History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 212

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 212

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A similar statement would perhaps be true of the shoe business, which for many years has been an im- portant industry in Methuen. In the early days shoe- making was not carried on to so great an extent as hatting. But within the recollection of many now living, there was a shoemaker's shop in every neigh- borhood and at almost every honse.

Shoes were all made by hand, and the workmen took out the stock, all cut, from the shop of their em-

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ployer, and carried it home to make up. In those days to be a shoemaker was to know how to make an entire shoe. Farmers' and shoemakers' wives and daughters " bound" shoes, and the board of the shoe- makers formed an important part of the income in many families. It would have been hard to find a spot in Methuen, where in the still summer days, the sound of the shoemaker's hammer did not penetrate. But after the war came on, and labor became scarce, machinery was devised to do the work which had been performed by hand, and the business began to centre into factories, like hatting, where, by the use of machinery, the production is largely increased.

In past times it is probable that more persons in Methuen have been dependent on the shoe business for a livelihood, than on the manufacture of hats. At present the shoe factory of Tenney & Co., is the only one in operation in Methuen.

The first store in town was opened by Abial Howe, at a building on Howe Street, nearly opposite the house of Charles L. Tozier. The exact date is un- known, but it is within the recollection of persons now living. Later, Esquire Russ opened another store a little south of the Russ place, but it does not appear that either of them had an extensive business.

It is not known precisely when Spicket Falls was first utilized as a water-power. A deed is in existence from the widow of John Morrill, dated December, 1709, in which she conveys to Robert Swan, for the sum of thirty pounds, one-fourth of a saw-mill and land "on Spicket River Falls, the mill that was built by and belonged to and amongst Robert Swan, John Morrill and Elisha Davis." Without doubt this was the first mill built. Afterwards a grist-mill was built on each side of the river, and as there was not busi- ness enough to keep them both running, it was agreed between them that they should run on alternate weeks. This arrangement was kept up until the cotton factory was built. The first cotton factory was built some- where near 1812, by Stephen Minot, Esq., of Haver- hill, on the north side of the river.

This was burned in 1818, and soon after rebuilt. In July, 1821, the whole privilege and lands con- nected therewith were purchased by the Methuen Company. The old carding or fulling-mill, which had stood on the south side of the Falls, was moved away and converted into a dwelling-house, which now stands on the north side of Pelham Street. In 1826- 27 the brick mill was built as it now stands. In 1864 the property came into the possession of David Nevins, Esq., by whom it was largely increased in ca- pacity and value, and to whose enterprise the town is greatly indebted for its prosperity in recent years. He erected a large addition to the brick mill, and in- troduced the manufacture of jute, which was contin- ued until his death in 1881. The mill has since becn kept in operation by his family. The principal man- ufacture of the Methuen Company has been cotton goods. "Methuen duck " has been for many years a

well-known article in the market, and "Methuen ticking " has always been a principal article of man- ufacture. After the death of Mr. Nevins the jute machinery was removed, and, in addition to duck and ticking, the Methnen Company now manufacture awning material and light and heavy cotton flannels.

In 1824 a saw-mill and grist-mill were built where the Methuen woolen-mill stands. They came into the possession of Samnel A. Harvey, Esq., by whom the business of the respective mills was carried on for some years. In 1864 the Methuen Woolen Company bought out the privilege, and erected a factory where the manufacture of woolen goods has been since car- ried on. The Arlington Mills have a large factory in Methuen, near the Lawrence line, built in 1881, de- voted to the manufacture of fine cotton yarn. The other mills of this enterprising and prosperous cor- poration are situated a little below on the Spicket, but within the limit of Lawrence.

The extensive chemical works of Lee, Blackburn & Co. are also situated in Methuen. They produce commercial fertilizers and chemicals used in manu- facturing processes.

The variety of mannfacturing interests in the town, the nearness to Lawrence, and close connection by the horse-railroad, which has been in operation since 1867, have combined in times of business depression to prevent that utter stagnation in business, which has been so severely felt in isolated manufacturing towns having only one important industry.

We have thus presented such of the principal features in the history of Methuen, past and present, as space will permit. Many details have been omit- ted, and some subjects altogether neglected, which wonld doubtless be of interest to those acquainted with the town, but the limits assigned to this paper will not admit of an exhaustive history.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

DAVID NEVINS.

