History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 79

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 79

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

STEPHEN CLARENDON PHILLIPS was the second mayor, elected December 5, 1838, holding the office until March, 1842. He was born in Salem, November 4, 1801 ; graduated at Harvard in 1819. He was a distinguished merchant, at one time largely engaged in the Manilla and Fiji Island trade; Representa- tive in Congress from 1834 to 1838, and had pre- vionsly represented the town of Salem at the General Court at various periods. Originally a Whig, he joined the Free-Soil party in 1848, and was a candi- date for Governor. Mr. Phillips was especially inter- ested in the cause of education, was a member of the State Board of Education, and gave the whole of his salary as mayor to the city for the benefit of the pub- lic schools. He gave also a great deal of personal attention and time to the subject. In the latter part of his life he engaged largely in the lumber trade, and while visiting Canada in 1857 he was one of the ill-fated passengers on board the steamer "Montreal," burnt on St. Lawrence River on the 26th of June of that year. He was a very benevolent man and greatly beloved and respected wherever known.

STEPHEN PALFRAY WEBB was the third mayor, served in 1842, '43, '44, '60, '61 and '62, and was city clerk from 1863 to 1871. He was born in Salem, March 20, 1804; graduated at Harvard in 1824. He

was a lawyer by profession. Besides holding the offices mentioned, Mr. Webb was elected mayor of San Francisco in 1854, during a temporary residence in that city. He was not elected a second term, as it was said he "refused to get rich " out of the office. Noted for honesty and integrity, as well as for social qualities, he made many friends. He died at Brook- line, Mass., September 29, 1879.

JOSEPH SEBASTIAN CABOT was the fourth mayor, and served four years,-1845, '46, '47 and '48. He graduated at Harvard in 1815. He had been cashier and president of the Asiatic National Bank, and was at one time bank commissioner; president of the Salem Savings Bank, president of Harmony Grove Cemetery Company, president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society ; always interested in finance and horticulture. He was a gentleman of integrity, much esteemed, but rather retiring in his habits; had been in former years a Democratic candidate for Congress. He was born in Salem, October 8, 1796, and died June 29, 1874.

NATHANIEL SILSBEE, JR., was the fifth mayor, and served in 1849, '50 and again in 1858 and '59. He was born in Salem, December 28, 1804, and was the son of Hon. Nathaniel Silsbee, a distinguished Senator in Congress ; graduated at Harvard in 1824. He was a merchant, and for several years the treas- urer of Harvard College. He resided in Boston and Milton some years before his death, which occurred July 9, 1881.

DAVID PINGREE was the sixth mayor, serving from March, 1851, to March, 1852; a well-known merchant. He was born in Georgetown, December 31st, 1795, and inherited wealth from his uncle, Thomas Per- kins, an old Salem merchant, once of the firm of Peabody (Joseph) & Perkins. Mr. Pingree did a large business in Salem, owning many vessels en- gaged in the East and West India and African trade ; was largely interested in Eastern lands, and owned Mount Washington, in New Hampshire, which is still in possession of his heirs. He was one of the builders of the famous carriage-road to the summit. He was president of the Nanmkeag Bank from its organization, in 1831, and president of the Naumkeag Cotton Com- pany from its establishment, in 1845, until his death, March 31, 1863.

CHARLES WENTWORTH UPHAM was the seventh mayor, serving in 1852. He was born at St. John, N. B., May 4, 1802, and graduated at Harvard in 1821 in the class with Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was minister of the First Church in Salem from 1824 to 1844, for the first twelve years as colleague with Rev. John Prince, LL.D. Retiring from the minis- try, he was subsequently elected member of Congress from the Essex South District, serving with great satisfaction to his constituents from 1853 to 1855 ; he represented the city at the General Court for several [ years, and was president of the State Senate in 1857 and 1858; Whig and Republican in politics. An

226

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

eloquent speaker and excellent writer, Mr. Upham was distinguished as an author. Among his most valuable works are the " History of Salem Witch- craft" and "Life of Timothy Pickering." He also wrote a "Life of Fremont." At one time he edited the Christian Register, of Boston, and contributed from time to time to various periodicals. Mr. Upham was noted not only for his intellectual but social qualities. He died June 15, 1875.

