. Gray, is carrying on the yard off High Street, former- ly worked by W. H. Porter.

Asa and Nathan Tapley and Matthew Hooper were early brickmakers in District No. 6. William H. Walcott succeeded Nathan Tapley, and William T. Trask succeeding Mr. Walcott, at present carries on that yard. Isaac Evans, Samuel Low and Moody Elliott were also among the early makers. G. H. Day commenced business in 1861 ; his sons, G. H. and E. F. Day, later. Samnel Trask, who succeeded Mr. Evans, W. H. Porter, Edward Carr and H. E. Elliott, began about the same time. At some time, John C. Page made bricks on Lefavour's Plain, 33}

South of Water's River, near Kernwood; and Charles Page in the large pasture near Crane River bridge; this latter yard was reopened by the Grays, and some of the bricks for the Danvers Lunatic Hospital, for which they had the contract, were made here.

John Grout had a yard in the rear of his residence on High Street. It is estimated that about five mil- lion bricks are now annually made here, divided as follows :

G. H. Day. 1,500,000

S. F. Gray ... 1 1,000,000

Edward Carr 1,000,000

P. A. Gallivan

800,000

Samnel Trask 600,000

Wm. T. Trask

100,000

Of these, at least, a fifth are of first quality front brick, rated in the market as good as any made in New England.

PHYSICIANS .- With the exception of an uncertain report of a Dr. Gregg, said to have lived at Salem Village in 1692, there is no evidence that the town had any settled physician until about 1725, but de- pended for medical and surgical services upon the Salem doctors.

Jonathan Prince was probably born in Danvers - and was certainly the first resident physician of whom there is any clear account. He studied medicine with Dr. Toothaker, of Billerica, aud was the pre- ceptor of Drs. Amos Putnam and Samuel Holten. He lived on the southern slope of Hathorne Hill, at a spot marked by a cluster of pines. The house was long since removed to the corner of Hobart and For- rest Streets, where it is known as the "Hook honse."

AMOS PUTNAM was born in Danvers 1722. He pursued his medical studies with Dr. Prince, and practiced in the town till the opening of the French War, when he entered the service as a surgeon. At the close of the war he returned to Danvers, and fol- lowed his profession until he was more than eighty years of age. He was a justice of the peace for many years, and one of the most influential citizens of the town. His grave is in a small inclosure near the Collins House, marked by a plain head-stone, on which is the following inscription : "Sacred to the memory of Doct. Amos Putnam and Hannah Phil- lips, the wife of A. P." He died July 26, 1807, aged eighty-five. She died Oct. 2, 1758, aged thirty-three.

SAMUEL HOLTEN was more distinguished in our history in other respects than as a physician. An ontline of his biography has been already given.

ARCHELAUS PUTNAM was born in Danvers in 1744. His birth-place and residence through life was the old Putnam homestead, near Wadsworth Cemetery. He graduated from Harvard College in 1763, and soon after commenced to practice his profession in town. He was a skillful physician and surgeon, and a man of great influence among his fellow-citizens. His death occurred in 1800, and his remains are buried in Wadsworth Cemetery.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

JAMES PUTNAM, son of Dr. Amos Putnam, was born in Danvers about 1760, studied medicine and was associated in practice with his father.

ANDREW NICHOLS was born November 2, 1785, lied 1853. See sketch of his life and portrait.

Dr. Shed was a druggist rather than a practicing physician. He was long town clerk, and something is said of him in connection with that office. He lived in the South Parish.

During the first years of this century quite a num- ber of physicians began business in town, hut after a brief period removed to other localities. Among these may be mentioned, Drs. Clapp, Cilley, Gould, Porter, Patten and Carleton.

Dr. Carleton located at the Port, and was famous as a "singing-master." Dr. Patten lived in what is now the Bass River House.

GEORGE OSGOOD was born in North Andover, March, 1784. After receiving his medical degree he came to Danvers and commenced practice in 1808. He also joined the Massachusetts Medical Society the same year. His home was for a time near the village bank building, and afterwards near the Essex depot, in the Abbott House. He was in active prac- tice more than half a century, and during this long time he was one of the most familiar figures in the town. He was a son-in-law of Dr. Holten, and is buried near the grave of the latter in the Holten Cemetery. The headstone bears this inscription :

GEORGE OSGOOD, M.D. He practiced medicine in this town fifty-five years. Beloved and respected by all who knew him. He passed to his rest, May 26, 1863, Aged 79 years, 2 months.

