History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 233

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 233

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These items are mentioned merely as incidents in history and not as possessing any serious import. In both instances the collisions were the natural results from the impulses of unthinking and unreasoning men. When serions trouble came in 1861 men of all nation- alities-American born and foreign born, Catholics and Orangemen- vied with each other in maintaining the honor of our national banner by land and sea.

The city has been the scene of one deliberate mur- der. Albert D. Swan was shot by Henry K. Good- win August 27, 1885. There had been between the two men a dispute of long standing in regard to the use of some invention connected with the telephone in which both were interested, and for the use of which Goodwin claimed that Swan was indebted to him in a considerable amount. Swan claimed that he owed him nothing. On the day above named Goodwin borrowed a pistol, and, going to the count- ing-room where Swan was seated at a desk, he renew- ed his demand, and as it was not responded to satis- factorily, he fired with fatal effect.

house of Hallgarten & Herzfield, New York, and was afterwards gold paying teller and attorney for the firm in the New York Stock Board; entered into partnership with his father under the name of D. S. Swan & Son in Lawrence, 1866, in fire insurance bus- iness. The father died 1874, and the business was continued by the son, who was also at the time of his death a director in the Bay State Bank.

POLICE COURT .- In April, 1848, the Police Court was established by act of Legislature. Prior to this, justice had been dispensed by Trial Justice Joseph Couch. The first judge appointed was William Ste- vens, who, after a service of thirty years, resigned, and was succeeded by Hon. Nathan W. Harmon in 1878. After a service of nine years Judge Harmon resigned on account of impaired health, and was fol- lowed by the present judge, Hon. Andrew C. Stone. Associate justices have been Hon. Wm. H. P. Wright, W. Fiske Gile, Charles U. Bell, Gilbert E. Hood. Among those who have held the office of clerk, for- merly appointed by the mayor and more recently elected by the people, have been Wm. H. Parsons, W. H. P. Wright, Edgar J. Sherman, Henry L. Sher- man, Charles E. Briggs, Jesse G. Gould and the pres- ent incumbent, Henry F. Hopkins.

At the first town-meeting ten constables were ap- pointed, who were also field-drivers-Gilman F. San- born, Bailey Bartlett, J. N. Gage, Phineas M. Gage, C. N. Sonther, H. T. Nichols, E. Bartlett, N. Hazel- ton, Nath'l Ambrose, W. A. Goodwin.

Of these, three -- Gilman F. Sanborn, Nathan- iel Ambrose, and James D. Herrick-were successive- ly at the head of the town police. Phineas M. Gage was the owner of a fine farm in the easterly portion of the town, embracing what is now Jackson Court and a portion of the Common,-Orchard Street tak- ing its name from his orchard, and Garden Street from his garden.

The venerable Bailey Bartlett (a son of Hon. Bailey Bartlett, of Haverhill, who was appointed sheriff of Essex County by Gov. John Hancock) resided for several years in Newburyport, afterward in Salem and came thence to Lawrence. He was, as above stated, one of the first constables chosen in Lawrence, and on the decease of Joshna Buswell (the first deputy here), he was appointed deputy-sheriff, an office which he filled acceptably for many years. After this he was appointed a constable for civil service by success- ive city governments, and was remarkably active till a year or two before his decease, which occurred 1887, at the advanced age of ninety-two. James D. Her- rick, educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, entered Dartmouth College, hut did not continue a college course ; was a teacher till 1846, when he came to Law- rence, and for twenty-two years was in the employ of the Essex Company as toll-keeper at Andover Bridge. He was one of the first members of the school com- mittee and served on the committee at different peri-

Mr. Swan was born in Tewksbury May 10, 1845, and came with his father, the late David S. Swan, to Lawrence in 1848. Ile was educated in the schools of Lawrence and at Comers' Commercial College, Boston ; commenced life as a clerk in the banking- 1 ods for ten years; was at one time chief engineer of

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the Fire Department and a member of the Board of Aldermen.