ASAHEL HUNTINGTON was the eighth mayor, serv- ing from March, 1853, to March, 1854. He was born at Topsfield, July 23, 1798, and graduated at Yale in 1819. He was a prominent lawyer ; elected district attorney in 1830, resigned in 1845, but was again elected in 1847, and held the office until 1851, when he was appointed clerk of the courts for Essex County, in which office he continued until his death, September 5, 1870. He was deeply interested in the cause of temperance, and frequently lectured on the subject, and was an effective speaker. He was twice a representative at the General Court ; was president of the Essex Institute, also president of the Naum- keag Cotton Company. Mr. Huntington was highly esteemed by the people of Salem and of Essex County.

JOSEPH ANDREWS was the ninth mayor, having been elected on the Know-Nothing or Native Ameri- can ticket in 1854 and 1855. He was born in Salem, December 10, 1808; began business as a clerk in one of the Salem banks, and in 1832 was elected cashier of the Commercial Bank, in Boston, where he re- mained until the bank closed, in 1838. He was always interested in military matters, and commanded at one time the Salem Light Infantry. He was brig- adier-general of Massachusetts Militia at the break- ing out of the Civil War, and was placed in command at Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, where he had charge of the State troops before their departure to the seat of war. He removed to Boston and died there February 8, 1869.

WILLIAM SLUMAN MESSERVY was the tenth mayor, serving in 1856-57. He was born in Salem, Au- gust 26, 1812, and began business in a counting-room in Boston about 1830. In 1834 he went into business in St. Louis, Mo. In 1839 he was a Mexican trader, and spent several years in Chihuahua and Santa Fe. When the Territory of New Mexico was organized he was elected delegate to Congress, and was afterwards acting Governor. Having had financial success in his various operations, he returned to Salem in 1854, and was soon afterwards made a director in various corporations. He was interested in literary and scien- tific institutions, and a great reader. He was also in- terested in politics; an Old Line Democrat, but during the war a strong Republican. He died February 19, 1886.

STEPHEN GOODHUE WHEATLAND was the eleventh mayor, and served in 1863 and 1864. He was born . at Newton, August 11, 1824, and graduated at llar-

vard in 1844. He was a lawyer by profession ; rep- resented the city at the General Court for a number of years ; was a director in several corporations, and has been president of the National Exchange Bank.

JOSEPH BARLOW FELT OSGOOD was the twelfth mayor (1865), and was born in Salem July 1, 1823 ; graduated at Harvard in 1846. He is an able law- yer; has been a member of the State Senate and House of Representatives. At present he is judge of the First District Court of Essex County, which posi -. tion he has held since its establishment, in 1874.

DAVID ROBERTS was the thirteenth mayor, and served from January, 1866, to September 26, 1867, when he resigned on account of a disagreement with the aldermen. He was an attorney and counselor-at- law, having graduated at Harvard in 1824. At one time he was a representative at the General Court ; was author of a work ou admiralty law and practice. He was born in Hamilton, April 5, 1804, and died in Salem, March 19, 1879.

WILLIAM COGSWELL was the fourteenth mayor, and was elected on the resignation of Mayor Roberts, September 26, 1867, and held the office in 1868 and 1869, and again in 1873 and 1874. He was born in Bradford, August 23, 1838; a graduate of Harvard Law School; practiced law in Salem. He served with distinction in the War of the Rebellion ; went first as captain in the Second Massachusetts Regi- ment and rose to the rank of brevet brigadier-general ; and was with Sherman in his famous march through Georgia. Since the war he has held the office of State Inspector of Fish for several years ; has several times represented the city in the Legislature, and the district in the State Senate. He is at present Repre- sentative in Congress from Essex District.