David Nevins was born in Salem, New Hampshire, December 12, 1809. His parents were Jolın Nevins and Achsah Swan, who removed to Methuen, the native place of his mother, while David was quite young. He received such education as could be ac- quired at the public schools, and in 1824, at the age of fourteen was, apprenticed to Hall J. Howe & Co., of Boston, a dry goods commission house, and selling agents of the Methuen Company, then just beginning business. He remained with this firm until he reached the age of twenty-one years, and there laid the foundation of those business habits and methods which contributed so largely to his sub- sequent success. Immediately after coming of age he entered into partnership with Philip Anthony, of New

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Bedford, and carried on a flourishing business, fitting out whaling vessels and merchantmen for long voy- ages. During several years of his life he kept up his interest in shipping, in connection with his firm, and managed this branch of his extensive business so skillfully as to make it also one of his most profitable ventures. In 1838 he married Miss Eliza S. Coffin, of Nantucket, an estimable lady who still survives him. After remaining in New Bedford eight years, he left, and formed a partnership with George Baty Blake, in the dry-goods importing business, under the firm name of "George B. Blake & Co.," in Boston, and " Nevins & Co.," in New York.

While a member of this firm, he occasionally visited Europe, where he made the purchases for the house, and thus acquired an extensive acquaintance with the manufacturers of England and the Continent. Mr. Blake retired from the firm in 1845, and the New York house continued business under its old name. Soon after, Mr. Nevins re-established the Boston house under the name of "Nevins & Co." In 1846 he first became engaged in manufacturing, when with E. R. Mudge and others, he built the Victory Mills, at Schuylerville, New York, in which he was always a large owner. After the financial crash in 1857, he, with George Howe purchased the Pemberton Mills, in Lawrence, which had been built and proved a financial failure. Under the new management, the mills were run with great success until their fall on the evening of Jannary 10, 1860. Mr. Nevins then purchased the ruins, formed a new company, and re- built the mills, getting them ready for operation early in the spring of 1861, and continued to operate them as president of the corporation and selling agent, successfully and continuously until his death. In 1864 he purchased the entire plant of the Methuen Company, which had suspended operations at the be- ginning of the war. The mill was not put in opera- tion, however, until the succeeding year.

In 1870 the mill was greatly enlarged, and in 1871 he introduced the manufacture of fine and coarse jute fabrics. When he bought the mills, they furnished employment to about one hundred and fifty persons ; when he died they required six hundred and fifty operatives, and his enterprise had been instrumental in largely increasing the population and business of the town. Abont 1868, the Stevens' Linen Works, of Webster, Ma-s., came into his hands through the failure of the former proprietors, and by his energy and ability it soon became a successful business en- terprise, and continned so until his death. About 1874 he purchased the mills of the India Bagging Company, at Salem, Mass., and two years later, the entire plant of the Bengal Bagging Company, of Salem, both of which had been unsuccessful business ventures. He soon made a success of both, and so increased the production of jute fabrics at these and his other mills, that at the time of his death he was the largest manufacturer of this staple in the United

States. His manufacture was not confined to one article, but embraced the four great staples of cotton, wool, jute and flax, and with marked success in all. He carried on his business so successfully that he ac- cumulated a large fortune, and directly employed at his death, probably two thousand people, and in- directly afforded employment to many more.