Under the city government, the varions marshals (chiefs of police) have been Harvey L. Fuller, Chan- dler Bailey, Leonard Stoddard, Joseph H. Keyes, John S. Perkins, George W. Potter, John W. Porter, Ed- mund R. Hayden (afterward mayor), Noah Parkman, Col. Chase Philbrick, Capt. James E. Shepard, Ly- man Prescott, James M. Currier, Moulton Batchelder and James T. O'Sullivan.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL .- This school was established in 1875, to provide a place for boys " who are growing up without salutary control, or no control at all ; who either have no homes or homes merely in name; who lead idle lives and are habitual truants; who may indeed have been guilty of petty offences, but who may be reformed by kind treatment-a place where they may receive useful instruction in books and manual labor." The school opened with two boys July 3, 1875, under the direction of Captain H. G. Herrick, Rev. George Packard, Hon. Milton Bonney, Rev. John P. Gilmore and Frederick E. Clarke as trustees. The school has proved a very wise and use- ful establishment, and has accomplished much good. Many boys, who would otherwise have grown up to become pests of society, have gone from this school to become useful and industrious citizens. It is really a home, and by no means a prison, and is and has been for several years under the charge of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Risk.

Of the original trustees, Messrs. Packard and Bon- ney have died, and Rev. J. P. Gilmore has left the city. Messrs. Herrick and Clarke have from the be- ginning devoted much time to the interests of the school.

Judge William Stevens was horn in North Andover, Mass., 1799; entered Harvard College at the age of sixteen, graduating in 1819; went to Nashville, Tenn., where he commenced the study of law; was admitted to the bar and practiced law in that city till 1826, when he removed to Belfast, Me., and became the law partner of John Wilson. The copartnership was dissolved in 1829, at which time he was elected to represent Belfast in the Legislature of Maine, nine years after the separation of Maine from Massa- chusetts. During his residence in Belfast he was ac- tive in public affairs, and is mentioned in the history of that town as a "distinguished and prominent" citizen ; was a leader in the Debating Society, presi- dent of the Belfast Lyceum, editor of the Maine Farmer and Political Register, and a leading member of the Fire Department. Mr. Stevens removed subse- quently to his native town, and soon after was elected to the Massachusetts Legislature, and served several terms. In 1836 he was appointed cashier of the Es- sex Bank in Andover, a position which he held till November 20, 1847, when the business of that bank was closed, and the cashier was ordered to dispose of the notes and other property. He removed to Law-

rence July 3, 1848, at which time he was appointed hy Governor Briggs judge of the Lawrence Police Court.

This position he held till May, 1877, and during this period was for three years a member of the School Committee. Failing health, loss of eye-sight, compelled his resignation, and on the 4th of June, 1878, he was stricken with apoplexy and died in a few hours .-

Judge Stevens was a gentleman of the olden time, very nrbane in manner, kind to a fault to the unfor- nate and erring ; as a judge, sometimas deciding cases according to equity, rather than strict law ; a public- spirited citizen and a sterling patriot. Two of his sons, fully imbued with the father's devotion to country, gave their lives to its service in the Civil War.

NEWSPAPERS .- The first newspaper in Lawrence was issued in October, 1846, by J. F. C. Hayes, and was called the Merrimack Courier. It continued un- der the editorial management of Mr. Hayes, John A. Goodwin (subsequently of Lowell), Homer A. Cook, Rev. Henry I. Harrington and Nathaniel Ambrose till 1862. In 1848 a Democratic paper, entitled the Vanguard, was published by Fabyan & Donglas. The name was subsequently changed to The Sentinel. This paper has been edited in the course of its exist- ence by Harrison Douglass, Colonel B. F. Watson, Geo. A. Gordon, Benjamin Bordman, John Ryan, Hon. John K. Tarbox and Abiel Morrison, and is yet issued as a weekly paper.