EBENEZER HUNT, whose name has often appeared in these pages, for more than half a century prac- ticed in this town of his adoption. He was born in Nashua, N.H., April 13, 1799; died at Danversport, Oc- tober 27, 187 4. He graduated at Dartmouth Medical College in 1822, and the next year settled here. He was among the earliest and foremost in the temper- ance and anti-slavery movements, and so ardent was his patriotism that when war came he enlisted as as- sistant surgeon in the Eighth Regiment. Radical in his views, gruff in manner, he was warm of heart and skillful in his profession, and will long be re- membered as a useful citizen.

DAVID A. GROSVENOR, JR., a son of Dr. Grosve- nor, of North Reading, was born in Manchester, Mass., 1812. He pursued his medical studies with his father, and also with Dr. Mussey, of Hanover, N. H. He received his diploma as Doctor of Medi- cine from Dartmouth Medical School in 1835. He commenced practice in Rutland, Mass., in 1836, but three years later came to Danvers and settled. His resi- dence is on Elm Street, near the Essex depot. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical So- ciety in 1840.

J W. SNow, born in Eastham, Mass., October 10,

1820. Studied medicine at Harvard Medical School and Hospital. Graduated at Pittsfield College ; com- menced practice at Liverpool, Nova Scotia, in 1847 ; settled in Danvers, January 1, 1850; removed to Saco, Me., in 1867, and shortly after to Boston, where he now resides.

DR. P. M. CHASE was born in Bradford, Mass., May 11, 1828; entered Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1847 ; attended a medical course at Woodstock, Vt., in 1853; was a pupil of Dr. H. B. Fowler, of Bristol, N. H .; entered the Medical Department at Dart- mouth College in 1854, and in 1855 entered Harvard Medical School, and graduated from Harvard Medi- cal College in 1857 ; located at Danvers as practicing physician in 1857; was commissioned examining sur- geon for recruits in the Rebellion in 1861; in 1874 was commissioned United States Examining Surgeon for Pensions ; in 1875 was commissioned surgeon in the Eighth Regiment, M. V. M .; was a Democratic can- didate for State Senator in 1874-75. He died at his residence, corner of Locust and Oak Streets, January 4,1887.

LEWIS WHITING, homeopathist, was born in Han- over, Mass., January 24, 1832; he graduated from the Bridgewater Normal School, and taught school till his health failed; began the study of medicine at Belle- vue Hospital, N. Y., in 1861 ; was afterwards two years in the navy as surgeon's steward ; continued his studies in 1864 at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, in New York, and graduated in 1865 at the New York Homeopathic Medical College; settled in Danvers August, 1865. Residence on Putnam Street.

WILLIAM WINSLOW EATON, born in Webster, Me., May 20, 1836; graduated from Bowdoin College in 1861 ; hegan the study of medicine, in 1860, with Dr. Isaac Lincoln, of Brunswick ; took his first and second course of lectures in 1861 and '62, at the Maine Medi- cal School; was a pupil of Dr. Valentine Mott in the winter of'63 and graduated at N. Y. University in 1864; entered the military service as assistant surgeon of the Sixteenth Regiment, Maine Infantry, in 1862; was promoted to surgeon and served three years ; began practice in South Reading, Mass., in 1865 ; removed to Danvers in April, 1867; was elected a member of the Maine Medical Association, and of the Massachu- setts Medical Society in 1865. Residence on Holten Street, near the Peabody Institute. Dr. Eaton has served on the school committee, as trustee of Peabody Institute, and in other public capacities, and has been recently elected president of the Walnut Grove Ceme- tery corporation.

D. HOMER BATCHELDER, born in Londonderry, N. H., 1811, graduated at Berkshire Medical College in 1840, practiced thirteen years in Londonderry, then removed to Cranston, R. I., from which town he came to Danvers in December, 1876. His residence was at the Port, and after a few years he moved else- where and was succeeded by Dr. Frost.

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DANVERS.

EDGAR O. FOWLER was born in Bristol, N. H., May 7, 1853 ; graduated at New Hampton Institute ; studied medicine with his father, Dr. H. B. Fowler, of Bristol, N. H. ; was a student at Bellevue Medical College and Long Island Hospital, N. Y., in 1872 and 1873 ; graduated at Dartmouth Medical School with the degree of M.D. in 1873; commenced practice in Danvers in 1874; joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1875; died suddenly of heart disease, May 1, 1884.

