History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 59

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 59

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The Essex bar has furnished many names which have added to the intellectual reputation of Salem, and foremost among these stands that of Rufus Choate. Mr. Choate was born in 1799, and was graduated at Dartmouth in 1819, and died in 1859. Entering at once upon the study and practice of his profession, first in Danvers and then in Salem from 1828 to 1834,

he secured and retained during his life a most bril- liant reputation as an advocate. He commenced the study of law with Win. Wirt, in whose office he re- mained one year, and completed his studies with Judge David Cummins, of Salem. He was admitted in September, 1813, to the Common Pleas bar and in 1825 to the Supreme Court bar. His skill and elo- quence in the courts were acknowledged to be unri- valed. In addition to this, he charmed his hearers with addresses and orations of great originality and beauty, and his readers with glowing admiration of the peculiar grace and power of his style. Whatever he touched he adorned, whether it was the record of the Puritan at Massachusetts Bay, or the Pilgrim at Plymouth, or the oratory of the ancients, or the ro- mances of the moderns. He found rest and repose in his library after the labors of the day, and some of his most touching eloquence was bestowed upon the solacing power of books. He was elected to the Massachusetts Legislature in 1825, to the Massachu- setts Senate in 1827, to Congress in 1832, to the United States Senate in 1841, to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention in 1852. Those who have heard his startling oratory will understand how impossible it is to describe the power of his speech, and will sympathize with the exclama- tion of Henry Clay, at the close of one of Mr. Choate's superb speeches in the United States Sen- ate, "What will Massachusetts send here next?" The two volumes of his biography by Professor Brown contain all that remains of his many speeches, orations and arguments as member of Congress from the Essex District, as United States Senator from Mas- sachusetts, as occasional orator and as lawyer at the bar. It is unnecessary to enumerate them here. His words still linger with those who knew him-his wit, his wisdom, his learning, his inimitable repartee. And, more than all, his lovable and affectionate spirit remains with those who loved him and were tenderly regarded by him.

Nor should the strength of his associates here at the bar be overlooked,-the sound learning and hon- est purpose and judicial integrity of Samuel Putnam ; the polished scholarship of John G. King; the pro- found legal knowledge of N. J. Lord; the wit and humor of Benjamin Merrill ; the quaint solemnity of Judge David Cummins ; the sturdy power of Otis P. Lord ; the delicious geniality, and courtly bearing, and persuasive tongue, and Christian spirit of Leverett Saltonstall, the senior-all fond of sound learning, all unrecorded authors, all pillars of the literature of Salem. The treatise of David Roberts on " Admiralty," published in 1859; the admirable address of Asahel Huntington before the Essex Ag- ricultural Society, and his speeches in behalf of the temperance reform in the court-room and before pub- lic audiences ; the volume of earnest and eloquent speeches published by Wm. D. Northend, with his elaborate papers on the Essex Bar and the Puritans

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on the administration of President Peirce, and on the decision of the Maine judges upon the election returns of 1882, and his excellent address before the Essex Agricultural Society ; the "Notes of Travel, or Recol- lections of Zanzibar, Mocha," etc., 1854, by J. B. F. Osgood ; the conclusive opinions of Judge L. F. Brig- ham ; and the valuable publication on "Trusts," by Jairus W. Perry-all belong to the literary record of the city, and bear witness to the culture and attain- ments of this portion of the Essex bar.

Joseph Hodges Choate, born in Salem in 1832, was graduated at Harvard in 1852, settled as a lawyer in New York, and has risen to the front rank as a counselor and advocate. His eloquence, and wit, and wisdom as a public speaker have given him great distinction among scholars and great influence with the people.

To the works of the physicians, already referred to should be added the "Remarks on Fractures," and the " Memoir of Dr. Holyoke," furnished hy Dr. A. L. Peirson, the learned physician, the skillful surgeon, the devoted student who strengthened the bond be- tween the profession here and all the great centres of the country; and also the translations of Dr. Charles G. Putnam, a son of Judge Samuel Putnam, of most honorable memory, the sanitary writings of Dr. George Derby, a son of John Derby, who estab- lished the Board of Health in Massachusetts, of which he was a valuable member, after having rendered most valuable and efficient service in the Union army during the Civil War.