His extraordinary business capacity was shown in nothing more clearly, than in his ability to take up a broken down business enterprise, infuse into it new life, and make it profitable for himself and the com- munity in which it happened to be located. He was an excellent judge of men, and rarely made a mistake in the selection of those whom he was obliged to place in important positions. So systematically and perfectly had he organized his immense business, that at the time of his death all parts continued to run, like a perfect machine, without a jar or break, a splendid tribute to his foresight and ability, and the capacity and faithfulness of those to whom the details of his business were entrusted. Endowed with an iron constitution he was accustomed from early hoy- hood to his latest days, to severe and long continued labor, and no task was too difficult for him to under- take. His business career was characterized from the first by an indomitable energy, far-sighted policy and an nnvarying attention to all the details. Through all the financial revulsions of over half a century his business credit remained untarnished, and an unvary- ing success rewarded his strict adherence to rules of probity and honor. In addition to his extraordinary mental powers, keen, quick and accurate in solving the intricate questions presented to him, was a rare taste and love for fine literature which amidst all his cares and duties he found time to gratify and cultivate. He was a devoted student of Shakspeare, Milton and the old English classics, and withial was remarkably well informed on all questions of the time. He de- lighted in nature, and whether driving his horses over his favorite country roads, or interesting himself in the details of his farm, he manifested a fondness for her beauty and works. He took great delight in the management of his farms, always keeping them in a high state of cultivation, and giving personal supervision to the details. He had a strong affection for the home of his boyhood, and always took an ac- tive interest in the affairs of the town. He seldom failed to be present at the town-meetings, and partici- pate in the debates over town matters. Within two weeks of his death he attended the annual town- meeting, and as usual took an active interest in the proceedings. Mr. Nevins was of a social, genial nature, generous in his instincts and liked to enter- tain his friends. In personal appearance he was nearly six feet in stature, had a superb figure and a remarkably handsome, refined and intellectual head and face, and presented a commanding and patrician bearing.

A few days before his death, he took a severe cold,

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which gradually grew worse, and developed heart difficulty, causing his death in the midst of his ex- tremely active and useful career, on the 19th of March, 1881.

He left two sons .- David Nevins and Henry C. Nevins, who with their mother have continued his extensive and varied business enterprises.

CHAPTER L.

GEORGETOWN.

BY HENRY M. NELSON.

INTRODUCTORY AND TOPOGRAPHICAL.

THE town of Georgetown, the twenty-seventh in the sisterhood of Essex County, and numbering three hundred and three in the line of date of incorpora tion of the towns then existing within the limits of the State, has for its natal day April 21, 1838. Two municipalities besides Georgetown were at that ses- sion of the General Court granted permission "to be." One, a poor, feehle child of the commonwealth, on the extreme western border, was, just a week before, in exquisite raillery it would seem, ushered into the family as Boston Corner, and then, after a few brief years, with its square mile of territory and seventy- three inhabitants, was quietly or otherwise disposed of to our New York neighbors. The other, known originally as " Erving's Grant," became the town of Erving, in Franklin County. That town has had a moderate growth in a fairly, fertile agricultural dis- trict, and to-day continues with but slight increase from one census point to another. Georgetown is lo- cated about six miles northerly of the geographical centre of the county, and on the southern border of the Merrimac towns. It has an outline of five sides known as quinquangular, having that number of rather unequal sides, but bounded, however, by four towns only, viz: Boxford, extending along the west and south; Rowley on the southeast; Newbury on the east; Groveland along the entire north; and without any marked change of boundary line, exists to-day as when set off from Rowley, the mother-terri- tory, nearly a half-century ago. Its greatest length is from west-northwest to east-southeast, nearly five and three-fourths miles. This is from the angle north of the house of Mrs. Edward Poor, on West Street, to a point about one-half mile southeast of the new cemetery in Byfield, and its extreme width, three and one-half miles, is from just north of the Thurlow es- tate, on Thurlow Street, to the noted boundary-mark where Rowley, Boxford and Georgetown lines diverge a large red oak tree of which the charred stump now

remains, known from early times as the "Three Sis- ters." A Sunday raccoon hunt by some of our local sportsmen is understood to tell the story of its de- struction, a score or more of years ago.