In 1855 the Lawrence American was commenced by George W. Sargent and A. S. Bunker; it was con- tinued by Mr. Sargent alone, and then Major Geo. S. Merrill became associated with him, and has since been the editor. This paper is Republican in pol- itics, and is issued daily under the title of Lawrence American, an evening paper, and weekly as the Law- rence American and Andover Review. This is be- lieved to be the first newspaper and printing-office in the world where the presses are all run by electric power, introduced in 1884.

In 1867 the Essex Eagle was commenced by Mer- rill & Wadsworth ; now published by H. A. Wads- worth. This paper has two editions-a weekly and morning daily.

The Lawrence Journal, another well-conducted pa- per, was commenced by Robert Bower as the organ of workingmen. It was purchased in 1877 by Mr. Patrick Sweeney, one of the earliest residents of the town, Democratic in politics, with a good share of independence.

The Sunday Telegram has been more recently es- tablisbed. Several other papers have had an ephem- eral existence.

CHARITABLE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

MASONIC .- Grecian Lodge, the oldest in the city, was chartered in Methuen December 10, 1825, but in

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

consequence of the opposition to secret societies in anti-Masonic times, the meetings were practically abandoned. December 14, 1846, the first Masonic meeting was held in Lawrence, and at an adjourned meeting, one week later, it was determined to petition the Grand Lodge for a charter under the name of Grecian Lodge, in which it was hoped the Methuen Masons would join, and it was proposed that they should meet weekly from the 28th of December. Ben- jamin Boardman was proposed for M., Geo. E. Tyler for S. W., and J. F. C. Hayes for J. W., and a com- mittee was appointed to take steps for procuring a charter, which was granted in February, 1848.

Tuscan Lodge way chartered December 10, 1863; Phonicion Lodge November 5, 1870.

Mount Sinai Royal Arch Chapter was chartered Oc- tober 1, 1861.

Bethany Commandery, Knights Templar, was char- tered December 29, 1864.

Lawrence Council, R. and S. M., was chartered De- cember 9, 1868.

Lawrence Masonic Association was formed November, 1871.

Lawrence Masonic Mutual Relief Association was chartered July 20, 1874.

ODD FELLOWS .-- The first lodge of the I. O. O. F. was organized May 10, 1847, and the order is repre- sented in Lawrence by the following : United Broth- ers Lodge, formed in 1847 ; Monadnock Lodge, No. 150, organized 1867 ; Lawrence Lodge, in 1869; Kearsarge Encampment, No. 36, September 11, 1868 ; Lawrence Encampment, No. 31, in 1852, and re-instituted 1874. The Lawrence Odd Fellows' Building Association, formed in 1874-75, erected the fine brick building at the corner of Essex and Lawrence Streets ; the lower floors of this building are ocenpied by stores; the second floor has been, for several years, occupied by the Lawrence Public Library, and the upper stories have been finely fitted and furnished for meetings and banquet halls of the various associations of the order.

Among the BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIETIES are The Knights of Honor ; Knights and Ladies of Honor ; United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, five divisions ; The Royal Arcanum; The Home Circle; The American Legion of Honor ; The Northern Mutual Relief Associ- ation ; Ruth Lodge, Daughters of Rebecca; all of which are recognized by the State, and their financial standing reported in the Insurance Reports.

Other benevolent societies are the Knights of Pythias (a secret order) ; the Order of United Friends, repre- sented by two organizations,-Alpha Council, No. 7, and Bay State Council, No. 162; Knights of St. John ; Knights and Ladies of the Golden Rule; the Golden Rule Alliance ; United Order of the Golden Cross, in three divisions,-the Olive, Eastern Star and Loyalty Commanderies ; the Ancient Order of Foresters ; all having for their object mutual assistance to sick and distressed members.

The Ladies' Union Charitable Society, incorporated 1875, has the charge of the hospital for the care of acute cases of sickness and accident ; nursery for day care of small children ; training-school for nurses.

The German population has two associations of the Order of Harugari, known as Schiller Lodge and Frei- heit Lodge, with Masonic features and benefits ; also an Aid Society, a Sick Relief Association, and the St. Aloysius Aid Society (Catholic).