WOODBURY G. FROST was born in Brunswick, Me. ; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1860 ; taught school before and after graduation ; received degree of A.M. in 1863, aud the degree of M.D. in 1866 ; was acting assistant surgeon under Farragut in the W. G. B. Squadron ; practiced medicine twenty years in Free- port and Portland, Me., and in Danvers, Mass .; served on school committees in Maine, and at pres- ent is on the Danvers board.

DRS. F. A. GARDNER and COWLES recently prac- ticed here a short time.

DR. H. F. BATCHELDER, homeopathist, has lately settled.

LAWYERS .- At least three natives of North Dan- vers have risen to high judicial positions,-Samuel Holten, as probate judge of Essex County ; Samuel Putnam, as justice of the Supreme Court of Massa- chusetts ; and Rufus Tapley, as justice of the Supreme Court of Maine. Hon. Nathan Read came also to be a Maine judge. Arthur A. Putnam has been, if he is not still, judge of a local court in Worcester County. Judge Cummings of the Massachusetts Supreme Court; Frederick Howes of the Burley Farm; Abner C. Goodell, long Register of Probate at Salem ; and Mellen Chamberlain, ex-chief justice. of the Municipal Court of Boston, and now superin- tendent of the Boston Public Library, have lived in North Danvers. Wm. Oakes was a lawyer, and prac- ticed somewhat in Ipswich, but devoted himself chiefly to botany. Among those who have practiced here and gone elsewhere are William G. Choate, A. A. Putnam and Horace L. Hadley. A few devoted martyrs still remain to pour on oil when life's waters are troubled. Their names,-J. W. Porter, E. L. Hill, D. N. Crowley and A. P. White. Stephen H. Phil- lips, at one time attorney-general of Massachusetts, has within a few years taken up his residence on a part of the estate which was formerly owned by his father. A number of distinguished lawyers, includ- ing Rufus Choate, practiced in that part of Danvers which is now Peabody, and their names, here pur- posely omitted, will be found in the sketch of that town elsewhere in this book.

THE DANVERS LUNATIC HOSPITAL .- That is the official name, and though it doesn't slide so easily from the tongue as insane asylum it doubtless is pro- fessionally more correct. The act of 1873 author- ized the Governor to appoint commissioners to select and buy a site for a new hospital for the insane, to

be located in the northeastern part of the State. S. C. Cobb, of Boston, C. C. Esty, of Framingham, and Edwin Walden, of Lynn, were so appointed, and they selected Hathorne Hill, in Danvers, then owned by Francis Dodge, as the best location. From an æsthetic and hygienic point of view, the situation of the great institution is superb, and the beautifully kept grounds on the summit of the sightly hill add much to the attractiveness of Danvers, yet ou prac- tical grounds, the wisdom of placing the building so high has been questioned.

Work was commenced on the hill May 1, 1874. The hospital was ready for use in May, 1878. The cost of buildings, land, etc., at the latter date was $1,599,- 287.49. The first superintendent was Calvin S. May, M.D., who served from May 13, 1878, to August 9, 1880. William B. Goldsmith, M.D., was appointed superintendent March 1, 1881, and resigned Febru- ary 1, 1886, to accept a similar position at the Butler Hospital, Providence, R. I. During the year's ab- sence of Dr. Goldsmith in Europe, July 15, 1883, to July 15, 1884, Henry R. Stedman, M.D., was acting superintendent. William A. Gorton, the present superintendent, was appointed on the date of Dr. Goldsmith's resignation.

The first board of trustees were Charles P. Preston, of Danvers, Daniel S. Richardson, of Lowell, Gard- ner A. Churchill, of Boston, Samuel W. Hopkinson, of Bradford, James Sturgis, of Boston. The present board, 1887, include Messrs. Preston, Richardson and Hopkinson, and also Harriet R. Lee, of Salem, Solon Bancroft, of Reading, Dr. Orville F. Rogers, of Bos- ton, Florence Lyman, of Boston.

Dr. May was treasurer as well as superintendent. After his resignation the offices were separated, and Stephen C. Rose, of Marblehead, was appointed treasurer. He served from August 9, 1880, to Sep- tember 1, 1882, when his successor, Charles H. Gould, of Danvers, who at present holds the office, was ap- pointed. There are now, July, 1887, in the institu- tion seven hundred and fifty patients. The receipts for the past year were $151,598.95 ; payments, $149,- 887; balance in favor of the institution, $1711.95. The coal bill was about $2500.