The seventy-first degree west, Greenwich, at the Boxford boundary is just west of the B. & M. R. R., across which the railroad diverges to the west of the line near the residence of H. P. Chaplin, Esq., cross- ing Georgetown village very nearly where the First Congregational Church stands and Main Street a few rods northwest of the centre, having the eastern cor- ner of Groveland and the villages of West Newbury and Merrimac on the same line at the north. Direct- ly south is the most westerly section of Lynn, East Saugus, West Peabody, Middleton and Boxford vil- lage. Located within the latitude of 42º 42' to 45', this town has exactly on the western line the city of Lawrence, the denser part of Methuen, the river side of North Andover, West Boxford, and eastwardly the entire town of Rowley, the Great Neck district of Ipswich, and along the ocean all that part of Plum Island within Rowley and Ipswich. The nearest point to the open Atlantic, from the village centre on the air line, is across Hog Island and just south of the division on Plum Island between Rowley and Ipswich, about ten and one-half miles. The entrance to Ipswich River, the same distance. In favoring conditions of wind and atmosphere, the beating of the surf on Plum Island, after or during a gale, and Ips- wich beach before the storm is upon us, is distinctly heard in this town. The nearest point to Merrimac river, is at the boundary between Bradford and Grove- land, distance three and one-fifth miles. Direct line to Haverhill bridge railroad station five and one-half miles. Nearest point t) State line, a point about midway of Plaistow, N. H., just north of Kenoza Lake, six and three-fourths miles. City of Lawrence eight and one-half miles; and the factory bells are heard frequently and very clearly. The tide-water at Byfield not quite four miles distant.

The topographical features of the town are first, the Baldpate as the most prominent elevation, extending in its foot hills nearly to Central Street on its western side, and includes the entire southwestern section of the town. It attains at its highest altitude about four hundred feet above the sea, with a broad, level tract at its northeast base, terminating sharply at Rock Pond. This hill was known as Baldpate (or including the hill in Boxford near by, known as Shaven-crown ) as the Bald hills from early times. The divisional line between Baldpate and its neighbor is distinctly defined, extending over the town limits just beyond the boundary line. This is a well-watered country, Lake Raynor and a small pond at the head of Raynor with a swampy margin, both in Boxford, absorbing all of the several streams, coursing down the southern slope. The eastern water-shed is into the westerly branch of Pen Brook, while the north western flowing into Half-Moon Meadow reaches Parker River just

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westerly of Scrag Pond. The Uptake district, in the northwest, has its southern side ouly in Georgetown, quite precipitous and ragged. This district is princi- pally in Groveland. Another hilly section west of Pen Brook aud east of Elm Street, separated from the Baldpate district by the plain at South Georgetown called in early times Fair-face, extends from a gentle upland at the northern end of this section, three- fourths of a mile southerly, to an abrupt and peculiar termination, just in the rear of the residence of S. K. Herrick, anciently the home of Capt. Benj. Adams, designated formerly as "Tanner Adams." This is the " Red Shanks " locality, and has been known as such for at least one hundred and sixty years ; why it bears this name is difficult to conjecture, although it may have been from the color of the rock formation. East Street traverses a natural notch up the western slope of this district. This tract at its highest point is not far from two hundred feet above the ocean, and has such singular features, that experienced travellers and scientists as Profs. C. H. Hitchcock and J. H. Huntington have noticed and remarked its peculiari- ties.

Old Californians have claimed, that this, with the moraines and broken country on the opposite side of Fair-face Plains, had striking resemblances to the min- eral districts, with which they were familiar, and as evidences are apparent, mineral deposits have been sought for. The water-shed is toward Pen Brook on the one side, and the branch of Pen Brook which flows west of Elm Street, on the other. Still another ele- vated locality in this town was designated as the Rocky Hills, from the earliest period, showing that familiarity with the peculiar natural features of the place, which results in a characteristic name. Along the base of this rocky front, may have been an In- dian trail, travelled by them while on their inland journeys, and from the southern margin of this ragged ledge, our fathers no doubt first saw the coun- try beyond. From this point, just in the rear of the house of E. S. Sherburne, begins an extended tract of upland of varied character, moderate elevation and of peculiar features, urlike any others in town, more especially in the northern section, or iu that part known in modern times as Atwood's Hill. Here is a sharp ascent of perhaps one hundred feet, rising quite abruptly from the narrow intervale of Pen Brook be- low. The country eastwardly is broken and undulat- ing, rising, however, on the south at the Searl place, to a sufficient height to give an attractive prospect. This npland region extends to Tenney Street on the southeast, with a descent on the northeast, to the in- dentation known as Spruce swamp, encircling a di- minutive pond of the same name. The water-shed from this tract, embracing the country from North Street to Marlborough, or Elders Plain, as formerly called, and Tenney Street, is into Pen Brook along the southwest to the northwest side, and on the north- ern side into Parker River and also into the brook,

which, flowing from Spruce Pond by a northerly course, runs into Parker river.