The benevolent societies of the French population are L' Union St. Joseph and La Societe St. Jean Bap- tiste.

Other large benevolent societies are The Irish Cath- olic Benevolent Society, organized October, 1863; Two lodges Ancient Order of Hibernians ; The Protectory of Mary Immaculate, better known as the Orphan Asylum, as its name implies, an orphan asylum and home for invalids, the first institution ever erected in the city for charitable purposes ; and the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul.

There are in Lawrence also several social and liter- ary clubs, among which are the Home Club, with handsomely furnished rooms, centrally located on Essex Street ; the Caledonian Society (Scotch) ; Sons of St. George (English); Le Cercle Montcalm (French) ; the Turn-Verein (German) ; the Knights of St. Patrick and the Old Residents' Association, to which all are eligible who have resided in Lawrence twenty-five years or more, Miss E. G. Wetherbee, president.

A Natural History and Archæological Society, em- bracing nearly one hundred members, has recently been formed, R. H. Tewksbury, president; John P. Langshaw, secretary ; G. R. Sanborn, treasurer.

Needham Post (No. 39) of the Grand Army of the Republic combines the two objects of good-fellowship and benevolence to needy and sick comrades.

The post was named after Sumner Henry Need- ham, a member of the old Sixth Regiment, and who was among the first martyrs of the Rebellion. He was killed at Baltimore on the 19th of April, 1861. His remains were brought to Lawrence and interred in Bellevue Cemetery with public honors. Business was suspended throughout the city, and flags at half- mast, with other demonstrations of grief, marked the public respect for his memory.

He was born at Bethel, Me., and had been twelve years in Lawrence when the war broke out. With the name of such a hero as its patron, Post 39 could not help but increase in numbers and usefulness. To- day its membership is one of the largest of any post in the State ontside of Boston. Its roll represents over three hundred members in good standing, with fresh accessions coming in at every meeting. It has disbursed for charitable purposes during the last ten years from seven hundred dollars to twelve hundred dollars annually.

The first commander was Major George S. Merrill, and such soldiers as Col. L. D. Sargent, Col. E. J.

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Sherman, Major E. A. Fiske, Col. Chase Philbrick, Major L. N. Duchesney, Adjutant Frank O. Kendall, Ex-Mayor Davis, Stephen C. Parsons, James Noonan, Daniel F. Kiley, David Johnson, William H. Coan, Hon. A. C. Stone, John F. Hogan, James J. Stanley, George H. Flagg and Charles H. Couillard were liis successors. Of the above, Mr. F. O. Kendall has been appointed and served as adjutant under eleven com- manders, this being a longer period than can be said of any other member of a G. A. R. Post in the State. The charter members of Needham Post were Melvin Beal, James G. Abbott, Frank Davis, E. L. Noyes, Chase Philbrick, A. A. Currier, George S. Merrill, E. J. Merriam and S. M. Decker. The charter is dated December 10, 1867. The present commander of Needham Post is Charles U. Bell, Esq.

MUSICAL ASSOCIATION .- The Oldest Musical Asso- ciation in the city is the Lawrence Brass Band, formed in February, 1849, a very patriotic association, which in the Rebellion sent twelve of its eighteen members into the Union army.1 For many years it was under the leadership of D. Frank Robinson. The present leader is Mr. E. T. Collins.

The Lawrence Cornet Band, F. J. O'Reilly, leader; La Bande Canadienne, J. R. Lafricaine, leader ; the Lyra and Glocke Singing Societies (German) ; the Ladies' Choral Union, under the direction of Mr. Reuben Merrill ; two Orchestral Associations, one directed by E. T. Collins, the other by C. J. A. Marier.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION .- Organ- ized October 12, 1876 ; incorporated January 14, 1880; reorganized February 6, 1883. The associa- tion has pleasant and convenient rooms, which are open daily from 8 A.M. to 9} P.M. The following privileges are free to all persons : Reading-room well supplied with papers and periodicals, parlor games, boarding-house register, employment burean, song service and facilities for letter-writing. In addition to the above, members of the association are entitled to the use of the gymnasinm, bath-rooms, members' parlor and admission for member and lady to the annual course of entertainments. Any young man of good moral character, regardless of religious belief, may become a member on payment of an annual fee of two dollars. Fee for membership, with use of the gymnasium, five dollars.