NATHANIEL BROWN was the fifteenth mayor (1870 -71), and was born iu Salem, March 18, 1827. He began business as clerk in the counting-room of Messrs. Stoue, Silsbees & Pickman, noted East India merchants; went to sea, and was for many years an intelligent ship-master. In 1871, as president of the Salem Marine Society, he delivered an address on the centennial anniversary of that society's incorporation. He died in Salem December 10, 1879.

SAMUEL CALLEY was the sixteenth mayor, and held the office in 1872 and again in 1881 and 1882. Ile was born in Salem, April 13, 1821 ; was a house- painter by trade, but always greatly interested in political and municipal affairs ; Republican in poli- ties, and was representative at the General Court in 1870 and 1871. He died January 1, 1883.

HENRY LAURENS WILLIAMS was the seventeenth mayor (1875-76), and was born in Salem, July 23, 1815. He began business in the counting-room of N. L. Rogers & Brothers, well-known merchants. In 1836 he went into the employ of Joseph Peabody, the noted merchant. After the death of Mr. Peabody, in 1844, he founded the house of Williams & Daland, ! in Boston. Later he was for some years a director of

227

SALEM.

the Eastern Railroad Company, president of the Five-Cents Savings Bank and of the National Ex- change Bank. He died September 27, 1879.

HENRY KEMBLE OLIVER was the eighteenth mayor, serving in 1877, 1878, 1879 and 1880. He was born in Beverly, November 24, 1800; graduated at Harvard in 1818. He was a school-teacher in Salem from 1819 to 1844; was the first master of the English High School ; afterwards opened a private school for boys and, later, a school for young ladies. He was interested in military matters, and was adju- tant-general from 1844 to 1848. Elected agent of the Atlantic Cotton Mills, at Lawrence, he removed to that city in 1848; mayor of Lawrence in 1859; agent of the Board of Education in 1858 and 1859; State treasurer from 1861 to 1866; chief of the State Bu- reau for Labor for some years. He possessed great knowledge of the art of music, and composed numer- ous excellent Psalm tunes, such as " Federal Street," "Merton," etc .; published a few years ago a collection entirely of his own compositions ; was made one of the judges of musical instruments at the Centennial Exhibition, in Philadelphia, in 1876. He was also well versed in mathematics and astronomy. In short, he was a man of very varied talents and accomplish- ments. He died at Salem, after a long illness, Au- gust 12, 1885, and had a public funeral from the North Church, of which he had long been a member, and was formerly the organist.

WILLIAM MILLETT HILL was the nineteenth mayor (1883 and 1884), and was born in Salem, Au- gust 16, 1831. He was a currier by trade ; a Demo- crat in politics ; was president of the Common Council from 1873 to January 14, 1875, when he was appointed city marshal, which office he held nntil 1877, after which he was appointed upon the State de- tective force.

ARTHUR LORD HUNTINGTON was the twentieth mayor, and served in 1885. He was the son of the Hon. Asahel Huntington, a former mayor, and was born in Salem August 12, 1848; graduated at Har- vard in 1870 ; a lawyer by profession. He was presi- dent of the Common Council in 1877 and 1878.

JOHN MARSHALL RAYMOND was the twenty-first mayor, elected December 8, 1885, and again in De- cemher, 1886, and is the present incumbent. He was born Jnne 16, 1852, and is a graduate of the Boston University.

The following is a tabulated list of mayors :

Leverett Saltonstall From 1836 to 1838

Stepben C. Phillips, 1838 " 1842

Stephen P. Webb 1842 " 1845

Joseph S. Cabot. 1845 " 1849

Nathaniel Silsbee, Jr.