In the east the waters take a new channel, seeking their level at a brauch of Muddy Brook, one of the main feeders of Mill River, that prominent feature iu the topography and history of the mother town of Rowley. This same brook also receives the waters of the southerly slope of Long Hill, an elevation hav- ing an altitude of two hundred and thirty-three feet, the summit of which is in Georgetown, with its easter- ly side in Rowley. Here again the water fall of the north is into Parker River, through Wheeler's Brook, and one or two of its branches; but further to the eastward into Great Swamp Brook, another of the numerous feeders of Mill River. Between the eastern branch of Wheeler's Brook (a stream which enters Parker River in Newbury, about one-half mile from the town boundary) and Great Swamp Brook, is a considerable part of the Byfield district, of slight ele- vation, most of the area being a plain of light soil, known on its eastern side as "Rye Plain," from a very early date.

In tracing the brooks and streams of the town, Parker River naturally becomes the central object. It flows along the northern boundary, at some points so near, as if with an eagerness to cross, and at none of its windings, hardly three-fourths of a mile within the town. Its head waters are but a short distance from Great Pond in Andover, fed by a small pond, and a few streams in West Boxford. Entering George- town its first course is through Haselltine's meadow, absorbing the brook from Half-moon meadow, then taking Scrag Pond in its course, now a mere quag- mire of bushes, it reaches Rock Pond, a fine sheet of pure water of forty or more acres, and hurrying on by the outlet at its northern end, it enters by a northerly curve, at about eighty rods distance, Lake Pentucket, of perhaps one hundred acres, and passes out at its southeastern margin. At this point, in volume, it begins to show its powers as the servant of the com- ing man. The Englishman who, on his return home, wrote such a glowing account of Parker River, which he claimed to have explored a score or two of miles into the interior, enlarging upon its great width, mak- ing it in resource almost a rival to the Thames, drew on his imagination like a true Munchausen or a mod- ern speculator in Western and Florida lands, and no. doubt had a satisfactory sale, for a history so marvel- ous and entertaining.

One-half mile beyond the outlet, a vigorous brook, it receives through Pen Brook, all the surplus of Lake Raynor and the adjacent country, the water- shed of an area of not less than two thousand acres; this grand tribute added, after receiving a slight stream from the north, and the Spruce Pond Brook near the Hilliard tannery, at a mile beyond, it reaches the ter- ritory of our northern neighbor.

While at an early period both of our ponds were re- corded with the names they now bear; the stream be-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tween Scrag Pond and Rock Pond was named " the brook that runneth from Scrag Pond," simply, that part of Parker River which connects Rock and Pen- tuckets Ponds was "Rock Pond Brook," and "that which issueth out of Pentucket Pond " was, when des- ignated, recorded as Crane Brook.

Aside from the limited Long Hill section, which is a supply through Muddy Brook for Mill River, wholly a Rowley stream, until in the salt marshes northeast of the ox-pasture it unites with the Parker, and together they journey to the sea ; the whole rain- fall of this town, besides that which falls on two or three thousand acres of land in West Boxford and North Andover with that along Lake Raynor, seeking its natural level, enters Parker River, either before crossing into Groveland or even after reaching New- bury.

These brooks and streams-seven in number, and their branches, which are of themselves permanent brooks-are bounded by meadows of varying width, in places a mere fringe of intervale, but mostly of a width of many rods, of peaty soil, aggregating not less than five hundred acress. This meadow-land of itself was a prize in the eyes of the first settlers. These brooks, bordered by such extensive ·natural clearings, had a value then that to-day we can scarcely realize. Rowley had none of these fresh meadows at or near the town. The " large accommo- dations" offered by the General Court of Massachu- setts Bay to Mr. Ezekiel Rogers and his company in the winter of 1638 included these especially valuable lands in the territory now known as Georgetown. The location was accepted, however, without any definite knowledge of the land of the interior. Neigh- bors near enough for aid and assistance when needed, with land sufficient for the support of the plantation, was one requisite ; another was water communication with Boston. Both were included in the offered grant. All the seaboard in the vicinity of Boston had been already occupied.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 212

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