And the clergymen of the town also, from the early days until now-what have they not done to add to the literary reputation of the community? The ser- mons of John Emery Abbott, who died in 1819, the beloved pastor of the North Church, the most blessed consoler and adviser of his flock ; the profound medi- tations of the Rev. T. T. Stone, published in 1854; the well-balanced views of the Rev. J. W. Thompson ; the sweet inspirations and wise counsels of the Rev. Charles Lowe; the delightful historical review of the North Church, and the long series of thoughtful and pious sermons of the Rev. E. B. Willson ; the brilliant and searching speculations of the Rev. O. B. Frothingham ; the "Bow in the Cloud," pointed out for every mourner by the Rev. George W. Briggs; the sound utterances of the Rev. Brown Emerson; the excellent work of the Rev. E. S. Atwood as a pulpit orator, and faithful biographer of John Bertram ; the active and vigorous labor of the Rev. E. C. Bolles, brilliant in the pulpit, charming in the lecture-room, invigorating as a companion ; and the history of the First Baptist Church, by the Rev. R. C. Mills-all these are a portion of the treasure which the pulpit of Salem has poured into its literary storehonse. To this list belongs the name of the Rev. Samuel John- son, who was born in Salem in 1822, the son of Dr. Samuel Johnson, was graduated at Harvard in 1842, and having completed his studies at the Divinity

School at Cambridge, commenced his work as pastor and preacher. Possessed of a most powerful mind and a fine moral sense, he set his standard high and endeavored faithfully to reach it. In his religious be- lief he coincided with Theodore Parker, whom he resembled in the fervor of thought and expression, the severity of his logic and the purity of his charac- ter. His sermons, delivered with a most impressive voice and manner, were carefully-prepared essays on all public questions of religion, morality and politics. His contributions to the literature of the country as an author of essays, and especially of " Oriental Relig- ions," were rich and valuable. And he was counted among the intellectual luminaries which flash across the heavens in independent paths, and when gone leave the observer bewildered with wonder and admi- ration.

The Rev. James M. Hoppin has published "The Notes of a Theological Student" and "The Tempta- tious of American Young Men," and has also deliv- ered an address, dedicating Plummer Hall, in 1857 ; and published " European Travels." He was born in Providence, R. I., in 1813; was settled over Crombie Street Church in 1850; was professor of homiletics and pastoral theology in Brown University, and is now professor of the history of arts.

The Rev. Henry W. Foote, the pastor of King's Chapel, Boston, a son of the venerable editor of the Salem Gazette, has published a history of King's Chap- el and many occasional sermons-eulogies of distin- guished members of his parish; the Rev. George L. Chaney, also a native of Salem, now at Atlanta, has published an interesting and valuable series of books for boys; the Rev. George B. Jewett, at one time professor at Amherst and afterwards minister at Nashua, N. H., spent the closing years of his life in Salem, engaged in work on a "Dictionary of the Greek Testament; and the Rev. J. Henry Thayer, pastor of Crombie Street Church in 1859, lecturing at Cambridge on " Biblical Theology."

Around the literary institutions of the town, more- over, has always gathered a studious and inquiring body of investigators and writers. The Essex Insti- tute-who can measure the amount of scientific and historical research it has inspired in Essex County ? For its guide and leader and organizer too much praise cannot be recorded. For much more than half a cen- tury Dr. Henry Wheatland has devoted all his time and powers to this valuable institution. From a small society organized for historical research in the county, he has raised it into the highest position, and placed it with the strongest and most useful in the land. As he went on in his work with a patience and diligence unexampled, all the best forces contributed to his support and that of his organization. The wealthy contributed of their store, the scientist gave the re- sults of his investigations, the learned gathered to its councils, a body of students has been graduated from its halls who have adorned the higher semina-

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ries of learning-F. W. Putnam, the devoted student and recognized authority in zoology, and the early explorer of the Mammoth Cave, and more recently the Indian Mounds in Ohio, particularly those in the valley of the Little Miami; John Robinson, whose treatises on Trees and Ferns are now accepted by the United States Geological Survey as the best of the kind in the country ; John H. Sears, the accom- plished and independent botanist and geologist; E. S. Moore, who has opened up the domestic art of Ja- pan and delineates animal development, and advocates evolution with inspiring zeal and great artistic skill; Alpheus S. Packard, anthor of "Observations on the Glacial Phenomena of Labrador and Maine, with a View of the Recent Invertebrate Fauna of Labrador," 1867 ; a guide to the study of insects, and a treatise on those injurious and beneficial to crops, 1869; and reports as United States commissioner to consider and report upon the Rocky Mountain locust; and Alpheus Hyatt, a most devoted student and teacher of natural history. The work which Dr. Wheatland has accomplished will endure as long as the recorded history of Essex County, the remains of its architec- ture, the specimens of its domestic economy, the in- terest in its geological structure, the beauties of its flora and fauna, shall find a place in the admirable institution he has founded and developed, and as long as Essex County shall remain in reality or history.