1849 " 1851

David Pingree

1851 " 1852

Charles W. Upham .. From 1852 to 1853

Asahel Huntington. 1853 " 1854

Joseph Andrews,

1854 " 1856

William S. Messervy 1856 " IS58

Nathaniel Silsbee, Jr. (re-elected)

1858 " 1860

Stephen P. Webh (re-elected)

1860 " 1863

Stephen G. Wheatland

1863 " 1865

Joseph B. F. Osgood

1865 " 1866

David Roberts 1866 " 1867

William Cogswell 1867 " 1870

Nathaniel Brown 1870 " 1872

Samuel Calley

1872 “ 1873

William Cogswell (re-olected) 1873 " 1875

Henry L. Williams. 1875 " 1877

Henry K. Oliver 1877 " 1880

Samuel Calley (re-elected) 1880 " 1882

William M. Hill

1882 " 1884

Arthur L. Huntington

1884 " 1885

John M. Raymond

1885

PRESIDENTS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.

John Glen King (H. U., 1807), lawyer. 1836-37

Richard S. Rogers, merchant 1838

John Russell, president Bank of General Interest 1839-41

Joshua 11. Ward (H. U., 1829), lawyer and judge ...... .1842-44

David Putnam, dry-goods merchant 1844

Joseph G. Sprague, cashier Naumkeag Bank .1845-47

Jona. C. Perkins (Amberst, 1832), lawyer and judge ... 1848

Benjamin Wheatland (H. U., 1819), treasurer New-

market Company. .1849-51

John Whipple, cabinet-maker. 1852-53

Daniel Potter, blacksmith and deputy sheriff. 1854-55

John Webster, treasurer Newmarket Company. .. 1856 William C. Endicott (H. U., 1847), lawyer and justice

Supreme Judicial Court, present Secretary of War,

(1887) 1857

Stephen B. Ives, bookseller 1858

Henry L. Williams, merchant .. 1859

James H. Battie, cigar manufacturer. 1860

Stephen G. Wheatland (H. U., 1844), lawyer. 1861-62

William G. Choate (H. U., 1852), lawyer. .1863-64

Gilbert L. Streeter, editor and bank officer .. 1865, '70-72

Charles S. Osgood, lawyer, depnty collector and register of deede. .1866-69

William M. Hill, currier 1873-75

George W. Williame, clerk 1875

George H. Hill, druggist 1876

. Arthur L. Huntington (H. U., 1870), lawyer.

1877-78

William A. Hill, leather dealer. 1879-80

John M. Raymond, lawyer.

1881-82

William Leonard, shoe dealer 1883

Charles H. Ingalls, manufacturer

1884

John Robinson, treasurer Peabody Academy. 1885-86

William E. Meade, locomotive engineer 1887

PRESENT CITY GOVERNMENT (1887).

Mayor.

JOHN M. RAYMOND.

Aldermen. Jolın H. Batchelder, president.

George A. Collins. George W. Varney.

William L. Hyde. Oliver D. Way.

William S. McIntire. Urban R. Williams.

President of Common Council. William E. Meade.

City Clerk.

City Treasurer. Water Board.

Henry M. Meek. F. A. Newell. Alonzo H. Smith, president.

City Solicitor.

Forrest L. Evans.

228

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOHN ENDICOTT.

John Endicott was born in Dorchester, England, in 1588. In 1623 a company known as the Dorchester Company established a colony at Cape Ann, near what is now Gloucester. This colony consisted of about fifty men, under the leadership of Roger Conant, and not long afterward removed to Naum- keag (now Salem). The Dorchester Company was or- ganized by Rev. John White, of Dorchester, who, in response to letters from Conant favoring a permanent settlement, wrote to him that if he and John Woodbury, John Balch and Peter Palfray would re- main at Naumkeag, he would, as soon as possible, ob- tain a patent and forward more men and supplies. In accordance with this promise, Mr. White obtained a patent from the Council for New England, dated March 19, 1628, conveying to six persons-Sir Henry Rosewell, Sir Jobn Young, John Humphrey, Thomas Southcote, John Endicott and Simon Whitcomb-a tract of country described as " that part of New Eng- land lying between three miles north of the Merri- mac, and three miles to the south of the Charles River, and of every part thereof in the Massachusetts Bay; and in length between the described breadth from the Atlantic to the South Sea." Some changes were afterwards made in the list of grantees by the retirement of Rosewell, Young and Southeote, and the substitution of Sir Richard Saltonstall and others in their places.