The building occupied by them was built for and occupied by the Eliot Church. This was sold when the Eliot and Central Churches united, and was pur- chased by Hon. Wm. A. Russell, who conveyed it to the association, generously deducting from the payment the sum of ten thousand dollars of the actual cost.

LAWRENCE CITY MISSION. - In the great influx of population naturally attendant upon founding of the new town many came with limited means, who, either from want of immediate employment or illness,

needed assistance. Poor, but not by any means paupers, a little aid from those more fortunate wonld help them on in their struggle for success. Among the first to recognize the importance of system in the distribution of aid was Rev. Henry F. Harrington, then pastor of the Unitarian Church, who said to his people : "If you will place your charity money in my hands, and send your applicants for aid to me, I will look up the cases and help as I shall see help is needed."

December, 1854, seven gentlemen met for the pur- pose of forming a "Relief Society." These men were Rev. George Packard, John C. Hoadley, William D. Joplin, James K. Barker, Rev. Richard S. Rust, Ebe- nezer B. Currier and Rev. H. F. Harrington. At a subsequent meeting John C. Hoadley was chosen president, the city was divided in six districts, a divi- sion committee of three persons from each ward of the city was appointed, and to each section was as- signed a visitor. The first general agent was Wm. D. Joplin (who died August, 1870). Mr. Joplin served one year, and following him Henry Withing- ton, who served more than two years, both devoted to the work without compensation, the last-named giv- ing his entire time during the winter months. The society continued four years, and rendered important aid, particular during the stagnation of business in 1857. In February, 1859, the society voted that a committee of two from each religious society be invited meet in convention with a committee of two from the association to consider the establishment of a city mission. The first meeting was held March 3, 1859, in which twelve religious societies were represented. The meeting unanimously decided in favor of form- ing a mission, and a committee was appointed with Hon. Chas. Storrow as chairman, who reported that the proposed measure " promises results of a most beneficial character, not only to those who are to be more particularly the object of the labors of the mis- sion, but also to those who, by joining in its support, whatever be their peculiarities of religious opinion, thereby create and strengthen within themselves that bond of truly Christian fellowship which unites all who co-operate in good work." They also reported that Geo. P. Wilson (of the Methodist Church) was a person containing in an unusual degree the qualifi- cations and experience requisite for the proper dis- charge of the duties of city missionary. The report was unanimously adopted, and the wisdom of their choice was fully proved,-beloved and trusted by all, Mr. Wilson devoted all the energies of his benevo- lent and unselfish nature to the wants of the unfortu- nate and suffering, and during thirteen years of ser- vice, in the trying times that succeeded the fall of the Pemberton mill, and during the four years of war, in counsel as chaplain at the jail, and in every way in which he could, he was always found ready to do all in his power for the benefit of suffering humanity, and in all his charitable work he had the full sympathy

1 Tewksbury.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and aid of his equally devoted wife. He resigned in 1872 and went to Boston in the service of the Boston Missionary and Church Extension Society. A plain monument in Bellevue Cemetery, erected by the citi- zens of Lawrence, marks his resting-place; it bears this simple inscription :

" To the memory of

GEO. P. WILSON

City Missionary of Lawrence for thirteen years Born Jany 29, 1830 Died July 10, 1873

He lived for others."

April 1, 1872, Rev. Charles U. Dunning was ap- pointed to succeed Mr. Wilson, and for about thir- teen years, with the earnest co-operation of Mrs. Dunning, faithfully and judiciously carried on the work so auspiciously commenced, and was succeeded by Francis S. Longworth, the present missionary. The mission is sustained by voluntary contributions, and the salary of the missionary is paid by the differ- ent manufacturing corporations, divided in proportion to their capital. The president of the society, Rev. George Packard, died, after eighteen years of devoted service, November 30, 1877, and Gilbert E. Hood was chosen to succeed him.