One of the most diligent and active literary friends of the Institute is Robert S. Rantoul. He is a son of Robert Rantoul, Jr., was gradnated at Harvard in 1853, and at the Law School, in Cambridge, in 1856. His contributions to the publications of Salem, where he has resided since his admission to the bar, have been numerous and important. He has published " Notes on Wenham Pond," 1864; "The Cod in Mas- sachusetts History," 1856; "Address on taking the Chair of the Essex Liberal Conference," 1869; " Port of Salem," 1870; "Argument before the Finance Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature upon the Preservation of Salem Harbor," 1870; " Decora- tion day Address before the Chipman Post G. A. R., Beverly," 1871; "Notes on odd works of Travel," 1872; "Report as arbitrator between the Common- wealth and the Massachusetts Historical Society in the matter of the Hutchinson papers," 1874; "Cen- tennial Oration at the Celebration at Stuttgart, Wur- temburg," July 4, 1876; " Memorial address on the death of Freiligrath, Stuttgart," 1877; " Address on resuming the chair of the Liberal Conference," 1880 ; " Oration at the Two Hundred and fiftieth An- niversary of the Landing of Winthrop," 1880; "Sketch of Cat (now Lowell Island)," 1880; " Me- moir of Benjamin Peirce," 1881; "Early Quarantine Regulations at Salem," 1882; "Memoir of James Kimball," 1882; "Note on the Authenticity of the portraits of Governor Endicott," 1883; "Sketch of James O. Safford," 1883; "Report to the Massa-

chusetts Legislature against abolishing the Poll Tax as a prerequisite for suffrage," 1885; "Two Reports against the Biennial Amendments of the Constitu- tion, 1884-85, "The Essex Junto-the long embargo ; thegreat Topsfield Caucus," 1808, 1882. " Material for a History of the Name and Family of Rentoul-Rin- toul-Rantonl," 1885; " A Contribution to the His- tory of the Ancient Family of Woodbury," 1887; Mr. Rantonl's work has been done with great ac- curacy and fidelity.

This sketch would not be complete without an enu - meration of the contributions which have been made by an accomplished and cultivated group of authors who have found recreation and pleasure in their work. Among these, Robert Manning published, in 1838, his valuable " Book of Fruits; " his son, Robert Man- ning, the secretary of Massachusetts Horticul- tural Society, his recent valuable history of that society. Henry K. Oliver, the accomplished teacher, the rare musical composer, the immor- tal author of " Federal Street," published, in 1830, "The Construction and Use of Mathematical Instruments ; " Elizabeth Saunders reviewed " Ferdi- nand and Isabella " in 1841, and advocated with great zeal the cause of the North American Indian ; Thomas Cole published " Microscopy as Applied to Ferns and Plants; " John Lewis Russell issued many valuable papers on botanical subjects; George A. Ward pub- lished " Biographical Essays," and "The Journal and Letters of Samuel Curwen " were published in 1842 ; J. Fisk Allen issued his " Essay on Grape Culture," and his striking monogram on the "Victoria Regia; " James F. Colman published his graceful volume of poems in 1846; W. P. Upham published his "Brief History of Stenography " in 1877; his " Memoir of General Glover," a collection of letters on the siege of Boston ; his "Records of Salisbury ; " E. H. Derby published "The Catholic Letters and Record of a Jurist to a Young Kinsman Proposing to join the Church of Rome," 1856; Charles Pickering prepared an elaborate " Report of Wilkes' South Sea Expedi- tion ; " John B. Derby published "The Musings of a Recluse," 1837; " Major Samuel Swett published a paper on " Who Commands at Bunker Hill," and de- livered a Fourth of July oration in 1805, at the South Meeting-house ; Perley Derby published his "Genea- logical Researches into the Families of Thomas White, of Marblehead, and Mark Haskell, of Beverly, and of the Sons of Reginald Foster," 1872; George H. Dever- eaux published a "Translation of the Literary Fables of Yriarte," 1855, and "Sam Shirk, A Tale of the Woods of Maine," 1871; William Giles Dix put forth "The American State and Statesman," 1876; and "The Deck of the 'Crescent City,' " 1853; James H. Emerton issued " Life on the Seashore," and "Short Communications in the Papers of the Institute;" Joseph Warren Fabens published " Life on the Isth- mus," 1853; and "The Camel Hunt," 1851; George D. Phippen has published "Botanical sketches " and