The officers at the hospital, 1887, are as follows: superintendent, William A. Gorton ; lady physician, Julia K. Carey ; first assistant physician, Edward P. Elliot ; second assistant, Milo A. Jewett; third as- sistant, Arthur H. Harrington ; treasurer, Charles H. Gould; steward, Nathaniel W. Starbird, Jr .; clerk, C. A. Reed; engineer, G. A. Lufkin ; farmer, S. S. Pratt.

LITERARY SOCIETIES .- Probably the first was the "New Mills Lyceum," organized December 24, 1832. Its original members were Wm. Francis, Alfred Por- ter, J. P. Harriman, Edward Stimpson, Hathorne Porter, Samuel McIntire, Jr., Benj. Porter, Aug. Fowler, Jere. Page, Jr., Wm. Black, Wm. Endicott, Wm. Cheever, Edward Perry, Wm. Chaplin, David

524

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Taylor, John Perkins, Samuel D. Pindar, H. G. Bix- by, Moses W. Wilson, Edward D. Verry, Joseph Merrill.

The meetings were held in the school-house or Baptist vestry. Many of the young men who be- came conspicnous in the anti-slavery movement " learned to talk " in this debating club.

Nearly fifty years ago the North Danvers Lyceum used to hold its meetings in the hall of the old tav- ern, which hall was part of the mansiou once stand- ing on Folly Hill. On one side sat the ladies, on the other the gentlemen. The dignitaries, chief among whom were the ministers, Dr. Braman and others, sat at the head of the hall. Just how long the Ly- ceum continued its existence cannot be stated, but that for a time its meetings were the scenes of many vigorous and beneficial discussions on all sorts of topics, and by men who were no mean gladiators in such combats there is ample testimony. Mrs. Phil- brick has preserved this interesting notice :

"The question for debate on Wednesday evening, December 25th, provided there be no lecture is-

" Will tbe present pressure in business on the whole be a benefit to the community ?

" DISPUTANTS.

I. P. Proctor, Affirmative. O. A. Woodbury, } Negative.

J. D. Philbrick, Otis Mndge.

" NORTH DANVERS, December 18, 1839.

" MR. PHILBRICK :

" At a meeting of N. D. Lyceum you were chosen one of the Library Committee for coming season.

"I. P. PROCTOR, Secretary."

The BOWDITCH CLUB, which had its origin among the young men of Putnamville, grew to a flourishing and very useful existence, and lived far longer than such societies usually do. Its first meetings were held in the Putnamville school-house in 1857, and one of its original members and most enthusiastic supporters has informed the writer that so earnestly were questions debated that after adjournment certain members who lived at the Port would be accompanied and argued with all the way home.

The club held its meetings at the Plains after 1858 or 1859, and in 1870 moved into very comfortable quarters in the Bank Building. A halfa dozen years later it died the inevitable slow death of its kind. It has left a fine record, and was long an efficient agen- cy in the promotion of culture. The club maintained an annual lecture course, before the Peabody free course, and brought here the best talent to be had. Its own entertainments were of a high tone and al- ways interesting. The "Bowditch Club Dinner" was long a feature of each winter, and a " picnic " was held each summer. It would be well, indeed, for the town, were just such another society in ex- istence to-day.

The Holten Lyceum, Wadsworth Association, and perhaps other socictics, have had their day and ceased to be, at the Centre. A number of others might be mentioned, the Shakespeare C'lub, the Atlas Society, etc., etc.

The Danvers Scientific Association was organized September 27, 1882, and has held fortnightly meet- ings at Peabody Institute. The Sawyer Club is an active literary and social organization composed prin- cipally of members of the Universalist Society.

THE DANVERS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION .- On the 18th of April, 1882, a number of ladies met with Miss A. L. Page, under a call to all interested in forming a society among the women of Danvers for considera- tion of matters of common interest, furtherance of woman's work, general improvement and social en- joyment. One week later, the first regular meeting was held at Miss Shepherd's, where, also, officers were elected and a code of by-laws adopted, under the name of the "Danvers Women's Association ;" and until November following, meetings were held in private houses. Then the Grand Army Hall was used until January 1, 1884, when the Association took and fitted rooms especially for its own use, in the Ropes building. Upon the completion of the new post-office building it moved into its present quar- ters, comprising the whole of both upper floors. The membership of the Association has been for some time necessarily limited to one hundred and twenty, and the number is always full. Meetings have been regularly held on Tuesday afternoons, for seven months each year, at which instructive papers or talks have been given, usually by friends from out of town. Three times each winter "social teas " have been held, to which gentlemen have been invited.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 148

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538