The mission has from the beginning accomplished much, and by its usefulness in various ways has com- mended itself fully to the people. In 1885, in the hope of making it still more systematically useful, it became a bureau of charities on the basis of associated charity, having for its objects, "to secure harmonious co-operation between the different churches, charities and charitable individuals of Lawrence, in order to assist the deserving poor, prevent begging and im- position, and diminish pauperism ; to encourage thrift and self-dependence, through friendly intercourse, advice and sympathy ; to aid the poor to help them- selves, and to prevent children from growing up as paupers." Such have ever been the aims of the mis- sion, but whether all the societies will co-operate is a problem for the future.

Independently of the city mission, yet as an auxil- iary to it, several benevolently disposed young ladies had for several years maintained a

FLOWER MISSION, the object of which has been to brighten the homes of the siek with flowers, and otherwise distributing among them fruits and delica- cies suitable for invalids, and in this work they have been generously aided by the people of Andover and North Andover, Early in October, 1875, at the invi- tation of the City Missionary, a number of ladies met at the mission rooms to take into consideration the formation of a Day Nursery, for the care of chil- dren whose mothers were employed in the mills, and for such hospital work as might be found at hand. And on the Sth of October the Ladies' Union Charit- able Society was formed, and organized by the choice of Mrs. Alfred P. Clark, president ; Mrs. Wm. A. Rus- sell, secretary and treasurer. The other officers rep- resenting the different churches were :

Mrs. J. Morrison.

Grace Church

Mrs. N. G. White .Lawrence Street Church

Mrs. Wm. Shackford Second Methodist Church

Mrs. Joseph Shattuck . Unitarian Church

Mrs. G. D. Armstrong. First Baptist Church

Mrs. L. Beach, Jr. First Methodist Church

Mrs. S. Webster Parker Street Methodist Church

Mrs. H. F. Mills Swedenborgian Church

Mrs. A. McFarliu

Universalist Church

Mrs. S. W. Wilder First Baptist Church

Mrs. Fred. Butler St. John's Church

Mrs. C. Payson .Second Baptist Church

Mrs. A. C. Clark .Central Church

Mrs. J. Hogg. Presbyterian Church

Mrs. Clark Carter. .South Congregational Church

A public meeting was held at City Hall on the 19th, and at this meeting sufficient encouragement was given to warrant the society in commencing work. A building was purchased, completely fur- nished, and opened to receive children in November. January 4, 1876, the society was incorporated, and the building was removed to land of the Washington Mills, and enlarged by the addition of three rooms in the rear; but as there was no room to be spared for the care of the sick, an invalid's home was opened on Montgomery Street. A few years later the Washing- ton Mills having other use for their land, removal be- came necessary. It was also essential that the nursery building should be in the vicinity of the mills, and it was determined to purchase a lot of land for the pur- poses required. This was accomplished, and money raised by subscription for erecting a larger building where the nursery and home should be combined. The different manufacturing companies gave three thousand dollars. Other sums were obtained from citizens, and the front of the building, now used as a hospital, was erected and dedicated February 9, 1882, the old buildings being placed in the rear and used for culinary purposes. The physicians soon began to urge upon the society the necessity of opening the hospital department to men as well as women, as most of the accidents in the mills occurred among the men, and there was no place in town for the care of many of these cases, and, heretofore, it had been customary to send to hospitals in Boston. This movement created the need of a larger building, and the society immediately gave their attention to increasing.their accommodations. May, 1885, they succeeded in purchasing a lot adjoining the hospital from Mr. Chas. A. Brown, which was enlarged by the gift of an un- known friend of twenty-five feet front additional, thus giving them a lot of one hundred and thirty-five by seventy-eight feet. In 1885 the home for children was finished, free from debt, and in March, 1886, the hospital ell was completed and dedicated. The hos- pital, which will accommodate twenty patients, and the day nursery are both still under the charge of the society, and both have proved of great utility.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 233

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