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" History of the Old Planters in the Institute List ; " D. B. Hagar, the accomplished teacher of the Nor- mal School, has published from time to time that inval- uable series of school books which have won for him a high reputation : Primary Lessons in Numbers, Ele- mentary Arithmetic, Common School Arithmetic, Key to Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, Manual of Dicta- tion Problems. John M. Ives published, in 1847, " The New England Book of Fruits;" James Kimball published " A Journey to the West in 1817," and " De- struction of Tea in Boston Harbor ; " "Explora- tion of Merrimac River," and " Notes on the Richard- son and Russell Families ; " and James P. Kimball, his son, issued his papers on "Ores and Metals Taught in the Mining Schools of Europe," which led to his selection as director of the Mint, for which service he is so admirably fitted ; Stephen H. Phillips issued his paper on witchcraft; John T. Devereux published a collection of poems he had contributed to periodi- cals; Gilbert L. Streeter prepared for the institute "The History of Newspapers," " Clergymen of Salem in the Revolution," " Historical Notes of Salem Scen - ery ;" James A. Emmerton "The Genealogy of New England Families from English Records ; " Henry F. Waters discovered, for the admiration of scholars, the hirth-place of John Harvard, and wrote upon the " Home and Genealogy of Shakspeare ; " C. M. Endi- cott published a valuable paper on "Leslie's Retreat," and the "History of the Salem and Danvers Aque- duct ;" Dr. G. A. Perkins published "The Genealogy of the Perkins. Family and the Fabens Family ; " James Upton an " Essay on the Ripening of Pears ; " Leverett Saltonstall, the junior, " A Memoir of Oliver Carlton ; " Edw. A. Silsbee "Talks on Architectural and Art Topics ;" Ernest Fenollosa, one of the most brilliant scholars of Harvard, 1874, is made professor at Tokio, Japan, and is a most diligent and distin- guished student of Japanese art; E. Stanley Waters " History of the Webb and Ropes Families; " Wins- low Upton, professor of astronomy in Brown Univer- sity, on the "Eclipse of 1878;" Wm. G. Barton pub- lished a paper on "Thoreau, Flagg and Burroughs," and a paper on "Pigeons and the Pigeon Fancy ; " Rev. B. F. McDaniel a paper on the "Geology and Mineralogy of Essex County ; " Oliver Thayer, " Early Recollections of Essex Street; " Charles S. Osgood and H. M. Batchelder published their most excellent, faithful and graphic sketch of Salem, 1879; the fugi- tive poems of William P. Andrews, together with his volume of the "Sonnets and Lyrics of Jones Very," accompanied by a most sympathetic and appreciative notice, have secured for him an enviable place in the ranks of the authors of Salem; W. L. Welch, “ An Account of the Cutting Through of Hatteras Inlet, N. C .; " George M. Whipple, an interesting sketch of the " Musical Societies of Salem;" Henry M. Brooks has published " Olden Time Scenes," a most interest- ing collection, and A. C. Goodell, Jr., has edited with great care and accuracy "The Laws and Resolves of

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the Province of Massachusetts Bay," and has con- tributed many papers on historical matters which have attracted great attention, his services in this direction having elevated him to the presidency of the Massachusetts Historic Genealogical Society ; Pickering Dodge, in 1840, “ A Treatise on Modern Painters ; " Thomas Sanders, in 1886, a spirited and instructive "Examination of the Agriculture of Essex County," which was published by the Essex Agricultu- ral Society at Newburyport ; and Samuel M. Caller published, in 1881, a sketch of the Southwick family, descendants of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick.

Of the female writers, Caroline R. Derby, a dangh- ter of E. Hersey Derby, published, under the name of D. R. Castleton, a series of tales in Harper's Monthly so striking and beautiful that the readers of that magazine sought for her identity, to pay her the trib- nte she deserved. Her fugitive poems were of a high order. She published "The Ruler's Daughter " and other poems in 1877, and a novel entitled " Salem, or a Tale of the Seventeenth Century," which was read with great interest.

"The Half Century of Salem," prepared with great care and discretion, was published by Mrs. M. A. Silsbee in 1887.

Sarah W. Lander published. in 1874-75, her fascina- ting stories,-" Spectacles for Yonng Eyes," "Boston," "Rhine," "St. Petersburg," " Zurich," "Berlin," " Rome," "New York,"-a most attractive and in- structive series, and "Fairy Bells," a translation from the German.