Under this patent, John Endicott, described as "a man of dauntless courage, benevolent, though ans- tere, firm, though choleric, of a rugged nature, which his stern principles of non-conformity had not served to mellow," was sent out from England, and arrived, with his wife and a band of' emigrants, in the ship "Abigail" at Salem September 6, 1628. He had been appointed in England Governor of the plantation, while Matthew Cradock had been chosen Governor of the Massachusetts Company in London. After his arrival in New England the English Company ap- plied for a charter, which might give them authority to establish a government within the territory granted to them by the Council for New England. The charter was granted and passed the seal March 4, 1629. This charter created a corporation under the name of the "Governor and Company of the Massa- chusetts Bay in New England." In 1630 John Win- throp, as Governor under the charter, assumed con- trol of the colony, having arrived in June of that year. At the first meeting of the Court of Assistants, held at Charlestown August 23, 1630, it was ordered " that the Governor and Deputy-Governor for the time being shall always be justices of the peace, and that Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Endicott and Mr. Ludlowe shall be justices of the peace for the present time, in all things to have like power that justices of the peace hath in England for reformation

of abuses and punishing of offenders." On the 7th of September, 1630, he took his seat as one of the as- sistants, and occupied that position many years. In 1636 he was appointed one of the magistrates to hold the Salen Court, and in the same year colonel of the regiment composed of the militia of the towns of Sa- lem, Saugus, Ipswich and Newbury. In 1637 he was chosen " to be one of the standing consell for the term of his life," and in 1641 was chosen Deputy-Governor.

In 1644 he was chosen Governor and removed to Boston, and served almost continuously in that office un - til his death in Boston March 15, 1665. In 1645 he was made sergeant major-general, the highest military offi- cer in the colony, and in 1652 established a mint, which was engaged in coinage more than thirty years. He was a man of good education, of fearless disposition and determined will. Whatever credit may be due to others in the successful establishment of the Mas- sachusetts colony, it may be reasonably doubted whether his presence and influence were not essential parts of the great whole, which gave it a permanent life.

SIR RICHARD SALTONSTALL.

Sir Richard Saltonstall was born in Halifax, Eng- land, in 1586, and died in England about 1658. He was one of the grantees under the patent from the Council for New England, obtained by Rev. John White in behalf of the colony at Naumkeag, e-tab- lished under the leadership of Roger Conant. In the charter to the Massachusetts Company, which passed the seal March 4, 1629, he was the first named of the eighteen assistants provided for in that instrument, and came to New England with Winthrop in 1630. In March, 1635-36, he had a grant of one hundred acres of land in Watertown, and in June, 1641, a grant of five hundred acres "below Springfield." He finally returned to England, having previously revis- ited it in 1631. In 1644 he was in Holland, and there the portrait of him now in the possession of his de- scendants was painted. Breadth of mind and a liberal spirit were his marked characteristics, and have been inherited by the successive generations of his descend- ants. In 1651, in a letter to Rev. John Wilson and Rev. John Cotton, he lamented the narrow spirit of persecution prevailing in the colony, and urged upon them the exhibition of kindlier and more charitable judgment and treatment of those who had been sub- jected to persecution.

Sir Richard is spoken of more in detail in the sketch of Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, of Salem, in the chapter on the Bench and Bar, and in that sketch may be found a full statement of his family and an- cestry.

JOSEPH PEABODY.

Joseph Peabody was born in Middleton, in Essex County, which was made up of parts of Salem, Tops- field, Boxford and Andover, and incorporated June

FIRST GOVERNOR

OF MASSACHUSETTS.

QUELLOE trusler to forum

1 1

1 24 -ge. 58

Rue: Saltos Tale

By AH Ritchi.

os. Peabody

229

SALEM.

20, 1728. His birthday was the 9th of December, 1757. He was descended from Francis Peabody, who came from St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, in 1635, and was one of the earliest settlers of Topsfield. The American ancestor was doubtless a farmer, as were all his descendants in the line of Joseph Peabody, the subject of this sketch, down to himself. Indeed, it may be said that he, too, began the life of a farmer, for after his common-school education, not until he was eighteen years of age did he leave his father's farm to seek a fortune in the busy world.

It is probable that the popular excitement which attended the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, and the adventurous spirit which they would naturally develop, inspired that departure from the ways of his father which led him to a life of activity and finally to wealth.

It is said that when the British march on Lexington became known, though too young to be enrolled in the militia, Mr. Peabody joined the Boxford company as a volunteer, but arrived at the scene of action too late to take part in the battle. The subsequent draft of his brother-in-law into the army obliged him to take his place on the farm, and with a reluctant hand he toiled in uncongenial work until the end of his brother's campaign.

As soon as circumstances would permit, however, he went to Salem at the age of eighteen, and joined, probably as sailor, the privateer " Bunker Hill," be- longing to E. H. Derby, of that town. After his re- covering from a fever which afflicted him after his first cruise, he joined, probably as an officer, the pri- vateer "Pilgrim," belonging to G. and A. Cabot. The second cruise, unlike the first, was successful and re- sulted in the capture of a British merchantman deeply laden and strongly armed, which Mr. Peabody, as prize-master, took into Thomaston, Me. A second cruise in the "Pilgrim " proving a failure in conse- quence of a storm, in which the vessel was dismasted, Mr. Peabody spent a year on shore acquiring that in- struction and knowledge to which, more than any pre- vious instruction, his future success was due. He pursued his studies during the year with Rev. Elias Smith, of Middleton, a man both of scholarship and of varied general knowledge.

In the month of August, 1778, he enlisted in the Middleton militia when they were called for to join General Sullivan in Rhode Island and aid in his at- tempt to rescue Newport from the British, and on his return from that unsuccessful expedition he made a voyage to Gottenburg in the letter of marque " Ram- bler." He next sailed as prize-master in the privateer "Fishhawk," commanded by Captain Foster, and was captured hy a British man-of-war which Captain Fos- ter had mistaken for a merchantman. After a short imprisonment at St. John, Newfoundland, he returned to Boston and, with the determination to abandon privateering, sailed as second officer in the letter of marque "Ranger," owned by Henry Sargent, of Bos-

ton, Henry Gardner and Ward & Chipman, of Sa- lem. On this voyage a cargo of salt was carried from Salem to Richmond and a cargo of flour from Alex- andria to Havana. He was now twenty-five years of age. On the uext voyage a cargo of flour was ship- ped at Alexandria, and while lying at anchor at the mouth of the Potomac, the "Ranger " was surprised in the night by a party of American Loyalists, and only by the bravery of the master and crew and the gal- lantry of Mr. Peabody did she escape capture. In the engagement Mr. Peabody was severely wounded, and on the return of his vessel to Alexandria to re- fit, a boarding pike, richly mouuted with silver and bearing a suitable inscription, was presented to him by the merchants of that place in recognition of his gal- lant conduct in the battle.

On account of the wounds received by Captain Sim- mons, of the " Ranger," the voyage was further pros- ecnted under the command of the first officer, and Mr. Peabody was promoted to his place. On her re- turn from Curacoa the vessel was chased thirty-six hours by a man-of-war, but escaped into Havaua, and soon returned to Salem.

After the declaration of peace Mr. Peabody was given command of a vessel owned by the Messrs. Gardner, of Salem, and was dispatched to St. Martin's from which port he sailed for Alexandria. There he was attacked by small-pox aud obliged to abandon his command. On his return to Salem his earnings enabled him to purchase the schooner "Three Friends " and taking command, hemade repeated voy- ages to the West Indies and Europe. For several years he thus acted in the double capacity of captain and merchant, assiduously pursuing the advantages which the revival of trade after the Revolution af- forded, and laying firm and deep, not only by the ac- cumulation of capital, but by a valuable commercial education, the foundations of his future wealth.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 79

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