Maria Cummins, a daughter of Judge David and Maria (Kittredge) Cummins, was born in Salem in 1830, and passed her early life in that city. She ap- peared as an authoress in 1854 with a novel, entitled "The Lamplighter," which was instantly received with great favor. It ran through cditions amounting to seventy thousand copies in less than a year, and stands among the most popular American tales. Miss Cummins published a charming story, entitled "Ma- bel Vanghan," in 1857, which was declared by some critics to be far in advance of "The Lamplighter." In both these works she displayed great power of de- lineation and a most graceful style.

Mrs. Kate Tannatt Wood has contributed from her liberal store the series of tales which have delighted old and young,-"Six Little Rebels," "Dr. Dick," "Out and About," "Duncans on Land and Sea," " Doll Betsey," "Jack's First Contract," " Toots and his Friends," "Twice Two," " All Around a Rock- ing," "Hester Hepworth," "Hidden for Years," " The Minister's Scent," "That Dreadful Boy, a Novel," "Headlands, a Novel." Poems,-" Dan's Wife," "Christmas at Birch's," "Dinah's Christmas," "Papa's Valentine" and many more, and many con- tributions to the magazine literature of the day.

Mary L. Horton published poetical and prose com- positions, 1832.

Lydia L. A. Very has issued a volume of poems of

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rare merit, and, in connection with her sister, has published "The Essays and Poems of Jones Very," her brother, which is invaluable as a complete collec- tion of the works of this remarkable writer.

Mary Orne Pickering prepared during her life a biography of her father, John Pickering, a faithful and instructive work, which was published in 1887.

Mrs. Martha Perry Lowe, wife of the Rev. Charles Lowe, pastor of the North Church, published "The Olive and the Pine " and " The Palm," and has since given to the public a most interesting biography of her devout and faithful husband.

Mary Wilder (Foote) Tileston, a sister of the Rev. Henry W. Foote, has published "Helps by the Way," " Quiet Hours" and "Sursum Corda " and many ad- mirable selections of poetry.

Sarah Savage, a daughter of Ezekiel Savage, in 1833, contributed some well-written and fascinating stories to "Scenes and Persons, Illustrating Christian character." Among her publications were " Trial and Discipline," "James Talbot," " Alfred " and " The Backslider." She died in 1835, and left an enviable reputation as an author of taste and ability and great delicacy of fancy.

Elinor Forrester (Barstow) Condit published in 1869 "Philip English's Two Cups."

Hannah G. Creamer published " A Gift to Young Students," "Eleanor," "Delia's Doctors," &c.

Lucy W. Stickney published the "Genealogy of the Kinsman Family " and assisted her father, Mat- thew A. Stickney, in his "Genealogical Researches."

Mrs. M. D. Sparks, widow of Jared Sparks and daughter of Hon. Nathaniel Silsbee, published a charming volume of poems, hymns, Homes, Harvard in 1883.

Mary N. Plumer, in 1881, wrote an interesting es- say on "The Dissemination of Seeds," Mrs. Chadwick, in 1853, published " Home Cookery," and Mrs. George H. Devereux, also, a book on cookery.

In preparing this sketch of the literary history of Salem great care has been taken to include all who have contributed their share to the record, those who had a temporary interest in the town, as well as those who passed their lives here, those who set forth in life here and left their homes, and those who were adopted even for a short season. When we consider the population and the commercial character of Sa- . lem, the number of writers recorded here is extraor- dinary, and presents a remarkable list of the literary sons and daughters, native and adopted, of the town. If in the collection there are any omissions, it must be attributed to the difficulty attending an extended research among so great a mass of materials of di- verse descriptions.

CHAPTER VIII.

SALEM-( Continued).

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

BY HENRY C. GAUSS.

THE manufacturing interests of the city of Salem, although occupying in their total valuation, a fourth place among those of the manufacturing centres of Essex County, are only within a few thousand dollars of being second in the valuation of their general manufactures. The census of 1880 gives Salem a total of manufactured products of $8,440,350, of which the leather manufacture contributes nearly one-half. Since the compilation of that census, the increase in the volume of the leather business, together with the increase of the shoe manufactures and that of other lines, with the establishment of at least two new in- dustries, have augmented the volume of manufac- tured products in the city till it would be safe to place the total valuation at the time of writing at, at least, nine millions of dollars.

There are represented in Salem thirty-one of the more important lines of manufacturing industries, including most of the general lines of manufacture, with several specialties. As has been said, nearly one-half of the volume of manufacturing products is contributed by a single industry, one that makes Sa- lem the most important centre of its prosecution in the country, and one that was the first to be establish- ed. This is the

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 59

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